001[music] [music] D. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. I call the meeting to order. Let's uh do the pledge of allegiance. I [clears throat] pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, this is our work session tonight and so we have the first item is approval of the agenda. Move to approve the agenda. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Answer with a yes. >> Any opposed with a no 70. Good to see everyone here. Okay, we're going to get right into our uh 2.1 which is the facility planning work here.
002Vincent, you like to >> Yeah, I'll do a little bit of technology shuffling here. I think. Yeah, there it is. Yes, we could. But we had a couple of uh I tell you what, just so the board's aware, we had two of the probably best attended uh community events that I've seen in my time in person, and those were last Wednesday. Had it from 11 to 1. Um and then again all uh 5 to 7 I think over the span of that time we had right around 130 different uh community members and folks that came out. So it was special thank you to all those that came out. But um it was just a really good the active engagement was was really good to see and that's actually what Mr. Cash is here to share
003an update on kind of what's up to this point and what's some of the feedback that we've heard. So man, I'll turn it over to you. >> All right, great. Thank you. Appreciate everybody tonight. Uh there a lot of data, a lot of information to kind of unpack. Uh but I kind of want to basically I want to review the committee meeting number three committee meeting and the the information we gathered from that meeting and then we'll go into the communitywide meetings and kind of go through that data. And then at the end of u tonight um I'd love to have some direction. You know we're we're by weeks away from uh December 10th deadline. I believe we're going to act on something if you're going to act on something. So it would be good
004if we had a direction at the end of the evening that you want me to work on. So validate and verify to make sure that we're on aligned and and definitely prepared with accurate information. So let's get through the data first and what we saw. So um committee meeting number three, you know, we about had about 120 people there probably this is an estimate of course a lot of the same people we had before. What's really interesting to me is typically when you start these things, it really starts with a really big crowd and then after committee meeting two and then number three, it just starts to diminish. That has not been the case here. We've had full houses uh about the same amount of people every meeting, which is really a really great thing
005to see. Uh but we really focus this meeting on uh the upper uh grade levels because all the elementary scenarios are really board decisions and operational decisions about how you want to run an elementary school. The dollar amounts are all very much similar cuz we're where three buildings that need to be improved, you know, uh in some way and they all need storm, they all need secure entries, all those things. So those dollars all seem the same. it's just what how they're going to be used, which buildings are going to be used, how that works. That's that's a different decision. So, we really want to take that kind of out of the conversation and focus on what we'd heard from committee one and committee 2, which was the different ideas about how do we approach
006high school and our med school programs. So, we really dove into that uh u that that those questions. And what I did is I presented to them uh some of the pros and cons of each option. Option one would be a brand new high school on a new site that is not identified somewhere. And we need a minimum of 80 acres, 120 acres or more would be great. So we're make sure we have plenty of room for growth. We talked about the pros and cons of that. You know, you get start from the scratch. You get to design it specifically for the high school and the high school students of today. Uh you don't have any legacy systems. You have to worry about uh some of the cons are is we don't know what that
007property where it is. It's how can we have it? Where would it be located? Do the people that own it want to sell it? How much do they want to sell it for? Um we also have to concern ourselves with um how much is it going to take to develop that piece of land? Do we have good traffic there? you know good uh cir roads to that location and traffic blow. Uh do we have utilities there? Do we have what's the work the uh earth like? Do we have to do a lot of earth work? Do we have u water issues? So on and so forth. There's a lot of unknowns with that. That's that's one of the big cons but it's not untypical either. Uh the second option would be to renovate and renew
008the existing high school. Um, [laughter] you know, and that would be like how do we turn that facility with the assets that are still good there and create a brand new high school best we can uh on that site, keep the central location, keep the roundhouse, keep the performing arts center, but really replace all of the academic core learning spaces in a brand new high school with a new commons, a new kitchen, the whole uh new media center. Everything that's in that hexagon now would have to be replaced. And then the third option would be to do a phase one of a long-term plan, you know, and we told them that, you know, that would be like with step one of some long range plan that we're developing today. Uh we didn't get in a
009lot of details there, but we talked about how it would be the pros of that would be that we break off a chunk that we can afford now potentially and show the community that we're making right steps that we're building that trust that we're delivering on promises and then uh hopefully then we can go back out and have more conversations about what the next steps might be. And then the last question we asked them was unsure, need more info. And so when we asked that question um the option two uh came to the top but not by it wasn't a runaway um trouncing of option one. Uh option three did fall back a little bit and how these are scored a little bit cuz we did ask ask them to give us uh to rank
010them. So they had to pick their number one option number two option number three. So they get three points for the first option, two points for the second, one for the third, and zero for the fourth. And that's why you see it's the the 2.5 2.8 uh numbers there. Uh so we asked that question. They they all participated in the survey. Then we asked the exact same question. Now I put dollars to it. And I said, "Okay, now option one potential $160 million. Option two 100 $110 million. Option three would be $50 million." And then the unsure, you know, still uh, you know, if you just need more information. And this is where we saw the renovate and renew. When we put dollars to it, the the lead really jumped up ahead, but the phase
011one came in second. The build a new high school really slipped to the third position in this scenario. And then we asked him, you know, where's your values? Where where do you live uh with your values when you make these decisions? when we talk about making those choices and overwhelmingly uh 67% of them said student learning experience was the and fiscal responsibility was second the other ones barely had any kind of resonance at all with them so that says a lot to you know you see 67% almost 2/3 of them student learning was by far the priority question four we asked them you know this their confidence in this process. How do they feel about this process and how is it proceeding? And uh this was this was pretty good for uh what we would
012typically somewhat confident 15% of them and very confident 17%. Um that would be you know that's again 2/3 of the people feel either confident or very confident about the process which is good and you can see that in the participation and the the communication we're having with people. And then we asked them an open question. We wanted them to really dive in and in one sentence tell us what their you know what's their most important for the future success of McFerson school is what the question was and 30% 36% were on the vein of modern safe and functional facilities. 22% was community unity and trust. 18% was some teacher and staff support and retention. And then 15% was fiscal responsibility and stewardship. Uh and then as we do dove into that each one a little
013bit um you know quantitative insights when we start to dig into that data is many many participants express the facilities directly reflect McFersonen's identity and compet competitiveness. to talk tonight or read. Uh and what that really means is they understand that the school systems tied to the success of McFver as a whole and that is really an insightful u view uh when you look at that. Um but they're you know they're talking about the floods and layout and sewage are issue that include negative culture. There's and I'll make all these um these these comments available to you as well. Uh number two is rebuilding the community trust. you know, they want to be able to uh feel that, you know, the we need voices of reunity, work together, and move forward in a more productive
014way regaining trust of the committee with with a plan that addresses facilities and educational outcomes. All those comments. Number three was supporting retaining teachers. Comments like staff retention depends on facilities, support, and pay to hire highly qualified staff, retain them. Our district is a priority. our educators need to feel supported. Um, and then I think that goes beyond facilities, of course. I think they talk about that in just general terms as well, but we know that facilities do make teachers feel valued and they're they're in a productive space that they can deliver education the most effective way. Um, fiscal prudence, long-term thinking, a lot of comments there, but and you know, this is was I would figure be higher up on the list, but it wasn't. Uh, but there it's a very important factor still.
015It's um something they're thinking about and they want to make sure that we're not overbuilding and uh making sure we're being longevity and effect effectiveness. We heard a lot of comments about, you know, if we invest in the school district, we want to have assurance that we're going to take care of the investment. We don't want to get back in the same position we're in today. We heard that from several people uh in the student experience, right? create safe modern learning environments uh to meet the educational and extracurricular needs of students was number five which is counter to what they were talking about when I asked them for their goals. This was in fifth place but when I asked them about educational the their goals before it was number one. So when they actually want
016to put it down in words uh we heard more about other things which is kind of interesting. Uh so overall from the emotional tone analysis you know 48% are optimistic and hopeful that's great 32% are curious concerned and cautious 15% are frustrated and critical and 5% were neutral withformational just informational comments. >> So that's very interesting too that you know we have a we have some people that are frustrated and critical but it's not dominating the conversation. It's much more hopeful and and cautious which is really interesting. Question number six we asked was, you know, we we gave him kind of an explanation of some of the things that the districts uh had been talking about of going to three buildings and we asked the question, what would you prefer or do you have thoughts
017on the configurations of a two building um a K5 building and one preK school or three preK5 schools? And I thought that it would be a a slam dunk, but they're tight. So that kind of just goes back to they want to let you to make that decision what's best for their kids and what's best for the community. They didn't have a strong opinion on that. But when we asked them about the middle school uh middle school configuration, 56 grade academy and a 78 grade center uh or a traditional 68 middle school, the 56 academy and 78 center really uh were was a strong response to that which was very interesting and I think I don't know if that been talked a lot in the community or not but they felt like they had a
018pretty grasp of what that would look like and how that would operate which is which was good. Um and we we talked about the goals. We in committee number one, we set our long list of goals, seven goals that we wanted to adhere to as we went through this process. We asked them how do they feel like the concepts that we're coming up with uh aligned with those goals and 71% felt like we were aligning with those uh seven original goals. Just safety and security was number one. uh educational adequacy, all those things just comfort. So, uh the the summary and the takeaways from that is renovation is preferred. Uh we we think that and they want to reuse the high school and existing Eisenhower if they can. I think one of the things I
019think people struggle with in this concept is they can't envision it. They just can't see how that could happen. you know, they know that campus, they know what's there now, and they just can't understand how that might work. And I think that is something we need to work on if that is the desired path forward is how do we show them that this is potential and it can be worthwhile investing uh still in that side. I think that was some of the reluctance we heard [clears throat] over both days. uh students first educating experience house ranks tradition or convenience fiscal stewardship building trust configuration discussions and momentum are all key takeaways from that set of meetings. So then we had the on Wednesday as Dr. Princ said we had uh three community meetings. Basically, we
020had one with the general community uh over lunch hour, then we had one in the evening, but we also went to the high school in between those two meetings and set up in the commons and listened the high school students and have their conversation. They had a a chance to weigh in on this as well. And we showed the three options. Uh option one, new high school. Option two is renovate and renew the existing high school and convert Eisenhower to middle school. And option three was a 50 million mill $15 million phase one of this longer plan. Okay. And then we asked them to uh ask some answer some questions on that. First we asked for the demographics on this one cuz we knew that we'd be talking to students and we wanted to kind
021of separate them. We also wanted to see what general community members thought. So as you can see we had students 52 students participated 41 parents uh 46 community members and 21 school staff. selected 160 total responders. We ask him which uh which do you feel is best for the future of mix McPerson option one two or three uh the renovate and renew uh one but not by a landslide. It's a It's a tight race, but it definitely is the preferred with the no tax re uh no tax falling way back in third, which was surprising. Uh when we asked about it by a participant, uh results by a participant. So, you can see there the student breakdown, parent breakdown. Uh students pick the new high school on a new site. Parents picked a new high
022school on a new site. Community members renovate and renew existing high school. And school staff at uh renovate and renew were their their top options. Second option, you can see those um the students wanted to renovate and renew. Parents wanted renovate and renew. Community members wanted a new high school and staff wanted a new high school. And you can see that this is the community communitywide engagement everybody all combined together. You can see that the first choice was option two at 70 or 47%. Option one was 43%. uh when we asked them um you can see how the matrix works and where their second choice was still the renewed renovate renewed and then the third choice was the 50 million first step to a long range plan uh [snorts] option one a brand new high
023school never won but it was close um and then we asked him a couple other just follow questions did you v vote in the last election 5900% yes, 50 or 41% said no. And you can see the breakdown in the corner there as well as a lot of the students were not eligible to vote in the first time, but there are some students who will be able to vote in the next one. But you can see with the breakdown of who voted last time. School staff was the largest percentage of voters uh or I'm sorry um the uh the parents were the largest percentage of voters. 92.7% of them voted last time. 89% were community members, 76 were school staff. Uh, and when we look at the will they vote next time on the next
024bond election, we did get some student participation this time because a lot of them were seniors and maybe 18 next year. They're pretty excited about that. So 77% said they would vote, 23% said they would not, which was interesting because they came to a community meeting. You would think that they were all voters. Uh but maybe they didn't like the plan. Is there a reason they wouldn't vote? I kind of wish I'd asked that question. Why? If no, why not? Uh but 23% of them said they would not vote. Uh parents were 100% community members 97%. And it's probably because of the students. And now that I see the numbers, the breakdown, it's pretty apparent to me that the students were the 23%. Should have picked up that earlier. Key takeaways. Um, you know, the
025the it definitely feels like the the momentum is for the renovation rig use of the existing high school. Um, the high percentage of student responses likely influence influence the ranking somewhat, but we we know this is not a scientific this what we've done the last couple days. It's not scientific, but it very very informative and that we there's a high voter uh readiness to get out and do something. We know that um we had like I said we had 160 responses um and we feel like the findings are the option two is the the direction that most people are headed towards. Option one gained a lot of traction especially among students and parents and uh option three remain low across all groups. Um so some of the combined insights and emergency consensus um we think
026that you know we heard that you know educational quality fiscal stewardship are some of the biggest issues. Uh community identity is is a hot topic as well but there's a lot of you know concern about you know investing in the district with the right plan. We heard that a lot just communication we had with people whatever that plan is. Um our recommendation right now is that we you know refine option two as a baseline scenario. Like I said we have 5 weeks uh before we kind of potentially need to make a decision and but there's a lot of program and cost definition has to happen in that time frame. Um and we can do uh both options option one and two. Option one has a lot more question marks because we don't know the property
027or how much it might cost to develop uh to get a really good baseline on that. But we do feel like it's really important that we are u more precise in whatever plan is put forward uh that we tell the voters this is what we're going to provide and then we deliver on it. Uh and that we say we can do something with the dollars. But we need to really dive into that and make sure we can do that. So we haven't done that at this point. I feel like we need to do that. Um, yeah. Then prepare a conceptual refinement and updated cost model for the next board work sessions for you to consider is what we'd like to to work on next. Uh, we do have a do we have a November board
028workshop scheduled? Shallow? I cannot remember if we actually scheduled one or not. >> For the board's knowledge, that's already on the calendar for as a part of the next regularly scheduled board meeting. >> Okay. So I believe that's the 10th. >> Yeah, they give a lot of time but sometime to prepare that. >> Any questions? >> Really quick question. All of these boards say the middle school is 6 to8. Are we going with a 5 to8 or are we >> when we presented to the community we talk about 5 to8 but we were only showing them six to eight. >> We did. Right. Yeah. because we wanted to stick with the same model they're at today to understand cuz and that's why I said in the committee meeting when we kind of threw that out
029there what do you think about a 5A I didn't know there would be that much support for that uh concept but I think there's it's pretty obvious that is a lot of support for that and it does give you a lot of flexibility in your elementary schools for capacity when you start talking about how that those buildings lay out in the future um it would add more money to the project if we did a 5-day because we got to build more space at the middle to make that happen, but we didn't have that information completely ironed out at that time. So, it is something that if that is the board's uh direction, we definitely want to track that down and make sure we have that information. >> Can you go back to that last slide?
030What the next steps were? >> Yep. >> I thought we had to make a decision in December about the bond. >> Yeah. If you want to go in March, >> so what's that spring 20? >> That would be the that would be all the bond >> after the bond passes. send me all that. >> Yeah, all that. Yeah, it's all the next steps. >> Supportformational campaigns, make sure everybody understands what the plan is. Hopefully, we'll have some renderings and you know, things like that cuz I think there's a lot of thirst and I heard a lot of comments uh from the community where they felt like they didn't know what the plan was last time. They just said I heard a lot of don't worry about it, it'll be great kind of a thing. And
031I don't think that's this the path we want to take this time. I think we want to give them real concrete. This is what you're this is what you're going to buy. This is what we got to deliver. So yeah, I think we'd want to show that as we lead up to the vote. once the um other surveys happen um being even I mean because this is a very very small percentage telling me a very small part of the story of what our community is looking at and was engaged with for whatever reasons right um so I know there's the surveys phone calls and um which we'll get another group of or some of the same we won't I don't know if we'll know that um So I'm just wondering so I need a lot
032more from the various people of the community. I don't know if I have based on 160 people >> right >> all of what I need. >> Should I talk to the timeline on that a little bit better? [clears throat] >> So uh been working back and forth with uh Dr. Tomlinson with that's conducting the survey. Those would go live. Uh we have some information that we'll we just got today that we'll push out so that parents and community members we hope are able to realize that those calls will be coming. But I believe those are going to start at uh start this Friday and they'll keep that the process is they'll keep calling until they get full completion of I think it's 400 specific calls. >> I think it was 500 a week. Sorry. 500.
033>> Yeah. >> So, um, however long that takes, then they'll start to pull the data. But the purpose of us working, uh, to expedite that was to make sure that we could could initiate those now so that we could hopefully have those back for uh, board consideration. I would not plan on that being November 10th, but uh, likely an opportunity to review at the end of November or very first part of December. >> Do you have a list of the questions that they're asking? I do. Um, and they're all related in tandem with the uh, yes, I'll share those with cuz I want to piggyback on that is maybe part of the question marks. maybe is that something we as board members then knowing what those are for people that don't get those call like
034how do we help with the conversation because I want to make sure um individuals who don't get I know there's a paper version or something that we're going to have but how are we facilitating that component? So, you'll be included in my communication. Well, I I'll communicate with you on there's truly just a script of exactly that. Hey, if you didn't get the phone call, here's where you can go to an online version of that and fill that out. Um here's the types of numbers to cuz everybody gets we talked about that at the last meeting. Everybody has theirs for for whatever reason. I think you get Southeast Kansas phone calls. I get different ones. Um the uh so all of that information again just got cut today but I will be sharing that with
035the board and then you can help to to clarify that but absolutely the goal is to get as many people to engage in that survey process as we possibly can. So >> and we don't get to see any of the raw data that you compile. So we don't know exactly what it is but are we going to get the same >> the raw data from them as well? I just want to make sure we're going to see all those answers. I can get that clarification, but I would assume the answer is yes. >> I said we don't get to see any of the stuff that you have. You compile it for us. So, I was just curious if we're going to see that, >> but I'll I'll be glad to share you all the raw
036data. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Love to do that. >> Um, I have a question. So, the community feedback said that they were really interested in the 5 through 8, but also the community feedback shifted when they saw a price tag. Is there any way for us to get some more information from our community that will reflect if that shift in the price tag for the 58 is going to also shift their >> um we do have a a >> priority cuz I don't want the community to feel like we're like, "Oh, you guys said you wanted it and here's an extra however many million." Yeah, >> I I want to be sure that that's what the community supports all the way around with all the information >> to be I had like some question
037marks on that too when you said when you said 68, >> right? So the 56 would be Eisenhower. >> The 78 would be the new build >> basically. Yes. >> But the additional cost would be if we wanted to do 670, >> right? Because if if we way we looked at it is Eisenhower would be a 678 building and we would use the GL classrooms that are now elementary school classrooms as the general classrooms math, English, social studies and then we would build on facts, computers, um all the sports that comes with the middle school uh and science rooms. So if we do that as a 68 building or 58 building now it makes more sense that 56 is in the uh Eisenhower classrooms the existing Eisenhower classrooms and we build those math social science
038and English classes with the science rooms as another block that would be >> 78 would be over there right >> 56 would be over here. >> Yep. That way they're separated but they're still under the same row. >> Yeah. or when you said about trying to dig in and get refined, is that what you're talking about in terms of being able to get those numbers? >> I mean, because I think that we've sketched out a couple of concepts of like, does this work before we send it out to the community? We think it does, but I really want to dive into it and say, "Yes, this really works well and we can afford to do it." >> Do we have enough time to ask our community which they support? I think with the only way
039to do that would be on another online poll that would be on school district and then you know social media to do it that way. So it's just general community. Can I post what do you what is it that specific clarification you'd be seeking >> the increase in cost from what we proposed the other night shoo >> so there's a support for this concept and there's also a support for the idea of the 5678 but the support for the concept came with a specific price tag and that price tag is not the 5678 which has the most support so if we're looking at 56 6 7 8 and it has an increased price tag. We need to ensure that we're being transparent with our community as we have >> the entire time and making sure
040that that's still what they want to go sign. >> Thank you for that. That helps me. >> Wasn't there a range price range? >> there is a price range in there, but I don't that's why I need to do this. you want to do cost >> because I you know I want to get a contractor involved also and say what we're talking about doing do you feel confident in the estimates we've given but we als they have to have something in front of them to react to uh so I think that just is more a little more homework that needs to be done on our part to flush those ideas out but how do we go back to the community in that shorter time beyond the phone survey is um a little tough to do
041I'm not sure exactly what the best methodology there We could even limit it to one or two. I mean, we could I believe we could work with IDS and draft something internally just to get clarification, but just from my perspective, I'd want to see before we push that out, I'd want a little bit more clarity around what you're talking about because the last thing I want to do is say, hey, here's how much extra cost it might be and then it's either more a lot more than that or less than that. So, we'll just have to work closely on that. But all of it What I would say is I think we should get that much out >> and you know >> and then get the feedback collected. >> Yeah. And I there is that
042range in that number just because of this situation of not having a defined scope exactly how many classrooms does that mean? What does it look like? How big of an addition is it and both buildings? So we have some room in that number. Just want to verify for everybody's been. So if that 58 configuration was to move forward or any other option for our eighth graders who go to the high school wherever whatever version we're doing of all that I think it's important that we just name transportation for some of our students that go over to the high school and and not that that is but it's a factor in in in the larger equation of how we um move students um and our in you know other staff that move from building to building
043and what how do they if we have a a longer stretch for them to make it across not that the town is that big >> but it it's it's something you know um time resources they just throw that out there as something to for us to understand. Um then the other the other questions I have from a child development and educational learning model um how that I I know we're I hear you saying that 56 would be on one part 78 on the other um that's how my vision or hearing your what you're talking about but um should we be putting five six together like I don't know the developmental I know what I'm trained in my background. Um, but educationally uh have we do we have that input um to know from? >> So
044would these be good questions? And I'm sorry I'm terrible with this name, but the gentleman that works with your team that is the educational expert, is this where it's time we bring him in to answer some of these? Is he able to answer those questions for us? I I don't know since his background is the education. >> Yeah. So we we've talked to district leadership and the middle school principal about it, you know, like how would that work? What does that model look like? And it's an interesting model, but I think the biggest concern is that when you separate them like that, what what's the operational efficiencies when it's separated so much? Is there an operation facility? You know, is it a great landing spot, a transition spot? Uh how much interaction do they have
045with the other grade levels? Is it completely separated? Those are a lot of the the things that that would impact the design of that building, right? So, do I have to create total separate programs or where can they overlap and in in a efficient way? Uh, and Aaron would have some opinions about that. Uh, but I really do think it comes down to what the, you know, that's an educational answer more than it is an architectural answer. >> That's why I'm asking it in that way. what I don't know what's the best developmentally and educationally for our students so that we are also tapping into our experts with it who are who will be in the building day in day out. I mean I could individually I haven't studied it. So I yield to others
046on this too, but f the 56 component in particular with some of the changes that we're seeing physiologically and just in general with with age development is becoming something that is a lot of districts are looking into that. So we're not alone in looking at that. Whether in what ways they're t putting that tandem on the same site, I don't know. I'd have to look to to Dwayne on that. But I know from a lot of the parents that we heard from uh the idea uh in particular in the community group sessions were very high on 56 and 78 because of the developmental um differences um and the different needs of the kids. So um I I think you're seeing five six centers be highly popular. I think that you're it's not anything that's uncommon
047or even here locally at McFersonen there was a time when a 56 center existed. Um and I and we know that that's been of interest. Right. For me, the interesting thing is to think about how that flows within our system. And our DT had a really good conversation around how a 56 and then a 7 8 there would really allow us to start stairstepping our kiddos um in a way that doesn't make them get dropped in as 11 12y old kids into the sixth grade and say, "Okay, now be a grown-up today." It's uh that transition of fifth and sixth and starting to model some class transitions and some things like that. And I think that's why we didn't want to get down because that really is an educational decision more than it is an
048architectural decision. Um and I think that either you know architecturally we can build either one. Um it's just a question of how's that going to operate exactly. >> Sure. that I think that leadership needs to kind of give direction so we know what the overlaps can be and efficiencies of the design. So, how much in what you're asking from us tonight do we need to be considering u the information about classroom sizes in this conversation because my >> no nothing okay no not at this we're not asking for that what I would ask tonight is do you is there consensus that there's one direction that you want to pursue more than another one >> option Do I want to wait for the community? I want to see what the the whole the larger group of
049the community says cuz I'm only surveying 100 120 people that we picked to come to this and then the people that have come it could be the same repeat people that are filling out the survey and that were at the community meetings. So I really would want to wait and see kind of what the community really says the the broader community. Would [clears throat] there be harm in moving in the direction of option two and then pulling back to option three if >> my preference? >> I don't see option one being something this board has. So I that'd be my take on everything I've come up with. I'm not comfortable with option one >> and so I don't I can't speak for the rest of you. I am comfortable with option two. I think there's
050um some good evidence that our community and we need that structurally for for our district. So, but we can always pull back to option three. Um, but I with you, Chelsea, that we don't have a lot of information to go off of, but I have enough to feel comfortable with option two. >> Could I ask a question about the telephone interviews? [clears throat] Again, you know, you've done a really nice job being transparent with these community meetings, and I think the people feel good about that. The way they conduct these phone interviews, are they recorded? Is there proof that everybody talked to 500 people? I could see somebody saying how what's the modus operandi how they got this? >> I can't answer that question. >> I mean, maybe I'm just a little paranoid, but we
051are in a society where people like to get a conspiracy going >> and that's the last thing we need over this telephone. >> I'm happy to check to see if they record it. I know they have a script and they note they'll note down all of the people that they talk with and the answers that they're given. What I don't know is if they record it. So, I'll be happy to to look into that. >> Who is the company? >> Excellence K12 is the name of the group and they'll they'll use a call center to conduct the calls. So, I don't know that answer. I I'd hesitate to Google something and get that answer to this board. I don't know what you're doing over there, but and that's fine if you do that. I don't
052want to give you something that may or may not be accurate, but I can check to see. >> The other question I have with all the data you presented that one graph where you ask will they vote for this bond issue? >> No, I didn't. I said will they vote vote for >> Okay. But it was still what 20ome%. >> Yeah. Well, I think that >> I mean I can't believe that they come to a meeting like this. I think I I think I understand. I think% of your students can't >> old enough to vote. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's where that that it you can see I got your circle. >> Yeah, I did too. And then but down here in the corner we parents are 100% community 97.8 school staff was 90. >> So
053the 36 the skew there is the students pulled that out. I was really surprised to see that 9.5% of school staff voted said they no they will not vote but they came to the meetings. >> So just to give a little bit of clarification we have staff who are deeply interested in it and want to give feedback but they live in a in in a different district so they can't [clears throat] vote. So I would imagine that those just thinking of who were some of the people some of those were people who will vote in the next election but just won't be able to be able to vote at the >> county versus Gotcha. >> Okay. No, that's a good and and I the same I believe is true for the community member side because
054we also hosted the chamber coffee and asked them to weigh in and I know in talking with a couple of those folks uh they didn't explicitly say whether they filled it out or didn't but some of the community folks that we know came um said that they loved you know God for their feedback whatever that feedback was and just said that they're in a live outside of the voting What was what's the price tag for option two? >> We're about $110 million in that range. Yeah. >> Double what option three is. >> Yep. >> To me, that's a $64,000 question. No pun intended. What are we going to have a quarter for? How much money? >> Well, and to be fair, I'm going to guess. I mean, you put a range on all of these.
055>> I did. I think it was 95 to 110 is what I said. >> But are they how accurate? And I know you can't really answer that, but I know things happen, right? When we're inflation, something isn't as we thought it was going to be. And so are these numbers accounting for those kinds of things? >> Yes. Yes. To a point. And that's why that's why I really when I started the meeting tonight, I really want to dive into this because I think what I've heard from the conversations I had was prove it to me. You know, I just need to be proven that this will work. I got to you how you going to do this high school? How you going to make it look brand new? How you going to make a a
056new high school? Prove it to me. And when so when I start to hear that conversation, you know, typically and I'm in a community bond, we don't get into those kind of details because it's we haven't talked to a teacher, we haven't talked to a staff member, we haven't talked to a student, and you know, we don't design buildings that way. We design buildings with everybody's involvement involved in it. Uh but I do think in this case because of the track record and the history and the little bit of like I don't know how that works. I think it's worth spending a little more effort and time to have everything detailed a little bit more precisely and then have make sure we have enough contingency and we have some you know some concepts of how
057we would handle tariffs that be tariffs become a bigger issue and inflation becomes a bigger issue. Now, can we predict the future and know for sure? No, we can't. But we can do a lot of planning and that 110 uh million based on, you know, 80,000 ft² addition at the high school and a remodel of 40,000 foot of that space being remodeled plus some site development work that has to happen. and then an addition to the high school or the middle school for a 6A building and then upgraded to all the elementary schools with some extra money. But I would like to be able to go through there just a little closer and be more precise with you and the community of like what are we really talking about? Is it 80,000 ft? I think
058it is, but maybe it's maybe it's 90. It's going to take 90 to make it right. Well, that's that's a big swing. Yeah, that's different. And maybe it's not as big a deal at the middle school. Maybe the middle school is actually a little smaller. I put a lot of money there because there's a lot of unknowns. But maybe we can do that cheaper. >> Yeah, I think that will be those granular as close as we knowing that we're communicating. It's not an exact because there are unknown variables. There just is in something like this. And and that's and that's where the unknowns of a new high school it could become even more uh apparent because you know I I think I've got enough money in that budget. I I feel very confident I do.
059But there's still we don't know where it's going to be. We don't know what the ground's like, how much it's going to cost and all those things that is is harder to nail down at this time. >> Where are we on the birth to three in the like long term? Maybe we don't, but that was I heard that a lot. Um, >> so something to to just name for this group, this this kind of surprised me. So I had a a meeting last week um specifically around that. So in uh each of the scenarios that that they've talked about, that is something that could be would be an option to fold into [clears throat] a reconfiguration of our of our elementarymentaries. um as we learn more. Um so this is just an initial conversation. One
060of the things that surprised me from a data perspective is that in the current area and current conditions, there's as many as 400 uh spots that are needed for daycare that are not served. >> And that surprised me. So for how we look at we how we would have um how we serve as a solution in that it would be something where especially as we think about some of the ways that you could look at the use of your buildings. One of the op one of the things that was discussed last Monday with the committee was or at least kind of touched upon was prek if you had five six prek through four or K4 with prek in in another specific building. The interesting thing on that is if the if the board was able
061to commu was able to uh collaborate with with an agency within the community to offer it and they wanted to try to meet 200 250 300 daycare spot needs that's a totally different conversation than if we are trying to help partner to meet 100 of the spots. So, a lot honestly my initial reflection on that was just as a as a part of how we would take as we would approach all of the this project is to think about how a daycare task force would fall into something like a phase one of an initial and that's something that I want to work on in in collaboration with Dwayne and and Aaron about one of the things that I I as the superintendent want to work with them on is to make sure we equip you
062as the board and our staff and community with understanding of a yes vote is going to turn into this but it's going to take multiple years to get there and there's things that'll need to change along the way. So, I'll be already started working on that, but I just a daycare specifically. There's needs there and there's some interesting possible partnerships already that are emerging. So, >> well, and if we as the school can help ease that gap in our community and we're talking about what makes our community attractive, what's going to bring students here, >> I'm I'm not going to move somewhere I can't find child care for my kid. I found it. I'm going to echo something that you just said because it came from a parent who said that one of the reasons
063that they choose McFersonen is because it's a great place to raise a family. I'm basically quoting and and they said if because that's the case, why this a natural part of this should be to help make that accessible for as many people as possible. That's a not a direct quote but but a capturing of a conversation to your point. Exactly. >> Are there still or are there tax credits available for those first uh decay? >> So that's outside of my expertise, but I would think that the answer well I know the answer would be within a short amount of time we could partner. There's a group already working really hard as a coalition around that. So I think just simply to tap into it would be able to help provide us some of those answers.
064I don't have those today. >> What do you think the ability um is for for Head Start early childhood? >> Oh I honestly I think with space I think it's something that we should absolutely look into. The reality is that um partially it's been due to space that we haven't considered it. Well, I'm think that we've considered it on a couple of different times even in my time here, but always space was the reason that we couldn't go much further down the road with me. So, >> that's a critical part of this conversation. I think so, too. >> Um so that we can meet the needs of many types of families um and do it in a fiscally responsible way. Oh, >> sure. Um, but I think we could help a lot of parents who
065are kind of in a in a situation where the jobs that they get to serve uh our community with don't make sense when they have to pay for daycare. >> Yeah. >> And so we're doing, you know, birth to three um as a system and we can we can drastically change outcomes for families. >> Yeah. I'll echo something that we were talking about almost a decade ago now about the the actual pipeline. So when we think about birth to career pipeline and what role should public systems play in it, >> it's actually there's some really encouraging things that are coming out of all of this because we know we would have some opportunities for consolidation into a configuration where you'd have some opportunities for birth to threeyear-old programming which already feeds right into our existing
066prek system and then clear up through our 18 to 21 program. So you'd have birth to 21. I think that that would be McFersonen could serve as pretty substantial model for that pipeline that we were talking about like I said 9 or 10 years ago. >> It's been a while >> previous to a whole lot of other things changing in history. >> Wow. So add parents as teachers to that part of the conversation too as we whatever this long-term planning uh that's not but I just don't want us to lose sight of some of the other components that we have responsibilities back to the community. Hazesville had very strong parents [clears throat] as teacher. Super. >> It's not as easy to navigate anymore. It's not as easy to navigate parents as teachers anymore because the
067will of the fiscal uh resources for that is different than it's been. But I mean, we can we can certainly be aggressive there. Um, so I don't know about the rest of our friends here, Dwayne, but I think what's really important to me is um that we look at the 56 78 with as much separation because cost us the most cuz that's what I would like to know is get us in the high end of everything because if we have overpromised already then then that's conversation needs to happen quickly with our community. Oh, we need to make some decisions and scale back because I do think we have a lot of families that are struggling right now and you know the cost of this and what it's going to cost them monthly and increased rent
068or increased house payments is really a big part of um how we have to how I have to make a decision as a board member. >> I don't I don't think I want to be clear. I don't think we've overpromised. I don't think I I just want to verify the numbers that we we put out there. >> We don't know like if we do the most separation between five and six because I think that would be the the highest end of a model that we might go with. >> I think it can still fit in the numbers. We've talked to the community. I just want to verify that. >> Okay. >> Wayne or Shiloh, >> how specific is the resolution that has to come out? Well, we'll start in terms of dollars. >> We want
069it to be as >> the actual resolution will be specific in terms of dollars and it'll make sure that it is worded in a way that's understood what all actual improvements are occurring. >> So, that's my question. If we choose option two, are we going to take a $105 million bond out to our community? >> If our community service, >> that would be the furthest that I think that any of us have information we could possibly go. Chelsea, >> I just want to make sure because we talked about splitting it or doing chunks or doing pieces and that was one thing that the community was talking about. So, I didn't know if it was it's an all or nothing because before it was we've got 50 million that our community we could do as a
070school doesn't affect our community. We could start doing things and now we're doubling that >> and be a thing they support. >> I just want to make sure like getting the phone surveys back, Chelsea. You know, we saw this. It's like, okay, there seems to be some some uh real engagement with that. From what I heard from you guys was there was um multiple types of people at these meetings. wasn't just one group. So, that was okay. That's encouraging. But I I do agree that to give him a direction, we go with that 105 million one. But if we get a lot of the phone surveys coming back and people are like, "We simply don't feel like we can afford that or we don't support that," then we've got the ability to pull back. I
071just know there was a couple of people that have said that they tried to do the survey and the option three wasn't something they were able to select. And so, I just want to make known that they're able to do that. But I had people that selected option three. So I'm sad to hear that it would go. >> Some said that they couldn't. Option three was not able to be selected. I had people that did. >> Something just I want to name it just to also consider because or just name it just for knowledge purposes that um there are times where districts will consider uh two questions. So just to keep that on this board's mind where perhaps there's something that they're that they want to pursue and then there's an additional that they so
072that way it doesn't become an all or nothing on those. So I'm not I'm just naming that as th those are things that are happening um across Kansas. >> Yeah, we say I'm working with a district right now that's going to ask two questions. uh one is basically more the the general needs of the whole community and then the second one is athletics because they don't want the athletics to the to reason that people would take down the other one but they think there's support for the athletics too but they would have put it out there if they didn't but they want to see what that really is so it gives the board flexibility. >> Yep. That's definitely a path too. Oh, sorry. >> I was going to say does option two um [clears throat]
073is the 5A middle school. >> Well, I think that we can get the 58 in option two for about $110 million. I I just want to My question is we still have three elementaryaries in. I thought we were over. >> That's where the that's where you would be if you ran three preK four buildings. >> It'd be fuller. Uh but if you went to the two let me make sure can I name what this was what I this is what people I want to be clear this was the feedback that I got from people following the meetings was that what they would look to do at that point is an opportunity of a prek through fourth grade two buildings and then a district consolidated ated building where you had all of your district services including
074your kids and your T3, your stride and those things plus daycare. Originally there was even discussion about prek. That isn't that is not something that would have to be determined obviously at this point. But the point of it is that those three elementaryaries could be configured in a variety of different ways. But that particular idea is what I heard a lot of positive feedback around following the uh yeah the two the two K5 buildings with one prek early childhood center building with the district administration sharing that space would be a really good utilization of all three buildings but you could also do it as three K5 buildings and or three preK5 buildings. Uh so you have and as you can see the survey the community is like yeah they're both great ideas. Uh so I
075think that's more of a just what works best for the community but you know the the birth to pre that this gives you the opportunity to do that where you didn't have that opportunity before. If you do the two K5 buildings or K4 buildings, how we end up being or preK4 buildings, there's lots of ways that [clears throat] conversation with grant with the MRC with grant complex and what that looks like if we moved an option that needs more use of the space there. >> Yeah, I've already I mean I'm I serve on the MRC board, so I've already been able to put that in front of them. There's no detailed conversations that have occurred, so I wouldn't want to share that. But they're aware of that and have been participating in the conversations as
076well. >> No, no big question marks or big pauses around that, Shiloh. I mean, I would think our community would like to see those spaces used as much as possible. >> It's all of ours. So, >> yeah, part definitely give you soccer space is still out there. Baseball, >> baseball, softball space, >> football. >> I just wanted to make sure that conversation was started. >> They might still have to come. >> I would for me I feel like it's reasonable to say begin the work and it's also reasonable to say I want to see the answers and I want to see the answers from all options from that survey. >> You'll see all of that feedback on the sur post. So, and and I'm not 100% committed to any of it until we have that,
077but also I understand there's work that needs to be done and work takes time and you're trying to get some work done. >> I I'll do it either way. I just I I I I'll do it either way. I have to I think that's a prudent thing to do is look at all the options, refine these numbers, refine these plans. >> So, option one. Well, I think option one is if if the board's not willing to say we're definitely going one direction the other, I think it's prudent to keep tracking all of them. Yeah, that one thing that would be interesting >> so high for that. Yes. One thing that would be interesting is starting identifying a piece of property. That is something that anybody feels comfortable with saying it's time to start reaching out
078to some people and finding out what that property would be and how much they would sell for if they would sell it or I that would be great information. >> I've had people just reach out to me only they will only vote positively if it's on a new site. I think they only will take, you know, option one and don't come to them with anything else. But then I've had people with option three is the only thing I'm willing to do also. So I I and then like I feel like depending on who I'm speaking with, I get a different response for a variety of reasons and which makes this really complicated for me to know listening to the people. This is their community, our community, how we do this. Well, >> I think that
079the data would look if you look at the data and the way that people responded their options one or two. And if they would support a brand new building, I don't know, $60 million, they most likely would support a remodeled brand new building in an existing site, but they probably wouldn't go the other direction. You follow that logic? Um, yeah. >> What are reduced rate? >> The percentage. Yeah. 58 say 58 >> 58% pre students free >> I mean when we go option one there's a large portion of our community that >> will suffer >> I don't think that they can put their family needs behind so but even option two I mean that still could put a financial burden on quite a bit of our district too. >> Do we know how much the
080mill levy go up? >> I believe at about 110 million >> it' be right around 9 and a half%. Sorry 9 and a half mills too many different no >> 50 million ision coming up >> no levy neutral >> if you keep in that range you go on upion >> that generates 50 million >> so that's million >> but if you go on up to 110 then it's going to cost 9.5 more than you're going to double mil military No, >> no, no one's falling off. >> Well, how do you generate twice as much money and only go up one mill? >> No, but you go up more than one meal. 9 and a half mill. >> So, the total new would be 17 million was what is the increase? >> What is the increase?
081Good thing. >> Yeah, I understand that. >> So, what I I just want to be clear. The question was, what is the increase? The increase would be 9.5 mils roughly. >> That's what I'm saying. That's the increase. >> That's the increase. Yep. 9.5 mills. >> So, you're doubling the taxation rate for the school district. >> Uh our current total 75. >> Well, here I'll just do this actually. Uh you want to unplug there? >> Let me just show you. I've got that tax comparison. So this is where we have to be extremely careful. I I just want to name that. That's why you got to be extremely careful with how you're talking about millage because the mill comparison here goes to show all of our total mill across on our C or for the USD418.
082So your total mail is 52.305. I would be very cautious with saying anything about doubling mills when to double that would be 104 and that would be >> I'm just talking about the bond issue. >> I but what you say and what people hear are different things and I'm not picking on you. >> I'm just saying we got to be extremely thoughtful about how we do that. So you see here and I've provided this just for the board's knowledge just as well as part of this but it's provided to show similar districts and what their total district levy is. So um you can see that McFersonen is sitting at that 52. This is all of these are based on the current published budgets of those districts. Um and you can see that we vary and
083and include the assessed valuation too um as well. So, I'm going to just shift back to this and try to to verify that. But it's going to be a a mill increase to support option two would be right around 9.5 mills. Uh, which is around $19 a month for our median home value in McFver. To do the option one, I believe that was a 21 mil increase. Option one is a seven. So >> our option yeah would be 21 increase. >> 21 million. >> Yes. >> 21.1 >> which is around a $40 >> $4044. >> What is our average our median home? Is it >> 20 I round up to 208,000. >> Okay. >> I believe it's 207,900. So 108,000 >> and I think that we don't have 110 mil but 105 is a 10.5
084is what I've got. >> Yeah. And okay that's I was I pulled this up right at right at 100 million was at the 9.5. Okay. >> So a little bit more than that. >> Yeah. All of that though, I would say all of that so that the more need for you to get precise on what they would be saying yes or no to so that we would have an idea then about what we would really truly be asking for taxpayers to consider >> and what goes into it because a lot of people are going to say I have 12 to 14 million we're consolidating to three elementaryaries. How do I have 12 and 14 million into that? Like people are going to want to know $40 million moving to Eisenhower. What does that include? Is
085it just the education space? Is it a gym? Is it an athletic field? Is it what is going into that 40 million? Same thing with the high school. They're going to want to know what you're putting into that before they agree to that money. I just know how our community is. I mean, I think that would be very helpful cuz I think that, you know, in other places you have a it's it's not common to get that granular. It's not needed, >> but here it is. And so, we appreciate um Yeah, >> I agree. Yeah, I agree. We want to be as detailed as we can. Um, knowing that also, uh, Cyclera said there's a lot of unknowns that can happen when you get in the middle of stuff when we talk about our high
086school. She's been a she's been a great teacher, hasn't she? I mean, Chelsea, to your point is um the three elementary being $13 million that comes with storm shelters each one of those buildings. That's a choice, not a mandate. >> The safe and secure parts, >> the safe and secure is, you know, but that that kind of falls in the safe and secure, right? But we don't have you can just do a secure entry and building upgrades and not put them. Those are that's where those dollars come from. There's there's choices. >> I'm saying stuff like that is what we need to tell the community. Like >> 6 million of this 12 million is because we're putting in storm shelters at three elementary. >> Three is 9 million right now. >> We haven't had them
087for 60 70 years now. We need you know what I mean? Like those are conversations we need to be having. >> Yeah. >> Listen, I'm not from Kansas. It is absolutely wild to me that the elementary schools do not have storm shelters. >> Yeah. Maybe it's because I'm not from here and I moved here and like tornadoes weren't a thing until I got here, but to drop my kids off somewhere and there's not a hole they can hide in was pretty intimidating. [laughter] And I think we heard from the first initial conversations we had of safety and security is the number one thing number one topic education right behind that. >> Well when we look at our environment today the climate right um we have precious um students staff community that we cannot push that
088aside in terms of our responsibilities. So that's that's critical. Um, unfortunately just too much. >> How do how do we go about pursuing this land option? But interest in a new high school, a new site that's really strong. I don't think that needs I don't think we can do [clears throat] that for this bond issue. But if we're looking at a long range plan, can you purchase land ahead of time and say we're going to come back in 5 10 years and look at this? >> Bill, >> if we can find dissecting this down and only doing a part. So saying keeping the high school the way that it is now, buying land, doing the middle school, not putting the high school, and then in 3 to 5 years, we build the new high school.
089Is that kind of where you're going? >> Well, another 10 years, whatever it is. I'm just saying get us to show that part of the community, we urge it loud and clear, but we just don't think we can get 160 million out of the community this time. But as a part of the bond, we're going to go out and try to purchase 80 acres. I mean, I don't know what it's 2 3,000 an acre, 10,000 an acre. What is it? >> I wouldn't sell for that. >> I was going to say >> depends on where it is and what it is. >> I'm just saying to me, I think we got to respond to that desire in in a way of a long-term plan. That's the way I'd approach the Eisenhower thing, whether it's 58
090or 68. We don't have to do it all at once. we can say, okay, we're going to take a look 3 years from now. We've got capacity in our elementary notice to keep K5. >> In some communities, it works really well to continue to come back and extend and extend. I'm not sure if we're there at this point in our community to come back in in a couple years again. Um, with what the need is long term, yeah, we need to paint that out so it's understood. But continuing to put that in front of people. I think right now like I'm not comfortable with in knowing in like in 2 years we're going to be having to put that in front of folks or or whatever that if it's very short. I think we're we
091we just need to think real strategic about um using our strategic plan to guide that >> in the sense of we're not like the Blue Valleys and the where they plan to build a new school every year but now they're almost going down. But >> I almost think to your point though, one of the big things that our community has stressed about us and has told us numerous times is we're not showing good stewards. We're not doing financial responsibility. So if doing a small portion of this now, buying the land, building the middle school, cuz we know the middle school needs needs to. So it's the high school, not downplaying that, but can we show that we have the financial responsibility? We've built the new building. We've got the long plan in place. We've got
092the preventative maintenance. We can prove that. Do would they come back in a couple years knowing that we've proven and we've shown them we're being good stewards. We're doing what you asked us to do. We can prove it time and time again. Now, I think they would come back around. >> That would be the hope. >> I mean, you know what I mean? Like these are the things that they've brought up numerous times is show us that you can be financially responsible. So, Bill's idea. Wayne indicated also that to make the existing high school a middle school is way too much space. >> You might as well tear it down and start over. >> That in and of itself is not good financial stewardship running a building that large as it is as the middle
093school. >> But it wouldn't be that large. You're tearing it down. Why couldn't you do the same plan that you've done here for the middle school >> at the ex high school? Yeah, >> cuz you're not using that entire building. >> If you if you tore it down and designed the right size, that's why Eisenhower looks like a better building because it's size for those kind of kids. It's not long travel distances. But the existing building, I mean, would you walk away from the PAC and the music rooms and the art rooms and all that gymnasium equipment, you know, that's been part of that addition, it would feel very cavernous, you know, it's not very right size for middle school kids. Can it be done? Absolutely. Sure. Um, but I don't know like what I
094heard you say Chelsea was build the middle school now, but that would have to be somewhere else in the high school, right? So, it had to be or some other brand new site some place. >> So, you still have that same conversation. So, if you bought the land for a future high school, >> then does that mean the existing high school site just gets bulldozed when that happens and then it's completely gone? I think when I said that to some people, they were like, you know, they they didn't think that would be the case, right? Then they they started saying, "Well, can we use it as an athletic complex, you know, [laughter] and event center or something like that?" Um, yeah, but then you're running a big building that you now you're doing that with
095it, you know, it's another cost center. It's not where you're hold housing kids. And I don't think that's uh what we heard. a software from >> Can I just interject something just as a reminder for this board that you should be proud of and the work that you should be proud of is that this district in this community is in a position to have this conversation because of being good fiscal stewards of taxpayer money and being able to pay off a bond six years early. You've also had to worked within your constraints to take care of a urgent needs through a lease purchase last year so that we could make sure that we had heating and air updated at a couple of our buildings and that and we've had to do that. So, I just
096want to remind you all that you've done a tremendous job of working within the context that we have and you've been are there things that we'd all like to do different 100%. But that's a part of this conversation around the fact that it's able to even be a conversation is because we've we're in a position to pay off the bond significantly early. So, I just would be encourage you to be conscientious of that and remind people of that um because our community um has some buildings that need a lot of work, but you've also done some things that have put us in a position to have this kind of conversation 6 years earlier than we otherwise would have. Bluntly, I think sometimes we conflate fiscal responsibility with frugality and the two are not the same
097because the reality is sometimes what I'm hearing is like why can't you do just the bare minimum and hold and um I'm concerned that that one is directly tied with the trust that we have in the community and and two that it's not always the fiscally responsible thing to do. Sometimes it cost me less money to replace the tire on the car with the bent frame, but the reality is my frame was bent. And so I'm concerned, particularly if we're talking about option three, is that that feels a lot more like let's just keep fixing. And and I feel like the community continues to act us ask us to be proactive instead of reactive. And I'm concerned when we talk about taking steps, we need to have a longer vision than like repairs and then
098hopefully they'll trust us again >> because then we're going to go back to do some more repairs. >> Sure. In response to that, fiscal responsibility, have we been fiscally responsible? If you look at the last couple of years, what happened to the high school, how many districts have failed, thousands of dollars >> and that's not fiscal responsibility like you said, you know. So, >> a lot of cases we haven't been [clears throat] fiscally responsible >> because we've been trying to just repair tires instead of buy a new wheel. >> Yeah. Yeah. I hear you. >> New car. It was a new whole new car because we bent the brand the rim. >> Well, I bought a car with a bent frame. >> The frame was wearing the car. >> Do you have from us what
099you need? >> I think so. I think I think that if I can reframe it just so we're all clear. I think that um like I said, we got about 5 weeks we're going to get the survey results. We'll come back. I will go back through and look at the five, six, seven, eight model at Eisenhower and what that looks like dollar-wise and layoutwise and at the same time confirm what we're talking about doing at the existing school. I think that you know uh and I want to be completely blunt about building at the existing high school has challenges right that that building was built 196361 and it has a lot of challenges but the concept is can we make it a new school and feel like a new school and operate like a new
100school. Uh I do believe we can but I want to just go through a little bit more homework on that. Um, and then I think that it would be good if the board gave direction to solicit a an agent of some type to start to look around about property and they just don't have to commit to anything, but just see one, is there a block of property out there big enough that somebody would sell and what would that cost and where is it and what would it take to improve it? Because I think it be it would be hard to go to the voters. Not saying that's the direction you go to say we want to do this without any definition of that. I think that needs to be something you would say we have
101at least two or three options that are would all work that we've pre-identified. I think that would be prudent to do that. >> I don't think anybody supporting option one is going to support some like random someday somewhere we'll find land and it turns out we got a bus. Would you say Salina South who had a similar concept as ours, the open concept and just the last few years did a bond issue? Would you say it was a type of they didn't start over? They took what they had and Yeah. Yeah. It's a the same kind of a concept basically. It's like take the good things and reinforce those and then recreate what's bad. And what's bad is the hexagon. The hexagon classroom wing where kids spend 85% of their day is end of life.
102It needs to be replaced and put them in a brand new building. >> So line of South just up there last week and that's a beautiful >> Yeah. >> build. Yeah. And I I believe we can do deliver the same thing here. I know we can. It's just I want to make sure we got the right dollars allocated. >> To some people they wouldn't know that that's not a good bill, >> right? And that's I think that's where if that's the direction the board wants to go, we need to prove it, you know, with some drawings, renderings, concepts that show this is how it can be. Uh because people I don't think can and rightly so. They don't have that vision, you know, they can just drive by and go, "How would you ever do
103that?" You know, well, there's a way. And I want to be able to show that to people when they vote if that's the direction you want to go. But I think, you know, the a new high school is, you know, the easy button in a lot of ways. It's more expensive button. It's the easy button. It's definitely, you know, easier for me, >> but it's not and I don't think that's, you know, the the direction I'm hearing from the community, honestly. And when I in these meetings I've had with people, I just don't hear that being the, you know, I'd love it. I would love to have that, but I don't think when you say the dollar amount it would take and the unknowns, I just people shrink away from it pretty quickly. economically. I
104just we're just in a difficult time for people. You we I think we would all love a new high school, you know, with a middle school on it. And and I think I think we would. I don't >> Well, I think conceptually, you know, the fact that we play the Andovers and the Goddards and the Mazes of the world and see what they've done with facilities and say, "Well, why can't we do that? Why can't we?" Well, it's a whole different ball of wax on what the mill levy does down there. >> Yeah. >> Versus here. >> Yeah. And helping people understand that when you have an $88 million project in one of those communities, they actually pay $44 million for it. The rest of the state of Kansas supports that because they're mostly rooftops.
105And so just understanding the different dynamics of what we're up against and you know it's just so >> I just have a general question. The renderings that you have that you showed in the options are those actual ideas that you're going with for design or are those just ideas you threw out there just to throw on a board? >> Yeah, this is a it's a slippery slope. It really is. Uh you want to show something but without showing exactly because once you show something put something out in the world people are like that's it and well that's not it cuz like I said when we design buildings it's a process and it means a lot from a lot of stakeholders and a lot of meetings and a lot of definition u but and what we've
106kind of shown is like yeah it would go generally here but that's a hit and I don't know if that middle school would be honest with the Eisenhower that really wants to be on the side. It might want to be on the east side. It might want to be on the west side. Don't know for sure. But that block of square footage, I do know. >> And the same with the high school block of square footage. Yeah, I know that pretty closely. >> So, I was more thinking like looking at the high school, if you take out the hex's, which is the gray area, and then [clears throat] you build it back. I feel like we're just trying to cram everything in that back corner towards the cedars and we've got all that open land
107now in the front which to me just seems like a waste a waste of space. >> Yeah. >> So then I get my mind like well do we really need a campus this big? >> Could we buy smaller chunks of land cuz we're wasting half of the high school site. So I just want to know if that's exactly where we would be building. >> The the challenge with the existing high school site is you can't move the kids out when you build the new building. So, you have to build it with the kids in the building if you're going to do it at that side. So, it's either the east [clears throat] all the way out on the front at the front of the road or on the west side. Um, the east seems like
108right now the least disruptive, but it could actually come out closer to the street and build a whole kind of a new building, but then you got this other piece that's hanging out way behind. Uh that's why Chelsea I just it's really it's just premature to say exactly what the solution would be but I think we need to show a concept of like oh that would work there there might be more than one concept but there's we got to show one that says oh I can believe that I I see that how that would work >> but in one of your renderings you didn't use the B buildings. Yeah, the B building is >> tie that in to the rest >> potentially in in an option, but it it just is if you take the
109hexagon out, it just is built floating and this the high school staff just didn't really want to send kids outside the building to walk to. >> They do it to other buildings all the time. >> Well, hook it up to the east right where the entrance is. They send kids to three different buildings out outdoors >> cuz you're you're leaving behind 16 classrooms if you don't use that building. >> Well, just to be clear, you could you >> I would think we >> when I've been asked about that specifically, there becomes all kinds of opportunities for use of that building. It will be used. It'll be utilized. Um, it's not to say that it wouldn't be utilized if it was out there. It could be just used for a variety of different programs >> and
110and Bill, it might be used by the high school. I don't know. I mean that but it's just too good of a building to throw away in my opinion. [clears throat] That's why >> we're going to need clear though with what we're doing before we move to bring this to the people. We cannot have I'm just saying it out loud that so because somebody's going to listen later or or think that we are going to give something that has no structure and plan and scope that is not what we're planning. Well, this is conversation being had um that we will have a delineated this is phase one and if there's going to be more that comes um down the long long term planning then that will be future conversations but we need to start thinking
111future ready at the same time. >> Yeah. I mean some of the conversations we had about the B building and that's why I don't want to be presumptuous cuz I I I don't know what that use but it could be an alternate school. It could be used by community college. It could be used by district use administration. There's lots of use or it could be used for the high school for a classroom space. All those ends are options for sure. >> You have some work in your team. >> Yeah. >> To bring back. >> Yeah. >> Dr. Mr. Vincent, uh he Mr. Cash mentioned the property. We have talked about that as a board to look at. Do you need more from the board? >> I think as long as that's a legitimate um item
112to pursue, I think I could work with a realtor and get some of those numbers, get those to him, and then share those with you. The board's interested in that specifically. which >> for property for a new high school >> potential property >> doesn't commit us to anything but >> and it helps also get it out to the community that you want a new high school it's going to be 5 million and just throwing that I have no idea what land but >> it's going to be an additional to acquire this land so having that you know might some might think oh it's a couple hundred thousand whatever >> we're talking millions so getting that information is also going to help them make that decision of oh I really want a high school 5 million
113just for land, you know, >> and Chelsea, something to consider on that as well is it's got to, you know, you want it to be in the school district, right? And how far out would it be is a consideration, too, is like you're going to put it way out there, you know, that's that's something people do react to because they got to drive there and the kids got to drive out there. >> Yep. So, it's all >> and the logistics of getting a a kid. We have families that have kids in every level of building and needs. So, um there's lots of factors for us, but we need the information to be able to um consider what we're doing. >> I will work to get that get that information shared with the board and get
114that shared with with you. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Laura. I think that looking at the timeline here, I don't think it's realistic to think that we can have all of these conversations with the meeting schedules. I think from the between the 10th and the 8th we probably at least have two more meetings. >> Yes, we do. Yes, we would agree. >> Need to get that out through some calendars. There's >> this has been good to hear this. We should have done this 6 months ago. This kind of conversation got ahead of it, but here we are. >> I'm really concerned that we're not going to meet the fiveweek deadline. I think we've got so many unbearables and that's that's the uncertainty for me right now is we are now I feel like really
115rushed into making decisions but I don't think it's fair to the student body that we have now the teachers and the staff to put it off another 6 months or 8 months >> what if it goes to vote and fails again because people feel like it's rushed you know I want to make sure we're both dies we have They're solid, but I think we have to get our act together and have enough meetings that we can make those decisions between now and December the 10th. >> Well, be on a lookout for we'll get with Dr. Vincent with some dates and just pay attention to your email for um these additional meetings >> targeting Monday would Monday. Could would people just for the sake of it would you pull your calendar and take a look at
116the evening of Monday, November 24th? I'm trying to be intentional about >> 17th. Only the only thing I worry about is 17th is fine too as an option. I was just thinking time frame in between the 10th of November and the potential of having >> about the 24th and the 1st. Also, how about >> I would say I'd prefer the 17. >> Project, but you guys don't have to have >> all voting yet. >> So, I've got the 24th and the first open. 24th, the first open go and >> 24th. December 1st. Yeah. 24 November. December 1st. So the earlier we can keep the conversation. >> Remember you already have a meeting on the 10th which gives you guys a little bit time to get the survey out. I'm not confident I can be here
117on the 24th. >> Okay. >> Do we know when this telephone thing is going to be done? >> Well, that's why I was wanting to make sure that we didn't target too early because then you come together and you don't have the data. And good discussion is important, but you need the data to support it. >> I think it's done when they reach 500. >> Might be out all night long and >> let's I think I've already kind of heard gain some. Let me let me do this. I'll work with our board officers. Re take a look at these. The other thing is that we only threw out Monday. So, I'll take a look at the calendar and I want to hear from Dr. Tomlinson too about what a potential might be uh just for
118the board's discussion. >> So I would just offer I mean we're in a pretty good window but sometimes when we throw these dates out and potentials it's 2 weeks before we get any and by then my calendar fills and so I mean >> I mean the sooner you >> are you available the 25th calendar >> 24th 25th uh 1st 2nd. So, everybody's available the 25th. Unfortunately, it's a Tuesday, not a Monday. Oh, I didn't talking about the 25th. We're only talking about the 24th. Will you check the 25th? >> I'm just saying just for the conversation, we weren't talking about the 25th. >> Is the 25th available? >> Yes. >> 6:00. >> Hold on. Let me see. Make sure in October that I'm like, that doesn't make any sense. I just >> that would just
119be a workstation workession >> I'm assum I mean really each of these that's what I'm envisioning >> um >> the 18th I'm available >> are we setting a meeting date to >> December that on the let me clarify how I'm interpreting it we've just settled on the 25th would be available for everyone >> y >> so here in a minute I Once we have another date identified, take action to just set those. >> Nice. Great. >> So, the 25th at 6:00 p.m. is what I have. >> Mhm. >> December 1st or 2nd or >> Yes. Or even November 18th if you want to get a little closer, which is a Tuesday. My I I my greatest concern is that >> the phone surveys. >> Well, my greatest concern is that we'll come together and not
120have data. >> Okay. >> Or not have more information. So, for me, that's I want to be clear. That's why I like to get a little bit further out there >> because the last thing I want to do is come back and you go, "What'd you learn?" And we say, "We're still waiting." Because then you've just called a meeting that doesn't isn't as productive as we want it to be. >> I can't do December 2nd. We already have a meeting December 1st. >> December 1st. >> Yep. Sher, you good there? 1. >> Yeah. Yeah. So we would need a motion to set no Tuesday, November 25th. That's a special board meeting for work session and December 6th. December 1st at 6 for a special meeting. Too many numbers. motion to um schedule two special work
121sessions. November 27th at 6:00 p.m. and no >> 27th. >> 25th coming down the court for you. >> Yep. >> 25th on the 2th. You coming around the 10th also have to be on the 10th. It just has to be before the 10th. What? The last one has to be done by the temp. It doesn't have to be. >> Did you make your motion yet? >> You have to. So, have to correct that. It's November [clears throat] 25th at 6:00 p.m. >> and December 1st at 6 p.m. And these are special work sessions. The motion. >> All in favor say yes. >> Yes. >> Opposed for the no 70. Thank you. my my day anxiety is not going to have to be triggered in the coming weeks. >> Thank you, Mr. Cash, for the detail.
122We look forward to seeing and getting the rest of >> So, is there anything specific that anybody wants for that the 25th meeting? You know, the 10th is going to be hard to turn around on, but anything that you would like to hear from me or see by the 25th or >> I think what we plan on is having an update on what precision of numbers you've discovered. >> Yeah. >> And we will certainly by then have an update, we would hope, on what potential cost might look like for a piece of property that would match what what that's my target. detail that you >> did you hear confident I said that for a person who's never done that right so I would hope that we can do that by November 20th >> right right
123with the detail >> all of the detail can you do that >> as much detail as I can I don't want I don't want to box this into a corner but I'll give as much as I can >> I would like to make sure that we have the highest cost analysis potentially needed for a K8 experience with very separate experiences for kids run your hand. >> We need a break. Can we break? >> Not at all. Thank you. >> We want to be Can we come back at like 45? >> Sure. Let's try to be prompt because sometimes we say five and we still go 10. Okay. I'm usually on time. You >> just [music] Heat. Heat. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music]
124>> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. [music] [music] >> [music] [music] >> Okay. missing. >> Oh, no. >> Yeah, thanks. >> No worries. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Got a hustle. >> Mr. Bill, where's your partner in crime? Not your day. Maybe something >> with you here. He has no alibi. >> With you here, he has no alibi. >> Soon as we have everyone at the table, Oh, he gets anxious. >> No need to be anxious. >> He was looking for his hall pass. >> I can get those from high. >> What's that? >> You have the hall passes? >> Yeah, I hope I Okay. >> Okay. Well, we're ready for 2.2. Um, so this is part of our we we agreed as a board to uh engage with the anxious generation the book study
125um as a board. I think everyone has a copy of the book. Now those of you who have one provided by the district, those are loaned copies and and they'll need them back um to continue for professional development and other use um also. So, um, >> my guest >> I don't know if folks had a chance because some of you didn't get this until tonight. So, I don't want to be like thinking you already read and ready to answer questions tonight, but um, thought nonetheless, I would at least go over the questions so we all know what those are. Um, as you're reading, I did send those out a couple weeks ago. Um, and so hopefully you're have an opportunity. But the the three and and as a reminder, we're using the same questions the
126community has been using. So there's no deviation. I'm using have permission with um Dr. herbs to um she's provided me all the same questions that everyone else has been using and I think that's really helpful for us to be um having not that we can't go and add more and have other conversation of course um but they the three um questions uh what surprised or resonated most with you in this section and um so that'll be one how have you seen the re rewiring um described in students or your own children and then do you agree be with the framing of the great rewiring. Why or why not? just to kind of get started in that very first part of so this is the introduction in part one those three questions they're in your email
127if needed I can send those back out but be like it would be good for us to be able maybe we don't all have to answer them but to have some conversation about what um this research and um how we are going to move in our community um and what that direction looks like we know coming up we're going to talk in upcoming meetings about um our assessment scores. We're going to be talking about the bullying um concerns. We're going to talk about um scores. We're going to talk about curricula. Like all of that ties into what's going on across our district, across our community. Um and so this I see is just a part of the work. Um, and so hopefully we um I'll get into reading this and we're doing it in chunk
128sizes um that way. Any questions, anything you need that I didn't give you um for this. I'm super excited that you were all willing to um engage with um this with our community. So um so that's what we'll do and we'll just keep that um as we go. I'll try I'll give the questions in advance so that you have time when you're reading. So like that's helpful I think um to know where am I going. >> So the next time we're going to do the introduction in chapter one, >> right? Be ready for um that conversation because not everyone had the book until tonight when you got here, but I didn't know that until not everybody got the book. So I apologize for I was ready to go um and not everybody was ready. And
129then the other item you have is we updated um and thank you to Tony for um helping us with this work the board governance and operating procedures. It aligns now with our strategic plan and that language. So that is um on the website and can be found uh clicked on it. It is under schoolboard information and there's a link um at the bottom of that page. that you all have and updated. We didn't change any of our governance language that we had in there. What we did is took now that we've had the strategic plan and put that in um to our governance. Um but it would be good to take a look at um that and we can um have further dialogue um re because we haven't looked at board governance in some time
130just to um be reminded of some of our responsibilities all of our responsibilities as board members um which is helpful. Um we we we did the social contract a number of months ago um putting this it's good to think through um various pieces of our work coming back in front of us over um different periods of time. So but we needed to update that. So there's no action on the governance um document more of bringing it to you to let you know it is updated with our strategic plan. If you find a typo, um, those kinds of things, you know, let us know. Let Dr. Princeton know that those can be corrected. I didn't see any, but that doesn't mean I >> wouldn't hurt to read it again either. >> Yeah, I really I I
131would encourage everybody to take a look at that so that if there's any questions, we can talk about those at the upcoming um meeting. So, with all of that, um, is there a strategic plan on our website? Yes, that is it. >> Yeah, thank you for getting that updated. By the way, >> if you go to about >> you hover over about, go down the bottom, our strategic plan, right? >> Never see it. >> And the community, all that material is on facility work that's happened up to this point is located on the website now, too. So, there's trying keeping that up to date and fresh um as the work is happening. So, >> so let me note that when you go just for your own knowledge is what she's referencing there is the community
132you can download and take a look at facility planning and that information is all that's a that's live as of today um and it'll continue to be updated. So, please encourage people to take a look at that if they have questions. Community now right there. >> Anything else? Oh, thank you all so much. >> Okay, anybody have anything else? Not hearing any, we will call the meeting to a close. >> Have a great rest of your week. >> Enjoy the rainy day. >> [music]