Rolla Board of Education Meeting - August 21st, 2025

001All right, good evening everyone. So to open our meeting, we're going to begin by saying the pledges of allegiance. It's a long-standing tradition in our schools that reflect our collective commitment to education, community, and civic responsibility. We invite those who wish to participate to please stand, face the flag, and join us in reciting the pledge. Participants, it's voluntary and respectfully welcomed. As a sign of courtesy, please remove any hats and place your right hand over your heart. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. All right. Tonight we'll start with our tax rate hearing Mrs. Atinson. Okay. Tax rate hearing annually. See if we can get this done tonight.

002All right. Before we get into this year's tax rate calculation and all the nuances there, I did want to go over two uh legislative issues. So, Senate Bill 190, uh, to refresh your memory, that is the senior citizen property tax relief bill that was adopted in this past spring by Phelps County. So, little bit of background there. So, calendar year 2025, so this year is the base year. So, whatever senior citizens applied for this relief will the bill that they get this year in November is what they will be owed. So next year is when everything starts remaining flat for them. So we will have no effect to our tax rate or to our tax collections in this fiscal year. Next year, hopefully around this time or shortly after, we will receive a report from

003the county outlining the dollar amount of tax we will not collect. Okay? Because the assessed valuation is what it is. The tax rate is what it is. From what I understand, the seniors that have applied and are approved for this relief will have a bill that states their total tax due less a credit so that it ultimately remains flat and then they're going to owe that net. Okay. So, it actually affects our collection rate. Our current collection rate averages about 97%. I have no idea how to calculate what our collection rate is going to be going forward. Um, are there any questions about Senate Bill 190? So, I just want to be make it clear there'll be no effect to the district for this year. >> I would expect very little effect next year because

004it's not a recess year. Absolutely. I think subsequent years is when we'll start. sooner they can give us some sort of an indication of >> a number, it'll be very helpful in our planning so that we are proactive instead of reactive to this. >> I agree. I'm not sure they're going to know that until after we pass our tax levy each year, >> right? Does that make sense? >> They would know what the total value of the assessed valuation is at some point in time if they get on law. They'll know the assessed valuation but not the tax don. >> Well, if we know the assessed valuation, we can make the guesses. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And I think we I think we will get that report this year. >> Okay. >> But probably November

005somewhere in that >> I think I think we will get a report of who has filed and what the value of that is. >> That'd be great. Yeah. >> Yeah. I can talk to Faith about that. Double check. >> Yeah. I do know she received about 2,000 applications. I don't know how many of those are within our district. So that's not overly helpful at this point. >> No. >> Yeah. So the next uh point of legislation is Senate Bill 3. Senate Bill 3 passed in the special legislative session um that included real estate tax provisions. I believe that was the same session that they used to pass some initiative for um keeping the stadiums in Kansas City. So that basically um indicated classified individual counties as 0% 5% and no change counties. Phelps County is

006a is designated currently as a no change county. So the 0% counties basically state that the tax liability in those counties cannot ever increase without a v voter approved tax rate increase or property improvement. 5% counties tax liability cannot increase by more than the lower of 5% or CPI without voter approved tax rate. So it gets really really complicated. The takeaway here is that our county, our district is not currently affected. Um there have been challenges filed uh about against this legislation. Um so we'll just keep our eye on that and see what comes out of those challenges. Any questions on Senate Bill 3? Okay. So our current year tax rate few requirements has to be filed before September 1st each year with the state auditor's office and the county clerk's offices. We are subject

007to the Hancock amendment that basically states that our revenue growth is limited to the lower of 5%. CPI which this year is 2.9% and that's the consumer price index or inflation or our actual growth this year's actual growth is just under 6.6%. So our calculation has already been approved by the state auditor's office and the next the final requirement is that we have a mandated public hearing. So here we are. So a little lesson on appraised value versus assessed value. Uh first of all there are three categories of properties agriculture, residential and commercial. Appraised value is the market value essentially on those properties. An assessed value is the value placed on that um appraised value. So, for example, a home appraised at $200,000 is actually has an assessed value of 38,000 because that 200,000 is

008multiplied by 19%. And just a little side note, our um from the assessor's office, the median sing sorry, the median single home uh residence is valued at $138,600 in our county. So looking at assessed values by category. So current year assessed value is 549 million just under 500,000 as compared to last year just under 504 million. So that's an increase of 45.5 million from prior year. And again this was a reassessment year. So, we already knew, everybody received notification from the assessor earlier in the year that our county had fallen out of compliance and there was going to be a large assessment this year and probably again in two more years. So, some other uh items of note, real estate, new construction and improvements total just under $6.4 million and our base assessed value increased

009by a total of 33.2 million. So, we're going to go through a little calculation here on how we get the um base assessed value. So base assessed value is calculated by taking the difference between the total assessed valuation of this year less um last year. So the difference there is 45.5 million. Then we subtract total new construction and improvements of 12.2 million for the net change of 33.2 million which is an increase of 6.6%. This gets extremely complicated so it's all in the calculation in your packet step by step. if you felt the need to go through and trace all that back. So, so our authorized levy calculation gets yet further complicated because we are limited again by the Hancock amendment. So within the calculation, it tells us the amount of revenue that we're permitted

010to receive. We divide that by current assessed valuation and then that comes up to 4166 divide or multiply by 100. So that tells us our current year tax levy, the maximum authorized levy of 4.1664. Once we have that, we actually have to go through the calculation for our Proposition C statutory roll back. So again, the Prop C is the state's 1-cent sales tax that's dedicated to education. However, that sales tax states that or the Prop Cy roll back states that um property tax rates have to be reduced to the equivalent of 1/ half of the total Propsy revenue received in the prior fiscal year. So, we do not have a waiver for that. So, we have to go through that calculation. So, this is just the summary data. So, last year's Propsy revenue was just

011over 5.9 million. Half of that is close to three million. We have the assessed valuation Is that just There we go. Okay. So, the roll back on that tax our tax levy this year is just under 51 cents. So, a little less than it was in previous year. And that 51 cents actually represents truly $2.9 million in tax revenue that our district does not receive because we do not have a waiver to roll that back. So again, we have our maximum authorized levy less the required roll back and that leaves us with our adjusted operating levy of just under $3.60. Any questions on the operating tax levy? Okay, debt service levy. So the district is required to levy an amount equal to our debt service obligations. So this levy is calculated by it's based on

012our debt obligations for the next two calendar years, not fiscal years but calendar years, the anticipated debt service fund balance as of December 31st of this calendar year and the total assessed valuation. So we run that through the calculation and it throws out a number of just under a dollar 98.5 cents uh for our maximum allowable debt service levy. So in talking to Stiffel, Lorenzo Boyd at Stiffel, continuing to work with him and he and his team of course continue to analyze our debt service fund balance and um assess valuation and they are in agreement that we can with your approval continue to roll back our debt service levy so that it remains at the 58 and a half cents that it has been at for several years. So, our tax levy history over the

013last about 10 years, and you can see the operating tax levies and the debt service levies, you can see how it fluctuates. Um, and you can tell here that our this year's operating levy or total levy um is about 13.8 cents less than last year. And that's mainly due to of totally due of course to the operating levy. And that goes back to the Hancock amendment that we can't have a windfall due to reassessment. So, it actually rolls back our levy slightly. So looking at that same uh house that was valued at $200,000 with the assessed value of 38,000 times our proposed tax rate results in a total tax due of just over $1,600. That same property last year with our previous or current anyway tax rate um it's actually a decrease of $52.52. Now,

014presumably the same property would have increased in value, right? But we started down that path of that thing on the slide and that got too complicated. So, we're sticking with this one. Okay. Uh, levy comparison. We always like to look to see how we're comparing to districts in that Camden and salary survey that we like to use. So, we are now at number nine in that list. Last year we were number eight. But again, this is comparing ourselves to everybody else's prior year or current year, however you want to look at that, uh, tax levy, which presumably those will also change. Okay. So, at this point, I would ask if there are any comments or questions, please state your name and address for the record. Any comments or questions from the board? Okay, >> no

015comments or questions. At >> this time, I would like to recommend that the tax levy show shown below be adopted for the 2526 school year at a total of $424.28. >> All right. So, >> I would like to thank you for all your work on this. I know it's a lot of calculations uh to the auditor back getting your presentation ready collecting all those facts. So, thank you. >> Well, thank you >> to you and your team. >> My pleasure. >> All right. If I can get a motion then to approve the tax rate for the fiscal year 2026 at the 4.2428. I'll make the motion to approve the tax rate 42526 at $42428. >> Thank you, Jim. >> I'll second that. >> Thank you, Sue. All right. Any discussion? Right. Seeing none. Those in

016favor, please say I. I. >> Those opposed say no. >> Right. Therefore, it um the tax rate for the fiscal year of 2026 to four of 4.2428 has been approved. Thank you. >> All right, moving on to recognitions. >> Oh, I guess so. >> Yeah, it's your turn. You want me to read? >> All right. Recognitions. The first step is uh Miss Rebecca Bolan. She is the 25 2025 MHSE uh recognition award. The board proudly congratulates Mrs. Miss Rebecca Bolan, recipient of the 2025 MHSSE as Missouri Health Science Educators Recognition Award presented this July at the Missouri ACT Conference in Springfield. As lead instructor of the Health Science Academy, Miss Bolan has transformed the program, transitioning from CNA to CCMA certification, and achieving a 91% national exam pass rate. Her work reflects excellence in curriculum

017design, clinical experience, and career exploration. She continues to lead as a HOSA advisor and advocate for CTE CTE programs across the regions. We celebrate her outstanding contributions and lasting impact. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Speech. Come tell us some things. >> All right. Next. In recognition of outstanding leadership and skilled technical education, Dr. Lucas Chapman has been named the 2025 director of the year by the Missouri Trade and Technical Association. That's the MTA. The award presented this July at the Missouri ACT Conference in Springfield celebrates his commitment to student success, innovative program development, and active engagement in the CT community. His vision continues to elevate technical education and expand career opportunities across Missouri. >> The board proudly congratulates Dr. Chapman on this welldeserved honor. >> Thank you. As you'll see, there's there's quite a few

018people in this next award. You're going to see uh getting these honors is just because of the people I get to work with all the way from uh Dr. Darren and his team upstairs to the for sure the team that we have RTI and RTC from the teachers and all the staff there. They're they're wonderful. I will tell you though, I'll brag a little bit about Rebecca Bolan. She's unbelievable what she's done for the program. Uh the CCMA has give our students ability to work in a lot of different climates in all of our city schools and RA included are just terribly excited about what our students are doing. They're going to work are doing their internships uh and clinical time as seniors and they're getting job offers and going straight to work in the

019field if they want to. All of our students are excellent and uh we had four um other career and techhead centers come last year just to watch her for the day to see what she's doing. We're several excited about that. So, thank you all again. [Applause] >> Next, the RALA Technical Institute/Center has been honored with the Southern Regional Education Boards, that's the SRB 20 25 Gan Bottoms Pace Setter Award presented on July 15th at the Making Schools Work Conference in New Orleans. This prestigious award recognizes schools that successfully implement SRB's improvement frameworks, ensuring students earn credentials and graduate career and college ready. RTI/C has one of the one of only three career and technical schools nationwide to receive this distinction. The board proudly congratulates RTIC on this remarkable achievement. And I appreciate the information that

020was attached to our packet that uh as far as the information. >> Yeah, it's good to read. >> I'll get behind >> my son. Your son. >> My son. >> We really listen. >> Hide behind my son. We both can. >> Yeah. >> You're welcome, son. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Tell what it is. >> Uh, I'd like to tell you about this a little bit and I wish I had a lot of time. We'd go through some presentations and things, but I won't do that tonight. But I will tell you with the leadership that's around the table with with the board here, the superintendent, assistant superintendent let us strike off on our own professional development a few years ago because we don't exactly fit with the high school, junior high, middle school, and elementary schools

021in that fact. So we struck off in the tech centers of work uh s uh program through the Southern Regional Education Board. We've been in that three years. This is our fourth year doing that and our teachers have really excelled. Uh we sent teachers to that uh conference and we have every year since and they've presented at a national level. We got our pink team there. They've done awesome. And then everybody else has just following along and we're doing we're doing wonderful things. Our goal was set out three years ago to become the premier career and techad center in the state of Missouri and uh we've been given that charge and uh we've took it and we're excited about it. And uh this is a big deal. three career and teched um facilities in the

022nation got this this year and uh we are one deserving of what our faculty is doing to our students to prepare them to be good good employees and uh it's exciting. So, thank you for that. And if you want to hear any more, I've got whole presentation on. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Well, thanks everyone for joining us. You're this is your time. You you're more than welcome to stay with us if you like, but if you'd like to leave, you you can do that. >> I hear Dr. Chapman's buying dinner. So, >> owes us lunch because we got to wear a t-shirt on the other. >> Oh, I was going for a dinner, too. Sorry. Trying to help you out. >> I'm going for dinner, too. Hope you guys have a wonderful evening. >>

023Thanks. >> Thank you for coming. >> Wonderful. All right, moving on to our next item on the agenda is questions from the floor. At this time, any person wishing to speak on any question previously discussed through administrative channels and not on the agenda will be granted three minutes to make a presentation to the board. Seeing none, moving on to presentations on agenda items. Any person wishing to speak on any item on the agenda will be granted three minutes to make a presentation. Seeing no one, we'll move on then to our consent agenda. A consent agenda is utilized by the Raleigh Board of Education as a means of dealing with routine matters which must be considered by the board of education but require a minimum of discussion. All board of education members receive and re review

024written information supporting the items listed on the consent agenda well in advance of the meeting. While any board of the educ excuse me while any board of education member is welcome to remove any item from the consent agenda for separate consideration or discussion for any reason. Normally all items on the consent agenda are approved in one motion with minimum of discussion. Tonight we have items A through D. Dr. Jer, do you have anything you want to pull out? >> Nothing. Happy to answer any questions there if you have any, but I think all of that's pretty straightforward. Uh would mention probably the Discovery Schools contract that is a blank contract. It's not up for a particular student, but that is what the contract looks like for all kids. So each individual kid gets a contract.

025Um so you're you're just approving the fee structure really is what that looks like. And then I think that's it unless you have questions. >> All right. Seeing none. Can I get a motion then to approve consent agenda items A through D? >> I'll make that motion. Right. Can I get second? >> I'll second that. >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no. >> All right. The consent agenda items A through D are approved. Right. Moving on now to old business, our long range facility update with Dr. Pton. Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. >> Evening. >> We have had lots going on and lots to and lots of uh really um interesting things to talk about tonight. So, there's lots of good things coming in our district.

026All right. Do I press the big one in the middle? Okay. So, just an update on the auditorium. As you know, we have been in there. We're using it. It's beautiful. What's left in there is just punch list items. So, KN&S is arranging with me to come back probably the first two weeks in September to finish up a few things. So, we are essentially done in there. We just they need to finish up a few things to get out, but we're holding them up now because we're using it, which is a great thing to have. So, going over a few of the maintenance projects this summer. Patrick, um, Kelly and all of the maintenance crew have been very, very busy. Um, if you went by the high school this summer, they did the phase two

027of the parking lot because remember, we're we are resurfacing that in phases. So, they did a really good job at doing that phase two. We have two more yet to go. So, very excited about that. If you were wondering what was going on by the baseball field this summer, that is a storage building. So, we are using some of that Bray building to become some of a visitor football area. So, we are we took everything out of there and put in that storage building across the way. So, that's what that is. If you notice by the fieldhouse that we installed a sidewalk, we kind of went with we'll see where the kids walk and then we'll put the sidewalk in. So, that was very successful this year. The high school also received a new chiller.

028There's a little bit of um EPM and Johnson controls yet to work with that, but the chiller is in and working. That's exciting. Um at the middle school, they did carpet replacements in the offices and in all the doorways. So, walk-off carpet came in there very much what like what we're using at the high school. We got some new walk-off carpet there. That has been great for our custodians. It doesn't have all the bridges that they have to vacuum through. And then you probably saw trim and parking lot um being widened. Well, they kind of uh messed up and didn't widen it. So, they're going to fix it here in the next few weeks. So, so they'll come back and finish that. We want to thank Patrick and all of the maintenance crew for all

029of their hard work. Not only did they do these projects, they also worked on our tornado restoration as well. So, very excited. An update on our Phelps County Community Foundation Early Childhood Center. Um we are, I would say, 80% complete with that. Um, Honer and Assoc Honer Associates is working with Four Rivers Architects to finalize those plans and drawings with us. Um, this is a will be a board that we will put out. I know it is hard to see, um, but it will all the colors represent different offices and and different classrooms and layouts. There'll be 27 classrooms, I believe, in the end, which will allow us for a little bit of growth, a maker space, and um, the designs inside are very are very kid-friendly. So, a lot of very neat, really awesome

030spaces that they're coming up with. So, there is another there is the key a little bit bigger for people to see. It will be two levels. We're covering up or building a level over that big open what they called pups plaza while it was Wyman West. So, all of that big open area. When we talk about a timeline, it this is proposed and I really want to emphasize proposed, but it's also very tentative because I do not believe that we will go out for bid at the end of this month, but we will be very soon after. So, they're looking at issuing the drawings for bid the end of August. I would say more in September with bids due on 101, coming to you for approval in November. Um, with a notice to proceed sometime

031in November with a final inspection and movein date still being August of 26. I talked with U. Mark Ruther today from Honer and all of the work is inside. So I know people will think that's very lofty. It's nine months, but it is inside work. They'll be able to work all winter without the, you know, snow, rain, hail, all of the things affecting them. On the athletic field updates, as we've talked about in previous meetings, we are going to replace the turf at the football field and update the lights to LED. And we are also we talked about updating the track right now that is really kind of off the plans on hold but softball field lighting as well to LED. They are working on an RFP. So what is the timeline for that? And

032you're going to see high school and middle school. So the high school turf project and the softball field that we'll talk about are on the same timeline with drawings issued for bid in September 4th. bids due back October 2nd and October board meeting approval with notice to proceed in November with a final inspection in April. That's what we're working for. >> Questions about >> RMS field upgrades that includes >> that will include the softball field that we will talk about in a few minutes in the next presentation. >> I put it there because both of them are there. So it will it will be there for the >> for that. Just going back to the early childhood, what kind of lead time will we need for the playground equipment? >> For the playground equipment, um,

033it will probably take about I ordered the playground equipment in May. I'll get it in September, so about five months, six months. >> Oh, okay. >> So, that's okay. No questions. Next one, please. I have joked all along that this tornado restoration will cause me a lot more gray hair and it really has. Um, as you as you all remember, March 14th was very um traumatic for our for our town and our school district. But I will tell you that we operate with a staff of rock stars. They are truly amazing in what they have done in March and again in August. So, I can't pray sing their praises enough into everything that they have done and all of the contractors that have worked with us. Um, while things went slow and I kept pushing

034and pushing, they came through and they helped us out and they did a really good job. So, at Mark Twain, we are working with Honer Associates to create plans for window replacement on the Salem Avenue side, planning a new storm shelter cafeteria, which I will show to you in a few minutes, as well as plans um might be a future plan to do put some classrooms that old cafeteria area with um a timeline of 18 to 24 months. Yes. So, just looking back at where we were on March 15 in 2025 and look at um five months later on August 14th, that is the exact same classroom. It's amazing at the work that they did. Um this room wasn't this way in March, but they actually set up another in another space there. Combined classes,

035they did a really good job. So, very impressed with that space. Notice the windows are still out. that the window replacement will be part of this construction. So you will see this is the rendering for the new storm shelter cafeteria area. This is going to be at the corner of Salem and Leonard Avenue over in that vicinity. That will allow us space to put the footings so we can make it a storm shelter. The insurance has approved this project. Questions about the cafeteria storm shelter. >> Do they normally write reimburse or something? How does um how does it work with the insurance company? >> We pay and then they reimburse us. Okay. >> Correct. >> So that that storm shelter area is a whole new kitchen. >> Whole new kitchen. >> Whole set of bathrooms.

036>> Yep. >> And then the >> and Yes. And it'll have a generator and storage. >> Yes. So, as you know, the windows over on Salem Avenue side of Mark Twain are quite original to the building. So quite old. um looking at taking that from from what we have to this three sets of windows will be on the insurance the rest of them will be on us but it's very important it will help us in energy savings as well because those windows are >> very single paneed and and very much that way so I think it will change the look as we pull up to Mark Twain >> very nice >> what are they going to that some of those doors inside some of those uh got broke correct that we replaced the windows in

037those. Um, but we have through the 2023 bond, um, we are in the process of purchasing all new doors for that area. >> Oh, okay. Great. >> So, those will be replaced. When they are replaced, I'll send I'll bring pictures, but we haven't they're still ordering them. So, we plan on replacing every one of those old doors in that building. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, so are is the gym still acting like the cafeteria? >> It is. It's the gym caftoriium. >> Okay. Yes, they have um revamped their schedule and they all the kids go there in the morning, their morning meeting, they eat breakfast. They're doing some really good things there, >> which not too long ago that's what they did anyway before the gym. Yeah, >> correct. A much smaller gym cafeter.

038>> Yes. >> And the food is coming from the junior high. Is that different than what we did? >> We did not cook at the junior high then. I think we cooked at the high school. >> High school. That's what I thought. Okay. >> Yes. So, we just moved it closer. There's plenty of space in the junior high cafeteria that seems to be going well. The insurance has helped us out with that as well as to get us a van to transport that food. >> So the timeline for this project drawings issued for bid in o middle of October, October 16th with the bids due back November 13th coming for a December December approval with notice to proceed in December with final inspections one year later. So a 12 month build timeline questions. Again, these

039are very tentative dates. Okay, Wyman Elementary. Wow, that has been quite the transformation. And again, those teachers, I can't express enough to them the thanks and the hard work that they did, including um Bill, our custodian, and all of the crew. I also want to give a shout out to Jen, our our new principal as well. She was there the night of the tornado and she has been there every step of the way. Appreciate her leadership and that of Renee Hayes as well who was our interim principal last year. They did a really good job. So, while our roof is in and dry, we still have guttering to go on. So, it they had to go with another company. So, they're waiting on them to fit in their schedule. It should be on in the

040next few next few months. playground equipment. I know it's on the way because I received the owner's manual the other day. So, it is due to be delivered in September. Basketball and tether balls were installed before school starts. So, keep in mind that area of the playground that was damaged is blocked off. The kids can't go there right now, but they know it's coming. So, we'll get new playground equipment and the new rubber underneath that. So, very exciting. >> And they'll take the old equipment with them. >> They're going to take the old equipment with them. Yes, they are. And do our maintenance folks install that or does that come with the special installers? >> It will come with special installers. >> So, um, the company and I it just it's Kurt, but I can't

041tell you their name right now. They will come in and do the installation as well. >> Do you know if they just turn around and like recycle that or >> I honestly have no idea, but I will ask them when they come in. >> I was just curious. >> Yeah, I will ask them. Ours is structurally bent, so there may be pieces they could reuse, but also it was put in in the early 2000s, >> right? >> so just as a reminder, five months before of what Wyman looked like and then what it was on August 13th, it's quite the difference. And I will tell you, getting to this point was a little yeah, stressful, but they did a great job. I want to say thanks to First on Site and helping us get through

042all of these all of these trials and tribulations. And this is the exact same classroom from March 15th to August 13th. That is Hannah Haven's room actually. And then one of U Miss Ashley Fredend Doll sent me this picture. So why is this important? This is what that room looked like on August 9th. And that is what the room looked like on August 13th. She her girls helped her quite a bit. Her >> They did. They did. But all of the teachers and all of the volunteers and all of their kids, it was just amazing. Um we were all there on Sunday the 9th and working with them and right alongside and our wrestling team came out and helped band help moves. All of those students volunteered their time. It was truly truly amazing. And

043I have to also have to give a shout out to our football team who helped move us out of Green Tree, you know, in May and helped us move into the middle school as well. They did a really good job. So, moving on to the middle school. Um, the roof was repaired last spring. Guttering is still to be placed there as well. Um, HVAC units are not here. Every time I present to you, I move the date back. Um, we have portable units in there right now working through some trials and tribulations. That's not ideal, but it's it's going on. We are thankful for the cool weather. Um, so they are not scheduled to build those until late September due to a chip. I think we've heard that before, right? Chips hold us up in

044the units. So that's where we're at. >> Chip. >> A chip of some type. I can't tell you what the name of it is, but that's what they keep telling us. So >> Huh. So AC systems is working with us. Patrick keeps talking to them and saying it's not acceptable. We we've got to have something because in September, that's an October install. It's time for heat. So, um gas line is repaired up top, but that final repair will go with the installation of the units. The case work is installed. I have a picture of that. Light replacements were completed over the summer. The ceiling tiles were completed and the fascia and the light in the c in the car car is being is installed. >> So, we're not still leaking, right? We are not. We

045are dry. So there is the hallway on March 15th and the hallway on August 14th. >> Amazing what five months can do. >> And thanks to the custodial crew over there as well. They have worked hard all summer. Um very much appreciate them. So I went over today. We kind of put little bulldogs over their faces. Um I was looking for the exact same classroom so I could take pictures. And that is the classroom on March 15th. And what you can't see is in that picture, there is um a lot of water and debris and ceiling tiles down over there on the right side of that picture. But look at it today. This is a an example of the casework in two of the classrooms that they where they had the classroom casework and cubbies

046that were put in. The teachers are in love with these. These are great. These >> are very nice. Next to the softball complex, we are working with our architects um to create plans for the concession stand press box complex. Um you will see there that is what we have slated it to look like from the outside. Um not going to read everything on there because I you can't read it. I literally snipped that from a very small picture. Um we are exploring the possibility of converting this field into a combined baseball and softball field. Um they will and plan to issue the RFP very soon. That is actually again where I said it earlier. RHS RMAS field upgrades. That includes this. So we will go out hopefully to bid um September 4th. Bids due back

047October 2nd. Approve in October from you. Notice to proceed in November with final inspection in April. That's what we're hoping for. Again, proposed timeline. Any questions about that? Yes. >> If we move the baseball field, what are we going to do with the ba the old baseball? >> We're gonna keep it >> keep it practice and >> and there are nights when we have, you know, varsity and JV and ninth grade playing all at the same time. And so that's quite a lot. Um, ninth grade games kind of go on forever. Um, but we would still use it and keep it. >> Okay. Over at maintenance, the the roof was repaired on the two maintenance buildings that were damaged. The tree cleanup is still underway throughout the district. Fence repair is scheduled for that site.

048That has been the last site we're worried about. We want to get the schools and the fence repaired there first, which they have done. The box trailer, the box truck and the trailers, we had to buy a new box. It took had quite a bit of lead time as well as for the trailers. So, but those purchases are underway and moving forward. So it probably won't be available to use this season for marching >> will not. >> Okay. >> And they have put some plans in place. >> They did just get one of the trailer. >> One trailer. >> Okay. But that's that was my next question. Are all their trailers available? >> Yes. >> Were was the insurance company going to offer anything for renting something while we're >> waiting? Do you know what

049was that >> if the insurance company was going to were they going to be able to offer anything for us to rent something while >> Probably they've already sent us this is a separate part. So the adjuster I'm dealing with didn't deal with the automobiles. >> So that is that is a separate adjuster. So they sent us the check to do that. If I was to ask I would sure they would. >> Okay. >> Because I assume what we have would not be enough. >> I I'm not sure. I think they were depends on the show. It depends on the show. I think they kind of purposely scaled back a little bit knowing that >> that they're going to be short. >> Oh, okay. Props take up a lot of room. So maybe they're >>

050especially when it's a Viking long boat. Yes. >> Oh yeah. Right. >> Oh wow. So I don't think they did that this year. >> No. Did not do a Viking boat this year. >> Okay. >> This building RTC as you will see the parapit is installed at the top of the building but the drip edge is not. So I would rather them put the guttering on the other buildings before they come back here. So, and this is the this is the part that teachers have been um very blessed. So, our insurance company has reimbursed. It was quite the chore. We went through everything that they listed. We priced it out. Um we sent it to the insurance company for approval. They had another adjuster help us with that. um they have until August 30th to

051submit their receipts to us. If something um they now they're coming into this going, "Oh my gosh, I realize this is damaged. This is damage." We are still purchasing for them if it's covered under insurance. If it is personal items that they realize have been damaged or were damaged in the move, we are using the core funds and the gracious donations from our community and the people. So those funds are being used both ways. So we have we have fulfilled all of those requests. Correct, Gina? Yes. so far the ones that we know about. So, we got a call. I think Dr. Welch got a call today. We need some more teachers manuals. We are getting them ordered. So, we are meeting their needs. They just need to tell us what they need. Questions about

052that? Any questions in regards to the tornado recovery? >> I think just a a comment to kind of echo what you said earlier about the teachers, the staff, the students. just can't thank them all enough for what they have done from last year from last school year to this school year. So just I think on behalf of all of us here we just say thank you >> want to say thank you to them. >> Absolutely. >> And thank you and thank you to you too for all of the support and the help through all this process. You >> guys have been through a lot. >> Yeah. >> And we're going to >> Lots of bonding but a lot of good things have happened. People are amazed that we have made it to where we are

053in in five months and so yes. So thank you too. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Moving on now to new business. So Mrs. Atinson again, >> it's your show this evening. >> Popular. >> It's our um >> I don't have presentations. >> The school year 25 annual secretary of the board. >> Yes. >> Okay. The annual secret. Sorry, I'll start over. The annual secretary of the board report or the ASBR is a comprehensive report that includes revenues, expenditures, fund balances, debt service information and transportation data. All of that is submitted annually to DESIE used uh by them and also that data is then I assume submitted to the federal department of education for comparisons, calculations and so forth. It must be submitted no later than August 15th of each year. So that

054was actually submitted a few weeks ago and the timely submission as a reminder is part of the MSIP 6 um scoring I guess now. So the summary data in part one reflects an ending fund balance of 38.57%. This balance is the net of refer of transferring $2 million to the capital projects fund and it leaves a capital projects balance of 11.1 million. The remaining parts of the ASBR include uh revenue data in part two and expenditure data in both parts 3A and 3B just kind of summarized differently. And then our debt obligation information is reported in part four. There's also a whole transportation um depreciation schedule and information that we have to submit and that is what determines our funding for transportation for this fiscal year. So the other part of it is through the

055ASBR um submission, we're able to very easily see our per pupil expenditure um the average per pupil expenditure that is and this past year was up to 12,429 per pupil and that's up from 11,815 last year. So, now that it's been filed, I have updated um our beginning fund balances for this fiscal year. And it then updates the ending fund balance budgeted fund balance for this year to 28.57% which is up from the original budgeted balance of 23.32%. So, in a subsequent board meeting, I'll be like I always do submitting a um budget adjustment presentation for your approval and it will include those be updated beginning balances and so on and so forth. So anyway, I unless there are any questions, I do need um this to be approved this evening. >> I do have

056a question. >> Yes, sir. >> I noted in there that one of the revenue items was our insurance uh >> the net insurance recovery. >> Well, I saw the revenue of of the recovery. And my question is, are we about even with our expenditures and our recovery as of this report? >> As of that report, no. So that's why you see it in there as revenue. >> Okay. >> So actually what they do it's not exactly on a reimbursement basis. So Dr. Fulton and I have been tracking all the expenditures. We have Google workbooks. It's also shared with the adjusters. And as those expenditures start compiling and piling up, we actually ask for an advancement. So we've only had one so far. We're about probably next week is when we need to get together and

057ask for another advance because they don't want our cash flow to be affected by this disaster, right? Because these are some really large expenditures. So last year before the end of the year, they gave us what just over two million I think um advance. And so when we're recording all the expenditures, it actually goes into a liability account. And then the revenue goes back to that liability account that by June 30th since we hadn't spent all of that I had to record the excess actually as revenue to net insurance recovery. >> So is that impacting our ending balance? >> Yes sir. >> Okay. >> Very good. >> Yes. And part of that there's also net insurance recovery I believe in fund four as well. So >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Yeah. That was a longwinded

058way of saying that. Yes, it affects our rising fund balance. >> If it's in there. >> All right. You needed a motion. Yes. I'll make a motion that we accept or approve the ASBR for 2025. >> Okay. Would someone like to second that? >> I'll second that. >> All right. Any discussion? No. Can I get a motion then to um approve the Andrew Secretary of the Board report? >> Oh, all in favor? Sorry. I I >> You've threw me off, Jim. >> Thank you. >> Anybody oppose? >> The motions pass. >> Do you have to >> I started reading what was on here. >> All right. Next is our policy updates. Um but Dr. Dear. [Music] >> Okay. Uh kind of a couple comments to get started. Uh we we typically get new policy updates

059and changes every year. Uh sometimes multiple times a year, sometimes not. It just depends on what's happening in the world. Uh with all the legislative activity that happened this year, we're going to get a lot of policy updates. Um and part of that is because some of the policies impacted are tied to multiple other policies and referenced in certain ways. So, um, we'll talk through this process a little bit, but but just know that, uh, there's going to be a lot and this is round one and, um, we we expect at least two more uh, within the next couple months. So, um, just as a reminder, we do use, uh, Missouri School Boards Association for our policy services. Uh so they have a legal team that reviews state law, federal regulations, all those things and

060then also uh gets our input from the district level uh as to what those policies state. Uh I would say the vast majority of our policies are rooted in state and federal law and regulation. That's what they are. Um and and we um have some opportunity to make adjustments, but uh we're obligated to follow the law. So that's that's the basis for everything. We do have a policy committee, a standing committee that meets to review these. Uh we typically push them out ahead of time, ask the committee to review those. We typically come together and meet and discuss those. Uh I will tell you um in this situation for the policies that you have tonight, we we did that a little differently. Um and I'll explain why here in just a second. Uh but um

061we did a lot No, I'll do it now. Sorry. We did a lot of this through email. Uh we did most of this through email. So the reason being is um most of these laws were passed. They were not signed by the governor until about mid July and then MSBA has to develop the policies and push those out. And so we just received this packet uh a couple weeks ago and it didn't give us enough time with school starting and everything to to get everybody together. The schedules just didn't allow it. But a lot of these things are in effect uh starting August 28th. they become law and so we can't really wait either. Uh so we we were a little flexible in this situation to try to get some of these done. So the

062things that you're going to see tonight uh a little different process, but we still got input. We still sent this out to our our um we have board members on that uh committee, Charlotte and Larry Marty. Uh we have multiple teachers and and support staff from each building on that committee and we have a couple parents uh and community representatives. So we did send it out to get feedback. uh we did have a few questions and and we were able to chase through some of those. So um please know that we still we still went through the process. We just weren't able to meet in person. So from there typically the then we make the recommendations to you as the board, but you as the board do make the final decision as to whether we're

063adopting these uh and following the the recommendations or not. After your approval, uh we submit the uh amendments back to MSBA. They review them one last time from the legal side and then they'll update our live policy versions on our website uh through the assembly program. So these drafts um don't exist to the public until you approve them and they get updated by MSBA. So um again uh our recommendations are based uh on on really four things tonight. One is changes to state law and regulations. That's the that's the large chunk of these. There were some changes to federal law and regulations. Um, so that has a few. There were a couple of policies that we had reviewed prior that we had submitted to MSBA for changes that are also included in this. So, it's

064just the kind of the final versions if you would uh after the changes we ask for. And then there's a few that MSBA has recommended just as cleanup items as they review our policies periodically. They're like, you know, this is redundant or there's a piece here that's no longer relevant. Uh and so there are a couple of those, but uh we did hold some policies over from the packet uh that do need to go to the committee for more discussion and review. So please know that we didn't just shove everything through. Um there are a few that we'll need to talk through a little more detail. So the presentation tonight, I'm going to go in alphabetical order. Um the alphabet part of it really has no basis, but each uh letter corresponds to a broader

065category. So, um, this is just a good way for me to stay organized if nothing else. So, if you'll bear with me, I'm not going to read the policies obviously. Um, you're talking about several hundred pages. Uh, they have been provided to the board ahead of time and the committee also had the full language. Uh, but I do want to kind of summarize just so the general public at least, uh, those listening in know at least, um, kind of the general idea of what's happening. And certainly as we go through these, um, board stop at me if you have any questions. So, under foundations and basics, um, some USDA language changes. Uh, the first one is one that we've had, uh, held over before, we made some recommendations and asked for some changes to that.

066There's some specific language in that policy that is required for us to post uh, on our free reduced lunch applications, posters in our cafeterias, and those kind of things. And so, that's that's the first change. It's it's a long page full of stuff, but really what it says is we won't discriminate against kids by holding food. um which we're not going to do anyway. It's it's really a a silly policy in my opinion and it could simply state that we won't take food away from a kid to discriminate against them. That's as simple as it could be. But uh the second one is there were some provisions added in the USDA side to uh u have a preference for by American um and so that just updates that language that we are following that policy

067and we have been doing that u for a while. Under B for schoolboard governance and operations, there's one change there. Uh this was a state law change to add um for the requirements to run for school board, you can't have any assault or harassment charges or a guilty plea for those charges for anything that happened on school grounds in the first or second degree. So not sure where this came from, but it is it is state law now. So we've um updated our policy to reflect that under C general school administration. No changes there. D, fiscal management. There's a few in this one. Uh, DFA is revenues from investments. Um, basically, school districts have had some leeway in the past. There were two separate policies. One, if you were choosing to follow the Missouri state

068treasurer's model investment policy. The other policy was if the school district adopted their own investment policy, basically MSBA looked at that and said, "This is silly. It's not an eitheror. that has to be you adopt this policy or this policy. It's the policy allows the board to do one or the other. So they basically have combined the two policies into one. So the recommendation is to adopt DFA that has both provisions and to resend DFA1 which then would become redundant. Okay. So anything in red tonight is a resention. Also under physical management DJF AP1 uh let me I should have said this I'm sorry we have policies and then we have administrative procedures that are supportive of policies. So the AP anytime you see the AP designation those are procedures. Um this is federal law,

069state law that's been adopted also to um uh there's no we can't boycott goods or services from Israel. We we don't do that anyway but it's now policy. the DJFAS uh DJFA policy AP1 AP2 has to do with procurement recordkeeping and processes. Uh it's really just language changes. It doesn't really change anything we do. Um it was just some clarifications in that side. It's really more to do about um documenting procurement u practices. So those are all kind of lumped together. It's the same changes within all three segments of that. Uh DLCA is a travel expense piece. That's one that the district requested in our last uh update. Um that one outlines what we pay for for uh especially for staff traveling for school business, professional development or uh meetings, business, anything like that. Um

070as you all know, we do not reimburse for food. And so while we have some some items in there to allow for that, we currently don't do that. So we just clarified that within the policy that there is currently no reimbursement for food. um so that that's less confusing. Under E for support services, uh there's a copyright compliance piece that has a policy and an AP. Um basically this clarifies there've been some attention u with this with all the moves to digital uh AI uh digital textbooks, digital recordkeeping, all the digital things. Copyright compliance has become more and more of a concern. And so this uh uh is some changes from federal law that and federal regulations that clarify what fair use means for educational purposes. Um I don't anticipate any major changes for what

071we do, but it does um kind of clarify what's allowed to be used for educational purposes in and what way. And then a recent EHBA, which is student use of personal electronic devices. Now, that's probably going to sound strange because we just heard about this wonderful cell phone bill uh ban, but um they have moved that language. So, this policy that we're rescending actually just had some language about students using those devices for instructional purposes. The new policy under under JFCD actually uh takes into account the new law with the ban. So, it's a it's a deleting deletion of the old policy and a new policy that will come here in just a minute. under facilities development uh rescension of policy FFA which is memorials on facilities and grounds. That language has been moved to

072policy KH uh just to clarify and simplify things. So this is just redundant now at this point so it can go away. Under personnel uh federal changes, regulation changes for federal whistleblowers under GBCB staff health and safety. Um there was some language in there specific to bus drivers uh especially for medical physicals and the law keeps changing and so what they've decided is the the the policy states that we'll follow the law and that's okay. We don't have to restate the law within the policy. So, they're taking out the specifics and making that a little more generic to just simply state that we will follow state law when it comes to medical physicals and what are required. Uh, criminal background checks under personnel. Uh, this updates language to align with the FBI database management. Um,

073we do need to make an amendment to that one. It still has um some old uh positions and titles from the district side. So, we noted that uh some names need to be updated in that, but the language itself is okay. Um, this was really just the FBI made some changes to some of their language and this would just make our policy reflect that terminology. Uh, recentension for uh, professional staff compensation. Uh, this language was moved to GCBA. Uh, so essentially again eliminating the pro the AP and combining it all under policy language. Uh, so it becomes redundant in the AP. I put a note in um just in case anybody asked. We we have a section H, but we do not have policies under section H in Missouri because Missouri law does not allow

074actual negotiations per se. There are some districts that do that and have agreements with uh collective bargaining structures and that, but we do not. So, there's no section H. So, I didn't just didn't want anybody at home to think that we forgot that letter. Um section I is instruction. There's several under this one. IGB is programs for gifted students. Um Dr. Welch has um addressed the the proposed changes to make them reflect district practices. So you'll see a separate document in your packet for that policy with her u proposed changes there. Uh basically Desi uh changed this to reflect um current gifted structures. Uh Dr. Welch took it one more step to say, okay, these tests are allowed. These things are allowed, but these are the ones that we use specifically here in Rala. So

075that's what that is. All of that language would reflect the assessment plan that you've seen before. IGBCA is programs for homeless students. Again, this is uh updating the current DESI guidelines. Really, the changes revolved around um dispute resolution. So, if there's ever a time that we had a question about whether a student was homeless or what that looked like um what the due process piece of that would look like. Okay. IGBI um and the AP coordinating AP um the recommendation is to to remove the AP. The policy has been updated to include Senate Bill 63, which if you'll remember from last time is the new law uh that allows homeschool um FPE and virtual students to participate in our activities. And so that language is all reflected in that and they combine that all back

076into one policy. Um the AP had a lot of the language from Misha and some of those other guidance things that are no longer applicable. IGCD is virtual courses. Uh again, um there is some pro there are some provisions that allow students to be placed on virtual instruction for disciplinary reasons. So if there's a pending hearing or something like that, this this guarantees and makes sure that there's a due process piece for students placed into virtual classes for disciplinary reasons. Um we've not had to use that or be a part of anything like that, but um it meets the the current legal requirements. IGCDA is full-time mocap virtual courses. Again, this would be virtual students participating in um athletics and activities. So again, the Senate Bill 63 language has been reflected there. IGD district sponsored

077activities and groups again um policy language and cleanup from Senate Bill 63. Also Senate Bill 39 um that uh was left over from last year. Just a few changes there with some things around um uh placement um IGAA resident participant student involvement in activities events. This is the new policy and the new term. So resident participant student is the term that Misha is using for the virtual homeschool and FPE students. So they are residents of the district. They are resident participant students. They're not enrolled, >> right? >> They're just resident participant students. >> This was the big debate like whether they're enrolled and considered a student. >> Yeah. >> How do we track that in our student system? >> Yes. So, we now have designations in our student system for resident participant students. >> Okay.

078>> So that we can track them and have their um emergency contact information and all those things. Yeah. So, this one is a new policy uh written specifically to Senate Bill 63. Again, as I mentioned earlier, you know, that one legal change, that one law has has prompted multitude of of changes to policy language. ILAP2's assessment program um this uh dealt a lot with literacy. um that again is an everchanging landscape and so all the things involved in that um are no longer applicable due to changes from Senate Bill 60 uh Senate Bill 681 from last year and so that one can go away. Um that language has all been incorporated in other places. >> Dr. Dar, do you know at this point have we had some students come in with new activities? >> We

079have uh we've had some inquiries >> before. Yeah, we we yeah, it's something we've always um done in some form or fashion, but we do have some um >> I couldn't tell you an exact number, Charlotte, but I know we've had some inquiries and some people asking Dr. Welch says two >> um officially at this point, right? So, but we've had a few questions and phone calls and other things. So, that that could grow. Okay. Under students, the big one JFCD, this is that student use of personal communication devices. This is the legal update from Senate Bill 68. um would remind you Senate Bill 68 had over 30 provisions. Uh they we haven't even begun to touch those. So the next couple rounds of policies will get further into those Senate Bill 68 changes, but

080the the cell phone piece obviously was a big piece. So that one um they got included in this first packet. JGR1 is also reflective of Senate Bill 68. So JGR1 is our is our discipline policy. And so they have now inserted this the cell phone ban uh piece into our discipline policy. So that's what those are both related. And then under section K for school community relations, we have a public information program. Uh MSP 6 um stresses and and in some ways requires that we do that we ensure that we're doing two-way communication with the public. I think uh with Gina's guidance and help, we we do a great job with that. But um this updates the policy to make sure that the language reflects that policy KK uh and the associated u administrative procedure.

081Um and this does happen on occasion. We have to ban someone from campus. Um typically it's adults. Um but if someone is is doing something unsafe or something that that we can't have them around children, we have to ban them from campus. the policy changes here follow new requirements that um guarantee them a due process uh right. So if they want to come in and challenge that, they have the right to come in and um present evidence, present findings, whatever that looks like uh with um me and then ultimately with you if they choose to do so. It's pretty rare that we have to do that, but um in in most of the time, most of the cases that I think we have had to do that, I don't I don't anticipate there would be

082a lot of challenges to those. So, okay. So, um, happy to answer any questions. I went through those very quickly, obviously, but just to give you a big picture of what that looks like, we have two sets of data in your packet. Um, you'll see a a a grid, a table of policies to approve and then a table of policies to resend. So, we have those separated out for you. All right. Do you need each? >> You can do those as two separate motions. You can do those as one motion. Um, it's up to you, but you can do it you can do it as the approved list in the in the in the >> I make a motion to approve the changes for the policies to approve. I'll second. >> All right. Any discussion?

083All in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed say no. Motion has passed. >> Thank you. >> I'll make a motion to approve the policies to resend as presented. >> I'll second. >> All right. Again, any discussion on those? If not, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no. >> That motion has passed. Dr. Dr. D, I was just going to ask um on the cell phone policy and the change in the discipline on that, was that able to be communicated out? Is there a place that parents know what the consequences are? >> Yeah, that that should all be outlined in the student handbooks for each building. Um the policy language on that is pretty broad, right? So, it's kind of everything from a warning to, you know, if it's blatant

084and and and cheating or something, there's other consequences that can go with that, but also keeping in mind that that looks different for a third grader than it would for a senior probably. Um, we're going to have different expectations there. So, each building has has kind of further defined that, but that should be in the student handbooks. >> I just know timing was so tight. >> It was pretty tight. Yeah. So, they they should have issued some addendums there. Yep. Okay. All right. Staffing. >> Time for staffing. >> I'm coming to you this evening to ask for an additional PAR professional to meet the needs of some students with IEPs in the early childhood special education program. Please. The estimated salary and benefits is about $25,867 approximately. motion. >> I would say keep keep in

085mind with this being ECSSE, we do get reimbured for this. >> Yes. >> A year in a rears. So we would get reimbured for this next year through the state funding. >> Okay. Can I get a motion? >> I'll make a motion to hire a ECS pair professional at Wyman. >> Okay. >> I second that motion. >> All right. Any discussion? >> All right. If not, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no. >> Right. Motion has passed. >> Thank you. All right, setting a date for a work session. >> So, um obviously with the amount of work that Dr. Fulton outlined for you earlier, um and um and then of course um tonight was the Mrs. Atinson show with all the financial things, but we'd like to to spend some

086time with you combining those two worlds uh and talking about um those projects a little more detail, the insurance impacts, the district impacts, those kind of things. So, um we are um proposing uh if if it works for everybody possibly to meet earlier on the date of the 18th. We have a board meeting scheduled for that night. It is an earlier meeting already. Just make sure you remember that. >> September 18th. That was the one we moved up because of the home football game on the Thursday night. So, we're scheduled to start at 4. Um, we could potentially do our um, work session starting at 1:30 or two if that works for you all. If not, we can look at a different date. >> Works for me. Works for me. >> I'm good with that,

087too. >> All right. Does that work for everybody then? >> Okay. So, it would be September the 18th. At what time? I think if if 1:30 works, I think the extra time could be useful. >> Okay. 1:30 p.m. All right. Make a motion. Can I get a motion then to approve the work session for September 18th at 1:30 p.m.? >> I'll make a motion we have a work session uh on September 18th at 1:30. >> I'll second. >> All right. Um any discussion? If not, can I get a motion or excuse me, all in favor say I? I. >> All the post say no. >> All right, motion's passed. >> Okay, moving on to comments. Would you like to go first? >> I would. So, I want to talk to you guys for a little

088bit about this lovely, beautiful, wonderful book that I gave to you all this evening. This is Instant Classic. This is the 77th Growler yearbook from the Raleigh High School yearbook staff. Um, I've been going around telling everyone that this is my child because we worked so so hard on it. So, I want to talk to you a little about what this book means, what the theme is, the cover story, and what the theme really became after March 14th. So, when I was dreaming up this book, I am a legacy at Raleigh High School. My mom went here, my aunt went here, my uncle went here, my grandmother was an administrator. So my love for this district has never been small. And I wanted a book that represented students from 30 years ago, students coming here

089now, and students coming 30 years from now. And you look back and you say, "Oh, this is the same. I remember this. Oh, this has a different name, but I remember doing something similar to that." And so it was all about events for me like homecoming, Pride Night, St. Pats. Of course, I didn't know then what I know now, and that St. Pats wouldn't have really happened. And I remember after the night of the tornado and coming back and regrouping with my staff, I was really really frustrated. You know, how in the world is the year I pick and the year I'm the editor and I choose a theme about traditions and what makes Rala that St. Pats doesn't happen and there's a tornado the night before. I was so frustrated. But then the real

090theme emerged and it's not about the events. It's not about the floats going down Pine Street or the vendor setting up in the high school parking lot for Pride Night. It's the people that are there that make Rala what it was 30 years ago, today, and forever from now. And that's what makes it so distinct and so special and a place where parents send their kids and their grandkids and have wonderful experiences. It's the people that got up the morning after and went to clean up after the tornado and the maintenance staffs that have worked for the last five months to be able to have us be back in these buildings when no one thought it could be done. And that's the true story and that's why I believe Rala is an instant classic. And

091that's why we titled it that because no matter when you were here or when you will be here, it's timeless. It's age-old. It never ends. It's instant classic. And so that's the theme. Obviously, it's very pretty. >> Yes, >> in my opinion. >> Very pretty. >> And on the cover is Kylie Croft. She's a math teacher at Raleigh High School. She's actually my math teacher at RAW High School. >> And she is wearing her dad, Coach Croft, who I am sure you all know and have heard of and have worked with. She's wearing his 1977 Letterman jacket for the 77th edition of the Growler yearbook. That's so cool. and we sent out an all call on Facebook for the 77 letterman and we were like, you know, it's kind of a shot in the dark.

092We don't know if we'll really get one or not. And then Coach Croft is the one who has one and his daughter works there and his daughter went here and actually Coach Croft metal detects at my house sometimes. And so it was like meant to be. It was perfect and they were superstars. I mean, they were up for all of our crazy ideas. They did photo shoots. They did interviews. They did little promotional things and they loved it. And that was that generations of pride. That's actually what I titled the story about the cover is generations of pride because where else are you going to find something that perfect to go with this kind of theme. And so that's what I kept reminding myself about the people. The people. And that's why I think this

093book is so special. And in my letter from the editor, I said, I hope this is a book that everyone keeps on their shelves forever, but never collects dust because I want them to keep reading it and keep remembering it and keep enjoying it. If there's one story I want you all to read, of course, doesn't have to be now, just at some point someday, I want you to read the story about the Chicago musical. There's two pages, >> but the first page is the real student perspective of what happened that night on that stage, and it is incredible. It's terrifying and very sad, but it is incredible writing. One of my best friends wrote it, and it really tells the story about where we were and how much we've overcome. And then the very

094next page is about when they did put on that show in May and how much of a full circle it all was. And so it's stories like that that are layered throughout the book that really show that the people are what make Rala. The events don't make Rala. And so that is instant classic. I'm really excited for everyone to see it. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it and it is my child and I love it. >> Well done. >> It's very special. >> Beautiful. >> I was just looking through all the pages that had you on it. >> There's a few quite a couple. A couple. I mean Yeah. Congratulations. >> It's beautiful. >> This is great. >> Well, thank you. >> Beautiful for sure. >> Well, how is everything

095going school-wise? It's It's been good. It's been a long couple days. I'm a little worn out. I wasn't doing a whole lot. Now I'm doing everything. Um, but it's been good to see everyone. I'm a senior. That's insane. I was a sophomore when I started this. So, it's just it's wild. But I'm really excited for this year. I know my class is really excited. You know, I know things look a little different and I I'm not going to ignore that. I think, you know, it's different. There's been changes, but I, you know, we're going to get through it. We're going to work through it and it's a team effort and I think it will overall, if it's done correctly by all parties, I think will lead to a really, really good school year. and I'm

096really excited to see what happens. >> Okay. Well, we hope you have a fantastic school year for sure. >> All right, Dr. Dear, would you like to >> Well, first and foremost, u Maria, I do want to thank you and and all the students. um you know, not to belabor the tornado piece, but thank you for for capturing the essence of what happened and being willing to pivot and do that because I know that's not what you had planned for the book. >> Um and I I know that's not what any of us had planned for that week or weeks or months. Um but thank you for for u preserving that for history because it is important and it was it was huge and our students were so much a big part of that. Um,

097just a couple of quick comments. Uh, obviously with the start of school, it's been busy. Uh, I would echo Maria's sentiments. I think we're all a little tired. Uh, but it's a good tired. Uh, it's a good thing and I think we're all grateful to have everyone back in a routine and looking forward to a good school year. Uh, I do want to thank our staff. Um, you know, Dr. Fulton mentioned Wyman earlier. You know, a week before open house, we didn't even have tile on the floor. and and so what what happened there over the course of a few days was nothing short of amazing again. Uh and that's what we keep seeing again and again and again. The middle school um you would never know there was ever an issue there. It looks

098better than it ever was. And um uh same for all the other places. Everybody pitched in and did their part and so grateful to our staff. Uh I also want to thank our parents uh for their um support and patience and understanding and um continued support. It's it's overwhelming at times. I wanted to mention the transportation uh department and their efforts. Uh it's it's a massive undertaking to take a a group of kids and get them home on that first day of school. And I say it that way because a lot of parents uh are eager and bring them to school on the first day and we respect that and love that. And then they we put them on a bus with a driver that may be new uh and didn't pick them up that

099morning. And we're taking them home to home. And some of those kids, they they if you ask them where they live, they tell you they live at home. They don't know much more than that. So, uh we do have the new transportation app and hopefully our parents have been able to get on that. I know there have been some questions. There's obviously been some hiccups. It's a new system. Um, but I think ultimately it's going to be great and I appreciate our drivers working on that, but truly appreciate the parents and their patience with us as we're learning that system and learning what it's capable of doing. U but, um, for those that don't know, uh, basically the kids check in when they get on the bus, they check out when they get off the

100bus, so the parents at least know that they're on a bus, that they're off the bus. Um, just gives a little extra communication in those pieces. uh and allows us to know too at a glance rather than trying to get a hold of a bus driver on a radio who's been distracted from driving. Uh we can look in the system and say yes, they checked on to bus 30 or whatever and we we know that where they are even if they're on the wrong bus that we at least know where they are. So, uh it's been very very helpful. Um let's see. Uh, one other thing I wanted to mention tonight. Um, I don't know if any of you uh saw in the news. Um, this is this is the small world we live in,

101but Central High School in Springfield uh canceled their uh varsity football season. That does directly impact us. Uh, that happens to be our game scheduled for homecoming. So, uh, uh, Mark Cavalere, our athletic director, and his team are working diligently to find a replacement game. Um, I do want to mention because I've had several people say, "Well, Central played several schools. Why don't you just pick one of those?" Well, that would be great except Central played all those schools on different dates. So, they all have different dates open than we have. Um, and so we are working uh he has reached out to to multiple different individual districts and that entire conference that Springfield Central is a part of in the hopes of finding uh an opportunity. Um, so far we have not been able

102to do that. So, I want to be clear, we are working on that and hope to find a solution there, but we do not have a replacement game at this time. So, um hopefully we'll have better news soon. Um but I do want to want to make mention that and clarify for everybody that that that did directly impact us. So, that's all I have. >> And if they don't find one, what happens? >> That's a great question, Maria. >> Okay. Because that's what my people are going to want to know. >> Yeah. Uh I would tell you, uh we are actually we're going to meet early next week. uh and I see we that'll include Mr. Bridgeman and uh Dr. Ray and Coach Cavalero, Gina will be involved in that because of the core pieces.

103>> Uh homecoming touches more than just the game and the parade, right? Uh the community events and all those things. >> So, we will we will meet and talk about plans B, C, D, and E. Um and see what those look like. Um I don't have answers for you tonight. >> So, the hope is just to slide another team into >> the hope is to slide another game into that night. And if not, we'll have to >> we'll have to think about what that means. >> Go from there. >> Yep. >> Have a staff game instead. >> What's that? >> Staff game. >> You get me on a dance floor somewhere. >> Well, I'm going to say those mothers of the football players. Did you guys see some of those videos? >> I did see

104some of those. Some of them did not hold back. >> They did not. I think that would be a fun game. might have to be t flag football or something a little bit less, you know, don't want to break a hook, >> a hip or anything, but yeah, >> foot or anything else. >> All right. Um, for the board, just pay attention to the written reports. We have the sub institute teacher list, the financial reports, the cafeteria report, and the employment and staffing report. Um, also for up >> I have a comment. >> Oh, okay. >> I was really impressed last Friday that Dr. Dare played the saxophone for the stars final banner. That was very good. I think he's got a second career >> there. Someone said >> very nice. >> Some someone said

105they thought it went viral and I said I don't think it went viral. Maybe head cold level but it went viral. >> Thank Thank you, Mark. That was >> definitely a surprise. >> It was a wonderful surprise. >> It's hard to surprise everybody. So >> Gina Gina's a good secret keeper. >> He kept that from us, too. >> Oh, did he? Oh yeah, till I looked back there and saw the saxophone sitting there with him and I'm like, >> "Okay." >> Yeah, that was awesome. Um, any other comments from the board? Sorry I didn't give you guys a chance. >> Yeah, I will. Um, this last weekend, my husband graduated 1970 from Rala and they had their 50th reunion. 55 years, I mean 55. Yeah. Um, and they took a tour of the high school

106Saturday morning and they were so impressed about all the new things and they really liked the veterans hall there and all that. Several of them, you know, several live in different states. They said they've never seen anything like that in high school. They were very impressed by that. And Dr. uh Ray took them uh down some of the original hallways, you know, and some of the people started telling stories about, you know, what happened in this hallway. And I'm not going to repeat those. They're pretty wild, those class of 70, you know, but they were very impressed by all the changes. They love the fieldhouse and the theater just blew them away. So, they were very, very proud that all those changes are happening here. >> Great. You >> might mention the board has um

107regional workshop. >> Yeah, I was getting ready to go through those dates. That's okay. Not a problem. Do you have anything for core that you need to >> uh No, I don't. >> Update us on or anything? >> Suare is coming up, right? We hope so. Well, >> fingers crossed it all works out for us. >> Pride dance will go on. >> The dance some somehow someway, right? >> All right. >> Next Friday, Pride Night. Yeah. >> Yeah, we've got Pride. Any other comments? All right. So, our next board meeting is September 4th. Um, starting at our regular time at 5:00 PM for close and 5:30 for open. Um, and then after that would be September the 18th with the adjustment that we've just made with our workshop. Um, Bulldog Pride night is Friday, August

108the 29th, starting at 5:30 and it's to 7. Is that actually when the doors open for is 5:30 for all the goodies? Okay. And then we have an MSBA 2025 fall regional meeting that's going to be in Washington uh school district and that will be on Wednesday, September 3rd um starting at 5:45 to 8:30. I think we're all going to meet here to go there. All right. If no other comments, then >> I move we adjourn. >> Someone like to second that. >> I second that. >> All right. All in favor say