Highland CSD Board of Education Meeting 8-5-2025

001It's kind of >> Okay, we'll open the meeting up. Can we please rise for the pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We need a quick uh motion to appoint Jen as our clerk prompt. Motion by Ed, second by Tom. All those in favor? >> I opposed. So carried. Tonight we have a public hearing for the district-wide safety plan. Um, and we'll let the board know if there's any updates and answer any questions the community or board may have regarding the district-wide safety plan for the 2025 2026 school year. >> So, just a point of information, the um by law, the um safety plan needs to be posted on the website for 30

00230 days for a comment period. So, we made sure that that was done so that it ended just before this board meeting. Um, there needs to be an email for any comments or concerns. We have not received any, so unless there are any tonight. The plan has not changed all that much. The only addition to this year's plan is the uh the heat policy, which the board is going to take a look at this evening and uh and get that into existence. Soon as this is adopted, this will go up on our website as a finalized plan and it will be submitted to the state in the New York State Education Portal uh first thing tomorrow morning, assuming that it passes this evening's vote. >> Anyone in the audience or the board have any questions

003or concerns? No. >> Okay. Since there's no no questions or concerns, we'll close the public hearing and we'll move to adopt the district-wide safety plan. So, can I have a motion? Motion by Mike, seconded by Janine. Be it resolved the board of education upon the recommendation of the superintendent approve the 2025 2026 districtwide emergency response plan and presented to the board during today's public hearing. Got a motion by Mike, second by Janine. Any questions or concerns? >> No, except to say, you know, safety is always being reviewed. The buildings have safety committees and >> any good point. This is the public plan. Each of our buildings has a more specific plan that cannot be made public. >> Right. And we always encourage if parents have questions about the safety in the building, please contact your

004building principal. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other questions? All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. So carry. >> Public comments. Open the meeting up to public comments. First end of the public comments for agenda items only. So if anyone has any comments regarding the agenda, please uh state your name and ask your question. Okay, we'll close public comment and we'll move to our consent items tonight. It'll be F.8.1 to C.4. Hopefully, everyone have an opportunity to review. U if you have any questions, if you want to pull any particular agenda item out, we can and vote on it separately. or if you want to table it. Anyone have any comments or concerns regarding the agenda items, consent items? >> Yeah. Number four, under probationary is that the same person twice? >> It's two different

005jobs. >> Two different jobs. So one is as the school courier and one is as a bus driver. >> The position is actually for courier is called school driver/ messenger as civil service. So that's why it's listed twice. >> Nice full day too. >> Anybody else? >> So I just want to be clear on the breadth of the consent. Um what does that where does that end the consent agenda? >> Uh see 4 would be the uh change including >> fair enough. Yep. >> Okay. I'll I'll back up a bit and ask for a motion. Have a motion to move the consent. Motion by Ed, second by Mike. There's no further comment. All those in favor >> I oppose. So carry on. >> Who can tell? >> Okay. So, um, if you've been on property,

006you'll notice that our capital project is moving along at a fast pace, very short summer, and all of our buildings have something going on. And we're hoping all of this work will be wrapped up in the next couple of weeks so that cleanup can happen and school schools will open uh without any incident. Um there is if you you've been following there is an issue on our track that uh the construction company is here and rectifying that as we well not as we speak right now. They were here about an hour ago finishing up for the day and that is expected to be done within the next couple of weeks. And uh the air conditioning is moving along in all of the large zone large areas in our buildings with that expectation of that being

007ready for opening. Uh elementary school class placement letters went out. So I thank the elementary school that I know that is a a a big feat to get that out by uh as early as possible. Parents want to know their child's teacher. They want to know the supply lists, all those things. And that's always a big undertaking. So kudos to that school for getting all of that information out. Um just some upcoming dates. Big blue football kickoff barbecue fundraiser is going to be on August 15th from 5 to 7 at Highland High School. JV and varsity sports start on the 18th. Uh PTA meetings are going to start up already on the 19th. We have uh the middle school PTA. And then we have some orientations scheduled for the end of August. We have the

00825th, sixth grade orientation and schedule pickup uh at the middle school between 5 and 7. On the 26th, again at the middle school for 7th and 8th grade schedule pickup between 5 and 7 and 9th grade orientation is scheduled for August 28th from 4 to 6:00 p.m. And then school starts the following week. We have uh just a couple of uh superintendent conference days, kindergarten orientation, and then we kick right in with our calendar. So, the administrators have been working all summer trying to get the calendar as firmed up as possible. Uh, we have a couple more dates we want to firm up and then I'll start including those in the uh Friday updates so board members have like a month, month and a half look ahead. I think that's something I added a couple

009years ago and um it it's always something that you can look to if you want to become involved in any of the things in any of our buildings. So, that's that. And then the rest of this week, um, I will be joining the rest of the Olster County, uh, school superintendent at a meeting upstate. Uh, we, one of the days is dedicated to, uh, things going on in the state education department. So, that's, uh, we're looking forward to some hopefully some information that we can bring back and and start moving forward with the the new initiatives at the state education department. We're meeting with them pretty much all day Thursday. And uh so that's always a it's a fast and furious couple of days. Um so I'm hoping we get some good information. And that's

010all I have other than summer is already gone. And just thanks to our crews for all that they do. They're working their tails off to make sure everything is up and and running. And the place other than the construction areas already look like ready to open. So, um, we're very fortunate. >> Any question? Oh, we are we are down. Um, sorry. >> We are still looking for a technology teacher at the middle school. We have some possibilities that they're interviewing this week. Um, that's I don't understand why that's such a difficult position to find, but people just are not getting that certification, which is kind of baffles me this day and age. Um, so we're hoping we have some prospects that come out this week and uh we have the LPN position that we've had

011a really hard time uh replacing. So we actually took an Indeed uh ad out in the newspaper and got some uh folks in and I think they're meeting with them this week. So fingers crossed by the next board meeting we should have um most of our hires done minus bus drivers. We are always looking for bus drivers. So talk that up everywhere you go. being that we're not a medical institution >> and just because there's been a lot you know some turnover in some of the nursing areas and I know >> um you know it's hard to find good people for the school setting but what kind of support do we have internally like how do we induct I know how we induct teachers and administrators but how does a nurse get support in a

012non-medical >> These are typically nurses that have had other positions and they're either retired D or so they have the knowledge and they just are looking for something. >> So we're recruiting we're we're trying to recruit other school nurses then >> uh or actually we can take LPNs we can take them from the medical field if they're at the end of their career they don't want to work in a hospital anymore. a school is a great place for them because >> yeah, I don't know how competitive rates are versus the marketplace and where our compensation lands, but I know that if there's a lack of interest, you know, I just know economics 101, there's no supply, you know, >> no supply. >> It is a different created. >> It's a different level of nurse than

013what you would. So, I will say that if you're going to go to an ER, you're going to make a lot more money than you are if you're coming to a school setting. But the responsibilities are much more. You've got trauma, you've got like all day long, we're talking uh LPNs that are working uh with individual students on particular health care needs. So, it's more targeted and it's not as um >> certification certification though. I hear you. >> Not an RN. >> So, yeah, >> it seems like we've always had, you know, the issue with uh retaining the LPNs or the RNs, just the nature of, you know, the occupation. I mean, some of them probably will come come on board if they have, you know, children in the district, you know, working or in

014another district where they can, you know, they have that opportunity to be off the same time their children are and have the summers. So, right, >> it is a difficult position to fill. You know, it seems like we've had a full >> a large amount of turnover over the years in those positions. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Thank you. But bus drivers, speak that up everywhere you go because Kathy will she'll train them. She'll walk them through the certification process. She'll put them on as as substitutes and monitors in capacities that she's allowed to use them until they're fully trained. But they do a really good job and we've we've got some really good uh folks that have come through the system because they've been trained by our in-house folks. So um a couple years

015ago I found somebody on the rail trail happened to stop on my bike and I was talking to some somebody who had driven bus years ago and so he applied here and he worked for us for a couple of months but then he lived on the other side of the river and didn't want to come >> drivers are being posted and do you share that with your internal email group? >> Yes parked down >> if you know anybody interested in >> Absolutely. There's a sign out on 9W. >> I see that. We see, as a matter of fact, that's that's the problem is it starts just bleeding into the background because everybody needs them no matter what community you go to. >> Kathy has uh has done some things where she'll take a school bus,

016she'll put a sign on, she'll move it around the community. >> Um so, you know, we'll try anything. We'll try anything to get people through the door. So, >> Joel, um I know you do. >> Let's go backwards to the OPM position. That's generally conditional, especially if we need one or two more each year on student need. Correct. >> Well, typically right now it's we have one in each building and they're they're considered share a shared service within the building. So the day of one nurse to one kid, we've gotten away from that so that it's they're they're working with multiple kids. >> This is I will tell you one position in each building might have two or three. >> Correct. suits unless it's a really um hard case. >> It's not bad to have

017a floater. >> Yeah. >> In a good model who helps with the entering the information periodically can sub if someone's out because substituting your your nurse is always a challenge too. >> Yep. >> Chance chances are we're always going to have a need two or three individuals like you figure in each building. >> Well, our LPNs do fill in for our RNs when they're out, too. >> And we are fortunate at the elementary school because it is a large building. There's a health aid that does work in the nurse's office. She's able to cover. There was some cross trainining that we did at the elementary level with some of the other staff. They can only do certain things. There are things that have to be by a medical professional. So, you can't environment. So, can't

018get too far over yourself. >> And then if the student population changes at any point in time and we have a really good LPN, do we try to >> we move them around? We've always we've always had a always had a need for the ones that we have. >> Okay. >> So, >> I just want to keep good people >> in absolutely unique situations and not losing. >> Yep. >> Any other questions for one would ask if you're always being moved around year after year, is that an assignment that earns permanency? >> It could, but like >> hard to find. >> After a while, people don't want to move around. They want to report to an assignment and >> like everybody else. >> That's the flip side. >> Yeah. [Music] >> Any other questions for

019superintendent? >> Patrick, do you have anything to this point that you >> um just that the summer's moving along? Um we had our retreat on July 22nd with our administrative team. Uh it went really well. Uh we spent the morning doing some reflection on the year, seeing what went well and what we want to change. Uh setting some goals for the upcoming year. Um we do have our title grants. Um there's been a lot about federal withholding of money. Um so some of that's not going to come in on time. Um, so they're telling us to move forward with the allocations that we do have uh to submit that and then they're going to reopen when the other money uh does finally get allocated to us. So seemed like they are anticipating it somewhat soon,

020but no exact date. Um, and just lastly, we are going to have our new teacher orientation on August 20th. So we have uh eight new teachers starting with us that we're going to spend the day with to review. >> Right. What's our So what's the exposure on the federal program side? >> So we got our title one and title four allocations. Um the title one is the most important one that helps um you know fund some salaries. >> Like do we get a total of 1.4 million from federal grants? Like do we what >> um for type >> I'm looking for dollars. Um, so our typical title one allocation is under $300,000. It's probably anywhere between 260 and 285 depending on the year. >> All right, let's say 300. >> Um, our title two is

021typically 50 to $60,000. Uh, that helps support professional development for our teachers. So that's the one that hasn't come in yet. Um, but that one if we have to wait a little bit to see what we can afford with, you know, professional development other things, we can kind of work with that one. Our title three allocation is always very small. Um, we're talking about $1,000. It's actually we apply as a consortium with Olster Boseis. Um, and then title four is about uh anywhere between 19 and $22,000 depending on the year. um that some of that money goes towards our SRO program. Um so really the title two and the title three haven't come in. Those are the ones we don't know yet, but title one and title four came in. So we're moving forward with

022those. >> But you're saying that our our monies derived from the budget from federal grants are under a half a million dollars. >> Um so we also get the special ed 611 and 619 grants. So that's >> we know that IDA funds are unaffected by >> Yep. >> So that state conflict. >> Yep. So we got that um just as we normally did. We submitted those grants uh at the end of June. >> Those are about >> it's probably close to $300,000 actually. No, a little over $300,000. Now, it you alluded to the fact that um the state seemed that they were going to get that money and did they indicate whether that is because of lawsuit or compliance with federal requirements? >> Um they didn't really say. We had a webinar last week um

023and it was part of it was going over the application and um looking at it and they said, >> you know, they just put out a new blurb uh today. It used to be just move forward. Now it was move forward with these and there was some different wording but they seemed to think that it was in motion. Uh but no no exact timeline that they wanted to commit to. >> Something that came out of the law conference which the principal group was there. We had a good time last Friday. um was that should the state not be in compliance and monies are withheld, there are ways for districts to go and certify to be able to release those funds. Probably has to do with some website cleanup and terminology and things like that. I

024mean, you know, things related to DEI programming and that sort. >> Okay, cool. Any questions for Dr. Boyd? >> There was one last one and I apologize. I believe that curriculum and instruction falls under your domain now. So, I'm just curious as September rolls along, you know, what does CNI have in store for Highland Schools as we >> I think one of the biggest things this year uh for us is going to be really unpacking portrait of a graduate um and looking at that's going to be our big undertaking um and revamping and looking at how we utilize some of our teacher leaders um for the upcoming year um and what that looks like. So, um, part of that is incorporating them in the planning. Uh, so getting their heads together to see, uh, how

025that's going to unfold for this year. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Boyd. All right. I'm going to move on the board of education. I'm going to move uh board of ed goals and mission statement to uh discussion after we adopt the u the two policies and then we'll have board goals and mission statement and our continued discussion on the community uh usage of facilities insurance. Okay. Under your old business, uh, Highland Central School District policy number 5685, maximum temp temperature for school buildings and indoor facilities. It's our second reading. Be resolved. The board of education upon the recommendation of the superintendent approved the attached Highland Central School District Board of Education policy number 5685 titled maximum temperature for school buildings and indoor facilities as presented to the board at this meeting. Can

026I have a motion, please? Motion by Janine, second by Ed. Discussion. I'm sure you all read. I mean, I think it's 82 degrees and then you have to close blinds, do whatever else you can do to kind of uh isolate and keep the room as cool as possible. If it reaches is it 88 degrees? If it reaches 88 degrees, then we have to mobilize them to a different location. I believe with our capital project now, we're going to have larger common areas that are going to be tempered air coming starting hopefully in September. So, we have cafeterias, we have auditoriums, we have the libraries, we have gymnasiums. Um not the same in each building, but we have a multi. See, that's the problem is we're starting to end up with a jigsaw puzzle when it

027comes to HBAC and something in of course in the future as we wrap up this capital project, but in the future, I think climate control in all of our buildings. So, >> we'll move to the forefront. >> Peter, right now, elementary school is going to be both cafeterias, upper and lower, just the upper >> uh gymnasium or multi-purpose room. Yes. >> And libraryies always had a >> Yes. >> Middle school is gymnasium. >> No cafeteria. >> Cafeteria and library. High school is auditorium, cafeteria, and gymnasium. >> We're lacking system. >> I mean, it's a smaller campus. Middle school is going to have two locations. >> The track. In the future, like you said, we could we could, you know, move a new project to >> update some of the other >> larger capital project. >>

028Yeah. >> Eventually, we could >> I think you'll have more success with the next capital project with that now that there is regulation from the state. >> Yeah. >> I wish there was some funding that came along with these requirements, but at least now there's something there for us to put our teeth into. Air quality right now is the topic of the day. Yeah. >> It has to do with wildfires in Canadia. It has uh Canada. It has to do with local factors. So, it's been very interesting how all of a sudden it's the topic. So, >> yeah. >> Eventually, even though they're hodge podge, there can be air handlers put in later on down the line that can integrate. You know, even if we have segments right now, later on we can incorporate them

029all through the use of air handlers. Okay. Uh, so we have our second reading. Uh, motion was Janine and Ed. Are there any further questions, concerns? Okay. All those in favor? >> Opposed? So carries. Finally, essential school district policy 7316, student use of personal technology. This is our second reading. Be it resolved that the board of education upon the recommendation of the superintendent approve the attached Highland Central School District Board of Education policy number 7316 titled student use of personal technology is presented to the board at this meeting. Can I have a motion please? Motion by Mike, second by Tom. Discussion. I think we've had numerous meetings where we discussed the use of u personal technology. >> We you know in this particular forum we've been talking about the cell phone policy for all too

030long. >> Yeah. Um unfortunately this one is I think drew some even some additional parameters than what we wanted to see the you know the bell-to- bell concept and they've clarified since then. So uh we're going to looks like we're going to recapture that student time and um you know it's it's a bit of a learning curve but no no cell phones in school should be a good thing. I think this is devices I should say. It's a lot more than cell phones >> in 27 states now. >> I saw that this morning >> and climbing probably. >> Yeah. >> And the fortunate piece of this is that we implemented it back in March March or April. >> So staff and students already have been prepped for what's to come again September. So I think

031uh in good condition it gives the tools that are needed. I think this point is administrative now to to whatever the the environment is and how it's enforced is going to fall to the administration. >> Well, we are very fortunate that lockers were included in this capital project because lockers seem to be the only acceptable space in the school. Um, you know, by and large. So, that's that's good. That's good. >> We're prepared to issue lockers to students. I know a lot of them don't use them. So, this might be a new >> I don't you know >> a new routine for them checking back with a a locker. But >> thanks. That's it. >> Okay. Any other further discussion? >> Okay. Motion by Mike, second by Tom. All those in favor? >> Just wonder

032if there's any concerns from the administration on this this policy. >> No, we have law to stand by now. because I know it's >> not from where they're standing right now. >> All right. Try it again. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Those carries. Thank you. >> Okay. Under old business. We got a couple topics we're going to start discussion on. Uh first one being board of education goals and mission statement. And I know we brought this back up back in December and we had a few rounds of discussion and then we kind of felt that it was towards the end of the or midway through the school year. Let's initiate it again, resurrect it again in the summer and see if we can put it in place for September. So, um, Jen

033had sent out, uh, back in December our current mission statement and our current, uh, board of education goals and district goals, which would be on the back side of it. That's the current mission statement, and that's the current board of education goals and district goals. Um, does everyone feel that we need to kind of update our mission statement? >> Yes. >> I put some, you know, I put some work into this, but um, you know, when I look at mission statements, when I look at cycles of improvement, a lot of times we talk about like a fiveyear cycle. I know that's talked a lot about in facilities planning and a lot of our state requirements are like these five-year cycles. So if seems like it's an interesting time as we bring this capital project to

034a close or it will be closing relatively soon I think. Um, and with this new leadership team at the building levels that we have, I'm almost looking at this like year zero of a five-year cycle where you're going to take the time to unpack this new state model on the curriculum side. We should probably take stock as we close this capital project. We're always talking about with our architects, what's the next five going to bring? Is electric vehicles still an option? You know, there's a few things that have come up over the year that I think we could plug in. So, with that turning the page to a new chapter, when I look at our mission statement, these are the words that kind of um bleed through to me that perhaps need a little reshuffleling.

035All very valuable. It's not like they're going away, but uh first and foremost, and this is usually almost by importance is what you kind of mentioned first, but ours goes diversity, community engagement, quality education, experiences and opportunities, positive future for students, and affordability. And when I read a lot of the mission statements from area schools that I think are very competitive and are moving in positive directions, all those are elements in there. But we there's no doubt we focused on diversity the p past five years, right? The creation of a committee, we had a consultant, we had student concerns right at the beginning of that and we addressed that. I'm not saying those things still aren't important. They certainly still continue. But when I'm now at another zero, looking at a fiveyear from a leader

036trying to plan, it might not be the first item. Maybe it's quality education. And maybe while we have the time, we've got contracts settled to my knowledge. So, no big contracts negotiation. Maybe it's time to bring community engagement to the front. Let's talk with our community. Let's talk about some forums where we might, other than our board meetings, be able to interact, a coffee, you know, sometimes they do these coffee round circles. Maybe we do one at the American Legion, three of us, and another three go to the firehouse. Well, you know, I'm just out of the box, but I'm trying to engage the community cuz lately we've been with other community leaders really talking about community concerns and we were able to solve some problems. I don't know if we solved them shortterm or

037long term, but maybe those types of exchanges need to continue. >> But those that you just mentioned would be part of our board of education goals, not our mission statement. >> Well, right now we're talking about the mission statement. All six of those words I pulled from our mission statement. Right. >> Right. And I'm just saying I think that, you know, if diversity still ends up after some discussions still being our priority, fine. It comes first. If not, maybe that changes the wording. There are I will tell you there are some mission statements I like. Nothing direct out there, but I have two including ours. Ours doesn't go away. It's got beautiful concepts. There's another two that I'm looking to blend in there that might produce something that represents what I am thinking for the

038next zero to five. That doesn't mean Tom is thinking about something different or Janine. I'm just speaking to my but I'm willing to share that um with you at beyond tonight. It's still on paper. I've got a lot of documents. But that's all that's that's my comments on the mission statement. >> I had Back in December, I'd come up with our long-term mission is to be a district that supports all students in developing critical reasoning and lit literacy skills in developing their creative ideas, athletic talents, and life skills and awareness for their social, emotional, and physical well-being as well as that of others. I guess my biggest thing if if I was to isolate words like you had said, Mike, you know, life skills. I know back when we were pushing for um college and

039career ready, but I think you know life skills is what we got to embed in in our students because a lot of them are coming out without all those life skills that are necessary for them to move on. That's and for me that's a a word of >> I'm ready in every way we can and as a community to highlight the trades because they're needed and you know you produce wonderful earnings. You can do whatever you want with these trades. And perhaps we we're always talking about academics. That doesn't go away. But how do we now where maybe that's shaded career exploration in the trades? How do we make them equivalent in our belief statement? I'd be interested in talking about that >> because they're really neat. >> Right. Ken, do you want to read

040what you uh put together back then? what I had done because I value everything everyone's saying and what I did in my draft to try to capture that was sort of enhance the mission statement so that we used more inclusive yet ambiguous terminology so that when we say a student reaches their fullest potential that's encompassing academics trades or whatever that picture may look like and then what I did is I broke it up into what I call ideals these are sort of overarching themes that don't have to be updated yearly But we can strive to write annual goals that meet both the mission statement and sort of these concepts and the ideals, things that everyone is talking about here. And this may be too much, but it's kind of where my head was going. So,

041I'll just read the mission statement. It sounds very much like what everyone said. I just used different language. The board of education is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment that champions the success of every student. We commit to engaging our diverse community in collaborative efforts to ensure highquality education, promote equity, and cultivate lifelong learners by leveraging our collective experiences and insights. We strive to prepare students for a dynamic and inclusive future, empowering them to reach their fullest potential. And then we can decide in goals which is more um which is more like you kind of check them off each year what exactly that means. This way the mission statement can stay sort of evergreen and then each year we can evaluate what we want to work towards. So that's why I divided

042it in then this list of ideals. if everyone sees the first set of bullets as ideals and then I just kind of rehashed goals for the board of ed and then maybe goals for the district that could be more tangible. And >> there are some pieces of that that uh you know I like and there's some pieces that I dislike from what I've heard. >> Words like inclusivity and these things are I think we're trying to turn the page on that. They may be a little polarizing. I think that that's something I you know perhaps we can >> work on that terminology. >> Yeah. Just I think it's in essence inclusivity just imparts a communal sense of empathy of recog and I think maybe that's where where you're seeing it as a polarizing word. Maybe

043we do have to rephrase it but ultimately I think we have to phrase it that we are a public school and it's brought together through the public efforts and the public commerce is the community. And if we emphasize that one of the important things is that we're raising or trying to contribute to their full growth and full potential with the recognition that they are part of a community and with respect that goes towards being a member of the community. So some people will say that that falls under citizenship or or recognition of you know whether they're >> well we could say citizenship. I like that. >> But that can that can also be I I agree with that. But again, that that can be polarizing in another way. But I think the same intention, you

044know, inclusivity on one side points to the recognition of the human condition and that we are all valuable. Citizenship again points to the value of of our community, our our nation. And I think all are wonderful things. And I think if we recognize in that under the the umbrella of this is a public school. >> It's mentioned twice. It just rubs me a little differently. Well, I'm just saying it's that we're a public school and we're we're brought here through the efforts of the community and we reflect that and I think we want to raise we want to uh when we bring these students to their full potential we're bringing them to the potential of becoming responsible members of that community with all that it entails the skills that Allen's talking about the full potential

045of their intelligence their critical thought. I mean, my intention of the word inclusive future was to address those that go to college, those that go to trade school, those that enter the workforce. I was trying to come up with a word that could address those goals beyond secondary education. So, we can come up with another word, but that's where my head was >> kind of worn out >> in that language. >> Yeah, we some of those terms are worn out. >> Agreed. Agreed. But that's where my head was in using it. moving away from work away from that not >> I hate to think we're moving away from the concept of inclusive because that's empathy that's what forms a community right I like empathy >> like that in general I like you know cultivate lifelong

046learners I mean that's what we're here to strive for >> in whatever >> not any one particular direction but multiple directions >> yeah so yeah again a draft open for discussion but my head was trying to come up with language that set us up to for goals that it's not just measuring how many went to college or how many went to you know we were talking about that in other capacities this year. So I know that's important to all of us. >> Yeah. So why don't we take these words that we're all I know I know Mike highlighted um you know quality education because the underlying quality uh you know we're a diverse group uh experiences positivity and affordability um you know I had out of mine you know the life skills and there a

047couple other ones you know the social emotional physical well-being Jen's I I think cultivate lifelong learners. Let's try to take those words and and >> develop a mission statement for our next meeting and maybe we can >> that was wrong. >> Move forward with one. >> Excellent. Absolutely. I'm willing to share. Um yeah, >> that's for the mission statement. >> Um >> when I got Yeah. Sorry. Goals. >> No. Yeah. For board of education goals. Currently uh we're developing superintendent evaluation tool which we've already done that. >> Yeah, we have we did anything this year. >> Some did. >> Okay. Conduct retrie. >> You have to go in and hit the button and >> I can't see it until you close it. >> I appreciate all the artifacts. Half of that gets you to >>

048um >> there there's a lot. Was it every agenda you attached? >> And then some. >> Thank you. Yes. >> Very complete. >> Uh conduct. >> But that that proves the that those are artifacts that speak to each of those things. And that's what the the goal is. It makes >> I put time into the tool. >> Yeah. It makes you think about each of those tenants. >> Y we have that conduct retreats and self-evaluations twice a year. We really haven't done a lot of that but >> so there is a self-evalu just so that you're aware there's a self-evaluation piece on super eval that can be used by the board and that's part of the the total >> one year one of the trustees actually did that but not the superintendent piece. So, >>

049I will definitely um >> you just have to be careful when you're toggling between the the different >> I will definitely put together a retreat. Uh I think we have a couple newer local establishments that we can go to and sit down and and work that through. >> Say that >> get mandated training. >> It's been four years. >> All the new all new board members have to have that mandated training. >> I mean, I think we can pull that out. monitor to control micromanaging. I think this board and past boards have really stayed on top of that. Um, set up long range strategic plans for finance programs and services. Um, I I have that one as staying even if we change it a little bit. >> We need to reward it a little bit.

050>> Yeah. I mean if if I don't know if you agree that we should treat this as a demark and moving forward like a year zero. I don't know if any but uh that just helps me and that certainly supports that concept right >> uh explore different ways to engage staff uh outside of professional development. I don't know uh what we've done in that area. Well, maybe it fits if we just say community because staff is part of our community. Um, anyway, engaging the public is always something we should do. The one thing that I would caution instead of thinking about getting rid of because you almost want in my opinion you want a historical piece here so that as members change they can see the history of what you've worked on because that's might

051be something that they personally need to work on to fit into the changing dynamic here. That's something we always talk about as administration. >> Well, we should date it then. >> Yeah. you know, let's date them and and have these copies and more than on a one drive somewhere that multiple folks could get to. But yes, but when we say we're getting rid of, what we're really saying is we've met that, we've done it and we're checking it off, making room for others, I would imagine, >> right? I mean, that's how I'm looking at it. >> Yeah. But as you say, it's it's it's always evolving. So there, as Joel's pointing out, that pendulum can swing and it may be a goal that needs to be >> and maybe it's a section of be cognizant

052of these are some of the things that we've done in the past and we don't want to lose sight of those >> because you don't want to slip back, >> right? Uh seek fair and cost effective settlements to contracts. I I think we've >> come to realize where we are with those and we have developed some >> well cost effective, you know, we made it work. >> Yeah, >> we made it happen. >> Deliver a budget that supports education is affordable to the public. Again, we're we're bound by the 2% rule. Um and we try to do the best we can within those means. read off your voting results and put a check next to it. Y >> the community is supportive resounding >> district goals uh achieve academic success and excellence >> probably what

053we all want. >> That's never going to go away. >> That's always a goal. >> It should become more specific through conversation. Right. >> I think that it needs a little bit I think it needs a little bit more to it. Right. >> I mean, you do it because what's 94% of your graduates graduate with a high school diploma. You're sending kids to Yale and you know, all these wonderful institutions. So, there is a lot of success. So, how do you know how do we make that more meaningful as a as a group, >> right? >> Uh, incorporate quality management practices in all aspects of district and board operations. I think this is an important one. I I only say that because you've got consolidated roles at the central level. You've got a new leadership

054new leadership team at your building levels. >> I think that this is something that we spend time talking about. It'll require Dr. the board's personnel hat, of course, you know, but maybe it's time to to put a new organizational map together just so we can see what that looks like. What are the titles? Where are the people? >> That should stay here, two years from now. I don't know. That's the master schedule going to get done. I don't know. >> Three years, four years. >> Hire her back as a consultant. >> So, here's the word community again. build public confidence and involvement in our schools. >> I think that's a huge one. This is the biggest one >> and I and I think we have I know you know the last capital project uh I

055think more so from the superintendent but I think the entire board went out there to promote that capital project. So we were building, you know, public confidence in what we were trying to develop and they supported it and >> I think I don't hopefully they'll they'll support future bond events involving zoning and whatnot. To see the public come here as a forum and then to see representatives from this forum go back to the public forum I thought was wonderful to see you know and your presence of course here I'd love to see the the interaction. It's something we hadn't had for many years, you know, to have the town board coming to the school board meetings and the school board showing up the town board. I think that's the kind of interplay we really need

056to build the public confidence. >> Well, we're interconnected and I think that's what we're starting to see more than we have in the past. Well, we always have. Yeah. And that's I think and then the public is >> I would love to see more people at these meetings and you know whenever there's a hot button issue that comes up and it's always I'm actually happy to see them because I like people to think that their voices are being heard but it'd be nice to hear voices when things are going well too. You know, >> you know I I think we got a there's a stigma that board of education are the mean people. you know, we're the ones that send down the directives and sometimes we don't even discuss it, but I know personally from,

057you know, having a spouse involved, you know, 10 to 11 years ago that why did you guys make us do this? I said, we never even talked about it, but they use the board of education as the scapegoat. But I think to build confidence in the entire staff, I I did it once. We did a roundt with staff and I think it worked out well at a public meeting but I always encourage and I you probably heard me say we want more of the staff to come be involved in our meetings. >> I don't think staff has any staff >> but we invite you to have any problem coming to the board of education you know uh with issues. I I mean I if that's a problem I don't see it. I'm saying that I

058think they're more, you know, very readily come to the board and >> we have to sometimes I'm like, did you even >> what about down the hall? Have you met with anybody? >> But so I don't know if that's a problem as much as the community we don't see. You know, when you say the capital project, you know, let's say, we have 75 8,000 residents, maybe a little bit more, and a thousand voted for the capital project. I know we can say that's overwhelming because the statistics say, but it's still not a huge representative sample of the community. Now, they might not care. You know, no news is good news sometimes, but when you're looking for engagement, you're just looking for ideas. You're looking for what's the next thing that you want to see in

059your schools? What What is it that you want to see? >> Absolutely. And that's why we >> It was very clear people did not want to see a crematorium next to the school. Boom. great community involvement, great communication and things happen as it was >> I think part of that does happen because you know we are conduits you know that initial statement that we are diverse group of people wasn't in reference to the school but the board itself >> is that we all have we all come from different occupations uh different but some of us have children in the building some of us had children in the building some of us have relatives who worked in the district others had you know uh we all work in different occupations and I in representing the community.

060I think the community members feel comfortable coming to us and expressing their concerns, their needs, their hopes, their desires and we bring those back on a regular basis. So I think in that sense we do have the through us as conduits the community can reach the board but it would be nice for the community to feel com everybody's so busy I know and scheduling especially when you have students that you're trying to feed and get homework done the last thing you have time for is to come to a board meeting at night but um it is nice that they reach out to us and that they feel comfortable or or through letters to the the administration but it would also nice be nice to see them here as No, I I think we had we

061had good conversation with staff uh all around staff regarding the cell phone policy back when and we had some some groups come in and and speak on behalf of >> what they felt was the you know the pros and cons to >> but I think we need more of that kind of conversation. That's that's what I'm looking for. We're not >> we're not here to we're here to work together as a team. It's better the education piece for the students. >> I think the public would be surprised how little power we have in terms of what we can you know. >> Yeah. >> But anyway, I think we try to build public confidence and involvement in our schools. But we can expand on that. The last one on district goals is develop and implement a

062five-year strategic plan that meets the facility of the faculty, transportation, educational, administrative needs of the district. Uh I don't remember how long ago this district goals and mission statements, probably 10 years maybe that we haven't really revised this. Uh have we put a fiveyear plan in place? I think we pretty much go with with a five-year type of plan or even sooner regarding capital projects and uh and it's all built around um you know the infrastructure and what serves the students needs and and the staff's needs. And when we as we rotate out our our issues, the uh the loans and the bond is when it makes sense for us to fiscally rotate them over and and borrow the monies to make those improvements. I think we've done that effectively and I think the transportation,

063we've set that up on a rotating five-year. I think we've done that effectively. I think staffing, you know, staffing for transportation, uh, as Joel's mentioned several times, there's a large number of retirements coming around the bend. I think we have to be prepared for that. Um, along with I my understanding is this is dropping off of people becoming certified given that the the the attraction of the state and these tier six is not >> Are you talking drivers or teachers? >> I'm talking teachers at this point, but I shifted from drivers to teachers >> depending on the discipline. >> Yeah. Why don't we just get rid of that word faculty staff because it leads you to think that you're only looking to work with one group of people, one discipline. Yeah, I think that's a

064good point. >> I'm thinking maybe even was meant to be facility, but >> um >> I think for the next meeting we come back uh you know four or five goals for each one of >> both district and board of education I think is sufficient. I mean there's some that can be uh taken out of board of education goals and just keep it at four or five bullets. Okay. I think creating a set of board of education goals would suffice. District and department goals might come from central office. I I'd imagine not to cut our assignment short but >> yeah had that discussion. I mean we can implement some of these you know become part of district expectations of the district but we one of our goals to be declared we set forth our expectations

065to the district and work in conjunction with the administration and staff to to arrive at I think yeah that sense of communication and community. So, we're good. We'll come back. Oops. Next meeting. >> Let's do an intense share and share and let's let's keep this at the forefront. So, the next meeting is productive and we might even leave there or go into there with a draft. >> I know these were shared in the past, but are they in a secure spot the what you drafted up and what you drafted up for? >> So, I put it in the school's one drive thinking it would be accessible to everyone new and old, but then I can't get into it. Everybody can send me everything. I can put it in a Friday update so that it's all

066in one spot. >> That'd be great. Yeah, because >> I just wanted a sharable document that wasn't going to be iterations downloaded that there are >> I may not have each I know I have the one that you said because November 13th, I just looked it up. If you send me your things, I can put them all in one spot on >> a Friday update. >> Do you have mine from your I had sent one back in December. I struggle trying to find it on Yeah, I'll have to go. >> If not, I'll >> barracuda mail. >> I think this is it. >> I thought I thought it was >> Give me that cuz then I can just >> That's fine. >> I couldn't find it and I tried to go back in the set

067and I couldn't find >> I can look in your name and then type in a couple of these words and it should pop up. I don't know how I got >> that's what I was trying to get to by one. >> I hate one. >> And now typically when I put in a Friday update, I put it in as a word or I put it in as a PDF because that's easier for everyone to open. Do you want them in there as a word also so that if you go for us to be able to add notes or comments to a working document or are we just going to keep submitting content and you keep updating it? Like I >> I mean >> everybody has different capacity at that. So this is you. >> Well,

068that's what happened in when I sent mine. I had tracked it and then it wouldn't take the tracking comment. It defeats what everyone like you don't know what I changed then if you can't see the tracking comments. >> I think we have an early you were saying actually do a retreat and we actually have >> Yeah, we might need a tech. >> We could sit one of our a retreat could be to share all of this information and draft up an actual formalized. Yeah, we can have a discussion at next meeting and then bring it into September and have a retreat early in the school year. >> We might need a facilitator. The way this got done was through we had a facilitator. I don't know if it was Sarah at the time or a

069NISBA person, but I think it was Sarah Dudley Lemon. >> It was so long ago. I don't I don't recall. >> I remember. >> I know we had open discussion like we're doing right now. That's how we put it together. >> I think we did it in one. >> That's That's always great. It's great. >> Yeah. Dr. have those. >> Yeah, I'm all for that. >> Then how do we log it and track it in a document? >> Sorry, >> that's your job, Chad. >> Yeah, right. Maybe you're >> I can I can >> we have electronic sticky notes, Chen? >> Right. >> Too many sticky notes. >> I think we're very close. >> Yeah, I think so, too. I think >> we're all circling the same thing. We really are. >> Yeah. >> But

070I think my It's important that we we note we note trigger words and try and so that we don't alienate anybody. I think that's a good >> and I think to have that I think we can consider oursel friends and to have that discussion. >> So why don't we start at least minimally everyone send me what they have and I'll get it all in one place so that everybody has a way to take a look at it and then we can go from there after the next meeting. >> No, I think tonight was productive. It was good. I mean, we had a little bit more input than we did back in uh >> December and January. I think that's >> good. >> Okay. Um, last item under old business is to continue discussion of community

071usage of facilities and insurance. I I believe, and tell me if I'm wrong, I think we came out of that last discussion somewhat of a consensus that we as a board are going to allow our youth groups be able to utilize the facilities that our community supported um without going to the extreme requirements of nicer regarding insurance requirements. I think that's kind of the general take I got from everyone at the last meeting. So with that being said, um is it something that you want to move forward and setting up some parameters? Um I think we've had open discussion. I know at our at our reorg meeting, we had in our general meeting, we had a community group uh popner uh group was here and kind of gave us some insight into uh what they

072do and the insurance requirement, what they carry and what they can't cover. And then they have um that uh help me out. >> The universal waiver. Yeah, the universal waiver that everyone of their participants signed, which is another layer of I'm going to say somewhat of a protective piece for the district. I'm sure you know something severely happens that you're going to dig into everything, but I think that's another layer of protective coverage for for the district. So, I'm open for discussion on on how you want to move. Uh I mean there could be some guidelines put in place as far as uh their enrollment in their organization. You know, do we want to kind of restrict it to a percentage of local community athletes, student athletes or student participants? that because the district is

073small in comparison, you know, like if we if we put a limit that, you know, x amount, maybe not a number, but a percentage have to be Highland residents and we're so small compared to surrounding groups that may join us, we may, you know, write ourselves right out of use by that. So I just want to be smart that if we want to make sure that Highland is, you know, getting the most benefit out of it, but we only have two Highland participants because that's a large part, you know, percentage for whatever that activity is. I want to be smart about how that language is written so we don't write ourselves out of use. >> Understood. >> For some of it, >> understood. And I and I think we got to be a little broad

074on on our thinking here because we're not just focused on the athletic piece of community involvement. It's it's the other ones. It's it's your girl scouts. It's the Boy Scouts. It's all those groups that are local that want to use our facilities. And this is not I think this is not strictly geared towards the athletic facilities but it's the the building use >> and the insurance requirement for building use participation. >> Can I spit something here? Um >> we had talked in previous meetings about one of the the great vulnerabilities is not knowing um because we can bring a group in and but we don't know how strictly they're going to adhere to the things that would make us vulnerable. you know that uh if uh something were to an event were to happen and

075they could point out that we were negligible we were negligent for certain reasons of supervision or the way things had been handled the students were allowed or the people participating were allowed to go places they weren't supposed to be going. So to me it seems our greatest our weakest link is of course the supervision aspect while these groups are are utilizing the facility. So what if we made contingent on the reduced requirements like we're saying and rather than going to the full uh extreme saying we can reduce that down if you have a a representative who's been trained by the district under the things that we find uh important that so they have to be that trained individual has to be present when they're gathering. someone who's been informed of what what things are we're

076vulnerable for to litigation to to supervision. In other words, taking the language of the insurance companies and and uh financials and what our vulnerabilities are from the attorneys but and having somebody who's constantly aware. So, in the same way that administration is always aware, >> as soon as you the district starts training people, you're assuming a lot more responsibility than you should. No, we that's not a direct you're not sure of no >> and these groups haven't >> I think that's >> there's been no problem. Why would we want to supervise there's been no problem >> opposite? >> But Ed, to your point because I'm a Girl Scout leader and as a leader we have to go through rigorous background checks and training. So depending on the group, maybe you have to say as part

077of the reservation is you have to show proof that you followed because Girl Scouts, I can speak for Girl Scouts, has very rigorous trainings and and things like that. >> So our facilities director knows the areas they shouldn't be in and should be in. Our athletic director knows ways that the the the field should be used and shouldn't be used and things that are and so that's what I'm saying. I'm not talking about a formalized training on making sure that people who utilize anytime you bring somebody in, you know, if you if it's in the theater, if it's a borrowed facility, you make them aware of the emergency exits, you make them aware of protocol, and that's all part of our responsibility. And failing to do that makes us leave. >> What you're suggesting says

078you want to supervise things in No, I'm asking that they have somebody who drives up costs. >> No, I'm saying that we have in order to give a reduced give insurance. I think he's what he means is to have people know what our yeah rules are >> and that actually lifts some of the onus from us because >> but they sign off on that through the facilities use process I >> I think the facility use form goes through Peter Miller am I correct and then it's disseminated the facilities are available like if I'm going to say girl scouts come to you to you with the building use youth form and they want to utilize the elementary school on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 3:45, you have to follow through to see if they're available to utilize

079that at Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3:45. >> Yeah, that's the easy part. >> That's the process. The easy part, >> right? >> What else is involved that makes it tough? >> Well, the the the rules and everything are on the website for what they're supposed to know. We're constantly dealing with different entities and things that they do that are outside the box. Whether it's, you know, they got uh extra kids that aren't involved in a group or they are blocking doors open or they're doing all kinds of different things that they're not supposed to do. Um burning in the hallways or, you know, >> getting off of cafeteria tables. >> Yeah. or the proverbial food concession with the hot dogs in a crock pot. >> I don't know nothing about what you're talking about. >> No,

080exactly. I I happened to school a couple times and we railed against that and we had issues um with within other departments about that kind of scenario, a pot of hot water on the >> basically what happens is people are trying to step outside the rules and >> well they are and well well we've always done it this way. I got an answer um one Saturday back in June regarding it. And I was just coming through the building with a group of people that uh class of 75's 50th high school union. That would be my my wife's class. So they did a tour of the building. Thank you very much. Uh we had a couple administrators that helped show them around and worked it through that. But coincide with that walk to the building, there

081also was a group here, a local group who was having a big big thing going on. And they had a food concession and there was two big crockpotss with hot dogs in hot water run by kids, not adults, not responsible adults, courts going out, coming in under a door, you know, just not safe situations. And we've talked about this before and it's been on our checklist and and right away, you know, the checklist is what it is. Now, we're only responsible people in the building, district employees were um from the custodial staff. Well, they had no idea what was signed off on. They were never really briefed on anything. So, when I say, you know, what can we do about this? Uh it's a liability. >> Well, that's my point. That's what I'm saying is

082if we have a designated safety >> that's a central officer's point it's a major liability >> so in this instance if we have whatever groups applying for the use they have an appointed safety leaison who takes that onus upon themselves then if it comes to a matter of litigation they say what just what efforts did the district make to make sure they were aware of where the fire equipment was to make sure where the exits were to make sure what the proper code and we can say it was all given to the safety liaison who signed off saying that they were the the dueler representative for this group. If they violate those by putting up hot dog things with courts, then we just say your safety leazison failed to in fact we have this evidence

083and you're no longer eligible at this this reduced rate. Now we were going to require you to have the full amount of insurance. >> I mean there there's other instances but that's >> I know that's gives us >> but how do we monitor that? That is an additional requirement that we're going to ask our custodial staff to do. Give them a list. Give them a piece of paper that shows what these people have checked off. >> I think those are things that are seen naturally by >> it's not their fault in the course of their job. They got devices around here. >> I was saying we have to act it to them right then and there. >> The key in litigation here is one to show that we're not negative. >> I'm going to ask

084everyone to it's right on our website. uh pull up the building use uh form and see what's on there. Just so we we're not talking in in riddles here because there are specifics on that building use form. >> There's a >> if we want to truly enforce them, then Mr. Miller or whoever whatever custodians on duty that day or night is going to have to be able to enforce it. I mean, I don't think we want to reinvent the wheel here with what's on that list. Maybe maybe it gets tweaked a little bit just to because we already put together a facilities use for our turf field. Remember that discussion we had several months ago that's already out there and I think that goes to those organizations when they want to utilize that that field.

085That's out there, >> right? But my point here is that we concentrated to one individual who's responsible to make sure those are upheld, not our hired, but someone that the group must have a safety leaison that's certified and trained and present. But when you say >> who who monitors that that individual that group that show up certain >> when they take that responsibility on that's the requirement but so shouldn't should something happen then we say look we've made the effort we said that we asked for safety leazison we asked that that leaison be trained that leaison was responsible for this and so this should cover us to the extent of the difference in the insurance so it would allow us to allow the community greater access at less of a coverage because we're doing our

086due diligence in an effort to make sure that they're aware. And >> I think we're going backwards. I think we're trying to create our facilities to be more >> used and accessible by our local community, but we're just adding more. This is to take away the money aspect. >> You have take away the money aspects certified train. That's what they're My point is that's what they're supposed to be doing. That's what that's why I think >> any educator, any leader does that. >> I I ag I agree and that's why I think it's important going back to the original conversation is is like I know Jen, you we are a small community and we don't want to put like stipulations on numbers and percentages. But again, the idea is is that if you are an

087active member of this community, a taxpayer of this community, and you want to use our facilities, the idea is that you are being a a diligent and respectful adult using a facility. >> That's not how all that's not how all adults think. They think, well, there's six of us here, it's not my job. You know, there's if there's if I'm one of of five other fathers who are attending this event, why is it on me to make sure and be the bad guy and tell these kids to stop doing something when there's four other fathers to do it? So, the whole idea is to concentrate it on one person who's assuming the responsibility and has a reason for it. that facility use form, correct me if I'm wrong, is signed by the uh participant. So

088if it's the organizer or the organizer, >> but that's not a that's not an inclusive list as that we created for the turf field and the responsibilities that people have. The person has a building use form that they signed off on and they're supposed to put on what extra activities they're going to need or use for the facility. But nowhere on that does it say you can't build a cap campfire in rule E32. Okay. You know those those rules and things aren't are explicit. >> So is that something that we want to develop? >> Well, I think if we shift if we show that we've made the effort to inform them whoever's utilizing it to inform them as to what they can or then have them take the responsibility through a liaison then I think

089that does a lot towards protecting us. >> We we are >> I like the idea. I don't know if it's e executable. I don't know. >> I understand where you're coming from, but how executable is it without creating other hurdles in other >> two two points there were years ago >> probably more than a decade when there was groups that were using facilities there was a percentage of people that had to be from Highland. Okay, that was included in the thing. The other thing the other thing is is that I think that we have to be careful as to what the expectations are of the custodial staff on being able to monitor and enforce and be an administrator in the building >> at 7:30 at night. >> That's not their job description. It's not enforced.

090>> And again, this is something where if we have something like this, a custodian notices something's not happening and just say, "Who is your safety leazison?" >> They could it could be something they could actually ask. They go up to anybody say, "Who's your safety leazison?" and they could point to the person and they could have that conversation privately with >> this. This is why Thank you. Part of this new facility and this new approach, we will and should talk about PM supervision from a facility's use. If all three are being used that much, and I know they are, it would help to have some type of evening supervision, not from Mr. Miller, but perhaps a title underneath that that can assist with the PM supervision. If you have all these groups and we're saying

091it's a problem and there's people running around with boiling water, a custodian's job is to clean and monitor and yes, report safety items, but not necessarily to intercede and address that specifically, >> but perhaps another role might emerge. But my other but also around this, right, is the people who are signing up to use the facility, right? Are they the same people that are actually the head of that activity? Because the other thing is is like I could sign up to use the facility as Big Blue Booster Club, but if I'm not there and I'm giving it to two other parents, how do we know that they're following the same protocol? And like we want to make sure that someone's not signing somebody up. and ask if you're going to be at that event that

092evening. So some final concern, right? >> That's what I'm saying. This is again the leism would have to be present for the event >> because if I'm s if I'm doing it on behalf of two parents who wanted to do an event out of high out of Highland Big Blue Booster Club, right, and I'm not there right there, right? There is that's there's liability there because I didn't go through the form and how do we know? We should also be making sure the people using our facility are the ones that are actually and they're not people signing other people up to be coaching or being leaders in buildings in classrooms. How do we know that they're doing the right thing? That is what the intent was of the person who signed up for it. >>

093The attorneys will find us. >> You know, the interesting thing is we're talking about the how, but we never got to the why. Why >> you're asking the board to take community groups because a lot of those kids in those community groups are students >> to push the line of liability further towards the district because they're the same groups of students, right? >> And we know this is done in other districts. It takes a board to want to assume the increased liability and something else. What are those other variables like 75? While the district to our south has that policy, don't assume I know everything about it and how it came about. A lot of facilities meetings went into that. Is that why 75% or more of the students in that group need to be

094students in the school? >> Agreed. >> I think that's something I can get behind. >> I do. >> That was my >> And scouts aside, because there's actually language in the law that helps scouts get access. I know it doesn't necessarily alleviate them of liability, but there are some different classifications of user. why some of these policies have level one, you know, group, level two group, level three to level four, what so on and so forth. >> Yeah. I I I think we have to be careful and not kind of steer these groups away from utilizing the facilities. I mean, put put too much of a burden on them to do all that policing. I mean, I think the superintendent said there's a there's a function coming up on August 15th which involves community members,

095student athletes from the community in an event that >> How many people are expected to be on that? >> There's probably a couple hundred because I've been to a few of them. >> Quite a few individuals. I mean, I don't want to put >> handcuffs on all of those people. Are are there all students here? Those couple hundred for the most part. >> The invite list is to family is to players of youth modified and varsity football players saying on >> so once you put in those categories they must be policed. I'm sorry you know that and I don't know where that plays into the administration of that. Yeah, I don't see how >> but at least I know the why >> we entered this saying that we didn't want to have that the great

096government was the amount of insurance required and that the fin the fiscal responsibility over in kind of getting that much insurance and so we were trying to come up with a way of reducing the required amount of insurance and the only way we could do that is by reducing our vulnerabilities. So now I'm saying we reduce our vulnerabilities by making sure that the people who are are requesting the space are being responsible about how they use that space and we're trying to put a mechanism in place for that. But now you're saying it's handcuffing them, but it it's not it's liberating them from the fees and the price of the insurance. >> Well, it needs to there needs to be some guidelines as far as chaperoning or whatever. Yeah. Because you there are times that

097and not being critical as careful as I can be that five shaper rooms at an event all in one place is not >> that's what I'm saying to isolate to one individual who is aware of what the vulnerabilities are and and and and is is a co a cognizant watchdog for those and we're all volunteers here. None of us are being paid to to be here on the board. It's a of a sense of community dedication and and and wanting to to give back to the community. And presumably the people at these events, if they're utilizing the school grounds, they have the same desire. So I don't think it's a heavy lift to say we want you to be educated about the facilities and be responsible. >> No, but if if you look at certain

098groups and activities, maybe what you're saying is someone to monitor a large group function. But if Highland Bay Ruth asked for facilities, softball field, um, middle school field, uh, elementary school softball field or the high school baseball field, there might be just one group that comes out that given night for practice, >> 15 people, right? >> Are we to have are we requesting them to have a >> natural safety person there? >> The person leading that would become the safety person, right? So whoever whoever's bringing there will be aware of the rules. >> Well, I think every organization that that goes through the building youth form is going to have some lead people at that outing, let it be individual practices for soccer, football or baseball or basketball or a group setting. >> And again,

099that can be an administrative discretion at that point if you feel what you're talking about. I mean, ultimately, who approves these, right? Who who approves use of the facility? >> It goes through the director of facility. >> So if the director of facility feels that the person applying is wellversed in in the safe of of the the use of the facilities as well as the safety protocol and they that never been part of the requirement. I do not evaluate people's competences when they do buildings. >> A lot of a lot of building use requests are done by people that are not. >> So when do you reject there? See, that's my that's my >> is it hard to add a layer that you know I'm signing it up but I just have to name the

100point of contact for the event so that >> person supervis the directors of let's just say Babe Ruth the director the president of Babe Ruth is putting in to school >> for everybody >> correct and then another person that could be >> you know somebody else is going to go and coach that team at the middle school or out here on a softball >> field and that's that's probably not as big a problem as the fact we've tried over the last number of years making sure that the coaches are putting their own stuff in because >> three years ago 90% of the building industry requests had Frank Alaponso on that guy. >> Yeah. >> And you know we >> that's how it was for me with Girl Scout. Someone was doing it even though it

101was for my troop. So I don't know if there's a layer to add that someone can go and kind of do this but you know for Tuesday nights this is the point of I I don't know. I don't know what kind of >> Well, that was that is and that was a request that I asked two years ago. I asked for who all the leaders were for these troops because we did not know who who was coming and who wasn't you know correct the authorities >> if one person's putting them in for all the troops you have no idea. >> Okay. >> So the exposure that we're trying to um mitigate somewhat. Sounds like we're looking to have a safety officer at every event >> or some or some point or some point person. >>

102I think we should that could be contacted if there is an issue. If we empower someone to be accountable, they might be more likely to really police what they're doing if they know they're going to be held accountable for what's >> gone wrong or >> maybe some dialogue with these groups to see if that's feasible. Like >> the majority of awards and litigation comes through negligence. So what we have to do is make sure that we're not negligent. Are we negligent in Well, I think Pete does his best to make sure the facilities are we're not negligent in terms of their care or you know trip hazards, anything that's a known hazard that we have to make from our end. We have to make sure that the people running the event aren't negligent in their

103supervision and how they utilize the the >> I think some of the concerns also are that we are right now at this period of time and you might not feel this way a highrisisk district. We're just coming off. So all the fire people around, accidents happen, but this cord created quite a headache at our middle school and a much bigger liability than we would have ever anticipated replacing all this stuff. And some of us don't feel good about being in the high risk district category. I'm just going to put it out play. That's some of the things that I've heard in the community >> that yeah, that could be uh something that could be added to that building use form. Simple thing. But how do we govern a baseball team coming out here and kid

104goes up to bat without a helmet on, gets hit in the head? >> That's not going to come back at us because that's not >> that's ne negligence on our part because we're not monitoring that. No, >> I mean we >> we're going to open up a a can here. >> I don't know if it's feasible and if it causes additional liability, >> I'm backing away a lot. I >> I just think that historically attorneys, we have decent attorneys. They'd be able to say no. Has nothing we haven't had. >> It's true. If I was, you know, hot dogs aside, if I was to ask from last year, >> you said hot dogs. >> Yeah, >> I like hot dogs. Um, hot dogs aside, if I asked for the accident reports that came in the

105PM for the entire last year, probably less than a handful. I don't know if there's any, right? I mean, we if there's an accident in our building, we have to produce an accident report. I mean, somebody gets hurt, right? Accidents happen. People get up and they walk through. If there's a true accident that belongs in the level of liability and insurance, I haven't heard of one. >> Well, what >> I don't know. >> Desmond is doing his job by informing us >> in the PM facilities use, Serena. During the day, people fall, some a kid breaks his arm getting off of the bus. We know that's documented. We know that's that's not the time frame we're talking about, >> but it's significant enough that we're being requested. the insurance companies are requesting a certain amount,

106right? So, of course, >> so what we're saying as a board is we're willing to assume part of that risk, but what I'm saying is that we need to if we're going to assume a portion of that risk that their actuaries are saying we are at risk for, right? If we're going to do that, we have to have some mechanism of mitigating. And that's all I'm I'm humbly suggesting that we create a more formalized method of making people aware of what they're responsible for, what we are vulnerable for, and by waving certain insurance policies or requirements on their behalf. That these are the expectations we're setting up saying this is what you have to do. You have to watch the children. You have to make sure they're performing safely. You have to be adhering to

107district policies. >> You risk the use in future. >> Everybody because again, we ruined it for everybody, right? That's We just at the same time as we know what the football facility is at most youth field. We built a concession stand and we spent a couple meetings talking about who's going to be serving food out of that concession stand and we finally came to an agreement that they're either going to, you know, because you got your county health department that's supposed to monitor this stuff that they're going to have a either a trained individual from whatever group or organization that is um to run that facility. The other option is to have a paid district employee at the concession stand, somebody that knows what the regulations are and the and the cooking temperatures and the

108presentation of food at that temperature that it's not hard to think that the scenario I brought up because I've seen it several times with people at these indoor events, you know, they're serving stuff off a table. It's not meeting any probably it passes no county health department regulation that we're holding they're holding us hostage on out of that concession stand. It's the same thing. It's the same thing. They need to have the documentation. I don't see where it's a problem. If that paperwork gets signed off and you have two different shifts of custodial people that why can't that person because a lot of times they are monitoring walking around maybe mopping up spills you know water and whatever else that they have a list that says no this know that and somebody officially signs off

109on that that's their >> I don't think it's in their job that's not in their job it's not but somebody's got to take >> we could be here for hours but I I I think the initial comment that was generated from the beginning was that we're looking to, and this is coming from our last board meeting on July 1, we're looking to see if we're going to uh wave the requirement of $3 million that Nicer has put on organizations that are using school facilities. Uh I think moving that forward then maybe we develop uh guidelines or however you want to incorporate into that facilities you use youth form resurrect that or bring that up uh this week and take a look at it and see if you want to add something. We could shoot an

110email to the superintendent. We're going to put this this this onto that form. But I think in the meantime, we have uh youth football that's going to start practice or has already started practice and want to utilize that field for their games, which would be probably in September, I would think. So, it's less than three or four weeks away. >> So, how my point in >> usually after Labor Day, right? >> Yeah. >> Is to say we don't just say we wait, we don't wave. We say this is the $3 million the policy that we require. Should you like us to wave that, these are the requirements you have to meet. So in other words, rather than the financial requirements, we require a greater amount of supervision, a great amount of responsibility. And in exchange

111for that, the district will wave our requirements for that $3 million policy. >> It's just to mitigate our bon, you know, it's just >> I don't know what a group's response is to that. You know, >> I say what restrictions do we want to put on them? Well, only ones that help us to not be as vulnerable as the the the actuaries seem to think we would be. >> I think our I mean, we have guidelines for use of the turf field. I think there's no Gatorade, there's no this, there's no that, there's no have to police after the games and all that good stuff. >> Uh I don't know what other I don't know other >> restrictions we could put on any organization. While it's been an ongoing conversation, I will tell you I

112have not read the forms online. I probably haven't done a read of the policy in quite some time, though I understand the concern. Um, maybe we start there. Let's refresh that and bring that back. I, you know, that's all because it doesn't look like we're gaining ground here. There's no automatic yeses. The board seems like they have a few concerns. >> What is our response? Yeah, go ahead. >> I think if if it's the practices and things like that, I think everything's going to work itself out, but when football has their event um next Friday, I mean, you're going to have a couple hundred people here. If youth football is going to be playing their games on on Saturday, I'm sorry, on a Sundays, they're probably going to have three 400 people here. I I

113really believe that there should be somebody from the school district here at those events. A paid employee should be here at those events. >> Yeah. >> Because of the amount of people are going to be here, right? >> But for a >> soccer practice or girl scouting, it's within that scope, I don't think there's a need for that, >> right? But if you're going to have, you know, three football games with people coming and going from other communities and we're just going to leave it up to that, >> you're going to fill that back >> to to monitor that whole building even though it's all outside. I think you're asking a lot. >> The youth football and cheer currently has 112 >> um children >> participants >> participating. Um that's divided by again cheer I

114think it's 33 the rest of football divided by three teams right you have mighty Mike's D1 D2 um I've discussed it with Elliot I've discussed it with Everett you know just because I come here so I I'm very aware of like your concerns we have no I mean granted we're very we're we're more direct than other people managing things but we're you know you screw up then you're ruining it for all of us. So, we have every intention on lecturing, and that's I hate to use that word, lecturing parents because some of them do need lecturing, right? Like, it's not a free-for-all. You can't, you know, you're not tailgating in our parking lot. You're not doing, you know what I mean? Like silly things that you don't think that you have to mention. So our

115families we are going to speak to about using the tur the turf and you know like we we feel like we have a good handle on that from other personal things I think um if it's outdoors I think obviously it's a it's when it's indoor so when you have your indoor clinics what I've seen personally it's not so much even really your players it's the siblings that are not occupied that are getting into mischief. So, I think that that's something that may be important to address supervision and yeah, of the siblings that are and you can't help it, right? Like not everybody can find a babysitter or whatever the situation may be. But that's where I've even noticed like who's watching that kid. I've seen things like that personally. Um, again, the indoor and even

116with with with basketball and Frank Mills, I' I've had to talk with him. I'm constantly wrangling in the siblings that are fooling around in the foyer and I'm kicking them out just because, you know, I feel like that's my responsibility while I'm there. So, I do that. The other thing that I think would be really beneficial is you kind of know your core groups of of your of your sports, your community sports, you things like that. Invite them to a meeting, even if it's just a board meeting, and say like, "Listen, these are our rules. These are our expectations." is like this is this is our baby, right? It's brand new. It's turf. It's and not just for the turf field, but you know, please respect our guidelines, respect our rules, and I think that

117they would just be so thrilled that they're it's finally not jumping through hoops to be able to use the facility, that they will hopefully be respectful of it. But that is I think inviting them to something your your leaders on all of those um you know, core groups would would be helpful too. and maybe put your mind at ease and and really let them know what you're thinking. >> I mean, back in the day with Pop Warner, when I was involved with Pop Warner, I mean, you were you were there all day. You were at Tony Williams all day. So, if you were a coach or you were a spouse of a coach, you were there from the earliest to the end and you were doing those things, right? Like you were part of that

118organization, you were doing the things that you were saying. And I think as community members that grow, that's what that's what naturally happens because it is this is our this is what we're we're full of pride about is our facilities and what we are able to do both inside and out. So I think those things happen where you have people who are there all day making sure things are going well. Picking up garbage. You see someone left a gator, you're picking it up, putting it in the garbage. Those are the things that you do. So I do think that that's a good point is maybe that's what we should do is invite these groups in and to be able to talk through you know some of our >> once you have a policy it is

119natural to invite groups in so you could explain >> why the policy ended up that way and why the procedures that way >> but on a on the weekends on Saturdays and Sundays if Babe Ruth is using the facility indoors or if the town is using the facility on Saturdays for basketball there is always a custodian on duty. >> Yeah. Right. >> And that is the point person for that group. So if if Babe Ruth is using the high school gym in the month of February and March for clinics, there's a custodian here and the people who from Babe Ruth know who that person is that day. It might rotate from one week to the other. And it's the same thing with Saturday wreck which you >> dealt with last year. Not dealt with but

120was involved with where there's a different person there but they always came in the morning made sure if you need anything and then we monitored the >> they're a point of contact. But you mentioned something else in these large group events. You mentioned supervision. What does that look like? >> Be it wouldn't be necessary. The supervision is the group but there's got to be somebody a point person here on site. >> Right. in my opinion because you already have that now any Saturday event that's inside the building there is a custodian on duty whether it be >> so what's different about that and this big pop warner invitational with >> there is a well in the past when we I can't speak of I I apologize I'm not as involved in this year's but in

121the past there was custodial staff here who were on site >> I always see Patrick >> yeah Patrick has been at every single event in the past that I've been at where we >> and he he'd be on duty at that time. I could answer definitely he'd be on duty because no one's really ever allowed in the building with a group unless there is a staff member correct >> here. Correct. >> Correct. >> On on a weekend. And the reason during the week >> the building's open >> and the custodian staff or somebody's here to say 10 o'clock at night. So the groups can go to 9, 9:30, whatever it might be. And then it's the same thing when the men's go play basketball on Thursday nights the for the league. They know when they

122get there, whoever's the point person that the building, they connect. >> I put that in school due to, but I'm not there. >> But I have a director of that league that we communicate with >> and if there's a snow day, the school's not open, they're not going. >> So, somebody is always there. >> Yeah. So I like that event in particular, I could tell you that there there has always been a custodian on site when we did that event, >> but going back to what you had said before is on your Sundays when Pat War like it's outside. >> So there wouldn't be a custodian or someone here. >> They're going to be inside a concession stand using the concession stand, >> right? So, but that's so that's the question I think that Mike

123was trying to bring up is is now what because this is a this is a new venture. >> So, >> I mean the would want the bathrooms open >> whether it be a concession stand. >> Yeah. Not >> or the ones by the uh boys locker room and then and then the concession stand >> by having the bathrooms open. That requires a custodian. >> Is that what you do at Tony Williams? That's public park. I have the uh field view what we did for our turf field. Let me try to find it. >> Uh this is the draft. I'm not sure if this is the uh the final one, but we covered Let me just back up. Prior to nicer asking for three million. Prior to that, which is probably the last three or four

124years, maybe whatever. Prior to that, it was $2 million. Every organization in the community utilized all our facilities day and night, weekends, 12 months out of the year. I don't, and I've been involved in quite a few of them. I don't ever recall any situation where the place wasn't clean or what if it was it was addressed and if it happens again you lo lose your privilege. I don't know why we're trying to reinvent the wheel here because we're waving and and and you're right. I mean, we have to do our due diligence, but we're waving >> we're going to wave the requirement of insurance from 2 million to 3 million. >> I mean to 2 million >> 3 million to 2 million. our our turf field practice field has been utilized for five years

125now, six years prior to co >> have we had any situation there and every youth group has utilized that facility >> when they were there um after school the bath they would have availability to bath >> no no was it misused was there issues where they left >> there was convers there might have been conversations from me >> or Pete to that to that >> was it was dealt All of that is in the realm of routine though. >> Yeah. >> Yes. The district involving supervision that you know again and these are these were school sanctioned events that we had issues come up with litigation and supervision and I think that's I'm not saying I I agree entirely with what you're saying but I think it doesn't hurt for us to be have an eye

126on you know how >> even with that great track record we're a high risk school. Absolutely. I mean, anything at >> the end of the day. >> Absolutely. >> But I think we put we put um rules and regs in place for the use of the turf field or as a concession stand, the field itself. That's all there. That's all out there. I think it went to Pop Warner. They have it so they know what to do when they're utilizing the field. Uh I I can go back to the conversation when we first started is to kind of put in place how we're going to move forward with this insurance requirement and are we going to allow Highland United football? I think that's they go under. >> No, no, it's >> US youth football, right?

127USA football. USA football >> USA football can utilize facility for their games >> starting in September I believe it is >> correct >> but my my question is again I'm sorry but >> them I'm not I don't want to be the stumbling block but I just want to make people aware of if they're going to be there on a Sunday and they're going to have access to the bathrooms they're going to have access to the concession stand they're going to ask for access to the press box so we're going to open up three things And we're not going to worry about we're going to put that all on that group to monitor it with nobody on staff from Highland Central School District with 600 700 people coming and going. >> I mean, >> very good

128question. >> That that's where I'm at because >> I mean that's more important than this than the the insurance is the actual supervision for that event. If you recall during one of the meetings, I had said in the district to the south, it took a couple years to get to the model that you now see it was, you know, >> it's not about football. Football would be the first group, but as soon as they're aware, >> they all line up. And are we prepared to, >> and I don't recall everything, but I'm going to read this. A custodian must be on duty while the main turf field is in use. That's part of our regulation. The district requires a responsible person to supervise such activity at all times the group is on site. >> Proof

129of that one from then >> from then we're putting a custodian on on that person signing up is the responsible person or do we need another >> they might not even be there though I heard this evening >> but they're still the responsible person. They're they're going to pay for the custodian because we have that youth fee the custodian use to do on reorg. >> Right. >> Yeah. When I say a safety officer, that's the person, but I want that person identified and I want the custodian to know who that person is and that person has to be on site. >> You know, I'm saying rather than saying like like you were saying, Jine, if somebody signs up for it and then but they're not the one there. >> I guess we have to identify

130are we doing that for a large function like that or are we going to do that for when Babe Ruth comes and uses the vocal? Sounds like 10 girls. >> Sounds like the staff >> is comfortable with the smaller group running with the coach or whomever's leading up that activity, 15 20 people. You might come out with a threshold, but the 200 player, 1600 parent support group that's going to be here may need some additional example with the 10, >> it's in here >> with the 10 students or the 10 athletes that come out. Obviously, there's going to be one point person who's bringing them and that person is already established and they know they'll be known. I you know, it's not it's not like there's an extra hoop to jump through. It's just that

131that person's known and recognized. >> So, I mean, how difficult is it in the >> And I do I'm going to say you're going to go in a minute, but I do have to leave at 7:30 because we have an e appointment. I apologize. >> Yeah. No, that's fine. >> All right. >> I was hoping I'd be out here. >> Janine, I'm sorry. We got to keep the discussion. >> The only So, my question, how difficult is it? Like you said, you were always or uh Pete said that it always said Frank Alonso on everything, right? So m it's possible you're signing off, but how difficult is it to add a second line that says the responsible party of that event is Janine GML? >> Is that hard to add to that? I mean, I

132would like doesn't that >> I think that's the kind of revision was asked to be on site. Yeah, >> I think that's fair because streamline the permissions that people getting. >> It's already there. It's just one person could streamline. You just have to know. >> I'll give you I'll take it to Saturday wreck. Like I said, I put in Saturday recreation. I'm the director. Goes for 10 weeks. I'll stop in and stop out, but I'm not there the whole day. But I'm I'm there enough to know that who'sever the representative from the school district knows who the representative is that day. And they do communicate on a daily. And that speaks to like you said, the person signing up for the event may not even be on site. Right. >> The person needs to be

133known. >> That's I mean I see feel like that's an easy >> adjustment. >> It's not a big hoop to jump. >> It's easy till it's not easy. It's you know >> as I'll point out there's a space on it for the form but it's just setting up our what is our protocol. >> What is that person? >> Maybe that field could be called safety >> right >> liaison. Main turf field is already has its set of rules and regulations that been implemented. We we all discussed it. We we approved it and it's gone to those groups. Uh but we're you know we're the first issue is the insurance piece. I mean we don't make the decision tonight. We got to make it on leaving otherwise they can't play and they're going to have to

134tell their traveling teams that they can't come to Highland. They got to go to Tony Wood. >> Things may be delayed. >> I'm all in favor of waving it and bringing it down but with the assurance that we have responsible people. >> Yeah. That's in for the turf field. >> That's in for the main turf field. >> And that's what Pop Warner is using is the turf field. >> I guess the next conversation, not this evening, but what are we doing for the other facilities? What are we doing for the middle school gym, >> the elementary school gym and and the library and the the cafeteria that hosts >> maybe Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, uh whatever other group that comes in. >> Well, >> do we still have baton? It sounds like you're going to

135take a tiered approach like some of these other districts. >> So, we should start drafting a policy revision >> and we should also have area protocol for each whatever area they're asking to use. What are what are our expectations? What are the safety proc what are the safety procedures in the you know the middle school gym is going to have a different set of rules than the elementary school library you know than the high school media center. Yeah. >> So, I mean, it's going to require a little, it's going to be an ongoing thing, right, that we have to develop. I think we found some goals for us. >> A lot of times the issue isn't necessarily with your local people. It's when you have tournaments and stuff like that. People come in, we've all

136seen it, where the guests, as they are, aren't acting appropriately or they don't they don't care. >> Nobody watches their kids. Talked about that. >> Yeah, we could. They're all free identify every situation possible, but >> how do you how do you police all that? >> But if we've shown that we've made an effort, >> put something on paper, but it's difficult to police. >> Of course. Of course. >> But in actuality, >> everybody's liability. Everything's liability driven. >> The liability is driven by negligence. We're not >> If I may just jump in for a quick second. I know we've got time to go, but um what I'm hearing is that you're just going to add another layer kind of another level of um somebody who's responsible. >> I do triathlons or I do any

137other sport. Who's the contact person? It's my wife. You have to have that emergency person. So why not have that same concept on what we're doing here? You have somebody signing up for it, but who's the emergency contact person on that day if something should occur? You're not telling them you want it to occur, but who should I contact if something should occur? And that should be a name and a person who's going to be there. That's a very simple line. That's a very fair ask. It's not a heavy lift. >> The second thing is I'm what I'm considering to be a building chaperone. It's not the custodial staff because the custodial staff have got their job. They've got to clean the bathrooms. They've got other things to do. Pick up stuff from the Gatorade.

138I get it. And that's not part of their job requirement. If you're adding in a building chaperone, we add that back into the cost of renting the space. It would have to be a person who then is vetted on our rules and guidelines, who does walk around on the day when there's, you know, the anniversary of the 75 years and they come in and go, "Okay, great, class of 75." And they come in and go, "Great. There's a wire. You cannot have that." They have the responsibility and the authority to say, "Stop." Or they'll say, "We've recognized it and we'll now bring it back to central office where you will be penalized or you will not have this facility again." you have that person being a building chaperon, but it would have to be people

139that we kind of rotate or know the rules. Once again, that cost just like the custo gets added in. Um, and the rest of it is in terms of mitigating the insurance you want to do, that's fine, but what's the number you want to come up with? If it's 3 million and you're willing to take two, you know, that's great. And if it's three million, you're willing to take one, where does that slippery slope end when you say, okay, somebody comes in and says, I don't have it. Will you willing to wave it? So eventually you have to come to a point where that three million lies and nicer excuse me they're going to say wait a minute because you only asked for two million that's what we could get from the organization we will

140now have to pick up that other million if something should occur. And the very last point to Mike's uh question he asked earlier, five years ago, roughly give or take four or five years ago was the last major issue we had in the district. Um when one of the students was part of the chair organization a >> that's right library >> in the library and that person fell in between that gap there has not been any major issue that has happened. your biggest liability is because of once the fire which I hate to say but other events that occurred that are not related to >> facilities use it just seems though or it just happens to be that facilities use is taking the burden of that because of the things we've had in the past

141and you know those things we're not going to put them out in public but we know what they are those are the issues >> I just wanted to pick up so we can get out of here at 7:30 >> three minutes >> I'm That's just I have to go. You can absolutely continue. >> No, I think we're all I think we beat it tonight. But I think that's I think we understand. >> How do you want to move this forward? >> What's the deadline for this? Was this >> I mean I would like to be able to give I mean popcorner is the most immediate need for I would like to be able to give them a decision. I mean, it sounded like we were all in agreement with um making the allowance for the

142insurance that they have. We know that they sign a waiver. So, >> waivers are dubious, too, though. >> Everything's sign. >> I just got the feeling that when we left our general meeting on July one, that consensus, I mean, this dialogue really took off tonight and it wasn't there back on July one. That's what kind of got me >> I think we did >> think of what you know what are we doing >> we did touch on the issue of supervision in July one and and being responsible that that was basically where we were most welcome >> and I think that's and as we transition I think this definitely should be one of our board goals is to analyze each of the properties and each of the facilities that we'll be using and what the

143requirements for safe utilization will be. But in this particular case, we can maybe address it this on a personal level. What is it we need from this group if we're going to reduce the insurance requirements? What do we require for them so that they're conducting their activities safely and without putting the district at risk? >> That's one piece of it. I think when I started the conversation of of you know this insurance requirement u throughout percentage of participation um and um signing a waiver those were the three things that was in my mind that maybe we can incorporate that every organization's got to do that you know does that signing that waiver give us another layer of protection I don't know in a legal court I don't know if those or not, but it's something

144that we could, >> right? I mean, I think it's a layer. >> USA football, I think, does that throughout the whole country. They sign that waiver. That's part of their organization's requirement for their student parents to sign that waiver. >> The universal waiver is great. It is, you know, because a good lawyer can use it, a bad one, >> that's, you know, be realistic. >> What do you need to move forward? >> Just Okay. I don't know what a resolution sounds like. I got no draft policy in front of me. I understand it's >> policy. There is a facil there is a policy we all agreed on >> for the utilization to appeal >> but not for the insurance requirement, >> right? But I mean a lot of the things that are being brought up

145that you brought up are in there. So I feel like we're our wires are getting crossed here based on what we're trying to make a decision on. Is that the draft policy you have in front of you? >> I I I think this >> I didn't see a draft policy. That's >> we already agreed. >> I don't think we've changed this, but this is the one that we had discussion and we adopted um three four months ago. Three months ago about insurance though. >> No, it doesn't talk about it doesn't speak about insurance. All right. I think >> this is a use this is the legitimate use policy. But what we're saying if we're going to reduce the the insurance requirements, >> what further assurance do we need >> in order to take that responsibility?

146>> I have the facilities policy. Is that kind of being mingled in with the turf field one? >> Do you want to see this into that? >> If somebody says a resolution, I may support it. What does that sound like to me? Like if you're looking for a decision tonight on it. >> What that's what that sounds like. >> Like we're mixing some stuff in there, >> right? I mean, you're asking the board to approve something this evening. What are you looking to approve? What are those terms? They usually start with be it resolved the board of education on superintendent of schools. I don't think we're going to have a recommendation. >> I don't think we're going to have a recommendation of the superintendent of schools on this one. Is this a recommendation that comes?

147>> I don't know. If we put together a resolution, um, we have to have that vetted by legal. >> When it comes to this, I would >> So, are we voting on a policy or can we vote in the interest of time for this event while we still finalize what our policy is or are we just opening up a can of works and setting ourselves up for answer that? because I know there's time involved. >> We're talking about Pop Warner. When's Pop Warner's first game? It's I'm texting the I'm going to text Everett now because our calendar in our app has not gone past. I think >> it'll be the second week in September. >> It should be September 7th. It should be September 7th, right? It's the >> Sunday after Labor Day. Correct. >>

148Yeah, we have four home games. I just don't know when the first one is. >> We have a meeting on the 19th. >> So those rates are established. >> There was something written, but that came from nice, right? We have the rates. >> So there's no set policy then. >> There on our website, we actually have those rates. That's part of Yes. on our website. We have that as part of our policy that when you want to rent the facility, those requirements are there. >> the building use should have >> this one talks about liability insurance with numbers and stuff online. It's not >> This is your Highland district. >> What's the number of that policy? You say number. >> Yes. So, this came from 2023. See, >> I >> Yes, you did. >> Was

149this approved? I don't think >> it was never It's not on the board approval. It's not something. >> So, this doesn't have to be board approved. >> Doesn't have to be. >> So, then I don't understand why the board can't just say that we would like to amend D organized athletic leagues. We could do that right now if everyone's in agreement because this isn't a policy. This is a practice >> requirements, right? Just >> it's not a policy. >> But there had to have been at some point somebody approved >> these these dollar figures. >> Well, those are rates that are just plug generated probably >> not by not by the district, >> not by the board. >> Guidelines from nicer. >> Nicer guidelines being the operative word. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So what

150would they be? they would be adjusting this. >> You would make a recommendation to I think it's the one that talks about athletics >> organizations which is 3 million to >> 2 million. >> Right here. >> Yeah. No, I know that. But this is contradicting. So we >> with no exclusions for athletic participants >> with no exclusions. >> You're going to speak to this because I I I haven't been on the phone with nicer like you have. What does that no exclusions mean? >> Well, which where are you looking at the no exclusions? >> 2 million on the front page there >> in bold letters. >> They break it down into two components. One is the general commercial liability insurance that we're looking for and in addition they're looking for the excess insurance. So we're

151asking for two components. I will ask them to give more clarity on that to get back to you of that. Why is it why does it say um product um you said 2 million for products and completion options with exclusion of athletics? I'll ask for clarity but they break it down as far as I understood into two parts. One is the general liability >> and one is your excess liability. And even on the insurance forms that we have from multiple organizations, there are two components. General liability and excess liability. You have to have those two components. General liability just says this is in general what happens. The excess kind of goes over the top. If there's other situations and then when they say excluding athletics, they have this in the excess there's specific items that

152they're talking about. So contact sports would most likely garner that higher rate >> going to higher rate. So you're going to get general liability for for basic items but then they want the excess >> wouldn't be >> to have that to exclude it for other kind of contact sports but as I said before I will give you clarity to the board as to what that line means. We don't know if football has two million one million >> if two >> just one category >> for municipalities >> for >> I mean for the town it's 2 million 1 million you have that 2 million I think that 1 million follows it >> is youth uh just highland youth football and cheer. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So we've got them listed as in the general commercial liability

153they meet the criteria of a million in the aggregate they meet the 2 million. Um they're in the product and completion and operation that's 2 million. They meet that the and they're the only thing that was of an issue was in the umbrella and excess insurance which had those two components. They have 2 million and we're asking for three. That is the issue at hand. >> That's the >> that is the crux. Everything else I would say is up to par. We have everything else from them. That is the issue. 3 million versus >> that we're asking for. Can we make a movement to that? >> You said 2 million and then excess of 1 million or no? >> No, I said um I said aggregate. I didn't say anything excess. I said the only

154thing they have was in the excess and umbrella under organized athletic leagues it's 3 million. They have 2 million. >> Can we make a resolution? >> General they have two and then >> general they have two. Um in general they have one and two. One is per occurrence, two in the aggregate. and they meet all the other requirements that we have. they're meeting all of the recommendations that NICER has said they should meet with that one exception being the excess slash um >> so their excess is 2 million nicer wants three >> but they have >> and as an aggregate they have two general with 1 million excess so aggregate of three but then with the additional they only have two >> so they I'll repeat the in per occurrence they have one >> and

155in the aggregate they have two >> two Okay. >> Now, under the umbrella and excess, they have two. >> They have one >> in the >> the And in the general per occurrence >> per occurrence, they have one with excess of two. >> Mhm. >> And then in the umbrella, >> they only have two >> two when they would need three. Can we make a specific just in to expedite this for this evening and to continue analyzing this down the line? Can we make a group specific exception right now as a board just that we resolve to accept what they currently have >> in this one instant >> and then we can testing >> I mean based on >> this pending further >> on the building youth form we don't approve that we don't really

156have a resolution to approve that each and every year but if it changes I don't think we've ever approved the building use youth form maybe 20 years ago I don't I don't recall approving a building use form So, we don't need a resolution to make that amendment. >> I didn't see that when I came on board to see if this was something the board approved. It is part of our requirements or recommendations from nicer that we put forth, but I don't think you've ever had a board where you said I approve these rates. Once again, these are the requirements. If we don't follow them to some degree, nicer than increases our rates, which they they've done. But you have the option to say we will accept two over the three. At that point when I

157present this to nicer for review I would say the district will accept two rather than three. They will say okay just know that you have that million liability out there and then they say go forth >> and then the rates will >> but in essence they have 3 million. You have your general liability and you have your umbrella. >> Yeah, >> their umbrella is too nicer wants three. But they have >> I know I said our our response would be after after significant vetting and analysis of this particular situation, we are willing to accept $2 million and that's how we're but I think we make it specific rather than blanket. >> We can make it specific to USA football. That was USA. That's that we're giving basically we have to give him the authorization. The

158>> other group >> Desmond uh Babe Ruth had an issue back in the spring to utilize indoor facility. They they were able to >> pick that full 3 million up. >> They came through. >> We don't know what the additional cost to that. >> The cost is but they originally came through with 2 million as the excess. And there was back and forth emails, lots of emails going back and forth and pushed back, but eventually we moved through. >> So I I would expect that if you do this now, all of the others are going to ask for that ex exception as well, >> right? >> Yeah. Exactly what's going to happen. >> And so as long as you're willing to >> Well, that's why I wanted to have some a counterbalance to that, you

159know. Well, let let's let's treat them individually. Right now, that's presented to us. >> In the spring, it's going to be baseball and softball. >> In the spring is going to be lacrosse. >> Now, in the fall should be football and soccer. So, soccer's got to present theirs. >> So, should we do a resolution each time a new sport comes in or >> I don't know if you if you're starting something new. You're starting a whole new process of putting a resolution forward. We could have a resolution to review this and approve the insurance that we want. That could be one resolution. It really is just up to the district. And when Nicer says up to the district, it's finance saying yes, we'll accept that, you know, two over three. Personally, I think that, you

160know, that's great. We're asking for three and they have two and we're kind of making that concession. That's great. If we stop making it, well, I we need three and I only have one. Right. >> This is where it becomes a little gray. I I once again >> it could be okay with two because we can work with the organization and then we add in that layer of responsibility. Then we add in that layer of like well we've given you this we've accepted less. We need a little more assurance of things going on. >> Well, the reason I make that now the statement about this exception now is because from what I'm hearing anecdotally and and from people who know this organization is that they're they they're responsible. they have people who who actually police

161their own and and take into consideration the the good standing of the district and they try to be responsible and if that's what I'm being told I have two people who are familiar with the organization who say that they they do that and that's the only reason I'm willing to make this exception on this instance you also just coming back to the point you you know once again talking about accidents something catastrophic happening somebody getting hurt besides that one incident you've had a pretty good track record Knock on wood. >> But I also just want to reiterate the fact that >> USA football and USA lacrosse, which are national organizations, are asking for the $2 million. So, while we're making an allowance, there's national organizations that are accepting this across the United States. So, that's

162why going down to two versus going to one is because there's national organizations for these two youth sports that say two is what they need to have, right? So that's why as a board if we make the allowance that's why we're making the allowance >> right and your your to your point this is something accepted nationally this is what is accepted nationally it just seems that nicer not just for this school district but for all other school districts is putting that limit on there so you have that leverage to say you know this is what we want to do but once again it's just a conversation or some type of directive to say we're okay with this and it doesn't have have to be a full resolution. I'm not sure where you want to go

163with that. It's up to the board. I I um agree to to accept what their current u certificate and insurance states and let our business official uh present that to nicer >> given what we've said here today and and for those reasons that you know the the the nally accepted rate of insurance the behavior and and what people say they know is the known behavior of responsibility this group I'm I'm willing to pre this instance Yeah, >> Jen. >> Yes, I agree. If what we're approving right now is for USA football based on their nationally accepted insurance standards, you have to >> I also agree with that. >> Um, what did you just say, Jun? >> I said I agree with the US. Yeah. >> Then this one is just because of >> the national

164coverage. That's the biggest piece. I >> I could consider this as a oneoff at this moment in time and go with it. It's all Yeah, that's what we're we're talking about. USA and >> this is the board saying this, Joel, not you. So, this is definitely the board of >> the USA. This is I'm saying >> it's not a resolution. You guys are >> Exactly. So, >> so I think we're giving the go ahead and support say that. >> Okay. >> And on the you know certificate of liability insurance here, we're listed as I mean I know you guys keep saying but it's highly unusable. I just wanted to clarify just in case. >> I have it I have it as Highland Youth Football. I'm just I'm just waiting for the uh Yes, you can

165go ahead and do it. Ever I mean the other two gentlemen that were here >> it's it's Highland Park Warner but it's Highland Park Warner under the USA football insurance cover right I believe >> Desmond has the insurance form >> I'm going back like Six years of memory. >> Got to go by what's on that form. >> Have a motion. >> Yeah. >> Good. Should we make a motion to close that? >> Yeah. Anything for good welfare of the district under miss? >> I think that was for the good welfare of the district. So, >> u open the meeting up to public comment. Close the public comment and motion to adjourn. >> Thank you guys. Ed and Janine. All those in favor? Hi. >> Janine. >> Oh, Adam and Janine. I thought >> I thought

166I saw the >> Frank.