001We're live. >> All right. Uh, the meeting will now come to order. Roll call. Mr. Propes >> here. >> Mrs. Brunette >> here. >> Mr. Cowley >> here. Money here. >> Mr. Hirsh here. >> M. Johnson >> here. >> And I am here. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance led by Miss Johnson. >> Aliance to the flag of the United States of America. and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> The agenda was posted throughout the district according to schoolboard policy published as a legal ad in the superior telegram posted on the district web page. A meeting notice was sent to the connection for publication. uh approval of the August 11th, 2025 agenda open and executive sessions. >> I will make that motion
002to approve the agenda including the executive session. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> Anybody opposed? >> Very good. Item four, the consent agenda. Item A, minutes from the July 14th, 2025 regular board meeting and close session. July 22nd, 2025 special meeting and closed session. The July 30th, 2025 special meeting and closed session. Uh I trust that you all read through those and if you had questions, you would have addressed them. >> The treasurer's report, Mr. Cowie, >> right? In the general fund on July 31st, 2025, there was a balance of $4,359,359.35 in cash and investments. Receipts since the 1st of August and not included in the July 31st balance are $10,437 and the dispersements for from tonight's August 11th board meeting total $43,91425. In the flexible spending account on July 31st,
0032025, there was a balance of $3,135.71 in cash and investments. In the house reimbursement account on July 31st, 2025, there was a balance of $7,838.91 in cash and investments. Debt service fund. On July 31st, 2025, there was a balance of $674.92 in cash and investments. A detailed report on fund activity is included in the financial statements. >> Thank you, sir. Uh item C, payment of invoices. I would trust that you had a chance to go through that. If you had any questions, you directed them to Mr. Cody. Item D, resignations and employment. Mr. Fetchelott, >> um, happy to report no resignations for this month. Uh, we have three staff members looking to join our team. Uh, Bill Budro, head custodian, Northwestern High School. Carrie Kowalik, guidance counselor, uh, NES and Northwestern Middle School. And then
004Jeremy Nordon Burch, bus driver would be a three for approval this week, >> This month, excuse me. Yes. Thank you, sir. Any questions? If not, I will entertain a motion for the consent agenda. >> Make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Two things. All those in favor? >> I. >> Anybody opposed? >> Very good. Sorry. Taking notes. >> Yeah. Uh item five, a presentation from the Northwestern Tigers Education Foundation. If you fine ladies would please stand up, present yourself in front of the board. >> Well, the fan's kind of noisy, huh? >> Oh, we like to get your voices in TV land as well. >> All right. Okay. Um, thank you so much for allowing us a moment of your time. Um, our presence here was actually requested by Mr. Warren
005before he left. It was extremely important to him that there was an open line of communication between the education foundation and the board here so that you're all aware of what's happening out in the community through us. Um, for those of you who don't know me, although I think most of you do, I'm Becky Lander, the vice president of the education foundation. I'm joined by Lori Ronkey, our foundation president. Um throughout the last year, we've had the opportunity to grow and shape our grant application process, streamlining our system from application to needs fill. Our career process allows teachers to go on to our website. Um there is an application tab. They go in there and they fill out a fairly simple application um letting us know what the need is in their classroom, how it's
006going to impact the education experience of the students within our district, and um how much money they need. Um along with any supporting documentation we have added a step to that. Anything related to curriculum support um anything like that we we fill the need for decodable readers things like that. Um we double check those with our curriculum leader um to make sure that that aligns with the process and what's happening in the district and that it is the best choice. So that step has been added to iron out some wrinkles that we ran into. Um, so our board meets, we receive those applications, we review those once a month. We meet the second Wednesday of every month at 8 a.m. at the Amnicon Town Hall. Um, we review all of those applications. We go through
007and thankfully there have only been a couple that we've been unable to fill. Um, and our goal is to have those applications come through and be able to push them right back out and say approved. Um, but some of those are really big. um $30,000 for seated risers for our high school choir. Um things like that. We aren't at that level yet, but we sure hope to be. Um following our 2024 Unity and Action Gala, through partnerships with numerous area businesses, organizations, and proud Tiger community members, we've been able to invest $9,861.86 86 back into our classrooms with another $4,145 approved by our foundation board. Um totaling $14,686, half of which have gone to support uh mental health and guidance initiatives within our district. >> So, um we thought it was important that you know
008that. >> Can you give some examples of how that just in general terms >> of Grantsville? Well, that you would categorize it in mental health. >> Yeah. Um actually here um one of them was a youth frontiers kindness retreat. Um and another one is a youth frontiers courage retreat. Both of those totaling over $7,000. Um and those are you want better explain what that is? So the the new frontiers kindness retreat is actually held in the spring with all of our fourth graders. So that NES and IRS all part in a full day retreat. Um and then the courage retreat um is is upcoming this fall with our sixth grade. So um they're a great looking at the kindness you do in fourth grade as a way leading to building leaders in fifth grade and
009then encouraging students into that condition at the elementary school. So, with that being said, we are here today not only to update you on the status of the education foundation and all that all that we've been working on, but we'd like to invite you to um our school board and administration to attend the second annual unity and action gala. The presence of the board members and administration who shared their time with us last year were so greatly appreciated by our community. I really can't stress enough how much it means. Sorry. I can't stress enough how much it means to our families and the community um to have this aspect of unity coming together in our district. Um we've often been tagged as split or separated because of our locations and the number of our buildings.
010Um, and education is is the foundation for healthy communities. Um, and I'm sorry I commit this as a foster parent. And it's vitally important that we provide quality education experiences for kids so that graduation and beyond are healthy in our community. It's really, really important. So, as much as that $50 ticket to the dinner might seem silly, it's a ripple effect that's so much bigger. So, um I put flyers at your spots. Um, please consider joining us on Saturday, October 11th from 6:00 to 9:00 at the Lake Nagman Auditorium for dinner, drinks, and fun as we raise funds to fill gaps and enhance all that you're already doing to help build and maintain a district our community can be proud of. Community is much more than belonging to something. It's about doing something together that
011makes belonging matter. Again, thank you for your time. Please take a moment to check out our website and spread the word. Um, share it with anybody you can and anyone who will listen. It's vital that this information gets out and everyone knows everyone is welcome and everyone can make a difference. Thank you. >> May I ask a question? >> There's always one. >> There is. >> I have a couple. I can't stop him. >> What is the website? Yes, I'm sorry. Thank you. nwtiggers.org. >> And then if a person were to navigate to that website, can you purchase tickets >> on that website? >> You can. If you go to our news and events tab, you'll find all of the links necessary with all of the information pertaining to the night, how to get tickets,
012and how to sponsor. If you know any businesses or individuals who'd like to invest in our district at a higher level, please pass that information on to them. Thank you. >> Can I ask a couple more? I'm sorry. >> Amazing. First of all, so again, thank you. I really really appreciate it. Um these this is one of the more important things tonight in my mind. So, thank you for taking the time. Uh you mentioned around 14 grand or something that can you approximately how many applications were you able to fill? >> I can tell you. >> Is it I don't need an exact number. I'm just we in Okay. So, you It's in the teens probably or 20s or something. >> Yeah. 15 about 17. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And we've had to deny three.
013>> And do you feel like you're in a good position starting off this year or do you feel like, oh, we're being whatever? >> We're hopeful. We're hopeful. The the news is spreading which is good. Um we've had some people reach out to us which is always a positive sign. Um but again, anytime that we can get board members or administration within our district willing to share that information, it's really impactful. It makes a difference um beyond what we could even explain to you. Knowing that this initiative is backed by those in leadership within our district is really big. >> Thank you both very much. I can say that it does impact our students across all of our buildings in a positive way. Our administrative team is here too. So >> it's not directly back
014to our students. >> It's a huge support to us and our students most important. >> All right. Any other questions or are we good to go there? >> All right. The next one, item six, presentation from our friends at V-Rock. We got Kevin, Becca, and Lee with us today and um we're going to present here. Jen's working on tech, but they're going to give us uh kind of where we sit with our building audit. It's been an ongoing process and this is the update for for the month of August. So, I'll turn it over to them. >> You think that'll be okay? Good. Close enough. We'll try and talk loud as well. So, uh again, thanks for having us again. Uh my name is Kevin Bills with ISG and uh so high level where we've
015been. Beck will walk through that a little bit but really we did the initial assessment uh gave our thoughts on priorities. We'll talk about that a little bit. Uh went through uh got staff feedback on any areas that in the building that don't function properly as far as space layout, things like that. We went over that last time and so now here tonight we're kind of pulling all that together. Um, pretty simplified presentation, right? But there's a lot of information we've already went through to kind of get to the spot. So, I'll pause there. Becca, if you want to walk through our agenda a little bit more detail. >> Thanks, Sophie. I'm back from >> Oh, sorry about that. >> Phonics, you know. >> So, I'm an education strategist with the construction company. So I
016work with districts like you all to get ideas on paper and eventually to referendum if that's what your district decides. >> There we go. >> Okay. So here we're doing today. So we're review the long range facilities process which we've been doing every month that we've been here. Review of different options that we as a core team started to craft together some choices for you to consider. Um will probably talk about financial scenarios talk about the topic of financial scenarios and then we'll talk about next step. >> Um so I am the only person that can go ahead. >> So I'm Lee Spindler with my reconstruction. Uh as I mentioned the last time I was here I handle the uh pre-construction side of things. So basically here all the way to the point of uh
017getting things signed uh lined up and ready to shovel in the ground. Now that's kind of cliche here because a little bit different where we're talking about capital projects and and you go next. >> Okay. So we've seen this graphic before. We're just going along the journey to the topic of referendum. It doesn't mean you're going to refer them. This is just the journey that we're on. The red box is where we're at right now. Options development. You guys need to decide if there's a correct option to bring your referendum at April or November or some days. So you have to start forming your plan. So that's where we're at right now. Same as we've seen before. Now we're at the board work session and talked about concepts. In September, we'll come back again and
018talk about surveys and how to draft that to get the best data out of your community of whether they have an appetite for the projects that your schools have been identified. And then I keep going the survey more workshops and then lots of things, you know, happens in here. All right. So, uh, what we've done since, um, since our last time together, right? So, we went through a lot of information the last two meetings. What we did since then is we tried to put in a few different what we call options, right? So, we're going to go through three different scenarios here tonight. Um, one, the option one is what we're calling critical capital maintenance. Okay? So capital maintenance needs that are critical to the district. Uh option two is critical plus emerging. So think
019of priority one and priority two from the assessment that we did. Uh pri so we're calling critical priority one and emerging priority two capital maintenance. That's what we're call option two. And then option three is critical and emerging plus some of those educational adequacy. So space reconfiguration. So, couple of secure entrance modifications, things like that that we talked about last time. What does it look like for the cost of that as well? So, three scenarios. Uh, this doesn't mean you have to go with any of these, right? It could be a mixture of any of them. It could be something option four, right? So, we can we're just giving you something that based on what we've heard, some different scenarios. Uh Cody, I would like your, you know, just touch a little bit on you
020spent a little bit of time going through and repprioritizing a little bit of, you know, what's critical to us, what's crit, you know, what's more emergency emerging to us. So if you want to just touch on that process a little bit. So our process was to take the as you guys remember it's you know the the information that my provided us as part of the building out was 381 items deep and uh what I did is took that information back to our administrative team and to our building head custodians and kind of walk through it with them to identify like it says up there the critical areas or you know what we believe are must haves projects that we've talked about in the past um roofs parking lots um HVAC upgrades, stuff that we know
021is reaching the end of its useful service life and I would classify them as absolutes. These are these are projects that are on our doorstep within the next year or two are going to need to be addressed from there going into option two which is the I would say musthaves plus we really will need to consider the these items within the next three to six years. Um, so best case scenario, really trying to take care of the buildings and the bricks that we have in an appropriate manner because nothing lasts forever. And then option three would be exactly what kind of Kevin talked about is the combination of those two things plus some reworking of our buildings based on the input of our teachers have said this is working, this isn't working. um to help
022not look to add bricks but maybe adjust the bricks a little bit to help the learning process for 2025 when you know we're in buildings that were built in the 70s 60s 90s um and and the building we s 2008 is uh they they they build them a little bit different nowadays so it's been a team effort it's not one person doing this work never what I want it to be but um we've worked hard to try to do what the due diligence that we need to do to take care of our buildings but also not have a massive impact on on our local taxpayers. >> Yeah. >> So we'll go through if you want to jump to the next slide. We'll go through these one by one. So starting with option one that critical
023capital maintenance. So total uh what we're calling that critical capital maintenance approximately $5.8 million. Uh we did provide a breakdown there into a few different categories. What does architectural and structural mean? Think of the building infrastructure. So that could be accessibility. Uh the roofing uh that also could be um like windows or like brick repair, masonry repairs, those sorts of uh I'll call it more general construction type items. U electrical and technology, it's kind of self-explanatory. Typically that's more on the electrical side though as far as things that are like critical. Um mechanical and plumbing you see that broken down as well. And then sight and civil. So uh we've broken down into these categories and that's the then this is spreaded across our various buildings. Uh and Cody's worked through that kind of like
024to come up with this where those priorities land at kind of each individual building. But we want to provide this as a simplified summary so you can really see um which categories it prioritizes into but looking at the district as a whole. So any questions on this one. So we got two more to go and we can jump back and forth. So let's go to option two. So uh so this is critical plus emerging. So like uh like Cody talked about, this takes care of those critical items that are really looking at um the district is looking at very soon. And also um just like what does that next level look like? So approximately $16.4 million of those items. Um architectural and structural, so you see that broken out at just under $7 million. Electrical
025technology about $700,000. um more mechanical use. So you see uh more of that mechanical HVAC systems uh primarily and then site uh improvements as well. So really it's the the architecture um items. So those building roofs um building envelope or accessibility items up increasing over uh critical the mechanical your HVAC systems and then the site work as well. And then if we want to jump to number three, option three. So this does those exact same things. Uh so critical and emerging capital maintenance plus educational adequacy items that we reviewed last time. So that total for those three categories would be approximately $20.5 million. Uh you'll see architectural and structural stays basically exactly the same that we looked at on the previous slide. uh electrical technology is uh the I believe that's the same. Mechanical and
026plumbing changes a little bit because there's some scope duplication from renovations versus capital maintenance. So that's why you see a slight difference in the dollars there. And then site civil, that one's the same. And then the new line item that you see here is on the bottom, educational adequacy improvements. What does that include? Um, and we have all the backup information for this as well. But on the bottom there, it talks about this the NES secure entrance improvements and also conversion of the computer lab at the middle school secure entrance improvements uh along with the office uh area as well. There's some classroom reconfigurations there. If you remember, we looked at um moving art so that way we could get a proper size choir room. Um, so there's like three rooms that are kind of
027a domino if you remember we talked about there last time. Updating the staff work room and then also we do have a concept for adding some additional parking spaces right out uh next to the front entrance. So some things to consider there. Uh the reality is you don't have to do any of them. You could do some of them, but it's just a scenario to see what does that look like. Any questions on this? So we can jump to the next slide. Uh this just summarizes the three different options. So option one is a critical capital maintenance up for the roughly $5.8 million. Option two critical and emerging capital maintenance uh which is $16.4 million. And option three, critical and emerging capital maintenance plus educational advocacy for approximately $20.5 million. Um, a couple things that
028I'll touch just touch on. We talked about this uh, I think in some of the Q&A last time, but the Myron team goes through budgeting each of these items individually. Okay, this is based on what do we think the scope is? what do we think uh historical data also tells us from similar project items but also just remember at the end of the day uh through the process whatever the board decides to do final projects these items go up to bid right so the the maybe we get better pricing on mechanical right so those are at the end of the day it's the district's dollars uh we get savings in mechanical or whatever category um it's it's publicly bid right so we're using historical data to put these together. Um but then it goes through
029you know after a referendum design engineering process competitive bidding um for those trade contracts. >> Yeah. So the the work to be done um obviously option one is kind of a first year or two that needs to be done right away. Are they all the same timeline or are like but the are these do you understand what I'm asking? Yeah, I do. Um, so timelinewise, um, Lee might kick me in the back of the knees here, but something of this range, you're looking at probably over like a couple summers, right? So, if you think of like a referendum date and we'll just say hypothetically 26, you're starting to do stuff probably summer of 27. Um, so it's like a 27 and 28. And then you're looking for things that you can also do during the
030school year as well. Does that answer your question? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Maybe to expand upon that a little bit >> the budget numbers that you're seeing take into consideration um economies of scale. Right. So by being able to do um various portions of this work in the same time period, those economies is still associated. Now as we talked about with Cody, we also have to look at the finance piece and how that works as well. So just to expand upon the moving aspect, we got to balance both and that hasn't been done yet, but there's been conversations. >> I did ask the question, we get these projects done in a couple weeks. They said no. >> I always say construction takes too long. >> There's plan A and there's plan X and that's
031probably where you hit up, right? Um so yeah, we we would fully anticipate this would be a phased in project. uh we wouldn't be able to get all the work done. A lot of the requirements of when we would do it is of course summer months when there's nobody here, but it's it's it's core structural stuffs. It's roofs, it's parking lots, it's HVAC systems, heating systems, all the important things that set up the environment for learning. And I joke it's most of the stuff that nobody cares about until it doesn't work anymore. Aka the room that we're sitting in here today. It's not we we lost our unit. >> Did you do this on purpose? I did not mean to see what you said. I promise you I did not. >> Um but this the
032stuff even though I really want it to last forever does not. Um the reality is the economies of scale for us in a in a building setting is it's the same problems we have at the home. It's just that the reality is the square footage is a heck of a lot bigger. But it is important to take care of the buildings that we have. Um we're not looking obviously to build anything new, but we're looking to take care of the bricks that we own, our community owns. This is where we sit. >> So if you want to jump to the next slide, >> go ahead. >> Can I interrupt you before you do that? Yeah. Can you go back one >> please? >> That Oh, don't don't worry about it. Don't worry. So when you
033presented last month, I think it was. >> Yeah. >> Uh you didn't have option one, two, three. I think this is I think I'm expanding on with Dan here. You had like zero to two years, three to six years, six to 10. >> Yep. Am I correct in those years? >> Yep. >> So is what I saw there year option one, two, and three is that >> I mean I'm not following it to a T, but is that similar to >> option one was that zero to two, three to six, and then beyond >> close. >> However, I think the educational adequacy, whatever fancy word you use there, >> that was kind of integrated into all three of those, I think, wasn't it, when when it was originally presented. >> Yeah. I'm glad you said
034that because I thought of this and I need to say that and I forgot it but you provided. So last time we talked about that priority one that's zero to two years that's what's in this now that the you know administration we've done our work >> this one is priority one and priority two so that next age range. >> Yep. >> Uh this one is the same capital maintenance. We've just added in educational items. So we do not have anything in these three scenarios that budgets that future stuff that's we'll say probably 10 years out. Okay. Right. So we don't have that here. But typically we see uh the stuff that falls into that going off memory here. But finishes uh things like that that districts generally start taking care of kind of on a
035ongoing capital maintenance kind of basis. So uh that's the one thing that you don't see. you're still going to have those ongoing, you know, lower priority needs down the road. Um, so I just don't want to portray that, all right, you're going to, if you do this, this takes care of everything. You need the dis. You're still going to have those things, but this allows you to catch up um on the critical and emerging things. >> Well, this is these are the numbers, too. And I don't want to share too much, but the numbers that were originally shared with us had been given to us and Cody and then Cody ended up >> so >> I mean for the lack of a better term you sharpen your pencil and and took what we felt was
036perhaps more needs for us and then that's how these numbers came to be. So, um, we've already I guess from a public perspective, we as a district, >> we are, uh, >> I can speak to that that, you know, the list of 381 items, if we were to do all of them, it's it's well over the $20 million ask. Um, and working with the Myin team and and ISG, I always say this to you guys, I don't, you know, predicting life seven to 10 years down the road, I would say, is is a best guess at best, right? So, we've kind of looked at this list, really tried to pair down these are the things that we believe with input with the admin team, with our with our head custodial team, what we need here
037in Maple. Um, the next slide does talk about tax impact and some of the work that I'm starting to do. Um, we would work with with Bard Financial. I've worked with them on a lot of the budgetary stuff. They are a very very big firm. Do a lot of work with school districts. um even ones closest to us that have gone through some of this type of work on how to try to pay for these types of projects um and do it with very minimal tax impact. I fully understand that this position that is something that we have to always consider as a board is what might this end up impacting our taxes. So, I'm working with them. Uh Kevin Mullen is the representative there who this is what he does. This is his specialty.
038We've had some initial conversations. Um, I fully expect Kevin to be part of our September board meeting, um, to kind of walk through a little bit of this information as we continue to just take steps in the planning phase. I want to be crystal clear with everybody here, uh, everybody out in in TV land, this is still strictly planned. Um, no decisions have been made, no projects have been selected. Um, but we need to have conversations around these things because the reality is is that I sit in a chair where I have to try to figure out how to take care of some of this stuff. And hope is not a good game plan. Um, we can hope everything lasts forever, but it won't. So, we need to have some honest conversations about how we
039can tackle some of the stuff that we know is coming. The one other thing that I think the beard team will do a really good job of is we understand that slide before these are all very large numbers, right? And so they're going to do a great job of taking that and looking at what does that actually mean to the community to the taxpayers. So, uh Kevin does a great job of breaking that down um and explaining that, walking through that. So, I think it's it's a um it's just a good process to make it relatable because I think that's really if we do go to the community survey piece, that's such an important part, right? Um a dollar amount is one thing, but what does it actually mean to me as a community member
040is essential, right? To get good data. So, you go on to that step. Okay. So, thanks that was a great great segue into what's happening next. So, what's next is as we've been doing for months now is keep working through the options looking at maintenance make sure with the goals of the district. We think we've got some options here but we're not you know we look for your feedback on that. um the validate the tax impact. That's when Barry will come in and talk about what that actually means for each taxpayer in your district. Um starting Wednesday, we kick off survey development. So we take these options, take Barrett Jackson conversation and start crafting questions to get us the best data out of your community from the communitywide survey which is coming up pretty quick.
041uh survey draft will present or probably will present at September board meeting and then that will be deployed to your community the next month. So then after that you'll really have the pulse of how your survey takers feel about the direction of this project. I think that time frame that you have there differed from the time frame you shared a few minutes ago. >> Yeah. Are you serious? >> Well, if I if I'm correct in what I saw earlier, it was we do some stuff in September. The survey it still shows survey deployed in October. >> October. That's >> to share the survey draft at the >> Yeah. No. All right. I'm And the reason for that is giving making sure our community has time to give their input. Um let's these are the community
042buildings. They have to give us their input as to >> typically have that survey open three weeks long. It takes just as long to analyze the data. It's kind of a long process. So time to get survey out, time to get the results back, and then time to quantify it and then come back to our board and >> know enough to know we got to we got to listen to our community and what they won't support. >> Will at some point maybe in the survey will there be a like a more of a list of like what the actual capital projects are like a breakdown? >> That'll be very clarified and that's kind of the next steps into the September meeting here. Um that's still like I said the work that we're appropriate. >> Yeah.
043We've got a yeah we got to >> we'll be very clear with our community that these are the projects that need to be addressed. >> Um these are the things by building that are important to us. We're still like I said in the planning phase of things and really trying to solidify that list. >> Yeah. Okay. >> We have broad numbers here. Next will come detailed information. That September meeting will be a a busy one >> and that I'm trying to anticipate what conversations could come up at the uh budget meeting in September. >> Correct. Yep. We'll be talking about that too. That meeting in of itself, the the the context of that meeting is to present this school year's budget. Um, and we got to get a little bit careful on getting in the
044conversations around what's on the agenda and what's not. So, the scope of that meeting is still pretty narrowed as to what we do with it, but we anticipate having plenty of conversations and questions as they pop up. And um, giving people places to go to try to get that information, whether it be phone calls, board members conversations, website information, all those pieces will go. >> The survey will go out after the budget meeting. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Because it >> Yeah. So September 22nd, we'll talk about in a second. I think it's 22nd when the budget is >> that impact is for this current fiscal year. >> Yeah. >> None of this is part of this current fiscal year. >> Um the the one thing I I think if I could just have you think
045about and not come to the next meeting with like uh thoughts on it, but things you hear the next meeting with the financial piece as well. Are those of those three options like critical critical plus emerging and then critical plus emerging plus an adequacy are there any of those that just should shouldn't even be an option that we even consider in this survey. So we'll keep that question. I think the tax hearing the tax impact side of it is needs to go along with that to form an opinion on that. So I want you to kind of noodle on that. Um, but you know, hear the financing side as well. And then I think, you know, start thinking through, geez, maybe this one just doesn't even really get done what we think is important or
046um only buys us whatever time frame or this just feels like too much in this one. So, think about that a little bit, but uh the next meeting will be really informative to kind of paint more of that holistic picture. So, yeah. other questions. >> Thank you for joining us again. >> I think that's it. >> That's it. >> Thank you very much. Really appreciate it. All the work that you've done. >> I do have one request though. So, it sounds like we're going to be talking about the survey at our September meeting. >> Is it possible, Mr. Possible to have that survey in advance? So yeah, the board will be part of that development. >> Yeah. >> So um needs to be part of that development. We're having our first initial meeting here Wednesday
047this week to kind of start talking about what that may or may not look like. We will work with a company called school perceptions. Um they are one of the best in the state. Do a lot of this type of work. Um and this is step one of that process. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. We appreciate your time. >> All right. Item seven, approval items. Uh, a the board of education priorities. Um, >> I got that one. >> You want to read those? >> I can read them. >> Yep. Well, I think they should be right. >> Yep. >> So, uh, as you all know, we met in the board retreat in July to identify board priorities for the 2526 school year. Um and there there four priorities total uh with some
048some operationalized things to make those priorities real. So as with any school, increase student achievement and continue the academic growth of our students is a priority of this board. That is a uh something that as a school district we always need to be doing. Uh second priority, provide mental health supports for our students and our staff. We heard our Tiger Education Foundation talk about some of the supports they provide. Um, talking with the people in our buildings, we still have these needs. We need to have that empathetic and understanding approach with our staff and students. um from a from a staff level, from an administrative level. Um along these lines with the to continue to build a sustainable budget, communication with municipalities, community members, staff and students regarding that budget and look at funding options
049for long range capital projects, which is the gist of what we just talked about and some of the work that will continue into the September, October, November meetings. Um last bullet point, uh attract and retain high quality instructors and support staff. teacher compensation, looking at continuing to have a compensation model that is uh competitive in the labor market um with our surrounding school districts and surrounding area. And then staff's uh support staff looking at really uh trying to put some equal step compensation as part of that um and updating that the 2526 school year. So those are the the four board priorities that we agreed to and we need a vote to make it official. >> So yes, I need a motion and a second. >> I make a motion to approve the priorities as
050stated. >> Second. >> Who wants one? Who wants it? >> All right, Steve, that's on you, buddy. >> All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Anybody oppose? Motion passes. Item B, milk bids. Mr. Fetchelott. >> Yeah, we gota This is the time of the year where we try to figure out milk because we we consume a lot of cartons of milk as every school district does. So, uh, every year we put this out to bid. Um, we had two biders that came back to us. Um, that bid tabulation sheet is in your board enhancement. Uh, Performance Foods out of Rogers, Minnesota was one and Upper Lakes Foods out of Duth, Minnesota was the other company that bid. Um, our recommendation is to go with Upper Lakes Foods. Uh, they have the the lowest
051bid. Um, they were our provider last year. Uh, did a good job, but Dr. Jackie Wickland doesn't have any concerns. So, um, questions you may have. Otherwise, this will be a roll call vote because of dollar amounts involved. But I don't want anybody coming after me saying we don't have milk. >> Trying to remember this price structure is pretty consistent with last year, isn't it? >> Yeah, there's not a lot of change. >> Yeah. >> Um in terms of that >> and they had an escalator last year and they did not exercise it. >> They did not. >> Where where's the whole mill? >> That one is is fun. I don't I got I wish Jackie was here. She can speak to how much we do. I know it's minimal. >> It is. >> Um
052and I don't even know what the request is for it. So, unfortunately, I've got a punt on that one because >> the uh the whole milk conversation, I'm not an expert to answer. I will say chocolate milk seems to be the most important. Of course, >> sure it is. >> They bring back strawberry milk. >> You guys have a good All right. If there's uh any more discussion? No. If not, I'm going to need a motion and a second for that one. Please, >> I make a motion that we uh get our milk accept the milk bid from Upper Lakes Foods. >> We'll second. And we'll do a roll call. Mr. Probes, >> yes. >> Mrs. Brunette, >> yes. >> Mr. Cowley, >> yes. >> Mr. Guanick, >> yes. >> Mr. Hirs, >> yep. >>
053Miss Johnson, >> yes. and I vote yes. That motion passes. Thank you all very much. Item C, the 256 handbooks, the student, teachers, special education, co and extracurricular employee and transportation handbooks. This is another one. It's an annual thing that we do this time of year. Um, these have been available to you to to to peruse. Uh there's there's definitely a lot of pages with all the different buildings and departments um that we have, but it really just speaks to the work that we do as a school district and that whole rounded approach when you really look how many people come together to make this thing go every day. We have our admin team here and the various departments uh are represented. So hopefully you had time to ask any questions that you wanted to
054ask them, but they are here if you have any other ones. But otherwise, we'd look for a motion to approve the handbooks that you have with um within the board at uh shared drive. >> That being said, >> I'll make a motion to approve the building or the student teacher special education co-curricular employee transportation handbooks. >> Second. Second. Any other discussion or one question? So like when we like in a moment we're going to do all these new board policy updates and stuff. What happens if something like should be in a handbook that's in those policies? That's that you understand see it understand what I'm saying? It's >> yeah it's I guess for a lack of a better term it's tough to kind of marry these two together because we have our board policies and
055our district policies and we have a handbook. So it's they kind of go hand in hand a little bit, but we don't want our handbooks to be yeah hundreds of policies long or how many ever we have. So the the reality is the handbooks and all lean on our administrative team really speak to the stuff that's important to know on the day-to-day operations of our buildings. Is that fair to say admin team? Um and the policy work that the board does is not necessarily as frequent stuff that does need to pop up. Um, I know we work hard to make sure board policy lines up with obviously our handbooks. Only makes sense to do that. >> Um, but the handbooks get really really long if we list all the fun policies that we get to
056worry about from a from a district level. I did not ask this earlier, but the uh email that Miss Wendy sent out earlier today, I would expect that that's probably making it into the handle. >> Yep. That adjustment that was made is sent to you. That will be added to the handle. >> Thank you, Miss Thank you, Missy. We've >> we've worked on that. We go through all at the elementary level. So I try to reference it policy but they don't have policy. So I always try to make it say our policy is that cupcakes if you like. That's right. >> And there's a lot of any other discussion. >> All right. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Anybody oppose? Motion passes. Item D, the 256 building emergency management plans. >> So,
057this is just another annual process. These are all the exactly what it says, the emergency management plans that we have across our buildings for all of the emergency situations that may pop up. It's the fire drill stuff, the tornado drill, the intruder in the building work that we do throughout our year to make sure that we are as prepared as we can be for a situation that may happen that we hope never does. Um, not a lot of procedural changes from last year with it. Um, they've been pretty consistent for the last five plus years, I believe. Again, we have our team here. Any questions? They know their their emergency management plans very very well. [Laughter] The only thing I would mention is like as a former teacher seems like when we practice drills a
058lot of times it wasn't until later in the year and it always seemed like that might be something that should be done earlier in the year. I mean, we did fire drills, but like as far as like a lockdown procedures and stuff like that, it seemed like it was like March or something and was like maybe this should have been done in, you know, October or something. So, >> that was g my question. We do. >> Can you explain how do you go through these and what does that look like? on behalf of people. So the elementary level September is really classroom in September except for in October I send home information. So there's an email that comes home and it'll give the actual link to the video that was created to our safety training
059the staff has information about experience so parents can see it if they want to. Um, and then we do that with our students in the classroom and then we run a a classroom kind of scenario students and then react to the middle school. So we walk over the middle school know where to go by staff at the middle school right they walk through the building to see it closely we go over to meetings and then let them There's more details to that, but I like to confidential high school kids. You're older. Obviously we have a subway down last year in October we actually this year I'm hoping to take middle school for a day [Laughter] down to that location and two of one building two creatation point that last year's department. It is a huge
060undertaking and and kudos to the high school staff, the Douglas County Sheriff's Department because yes, it does take some coordination to do that. The obviously the elementary and middle school do take coordination quite a bit as well, but we're not walking down a US highway, which does help. So the same information want to be scary. try to families. >> One other option is let ahead of time. We also invite families concerned about it. they're more than welcome to contact us so we know there so they can be part of that trust and confidence in the process and their feedback. So, um, and if there's any family that they need to opt out of that, >> if I can, I'd like to give a shout out to our sheriff's department. They actually come in and join,
061but we did after school events where parents were able to come in and let us represent them. So, they were able to join us in the conversation with parents. I want to say that was somewhere around 19 2019 and 22. We did that as after school events. So they've been very supportive on site. Even when we've ran regular drills, they've just been present to support our transportation been a huge member of that team and helped us out with talking to kids about buses, but also with entrances. It's been a all hands on that effort. for those mentorship >> at the high school when you do that PowerPoint. Is that right? Like when the when is that uh PowerPoint presented? Is that right away in the fall? >> Last year we did it late September. >>
062So you dober as we were getting ready for evacuation. Um any other discussion? There was a lot on that actually. >> And sometimes this is too just to be clear like sometimes we plan it. We may decide we're going to do it earlier. We may right away in September. We can't do it later. It just kind of depends on two different factors elements bring together. Weather is another one. Well, it's I mean, it's one thing for us to approve a 19page plan or something for a school, but it's encouraging to hear the flow down and how they take that and actually, you know, take it serious. So, thank you for that. That's great. >> I would entertain a motion and a second for this one. >> I make a motion to approve the building emergency
063management plans. >> Second. >> All right. Sure. >> All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Anybody opposed? Motion passes. >> Item E, policies. >> Do I have to read all of these policies? >> Um, >> the full policy, please. >> The full policy. >> So, this is helping you, Mr. Lander. We We listed all of these policies out to and it's on the agenda just so you don't have to read everyone. >> Awesome. Um but what's happening with the policies that are listed are technical changes. So the content of the policy is not changing. It's simple grammatical changes and things of that nature. And then obviously the other list of policies is change of superintendent with me being in the interimm role. We have to update that particular piece of information for
064Carl's name out put my name in. But it does require board approval. Um, so if somebody would like to make a motion and list all the 20 37 policies off, they certainly can. But an easy way to do it would be to make a motion to approve the policies listed on the agenda. >> And does does that need to be the motion? Does that need to be a motion for the technical changes and a second motion for the change of the superintendent? >> All at once. They're all technical changes. So, >> okay. So the recommendation of course is to approve these but the take-h home point is the content of the policies are changing. >> Yeah. I do want to make one comment. Um in the July meeting we tabled three policies because we were
065questioning the language about the word relative. Remember that? >> So that'll come up in the September meeting. >> Yep. Like >> or sometime later on it's it's not in this package is what I'm trying to say. That's part of the transition from Carl's position to Yeah. to me coming in. We will bring that back in September. >> Yeah. Or it doesn't even need to be September. But what I'm trying to say, it's not in here. >> Correct. Those are still table. We will bring those back. >> Yeah. >> I make a motion we approve the 37 policies listed in the agenda. >> Did you actually count them only? >> I don't know. I just went off of what Cody >> number is 37. >> I didn't I didn't do I gave you the accurate number
066just so you did. Well, I just want to make sure that we uh you know if there was 38 >> and I will second that motion. >> Uh all those in favor please say I. >> Anybody oppose? Motion passes. Item eight, administrative report. Item A, communications received. Looks like there were none. None this month. All right, moving on to item B, the budget hearing that slashanual meeting. >> So, this is another is another annual meeting that we do once every year. It's the last Monday in September. So, this year's meeting is September 22nd, 2025 at 7 PM in this very room, our district office conference room. Um, we will have the postings. Jen will work on that to make sure there's certain deadlines that we hit. Um but roughly in six weeks we will have
067our annual budget meeting >> and I believe if I am uh Miss Jenny you probably correct me but I believe Mr. Dan and myself have to be here, right? >> Correct. >> Is is it just does the clerk have to be here as well or is it just Dan and I? >> I'd have to look at that, but I know it's you two for sure. I don't remember seeing anything. >> So, whomever is required to be here make if you'd be so kind as to make sure we know. Yes. >> And anybody else who wants to show up for a riveting couple of hours, uh, please do. as well as I would encourage the community to show up because this is where they get the opportunity to speak and vote and have a have the
068ability to to give your two bits based on the school budget, ask questions on various different things. It's I joke about it, but it's an important thing and if people have an opportunity to come out and at least experience it, that's uh it would be nice to to have to add chairs if that was possible. Um item C, the WB region one meeting on October 14th, 2025. >> That's listed there. Um >> just let me know if you're going so I can get you registered. I didn't pay attention. Where is that at? >> It's in Ashland at >> Lake Shaw. Hotel Shaw. >> It's a good uh It's a good regional meeting from a board standpoint. Gives a lot of the latest and greatest updates. >> Is that the one where they usually do a
069a seminar or a workshop prior to the actual meeting if I remember right? >> Yep. We would uh depending on how many can go or make it, we get together usually ride down in a school van. Um make the trip down there. It's not too long, but it's it's an evening and >> I've been to one. Usually it's good information. >> We could change it to not have it being a I think it's a Tuesday. >> I can I can put that in the comment box. >> Sport the sport day. >> You know what? You signed up for this and the role that it takes So, you know what? >> I'll I'll miss bank out night. >> If it makes you feel better, this is on my anniversary. So, >> well, you don't have to
070plan a date, then your decision. >> Two birds with one stone. >> You got dinner taken care of. >> Yeah. >> Item D, uh, the maintenance report. I would trust >> it was pretty basic. Mr. Patrick Per sent that out, but if anybody's got any questions, >> it is uh Carl mentioned this last meeting. I'm going to echo our our praises for our custodial crew here. We are on the home stretch. Um most of all of our buildings are are almost ready to be open. We are right where we need to be, if not a little bit ahead of schedule at this point in the game. So we try to shine them up and make them look as as brand new as possible each year. So that does not happen without the hard work of
071a number of different people. So other than that, that's what we have maintenance-wise. I probably will have an update about the AC next month. >> So I don't know yet. >> Uh item E, the WB correspondence and legislative report. >> Yes. So there is a copy of it as well. There's a little graph that I included because it was fascinating. Kind of helps to support the uh current financial state of the district. Um WSA WSB um tried to provide an update for members um with information on how new state supports um increases in revenue authority are affecting districts across the state. One of the metrics they track most closely based on member approved resolutions is how increases if any to school district revenue authority compares with the rate of rate of inflation. We have updated
072a chart that I did include as well. Um essentially um the since 2009 there uh has not been any significant increase in funding um that outpaced inflation. Um and so this kind of helps to summarize the state of the state for school funding. Um a new study uh was released by the Wisconsin Policy Forum last week um that found that Wisconsin has fallen further in the national ranking when it comes to per pupil education spending. Um we now rank 26th in the country. Um we were 25th in 2020. Um then the Department of Education issued a dear colleague letter to state education officials encouraging states to pursue waiverss from federal K12 education laws. The letter's central message is that the status quo is not working. The conclusion the administration drew from student performance in the
0732024 National Assessment of Education Progress. Um the letter urges states to think creatively about how to use federal funds to improve academic achievement, strengthen literacy and numeracy, and expand parental decision-making, ultimately aiming to return education to the states. Applicants must submit a plan identifying the affected federal programs, explaining how the waiver will advance student academic achievement and detailing how its effectiveness will be monitored and evaluated. >> Is all I have >> I would like to if I could say because I did read this um and I think this is important for the community know there's a there's two sentences here. um says since the 2009 2011 budget no state budget has increased revenue authority to even match the rate of inflation which you said this has resulted in 16 consecutive years of school budget slowly
074dwindling in their purchasing power. So when you look at the state of school districts across the uh well it's not just this state but across the states you see that every district has some financial struggles. You can't point at all to that but you can certainly point a few fingers that direction. That was all. Thank you very much. uh the CISA 12 report. >> Um we did not meet since the last meeting time we were together. Our next meeting is Tuesday, August 19th, next Tuesday. Um we are working on the Dr. Madison's annual review. Um and a little more next month. >> Very good. Uh item G, donations. Looks like we did not have any. >> None this month. U kind of typical for August. haven't quite started firing up yet. School >> item H,
075student, staff, and community recognition. Um, just I want to make sure that we give a shout out to our administrative assistants, administrative team. Uh, they're they're back in the buildings. Uh, they're all hard at work getting getting things ready to go for our students and staff to be officially welcomed back on the the 25th for our staff. And, uh, open house is the 27th and 28th. 28th and 29th. 28th and 29th, excuse me. Um, so the phones are starting to ring a little bit more. People are calendar flips to August. There's people that move in. Uh, they're hard at work trying to get stuff set up there. So, just a a recognition to them. And I would like to add to that uh if I could. It's been an interesting month for the school district
076of Maple. Um with uh with our previous superintendent stepping down and moving on and us uh as a board and a community and a district having to come up with something, uh I think we all feel comfortable with uh the short-term solution that we we came up with. um and not just with Mr. federal cart um willing to step into a dual role, but the uh I I can speak personally the amount of communication I received from both community and staff members. uh all willing to say I understand uh to a degree the situation that we're in and we are all willing to step up and do as little or as much as anybody's willing to to ask of any of them in particular and it was uh very reassuring for me and I don't
077ever use the the phrase but the tiger proud it was it it was very nice to see everybody willing to understand the situation and go, let's let's get through this. Let's work through it together. And I I think there have been times where that wouldn't have necessarily been the case. And I think it uh it was nice to see that that from my perspective, but I think some of you others have had some reach out as well. So, I would like to give not just a shout out to anyone in particular, but as a group, it's very nice and encouragement. That's what I got there. Item nine, comments from the audience. Uh, I'm going to read this. Now that we have concluded the business of the board, we will end the live stream.