Loyal Joint Board of Education Meeting, September 10th, 2025

001All right, I'm going to go ahead and call the meeting to order. Roll call, please. >> Gabe, >> yep. >> Crystal, >> yep. >> Kirk, yes. Nikki, >> yep. >> Ma'am, >> here. Here. >> Yep. >> Tom, yes. >> Green, a roll call. here. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Verification of agenda posting. >> Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Move right into agenda topics then. Uh we're going to start tonight with a public forum and that'll be your opportunity as the public if you'd like to speak prior to any discussion taking place between the boards tonight. That'd be your opportunity to come

002forward. Please use the microphone. and know that being a public forum, the school boards can ask questions and clarifications to your comments. >> No, it's not. >> Hello, Mero Kabista, loyal resident. I've heard the phrase thinking outside the box often during the talks regarding consolidation. Every time I now hear that phrase, I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, wondering what deceptive tactic will be used next to try to push this school consolidation through without offering essential details of the consolidation plan. And by essential details, I do not mean creating an athletic timeline, forcing more co-opt athletic programs together before the actual need exists, or forming ad hoc committees to work on branding a new consolidated district. as these seem to be tactics to avoid providing the more important details of a

003consolidation plan that should be public knowledge before any ballot vote. Already tonight there's a topic on the joint board agenda about making a referendum question regarding school consolidation for the November 2026 ballot. And while I definitely agree there should be a ballot vote on this issue, how could you possibly make up a detailed ballot question when you have no more of a consolidation plan or data than you had before you asked the last vague advisory consolidation question on a ballot? It seems like thinking outside the box really just means pushing the schools together without obtaining true informed consent from either community because there is no detailed plan. I recently read the prior consolidation study done from when Loyal and Greenwood were considering consolidation many years ago and in my opinion is extremely well done and

004very detailed, including very specific recommendations regarding the number of school buildings that should stay open, location of various student populations, staffing levels, and other metrics. So, I'm asking administrators and board members to actually get back in the box and do things in the same honest, transparent way they were done many years ago. Any consolidation question on a future ballot should reference a plan including all of these same details and also the anticipated amount of the operational referendum needed for the newly consolidated district. No community that is making a decision as huge and irreversible as a school consolidation should accept anything less from their schoolboard and administrators. And honesty and transparency should start at the top with our administration. So it has been hard for me to watch this process and see the way it has

005been presented to our loyal communities specifically. It has felt to me like our community is being pushed closer and closer toward the edge of a cliff and being told to jump with no safety net. And if we do jump at the end, where will our school administrator be? I'm hoping in the near future he'll be willing to share with you his personal plans for the time of the proposed consolidation so that people might understand why I feel loyal citizens should be so concerned about committing to this consolidation without a very specific plan. Thank you. Any questions for clarification? >> Yeah, just just for clarification, the November 26 referendum question is on on the agenda tonight to start discussion about whether or not there will be one and if so, what that would could or would

006look like. There's nothing more. It's just it's the first time it's ever been on an agenda. So, it's just on there to start discussion about that because we're, you know, it's a little over a year away. So, we're going to have to have some discussion about that. >> I was just concerned because last time um someone in the audience came to the board and really pointed out how specific the question should be. Um, I think it's still kept on the YouTube channels and yet our board chose to go with an extremely vague question and everyone was told it was an advisory vote and it was just like push forward now. It was in no way advisory to a lot of people. I think it meant let's get a big plan together and unfortunately I think

007that plan needs to include where the elementary school's going to be, where the high school is going to be. Quit avoiding that question. Just because 16 17 years ago the vote went one way doesn't mean it might not go the other way. But you are not in control of manipulating that. It is still up to every taxpayer that pays all of your salaries to bring out all of those facts and details and bring it to a valid valid vote. And I've been very disappointed in the whole this deceit I know going on because my husband's on the school board and I know what's been going on. There hasn't been a lot of honesty. I don't know what's been going on but it has not been honest. There's been a lot of avoidance bringing the the

008true facts forward to the communities about what's really going to happen this consolidation for fear. I think you have to be honest with them. I mean, if one of the communities is going to lose their school, I think they should know and get to vote on it. Even if it's going to be in 2 years, you can't trick them into it and then in 2027 do a study and then they find out they'll retaliate with how they vote on referendums. The communities, it's created a lot more hostility and division the way you have handled it. And I'm just really disappointed in the entire process. >> Do we have anybody else who would like to speak prior to getting into the agenda topics? Seeing none, we're going to move on to uh item six, I'm sorry,

009item five, request for proposal for facility studies. Yeah. So, we have put together a a draft of a comprehens comprehensive facility study um that's been shared with with both boards um for review. Um, so now would be an opportunity to to discuss that um that proposal and what it is and and if there's any changes or it's on the agenda, you know, it could be approved tonight. Um, at the last joint board meeting, we talked about a timeline that would want us to consider approval of the RFP process tonight and the the plan um to go to RFP so that we could move forward with a facility study during this school year to have results by the end of this school year for discussion about creating a detailed plan which would be required within the

010resolution. So I do want to remind everyone the resolution is a consolidation plan which spells out exactly what both what the joint board wants the consolidation plan to be. So that's where the detailed plan comes in and this is this is likely where that work begins. So it's open for discussion on this RFP. So, I know that we talked in our meeting and I know that you had said um Derek that you know we didn't want to be so specific as to asking them to give us an exact plan, but I guess to those comments that's what I'm hoping is that through this process when we whoever we hire through this that that would be exactly it where the high school is going to No, >> yeah. Okay. That's I just want to make sure

011that that that's what we should be looking at is to have a detailed plan as to where the schools are going to be and at the end depending upon how many schools we have if it's going to be 2 3 1 that the public does know at the end that there's going to be a referendum and what that amount is going to be because that also from what I understand from previous conversations there's been well we can probably operate the first year without a referendum but then when we get to the next year when we have to go back to the public can ask for possibly in my estimation a $2 million operational referendum. That's where there could be a retalatory vote if they've lost their school. So I guess that's what I would like

012to have and that's what I want to address if you could. And at the bottom of the first paragraph in the introduction, the results of this study may include scenarios or recommendations for consideration of future structuring of the consolidated district. This would give anybody who creates an RFP for this the flexibility to decide you know if there's one scenario, two scenarios, 10 scenarios or whatever to take the information that they have and make any uh recommendation that or or create a scenario that they want. um tying tying I mean if if we want to be as strict to say we want you to give us one scenario you know that might paint us into a corner as well because I think we all know that there are multiple scenarios so it's it's it's very clear

013there the results of this study may include scenarios or recommendations for consideration of future structuring of the consolidated district that also gives the joint board the flexibility to look at the results of the RFB or or the facility studies and make a decision based on the information that those facility studies give us. >> I was going to echo those those exact comments. >> And I was going to echo those exact comments. I I don't think that we uh we want one consultant to come in here and say it has to be this because we saw in 2007 that's what happened and nothing was done with it. We're we're 18 years after the 2007 study and nothing of that study has transpired. So by having options and scenarios that the board can then discuss together, we

014can come up with a plan that could potentially be implemented. And I do agree that the financials need to be figured out. And I was the first board member to request the referendum question be put to ballot when we did the first vote. So I'm I'm on board with that. I don't want one consultant giving us one solution, though. I think we need to look at multiple options here because there's cost associated with every one of those options. We could pick a scenario that might not save as much as one option but might save more than others. And that's where the discussion can take place and maybe we can get a little further than we have in previous discussions. That's why I would venture to say we should look at more scenarios than just one.

015That's what I'm looking for. What I worry about is the may part. give may give that gives a lot of wiggle room when they're they you know when you use may and shall I guess in law shall means you will do a study you will give a you will present something for the people to vote on when you put they they they may be able to bring well then again like the comments that well if you want to look at what bricks cost that's that's not helping us if it's just talking about giving the plan to the people telling the people this is what yes the scenario and then on that ballot vote explaining that so when they go to the ballot on November of 2026 where it should be they have a plan in

016front of them whether they agree or disagree with that plan with a referendum or a dollar amount of what it's going to take to continue to ever >> and I would say the reason that the word is may in there is because we would you you as a board have the choice of picking the vendor for the RFP. So if if if you have four people bid this and give us and one of them does not have in there that they will give recommendations or scenarios then you have the option not to choose them. Yeah. So so this is just the RFP. This is not saying what what exact work they're doing. This is now outline and RFPs are meant to be vague. So it gives the vendors flexibility to to do their job. And

017you may find, you probably will find that there's some that will meet your needs more directly than others. And and you may have a number of people that that bid, you know, it it's no different than bidding other projects really. You know, you look at the some of the details in those bids to find what meets the needs of of what we're looking for. And and that I believe that we need to give them the flexibility to do that because that will also weed it out. it'll weed out the ones because we we can be very specific with the language and then we're going to get potentially a dog and pony show from everybody and they're going to look, you know, somewhat similar. This way we know which vendors are coming in and giving us

018the product in the end that we're looking for. So I think that's that's that's the saving grace as we get to you know we get to you the board get to decide who we pick and and again I want to reiterate the the consolidation plan using a facility study using a bar model using all of that knowledge that we will gain over the next year year to 14 months 16 months we have to develop it's not just a resolution in December of 2026 that says should you consolidate that was advisory Right. That was advisory and and and the advisory rep the advisory question was you know 80% in Greenwood said we should consider it almost 7 67 68% loyal said we should consider it. So that that was the advisory part. The binding referendum in

019December of 2026 will be a consolidation plan and that plan can be as specific as the joint boards want it to be. So if if we can't put a plan if if the school district of Greenwood school board and the school district of Loyal School Board can't agree on a consolidation plan that go that goes to the voters, then it doesn't go to the voters. So the the consolidation plan is the work ahead. That's why we're starting with some of this conversation. That's why we we've had all of these meetings in open session. We haven't had close session on any of this stuff. This is all in open because we have to start these conversations. If if the boards at in the end don't come to a an agreement on a consolidated plan, then it

020doesn't go to a vote or it doesn't get approved. So that's that's that's up to the joint board to to create that consolidated plan. Again, I guess what I would say that you Eric, you answered my question. That's what I want. I want to make sure there's a question that's brought forward, put on the ballot, and that we have somebody come and give it. But when it says that we, the board, will make the plan. I don't know that anybody down here's ever done a consolidation plan. But those professionals that you would pay that will come in, we'll look at that and they have the financials and they have it and they can look at our facilities and say, "Where would it best be that our students go?" And that's what we should look at.

021And I guess I would like everybody to understand my skepticism is is that this discussion didn't come up until I went to be and I called CISA and I asked them personally on the phone could they what could they provide us this board was not doing any of that at the time and it even got manipulated at the time when I called up CISA and asked them what could they do and what could they bring and it was trying to be blocked at this board level to not even get on the agenda and Then after CISA called them up, the administrators met and during that time when they met with them, you could already tell there was already a plan in place. They were saying they came here and they talked about, well, maybe you

022want to live together before you get married. That was made at another board meeting earlier. And then also it was already put into the 2027. Where did they come up with the 2027 timeline when we'd have to have it before? That was to deceive to not get it onto the 2026 ballot. it was after we would have made the resolutions and all that stuff as well. That's where my skepticism comes and that's where my mistrust has come and that's why I spoke out on a lot of this because I feel the taxpayers deserve to have a plan put in place so they can have something to vote on and know where their schools are going to be because there will be I've said it before retaliatory referendum votes if you lose your school you're not

023even given an opportunity to say where that plan was at and that was where we were at months ago and then basically you'll also have retaliatory open enrollments if you lose your school and you're closer to another school district or you'recept requis it because you lost your school. There could be that too. So that's things that I'm concerned about. I think that if the public and our communities get the full entire plan and they get a chance to vote on that and whatever they vote, if they vote consolidate, at least that it doesn't come back that they didn't have an opportunity or say that you will get a save. That's what I want to make sure that everybody gets to say in a vote about that. So thank you. Okay. So, this has been a

024very interesting process over the past 3, four, five years. Um, certainly it's been a learning process for board members, for community members, for administration. Um, I don't believe we ever tried to deceive the public. I I would say that there's there's a lot of unanswered questions as to how this will all work, but I don't think it was ever the intention we were to we're deceiving the public or that we ever had a plan in place as to how this would go. I think we all have personal ideas on where we would like or where we think it could go. Um, but I don't think we we ever uh tried to to stop or thwart the process of trying to explore the possibilities. I think you have to look at the facts. The facts are

025that our school and we've probably gotten past that from the standpoint of of uh you know when we when we put out the information on the you know the the advisory type question or you know question on the ballot you know exploring the possibility of the um consolidation. Um our two school districts have some of the uh similar are both in similar situations. We both have declining enrollments. We have increasing costs and and we've had to ask our communities for additional operating referendums to keep the doors open because without asking for that additional those additional funds, we would have had to start cutting programs. And I think all of us realize that once you start cutting programs, you might as well start looking at at a larger decline in membership. And then what type of

026education are you really providing your students? I think we need to focus on and what we've said before, you know, we need to keep our students as number one priority. And one of the things that I see that if we can pull together a consolidated district, we need to look at is there, you know, what are we doing well? What are each of the schools doing well? And let's take the best of what each of the schools is doing. What can we do better? What can we do that we aren't doing? And one of the things that I've learned in in looking at what other school districts have done and and I think we need to seriously look at if there's anything that we can do better, it's how can we prepare our our students

027to be more successful when they leave our our school building. um as far as the education that they're getting and whether that means the the additional classes that we're we're offering them that they get credit on or whether and whether they're going to a 4-year or a two-year or they're going into the workforce, how can we make it better for them to be able to um leave our schools? And and I really think we've seen a a big shift on those that are going instead of going to a 4-year college getting that type of education, they're going to either a one or twoyear um technical college or they're going into the workforce. if we can focus on that maybe a little more and say what can we do better to help our students and then

028if we're looking at we have the opportunity to look at all three buildings on what what we could possibly do to to enrich that. I've seen what some other schools have done. We got to tour the Luxembourg Casco facility and what they're doing. um that diesel mechanics program they have over there um and nursing program are something that might be something we should consider and and there might be others other things out there but we need to we need to find out from our community and that's our businesses what are they looking for as far as additional skills um experiences that these kids can have before they graduate. If we can focus on that, then how can we utilize our facilities? I would hesitate right now to to lose any of the facilities. And it

029might cost more to keep all three buildings, but if you're if you were to sell a building, what would you get for it? And if you ever wanted to do something else and expand a program, you know, how much would it cost if you had to start uh from scratch? So, that's just a few thoughts I have, but we certainly want to um all, you know, keep an open mind on what's the possibilities and and then bring it all together and have the vote by the public and and see where it goes. My thought on this um proposal is one is first it's we're doing this for the kids. Um two is it's for the taxpayers. We're trying to save our taxpayers money. If we can do a better job of educating our kids and

030saving our taxpayers money, why aren't we doing it? If you want to know where the school is actually going to be, now you're on your own personal agenda. I don't think we're here for a personal agenda. We're here for the kids. >> Okay. >> Eliza is joining us online. She had something to share as well. So, we'll try this. I just wanted to ask the question um getting back to the topic that we are on with the RFP. Is there anything that we think is missing or shouldn't be included in particular these companies that do these studies because when I looked through it, I thought that they seemed very inclusive of what we are looking for and I think as far as the timeline goes and what we've proposed of, you know, what year we're

031doing what like that was all a very thoughtful process of when we needed to put things on ballots and be able to, you know, passed different referendums. We aligned our referendums. Like this has been ongoing for 2 years. Like this is not something we're just trying to do overnight. And I think that we have been very open and we are going to continue to be open. And if no one else has anything on the RFP, like I would like to see us approve the RFPs to send to. I don't know the names of companies if we want to send it to two or three or four or however many we have available. If we need to include that in in the actual motion, um, that's kind of where I'm at. Thank Eliza for getting us

032back on track. Uh I would agree with Eliza. This is something that we need to move forward with. Um and you have tonight to look at this. If we look at RFP timeline, uh we would like to issue on September 15th our RFP to companies so they can get working on it. Uh because if we drag our feet more December 26, we'll pass and go and we'll be sitting here again. Um propos proposals are due October 31st, 2025 by 3:00 p.m. Finalist interviews, presentations, November 3rd through the 7th, 2025. Anticipated award date November 12th 25 I'm sorry 20 25 uh project com project completion presentation to the joint board prior to the April 30th 2026 meeting. So that is our our timeline that we're looking at. Um board members, uh if you see something that

033you don't like and we need to change it, then tonight is the night we need to get this done. Uh if you like it, let's pass it, approve it, and move forward. >> Eliza, as to the number of consultants that you leave that up to the free market, you hope you get as many consultants to apply for the project as as developed there. It might be three, but it could be 10. and then we can look at the resumeumés when they're submitted to us and we can select who we want on the interviews. I do think that the interview committee would be um board members along with administration and maybe even a member of the public to squash any of the rumors or concerns that this has already been predetermined. Uh, with that loyal board,

034is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, or removed from the RFP that is currently in front of you? >> I think the RFP is is great. I think whoever put this together or the group put together did a really good job. The only question I have is um is there a reason why the April 30th, 2026 was the date that we wanted it completed by? I just can't remember. I'm wondering the reason I'm asking is does that give the company enough time to put together the plan? Cuz I mean I just think like November 12th is when we award it and then it's like holidays and then all of a sudden you're into spring. I'm just wondering if that was a there's a reason for that date or if we just kind of

035threw it out there and if that gives the company enough time to put together the plan that we're hoping for. >> I I do think it's enough time um for them to put the plan together. They would definitely whoever is awarded the bid. That's a question the interview committee they would they would have to meet that timeline as part of the stipulation. Um so it would have to be a priority for whichever company is awarded the bid. Uh the other timeline that you're up against is not up against but just to be aware of is um to have a resolution on the if if if the joint board decides to have a resolution on the November meeting. I believe August is the the timeline and we know that we we know that you know it's

036not going to be a show up at one meeting with the exact wording of the resolution and it's going to pass. So we may need some time to figure out what that resolution is in order to have it you know, ready for the November election. I know that I know that CISA had when I talked to them as what time frame did they think it would be for them. That doesn't mean everybody, but they said like four to five months they thought. We also thought it important that it was completed well before November so people had time to soak in the thoughts and the plan um so it wasn't a lastm minute decision or last minute presentation. >> Yeah. So my my question was right along that same line, but it was kind of the

037opposite take of it. Is is does April 30th give us enough time on the back end? Um or do we put somehow we leave it up to the company to give us a date as to when they will provide it to us, you know, and if somebody can get it to us in February prior to I know, but if it's prior to and they can get it done in February, we're going to get it in April. I guess I'm just wondering if we say we want it by April, but if they can repeat that date, >> um let them present that if we can somehow say that. So, I think Dean Dean, make sure I hear you correctly. You would like something added that says that the um bids are turned in upon completion prior

038to April 30th. >> Yeah. >> I mean, we as part of the interview process, we I mean, you'll have the ability to ask questions and and say, "Is April 30th sufficient or you know, do you think you're going to have it by February?" And if they say I mean there again you're going to be able to pick the vendor that meets all of the needs. >> So I can do it in an interview. >> I think you you can ask those questions then I would think. Is everybody good with that? >> Greenwood board. Any other comments or discussion? Are we good? Is there any discussion on our D? >> That said, I'd like to make a motion to approve the uh RFP proposal as presented uh in the packet that was handed out. I'll second

039that. Motion made second to approve the RFP as were presented in the packet. All in favor? I >> oppose. pass. I'll make the same motion on that. >> I'll second by. All those in favor motion carries item number six, ad hoc committees. So in your in the in the pack that you have, you'll see a list of those. Um it was publicized in both districts and actually in the news in the TRG about the formation of a branding committee um to involve the community in looking at what would or could a a combined consolidated school district um be called um mascot colors those sorts of thing all summarized in under the name branding. Um, I've given you a list of the folks uh from both communities that have uh called or or entered their name

040into with interest and being part of this committee. Um you'll see there were eight seven um seven folks from the school district of Greenwood and four from the school district of Loyal. The second one from the bottom on on the top is actually a loyal resident. He was just he's a shared staff. He was just in our building the day that he >> Yeah. added his name. So, uh this is where the board we when we talked at the last joint meeting um joint board decided that you would like to select this committee. Um so open the floor for I would say for some discussion on what that committee should look like. Um, like I guess I just want to I'm not familiar with all the names on here for sure, but they're all residents

041or have it tied to the districts. >> Joe, sorry. What's to stop them from all being on there? Is there like a certain number that you want for an advoc committee? Is there an ideal one? I mean, there's 11 of them right on there. It doesn't seem like an overly large amount. They all see some good folks from the ones that I know on there. Is it okay to have them all on there? The last meeting you wanted it brought back boards, both boards wanted it brought back to you so you could decide what you wanted. So, that is up to you. All right. You can decide decide is 11 too much or then you got to decide if not who's who's in who's not. >> Yeah. >> The other thing you might consider is

042equal representation from both districts. >> That's what I was going to say is I just I don't care how many people we have. Um well I shouldn't say that. I do care. But I mean, too many might be a lot, but um I think we should set a number, but I would kind of like to see a little bit more eco representation. My question for admin is um how or where was this posted for individuals to um like to sign up? >> Like was it Facebook page, website >> in Greenwood? It was on our Facebook page and it was sent out through Skyward to all families >> Facebook page and I believe we sent a reminder. I >> think it's a good idea. I know we're moving that way. They're not going to spend any

043money on this just cuz I don't want to get ahead of ourselves. I mean, I'm sure it's going that direction, but this before we No, remember part of part of the consolidation plan that would be on the resolution starts with the name of your school district. Yeah. So, that that is part of the part of the plan that has to be written out. So, this is where some of that discussion has to happen. So my question would be what about the people that don't do social media or like community members? You said it was on the Facebook page in Remind. What about like community members that don't do technology? >> It was also in I mean just inadvertently I guess in the TRG. So it was in the it was part of their article on

044the last on the last board meeting about having a branding committee. So if anyone was interested, call the school offices. Other than going door todoor, I'm not sure what else. >> No, I just wanted to make sure like those are the three had the opportunity to see something and sign up if they choose to. >> Yeah. I think we should have a few more people volunteer for Loyal so it's more equal representation. I think you know 12 people up to 14 people includes committee size. No more than 14. And >> I think maybe for for the moment just to get things going, you go with who has signed up now and you hope for more representation. I I would hate to to tell the 11 people who took the time to go ahead and sign

045up that we're going to put you on pause till we find more people. um start and then then when equal representation is needed, somebody sits out a vote or you know, we don't even really know how this committee is going to work yet, but let's get it going first and then we can we can still solicit for more people. I would assume with a committee like this that we would be engaging this committee in conversation about the process for branding. not not selecting this is these are not the 11 people that get to pick the name and the colors and the mascot, but I assume these are the people that would be, you know, would have conversation about the process to come to a consensus on name, color, mascot, things like that. So I I

046I there's probably not as much harm in having unequal representation and in creating that process, but when it comes down to selection, I think that that I mean, at least my understanding from the loyal board is that's going to go back to people anyway, right? Like that's part because it's part of the it' be part of the consolidation plan. So that's going to go part of that would could be could be part of the consolidation plan except es especially the name has to be um so I don't know if there's harm in having unequal representation to put the process together. I also believe that it's has to be board approved. This is just going to be recommendations that they are going to bring forth to us for us to decide ideas and uh and then

047we'll yeah exactly bring all the information to a public meeting so it is open to all. >> I agree. Um and I don't think that we should wait either. Um I think that the 11 people that came forward should absolutely be able to do it. What I would like to see is um I just quickly and I I might be wrong, but I just quickly went through my remines and I didn't see it. And I'm not saying that it didn't come um because I get like a hundred remines a week. But um if we could maybe put it um just for loyalty sake, maybe do the school newsletter that goes out from the office or um another. I think it's pretty easy to miss like one Facebook post. I would just like to see maybe

048one more time. Again, I don't think we should hesitate and the people that are signed up, that's wonderful and thank you for um offering to do that. Um but I would like to see for the loyal side at least one more reach to see if anybody else wants to join. >> We can do that. Do we want to put a cap on the number when we get 54? >> Well, unless like we had a a very clear deadline of of the 5th of August. I think that I I'm I'm happy if the Greenwood board is happy with how we've communicated and the response we got. So, um I'm good with keeping ours at the seven that have if Loyal wants to I mean, if you wanted to do that, then we would probably have to

049delay moving forward with this until our next meeting. That's been done before. So, we can do that. I was just wondering if we're having any board member representation on the committees and if so one board member to what we thought per I meant per school. I would assume there would be board representation and and it can't be a quorum. >> Well, originally when we drew up the ad hot committees, it was supposed to be for a relief from the board. So, we didn't think about we didn't have to think about the branding side while we were making all the other decisions. So, we can certainly put somebody on, but that's just that much more workload for another board member. Just to kind of piggy back off of, you know, Joe mentioned, hey, we can put

050it in your newsletter and we might talk about it on I forgot what date that he said. Is there uh obviously we talked about numbers too, right? How many do you want on there? 44, you know? So the number for Greenwood was eight folks on there and then Loyal had four. Is there a way that we could somehow and I'm not saying we have to make a motion say our our eight are locked in cuz we we did our our I'm sorry seven. I didn't know the number and then you you know give you guys the opportunity then to fill in the remaining slots just so we have something down. Give you guys time and then we know that our f is that an agreeable thing just we kind of keep it moving along. I'll

051make a motion. I'll make a motion that we accept the seven people from Greenwood. Loyal has three right now. They can accept four new people >> or four people. We can accept three new total. So the be ad hoc committee of 14. >> I need a second for that motion. >> I'll second. >> Crystal seconds. All those in favor? Motion carries? I will make the same motion to accept what is presented and loyal brings up report. I'll second that. Motion made second on the number of people for that committee. Uh, all in favor? >> So, this is probably a late question, but I'm assuming this is the branding committee because we also did talk about we also did talk about business representation. I know that's not we didn't put that out for the public, but

052is that something We're going to talk about going forward. We have talked about possibly having a invitation like a business night and invite businesses uh possibly in October and had kind of like a open house where we could come in and they would sit down with us and talk about what are they looking for not only out of our students but maybe more than that apprenticeships uh school work, uh, things like that. So, and have them have a a a say in kind of what what are they looking at in helping with our with our our schools, whether it's uh, auto mechanics, anything like that. So, we we did talk a little bit about that. >> Yes. But none of those have been, if you're asking, none of those have been publicized at all yet

053because we're trying to get one put together. Um, so if you're asking if there's any mixed on, you know, if anyone's confused on what the committee they're signing up for would be, the answer would be no, because this is the only the branding committee is the only committee that was communicated for sign up. >> Wanted to clarify. >> Yeah. So, let's we have and we'll hopefully get this one up and running and then be able to start. This is this is probably the one that's most um time has the most time constraints as far as and time sensitive to meet the deadlines for um the resolution. >> Item number seven, athletic timeline. Um last I think it's the last page you'll see uh kind of an updated uh co-op timeline. Um it's a proposal draft

054copy. Um what I added to that was some decision made by dates and again draft tenative discussion. Um all of this is aimed at you know consolidation in 2028. Um, the only two items on, and this is just just again a draft. The only two items that would even be up for discussion tonight would be elementary basketball and esports. Um, and I'll start with esports. Greenwood has a an esports team. Um, I know some struggle with the word esports, but that's what it's called. Um, so it's a it's a team that competes statewide. It's a network of of schools that compete statewide with different uh online gaming. Um and we have a a number of kids that have participated for the last couple of years. There are three seasons. Uh there's a fall, winter, and

055spring season. Uh this catches some of the kids that, you know, are otherwise going home after school and it it gives just another opportunity for them to to do something. Uh we we would I guess what we're asking is if Loyal wants to participate in our esports program um which the fall season starts the practice actually starts next week. So there that's why that one's a little bit timesensitive. Uh there's really not a cost other than getting your kids to Greenwood. We have the compute we've already purchased. We've had for a couple years computers that um are required to run the soft run the programming for for esports. Um so it's just it's just a matter of whether or not you want to um approve that for your students to participate. So we did have

056a sign up for esports aka gaming. uh we had seven six students sign up that were interested in in that co-op. So I don't know what Greenwood I don't know they have six also. So um we have every we have a seventh grade eighth grader junior junior senior senior. So >> I don't know a lot about the the gaming world. I'm not I don't I'm not a gamer. Um but I know there's three different options. um during the seasons and depending on the option that the kids choose. Um I think there's some like rocket rocket league is one and that was one that was introduced to me when we first started it and it's rolling balls to knock over pins and it's it's called Rocket League. Um so depending on the game or the the

057the game that the students choose to play they could choose multiple uh there's different requirements for number of kids to participate and and actually you can have varsity and JV depending on the the quantity of kids. Um I can tell you this is a growing activity um in our state and actually nationwide. W Stout. Uh if you ever if you ever get to W Stout and get to check out their gaming facility, uh they're giving full ride scholarships um to kids for for some of this uh activity. So, it's just again it's another avenue for for students to be involved like we've talked about before, another opportunity that our students have had not been able to do. So, uh, my recommendation would be that we we co-op. I >> I do we do have a

058coach. Um, our our former coach isn't able to do the fall league because he's coaching cross country um this year, but we do have another coach. But I would think that depending on the number, it might be good to have a couple, especially considering transportation might help. So if there's a need for that as well, um we'd welcome sharing that cost. >> That was going to be my question. Has there been any discussion about transportation or practice times, things like that? >> Our our kids traditionally have practice right after school for an hour and a half um Monday through Fridays. Honestly, some people laugh at it, but like there are esports leagues that do warm-ups and and activities like other sports um to get their brains moving and and not moving uh get their brains

059ready. Um again, I don't sound real intelligent when it comes to esports cuz I don't know a lot about it, but there are kids that do and and they're into it and they do a great job and it's wonderful for them. So that's when that's when the practices are right now. >> Sorry if I missed this. You do have a facility, a room for this. >> Yeah, the room is um it's it's our old computer lab. It's right in the library entrance through door one in the high school library. It's a room off that uh we actually purchased and actually received some donations from a alum Sean Stanford uh last year who works for a furniture uh company out of Vocair for some esports uh desks and chairs. So it's it's a pretty good setup

060for for that system. >> So if we were to approve this, Loyal would be in esports next week. Yep. >> I have a question for administration for Loyal. How do you expect to do the transportation? Uh we do have other co-ops going on at this time. So that would be a possibility right there. um hour and a half. It would be roughly between cross country and football. I would think they'd have a bus that they can get on and be transported back and forth. I will confirm and check that to make sure. >> So, how long is this esports season? They're real similar to all the other sports they follow. There's there's a fall, a winter, and a spring season. I don't know the exact same, but they're about two months a piece. >> So,

061they would follow our other sports activities. >> Very sim similar. I can't say exact, but none I mean, even cross country doesn't follow football exactly. There again, there there's a fall league, a winter league, and a spring league. Um, in Greenwood, we've had a fall and a winter league, but we haven't had We had one year, I believe, of a spring league, but we didn't have spring league the last couple years because we didn't have enough kids to participate in it because of the track and and baseball that they were out for. So, we we we will we'll run them. We can run a a league all three seasons, but it depends on participation. >> So, how many kids you need to have for participation to qualify? That also depends on the games that they

062would want to play. So, like I said said earlier, um there's there's typically three choices, three options for games and some require five kids to to form a team, some require six, some can be independent. So, it really depends on the kids that sign up and what their desires are for the games that they play. Okay. So, it would be one of those things where we would have signups in the fall, signups in the winter, signups in the spring, and then we would determine what, if any, leagues we would join. Does that make sense? >> Yes. Good. >> Um I think it's a great idea. I know um you know it's not something that we're familiar with and I'm certainly not familiar with it either. But again, if we're looking at targeting all kids and

063they don't have anything to do after school and they're interested, I say why not? Um my questions are um is the coach that's already coaching, is it a paid position? >> It is a paid position. It's in our employee handbook. Um it's a I don't remember what level, but it is a paid position. >> Okay. I just didn't know if that would be a cost that we would share with you. >> Yeah, I would say yes. >> Um, and there again, like it's it's something where I think if we had if if we had a need with numbers and transportation, if it made it easier to have two coaches, we would share that cost. >> Okay. >> Share that total cost just like we do any other >> Okay. >> Um, activity or sport. >>

064Okay. And then is this I'm assuming for junior high and high school, correct? Because you said there's a couple six that I will have to check on. I I'm not 100% sure on the on the middle school. Um I'm not 100% sure, but I'll have to check on that. >> Okay. >> If you're look if you're looking to make an approval, I would just make the approval for joining Greenwood's like co-op with esports and then whatever it happens to be, it is. like I I don't I don't know off the top of my head if it's if it includes middle school or not. >> Okay. Um I will make a motion to um co-op our loyal um esports with Greenwood East. >> Second motion and a second. All those in favor >> I motion carries.

065I will make the motion to go off all esports with loyalty. I'll second motion second to co-op esports with loyal in favor. >> I will figure out exactly what the parameters are and and Mr. later and I get that and then our wonderful ads. Um, we'll get that going right away. The other uh item is elementary basketball. um that's on the agenda because it is um coming up and if there there has been a little bit of discussion in the past and if there is interest in co-oping elementary basketball I know that it would take a little bit of time to get um coaching and programming and all that stuff figured out. So elementary basketball I believe typically starts in October, November. Um so we would need that time to plan. >> So what we

066are talking about in elementary basketball you are talking about fifth and sixth for sure and then fourth grade is included with them. Um I don't know how much tournament or games they play. Um, it's more of a practice and they may be pulled up for some and they may have some fourth grade tournaments, but it's more of a as is what I remember is more of a practice with the fifth and sixth graders. It's kind of an introduction for our fourth graders >> three tournaments. Fourth grade last year. So, it it's less than than than the fifth and sixth. Fifth and sixth. you let me know if I'm wrong here, anyone. Um, is they have a little Cloverwood league that they go around to area schools and they play and they also have tournaments with

067them. So, >> so last year I coached um our girls uh fourth and fifth grade team and we play every weekend in December and January uh except for the holiday weekends and um we traditionally have included fourth grade in that and then anything addition to that like I think we maybe had one or two other tournaments but that's kind of what we've had in the And this would be boys and girls. >> Eliza, this is Crystal. I was just saying that um for the fourth grade boys last year, we didn't have a lot of tournaments. So, um it sounds like the fourth and fifth grade girls had quite a bit, but we um as a fourth grade boys team last year had one team. Um and I believe there was 10 fourth graders alone. So

068maybe that's why we didn't combine up with the fifth grade boys last year is cuz there were so many, but I believe there were 10 fourth grade boys last year. Um, and then I guess a question I would have I'd like to see is um if our athletic directors have any sort of numbers um or what the projected numbers look like for these programs as well as um have any of the coaches for these elementary levels um including Liza been talked to about what this would look like and what their thoughts I guess the one thing I want to bring you kind of you kind of asked some of the questions. I did we had a process. I thought we talked about was the head coach was kind of well they're supposed to Okay. So

069I thought I thought we had a process basically where the head coach was supposed to be talked to first or whatever as they were overseeing the programs and then basically having a meeting with the parents kind of getting numbers um getting a like some type of survey or question to them asking them what they thought with the numbers whatever and then it was supposed to come back to the athletic committee and then brought back as a proposal whatever to the board and making that decision. I can say in passing I did talk to coach Rereath about the the girls elementary and he thought it would be fine. I believe he had a conversation with you Sean, right? So I think you can verify that conversation did take place. But again, in terms of the process,

070it probably didn't follow what we're hoping it would. Um but I did I did not speak to Mr. Denn about anything. uh boys basketball related, but I did confirm with Mr. Reed that he thought the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade girls would be fine co-oping. I did talk to coach Dismet. Um he thought, fourth, and fifth would be a good start. um he had said sixth grade numbers are quite high so he wasn't sure if it would be a good fit for sixth grade but definitely third fourth and fifth um from the boy side and um Matt like you had said I had talked to both coaches um coach and coach DMT about kind of where the program's at. I don't have those specific numbers, Crystal. Um, but they did say that there was a

071need um to really look at co-oping our youth numbers for basketball poisons. And I know we've talked about, hey, can we it it can we get things started earlier where they are in the elementary area and have that as a start? Uh, I know we've done a number of things in in middle school. Um so I I think our numbers both districts in in elementary um not require it but I think it is it it would be a good a good deal a good thing. Uh if we need to have more than one team you can have more than one team fourth grade or fifth grade or sixth grade. So I I think we get into battles where when we have on a Saturday or a weekend tournament uh where we end up pulling up

072fourth graders possibly cuz some fifth graders can't make it or whatever. So my two cents in in Greenwood we have roughly 19 girls in fourth through sixth grade that play basketball and I think that's high. Um, and in boys we have 17. And I in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, and I know that's high. Sixth grade, we have four boys listed, and I would guess it'd be more like two to three. So, I'm not sure if that would have a major impact on the number of sixth grade boys that are out in Loyal or not. I don't I don't know. But that that's the number. Um, I think that, you know, we we'll continue if we continue to have this conversation. It's going to be the same thing. It could be the same thing today

073as it will as it was 3 years ago or as it will be 5 years down the road. Um, you know, we can continue to have, you know, six or seven kids on a team here and there, uh, and continue to play and and and continue to pull kids up from fifth grade to play at the sixth grade level or fourth grade to play at the fifth grade level or third grade to play at the fifth grade level in some respects. Um or the boards can decide that we're going to try and maintain a sixth grade team or multiple sixth grade teams, a fifth grade team or multiple fifth grade teams, and a fourth grade team and or multiple fourth grade teams and allow kids to play at the level that they are um that

074they're ready for. Um I would just reiterate that that I don't think that the number like okay say sixth grade there's enough this year in one school but there's not maybe in the other school or vice versa like I think it'd be good to put them together now and if we have two teams you don't necessarily need to split the teams up between this is the loyal fifth grade team and this is the the Greenwood sixth grade team. You could have it where you intermingle the kids so they get to know each other just like they are in football just like they are in summer baseball and it kind of gets them used to each other and then you don't have to worry about am I going to have enough kids to play this weekend

075and is if somebody gets hurt then we're playing with five or we're playing with four. I I personally would like to make a motion to co-op the elementary girls and boys basketball. >> Greenwood doesn't have to do that though because you already have a motion to co-op everything. >> You made that motion. Um, I just wanted to say that um, as I'm currently on the athletic committee, first of all, I I agree with Eliza in um, these a lot and I'm just speaking from the boys because that's what I have. Um, but they are playing football together right now. They are playing baseball together right now. These and it is hard during basketball season when they're playing against Greenwood. Um, and you know, maybe it's a little bit of fun for them to kind of

076heckle each other back and forth, but yes, I would like to see them intermingled. But as a member of the athletic committee, what I would like to see, and the only reason I'm saying this, I would like to see numbers and I would like to talk to coaches as an like if the athletic committee can do that. Um, I just have a little bit of hesitation making a decision without enough information. Um, and also I I know last year the fourth grade team had 10 and if they all come back out fine. My my concern is um and I agree Eliza if we if we have a whole bunch of kids and we have a combined team we can split them. That happened last year with baseball and it worked out okay. But as as

077a loyal parent, all practices and all games were in Greenwood, which again is fine. It's only 7 minutes. But if we're going to truly co-op these teams, I would like to see like football, for example, one week practices in Loyal, one week practices in Greenwood. And and that's the way it is. And I would like to see that a little bit more um with some of the elementary sports as well if we decide to do that just because um again I was grateful that my son got to play baseball and we were we were um they were playing as a big large group. They ended up splitting the teams cuz there were so many kids which is a good problem to have but it was um loyal parents always transporting. So, I'd like to see

078that a little bit more split, but I think before I'm ready to make a vote, I really would like to have our athletic committee talk with with some of our coaches and just get a little bit more specific. So, it's kind of where I'm at. >> Yeah. And I would just say the summer rep went both ways because I have I'm I have a son that we transported to Loyal every week to practice on the black top back here for baseball. So it it they had that they had summer wrecks set up to play, you know, certain levels would play here depending on field certain levels would play there. Um but I I I hear you and I I agree like I think we need to share that, you know, share that transportation back and

079forth. But I just want to be clear that it happened with different levels, some going to um Loyal, some going to Greenwood. Um just depend on the level that that they were at. I would just add I I I do like competition, but I also like to see our kids, if they want to play sports, have the opportunity to play sports. And I I do feel if the numbers are too many, it's going to take away playing time for kids, kids will quit. Um but I I'm okay with it if the parents my my big thing is is just kind of like you said. Um talking to the coaches, having them come in front of us, tell us, yep, they're okay with this. And I agree, I think Mr. Reef had said that he thought

080those great levels. I haven't for sure heard from the parents yet and that's where I would like to see that survey and what the parents came back. That was a process we did before and I just think we should follow the process through so we stay consistent with it. So I I just want to say one thing too more kids or coaches. So just when you guys are talking and stuff like that just don't forget that part like you know they're rambunctious little things strength and numbers for coaches. So, >> so is there a is there a timeline? We've been big on timelines and plans and things like that. Is there a timeline for Loyal to be able to like Greenwood is you know Greenwood board has made that standing motion. Is there a timeline

081that, you know, works that, you know, we could expect to have at least some sort of answer or discussion or or or plan moving forward. Um, that also gives coaches and parents enough time to plan for a a season that's coming up in a month and a half. My suggestion would be that we put it on our agenda for September 24th and get the leg work done before that and get our vote done at that time because the clock is ticking. And if that's the way we want to go, then we have coaches that need to to know this and get things organized. Would the athletic committee be okay with that and putting it on our full board agenda on the 24th? >> We want to have committ >> three months. If we just meet

082half an hour so I think we can ask you about half an hour before the regular board meeting. I said if we could have a meeting like half an hour before, would that work? Possibly half an hour before our regular board meeting. Would that work? >> We need more time. >> You know, you're going to have closed before the board meeting. So, it would almost probably have to be before close. >> 5:30. >> Do we have coach coaches there? >> I think he can talk to them. I was just going to say like, yeah, do we want to have coaches there? I'd be okay doing it even sooner than like not same night as as the regular board meeting. It's It doesn't matter, but I'm just saying gives us a little bit more time to

083like talk with coaches, hear whatever information we need to hear, have time to process it before we go in and make a decision is all I'm asking for. And that's see We have two weeks from tonight is our board meeting. So I know early next week would love to get something. Can I send out an email tomorrow morning? I just request that the athletic director send out an email tomorrow morning to the athletic committee to schedule a meeting for next week and then we will have it on the full board agenda on the 24th as well. I just had one question on the the overall timeline. Um, can we just add which one are WIA driven dates? was those that they're the varsity sports but if we can just put WIA behind that or something

084so that we can differentiate because that's a different level of >> it it is it is I think if I remember right when I >> I I put the I put the the proposed decision made by a month prior to the WIA date so that we aren't having the discussion up against the board meeting where the decision has to be made. So I I put that proposed decision prior to that. But that is it's only for varsity sports. So I can put a an asterisk by those and that way you know that's what they are. We all good on athletic timeline. Agenda night item 8, November 2026, referendum question. This is on here for just initial discussion. Um, so the timeline that we've, you know, the tenative timeline that we've looked at for consolidation would

085be July 1 of 2028, which means that a resolution for that timeline would be passed in December of 2026. Uh 2026 is an election year. there there's a November election which would allow the joint board to decide whether or not to have a resolution a binding resolution on the November ballot. So I think the first step would be discussion of whether or not or agreement whether or not to have that to to make you know to make that known that we are going to have that that needs to be done if that's I mean both boards would need to agree to have a ballot question um and then if that is what the will of both boards is then the discussion could would or could start on you know what that ballot question would look

086But again, that ballot question is likely going to be revolve around the consolidation plan that would be developed from facility and financial studies. So that's I guess discussion about whether or not to vote. >> Yeah, I guess I'll start. I think when we put this agenda item together, um I I feel passionately that this should go to referendum in terms of a question. And I think if the RFP is done the way it can be done and we can we can know what a plan would be in place and we can take that plan to the public with plenty of time for them to make an educated decision on if they still support this decision. Um, as for coming up with a wording of the question tonight, that's not going to happen. But I do

087think we can easily come up with a yes, this is going to be on a ballot in 2026 or no, this isn't. And I would just assume get it out earlier than late and tell people, yes, we are in 2026 going to ask the public to decide on what we as boards have come up with. And just as a reminder so everyone knows the timeline, if there is a binding referendum question on the November 2026 ballot, then both boards are bound to adopt the resolution in December. Thus, there would not be the opportunity for community members to petition that vote. Okay? So, if if the if there is a vote on the November 2026 ballot, that vote is binding. Both districts would have to approve that ballot question in order for consolidation to be binding.

088If one district does and one district doesn't, it's not it's a it's dead in the water. Okay. >> If one district votes for the binding resolution and one district does not, it's dead in the water. Okay. If there is not a binding referendum vote done in November and the boards still agree to adopt a resolution in December, that opens the door for voters to petition that resolution. Thus putting a binding question that's the 10% of the electorate. thus putting that petition putting that vote on I believe the April um ballot and then then that would be binding. Does that make sense? Are there questions about that? I just want to make sure that we're all clear on that timeline. >> So I agree with Derek. Um I feel it does need to go to vote.

089Um the original question was just advisory non-binding. Um, I feel like once we have a plan and kind of know how things are going to play out for um, facilities, etc., um, the public needs to be able to vote on set plan. >> I also want to reiterate like that like that 18month timeline from December of 26 to July 1st of 2028. Yes, there will be a consolidation plan, but that is designed that's why there's three different there's three different different options for a consolidation plan. It's 12 month, 14 or 18 month that allows districts the amount of time that they need to develop the details of making the plan come together. So, you know, I I yes, there will be a consolidation plan and it and it can be as specific or not not

090specific as we decide, but it's that 18 months where the work gets done by both districts to make sure that we're prepared to open our doors, whichever doors we're opening on July 1st of 2028. Does the Greenland board have any thoughts on whether or not they want this on a binding referendum in November? >> Yeah, I I think Mr. White over there hit it right on the head, right? We're all in agreement on that. Or maybe not all. I don't want to speak for everybody, but we're going to do our jobs and present the information to the public, right? This what that's the job, you know, present it, do our job, make sure we're doing it the best we possibly can, listen to the ad hoc committees, do all that good stuff. put it on

091the ballot and it's up to the public at that point, right? You know, it kind of takes out that that all right, we're going to do it and then if you have 10% you come back, you know, here it is. It's on the ballot. You guys decide if you want to move forward with this and I think both boards are going to work hard to get that done. I mean, as you can tell, we're already talking about this. So, I'm I'm fully on board with with you folks, Mr. W there said. So, Um, I also think that putting it on a ballot again is probably not a bad idea. Um, I think the challenge for us is going to be what that question is when it comes down to it. be the hard decision, but

092right now we need to get on the same page and listen to our voter. So, if either board wants to make a motion to put it on a to all all you I I would assume all you would be doing tonight is um making it clear that there will be a November 2026 ballot question which is binding asking voters whether or not the consolidation plan is a go or not. I'll make a motion for binding resolution for the co-oping of the two schools for a binding vote on November 26th. >> Motion made by Kurt. Second. >> Second by Davey. All those in favor? >> Oppos? Motion carries. >> I will make a motion to have a binding resolution on the November 2026 ballot. Second motion convened for a binding resolution of February. All in favor?

093>> I oppose. Now we've reached the public forum part of our agenda. If anybody has any questions, comments, clarifications, please come forward and just use the mic. Please come forward now. I would just like to let everyone know that if anyone has any questions or feels that he personally am hiding anything from anyone, my phone number is on the website and if not, contact the school and they will give it to you. If you have any questions, anyone at home, feel free to contact me anytime because there is nothing to hide. Yeah. Let's take a look at what do we have for October? >> Yeah. October 8th. October 8. >> Bring her with. I've done that before. She loves it. >> Everybody will be able to celebrate it with the two of you. The only

094thing we have elementary parent teacher conferences on the 15th. Um are they set for that Mrs. Ear? >> Yes. >> Yeah. So that would be a >> how does it go? >> But it is done by they're done by we could make them done by 7:30 and it's in Greenwood unless they want a tour. >> I think we can do the 15th. because they are well and and again there's going to we're never going to find a perfect solution for everybody and they are live streamed and they are recorded so everybody has access to find time to participate. So if the 15 works really >> lock it in. >> Are we touring? >> We are touring. Yes. >> Um so we Yes. Um, my plan right now is hopefully have a bus and we will

095start at the high school and we'll take a bus ride over to the elementary and show you both buildings and um there's a couple drivers at the table up here. So maybe I'll drive to there and Mr. Leonard can drive back. Um, but yes, my plan is to show all of our facilities. topics for the next meeting. >> We'll follow the same format. Um 6:30 tour 7:30 meeting. Um the tour, everything will start at door one, sorry, door three, the cafety because we we'll have a bus ride in the middle for anyone that wants to see the honestly I'd like to show the um elementary school and the outdoor classroom which is right next door. It's a nice facility to for everyone to know that we have We might have >> Should we go at

096six for that? >> No, we better we better go. Let's go. 6 for the tour. 6 for the tour, 7:30 for the regular joint board meeting. Does that work? If you get bus sick, you're welcome to drive, but we have a new new black top on Main Street, so it should be smooth topics. Um, one of the topics that were on there are weighted grades. So, that can be a discussion um between the joint board. I know that our our principles are have been have met and and we'll continue to meet to talk about that as well as other things and we can have some discussion at the October uh joint meeting as far as the desire of the joint board to look further at weighted grades. >> Um regarding topics just like one thing

097I guess I would like to add. I know from my position on city a lot of times we put in the city we collect there you go we put uh new and old you know discussion you know new topics or old topics yeah new business old business I mean sometimes there's something we discussed in the last one something might come up after that you'd like to bring it back up again or also sometimes we start on the agenda so we can't discuss this but if there's something new that came up to prepare us for the next meeting was wondering if that might be something you might want to add on one things. >> Yeah, I want to check the legality of that before I add that. Um, just because I think that we're supposed to

098be as specific as possible in posting meeting agenda items, but I have no problem with that, but I want to check and make sure the legality of that for us. Yeah. >> So, I just want to say that I'm kind of disappointed that we did not discuss weighted grades tonight. Um, Loyal's last schoolboard meeting was three weeks ago and it was tabled to be brought to the next joint meeting which would have been tonight. So, just throwing it out there that um I'm kind of disappointed that it was not discussed tonight and is now going to be delayed another month when loyal um it has been brought up. It was April of 24. Throwing that out there that I really hope we can um >> Yeah, Mr. Leonard shared that with with me, but our

099board hasn't had that wasn't on our agenda and we haven't had an opportunity to discuss that. So, to be fair, both boards like we need to have a discussion in in Greenwood as well. So to follow the same timeline, if timeline, if Loyal's going to discuss something at their regular board meeting, then Greenwood needs afforded that same latitude to be able to discuss it at ours and then bring it back to a a joint meeting, which I think is more than appropriate. And and our principles are also having conversation about that. So there. >> Yeah. >> Any other topics? >> When did you plan on starting the adopt committees for the business and the other ones? I >> think it'll depend somewhat depend on when we have the rest of the committee formed. >> What

100committee are you referring to? >> Oh, the rest of the committees. I I again I think as I said earlier I think we should get be focused on getting this one up and running and and moving um so that we do it do it well and and that's again that's the most um timesensitive to the rest of our work. What other things do we need for the December of the 26 besides the branding that we would need a committee for? What else would we need a committee for? Well, I think need is I think that's up for interpretation on what we need a committee for. um what we have to work towards for December of 2026 is having a consolidation plan. So, you know, we're going to we have a facility study RFP that's going

101out. Um we have, you know, we have bar financials that will be updated uh when we have all the the financial information after our annual meetings this year. That'll get updated this fall. So, we'll have more information there. So that's it's the consolidation plan is what's needed for December of 2026. So I don't know if other committees are needed for that or not. So on our joint meeting in November, we should have all our financials finalized for this school year. >> Yeah, they have to be you have to uh certify your levy in November. So >> So that would go on the November joint meeting. I would assume that we'd be able to talk about that at a November joint meeting. I don't know if Baird I can't speak for Baird on whether or not

102they'll have our um financial studies updated by then. Uh I I think I know I I think Mr. Linder also overregistered to meet with Baird in December because that's when they're in Oaklair. Um otherwise we'd have to travel to other parts of the state to meet with them to talk about to you know talk about our uh forecast models. Um, but we may be able to, you know, when they get those forecast models done, they they usually email us and Alisa has been wonderful. You know, setting time aside if we need to meet ahead of that. I think December 15th is when we're scheduled to go to Oaklair to talk, you know, to talk through that and make sure that we have everything accurate, but I think we could probably meet before that if everything

103is ready on their end. >> Okay. I was just wondering for a timeline. You were just whispering down here a little bit, but I think maybe one thing that we could put on the agenda is talking about what our expectations of these had on it ad hoc committees are what we're expecting these people to come up with because we want them to report back to us, but what are they going to report if they don't know what they're doing, you know, so maybe give them a little bit of guidance is what we were talking. I know I would like expectations from the board from both boards on what the ad hoc committees are so that it's not Mr. L or not even perceived that Mr. Ler and I are running those um by anyone like

104I want clear expectations about about that. Can that be on the agenda? >> Yeah, add that to the agenda. And we've talked briefly about wanting to find out what businesses are thinking. Can we just put business forum on the agenda and work towards something um as far as organizing a gathering of businesses? We don't have to necessarily have that. I mean, I guess what I'm just wanting to make sure that we put it on the agenda so that we talk about whether we can have that yet this fall or or you know, how soon we can have it. >> Yeah, I think we can have a discussion on it, Tom. I'm not sure exactly what the outcome of that would be at a meeting. I don't know if if if you're looking for business partners

105to come and speak at open for and they can do that now. They would, you know, if you want to invite them to to share what their business expectations are for our districts. I I guess I was I it was more on the timetable of when we thought we could h have a gathering. um not so much that we had it before or that we you know just kind of what the if if we want to have something in end of October and November, December when you know when it would work out for the businesses to gather and I guess maybe it'd be just to reach out to find out if there was some interest there. Do do you think that the outcome of business partnerships is mostly about what our businesses want the focus

106of our districts to be on as far as outcomes of students when they graduate? Is that is that what you're or are you looking more at business partnerships financially with our district? Like what their expectations are for that? >> I'm looking at both. both >> because I think they're two different in my my mind they're two different things. I think our our principles probably would be better versed to lead some conversation with our business business partners about what outcomes our businesses are looking for in students or what they're lacking or what our focus should be on in you know curricular wise at you know in in the high school these days. Um, I think that'd be more maybe more pertinent for them to know that as they look at course recommendations and course offerings and

107things like that. Um, they might might be two different things. Okay. So what I was alluding to and that was with with the other schools looking at at uh developing some other programs in the especially in the teched area trades area is having roundt discussions amongst businesses for a half a day and finding out is there some things that we're missing um or are we you know doing a good job or are there other uh um job shadowing or apprenticeship programs or things um that we could be doing just to give more experience. That's what I was kind of alluding to. It's more of just having discussion. So, I'm not sure, you know, if that's what we want to do, but I guess that's what I was where I was going with that. Would you

108be willing to come I mean if we put something like that on the agenda would you be willing to come with I don't want to say a proposal but for lack of better terms like what that could like what that could look like for a roundt event. I mean, I I just like I I think I think both districts I think both our principles in both districts do a pretty darn good job of tapping our businesses and and le leveraging the youth apprenticeship programs and things like that and getting our kids out into are there more opportunities? Probably. Um but I I think we you know we have a good number in in both communities that are are participating in that. Um, so I I just want to make sure I guess I I don't

109if you have something in your mind I would I think we'd all be we'd all benefit from what that would look like and what kind of outcome from that meeting we would see. >> I'd have some interest in sitting with you and and formulating something. All righty. um maybe maybe not so much with expectations but that is definitely something there but maybe like we talked or like I said earlier where you have school to work youth apprenticeships um maybe uh not such a big version like Luxembourg as something you know but at least get the idea moving in people's heads of or planting the seed of hey this is what we could be looking Yeah, >> that'd be fine. I welcome any other anyone else. I just want to make sure we'll keep um you

110know, if there's any updates to the RFP process um that would be on the agenda. Um if there's any updates to the November 2026 referendum question that was approved to do um to have that would be on the agenda. If there's any athletic timeline updates that would be on the agenda as well. And it sounds like that will well it doesn't I mean like elementary basketball does not need to be on the joint agenda if Loyal takes care of it prior to that because it's Yeah. But if if there's other things, um, and again, I would encourage you like you leave the meeting just like it happened this time. If there's something that you think of that we need to discuss, um, email one of your board, email your board president or Mr. Linder or

111myself and we can talk about getting it on the agenda. >> Anything else? Otherwise, I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. I'll make that motion. >> Got a motion, a second. All those in favor? >> Thank you everybody for coming. Gold pack gold. I'm taking notes. Got it.