001[Applause] Good evening. Let's call this meeting to order. Miss Donna, roll call. Yes. Mr. Moore here. Miss Lanning here. Mr. Garing, present. Miss Chzn, here. Miss Miller here. Miss Garcia here. Miss Williams here. I'll stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. I aliance 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. Is there a motion for the approval of the agenda? We have a motion. I'll call that a motion. A second. I have and you call the vote, please. Yes. Miss Williams? Yes. Miss Garcia? Yes. Miss Miller? Yes. Miss Chzn? Yes. Mr. Garing? Yes. Miss Lanning? Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes. And the motion passes? 70. Hey, Dr. Krauss. All right. Um, in Dr. Secret's absence, I'm
002going to talk you through the the health insurance revision. Um Dr. Secrets gave you all this information last time but it's just now in in paper form on scenario 2A in your packet. Uh those were the numbers that were included last time when this was discussed. Uh scenario 2B has the uh corrected numbers. There was never any intent to minimize the district contribution toward the EPO as it went along. So on scenario 2B, the numbers on the very right hand column there in the middle, the 82043, you'll see is the district's cost with each of the uh four different subdivisions within that EPO plan. So these are the numbers that uh were intended. The numbers for the HSA and for the PO are identical to what they were last time. Does anyone have any any
003questions? I don't have a copy of that. I don't need it. Oh, it's should it's on the Is it up online? Okay. Should be attached. Perfect. Okay. Yeah, there's there's an attachment there. And with the the difference in the district's contribution, uh you'll see that changes the um total cost a little bit, but that was that was the these numbers on 2B are the were the intention all along. I'll have a motion to second. Okay. Mr. Moore, yes. Miss Lanning, yes. Mr. Garing, yes. Miss Chzn, yes. Miss Miller, yes. Miss Garcia, yes. Miss Williams, yes. And the motion passes. 70. Thank you, Dr. Cross. Okay, Dr. McInness. Yes. Tonight we get to recognize and honor Miss Garcia for serving as a board member for the last three years. So, we're going to have you come
004up to the front. [Applause] And I just want to add being on the board sometimes is a very thankless job. This is a volunteer position. They do not get paid for this. And so let's give Miss Garcia another round of applause [Applause] for you. It's been an honor. Okay. Is there a motion to certify the results of the April 8th election? I make that motion. Thank you, Miss Rhonda. Is there a second? Thank you, Miss Miller. Would you call a vote, please? Miss Williams? Yes. Miss Garcia? She's gone. Miss Miller? Yes. Miss Chzn? Yes. Mr. Garing? Yes. Miss Lanning? Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes. And the motion passes. 6. Okay. Miss Don. Yes. Miss Miller. And Miss Karns, is she here? There she is. You can come up here. I didn't see you in a All
005right. Which one wants to go first? Okay. Jennifer, raise your right hand. I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Missouri and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of school director and and for the St. Joseph School District, county of Buchanan, State of Missouri to the best of my ability according to law. Thank you, ma'am. I think you just sign this right here and then you can take your seat right here at this. So raise your right hand. I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Missouri and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of school director in and for Spike Joseph School District
006County of Buchanan, State of Missouri to the best of my ability to deal. [Applause] Thank you ladies and congratulations. Welcome to the board. Okay, I will now turn the meeting over to Dr. McGinness. Okay, now we are up for election of board officers. The first election this evening will be for the office of president for the board. Nominations are are now open for president. Hi, I'd like to nominate Latan Williams for president. Okay, Latana Williams is nominated. Are there any other nominations? Yes, I'd like to nominate Robin's president. Okay, this election will be by roll call. We will first call for the first person nominated, which was Latana Williams. Miss Donna, will you please do the roll call? I will. Mike Moore, yes. Rick Garing. Um, I'm going to abstain. I'm going to say something
007really quick. um this probably about 20 minutes ago. This is not something planned. This is not something um I I want to thank the board um for these last two years. I think this has been great. Um I want to thank Latana Williams for her leadership. It's been a privilege to serve under her as president. What's most disappointing to me I'm going to try to hold you. What's most most disappointing to me is um I think Ashley Dr. McGinness is going to be a fantastic superintendent and um it it it's devastating what that I'm not going to um serve this last year under her and it hurts a lot because she's so fantastic for this district. and um to Mike Moore. Um we didn't know each other well, but he is a is a great
008friend to me. But um there's there's a saying that um if if what you're doing is costing your peace, then it's too expensive. And this last year, I I haven't had peace. Um it's affected my family life. It's affected my mental health. It's affected my physical health. And um I will still um be a fan of the the public school system and I always will. But um I I I am I am resigning. I am bowing out. I I no longer um have have peace doing this and it's not something I take lightly and it's killing me inside to say this. Um but unfortunately I um I'm resigning my position from the board effective immediately. So there's a policy that that seat stays open until the next regular meeting. Is that right? Rhonda Chzn. No.
009Miss Williams, yes. Miss Karns, no. Miss Miller, no. Miss Lanny, yes. In essence, it is a no because an abstension is a no vote. Okay, bear with me because I'm following this here. timer. Pardon? Uh, nothing. Um, we will now go to the second nomination, Miss Chzn, and we will do the roll call. Donna, get these in. three to three. I'm sorry. Okay. So, we have a motion for Miss Ches. Am I right? Yes. Okay. Miss Lanning, no. Miss Chzny, yes. Miss Williams, no. Mr. Moore, no. Miss Karns, yes. Miss Miller. Yes, we have a tie. Again, we have to keep doing this until someone wins. So, we'll just keep going back and forth. So, again, I'll open up the floor for nominations. I'll nominate. Do we have any other nominations? Okay, nominations are closed.
010We'll this again. Donna, can you do the roll call for Miss Williams? Miss Lanning, can you review what we're talking? Go ahead. This is for Miss Williams to be board president. Miss Karns, no. Miss Chzn, no. Miss Williams. Yes. Miss Miller, no. Mr. Moore, yes. Hi again, guys. 33. So, we will move to Miss Jeznney as our board president. Donna, can you do the roll, please, Mr. more. No, Miss Miller. Yes. Miss Chzn, yes. Miss Williams, no. Miss Karns, yes. Miss Lanny, no. I'd like to make a motion for the 20s. We also a part where I believe everyone gets to speak about their nomination. You're right. I'd say let's have open dialogue now. I mean, you guys can because we can't keep doing that all night. We sure can. It's a motion on the
011floor. So, I think when we did this last time, there was a time period or whatnot. or is that I just want to make sure that we're like following what we're supposed to be doing. I just watched I just watched last year's this afternoon and people kind of got to say why they wanted to do it or why they nominated somebody last year. Yeah. I think it was the the candidates get one minute to speak. There was there was some sort of process that we're on now. I'm just following the script for this. Yeah. So, let's see here, guys. Let's uh let's get it together here. Uh remarks. Once nominations are closed, each nominee may speak for no more than one minute in support of his or her candidacy. The order in which nominees speak
012will be determined by blind draw. After each nominee has spoken, the board members who have not been nominated may may each speak for no more than one minute in support of a nominee. Again, the order of speaking will be determined by lot is the person that the nomination speaks, right? And then other board members will speak. Yes. Yes. Is there a time? One minute. One minute and then one minute for the candidate. Is that what you read? So I think I think the nom I think it's nominee gets to speak, not the nom nom nominator. Okay. Last year the candidates spoke. Correct. I think that's the way I read it. Each nominee may speak. Okay. So, all right. We're on track. That's Yeah. And last year you drew names as to who talking. Yes. And
013that's what it says. Because I think you take you take nominee you take nominations and then the order that you do the nominations and then right the order in which the nominees speak will be determined by blind draw. Okay. So I've nominated lasagna and there's another nomination out. So we need to decide who talks first. So I guess you put those two names in a pot and uh pick Thank you. And we would ask we're speaking if the audience could keep the remarks down and applause, anything like that, we'd appreciate it. Um, I know that the district has a lot of tough things in order to go through in the next year. It's going to take a lot of time, a lot of work, a lot of a lot of knowledge, and um of anybody
014on the board, I've been on the board the longest. All of our admin are new. All of our upper leadership Everyone's new and we're going to need a lot of help along the way and I know that I'm able to provide that. Um, everything else aside, it's going to take a lot of institutional, it's going to take a lot of knowledge on the leadership level to help drive the district forward. It's not a time to learn. It's a time to work. And that is why I should be our next board president. I'm done. Um I totally agree um with everything that you just said and um I've given this a lot of thought. I don't take this lightly and I want to be more involved in the board. I want I I have some ideas
015that I want to share as well. I feel like I have a lot to learn from you and I would be more than willing to work collaboratively. I feel like um one of the things I bring to the board is the positivity that I can get along with with everyone and I want to bring that I want to bring relationship building because I feel like that's really important. I am more than willing uh to do the work. I'm very blessed. I have a job that's flexible and I don't have an 8 toive job. I have flexibility in my job and I have a passion for this district as I know you do too, Lata. and I want um what's best for all of the children in our community and I'm willing to put the work
016in to help move move things forward because I feel like this is a pivotal point. I'm all in for the long range plan. I'm all in of gathering community support and ideas because we have to bring them along with us with us. I'm willing to communicate with all the board members and share information and I'm I'm willing to to learn and move forward all at the same time and I know I would be asking questions of you as well because I respect what you have done for the board. Um I just want to be more involved and this is this is the angle that I want to take to be more involved. Okay. Uh once here we go. After each nominee has spoken, the board members who have not been nominated may each speak for
017no more than one minute in support of a nominee. And of course we can uh wave our right to do so obviously. And do I need to draw names for the order? Again, the order of speaking will be determined by lot. Yes, Miss Karns. I can help. So, I know the president is a hard position and I greatly appreciate anybody who can do it. It's not easy job. I do know that and I am grateful for everything you've done up to this point. Um, however, is again, it's a hard position. You have to be unbiased. You have to be able to take us in a a positive perspective. And I think sometimes change is good is what we're trying to do here. And I think right now Rhonda would be good for a change, Miss
018Lanny. Um, so we have a board president that has done this for multiple years, that knows the rules and policies, that sits on the Missouri School Board Association board, who has a certification. Um, we have achieved more in the last two years under her leadership than I think has happened in a decade or more. Um, much of that is because she has worked incredibly hard. Um, as far as listening to all board members, it is not her fault that two board members refused to speak to her. um or make disparaging comments about her. Um and so I'm asking the audience, I would I don't know why you would want to change something when we've had so much success um other than pressure from certain people. Um, I'll also add that once we get on the
019frame for three, I'll be making a motion to delay the decision if we keep I'm asking the audience. I'm asking the audience to please be quiet. Please be quiet. Please be quiet or I will empty the room. Thank you. Would you draw the next one? Next one, please. Mr. Yeah, this will be for non-nominees. I look forward to your leadership because you know the district, you know teachers, you've been in the classrooms, you've been in the buildings, you work alongside those student teachers, you mentor them, you've probably taught every grade in the schools and are great at understanding what's needed for the district and encourage encouraging greater better test scores uh in both reading and math. Your desire is to serve and do that uh holistically and I appreciate that. I appreciate your fairness and
020the way that you do get along with all of us and that's what's necessary to bring us all along with you as you uh help guide us into new ways to make those things happen. I appreciate that um your heart is in that and that your desire is for a cohesive board and that's the only way it can move forward. Mike, Mike, um, thank you. You know, I took a little bit of a tactical approach to this and I even considered and prayed for the running for the position myself. and I took a tactical approach and I copied off the uh the list of what it takes to be a good board leader. This was in our agenda tonight and 19 items I think. And so it's interesting. I I I wrote an L next
021to those bullet points that I thought Latana was better at. I wrote an M next to those bullet points that I thought I was better at. and and then and then many many were were no significant difference. Um you know it talks about uh understanding of parliamentary procedure uh able to devote the time possesses knowledge of the district operations um responsive to the community and I lost nominations again to call the vote now. Call the vote or who is first on the last one? I think you're supposed to draw who goes first. Miss Williams. Yes. Miss Lanning. Yes. Mr. Moore. Yes. Miss Miller, no. Miss Chzn, no. Miss Curts, no. This is the vote for Miss Chzn. Miss Chzn, yes. Miss Lanny, no. Mr. Moore, no. Miss Miller, yes. Miss Karns, yes. And Miss Williams,
022no. So, obviously this was unplanned that we would have people. Um, would there be benefit or I guess I'll put a motion out to table the vice president election until we install another board member. The president and the vice president. I mean, right now I would do the president. Right now, I would do the president, but if we're going to have the same issue with vice president, I'll guess I'll do that when we get to it. Um, and so then my point would be that we would table this. I don't know that we actually can though. I don't know. But I my motion is to table this, keep the current presidency installed until we add another position and then they can come on and really really upset some people. Welcome to the board. So would
023you repeat your motion? Uh my motion is to table which means we keep Yeah. Um until a new board member is installed. We're going to have to look up the process for all that. There's a whole policy for that, too. Yeah, there is. And that will take a minute. Okay. It's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? I'll second. It's a motion to second. Oh, thank you. I appreciate that. Sorry. You want to take a Do I want to do like a recess? Five recess. Okay, let's take a five minute recess. It's up here. And if you kids would like, please go and help yourself. Yeah. With your mom and dad. And any of those that feels like being a kid, you can Okay, we're back. Vice President. So with that, we're going
024to do the roll call again. We need to make nominations again. And there's a motion on the floor. We're sorry. Okay. So, I would like So, first um to the elementary age students that came up and spoke to me and said that a member of um the public called me a piece of crap. Uh, what I would like to say is that that people people No, I'm gonna keep going. People can talk badly about you, but if you're not a piece of crap, then you're fine. So, name calling is never fun. Okay. Sorry. So, um, so I withdraw my motion and then I'd make a motion for Latia Williams to be president. Thank you. Excuse me, the audience. I think we're about to get very functional if you'll let us There's a motion. Is there
025a second that we we've had a I withdrew my motion to Yeah. And then I made a motion for the time president. Uh and that doesn't need a second. Correct. Yes, it does. We haven't been doing that. We haven't nominated again. It's just nominating. I'm sorry. Yeah. Are there any other nominations? I nominate Chis. Are there any other nominations? Okay, nominations are closed. As Lata was nominated first, we will start the roll call for Lata Williams as president. Miss Williams. Yes. Miss Lanning. Yes. Miss Chzn, yes. Miss Karns, no. Miss Miller, no. Mr. Moore. Yes. Okay. Miss Williams has received the majority of the votes cast and is declared elected president. The next ele election this evening will be for the office of vice president for the board. Nominations are now open for vice president.
026Nominate Mike Warren. I'd like to decline that nomination and nominate Rhonda Chzn. Are there any other nominations? Okay, seeing none, nominations are closed. We will now conduct a roll call for Rhonda Chzn as vice president of our board. Miss Miller, could you repeat that please? The the roll call will be for Rhonda Chzn as a vice president for our Yes. Miss Lanny, no. Miss Karns, yes. Mr. Moore, yes. Miss Williams, yes. Miss Chzn, yes. Okay, the majority of the votes have passed. So Rhonda Chzn is now declared our vice president of the school board. I will turn that over to you. Thank you, Dr. McGinness. And now it's time for the appointment of the secretary and that is Donna Baker. Sher, I would like for you to um add Cassie as alternate. So if I
027am unable like I was a few weeks ago and she had to step in then you don't have to vote to have her right take the minutes. She is my backup. So if you could motion for me as secretary and hers alternately appreciate. I'll make that motion. Thank you. Thank you. Rhonda, is there a second? I'll second. Thank you. Mike, would you call the vote, please? Miss Williams? Yes. Miss Miller, yes. Miss Chzn, yes. Miss Karns, yes. Miss Lanning, yes. Mr. Moore, yes. And the motion passes six to zero. Okay. Appointment of the treasurer. Is there a motion to appoint Dr. Seagris as the treasurer for the remainder of the school year and then Dr. Hedgecore. Uhhuh. As the treasurer for next school year. I make that motion. Thank you, Roger. Is there a second?
028I'll second. Thank you. I can get my computer to work here. Sorry. There it goes. Miss Williams. Yes. Miss Miller. Yes. Miss Chzn. Yes. Miss Karns. Yes. Miss Lanny. Yes. Mr. Moore. Yes. And the motion passes. 6. If you look at at the information at your staff at your area. It's these schoolboard member ethics. If you could look at that information, it's a couple pages long. It also includes a copy of the board policy and there's also a nepotism form as well. The Yes, the ethics one I will need for you all to sign and turn that back in and I will also need a vote on that because we have to approve it. Approve it and I have to send it back in to MSBA so they have it recorded that we have the
029nepotism forms. If you can get those back to me just as soon as possible I appreciate that. So we have that on file with HR. Is there a motion to approve this schoolboard ethics? So, so moved. Thank you. Is there a second? I'll second it. Thank you. We got Mike and Rob. And whenever you're ready. Yeah. Is everyone ready to vote? Yes. Okay. You good? Okay, Mr. Moore. Yes. Miss Lanning, yes. Miss Karns, yes. Miss Chzn, yes. Miss Miller, yes. Miss Williams, yes. And the motion passes. 6. Appointment of the delegates and the alternates. Um, according to the policy of the board, our district receives two delegates and alternates. And I will take a motion for those delegates. Do you just need can you do them two at the same time or do one? You
030can do two at the same time. I'm going to make a motion for Latana to be a delegate and then I'll make a motion after that for Rhonda. But obviously that can go whichever direction. Are we to make them at the same time? Makes no difference. However you want people are going to vote against you again. That's fine. So I'll make a motion for Latani to be a delegate. So it's done the same. Excuse me. It's done the same way as the others. Correct. Or do we? Because it's a motion. We have to we have to So, okay. We have an appointment. We have a motion to appoint Miss Williams first. Miss Williams. Okay. Yes. I can ask a different question. That's okay. Miss Miller? No. Miss Chzn? Yes. Miss Karns, yes. Miss Lanning, yes.
031Mr. Moore, yes. And the motion passes 5 to one. And we have a motion to appoint Miss Chzn as the other delegate. Miss Williams, yes. Miss Miller, yes. Miss Chzn, yes. Miss Karns, yes. Miss Lanny, yes. Mr. Moore, yes. And the motion passes six to zero. Okay. The alternates. Is there a motion to appoint an alternate? I'll make a motion for Kim to be an alternate. Yes. Miss Williams. Yes, Miss Miller. Yes, Miss Chzn. Yes, Miss Karns. Yes, Miss Lanning. Yes, Mr. Moore. Yes. And the motion passes. 60. Is there a motion for alternate number two? No, there's only one alternate. Well, because we get the two delegates. So, it's going to be two. My mistake. No, you're good. We're all good. I'll nominate Mike. Okay, we have a motion for Mr. Moore as the
032second alternate. Miss Williams, yes. Miss Miller, yes. Miss Chzn, yes. Miss Karns, yes. Miss Lanning, yes. Mr. Moore, yes. And the motion passes. 6. Future meetings. Our next meeting is April the 28th, 5:30. Is there a motion to adjourn into the work session? So moved. Thank you. Is there a second? Thank you. That's Mike and Rhonda. Miss Williams. Yes. Miss Miller. Yes, Miss Chzn. Yes, Miss Karns. Yes, Miss Lanning. Yes, Mr. Moore. Yes. And the motion passes. Can we do the roll call, please? Yes. Miss Curts? Yes. Miss Miller? Yes. Miss Williams? Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes. Miss Chzn? Yes. Miss Lanny? Yes. And the motion passes? We're here. That was a here. Yes, a here. It's been a long meeting. Okay. Approval of the agenda. Is there a motion? I think that motion. Thank you,
033Ronda. Is there a second? I'll second. Thank you. Would you call the vote, please? Miss Williams? Yes. Miss Miller? Yes. Miss Chzny? Yes. Miss Karns? Yes. Miss Lanny? Yes. Mr. Yes. And the motion passes 60. Items under discussion, the long range plan. Over to you, Dr. McInness. Sure. So, we had an opportunity to meet this morning as a district admin team. I left a one pager at your stations. That concludes some of the talking points that we had this morning. Um, Dr. Edward led this with us. I felt like it was very productive. Um, everybody had a voice at the table. And as a district, we we thought we needed to remember why we put the bond issue up there to remember and reflect upon the vision forward process. Um, which was all about community
034engagement and in input from them that we needed to take into consideration as we move our district forward. And so you can see those talking points on there. And we wanted to highlight that third bullet that this bond was about more than just a new building. It was truly about right sizing our district and why do we want to rightsize our district? So, you can see those points there. And we've we've talked about this in board meetings about the class offerings not being an opportunity for all students at the three high schools. We don't have the same experiences available for all of our students. But maintaining our current buildings is not sustainable. And I think there's a misconception out there that we can staff all three of these high schools for years and years to
035come. But we all know we are not seeing the pool of people going into education. So that continues to be a concern for us as far as our teacher shortage. Um and then the enrollment decline. Um you can see some of those numbers at your stations also. And this is also available online. Um but Katie Knive and TMC mentioned this to us today. We've lost 1,400 students in 10 years. So that's quite a few kids, but I think that data is interesting as far as enrollment over the years. So we talked about why we planned for the new build. Um we know that having a new facility can attract other people to want to live here when you have a strong school system in our community. H would also support a consistent K12 feeder pattern.
036So I know all of you have been getting emails and phone calls much like myself and some other district administrators. We are very emotionally charged right now with people coming to us with their ideas. I do think it's important that we need to listen to our community members and hear people out. Um, obviously we can't make all of those requests happen because they're not in agreement. And so we have some tough decisions to make, but ultimately we need to make those in the best interest of our students. And we do need change. We need action. We have to do that. And so we talked about moving forward with the long range plan, but we also want to make sure everyone realizes we spent way more time focusing on plan A and it passing. We didn't
037plan for the bond to fail. So, it's going to take some time for us to regroup, communicate, have some dialogue, and work on plan B and what we do from here on out. The consensus from our group this morning was that we are a two high school community. Um, sustaining three high schools is not going to be doable for us right now with this declining enrollment. And that that's our vision and what we see right now as a collective team. So you can see there right sizing the district at the end academics and equity so that and the purpose of this is that our students have equal opportunities at the two high schools. And so we still believe aligning our feeder pattern, aligning school boundaries, and then we talked about this morning surveying internal and
038external stakeholders because we need to understand why it pass or why it didn't pass. We do we need to hear that feedback from our community members. I know you guys see things on social media and hear things in your circles. I do as well. I think there's value in getting that feedback from our community members and working with them for a plan B. That being said, I think we also need to take action because we've been kicking this can down the road for a long time. I can agree we need movement, but I think now if we can just catch our breath, let the dust settle after that and listen to the community. It doesn't mean we we won't go through it. Just means that for right now, because of the vote saying no, we've
039got to listen. We've got to hear their reasonings uh and just hear their hearts. So, I don't feel like it's good that we're going to plow it right on through without listening or just catching our breath. Just let it settle and then perhaps pull it up again. What is that? So, I guess my question is what everyone is thinking about with timing and timeline. Um, I know that anytime that we talk about doing this and we get close to something and then it doesn't happen that we typically lose a lot of staff and that we lo lose a lot of families because at least if they had a plan and they didn't like it, they knew whether or not they were going to stay here um or if they were going to leave. But I
040think there not being um a clear path forward creates more loss amongst staff and amongst families. Um so I guess my question is, you know, it was high school, high school, high school. I think any of us that sat here and worked on this plan for the last several years knew that it wasn't just about two high schools. It's about our middle school uh design. It's about elementary. I mean, we have such such variation in sizes. We're not providing the same education across zip codes in our in our town. So, I guess my question to you all is administration, I guess you specifically, is when you say that we need to catch our breath or hear people's hearts, what is the actual time frame for that? Dr. Edgar said this morning, we will start with
041weekly or bi-weekly long range plan meetings, but at the end of the day, we have to do what's right for kids and we have to take the time to plan all of that out. Today was just the first meeting after the election and those details are all not ironed out right now. Well, and so and I I understand all of that, but I think that the community needs to know what does our time frame look like? And and I and I understand there's a lot there was going to be a lot either way. You know, if we if it had passed, there was going to be a lot of decisions that needed to be made. If it didn't, obviously, this is where we're sitting. So, my question then is, are we looking at a plan
042B next year? Are we looking at a plan B in the fall? Are we looking at plan B by the time Dr. Edgar leaves? Like that that's what I would like to have some clarity on. We weren't going to be changing anything for next school year anyways. And there's no way we would have time to be able to pull all that together. No, I would I would I I know that. I know that. But what plan B said was 2026 26. This will be fall of 26. Right. So 26 27. Right. Exact. Right. So So that's my Are you guys still thinking McInness? I believe so. But again, we met for about an hour today. It's early, but yeah, I'm pretty confident it won't be in the fall. No, not at all. And that was
043that was my question. Yeah. So, do we have in the fall of what? Uh this year 25. No, it's never going to be in the fall of this year. Okay. I thought you were I thought you were ask I thought you were answering a different question. What I would like for us to figure out and and if it can't obviously it I I'm not asking you to make some sort of commitment today of like okay by this date we'll have it figured out. But if we can have a general idea of okay, we're going to go back here's all the things that we're going to have to kind of start putting together. Is is plan B going to be material materially finalized? Like the bulk of it, what elementary schools are going, where, what feeder
044patterns, what middle schools alignment looks like, is that something that we're going to have by the fall of this year, or are we going to do this whole year-long thing? You know what I'm saying? I would assume it would be ready by the fall of this year. think that's fair for our kids and our families and our staff. And I would agree with that and I appreciate that answer. But I think we have to start with surveying our community and understanding why it didn't pass. I and I don't disagree with that. I think that this board and this administration has been very open to surveys. It's like one of the best things that we do that and planning. Um so I I agree with that. I agree with having town halls. I agree with focus
045groups. I agree with all of that. I think some of the some of the time though and I think one of the issues with vision forward is that when we ask people for the opinions the the people that come or the people that are already are invested that are watching that are paying attention. So I think sometimes that kind of skews that response um and at some point we're going to have to make decisions. So it it helps me to understand and I think if we can have you know when we say fall are we talking leaves falling on the ground or are we talking school starts you know and again I understand that you don't have that answer but I think that we need to narrow down how we get to that so that
046people know what to expect. Yeah. I think that's kind of difficult in this in this kind of feverish time. There's never not going to be a feverish time there. There is at this time we they just voted no. Let everybody figure out and and take opportunities to talk to us kindly to hold these meetings to perhaps even get that committee going that we had at one time only because they they're the reasons we're doing this. It's their children we're serving. So they should have opportunity to speak and if in those times they don't show then that already speaks. So are you so whether they're invested excuse me whether they're invested or not that we still need the opportunity to have them participate in that amount of time whatever that's going to look like and if
047they don't they don't. And that clarifies position to me. Well, I think we're saying this. I I don't need a timeline. I don't need her to tell me tonight that at this this time we're going to have everything done. I'm not asking for that. What I'm saying is we've had a plan B all along. Plan B was always there. And so my my simple point is are we going to take another year of kicking this around or are we going to go to August if that is if we think that reasonably August we could have some sort of idea of what's happening not until August of 26 but if we can have a plan in the next 3 to four months I think the sooner people know what's going on the sooner they can make
048decisions because we have staff that have children here that are like well if My kids's going to go here. I want to go there. I'm just asking for us to be able to move forward. But it sounds like we're all saying that. I think we are. Yeah. Yeah. You're saying agreements. Maybe not this week we have those meetings. Correct. Not tonight. We don't have to decide that this is the day we're going to have the but we want but we want it as soon as possible. That's not that's the issue. It's my understand and correct me if I'm wrong. Admin are in an agreement with two high schools. You just need some time in order to work out the plan in order to present. Yes. And that also includes a timeline. Correct. Am I correct
049in all this? I think that's fair to say. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Again, we we prepared for plan A. And so plan B was basically go to two high schools. That'll be Lafayette and Central. And at the end of the day, we're looking at enrollment numbers. We're looking at capacity. But we have to in good faith know that that is going to be best for our kids, right? That's primary, right? So that's what we have to do and it's just going to take time to make sure. Can I speak to that sustainability piece, please? you know, u I think um as as we navigated Prop 2, we did a pretty good job of talking about the the academics, the activities that weren't matching um you know, the the the the crazy feeder system that we have
050today and and then and then, you know, a consistent middle school model. And I think we hit those well. Um, I think we underplayed probably the uh the the sustainability piece, the the operational efficiency piece, right? You know, it's hard to say that we don't have any money when we're asking for a big bond, but the truth is those are two different pots of money. And so operating the number of buildings that we do, not just high schools, remember we talked about elementary and other and and condensing other facilities. So, we're talking several roofs here and and so I I would just ask that the administration start to kind of bring the numbers to that, right? So, so so you know, people say, "Hey, uh what we ought to do is just hire a bunch
051more teachers and make all three schools the same and and and and the truth is that money, well, number one, they're not there, but number two, neither is that operational money, right? And so, and so if we could just do a great job of putting those numbers together for the public to say, "Hey, look, part of this is is is because of our shrinking population, therefore shrinking dollars to to spend." Are you talking about what we're looking at? Costs. Are you talking about like cost numbers? Yeah. Yeah. Well, I I think we did that and I think back to when we had some of those meetings like there Well, I I didn't know that we saw like a huge cost savings. I think it was more in the staff resource. Yeah. The shortage of staff.
052I do know, you know, I can remember Dr. Seagris sitting over there and said, "Hey, you know, we we're deficit spending. We're we're spending more and so that's not sustainable, right?" So, so whatever whatever inputs are going into that, uh, we need to have just a clear understanding and share with the public that this is this is what's going on with our finances and and one could project a continued decline and then where that puts us in five years and I my my thing with I feel like people like to point out the deficit spending I but we don't talk enough about what that means like we have a fund bound we have a healthy fund balance. So, we've created our own savings account that as these ESR funds come and go that we've stabilized
053our ability to do that. So, I think sometimes when we talk about there's a deficit, um it tends to make people believe we don't have any money. We do have money. We're doing well. We're strong financially. Um the problem is we don't have any staff. And you know, we can talk about there there are so many problems with this school district. None of us created those problems. The middle school feeder pattern, the feeder pattern at Cardon Park, kids going to every four different schools. There's so many problems. And if we don't do something quickly, it's going to get it's going to get bad. So to me, if we can't better align our staff and our resources and you know, they're not feeling too hot too hot this week either about what their community feels about
054them and the things that they see the people say about them online. So, I think there needs to be a significant push for culture and climate and for them to know that whatever we can take care of here at a local level. And I and that's something we don't talk a lot about either is the state of Missouri has said the state is going to be less responsible for your funding, you have to look to a local level. So, we're going to have to me we're going to have to control what we can control and all of these issues, the feeder patterns, the elementary, the middle school. Yeah. you're going to have to do something big to be able to save test scores and I don't know that you said we are good financially. I'm
055concerned after next year with funding just there's a whole lot of unknowns out there right now as far as funding and I totally understand that and that's public education but we're in a we're in a good spot. Obviously, we have to make good decisions moving forward and races are not, you know, like I say I say that to say we have done all that we have we can do with a $300 million state budget shortfall. Everybody's probably going to hurt, but we're doing what what we're able to do. But moving forward, the longer we wait, the more the staff struggle and the more our kids struggle. So the longer we wait, the more more that happens. I think I think would you agree with this, Dr. McInness? If staff sees us going to the public,
056talk having some listening sessions, talking through what's going on, honing in on some of these staff issues, dollars sort of related. um that that helps us. I mean, they're not going to see us not doing anything, right? Unless we don't do anything. Well, unless all we're doing is let's not do that. You know what I mean? If all if all we do is ask and ask and plan and plan and the staff are like, "But I'm coming every day, you know." And you know, that's to be honest, that's what the four day week was last year. that was a Hail Mary to try to infuse, you know, something positive and that's in a lot of ways that was what Prop 2 was too. So, it's like I I just worry that the more we kick
057the can, the more our staff and students struggle. Well, and then I also think that you were right, Dr. McInness, as you mentioned that we're at a point where change is needed and we got to make a change. We have to do something. And I it's just my fear in that our school district has a history of we're almost making change and then we stop and then we get there and we're so close and then nothing happens and the staff sees that and so I want I'm speaking would you please be quiet and like I said I think that our staff need to look at a board that is committed and making change finally. So, what are the things I know that Dr. Edgar had sent us like a list of questions and I know
058that you guys probably started talking about those questions and I'm sure you didn't get hardly through them at all. Right. So, and I I also know that when we were talking about Prop 2, there were a lot of questions that we couldn't really answer. I mean, there were questions about, you know, how will you um do coaching staff? How will you do, you know, I don't know, there was a handful of things. I've written them down somewhere. So, as you guys move forward, do you anticipate taking kind of the same process as before? I I'm not entirely as privy to what you all did internally that got us here. We had some long range plan meetings and then it kind of transformed into a facilities committee um with not everybody present at the table. I
059foresee this to go a little bit different in the fall um because I think it is important to have our whole district leadership team on board with that dialogue. This is these are big decisions, right? Um so yeah, I see that process looking a little bit different and then folding in because I think last time because we had the facilities committee so we were getting a lot of feedback on that um we had done some survey we had the vision forward information so then doing what you guys are doing internally and then folding in surveys and focus groups or town halls something like that we've talked about all of that but nothing was decided upon today it was a lot of dial that's a good and a lot of um just dialogue. I think it
060was a healthy meeting for everybody to have a voice at the table. I we also talked about community support um and I think there's been a lot of talk about a lack of community support but they've passed things in the recent past and so that tells me we do have community support. It's just not community support on that particular issue. And so that's what we need to learn. Well, and and I think, you know, and this is hard to this is hard to do when you're proud of your staff and you're proud of your schools. Um I don't think people know how bad it is to be honest with you. I don't think that they I don't think that they know that. I don't think that people see the staff shortage. I don't think they
061see the sub shortage. I don't think they, you know, they don't see it. It was also hard to kind of balance, you know, these schools are not up to par, but we're still going to have to use them, but we have to make submovement. So, I think some of it too needs to be maybe some of these um town halls and meetings need to be in the schools. I don't know. I think they should all be in the school. We had a period of time where I thought we were going to have board meetings in our schools as well. And and my only issue and and I've I was supportive of that initially. My only concern about board meetings moving is that if you do have a concern and you show up here and then
062you didn't you didn't know. So I don't know about I I don't know that I'd be supportive of board meetings happening other places, but I would be supportive of town halls happening at each of the at each of them. That was something else we talked about today. Yeah. Because I think we have to listen to the people who voted no as well as the people who voted yes and look at the voting precinct data. Yes. To see because I feel like that is also an obvious split in our community as well. Um and just and and I would not be in favor if if or when we go to two high schools. we've got to change the names of them. They cannot stay central and Lafayette or whatever. We end up deciding because that's where
063that climate culture I feel like comes in because I know that when Lake closed and those kids came to Hosia and then Humble closes. So that that part we need to talk about at some point as well. How do we how do we create a new culture as a two high school town? That's all but that's also going to cost money to redo. You're saying you would support like rebranding both high schools? I would. I just feel like that's gonna We only have control over what we have control over. If you're going to rebrand, you're going to have to paint every floor. I mean, if you don't have the money, it's thousands and thousands of dollars with uniforms and signage and Well, and that's a long way down. It is. But again, I think we
064have to listen to our people. They do. you hear people people don't want their children to go to particular schools and they're very adamant about that for a variety of different reasons and that's why I think it has to start almost all over again and I agree with that I'm going to tell you now the students I know we have we talked to them about proposition two and it didn't pass but did we talk about plan B because I promise you a lot of them are not happy with it so I think the student input is just as good as the community input as well in fact that's who we're working for um and the teachers input. I can also tell you that I've talked to the community and asked them why it failed and
065I did get a lot of feedback, a lot of feedback. Um and I'm just going to be totally honest. The first one is they want to see us complete a project before we ask for more and I understand you guys are doing it and I've said that to the community, but they want to see it completed before Yeah. the 24 $20 million facilities improvements. Yes. Yes. everything. Yes, got that was a big one. And the other one, and again, I'm just going to be honest, they've asked us as a board to reflect on ourselves, to reflect on how we act, and that we need to be professional and we need to be respectful because how can community back us if we can't show respect to each other. So, I feel like that needs to [Applause]
066be this extremely hard. No problem. But I will tell you it wasn't just one side of town. I went to several side of town and I the community input I feel like needs to happen. You need to talk to your teachers about the plan B, the students about the plan B, your community and I do suggest that they get involved. Yeah, I agree. Is there anything else? So the questions that Dr. Edgar posted. We're going to talk about those when he's here then, which I'm okay with that. I would all of them are not completed and we're just going to wait until he's able to come back and discuss those two. So, what do you foresee? Did you where did you guys leave it with your meeting today as far as like what happens between
067now with you all planning wise between now and the next board meeting? Um, Dr. Edgar just said he would be having weekly or bi-weekly long range plan meetings in the future. So that's where we left off. He was prepared to talk about these talking points tonight that we discussed. I think it would be helpful to have everyone involved in the long range plan going forward. We haven't had that. What can you speak to? I don't know what you're what you're referring to when you say that. I'm saying like we had the facilities committee, right? And not everybody was at that table. When we had Are So when you're saying the facilities committee, are you talking about the one that we that the board had? No, I'm referring to when we went to UVA learning and
068Dr. Edgar came back and put committees in place. Internal internal. We I we didn't know about those. No, you guys came. We did. Yeah, I think the last one we had was in January, but a team of us were in That's right. We were thinking about But that's tough when you have just part of the admin team at meetings and then not the rest. So I think we just I think the plan going forward is to have our soups cabinet all on board and all of us. Well, I mean, our plan is to provide recommendations to you as a board. Yeah. Thank you. That's the plan. But again, we want community input, have staff dialogue, and then provide a recommendation on our stance, what we think we should do going forward. There's nothing else. Is
069there a motion to adjurnn? I'll make a motion to adjourn. Thank you, Mike. Is there a second? I'll second. Thank you, Jennifer. Call vote, please. Yes. Mr. Moore, yes. Miss Lanny, yes. Miss Karns, yes. Miss Chosny, yes. Miss Miller, yes. And Miss Williams, yes. The motion passes. This meeting is adjourned.