001Allegiance. 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. Okay. Um, public comments. and nobody signed up. So, we'll move on to the consent agenda items. Um, I'd like to do all the minutes in one vote if we can. If anybody has a problem, I'd do 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4. I'd entertain a motion to approve those unless there's any changes, corrections, additions. I move that we approve those four minutes as noted. Second. So, we have a motion and a second to approve the minutes of the February regular board meeting, the February recruit retain committee meeting, the March 4th uh special board meeting, and the March 5th policy committee meeting. Is there any
002additions, corrections, or discussion? So all in favor say I. I. I. Oppose say no. Motion carries. Financial reports. Holly. Okay. Um as of 22825 our general fund has $654,8130. The capital projects um fund has [Music] $110,934.98 and our employee retirement fund has $637 63,7641 and if there isn't any questions about it I move to approve its Second. So, we have a motion and a second to approve the financial reports. Does anybody have any additions, corrections, or discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose say no. Motion carries. Um, new business. announce the valadictorian and the saludiator. All right. Uh I would like to congratulate our 2425 valadictorian, Riker Littlefield. Congratulations, Riker. Excellent job. Excellent. Can I ask? Yep, absolutely. Where are you going to school? I'm starting off with NTC, but eventually I'll go
003to WC at this point. Congratulations. Okay. And our 2024 25 saludiatoran is Rogan Ashb. Congratulations. Hold on. Where are you going to school? Uh W lacrosse. What are you going for? exercises for science. Right. What are you moving on to? Well, congratulations to you both. Excellent job. Yep. Be very proud. [Music] Okay. Uh 5.2 first reading of the Neola policies. the categories 5,000 6,000 8,000 and act 20 policy. So this will be the first reading of these. Um we will do a this this concludes our policies um with no nei which we do have a we just in the last week we've had a came upon a couple things that uh we may end up adding and we can add them in May or or whatever. But what it will do is um you can
004go on, you can see what's crossed out and what is is good. They will take these um and then what they're going to do is they'll clean them up and make them into ours. that with all the cross out stuff off and then in May we are looking at I believe May that we are looking at do a second reading in April and then over approval and then we got a resolution to pass the entire thing and then May they'll do the cleanup and the whole hopefully for starts next fall y our hope is June all righty so it's a big project that is the process um I would like to thank I know I've been talking here but the policy committee um because Dave and I that was a lot of lot a lot
005of hours. Yes. So you're talking about uh four times that 3 hours plus a crack that we were working on it. So I do believe the last one was five hours four and a half hours. So um a lot of work. Uh can't thank you enough. Thank our administration our principles. They were in and out helping us out with it. So, um, it'll be really great when we get this all done and on on our website. And maybe just mention that the big advantage I see with and being on the school board as long as I have. Um, in the past it's always been we we've looked at policies which ones we think we should be updating. um by Neiola coming in and actually going through all of our policies. Now, now they're all up
006to date and and because they work with I believe it's close to 70% of the schools in the state with policy development that then if there's things that come down the pike that we need to update our policies, they will will inform us and um it'll be easy to get those updated. Um, and I think the biggest advantage by by going through this, not only having them updated, but now instead of having that big binder with all the policies in, having it online so that everyone can see the policies and also having a record of what policies got changed so that if we ever for any reason needed to go back to previous policy, it's also stored there. So there's that. I think that's going to be a big advantage of everyone knowing the policies.
007And I think Tom, you hit the nail on the head where it is. When we went through them, it's hard as a superintendent to grab. You usually don't update them until when you need it that comes up, that policy is, well, that hasn't been changed in a while. And then you go through the process and it's um just ever going because the book is about that that thick that we're dealing with. So I sorry how many how many policies are in there? Do you know in the new one or the old one? I think it was over 400. 400 and and these would all be open to the public anytime. They can go on our website look up any policy that we have. All the other ones are open to but right access to the
008book right you had to have access to the book. Now everybody can do it right from your computer. That's the advantage. Um, and you talked about 70% of schools and I would say the districts around here, um, Greenwood, Nailsville just is in the same boat we are, Spencer, uh, you name it. Uh, a lot of local area ones that and we kind of even used some of their policies of of, uh, to kind of match and I know we kind of worked a lot with Greenwood's policies and making sure that they were similar. um uh in case what happens down the down the road. But uh we have kids of Greenwood in here and we have kids over at Greenwood. So just so policies match for the most part. So very good experience. The only
009thing go ahead. The only thing I'd like to add is I think we're being proactive with these policies instead of being reactive. Okay, everyone hear what he said? All right. Being proactive with them instead of reactive. Okay. Okay. So, we still need to approve the first reading. I move to approve. Second. I'll second. So, we have a motion in a second to approve the first reading of Inola policies. Uh the categories 5,000, 6,000, 8,000, and act 20 policy. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. Oppos say no. Motion carries. Um, now we need to approve the Neola policy updates volume 33 number two and number 34 and number one. What is that, Chris? looking for it right now. Here's that 20. Isn't this just the new state updates? Yeah, I think
010those are the updates that were made to those several different ones in their business in their board. Yeah, I had you updated. I can't get into into the board docs. Is it in board docs? I'm in board. Okay. I think I think is right. It's just the updates that we're throughout the year, right? I believe there's one on retention um all off of um um the reading third grade reading um the X20 reading, please. Yeah. I think that's an extension of it is one of them. My apologies. I don't have it. So, why don't we do not not approve this right now until we get it on board docs. Motion to table. Second. We have a motion and a second to table uh the Nola policy updates. All those in favor say I. Oppose say
011no. Motion carries. My apologies. No, that's okay. Um, discuss some possible action on the community eligibility provision program. Okay. So, we've kind of been all over the board with this. Um, we talked about 70,000. We we ballpark last time way off uh at about 180. So, we finally got a hold of DPI uh and made the figure um and it would be it would cost our district um about $120,000 per year. Um so with that, uh I have contacted a couple schools that were or are currently using the C uh free lunch program. Um, Senator Lincoln, uh, is one that was in it. Uh, and they saw that it cost them quite a bit of money. And what they have used was they used they used I do believe they were on it last year
012and they used fund 50, the food service, their account to pay off whatever they had. He didn't give me amount, but they opted to get out of it for this year. Um, Hillsboro School District is in it right now. Um, and it it's costing them $90,000 and they said um their board said they they were going to go with it. Once again, they're using their fund 50. um they had a large amount in it that will obviously dwindle it but they covered it through fun 150. Um we would we do not have that kind of money in our fund 50. Um and the Elma Center or the Hillsboro district said uh that they will not be doing this again. So, can you just explain for a second how we went from 70 to 120 with
013our numbers that we had for kids? Um, and I think initially we put the reduction in there because they get a little bit so like our if you don't have free lunch, you don't get our direct ser. Let's say I'm just going to pay, you do get a little bit of uh kickback for that. Um and then we also didn't put in right away um salaries of our our food service and fringe and all that. That's where that those numbers started because it is a self-sufficient uh fund. Yes. All through and through and that's where numbers jumped around. Um so after talking with DPI um this is where we are at. So we should make a motion one way or the other to either opt in or opt out of this program so that there's
014no question. So somebody wants to make a motion. Oh second. Okay. We have a motion and a second to opt out of the C program. Is there any more discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose say no. Motion carries. Okay. We'll update the social media report card. Okay. Um, everyone saw where our social media is. Um, real quickly, our Facebook page has grown 100 since the last. Average monthly reach is 42,000, just under 43,000 people. Okay, that's our Facebook page. Uh, Instagram is total followers is 8.88. Uh, growth of 17, average monthly reach is just under 700. Um and then you can see a graph a bar graph that where the busiest is throughout the year which month. Um just it's I can't say enough about it. Um I think Kayla Pitell and
015um Stephanie Sins is our is our go-to gal, our our rep. Um they do a great job with it. Uh that's all I hear is positives about it and I really do believe it tells our story and and every time we get a a report card um which is quarterly uh it is increasing. So I think it's a very very [Music] good thing that we have a lot of great comments all the time on it. One of the interesting things I see is for the size of our school versus some of the larger schools above us because they show it show it by size of school um enrollment and um you know we have more followers or more um reach than than what some of the bigger schools have. So that's so out of 55
016districts that um they represent uh off of Facebook um I would say let's talk smaller schools in the top I would say we would be in the top I'm ballparking it here um 15 out of 55. All right so that is that's dealing with Chipo Falls that's dealing with a number of big schools around. So maybe 15 to 20 but very good. Excellent on that department. Good. Yes. Okay. Uh discussing possible action on the CISA contract. Okay. And this should be the cease contract for 2526 or correct? Yeah, it's wrong in here. So it should be 25 to 26 correctly paper. It's right on the so no change. Um so real quickly uh talking about um we talked a little bit about some different positions in closed and uh we have some savings that I'm
017proposing in um special ed. Uh and I would say um I am on the process of eliminating that LS1B uh that school improvement service for $15,000. I the one question I have so we have probably talking about 45,000 48,000 in between those two. Um I I do have a I would like to I am working on with the college and career readiness youth apprenticeship program. Um we have the district was with NTC for a number of years. Um last year we did switch to CISA um to try it a year. Uh I am in the process of figuring out the efficiency and what which one gives us a little bigger bang for our buck um for our students. So I will have that situated but this will be due next week. So if I could
018if you could give me permission to take care of that aspect of it and let you know and approve me to do that and I'll let you know as soon as I have that figured out question. Yes. The the LS1B strategic school improvement program services. Last year it was allocated 105. Yep. What have they done since we approved this last year to use? So, they have come in and helped with um instructional strategies, sitting with some teachers, newer teachers that we have um working with them, working with our administration on making sure that everything is moving smoothly with those teachers and helping them out. But now on this year, you're proposing to take that 105 and make it zero. Yes. And that's because, you know, we feel comfortable with the administration. So if you know
019we have two new principles, we have a new guidance counselor, we have a new you know um special ed director this year. I felt with all the newness I think a little extra help would have been great and I think it has served us well I I I think we can do without we talk about constantly how can we be fiscally fiscally manageable. I think this is one area that we can we can go without for this next year. Now just just for my knowledge, do we cut them a check for the total up front? Are they they'll build us hourwardly throughout the year? Quarterly. Quarterly. Yep. Okay. So they will get so like that they had so many days 15 or 20 I I don't remember but you have so many days that you
020get to use. Can you purchase more? Yes sir. Okay. can always purchase more. So, and like I said, um you know, we talk about services. This is one of the services that um we talk with Loyal and Greenwood. We share some of this with Owen and Granton that maybe not be on here, but it's a service that we would we try to do it separate from CISA because because of the cost savings. So, this is something that we talked about at the public forum on Sunday. This is a service here that would be maybe a little more streamlined or a lot more streamlined in a a two district or even a area district that or districts that would work together. So, okay. Can you just uh the SE5A went up 27 grand that was early
021childhood. Can you just speak to that a little bit? Yes. So, this is this is our 4K program. Um, and it depends on the number of students. This is goes across of a number of I do believe there's two to three people that come in and are are in this acting role as special ed for our 4K. Our 4K program is is separate from our K12 program. So you'll see speech and language there. Um that is combined with that that is um combined with that is just 4K or K12. Um so if you don't see it anywhere else then then they don't have any speech and language in 4K but that is where this I think speech and language everything is lumped into that in 4K already whether it's some OT whether it's a lot
022of that stuff. Okay. Any other questions? Sure. One more. Yep. So, when you go back to them, because you had mentioned you're going to propose some different numbers to them. Yep. Can they say no? No, they can't. So, you they what they'll do is they'll strongly encourage you to keep the number you have, keep the service, but you're going to change them. I'm going to change that one and then maybe this other one. This this college readiness. So, all right. So, we have until I believe next week. I told them I would like to through next week to have it done. So, I go over there. I believe I go over there next week and I would hand it in at that time. So, if there's a new update, she will give me the print
023out of that. I will send it to you. You can look at it and Well, we'll still approve it tonight. Yes. Okay. give me the authority but I will give it to you before I hand it sign it hand it motion to approve the seat of contract with the changes proposed second so we have a motion and a second to approve the CISA contract for the 2526 year with the changes for mentioned is there any more discussion All those in favor say I. I. I. Post say no. Motion carries. Okay. We need to discuss some possible action on the employee handbook. Okay. I have three I had three three items that I would like to talk about with the employee handic handbook tonight. Um first of all I will talk about uh salary increase. Um
024we have talked we the recruit retain committee met um a while ago uh and I know the board has talked about this before um a 2% increase to salary for each a 2% of every cell um and then add another step to the matrix to the right for the 2526 school year. So your ears go right. You want to keep it moving this way. So your ears go down. Yeah. Yes. Right. It moves across. All right. Goes down. We're adding to the bottom. Thank you. No problem. So that is one area. Do you want to do this separately or do you want to do it all together? Let's do it all as one. All righty. Okay. Uh second thing, uh PTO sick time. Okay. Currently, uh in recruit retain, this is where we're at right
025now. Um we offer 5 days personal takeoff uh PTO. Um 7 days sick time uh and a benefit that the five days of PTO if not used during the school year will be paid out $200 a day uh or per day. It could be up to $1,000. Um this is uh I'll just finish up. One thing that has been uh what a concern was is that they had sick time and we talked last year that they had to use all 12 before they could go into their sick bank. at the recruit and retain committee. Um they would like to see where employees can use sick bank um in the need of an emergency, a surgery, paternity leave, maternity leave, um an extended sickness of 3 days with a doctor's note. Um those are those would
026be emergency type where they could dip into their and they wouldn't have to pull all their sick time or get into their job. Um that is uh a benefit. uh and we recruit retain uh I believe was talked that we would like to have the employees to make sure they notify the office five business days prior to taking a PTO day um and if there is already I believe it's 10% that are already taking it then it's first come first serve so okay so that is PTO and sick questions on that. Okay. All right. Uh currently we have uh we have a higher retirement health insurance benefit. Okay. So, um employees that are here 15 years or longer, um 55 years or or older, um get get a benefit of $600 towards a month towards
027a insurance plan. Uh towards our insurance, our insurance plan. Yes. Uh if they so choose not to use that, they could get a $300 in cash. Uh this has been I don't know 20 years 19 longer than that. It's been like this for that long. All right. So recruit and retain is asked can there be something done with this? All right. Just because it used to cover a single plan now it covers maybe half of a single plan. um how can we stay up with the times with this uh at the recruit retain committee um currently our employees the district pays 87 and a half% of a single plan of a plan all right um at the recruit and retain committee was mentioned um that can we just use that percentage to the retirement plan
028if it retirement plan goes increases es than that stays with that 87.5 or.5% stays with that. If it decreases it, that's what you're going to get. All right. Uh single plan is roughly $1,200. Okay? So 87.5% of that plan would be approximately $1,022 a month is what you're looking at. So um if you do not take the insurance to go through into a plan per month then you would get a you could choose the cash in l which would be half of that 43.3/4% which would be approximately $475 a month. So um in talking with um and retain and and and teachers that we've talked and even this has happened this has been a big discussion at our task force meetings that these are benefits major benefits that um that other districts don't quite offer.
029All righty. They might have something like this as insurance but it isn't it's not like this. All right. This is kind of a a good plan um at the task force real quickly some advant advantages of our benefit um in recruitment uh we tell them hey you're here 15 years this is this is a a very good benefit just like um the PTO sick time and the paid out that is something that we had I believe two maybe three uh staff members that were looking at it were looking at hiring last year and that was kind of a a big factor for them. Um, also when you're at your highest end, um, so if you have people here at 15 years, it encourages them at their 10 or 11, encourages them to stay to get
030that 15 years and and be part of this. um at your highest end, your re your your your teachers that or staff members that are close to retirement, 55, 56, this gives them a little bit incentive to retire. Um and then you bring in someone new and that's there's a price savings there because of higher salary compared to a newer person. Uh and like I said, the recruitment is is is a good I think all three of these are very good benefits. Uh at our task force meetings, um the two we had recruit and retain uh the the retainment of staff and teachers. was number one number one thing that we that those 58 people thought that and two to one they they thought we that is what we need to concentrate on. So, with
031our salaries being maybe just a little bit below average, here are some key benefit benefits that I believe uh kind of lends to getting some new staffing and keeping some of our our our veterans here. So, um on average, how many people are on are between that 55 and 65 actually using this uh right now? next year. So, we have a retiree one will be on it. I do believe we'll have two or three on it. Next year, we'll have three on two, I believe, right now. So, and there is a pile of money sitting in there. There is money in there right now. It's not, right? So, that's oped. We've we've been putting money into it. You have to put in a certain amount every year. I guess I know that. I just public
032would like to know that this is a just us pulling from funds. So there is there is an amount that goes in. Now with our amount being where it's at, uh the amount goes down a little bit every year. So um what we have to put in just because you only have a handful of people utilizing it. Now could this increase down the road here a little bit the next 3, four, five years? You we have some people that are on that age bracket of retiring. So and that have been here 20 plus years. So, but I I I think it's a good a good thing for a good benefit for our our staff and those on recruit retain. That's that's what you guys all came up with. Teachers included. Yes. Okay. So, we need
033a motion. I'll make that motion. I'll second that. So, we have a motion and a second to approve those three changes to the employee handbook. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose say no. And one and I'm obaining. you're going to abstain. Okay. Um motion passes. Just for clarification, we have a two on right now. Next year we will have three. Okay. Okay. Thank you guys. Congratulations. Yes. Um we need to approve the spring coaches. Okay. So, we have already done a number of spring coaches. Um here's a couple add-ons. So track um we have Morgan Malm uh as a part-time he'll be coaching jumps and hurdles. Margaret Rice part-time poval softball we have we already approved Shannon Funston as our JV coach. She is being moved to middle
034school softball coach. And what we need to do is approve Aspen Hagen to fill the that JB spot. Motion to approve spring coaches as presented. I'll second. We have a motion and a second to approve the spring coaches as presented. Is there any further discussion? Just a quick shout out. We are looking for a JV baseball. I was just going to say that right when you're done. All those in favor say I. Oppose say no. Motion carries. So if you didn't hear, we are in need of a JB baseball coach. So baseball did have their parent meeting tonight. Uh so I know coach was going to try to beg a couple parents to go to class. So, we'll see if uh we have any takers, see if it works. Okay. Uh discussing possible action on
035a concussion protocol, Sway. Okay. I'll give you a little background. Uh Mr. Stbower, when I stumble, please help me. All righty. Um so, SUV program is a baseline test uh that we have our athletes take. So, if they do have they do get a concussion, um the physician has a baseline test, it doesn't pull them out of the um drill or the game. That is the trainer's deal. They'll decide that. But where it will come into effect is that um um return a compoundation. How how do they get how do what is the procedure coming back through? All right. Uh, so, uh, our trainer, I sent you some stuff. Our trainer does have some background or very good background. She determines that. Um, in talking to Mr. Stbower, this is something that we've done for
036the last couple years. Uh, before this was impact testing. Uh, and my understanding was, and I think I messed up where I thought it was impact because impact was like $2,500 and I thought that was that much. And in reality, it's $500 for what, 150 athletes. Yes. So, um, and I had Mr. to say Bower and talk to Sophie the trainer and just if you want to take it for the next whatever explain what your thoughts are. Yeah. So, so Sway is a very nice and it gives us some really good data that measures like balance, coordination, reaction time. So, it is you know very accurate data that is a baseline. So if the student were to sustain a concussion, then we can measure, you know, compare things to their baseline just to make sure
037that they're actually ready, you know, to start returning to the return to play guidelines, practices and competitions and so on. Um, I really like this system. Um, for those of you that remember impact, it was like how fast could you click a button? So this measures a lot more than just reaction time. Um, so I am a big fan of sway testing because I feel like if a student athlete were to receive a concussion, it makes sure that they're ready to come back for sure by using um some of this data that otherwise we wouldn't have. So do they do this before every sport? So usually it's for contact sports. Um, so any sport that there's contact in um and then some schools do it every year. Um, what we've been doing is all of
038our like new athletes to a sport will do it. Like if we have a sophomore or a senior come out, they'll test if they've never played the sport before. Um, but usually we do all freshman that are coming in and then all juniors and then like let's say maybe a student athlete gets a concussion sophomore year, then we would look at their baseline from their freshman year and compare those. So a lot of schools that's how they they use this program. So, this isn't done at the middle school level at all. So, we did do it for middle school football this year. Do you hear them? Yes. All right. Yes. And we have enough tests that we we could do it um with all of our middle school, you know, high contact sports. But this
039year, we did football, which is pretty standard compared to some of the other schools I talked to as well. Um they just do, you know, because the contact in football is a lot higher and concussion risk is a little higher as well. So that's why they usually do middle school but not like middle school basketball or anything else. Okay. So in and concussions every every person's a little different affects them a little differently. Some come back couple days, some are out for a month. So, um, it's a I think it's a good baseline of where we're at, where they're at. So, can we have a motion one way or the other? Motion to continue using the swayed concussion protocol. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve the concussion protocol sway. Is there
040any more discussion? I just have a quick question. Did you say the implant program was real expensive? It was probably Yeah. 2500 15 to 2,000 was it? But so when we did that, that was all through Marshall Sports Medicine, I believe. All right. Do you remember that company name? So, so they provided our our trainers and they're the ones that encouraged it and they would take care of it. But when they took all our trainers away um with their athletic program, sports medicine program, then that all went away. Um so we have done it for the last couple years. Um I know Mr. Bell did it last year with with the sway, not the impact with our athletes, but the high impact. All right. or contact. So it is something that we've done for the
041last couple years. So I guess that would just feed with the data it would continue. So okay. Is there any more discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose say no. Motion carries. Um discuss the consolidation question on the April 1st ballot. So all alls I got is so on the April 1st ballot the advisory question of do you support the consolidation of the school district of Loyal and the school district of Greenwood. Um and just putting out there there's been two public forum sessions. Um I thought with good discussion at both um there's information on both websites FAQ and a fact sheet. Uh the TRG is running I believe taken has taken the FAQ and has put it in the paper. Um I believe there's an interview between Mr. Green and myself in
042the paper this week. Um any information that they need from now until uh until Tuesday um I'm available. Um they can call me, they can stop in, they can email me. Um, so I guess my thing would be is just get out and vote. Please vote on April 1st. Okay. Um, the last thing on here is accept the resignation. Okay. Um, so I'll read it here. um to whom it may concern, please accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning from my position as middle um middle school social studies teacher at Loyal effective at the end of the 2425 school year. It's not an easy decision. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Loyal. These past two years, witnessing the growth and development of my students has been incredibly rewarding. Their curiosity, enthusiasm,
043and eagerness to learn have made coming to work a daily pleasure. I will truly miss interacting with them in the classroom. My students have made the these past two years an unforgettable experience and I will cherish the memories made. I wish each and every one of my students the very best in their future endeavors. I'm confident that they will continue to achieve great things. Since I met them last year, I have been enormous. I have seen enormous growth in their work ethic, attitudes, and numerous other skills. I am committed to ensuring a smooth trans transition for the middle school social studies position. I'm happy to assist in any possible way to minimize disruption during this time. Please let me know how I can best support my replacement. Thank you for the opportunity to teach at
044Loyal Middle School. I've appreciated the support and resources provided by my fellow teachers and staff. Special shout out goes to Jen, Mark, and Jaden for their continued support for these last two years, as well as helping me develop as a new teacher. Sincerely, Sashim. So, very sad to see him uh get a possible different job, get a different job over in the eastern part of the state, Apple area. So, But we wish him good luck. He's been a very good teacher for us. Uh very involved. So he will be missed. Good luck to him. I move to accept the resation of Seth. Second. I have a motion and a second to accept the resignation of Seth Schilling. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Oppose say no. Motion carries.
045Okay. Uh principal's report. Yeah. We started out the month of March with something called inclusive week, which was a big promotion to celebrate diversity in the school and to promote inclusion in our classrooms. So that was spent across the entire district uh with our focus from the special ed department. So that was kind of a new um trend this year. Um currently FCCLA has a shoe drive that's going through the month of April. Um so if anybody has some nice used shoes, uh please donate them to FCCLA. March 10th, we had our teacher in service. We had a guest speaker Mike Evans from HRS come in um and he highlighted the focus of PLC and what his purpose was. And I really felt that it kind of reiterated the purpose and helped some of us
046gain um a charge to what our what our goal is and to focus on what we as teachers can control and to focus that it's all about students learning. So, I thought it was a really nice way to start the morning. Um, and then Mike ended up meeting with the guiding coalition group and to work on some mini studies um to work with our fellow teachers uh in the up Yep. and our model of instruction. And the model of instruction um with our teachers in the next few months. So, that'll be kind of a work in progress. Um educator of the year has been posted. I'm sure you have seen it out on Facebook and posters around. But this year, new since the last approval. Um, you can nominate, teachers can nominate, students can nominate,
047parents can nominate. Um, elementary teacher, a middle school, high school teacher, and a support staff. So, we have votes coming in. Um, and after April 15th, I will be meeting with a select group of elementary students to pick the elementary um, pray for me. elementary teacher of the year. No, it'll be great. And then we have the student council and select high school students that will be picking and middle school students picking the middle school high school teacher and support staff. So, um, looking forward to how that turns out. And to wrap up districtwide, we have started our state testing. So, specifically, fourth and fifth grade have been hitting it hard this week. Um, so kids seem energized and charged. So, thanks to parents making sure they're getting to bed early and um getting plenty
048of rest and some good food in their bellies. So, um elementary had read across America event that was put on through title and whip in the library. Um the one big thing for the week was our book bingo and third third grade ended up winning that challenge and had an ice cream party in the dark with some lights. Um it was a lot of fun. They were pretty excited. Um we also had the camp learn a lot that was put on by title. Um kids got to come and experience some different type of camping activities. Um that was highly enjoyed by many. So um we had our last Ames testing which Mr. Linder highlighted uh for 4K3 for act 20. That's a requirement. Um and we get to the busy part of the district uh
049middle of high school. Uh we started off with the CTE fine arts night. saw some of you there where our jazz students displayed their music talents. Um, as well as we had kids putting together some floral displays and some cool things with the Spanish and FCS FCCLA um and some of the highlighted art projects that were displayed. So, it was kind of a fun event. Uh, we had a group of teacher prep uh students that are looking to go into education attend the ed rising program at WSP with their school counselor. Um, they had a really great time. Uh, learned a lot. We had ninth and tth graders go to UWSP, Midstate, and CBTC the same day as our juniors took the ACT. Um, that was a busy day across the board. So, a huge
050thank you to all the teachers that took care of all the students out and about and got to see a lot of cool different things at all of the universities. So, that was neat. Um, eighth graders attended two events. They went to Edgar to see John Carlos. He's a 1968 Olympic track and field athlete where he talked about hard work and standing up for what you believe. So, it was kind of a really cool message and to see some of the different displays and um awards and talents that he had. So, that was kind of neat. Uh, eighth grade also went to Sense of Reality in Marshfield with Miss Zary where they got to have a job and have to spend money and to see what things actually cost. So, I think a lot of
051them said that kids cost a lot when they came back. So, hopefully that was a good learning tool for them. Um, we ended up the middle of March with our middle school students going to a reach trip. They went to the movies um as an award for all their hard work and dedication to school. So, um, last Friday we had our middle school dance, um, which was highly attended along with eight supervisors or teachers that wanted to hang out with a bunch of middle school students on a Friday night. Uh, that was pretty fun and cool to see. So, that is a huge fundraiser for the middle school students to have to go to DC for the Washington DC trip. Um, FFA students have been out and about the last month for various judging uh,
052events. Uh we have a lot of success with those programs. So FBALA, FCCLA, and FFA are going to be having state sendoffs the next three weeks. Um we have a lot of kids going to be out and about for all that. So we have huge kudos to all the kids that are engaged in so many things here in the building. Um followed up with Tuesday, we had an apprenticeship speaker, which was kind of neat to talk about. He was from the Department of Workforce. So, we talked about the highlights of apprenticeship and what it looks like instead of necessarily going to NTC or a four-year college that those trade jobs you can learn on the job and make big money. Um, and he highlighted the six figures which caught a lot of kids eyes and
053it was a reallyformational assembly and he had a lot of great things to share. Um, so that was great that Miss Maya brought in. So, that was great. Um, most of you know that we started try three and we have modified times because of the awesome snow days we've experienced in the early release. Um, so that seems to be going well. Hard to remember the times, but we'll get it figured out. We're hoping for no more snow days. Hoping for no more. Um, I'm going to just follow up with we have our academic um, scholar bag boy coming up April 9th in Bloomer. And I just wanted to highlight that Rogan was one of those people selected as well as Riker to represent the school district of Loyal. So each of them had to choose
054a teacher and Rogan picked Mrs. Zarky and Riker picked um Mr. Fweiler to represent. Um so they will be recognized at the banquet as well. So cool. Uh, additionally, um, our Clover Belt Scholar Athlete Award recipients, uh, for this year are Rogan Ashbach and Autumn Zoena. So, the criteria for this was to have a GPA over 3.0. Um, as well as participation in academic and athletic leadership displayed throughout their high school career. Uh so both Rogan and Autumn will be attending uh the Clover Belt um conference award ceremony at Owen Wy on April 2nd. So just a few highlights. Tomorrow we have elementary parent teacher conferences. Um we also have a middle school and high school informational meeting concerning next year's proposed schedule of what the blocks will look like and the schedule to be.
055um talking about cell phone policy. That's been a huge one lately. I don't know if you've heard much about it. Um so we've had questions on whether or not the cell phone policy is new and our response has been no, we're just enforcing it. Um so it's been going well. Really highlighting the fact that no phones out during instructional time, just keep them out of the classroom. So um some kids have learned a lot quicker than others. Um this weekend too, just to highlight all our alumni, we have our alumni tournament this weekend, Saturday, of girls volleyball happening in the boys basketball team. So come back up to school and check it out. And last one I just want to highlight is April 23rd, trimester 2 academic awards. So put it in your calendar for
0568:15. One thing on the phone policy, the kids said that you are very very fast at snatching phones. They said you come lightning quick and you got them. So, it's a competition. Okay. Super report. Uh strategic planning. Uh the educate team has met multiple times since the last task force meeting to work on creating um and formulating our district strategic plan uh using the feedback from our our task force meetings. Um they met today and I left early but I think they finished up of where they want to be. So they will take that plan um and introduce it to the task force on April 9th at this meeting. The task force will look at it um and make any tweaks, additions, subtractions, whatever they see fit. Uh then the plan will then be presented
057to the board for approval um after the tweets are made at at the I believe the April meeting by the task force members or a handful of them. Okay. So uh like Niola it's been a very good process. Um I think uh like I said earlier one of the the top thing is recruit and retain our our teachers and staff. So um I think this was well worth it and and gives us a good direction for the next upcoming four or five years. So um very good and I thank and greatly appreciate the task force uh and especially the educate team because they've put in a good amount of hours and time and effort into this. So, special thanks to Scott Schiller because he's kind of taken the bull by the horns right for me.
058So, uh, Mrs. Komasburg talked a little bit about makeup time. So, yes, we added 10 minutes to the day. Um, 7:45 our doors open, 7:54 we start, 3:24 we end. Um, really very limited shift. Buses run very similar. Um, you're talking maybe a couple minutes. Uh, they did talk about the dreaded if we have another snow day. So, we had an early release last week. Uh, we are still covered. Um, if we have a late start for whatever reason, we will still be covered, but if we go for a full day, then we will not. Um, so then we would look at whatever and whatever date would work. Um, in talking to staff, I threw out April 17th as a possible. Right now, it's an inservice day for our teachers. Uh we would talk about
059making that a student day possibly if we have another. So, uh just real quickly on building and grounds, just an update so people know where we're at. Um walk-in freezer is ordered. I'm working with Joe's on a little maybe better price. If something happens to our current freezer from now until they're looking to install in July, they would help us out in any fashion that we need. Okay. Um the wonderful air handlers have all been checked over by complete control. Um and are running smoothly. I'm looking for some wood. And are running smoothly. There is a number of different things. Um 4K is good. heat exchanger was exchanged and fixed. Um, Chorus Room does have a issue with their heat exchanger. Um, that is in the process of being ordered. Okay. So, we'll get that
060and everything will be good. Couple of summer maintenance program uh projects. We're talking about um middle school uh the middle school portion, the 38 portion, and the high school gym. Um there are some leaks so we want to get that done. Okay. Uh tuck point and ceiling working with Zena on doing so much per year um for the next handful of years. elementary parking lot. Um we are looking at um HSR, our architect, um and possibly looking at working with phase one um the whole surveying of it and at least trying to get that started, but we'll that's on hold for a little bit. We'll see what goes on April 1st. Uh 4K cabinets and counters working with uh teachers there. um will be uh minimal of what we're doing in there, but working with
061the teachers and trying to get them at least something a little bit better than where they're at right now. Uh chemical disposal. So, we had our insurance company come in and kind of went through we have a a number of pounds of chemicals that need to be disposed. Um, and they are right now in the threecar garage. He came out and looked at that, walked through the building, went uh, science rooms, shop area, art, um, base all over and just gave us some good things that we can improve on. Um, he will be back April 11th and he is going to take another swipe of or sweep of any other chemicals that need to be hauled or disposed of. they will add that. Um we did get three estimates on disposal, four estimates. Um one
062is very high. Um with the mercury is 30,000. Um we have one the lowest is just under 3,000 without the mercury. So um we'll see once when he makes this sweep what else we can add and then re-evaluate estimate where we're at. So, uh, it was definitely worth contacting our insurance company and having them come and and work with us on this. So, um, and we just happened, he and I and Julie just happened to meet with our rep and he mentioned it and then probably a month later we remembered that and talked to Brad and got it on its way. Uh, concession stand outside. Uh, the steel plates have all been in still all been installed. Waiting for the weather to cooperate. Um, we have the walls built. Um, they are in storage right
063now. As soon as we can get some good weather, uh, Mr. Montavo has a construction class and, uh, Dustin from RZ Builders is going to assist with with getting that moving. So, all right. Uh I would wish good luck to the FBLA, FCCLA and FFA statebound participants. Um and like uh this is in during the next two to three weeks. They are all going to state we have I believe great numbers in in categories throughout for all three of those um organizations. Uh Miss M. Kmanberger talked about alumni weekend. Um just welcome everyone back. Uh good luck to all the competitors. Please stay healthy. Lastly, um Saturday night we had a alumni alumnist win uh the 197B National Championship for the Iowa Hawkeye wrestling program. I'd like to congratulate uh Stephen Buchanan on that. So
064you go to our athletic web Facebook page. We have a a poster on it. We'll be distributing throughout the school and businesses. So, uh, congratulations to him. A lot of hard work. Uh, lot many years of doing that. So, um, yeah, see if we can get him back here. Maybe I have an assembly with him. So, I'll be in contact with him. Last thing I got is please vote April 1st. Thank you. Okay. Uh, set meeting dates. Thank you. [Music] You're going to need more answers. Yeah, we will. I cannot do when is the 4th 23rd. I'm at a conference on April 23rd. So what would work for 30th work? 16th, 30th. We could do 30th, could we? Does that work for everybody? April 30th for the regular board meeting. So, the only thought Yeah,
065we're looking at the new board members. Come on. Um, so our softball co-op would need to be approved and it's due May 1st. So that's really Can you get it done? That's enough time. Emails that night. I'm going to get some emails from WIA leading up to this. Just explain. Okay. It'll work, right? Okay. April 30th for regular board. Gives you another week to work on some different things with that. Okay. So then we need a board of canvasers. Um, that should be sometime. When do we got to do that? Kirk, do you know when we have to have that? Uh, needs to be done, I think, within 2 or 3 days. Okay. And I can't be on it. Okay. I could help, but I'm going to be gone on that Wednesday. So, if you
066did Thursday, they have till like 4:00 to get the stuff here. So, that's after you won't they won't get delivered to the school till the second. So the third would be the shortest you could do it. How many people? So we do that. Should we do the third? I'll I'll do I'll be one on there. You're on the You're on the Oh, can't be on. Even better. Works for me. be a good one. I won't be an employee. Yeah, but you're still in the board. You want to do that in the morning or you want to do that? So, you're talking third that Wednesday. Thursday. Thursday. Th Yeah, that would be fine. right away in the morning or 8:00. 8:00. Kirk's looking is Thursday. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because you won't get it until the second
067on Wednesday, right? So that'll work, right? The third will work. Yeah. Because 8 a.m. to talk. Yep. Okay. So do that April 3rd. Um, so the ninth the ninth is task force. Yeah, we got this party on the night. I see building and grounds and recruit tank are building and grounds. You just do that as needed. So we we've constantly done that. So um I would say I will be in contact with recruit team. Um I I don't know if we'll I'll talk to them tomorrow and then we'll just have a touch point on if we need to meet or they feel comfortable. I like Julie and I and and Justin and Angie, we'll probably meet with them and just any new things that come up. All right. So, you're going to tell me if
068you need us. Yep. We'll let you know. All right. I will probably let you know tomorrow if something's of this because they wanted this before the contracts, right? But we approved tonight. Yes. Right. So, I don't I don't see any reason. Well, they they like to touch point so it isn't like three months in between and all of a sudden now they have a two-hour meeting because of whatever they got a list of things. Okay, I'll talk to them and I'll let you know. Good. I think so. All right. Public comments, clarifications on new business items. Anyone? I just have a question. Sure. Um, is there a curriculum meeting scheduled? Another one or not for another month or two? I don't think we have one yet. Not yet, but we can definitely look at something.
069All righty. Thank you. I'd like to talk a little bit about the um the consolidation question. Um, I'd like to see um you guys have referenced savings of superintendent. However, with three schools open, superintendent more will more likely not be here full-time as they do now. Um, so the savings isn't a real savings if they're not here at time. Um, also I'd like you to put on the fact page um, with three schools open, we will still be paying staff at Greenwood. So that will take away much of the savings as well. So, if you could get some schoolboard members involved and get that list going and on the back page of things that quite frankly will not be cost savings on that back page as well. So, it's not just one-sided. We need a
070plan So, I too wanted to address it. I was going to address it up earlier or whatever on it. Must have been under the new business. I'd like to discuss that too. Everybody knows I've talked to the board before. They know I have a different perspective on a lot of this stuff. I pretty much for two months now I've really not said anything back. So, I I prepared something so I don't get off point and I don't ramble and go on. So, sorry that I have to read this, but it's better that way we'll get out of here quicker. So I am very passionate about consolidation. I have listened intently but now I have some valuable information I would like to share. Our initial talks approximately a year and a half ago with Greenland was
071supposed to start with further collaboration efforts. After a joint meeting and an ins informal survey, collaboration immediately turned to consolidation as if there was no time to see where collaboration efforts would take us. I have repeatedly asked our school board and administration for other ways to find significant cost savings with natural attrition being one of them. Why not start with attrition through our own school district first so we can keep our school here? We have teachers and staff retiring which could amount to a huge cost savings as our enrollment numbers are half of what they were years ago. Now tonight the thing I have to add that I didn't have on here is that in the other session we did have some discussion about possibly attrition and things. So they are we have talked about
072that. So that's I'll leave that. Now that we have steamrololled ahead with consolidation why is there no plan? Taxpayers want a plan and our board has been unwilling to provide one. I have directly heard and read statements where at least three of our school board members and administration have made comments that it doesn't matter to them where our high school is located or simply don't care where the school ends up. I find this very concerning as we could absolutely lose our school in Loyal with the current boards. To say that it it does not matter where our school is located is ridiculous. I absolutely it absolutely matters whether or not we have a school in our community. Our school is is close um our school is close to if not the largest employer in our
073community and therefore one of our most valuable assets with regards to to the financial aspects of consolidation. Our current student enrollment is roughly 100 more students than Greenwood. Let me break that down. As for that, as for the numbers, this year, Loyal would bring approximately 1.13 1.13 million more to the books than Greenland with the with the numbers provided at the joint school board meeting. This number changes year-toear, but at about the time of consolidation as well as the following 10 years, the loyal school district still averages 84 more students per year than Greenwood. Therefore, this adds up to roughly $960,000 more per year revenue that Loyal brings to the table. If our board members are willing to give up our school while paying high property taxes in a community with no school, I do
074not understand how to reconcile that um this makes reconcile that this makes sense. Finally, it is likely that consol a consolidated district will be asking for multi-million dollar referendums for operational costs. Once once York a consolidated school district, it is going to be much more difficult to pass an operational referendum if we continue under the two or three school system. The only way to consolidate the only way for consolidation to work with minimal deficit is to have one and one school system loyal can and has housed this number of students in the past. as a schoolboard member and a and city of loyal resident who does who does who does care about where our school is located and is also concerned about saving tax dollars dollars wherever possible if a consolidated district is what is
075voted on by our residents the most logical choice would be to move 4k through 12 consolidated district to look however we cannot vote on this option because there's no plan and everybody should know that thank Anybody else? Yeah, I'd like to say something. Okay. I I was if we and I'm on the opposite side of the map that with this to put a plan together, you need cooperation from both districts. And the only way to do it for both districts is to get a new board put together and they make the decisions, not boil and not. and our referendum dollars by a joint would get it equal if not less than what our area schools are right now. We are more than double than the area schools with the referendum dollars. That's all. Okay. Thank
076you. I just want to make clarification. Um sparity aid was a question out there. Um, will we lose that $400 per student because we got because we're too big. We're over the 745 students. We'd be in the next the bigger bracket which would be more like 150 maybe $200 per student. Um after going through and looking at we talked about eighth grade being the one going down from there and then just averaging between the two 50 students per we would come up at about 735. So we would stay if things stay like that um we would we would still be in the same sparity. Um I I said this the last two public forum meetings. Um you know I understand a plan. What the question is is advisory plan or an advisory vote of do
077we continue moving forward in booking this and maybe from there develop a plan. Maybe this is down the road more, but before we stick more money into um facility study or things like that, um I think that's where the boards are looking at. Do we continue moving forward with this? Anyone else? All right. Um entertain a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second. Motion has been moved and seconded to adjurnn. All in favor say