001[Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Golden. Nat. [Music] check. I think in the transition our mic got turned off. We should be fine. Thanks for checking. So, I have one question on the playground. You said, you know, you're able to you've taken your children or they want to go at least. Um, I know we've some of our playgrounds aren't accessible all the time to the public. Is this one different somehow? And and how does how do we differentiate between access points? You might not know that. So, generally speaking, so Eisenhower remains a school that has fencing that is not is not uh completely closed in. So, it's it's open to the public and has been, I believe, since its inception. But um yeah, related to that, we do have still a couple we have a couple
002playgrounds that have been secured now. Um and we're working with uh to try to find some solutions to gain to to help allow some access during we want to make sure that they're secure, especially those in neighborhoods that we're trying to secure them during the school day, but that we have a way to where they can be uh so the kiddos as springtime can do that. So that is not yet in place at Lincoln Roosevelt, but uh we hope to have it in place over the course of the summer. That'sful to understand that there's work in progress and there great opportunity for this new playground and to see that being used. Thank you for that. Doesn't sound like there's any other questions. So we have old business HVAC lease purchase. So try to do a
003little bit of background for our folks in the audience. Um and it's always a good reminder to recap a few things. Actually switch screens right now. Hey, Sher. You remember when we talked about those glasses? Yep. If you find yours, will you let me borrow them, too? Do you want the one lens? Yes, please. What was it? 20 60. Uh, all right. Um, thank you for your thank you for your patience on that. Um, so what you what the board sees here is um is a resolution that we'll need to take action on. Um, but I'll give a little bit of a a background on what is reflected in it um, and kind of what has brought us to this point. So, um, as the board will recall, at the start of the school year,
004we we set out to identify two groups of of challenges that we face in terms of our facilities across Emperor Public School. We we identified those, the board identified those and kind of labeled those as urgent needs and then strategic needs. Um, and so what you're seeing here in front of you for our audience members and for the board's sake is u a commitment that was made back in March. uh we're really previous to that to address our most urgent needs. So we the reason heating and air um specifically at Washington and Eisenhower um were in a position where they they were past the life expectancy of that equipment and also um as a part of our definition for what constituted urgent if they were to fail we would have ended up not having school
005in those buildings. So, as you can imagine, heating going out at Eisenhower in December or February of this year, um, we would have been in a position to not have school remain in session. So, there continues to be work that, uh, the board and facility committee and others are working on our strategic needs, but this really reflects um the work of our on our HVAC. So, um just as a reminder for the board that work is still on target. We have uh plans for equipment to be delivered um is actually the timeline for it to start the day following Memorial Day and then we'll have equipment delivered and on site um installed over the month of June and uh in the early part of July. What you're looking at here for the board's sake is
006that our total price came in um for our total uh equipment and everything came in at under six just at $675,000. So that's under what we originally went out thinking that we were going to have to pay. That's a huge win. Um our interest rate uh the successful bid came from Enterprise Bank and is an interest rate of 4.45%. four, five%. Which is exceptional, especially given recent market volatility. There's a, as everyone out there may or may not know, um anytime the word tariffs comes up, that has an impact on um all kinds of different markets. And so, um we're very we're very fortunate that we were able to get this annually. What that equates to is an annual payment of roughly $63,550. So again, those 11 flow depending on the actual payment each year,
007but an average will be 62 to 64 uh actually 62 I 63. So our 63550. Let me pause there for a moment. Are there any questions that the board has before I talk through a little bit about what the resolution is needed for? Perhaps you can remind the board and maybe the public also where we will designate this line item, you know, this 63,000. Yeah, thank you. Um so just for clarification really for for anyone out there um the where we might where we would designate this this is a lease purchase for equipment um and installed uh on our sites. So that is a um that is an expense that gets utilized out of capital outlay. So our capital outlay fund is where uh that 63,532 that average will come each year. um in the
008years ahead. Um really what what this all means is that that we need to formally as a board take action to approve a resolution specifically authorizing USD418 to enter into a lease purchase transaction the proceeds of which will be used to pay the cost of acquiring equipping and installing certain improvements and approving the execution of certain documents in connection there with that needs to be the specific in order to make sure we're doing it right. That needs to be the specific motion and then Mr. Rose will make sure he collects the the make sure he accounts for the correct gaz and base. I'd be happy to answer any questions unless you need a motion. Motion to adopt a resolution authorizing Unified School District number 418 of McFersonen to enter into a lease purchase transaction, the
009proceeds of which will be used to pay the cost of acquiring, equipping, and installing certain improvements and approving the execution of certain documents in connection there. Second. Any other discussion? Okay. Do we need to do a roll call on this? You could, but you don't have to. All in favor say I. I. I. Any oppose? Same sign. For our audience, the re roll calls are sometimes needed for specific statute related items and want to make sure that we had it correct for the resolution. Okay. Thank you. Strategic planning update. All right. So, this is [Music] where I I want to be clear. I'm actually only showing I'm only pulling that up there for the sake of our our audience members. Um and then I'll share a little bit about um that here in a moment.
010So also a little historical background for government class here. Um each I I actually shared this I have a are any of the students here a part of the student advisory group that has come on that with me a couple of times this year? Okay. Um one of the things I talked with them about is um parts of generally generally good practice like many of you do whether it's robotics or whatever it is you have typical goals that you've laid out for for yourselves. Typically, in the case of robotics, you might have one of your goals, but they're typically longer range goals like um your time whole time in high school. So, probably as you took your first intro class, you said in four years, I want to be able to meet this metric and
011then you worked backwards over your time and had a great conversation and learned a lot just last week about our robotics program. So that's why um I think that they can uh understand that the McFersonson public schools and any other large system that you may ever work with is is generally no different. This board um has a task to make sure that it has created a vision and a focus for where we want every uh student that comes to school in our system to uh when they come from point A to to when they graduate or whenever it is that they leave us that we've created a system that helps support them and and create a great learning environment. So each roughly every 5 years uh we will this board will work to develop a
012strategic plan for um for the the McFersonen public schools and and really to make sure that we provide the best that we can for you over the course of this year. So starting back in October, this board met and started to dig into it. And then over the course of uh the early fall, they uh met a couple more times in November specifically to to really target what what we saw as kind of the mission and vision of our school district. We heard them from our community and stakeholder groups in January, which for some reason that feels like that was a longer time ago than it really was. Um and then uh now we're to a position where we're looking at accepting and approving the final plan. Um, however, just that we've talked about and
013this is I shared this with others um in the student advisory group that I meet with is it's always important that you don't let a timeline dictate how you develop a plan. Need more time to think about your goals or you need more discussion. Take time on the front end to do that so that way you get it right. And so you can see there that we were going to take acceptance and approval of this plan in March and April. But really what we're proposing here tonight is that the board set a special meeting for next Tuesday the 22nd from 6:00 till 7:30 to take another look at our at where we're at um on the draft of the strategic plan that I have here and start to have really with the goal of them
014being able to bring that forward and make sure that we're where we want to be. So, our our ask tonight from an action standpoint is that the board would set that meeting officially. My ask for board members, and several of you have done this already, is reach out to me after you've had a chance to take a look at it and pose the questions as you're reviewing it. Can I see the connection to the feedback that can I see the connection to the feedback that you discussed at your tables at the work session and the strategic plan as it's drafted? So, first off, can you see the connection? Second off, is something missing? And third is maybe it's not missing and maybe you're not directly seeing it but is there some clarity that you might
015need to help you to help make sure we all understand it. What we don't want to do is create a plan that you all read and you go what does that mean? We don't want to do that. We want everyone to be able to understand it. So, if you'll do that, um board members then, uh we'll be prepared and ready to go for conversation next week. Any other questions on that? Not we'll need to to set the special meeting. I know I've received some questions that I think maybe this special meeting will help flesh out more of the the questions which is what this is about right this working process. Um and so make sure you know get those questions or the aha moments that maybe we've gathered along the way um to say oh
016but we missed this if that's the case or we need more of this delineated. it's if it's not said then how do we execute it in that point. So we want to make sure that we're capturing all of this um so we know how to implement it and that because this gives then Dr. Vincent and his team the charge um and then our responsibility as a board the oversight. So it's that's helpful to our guests too um listening in but I'll open their comments or questions. So is it better Dr. Vincent to work through you with questions or to work through both of you with questions for for these purposes if you'll just let me know what they are then my goal is kind of to collect questions collect response. I mean some of it
017might be just to also read it for anything that might be just simply clerical. And if okay this date doesn't match or whatever it is, we don't want that. We also want those things. Just communicate those and then that's what the purpose of the 22nd for good question. Thank you. I motion special meeting for April 22nd at 6 p.m. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. Any oppose? Same sign. Look forward to that special meeting on the 22nd at 6 and that's here Tuesday. Thank you for clarification for the board. We are very accustomed to Mondays. Monday is a collab day and technically uh Easter Monday, I believe. So uh the 22nd is a logistics item from having Dr. Art here. That was the date that we could get here. So, Tuesday the 22nd
018and we're meeting here in the board. So, sometimes we've met another location. So, we're doing strategic planning. So, great. Thank you. We look forward to that. Make sure your calendars are up to date. New business. Oh, nope. Facility and work plan. Sorry. Yeah. Thank you. I just wanted to update We have a few more things around here. Um, so just as a reminder, really more for the board's sake. Um, no action required on this, but just as a reminder for the board, um, no action required here, but at our most at our last meeting, the board um, tasked the facility committee with developing a structured process to identify and select a new architecture for future facility work. Um just to give you an update on where we're at with that. Our goal is to um
019we've put out an RFP for request for proposal request for qualifications and then the facility committee will review those um those proposals that come to us and then we will uh we will schedule interviews with them as a facility committee, evaluate those and then provide an update possibly to include action um on in our upcoming meeting or certainly an update um our goal though is to make sure that we are able to select um as you'll recall also at the March meeting we transitioned away from DLR which had previously been the board's uh architect and so this will help to ensure that we have a new group identified to help us take a close look at what our needs are across the district and then start to help the board and the facility committee um
020start to identify what possible solutions we may to to start tackling those. So for our audience out there, what you've seen is kind of two things happen here all at once today, which is our urgent needs are being formalized with the resolution to to enter into the lease purchased so that we can take care of our most urgent needs. And then you're seeing the really early early stages of strategically at bringing a group on board that can take a look at what are our needs and how do we start how does how does the board and in our community start to think about what solutions there are for it. So more to come but that's the update that I'd offer at this time unless there's any specific questions. How much interest have you had? I've
021had a lot of I guess that's a good question. Um, I would describe it as I've had three different groups uh email me back um saying that they're highly interested and they're eager to submit. Uh I haven't seen any specific proposals. So um I guess a little bit for our audience in some ways that the RFP in in that world is kind of like the application process. So until you get the proposal, they've not really quote applied for the job kind of thing. But um have a lot of people interested in in taking a look and trying to help provide solutions. Deadline's the end of the month, isn't it? It is at the end of the month. Yeah. 25th actually. So I anticipate we'll be here in uh and seeing some things soon. Now how
022many different architectural have to double check that u the question was how many different architect groups? Uh certainly it's open to any architecture uh group out there, but um of those directly emailed, I believe it was six or seven. Shallow, were any of those regional that were close to us? Yeah. Uh that was uh the vast majority of the great questions. Thank you. questions continue as you have other questions to be fielded as you hear you know various components of the process. This is a process. It's not a quick process that we're going through. So, thank you. New business 6.1 meal prices followed invite Mr. Bill Grace up here. I'm gonna let him do some talking so that I can just do some regular old navigating on the computer and showing you what he's talking
023about. I'm sitting higher chair. So, what I'm bringing to the board is um a recommendation to not raise meal prices. Um if you've been looking in the market, uh you've seen prices go up and up and up. Um but at this point uh we are not planning on raising meal prices. Um and that's a a larger investigation into how our system works and and how we evaluate things. Uh we also have you've probably seen in my updates a recent um change in how we look at purchasing. So there are some things that are there multiple variables going on at this point. Uh but at this point the recommendation is to leave them where they're at and we believe that um you know if if changes are necessary I would bring that back to you. But
024for right now I I don't see a need for that and we we also see some changes coming up in in how we run our program for the summer program that I think will help bottom line as well. So, uh, with that in mind, I will gladly entertain any questions or if you'd like to add anything want to just clarify is, um, Mr. Pra worked really hard on this as did our team who dug into it. One of the things, so I want to just commend Mr. is looking at it and being specifically um the uh and specifically um taking a look and hearing the feedback that we heard which was we we knew coming into this year that that you know mentioned inflation earlier inflation matters and we have to make sure that you
025know we we everybody knows groceries goes up and it seems true for our food service but what we took a hard look and Mr. created over the course of the year was what are some things that we could potentially do different? What are some areas where we can try to um create as much efficiency as we possibly can? And through that effort, we've been able to present something to you tonight that I think is was not expected. My goal was to be able to keep it as minimal as possible. Um, and we feel like with the right kinds of changes with summer food, the right kinds of of of his hard work with the purchasing group that is a consortium and and really advocating there that we're able to bring this forward and we're able
026to do it in a way that says we feel like we're doing right by um every person who uh comes to our schools and along with u with the board. So, Bill wasn't going to say that, but I wanted to make sure I commend you, Mr. raise on on the work you entertain. Thank you. Um yeah, one of the things just to expound a little bit further would be that typically the recommendation is to do some form of increase on an annual basis based on how things continue to escalate. Um and it would only be in in the light of a some big change in the market that we would come down again. But as you know, things continue to go up. So, um, yeah, I'm I'm excited to say that I think there are,
027um, some changes coming that through summer food that they have to be approved yet through the state of Kansas, but, uh, just a change in format that I I believe will increase some some participation that will will change the way that our our food service program works. questions just gratitude. Um so thank you for your hard work on this and for the creativity to dig deeper and see what else is possible. Um that means a lot to our community and to families. Yeah. the the last thing that we want to do is put hardship on our families. And I know that many people are very much utilized the the program that we put forth and so thank you for that to continue to provide what they need. When will you know more on the summer
028lunch program? Uh the application should be in this week I hope and I I don't anticipate any reason that they wouldn't approve of that. Um but Yeah, I I I think I'll be presenting that soon at our next meeting to for accept it. Can you remind us for the reduced that process just I think it's helpful to hear that um and and how we can help families and students and access the food that we do have. I very much appreciate that question because too many times um people think that they either don't it's not applicable to them or um it doesn't apply to them. But I even had a situation where someone thought that um their changes they could only make that once a year. And uh that's at any time when there's a change
029in in a person's uh personal situation or they have a different job or something like that. Uh that opens up another opportunity for them to apply. And so um that said um it it comes down to uh basically applying. We offer that at enrollment as a part of that. But then uh any other time as well, you can apply for benefits. And when you uh reach a standard that is acceptable with the state based on your income, the number of family members you have, there's a lot of variables in that which uh are too cumbersome to go into right now. But uh the basic gist is this. It's not a hard application. I want to make sure I say that. It's not difficult. Uh it's just there's multiple variables that play into that. It's hard
030to define that. Uh but um anyway, once they apply for that uh they then can become eligible for benefits and a reduced meal is significantly different. Uh and obviously then free is free. Um having to say summer food is completely free to everyone uh between the ages of 1 and 18. So that's that's a different program as well. But for right now, we're just talking about these meals during our regular school year. Apply for the benefits. Even if you don't think that you are eligible, please apply because there are so many people that don't think they will be or don't just don't bother. So, please do that. I just want to make sure we have that heard and understood as much as we can um to help folks especially as we the economy keeps uh
031yeah becoming more challenging for lots of us and if I may there's one more part of that application process that is so helpful to to people as well and that is consent for disclosure and what that means is that if you sign a certain piece of paper it allows even more benefits to be given to to an individual. And so we really encourage both those things to be. Thank you. Appreciate that. Appreciate the hard work to find alternatives um strategically to help um people. Absolutely. Thank you. Need a motion to approve. Anyone? Second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. I. I. Any oppose? Same sign. Again, thank you so much for that and we hope that people will take advantage of the resources for nutritional meals. 15 routine items. Since there's a room
032since there's a room full of people who can also do it. Make sure you come out for a summer food program. You all of you that are between the ages of 1 and 18, you can all access and I I say that I mean I mean it seriously um take advantage of that cuz it's completely free to you. Um, and if you have friends or neighbors or if any of you babysit over the summer, um, way way easy thing to do to make sure that that you can take care of kiddos. Uh, disposit for for the folks in the audience. Disposition of minutes each time we bring back the unofficial minutes from the previous ones. Anything to add, unless there was anything, Mr. rows that you wanted to have standard. Um, for this the other
033items uh here related to clerks report I just draw I like to draw the attention I think we continue to draw your attention as a board to the comparison. Um, and again we track right where you would expect to be. So that's a positive thing. Just as a reminder, um we a matter of kind of internal um we we ask that those items are all items are are purchased before spring break starts or that any items that are going to be purchased after that are budgeted for and that we have that we're prepared to approve those. Uh and it's for this reason as we start to get uh down to the end of the year uh we really need to have a a very specific idea of where we're going to quote land. But you
034can see that's the best indicator for us looking is what what did the past show. So you know I have these comparisons over the course of from this year remaining to to last year remaining. And the the key takeaway here is just overall budget. We're right in alignment with where you expect to be. Um, so really nothing more to add to that except that we're in a good position over the course of the next couple of months. For the board's sake, I'll continue to update you more as we did last year more specifically on some of those key items. Payment of the bills, I did not receive tremendous amount of questions. Uh, in fact, I didn't receive any specific other than they looked fairly routine. The key item that I would just remind you and
035I mentioned the the budgeting um between PE cards and that is you'll start to see in the springtime here and still through really through May we have a lot of different field trips that are out. So you'll see things from Stratica and you'll see things from the zoo and things like that. Um those are our uh kiddos uh traveling out um on their field trips this spring. So I unless there's any questions I would be seeking approval of the green items. So moved second. Any other discussion? Seeing any all in favor say I. I any not in favor say carries. Thank you. future meeting suggestions. Um, several of these are just a couple of these are going to be gone, you know, but just to name quickly. Uh, it and some of these are really
036through the course of the next several months. So, um, don't don't think, oh boy, the month of May is going to be. Um, obviously strategic planning is ongoing and that'll be long range facility planning is a similar one. the district needs assessment. Um, that's going to be not only ongoing, but that's going to be something that will be you'll interact with between really May, June, and then again through August and September. So, just keeping that on your radar. I mentioned earlier graduation. So, I'll be sharing with the board some of your activities coming up as well as in our facility committee some of the key summer projects that we're hoping to tackle. Um and then each year we do a student performance um work session. Just to name a couple of things though um related
037to that is we do know state assessments are recurring but the de the results are going to be delayed. So I'll be working and talking with our board officers about maybe what's the better structure and better use of that time. Uh because we certainly have some things we could look at. I don't want to diminish that, but we want to have our state results like we're typically able to dig into and we know that that's meaningful for the board to be able to do so. So, more to come on that. Um, but irregardless performance data will be on there and I included a key update. Typically, along with that performance, I would update the board and that you can expect that as well. But just for the sake of board's knowledge and really for folks
038out there, each Kansas school district goes through the Kansas educational systems accreditation process. That used to be a 5year cycle. Everything, you know, organizations like 5year cycles. It's actually an annual um cycle now, meaning that we um submit our plans. Those get reviewed and verified and then they get either approved for implementation or other questions ensue for USD 418 in person public schools. Uh we have been approved for implementation and so I'll in an upcoming date I'll talk through what that actually means. But for from a KISSA perspective, we're fully accredited, which is a good thing because our graduates want to make sure you graduate from a fully accredited system and we want to make sure that we're continuing to improve. So, more to come for the board's sake on that. But, KISSA, we are
039in great shape with and uh good to go. Some announcements looking ahead. Um, we certainly want to celebrate uh and and hope everyone has has a nice weekend ahead of us. Um, Monday will be a collaboration day and then it's crazy uh when the list already has you going out through July, but that is the the season that we're in. And so, um, if it doesn't feel real yet, seniors, give it one week and that's about all it is, right? They're looking at me like it's been real since January. the uh we're we are excited though about those things and so high school graduation on the 17th and don't forget about Mayday there uh all schools day actually I didn't have there 14th I think someone will correct me um the 9th oh there it
040is thank you I just couldn't read it the night so I'm trying to the seniors how their hearts skip to be because they're like they thought of making Don't worry, we didn't. Um, that's all that I have. We have one more item, not 9.2, but we have an executive session for negotiations. And we're we're still working on a board retreat as a future item. So, so stay tuned for that information. There's some other planning that we need to do as a board. If we want to look at some specific things for performance data, like how should I do that? Should I just post that to you guys? Okay. Okay. Yes. Thank you. Yes. Okay. So, we have an executive session for negotiations. Need a motion for that. So, moved. Can I read it? I have
041a motion to go into executive session to discuss the proposals being considered in contract negotiations with teachers pursuant to the exception for employer employee negotiations under the Kansas open meetings act and the open meeting will resume in the boardroom at which time minutes from now call it 7 okay at 7 p.m. The executive session will include the board superintendent, assistant superintendent, and executive director of special education. So I second that. Great. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Seems fine. Thank you. For our patrons at this time, we go into this discussion. Um, which at the end if there's something to share, we we do that. This part is closed. So, the doors will close and you won't hear anything from this line. We appreciate you being here and be glad to have you
042stay. You're welcome to right. They're all like [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Hey. [Music] Mhm. [Music] Oh, hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Okay. Well, I appreciate the the good work tonight and uh process that's in place. So, just a reminder of all of our upcoming dates and meetings and the processes that we have going on and we'll call the meeting ajourned. Thank you all. Is it possible to get something? Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's a strategic [Music] [Applause] [Music]