001throughout the district. This summer, Harden, Harris, and St. Charles West saw substantial renovation slash, I would say, refresh work uh that was completed. All of our buildings received some type of enhancements from roof roof work to HVAC. Uh just a lot of different things that we've done this summer. We are pleased that all of our schools were fully ready uh for the for welcoming students back in August on August 20th. And again, we're off to a great start. Earlier, the board of education set the tax rate for this school year. Mr. Shields will have more information on this during the financial report. That's always a crowd favorite. >> Yeah, it's pretty exciting. Fall sports season has started. It's a fun time as we are busy with exciting sports activities. Performing arts events will start as
002well uh to attend as always. Go Pirates and go Warriors. I do want to make a special note. Uh we have revised our SHs football game protocols. One major change is that we're going to only allow digital ticket sales. Uh so get your tickets online. Also, uh middle school students will continue to attend the game with an adult and now we will need to have them sit with that adult during the game. St. Charles West will be sending out their revised football game protocols next week since they don't play a home game until next Friday. I just want to encourage all of us uh to continue to have great pride in our district and our community and help keep our environment welcoming and safe for all to enjoy the games. Tonight we have worked hard
003to prepare this meeting and tonight we have an important discussion and presentations on our first ever high school board report tonight. You can give him a hand. That's Owen. That's exciting. I say first ever at least in my tenure. So, how's that? And then uh we obviously have some consent consent agenda items to approve. Gifted program review. That's going to be exciting too, right? >> Yes. and then employee benefit plan terms of our insurance. Um, and then also the district financial report. I want to say again, we're off to a productive uh beginning of the 2526 school year. I want to thank our staff for all that they do and our students, our staff, uh, and our and our families. We have a special school district. We have a special community. I'm very proud to
004be the the the superintendent. I just want to encourage all all of us to continue to be safe, respectful, responsible as we continue to be allin with engaging, empowering, inspiring every learner every day. Thanks, Heidi. >> Thank you. Item 3.04, board communications, which we have none. We'll move on to item 3.05, audience comments. Public participation at board meetings. All regular and special meetings of the board shall be open to the public. Since the board desires to be a good listener and be responsive to the community, persons desiring to address the board may do so during the time so allotted on the agenda and according to established procedures. During the audience portion of each board meeting, patrons are invited by the president to speak for or against any proposal on the tenative agenda or on any
005other school's concern. The individual is asked to identify him or herself, limit comments to a few minutes, and avoid discussing personalities. The president reserves the right to limit the number of presentations and or length of comments. At the discretion of the president, patrons may be recognized at other times during the board meeting. The board is very interested in audience comments. According to board policy, members cannot respond during the actual meeting. The board will listen to audience comments and if necessary, additional follow-up will occur through district administrators. We'll start tonight. The first audience um comment is from Mark Briggs. if you want to come up here to the podium and then if you can just press the little icon with a person on it then we'll be able to hear you should be right in the
006middle a little head it looks like a person's head >> I was looking on the screen >> there you go >> thank you >> okay am I on >> y >> all right Mark Briggs I'm here to advocate for um a request from my granddaughter Anna Springmer and uh believe you received a a letter of request from her parents and a couple letters of recommendation from her teachers. Uh I looked on your website for intra district school student transfers. I didn't see anything and from what I understand it's just brought to the school board on a case-byase basis. Is that correct? >> Yes. Okay, that's all I'm here for. >> Okay, thank you so much for coming. >> So, when in the agenda do you discuss that? >> That's Yeah, that's discussed in close session
007and then you'll be notified. The party will be notified usually the following day. >> Okay. I brought hard copies >> Okay. >> of their letter. Did you want that for the secretary? >> Yeah, if you want to give them to me, that'd be fine. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next, um, we'll ask Beatatric Underwood Suite to come speak on behalf of MSTA. >> Good evening. Hi. Uh, this is my eighth year in the district and currently my seventh year of teaching English at St. Charles High School. I'm also the president of our local chapter of MSTA. Before I came to St. Charles, I have taught in four states: California, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and now Missouri. because life sometimes takes you in directions you don't expect. I've worked in more than half a dozen districts. The
008city of St. Charles School District is the best district I've worked for so far. One of the reasons for me that it is is that the unique sorry is the unique ways that district has to attract and retain teachers. One of those benefits that I appreciate is the ability to choose what professional organization to join. I've been a part of UTLA, AFT, and NEA in the past, and now I'm a member of MSTA. This is the first district where I've had the chance to choose which association to join. I was given only one option in other districts. Thank you for supporting all our teachers and having choice here in St. Charles now and in the future. >> Thank you. Next, uh, Kayla Gilmore with MSTA. >> Hi, my name is Kayla Gilmore. I know a
009lot of you guys and administrators already. Dr. Traer got the joy of walking through my room this week and seeing my sophomores in action. I'm the current vice president of our St. Charles MSTA CTA. I also currently serve as the region president for the greater St. Louis region, which includes 31 districts in the St. Louis area. And I'm not here to convince you to join MSTA, but I am here to say how proud I am that I work in a district that provides teachers with plenty of options for representation that fit their individual needs. My individual needs prioritize staying local and having an organization like MSTA that understands how changes in legislation here in Missouri are going to impact my high school curriculum here at St. Charles High School. And here at St. Charles School
010District, we have about a 100 members whose needs align with mine. Those teachers deserve the ability to choose what works best for them. And for our members, for many reasons, that choice is MSTA board. Thank you so much for your dedication to our students and to our staff and for letting all of our SCSD teachers have a choice in their representation. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, uh Teresa. >> Hello. I am Teresa Lindnik, a mom um a mom of a St. Charles um high graduate and a taxpayer. I want to thank the board and administrator administration for their efforts in helping our students succeed. Um happy patriot day today. 24 years ago we had terrorism in New York. So many murders since and so many so so much violence on our youth. My husband
011went on to glory two months ago peacefully in our bed. Yesterday, a man who has conversations on college campus campuses with college students about truth and our constitution was brutally assassinated while he was speaking. He was only 31 years old. A week ago, there were students while praying brutally assassinated as well as many other murders in our beloved c country. So much violence. The enemy is our against our youth against free speech against freedom of religion against our youth's souls. The Bible says in Isaiah 59 verse 19, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." Let me say that again. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. Our youth need
012that standard. So, um, our American pledge says, "One nation under God, our national motto is in God we trust." I invite everyone here to pray out loud or in their hearts with me the Lord's Prayer because we need it so badly in these moments. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the glory, and the power forever. Amen. Thank you. Brendan Karns is gonna come speak on behalf of SEA. Good evening, members of the board of education. It's been good to be back after my
013summer hiatus. I had season tickets at the MUN on Thursdays, but I was very appreciative of Jessica Ross um taking up the meetings this summer. Um I'm Brendan Karns, president of the St. Charles Education Association, the exclusive bargaining group recognized by the board for both certified employees and nurses. I'd like to start with thanking the board for two important things. Um, members contacted me this summer and appreciated how much shorter the mandated videos were. We also had many lively conversations about what our favorite background music of choice was. Um, found out that Hannah Murray was responsible for uh, putting those together. She did a phenomenal job. So, hats off to Hannah on that. Thank you for reducing the time of those videos to give teachers time to do the vital work that they need to
014get done at the beginning of the year. Other thing we want to thank you all for doing is stepping up on your lawsuit on Senate Bill Three. Um, this would be devastating for funding uh for public education in this state, not just in our district, but also for police and fire as well. And I did just want to leave with one final comment. Um, and I wanted to be clear on this. The St. Charles Education Association believes that every teacher has a right to join the association of that choice. That right is protected and respected and nothing will change that. No one suggesting otherwise. While SCEA does have a super majority of certified staff here in the district, we respect the rights of employees to choose another professional association or no professional association at all.
015Thank you. >> Thank you, Brendan. We will move item on with item 3.06, which This is our high school student update. If Owen would come forward, if you can just press that person icon there. Yep. Perfect. >> If you want to introduce your family that's here, you're welcome. >> Yeah, sure. So, this is my mom, my brother, my dad. Um, so I just want to start by thanking everyone. >> Oh, yeah. >> And there's my family. >> Yeah. I just want to start by thanking everyone here today. It's definitely a privilege to be here. So, uh, I want to start off with some successes at St. Charles High. Uh, number one I think is we the bathrooms. We've had a huge uh vaping and smoking problem at the bathrooms at St. Charles High in the
016past, my freshman year. Uh, and now we have these teacher watchers outside that manage the amount of people that can go in and um in the bathroom. So, it basically just li limits the amount of people that are in there at one time and it prevents congregations of people smoking and other things. Um, so it's great this year. It's been fantastic. I haven't seen a group of people vaping in the bathroom so far. Um, so I think this is a really big success at St. Charles High. Um, another success I think is this new phone policy. Uh, the no phones in the classroom. Uh, it's now a law. I I do think uh that it prevents distractions in the classroom and helps maintain the learning environment. Uh, which I think is very important. Um, I
017do think part of this new phone policy is a challenge. Um, at least for me, not being able to have my phone at lunch and in the hallways, um, is difficult. Um, you kind of feel isolated as a student from the outside world, especially at time at lunch where the learning environment isn't necessary. Um, I know this is law and there's not much you guys can do or anything at all, but I just wanted to express my feelings on it. Uh, I want to bring up a problem uh, at St. Charles High is that we do not have a baseball or softball field like St. Charles West. Um so I know it would there would need to be some considerable funding for a new um park to be built and because due to the location
018of St. Charles High, uh it will be hard to find a good location to build a new one. My idea would be to um improve the baseball and softball fields that we have now. Uh this include lots of different things. Specifically, the baseball field at Blanchett. Um, a structured brick back stop with nylon netting similar to St. Charles West. Um, better outfield grass, just better taken care of. It's very, very thick. I do play baseball. Um, so it' be great if we could see that better taken care of. Maybe a better sound system, redone dugouts, and a better infield. There's lots more add that I could add to this list, but just for time sakes, I'm not going to. Um, but yeah, so same thing can be done to the softball fields. I think it's
019at Kuanas. Um, so that's a problem I'd like to to address. That's everything. Does anybody have any questions? >> Um, is there any way that we could use the uh little field in back of the stadium uh the track? um uh for a a baseball softball field. >> Yes. Uh I think there are some practices that go on for track. I'm not sure, but yes, that field doesn't seem to be used ever. So, yeah, I think it that could definitely be a spot. >> And um uh how are you feeling about your being asked to present to the board? Uh, do you feel that that is studentled or did you feel like this guy told you what to say? >> No. No. I came up with these all on my own. Uh, successes, the challenges,
020the problems, all me. This is all student based. He just sent out the email and so I signed up. Yeah. >> Great. >> We listen. >> That's awesome. >> Well, thank you. Thank you very much, Owen. We appreciate you coming and presenting. Thank you. >> And just so you know real quick, we we have to be careful what we say because but that back field has always been something that that we use for practice fields and stuff, but it's but it's it's grass and it's that we've had some issues out there with with holes and different things, but we've looked at that. Maybe you want to you be careful what I say, aren't you? >> Yes. Yes. Please be careful. Um uh yeah there that there has been a portion of that field that has
021been we hired a professionally manicured and then um we had a driver from a company that we didn't ask to drive in that area decide to do it in the spring. You can imagine what that did to the field. And then uh you know rabbits like to get in there too. So, we've been trying to mow it shorter to prevent rabbits from burrowing into the ground to create uh habitat uh for babies. Uh so, and then the St. Charles Titans are also helping out with some of that as well. The feeder football team is using that and helping line that and do some things there. So, there's some potential there. Not a significant amount of room, but there is some potential there that's been untapped. >> So, I agree. >> And we we do agree.
022And then we also I feel like we've had a great partnership with the city in terms of the field that we do have. They've had they've made some improvements there, but I think there's some other things that we can talk to them too as well. So, >> sure. >> Yeah. So, and that that field that back of St. Charles High, I've got some ideas, too. So, >> he he doesn't want me to say it, but we're always thinking about how we can better those that field back there. So, >> we appreciate you coming. This is our first one. This is >> great job. >> Yeah. Go. >> Hey. Oh, and by the way, too, I just uh I really appreciate you coming in and >> not only did you come with problems, but you came
023with ideas and solutions and thoughts. And that's what leaders do. You know, we don't come and say, "Okay, we I want you to do this and not have ideas and thoughts behind it." Like, so you really put in some some some time and effort into that and just given ideas and thoughts on that. So, that was really great. I appreciate it. >> Great job. Great job. >> You get it out of the park. You did exactly what they wanted and you make us look good. Thank you, Owen. >> Good job. At this time, we'll just take like a brief twominut break. If anybody wants to leave, they are more than welcome to. If you want to stay, you're welcome to stay as well, but we'll take like a two-minute break. All right, we're going to
024go ahead and resume the meeting. Item 3.07. I move to adopt the agenda as presented. Is there a second? >> Lori second. All those in favor? I opposed. Item 4.01. For efficiency, the school board utilizes a consent agenda. Items placed on the consent agenda are routine in nature or are among the many decisions that the board has already determined are in the domain of the administration. I move to approve the consent agenda as presented. Is there a second? >> All those in favor? I opposed. Item 6.01 01 is the gifted program review. Turn that over to Dr. Draper. >> Well, good evening everyone. Uh we are excited to share with you our gifted program review. Uh joining us this evening we have our gifted leadership team. So um in addition to myself, you have uh
025Michelle Witrock. She is the principal of Harris Elementary and also our gifted program administrator. You have uh Kaylee Kausacowski. Kaylee is one of our sore teachers and also our gifted department chair and then Caitlyn Cromian, she is one of our curriculum and instruction coordinators who oversee the gifted program. So together we make up the gifted leadership team. Um and we're excited to share um some things with you this evening. So as Dr. Seaffer said, we are all in. Uh we just want to reiterate that theme. Um our gifted staff, we are all in for our students every single day of the school year. So our purpose, so we recognize that our students in the gifted program have unique learning needs and our program is designed with curriculum to challenge advanced learners and provides opportunities that
026require critical thinking, problem solving, independent study skills, communication, and perseverance. As you can see here, our program is aligned to our CIP pillars. In particular, under academic excellence, um there is alignment to our student achievement goal and then under the pillar of culture, there is alignment to student support goal and our sense of belonging goal. I want to point out our gifted data. Now, let me keep in mind because I know there were some questions about this. This gifted data that you're going to see here is the 2324 school year uh on our district report card. That is the last set of information that we officially have from the state. So this represents the 23 24 school year. Later in the slideshow, you're going to see some current numbers as far as the totals in
027each program. That's based on this year, but the number that you see up here is reflected from the 2324 school year. We hope to have our updated state report card uh November or December. So, at the time um of our last uh state report card, we had 280 students in the gifted program. That is 6.3% of our student body, which is about 2% higher than the state average, which is a little bit above 4% um across the state. Our attendance rate for the gifted students are 92.5%. We had a 100% graduation rate for our gifted students. And then when it comes to academics, when we look at our MAP and ELC scores, 91% of our 91.2% of our students were proficient in ELA, 93.1 proficient or advanced in math, 91.3% proficient and advanced in science,
028and 93.3% proficient and advanced in social studies. Um, one of the big questions that we often get are how are students identified for the gifted program? And so, um, Kayleie's going to talk to us about the identification process. >> All right. Thank you so much. So, when looking at the identification process, you have to start by looking through DESIE. They ask you to use four qualification criteria. And out of those four, three must be met. One of those criteria absolutely must be scoring a 125 or higher on an IQ test. So, that is a piece that is a non-negotiable. Um our district provides two different pathways to become identified for the program. The first one that we offer is a universal screening. So, first grade students across the district are all given the NNAT and
029that is an non-verbal screener that we give to each classroom and then when scored if they get a 110 or higher they would be looked into the next piece of the matrix and that is our I Ready academic ability. In our district we offer the opportunity to score 90% in reading or math. So, not both. Some districts do that. If they have those two qualities met, then they move on to the IQ test. If only one of the first two are met. Last year, we started offering the TABS checklist. And this is for teachers to kind of collect data on different areas like creativity, um, leadership skills, some things with problem solving and motivation, and us looking deeper into the student as a whole. And that could be that third piece if if they aren't
030meeting a non-verbal IQ or the I Ready. So, that would help give them that I opportunity to take the IQ. And I do want to just jump in here. That piece is new for us. Um we discovered last year that the state kind of changed some of its guidelines. So before when we had this slide where it says three out of four, they added that fourth piece uh which is that documented evidence of ex uh exceptional performance. So we as a leadership team spent a lot of time at the end of last year trying to identify what tool we were going to use for that fourth component. Uh and the state actually provided us with the tabs checklist. And so we are implementing that this year in those cases where students aren't meeting um number
031one or number two up there. >> And then the second opportunity is by a referral. That can be a teacher referring a student, it can be a parent referring a student. And even in the older grade levels, you can say you want to be referred yourself. um when given that referral, that just gives us a jump start on checking those same three qualifications before the IQ where we can see how they're doing um in their I Ready scores. We're able to like look into that background and in-depth knowledge um in a different different strategy instead of just that universal screening piece. Um >> okay so we have um really there's four areas of the gifted program but the first one is soar which is first through fourth grade which is led by uh Kaylee Kazakowski
032who teaches the first and second grade classes. Um Rachel Mannerac teaches the third and fourth graders. And then we also have a gifted teachers assistant, Christy Kadanac, that is helping with the third and fourth grade classes as well, given the numbers um are large enough that require that. Um Quest is at Jefferson. Um Abby Leaper teaches the Quest program for fifth and sixth graders. Um Apex is led um by Hannah Noak and she teaches the seventh and eighth graders. And then at the high school level, um, gifted students have the opportunity to follow that honors course, uh, track for them to take those any honors courses that they would like at the high school level. And I could introduce that. Um, all right. So, I am also going to share more of an in-depth piece
033about how the sore program is run in the elementary setting. Um, so I do work with the first and second graders. It is a mix between first and second grade in my classroom every day. It is also a mix between the different schools. So each school has a day that they come, but usually two schools are together. Homeschool also comes and we do have some private school that are attending this year as well. So they come one day a week. It is from 9:00 in the morning until 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The time works really well for us to be able to do hands-on and in-depth projects. So, I love that um we're able to really commit to our curriculum and put bigger projects into action with that amount of time. So, in the
034first and second grade setting, the four major units we offer are water is everywhere, endangered animals, chemistry, and botany. This year, we're doing water is everywhere and botany. And then we flop every year so that the first and second graders get a new unit each year that they're in the program. Third and fourth grade has the same situational setup, but it's third and fourth grade together. And they are working on space, geology, forensics, and then engineering and architect. Hi everyone. Um the next two slides are about Jefferson, our our Quest program, and then Apex at Harden Middle School. Um at Jefferson, the gifted teacher is Mrs. Leaper. um she sees her students for two hours and 45 minutes um each week and there's 75 students total at Jefferson with sixth grade coming in the morning
035so they get that full time that all of that time uninterrupted in the morning and then fifth grade comes in the afternoon and the PM um their curriculum is also built around interd disciplinary units it's very project based research skills you'll see create a lot appear for them and so in fifth grade they focus on an importance um of history. They create time capsules. They um look at current events and they they study ancient civilizations and then they create their own civilization. Um in sixth grade they focus on inventions and innovation. Um and they create inventions. They build rockets and explore with robots at Jefferson and at Harden. Um the program is called Apex and that's Miss Noak. um her students meet daily. So they have a daily meeting um and they have 55 students.
036Um they also have interdisciplinary um projectbased research skill based curriculum. Um in seventh grade they're v focusing on luck versus strategy and they're creating their own board games. Um they explore forensics and survival. They're analyzing how luck and strategy play a role in both of those things. In eighth grade, they're focusing on passion projects and media literacy, and they're analyzing um media sources. Students are creating newscasts, podcasts, and documentaries in the eighth grade Apex curriculum. Thank and I did want to just chime in a little bit about the middle school because I know um when we made a switch a couple years ago. Um we did get a couple of questions from parents about why the why behind switching from pulling out where students were missing three classes uh a week uh and switching to
037it being an elective. Uh that was done at the request of I having a conversation with the building principal Dr. Jew there who was saying that she was hearing from her some of her staff about uh the inconvenience of students leaving class um and there were situations where students might um not like a preferred task in gifted so they would stay in their class or vice versa they didn't like the preferred task in their regular class so then they would leave to go to gifted there's a lot of inconsistency happening and then as the stakes get higher as students get older they're taking more advanced classes and they're missing out on curriculum and content. Uh so we did make the decision to move it to um meeting as an elective which aligns with other districts
038in our area. Uh moving it to an elective where they meet every day and it also believe it or not that increased the number of minutes that students have gifted every week. They went from meeting three periods a week to now meeting 230 minutes every week under this current model. And there's some hardened teachers in here. I don't know if would you agree that I don't know if you necessarily saw if they were pulled out of your class in particular. >> Gotcha. Yeah. Gotcha. Okay. Sorry to put you on the spot. Um that is is uh it as far as our presentation. Are there any questions for any of us? >> No question. >> How are things going so far? >> So far so good. Well, let's ask Kaylee. She's she's on the ground running
039with them every day. >> Um, so far this year has been really good. Um, the new group is settling in. First grade always just has to learn what's happening and the second graders help them along in my room personally. But, um, the groups are going great and the projects are moving strong. Every time you visit, those kids are working. They are in there and they want they are proud and they love to show you what they're doing and they can tell you what is going on in that room. It's awesome. >> Yeah. >> So, very proud of our gifted program. >> Yes. Thank you all very much for presenting. >> I I don't think we have looked at that data. I do know we have a significant about a third I mean when you look
040at eighth grade alone about a third begin that honors track um >> at third >> about a third of the students at Harden begin that honors track. Majority of them majority of the gifted students are in the that track. >> That's a great I can see if I can get some data for you and share it with you. All right. Thank you ladies very much for coming to present. I make a motion to approve the gifted program review as presented. Is there a second? >> I second. >> All those in favor? >> I oppose. Moving on to new business. Item 7.01 is the 2026 employee benefit plan. >> Shields. All right. Thank you all. Uh very quickly, it's it's a pretty straightforward recommendation that we're bringing to the board. Uh the committee met three times
041I believe in total. Um and uh so with the UMR uh which is medical, we recommend staying with them with a no cost increase and the only benefit change design changes that uh are being brought would be benefit the employee. So increase the base plan co insurance from 80% to 90% remove a deductible of $150 on a base plan and then that uh combining an out-ofpocket medical and prescription rather than having having them separate uh separated out which would uh create a slight decrease for the employee as well. So good news on that front. Uh our currently it looked like I think we're operating around 90% um for our medicals. So the last couple of years have been have been much better than say four years ago when we were in uh some we're in
042some dire times from an insurance uh perspective. So that was uh we're always a little nervous always a little concerned on on insurance you know like like I told you before if we have high claims that's a big concern for our employees health. I mean essentially that's what it means. So uh we're always a little concerned with that. uh dental envision. This was a this was an interesting one uh because typically for us we've always went uh with Delta and IMED and Delta is now in the market for vision as well and the they have become a strong competitor and Delta is um combining uh essentially giving a better rate if you do a combination. Um, our dental plan and our vision plan operate well over 100% with our uh, vision plan operating I think
043at 112%. Biggest reason for that more than likely. No one can give you a definitive answer, but the biggest reason for that probably is our if you want to stay as a part of open enrollment in our district, you're allowed to do so after your retirement if you select one plan. The cheapest is vision. So when we're talking about having a higher percentage and being well over that 100% more than likely that's the driving force behind it uh because as we age we know what happens. So uh so Delta came in and uh gave the a better rate on uh a combination than anyone else other than UNIM. Um they gave a flat rate to us. However, with consultation from experts in the field, they didn't say it was not good. They just said it's
044untested. And as a committee, that made us very nervous. Again, it could be a great uh provider. Uh we would just like to see them a little with a a few more accounts in the region uh that we were able to reach out to. Again, not not a knock on them at all, but that's just where the committee felt we we want to know with a known we want to go with a known commodity on that. Uh for life we're staying with New York Life no increase and then with our work site staying with CHUB uh for that bridge health center continues to be a wellused uh center force for our our employees all of the data that we get back from that which is uh I get I meet with them monthly uh the
045results on the surveys are are phenomenal from our district employees but also from the limited use of our city employees uh everyone I won't say everyone's forced to fill out a survey but they really really really encourage you to fill one out. So, uh we get we get a lot of good data back from that. And then pharmacy benefits, as you all know, have always been a particular uh hot topic for us. Um and uh they continue to trend uh better than they were. Uh but the rebate game has been a little better for us since we moved to Caremark CVS. Uh so we will continue to use them as well. Uh which is just a it's a great benefit back into our into our plans. So, um, no cost increase to employees except for
046the dental and the vision. Um, and that's minor amounts because as our vision plan was only $5. So, you can imagine what a 10% increase is not significant. Um, uh, and then, um, vision, but then the the benefit plan itself from the medical side of things is just a benefit back to our employees. >> Any questions? I don't think we can overstate that we're in a lot better shape than we have been. >> That's great. >> I mean, really, it's >> that's a good Absolutely. >> Yeah, for sure. >> If no questions, I move to approve the 2026 employee benefit plan as presented. Is there a second? >> All those in favor? I opposed. That carries. Item 8.01, the district financial report. >> All right. Excellent. So, uh, we had a tax rate hearing earlier
047this, uh, this evening, uh, looking at a tax rate of, uh, $4 and approximately 71, uh, which is about a 10 cent decrease, uh, from the previous year. I don't know if I I don't think I mentioned this in the tax rate hearing, uh, because we had such a lively crowd. Uh, but, um, I I believe I know I know for a fact we could only raise at 2.9% this year. That was our cap based on CPI. That does not take into effect uh food or energy cost which we all know have risen dramatically. So the state auditor office for us based on the assess assessed valuation gains which was a little over 5% came back within within the calculation tool and said 2.9% was our cap. Uh again as I'd mentioned earlier that's a
048little bit lower than the typical average in a reassessment year that we've seen uh previously. Um, but it's something it could be a lot worse, right? So, we are grateful for a 2.9% and and local revenue gain. To give you an idea of what that could mean uh for students uh as far as how we allocate money, our local revenue makes up about 15,000 towards our student spend with our average being about 18, which is which is um which is a nice chunk of money that we're spending towards students. So that local tax dollar is incredibly important to us um as it currently sits. Um if we look at the actual board report um again we're two periods in so nothing alarming there. Always at this point in the year especially August but more importantly
049in September I look at those salaries and those benefits to see how we're trending. Is is it trending towards expectation or is it not? And right now all indicators are it's there is no surprises in those two columns. There are no surprises in those two columns. So uh grateful for that and uh certainly going to moni monitor that as we continue uh to move into this year. One other piece of uh new legislation that is hitting the books. Uh Dr. receiver can attest to that as well as everyone else on the CO team is now with the redistricting um potential uh that exists in the legislative field. Uh they're using this time to possibly create some new legislation for conversation in the House uh regarding personal property. Um so Senate Bill 3 uh is more
050of that residential piece. uh Senate Bill 9 uh is is both and then uh the Senate bill or these House conversations revolve around personal property taxes. Um and we did some financial calculators just to give for them to speak about on the House floor if they so wanted to. Uh and that would probably cause about uh $300 and some thousand dollar harm uh as a revenue uh towards our district if in fact uh they move forward with that. Um and that would be a yearly an annual decrease. Right now this year we will uh decrease on on personal property because our gain was so small from an assessed valuation sense. So um so uh just things to consider, things to think about. Obviously you would believe the legislative session is over with, but we've been
051surprised twice now uh with it with some of these conversations continuing. >> Yeah, the the special sessions are just seem like they're popping up left and right. And as you all know, I'll keep you updated as I get things through our mass organization. Um, I actually have a call to call our activists or lobbyists tonight about how we're moving forward in some of those areas. So, we'll keep you updated. But, we've said this several times. Uh, we feel like at this point, public education is under attack with some of these things, and we have to continue to do the best we can um to not only fight for public education in the state of Missouri, but also um protect our school district. that you're basing this on if the >> well so that would be
052that's the main piece of legislative conversation right now so it would be tied into that correct it would be tied into that I think it could potentially if let's just say that doesn't go into play I think it's important for us to watch because what they discuss now will more than likely be discussed again in that spring session so it's it's very important for us to to listen to the conversation that's occurring. >> Correct. Correct. >> Any other questions? If not, I'll move to approve the district financial report as presented. Is there a second? All those in favor? I opposed. Item 9.01. Is there or I will make a motion to adjourn the meeting. Is there a second? Second. >> All those in favor? I oppose. Meeting is adjourned.