East Otero School District R-1 - Regular Meeting - September 22nd, 2025

001I do not feel great. 22nd on the board of education regular meetings. Roll call please. Mrs. Aola present. Mrs. S. Aola here. Mrs. Hinds, >> Mr. Coleman, >> Mrs. Le, please rise for the pledge of >> allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. So, first up we have celebration. >> Good evening. We'll start with Mr. Mernie from Tiger Trades introducing his for students. I asked morning who is the uh 4 coordinator for the uh town. So she will talk about 4 a little bit and then kind introduce the kids and I won't be able to butcher their names because I know all my kids we're celebrating all the 4 kids

002from all four all all of our students. So >> well all of our all schools >> so um our forage program is was the only 4 age program in the state of Colorado that is um sponsored by school. But the high school the high school junior high they have a lot of kids. The primary has some uh little kids, whatever buds I think it's called, and the intermediate has some age kids. So, we wanted to recognize them all tonight, and that's why I asked Mario to come tonight. >> Yeah. So, we have our CTA club, which is the first um school sponsored club in Colorado. Um that's something that's really common in other states, especially in the southern part of the country. Um but not so much in we're in the western region. Um but

003then we also have our community clubs. And so we had um we have Jenny Valerio. Um she's a member of our TTA club, but our other 4 members who are here this evening are members of community clubs. So um we actually have members from Crowley County and Otter County who go to school here in Lhanza. And um from I think almost all of our clubs across both counties. So um I will introduce those who are here and I guess as I say your names if you are comfortable because public speaking is a very big part of 4. Um if you're comfortable if you would like to say what your product is and maybe something that you're really proud of from fair or state fair. Um we will just go down the list. So I want

004to be able to make sure I I know I missed a couple that are coming in. So I can come stand over here if that's okay. So um first on my list who I know is here is Tannis Aragon and chickens and my project. I also have Anakin Ayola. >> Over there is my cat and I do cats and chicken. We have Everly Beloo. She's a clover bud. We have Lesie Blue. And we have Audrey glue. >> We have lazy book. We have Gage and Smith. He's a glover bud. >> I had a I made a kit that was made out of Legos. >> Let's see. We have Braxton Griffin. He actually brought something pretty cool to show us. Braxton's affinity. Okay. Um, you we will introduce the Donnell's right now. So, we have Owen

005Donnell who's a clover bud. What did you show this year? >> What did you bring to fair? >> It was pretty cool, too. And Donald, what did you do this year? >> I did. >> Hey, thank you. Then we have Alis Mora. I did market this year all my so I didn't have anything other year I want his place >> it was a bit of an unfortunate year for turkeys we started out with a lot of turkeys and ended up with not very many aair >> um Joseph Samurat >> I did two projects this year. I did market ducks. I won grand champion for market. Then I also did sport fishing and I won first six. >> And Ashera, >> thank you for >> um and Asher is a clover bud and the last two

006years he has done his board on Rosie his forest. So, I really hope we get to see Rosie at fair next year. >> And Anthony Smith. >> Well, I brought that big tree um that my papa >> Jenny Valeria. I do sports and I also did the public speaking contest at first day conference. >> Is there anybody that I missed? >> Noise. >> Oh, no. Sorry. Payton, what did you do this year? >> I did market rabbit and breeding rabbits and cooking. And what did how did you do with your barbecue rabbits and your cooking? >> I got grand champion with my market rabbits and I got champion and grand champion. >> And Cole is a clover bud. And what did you bring for bear? >> Wild and Okay, I think that's that's everybody that's

007here. Um there is a full list um of everybody and all their awards. Um we've got about 40 members um for each members across all the schools. Um and they did some amazing things. Um we had even some kids that um placed at the state shoot like Braxton Inman um which is pretty amazing. We have a state shoot um for shooting sports that is actually larger than the national shoot. So um any of our kids that are placing at those state um competitions are really doing an amazing job. So >> Thank you guys for your support. really appreciate >> and these projects um are awesome. So, please >> I'll send the list to you. Thank you. Thank you guys. >> Thank you guys. Next up, we have Miss Foxhovven for a presentation from Sorry. Okay.

008At this time, we would like to recognize two of our junior senior high school students. The National School Recognition Honor Award honors students who have demonstrated an exceptional academic achievement and a steadfast commitment to the values of Tiger Pride. Recipients are recognized for outstanding performance on nationally benchmark assessments, including the SAT suite of assessments and advanced placement examinations. Beyond academic excellence, honores embody Tiger pride through perseverance, respect, integrity, dedication, and empathy. Qualities that contribute meaningful to the culture and reputation of Launda Junior Senior High School. We are proud to congratulate two seniors from La Hunter Junior Senior High School who have earned this prestigious award from College Board National School Recognition Program in recognition of their exemplary academic accomplishments and contributions. Would Isabella and Oak please come forward? Congratulations about the hard work. Going places

009all the things back. >> Congratulations. Thank you. All right. Item E is our audience portion. Um we do have two signed up. And then just to go over the roles real quick for a reminder, the chair will call the speakers in order in which they are signed up. The speaker will adhere to the time limits and stop when directed by the chair. No speaker will speak in a disrespectful or inappropriate manner as determined by the chair. Speaker may offer such criticism of school operations and programs as concern them. But in public session, the board will not hear personal complaints against any person connected with the school system. If the speaker fails to adhere to the rules and the direction of the chair, he or she will not be allowed to continue speaking. And if he

010or she does not stand down here or she will be asked to leave the premises. No one will be allowed to defer speaking time to someone else. If you don't come up when your name is called, you forfeit your time. Speakers only get one opportunity to address the board on as on the issue. Um I have two this evening and first up I have a Scott Curts. Hi, good evening everybody. Hi. >> Uh, good evening members of the East Ottero School District Board. Uh, my name is Scott Curts and I come to you today as both a parent and a long-standing member of this community. I appreciate the opportunity to speak, but I must be very direct. I'm here tonight because I'm deeply alarmed by the potential hiring of Vivian Gomez as a substitute teacher

011within the district. Let me be absolutely clear. This is not a difference of opinion or a minor concern. This is a matter of student safety. There is currently a restraining order in place against Miss Gomez concerning four students at Lahana Junior Senior High School, one of whom is my son. These are not rumors or hearsay. This is a legal action that should immediately disqualify her from working anywhere near students, let alone being considered for any position of authority and trust in the classroom. Gomez has exhibited violent behavior towards children. Behavior that was not only unprovoked but involved a weapon cap capable of causing serious physical harm. This is not someone with a questionable attitude. This is someone with a documented history of violence and instability. Beyond this, she has demonstrated disturbing lack a disturbing lack

012of ethics and judgment. for pattern patterns of erratic and aggressive conduct is wellknown and easily verifiable to anyone willing to conduct even a basic background check. So I must ask you how did it get this far? How is it possible that someone with such a documented history of harmful violent and exploitive behavior toward children is even being considered for a position in our schools? The fact that I'm standing sitting here today to say this, that any parent has to come here and say this, tells me that there is something severely broken in your hiring process. Either basic vetting procedures are not being followed or the safety of our students is being dep prioritized for convenience. Either scenario is unacceptable. We entrust the school district with the care and the safety of our children every day.

013That trust is not unconditional and must be earned and protected. Hiring someone like Miss Gomez would not only be a betrayal of that trust, but it would also be a clear act of negligence. Let me be clear. Vivian Gomez should not be hired by this district. She should not be employed by the Otto School District or any school district in the state of Colorado. She should not be in a position to supervise or interact with children in any official capacity. Period. I call on this board to reject her candidacy immediately and to initiate a thorough review of your hiring procedures because if someone like Miss Gomez can slip through the basic question, who else has? Our children deserve better. Our community expects better. And as a parent, I will continue to speak until I see

014clear accountable action. Thank you. Next I have Angela Curtis. We'll see you pass around the a copy of the restraining order can all have those as well as the charges. Hello, my name is Angela Curts and I'm here today to express my concern and if I'm being honest, disgusted that I even have to address the possibility that Vivian Gomez is being considered as a hireer for our school district. On February 1st of this year, she viciously attacked four children. One of those being one of my son. All four of those boys are current students in this district. Vivian's premeditated and violent attack on our children was shocking and deeply disturbing. The boys were engaging in a harmless game of ding-dong ditch. Prior to the attack, the kids can be seen doing somersaults and cartwheels on

015the lawn. They can also be heard laughing and being silly. Vivian hid in the dark shadows, and when they came up to ring herbal, she ambushed them with a 2x4, striking at them, screaming obscenities and chasing them down. She narrowly missed hitting my son. The cracking sound of the woods smacking the ground instead of my child will be something I'll never forget hearing. The force at which she swung sent pieces of wood flying. As they ran for their lives and tried to flee, she continued her attack on our vehicle, causing thousands of dollars in damage. The entire violent assault was captured on a private citizen security camera. The video is publicly posted online if you're if you're able to view it. The reporting officers, investigators, and DA's office determined it was appropriate to charge her

016with five felonies. Four class 5 felony menacing charges and one class six felony criminal mischief charge due to the monetary damage to our personal property falling between two and $5,000. Unfortunately, her lawyer was able to procure a plea of one misdemeanor menacing. She was sentenced to supervised prob probation and ordered to complete anger management classes. There is a protection order which you have a copy of in place naming the four children as protected parties. You tell me if you are willing to violate a court order protect a court order restraining order by allowing her to possibly stop at their school. If your due dilig due diligence had been done properly, I would have thought you would have not even considered hiring a restrained party in a criminal case where the victims of a violent act

017are four minor students in your school district. Shame on the person who allowed this application to slip through the cracks. While we're grateful that none of the boys suffered serious physical injuries, the emotional trauma, fear, and lingering anxiety is lasting. The decision to allow her to plead guilty to a lesser charge by our judicial system was a failure to these children. I ask that you, the persons entrusted to act on the behalf of the education, safety, and well-being of children, not continue to fail them. Do not hire Vivian Gomez. She had she had proven she lacked self-control, empathy, and the ability to make sound judgments. We witnessed a glimpse of her aggressive, ruthless, and reckless behavior towards children. The only reason those four boys were not physically harmed is because they were able to outrun

018her. I don't want to think about what our situation would be had she caught them. She cannot be trusted around children. Thank you. >> Item S, a symbol of the agenda. Make a motion to approve your generator. >> Second motion and a second to approve a roll call. >> A a >> I >> Mrs. S. Aola >> I >> Mr. Pix >> I >> Mrs. second. >> So, we have three new hires that we'd like to put forward. Um, Shauna Daniel, new hire as a district nurse for the 2526 school year. Ganon Hart, a new hire as a lifeguard at Lana Junior Senior High School for the 2526 school year. and Len Tafoya Reeves a new hire as an activity bus driver for the 2526 foyer >> and then extra assignments. >> Oh yes. Um

019>> is it different? You want me to go through each of the personnel? >> No, we have a copy of this as well. So, but also we have the winter extra duty assignments that were in your packet for the 2526 school year. >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Motion in a sec. Motion in a second to approve the consent agenda as presented. Questions or comments? >> Sorry. Where does the district nurse work out of? Um >> she's uh been housed in my building primarily. Um but she goes to the building. Yeah. She just has a space to work in at the primary school. >> That's good. >> Yeah. No worries. Any other questions? >> Mrs. A. I. >> Mrs. S. A. >> Hi. >> Mr. Pitz.

020>> Hi. >> Mrs. Lea. Hi. Financial report. >> All right. At this time, I'd like to bring up um Sarah Seagris and Tim Grigo from Abacus to present our financial report. But at least we're not on big monitor with our business. >> Very true in front of everybody, right? So the two topics that we want to cover with you guys tonight are the August financials and also give you an update on the uh audit situation. So let's go through the audit the August financial first. Um and then close with where we're at with the audit. Um what we have pulled up for you guys or what's in your board packet were the uh was a balance sheet as well as a profit and loss or a revenue and expense report. So if you can go

021to your revenue and expense report first also called the income statement known as many different the summary and the details. So we're looking at the summary now. Yeah, we'll go over the summary, but you guys will always be provided with the full detail too in case you have a question, you can you can look through all that. So, first section, what you see is the revenues that have been received and these are August or July and August year-to- date totals. Um, it's not shocking that in the month of August, we just collected $1,700. Um, some of the Oh, you're on 21. >> There we go. >> There we are. >> 1.1. Um, the largest amount that we collect in this time of year is the state equalization. So, that's the funding that comes in from

022CDE. This is based on right now the uh projected student count that CDE has in place for us until we go through the October count that's going to happen here on October 1st. Then if we are increasing students or decreasing students, they start to do what's considered the buyback. So they'll either adjust our payment up or adjust our payment down depending on what that student count comes in at. Um the other piece that I want to point out is as we're looking through these financials, since we're through August, things should look about 17% budget to actual. So that's also another good thing to get used to looking at is are we running about where we have our budget set. So you'll see that for revenues for fun 10 we're we're sitting at 13% almost 14%

023collected. So a little bit under what is budgeted. Um some of that comes into play because of student fees um any sort of collections on grants. All of that hasn't obviously started happening yet too early in the fiscal year. I'm going to jump down to the expense area. You love yourselves with one jumping down there. Okay. So there, if we're still playing that that gut check game, you're going to look at the far right corner or far right column, excuse me, and we're making sure that anything that is 17 at or around 17%. So some of these areas will appear to be high first of the year depending on how much preurchased uh supplies um need that the district needed to purchase. Um, the other thing to pay attention to, which I asked Kim earlier,

024um, playing the gotcha game with the accountants. So, there's a line item here that doesn't check out when I'm applying my 17% budget to actual line items. And so you'll see on the line item for other objects which is the 0800 category what that is showing is that we have property tax. >> Yeah property. So you'll see way over right hand side where property shows at 168%. So again right there just being new to seeing all these reports. um getting used to. That's a great area to ask a question for. Why are we two months in and we're already showing this much, you know, high um as far as the spend goes >> in purchase orders. >> Yep. And so the third column on the sheet is the open purchase orders. And you'll see that

025there's $164,000 that are sitting in open purchase orders. One thing that we've been doing is going through not only cleaning up the books from prior years, but also really working with staff this year, making sure that um account coding is uh much more accurate. So that way as we go through the course of the year, each report that we give you guys is as accurate as possible when it comes to um different expenses that are hitting the books. So, if there's no other questions about 10, we'll just move quickly through the other baby funds. >> 18 insurance fund. >> Oh, so insurance fund for fund 18. No activity so far. No. >> No. Uh, then we go to the preschool fund nothing and fund 21. So, fund 21 is the food service program. Again, we're

026we're still applying the same concept that we should be about 17%. Food service is a little bit hard because we start the year off and there are of course purchases that need to happen before the year is starting with the with uh kitchen supplies and whatnot. One question that I had earlier with Kim was why don't I see any salaries or benefits in fund 21, which is the food service program. And you'll see that the largest amount of purchased services um comes in that 0500 category and that represents the um the contractor that's that's uh contracted to provide those services. So any questions on food service program? So it's separated. Then you have food service just like food service operating versus food service. Good to know and we we but we quote is 0500. >>

027Yes. So that um the '0500 category is the contracted um I don't know the name of the organization but they help provide Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Provide the services for the food. So under under 0500 is that anything that we have contract with or is it just the char? >> It would be pretty much anything that is contracted in the food service program. >> Yeah. >> Food service. >> Just food service. >> That's correct. So looking at your 17% there's a couple of supplies and other work services are do we need to worry about that? >> It's the beginning of the school year so they're bringing all the supplies in. They're bringing all the equipment. They're getting things set up. So, my suggestion is to watch how the next couple months go. It should

028balance back out. But if it doesn't, then definitely um you know, we'll make sure that Patrick um is able to address it when we go through the budgets. >> Will you uh will you be going over any of our reimbursements? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, once once those start coming in, those are normally a two-month lag with food service program. So, yes, absolutely. Um, each month you guys are going to get these these reports going forward. So, um, again, another another thing that we want to get you guys used to is looking at these reports so that you know that the books are running running right on track. So, the next is grants. So grant reimbursements um for the most part those run off of title funds and the state um from what I understand from

029the grant department um will start receiving reimbursement requests early October. So uh and really it's too early in the in the first part of the year to start requesting a whole lot of money coming back in on those grants because it has to apply to current expenses that we've had. So, um the funding Oh, is most of the funding do you remember that comes in on on um the grant fund? What little bit that is? I have like I'm not sure. I honestly I don't remember. questions on going. So um this is just title one not talking about like our esser >> esser is um has been completed now for a couple of years. Um but we have so the district has um title funding coming in. Um we also have additional funding coming in

030for sped services um which would be state funding. Um and I could provide a bigger more detailed list for you guys. Um if you'd like that does show each grant and the award amount and what they what they align to. Um that's the easy grant. We receive money from easy grant is what we did. >> Yeah. Um if that would help you guys then that way you can see this is all the grants that the district has been awarded. These are the awarded amounts. Um and then we keeping track of when those funding sources are coming in. That will also start to become uh more detailed out when you guys look at your other portion of the income statement which is the full detail. So um look in fund 22 down in the revenue area

031and you'll see those grants listed down there. Did I answer your question? Um I think Well, I didn't read my notes from the last time and I know we had talked about like the independent or individual individual audit about the grants and I didn't know if part of that because that was so messy. I know there were some school districts. >> There you go. >> The word is a hot button around here. >> I will answer that when we go down the road about it, >> but I also didn't want to jump ahead. That's why I'm like I don't know when to ask these specific questions, but like >> I know we're supposed to have that >> on our website and and things like that. I >> there's been a lot. So, okay. >> So,

032remind me if I don't cover that uh when we're talking about the audit um update, please remind me to talk about that because that is a specific thing I talked to the auditor about on Friday. >> So, thank you. Uh the next fund down is our athletics. >> Athletics fun 23. Anything you want to bring? Fun 23 is not showing any activity currently for the year. >> Is that our boosters? Boosters is in part of bundling grade. Yes. Um we worked with the the principles last week. >> Yes. >> And um spoke regarding the athletics and the activity accounts. We also spoke with the auditor and we are currently working on bringing all athletics and activities into your financial um statements. So you will be able to see all of the details in there. Right

033now they're housed in a separate database. and so it's not included in your financial statements. So, we are working on it. I did create um a worksheet. We worked with Jen and um Patrick and we're working on getting those pulled over. My goal is to have them in by October. So, you can see the you know all the revenue sources and expenses going. >> Okay. So, how does that work with boosters? Because boosters is separate from schools, right? >> Yeah. So it's it's a separate line item within fund 23. So uh when those when those balances come over from the other software and we're putting it into SDS or this main set of books, you'll be able to see a line item not only for boosters, but if we have another account for baseball, for

034football, for cheerleading, for robotics, you'll see all of those listed out on the on those reports going forward. I'm gonna leave it. You let it stop right there. >> It almost It almost escaped me, but I'm just gonna ste on it a little bit longer. >> Stew, let me know if it does pop that down. >> Okay. 31 is just the debt service fund. So that's that's the principal and interest payment that will be due this year. 41. And then we end the 48. Why does it keep bouncing back? >> I don't have a mouse is my problem. Sorry. We have our capital projects fund. It's our 43. So we would 43. So what you'll see on bund 43 is that we have a transfer that's noted in the revenue area. That transfer would be

035coming in from bund 10 of the 60,000 and the transfer expense is shown in the budget column in expense line which is for um I mean services purchase services. >> Yeah. So again, that that fund um is to represent any sort of capital improvements throughout the district um that happen. Uh and it can be used multi-year. So if there's something that we want to set aside knowing that in the future we need to replace an HBIC unit, we can start to have those discussions about moving a little chunk of money over into 43 so we can save money for those bigger projects. Is that right? Didn't we have more money in there? Like a lot more money in there. >> Going to go um to the balance sheet. >> I almost had a heart attack.

036>> Don't worry. I >> Hold on. Hold on. >> That's just the budget. >> It's like, no, no, no. You got more money. >> No, let's go down to the Let's get to the down and dirty. Let's go to the balance sheet. You >> scared me. >> Yep. >> It doesn't. >> I know. Uh, I'm I'm sure I shared with you guys last time how much my passions are to the balance sheet. I love me some balance sheet because again, you get to see your assets, which are the bank accounts uh that the district runs as well as any accounts receivable, which would be money owed to the district. Um, next section down we see liabilities. So, that would be money that the district owes out to other entities. And then the equity area. And

037the equity area is what decreases the chance of having a heart attack. I'll say that. Perfect. >> Okay. So, in fund 10, um, we see that our >> I'm the only one who was freaking out about that. >> I was watching some poker bases. We're good. >> That was a long one day. The alarms. The big thing that I'm going to do so that we don't have to go through line by line with all these uh is we're going to jump down to that equity area because the equity area is basically communicating to us how much money we have um in our in our savings or our operating account. >> I see it. Thank you. >> So in fund 10 you see that our um grand total equities H2. Yep. You see the 1.725 That

038number represents the line right above it, which is that net fund change. If I could retitle that line, it would say profit or loss. And that's the profit or loss that we've had so far from June or July and August of this current year. So the way that reads, because that number is a positive number in accounting, that's actually a bad thing. So, we are showing a current loss in fund 10 of $663,000. Not heart attack worthy yet because of all the different funding sources that need to still start coming in through grants. >> Okay. >> Um and that sort of thing. So, any questions on the equity area of fun 10? That also gives us a sneak peek as to what the numbers looked like at the end of last year. It's another way

039of looking at that fun 18 is the insurance fund. Fund 19 is the preschool fund. And let's go to the food service fund which is the fund 21. We'll stop here for a minute. One conversation that I was having uh earlier today with a gentleman from CDE, we were talking about the fund balance that the food service fund is actually carrying right now. Did you guys talk about that at all >> earlier? Okay. So, um what you see there is that we have close to a million dollars that we're holding over in the food service fund. And uh one thing that's suggested is that we start to pull down some of those by using some um just for the word utilities. >> No, when a cost is not necessarily direct indirect. >> There we go.

040>> It has been a long day. Um, so anyway, we can start to apply some of the indirect costs that the mainly the district office has that goes towards having to support food service program um expenses. So, uh, that is something that I'll bring to the board in a few months once we figure out what those um what those expenses are that we can apply to the food service fund. But the fact that food service is carrying such a large amount sitting in their fund balance area is a little bit we need to buy it down a little bit. >> So with our indirect cost is that something that is a negotiated percentage price that we do. >> Yeah. So it's >> with CD or with chart rules or >> it's there's a format that

041CDE is going to provide um Dr. K and I and then we'll review that and get it to you guys. >> You didn't know you can do that. >> Lucky guy. Thanks for your enthusiasm. >> So, I'm going to uh jump down. We can bypass 22 because fund 22 really shouldn't be carrying any major balance sitting in it anyway. And let's go to fund 23. So fund 23 is where we are going to see the boosters activity and the amount of money that fund 23 has in cash accounts. The reason why I'm hesitant in saying that is the project of us taking all the fund 23 activity out of this other accounting database putting it into this main set so we can start to see it within this database um is within this next month.

042So the next financial statements that you guys are going to see you'll see that data. It's actually a good thing that we're going to move that bump 23 activity out of a separate database and put it into the main set of of books is for you as a board. You don't have to try to remember, wait, hold on, we had another set of books somewhere else and where are those reports and how do we get to see those? You're going to start to see them within the monthly report packet that you guys get. So with the activity funds, >> yeah, >> with it being moved into um oh word this into the main budget like >> so some of the monies aren't ours to spend that we don't. So that's where I'm like how do

043we just their umbrella? >> Yeah. Well, we're their their pass through. We're the fiscal agent. >> Yeah. You're you're you're there. >> But but but I mean I understand that with like our PTO's, >> but then we have that also a unique relationship, I guess you could say, with our boosters, too. >> Yeah. >> So, I guess that's just something that I would say put a pin in that for the next board. What we what fund 23 is doing is we are managing that money on behalf of fill in the blank with the organization. So boosters, football, cheerleading, robotics. So no, the district as as we operate cannot just reach over into the boosters or the the fund 23 money, grab it and start using it over into fund 10 for operational purposes. So fund

04423 is if you just kind of phrase it in your head, we are managing that money on behalf of someone else. So it has strings tied to it depending on what organization raised those funds. Did that make sense? >> Yep. So uh yeah, no touchy. We get to see it and we're managing it, but yeah, no touchy. >> Any questions about 543? >> Yeah, we have like a statement that says what it's for. or like it's one chair form each other. >> Yep. >> Right. >> Yeah. It'll it'll be great when you guys get to see that. It's It really is. It spells it out 100%. Um and you'll see all that up in the assets area on these balance sheets. Okay. >> So, we'll review that when it starts to come out. >> So,

045again, a big part to us cleaning up the books is this is another one where it's too easy to forget that we have another database that houses all of this activity and let's just get it over into the main database. so that we can all keep an eye on it. >> Is there another are there other databases out there >> database girl? Are there any other >> I mean you can use any >> I don't mean I mean like >> in addition >> not with financials. No. Okay. >> This these are the only two with the financials. Correct. >> Okay. >> Fund 31 again is just the debt service fund. So that one that one too is just basically a run and maintain profit and for um principal and interest payments. This one we're 41

046I'm working with the auditors on because this one should be completed from what I understand. So that 41 will end up probably being adjusted after the audit is complete. So now we're going to go down to fund 43 which was the heart attack fund. And I'm going to go to the equities area where you see that number in parentheses of 746. So that's that's as as much money as the district set aside for capital use throughout the district and that's uh representing multi-year um savings. So I couldn't tell you by looking at the balance sheet currently if any of that is restricted. So there's there's different ways of earmarking those savings dollars the equities so that you have set aside we're going to do a track. let's let's reserve some of those funds for the

047track. Um and that's something that we can work on later on in the year. But really making sure that that money there is it for a specific purchase purpose or is it that we can use it just districtwide for any capital improvement project. The way it reads currently is a grab bag. So districtwide anything could be used for it. >> That's how I understand it. >> I got real scared. It's like, hey, where's my grab bag? >> But does this figure include the 60,000 from this year's budget? >> Uh, that is represented in that 20,000 that sits right below that that 20,000 in loss. >> Uhhuh. >> Yeah. So, anything that is in this current year is going to show up in those net change lines. >> That make sense? Sort of. >> Yeah. I

048feel bad because I'm asking you guys to act like accountants and please have me slow down or rephrase anything at any point when you're when you're not getting your question answered. >> We can change this word too to say profit locks if that would help. >> So any questions at all about the financial statements? >> Well, we could have been cast and maybe misunderstandings. You brought up liabilities. >> Yeah. You want to go back? >> Well, I'd like to go through our liabilities because that's the one that I have my heart. >> Yep. Let's go. Let's head back. So, fun 10 liabilities. Okay. Let's roll up our sleeves and let's talk about fun 10 liabilities, right? For the most part, what fills those buckets? So, if you look at liabilities and that whole area, those

049I I in my head think of them as big red buckets. Money goes in and money should be coming out. Those are very live amounts that roll around. For the most part, what you see there is that it's all aligned to the payroll, right? And so again, we should not see large totals that are just hanging out in there for the entire year. That for you as a board should be concerning because that would say, for instance, we haven't made our PAR payment or we haven't made our tax payment. You'll see it down in those lower areas. As we have been working diligently on cleaning up the east peril, we have um been addressing a lot of these payments that were owed out. What you see is that some of these lines don't have those

050parentheses around it. And what that means is that there are monies that maybe have been overpaid that are owed back to the district. So if you see numbers in that area that don't have the parentheses around it, that's money owed back to the district for some reason. So this has been a project for us to go through all the different liabilities, taxes, um per was another big one and rectify the balances that had had been um put into those accounts year over year. >> I love Fun 10, but I have to coach volleyball games so pardon me. That's okay. >> Mhm. >> So, speaking of para >> Yeah. >> because I've always grown up and I need confer are we are we straight >> with parah >> all of >> with everything? >> Yes. >>

051Um so with parah um yes we uh >> I have one I have an update. Yes. Okay. Do you want to do your update now? So, I've been working very closely with our um PAR rep David who KO. He is our our PA hero representative. Um he's been very very insightful on past and and everything. We found um there was a hand a few employees that have not had PAR withheld from them at all. So he's helped us to make sure that we are making sure all employees are covered under the PAR according to all the PAR rules. Um so all employees are PAR reps or are parah eligible and we had three employees that did not have it included for a while now. So I'm working with him on fixing those. I also um

052went through all of the American Fidelity 125 forms. These are all your pre-tax, post tax. I've updated all of that for American Fidelity. But as I was doing that, unfortunately, I found that in 2019, PAR made some rule changes. So, anybody hired after 2019 of July, they cannot take those PAR pre-tax benefits on just the retirement portion. They can only have it on their federal and state. That's it. So, we can't I know it's so confusing. There's so many rules and regulations all over, but that is one thing that I recently found as I went through and updated all the 125 forms is we are not compliant with anybody hired after July of 2019 to make sure their benefits are set up properly. So, I have it I told them we're working on payroll this

053week. I told him by next week I will have a list of all employees, their hire dates, and he's going to help me identify the ones that need to be addressed, and then I'm going to go back in and I'll I'll update all their pre-tax, post tax on those rules. So, when we do something like that, it's not just a let's go fix these numbers and change this amount and change this amount and now they match. So now, because we're talking about taxes, pre-tax, um, >> I'm just how or how does this impact the employees as far as their taxes? Like are >> are we going to find out then that we have employees that are going to owe taxes or find out that they were in a different tax bracket or they were not

054supposed to be in a specific tax bracket and like are we is that is it that messy? >> Um I'm not sure about the tax brackets. It's a matter of um >> but like it's not being enough is being withheld. So then >> so basically it's just the para portion is is the problem is the the taxable gross or the gross portion of the parah reporting. So the employees that were hired after 2019, they've been taking advantage of that benefit of having that pre-tax retirement portion, which is 11% of their gross earnings of that benefit. So if the benefit's $35, it's only going to be 11% of that $35. that is not taxable or it's not pre-taxed anymore. So what parah David mentioned was we will basically go through like an audit. They're going to

055go through and look at all the employees. We will receive a bill first for all the employer portion. The last two years is 21.4%. Is what paramount is the last I think it's two years or three two years now. But now we got six years that we're looking at. So it was a different rate. So they'll come back with us to us with a bill. This is what you should have paid and you didn't. We will pay the bill. Then they will go to the employees and say if you want to be vested starting this date, this is what needs to be done to correct it. So they will have their choice at that point if they want to catch up on those whatever time frame is missing. >> Are are employees going identified? >>

056So so peril will reach out to each one of those employees to communicate to them here's what we've seen. This is this is an issue that you know has needs to get corrected in payroll and your liability portion of that is X. would you like to pay your account back? And they don't need to. >> They don't have to. It's a choice. >> However, the school district will make it right by all of those employees by the school >> by being the school side of it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I want to make sure we're doing right by our employees. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. >> And not Okay. >> Yeah. That's that's one thing that we've been very careful of. Um especially working with Dr. pay along the way is making sure that the employees

057are communicated. There's, you know, there's there's a lot of different I I understand where your question is coming from because you're wondering, do we need to do W2 corrections or revise W2s for those prior years for those those employees? Um because that was a that was a concern that we had too with how far back does this go, right? When does this stop? Um, and so David with with uh Per's been amazing to work with because he understands that the situation that we've been in that we want to make it right and that the district first and foremost is going to pay on behalf of those employees what is what is owed on those those. Yeah. >> When do you think we'll get the bill from PAR? I have to get a worksheet. And so

058Michael, I told him I would have the worksheet to him. This week was payroll week, so I told him I'd have the worksheet to him next week. And so they'll work from there. Um I can, you know, make sure we get have an update for you next board meeting. >> Good. >> Also, what happens if a person left the district and is in another district now? Are you going to contact them? We still PAR is driven off of people's social security numbers and we do have those past employees social security numbers. So the district will be able to deposit the missing amount of their contribution on behalf of whoever it was uh even if they're not with the district anymore. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. Per has been a big one obviously for us to

059work on first and foremost. we had many months of past um PAR payments that hadn't been addressed and so we worked with PAR got those amounts paid um and then also asked in that same phone conversation we know that you have fines and fees that you hand out to districts please tell us what that is so that we can write the wrong immediately and um and make sure that that gets paid as well. So, um, yeah, I mean, it's it's been it's been a lot of back and forth with Perah for sure. Um, and yeah, >> so I have I have this question and I I don't when you say that there were payments that weren't made or they weren't like is it like were we looking at that like okay well these checks are

060still outstanding or were we like no there was never one issued or are we doing are we these payments electronically now instead of cutting a check and then everything is electronic. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Most most liabilities are electronic. Speaking of PAR, PAR is electronic. It's been electronic for many years. >> That way. >> Yes. Yeah. >> So, we just didn't >> they weren't submitted. Um, so with PAR, I think we found I want to say it was 13 or 14 payments had not been made. >> I'm sorry. 13 or 14 payments had not been made for the past year, >> just this year, >> just last school year, fiscal year 25. >> Everything starting this new school year, starting July of 25 and forward, we are making everything on time and current, but we

061also had to catch up on all those from 24 as well as 25, early 25. So, all payments have been completed. They verified they've received all files. So with PAR as we are right now, we are totally caught up with them. >> What was that? >> 30,000 followers. >> And we did pay that last week, I believe it was. >> Yeah. I mean, that that I I as an accountant, budget person, hate fines and fees because that's taking money away from my operations. Um, and it makes a person like me grumpy because I want to know there should be no reason why we're having to pay this fee, late fee, fine, whatever it is. So, um, it would be interesting to go back and look at a balance sheet from last year because, um, one

062of the lines that we have in liabilities is the parah line that's a liability and just see how much was sitting on that balance sheet at that time. Yeah, I was going to ask like it's not I don't you mean it immediately but but I would like to know like from 2019 I guess to pick a date. >> Yeah. >> What all what are our total amount of fees that were applied for late payments of anything of our liabilities that we had to >> y process that Dr. K and I have been talking about is that it's something that we need to do. I created a new specific account number just for these fees. So, but going back and and yeah, looking at looking at everything that happened historically so that we can, you know,

063learn from our wrongs, right? >> Yeah. So one amazing thing that David Coup with PAR has said is he said I am shocked that nobody within the the district was retiring during that time frame that we were missing doing our PAR payments because the district misses doing those PAR payments. The employees parah accounts have not been credited for those. So, um, you know, he said it just it's just interesting that there was never any any cause for a par representative to look further into somebody, you know, that was exiting the the um district in retirement. >> Yeah. >> We did update the termination and the hire reporting. They found it's been several, what did she say? Years, right? It was several years before since anybody was reported as terminated from the school district. So that

064was just recently corrected as well. >> Okay. >> When she says terminating that can be resigned >> anything no longer with us. >> Yeah. That's why I'm like um >> I had another question. Okay. I know we had a conversation um we were talking about of course having our own internal controls and then having written processes. I was curious then because I think it was when um Mr. Romero was still talking about like we were talking about having like every week we were going to make sure we were cutting our checks or like like are we doing that then or are we still having an issue with like being able to step out? >> I I don't know. >> Um you can answer yes we correct that. >> Yeah, we have corrected that. In your

065board packet you guys have a final document that has a pink Y has a pink uh title or >> it's pink. >> It's orange. I did school color >> salmon colored. So the document that has the salmon colored on the top. What we're doing with that is um absolutely keeping track of when are these payments done and uh going over those with Dr. Hay on a very regular basis as well. What you see there is what's needed monthly, what's needed needed quarterly, what's needed annually. So that way, not only is this good for communication, has this been made? But ultimately, it's helping finance whoever's in those seats know that there are certain things that have to be done on a monthly basis. This is what they are. Quarterly, this is what they are. So going

066forward, you'll continue to see the salmon color sheet, too. >> I don't know. >> I do have a question with the Medicare one. It doesn't have a date on it. That's the only one I've seen that I know. Yeah, I wasn't sure exactly. I needed to find out the Medicare reporting date. I didn't have >> You did that like 3 weeks ago. So, I'll let you know. Okay. >> I wasn't I wasn't sure on the exact date. So, >> yeah. >> No, that was a good because I know we find for that too if we don't get that on time, right? >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> So, if there's no other questions about the financials, I'm going to give a >> I have one question. >> Absolutely. back to fund 10 on the equity. >>

067Yeah. >> Um I know I know L Taber what that is. And then is it what's that next line? Is that our reserves? >> Oh, so that uh so the next line down is the unassigned fund balance. So that is what's what's available in cash to the district from prior years profit or loss happening. So 1.8 8 million, you should ultimately be able to see that 1.8 or around that sitting in real life cash in the banks. So again, kind of like what I referred to about fund 43 where we don't have any restrictions on those on that money. So it's it's able to be used um however the district sees fit. If there was something along the way like Taber is called out on its own, that is a very restricted amount that we

068are not allowed to touch. So along the way, if there are other things that we need to do to restrict some of that um that fund balance, we can do that. But for right now, it's all unassigned, unrestricted. >> I thought we could do that. >> Yeah. Yeah. If as long as it's it's got to be board like a resolution through the board. >> Yeah. >> Did we was we supposed to set aside for superintendent's salary, too? Did we do that? that I don't believe is done yet. No, we'll do that when we do the amended budget. >> Yeah, we already had our budget in place prior to Dr. Haye's entrance. >> And then so update on audit. Uh we'll start with that single audit first so that we don't forget about it. Um a

069conversation that we had had with Dimmitri the auditor on Friday uh is that we are having a hard time coming up with supporting documents that are needed for that um audit itself. So the way an audit works is, you know, we say that we had a certain expense in a certain category. We need to have a support of an invoice and a and a a form of payment in order for us to show that yes, in fact, the district did in fact have that expense happen. We have not been able to provide full documents um to be able to support those expenses that the district shows. And so the auditor has set the single audit off on the side for now so that he could do our our um other two audits first. Um I

070did ask him does the district or will the district have any sort of penalties or fees if we produce audits fiscal audits without having that single audit addressed. Okay. um >> so um in the big big big picture, but it very rarely happens, the um the federal government could ask for us to send some money back depending on on what it looks like. Um ultimately, they could also look at it as um reducing down some of the awards that we would get in federal dollars. Um he the auditor had not seen that ever happen. Um but I just wanted to make sure that I asked it. so that I could let you guys know uh where the status is with that and are there any fees or penalties that we could run into. >> Have

071you heard? >> Uh actually both. >> Okay. >> He said yeah they are both very Yes, it could happen. Um however this the cost of what we got um that needs to be single audited versus on a much bigger scale, bigger companies, bigger organizations. He said he didn't think that we would get those kind of fines or penalties. >> so the reason why I asked him >> I was just so we will Dr. Crumbol or someone have to make a decision whether to go forward without these documents. How is that going to because it's being set aside now but it can't be forever. >> Yeah. We we eventually, you know, an auditor is ultimately going for a um a clean judgment, right? That's the what's what the auditor is is going for. He wouldn't be

072able to provide that that um ruling on that audit because we can't support, you know, the entire thing with documentation um that supports those numbers. So, he would not be able to rubber stamp the the audit itself. Um, you know, again, we have kind of three things going on right now because we have that single audit. We still have the audit for 2324 that needs to be done before we can even start the audit for 2425. So, in the conversation that we were having, it's more important for us to get the 2324 audit done first because right now we're getting penalized with not being allowed to collect property taxes. So do that collection, you know, do that audit first, address this current year so that our funding continues to keep coming in and then single

073audit. We deal with that single audit. >> Yeah, it's kind of it's kind of hard to pick your battles, right? >> Um because we've got big projects that are on the plate currently. So I'm going to give you a quick summary then of what's going on with the 23 24 audit. um another portion of our conversation that we had on Friday, that audit had um some good momentum going um and unfortunately had to stop uh two weeks ago. >> Yeah. >> Um because the auditors couldn't tie back numbers to the prior auditors um verified numbers. So, uh, what we were able to track is that there was a payroll check that had been voided voided in this current year, but it was actually a payroll check that had been issued back in 2023. So, it

074messed up those balances from a few years ago um by having that void happen. So, since then, we've locked the um software down so that only users can use the software for this current year. um and not put anything in prior years back. >> Check was pointed. >> Yeah. So, there was a payroll check that had not cleared. And we see this sometimes. It's not it's not often, but yes, we do run across this where an employee might have gotten a bonus or just never deposited their check for some reason. >> They lost. Um, and this was a stale dated check from years ago that had been voided um, and voided incorrectly in the software. I believe it was reissued with a different check number, but it didn't go through the proper processes and then

075someone had one and then voided it with the wrong date, but it was reissued already back in that time frame. >> Okay. >> So, the employee did >> the employee did get paid. It's just basically at that time frame there was two checks issued to him and only one should have >> so uh with that I want to just let you guys know that um the auditors all auditors right now are on a strict schedule because uh charter schools and districts are being audited currently. Um, and in that conversation, he said, "I don't I I want to be honest in the fact that for right now, I need to also park that because I need to get my other districts that were currently ready to go for their audits addressed." And on our side time,

076we will address that 2324 audit again. Him and I have been able to give them a a um revised trial balance to start it again. Um, but he wanted to be honest with us and let us know that's where that one sits currently. He said that he'll start back up. I spoke with David. He's the one that's doing all of the the data entry or doing all the data work. And he said he should be able to start it again within a week. >> And what's our timeline for getting it done? >> I'm not sure how far into the books they were able to get before they had to stop it. Um, you know, there's accounts payable testing, there's payroll testing that happens. Um, they do accounts receivable testing. So, um, you know, all of

077that stuff is outside of them then verifying the the numbers that sit on the trial balance. So, um, yeah, he wasn't he wasn't real clear on I can tell you within a month you're going to have this. Um, just wanting to be real transparent and honest with us. So, not a fun position for us to be sitting in for sure. >> So, our property taxes will still be held. >> Yeah. >> Until we have the one that's >> restarted that they started. >> Yep. Yeah. So, we will be able to collect those property taxes that were being withheld from us from 2324 as soon as that audit is done and we communicate those numbers up to CDE and it's fully verified. So um then we will receive the property taxes that have been withheld for

078that current that that year and then we'll start on this next year. >> So assuming we won't have this problem going forward, right? Because we have our new system in place and we have you guys. So for 20 uh for that 25 26 we're going to have no problems >> y >> getting our audit started in >> I will tell you there are some things within within my purview that I am adamant on. I want invoices stored in the software. I don't want to continue to keep relying on somebody's file drawer off somewhere else that's holding all the keys to the kingdom when it comes to grants, funding sources, andor even just normal day-to-day operations. So, um I do come across very adamant sometimes about that because I want that accounting software to be the

079source um that houses all of that and that we stop having to rely so much on on um whose desk was that sitting on at what time frame is that person still with us that sort of stuff >> which is why we can't find a paper trail. >> Correct. So, we do I mean there are there are records being and that have been kept. they just are not complete enough to be able to um you know like for instance that single audit. So that's where why I'm interested in that was because when it first started with Ezra and >> like there were some school districts that didn't even want to take the money because they didn't want the headache of having to track all of what they were buying and then they were afraid that

080then the then they were going to get well actually that's not an approved purchase and then have to give. So there were people who didn't even want to touch it. So I know I knew this was going to be complicated, >> but I think that's the reason why I keep asking. I know you said that it's been done, but like that's still part of the single on it, right? So we can't So I mean it's not that that and when we say that we can't find so we don't have a paper trail meaning we can't find invoices for things that we had done or so we can't go to like the our vendors and be like do you have your copy can we like what we're talking >> that's what we're talking about but yeah

081I mean it's it's it goes deep right >> some of it is payroll as well so there wasn't accurate tracking on the reasons why people were getting stipens or the money being distributed to the employees as well. So there wasn't by those grant sources. >> Yeah. Again, you know, Kim and I's ultimate ultimate goal is that you don't even have to trust what I'm saying. Oh yeah, that's done. I don't want you to trust what I say. I want you guys to be able to have things in place that verify that, yeah, she said that, but let's go figure it out and see if she actually did do it. So, um, and again, a lot of that is the software is fully up to date and it's got all the activity in there with all

082the with all the, uh, copies of all the invoices. Um, we put payroll data in there as well. So, um, it needs to be fully complete. Fully complete. Thank you. Yes. So, who has access to this database? Now, >> uh currently it's Kim and myself. Um uh and I believe the district office and then there are uh principles I think have access but very we start to limit out what can they do, what can they see within the software. So check it off. >> Correct. Bookkeepers have access. Yeah. >> Is that maybe I'm getting but is that a good thing? It seems to me that that's a good thing. >> It is a good thing. Yeah. Ultimately ultimately the district needs to be using purchase orders. And the reason for that is so then we

083know like what's the expense that's been approved and then you know walk that expense all the way through if a purchase card for instance has been used. So, no, it's it is a good thing. Um, we just need to make sure that yeah, the the security of it is set up in a way that we um you know, people are not out there just recklessly able to do something crazy like check in prior years, >> right? >> Yeah. >> And we've also given the bookkeepers and the principles access to their accounts so they're able to watch their budget and and all of the expenses going in and out. >> Yeah. I know we're in alignment now like our district and then building bookkeepers. >> Yeah. Y understanding of why we're coding things and >> we

084had a meeting last >> Yeah. last week or two weeks ago. >> Yeah. >> We'll have regular meetings with >> Kim and the bookkeepers from each of the buildings. >> Yeah. Okay. So I show it on here that this is an action item but this feltformational. Are we >> think of anything you'd be approving the August financial? Okay. >> Yeah. >> I'll entertain a motion unless there are other questions. >> I know this one's m it's a presentation. >> Make a motion to approve the August financials. >> Second. Have a motion and a second to approve the financial the August financial report is presented. Any other questions or comments? >> Roll call a >> Mrs. S a >> Mr. Colitz. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Lee four minutes. I make a motion to approve the minutes

085of August or the meeting. I have a motion and second to approve the minutes of August 25 regular board meeting. Any questions, comments, or obstructions? Call >> Mrs. A. >> Mrs. S. >> Hi. >> Mr. Colitz. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Le. superintendent report. >> Yes. So, um just kind of wanted to give another budget update. I've been meeting with Glenn Gufferson from CDE. He used to be the CFO for District 11. Um he's kind of my private tutor now. Um so, we're working on the big picture, Glenn and I. Um Abacus is going to their job is to clean the books. Um my job with Glenn is the big picture moving forward creating systems. So he came down to LAN today and we had a great meeting. Um I've already zoomed with him, you know,

086he's about my speed dial now. So really excited to have that opportunity. And we're also working with um the Colorado School Finance which he's a part of with Tracy Rainey. So we have a lot of supports that CD is providing. Um >> we paid you. No, no. They're free service. >> Okay. >> And as well as the Colorado School Finance Project with Tracy Granny, their free services offering us the opportunity to um it's it's basically high level tutoring for free and it's so far um has been I'm not going to say exciting with accounting, but it has been informational. Um so we're looking to really clean up systems moving forward, making sure we have staffing um ratios, making sure that we when we present to the board in March um our new budget will have

087a better understanding. The board will so is the same with me where we're moving forward on that big picture to get us right now not just get us out of the mess but use our our finances in a way that's going to benefit students the most moving forward. So, that's the goal with the with where we're at. Um, I'm going to steal Dr. Sam Schneider for um he's got a presentation here in a minute, but um with our school accountability, there was a lot to be excited about. Um we definitely had as a district, we moved from priority improvement to improvement, so we did make gains. Um the intermediate school is still in priority improvement, but they also improved. um the high school improved um and the primary is not um because the second graders

088aren't taking any capability tests, but as a district there's a lot to celebrate and I won't steal Dr. Schneider's um presentation, but just I wanted to be able to thank all of our teachers and all of our administrators for the hard work they're doing. We still got a lot more work and we're not even close to being done, but we're starting to move in the right direction. Um, the last couple things I have, you have the attached uh 2025 fall newsletter from Chartwells. And if any board members would like to participate in the 2025 homecoming parade, um, you have the attached parade rules or registration sheet. Um, we do have magnetic signs for any vehicles in my office if you want to use them. They say East Otter School District Board of Education. So hopefully

089we'll see everybody at the homecoming parade. Do we have an end date for any of the strategic planning or anything like that? >> Not yet. We're still working on right now. A big thing is getting our finances done, but that is coming with the strategic plan. Um, last week I was at a conference and I there was a couple presentations about getting the strategic plan up and running, you know, how we do with the board and the community. So, um, not there yet, but we will be pretty soon. >> Well, hey everybody. Um, it's great to be back. um I will I will say the room used to be a lot more full and I think people missed the memo that I was going to be you know some state accountability stuff otherwise they would

090have stayed a lot longer. Um so it's great to be down here. Um I'm down here with uh with two hats on and um two purposes today. One is as your support lead for CDE which means things that need what wheels that need to get greased. Uh that's that's a role I get to play a little bit. air traffic control for anything uh that you all need and then also as a transformation manager which as I've shared before is a really important role when schools are going through improvement efforts there's a lot of moving parts um so I get to play a role in that as well so tonight want to just be extremely brief but also fairly celebratory and a good dose of informative talking a little bit about Colorado's accountability system do a

091quick reorientation of that we'll talk a little bit about some of the data um that Dr. K just named. Um, and then I also want to just kind of give some updates around the followup from last February's very successful accountability hearing with the state board. Something that is readily into that state board order is that I give you all an update on how things are going at least annually. So, this is one of those updates that I provide to you all annually. So, let's take a look here. So, first of all, um, as you may remember or not remember, depending on how much time you spend thinking about Colorado's accountability framework, um, we receive points based on, um, student achievement, student growth, postsecary, and workforce readiness. Each of those three categories is weighted in a

092different way depending on which level of school is being measured. So, kindergarten through middle schools rated um with growth achievement being the only ratings there with growth being 60, achievement being 40. Then you can see once we zoom out and look at a high school or a district, we're going to have postsecary readiness in there, but growth is still going to be the primary point total in there. How do we score those? Well, I'm just going to be somewhat brief here. Academic achievement is the extent to which students are um on grade level in a given year. Growth is the extent to which students improve from one year to another. It's measured um academic growth is measured by something called an MGP which is a medium growth median growth percentile. A 50 mgp is roughly

093at least one year's worth of growth. So no matter which context we're looking in, getting at least one year's worth of growth is really important. And then a third category I mentioned there, it's like I can't go. There we go. The third category there, postsecondary and workforce readiness, measuring things like graduation rate, dropout rate, and the extent to which students metriculate from high school to a two-year or four-year military or CT opportunity. So knowing all of that in February Intermediate had a super successful uh hearing with the state board of education. Um state board was a big fans of the plan that was put forth and up there you can see the things that can get proposed in year five. So we went with a pathway plan that was focused on some of the instructional

094improvements that are currently underway in LA Intermediate along with what we call partial management with an organization called TNTP. Up here this is the full I think really interesting end of clock process that schools go through. The star in the top right represents where Atlanta intermediate is at in this process where they've had their initial hearing. The state board has directed that action and now they're receiving some ongoing support. It's continued progress monitoring. And then I included a star way off to the left and that's because we don't have any schools for the district being at year three or four. U currently Tiger Trades is in year 1. I'm going to talk through that in just a moment. So let's take a look at how performance has changed over the past two years. This is

095a slide that has lots of celebrations in it. From 2023 to 2025, district has improved from their turnaround status. You can see in the bottom left of my chart up to improvement status, going from 38.6% of points earned on their framework to 46.2% points earned on their framework. That is a really large jump in two years for a district system to make. The other improvement you can see here is that both Lant Intermediate and Lant Junior Sing each moved up a full level since and they've gained significantly more points their 25 framework compared to their 2023 framework which I'll go into a little bit more detail in just a moment. So the intermediate school is in what we call year six. No new requirements with that. The district is in what we call year two

096on watch. That's because to get fully off the accountability clock, you have to have two consecutive years at yellow or higher. And then Tiger Trades is in year one, just a slight dip in percent points earned this past year, they are less than 2% way away from getting back on the clock. What's interesting to note is that since this is only year one, if they got back to yellow or green next year, they'd be fully off. don't need two consecutive if you've only been on the clock for one year. Before I go deeper into the data, I was spun pretty fast through some of those kind of structures. Any questions so far from board members before I talk a little bit more about the data? >> All right, let's keep going. See what else we

097come up with. So let's talk more about some of the progress of launch intermediate. Since 2023, we've seen a more than 10 percentage point increase. The total percent points earned at launch intermediate. That is also a really great jump when you consider that the previous three frameworks were all at 25%. 25% of points on a framework is essentially zero. It's the lowest points you can earn. even though it says 25 is the lowest percentage points. We've been able to get 10% increase over the last two years. That's a great improvement. What's been driving it? We've had two consecutive years of sustained growth improvement and we've had two consecutive years of improved achievement for ELA. It's been a steady step up three-year trend moving consistently up. And this data looks very similar for students who are

098on preced lunch status as well as minority students when there are multilingual students. Students by IEPs are a little bit lower in that area. Similarly, but a little different is in math. We have that steady step up and we see a slight decrease last year. Something I will shout out the La Hunt intermediate team for doing last year is they recognized in the spring of 2023 that there were some gaps in the way that u students were receiving math tasks with the curriculum at the time. They made some really meaningful pivots last year to use Zern which was a free CDE platform to make sure students got that rigorous math content. They use that as a bridge year to get to their new curriculum this year. um which the fact that they were able to

099keep achievement as high as it is right here even with some curricular transition is a testament to their efforts. And I think we're all really excited to see what the next two years of math achievement can look like. I say too because they've chosen a really worthy curriculum that is also hard to implement. So I would say like give it time to take hold for folks to learn. Um it'll be exciting to see what it looks like two to three years from now. But for growth, this is also really exciting. We've seen double digit increases, not over a three-year period, but over one year. You can see the ELA growth here almost gets up to that 50 mgp, that one year's worth of growth. These are really positive trends here. Then for math growth, very

100similar to math achievement. We see it creeping up there. There's a slight decrease from last year. and then it'll be great to see what this looks like as they continue to implement that new curriculum moving forward. So, as part of this work, I'll be visiting with Launch Intermediate quarterly um throughout this year and all other years where they continue to be on the clock. Um I'll work alongside TNTP and UVA as well as district leadership to make sure things feel like they're coherent and focused. and they'll continue to provide support with the easy grant every year to make sure we're applying for the funds that we need to sustain the partnership with TNTP and any other work that needs to occur. And then we've got our other two partners that are going to be working

101on those instructional improvements uh throughout this year with TNTP providing a lot of that on the ground implementation support and UVA providing the overarching district improvement infrastructure support. And then you can see lines intermediates focus areas up there. And then I'll just name that this is the final year in the work with UVA. So those easy grant funds will wrap up this year and that partnership program will wrap up and then the work with TNTP can be sustained for as long as Intermediate is on the clock. So this year Patrick and I will reapply for the accountability pathways funds that sustain that partnership. Uh but we'll make sure that we are funding what is otherwise nonfunded mandate as best we can to make sure that that partnership continues. And then the only other um thing

102I want to add around easy grant funds um which it sounds like you all are aware of is we do have the existing easy grant funds for governance training which we'll be getting started soon with Dr. Dan Jordanson and then um the district strategic planning funds which it sounds like we've got some things moving there and in progress. So, I'll pause there and ask you what what questions do you all have overall? Um, how how can I help help answer those questions >> on the UVA? So, that's through the school year. >> Yes. Through the end of this school year. >> Yeah. So, those funds will need to be drawn down fully from the state grant by about September of this time next year. Are you waiting for the the board training for the new

103board or are we doing the two? >> We're going to be when the new board is on. >> Okay. >> But I think I think that makes sense. Um and I think it'll be it'll be great. Um Dr. Dan Jordan does some good work. Um and most of our boards that have gone through that really enjoyed that work. Great. Well, if you all or anyone else in the LA community needs to get a hold of me, um here's my information right here. Um it's also available on the state website. So, um looking forward to being in Laanta at least four times a year. Um and I always like coming down here. Um and I'll try to avoid the tarantulas on my way back. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Um finished business. >>

104So we have um couple final um second and final readings for some policies. Um the first policy is policy AC non-discrimination equal opportunity. It's revised due to personnel change. Um then policy KG relations with state and federal agencies revised due to minor technical and stylistic updates and changes to the directory information. Um and then policy J and JRC student records and release of information on students revised due to minor technical and stylistic changes. I got a motion to approve policy A C policy KLG policy J R A/JRC >> second. I have a motion and a second to approve revised policies AC KLG JRC and final reading. Questions or comments? >> Roll call. >> Mrs. A. >> I. >> Mrs. Sol. >> Mr. Pman. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Le I. So, we are going to hold

105off on the purchase of the Kdova RTV until we better have a better understanding of our fiscal um realities. So, um I know we tabled it, but right now we're going to pull that off. >> You want to make motion to table? >> I'll make a motion to table the approval purchase of the RTV. Um, please revert until our finances are in order. >> So, we'll buy it. >> Yeah. Yeah, we have a motion and second to purchase of the are you say kabota >> the RTV? >> Yes. >> In the amount of 26,800 um and indefinitely. >> Yes. >> Roll call. >> Mrs. A. Mrs. S. I >> Mrs. Sorry. Uh, Mr. Coleman. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Lib. >> Yes. So, um, we're asking that the board approves the NWA renewal in the amount

106of $25,600 as presented. This is our software that we use to look at our data um to be able to give progress monitoring tests and exams to our students. Um it's something we've been using for a long time. Um but it's definitely deployed already in the classrooms. Um this is a renewal as um we've had it for several years. >> So moved. >> Second. Motion is second to approve NWA renewal in the amount of 25,600 as presented. Uh questions or comments? Roll call. >> Mrs. Aa >> I. >> Mrs. S. Am I? >> Mr. Colon. >> I. >> Mrs. Fa. >> I comments it. >> Thank you. >> Tiger theater. Do we have any comments from you? We've been listening so very eagerly to hear them. >> Thank you for your patience. Yes, we're a

107very informative meeting. They learn a lot. I actually stay right here. Okay. Okay. Well, I'm Herrera. Um, I'm from the Lana Junior Senior High School and I am a senior. Um, my name is Pila Martinez. I am also from Lana Junior Senior High School and I'm also a 12th grader. And I am Emmy Malik. I am a senior. Go to the same school. Um, we are members of Lana Junior Senior High School Tiger Theater and we are hoping we are here to invite you to our fall production of Beetlejuice Jr. We are a cast and crew of junior and senior high school students from across the valley and we're kicking off our season with our fall production of Beetlejuice Jr. The musical. The musical. The musical. >> Our production is directed by Desiree Gene and

108the assistant is directed by Tracy Helser and Molly Borton with the help of Courtney Ayella, our stage craft class and vocal dance instructor. Ruby Ruby Beetlejuice Jr. is a frightfully funny musical based on the beloved motion picture. Leah Deets is a strange and unusual teenager. Still grieving the loss of her mother and obsessed with the whole being dead thing. Lydia, I'm sorry, Lydia Deeper. Lydia, she did her father moved to a new um house haunted by a recently deceased couple. Uh and Beetlejuice, a delightful demon with a real zest for life. when they call up to scare away anyone from pulse. Um, this double cross spectctor shows his true stripes unleash unleashing a netherworld of pandemonium. Our production dates are October 23rd and 24th at 700 p.m. and 25th at 2 p.m. Run time of

109the show is approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m. on our show rates. We encourage you and your families to come support our performing arts program. Thank you for your time and commitment to our district. We hope to see you there. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I got a couple things. First of all, huge congratulations to back and staff. This is a great presentation as you all. >> That's great. Great job. Um, just want to uh thank Dr. Crumb Holtz and our transportation department and the band and cheerleaders and Tiger Theater and Sure. I'm probably leaving somebody out for participating early on Sailor's Day parade. That was great. Um, so that was that was cool. Um, great celebration was memorial service on

110our 911 celebration. It's not a celebration, but um here at the intermediate. And then the last thing um I I just want to shout out u Tanya Ramsey used to call Tanya Gonzalez. She graduated from Lana and she's now the head softball coach at Scley Canyon in Fort Collins and for the last I don't know number of years she always brings her team down here to play Lana and then they all both teams get together and have a meal after the game. I just think that's a really cool thing that um our departments work worked on and supported her doing that. I think otherwise some of our kids might never know where the line is. So I think just wanted to acknowledge that. >> Anyone else? >> I guess I just wanted to thank all

111the kids that came out for 4 and and the leaders in our district because they do a lot of work and their parents do too. It's really hard to raise animals and then also work on the projects and then take your kids all these places because it's dog training, cats. It's not just chickens and horses and stuff like that. So, that's a lot. And then I also want to uh just remind people this weekend coming up is also the tarantula fest. And there's also be a lot of our students and like the cheer team and TTA will be painting in the alleys downtown. So, come by and check that out. >> Stacy stole my thunder just a smidge. Yes, this weekend is is Tarantula Fest. Um, come out and support your local everything. Um, the

112parade kicks off downtown at 10:00 a.m. That'll be a good time. Congratulations to our staff. FFA turnout was great. Thank you all for your hard work. equity that's already been covered, but I I'm sorry I'm gonna have to miss all this reminders. I have my last quarterly cath this weekend. So, but I know I think there's a lot of great things happening. It's exciting to see the growth and that we've jumped so much. Um, I'm excited for the next four from the trainings that they're going to have and the the next employees. They're going to have a clean system to really not have like login taped to this person's desk and the other login for that database, whatever. So, I'm excited for everybody to get like that fresh workspace and that way we can focus

113on our students. Thank you everybody for staying with us for so long.