CPS Board Business Meeting July 9, 2025

001a quorum of voting. Members, I call the the July 9th special public board meeting to order. Uh, Treasurer Wagner, please call the attendance role. Mr. Craig, here. Mr. Crosset, here. Mr. Lindy, here. Miss Matt, here. Mrs. Weinberg here. Vice President Bolton present. President Moffett here. Now let us stand for the pledge of alle 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. Alrighty Dy. Vice President Bolton, please explain the virtual hearing of the public process. Thank you very much. Members of the public who are online and wish to speak um during our hearing of the public session uh may do so by clicking the chat button. Now the chat feature will

002be open for your request for five minutes. If you would like a direct response to your questions, please make sure that you share your name, your affiliation, uh, to the district, your school community, your topic, and your contact information. I was trying to buy us some time for the superintendent. Thank you. The chair will now entertain a motion for to approve the business meeting agenda and any revisions or adjustments if Second. Thank you. Treasure Wagner, please call the voting role for the agenda. Mr. Craig, yes. Mr. Cross, yes. Mr. Lindy, yes. Miss M. Yes. Mrs. Weinberg? Yes. Vice President Bolton? Yes. President Moffett? Yes. All righty. So, we have a resolution on the floor. I'm going to ask Vice President Bolton, please update the board about the following resolution for uh honoring Darling Kayine. Well,

003thank you very much. It's an honor to do so. Uh as many of you know over the last several years particularly there's been a tremendous effort to uh fund uh through private funding uh as well as some public funding uh building a if you will a health center uh at our Roberts Academy on the west side and leading the charge there not surprisingly has been Darlene Kayine uh who has been very involved with our district for a number of years at least two decades and particularly as well known as a few other folks are for helping us establish one of our uh quintessential CPS characteristics and standards which is community learning centers. So there's a resolution that uh we have mentioned before uh a couple of months ago and then again more recently and has

004been posted uh for a couple of weeks. A resolution suggesting that indeed uh the health center at Robert's Academy be named for uh Darlene Kayine. Thank you. Do board members have any further comments and or questions? Well, I for one um have met Darlene Kine. She is a a pillar in our community, been around for a very long time and is a longterm supporter of CPS. So, I think this is um a firecracker resolution for a firecracker citizen and supporter of our district. Very good. Well, then we'll introduce the resolution with your Okay, President. Absolutely. And need a second. And I would assume you'd like to second. Sure. But board member Weinberg has seconded after your first. And um let's have a vote. Yes, ma'am. Mr. Craig? Yes. Mr. Crosset? Yes. Mr. Lindy? Yes. Miss

005M? Yes. Mrs. Weinberg? Yes. Vice President Bolton? Yes. President Moffett? Yes. Thank you. Absolutely. the chair. Our next topic, I'm sorry, is was put it back on here to clarify the principal selection process by Superintendent Murphy. Superintendent Murphy, would you mind? There was some community confusion around what we decided last last meeting, which was last month. So, would you mind just offering a little point of clarity? I know you've worked on the process um to for the principal selection of the two schools, and you do have some information to share as well. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. A couple of board meetings ago, uh, administration, uh, we were asked to review the policy as it relates to the LSDMC's and their, uh, composition, uh, when it comes to selecting the principal. And this came up as

006a result of some, um, community input, uh, as it relates to both Wro High School and Taft High School. We went back myself, assistant superintendent Randolph who conducted the process and our general counsel and we met with uh both of those LSTMC chairs and we met with um both of the LSDMC's and we came back a second time the last board meeting June 23rd and resubmitted the names that were recommended to me that I also interviewed uh for principal ship. one an interim and one the full um principal. And there was still some concern by the public, still some concern therefore then by the board members. And my understanding was uh the board directed me to take 90 days to relaunch a full process uh for the principal selection for those two schools. My understanding

007is there was a roll call vote uh concerning the names that were submitted in my uh recommendations. We moved forward with those names speaking to both of those candidates around being interim for at least the next 90 days. And then I think there may still be some um confusion, but that is what I believe to be true at the time and today. And I know that you've submitted um or you have a plan. I don't know if you've submitted it to all the board members yet around the 90-day process, the timeline for it. Yes, ma'am. Uh thank you. So what we what we did was we reached back out uh to the candidates and let them know that we had gotten a further assignment as I just explained and uh then we reached to human

008resources and I asked to uh review the postings um and then asked human resources on July 1st if they would repost for both of those positions. They did that. Our typical time that we have the positions posted is about 10day period of time. So, we have a few more days yet uh before we see who the applicants are and then we relaunch uh the process. And so, there are subsequent dates um that will line up until an October date where in uh September I would bring you back a name for both of those schools and we would go from there if that pleases the board. Do board members have any questions? Board member Matt. So, yes. So, thank you for um taking the time um and the effort to go back and do as the

009board has requested of you to relaunch the process and to also submit a timeline um for our review of what that process would entail. Um so my only concern as you stated was that around the interim positions um that the recommendations are for those two individuals that are potentially well that that's being potentially recommended to be the actual principal of the school. So my concern is the the presentation of a a conflict of interest. Given the fact that they are the ones that are actually trying to interview for the position, I don't think that it aligns to allow them to serve in the capacity as the interim during this time. So that's my point of concern and clarification. I know when we spoke at the last meeting, we spoke in a general tone around having

010an interim uh in both of those positions, not specifically naming or stating anyone. Any other questions on the right side? Bo. Yeah. So, I just have a follow-up question for board member maps. So, are you stating that you don't agree with those two individuals serving as interim even though we have had a process before that we've allowed individuals applying to serve as an interim role? I just want to correct my that is my concern given the fact that there's been so many issues and discussion around it to make sure that the process remains ethical um and free of bias. I think in this particular position they should not be a part of the um interim recommendation but they could definitely be part of the interim I mean excuse me a part of the principal selection

011process so part of the application process corre thank you Vice President Bolton yes um um appreciate the comments and the the question I think it's been very normal and very um procedural uh that folks that are in the building currently ly and and important positions, especially if they've also uh applied uh for that principal ship. For example, in one of those buildings, there is an interim principal who applied and was interviewed. Uh, and so I think the interim piece, uh, the 90day is of of concern to me because I I like the idea of an interim for a whole year, but I think it would be unfair and and, um, uh, even more confusing and out of procedure, if somehow people that are currently serving, especially considering both of these people have been recommended by

012their LSDMC to become principal. if now we were to say that they couldn't because they were serving the school as uh assistant principles and in the interim. So, I would support that these are reasonable selections right now for this 90-day interim period. Um and and then maybe we look into what that really means in a larger scale going forward. Uh but right now, I think this is a reasonable uh recommendation by the superintendent member Craig. So I think this goes a little bit back to an opportunity for policy committee to firm up what the actual policies and procedures are because there's nothing in our policies that says an interim can't apply for a position for which they are serving as the interim and I think the opport I think it would be somewhat arbitrary for

013us to do it now at this point since we've done not done it with past superintendent not done it with past leadership positions not done it with past principles um in the district and so I think if that's something we as a board want to say that's a problematic thing to do, then that's something we should do in policy as something we can go forward and do. I think the other part to me also is I do think this is an opportunity for us to firm up some parts of what is the LSDMC process. Um, and that's again something outside of these two particular individuals and this particular process today that we're uh discussing because I do think there's some things that are things that we as a board over the years have allowed to

014happen or in fact given our our signature of approval on that did not follow in line with how the policy technically reads. Uh I can tell you right now there are several principles that we have approved over the years who have not had a full composition of an LSDMC in their process and if that's the way the policy rights is written that's on us to you know it's a shame for us to to not have followed it. Um not a shame on them for going through that process. And so I do think this is an opportunity to do some of those things. I don't know that this would be the time to say we uh can't allow an interim in this and even in given the nature of what's going on in these situations um

015neither one of the two people who were put up were coming as the past interim. Now what we may say and this may be an opportunity for us to clarify here today is that they cannot and they cannot designate a person to serve in the process of the LSDMC's decision-m um in that role as interim whereas in maybe in other cases where an interim would not be running they might be actually a part of the LSDMC process that there may be someone else that's within the school that's designated to serve in that capacity given that they are candidate and I think that's probably something we be doing in general when they're somebody who's in an interim role, who might be applying for the position, they in theory can't be also composing of who gets to

016be on the LSDMC and all these other parts that principles would generally be a part of. So, I mean, I think that may be the only other thing I would ask us to clarify in that process is maybe removing those folks who might be interims who would choose to apply from the LSDMC process and have someone else designated by the, you know, by assistant superintendent or someone else to designate a person within a school to serve in that capacity. Um, because I do think that is potentially absolutely a conflict of interest if you are also the one picking the folks who get to pick who you are, whether or not you get in the role. does. Now, I think that's also been done in the past and so that might be just a moment for

017us to get a clarity on that and really provide that clarity to the LSMC's. Thank you. Seeing no no other comments, I'll offer my thoughts. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Jim. Your mic went on. Oh, your light doesn't work there. Yeah, I I think that um one thing we should keep in mind is student outcomes and I think having some stability and the leadership in the building impacts student outcomes. I I think when you have a little bit of instability at the top of a building when the principal job, classrooms feel it, teachers feel it. So, I I would support having the um u the interims be the the folks that were recommended just from a stability standpoint in the in the school. They're already assistant principles in those schools and I think that's important

018to keep student outcomes on our radar in terms of what what we do as a board. So, thank you. one since you were the person that put this on, I'm gonna let you have one last one last word. Yes. So, I can appreciate and receive everything that um everyone has shared. Um again, to the point of what has been normal um just because that has been the normal process doesn't mean that that should continue to be the method and the way that we continue to move forward. And so given the fact that this concern has been presented to us in a number of different um facets and from two different schools, I think again it is worth us addressing and setting a tone and a precedence that we will ensure that we're adhering to the

019policy and our procedures align with that to the point of putting student outcomes at the forefront to the point of stability. I think we're a little selective in how we choose to apply that. So I'll I'll you finish. So I will offer that um I we've we've received a lot of comment from staff to students to community members to alumni around both of those schools. And um I do agree with my colleague Mr. Craig that we do need to set some parameters around the interim being able to designate people to sit on the LSDMC. I do think that there's a potential for conflict of interest. It concerns me um just that the process wasn't followed with fidelity and integrity in this particular instance and another incident. whether or not it's been consistent for years, those

020LSDMC's have not complained as much as these LSDMC's have and their communities have that I know of that I that I know of. And so, um, the lack of consistency, the lack of transparency is concerning to me. And so, um, I but I also did hear that 90 days was short and and who would want a 90-day position? So, I did not think that we were appointing them for 90 days because I because of the point that was made that perhaps they wouldn't want a short-term position um to the point of offering some consistency for the students. I think it would be um rather it could have the potential to be interrupting uh in the middle of a quarter, but I also think that that would lend itself to be skewed a little bit too

021and a little biased and so that concerns me. Um, but I do I I hear what my colleagues are saying as long as the pro the 90-day process is done with transparency and fidelity moving forward in these particular instance because we've actually had more than just two schools LSDMC's complain um about their process for principal selection. So maybe the public doesn't realize that it has been a broader conversation than just one or two. But um because there are those complaints, I do think the board should look at the LSDMC policy. In fact, I think I brought it to the policy committee first. It didn't stay there because they wanted it to be a broader conversation. But there the pol LSDMC policy was revised when I got on here in 2022, but we didn't have many

022of these conversations that needed to happen. I do think we need to make an assignment to the policy committee if they're willing to take it to look at interim positions particularly at the building administration level um and around the LSDMC policy that they should not be able to designate uh positions to serve on the LSDMC as an interim and they also um we we may need to put some other restrictions around there to be effective immediately uh August 1st or whenever you all do meet because uh we do have these particular situations that um have the potential for a conflict. I also want to say we we got some emails on all sides of the of the the decision. We got some emails for we got some emails against we got some community members for

023and against. And the last thing that this was was a power struggle between the board and the superintendent. I as the board president and as a board member would welcome the opportunity to work with the superintendent. It was because the community and the the students and the staff. It was because there was so much conversation around it. It was not because of the recommendations of the superintendent. It was not due to a power struggle with the superintendent. It was due to people telling us that our board policies were not followed. And that is what the board is for is to establish policy and to ensure that those policies are followed. So it was strictly out of that wanting to have fidelity in following the pro the policies properly not because of what the superintendent has

024recommended. So what am I hearing of member Lindy? Thank you. Just on on the policy committee front, I think what is certainly within scope for the policy committee is what changes might we make to this policy going forward. And if that's the assignment, um happy for us to do it. Um, I think if it if it's anything in the in the space of was a policy followed or in like a currently live sort of set of circumstances, what should the board's um directive to the superintendent be? I don't think that's us. Uh, I think that's whole board. And so like if I I just I I say that and I want to say that in the public meeting because if we talk about it in policy and happy to, it won't have anything to do

025with these particular two hires. I think it'll have to do with what is true about LSDMC policy going forward. And I, you know, would I'm one member of a three- member committee, but I think my first question would also be to the administration. What's your perspective on whether there should be any changes here or not and why? Um uh and I'm certainly interested in in hearing that perspective. Um and again, so like if that is the charge, happy to look at it, but I just want to be super clear. It's not going to have an impact on these two live processes. um or what the decision is there. So So just to clarify my assignment to the policy committee um is there is enough information with the two other committee members who have community connectivity

026to shape the community perspective. Uh the board voted to pull those and we had a lengthy discussion around that. So I think it it was clear that we wanted the policy we wanted the LSDMC process to be followed. We're not talking about whether or not the policy was followed or not. So it should definitely stay on what changes need to be placed in within the LSDMC policy to be effective moving forward so that we don't find ourselves here again and administration does sit on the policy committee as well or representative and so it should absolutely be shaped with influence from both the community as represented by the board and the administration for sure and I think that we've given enough guidance I would imagine in this particular forum for the administration moving forward. She's got

027a plan, a 90-day timeline. I don't know if everyone's seen that, but you will. And so, uh, I think that we're pretty clear on where we where we are moving forward with regard to these two positions. Does anyone else have any other questions? Vice President B. Yes. And and the interest in preserving the policy and making sure it's enforced. I think that's why you got a I believe it was a 60 vote to the motion regarding the need to have a review of what had transpired. So, I think that's great. I think that's important. But on the policy piece, I want to back up what uh member Lindy, Chairman Lindy is saying too. Not only is this a policy issue uh that the policy committee can handle, but it might be one of those issues

028where some of these very specific procedural things really are administrative guidelines. And I would hate for our policy to start to reflect, you know, procedure more than policy. So maybe part of the assignment going back to policy is have the policy folks take care of the policy but also if you can kind of oversee any work that the administration will do to improve the guidelines so that we can kind of keep policy and procedure somewhat separate and and I think this has all been very good discussion. Thank you. Vice um chairperson Lendy just just for for wanting to make sure I'm clear. I heard both we should look at the procedures and we should keep them separate which is the thing you're requesting of the committee. I'm saying you perhaps might want to oversee or

029direct the within the policy parameters the administration coming back with guidelines to you but we don't approve the guidelines as much as we obviously approve the policy. So I think I just want to make sure that we keep the purity of a policy versus uh and the purity of procedure. So just to keep that in mind rather than so it's not to oversee but to kind of direct them to make this clear procedurally. Is that good for you? You clear? I feel very comfortable moving on. Okay. Thank you. Uh let's let's move board member Matt. I just wanted to add that uh to your point it was recommended at the previous meeting um for there to be a principal selection implementation plan. So that could be the procedural aspect that aligns with the LSDMC policy

030so that again that it is uniformed uh throughout the entire district so that we don't fall into this place because again if our policy is strong we shouldn't have these issues and we all agree that it wasn't our policy so then maybe we need to review the procedures. We all good? All right. Superintendent, do you have everything that you need for clarity around this topic? For clarity, uh my team and I are moving forward with the two names of the interims that have been submitted for the next 90 days. We are um happy to submit to you procedures that align with the board policy. I just want to make sure I can tell the people and the schools that they have at least an interim principal for this time period. I think that's what we're

031saying. If that's what the full board is saying, that's fine. But that's not what I'm saying. So, okay. I mean, so to part of that, yes. Um, but to the point of moving forward with the two interims as recommended, that's not what I'm saying. So, if it would require a vote, um, then that's fine. If the majority of the board agrees with that, then you all can go ahead and move forward with it. But I want it to be stated that I am not okay with it. So I know it's in your recommendations those two names right the last time. Well, you have recommendations in this meeting as well. They're not in there this time. Yes, they are. Because I truly thought there was a vote in support of the recommendations, but I heard under

032an interim period of time. They're they're in your um under No, let's see. This is on this was on board docs. It's from that's 23rd. Okay. So, do we need to vote? That vote had occurred. Well, it it occurred to pull them, but the problem was that there was no clarity around if this is why this came up. Let me let me bring this up to the public. This came up because there was no clar. We pulled them. We said that the process needed to be done again, but there was no clarity on was there going to be an extension of the people that were there until August the 1st. Were they going to be extended 90 days or were those people going to come in as an interim for 90 days? That's where the

033clarification needed to happen. And so we really have pulled them, but we did not offer any clarification as to if they are serving in an interim role. that I that I'm aware of. Maybe maybe we did. Dan, did we approve them for the 90 days? Is that how you interpreted it? We did. Okay. So then there are So board member Craig. So just to clarify what and this is part of what happened when we vote and I'm happy to put a motion if we need to do it again. I'm happy to do a motion again. But specifically, we voted and then the superintendent asked specifically does she need, you know, because part of the conversation we had was around going to them and asking them if they're willing to serve in that capacity because we

034did not have them ask that beforehand. Um, and so happy to put the motion on the floor. Now, if we need to do a clarifying motion um, and and and do the vote, but I I think it would have been disingenuous for us to have said to make a interim that then would have had to come back to the board knowing we only had one meeting and that that would still required us to someone in the time period in which again there's not a lot happening in our schools that would have allowed for someone or the schools to not have leadership like they would have needed leaders. They need leadership now. And so I I just I again don't think it would have been genuine to go to someone and say, "Will you serve in

035a 90-day capacity in a position that you were not you had not applied for, you were not interested in, you were not going to do um long term?" I just I don't I think that's bad business on our part. So I'm happy to make the motion now if it be if it'd be helpful. Just clarifying. That's fine. That's also part of the reason why I was confused because why would these people take a position for 90 days knowing that they could possibly be moved to your to your point but the same reason though that they may want the position. I think the point of it is that if you're asking an assistant principal somewhere else to come to another school serve in an interim capacity for 90 days for a position they're not going to

036take. There is no PR assistant principal will do that at least as far as I know because it's pointless. Like it's not it's not a career mover. You don't get any credit for it. I get it. But it's also the same. But I'm happy to put the motion on the floor if that'll get us moving forward to at least we're going to go around one more time and then we're going to accept your motion. Yes, Vice President. Yes. I this and I'm glad we finally got to what was the confusing part of of the whole experience on the 23rd. Uh both I think general counsel and the treasurer would have the record clear as to what we approved on the 23rd. And I know that one of the things we agreed to was that and

037there were three principles really at issue initially and one went through and that was at uh I believe at Roberts and then another one was the superintendent recommended for to be interim with that name and I think the one at Taft was recommended to be permanent and we changed it basically to interim because we put this 90day experience because we were concerned about the process. So, I'm interested in making sure we're clear about what the record was that these three names went through and one of them actually was changed and that was the one that was uh I believe Taft got changed. But I if I we could hear and then I don't have anything left to say. But if the treasurer and the general counsel can tell us what the record is and I'm

038happy to support a motion to do it again before before you speak Dan, I'm going to let board member Weineberg ask her question. And just to so that people know, I did call Dan and I did call Jen right after this to ask for clarification as well. So go ahead. So I just was going to make a quick statement. I'm not quite sure if we had all three names go through from my recol recollection. Um, we had one, but I guess he can clarify that. I I can't remember. And I'm happy that you're here, Dan, to kind of clear it or at least give us that information again so we're all on the same page. Sure. So, the two names were removed from the consent agenda for separate consideration. Okay. From Taft and Withro, the

039third principal was approved as a part of the consent vote. Board member Matt made a motion to redo the principal selection process at Taft and Winthro at and Withro. Board member Craig offered an amendment to appoint interim principles referring to the two APs that were recommended by the superintendent. During discussion, the two APs were referenced multiple times, including by board member Bolton asking whether they were currently in place in those buildings. There was discussion about the date when this would take place. July 1 would be the effective date. After discussion, there was discussion of how long the interim uh uh appointment would be some some recommendation for a full year. The board ultimately landing on 90 days. Board member Map accepted the motion as a friendly amendment and the board voted to approve in in

040our view the two APS for 90-day periods effective July 1. Okay. So just before you leave, so the one thing I think you left out was the the July one was to start the 90-day process. It wasn't for the appointment. It was to start the 90-day because Superintendent Murphy asked and looked right at me and said, "When does it start? Does it start right now, which was the 23rd of June, or does it start?" And I said, "I think July 1st would be fair." So that's how that's that is the context from the July 1st moving forward was the 90-day period was to start July 1st. and the whole interim piece around that too. Let me go back to board member map so that we can move forward. Um there is a motion to accept

041those um which and it has been well has been formal but we're going to move forward on this. Um I'm just you had the you had the question so I want to thank you for your um synopsis of what occurred on those meeting dates. The thing to point out is you stated referring to in the original motion in the original motion and the friendly amendment we spoke in general about appointing an interim in those positions not specifically naming not in his friendly amendment not specifically naming any particular person. And so I just want to clarify what you're reporting back to the board because again in your review of it what you what you just shared is that it was not directly stated. So I think again that's creating issue with the clarity around this topic.

042So thank you. So there's going to be a motion on the floor. I'm going to accept that by um board member Craig. All right. So, for the purposes of clarifying what's my friendly amendment and what we voted on before, I will place a motion on the floor to uh accept the two names that have been previously submitted into interim roles for the period of 90 days starting uh the July 1st date. Um so that they go through the totality of the um process and if a principal is not selected at that point then it would be reviewed again with the board um for the again for the two names that were provided previously. May I make a friendly motion a friendly amendment to that motion? Amendment excuse me. Yes. that would be under the consideration

043and with the uh um rule that the interims no long not be able to help select who is on the LSDMC. Yes. Thank you. That is accepted. Okay. So, there's a motion on the floor to accept the named positions for interim at WRO and interim at Taft um high schools for the 90 days effective July 1st through July August. You do Knuckles through the 90-day period. and um they will be interims, start the school year and not be permitted to um influ uh have any involvement in the selection of their LSDMC or their principal selection process and the 90-day calendar will be shared with per the policy. Okay. And it has been seconded. You accept the amendment. Second. Any other discussion and let's vote. Mr. Craig, yes. Mr. Crosset, yes. Mr. Lindy, no. You said

044no, right? M. Map? No. Mrs. Weinberg? Yes. Vice President Bolton? Yes. President Moffett? This is a tough one. It's a tough one. Vote as president. Yeah, I know. Um, yeah, I I I'm going to have I'm going to say no. Motion carries. All right. So, we are at the point on our agenda where the chair is yours, Vice President Bolton, to conduct our hearing of the public. Thank you so much. Let's see. And indeed it is. Okay. We are now at the item of our agenda for hearing the public. Each speaker will have two minutes and will address all uh comments to the presiding officer. If you're online, once a request to speak has been uh guaranteed or granted, uh you'll be invited uh to participate and enter. You should click on the camera icon

045to go interactive. provide your name, your affiliation to the district, your school community, your topic, and your contact information if you would require in request a u a response from the administration. This request is consistent with board protocol and we appreciate your help. In the unusual event that someone is not willing to follow the protocol, uh we reserve the right to end that person's time. Again, each person will have two minutes to speak. when speaking or excuse me when the timer goes off your time is up. Please refrain from any discussion of personnel matters regarding names, positions, whatever might be uh acceptable uh but not names. After speaking, if you're online, you'll be briefly you will briefly see the welcome uh screen again and you'll transition back and the streaming meeting. Finally, we ask that

046the public all your public commentary be respectful to all listeners. Thank you so much. And today we have I believe four people uh in person today. And Rob, how many do we have now online? Good afternoon, Madam Vice Chair. We have two online and one approved video for the hearing of the public section. So we'll start with the video if that's okay. Madam Absolutely. Thank you. Whoops. Hi, I'm Randy. I'm a sixth student at You cannot ask us to take away our most useful a kind person. That's like saying a complicated math equation without a calculator. Yes, it is possible to As kids, you're asking a lot. I know so many students who would be here today if they could. One year we had the most helpful help we can get. The next year we're

047forced to figure it out ourselves. Look at what you're asking us to do. In respect, we are kids. We need someone besides our teacher who's taking care of the other 25 kids who can give them full attention to us. I have had so many rough days in the school year. You wouldn't believe how many And I cannot imagine doing that all over again. Every Monday, I look forward to seeing Miss Nicole so we could figure out new strategies to keep my emotions in check and we would talk and listen to each other. Please don't take that away from me. Please don't take that away from the other kids who need it too. If I asked the whole school to take to raise their hands if what you're doing is unfair, I guarantee I would of

048all above. Hands of those who have experienced meeting Doug and Miss Nicole. Hands of people who don't even know what's going on but know what's right. Hands of people with wind differences and different skins shapes and sizes. Hands of those who care about S's montory. Let me ask you this. Would your hand be up there too? Thank you very much. Uh while we here, let's do the other um online. But while we do that, let's have Mr. Burling, uh Miss Thomas, Mr. Brame, and Miss Let's see, Miss M. Davis, come on down. Sit in the front row so we can move through your presentations. Rob, you do the uh video for us. Absolutely. All right, our next online speaker is going to be um Hershel Daniels. Hershel, you can unmute your camera and I will

049unmute your micro. Uh there you go. And you can go ahead and start. You have two minutes. Uh thank you. My name is Hershel Daniels and I hope you can hear me. Uh my company Hershel Daniels Jr. uh did uh propose to create under authorization of the school board policy 9555 a consortia uh in support of providing financing and I'm going to be submitting an updated report in line with the US Department of Education directives the school board response and the market response. We did have a meeting with PNC Bank uh as part of our national community reinvestment coalition. Uh they informed us uh that of the 88 billion community benefit agreement that approximately 3% is left for closing uh this year. We have others such as US Bank, Huntington Bank and others. And so

050we are finalizing the creation of the consortia uh with the Buckeye Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Alliance for Black Business uh with the Cincinnati Empowerment Corporation. uh together uh we will come back and we are proposing uh under this a first in the nation peopledriven public private partnership. Uh that would be a win for the students. It would be a win for the staff and as much as set a model for the nation. Look forward to working with the Cincinnati public schools of and the investigative committee uh that was impanled uh by the superintendent who we last met with on January 17th. uh based on all the changes that have happened since then uh we think we have the answers that may uh provide some solutions uh to the funding uh problem of CPS.

051Thank you very much. Thank you Mr. Daniels. Thank you. Our next speaker will be Jillian Whitaker. Jillian, you can go ahead and unmute your camera and microphone. You have two minutes. Um my name is Jillian Whitaker. I am a teacher and a parent. Um, I just wanted to comment on the decision to halt the adoption of a new ELA curriculum. Um, specifically in conjunction with Mr. Lindy's um, emails that were going out about doing curriculum trainings in order to improve scores. Um, in the studies that he talked about, those two states specifically required science of reading curriculum and summer enrichment for students who weren't on grade level. We were in the process of adopting a new curriculum and that's been stopped by the budget constraints which you know understandable. Um but at the high school

052level our current iteration of our curriculum doesn't utilize the science of reading and so please be cognizant of that as we move forward with spending all this money on the training. If we're trained in a curriculum or an a version of it that doesn't support the science of reading then our teachers will appear to be the ones at fault for a lack of growth. Not to mention the fact that all of that money could either be going towards adopting a curriculum that does support the science of reading or hiring more teachers um instead of cutting electives so that for example one gym teacher isn't having to support a thousand kids. Also finally as a teacher who worked closely with leading educators they were the PD team that was brought in by the previous administration. I

053would ask that you guys really please please consider uh the issues with hiring an outside consulting firm for professional development because oftent times their goals are not in alignment with what CPS's goals are or with what the teachers goals are. Um so please just keep all of that in mind as you move forward um in order to help make the teachers the most successful that they can be. Thank you. Thank you u Mr. Is that it Rob? Mr. Berling and again refrain from individual names. Oh, got him. Hey, Bob, can you give him back his 10 seconds? Thank you. My name is Ray Berlin. I'm a teacher at Taft High School just advocating for a fullear interim position at Taft um and WRO as well. These schools have some of the most at risk students

054in our school district as many of you are aware and these schools really do need stability. I don't think a 90-day interim principal job does that for either of these schools. Um your job as board members is to make decisions that benefit student learning outcomes and their well-being. This decision unfortunately does not do that. So, I'm just asking as a teacher and someone who cares about the students of these schools to please reconsider for a full year interim job um to better student well-being and their learning outcomes. Thank you. Um, Miss Thomas, good good evening to the board. I thank you for the opportunity. Uh, I'm here uh as an advocate uh myself uh for all children, all students. Uh my concern is about the budget uh cut that's uh getting ready to take place.

055uh where the children will be uh more of a crowded uh uh room size and all of that. Uh my concern with that, you know, if that happens, I I feel that that would be a distraction uh a teacher trying to uh cover a uh more of a large uh a class uh for the children to learn. And to me that's a concern that would be a distraction. Uh also I feel that you know we have wonderful teachers. I'm a old school I'm going to say old school uh Cincinnati public school student and uh the teachers and all of the staff was wonderful and and and I can say that as well now. Um, you know, I feel that the the children has their worth that their decision, you know, to to go to school

056every day. Um, like I say, I'm a concerned uh as a grandparent, we try to have them with perfect attendance and all of that other things that happen. That's important. That's their worth. Uh and that's the worth of the staff and the educators as well, you know, to try to uh help the children. You know, they're our next generational trailblazers. They're the ones that's going to take our place. They're the ones that might be uh taking the spots of of higher positions uh where where they're good or show their talents a show and the teachers will show uh their work. They'll see their work. They'll see their worth and even the even the uh hire people that that has helped and know these children. So my concern is um to see that the children, you

057know, be respected. We're in a time where the children need to be respected, not worry about school, not worry about different things that's happening. You know, they're going to be they're going to be great. Thank you. All children going to be great. And I thank you. Thank you for for your time. Thank you, Miss Thomas. Mr. Bra. Good afternoon. Uh, my name is Tom Bra. I am a member of the GCFL, which is the Greater Cincinnati Faith Leaders. Um, we got together back in February, uh, with everything going on in the nation. You all know what's going on. But as faith leaders, we got together. And one thing that we want to do, what one thing that I want to do is come here to let you know that we are in support of whatever

058agenda that Superintendent Murphy um has in front of her. We know that Cincinnati public school is the second or third largest uh school district in Ohio. We know, we've heard um how there's some some issues that are going on in Cincinnati public schools, but we as a church community, a lot of our churches are are near a school in Cincinnati is PPS. And one thing that we want to show is that we are here to support the the students. We're here to to support the um uh school the school district. You know, one thing that we're um already setting oursel up to do is uh support House Bill 96. So, we'll be doing some letter writings, but we want to uh just let you know that we're out here. We've been meeting um together for

059what, four months, and now we are uh going to start mobilizing and we want to make sure that we let you know that we're in support of whatever the school district and more importantly whatever superintendent uh agenda is. Thank you, Mr. Bream. Uh, now, uh, Davis. Hello. My name is Christian Davis. I am a CPS parent and I am the founder of Cincinnati Parent Empowerment Network. We are the largest local parentled organization with over 26,000 families that reside within all 52 Cincinnati neighborhoods, Hamilton County, and other nearby counties. We have recently launched a parent education movement called CPEN edu amplified where we are taking a strong stance on advocating for better schools within Cincinnati and advocating that parent voice is heard, included, and amplified at all decision makingaking levels. Parent involvement in school budget meetings

060is crucial for ensuring that budget that the budget reflects the needs and priorities of the entire school community. We are pushing for a more prominent place at the school budget table. Public education funding has always been America's biggest spending program for reducing inequality. When including parent voice, we ask that during the 2025 2020 school 2026 school year, the board is intentional in using accessible language, avoids using educational jargon, and explains financial terms clearly to ensure parents understand the budget proposal. In addition, we ask that you continue to provide alternative ways for parents to share their concerns, suggestions, especially those that aren't comfortable speaking publicly. And lastly, we ask that you that the district um host workshops around school finance and budgeting, help parents understand the complexities of school finance so that we all can engage

061more effectively in the budget process. Our goal is to collaborate with the district on this issue and other issues related to amplifying parent voice at all levels. Thank you so much. And that concludes uh the hearing of the public. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you everyone who spoke. Treasurer Wagner, please present the following your topic around the state budget update along with the I think it's you and the superintendent are tag teaming this. Yes. So, get ready. This came for So, uh yes, I wanted to start off by saying thank you um to my partner to my left, Superintendent Murphy. High five. We'll high five at the end. Remember this moment. Mike Gustin, assistant treasur, soon to be treasur and Jeremy Galhoo. Um this has been a process that could have been very divisive um

062when it comes to trying to figure out what to fund, what not to fund, but we stuck together and we got it done. And I'm very appreciative of my colleagues. Um so if you can uh go ahead advance the slide. We also wanted to thank board members for um making tough decisions and taking all the um feedback from the community and passing it on to us. Our union partners for sitting at the table with us and helping us find areas that we could carve out. um leadership team who stood in the gap between staff members and um the tears that happened with uh budget cuts, things that telling people what could be funded, what not. Just our staff and especially the media who helped us get the word out, did a lot of interviews on

063media um talking about our wos and our challenges. Um and then all the families, community members that did write letters. So, thank you so much. Uh we really appreciate um our our voter support and um helping us get to where we are today. So next slide um was a huge thank you to Governor Dwine who gave us 67 vetos which covered most of our concerns around the state budget. And so we really wanted to thank him for supporting K12 uh public education and fighting the battle for us. Um so we wanted to make that as a public statement. Um I will say that there is a growing momentum to override some of his vetos. It is um in the House and they they should be voting on July 21st on at least three items and

064I'll go over those in just a second. If it passes as a three-fifths vote, then it will go to the Senate for another for their vote. So we are we're hoping that they'll stay strong and keep the vetos in place. So the next slide will show you if you remind if you remember at the last board meeting we started to share our biggest concerns around funding for CISA public schools. The first one was the formula um where they updated the income values but not the cost val uh values and that um did not happen but um Governor Dwine vetoed the removal of the emergency levies um and fix some substitute replacement levies. So that was good. that helped us that he also vetoed the change to the 20 mil floor calculation. Now, both of these

065items are up for an override vote. Next slide. Um the annual general fund carryover limit was vetoed. Um I'm it's not on the list for override, but the county budget commission can reduce tax rates is on the list for override. Um so he also vetoed the building use selling of the buildings um and the district retirement um pickup but um what did go through was we're changing from a five-year forecast to a three-year forecast. Next slide. We want to reassure our board and our taxpayers that we continue to invest with this budget um in improved academic outcomes, supporting the whole child, um fiscal transparency and f good stewardship decision-m as well as being um supporting the growth plan. Um and so this these bullets came out of Governor uh DeWine's news conference. And so there's

066funding and support from the state level on expanding career tech which aligns with our goals. Um the cell phone policy, science of reading, which you heard a previous speaker talk about, school-based health centers. They're trying to catch up to where we are because we're the the cornerstone of value there. Um including eye exams for K3 students and more mental health support for our young youngsters. Um expanding driver uh training. I recall council member Jeff talking about better driving so they stop running over our students. Um and continued investment in our homeless shelters with the wrap and um supporting maternal and early child health services. So um this budget does support um those items and um the goals of the board be are their biggest priority. Next slide. So this is where we landed. So, if

067you recall last time we showed you the difference between the House budget, the Senate budget, and the governor's budget, the conference budget that was approved is the dark blue line. Um, and so that compared to the House budget, which is what we built the forecast of the budget target off of, there's a $5 million gap and then um three million based of our estimated aid. So, what happened? Oh, and I can't remember if I said this, but the this version of the budget did did not update the base cost inputs. And so that's also a pain point. Um, so as future um, letterw writing and campaigns, that's one of that's needs to be focused on. Um, and Mike is going to explain how the revenues changed based on this. Um but the the the good

068news that helped us get to a balanced budget was the simulations that they were giving us earlier in the process was based off of our January um number one foundation payment. We were still cleaning up our student data. So by the time they updated in June, we had much more funded students and so that brought us was it $6 million more in revenue? Yeah. Um, and so the next slide shows you the across the state who were the big winners in uh the state funding and who were the big losers. And and you'll notice the more affluent districts got more money while the urban and the more less affluent districts across the state lost money. And so that's kind of a pain painful pill to swallow. Next slide. So now we're waiting for the other

069shoe to drop when it comes to the federal funds. And this is where Mike is going to help us um with the next couple slides. So Mike. Sure. Thank you, Treasure Wagner. Um if you go to the next slide, Rob, there are some pending bills to watch. First one, as Treasure Wagner mentioned, is a potential override of the governor's vetos. That's coming up in the 21st. There's also a bill out there, House Bill 335, which is called the Property Tax Relief Now Act. that is kind of a conglomeration of all the bad pro bad for us property tax things that were in the budget are now in a standalone bill. So we need to keep an eye on that. Um that has the 20 mil floor issue calculation issues that abolishes inside millillage. Um eliminates

070a bunch of types of levies. So that's a big concern for us. Senate Bill 66 is still out there. So we've talked about that before. There are a bunch of bills that want to deal with roll back and homestead exemptions. For the most part, homestead is a good thing for us because the state makes us whole. So, as long as the state continues to make us whole, increasing, you know, the homestead exemptions is a good thing for everybody. And then finally, there is the potential statewide ballot initiative to eliminate all property taxes. Uh if you go to the next slide, Rob, just to remind folks, any any change to the 20 mil floor is going to be a loss in revenue to CPS. Uh it probably and nothing will hit until the 27 fiscal year

071for us just because it takes a while for property taxes to work through the system. We would be looking at a loss between anywhere between, you know, 5 a.5 million for a half year to nearly 11 million for a full year. And those kind of losses will continue to some extent until we get back down to the floor. Uh, next slide. There's a couple other things. If, for example, all property taxes were were eliminated, that's nearly twothirds of our revenue. I mean, it's disastrous to every every government agency, not just school districts, but um, they have to be replaced with some sort of income tax or some other sort of tax. Likewise, eliminating inside millillage would cost us about over $36 million a year. So again, these are potential things that could be legislated that

072would have a massive impact um on our local revenues. [Music] Next, let's talk about federal funds. Um I know it's been a popular thing. So just a reminder to folks, we get about $47 million a year in new money uh just on federal grants. These are things you might have heard of. Title one, title two, title three, title four, uh, idea B, you know, McKenna Venta, homeless, Aspire Adult Education, Head Start. Each of these grants has a specific purpose. Uh, and so, and so we spend the money accordingly. The thing to know is the federal budget year is kind of a year ahead of our budget year. So, so the money that we would have been allocated or or were allocated on July one is part of the federal fiscal year 25 appropriation and that

073becomes important as we go through these slides. Next slide, Rob. So on June 30th, the day before the day before we usually get the allocations, um the Department of Education sent the following message to all states and and the high level of it is departments basically pausing giving the states their title two, title three, and title four money until they do some sort of review. There's no time frame given for when that review is going to be complete. So everyone's in kind of a holding pattern. And again, this was on June 30th, and we normally expect to start spending this this money on July 1. If you go to the next slide, you can see for us, this is about $5.2 million. Mr. Lindy, go back one slide for one second here. Mike, I know

074we're fortunate to have some members of the media with us. Um, I just want to make sure I'm reading this correctly. This is federal money that this is this is not a hypothetical future reduction in federal title dollars. This is money Congress has passed. It's money the president has signed in a in a appropriation that has already gone through both houses and the white house. Yes. This is the federal 25 appropriation and the president of the United States is just saying I choose not to give that money to the schools. the department of management and budget. But yes, who's appointed the head of which is appointed by the president of the United States. Yes. Yeah. So to me, this feels completely lawless and a big deal. Uh and I hope at some future point, maybe

075after we've had a chance to connect an executive session. Uh I think that lawless behavior from the federal administration should be met with some kind of response from Cincinnati Public Schools. But I just wanted to note that this is I' I haven't seen anything like this in my six years on the school board. Uh and I hope it's something we can do something about. Thank you. So as so it's this is about a little over $5 million of actual money that we planned on spending this year. The most the one that we weren't really expecting was Aspire, which is our adult ed adult ed that also got lumped in. That's about 1.2 million in addition to the title dollars. If you go to the next slide, Rob. So that again, that is for this fiscal

076year, fiscal year 26, what we're planning to spend. Looking forward to 27. It's already been telegraphed. Uh, and some of the budget proposals that we can probably expect a complete elimination of title three, which is money for English language learners and immigrants. That's about half a million dollars. And some combination of title two. Title two is for improving teacher quality. Title four we've been using for social emotional learning. Um some supplemental curriculum. A lot of a lot of really important things that those two would be put into some sort of block grant and there would probably be a reduction to that and states would have more control over how that money is spent. So So right now our federal allocations are pretty standardized. the block grant could take that away, but this that so we

077already kind of knew the 27 the 26 changes are a new thing that just hit us recently. Um Rob, if you go one more. So just I'm going to wrap up here. So just thinking forward to our 27 budget. I know we're looking at the end of 26 budget, but just high level as you start that conversation. So expect our state aid to remain flat. You know, the the state budget is a bienium. It's a two-year budget, so we pretty much know where those numbers are going to be. Expect some version of property tax reform to pass um either through House Bill 335 or some version of that. Expect a reduction and loss of title three and reductions in title two and title 4. And just reminders, one of the things that we did in

078this budget process is we have a balloon payment for tech devices that we'll have to budget for for next year. So talking about the journey um which um go ahead to the next slide. This really began last year with the loss of member of the Esser Cliff. We had a bunch of stuff in Esther that we had to decide whether we were going to bring back into the general fund or um eliminate. Um and then we also had a transition in superintendent right in the middle of the process. And so that was that was rather challenging. But I just wanted to remind everybody that this has been like a two-year journey for us on reducing the budget to match our anticipated and everchanging revenues, ever reducing revenues, let's say. Um, and so I won't go

079over the details, but we did reduce positions and contracts last year. Um and I know some I recently um was asked if why central office wasn't cut and that we clearly we cut 51 positions last year and um some words this year. So the next slide shows you the journey um that we started this year which always begins in October where we take a picture of the student enrollment and uh Jeremy and his team do the student projections for the following year. This was a challenge because of the restructuring of the district. Um but those student projections are used by school by grade level to um begin the budget process in terms of um creating the school staffing. So we use the November forecast. So remember we are um for we present our forecast in

080November and then update in May. The November forecast um sets the budget target for the general fund each year. Then we do the school staffing typically in December and January. So we have formulas the class size formulas and ratios for school-based staff and that's how we establish what the school budgets are going to look like. Next slide. In February we had the board workshop where we talked about challenges and goals what we wanted to make sure that we were funding. In ma in March we talked about what were the critical minimums. So what what is the very minimum that we could operate on and then try to build the budget from there. So trying to go back to a zerobased budgeting process. In April is when we brought the budget task force back and they

081sat at the union leadership sat at the table with us and helped us go through line by line um all the staffing formulas, all the projections and um just reanalyze everything. On May 19th, we presented the updated May forecast using the House Bill version of the budget and so that um reduced our revenues um a little bit. So we ended up with um a bigger gap. Then ne on the next slide on June 2nd the board approved the fixed and obligated the vendor contract reductions and the central vacancies. On June 23rd, the board approved the approve the master reduction list, the reduction in school social workers, the spring tac um that included the 40 rift positions and a reduction in schedule E and then hopefully tonight you'll approve the budget. So, u Mike is going

082to share the update how so we b we were able to balance the budget. Yay. Part of it was a change in revenue based on the state um funding and then part of it was on um other changes to the expense side of the house. Mike's going to talk about the revenues. Thank you, Treasur Wagner. You go to the next slide, Rob. So the slide here is three kind of forecast versions. We have the November forecast, the May forecast, and then once the budget was approved, we did another revenue projection. So thank Mr. Ashley for his work. He's in the audience. Yes. Over there. for his quick quick work to redo this. Um and and so what you can see if you look between November and May, uh our revenues went up by around $6

083million and there was there was some pressure at that point to change changed the budget target. We held off because we didn't know where the state would land. Um, now that the state's landed, you know, we're looking at a total revenue of about $626 and a half million dollars um from our property taxes and from state aid. You go to the next slide, kind of talk about why there was some growth. So, this is really good news. Um, so between the January settlement, so we get a settlement twice a month from the state for the state foundation. It's based on our number of students population and then also students in different categories you know so English language learners students with special needs gifted career kids um doing career tech courses those sort of things so

084between January and June you can see our state aid projection for the year went up about $6 million actually a little over $6 million and that was two things one it was an increase in enrollment and it was an increase in enrollment in these categoricals and so it's a good time to give give some credit to uh Mr. Galaghue and his team, you know, the the EMIS team as we call them for working and correcting those errors and making sure kids making sure kids had all the right check boxes to get credit for for the different population of kids. So, so that increase in revenue is really what allowed us to to to stay really positive um for the revenue forecast. So, that was a good thing. You know, the new updates in all these

085categoricals help us out. So, putting it all together, if you go to the next slide, so updated revenue projection was 626.5. Um, as the board approved to add um on the 23rd, the additional TIFF money from the city, that was $5 million. Proceeds from sale of property was a million and a half. Um, that leaves us at 632.9. Part of the cash balance policy is we were setting aside some some funds for the CAT to increase our cash balance. That's done. And then the bottom line there isn't isn't revenue. Um but what this is is spending some of the preschool prior year cash. So part of the pre part of the levy the preschool in the early years we brought in more revenue than we expended. And so as we get to the out years

086of that of that levy and Treasure Wagner's talked about this many times, you know, we're spending more than it's bringing in. And so we're able to use $2.2 2 million of that money um for to now that we have their budget in place, we know what their budget looks like. So that gives us a budget target of $634.7 million. Thank you, sir. So, not to belittle by any means uh the risks that we still have facing us both this year and in the future from ongoing potential state budget proposals, the federal budget um and impacts of those dollars. We also don't want to miss out or or demean the incredible work that has went into this budget this year. Uh the collaboration and the tough decisions that have had to been made. But I'm hoping

087we can have a moment of leniency as we celebrate a little bit tonight. even if it's just this moment. Hopefully, we can take that one. Right. 10 seconds. So, I am very happy to say that we are presenting our final pathway to balance proposal. Uh as Mike just detailed uh with the changes in our revenue updates, we start as we usually do with the updated budget target. Now, the 634,700,000 I'm rounding up. But we can look at that as compared to what our budget would be required to be, what we called the modified budget if we were to roll last year's budget over. Now, we were never realistically doing that, but what does that mean the difference would be? And we started working from that gap of the $51 million backwards. We've segmented this into

088the three milestone really points on our journey through the pathway as to how we've got here. the each segment you'll see is has the overall um category that we've made it to and then it combines underneath the individual pieces that comprise that uh bucket. So the first is the master list of reductions uh which was projected at 28.9 million. You can see that includes the vendor contracts, 32.4 central office positions, all the other operational expenses we looked at as well as our right sizing of the preschools. The second area or milestone were the additional um reductions that the board looked at and approved previously, including the schedule E reduction, the reallocation or realignment with title funds, the one-year at least partial deferment of the ITM device lease payment, the realignment of the executive assistant pool,

089the reduction of the school social worker positions, as well as the 109.9 teacher positions from springtac and the included riv which brings us another 21 million 21.1 million and then the final milestone category are the budget refinements. So these are the things that we have developed at the very end as we've been as we've been able to one shift the appropriate indirect cost to be able to be funded by grants as well as updated our previous year incumbrances to adjust our negative contingency. So when we take all three of those together, we now are proposing a balanced budget with a current gap of zero. So next slide. We want to celebrate. We are submitting to you. Thank you. We are submitting to you for approval the um fiscal year 26 recommendation from the superintendent on

090634,682,07. happy to answer any questions. Well, members, thank you for the present. Thank you. First of all, let me not just rush that. You presented uh darn near 30 slides and you did it very well. You all have done a great and amazing job in putting all of this together and all of your hard work. So, one more time, I want to say thank you to everyone that was part of that process. So, let's just give you a a small 3 second moment of silence and a thank you. Now, the questions. So, what member Lindy Oh, yeah. Thank you. Um, I want to um commend everybody for the hard work that got us here. Uh, and really mean that. Thank you. Um, and and we just add I think that there are some I agree

091that we should celebrate and I think it's worth celebrating a couple other things, too. Um, in addition, I know I've made a big deal about this, supporting educators in in implementing the curriculum. Well, I'm really glad that's in there. But even in addition to that, in policy committee, we talked about a new um uh financial reserve policy. Am I writing thinking that that's in here, too? The beginning of it is yes. Not as much as I wanted, but I got a little bit. Um, but but it's a step in the uh in the right direction, you know, and so I think that doesn't make any of these big structural challenges go away. And I'm I'm glad that everybody that they're in there and that this is going to get worse before it gets better. Um

092but I can imagine different versions of this budget that do not include um a bump to the financial reserve that puts us on the path to do that. That's an addition to the curriculum support and everything else. So thank you uh and really appreciate it. Thank you board member Greg. Um, so let me start by also saying thank you and I know the hard work because we've talked about some of these things for the last year of getting us here and I think this is an example of just the reality of of how school budgets are going to be handled for the next couple years unfortunately because the reality is that we are going to have to make even harder decisions every year than we had to make this year and we had to make

093last year. And I think that's the other part to this that is truly um a mark on everyone who has had to a deal with having to do sometimes less with less and sometimes more with less. But the reality is that we we have to really rethink how we do education as a whole because the challenges aren't going to get any easier. And I think as your points out this is great for us to get to this point and it took a lot of work and effort to get to that point. Um, I just wanted to highlight a couple of things that I think is just something for us to be paying attention to as we go forward. You know, there's been a lot of discussion about how do you, you know, which positions you

094remove, which positions come out of where, you know, where the reality is that you, you need both the folks in the classroom and the folks who are able to manage the things that help the people in the classroom do their job to to run a school district. and a district the size that we have, the with the needs that we have, with the amount of classrooms that we have, with the amount of things that are counted as central office budget items that are really things that sit in the classroom building and that help the classroom help the buildings manage themselves and and survive each day. It is a big challenge trying to navigate those really intertwined things. And I want us to maybe credit some of the folks who are having to or acknowledge some

095of the folks who are going to take some pain this year, right? That are going to have to work harder and not get the same thing, but they're in some ways are some of the schools that will not have the same level of resources. They also have resources, but maybe not in the same level in the way it was done before. But those folks do that because the things that most matter most is to ensure that our kids get a good education. And I think that is what is the hardest part to all of this is that everything that we have to give up or everything we have to say we can't do is something somebody likes. It's something that benefited somebody. And so I really appreciate the hard work you all had to do

096and the hard work that you all brought back to us to to look at. Um because I do think that we sometimes get lost in what is the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to ensure that our students get a good education. Right. Um, the second thing I want to say, and this is the other part that I think is is appreciative for what the the governor did, but also a recognition that we need voices out there continuing to push the governor and continuing to push our state reps because I know there's some state reps who, while they voted for this big omnibus bill that included a bunch of stuff that they may not have agreed with, they're going to get pressure to keep voting in support of these things. And we need you all

097in the public. We need the community whose voice whose voices were louder than ever to continue to be even louder because all the things that I think we've heard so much people talk about the things that were important to them and the things that they want us to continue to do and things they want us to bring back. If you want these things, we got to have the support in the community to do it. We have the support in our state legislature to do it. Um because it is really a big challenge when you have to depend upon a a governor's ability to line line item veto half of the terrible things that are put in a bill in order to ensure that you are so deliver quality education. Um so again I appreciate the

098hard work you all are doing. I appreciate the efforts that I know uh our treasure and others treasurers and other uh superintendents and other leadership across the state were pushing hard for us to keep out there. And I appreciate all of our community members who went out and really made sure that our governor understood what was going to happen and what was going to be lost by some of these changes. And so let's hope that we can minimize some of the future attacks and future efforts. Uh but for now, congrats getting us to a budget that's balanced. Thank you, Vice President Bowman. Yes. Thank you. uh uh congratulations I think are well in order for for administration, for the board and for the community and most particularly uh also those members of the uh staff

099and um be they administration or be they teachers or be they support staff. Um, everyone is paying to a certain extent a price for the environment in which we are operating which is obviously anti-public schools right now. And I do think we're right to thank the governor for his overrides very crucial and we have as Mr. Craig mentions we have an continued fight to see if we can influence this effort to override and make sure it fails as well. I think for the public it's remarkable that we've got the budget. We've closed the gap. The superintendent and treasurer have presented uh a list of the u um budgets for all the schools uh equivalent positions. uh we have a number of documents before us and I don't really recall um too often that we've been

100able to start a year uh let's say on time and start a year also um with this kind of information provided the board uh as the representatives of the community. So this is this is great. this historic and it's not lost on me that this is uh uh for all intents and purposes Superintendent Murphy's uh first real budget and Treasurer Wagner's last budget. Mhm. And if anything needs to be said is that that team has pulled this together and I'm not sure any two other people with the wonderful help of their chief lieutenants along the way could have uh done this especially under all the considerations that have to be made. So it's great and I'm going to be happy that we passed this in in just moments I hope. I do want to emphasize

101though what uh assistant treasurer mentioned and that is that we the the we're not out of the woods and now the other shoe to drop is in part going to be what the feds do to us not because of what we did or didn't sign along the way but they're doing this to everyone uh which is of interest. I do want to also ask for sure that the board somewhere and I don't think this is an assignment but the board needs to know that administration watching not only those things that are directly impacting us financially but all the things that are happening to Medicaid and all the things that are happening regarding nutrition that mean the nutrition piece comes out of the agriculture uh committee and department uh they feed our kids uh and we

102have to be watching that as well. So, we're going to depend upon the administration to keep us informed for that. I also want to emphasize that it has we have a renewal this November for our $ 48 million renewal which includes the preschool promise. But we also are facing a need for new revenue in the short distant future. And we need to remember as we keep arguing about making sure that the legislature doesn't find ways to keep us from taxing the folks. I don't want that to be the message. The message is we have not asked for new money for nine years. That's remarkable in in this day and time, but obviously soon we will be and we will need the community support. And I think this budget and the work that's been done over

103the last couple of years especially is the is the fundamental building block for that request that we're going to have to be making of our very generous taxpayers. So congratulations and also um uh congratulations particularly to the superintendent but most particularly as a person that's been here a long time. Congratulations to Treasurer Wagner. Thank you. Um, I I too want to lend my congratulations. I do have a few questions and and I almost hate asking them because I I always get on our staff about accountability, about the data, and I don't ever want that to be received that I'm fussing at you all. I just know we can we can always do better for our kids. We can do different. We can do better. So, thank you. You did have a a slide about the

104um I don't remember which one, but it it mentioned the social worker piece and I know the superintendent had had shared some updated information about the social worker. So, if we could go back to that um it had like the under the second um right right there on that on that one slide, Rob, where you just were, it had the eight reductions and I know that we talked about you had talked about kind of moving some things around. Um can you speak a little bit about that? My concern remains consistent that the things that are going to adversely impact the board's goals, mental health is one of them. Social emotional learning is one of them. I'm really kind of honed in on those. So, um I saw that one. Can you And then to defer

105a lease payment, that's it. You know, I'm just I'm I know we are bareboned. I absolutely know that. And I know that we are doing a lot with a little and we're asking our staff to do a lot more. And I am so appreciative. I really, really am. I just want to ensure that we've got a stable enough framework that our students are not going to be impacted. And I know it's tough. The the the point that my colleague made around the irresponsible deference of our money is amazing to me. and there should be a louder outcry, but that is resulting in programming being impacted that's resulting in an impact and I want to understand what we're doing with what we have as far as juggling things around. So, Superintendent Murphy, if you could just

106kind of help me understand based off of the updates that you said. Yes, ma'am. So without going back to the treasurer for additional money um I am super grateful to the deputy to director house to director Indilatio uh in particular um we did sit down and hash out uh a way to move some dollars around. I should also say to Ver Brooks and early childhood education um dollars available to absorb some of the school social worker um responsibilities. And so we had uh five pairings of schools at 0.5 the last time we shared with you. just as of today um we were able to reduce those pairings and the pairings that are left um I think I will say are reasonable uh at least for now and so we kept Riverview East and Spencer paired

107uh because a lot of the work that we're doing this year have them um sharing resources uh the other schools we were uh able to keep as a pair thinking of this as a campus approach is uh Fair View and Can's School. They will be sharing and then the final shared pair at least for now uh will be Hyde Park and Kilgore and those are based on the formula that was uh derived many months ago around student attendance and those schools are where we show a much stronger uh attendance for now. And that's not to say that um we will create a gap. We absolutely will not allow a gap to create be created. We know that there are additional resources in those schools as well and we are appreciative to the partners who come

108to the table to help us uh through this continued journey. So uh there are a couple of pairings and I'm want to make sure I get it right but it is Carthage was paired with oh okay don't have it in front of me. Carthage was paired with uh one other school and then uh San Silverton. Thank you so much. This is why we need help. Um paired with Silverton. So they will now return to having one FTE uh at each of those schools. I have it right here. And then the second pairing was with uh Sans Monttoauri Elementary School had been uh paired with another with Gamble Gamble. Gamble. Montasauri Elementary School. Thank you. Uh and so now uh they will each have one fulltime equivalent in those buildings. Okay. We took two back, but

109with money we already had moved around. Yes. Okay. And then the only other thing I want to point out, I want to go back to slide 15. Rob, if you could do that because that is extremely important and I really want us to to stay there. Um, this we found this out on the 30th of June. Just as we were celebrating the governor's uh vetos, this came and to board member Lindy's point, the previous president presidential administration signed off on it to my to my knowledge. Yes, sir. No, the change is given the change in administrations. So under Biden, it was under Biden that it was approved cuz it's last year and then with the president now he's decided to stop it. So we found out and we are having to make some adjustments. So

110we will talk about it in exact session for sure. But I just want to be really really clear. This was a to to your point I think someone mentioned it. This was approved last year for and is was to be effective July the 1st for this upcoming year and it was halted July the the payments were halted July 1st for this current year that we're in. Is that right? So the allocations were pulled back on June 30. The these are monies that we spend the money and then we asked for reimbursement. Okay. So we're not going to get reimbured. I believe the bill was actually signed in March. Don't quote me on that, but I think Okay, gotcha. So, we will talk about it for sure. Any other woman? So, two kind of clarifying points

111here. Uh, what was signed in March is the continuing appropriation of funds. So, what has already been approved technically was approved way back in November. It was just not funded. And so, we have to keep doing the appropriations. Again, they appropriated the money for it as part of a budget agreement and now we're cutting the money. So, it's kind of silly to do. Um, I think the second thing I just wanted to make sure that also folks take a look at and the things we need to be thinking about as a board is the one of the one of the piece of information that was provided was the cost for people for each school. And I think this is something we really do need to start paying attention to. And I say this because I

112do think this will both affect how we think about some of our schools and resources, but also paying attention to what in some cases where some resources may need to be rethought of how we do it at the school level. Um because I think one of the struggles we have as a district is we have some schools that have a thousand plus students or 900 students in which it looks really great that we are spending a low dollar amount per student but realistically we're probably just under providing resources and have more students there. And in other schools where we may need to rethink again to that point of both the the the use of our resources at a school but also what are the specific roles that do certain work within the school building which

113we have never at least since I've been on the board we have never really had that conversation as part of our budget process. Um, and I think that's crucial because I think there are things that we're at we we absolutely could have be ways that our our folks in our buildings both make a little more money and provide some help to do certain things that we're just not really exploring. We not been creative in that way. And it maybe also because of the limitations we placed on it. And so I'll throw an idea out later when we talk about assignments, but I want to make sure that we're just kind of paying attention because I do think um there is still the issue of how we use our buildings will matter under even the current

114state law. And there's just I I do have a worry that in some of our buildings where we have fewer students in the building that we may run into this issue of okay at some point it both becomes fiscally untenable and how we operate the building but also we need to be making a better effort to gather students into those buildings for the use of those buildings. Because if we have a building that goes from 300 to 250 to 200, there comes a point where we can as a district say that we're utiliz utilizing that building. That's true. And that's really on us, but that's also in our partnership with the the city and others that we need to be talking about how those population changes and other things may affect what our buildings need

115and how we generate students for those buildings. So I think that's something and that's something I know um Jeremy has talked to us about before about how we are looking at trends in order to determine what is the seat capacity of a building and what are the things we can how we're moving folks into those. But the hard part is that we can determine what seats are there. We don't know how many people will fill those seats. And so I think that's another issue that we're just going to have to look at because I think that's another point. We gained some money because we appropriately dictated who or appropriately communicated who are in our buildings and how how their needs are. I just there are certain buildings that we're going to have to struggle with

116that going forward. Thank you. Did you Vice President Bolton? Yeah, I I want to second the whole issue that I think member Craig has brought up, which is really equitable distribution of the resources we have. And I think there's been a tremendous effort in this last year or so to to do that and live by that to go and and and meet the needs where they are and and and share the resources where they're needed particularly and it isn't a full blanket cover for anything that different schools, different communities need different things. And I want to also support uh member Lindy's uh suggestion that the courts might be needed as a pathway uh and um I know that looking at this um as something to fa face against the federal folks u I know very

117frankly the amount that right now the state is going to be spending on universal vouchers is the almost equivalent amount ount that is denied by not putting in the fair funding formula fully. So all these things are interrelated. So it just be we have to be very vigilant but I think equitable distribution is great and I think thinking about the courts is is an option. Super Murphy. Thank you Madam President. very briefly just from my seat. I to um really must tell uh everyone thank you and don't want to risk calling out people and missing people but certainly the senior leadership team because this was not easy all of the union groups they got mad at us they came back together they got mad came back together I do appreciate it because all of the

118people who were contributing is not possible to the principles who had to have some difficult conversations with staff members ers to uh our HR team led by Miss Indulisio who had to have difficult conversations with all kind of people I believe did it in a very sensitive and humane way and I am very appreciative and uh I respect that. do want the board, the public to know we um couldn't wait to get to this day and we understand we're going to take a breather uh for a couple of days, but we have already agreed and the need to start on fiscal year 27 just about immediately trying to make sure that we're great stewards of this money. But I also want the board and the public to know we've also already started our conversations of

119moving forward uh instructionally to improve student outcomes. We uh the senior leadership team and uh cooperation with all of the directors have begun asset mapping our district to uh board member Craig's point of really understanding what do we have where is it and who owns it um so that we can make the best decisions for the children and if there are gaps somewhere that we can go to work uh making sure that we fill those gaps and it is uh equitable um for everyone involved. I am also finally thankful to the many emails from the community because yes it is hard, it is challenging, but we want to do this work because we know we don't stand alone and so it uh challenges our thinking but leads us to problem solving. So thank you to

120everybody. Great. Thank you. All righty. We are moving along and I'm sure we're going to get this process going earlier because that has been board member Craig's wish that we start this in the fall or start this earlier. So I think we're going to do that this year for sure. I need a motion to approve the Oh, wait. Well, whichever. Um, I'd like to, if I could, um, maybe ask the treasurer, should we start with the annual appropriations or with the budget? Is there some sort of mentality to that? Um, I would start with the motion to adopt the budget first and then the appropriation. Thank you very much. So, I need a motion to adopt the budget. Yes. I'd like to introduce a resolution to adopt the FY26 general fund operating budget. And I

121look for approval and hope that board members will be able to see that outlined in this resolution is not only the amount but more particularly uh statement of vision and what we prioritize and what we most care about as we look at the next year. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion, questions from board members? All right, Treasure Wagner. Mr. Craig, yes. Mr. Crosset, yes. Mr. Lindy, yes. Miss M. Yes. Mrs. Weinberg, yes. Vice President Bolton, yes. President Moffett, yes. Thank you. Really? Um, also don't forget the treasures report. It's I was just going to say that. So, we need just to Do you have anything? Well, let's say I need a motion to approve the treasures report. So, moved. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion, questions? Vice uh board member Weinberg, I just

122have a question on slide on page seven, line two. If I could just get a little bit of an explanation on what that exactly is from the treasurer. Sorry. It's okay. a question in the cross county staffing one. Yes, please. Um, what what don't do you need clarity on? I just wanted you to explain it a little bit just to go over it publicly. Um, it's to provide temporary LPNs, licensed practical nurses and temporary profair professionals to provide students with disabilities. Um, we we we have staff or we, you know, when when a student in their IEP, their individual education plan require those services and that staff member is absent due to illness or whatever, we have a contracted service to stand in as a substitute. Correct. Yes. Just wanted clarity on it. Thank you.

123You're any other questions? What member Matt just wanted to well my exceptions so I want to abstain from page 14 line item two and 17 I'm sorry can you move closer to the mic I can't hear yes so page 14 line item two and 17 okay thank you I just have a question around page four for um the ABC. It's for the RFP and it I'm just kind of confused because it says it was approved in 2024. I'm sorry, line three. It says that it was approved in 2024, but it's it has a January 7th, 2026 date on there for ABC continuing contract. Um, is this the $224,000 one? Yes. Okay. Um, I kind of was confused. I thought that might be going under the foundation. So, this is outside the foundation. This is the

124fine arts services that are provided. Um, Dr. Rudnik did an RFP um and it was awarded by the board on July 15th of 2024. So, this is the second of a three-year contract. So, I just needed some clarification. I I saw that part and I read that, but I was assuming that the ABC is the foundation would assume some of those responsibilities. That's where I'm confused because we also have line item. I don't know the number, but there is for them under the foundation the 1.1 million as well. And so I'm just kind of confused how that's effective in 2026 where they should have they should be raising the money um to fund that and why that's separate. Yes, ma'am. I believe that this is uh if you may remember the whole um fine arts

125conversation and how that international jazz festival was going to be continued. I believe this is all connected to to that work and the partnership with the Kennedy Heights Center. that's not the name of it. Kennedy Heights Center um with the kids being able to continue with those uh lessons and then produce an international jazz festival. I get I get it. I just am confused. I'm saying that ABC when when we were approving the foundation that was my assumption was that those sorts of things that we previously funded would be inclusive of the 1.1 million that they would be raising monies for. Hold on one second. So I'm wondering why we are having a separate contract for them for this. I understood it started in 2024 and this is the second of the third year. we

126paid for before the foundation existed. But when something is to start January 7th, 2026, they should be assuming that because the foundation will have been in existence, right? I can follow up with it, Dr. Mafet. Um Okay. Yeah. Okay. Board member Crosset, you want to add? Yes. the uh the 1.1 million is just to cover the administrative costs of the foundation and that the contract we we intentionally separated the programming contracts from the administrative costs as a strategy because from a fundraising standpoint for the foundation to raise money they want to be able to raise money saying that every dollar they raise will go to the benefit of students. Um, I think if I'm correct, uh, the the the money that the foundation will raise during fiscal 26 is not in the budget. It's not

127in it's we didn't put it in the budget because it's not, you know, it's a first year try. So, it was like we don't know how well they'll do or not. It's not in the budget because they're not our it's a separate entity. That's not our revenue. It's their revenue, right? It wouldn't be in our budget anyway. But, so, but I my understanding the meetings are trying to decide what's being covered by the foundation. what's not my and I thought the fine arts stuff was not. So today uh I did send the board but it's probably late in the day probably one or two you may not have seen it yet the discussion that we had two Fridays ago in the um foundation meeting in terms of what are some of the topics and I

128I I do not think we had uh this piece included. Okay. I just I I would feel more comfortable since that doesn't look like it's supposed to start until later. Um if we get some clarification on that because I was not under the impression that we were still covering programming. I understood it to be administrative costs but there were some thing you know there were some things like the Imagination Library that were asking them to cover that again they're working to find program find funding for. So that's, you know, I think we need to have a further discussion on that. Administrative costs, I get it. They have to get up and running, but programmatic costs, I didn't think we were still paying for those. So we can pull that contract from this revis um superintendent

129will bring back more information at the August 4th meeting. Okay. Thank you. That those are all my questions that I have. Board member Weinberg. Yep. And I'm just abstaining from page four, line one. Any other extensions, questions? Page four, line one was the one. No, I'm page four, line one. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. I think we're ready for a vote. Have to finish writing my word. Okay, you're fine. Uh, Mr. Craig, yes. Mr. Crosset, yes. Mr. Lindy, yes. Miss Mab, yes. Mrs. Weinberg, yes. Vice President Bolton, yes. President Moffett, yes. And um look at the treasures report. Look at us. We are doing great. So, do we need to formally adopt the superintendent? Oh, well, we do. Second superintendent. I thought we did that, too. The general operating budget. Now, you're on the

130appropriations. On the appropriations. So, I need a motion to adopt the fiscal year 2526 annual appropriations resolution. So, moved. Is there a second? Second. Thank you. Do board members have any questions? Discussion. I I would just add on discussion. That this is not a 90day uh and uh that's something I know that people in finance and the whole board and I know the superintendent, the treasurer wanted to make sure we could start a fresh year. Uh and so again, congratulations and I think we should make note of the fact that we will start the fiscal year with a budget and with the annual appropriations. So not how many years have we have have we had to do an appropriation of any kind? Three or four. Yeah. Every bit of it. We've done it since I've

131been here. Ever since CO hit, we've done 90day appropriations. Yes, sir. And we're doing great. So ready for vote? Yeah. Ready for the vote. Okay. Mr. Craig, yes. Mr. Crosset, yes. Mr. Lindy, yes. Miss M, yes. Mrs. Weinberg, yes. Vice President Bolton, yes. President Moffett, yes. You're doing great. Let's see where we at. Um, board member assignments. Do we need to go over those again? I know Mr. Transportation, we didn't have anything for transportation on there. This is Yeah, it's in the consent. Excellent. Okay, this is where we would offer new assignments or just Okay, just want to make sure. Uh, so I have two assignments uh that I wanted to offer and I will offer and then I will certainly one is going to superintendent. So I'll certainly reiterate it later if we need

132to. Uh the first is to assign a member of the finance team, of the uh instructional team, of the facilities team, as well as of the data team to begin the process of building a template for our budget for the next fiscal year that could be brought back to the board for discussion and and at least outlining um by our September. I had the dates up earlier. uh September 22nd meeting. This my goal with this idea is really to get us started earlier on what a budget would look like for the next fiscal year and that we could begin to build what would essentially be like a budget task force that could start doing the heavy lifting of figuring out the budget given our continued uh limitations placed on us by the state and continued

133actions. Um, and that that budget task force and everything else would be stuff we would work through in at the October uh board um special meeting. I don't know what it's called. Uh our our board retreat meeting. Um so that would be my first assignment. Um, and so the second assignment is for us to get some form of a revisit of the cost per pupil of the school so we can start to have a more deep deeper discussion as a board regarding the allocation of resources. So that's something I'm just would ask the superintendent to bring back to us as to us to be able to better assess how we're allocating resources and maybe whether or not we need to rethink the method in which re resources are allocated. necessarily whether we uh assign resources.

134So submit those and hope for okay board support. Absolutely. Did you all get those? I don't know who's recording that. We all got it. Anyone else? Board member Matt. Uh yes. I just want to reiterate the assignment about um having the principal selection implementation plan. I know that we have a timeline and some of those things are potentially outlined there, but also making sure that there's a more detailed plan that we are able to use and have that framework for all of our LSDMC's. Okay, Vice President Bolton, I have two U. One, I would like the administration uh to continue to monitor those developments regarding both our federal funds as well as the overrides of the state funds. uh but more particularly to maybe expand and monitor those things those items that are indirectly or

135could indirectly impact on us most specifically the Medicaid is a focus of mine and also the nutrition piece. Uh I think these thing indirect impacts will be significant. The other thing is that find a if we could help the board administration, please find a way to help the board understand not just the categories of the grants that we might be missing but how specifically you all have been expending those dollars because many of them are mingled and co-mingled with other things or they pay for part of a part of a staff position. I think we we really need we got the idea that we know the categories that this will but how does it actually impact the expenditure and we I think I think we'd all be served well to have a better understanding of

136what this might mean. Thank you. If the board finds that of interest, happy to suggest that. Do you want that by a certain date like by the retreat like Craig? When do you want that by member Craig? No, no, no. He he specifically said he wanted his by the retreat. I did not want to put any time. I didn't know if you wanted it for the retreat. I was going to follow what he said. Well, that was a good date. But the reality is I don't want to give anybody a deadline right now. I think they've been living with enough. And perhaps if we're looking to the future, we're going to need to know it in September. That's when we're going to need to know that stuff. Okay. Did you just have the one assignment?

137Did you say two? I said two. Yeah, that was two. Mhm. Okay. Anyone else? Greg, one other uh assignment, and this really is something that could be done by the end of the year, um but maybe to bring back information to the board to clarify how we can use uh community members in a more effective manner toward some of our career tech needs. Um, and I think that's an area where we have just not been able to fully util fully util utilize in a way that's probably as effective, but it's also a way I know the business community has expressed interest in wanting to provide assistance with us in career tech. I know that there are several businesses that or several leaders in the community who have offered out resources for us. And I think

138it's something that we've already talked a couple times about getting our students uh more prepared to go out into an industry. And so I think there are ways we can utilize some of those community members to provide some of the instructional and assistance in the classroom but also beyond the classroom um towards those goals. So no deadline on that one though. I agree with that one. There there is definitely a way that we can be a little bit um differently efficient. I don't want to say better but differently efficient with our career tech. Um we are we've been leaving some money and opportunities and partnerships on the table and we need to definitely work on that. Anything else board member Matt? Um so yes, just for my particular assignment, I don't have necessarily a specific

139date, but I would encourage that it is um completed before meeting with the LSDMC's and those two specifically in August. What was your date? What is your date? I said I didn't have a specific date. So just in the month of July, I know that on the timeline it was proposed that they would meet with the LSMC's in August. So if the plan could be in place before then. Okay. Respectfully, that'll be super challenging because I'll be gone July. Um, schools aren't in. So I would like to be able to create a situation where I'm getting input from multiple LSDMC's to create that criteria and those guidelines and not do it in isolation just administration if there's any consideration for that. When is your next LSDMC district meeting? Not till September. Well, perhaps board member

140map and the superintendent and administration can kind of get together and work on some the assignment is the assignment, but maybe you all can get together and and kind of provide some updates for preparation of the September district LSDMC meeting. Oh, absolutely. Like and then board member map can maybe get a chance to get in front of them. So I am okay with my expectation is that there needs to be something some type of framework and you can share that with the board so that we can at least get an idea. I'm all about making sure that we have input. Um but I I am also aware that we've done a lot within a very short time period over the summer. So I think this is something that can be done as well. Okay. Just

141wine. And just to um piggyback off of that, yes, I do definitely think we do need to see the framework as a full entire board. So, if that could be obviously done, that would be great. And then we can move forward. What is your What are you I'm trying to write these down. You're wanting the framework around tell me tell it to me again. I'm sorry. I want to miss. So for the principal selection implementation plan, Superintendent Murphy stated that that would be difficult to do in the month of July. I'm saying that there needs to be some type of draft presented to us as board members so that we can at least give feedback before moving forward with meeting with the LSMC's the month of July. So whenever the superintendent decides that she has

142something available, I do not want it to go into August. So that is the flexibility for superintendent Murphy to decide how much time she needs or how much time you need to work on this. You want it to align with the 90 days. Is that what you're saying? You want it to align with the 90 days for the the current selections. I'm just trying to put a deadline here or some some deadline. I think this is this is before. So it doesn't necessarily align. Okay. Okay. I got you. I got it. Um my assignment would be we we've heard a lot for the past few meetings around parent engagement and the need for parent engagement and the desire for parent voices to be heard. And I I I believe wholeheartedly, show me your budget and

143I'll show you your values and I'll show you where you place things. And I don't want engagement to be something that we cut first. So I did hear a great idea around having financial conversations without educational jargon in language that parents can understand. So and I and I really do like that idea. So, I wrote that down, but I want to challenge uh our treasurer and our administration because our treasurer does the just ask Jens, which will sunset as just as Jen soon. Um but our incoming treasurer has an opportunity to build on that and then expand it. So, um I want you all to explore some engagement opportunities around parent engagement and school funding and the treasur's office and um how we could make that um a little bit more entertaining, a little bit

144more inclusive, a little bit less uh educational vernacular. Uh and then kind of come back with some thoughts on that. And I realize that that's sunsetting Jen and Sunrising Mike, but I think that uh in partnership with the administration and the parent um parent piece, we can get that done so that we have by the fall. And I and I I'm thinking around Labor Day, you know, we've got some some good things that we can roll out for the first quarter. We can roll out for um the first semester to try to try these out. I would also invite you to put these in front of the LSDMC, put these in front of the PTO's, put these in get get some real live um engagement going on with regard to making school funding um a

145little bit more appealing. So that's my assignment is around engagement. So any board member Gra um this is more more for uh chairman Lindy on the U the policy committee is going to revisit the LSDMC policy and procedures I think does the timing of what you do is that going to interfere with uh board member maps assignment or or not or is that you I suppose the request by board member Bolton was to kind of keep those things separate. This seems like it falls in the procedural side of things is what board member map is asking. I just want to be sure that uh you know we're I I think it's it's a procedural as applied to this instance is this request and I I was trying to think about not adjudicating a particular set

146of facts but thinking about long-term procedure. Yes. I saw them as being two separate things. I saw a policy look needing to look at the LSDMC policy and maybe including something about interims but this being a procedural thing to ensure that the policy is followed with fidelity. Um but we do have the assignment to the policy committee around reviewing um the LSDMC policy as well. All right. Is that okay? We're we're getting there. So, do board members I'm sorry, the consent agenda has been distributed. Do board members, the superintendent or the treasurer have any exceptions to the consent agenda? Look at this. Oh my gosh. All right. We are Look at my colleagues. We're doing great for the summer. I need a motion and a second to approve the items of the consent agenda. So

147moved. Second. Yay. Treasure. Any discussion? Treasure Wagner, please call the voting role for the passage of the consent agenda. Mr. Craig, yes. Mr. Crossen, yes. Mr. Lindy, yes. Miss M, yes. Mrs. Weinberg, yes. Vice President Bolton, yes. President Muffin, yes. So the chair will entertain now a motion to recess into exec session for the purposes of employment of a public official, appointment of a public official and pending litigation. First, any motion? So moved. Second. And we will are recessed into exact session. Oh, wait. I'm sorry. Let's take a vote. Mr. Craig, yes. Mr. Crossen, yes. Mr. Lindy, yes. Miss M. Yes. Mrs. Weinberg? Yes. Vice President Bolton. Yes. President Moffett. Yes. Everyone have a great summer break. We are Well, wait. Two more announcements real quick. Real quick. We will not have a meeting on

148um July 14th. Everyone decided that that was uh okay to cancel. And so our next meeting will be August the 4th, which is a Monday, bright and early at 5:30. Uh our joint CPS city council meeting will be August the 6th. It will be at city hall and so uh at 5:30 we invite you all to join us. We've got some great topics that pertain to both the city and uh CBS. Was there any other announcements and internally uh because of the great work that we're we accomplished today. There is no finance meeting in July. We are passing out presents today and there is no policy meeting today. I mean sorry this month. So, we have concluded all of our business for the month of July. August is going to be jam-packed. Make sure that

149you join us. Board members, don't complain. Community, don't complain. Enjoy your summer. And then we've got a busy August. And school starts when? Superintendent Murphy? August the 20th. But we do have a back to school festival. August the sec. Get on there. Get on. August the 2nd is our back to school event