001[music] >> Mhm. >> [music] >> Mhm. >> [music] [music] >> Mhm. >> [music] >> Mhm. >> [music] [music] >> Mhm. >> [music] [music] >> Mhm. >> [music] [music] >> Mhm. >> 3 2 >> Good evening. This is This meeting is the meeting of the Board of Education in public for the purpose of conducting the school dis- district's business and is not to be considered a public community meeting. There is time for public participation during the meeting as indicated by the agenda. We'll call to order, do the Pledge of Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Tina, if I could have you do roll call, please. >> All right.
002Mr. Klaus? >> Here. >> Mr. Huber? >> Here. >> Mr. Hilsman? >> Here. >> Mr. Schleiger? >> Here. >> Mrs. Summer? >> Here. >> Okay, before we set the agenda, Brooke want- wants to make one change. >> Yes, please. If we could, um, underneath the 2026-2027 calendar, if we could revise that language for clarity so that it reads no 7th through 12th students in session January 19th to the 22nd, 2027 to complete the early move. Again, just for clarification because K-6 is unaffected by this change or potential move. >> [snorts] >> Okay, anything else before we set the agenda? Can I get a motion, please? >> I'll make a motion. >> Carl, I'll second. >> I'll second. >> Julie, thank you. >> Mr. Klaus. >> Aye. >> Mr. Huber. >> Aye. >> Mr. Hilsman. >>
003Aye. >> Mr. Schleicher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Summer. >> Aye. >> Okay. Nobody has signed up for public participation, so on to the first item on the agenda. Guys, we are at the point that we have to make the decision if we are going to move into the building early or mid-year, excuse me, not early, mid-year. And when that would be is over Martin Luther King Day week. And this would just be for the high school. Elementary through sixth grade would still K through six would still be in session. So, would we need to make these additional days up for the high school, Brooke? Okay. >> enough hours. I mean, barring any significant, you know, catastrophe, um we are fine. >> Okay. And with the the meetings that we've had up to this point, are
004we confident that the building is going to be ready to move in? Guys, you were in the core meeting, so >> From the meetings we've had, basically we're given yes. >> They are comfortable saying that they are reasonably confident um that we will be able to have students back in session the week following um that 19th through the 22nd. >> Okay. >> July will be when they can give us, I mean, they are they are comfortable giving us an exact date um of, you know, when we can also have occupancy, which means we can have people in the building. So, if we wanted to get custodial staff in, um right now, based on my understanding, Carl, Mark, you correct me if I'm if I'm misunderstood, but that we um could potentially have occupancy in December.
005>> Yes. >> That's exactly what they said, that we would have full occupancy in December if not earlier, and that would allow us to train people, have kids tour the building, show them how to get to their classrooms, exercise the cafeteria, do all those different things. >> Or just have an exact date in July is what I understood. >> The reason for the move in January is to make it an even clean break between semesters, correct? >> Correct. Yeah, that's why that that place was in the calendar was chosen. >> Would that be the first week of the third nine weeks? >> When students return. >> Okay. >> Yes, what is that the 25th, I believe? Monday the 25th. >> So they finish the second nine weeks in the old building and the last in
006the >> Correct. >> new building. >> They would start the new semester >> Yeah. >> in the new building. >> What does What does the month of December look like in your vision, Brooke, if we were to move early? Um what does it look like as far as testing that month? >> Um testing-wise, we would be okay because we would still be in our existing spaces. So December is when there are um end-of-course exams at the high school. Is that what you mean? >> No, no, as far as testing the new building. >> Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I think of that >> As as far as >> operations >> computers, yeah, the operations side of it. >> Um I think that we um there are there are tests that can be done
007even leading up to to that point as far as technology, given the way projects have been um thankfully mapped out. Um so that we can see how different elements, like with food services and technology, how they're interrelated. So, you know, should something fall behind or something not go as planned, we can see where else in the project and areas of operations where there would be an impact and adjust accordingly and know what decisions need to be made. >> Yeah. Yeah, the the Brooke's team has done a good job. They've got, for example, the um the data or the gateway has to be was going to be moved, and so we'll move that in November. Well, we're actually moving that in July. And so the new high school in July will [snorts] house the infrastructure that
008will run the network for the whole school. So we're moving all those things forward as much as we can so that we mitigate any as many risks as we can. So we're talking about doing kitchen testing already in September and October to start to test that equipment out and so we're working on every every area of the building that's going to get impacted and have a plan for each one of them in testing and and all that kind of stuff. So um the team has done very very well and they've we've we've been very methodical about it. So I'm encouraged by that. >> I I will say that I am more comfortable with um the consideration of an early a mid-year move an early move um at this point than I was previously. And the
009reason for that is because of of seeing all these different areas of operations and what needs to happen and who needs to do what um and just the communication aspect. Um there's clarity where before there wasn't um wasn't any. Um so I I will say that I am I am more comfortable now with technology, food services because people know what they can plan for and and what that looks like in their relative department. >> Guys, what is questions concerns that do we have before we make this vote? I I know this is a this is one of the biggest decisions that we've made up to this point. Um and I know that there's there's different perspectives on it and you know just want to make sure that you know this is our one last opportunity
010to to talk through it before we cast our votes here. So um I'll start you know personally you know I've gone back and forth on you know is it a good idea or not a good idea? Um, you know, where I sit today, and, you know, talking with So, I talked with students, I talked with teachers, I talked with administrators, and I've talked with the public. And everybody's got a different perspective. You know, that's the toughest thing here. The from a student's perspective, the ones that I talked with, they're excited about the new building. Um, you know, everybody wants to be that first class that graduates through there, and I think that's kind of cool. And you know, seeing some excitement on their face. You know, from a public perspective, I've had a lot of
011people tell me if the building's done, let's move in. Now, from a faculty perspective, I understand that, you know, there's a hesitant They're hesitant to move in early. You know, and there's a concern about academics. There's concern about stress that's added to students. I understand those aspects also. Um, you know, talking with some of the admin that actually were involved with the K through 6 move, you know, looking back on it, they were all, I think, looking back at the time they said it was stressful, but looking back, they it went smoother than what a lot of them were anticipating. So, uh, you know, for me, that threw a lot of food for thought in, and, you know, I'm not trying to undermine or dismiss one group or another, but there's a lot of, in
012my opinion, a lot of positive about moving in. That's just my opinion, and, you know, I'll let somebody else share theirs. >> I I would agree with that. I think there's fiscal advantages to moving early. Um, it We've tried to get it quantified and qualified, and it's hard to do based on we don't have all the project plans and everything done. You know, my opinion, I mean, if if you just do dead reckoning, the utilities we talked about that. That's $100,000 worth of utilities that we're not going to have to pay. Um at the at the Gorman Miller meeting, we have $12 million left according to Gorman Miller. Um if we spend all of that, we're going to do it a year early, which is if you say 3% of that savings because of inflation,
013that's $360,000. Um there's some savings with construction management because there'll be some overlap with the existing project and we won't need a construction manager for eight or nine months because if we if we delay my projections, if we if we if we um delay it, we would go from completely done in September of '27 to July or August of '28 to have like the campus done and all that stuff. So, dragging that construction out, moving construction people off, moving them back, there's going to be expenses that nobody's willing to put a number on. But, um and then my what I've gotten from people that I've talked to and I've even talked to some teachers, they think that we should move. And I think that we're doing a better job from what we learned from the
014elementary, as well as we're actively project managing each section where that really wasn't done. And so, like we've been meeting on a monthly basis and everybody comes in the room and says, "Okay, Sean, you've done this. What's next?" Um and and everybody gets a voice and everybody's hearing and we're coordinating resources. >> Yes. >> Um so, >> I agree. >> I think we're doing it as effectively as we can. >> I agree. Mark, would you explain to me again when you said about using the money quicker that that'll save 300 something thousand dollars? Would you please tell me what that was again? >> Well, we're going to spend probably close to $15 million on the completion of the campus. And if we do it a year early, inflation if if we if it gets delayed
015a year, inflation's going to make it more expensive cuz construction costs go up, labor costs go up, and all that stuff. And that's just the best estimate that I've been able to get from people. >> really just an estimate. I mean, in the sense that Okay. >> It's not a hard number. I can't I I've I Julie, I know I know you've asked and I have also and I want them to give me a number. And I I I can't. They won't They won't do it. >> But you don't know what inflation's going to be. >> We don't know what inflation's going to be and and it's already I I mean, some of it's already accounted for. They've already bid it out. >> Some of the No, some of the construction No. The the football
016>> Not future things like that, but that's >> The building the building cost will not change, but the cost for the football field, for the track, for the parking lots, for that kind of stuff would potentially go up. >> Right. >> But you But again, you're right. I can't >> But that's going to also be a future project. That's not That's not going to be done in 2027. >> Yeah, it would be. >> Yeah. >> But it's not funded yet, so it won't be done until it's funded. >> Well, we have $12 million that we can spend, so a good chunk of it is funded. >> Um another couple of questions that I have are about like furnishings. Um So, if the kitchen is like are they moving every single bit of kitchen from spoons
017to food to pans over to the new kitchen? >> I don't know that answer. >> I I think a lot of what they can move as far as those um those pieces of equipment I guess you call them tools? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Utensils? Um I believe that they intend to to move that over. What What has been designed is, you know, they're going to move what they can from the existing kitchen, but then Marissa has been involved in looking at the design and making some decisions to make it more efficient and effective to serve the number of kids we have to serve. >> Yeah. >> Yes, so that will be new equipment that is not currently in use. >> And that one will be there, too. I mean, it's not only even like if
018there's some kind of punch list, we're going to still have that once they're actually in the building. That's that's that I don't have a problem with. Um And not that this is neither here nor there, but I and I've had a lot of people tell me this is a tough decision. I don't know what I would do. They would look at it both ways. You know, I'm ready to move in or no, we don't want to do it. I have I've been heard the same thing. But I do have trouble equating it to the move at the elementary because the kids the younger kids moved in in the summer. The other grades just came over after the building was already running. And I think that's that's that's a different completely different ballgame. >> It was
019almost in some ways it was almost worse cuz some of the like the fifth, sixth grade had to move out into another building and then they had to move back in. So they moved twice. >> Except those buildings were already functioning. The move was hard. They were functioning as schools. And then that's my other question. Do we have to hire movers? So I'm we're paying a cost of movers to move the kids to move everything over. I I don't I don't know yet what that looks like. I mean, we're going to try to do the best we can with our staff. Again, with with some of our staff like our classified staff like custodians who are 260, I don't you know, we can't because they're they're union. We we don't set blackout dates, right? So
020so we're just going to have to to plan the best we can and if we need more help, then we're going to have to have a plan B ready to go prior to December. >> We well, we I was actually contacted by community members, leaders in the community and said, "If you want to move, we think you should move. And if you need people to move physically labor, they'll they'll they'll they will get people in the community to come in and help move that. But we're not moving much furniture at all because the new school had new furniture, so it's it's mostly classroom supplies. >> And then and then I guess I mean, it's January. You hope the weather's good. That doesn't have problems. Get you over there. >> Right. >> Um I think about
021the academics because my if it was in my classroom, I would not be teaching very much the week before because I would have to pack up. And you can only do that so much. Um and then when you come back in being able to get that get ready to go and be back on fire on technology that you have not worked with and you don't know and and have all that ready to go. I think it you know, my my biggest concern is the kids. >> Yeah. >> How is this going to affect their education? >> I did talk to Phil and Phil said that they're actually packing up, cleaning up, throwing away, pitching out of the high school already. They've started that process already, which is right, commendable. >> Right. I I have heard
022and I know that the teachers packed up their stuff for the second semester just in case they're going to move. >> Mhm. >> Um which I appreciate, but you know, how does that look come >> Yeah. >> come January, especially if we have snow that week. >> Well, the Well, the beauty Well, yeah, the beauty is the distance between the two buildings is minimal. It's minimal. >> No, I totally understand what you're saying. But I I feel like that when they moved in the elementary, I think I mean, Phil did a lot a lot of things, but I think didn't they have like football team and lot of volunteers? I just the the amount of moving that Like I can't imagine how that is done without a moving company coming in and physically doing that.
023And I think that adds to our cost. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. Yeah, I don't Yeah, I don't know that it will be additional cost, but I don't know that it won't. >> Yeah. >> Well, the sooner we can get that definitive date of when we can take occupancy and what might we be able to do before then that again for insurance purposes, what might we be able to kind of you know, phase in even before we're you know, occupying the building so to speak using that um that phase or term. Um you know, it if that's a possibility, right? So, yes, there are a lot of unanswered questions. There are factors that we we don't know that we're going to face, right? Um though if this is the direction, we will we will
024need to and have to have a plan to mitigate them. Right? We'll have to anticipate as much as we can and have a plan A, B, C, you know, D if necessary so that we can communicate consistently with staff as well. >> Here's the one thing though, if we if we make the mid-year move or if we wait to the following school year, we're still going to have unknowns that we don't know until we get kids in that building. You know, we could have those unknowns next January or we could have them that following school year. At some point those unknowns are going to come to life. You know, it's just you know, what what has the least amount of impact academically on our students and what's most physically responsible for the district. Those are
025the two things that you know, I look at. So. >> I and I do think that there's a significant advantage to being done around September of '27 or July of '28 to have the campus done and cleaned up and the new normal becomes normal. >> Yes. The you know, some of these some of these kids are their entire high school career is going to be under construction. You know, you know, that's the crazy part to think about. You know, some of their entire high school careers, you know, this campus is going to be under construction so. So, John Carl >> Yeah, my my two cents. Uh I'm never going to be comfortable with that mid-year move. I'm never going to be comfortable with that. I'm liking to hear Brooke talk about how you're getting in
026front of it now and how you're feeling better about it and those sorts of things. The teachers I've talked to don't want to do it. But they have decided that if that's what we're doing, just like Brooke says, we're going to do the best we can, we're going to try to recover it, we're going to do the best we can. They don't want to, they think it's crazy, but they're willing they're willing to do it. My connections with Tristar, who worked with Peterson and moved over the summer, they're telling me we're crazy for trying to do it in 4 days. They said they it wouldn't have worked for them. Of course, they had a lot of big machinery to move, but said they had so many problems, they can't imagine trying to get through them
027in a 4-day span. And that's my connections connections with Tristar. Uh as far as the students feeling, the high school students, yeah, some of them are excited. Now, the middle school students I talked to, they don't like the idea because they got to come over and get used to a new high school, and then they got to turn around and get used to another new high school. So, they got a problem with it, but they'll be okay. You know, we'll take care of them if we move that way, but those are some of the reasons that I'm not comfortable with the January move. >> From what I've seen, people I've talked to, the numbers I've seen, uh not only being just the most fiscally responsible thing to do, and to keep this project on track,
028to get it done, get the whole campus completed at least probably a full year ahead of schedule from what it could be. Um just the kids, they're super excited about moving in early. I've talked to junior high kids that I've coached, and high school kids that I coached, and a lot of their friends. Not one of them had any inkling of not being excited of going to the new school. So, they're super stoked about going to the >> wasn't my experience. >> So, as far as the administrative and teachers, I talked to a few of them. There's a few concerns, but they're also excited about the new building. The ones that I mean, yeah, there's going to be concerns about moving mid-year. I get it. So, but they're also excited about the new technology, the
029new building, the atmosphere it's going to bring. Um it's going to be a whole new atmosphere of learning for these these kids. So, >> They're excited about it, but they would be more willing to wait till summer. >> I I would say that I >> away a lot of >> Uh >> [clears throat] >> advantages for the kids that are in school right now and not let them take advantage of that. >> I I understand, you know, that you know, the money savings. I I I agree with that. Sure, I'd like to save the money. >> So, I'm all for it. I mean, I don't see why we wouldn't do it now. We're going to run into these situations with waiting for the new year or doing it at mid-year. So, might as well stay
030put. Take advantage of it. Move on with it. Proceed. That's how I feel about it. >> Carl, I've thought about the kids cuz I do think they're excited, too, but um like when you're parent, you know, like I can remember parties my kids wanted to go to and I would say no and they thought it was the worst person in the world and they hated me and go to their room. And so, I have to take that out of my equation. You know what I mean? Because what what's the best thing? And there's no doubt in my mind as an educator >> Some of these kids >> that we're losing 3 weeks of education. >> Some of these kids hate going to school now. They're excited to go to the new school. >> for about
031an hour and a half. But then I I'm I'm good with that. >> [laughter] >> But it that is something that like we're losing 3 weeks of education. You're losing the week before while they're prepping. You're losing the week that they're off and you're losing the week when they come back because they're going to be crazy and try and get things done. And then you we expect them to sit test and we expect them to um succeed and some of these kids are going to be, you know, working toward what they need to have for college and it's it's a lot as a parent to think about I mean academically it's a bad decision. Economically it's a good decision and there that's where I'm weighing. I just I honestly >> a tough decision >> been
032worrying worried about it and doing my homework on it and thinking about it. And I don't know how I'm going to vote still and we're ready to do that. >> Can I Can I share just my last commentary on this um and thoughts is that what you recognize is that we have in our district, right? We have two distinct responsibilities. We have responsibilities to the students and the staff and academics and we have responsibility to be good fiscal stewards, right? To a community. And so that I think that's that's it's that's where it's it's it is it's really challenging, right? Because Because just because you might, you know, weigh one uh you know, the fiscal and and that piece of it a little bit heavier doesn't mean that you don't care about or believe it's
033important, right? The other is any less important. Period, right? So I I think that's important um and I wanted to say that I do not believe that of any single one of you. Um having said that um it is it is not ideal. It is not ideal for reasons that you've already shared um and and here is what I know. Once a decision is made what I do know is that we have a staff and we have an administrative team who is committed to doing everything we can do to to make it the best experience it can be. That I know and and hands down. Like I commit to that and I put my word to that. Um I also know that there are some when we talk about students, we do know that we
034have some populations of students who struggle with transition period. Some are our students with disabilities. Some are not. We know this. So, whatever the outcome is, whenever the move is going to happen, we know that we're going to have to take extra steps and measures and be intentional about it in order to reduce any of that anxiety and be prepared for, you know, any kind of behaviors or how to support them as they work through that transition piece because it is big. Um So, we know all of this and I guess I I share that with you because from from district, from leadership, I am committed to making sure this is the best experience it can be regardless of of whatever the outcome is of your decision. And I just it's important that I share
035that with you. Um Yeah, it's important I share that with you. >> Anything else, guys? Okay. Can I get a motion for a vote? >> I'll make the motion. >> Julie, and the second? >> I'll second it. >> Okay, Mark. >> Mr. Klaus. >> I vote no, but I will support whatever is decided. >> Mr. Huber. >> Yes. >> Mr. Holsman. >> Yes. >> [snorts] >> Mr. Schlaeger. >> Yes. >> I'm going to go with John and say no, but I will support whatever. And I appreciate work that you have worked so hard and you too, Mark. >> Yes. Thank you. You made me feel a lot better about it. >> Well, it's an exciting time for the district and not going to be easy, but we'll get through it and uh we'll be excited
036for where Salina School District heads here the next 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months. >> It's a win-win. >> It is. >> It's a win-win. >> Yeah. So. >> I'm excited for the other things now that we move on, you know. I like my senior granddaughter to have a new track. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> In 2 years she'll be a senior. She won't be a senior next year. She'll be a senior the year after. >> We'll work really hard to get it done for her, John. >> Okay. >> [laughter] >> That'd be great. >> So. >> Well, with that being said, we're going to Can I get a motion to go into executive session? >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second it. >> John? >> Okay. >> All right.
037>> Brooke, have a