001We call to order the Monday, November 10th meeting of the KGA Valley Board of School Directors. I'd like to welcome all of you that are here and those that will be joining us online. Will you please join me in the pledge to the flag? >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We unfortunately this week are again facing the loss of students in the county. And unfortunately this time we have two. We want to remember Isaiah Scott a 10year-old from Mayheim Central and Paige Don a 15year-old from Pekra Valley. Will you please join me in a moment of silent meditation in their honor? >> Thank you. >> Mrs. Martin, may we have
002attendance, please? >> We have eight school directors present tonight. Mrs. Capka is absent. We have a quorum in place. >> Thank you. I'd also note that our board officers uh Mrs. Martin, Mrs. uh and Dr. Martin and Mrs. Huny are here as well as the superintendent and administrative cabinet members. This is our work session, first of two monthly meetings at which we receive most of theformational presentations as well as discuss and deliberate future decisions. There are also some action voting items required on timely issues or to meet restraint deadlines. Our meetings observe all legal requirements and agendas and related public documents are available on the district website. Could I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> Motion to approve the agenda. >> Are there any changes to the agendas, additions, deletions, or corrections? If
003not, all those in favor say I. I. >> Any nays or abstensions? If not, we will move directly on u to board comments. Um does anyone have uh remarks or something that they attended? I attended two webinars from PSBA. the one on Friday um Marilyn was was in on and Diana Kepka that was kickstart and it was about on boarding new members. >> Any any good uh suggestions from that? >> I I think so and I left that notebook at home. I remembered everything else including my bell. >> You can call me is there something we should be doing? >> Right. Okay. And then um today there was a webinar on reorganization >> and and that was good. I was um very impressed. There were 144 participants. >> Wow. >> And and and a lot
004of questions at the end. Um >> the one thing I didn't realize and and it doesn't make sense to me and I'd like to ask them again for the reorganization meeting. They said that we should be inviting the outgoing members because they're still members until the new ones are sworn in. >> But that's always a question. There are some that say as of December 1st they are not, you know, especially when it runs to the 7th, >> right? >> Uh >> I don't think that's actually necessary >> cuz we have a we will have a qu anyhow >> unless they're dying to be here. >> Yeah. They don't look excited, >> right? >> But um Diana and I cannot vote. >> Yes. >> For the temporary chairman, >> although we're still members. >> No, you're
005not. What? Well, they're saying two different things. Technically, you're not a member or your term doesn't start till you take the new oath. So, we always cut it off at that meeting. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Right. So, we can't vote for the for the temporary chairman, but we can vote after we're sworn in. The other thing was a joint open committee >> they were talking about and I don't and I think is that a committee within >> within the school boarding committee? >> Yes, I think that's what it was called. No, the joint operating committee Joocc that that's some districts don't ha in addition to a board have a joint operating committee like the IU has that and I think the CTC because we are not allowed to buy property and they handle the
006financing for property purposes. >> Okay. Yeah. I didn't know what that was. We we we have um we have uh one here and it has to be someone who's not a board member and Mr. Mains who is a past member always serves on that for us. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Anything else? >> No, it it but it was >> Yeah, everybody seemed to be interested. >> Yeah, that those are always important meetings. Okay. I will note that uh in the past some of you attended uh our bonfire for homecoming. uh or the vendor craft fair this weekend which was huge this year um and college night and uh of course we had elections and up until then everything was I think very uh well attended with the exception of candidate night which hopefully uh will
007have given some experience in something like that superintendent's comment >> I attended >> oh I'm sorry >> I attended the told me I had to rush. Yeah, >> I attended the fall concert. Uh, so I'll pass this around. Band, orchestra, and chorus. Uh, did a great job. Uh, this was a couple weeks ago at the high school. >> At the high school concert. Yeah. >> And also on Friday, I was at Biztown, JA. Biztown >> with Smoke Town fifth grade and was just very impressed with the kids just, you know, working together. They were all well prepared for their roles and and did a great job. It was really cool to be a part of it. So, >> were you involved in any of the interviews? >> No. >> Okay. >> Just there for the
008day. So, >> it was good. >> Anything else? >> I have one too, just real quick. Uh, I just wanted to congratulate the CV High School football team on a great season. That was a hard-fought game on Friday night against Exer. Um, and they fought till the very end. Uh sometimes things don't come out the way you want to, but uh they played like heroes. It was an awesome game. Right up to the very last second was an awesome game. So kudos to those guys for an awesome season. >> Yeah, we've had what two good years in a row now. So hopefully we're looking forward to more of the same. Anything else? Okay, Dr. Hartman, it's finally yours. >> Okay. Well, the you guys stole a lot of my thunder, so I can I take
009it easy tonight. I was going to share a lot a lot of similar uh similar items with the board uh this evening, but yes, certainly all of our fall fall sports teams, we had a really successful fall. So, uh football, you know, uh capped it off this Friday. It would have been a little nicer if the outcome was different, but it was a great game uh for sure. So, uh want to congratulate uh Diana and Kathy for their re-election. Uh we we talked about reorganization a little bit earlier, but certainly congratulations to them and to our two new board members who will be coming on. Uh Phil Benigno and Laura Gibler. Excited about having them join us. Uh but certainly sad to see see Mike and and Phil leave us, but uh we'll find a
010way to bring them back into the fold somehow one day. So I'm sure uh just wanted to update. Uh I know my time is limited. I've already been told there there might be a football game later tonight that some people are interested in watching. Uh so I'll try to be brief, but uh uh did send out a fall communication to all of the uh our parents and community today. Uh just a quarterly update with some updates on some district happenings. Uh just some bullet points on where we're at with the Leola project and with budget and and some other items. Uh did want to mention though in a little bit more detail that we did initiate a non-essential spending freeze as a district as of about a week and a half ago. Uh this is
011due to the state and federal budget impasses that we're currently experiencing. Uh certainly when when that happens, there's a trickle down effect and and at the time we're we're not getting our cash flow from the state that we normally would. Uh so we're really having to pick and choose what we use our locally uh generated revenue for. If you know some of those programs that are typically state or federally funded, we're subsidizing with taxpayer local revenue at the time being. So until all this is sorted out, uh we're just we're in good position as a district financially, but we want to maintain that. We want to maintain prudent stewardship of our of our taxpayer money. So we're just uh tightening the belt a little bit and and looking at uh what non-essential expenditures we can
012put a pause on for the time being. So if anybody hears anything about that, it's not because we don't have cash flow uh but we want to be able to maintain that healthy cash flow management. So for the time being, we are on a little bit of a spending freeze as a as a district. So that concludes my report. >> Uh one of the most important statements I found in that report from Dr. Hartman was a simple statement. It said this is an administrative directive. >> Uh and I know that uh sometimes it's the sort of thing we have an interest in, but that is strictly a management decision. I also want to thank Mrs. Huninger who I know had a good deal of input in that in that program. Uh, I do want to
013back up for just a minute. I almost forgot. There was something I wanted to mention uh just because I was so impressed. I don't know if you saw this about the board member who has served uh for 64 years. >> Yeah, I figured it out. He was 29 years old when he started and he is now about to have his 93rd birthday and decided maybe he should retire. Um I I I found that more than a little bit impressive. Okay. Uh other than that, this is a we'll move on. This is a a chance for the public to make any comments specific to the agenda. Is there anyone that would like to speak to the board? If not, we're going to move to action discussion items. And I'm going to take this a little slow
014because every time I check the agenda, it changed. So I'll try to keep this in. Uh our first one I think is uh yes uh Dr. Koser and Dr. Man on the phase two course. Am I are you asking for approval of this? Okay. >> Yeah. Well, good evening everyone. Um as you recall last month we presented to you a number of courses which you have up there and that you were reviewing them over the past couple weeks. Uh Dr. Hartman said that there weren't any questions. So, we're here tonight for approval. Have them. Um, >> yeah, you're right. There were a lot. >> Yeah. >> Most of that is just updating and modernizing and bringing them up to speed. Does anyone have any questions on any of those? >> Yeah. >> Modern learning. >>
015There you go. learn >> profile CV learner >> to fix that because this is all part of that cycle that remind >> okay in that case we will take a vote now if I can >> make a quick comment >> oh I'm sorry go right ahead >> thank you a lot of good work a tremendous amount of work I just my brain was and I increased my vocabulary and I now have more books on my list that I must read. And I also think that we should let some adults audit the classes. It's like I don't remember any of this. >> You know that. >> Thank you. >> You you say that maybe with tongue and cheek, but that is something to sometimes consider. There are schools that allow parents to audit classes and I
016don't know if we >> well I saw in the policy parents are allowed one class per month >> but >> yeah we can't make them full-time students >> but it would be >> we have to give them a diploma >> if we could audit these classes if we were >> that that is something to consider moving forward if if you're interested if we can make it work. >> Yeah. Okay, then I will take a motion to approve the phase two courses. >> Motion to approve phase two courses. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Any nays or abstensions? If not, >> thank you. >> Move ahead. Thank you so much. Um, Mrs. Huninger, the RACP redevelopment assistance capital program. That is a mouthful. Yes. And um as you know in education
017you always have to have acronyms. So you can refer to it as our or grant program redevelopment assistance construction program. I've mentioned it a couple of times over the last several um months off and on that we were looking into some grant opportunities to help offset some of our construction costs. And um it's looking like the timing of this grant opening and elementary renovation projects are starting to come together and align very nicely. So this uh rack grant program it's very complex. It's highly competitive. Um there school districts obviously can receive some of the grant funding and some of the eligible costs for that we could be uh awarded for would be you know the renovations for HBAC plumbing, electric uh possibly as best we're to add two new kindergarten buildings onto the back of
018the building. Uh some of those costs may also very well qualify. Um one caveat with this grant too is that it's like we have to pay 50% of the cost the projects the pieces of the project that they award. That's not a problem. We're going to pay for it anyway. It's not like some of these other grant funds. I am >> take your I want to see it, too. >> No, take take your time. I enjoy this. >> Um, but we're going to do the renovation project anyway, so it's just kind of working out perfectly. So, the this is where it starts to get a little complicated. The grant is going to open at some time at some point after the state budget is passed. Typically, that grant opening usually falls around August, September. So,
019we're getting ready to go out for bid. Um, January 5th is the mid date for the Fritz renovation project. Um, and there are, again, this is very complicated and concise, that there are some very specific like 20 pages worth of compliance documentation that must be included in the bid documents. So, we're right at the right time to be able to move forward with this, insert those uh compliance documents, um ensure that all of the biders are aware of these compliance requirements and then said that we've kind of met our very first um phase of this and that's the application process, bidding process and the application process. Um they and two companies were highly recommended to me and I could work with either of them. They uh both seem to be extremely uh very very well
020verssed in all of this and very very helpful. Uh one firm um goes by the name of GSL they are affiliated with Stevens and Lee uh law firm uh that uh we've used that law firm at times for certain like special education um situations. U they they have a price they both the two firm the two companies have different pricing structure and this is where we kind of have to move our way through and find out what pricing structure we are all most comfortable with because they each have their um good points and some areas that we want to watch that we don't fall into a trap. So GSL uh they will provide us with assistance from the very beginning part of this process. I call it phase one where we have all the compliance
021documents for the bids. Uh when the uh window opens up for this uh grant funding opportunity, they will go through the application process. They will uh provide all of the letters of recommendations that we need. So they'll take care of all of that for us. Uh phase two is And then um the lobbying portion where uh in this case GSL would go and be contacting our state senator and other representatives saying hey work with Kosoga Valley we're very fortunate that Senator Scott Martin is on the appropriations committee he was out to visit with Dr. Hartman and myself back in August and just discuss you know on I think you met with them every year Dr. Hartman. So we already have that established relationship so that might help us to be able to have some monies
022again it's very competitive have some monies uh pushed our way for this uh renovation project then there's the third phase after um the grant award has occurred then we have to go and submit all these documents to uh the commonwealth they reviewed them for compliance um and if we spent x number of dollars at that point on electrical or plumbing then we get 50% reimbured on their approved costs So with GSL that's a their fee is 15% of the total grant award. Saxton Stump who is our um our solicitor for the district they have um another division called Saxton Stump Consultants. Uh they work with also another company called Econ Partners. Econultants. So Econ Partners are the u they handle more the what I call the phase one and phase three of the grant. all
023the compiance requirements. They would work with us too ensuring that all of our bids have the compliance documents included in them. Um they would then stop handed over to text and stump. Uh uh those uh lobbyists would then go again up to Harrisburg trying to obtain funding for us through this grant program. And then uh Econ Partners comes back on phase three submitting all the documents to the Commonwealth in order for us to receive our reimbursement. Um they have hourly rates listed here. So here the caveats that are we really have to find out what what is our comfort level. Again I could work with either group but um GSL is 15% of the total grant award. So if we receive the grant award they get 15%. We get them a check immediately within 10
024days of grant award and then um that's that's it. They continue with all phases of the rest of the grant to ensure that we receive our funds. If something were to go arai um if some of our grant documents at the end in phase three you're finding out weren't compliant, we don't get a refund off that original grant award. Um Saxon Stump and on the other hand, we're paying them those fees that are mentioned there and that's whether or not we get any grant awards. So on one hand, we're putting money out. Um probably, you know, I I cannot don't want to eat my words here on this, but I can't foresee a situation as long as they've done their job that we are not compliant and wouldn't receive our funds. Whereas with Sax and
025Stump, we are paying money before we even know if we're getting a grant award and that can add up. Uh their original proposal is for sex and stuff 12 month agreement 4,000 a month. So that's 48,000 right there. We can continue to extend um that agreement as necessary. and then e compliance um company. Uh again, they've got hourly rates and it all depends on how much time it's going to take them and it's hard for them to provide us with an estimate when they haven't even seen our documents or any of our bid specs. So, in speaking with Sax and STEM consultants, um I said it's difficult question to ask you, but I've got to ask a That's going to be about 23 to$25 million renovation project for a building that's been touched 20 years
026ago, but not all of it was renovated at that time. They said, and no, you know, again, no guarantees on any of this. They said that similar projects that size, they've been able to receive about 3 to 5 million. So that's um that's a nice chunk of change obviously. Um but that fee goes up but you don't we don't also know what exactly our hourly cost so I know that's a lot to observe it is a very complicated complex grant program what is your thoughts on this what do you think about IF structure >> the 15% on what they estimated is how much >> on the Um, so if we were to get $3 million of a grant award, their fee 15% is $450,000. >> Okay. >> Versus 48 grand. >> Well, 48 months. I
027did, again, this is very very difficult to um estimate, but I'd say one estimate I came up with was about $15 to $200,000 for the other program. >> Now, that here's the other caveat. That cost wouldn't change if you got $5 million. Mhm. >> But for GSL, if we were million, >> then it's% >> it seems to me there's no way of knowing which way would be best until after it's over. So maybe you have to look at which company you're just more comfortable with. >> Yeah, I could work with either of them. I really could. >> You're looking for a recommendation from me um before I would say what I was thinking. any other feedback on >> have you talked to anyone who have used either one of these for this purpose? >> So
028Christopher Peters are architect has worked with GSL on another project um not in this particular area. Um I did did call into somebody last week that had uh received um some of this uh rack funding. I could not find out from that person. I know I didn't get a phone call back yet, but I um don't know what company they list. I was just trying to Google search and find out who there is. What's difficult to really nail down with school districts is we have to partner with um an industrial development authority or with one of the municipalities. So, I can go to the list of the awards for the last grant and it just is listing municipality. It's not showing me the exact school district. I did business managers in Lancaster County a few
029months ago and it did not appear that any of them have used have gone down this route of getting this funding. A lot of it too is just timing how stars align to be able to drop in when that break window opens. It's only open for 30 days. >> Do you know GSL has like a long history experience in this? Yes or not? They do. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, my personal feeling is I would look at it >> I think I would tend to go with GSL and look at it as what's that like? Basically, you're getting a 35% discount. So, we have to match 50% or whatever and the 15% tack on. So, whatever your grant is, >> it's a discount because we're paying for the project regardless either way. I would rather
030not pay for the project and pay another 4 to $250,000 for nothing just on top of it. If you go with that, you might end up paying you might end up using more of your grant on that, but it's I don't want to say free money, but it's a discount. You're still getting a discount off of the >> actual project cost. Correct. >> You might not end up with as much money. >> Correct. But you're still >> money and you're not going to be out. >> It's kind of that's again I could go either way with these um with the Sax and Stump Ecom partners set up. It's really kind of hard to put that money out and not get anything, especially when we're under a budget, >> right? There's risk >> and we have
031no idea how strung out this could be, how many hours they did not give you an estimate. >> Yeah. I I think knowing exactly where you stand is a lot more comfortable. Finish your thought. >> I lost it. >> So I mean it's dependent on the state budget and how much is >> is funded for this. Right. >> Correct. Yes. Yes. >> And what part of that we would get. >> Correct. >> And everything. >> We might get 750,000. I mean we might get 5 million. You might get 250 and then just pay it all in fees. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I know what I was gonna say, Phil. Um, I know that you can't always trust Google searches to make it the most accurate information, but I did do a Google search on uh
032lobbyists in Pennsylvania and they gave they had a list of like the top 50 lobbyists and GSL was like number 13. >> Who was number one? Um, do you need approval to go forward with this or to choose which one to use? >> Um, so I I don't need approval at this point forward with applying for the grant, but I do need approval because I can't apply for the one of these. So, uh, and we could go for approval next week since it bids aren't going out until >> Okay, then we Then uh we will put this on the consent agenda for next week >> for >> Yes. Unless someone has an objection to that. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you all very much. >> High School Focus Club overnight retreat. You'll have to identify
033yourself for our board, please. >> Hi there. My name is Erica Whitley and I am a con teacher and also focus club advisor from Dr. Fox to request your approval for a focus club overnight retreat weekend of January 23rd to 25th at the Young Life Champion Retreat New York through PIM organizations. any more detailed information anyone would like. >> Is this the first uh retreat focuses planned? >> This is the first retreat that we're going through the school district to go do it. Okay. We did go to this retreat >> for 10 years, >> but we did it through another organization retreat donated school bus. It's not the bus, but it was a Jim Horning Crossfire Youth Ministry. >> Okay. >> And they had provided the transportation to keep the cost down to the event.
034>> So, we had done this for 10 years with this group. >> Okay. >> Previously, but not through the school district. >> Okay. I'll just add to uh what Miss Whit Mrs. Whitley shared. Uh just I in my time since I've been on the uh been with the district, this is one of the more thorough proposals I've seen. Um she I thought did a really nice job putting together with detail and and I felt it was bad. I think two or three times uh we went back to her asking for more information and she'd have it like that. So, uh, just cuz we wanted to be sure on like some of the transportation things and if there were students with medical needs and so on. So, uh, from my perspective, from the administrative administration's perspective,
035we felt, uh, it was a well put together proposal. I think she has all her, you know, eyes dotted and tees crossed and it's a very detailed plan. I think the students will be in good hands that weekend. >> Any other questions on this? If not, uh, I will take a motion to approve this trip. >> Motion to approve the Focus Club's winter weekend retreat. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Enjoy your trip. >> Review proposal for purchase of classroom mosaic application. M. Dr. Koser. Okay. Um, so first this is a pre-approval pending the lifting of the spending freeze. So let me say that first. This is this would be considered a non-essential for this spring, but when we do get that budget in, we didn't want to have to
036wait another board cycle to get this in front of you and go through um the discussion. So that's that's number one. we would not be pressing the purchase order button until we have the the budget in hand. Um the second piece is looking at this app. Um a couple of weeks ago we had started talking about our fidelity system for looking at those really three big initiatives under the CV instructional model. Our PBIS initiative, our SEAL initiative, and then our um curriculum standardsbased curriculum initiative. And so we've been over the last year building our system of classroom learning walks where we we will be focusing on answering the question to what extent are we seeing these key practices in our classrooms K to 12. And so as part of that system, we wanted to have
037a tool where we can collect that data. And we intentionally are looking for a resource outside of the platforms that we have right now because we want to be really clear with our teachers that this is a non-evaluative process. This is not in any way tied to their classroom observations, their educator effectiveness. And so we feel really strongly that we want to look at a platform that is completely separate from the PAE platform which is what we usually use to collect that classroom visit data. Um the proposal you're looking at is the maximum extent possible. Our actual usage will come in much lower than that for this first year. So we're looking at um trying out our learning walk system three times this spring. Um, so we're going to be prrating the price of this
038proposal based on when the budget comes in and when we actually implement the purchase and then on top of it, we will not be in 300 classrooms. Um, again, it's going to depend on when the budget comes through and um, how many rooms we'll actually get to in those spring visits. So um, tonight I really just wanted to share with you what the app is, the rationale behind it. Next week when Dr. man and I share our data review and our curriculum items for our budget. We'll actually go into these learning walks in more depth, but I wanted to give you that preview tonight. I I don't like asking for approvals on the same night that you see the proposal. So, um this is your preview and then um next week we'll tie it together
039in our data presentation around the instructional system and then this would be on um the consent agenda next week. >> Okay. and the consent agenda. I will specify uh that spending fees must be lift for this to go on. >> Yep. >> So uh you don't need anything for this evening. Are there any questions about the program? >> Who is actually using this? Because I went in to read the testimonials >> and they were all principles and assistant principles. >> So we're working with the developer of the app. Um we will be starting this year with our principles, our assistant principles, our directors, um Dr. Hartman, Dr. Ma, Mrs. Schaefer, myself will start with administrators. Next school year when we go to a full launch, we would like to have our reading specialists, our math
040specialists, our PBIS building coaches, and they are classroom teacher um level team members looking at how these practices are being implemented. And so we're working with the developer right now on setting up those accounts so that they have the right access >> um from a teacher level >> to the people that they're the rooms that they're in, not necessarily everybody in the whole system. >> And you said that this is different from the classroom evaluation. >> Yes. Yes. It's a different system. um they're connected in we all use Charlotte Danielson the Danielson framework as our main guide for effective instruction. So there's there's alignment there but we wanted to clearly have a separate place where we're going in and collecting data that doesn't in any way overlap with where we put teacher evaluation information and
041data. >> So two separate systems that doesn't compute with me yet. >> So, if you think about think about the medical field when they do what they call medical rounds where they have teams of medical professionals in a hospital going room to room sometimes collecting data, it's not for the purpose of evaluating that nurse or that doctor that's in that room with that patient at that time, but it's to look for overall organizationalwide trends and and so on. Um, it's kind of taking that mo model from the medical field and replicating it in education. Sometimes you hear what we're calling learning walks. You hear them referred to as instructional rounds or so on where it's not about evaluating a teacher. We're collecting data to look for overall organizational trends to say, "Hey, we've like for
042example, we've invested a lot in, >> you know, professional development on this particular instructional strategy, but we're only seeing it implemented in 20% of classrooms." So that can lead to conversations that we're having as a leadership team about why maybe we're seeing something occur more frequently maybe in one location versus another. So when we're say it's that's why it's falls under realm of supervision and evaluation of programs but the purpose of this isn't to evaluate an individual >> okay >> teacher if that makes sort of more sense. >> Thank you. So now I guess the question I would have would be for us to monitor the effectiveness of that. What would how would that look like for you to report back to us what's going on? >> And that's a big a big push of
043why we wanted to have this information. Um the board has invested a lot of our esser money a lot of our recent money in the development of our curriculum that we just approved. Right. So this will give us a very specific metric then as part of our comprehensive plans when you think about those big um goal areas the learner well-being achievement and belonging those topics this is measuring it and so we will be able to come back to you a couple times a year and say hey this is where we started with our first learning walk set of data districtwide look at where we progressed then here and over a year or two years so we will actually have a really clear observable tool that we can share that data data out um not just
044to the board but back to our our staff and our faculty as well. >> So this will be the consent agenda for next week. >> Yes. >> Any other questions before we move on? Not >> thank you. >> I I do have now that we're done with the action discussion items. Oh, no. We have we have one more to go, but I wanted to go back if I could uh with a sort of off agenda question for Mrs. Huninger. >> Um I I I noticed that we had to remove the resolution for the index and the audit. Will they be uh coming next next week or next month or when will we see >> December that they would be coming a >> okay? changes. So, we're working through that with them. >> I noticed last
045year we got our audit very late. >> Yes. Yeah. Again, that was they had um in summer of 24. >> Yes, please. >> In the summer, spring or summer of 2024, um our auditors um went a different route with the um they took their government municipality department um and they merged into a firm called WHam and after about a year and they were going through a lot of growing pains. That's why our finalized audit wasn't done until like March. Now they presented in November but we they had to get through review. It was just um uh unfortunately a lot of um issues and then with them said to them in you know this past spring uh we're not going to support the governmental municipality school district audit department anymore. So, they had to um merge
046then with another company called L LCA or CLA. Um and again, they're kind of going through some staffing um uh challenges and getting everything all set up. I So, we're giving I did email them last week, hey, when are we going to have this? We need to have our financials soon. Um so, yes. No, I'm just concerned that we're not going to be waiting as long as we did last year. >> we have had uh professional um consultants reorganized and sometimes it gets messy. >> Yeah, it it was very messy last two years. It really was. >> Yeah. >> Now um the uh the partner on the job and then the uh uh auditor he has signed is like the lead auditor. I really like working with them. Have worked with the partner for many
047many years. you were on the RFP committee with us back in 17. Um, so I think they do a really good job. So, I'm being patient with >> um trying to get their feet under themselves right now. >> Okay. I I was just concerned. I thought this was as good a time as any to ask. Okay. >> And then as far as the um resolution not to go above the index, we have until January to get that approved. I just wanted to wait until >> we have a state budget. So, >> yes, I I understand. And so that will be put off until the budget comes through. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. And our last item under action discussion is review administrative policies. Uh Dr. Hartman, did you want to address any
048of those? >> Just briefly, I'll mention there's 11 policies uh for your review. They will be on the action discussion agenda next week as a first reading. Uh Julie and Diana and I met last week to review these with some other members of our leadership team. uh these all came out of uh PSBA recommended uh what they call their PNN updates. So these are not new policies. Uh but now that we're through our comprehensive policy review cycle, we're sort of phasing into more policy maintenance and so we're keeping track of whenever PSBA comes out with a recommended update, whether it's formatting or just a language change. Uh there weren't any what we thought were overly significant changes to these policies, just some changes in wording and language. So uh we reviewed them last week and
049we're comfortable bringing them forward for the for the full board. So we can discuss in more detail uh if you have any questions after you've had a chance to review them. >> As I understand the committee also reviewed the the triple O because that was on the schedule. There were previously some triple O's earlier in the in the fall earlier in the school year that were reviewed. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um here is where my concern is. According to policy, we review all policies every five years. Uh to me that means even if we make no changes, uh our committee reviews it on our behalf and recommends no changes. Nonetheless, I think it requires a vote even though it's one vote for the entire group of uh triple0 so that we can uh date stamp our
050policy. So if we make no changes, we don't go back to it 10 years from now and it looks like we've never reviewed it. >> It's a simple matter of taking a vote uh verifying that we reviewed triple L. It seems to me that's that's the safest way to move forward. Any other questions or concerns on these policies? If not, you can ask questions again next week. That moves us on to uh our more closing issues. Uh the agenda for November 17th is posted for your review. And uh this is a chance again for anyone in the public who would like to address the board on any issue. If not, we'll move up to board concerns or initiatives. I will mention uh uh opportunities for the board to attend. What's coming up the fall play
051on the 13th, the powder puff during the 19th, uh seeds and our student um services will be viewing MTSS for the public. Uh winter concerts for the other school uh other schools will be coming up. Uh the school store is now open and I also have uh a resolution for the budget uh impass. We talked about a board goal of being a little more uh interested in advocacy. Uh you have uh attached here that resolution the PSBA has recommended. So I thought possibly to align with what we said was our our our interest in doing more advocacy. This was certainly a simple way to start. Do you have any input on our passing this? If not, we can pass this uh resolution this evening. Any concerns with the resolution? Any willingness to make a motion
052to approve the resolution for uh budget and pass? I move to approve the resolution. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any nays or abstensions? If not, thank you. I think this is a good first step for us to be doing advocacy and certainly is an easy way. Um I have on my here report from uh the leadership advisory. Are you prepared to address us? >> I am. Governor, >> thank you, Mrs. Grath. Uh, so first I want to just, you know, uh, thank Kathleen Torbridge and and and Phil Hurst uh, for being on the committee to recommend the next president and vice president. I underestimated the task. I will say that if you had a job description of a schoolboard president, you wouldn't have to write anything. >> You would just
053put a picture of Mrs. Grath. >> Oh. in the spot >> and that's what you would have from a full end to end >> it's hard to replace the goat I I guess the greatest of all time >> thank you >> so usually it's a 15-minute conversation in the back room and and you get this done but this was about a good month in in in the process to to make sure that um everyone was on board everyone was in etc. So, just want to let you know we a lot of due diligence through this process. So, the nomination uh committee is going to recommend Mark Ginsel for president and Phil Eie for vice president. >> And that is our recommendation. >> Thank you. And I too want to thank not just the three of
054you for the work you did, but everyone on this board who stepped up and made themselves available if needed. Uh I think that says a lot for the quality of this board. Uh we do not uh approve this report but we accept it. Uh approving it would be voting for them. Accepting it just puts it slates them uh for the re uh organization meeting. So I need a motion to accept the report of the uh leadership advisory group. >> Motion to accept the report from the leadership. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any naysay or abstensions? If not, that's one step forward. Thank you so much for all the time that you put in. I I think um moving forward with leadership on the board that has worked so
055hard to become as effective as it is is really important and I think we're all set. Uh that that much said, um I will accept a u a motion to adjourn to executive session uh for a discipline issue, possible uh comments on uh current legal rulings outside of the county um and a construction issue. >> And you don't have to repeat all that. >> Motion to move to executive session. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> We are adjourned.