001I've got 7 o'clock and call this meeting, regular board of education meeting August 25th, 2025 into session. Nikki, please call the role. >> Yep. Nikki Austin, present. Jim Cern, >> present. >> Mike Davis, >> present. Mike Process >> present. >> Nicole Joseph >> Teresa Keane >> present. >> Steve Mayor >> present. >> Terry Montgomery >> present. >> And Phil Bosber is absent. >> First item up is the approval of our agenda. I don't believe we have any amendments tonight. So I'd entertain a motion to approve our agenda for August 25th for the board of education meeting. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Mike Process. Second by Terry. All in favor say I. >> I. >> That was Nicole. >> Oh sorry. >> Second by Nicole. Amend. >> No. >> All in favor say
002I. >> I. >> Oppos. Motion carries. Next up, we've got our consent agenda. >> Any any items that board members wish to remove from the consent agenda? Okay, I'll entertain a motion to approve our consent agenda for tonight. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by Nikki. >> A second. >> Second by Teresa. Read these for the record. Um, all right. Item A is approving minutes from our last meeting at 11:125. Got two support staff resignations. Uh Talia Lipart from Monroe High School and Angie Keepers from Abe Lincoln. Uh one professional staff hire, Hannah Ormson, ELELLL teacher, Monroe High School. One support staff hire, Scott Menahan, Cook at Monroe Middle School. Got several donations to accept tonight. Uh school supplies from Kathy and Jim Kruba. Uh Stephanie Fletcher supplies Cynthia Via Vencio uh 60 backpacks.
003Community member donations through the Monroe Noon Optimus. Katrina Jackson and employees of Cleaver Books donation in school supplies. Monroe noon optimist $180. Monroe noon optimist $500 worth of student backpacks. Jim and Juliagi $50 an anonymous donation of 10 backpacks. Monroe Morning Optimist $2,500 worth of new shoes. Uh Parkside PTO $500. Samantha Arn and customers and and employees of Walgreens and Monroe donation of supplies and another anonymous donation of school supplies. Tom Depriy donation of school supplies and finally two donations to Backpack Buddies, $30 from Marian Johnson and $50 from Donald Jr. and Bonnie Barker. Just want to say a huge note of gratitude to all the folks who donated and all the folks who uh were out uh securing other donations and getting other people to to to donate supplies and backpacks and dollars. Uh
004couldn't couldn't start off the school year strongly without you. Any discussion from the board before we vote? >> I'll just add that Jenna Ty did a tremendous amount of work to help organize that. There are a lot of people involved, but I think Jenna in particular was really working hard to bring all that together. So, special thanks to her. >> Thanks, Joe. >> Question, Joe, with the backpack buddies. We see donations pretty much every meeting, which is awesome. I'm curious. You know, it was I think less than six months ago we were worried about the fund balance and that not being able to carry the the need. Where how are we sitting with that right now? >> I don't know. And Ron, I don't I doubt you've taken a look at that. >> Off the
005top of my head, I don't know. But I mean, at the time, we had a great reserve after the initial call went out. So, we still have reserves, but I would have to look to see where exactly are. >> Yeah, but you're right. We were we were in a month where we didn't know if we were going to be able to to make it work and Ron stepped in to make sure that the program continued. But um ultimately once that call went out on Facebook last year, we received a tremendous response. So I would guess that the the balance is pretty healthy, but we can certainly take a look and bring that back. >> Now the data is back and Heather. >> Yep. Incredible program. Maybe we can give a little just quick overview of
006what it what it is because I've been asked, you know, what exactly is Backpack Buddies? >> Oh, right now. >> Oh, which we certainly can. I Yeah. So, Backpack Buddies for anyone that's interested is a program where uh we put together um bags of food items for uh students and families who are um food have food insecurity issues, food security issues. Um and we do it in a way that provides um support for those families um and and try to do it in a sensitive manner so it doesn't stigmatize the kids. We make sure that they go home on the weekends and they have food. Um it's a tremendous effort that's put together by a number of volunteers within the community. Um as you can imagine, it's not just um throwing a few groceries into
007a bag. There's a lot of inventory issues. there's the the ordering, uh the um the planning, uh there's perishable items sometimes and so to put all of that together in a coordinated manner really takes a lot of effort and we have a lot of great folks in the community that step up. So certainly the the donations is a big part of this, but there's a number of other folks that are involved to make sure that if our kids have a need, they don't go home for the weekend hungry. >> Thanks for explaining. >> Yeah, >> question, Mike. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? >> Okay. Was that good? Sorry. >> Just saying thank you again to all the people who donate because every week we get donations and we should make sure we thank them
008every week. >> Appreciate that. Okay. I've got a motion by sorry motion by Nikki, second by Teresa uh to approve the consent agenda. All in favor say I. >> I nay. >> Motion carries. Next up we've got public comment. I've got nobody signed up. So, we will keep rolling. Got no old business tonight. We've got a few five items of new business. First up, got the two exciting announcements. Uh, first, uh, first item is the approval of our 10ear sponsorship of the launch and collaboration center. I'll turn it over to Joe and Ron to tell us about what's happening. >> Yeah, this this never gets old, right? We're really fortunate to be able to come to every board meeting and celebrate a sponsorship agreement, and this one is an exciting one. This is with um
009Thrivant and Premier Financial Group. Uh they are have agreed to a sponsorship agreement, a 10-year agreement um to secure the naming rights for the launch collaboration center. Um as everyone knows, our launch program is highly successful. Um it's built a strong reputation in the community and beyond within a short amount of time and the space that's dedicated to launch the launch program is beautiful. uh it's multiple it's a large uh collaboration space but then there's multiple meeting rooms as well and there's some thought that in addition to launch it might be used for uh some community meetings or other purposes depending on what we all decide but um the fact that Thrivant has stepped up and willing to sponsor that is really a big deal and want to thank uh Nikki Austin and Eric Hayworth
010for their enthusiastic support of this they reached out to us this didn't even take a lot of of selling they uh you know that they really wanted to be a part of this project and knowing Thrivant's mission and their work to give back to the community and everything they do just really aligns with this effort. So just really appreciative of of their efforts and certainly Nikki Ron if there's anything you want to add to that. I think it'll be a great space and so I'm really proud that we have a sponsor for it because I think not only uh for the ability for those launch students and and their community partners to meet, but I envision that space being available for a lot of other uh community meetings. It's going to be a nice space
011in in that high school. >> Yeah. And a lot of the work that I've done in our community over the last uh 15 years has been dedicated to economic development. And I'm really really excited about what this program is doing and and the energy and momentum that are being created around that. So we are very proud to partner and do this. >> Just seems like a really like a perfect fit. Like when you think about what Launch stands for and what Thrive has done in this community and beyond, it's it's all about taking care of others, supporting, cooperation, um giving back, and um it just feels like the perfect match. So, we're we're truly very appreciative of of the sponsorship uh opportunity and and look forward to um putting that center together in a way
012that makes Thrive proud, but also the community. I think we're going to be in that space a lot and it's going to be gorgeous. >> You just take a motion like normal. >> Okay. Any questions for administration? Okay. And entertain a motion to approve the 10-year sponsorship and naming agreement with Thrivant Premier Financial Group. So move >> second by Mike Davis and second by Terry. Any discussion before we vote. I'll just add my gratitude to to Nikki and to to Thriving and for um to Joe and the administration for keeping the the momentum going. Really exciting to It's very exciting to announce these every every meeting and looking forward to the next one too. All in favor say I. >> I. Nay. >> And I abstain. >> What I'm saying? >> Yep. >> Okay. Next
013up, we've got uh the approval of a lifetime sponsorship of the Hall of Fame yearbook video interactive display. >> Yeah. I'll turn this one over to Ron. I wasn't involved in this one. Ron took the the lead on the sponsorship agreement. So, I'll let him talk about that. >> Yeah. In a similar vein, uh we're very fortunate on this one. Um Rudy and Rudy Bernett and Beth Ableman, Bernett reached out to us um that um Janet Jan Aelman uh had an interest in doing something uh with the new building and as you know, a lot of stuff is now filling up, right? And so we really didn't have anything in in the sponsorship book that was necessarily meeting, you know, what some of their vision was. And so to give you some of the history,
014um Bob Aman, you know, former board member years ago, former board president years ago, um a number of the uh the family have gone into education certainly, uh you know, Beth and Rudy, but um you know, uh and one of the daughters, I'm looking at down to you, Steve, right? One of the daughters married to Mark, right? and and Mark was a former board president. So, you know, there's a lot of connections with that family to the school district. And so, I I brought up to them the fact that we're going to have this uh uh video, not only Hall of Fame, but that's going to have uh the yearbooks of all the yearbooks that we have scanned in and available in it. So, that uh it's there for the community to see, for students
015to look up uh and make fun of their parents or whatever they want to do with it. and uh they thought that that was a connection that Bob certainly would like and that the family would like. And so uh they're going to be sponsoring uh that installation at the high school. And uh it's a lifetime uh upfront uh sponsorship. Obviously, we'll have some ongoing cost as the monitor needs to be replaced and and you know, as we load new yearbooks in into future years. Uh, but it's a great great uh donation and and a great sponsorship and uh I'm glad they reached out and and were looking for a way to to connect with the district uh in in a way that would make them proud and uh so it's it's a great great thing.
016>> Thanks, Ron. Any questions on this one for administration? I would entertain a motion to approve the lifetime sponsorship of the Hall of Fame yearbook video interactive display with Bob and Jan Ableman family. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Teresa. >> Terry, second by Teresa. Any discussion before we vote? >> I appreciate you finding things that you know weren't necessarily on the original list, but that people connect with. I was just thinking the same thing. That's very cool. >> And another big thank you to the >> tremendous >> Ableman family. They're actually my neighbors growing up for >> which oddly enough Randy Gutenberg was my neighbor across the street growing up. Um, connections 25th Street, Monroe, Wisconsin, all really >> repping it hard. >> Really proud of that community. But yeah, huge thank
017you to the Ableman family and yeah, echo the the gratitude for you all getting creative to help them be a part of the this um generational project. With that, uh, all in favor say I. >> I. All nay. >> Motion carries. All right. Next up, we've got um our new or sorry, our Mineral High School building project update. I'll turn over to Joe and Ron to kind of curate our our guests here. >> I'll let you take that, Ron. >> Yeah. So, we got uh uh we'll start uh with Ryan and Tony doing the usual um board update and then we'll get to uh Lynn doing some of the exciting uh furniture stuff. And I don't know are we I don't know that we have uh did uh we have the hard copies I think
018in the in the Ford document for furniture. We don't do a interactive display, but we will have the uh uh the this month's tour uh during Tony's highlights. So, if you have questions of what's going on or or what's coming up, uh he will be able to share that. Uh project is going great. Uh obviously, we dealt with a little rain for a little bit, but now the weather's starting to stabilize and and look good. And so, hopefully, uh we've continued to make great progress. It's at the point of the project now where uh every day something happens uh where I'm either, you know, the one day I was out there and two days later someone calls and said, "Did you know the lights are up on the stadium?" I was like, "No, it went
019up there two days ago when I was there." And so, uh it's moving pretty quickly. So, I don't know, Ryan or Tony, which of you wants to start. >> All right. Um are you gonna play the video? >> John will pull it up. >> Is this a slow one or >> is this uh Which one do we have first, John? Is this the just this month's or is this the whole >> Okay, this is the whole thing. All right, we have both. So, the first one we can just watch if that's the timeline one. >> Yeah, >> this looks like this month's actually. >> All right. Well, I can speak to this if you just want to pause here and there. So, as you can see off to the right side there, we got all
020the concrete curbs in place and that all that space right there in the front of the screen is is about ready for pavement. We're targeting the week after Labor Day to do that. Um, so everything except for just the east west hall road on the south there, which is the bottom right hand of your screen. Everything except for that will be paved uh with a binder course, which is the first course of asphalt pavement. We do need to keep that roadway open just for hauling some top soil. So, it'll be really nice to kind of get like, you know, 90 96 97% of the site um as far as drivable area paved. Um, roofing. We're wrapping up with the roofing now, uh, over in the auditorium area. I guess you can keep rolling. Talk about
021that a little bit. So, we still have that opening in the gym to get kind of get in and out of there uh, with some materials right at the bottom right hand side of the screen. You can't really see it very well, but the tennis courts are developing. So, we have fence posts dri driven down or they're in concrete for three sides of that tennis court space. It really looks looks large when you're out there. It's something to see. Uh there's some good tennis courts and uh some fencing over on the practice field which is kind of to the right. As you can see in this picture, the grandstands are in. Uh they're installed. Uh that happened fairly quickly. You can also see the poles I believe light poles 100 foot tall light poles that
022are up. Uh, and we're starting to see the track definition there off to the right hand side of the screen. So, the track and and turf field and all that's really coming together quickly. Um, they're itching to get some some more stuff installed. The goalposts are on site and ready to go up pretty soon here after we get some of the final grading done. It's a lot lot coming together. If you want to pause here, that that portion of the building to the left there is the auditorium. And that's where we're finishing up our roofing exercises. By the end of the week, we're sitting pretty good there. Linger into next week a little bit. Um then you'll see the the greenhouse in the middle of the courtyard there will start to develop over the next
023few weeks. It's the last structure that's really attached to the building that needs to be built yet. Keep going. As you can see in the bottom, we've already got some grass growing, some plantings there, trees and shrubs and things of that nature. Uh we're starting to get around the corners of the site. You can kind of even see at the top of the screen there. And top left, we just got, you know, grass starting to take, you know, starting to grow. So, we actually had our first mowing this week. So, a lot of the grass is tall enough where we're actually mowing it already, which is nice. Um so, it's good to get that establishment. And then Tony, I believe the area is in green. Is it uh in September or October you're hoping to
024start getting um the red pops on the building? >> Oh, um metal panels are actually coming in I think next week. Um so we'll see some of the metal panels start to cover up that green certainly by the end of September. >> Yeah. So some of the people are like, I thought there was red on the building. It's coming. >> Yeah, it's coming. Yeah. All right. I think that's really it. The inside is know we're kind of shifting the drone footage only really captures the outside, but I'm sure you all saw the the project update. Uh we kind of added a few extra pages of uh of pictures there and I'll just kind of explain what's happening on the inside. So, um our first area finishes, which is a classroom wing above administration, that's really
025developing. Paint is on the walls. Um we actually have the tile bathrooms completed in the staff work room. So, it's uh finishes are starting to go in, which is exciting. Um that tile crew is moving down to to first floor over by the CTE expansion to get started. Next, um electrical switch gear came last week, so that fell right into place uh early on in the project. That was something that kept me up at night, just making sure that we get the switch gear in on time. Uh the switch gear is the life of the electric the building electrically. Um, so you know that was about 52 week lead time that we we actually got accelerated and it showed up like within one day of when it was supposed to. So that that's huge. We're
026trying to get that all wired up so we can fire that up in the upcoming weeks. It it'll be a little bit because there's a lot of work to do with that, but it's here. That's that's the main thing. Um, just drywall activities happening um all over the place. Um, some stairways are finally starting to go in. We're finishing up kind of some of our last concrete pores. Um, kind of surrounding the performing arts center. The big concrete pores we have left would be the commons. Kind of dragging our feet on that one a little bit just because it's all polished concrete. We want to protect it as much as possible, but it's getting to be about that time where we need to we need to think about doing that. Um, but yeah, the the
027track railings came today, which is another huge thing. Uh so once all the railings um for the track in the gymnasium come, we'll be pouring that track concrete in the upcoming weeks. And uh there's some structural steel and catwalks going in place in the auditorium. So that's what you see in one of those photos is a bunch of catwalks up there. So we got probably another three weeks of work for steel in the in the PAC and then it'll switch gears over to some duct work and things of that nature starting to go up. Yeah, that's I guess in a nutshell what's going on site. Any questions? >> Lights on those uh light poles in the surrounding. >> Yeah, there isn't anything called out, I don't believe, but um I was thinking about that as
028well as that >> with the proximity to the airport and looking at a water tower. I mean, I'm thinking they're just as tall as the water towers. >> Yep. I was actually thinking about that last week, too. We should probably pose that question tomorrow at the court meeting. >> 100 feet is pretty tall when you're standing next to it. >> Well, even when you're a distance away from the highway, >> a mile and a half >> when they went up in less than a day, right? >> Yeah. Yep. >> It was unbelievable. >> Yeah. They uh >> rigged those in a certain way so that the drops down. >> Can't get a lift up there to detach the ring. So, and then there's a laser on it that points right at the center of the
02950 yard line. So they're all pointed in the right direction. So yeah, it's it's pretty cool operation to see. Yeah, it happened fast. You good? >> I think I'm good now. >> All right. Um I'll go through not a lot of change in the budget since the last time we talked. Probably the biggest change I added some budget notes. Uh Mike when he was here last time had some takeaways. Um and it was more about the question of of where are overages covered from? Is it owner contingency? Is it a transfer? Did it come from the GMP? Do we move it from one line to the next? Is it coming from the surplus of funds that are sitting slightly outside of the budget? Um so just out of those notes, but we haven't had any
030uh change orders since the last time we met. So um not a lot of exciting things to talk about the budget, but um in the sense of the overview, um the referendum is 50% complete. um which is pretty crazy and awesome and um and we're we're in a really good place. Um we also added some interior photos with our progress photos this time knowing that you get a lot of exterior photos come your way. We were trying to pick up some more interiors so that you guys could see an update from that direction. Um but burn rate is good on owner contingency. Uh not much change. Um again the budget where uh other than progress in buildings uh with the 50% complete in the referendum and the 47 complete for the high school and the
031difference between the two being uh Abe Lincoln um is part of the referendum and so uh probably the biggest change and and this is going to be a punt back over uh to Tony is that you see the CG Schmidt safety scorecard and um we were at 100 um last time we met and spoke about it and we're at 78 now And so I'll let Tony address that. >> Thanks. >> Leaves the room. >> Drops a bomb in the >> Yeah, we uh we're getting down to that point. Uh 80% is where we definitely want to be above above that below dipping down below 80 is a little concerning. Um but big picture wise, you know, there's about 25 subcontractors on site. we have pretty high safety standards and to try to get all them
032on board and and up to snuff is is an undertaking. So, uh we just have to tune that up a little bit. The good thing is the things we got docked on are relatively minor. Uh the bad news with that is usually a multitude of minor things actually lead to to something that could happen on site. So, we're we're well aware of that and uh we have safety personnel on site every week, sometimes multiple times a week to to do um to do tours, which is also contributing to to to some of the points we've been docked. So, um, you know, misuse of ladder, like somebody standing on the second to top ladder. That was some points that were docked. Um, some flagging on the roof. There's supposed to be warning lines with flagging. Uh,
033and any gaps in that uh flagging, this is a warning systems that if if you get too close to the the edge of the roof, that flagging will stop you. At least give you a warning. So, there's some gaps in that that just need to be addressed. Um, believe it or not, some paperwork was one of the bigger bigger docks. Uh, pointwise is there's a week with some missed paperwork summary. uh walkth through um report from from our crew. So um like I said, nothing huge, but just uh accumulation of smaller things, but um we'll be focusing on that. We already have been over the last few days morning huddles with the crew. >> Any questions about that before? >> I appreciate you guys proactively addressing it and and the fact that you're so on
034top of it. One thing I wanted to say, this is color commentary before we move on to furniture is uh I've done this for a while um and worked with a lot of school districts and I have not seen um such a variety and a dollar amount of like contributions from the community, especially in a community your size for a project like this. like the fact that you guys made a list then completed the list and then had to make some more of the list and that you have such a variety of people and and companies and organizations um that are donating. We've done this in the biggest school districts in the state um and some of the biggest in Illinois and um I have not seen anything quite like this. So, it's it it's
035super cool for me and I hope it's super cool for you cuz cuz it's like I think it's super inspiring and uh and I think it's awesome. So, um it's a lot of fun to see that and it's a lot of fun to get updates from Joe and Ron about what's what's happening on their end and and I applaud them for their effort and and the responsiveness to that effort. So, for sure. >> Um furniture, you want to go into that real? >> Yeah, I'll can I go quick? Oh, you got some. >> Yeah. So, I think there's a question I missed last month, but I think there's a question about construction contingency. This is now a good time to talk about that. Um, so, uh, everything Ryan had mentioned about owners contingency is sitting
036on the owner's budget side. Uh, we also hold a construction contingency on the construction GMP side. Um, so we've spent about 40% of that and as Ryan already stated, we're um, more like 50% complete. So, we're spending it at a rate slower than what we are actually building, which is a good sign. It means, you know, if you were to make a forecast based on that information, you'd you'd have about 20% left or so. Um, so we're sitting in good standing there. We have been protecting it pretty well. Um, we've even used some of those contingency funds for things that, uh, you know, sometimes might not always be used for. So, uh, we've been evaluating that as we go on construction are kind of letting some of that contingency go for things that wouldn't normally
037be considered contingency. But uh we just don't want to get to a point where you know we have a bunch left over at the end and you want to spend it as you go type of thing. So um construction contingency is in in decent shape and uh we we look at it every every two weeks with the group here. I show a contingency report to um the group at the owner architect contractor meeting. So, it's something we talk about often. >> That's all I had. >> And much like we we talked in u uh finance tonight about the the the AL Lincoln project and that was much the same way where we knew we wanted to do the floor at a blink in the gym because it was delaminating. We knew we also had some
038painting in that gym that we wanted to do, but we had to wait to see if all of the key components that were designed into the buildings and the mechanical upgrades got done and we're on budget before we were able to make that commitment to finish off some of those items. And so, uh, I think what they're foreshadowing is we're in a good spot with the budget right now. uh if we don't hit any un you know unexpected hurdles between now and the end hopefully we'll have some of that opportunity at the end to look at some of those things that maybe at the start of the process when we had to say no we can't do that right now until we make sure this uh budget's uh in line and the building's what we
039want it to be we can come back and revisit some of those things >> actually before we go to furniture I don't know what's in your order in your packet um can we talk about moving vendors Actually, I think it's the other way around. >> Furniture first. >> All right. I was trying to finish with >> Lena's dying to get here. >> I was going to finish on the bank. She's here. Like, >> I'll sit here and smile. >> Okay. Furniture. Um, Linda asked me to talk and then hand it to her for questions. >> Before we do that, Ryan, are you good moving from from uh the high school building project update down to furniture? >> Yeah. Any final questions from the board on the high school update before we go on to our
040next next item, which is an action item on the new high school furniture on the new high school furniture. >> And Chandra, I told you you wouldn't have to pull anything up, but if you do have access to the uh attachment, you could pull it up. And so, >> did did you all receive the attachment and your four dos? So, probably the most important thing, did you look through the renderings? Yeah, if you don't have them, that's fine. But I thought it looks >> Yeah, I say that's what was the feedback. I think it look they look great. Pretty pretty simple renderings and the and um but I think they look amazing. The furniture looks great. The variety of furniture looks great. The commons is really impressive. um you know when we talked uh I
041don't know a month ago maybe maybe two months ago at this point about furniture budget and we were having the conversations about when we were having budget challenges at the conceptual phase of the project and we had to find a lever to pull we cut a lot of budget out of furniture. Um, and as you look at these renderings, these are the reasons why if we had the opportunity, one would want to add it back, right? Um, for high quality, uh, attractive obviously furniture and very versatile, um, and resilient that can last for a long time. The the LMC looks amazing. Um, the layout, the the colors, how it works with the carpet and the interior design, I think it looks great. Um, and then we were talking earlier about uh, launch that's in here.
042Typical classroom. You can see storage uh, there. and and uh versatile student seating that can be moved around. Um that we you know with better chairs um in here than um what the baseline was. Um the the labs look great. Um again really flexible space. Um chose not to go with the stools but standing stations. Uh again for flexibility um and and you know and we'll have an ADA uh area in here too. We were just talking about that today about cabinetry. Um, and then yeah, the launch space. So, um, again, awesome with the donations. This I think this space is going to be amazing. Super flexible. Think like if any of you ever used a co-work space, um, it's it's it's going to be similar to that where can be have small huddles or
043big groups or individual work or pull off into one of these side rooms for a for either a a meeting or a a teams like kind of Zoom call or just a lot of variety that can use in this space. I think it's pretty great. Um, but to the nuts and bolts of it is we did increase the budget um, as you guys remember as mentioned to 1.9 million and after all of these spaces that total up here um, we came in at 1.88 and so uh, that's that's pretty great. Um, we we hit our target and um, we didn't skimp. we got what we wanted and uh we've set the school up for success and we've set the school up for longevity in furniture so we're not um you know 10 years down the
044road handing off something um that's that's in a tough spot. Um so um I'll pause there because that's what I know about furniture. Um and I'll hand it off to Lynn and you all um to see if you have any questions or if she has any comments to add. I it's just been a really really fun space to design and just share a lot of these renderings internally at Demco and everyone's just so excited to see these spaces come to life. So it's been really fun to work on. A couple three things I I would share is you know one is when you look at the common space uh certainly you know Jeremy had the vision that you know we would like the high school to in some parts of the day be able to
045operate more like a college campus right where there's spots where students can hang out and and and and gather uh when they're not you know committed into a classroom. Uh and and so this gives an opportunity with a variety of styles of seating and opportunities for kids to meet and collaborate in different ways uh without just you know a a row of lunch tables back in our generation that we might have seen. I think the other thing that I certainly want to give our staff credit for was um they had a very good I guess eye or or or thought process for controlling the budget as well through this process, right? I think they they communicated what they would like and what their needs were, but they also were sometimes the first ones to be
046asking does that cost more because we could do it this way, right? And so I think our kudos to our staff for for being cognizant of of and and wary of you knowing that we had a number that we had to get to and a budget that was in place. And so uh uh I wanted to point that out. And then just in, you know, one of those areas when we we look at is like just in the typical classroom where originally we had looked at a couple of different styles of desks where we could pod or or create those spaces in different ways and and the teachers basically said, what if we just make them all square? Then we can put them all together in any way we want at any time. Uh versus
047if some are trapezoids and some are squares, right? Then suddenly you start getting into some some dynamics there. And so I think things like that where our staff was like, "Yeah, we don't need, you know, what might look the coolest or or whatever. We we want what we what we know is functional and meets the needs of our classroom, but you know, gives us that flexibility for not only our current kids and and and staff, but also future uh staff and and and students who are in those classrooms. >> Ron, I just want to ask a clarifying question. We had already previously approved the increase in furniture budget. Correct. And so when it's listed in here, this isn't an action item. This is informational tonight only. Correct. >> We just need if there's any concerns,
048uh, we need to know now. Otherwise, we need to we're at the point now where we would like to proceed with putting the order in. So, uh, again, it's within the approved budget. So, we're fine with that. But if anybody has any concerns, now would be the time to express them. Otherwise, we need to get this furniture ordered and and and and get on our way with this process. >> I have two quick questions. I I think there's lower seating in between the higher seating, correct? >> Yes. In the in the comments. Yes. >> Yes. And then the other thing in the commons, are there charging stations within the tables and areas for students? >> Yep. So, there's a few separate ones kind of throughout and that's for a couple of re that offers a
049lot more flexibility. >> Is that what that little ball is? Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. It offers more flexibility than having it built into the furniture because then you're not locked down to that piece being in that spot forever. So, with this, you have a lot more flexibility to move that around as needed >> um day to day or month. >> Is that a uh And because I wasn't sitting in on those meetings, Lynn, is uh are those then chargeable rechargeable ones, right? I believe or >> so they're planned where the power is in the floor. Yes. So, they they do plug into the floor. >> Yep. because I know we looked at we went back and forth both ways. >> What's not shown is there's some uh furniture on the concourse when you go out
050to the football area. So, there's some furniture out there. Not shown here. I mean, we just did a a random collection of snapshots of what we thought would be the the most variety of things to see, but there's clearly a lot of things that aren't shown in this that are that are great, too. Um but I just want to point out there is outdoor um seating there and a variety of of things. >> Yeah. And then uh Terry also to answer your question. So like in the middle there's actually u our logoed at the high school. If you go to the high school now you see some of our logoed um lunch tables. >> Yes. >> Those are coming right. So so those are in the room as well. >> Um >> Oh yeah. Yeah.
051Yeah. They're folded up in the picture on the side there. when you get down to the far end uh you know underneath like the the back of the um uh what's the word I'm looking for pack uh there's more like low casual seating much like you're seeing up front and so yeah there's different spaces have different kind of personalities so because not all kids are wired the same right >> well I was just thinking about old farts like myself going in there I don't want to sit on a high stool you know forever. But having the low seating, >> Well, we can't sit too low either, Terry. Right. >> That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. But I love the color scheme. I think it's awesome and it really screams Monroe High School. >>
052Great. >> And I know there was comments earlier in general about that it's really white in there, like in the space, like the walls are white and the renderings show polished concrete is white, which is not going to be white. But I think once you get furniture in the color, allowing the the furniture to do the heavy lifting on a lot of the color I think is a really smart move and it keeps things very versatile moving forward. >> I don't want to be the janitor that cleans that room. >> Okay. >> Everything's very easy to clean. Wipe down vinyls. Very easy to clean. >> Things removable. >> There's a floor scrubber. We're going to have floor scrubber. So all the things. Is it stackable like storeable most of the furniture or like how easy
053is it going to be for the teams to set up and move and re like I look at this picture of this room and it's it's pretty multi-function space right >> out of curiosity >> yeah all like the stools are stackable the chairs are stackable um the furniture is on glide so it's not on wheels so that it's not sliding all over the place but still really easy to move around um the folding um cafeteria tables fold up and push out of the way so everything is really easy to move around to to clean and rearrange as needed. >> But you're right, Mike. I know Jeremy's talked about, you know, do we do they consider using the space for like some of the dances or or stuff versus using the big the big gym, right?
054>> Do we order like just exact or we order an extra? I mean, I assume high school kids are going to be hard on furniture. like how easy is it to get placement if we're not ordering more than what we need? Should we order extra? Do you usually see that from from districts that they're getting? >> Not typically. It's something that all of the furnishings are built for educational environments. It's all we do. They're built to last. Um and a lot of these furnishings were also piloted with the high school students, so kind of tested in your actual classrooms. Um, so they're all really um time-t tested brands that we carry too. So very easy to um get additional if needed. Um, and then we also uh carry a lot of really great warranties too.
055So if anything happens, just give myself, Shauna, um, the Demco team a call and we we help make it right. I asked a similar question, Mike, because especially when you get into like some of the custom colors, right? Or, you know, and uh but it's always a pushpull because because like Lynn said, they're working with companies that they work with regularly and and that they you know, product lines that they use a lot uh versus we also don't have a tremendous amount of storage, right? So, if we buy too many spares of each thing, where do we keep them? And so, but yeah, that was exactly my mind because it's like, you know, what are the odds you'll get that exact same red? But at least you guys have that red identified, right? And so,
056we know what it is. >> So, we're going to just formally, I guess, take take the vote to approve this tonight since we got it in the agenda. Any questions from board members before take action here? Was there anything that we weren't um getting that we kind of put on a hold list for financial wise that maybe we want to look at putting in with that um remaining balance? >> I don't know if there was anything specific I I'll lean towards you. I will say like I think getting along those lines, one thing we know we have uh furniture like as you head out onto the patio kind of more closer to the building like for students if they want to step outside and take a break. I think there's certainly if there's additional dollars
057that allowed we might get some additional furniture out in the patio that then is placed more around the concessions and and toward the back of the seating like where some of the handicap seating is. uh but it's not something that we have to do like right now right so uh but yeah I don't recall anything else that uh you know certainly if we would have kept to the budget that we had cut back to uh and hadn't made uh the you know reallocated it back to where it originally was kind of sitting we would have had some issues u because yeah then we would have been making some of those decisions to that would have really probably hurt >> I will say we do have a line item in a budget called miscellaneous loose furnishings.
058And that is a lesson learned for us that um once you get into the space, um you learn that you're missing some things that you wouldn't have known until everyone operating the space gets in there. So, it's kind of our holdback line item. It's $50,000. So, it's not a small amount of money. If we don't use it, it'll roll back into the general fund of the budget and we can um allocate it in different ways. But, um just from our aspect, we've we've learned a lot of times once everyone gets in the building. Um, and you guys have a really unique situation where it's it's uh coming online um in late spring and then you have the summer until uh school starts that you can have a big soft opening essentially and experience the space
059and actually give yourself some time for procurement before students come if you find those things. So we do have a line item to help support that. So along with the furniture, there's like some of the storage spaces, cubicles that are included in the furniture or not like systems furniture like uh >> like like a cupboard cupboards or I like in the typical classroom there's like a storage cabinet and a bookshelf that's included in the furniture. >> Yes. Yep. There are some spaces where there's built-in cabinetry that's part of the construction package, but then there's mobile storage pieces in the classrooms that are part of the >> Every classroom will have some storage space. >> It varies. There's there's a lot of involvement from the staff on sharing their wants and desires for those spaces. And
060Jeremy did a great job of wrangling all of that feedback, working with >> with Lynn and Shauna to make sure that we we got what we needed. Um, but the short answer is yep, it's going to be in there. >> Yeah. Yeah, and I to echo what Ron said earlier again, another thing that's been unique with our experience with Monroe is your staff's general just yeah, if we can't afford it, let's not do it kind of approach where sometimes we get the exact opposite of that with uh with staff occasionally in other areas. And so we've almost had to be like, "No, no, no. We want to do this." Like this is something that you will want. You don't have to bring your old bookshelf. It's fine. >> Well conditioned to the budget constraints. That
061is a good question, Steve. I know u you know anytime could be me, it could be teachers, whoever, anybody who's been in a classroom space or whatever for a long time, you accumulate some stuff and everybody's like, "Where am I going to put it?" All right. And well, some of it is you just got to let some of it go, right? Uh but but that is a real thing. And so that was one of the other areas that we added uh with some of the additional dollars was we put in some additional storage uh spaces in those classrooms. And I get kind of echoing what Ryan just said there. I think that's one thing when we get into the spring and all the furniture is in place and we've modeled it, but when you're actually
062in there and looking at it, it might be if it makes sense to add some more storage, maybe we can do it at that point in time. um because you know there is I've never heard anybody complain, oh I've got too much storage in my classroom. So sometimes it's all right to keep it a little bit constrained, but uh I also understand like if you know if you have sets of books and you're you're only handing them out and using them for, you know, a part of the school year. Yep. You got to you got to store those books for the other parts of the year somewhere at some point in time. >> Any questions? Okay. I would entertain a motion to approve the new high school furniture with Demco as presented. >> So moved.
063>> Second by Steve. >> Discussion Steve. >> It was Steve. Okay. So it was right here. >> Any discussion for the vote? >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. Nay. Motion carries. On to our new high school moving vendor. So, we went out with an RFP to three vendors um that our company has had uh success with. Um one of them, it's been a while, uh but uh when we did use them in the Milwaukee area went really well, but the other two that we've had very recent success with. Um so, we we gave them a scope of services. Uh they took a tour of the existing high school, a guided tour of the existing high school um to understand that scope and they were charged with put together a uh a
064time and material with a not to exceed uh number. And so they did and then they were told to describe what that bought, how many hours of labor and material, what type of materials were going to come to help the moving process. We also charge them with a detailed labeling and organizational system that they are in charge with teaching um to to key staff um so that we understand that also providing best practices uh for packing and then all the materials to do those things um and so out of the three um after discussion uh Ron Joe and I and Jeremy um we decided to go with Cokeley Um there are 15 I bet Kley moving companies in the state of Wisconsin. So don't get confused which one you're talking about. Um but C Kley
065uh not because they were the lowest price but that they were the when you looked at the hours that they offered as an allocation for the move. um it they had the lowest price per hour if you broke it out their total proposal divided by the amount of hours and days that they were going to and it gives the best flexibility and with it being a TNM not to exceed if they don't need all of those hours we won't pay that full amount um and so and we have had very recent success with them um and so that was our decision to move forward with Copley uh to do the moving and um and once we release them to do that then we'll start scheduling it and finding what the perfect times are and all
066those type of things. But right now, that's uh that's where we are. >> Yeah. When you think about doing a walkth through like on a move like when you're talking about a high school and this is kind of where I think Jeremy and I who were did we're part of that uh we're advocates for getting them more hours like you walk into a shop and you got what you can see right and we know that we're probably going or we are going to be working with Faith Engineering on moving some of the large pieces of equipment but you can see the tools that are out in sight but you don't know what's stuck away in all the other cabinets and and everything in the place. And you can tell them that, yep, we're going to
067try and get through some of our inventory stock, but you know that we're going to have a bunch of boards and a bunch of uh iron and and and welding wire and stuff at the end of the year and they're just guessing, right? They're like, "Okay." They throw a number at it, right? and it would be really easy for them to say something's out of scope because we didn't know that this specific item was moving and that would have been X dollars. And so um having lived this life a little bit um I have a much greater comfort level knowing that I'm going into it with a bigger application hours uh in there. Uh and so that gives us some wiggle room and some fight. Uh if somebody says, "Well, this wasn't in the scope.
068We didn't see this in the walkthrough." Well, yep. And some other people said that was going to be a lot less hours. So, you can build this into your scope. So, um that's why we're recommending uh Cokely even though they're they're uh the highest net cost up front, but they're the far and away the lowest when you look at the amount of hours that they're allocating uh for the for the cost proposal that they gave us. >> Have they been pretty good on their hours? Because it just seems odd that their hours are almost double the Kley brothers. >> Yeah. And that I found well I I would say it's more odd that Kley Brothers was so low in my opinion. Um that was the thing that stood out to me was um that it
069was a very low allocation. My only thought is they're coming from Milwaukee. They may be looking at it as we're sending we're going to really just attack this thing and and try to get it out, which could be a good thing, could be a bad thing. It's hard to know. Um where uh Coke is looking at it, it may take us more time. Um, but what I've learned with moving vendors is honestly you want it to take a little bit more time um, for the sake of the new building and the sake of all the stuff being moved and um, and so I would say do I feel like estimate a little high? Sure, I do. Um, they're probably just, you know, being a little conservative just to make sure like all they're thinking about
070the same things Ron's thinking about, right? Like what did we not see? Um, but I would say the odd man out on this one was actually Copley Brothers and that they thought they could. It was concerning that they thought they could do it in such a small amount of hours. >> And if they do do it in less hours, they're not charging us. >> It's whatever the hourly rate is, that's what it'll be. So, if they end up at 600 hours, then that's what the fee will be. >> Yep. and Alex from our team will be on site um during move operations and um one giving assistance to whatever they need, information they need or any of those times just coordination um but also giving some feedback on how long people were working, how many
071people were there that day, um how did it go, you know, those type of things. So we can give real-time feedback in that week or so window of work with the uh key point person who's managing it, their project manager. So we can get real-time feedback during the process um and not just wait till it's all over and say, "Hey, that was that was a mess, you know, more of like, hey, you guys had a rough morning. I talked to you at lunch. What let's figure this out for the afternoon." That kind of real-time feedback. So >> yeah, I would just say from the walk through, I mean, I think there's people who do this every day, right? And I'm sure there's plenty of them who could walk into the room and glance at this
072room and say, "Yep, it's this many hours." And walk out, right? But when you have somebody else who's asking the clarifying questions of do we need to take down the monitors and move those as well? Is the sound system going? Uh, you know, I might trust their hours a little more. Uh, you know, than than someone who's just, you know, saying, "Okay, I think this would be a good hour." >> Are they moving stuff that we're not using in the high school or are we going to put that on the auction website? What are we doing with all the old dust and things like that? yet to be finalized. But yes, whether it's an auction, whether it's the auction website, whether it's a a large garage sale, schools have done all three. Uh but yes,
073they are no, they won't be moving stuff. We're not taking to the new building, but yes, we will be coming up with a system to to to make that available to the public if if they're interested. Um, but there is stuff like there is if you go into the back scene shop, there's an entire balcony of of storage of like sets and costumes and things of that nature that they have to get down to the lower levels so that they can take it out, right? So there's there's there's a lot of and and like I say, when you're when you're going through some of those tech head spaces, there's there's a lot of tools and equipment and stuff. And so it's not only just can't just throw it all in a box because then it
074becomes unwieldy on the size, but you also have to kind of keep them together so that when you're putting the room back together, you know, this box is this set of tools so they're not all intermingled. So there's there is steps to the whole process. Let's say there's a few things that they aren't moving. Um they won't move hazardous or flammable chemicals. So if the science department has any of those, um you'll either need to make other arrangements or move it yourself. Um we'll have a different firm yet to be determined, but two people have looked at it or one person we're going to price back. We already have one price for moving um a scoreboard out of the gymnasium, current gymnasium and the scoreboard from the football field. Um so that will be a
075different effort. uh Faith Technologies is going to do a big heavy lift in for CTE equipment. Um and then um we will have the the person or the group providing um exercise equipment for the the fitness room um is going to be moving the existing fitness equipment uh from the old school. So it's a joint effort as the move as a whole. Um but the lion share of what we consider a school move is happening um with would be with CO Thank you. >> Yeah. So, there'll be a lot with both teachers, classrooms, but also like coaches and sports getting getting their stuff organized for the move. >> Was the price submitted like just hours and cost? >> Say one more time. Sorry. >> So, like when they submitted the price, was it I mean
076just based on it's TM non TNM not to exceed this is your price. This is the number of hours. >> Yeah. And there's also what I didn't throw in there was equipment and supplies um just because I thought it wasn't as pertinent as knowing what the hour allocation was for the effort, but they there are costs for all of their um crates and speed carts and um they're going to giving tape and bubble wrap and bags for uh technology and and all the specialty moving supplies. They'll be providing all those that was built in their cost and that was broken out for everyone else, too. And I guess where where I'm getting at is I see this is that they likely bid like if it for anchor if it goes over 416 hours that's out
077of scope. That's an extra even though it says time and material not to exceed. If the hours exceed that's beyond the scope of the >> when you don't have the scope >> you know really tightened down when you don't say Xbox it becomes very easy to point at something and say I didn't know about that. That's why we've exceeded the hours. >> Yeah. So hours are super important and I'm I'd almost say it's it's worth asking for um C Kley what is your TNM rate if we exceed the hours so that we can have that built into the contract right away. Well, I will call I'm calling Matt soon as the meeting is over to let him know that they got it because he he asked just let him know either way and so um
078I will let him know when we leave and I will ask for that too to see I mean I will say in in it it's broken out their hourly rate is broken out not because this is full amount just divided by the hours their actual hourly is broken out but I'll ask if hey if we go over and becomes a change order then what what was your what would your rate be if we became a change because I I mean 400 hours is to me ridiculous. I mean that's 10 guys one week. >> Yeah. >> That there's Yeah, there's no way there's no way that happens in 4 hours. >> Yeah. Semi-driver in addition to you know the movers and the others. >> Yeah. We have I think there's four trucks, three vans. Like I
079I forget how it all breaks out but it's a big effort from a lot of people. And so >> this is like outer buildings too like some of the like athletic storage and all that. >> Yes. >> I think there's a risk we go over even with the 720 hours. So I think it's important to protect ourselves for what that overage could be. >> I agree >> because you think of like high jump pits and stuff like that. That's that's big stuff that fills a fills a truck itself in no time. It's not >> I will say to to see Klay and specifically Matt Tranita's benefit. I went through a very hairy move uh with him two summers ago. Um and they were absolutely the most flexible on just being like, "Hey, we're here to
080get it done. Hey, we're not we're not looking for a hand out. We're looking for just to get this done and you guys to be happy at the end of it." And I really appreciated that about his mentality and and his team. So, I went really well. It was a mess when he inherited it and it end he he took it from someone else and um and he he he cleaned it up. So >> we've got a recommendation from Huffman Keel from administration uh to go with C Kley as the new high school moving vendor. Is there entertain a motion >> by Mike Fa second >> second by Terry to for the new high school moving vendor C Kley as presented. Any discussion before we vote? All in favor? >> I appreciate that you said
081that Alex was going to monitor this because that was my biggest concern. You know, I mean, they put 40 people out there. Who's going to keep track of their time? >> It's definitely not a set it and forget. >> I appreciate you guys overseeing that. >> Absolutely. >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. Name. >> Motion carries. >> Okay. >> Thanks. >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thanks, guys. Thank you. >> All right, we've got a couple So, on informationational items, we got um couple things in in boardsmanship and administration. We'll go first on the boardsmanship side. Um so, uh last meeting we talked about um taking a next step at the executive committee uh as kind of a follow-up to the presentation from WBY. So, I'll give the
082board a quick download and kind of what's coming next and and give folks a chance to ask any questions before Joe's got at least one update on the administration side. Then, anybody else from executive committee, please jump in and add what I miss. Um, so, one of the biggest uh points of emphasis that we heard from uh from Randy at WASBY was that community engagement really matters for any kind of superintendent search and selection process. And so we heard that and sat down and uh decided that we want to do a set of focus groups that'll be led by board members in the month of September at the latest early October. And so we're going to do a a student focus group, uh two staff focus groups, and two community focus groups. One focused on
083the business community, one focused on uh parents within the district. And the the purpose of this is to build the profile uh that we are looking for in our our next uh superintendent. So I want to be really clear the executive committee did not uh make a decision or try to make a decision on the option that we think the board should pursue uh between kind of going with an external search firm uh opening up a search and running it internally or going with an appointment. That's not a decision that we're trying to make tonight or that we're advocating for for any of those things. there's a a profile building step that we believe is important to start with community engagement to help uh define uh the profile of the next uh district leader here
084in Monroe. And so we've got um five focus groups that are going to be on the calendar and we're working on the kind of operations and logistics to get that set up. Um each one will be led by a member of the executive committee and then we'd love to have at least one other board member, potentially a couple other board members join each of the meetings. Um, and so as a next step, I'll send this out to the board kind of the dates, the uh the details. Um, but wanted to give you all that update coming out of our executive committee meeting. Just a big thank you to Nikki and Teresa and and Terry who were um who gave up their time to to kind of work through this together. So, let me pause and
085see if there's any other executive committee members who want to add anything I missed. >> I think you did a good job. Good summary. >> Great. Any questions from other board members on that kind of path forward? >> One of the things I have been hearing um and it was again today when I was at the senior center that people are wondering are we going to come out and start talking to the community again and there were four or five people at the at the senior center that would like to have it down there. if we if we're looking for some place. But that was the one of the questions. You know, they want to know about the new school. They want to know about the superintendent posting, you know, how things are going and
086all of that. So, I think this is going to be a perfect fit in. >> Awesome. >> I think it's really what they're looking for. >> So, thanks for saying that, Mike. >> Other questions? >> Um, you mentioned students, staff. It was one students, two staff, and then two parent. I it's going to be full. >> Okay. It's going to be full community not just to parents of students but the whole community. >> So right now the the breakdown is a student focus group two staff where one will be a kind of professional and classified staff. The other would be with the administrative team. >> Um and then for community we broke it down by business community and uh parents. And of course there's crossover in each of those audiences. But the the idea is
087that most of these will be by invitation. So it's not going to be kind of a an all call um anybody show up who wants to um but going to build a list and get invites out to trying to keep it at a manageable size so we can get real meaningful feedback and discussion. >> I'm I'm worried about that part right there. Um because you've got your business people which you know definitely need to know what they're looking for because you know they help support us. Um the parents are obviously the parents of you know what we're what our goal is is to you know educate the students but there's also you know grandparents and other community members that are also you know really a huge part of the buyin to the school district that
088might not fit any of those but we should get their opinions as well >> ties into what Mike just said. >> Yeah it does. I would I would totally agree with you. >> There's a demographic that is missed right now with what with what we've listed. So, we may need to add >> Yeah, that might be something you want to consider as far as expanding at least one of those, >> you know, and like you said with the parents and I can totally understand that, but I think there's another whole group out there in the community >> that, you know, they're they want information, you know, would like to be part of it. So, >> yes, some grandparents are, you know, with the kids after school helping them out. You know, they're just as involved
089and you know neighbors and every you know >> I would agree but there's some crossover when you say community that includes parents just like there's crossover with the teachers there's parents who are in the teacher group there's parents who are in the administrative group so I don't know because we were trying as an administrative group to not make it be let's have 10 different groups that we're speaking to. So I mean but I think every effort should be made that that second community group include a lot of parents and grandparents. >> For the record, we have two public board meetings every month where we invite the community in here to join us and we dedicate time for public comment. If you'd like to know what's going on, please join us and and sign up for
090public comment. We're not We're here twice a month regularly. >> I Well, I completely agree. I also think it's a little different, right? We're not that's not an engaging in a conversation. That's not like engaging back and forth. I absolutely agree. Like absolutely come. But there's I think there's a different purpose for some of those. But I Yes. Agree. So maybe what we could do just to there's no reason why we have to limit the set of meetings to what what we just described. We'll start with what we came up with as executive committee. If anybody on the board would would want to recommend adding one, I don't think we need to go through a formal process to do that, right? And so we can entertain adding another meeting in in early October or late
091September. And I just want to I kind of align to Mike's point. We wanted to strike a balance of hearing a good sub section of the community and understand we're not going to be able to talk to everybody, right? We're not we're not going to talk to 2,000 people. Um, and so one to be respectful of people's time at the same, >> you know, kind of strike that balance. So that Nicole, does that meet your your >> Yeah, I was just saying too, you know, just make sure those obviously um your community ones with parents or business, you know, like your time a day too, just to >> Yep. you know, make sure it's accessible because obviously some parents work PMS and evening and night shifts and whatnot might might >> might not usually hit
092that, you know, like 6 PM time that you want to set those meetings for. You might need to do something a little different. >> Yep. >> Because we do want to make sure we're getting this profile from everybody that's involved and you know, ideally it's everyone in town. >> Appreciate that. Do we have any community listening sessions scheduled in the future? >> We don't have any right now, but that's on our list to do. We certainly have a number of uh spaces that we're targeting. We we did say we want to revisit uh with the senior center. We want to get into the Y in their new space. Um we'd also like to host a couple um within the school district facilities as well. So, at this point, we're waiting to get the school year
093started and get it rolling again. And then once we got everyone settled in, then we really what Jim and I have talked about is and I think the board, the larger board has as well, create just this annual cycle of listening sessions, make it a part of our regular practice because I think all of us have felt that even though maybe they weren't always uh attended as well as we would have liked, there was always value in the conversations that we had and and if we can build that into a regular practice, there's a lot of value there. It's a good opportunity for the whole community, business people, senior citizens, parents, anybody can come to vote and I think that's what that's what the people want. They want the opportunity and like you say, they
094haven't been attended real well, but the one at the senior center, there was a fair amount of people there >> and they were very engaged, >> you know, they were very curious about things and and Joe did a wonderful job of explaining things. I mean, maybe it can't go down the same road as what we're looking for the superintendent requirements, but I'm sure that that conversation's going to come up there at if you have a listening session, say in >> September, early October. So, I mean, it maybe be good time just to float it out there, you know, and schedule one. >> And and we'll flex depending on whatever the board feels is appropriate. Obviously, I'm trying to steer clear and honor what you guys are doing so it doesn't look like I'm like trying
095to force something, but but certainly, you know, I'll work with Jim to take whatever feedback and guidance you all have. And um once this part of the process is established, then I think we can get into scheduling some of our regular listening sessions. So, we're eager to do it. I like doing those things. Like they're fun, actually. So, we'll get it going whenever you guys are ready. And Jim, something we didn't talk about though, but to make sure that we are involving parents and grandparents, maybe the YMCA would be a great place to hold one of our community meetings. >> Yeah, that's the plan. We we have a meeting scheduled with Trent Henning from the Y next week, I think it is. Can't remember. >> Next week. >> Yeah. And that's one of the things
096we're going to talk to him about is getting on the schedule and coordinating that. So, >> okay. Thanks everybody. Joe, you got anything in administration? >> I do. Uh, just to give you an update on some internal transfers. Uh, Vicky Hoffman is going from uh North Side transferring to the high school. Wanted to take advantage of an opportunity that was opened up by a resignation. So, we're excited for her to be able to jump into that new position. We also have uh Janessa Newingham who previously u her position was reduced as a part of the budget reduction plan that we uh approved last year. So we're excited that Janessa is able to jump into a uh special ed aid position um that was vacated by an aid that is now becoming a special ed teacher
097for us, Dylan. So um some good news there. Some things are falling in place, so we're excited about that. The only other thing I wanted to add is as most of you know, we launched our new school district mineral website. U we're super excited about it. Shandre's put it up on the the screen. Um if you haven't had a chance to navigate it, play around with it, please do so. If you see anything that you have questions about or think is missing, please let us know. I do want to give a quick shout out to um Heidi Wit. Heidi has done a tremendous amount of work to get the site map done, get this going. There's been a number of people that have involved in the vision for this, but Heidi's really provided the horsepower
098to get it done. So, um, hopefully you all feel that this is good. I think it's a clean, modern look that we were going for. Um, and we're excited to use this in combination with some of our other parent square tools. >> I was in there this week. I think it looks great and it's easy to get around in it. I I love it. >> Yeah. The video that you see here, that's that's the placeholder right now. and we really like really like it. But um we also want to integrate some uh some video with some of our younger students and teachers from the elementary and middle school and capture some video of Monroe when there's leaves on the trees and green grass and all the things that make things look pretty. So this is
099what we had based on a visit. I think this was from April, but um we've got another one scheduled for the first Friday in September. So, it'll be great. >> Awesome. Thanks for all the work on that. Appreciate the update. Um, okay. Board of Education correspondents. I don't have anything here. Let's do committee reports. Nicole, we'll start with you. >> Yeah, you had their pickle ball tournament. It was great. Well, attend it. I think it will become an annual affair and we're very happy with how it turned out. And God was watching over us because it rained between the co-ed tournament and the family tournament and then it stopped and we we swept the courts off and it dried up and they were able to play. So it was it was great. >> Do you
100think you'll shoot for the same time of year? >> No. Okay. >> It was really really hot. But the reason we did August was because we wanted to do it and with the courts not being done till July and the Fourth of July tournament, that was kind of our first opportunity to do it. Um, we're meeting in October and we're probably going to look at like May or October. >> Thanks, >> Teresa. >> Nothing. >> Mike F. Steve. Um, Mike and I attended that intergovernmental meeting um last week. and uh with the city and several local townships and county reps. Um it was it was more about sharing you know your assets and it didn't really include the school district that much although they did bring up that they had talked to Ron Park and
101wreck I guess about possible working with them to maintain some of the field help with the fields with equipment and stuff. So, I mean the bottom line is, you know, they want to share things, you know, instead everybody doing their own thing. And I mean, a snowplow really can't I mean, like I said to Mike, they're not going to we're not going to share snowplow removal, but you know, there there are things that we could probably do down the road. But one interesting comment that the girl made, um, she said that in all the surveys that they studies that they've done for different municipalities in southwest Wisconsin, the one driving factor that was common in all of them, if the school district was successful, the community was successful. So, um, kudos to you guys. I
102mean, Joe, you're doing a really good job. I mean, we we've got, I think, a pretty good school district. So, I mean, it it leads a good path forward for the rest of the community. So, >> was that Ellen Tyler who was okay? Yeah, she's great. >> Yeah, she was out at the Y when they did that study out there. And we we we do I mean with the between the reciprocal we have with with the park and wreck I mean where you know they use our uh facilities for some of their park and wreck programming. Uh meanwhile we're using the uh softball fields uh and have for years, right? They do a great job maintaining those uh that we're you know right that we're using right now. Uh but we're also they're they're really
103good. I mean, if we, you know, the as we get to back to school time, we usually have them uh come through and sometimes they'll sweep our lots for us. And so, uh, we do a pretty good job here of of working back and forth together. And yeah, we've had some of those conversations both with the new baseball softball complex of and even some of our practice fields of them having some want and use of them, but then also them potentially being able to provide some expertise and support when it comes to maintaining some of those areas for us. So, I think it's only it's great that we're having these conversations and hopefully it'll continue and grow. I will say in Northland Pines, we actually did have uh the county did some snow plowing for
104us, which was interesting, but uh they had a lot of snow plowing equipment up in Eagle River, obviously. Uh but you you we weren't always a priority, though. >> Thanks, Steve. >> Thanks for going, guys. Appreciate >> it. >> All right. Then executive committee met last week, provided that that update. Like I said, I'll get notes out to folks with an opportunity to to sign up for one of our uh focus groups. Um with that, move on to agenda items for future discussion. I've got a question for the board here. Um, so I think I'm going to paraphrase our conversation, Joe, but I think um we went into our our budget reality a couple different times over over the summer and um we need to move the conversation forward on kind of what we what
105we want to do. And so I wanted to see from uh from the board uh kind of what what would you like to see next from the administration to help us uh kind of weigh in as a board on what um next steps we we might want to take. So I believe we had asked for administration to bring us back you know the what we need for what we need to ask for from the community if if we want to support you know the district come forward because what we asked for the last referendum I don't know is enough right and alternatively as we look at that what what type of cuts and and what does that look like if we don't get or ask for that so I think we had left it as
106a board in admins um to bring some of that stuff back. >> Yeah. So from our perspective I we've done some work we you know where I think we're ready to start talking about timeline. I think for us there's a little bit of chicken in the egg in terms of the number and and some of the reductions that we can sort out and Ron I don't know if you have any thoughts on that. Yeah, I know we had put together a timeline. I you know I was we can share that whenever. I think that was partly one of the first asks and that was based upon um if we were going to have another interim conversation but we can also just share the timeline. I think the we have to kind of get to the
107point where we at least know where this third Friday count is and where this year's budget is landing before I can really be confident in projecting out next year a little bit. Uh but in the interim, we can certainly be working on what those reductions are and having those conversations so that quickly by uh late September uh early October, we can really be having some of those conversations as to what a number and or reductions might look like. uh ultimately uh the to have looked at the timeline in a couple three weeks now, but um ideally I would you know prefer that the board either have a resolution passed or at least come to consensus on what the resolution is by the the December meeting uh so that uh we don't lose December, right? So,
108as we it's okay if we know what we're doing and we don't adopt that resolution till the first meeting in January, but at least it would be nice coming out of that December meeting to know where we're going if we haven't actually pass the resolution itself. Uh, and so that would be my my kind of want. And that means that in October and November, we're going to have to have some of those heavy conversations >> because the deadline, what in your mind would be January to pass that resolution if we decide to go to referendum in April? >> Yeah. The real deadline, I think, is it's kind of like the last goround where it's like the Monday after our second meeting in January. >> Okay. >> Uh but ideally, we would hopefully know where we're
109going a little bit before then. So, >> so maybe for our next meeting if we just you just share kind of the rough timeline or might be a good at least beginning step. >> Yeah, we've got that sketched out so we can do that good to go there. And then I think with regard to some of the reductions, I think the board is aware that there's some sensitivity around that. I think our our intent is absolutely to be very clear with the board and the community as to what reductions would be necessary to get to whatever number is is determined. Um, we just want to make sure that we build that that list and communicate that list in a way that doesn't catch our staff off guard, if that makes sense. Right. And so, I
110think, you know, one of the things that I'm going to be talking about with the staff on Friday is that we have a lot to celebrate. We have a lot to be proud of, but this is a big year and depending on some of the decisions made by the board, we've got some challenges ahead of us. Um, but I want to be able to promise them that we're going to do it the right way and communicate with them so that they aren't caught off guard and people are feeling like they're left hanging out there a little vulnerable without any information. So, we'll work with you all. If you have any direct requests, you know, certainly let Jim know or, you know, let me know. But, we've got the timeline built. We've got a lot of
111ideas sketched out. I think Ron and I are planning on within the next week or so to start digging into what that reduction list might look like and then based on some of the feedback, we'll expand that conversation with the admin team and go from there. >> And I appreciate uh Nikki and Olivia with GCDC. Uh we I wasn't talking about our situation, but uh they gave me an opportunity to just talk about school financing in general and how it works and uh how the referendum process is there and why it happens so much right now. And so anytime we can just talk about school funding in general, it certainly helps lay some groundwork for uh any questions that we would have that comes forward. So >> and it was one of our best attended
112meetings in a while. So it was people wanted to hear that information. So we appreciate that you came. >> Ron's popular guy. >> Does that meet the need? I appreciate the thoughtfulness, right? Because these are going to be very difficult conversations. No matter what we do, this this conversation is going to be difficult. um when we're talking about what what type of referendum we might have to bring forward when we have to talk about the potential alternatives and I think our our staff is incredible. The culture we've built within the Monroe School District is incredible right now. So to protect that that culture and and that staff as we talk about these things that are going to be hard and painful and and no one's really going to want to hear um is is important.
113So >> I think Joe just you just made a comment there about you know whatever decision the board makes. I think I would be looking for clarity on what you as an as a leader wants from us too. Uh are you looking for us to approve or say we're going to referendum for the number and if that doesn't happen you own the cuts? I think there needs to be clear clarity so it's not I we're either all in this together or we're defining what we own in this and what you as an admin team own too. >> Sure. I would just say based on the last goound that we had, I felt really good about the process that was used in terms of the board making a determination about the number >> and then the
114admin team or owning uh the reduction that reduction. Y >> I thought that went well too. So I just want to make sure >> with feedback from the board obviously there's always an opportunity to get get some uh insight from all of you. But I I feel like that that's a good way to to clarify those rules and and we'll we'll do everything we can to to take care of the staff and also to be clear with the community in the process. >> Hopefully we won't have to get there. >> That's right. when would we need to like know as far as um going to referendum to get a yes group formed because I feel like that has been a big downfall and not having a group helping. >> Yeah, I mean I think I
115think we'll have to see what evolves within the community, right? In terms of how uh what kind of support is generated there. I think from our perspective to answer it more broadly, I think there's an interest, from what I've heard from the board and certainly from administration for us to initiate this process sooner rather than later. Uh just from this conversation, we know that there's a number of things going on. You all have to decide the process to determine the next superintendent. We've got a school year that we're kicking off right now. We've got um you know potential referendum. And so from our perspective, Ron and I in particular are trying to be sensitive to everything that you all are managing as a board. Um, but we're ready to get this conversation started at the
116next board meeting if that's what you want. And I think as Teresa and some others said, you know, let's start with the timeline. Let's lay that out so you all have the full understanding what that looks like and then you guys can give us some feedback in terms of what you'd like to see going from there and and we'll get that going. And then I think again one of the things that I'm most proud about uh since my time of sitting in the seat and working with the board is there's been a conscious intentional effort to be very clear uh with the community. And I think that needs to be front and center the whole time as we we have these conversations to make sure that people know exactly what we're doing and why we're
117doing it. Um and and I don't think that would be a problem. So we're we're good to go. There's been a lot of planning right now and then getting that information out to the community will allow people to make a decision and go forward. >> Just a question and clarity um you know a support group like that Terry I don't believe like the board or the school district that's got to be a communitydriven um thing. So it didn't be sponsored by the district individual board members if they wanted to contribute and work could do that on their own. Correct. But the thing is we need to know whether we're going to referendum or not so that the community members can pursue that and get going on it. I'm just thinking back to when we had
118a successful referendum pass and it really had a lot to do about a really successful communitydriven yes group. >> Yeah. I just wanted to make that clarification that it's not something that the the board or the district I appreciate that Thank you. >> Appreciate the discussion everybody. >> We'll pick up the timeline then at the next at the first meeting in September. >> Um with that moves on to liaison reports represented here tonight. Therefore, we move on to Oh, sorry. Five minutes for the press. We're good there. I've got 8:28. So, I'd look for a motion to adjourn 8:28 p.m. >> Motion by Nikki, second by Mike F. All in favor say I. Name. Meeting is adjourned.