0016:30 we'll call the regularly scheduled board meeting for the Mercer County School District Board of Education. Wednesday, February 18th at 6:30. Roll call, please. >> Balmer >> here. >> Lower. Mson >> here. >> Nelson >> here. >> Smack >> here. >> Brick >> here. >> And Yates >> here. >> All right. We have three people that have signed up to make a public comment. Um on the back of the agenda [snorts] are the rules for participation in the board of education meeting. I'll read that before we get started. The board of education welcomes public comments during the public comment portion of the agenda. Those who wish to address the board should state their name, limit their statement to five minutes. Comments are not restricted to items on the agenda. However, regarding specific student discipline cases
002are not allowed during open session. Generally, these type of comments should come to the board only after they've been referred to the teacher, principal, or administrator who is closest to the situation. all of their avenues for resolving these items have been exhausted and the issue has not been resolved, you may address you may request to address the board usually during close session. In addition, please refrain from using derogatory comments about staff or students at this time. Um, I have three people that have signed up. Mark Freeze is the first one. Pressure five minutes. One of my worst grades in college was my inability to keep my time in public speaking down to the district. [laughter] Um, as I as you said, Mark Freeze, 502 Southeast Second Avenue here in Alino. I'm here both as a
003as a citizen, an employee, and also as one of your Alderman. Um, I know this is that time of year where we start talking about budgets and funding for buildings and still have a little experience with that. I was a principal in Connecticut for eight years. And when my when I had my first year, we had 784 kids. By the time I retired, eight years later, I was down to 595 with projection getting down to 525 within the next three years. So I know a lot about I had a lot of experience in cutting because that's what we had to do as we get smaller and smaller. But I did want to share one of the things I did learn during that time and that is that it's the focus for schools especially in more
004rural areas is that it's not necessarily always the number of teachers and student ratio. You have to find that time where programs become paramount right and right now we have a lot of programs. I was able to see a lot of those at the school being a teacher up there last year and also some we have a lot of good programs. We have a lot of great kids. You're going to see some of them here tonight. All right. But one of the things that smaller school districts, rural areas across the nation always struggle with is how to maintain those programs while having to manage budgets in in the community. It's hard. Thank you guys for taking that time to volunteer to do this job, but not a lot of people would. So, thank you for
005that. But it's tough. So, you have to come up with some sort of plan for what we have to do. And hopefully you guys are probably doing the same. I'm sure you probably are in some way. But having an idea of what is that flat line? What do you want your students to have when they leave? Many schools across the nation now have programs where kids graduate with the CNA certification. We started a program in my school just as I was retiring where a good portion of a journ's uh call card if you will was satisfied with in the programs that we had in the school. We want these kids to walk out with something tangible that they can use for future employment and in some in a lot of cases for them to stay
006here. We like we want our population to maintain. And then [snorts] which brings me to my other side, you know, being an alderman, I've had conversations with some of our county members. And one of the things that we're looking at is 40 years ago when I graduated from here, you know, population in the county was about 20,000. Right now we're down to about 15,000. We want to get back up there. We feel that 20,000 for the county is where we need to be. So what's going to bring those people here? I don't necessarily a large manufacturer moving in town and hiring 300 people. So, this place, this school district is going to be the jewel for this county. So, having those programs available that somebody can see and plan for and have that vision of
007this is what I want to do when I leave here is going to be critical. So, we want some of those people from maybe Musketine to move over across the river to have a little bit more focused uh education in a smaller setting. [clears throat] We want some of these people from the cities to maybe come down because they want to have a more focused educational setting in a smaller school. So, in order for them for order for us to attract those, we need to have those programs. They need to be able to see something that when my kid graduates from that school, they can go right into the workforce and do X. So once again, thank you for all your work that you do because like I said, not a lot of people take
008the time to do that and you guys have very pleased that you [cough and clears throat] >> Sorry about that. >> Did you get your chicken rub sold? >> Yes. >> I was trying to get a wife. They're gone. I'm going camping and I'm not messing with chickens. Okay. Notice this is my first time speaking in front of the whole board. I'm Cindy Britain. I am a bus driver of 15 years for the district. I am also a resident [clears throat] of county. It's come to our attention that the route that goes to the Quad Cities, they're trying to outsource. is being brought up to be outsourced to Johannes. Johannes is also short on drivers. I understand we are short on drivers this year really bad. But we've got people taking vacations. We've got people
009that are not sick, especially with the flu right now. We've got Ernie gone. Ernie will be back here hopefully in a couple of weeks. So hopefully that will end our little shortage of drivers. Plus, we just got a new person at the bus shed and we have driver that's supposedly in training, but he's been there since August and still ain't got his license. He's messing around trying to get that done. But then we're here and now that we are trying to get rid of our quad city route that Del and I do every day. We take two hours out of my day that we don't even get paid for and we stay in the city to save the school some money by not bringing that bus back here. That's 190 miles where we leave in
010the morning until we get back at night. If we were to come back and sit down here for two and a half hours, three hours, that's another 190 miles that we're saving you guys along with not being paid for two hours to sit in the city. We go to Milin High, walk around to the stores and stuff to not put extra miles on that bus. And like I said, we don't get paid to do that. And like I said, we're short drivers. Joe Hanis is also short drivers. So, I don't know where that's going to be feasible to take that away from the Mercy County drivers that's had it well way before I even started. So, that's just one of my concerns. And it takes a while. We got special needs kids on that bus.
011It takes them a long time to warm up to a new driver. They didn't warm up to me until right after Christmas break. And I started that route back in October. And I'm just now getting them to speak to me. And then you're going to go throw. Johannes never has the same driver every day on the same route. And I don't I'm sorry. I don't think you should do that to those kids. Some of them kids will fly off the handle really easy. And luckily I have Dela that is a wonderful monitor and that's going to take away from her too. And like I said, we both don't get paid for at least two hours sitting up there plus saving a lot of wear and tear on that bus. So, we would like to have
012that taken into consideration and hopefully when Bernie gets back in March and we get this Brent guy, get him going. I'm the LDL trainer down there now. He doesn't want to get with me and do that supposedly. He's got that done through Sherard, but he doesn't want to go to the cities and get his license. Somebody needs to put a fire under him to get that done because then it would eliminate not having another driver. That's all I've got. Thank you. [clears throat] [cough] [clears throat] >> I'm president of New Boston, employee of the school. I'm a bus monitor and same situation. I'm on the quad city route. These kids taken. I've been on this route for three years and these kids are just now starting to really warm up and talk to me. I
013I in contact with the parents in order to make sure that, you know, if their kids are in any sort of need whatsoever, I try to make sure that it happens. I don't ask for any compensation. I, you know, if they want paper to draw on or colored pencils or whatever, I make sure that they have it. And I don't think that switching them up is fair to them. I've talked to the parents. The parents are not happy. They are really upset that we're going to be taken away from the kids. And I think in this situation, we should be worried about the kids, not the almighty dog. That's all I got to say. >> Thank you. Thanks. [clears throat] >> Didn't have anybody else public comment. Anybody else want to make it? >> All
014right. On to item three, board comments. There any board comments? If not, we'll move on to item four, the school organization, Merchant County High School, Grey Lives Matters. >> All right. So, I was going to go ahead and introduce them here. Um, Mr. Zer, virtual Zer. Um, this gray matters here is ran by Mrs. Haynes, Miss Haynes. >> Well, it's me and Maker. Um, this happened to be a group that I first met. That was the first group of kids that I was able to meet here in M County. They awesome group. um one of those groups that I wish every school would have and these guys run a top-notch type of uh type of program with this. So, floor is yours. I appreciate you guys coming. Thank you. >> Um I will kind of
015let them tell you what the Graham Hunters Collective is, but we started the program probably about three or four years ago. I had a student who came to me um who had lost her brother to suicide and wanted to get this get the group going. So we started um started cities and John won't explain that but so we decided to get it going and these we have six student coordinators that are kind of our leaders. We have four here tonight. We have two that went home sick today I do believe. >> Sorry but um John will start John Baldwin will start out and kind of tell you a little bit about what matters is. My name is John Baldin. Um, as mentioned, three or four years ago, [snorts] Gray Matters started up um in Mer
016County. And as a lot of you know, three or four years ago was kind of the end of CO, which was hard on everyone, especially uh teenagers and and young adolescence. So in those ages, not adolescence specifically, but 10 to 24 in America, um suicide is actually the leading second leading cause of death. So in 2018, Haley Degre and Kevin Donovan started the gray matters. So not not three to four years ago, but eight years ago now, but it spread started here. Not not here, but started up in the Quad Cities. Um T actually told me just now that Haley was a graduate of a Leo. So it's help her dad was a graduate. [clears throat] So it stayed close to home. >> Um and it started up and it's it's been spread across especially
017the Midwest. So our kind of like what we believe is that mental health isn't a black and white issue like many things are. Um it's kind of a gray area and that's where the name comes to gray matters. So um many get lost in this gray area. They don't know what to say or or what to do or how to help someone struggling. And by uh forming this kind of outreach program, we uh aim to help everyone involved in that gray area, try to help them just grow and get out of that. I will give the floor to >> Hi, I'm Riley. Um, so a story that's resonated with great matters for a while is called the smarter story. And I'll give you guys these so you can follow along with me. Um, but basically
018it's about a young girl who was walking along a beach where it's after a storm, so there's a bunch of starfish washed up and a man approached her and he asked her why he would why she would be throwing starfish back in the sea because there's so many of them. Um, and it will not help anyone. and she seemed crushed and she picked up another starfish and hurled it into the ocean and she said, "At least I made a difference to that one." So, I think that story is really good to think about because even if you can't make a difference to like every starfish, you can at least make a difference to one. So, yeah. >> Hello. >> I always got to acknowledge people right behind me. I feel better with my backs facing
019up, but you guys are important ones, right? So, all of this sounds great. Thank you, John. And thank you, Bryley. So, how do we put these things into action within Mercer County High School, right? Great program, great, great organization. But how does it resonate with you and the school that you control? Well, monthly meetings hosted by us and our amazing coordinators. And so, we get together with our student body, of course, by their free will. They and we usually have some pretty great numbers. I think that we get out a phenomenal percentage of the student of the student body. So, we bring them out and we do a really fun activity. I always think they're really fun, but I do help plan them, so I might be a little biased. We plan a really fun
020activity that also centers around how they can better their mental health, how they can support people around them, and how we can make the school just a little bit better and how we can be starfish growers at Mercer County High School. Okay, John, Robert, ready? I'm John Reed. Um, I have been with Grand Matter for two years and we May 23rd I'll pass these out so you guys can see. May 23rd, 2026, we're doing a my number 5K just anyone else come. There are packets with t-shirts and everything good. The Pick up begins at 9 and the rate or the pickup begins at 8 and the race starts at 9. That's $15 for students, $25 for adults. And all registration, all registrants under 18 must be registered by an authorized adult. So, not much else
021to say there. >> Um, we did bring some things for you guys, so if you guys want to grab the bags and we can get those out to you. The race that we have planned, it was originally planned for the fall and we there was a lot of different things going on with cross country and football and everything at that time. So, we rescheduled it for the spring. So, we're hoping to have some [snorts and cough] that we did our first one last year. I think we had a really good turnout. It was a lot of fun. Um, who doesn't like to run? [laughter] >> Sorry. You have to be a little cuckoo, but you can walk. >> We're out there for everyone. We had people that walked the whole thing last year and it
022was so much fun. Everybody getting together and um exercising is just another way to help your mental health. >> They all ran for office. >> I'd rather run a 5K. >> I'll be [clears throat] there. I'll be >> save the best for last. >> Okay, you guys. You guys, will you check your tag on the inside to make sure you got the right tag, please? >> Do you not have a tag? >> Okay. Yes. >> Oh, this is why you ask question. >> Yes. >> Okay. Everybody has the right ones. Okay. So, I just want to say this is a group that is a student led group. So we've really this year especially put respon more responsibility on the kids to plan the activities to plan the meetings to get other kids involved. So I
023think they've done a wonderful job and I just hope that it continues throughout the year because I think it helps a lot a lot of kids in the school to see these kids. >> So you guys you meet once a month. Do you meet before school or after school? >> Uh before school. >> Before school. >> And how many do you say? >> 25 or 30 probably. So, I mean, not a giant percentage, but for 7:15 in the morning, >> I think it's a good percentage. >> It really is. We start get 30 kids. >> We usually have donuts. >> We've tried to do after school before, but with all the sports activities and stuff going on. So, >> what are what is like what's a typical meeting? What do you guys >> Uh, last
024last meeting was January. I was in charge of it and we played bingo. So, we got these like coping skills bingo. So it' be like you draw a card and it'd be like a it'd say like what you were dealing with and then or no it'd say like what a coping skill was for like instead of b I go it was like five different like kind of umbrellas of problems and then the card you pulled was like a skill to do like walking was I think one of them there just hund hundreds of them. So >> Christmas we always do Christmas cookies. We've had we've had speakers come in. Um Amy has come in before and talked about, you know, her life story and losing her son and and stuff. So, we tried to kind
025of change it up, but they each picked a month this year. And then >> it always looks a little different, but that's good. >> We have an Instagram page. >> Yes. >> Anybody else have any questions? Well, thank you for coming. We really appreciate it. I look forward to hearing more. Thank you. >> Thanks a lot for the bag. >> I have a chance. >> You might need a >> All right, moving on to number five. Correspondence. We didn't have anything, did we? On to six [clears throat] through 6.7, the approval of consent agenda. Did anyone have anything they would like to pull out of the consent agenda? If not, I would entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Mson, is there a second? Balmer second. Roll call, please. Lower, >> yes. >>
026Mudson, >> yes. >> Nelson, >> yes. >> Smok, >> yes. >> Prick, >> yes. >> Yates, >> yes. >> And Balmer, >> yes. >> All right. Motion carries. 70. >> Moving on to the committee reports. >> There's not a finance committee report from last night. >> No worries. We will suspend that one for next month. >> All right. Um, are there any are there any highlights or will we kind of go over I know the looked like we were light last month on health insurance? >> Yes. Yeah, the health insurance uh you know, usually we've been putting in less money than we've been spending in it and it's been drawing our cash reserve down in the health insurance fund, but uh this month uh we We were glad to report that uh we actually were
027$60,000 below uh what we put in. So we were able to build up that cash reserve for the first time in many many months. And what we're hoping is that's a trend. So we only put in or I mean we only had claims of $127,000 uh for the month of February as reported in February. So it's really probably January. And um we put in about $189,000 each month. So that's good. Right now, as of last month, uh we had $256,000 in that cash reserve for the health insurance. So that's a bit of good news. >> And then we're meeting tomorrow with the health insurance committee, correct? >> Yes. >> To to discuss options for next year, >> right? >> Yeah. Our renewal is always uh August 1st. I'm sorry, September 1st. The open window period
028is August and we should hear by the middle of July what our rates are going to be for next year. We can change our plan design a little bit if we want. [clears throat] Anyone have any questions? All right, moving on to item eight. 8.1 foyer requests. We had do we have three? >> I think so. They were all in there. >> And the only one I didn't understand was the uh education request. It's like the state board of education. >> Yeah. It's a guy that >> because he was asking for elected school board members from 2010 to the president for consolidated district 230, 135, 118. >> Yeah. He uh sent it out a mass email to a lot of districts. So um I are the ones that we could answer, but he was in
029insisting that all board members have to have a background check, you know, before when they are seated. And that's not true. And uh so I just answered him the best I could. Uh he wanted the bonds from all of our, you know, the bonds that we have. Well, he didn't what aspect of you want, you know, a description of them, you know, you want the numbers. So, I just gave him I made a copy of the the audit. Just sent him that couple other things. He fired back right real quick that you know board members do need background checks. But I think I'm guessing you know he's got issues and so the other attorneys that have responded to the other school districts just basically said worry about it. >> Okay. And then one was on
030wanting to know if we had contracts with a bunch of different um What are they asking about contracts, agreements, or renewals? And it lists Mastery Prep Alberto. AIOXL. So, they must be like programs or something that I don't recognize. I didn't recognize. >> And then another was from an attorney. >> All right. Any questions? 8.2 adding a route to Joe. >> Okay, so we have two issues there 8.2 and 8.3. They're just discussion items only. There's no recommendation at all. Uh the first one is just to begin the discussion talking about um our route to the Quad Cities each day. Um we do have students who go to uh Phoenix program which is a a program for students who have an IEP, a behavior disorder. And so then they there at Phoenix. We have kids
031who go to the what we call the center, the Blackhawk area special education center. Those kids would have significant, you know, intellectual needs and um and so that they go up there and then um uh and so we pick them up in the morning, pick them up and then uh early in the afternoon they you know we start picking them up to bring them back home. So, it is a long day for the drivers and for uh for the students as well. And so, one of the things that we've really been struggling with lately is having enough subs for our routes. Mr. Zizer, high school principal has driven for us. You know, you think, well, what's your high school principal doing driving your regular routes? Well, that's how up Creek we are. And uh Dustin
032Murray, I think he drives just about every day. You know, he wasn't hired to be a driver, but we're so thankful for Mr. eyes are in for Dustin for their willingness to help us out. In fact, Dustin's even had where he takes two routes at the same time on his bus. And so it's it's really a problem. And um and so we we uh you know started looking around what can we do to relieve some of the pressure, you know, and uh one of the easy things is [clears throat] uh having maybe Johannes do um the Quad City route. They do have drivers who come from the from Quad Cities to be subs and to be drivers. And if if that's their territory, if they went up there, they have a place that they can,
033you know, hang out while they're waiting for the afternoon route. Um it's not really it's not really something that's got a lot of, you know, 10 reasons why we should because I don't even know for sure. It's not going to save any money. I can tell you that. Um because yeah, they they'll have some downtime. Maybe they'll save a little bit, but they have to make profit. So whatever it costs us, they got going to have the same cost with buses, gas, breakdowns, maintenance, salaries. Um, and so, um, it it has been suggested by a number of the drivers and and you know, transportation people and others that said, you know, that's what you need to do. So, well, let's talk about it. You know, let's let's consider it. Um, the drivers wouldn't lose their
034job or the monitor. Um, we would reassign them to some other one of our routes. uh and there are there are openings right now and so uh that's kind of um that's kind of it in a nutshell. I don't know you guys have any input. >> I got a question. >> Okay. >> We're having trouble with the e house. Is there some place up there you can plug that in while you're up there? >> Um yeah, there are places we can plug it in. We don't use that vehicle to take the kids up there. >> I'm saying we're having trouble with that. It's got to get up plug it while they're waiting. >> Yeah. plug the whole time. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. And there and if it's a if it's a special kind of a
035plugin, they it fills up the the battery a lot quicker. >> Well, that's who's got what it cost to charge it. If one schools has got something close, >> we had a a really nice uh charger installed right behind the building here and so here at the junior high. Uh, and we've been using that and that that tends to give it a quicker a quicker charge. Then we also installed a a slower charger uh in the bus garage. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, between those two that kind of helps. >> Can we make that bus only on charge? >> How long is it? And I said it's 190 miles up up and back with everything that we have to do that bus will not work 80 miles and the only place. >> Okay. So you go
036>> 80 miles if nothing is on. No headlights nothing. >> Well he is because they got to pick up kids here and there and everywhere before they take >> Okay. That was >> Yeah. We got three schools we go to. >> We have three schools. He only mentioned two. Um because I just >> we also go to high road and quad cities which is >> down by the airport >> down by Koval and the only place that we'd be able to plug it in is up here. >> Yeah. >> And that takes a long things take a long time to charge especially if it's got a 110 took three days in the bus shed to charge it. >> We just wanted to answer your question. >> No, I get it. I just >> Yeah, we
037just want to do a lot of people trying to get rid of them. >> That little white bus. >> Two problems. If you can, I'm not saying >> it would be more feasible if we could use a little blue bus or a smaller bus versus the large bus. >> Oh, you know, >> we got 10 kids on and we're taking a fulls size bus. >> Well, there I mean there are laws on that. I mean, they don't if it's for academic purposes, which that is, they want it to be a yellow school bus with the amber lights and the red lights and the stop sign and all that stuff. They, you know, they they'd only want you using Suburbans and those kind of things for like athletics and for nonacademic, you know, going to and
038from school. >> We have a little yellow bus down there if they ever get it wrong. >> Yeah. It's got wiring problems that need to go to wiring. I don't know if you were here when I first started, but we had bus number 20, which was a short bus. It's what we used to take the Quad Cities, same size as what we've got down there now that hasn't ran for three years. >> So, is there is there two routes or one? One >> miles. >> That whole route is 190 miles per day. If we go every state in the cities, >> we go up, we drop off at the center, then we go to Phoenix, then we go to high roads out by the airport. Then we usually either go to Milin to Hy, park
039the bus, go shopping, whatever, or we'll go down to Walmart on John Road, which is on our way back. >> We we try to stay within our >> within our miles of our normal route. >> Then we come back. The way that route supposed to be ran though is they want us to come all the way back and then go back again. That'd be another 190 miles and we're saving that by us staying up there and then not getting >> but I'm confused on how it can be that far when it's 45 miles to anywhere in the city. >> I understand that you're not going straight there. But it's like four times that when you're say 190 miles. >> It's that's round trip. >> I understand. >> Yeah. So we we start out in New
040Boston. We go to Keysburg. Then we go to Joy. I don't know how many church stops we got in Al. Then we go out by Hamlet. You got to go back road out there and pick up a boy. And then we go to the cities and go all the three different schools. >> But that that's one route. You make all that all the way. >> Go up and then and then you're supposed but you then you stay up there. >> Do we stay up there to stay? >> So if you do it the way you guys are doing it, how is it still? It's 190 miles >> if you do it the way you're doing it. >> If we do it the way >> you don't, you have to come back here to the school,
041right? >> Another 40 or whatever each way. Be another 90 miles if you did it. Exactly. >> So, it be 190 plus 90 more if you did it the way that they I mean >> the way it's supposed to be done. Yes. >> Okay. >> So, we choose to stay up there to save the school some money. >> Sure. That's why I was just trying to figure out how either way we're going to have to add. >> Well, if we didn't replace that route, we'd have to replace another route. >> Well, yeah, we have to do something to address this because it's just wearing everybody out. Drivers included, you know. >> So, we have to So, somehow we've got to add a route or add to so that we have >> Yeah, I could talk
042to him about doing another route. >> So, so how long the first person that gets on that bus, how long are they riding the bus? >> First person gets on the bus for about two a little over. >> She gets on at 6:00. >> Gets on at 6:00 and off at 8. [snorts] >> Yes. >> And then two more. >> Or is the one that the one that gets on first? Do they get off first or they get off last? >> She gets off last. The way that they have it set up, which >> So that person spends four hours on the bus. >> Wow. >> She's working on it right now, I think. Kim Lloyd said that they would be interested in doing it. She's working on pricing. >> Okay. >> And so, you
043know, there's no need reason to make a decision tonight. Something just to keep thinking about. >> I think we should look at how much [clears throat] it would cost for them to do that route, how much it costs us. And then if we were to give them a different route, don't we have a set or a set price for >> kind of a special? >> Yeah. because they've helped us in the past, right? When we've had shortages, >> how is that relative? >> He just takes all these kids and then he just makes them bigger. >> That's what I'm saying. I mean, >> one group on that bus. >> Yeah. >> I can go ahead. I was I just saying it ain't about the amount of kids to need another route. It's about how far
044it's got to go. I just didn't know that seemed like he was having a room >> route one and route seven intercross because I have had to do it. I have had to run two routes because we've had a driver call in sick in the afternoon and it works out that route one and route seven intertwine with each other down in New Boston when they shuttle. Then you can run route seven and then run route one and it only takes about 20 minutes more because it it has been done. I've done it a few times. >> Okay. Well, I think I'm satisfied with that one. >> Okay. All right. So, then the next one is the transit van. Um I think what didn't help was that we bought a used one and so the battery
045life is slightly less already. And uh I did find uh Mr. Forker's um uh notes on how long that battery should last. And it was supposed to be able to do uh both the morning route and the afternoon route down to Gailsburg, but it just hasn't. And of course, in fairness, >> weather messes up. >> Yes. And it was when when they took it down there and we're on the way back and we're really starting to worry at New Windsor. Uh that was a very very cold day and that you know, as we all know, batteries don't do as well in cold weather and so um so that we have to keep that in mind too. But I think what it's going to do is it's going to give us everybody like all the coaches
046and all the, you know, the people who will use it, it's going to make them nervous about using it because they're going to wonder, are they going to get back? And so then therefore, they're going to try their hardest not to use it. They're going to want to use one of the other vehicles. And so I think that the future there's no question is going to be e vehicles. It's just that I think for maybe a rural school district right now, it just it doesn't seem to be the right the right thing because of the limited mileage. I I don't know. Uh this is just discussion so I'm not asking you to tell me tonight but let's put that in our thinker because maybe and I'm going to also try to do some checking. I've
047already started where do you sell a transit van because who would want one, you know, and well uh civic community, you know, like a cities would that maybe one of their staff members has to run around town dropping things off. Yeah. Or maybe Johanna's up there the cities. >> Yes. And so, um, so there might be a market for it. So, I need to find out where's the best place that will give us the best price for it. And then I would say if we do, I think we paid, if I remember right, $58,000 for it and 38 38,000. Yeah. >> We're also getting a tax credit from the IRS for that, too. >> Oh, okay. Yeah, that's that's where it came down to 165. >> Oh, okay. 165 was a tax credit. I wonder
048how the rebate the IRS rebate. >> Well, that's that's why I mentioned it. Make sure you understood. >> Yeah. Do you want this? >> Yeah. >> Oh, well then I can find >> I just searched I just searched. >> Okay. All right. I'll look on the drive and get up to speed a little more on it and then >> So you don't have to pay it back. >> Yeah. We don't want to have to pay it back >> because there are things we can use it for, you know. There are short trips, you know, if we're going to Rockbridge or back, I think everyone would feel comfortable using it for that, but um it's just when like going to Dixon or going to, you know, to Cal or Princeton. >> What do we have for
049maintenance >> on maintenance? >> Maintenance vehicles. Is it possible to switch this out for Do we need a new maintenance vehicle? We can swap this. >> Um perhaps I mean Doug uses his own truck. Uh but yeah, I mean perhaps we could use it for you know something else. I can look into that >> and we can look into why other schools have charging stations >> so that way you know we get >> Yeah. Yeah, that's a good point. You know, maybe another school has a charging station >> or nearby one, you know. >> Okay. All right. That gives me some homework to work on. >> So, I'm done with All right. >> Action items 9.1 risk management plan. >> Okay. Um, as you know, we've been talking for quite some time how we want
050to transfer some of the ED fund expenses over to the TOR fund. We have about a million dollars in our TOR fund reserve. And so, it is able to handle some of the expenses. Plus, [clears throat] with this new levy, you know, that's going to be coming in, we'll have about $400,000 more per year coming in. So, that's good. So, I've been working with our attorney, Steve Richard, out of Chicago on making sure, you know, our risk management plan is is kosher up to snuff, you know, when and passes legal scrutiny. And so, they have their own template for what a riskmanagement plan should look like in the narrative section. So, they he sent it to me and invited me to just copy and paste right into our plan. So that way it's done, you
051know, with lawyer oversight and um and some of the things that we want to do additionally um would be that paper out here. Um add the assistant principles 20%. Add PE teachers 10%. Add um our special education pair of professionals 20%. Bus drivers 10%, technology director 20%, and technology workers 10%. Uh the SRO officers 100%, maintenance director 20%, uh the assistant maintenance director 20%, business manager, every step 15%, the [cough] interim superintendent uh 85%. And uh playground and lunchroom supervisors 10%. and then also add um the administrative leave costs accord you know that are that are that we're paying right now for the superintendent to be a 100%. And so um as you can imagine just you know eyeballing that that's going to be uh several hundred,000 right there. And so >> how long does
052it take for us to run through the million dollars that's in there all that? >> Oh well with our 400,000 more I think it'll last to infinity and beyond. Yeah, I think >> Yeah. Yeah. And I think we can then not use our cash reserves. You know, the cash reserves, it's okay to have cash reserve and torque because if you ever get sued and then they'll say the the plainif wins, you know, $400,000, well, you pay that judgment out of the torque fund. And so then that would give you um don't anybody get any ideas? And uh the uh it give you a war chest to draw from if you ever, you know, had a judgment against you. What's the rate that right now that that's getting replenished at? I know you can you can
053levy anything you want, which is kind of a back door way. >> Yeah. The tort fund is the only fund where you have discretion on what the tax rate is. I mean, you can always go down and up in the IMRF and the social security fund, but you're supposed to only levy what you need and you're not supposed to build a cash reserve up in those funds. And um but the torque one is really the only one because I know in December one of the persons who spoke um said that their tax rate that we had back in 2009 was a good tax rate and that was what we all were willing to you know abide by. Well we it's still that exact same tax rate. It's the EAV that went up and so I
054mean like the ed fund you can't go above 290. It was $ 290, $2.90 in 2009 and it's still $2.90 today, etc., etc. You go right on down. We do have >> EVA went up to >> Yeah, it's the EAV that's the culprit, you know, and so um the only we are seven cents more than we were in uh 2009 and that's because of torque and so um and that includes the bonds, seven cents. So, so it's really and that when you figure out seven cents, it's not much. just like $80,000 or something. So, so yeah, our tax rate is virtually exactly what it was uh 17 years ago >> just and that's what it should be. I mean, >> technically, if your values of property go up, you should be able to hold that
055tax rate. >> I think when I left in 2015, it was around 110 million. Uh, and now it's 270 million. So, it's it's more than doubled plus 35%. So, it's the EAB. >> So, the prices of all properties. >> Yes. Which is good because that shows that your properties are desirable, but it's bad that your taxes go up. >> Yeah. Uh >> do any of the coaches typings get covered in this? >> Well, in the in their early draft. Yes. The thing that the attorney says is they don't like it when you do a blanket all pair of professionals or all teachers or all it's supposed to be more targeted to that. And so, but he did Okay, these but and and plus there's only been two lawsuits in all the years uh in all
056throughout the state for this sort of thing. So, it's not common and not likely, you know, that it'll be challenged. But if it does, I think it'll it'll it'll hold up against that challenge because well, lawyers wrote it. hundreds of thousands of dollars at some [snorts] >> Yes. Steph is working on that. I asked her to do it, but in fairness, I didn't ask her until Monday. So, so she hasn't had it. Yeah, she's going to give us >> Would our plan be as we use the reserves in that? How do we replenish it? We're going to have to raise the rate on torque >> in order to be able to punish that fund. >> Yes, that or stop pulling some of those things out of tort. You know, like let's say if the if
057the ED fund becomes very healthy over, you know, the next five years or so. Well, then you and if the tort fund isn't doing very well, you can then pull those expenses back because you don't have to do them. You you're just you have permission to do that, >> right? But otherwise, that's a it took many years for that to fund to get up to where it's at. It didn't replace itself, >> right? >> Each year, >> no, that's that's many many years of everything. >> Well, I think this year we are 50,000 in the black. So, figure 50,000. So, in 10 years that's 500,000 and we have or about a million. So, you know, it's taking maybe 20 years for it to to build up. >> So, the only way to if you start
058using that out of the rate you're talking about to raise that. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. If you really start uh hammering away on it, then um Yeah. It'll take 20 years to build it back up again. >> Or you just raise it up. >> Yeah. Or you just raise >> Well, just raising it up. That sounds simple. >> Now, when your back's against the wall and you don't have any choice, you can pass a resolution to transfer the torque reserve to one of the other funds. But I don't think you want to do that if you don't have to. I mean, if your back is against the wall, then yeah, [snorts] but don't do that because you told the taxpayers in essence that we're using this to protect us from torturous acts, you know, from
059from being sued. And so, if you're then transferring to the edge fund, you know, then that just isn't good. >> So, yeah, I'd be interested in knowing if you used all those percentages that they recommended. Yes. >> How many dollars would that be per year? Yes. >> I'm guessing you're going to burn through that really quick. >> Yeah. 400,000. >> Yeah. >> Is what it is. It's 400. >> Well, we're going to get 400,000 more this year from the property tax, >> right? Addition. >> I'm just saying if you added up those percentages that they recommended that you can take out of torque, what would that number? >> Yes. And and Steph's working on that. Yep. And really the the interim superintendent and the superintendent once that problem's fixed, then that won't be coming out
060of there anymore. You know, that's going to be one or two times problem. [clears throat] >> Yeah. All right. I mean, if you feel comfortable and they'll say you feel comfortable to to to uh approve it tonight, but then maybe after we get some more numbers and say, "No, I'm not. I'm uncomfortable." You can come right back and amend it again. So, it's a living document. >> So, that we should probably put it on the agenda for next. >> Yeah, that's not a problem. Yeah, it's not a problem. Yeah, you want to make you can make a motion to table. >> Make a motion to table. >> Okay. >> So, we got a motion to table >> and by Frick and Yates second. [snorts] Uh voice vote. All those in favor say I. >> I
061oppose. All right. Motion carries. All right. Um 9.2 establishing a elementary life skills program. >> Okay. We have a life skills program right now at the high school. We have one at the junior high. We do not have an elementary life skills program. And um Bosed recommends that we do start a life skills program. They recommend that we start it this fall. And um also talking with our special ed coordinator, Becky McPeek. She recommends, in fact, she's recommended for the whole time I've been here that we start a a life skills and so have the teachers uh to start a life skills program. Um she threw a monkey wrench into my plan though yesterday and um because we wanted to do it at New Boston in that second classroom, you know, that'll be next to
062the preschool, the two the classroom that's being finished right now. And um but she reminded me that we don't have a bus going to New Boston in the morning and we don't have a bus coming to Alo in the afternoon. And so we're in a way we're prevented doing it because I mean the first thing you'd say is well let's start having a route going but you if you refer back to our earlier conversation we don't have drivers and so then it's like ah because I just you know been planning on it but she's she's right and um and so I think well I think I I talked to Chad today and he did some looking and checking and we are going to take Jeff Long over to Troy and he'll have his own room
063there and Chad assures me that he thinks we we have a room that can be the life skills even though that wasn't our original plan until yesterday. Um uh he thinks that we can I mean is that true Chad? He can house it and so we would have it then in Alto but not because we prefer Alto, not because you know we like the building better, not at all. It's got right now we're forced to have it there. >> What about the bus that already comes and picks up the life skills kids from New Boston? There's a comes in the morning that takes kids from New Boston to the life skills program at the junior high. >> That's bus number one. It's already going. It's coming to the junior high. >> But couldn't they bring
064the New Boston life skills kids to New Boston at that time and then drop them off while they then take the kids to the junior high because we're open for breakfast at that time anyway. >> Well, we can we can explore that and see and if there is a way Yeah. You just need us to >> to approve. Yes. that we have a life skills program. >> Yeah. Because then with the staffing decision on March 3rd, that is a crucial component of it of you know how many you know will be dismissed. So my opinion >> okay >> I think that's why you want So that >> well then to be safe then we would have to riff one more um to uh well because we don't know that you'll say yes. I mean if
065if we knew that it was going to be there for sure then we dismiss one fewer right >> because the issue isn't where it is. It's just do we need do we need programs? Do we need staff? >> And if there is a way to get it at New Boston, absolutely I want it to be at New Boston. >> It's more it's more we're we're voting on staff. >> Yes. >> To not eliminate staff, >> right? I think it's important to have >> We don't have one yet. >> Not for the elementary. We'd be >> But if we if we table this part of it tonight, then you need to rip one more person. >> No. >> And then if we approve it later on, then we hire that back. >> So by doing it
066tonight, we eliminate them undue stress. Yeah. >> Otherwise, you're one more person. >> There's probably two because we'll have to do an eight, too. Do we know the number of students that will be getting the benefit from this? >> I I'll defer it back. >> It would all be a team decision. You know, we just can't students going into this program. We have to meet at least four potential students for the program. >> We also have students that are attending boss programs that could probably attend at this location as well. So it could be more than four >> because since we started the junior high program, we've successfully transitioned three students back from the center >> avoiding that 2hour ride. >> Yeah. >> And it just provides a continuum of services because right now, you
067know, we're referring them to the center and then we're bringing them back to junior high where it makes sense to have programming throughout K through 12. >> How many kids up to Some of those wouldn't fit into the life skills program. The life skills program primarily serves students with intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, and autism. So, I'd entertain a motion to a motion for establishing an elementary life skills program. >> I'll move to establish an elementary life skills program. >> Move. Is there a second? Second. >> Either Bulmer or Nelson. One of the two. >> All right. Uh, roll call. >> Nelson. >> Yes. >> Smack. >> Yes. >> Prick. >> Yes. >> Yates. >> Yes. >> Bomber. >> Yes. >> Lower. >> Yes. >> Mson. >> Yes. Motion carries. Administrative reports. >> Sure. Um I
068don't have much else to add what's in there. Um our kindness club is going together with visit MCO. Um each of the classes created little index cards with some sayings with some kindness things on them and it's been they've been distributed throughout the community. Hope you see those. Enjoy those. pass those on hoping to spread kindness. Other than that, we survive Valentine's Day parties and we're enjoying the warmer weather getting the kids outside. Indoor recess is a is a bear in the winter time. So, the fresh air has been good for the students and the teachers. [clears throat] >> Uh, junior high, just the shout out to counseling team with mission. Um we'll have our stats on that after we go through our eighth grade program next week. That's where they go in the classroom,
069talk to kids about heavy topics, um students come forward, they're dealing six years now. So that statum The big closer is we survived another junior night dance. Valentine's dance was Friday. It was absolutely awesome. >> We also um celebrated Valentine's Day and we had some parents come in help out with some crafts and snacks and such. Our classrooms made Valentine's for the local nursing homes in town. Um we continue to do screenings throughout the year. So, we are going to open a couple spots to some students who are going to need some services. And then we will be having flyers posted soon for two May screenings, our June and July screenings. >> U high school wise, uh we have uh prepared for the ACT still um April 1st and April 8th. Um we have the
070FFA uh banquet coming up March 12th. Um, and we also have the uh uh Wizard of Oz play, spring play, the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, I believe. Um, that they're working hard on. Um, in addition to that, we have we we were able to send off Eli Burns and uh Boston Morford uh today as they're they're competing in um the state finals for uh wrestling. So, We're finishing up with that. Also, the counselors are working with the freshman through juniors in regards to their next year schedule already. So, >> thank you. [clears throat] >> We also survived Valentine's Day. Um, PTO came, they sponsored schoolwide bingo, which was really fun. Um, it was exciting when the kids, you know, would win like over a little piece of candy. They were just so pumped. So,
071that was fun to watch. Um, we have a group of second graders that's been working on a project with our 3D printer. They're making um and selling 3D print toys. So, you guys are welcome to come down any Wednesday morning and they've got a little store that they're running as part of an extension project. They're going to come present at one board meetings as well on that. Um, but it's it's up and running. We're struggling to keep up with inventory. I know for Miss Duncan feels like she's running like a factory out of her room, but We're getting things printed and the kids are really excited about it. So, if you guys want to come and check that out, you're welcome. [clears throat] That takes us to item 11, close session. We're going to be
072discussing personnel matters, negotiations, and legal matters. Um, entertain a motion to go into close session. Motion by Yates. Second. Walmart. >> Roll call. >> Smok. >> Yes. >> Brick. >> Yes. >> Yates. >> Yes. >> Balmer. >> Yes. >> Yo. Lower. >> Yes. >> Mson. >> Yes. >> Nelson. >> Motion carries. 70. How about 740 back for start? >> [laughter] >> He had a red glass. Yeah, no problem. last always up there. How are you? Well, which is a really good I was on it was Is it over? >> Yeah. >> So, it's going to go to close session now. Okay. Yeah. >> Practice until you're actually in it. get do Yeah.