001Right. >> Start a minute late. >> All right. It's 6 o'clock. We have a quorum. Um, pledge allegiance. >> Algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Backing up the roll call. Mark's not present tonight. He's excused. Um, everybody else is present. Um, moving right into it. Consent agenda. Um, an approval of actually just an approval of the consent agenda. Does somebody want to go into close session on any of those items? >> Can I make one comment? Go ahead. >> So, at your workstation board members, uh, an email was sent out from Mrs. Wellner with the coaches slate uh thus far. Granted, we haven't got into the start of our fall seasons yet.
002Um if so inclined to to recognize that via consent agenda or desire to go to to close. And then as well there is an employee resignation that was known uh but the individual has now met all the expectations through the contractual language and that was placed at your workstation as well. So, if there are any questions specifically, >> I just have to jump in on that. I have to abstain from voting on the coaches because one of them is employed by me. So, I don't want there to be a conflict of interest. >> Well, that that's fine. Um, if nobody else has any problem, we have a motion on the consent agenda. >> So, then we would not vote. Right. >> Right. >> I guess. >> Yeah. >> Do we have a second? I'll second
003it. >> All right. All in favor on that. >> I I >> Okay. >> Moving on. No unfinished business. New business review and app potential approval of Bulldog Stadium bathrooms and concession project. Scott. So board members, uh information that was shared with you through your board packet um via the the hard work of board and uh the committee level to to bring forth a recommendation for consideration. Uh first of all before we start this I want to compliment Mr. Markwart and in his efforts uh because this is no easy task. you know, we're all very much engaged into it, but he is on the ground level um working with potential contractors and services as we move forward. So, thank you Joel for that. Um within your materials are the reason and rationale and I'll let
004Mr. Mark share the recommendation that's coming forward tonight, Joe. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. Good evening. Um, we're definitely very excited uh from the committee level to bring this forward to the board tonight for review and potential approval. It's been, like Mr. Plex said, "A lot of hard work by a lot of people and lots of good discussion to get to the point where we feel like we have a really good recommendation tonight with how the process happened and how we took a few steps back, took a few steps forward, took a few steps back again, and really feel like we're in a really good position to make this project happen." Inside your packet, you can see the proposal that we uh talked about at the facilities committee. We talked about a few
005other of the groups that submitted proposals as well, but tonight you do have RGM constructions proposal in there. You have the preliminary drawing done by uh Newton Building Supply in there. That's what we use to send it out to get bids from other contractors for the work. And right now, if the board uh so chooses tonight to approve the project, we're going to finalize that design, um Ryan from RGM Construction has already been talking to Chris Karu at Luna Building Supply and we're going to work through some of the fine tuner fine-tuned details that we talked about the facilities committee meeting as well. We got some nice recommendations from our groups about, you know, door locations and door sizes and outlets and talked about sinks and overhangs and all of those things that are really
006important to make the project go forward. But tonight, we feel like the the proposal submitted by RGM construction of $191,286 gets us in good positions to continue to work through them. As I noted in the topic summary, we're working to get proposals for the sewer laterals. RJM gave one as well. Uh I met with a group out there today to they're going to send us a number this week and we're going to make that project work as well. The plumber is intricately involved in that as well because the laterals are going to connect to the building itself for the plumbing and the sewer. Reason why we've asked a do not exceed $275,000 tonight is we're going to use um the difference for the laterals. We also have a storage building out there. If you haven't
007seen it, it's behind the um potties right now. It is the old press box that was at Hatton Stadium that we're using for uh storage right now. That has to be moved because that's right where the bathroom's going. So, we got to do a crane pick to pick that up and move it. We're still hoping to keep that and use it for our track storage. If you you may not have noticed, but in the finer details of the proposal, there's not uh the asphalt blending, if you will, between where they're going to saw cut for the building, pour the slab. We'll need to do some final finishing of that asphalt to blend it to the existing asphalt. So, that would be part of that as well. There's been some discussion about um the amenities inside
008the building as well. if we, you know, could try to use um any funds to uh make sure we have the building set up to go as well. So, I guess the long and short of that is the long is we still have a lot of work to do. We're still trying to make sure that we have the right project with the right items, but the short of it is we feel like moving forward with RGM construction with their proposal and the ask of using contingency funds if needed. And we would of course keep the board updated on that along the way or call a facilities committee meeting uh if needed. But it helps us continue this process forward. Um we are hoping to start this um very very soon. Um if approved tonight, we
009would work on getting a PO to RJM and getting our building permit from the city and all of those things that are needed to keep moving forward. I would anticipate the project starting before school starts, before our first football game. So, there will be some logistics of that to work out of making sure portaotties are still available. Um, securing that area to make sure that, you know, people wanting to see what's going on or they're not, you know, putting themselves in jeopardy by stepping over, you know, barriers and things where they can get hurt. We'll make sure we do those type of things. But, um, we're excited to recommend this project tonight. Um, I would ask if the committee has anything to share or questions or if anybody else has something to make sure um,
010we talk about it today, but can't. Some of the questions have come up on just the incidentals that are needed in the concessions area. Um, now specifically, I'm pretty sure you're working with them as far as the power requirements and that. Um, I know there was some back and forth as far as the coolers. Um, I I would I would be very much in favor of it. Let's just move ahead on that. I I just think we've leaned pretty heavy on the grid iron club over the last few years and I'd like I'd like to see us just button this up. And, you know, yeah, those are some we don't know exactly where the costs are going to come in on that, but it it seems relatively reasonable. Um, you know, if we do have
011a little bit of cushion left over, we're done. I I think we can move ahead with with some of the expanding that gravel parking lot out there the way we've talked to with with some of our existing product that's been stockpiled out there. Um, anybody else have any questions on it? >> I've only been on facility committee for what, three months now, and Joe is like on top of this. I mean, he knows right down to he called out they got the wrong number of urinal listed on there. we need to bring we need to get the right estimate for that. He's identified, hey, that power might not be the right power source or we might need more power than what they're quoting. So, we're going to talk to him about that. >> So, Joe
012is really staying on top of this and it's really coming down to the finer details now of >> what coolers we're going to put in there, what refrigeration units we're going to put in there, where the portaotty might go while it's being constructed. So, we still have facilities out there. So, um I think he's on top of this and he's done a great job. I was thinking um on the lines of this like not to exceed um just because we we have quite a bit of question over what we had thought there might be room for on the initial proposal. Would it make sense to add 5,000 knowing we can use that towards two new industrial coolers? The story on the coolers is they were donated by Pepsi 25 years ago to be a Pepsi
013vendor. No, you know, everything's called corporate now. So, we don't even have a local bottler, but like the doors don't stay shut. I know we're paying for power out there and that we come in and the doors are a jar. I think it could be a savings. Um, and it looked like maybe industrial coolers on Home Depot were like 3,300 bucks. Um, if we had two, I was just thinking the not to exceed like instead of keep going back and forth like >> I I'd like to see instead of increasing that budget right now, we keep it where it is and try and meet >> whatever demands we need, whatever coolers we need with within that budget for now. But by the time the construction starts and we start to get through that phase, we're
014going to have time to vote on it again and maybe make any adjustments to it. >> This this this gets the spirit of it passed. >> I think so. >> It moves us it moves us down the path. So, >> did he decide on a plumber? >> It's Doug. >> Is it Dog? Okay, good. So, Doug originally launched the Grid Iron Club. >> Um, so I'm glad we're working with him, >> right? Yeah. >> Yes. New London Building Supply has also been a big part of the project. They're getting the materials from them as well. >> They are. >> Yes. >> Okay. Good. >> And what electrician do we know? >> Uh, he did not tell me yet, but I don't think it's a local contractor. They they were asked for bids, but I don't
015think they were. >> I'd like to compliment the the committee for staying on this. I mean, it looked like a real long shot last spring when it first came because of the price, but you guys have stayed on it and have uh you know had um the time parameters as well as the cost parameters. Thank Thank you guys and thank Joel for being willing to work outside the normal box of the school project. >> Yeah, it should be significant savings and still be I think a really nice structure. >> Yes. >> I'm going to echo Chris on this. It's nice to see it move along and we were in discussions for how long? Ever since I was on that committee. So, um it's nice to be able to vote on something that >> I'll make
016a motion to approve. >> We got a motion. Do we have a second? I'll second. >> All right. Well, it's a roll call. Um Okay. Okay. Um Katie B. >> Yes. >> Nate Gre. >> Yes. >> Chris Mark. >> Yes. >> Andy Thor. >> Yes. >> John Hman. >> Yes. >> And I'm a Yes. >> Moving on. >> Thank you everyone. Well done. Appreciate it. >> Resume potential approval of 146 transfer. >> So board members, uh annually uh we have conversation uh during the month of July when we look at uh winding down our fiscal year, financial year which ended on June 30th. And should surplus funds be associated with the anticipated final numbers, uh the board has the discretion to uh utilize place those funds accordingly within the various funds with that make up
017our school business platform 10. Tonight we're talking about fund 46. the anticipated u unudited surplus is approximately 450,000 and u looking for that potential allocation to support fund 46 ultimately which would be supporting our uh concessions stand bathroom structure and as well as an alignment to the traditional fund 10 to support fund 10 growth which is a key performance indicator which has been itemized as with directive to growth when available and when appropriate to support our district uh stability. Mr. Markworth, any finer points on that topic? >> Just a few things to add. Like Mr. Black said, um this is occurred many Julies, if you will, because that's where you get past your June 30th and we're preparing for the audit. The auditors are coming next week. So, we're anticipating, you know, discussion back and
018forth with closing entries, but right now we feel like $450,000 is that surplus primarily related to staff changes that happened after the fiscal year started last year and then also our insurance change that happened after the fiscal year start. Remember, we have a January 1. Insurance was um a very discussed topic last year because the deductible changes and the changes for staff. We had a lot of staff members that uh decided to go elsewhere for insurance, but they were budgeted for as part of the expenditures. So, we felt like it makes sense when you have an opportunity to do a couple really good things. putting money in fund 46 and the project you just approved is coming from fund 46. We can put some funds in there for other future projects and then also um
019allow the the fund balance to grow. That helps reduce the cash flow borrowing. It also could potentially be used for self-funded insurance goals in the future. Really the board has the discretion to decide what to do for fund balance. So what we put in there is just notes of consideration. The main purpose of tonight's motion would be to approve uh about 50% of that surplus to uh 146. And we can make that transaction until next week, but we won't I don't want we don't want to have a special board meeting just to say it's exactly 450 or 458 281. It's to say we use 50% to make that transfer and we would communicate that actual amount in August when we do our update to the board. >> Could we put half of it into um
020a general fund to maybe support some of the long-term um like interventionists we're kind of looking at with the reading specialists. Would that be a general fund? >> Yep. Fund 10 is fun 10. So whether it's health insurance or interventionist or staffing or it's it's the discussion >> we utilize half of it you're going to leave in fund 10 and we'll roll into fund balance. >> Uh my question is how much is in capital improvements fund? >> 1.2 million. >> Yes. So, we have plenty to do the project that we're cons that we're going to be doing here that we just uh approved. >> Yes. >> Um uh and in light of what Katie was saying, what if we what if we uh instead of 50% put like 30 or 40% into the capital improvements
021fund to give a little bit more flexibility there? I mean, is that a thought? >> It's at the discretion the board. I mean, we are supportive of either recommendation. In our opinion, they feel like they put both put the district in positive sustainability discussions. If the board said, "Should we put 100% in 46?" We're always going to have capital improvement, we could support that. With fund balance, we could say yes, we're one of the lower fund balance percentages in the area from a comparative sense and it's part of our key performance indicators. Put all of it in there, it's going to increase our um percent of revenues or expenditures and then the board can continue to decide how to allocate just like fund 46. Um the board chose to use the fund balance in fund
02246 for the project. If we ended up needing fund balance for some other items the board uh chose to approve, then we would work through that too. >> Yeah, we can't use from 46 though for literacy issues. It has to come. >> That's kind that's where I probably didn't >> explain myself very well, but I was trying to save some for that. Katie, what would you think if we decide? >> Uh, not without penalty because and penalty is a harsh word, but they call it a penalty on your equalization aid because as soon as you transfer it to 146, it is an expenditure in that year. So, it adjusts your shared costs. The shared cost is an equalization aid calculation. So, some districts argue, well, if you spend more, you might get more equalization aid.
023If you spend less, you might get less equalization aid. But I would look at that as there are so many mechanics that happen every year with the budget. We're looking at a a likely increase to taxes this year after I shared the July one aid estimate at the July meeting because the state did not appropriate additional funds to equalization aid. So from a purely mathematical um perspective, if we did not transfer 250,000, we wouldn't get aided on that 250,000. Will it impact property taxes? It will, but it's not to the point where it's going to cost taxpayers $2,000 more in their taxes. It's it's just a percentage of how the formula works. And I know that that's where we really get in the weeds of school funding, but every district is doing the same things
024that we are. If everybody transfers the same percentage of their budget, when you look at 250,000, it's not a huge percentage of the budget. We're all doing the same thing, so there's no impact. If we were the only district that chose that, well then yes. From a percentage standpoint, we're we're aided at 65%. So the impact is more than districts who are aided less, who have more property value. So I I don't know if I would recommend overthinking that piece of it just because there's always years where things happen. But to our property tax owners, we do have a a stewardship responsibility to be sensitive to that because if the property taxes go up a significant deal, um a significant amount, then we're getting phone calls, so are you. And then if we say they
025ask, well, could you have made better decisions in transferring things? We could have, but you don't know that until after the fact. So >> I would say we're splitting hairs here. It it >> whether we do 50% or 40% or 30% it it's >> you know and I I don't want to underfund the facilities fund because we can all think of half a dozen different things that could situations that could happen where we could spend close to a million dollars bang just just like that overnight. >> We still got less purchases coming up that exactly we could lose out on. I'm completely content with the 5050 split. >> We need to be cognizant of keeping our fund balance up because we keep marching closer and closer to to the self- insurance model because of the
026situation we find ourselves in. The insurance thing is not stabilized at all. So, I really think we need to be cognizant of unless things change, that's the direction we're headed. Insurance is one of the big topics that we be looking at very soon as well. So, no, this could help with that. >> And and as far as mandating that it goes toward insurance purposes, we have not tapped any of those unspent OPED dollars we've been talking about for years. That's still there. Potentially, we've talked about that being that being the bridge when we when we go to a self- insurance model, helping us get there with less pain and suffering. I think I think we're in good shape if we do 50 that we still dip into for like uh reading assistance and stuff. Isn't
027there some grants or some money potentially coming from the state? >> We are hoping that we will be eligible for some of that funding. I was talking to Mr. Martin. >> It's a little bit of a long shot. I'll get into that from my report on the meeting. A bit of a long shot, but you know um I you know I I kind of I hear what you're saying, John. I I like though what Katie is saying and the fact that also it I don't think we ever want to transfer stuff back out of capital funds into something else. >> What would you guys think about going 35% >> um into the capital improvements fund? It leaves us more flexibility on the general budget. >> Um >> what's the differential >> if we need it?
028>> But what does that do to the property tax part? >> It doesn't it doesn't really >> It's not like we don't Okay. So, if we need to hire interventionist, the money is there for that. We don't >> there's no shortage. >> Just just to just to frame that as well, you know, anytime, you know, we've been very fiscal stewards of appropriate onetime monies and one10en monies is just that it's one time money. You know, we talked ESRE funds, one-time purchases, trying not to extend sustainability of utilizing them. You know, if if you're saying, okay, interventionists, if that's a focus or whatnot, that's not a oneanddone. That's every year, you know, then that that tasks the budget then to look at where that or how it gets implemented going forward to start it. Yes, absolutely.
029But then to sustain that >> if nothing changes, you know, but every every year it does change. >> You'd hope for a chance that you could outgrow it. But but this correct but doing 35% is not if I understand Joe right is not an effect on it's only if we transferred stuff into capital improvements and then pulled it back out later that that we have that penalty. It's um right is that right Joe? >> Yes, but I don't think we would ever have to >> I don't I don't think so either. I think it doesn't hurt to u uh you know hedge our bets a little bit because until we uh see what the rest of the budget is like. >> Well, it's not that >> the differential was Joe. >> Well, 30% is going
030to be 135,000. I I like the idea that we're basically covering most of the cost of the project that we or that we approved just approved that we're covering most of the costs by just a simple transfer of savings that that came from the budget. >> You're saying so stick with 5050. >> Stick with 50/50. That's that's that's me. I >> I'm kind of that way as well. >> I don't I don't think we need to be splitting hairs over where the money is going to come from if we do need to hire interventionists, which Sounds like that might be the case. We're not we're not scrambling for where those dollars are going to come from. We're kind of splitting hairs here. >> Well, and when I said hopefully you will grow it, I didn't
031mean money. I meant you don't grow the need for the so period of time. >> Yeah, it is for insurance >> for chance. >> Our action tonight has nothing to do with insurance. We're not we're not saying >> right that some of this money has to go for insurance increases or anything. We're just leaving it in leaving the fund balance in the fund balance >> because then you could do whatever >> left over cash in the fund balance. >> You could do whatever with it, right? >> You can correct board discretion. >> I you know I still like 35% but it's not a big enough thing for >> and I don't care either way. I if if the board swings one way or the other, it doesn't matter to me. I'm just all for simple.
032>> Okay. Well, I'll throw out a motion for uh 40% then just to get a little closer. 40 moved that we transfer 40% to the capital improvement fund. >> What is everybody else's thought on it? >> Well, we to discuss it, you have to get a second. If you don't get a second, it's dead. >> We got a second on it. I understand where you're coming from, Chris, but I'm I'm really good with just where it is right now and leaving it as recommended. I really am. >> I don't think it hurts us one way or the other because I don't think that >> I don't see a difference if >> it's not a huge thing. >> Yeah. If if I thought that at down the road we weren't going to have the funds to
033do that, I' I'd definitely be looking at it differently. But I don't see that coming up as a reality in the in the future with our with our budgets looking the way they are. And if down the road a few years that does happen, it just comes down to priorities. What do we what do we need the most? Um so I'm not trying to poison your 40% idea. I sorry >> you know I guess if nobody's with the 40 do we have a motion on the 50 >> doing the even split the way it's presented >> I'll make that motion >> okay seconded in the interest of coming back together >> all right perfect >> do we need any roll call on that one >> yes >> roll call vote >> uh yes um Martinson.
034>> Yes. Andy Thor. >> Yes. >> Katie Batton. >> Yes. >> And John. >> Yes. >> All right. Moving on to review and potential approval of after school program fees. So board members in your materials there's topic summary that addresses an existing program that our district already has implemented uh for for many years and one of the reasons why we're bringing it forward because the fee structure has not been adjusted in many years and we felt that it um was appropriate as is but just in conversations from the leadership team that we're recommending a change just to refresh memories our afterchool program takes place at all of our elementary schools uh for students from approximately 3:30 to 5:30. It's funded by fund 80 which is a community asset um where regardless all students and families
035are able to utilize that resource if interested and available within uh it's typically staffed by individuals that are employees of our district but not always. It might be somebody that is an independent that supports our uh afterchool programming. Uh the intent there is to give some guided instruction and also a little time for decompress uh for students in a safe environment uh prior to parent guardium pickup at the appropriate time. Within the structure uh we're recommending a $1 increase per day at the noted item, $6 per day of students who are uh full pay based on school meals um with a capacity uh weekly cap of $48. uh $4 for students who qualify for free and reduced, excuse me, for reduced meals and then a $2 $2 per day fee for students who qualify for
036free meals. Uh there is a noted sample of explanation that uh Jody Peterson just shared as to how we incorporate that in and communicating it out to families about that opportunity with them. Is there any uh further discussion or on that topic or insight from Mr. Markworth that you'd like to note because this is something that we do budget through fundating to support us with our uh expenditures. >> I still think that's a good rate. I mean, as as a mom who had kids, three kids in daycare, that is awesome to just be able to go to school and pick up the kids and I I think that's still good. >> That's very reasonable. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Okay. >> Any further discussion? Um, it's not a it's not a it's not a expenditure of funds.
037>> Oh, there they were. >> They are calling a roll call on that one. Okay. >> Okay. >> I need Well, we need a motion. >> I'll make the motion to approve. >> Second. >> All right. Chris Martinson. >> Oh, you need a second. Oh, I thought you second. Oh, you can't second. Oh, second. Katie. >> Okay. >> Sorry. >> um, let me go back up here. Oh, uh, okay. Nate, >> yes. >> Chris Martinson, >> yes. >> Andy Thor, >> yes. >> Batten, >> yes. And >> yes. Moving on. Chris giving us a recap of the WB summer conference. >> Okay. Um, there was a a part of it was devoted to talking about uh legislation that affects education starting with the budget. Joe has filled us in on some of the aspects of
038the budget already. Um, but the uh one of the things is the early literacy money that was in last year's budget that never got spent because of a tiff between the legislature and the governor. uh has now been released and it's available to be uh to be spent to reimburse districts that went ahead with uh changing curricula that would um align with uh the Early Literacy Curriculum Council's uh view of what curricula could be used. Um, but there is also some money for staff development that we might qualify. We we don't qualify for any of the uh money that uh it will reimburse from curriculum spent or curriculum coming uh that we've already decided to purchase this year because ARC does not qualify for those funds. uh and UFly which uh I thought would but
039uh only only previously approved curricula that had all aspects of reading in it. >> You can't do all of >> you can't do even though it's recognized as something that you know uh supercharges our um >> our phonics uh it it is not um >> what kind of dollars are we talking about? I don't think it cost us very much. >> No, no. I mean that those >> reimbursement dollars >> the reimbursement dollars out of the 47 million 35 million are reimbursing uh districts or providing money for this this coming year. Uh but it's uh it's uh it's only for um well no that's th those they're going to do it based on how badly the districts used to do you know so it'll be uh badly the districts have scored on so that the
040lowest are going to >> have >> so you're penalized by planning ahead >> purchasing ahead and doing well in the past. >> Well, if you purchased a head, you're going to get reimbursed, but um >> Oh, but we didn't qualify. Okay. ARC because >> we didn't purchase the curriculum that qualified, nor have we set up to purchase it for this this year. But the other there's another um batch of money for staff uh improvement administrative and u and um uh teaching staff that we we can u we can qualify for those and those are equal access. >> So how how do we apply for that? Is that through the >> You know, it's through the DPI and uh Tamila, you probably know the lady's name that is in charge of all that. They said it
041there, but I don't >> Barb. >> Pardon? >> Barb Nomat. >> Yeah, that's it. That she's supposed to be the one that has the the applications and whatnot. So it's it's uh staff development and um there there is also a small pot p pot of money available for um uh hiring um not not reading spe not reading uh not what we're looking at in the committee but um >> there's another there's another word for reading helpers or reading assistance something like that. Well, can we make their title that? I mean, what? >> We won't qualify unless we're in the bottom 25% of scoring districts. Um, so, and I don't I don't know how that maybe, you know, maybe uh that's something Tamila could answer in the future by looking at and it's school by school.
042It's not district by district. So if we have one or two schools that qualify and the others don't, you know, we can uh >> do that. Those are the >> things. U the most uh you know the the other bad news about the um budget is Joe already informed us even though the revenue limit goes up for um the district by $325 per student. Uh the equalization aid isn't going up. So, we can we can receive that revenue, but the basically the 325, if I understand it right, Joe, is going to come from uh additional property taxes assessed people. Uh but the the good the other good news side is there's a a slug of new money for special ed. Uh 500 million is is the number that was said there. Can we get our
043hand in the cookie jar on that? >> Yeah, it's uh the the biggest thing. It it increases slightly the percentage >> uh it um that we'll be able to uh receive per student in special ed. >> Okay. >> And it's a little unclear because it's not a some certain thing. It's a it b it's based on how many districts apply and it might adjust around. We've got last year about what 33% Joe something like that. >> Closer to 30. >> 30. >> So you're in a really good job of sharing what they shared at the meeting. Just two things. They don't give it per student. They give it on your total costs. >> Your total cost. >> Yes. So it's all the students who are in special ed and it's really based upon your aidable
044expenditures. The reason why they expenditures is because they won't let you collect state reimbursement on federal reimbursement, too. So, you can't double dip >> double dip. >> So, they're going to say if your adable costs are $10 million, they're hoping to get you to 40% of that as a reimbursement, >> but it might not. It might be shy of that. If if the number of uh the amount of students in the state goes up, it's probably whatever >> because it's sum certain not some sufficient. >> So some certain means there's a certain number in the budget by any that the was passed that this is the number >> that's the number >> if it was some sufficient it would say we're going to give you all of the 40%. >> So as Mr. and shared
045if there's more claims and expenditures that number will dip just like last year when we were planning on 33 and it ended up saying they're going to be 29 and I think the actual amount was 30%. So it's but any improvement we get over last year is going to help our general fund because it's money we don't have to pull out of there. The other the other thing that is good news on it the high cost student um the state is going to aid those to a much higher percentage. Uh and the number that they throw out is it could possibly be 90% per student. So if you got a student that it costs the district because of individual attention and special uh special education and things like that that maybe you have to that
046you don't have to do for the for other people. If it costs you 40,000 for that student, we might or will I'm not sure get 90% of that rather than whatever we're getting now, which would be the you know the 30 what the 35% last year. So might is a good generalization. What we do with our high cost claims is um right after the first of the year, we take our students that qualify. So they have to cost more than $30,000 individually. And then we enter them into a portal and then that portal receives an audit review by the the auditor assigned to that and then afterwards they'll potentially give you that categorical aid. So this last budget year we got about $36,000 back in high cost. So it will definitely increase but it won't
047say it won't move from 36,000 in our budget to 360,000 in our budget. So um the other thing is uh 4K goes to 6 FTE. I think you already covered that for us in the previous meeting. Instead of 0.5 FTE it goes to 6. And we've been at 6 FT because we have the outreach on Fridays. So some districts didn't do that. So they could only count them as.5. So we already Okay. I did not realize that. But rural private daycare uh centers can now be eligible to open their own 4K and and get direct aid from the state rather than uh the only way they could do that before is if they had a contract with us. So, u the surplus uh the big $4 billion surplus that the state budget had last year
048that has been pretty well spent down in this in this budget. So, some of the budgetary items are one time in this budget because they're using that surplus and that'll disappear in future budget. Um some other uh education things um are being uh being looked at is u decoupling the voucher system from the K12 uh budget, but it doesn't look it doesn't look like it's going to be happening. There's too much fighting about that. So, um that was uh pretty much the highlights of the the budget discussion. Um the uh Roger Price who gave a a great uh thing on school finance and it's it's it's pretty good and he went over they've developed a thing of benchmarks for best practices for boards uh on um school finance and uh the only one that I
049think is is new that I hadn't heard in any of his previous presentations is uh they are uh recommending as best practice to send extra training to whoever is the board treasurer. Uh and that's and that's because of the fiduciary responsibility and because um uh ultimately that treasur is responsible and uh you know before pretty much treasur and and there's it's not a requirement it's a benchmark suggestion that he has um another one that I went to was on s uh succession planning for key personel Uh, and there were there were four different districts there that talked about their succession plans. Uh, and uh, the best one that I heard, the best story I heard was Kitz. They they had a really good succession plan and they uh, they had somebody that was basically already
050trained to step in when their superintendent retired. Uh but the the main drawback to to those plans is um if it's done the wrong way, it can take away transparency and make it look like you're you're taking away the chance for a future board to make a decision. Uh the the the best things I heard about it though is where it's not done to pick a successor. it's done to uh make training available that would make somebody uh meet the qualifications of the successor. And you and they were very careful in those districts not to not to promise anybody a future job but to just say um you know we will you know offer these opportunities for for higher uh higher learning and we will assign you know mentors. Um so uh a person in
051the job could mentor one or two people that might be interested in in the future. Um they uh they stressed that you know it's better not to promise it and in many cases it's better not to say not to say you're not going to advertise the job. It's just to make sure that the people who sign up to the program know that they're not, you know, they're not a shoe in for the job if they complete the training. Um, so they they offered uh eight different things to look for in people to begin to mentor. One is look for people that want to better themselves in advance. um two that demonstrate ethical behavior in their work. They stress number three that they're not a know-it-all. There's somebody that's open to open to learning new things
052all the time and open to seeing the other person's point of view. Uh look for somebody that brings out the best in people. Um, somebody that's willing to try new ideas, somebody that uh has a record of completing their assignments, and somebody that can take criticism well in a professional manner, and somebody that demonstrates a commitment to fight for the underdog or the person that has not not a big voice in things. So, that was pretty good. Um, the last one that I um wanted to talk about is just there was a seminar with three people who were superintendent of rural districts and we're talking about unique problems of rural districts um trying to to do things and there there was a lot of good ideas. The best ideas I heard was from Niagara School
053District, which has had a lot of economic downslide because of the paper mill that shut down there. And they had a lot of really unique ideas uh that have caused their district to somewhat flourish in a in a tough situation there. And uh the other one was from Neilville. uh the uh they had some really good ideas and the other one was Shaqamagon and Shaquaman you know they their ideas I didn't think were >> it's taking a little bit too much time right now >> all rights >> well thank thank you Chris for the review moving on to review and potential approval to allow remote board participation via technology during current session There will not be a need for that tonight. John, >> I thought this was in general like we were approving it moving.
054>> So, Mrs. Miller and I debated back and forth where we used to put it on the agenda if somebody was going to go in there and uh >> just because somebody was missing. >> Yes. Right. And the potential of going in should uh Mark said, "Hey, I want to participate, you know, be in technology and stuff like that." >> Because there is a way is there a way just to say like we're fine with it moving forward. >> You know what? It irritates me. Oh, okay. >> I think I think it's it it'd be great if it worked. 50% of the time that we tried to do this, the person on the other end isn't isn't hearing the information or we don't know if they're hearing their information >> and we just get bits
055and pieces. It >> in theory. Yeah. Like I I think I think >> I don't care in general to participate in the open meeting, you don't need action, right? We have a policy that says they can participate in the open meeting and vote and everything. It's just for the closed meeting, >> you have to have an action each time. You can't just have one general action that says >> Okay. Well, it's fine. We'll cross it. It was just >> so this is a nothing. >> The effectiveness of it I really question. But moving on. All right. >> And we've covered close session. If nothing more, I'm looking for a motion to adjurnn. >> We have a motion. Do >> we have a second? >> A second. >> We are adjourned. >> All in favor say
056I. >> 650. Okay. >> 645. >> Thanks for the update, Chris. >> Yeah. Sorry if it was too long. >> No, it was all good. It's all good.