February 2026 School Board Meeting

001I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> First up is attendance. Dave, do you have any questions on attendance? Agenda approval. Does anyone have any additions or corrections to the board agenda? >> I had a few additions. Um, first I added daycare enrollment under the rest of the enrollment. Um, so that way we can have that in the report each month and then I added uh number six and number seven to Jaguar Pride. Otherwise, that was the only changes I had. >> Okay. >> All right. We have an agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> We have a motion and a second.

002Is there any discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> All against. Motion passes. 70. Next up is open forum. Rules for open forum. 3 minutes per speaker. Open forum shall not take more than a total of 15 minutes. No complaints about individual staff members. All presenters will conduct their business in a manner that meets community standards for decorum. The board will not take action on items presented in an open forum. Brian, did anyone sign up? Okay. Does anybody wish to speak? >> I I will. >> Okay. >> If you just want to say your name. >> Sure. >> Um I'm Terry Lin. I came to my husband while he talked and he's not standing up, so here I am. No. Um, so I'm here for the bus drivers and um, what I have seen

003is this letter um, from Brian. Thank you, Brian, for this. Um, and there's discrepancies in there which tells me that it's not fully true and that bothers me. And so um, I I look and it says that they're not doing their DM DOT inspections, but then when you read further down it says that there are no discrepancies with that. So that's not an accurate statement that they're not doing their inspections, I'm assuming. Um, so I guess my my thing is if you tell halftruths, it's a lie. It's it's not real. It's not honest. It's it's a lie. And is that how we want to represent our school district to students to say that it's okay to be half honest and just take a little bit of a story to make it better for us? I

004don't think that's where you want to go. So, I'm asking you to reconsider what's going on with the buses and take take five minutes and call Bruce or call any of the bus drivers and ask them what their side of the story is because you're only getting one on this letter and what's coming through for this. Um, so I'd like to see the the members step up and to do that and to do your own homework before you make any decisions. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else like to speak? They're an open phone. >> All right, moving on to the consent agenda. Does anyone need anything pulled from the consent agenda and placed later in the agenda for further discussion? >> Brian, did you add anything to the consent agenda? >> Nope. >> All

005right. Looking for a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I move that. >> All right. There's a motion. Do we have a second? >> There's a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> Against. Motion passes 70. >> Oh my gosh. Okay. Next item is the bills. If you have questions on the bills, please state the page number and bill number. Do we have any questions on bills? looking for a motion to pay the bills. >> Okay, I have a motion. Is there a second? >> A second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion passes 70. >> All right, next up is reports. >> Thank you. Um just the biggest one I

006want to highlight uh in my report for my meetings is is conferences which are coming up on February 24th and 26th at all buildings. Um the high school and Hinckley Elementary are 4 to 8 but Finelson is 3 to 7. If any board members want to attend um just either let myself know or or the correct principal know um and we can have a spot for you to be if you want to be there for conferences. Um, and I also wanted to point out just a couple of the board committee ones. Uh, the Pine County leadership meeting is, uh, open for any of you. It's on February 18th, uh, at 6:00 p.m. I believe it's at East Central, but I'll confirm that, uh, with you all this Friday. And then just remember, we have a

007special school board meeting on February 19th at a different start time, which is 5:00 p.m. at the high school, and that's with MSBA. Um, otherwise admin, we are working on thinking of summer school already, uh, which hard to believe when it's snowing outside, but we're going to run that in June again like we did last year. Um, and recommend keeping the pay for those who worked that at their hourly rate. Uh, we'll begin recruiting staff in March. In March, typically the board also set C's uh, ESY budgets, things like that. So, know that we are planning very similar to what we ran last summer. Um, it's also scholarship season in the high school. Um, I believe those are due at the end of this month to Katie Hardle. Heather Hansen is our board rep who's

008on that committee. Um, so we will uh that team will meet. Katie Hardle, myself, some community members and Heather will meet very soon to determine that. And then the senior banquet you can see is the 13th of May. Um, and all of you are invited to that. Um, this year I don't believe, and I hope I have this right, I don't believe any of you have a senior this year. Um, typically the board member who has a senior hands out diplomas. Um, so I'm just wondering as we start planning and and knowing who's it's that time where we start planning graduation if any of you want to hand out diplomas or have an idea who's going to do that this year. I think Heather should if she's available as chair. >> I would be available.

009>> Okay. We can have more than one. We've had more than one before. Just we'd have to figure out logistics up on stage, but we can certainly have more if others want to be there that day, too. Or you can look and let me know. Um, and the other one, uh, we'll talk a little bit more about the DNR part of the, uh, building in a little bit, but Keith Beders, our head of maintenance, and I did meet with the DNR staff regarding our current lease. As the board may remember, we signed a one-year lease with the DNR, and part of that lease was they increased the rent, and we agreed to make some of the improvements to the building that were needed. Um, you may remember at that time we also talked about ideally

010the DNR would like to see a bigger project in the DNR side of that building. Um, and they had hoped that there would be some state funding for that. Um, that state funding did not roll over to this fiscal year as they hoped. If you remember that was I don't know if they ever gave us a a complete dollar amount, but it was 200,000 or so. Anyway, um what the DNR talked about was as we start looking to the next lease, the DNR would be hopeful to have a 10-year lease um with payments staying about $2,000 a month throughout the lease, but the DNR and they said they're they're hearing this from their partners in St. Paul would need improvements made to the building. Um they would like to see the bathroom brought up to

011ADA compliance. What Keith felt is that would require moving the bathroom in in their half of the building. Um they would like to see the outside door brought to ADA compliance and they would also like to see a handicap parking space that is black topped outside the door. Um the DNR also requested a new heating and air conditioning unit um which would likely require new duct duct work. When Bruce and I initially started, not Bruce, when Keith and I initially started talking about this, we also thought, well, if we're going to do that, it may make sense to do that in the whole building for the bus garage side as well. Keith was beginning to work on bids for that. Um, what the DNR and the state has said is there could be up to

012$100,000 the state could contribute to the improvements. Um, like I said, Keith is working on getting quotes. What the DNR is wondering at this time, is the board interested in not committing to that yet, but interested in sitting down with the state representatives from the DNR, the local DNR staff um in our facilities committee to see what that would look like or what they're wondering is the board just interested in saying no, we don't want to do any of that. Um so that way they could start looking for a different facility. So really what I'm looking for a commitment if you not that you want to spend that or necessarily do the projects but are you are any of you or is the board willing to sit down with the DNR to talk about what

013that could look like? >> Yeah, we think you'd want to sit down and we'll find out. You don't want to lose them with your tenant. What else you do with the building? >> I'd say let's sit down and have a discussion. Like I said, later in the agenda, we'll talk about the improvements we had committed to for this school year, but but they also, you know, it's that time to start thinking about the next lease that's coming up. So, that was their big aspect. I said Keith is working on getting quotes what this would cost. We don't know. I don't know if $100,000 would be enough to cover it all, but I think it'd be worth at least seeing what that looks like. >> Would we know here too? Like once we have the >>

014I don't think the state's going to have much more than that. As I said, if it came to like 105 or 110, maybe that would work. if it came much more then the rest would be on the district to figure out um until we know what that would be. Um the other part which I guess I didn't put in there but they part of the lease they would want to see the improvements made in the first 18 months. So you'd have a school year and a half to get the improvements done. But otherwise, my thought was to set up the facilities committee, Keith, myself, um, meet with the DNR, St. Paul reps, and hopefully Keith has bids by then and kind of go from there. >> Okay, >> that's what I had in my report.

015>> All right, are there any questions for Brian? >> Then we will move on to the high school principal report. Go ahead, Joe. >> Good afternoon, everybody. Uh so in my report uh we have started to uh gather the numbers for next year. Uh you have a link to that so you can kind of see the uh courses and the numbers uh that are interested in those um courses. Again these are just kind of preliminary to kind of see where we're at. Uh we'll begin working with uh the the departments to figure out like who's going to teach what, what it's going to look like, how many sections we're going to have. Um and and that so as you look we got two uh student totals there on in column N uh what I have

016done for that is for the seventh grade uh um we've got about 68 between Finison and Hinckley Elementary School. Uh so that number might be a little high just as we've seen in years past what that looks like uh as sixth graders transition to seventh grade uh from both schools. So I just give you an idea of what each number looks like in each grade. So uh this is our cop I made a copy of this for you guys so you can guys take a look at it and see um what we had there uh for that. Uh as we look at uh behavior referral data uh this is super exciting. Uh I happy to share this with uh everybody. So, our major minor referral incident uh chart, we had 344 of our students were

01790% 90 and a half% of our students with 01 referrals for the month of January. Uh that's as we talk about this, that's 80% is kind of what you're shooting for in that um realm. So, super excited about what that look like for our major minors uh referrals in January with 33 or 8.6 six uh 8% which is usually supposed to be around 15ish% um and then three um individuals with six or more referrals for that month. So, and that's supposed to be around 5%. So, super uh happy to see those numbers come in, especially when you're coming back from a long break. Uh a lot of kind of relearning how school works. Uh so super excited to see uh to see some positive uh numbers come in and and growth in that area. So

018super excited about that. Uh as you look at the next chart, those are kind of our top three. And again, uh as we go year to year, you know, disruptive, technology, out of place are our top three um columns there on the left. Um but then as you look at um the third one, you can kind of see uh the year-over-year. So from 24 to 25, we are up from January, but once again, our technology, our cell phones are kind of um way skewed from what we had from last year. So that makes a big difference. And it's it's a nuisance and it's new thing and we're trying to uh figure that out as we go. But again, it's it's one of those uh kids really love their cell phones and it's really tough to

019get them off of their cell phones. So, um, as we know, if we have any kids at all, uh, I just did make one change on mine. So, uh, February 11th is our honors breakfast, not the 12th is what I originally had. So, I did change that and highlighted there for you, but we'll have our honors breakfast on Wednesday this week. Um, where we will, uh, on our A and B honor roll, we'll have a ceremony in our FAC, uh, and then we'll have donuts and coffee and juice for, um, those parents that wish to attend. So, everybody's invited uh for that uh honors practice. It's a great way to honor our A and B honor roll and then have some uh fellowship in the in the cafeteria afterwards to um for those students. And

020again, we have conferences 24th and 26th. The goal is to have them open both nights uh just because there's a lot of scheduling conflicts with that as we look. Uh the girls might have a home playoff game that 24th. Uh the girls play the 26th, the boys play the 26th of basketball. So we're just going to have them open uh for the 4 to 8 time so families can come in um and meet with the their students teachers. Uh I'll give it over to Haley here for her update and then I'll open up to questions if you guys have any. So >> take it away Haley. Perfect. So, one act play just got over with two weekends ago. We took first place at the sub section and fifth place at sub section. So, we went

021down to St. Cloud for that and spent like the weekend there. So, that was really good cuz it's been a while since we've moved on from that. Um, winter sports, they're all like really really busy right now. Starting to wind down, I guess. The boys basketball is playing right now. They have four games this week, so another tough week for them. Um, girls basketball, we're really low on numbers, but we're hanging in there. Um, we have, I think, 14 of us on JB through varsity, including seventh graders. So, we're doing all right, though. It's been fun. Um, hockey, girls hockey just got done last week. Uh, boys hockey is entering playoff season next week, I believe. Gymnastics has their section meet this upcoming Saturday. Robotics is kicking off. I think they their like competition is

022in March. Um this upcoming Friday is the blood drive at the high school if anybody would like to donate. I'm I already asked you. So if you'd like to sign up, I'm looking for volunteers. Uh snow week is next week. Uh we're all looking forward to that. Student council is putting a lot of time into planning that all out and seeing what that's going to look like. We're making a couple changes this year to when petfest is and coronation and such, but we're looking forward to a fun week of activities. Got a lot planned. And then student council just purchased furniture. I think I mentioned this at the last meeting, but the Hley Lions Club has graciously donated some money to that. And then we're also working on gonna ask the Finland and Lions Club

023as well, but we're working on getting that and it ships tomorrow. So, we're super excited. >> I hear you calling me the days. >> Yeah, look at me. Mandy and I are talking about this every day. That's all I got though. >> Is there any questions for Joe or Haley? >> Haley, can I ask where will the furniture be going? >> It's going in the senior lounge. So, community and then seniors and eventually all the kids will be. >> Sounds good. >> I a comment. Um I'm not sure who was responsible for last Friday night. Um they donated a concession stand and a 50/50 and a ball toss to the Maflin family. So, I thought that was a very nice gesture after their fire. question conferences. >> Yeah. >> If there's a teacher that's not

024going to be in their room, can a message be sent to parents so they know when they can see those teachers? >> Yeah, we'll have um we can have those teachers put out an email through like Synergy. >> Okay. >> When they're going to be there. Like there's a lot of hit and miss like when the game like our teachers could still be there for the first part of conferences before a 7:00 game with our varsity coaches. But yeah, we we'll they'll have that out there for them. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And the snow week next week. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> A full snow week. >> We got a bonus day of snow. We got five days. Thanks to Mr. Masterson. So, yeah, we got five fun days next week.

025>> Is there dress up days with us? >> Yes. >> Can those be sent to parents to encourage their kids to dress up for those and get involved in stuff that's going on? >> There's a poster. I can send it to somebody. No, >> send it to to Jill or I in the district office so we can put it on. >> Yeah. So, the poster says all the activities that's on it and dress up days. activities could potentially change, but they're pretty set. So, >> if you if you have dress up days, send it my way and I'll get it out tomorrow. >> Made a nice video to deliver the dress up days. >> Thank you. >> That's okay. >> Thank you, Joe and Haley. >> All right. Next up is elementary principles report. Good

026evening. It is February. It is I Love to Read month. We have a nice bunch of activities going on in both schools. Uh they do look a little bit different between the two buildings, but um ultimate goal is getting kids reading. We hosted our 11th annual book bingo on the 29th during the evening. Um it was another rescheduled basketball game, so we were competing with some of that. Uh, but it was a it was still a pretty good turnout. Um, a a huge shout out to both Jill Hopkins and the Hankley Lions for making that a go. Um, I just get to show up and and call bingo. So, it's it's it's really fun and enjoy the kids. Um, FBS does their book bingo on the last Wednesday of the month during their closing circle

027and they have they invite families in to be part of that. So, looking forward to that as well. Just a little bit of our curriculum update. uh as you'll see our our benchmarking scores um our math is doing phenomenal but um we consistently we're we're staying with amplify we have bridges we have amplify science in the fifth and sixth grade um levels uh they're great resources um we don't we know that any boxed curriculum or basil curriculum does not give us everything we need um we've spent some time diving into those holes and kind of where some of those deficits hard. We're starting to explore a little bit with UFly for more of some of that explicit teaching uh more if some of you remember more of that direct instruction um to get some of

028that mastery going in those foundational skills. So, starting to dabble in that a little bit right now in wind time and hoping next year to implement that at K1 and two levels. Um, SEAL learning is much more solid this year than it was last year just due to it it having a spot on the master schedule. Um I there the one thing we do know is there's not enough time in a day to get absolutely everything we need but our teachers are really dedicated to making sure at least two or three days are dedicated to and those five components that are are included in the castle competencies. Um if you look at our winter data uh we included both growth scores as well as proficiency scores. Um, I I put an inclusion there of what

029the early reading and early math um tests look at versus the A math and A reading. Early is for K and one. Um, so you'll see that's kind of divided out there. Um, take a ganner, we have pretty good growth consistently across the board. Uh, you know, we're still sitting around that uh 40 to 50% proficiency, some in the high 50s. um had a data meeting with Finison teachers. Uh it's it's a little more challenging and the data can appear to be skewed a little bit just because of the small numbers, right? You get two out of six and you're looking at the percentages just look a little more um challenging with the with the small numbers. But um you can see our math scores with Bridg's uh one full year of implementation and just

030kind of knocking it out of the park. So really excited to continue to watch that grow. Um and last thing I have is kind of a Wolf Ridge update. It's right around the corner. Beginning of March is when we go. uh our teachers have worked extremely hard to find additional ways for um us to support families who can't quite pay that fee. Um so a $6,500 grant was received from Wolf Ridge. Uh a $6,000 grant from ECE uh with the project roundup. Beth Chuckna had reached out to them asked if they'd be willing to do that and we got 6,000 for that. Hley Lions donated. Um, and at the time when I wrote this report, we weren't sure exactly what that was amount was. Um, but there were 12 students that went in and helped

031with the pancake supper and that got divvied out for those kids. So, um, our teachers did a nice job of going through and kind of seeing who needed the most support in that realm and those kids were able to come in. Um the other thing that has changed since this report is the number of kids are staying back and we're right now we're at six at HS and when we did this it was only two. So um and it's not behavior- based, it's not financially based, it's just they don't want to go and that's that's that hurts my heart a little bit because it's such a great uh opportunity for our kids. Um varying reasons, right? Maybe some kids have never been away from home for more than a day and they're away with teachers

032for for five days. Um it's a long ways away. It's hard work. It's so it's just there's some kids that aren't willing and we have less and less parents who are kind of pushing their kids to do that. So um we continue to have those conversations, encourage them to go, but um fact of the matter is they we can't force that. So uh those kids who don't go come in and follow a fifth grade schedule. So they're still in school. They're still getting part of the education. So any questions for me? So if they're following a fifth grade schedule, how how does that affect the fifth grade class? >> It is a little bit challenging um because for one, they have more kids. This year probably be a little bit easier just because we already

033run kind of a mixed rotation. So they're Mr. Whan sees all of our sixth graders or most of our sixth graders. Um, so he'll pick up that math component. Um, but we I mean he'll have some additional kids back, so they'll be three and three in each classroom. Sixth grade usually sends a group of um a container of work for them to do all year, all week. Um, so they have really good communication. So I the additional bodies is kind of where it runs into a little bit of the challenge. Okay. >> Okay. So it's not too disruptive and then the the teachers do send work too. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Great. Any other questions for Bonnie? >> Thank you Bonnie. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next up is the Empower Learning Center

034reports. Go ahead. >> All right. Um so those of you who don't know, my name is Kyle Shepard. This is Elsa Cole. Uh we work at Empower Learning Center. And for those of you who are unfamiliar, um, Power Learning Center is an ALP that handles 16 to 21 year olds who working towards a high school diploma. Uh, through our partnership with Scred though, we also offer adult basic ed, which is run by Cole. Um, so she's really the brains of that operation. So, we'll just kind of go through this and I'll go a little bit quicker. U, one thing you need to know about us though is we love answering questions specifically. So, please feel free to reach out anytime. I don't understand why you're doing this. We'll tell you. You may not agree with

035it, but we're going to tell you. Um, so a couple of the things that we have done new or worked on this year is the first one is the building updates. Um, I can just say I just want to praise you guys. Having the ALC ALP outside of the building is an absolute blessing. Um, I've worked many, many years in a school that had it inside and it created so many more issues. So, um, we've done a lot of work to create more of an efficient setup. Uh we added a library, we added an AB office. Um you know, still some issues with bath bathroom stuff, but um just kind of creating a homeier feel so the kids feel more comfortable to come and stay. We have kids who come in on the days they're

036not supposed to and just want to be there. So um creating an environment where it gets them to learn, it gets them to do work, but it's kind of making it a little bit more accessible, getting rid of some of the outdated features, getting rid of some of the older stuff, um and making it kind of flow better. So, we spent a good chunk of the beginning focusing on building updates. Um, new thing that we're doing is we're partnering up with the Osprey Wilds. Um, so we have worked with the Lions Club before. I'll get into that a little bit later, but we revamped that. And so we're going to begin to start, we have the opportunity to begin to take students to Osprey Wilds, learn about care for the animals, learn about the housing

037of the animals, and we're going to work through it when we have students willing, take them up there four or five times. Then on that fifth time, we're going to contact the elementary school and maybe they have a science class that they'd like for our students to come and help present the animals to. Um, right now we that's all student driven, so we don't really have anyone at the moment. Um but we have the partnership set up and already lined up ready to go. So it'll be ready from now until we end it. Um some new things that we've been doing as well is new curriculum. So part of me coming there was also bringing 10 years worth of alternative ed um experience and curriculum with. So now we've taken all and combined it together

038to create the best possible option. So, our kids now have just a plethora of options that they can choose from of different types of curriculum. Um, we even have some fun electives like mythology and history of rock and roll. Um, so there's some fun stuff that we've been adding and kind of putting in together. Um, we have taken a look and updated our enrollment process. So, it's a little bit more streamlined and it's a little bit more user friendly where people can have a clear understanding of our enrollment process and then there's not any big like well I don't know why this is happening. We have a system um Nelson created us to create kind of a questionnaire as like a beginning to see is this going to really be a good fit for you?

039Are you the type that wants independent learning? Are you the type that just doesn't want to do school work? like because that doesn't work for us, you won't survive with us. So, we've done that, worked through that. Um, last thing, the three of us, oh, sorry. So, Cole, myself, and then uh Katie Hardle have been working on the credit recovery program. Um, when we got when I got there, it lacked some academic vigor and rigidness and some things. So over the course of the year, we've been working to create new courses that keep up with the academic standards that test level. I mean, every we're we're creating new classes that go through every standard. Um, making sure that everything is up to par. Um, and we've been test piling it out on some kids. Not

040so happy kids, but at least the academic vigor is back up and the rigor is there. So, we've been working hard on that. I'm about halfway done, but there's a lot of science electives. And >> so, you did the cores first. You get your math and ELA immediately to get those cuz they're the most frequently >> needed recovery credits. >> And like with science, it's difficult because there are things called wet labs where they want kids at home to take out their Bunson burners and their chemicals and start mixing things together. Well, God, I hope they don't have those. But um so we've been you know incorporating more virtual labs and bringing more things in. So it's brought the level up quite a bit. Um some of the things that we have done previously or

041that have been done previously and we're just still continuing to do is we are still partnered up with the Finless and Easy Lions Club. Um there was a little bit of a situation, a little bit of a hiccup during the transition and during the turmoil. kind of fell by the wayside. We we dropped the ball, we'll be honest with you. Um, but we worked really hard to bring that back up. So, we've worked with them a couple times. Uh, they donated a tremendous amount to our food shelf. We've helped them out. They got us set up with the Osprey Wild. So, we're working on reimproving that relationship and getting it back to how it was. Um, let's see. We are still doing bi-weekly progress reports. Sometimes it's three weeks. Don't hold us, you know, don't

042hold it against us, but we still do the credit checks with the kids every two weeks to make sure that they're earning academic progress. Uh, one new thing that we have in instituted this year is credit minimum. So, there's not just coming to us and sitting down and doing nothing. We have a waiting list of kids who want to get in. You need to be doing work. And if you're not keeping up, that'll get you out of there. Um, we are still continuing to do the empower store again with our students. Uh food scarcity is always a big thing and the the unknown of if you're going to get food. So they can access our empower store and we do things like per credits. So it's you know our personal money going in but then

043they can buy things with credits and things like that. So um it's kind of a nice way to make sure that they're constantly having food in them. Um they can access the food shelf any time so they can always take some food home so they're never worrying about food when they're with us. Of course, it's not Taco Bell, so sometimes you're a little upset with us. Uh we are still partnering up with the Sandstone Food PH family pathways food shelf. Uh so we've been doing that and then especially at October, November awkwardness. We the school helped us and raised a ton and really got us a lot of food. Um so we've been consistently serving about 20 families just routinely. We just have them do it once a week. So, uh, it's been awesome. It's

044been very nice. We are still doing, uh, our partnership with Pine Techch Community College. I think I'm going to let Cole take this one cuz I'm not too familiar with this. >> So, you hear of the traditional PSO student. If you are an alternative education student, we do what's called early middle college, and that is with Pine Techch. So it it looks very similar to what a PSO student would do, but there is a little more limited um selection. Um it's just through Pine Techch. You can't decide to do early middle college, you know, somewhere else. If there's another college you have in mind, you still can do PSO, but then that would run through Katie Hardle in a different avenue. So our contract with Pine Tech is just for the early middle college. Um,

045a lot of that is like um academic success, kind of learning how to do college and learning some of those online asynchronous different things, responsibilities, what it looks like. Um, there's not I don't know. Usually they're like a two credit >> Yeah. >> course. I mean, it's not as busy as what a PSO schedule could look at look like, but it certainly um sets our students up for a greater success later on if they do choose to move into a two or four year college post their diploma. >> And it's nice cuz it kind of gives them a little sample. You know, it's not necessarily the full course load of a full PSO. It's just a little bit of a sample. Just try it out. If it's working for you, then great. We can look

046into further options. Um, but it is kind of a test your water or test the waters. >> Um, we are still heavily community focused and community service focused. So, every now and then you might see the kids walk around with shovels, go and hit the different areas. We do volunteer at like the um the concession stands. We have volunteered at like some of the fundraising dinners that other groups have had. So, our kids are very still very much so community center focused and community service focused. Um, we are still part of the job Minnesota central Minnesota jobs and training services. So, they come in, talk to our students, help them get set up with what is their career going to be like, what's it like to have a job and then they actually go out

047and help them get a job somewhere and they keep track of it, checking out to see how they're doing. We currently have one student who's working at Deets, um, which is awesome. Um, and it just seems to be working great and they're just helping them out, just kind of making sure that everything's running smoothly and it's kind of a the step before you jump into the real world. So, it's really nice program we have. Um, we still do offer students some work study credits because again, we want to get you ready for adulthood. We want to get you ready for what's beyond high school. We want to get you ready and set up. Um, so we do want kids to have a job and make money and provide for your family, but at the same

048time, you're also wiping out valuable still, showing us that you know valuable skills, so we're able to take away and give you some credits for that. So that's nice. Uh, map stars is something that again is a student-driven thing, but we haven't we don't have any students currently who want it, but it allowed me to use the fall grand um to update it to create a full class for map stars. So now that anyone moving forward, we'll be able to offer that as a class and actually continue going forward with it versus just kind of hodge podge throwing things together. So now we'll have a full credit class that you can take and participate in MAP stars. Um again the issue with that one is a little bit more funding wise with transportation, but those

049are things that we can deal with on a case-byase basis. We can make them more concession stands and we can fund raise through other groups, but we have it now as an option as for credits. Uh we have still continuing our family events. So our meals on Wednesdays are fantastic. Um, again, we invite everyone here to come check out a meal. Uh, we still don't know what we're going to do on Wednesday. We still don't know, but we've done lasagna, egg bake, um, fried bread tacos. We've done a bunch of stuff. And a lot of that is good because we teach the kids how to cook. You know, we're never in the kitchen by ourselves. We're always bringing kids with us. Um, you can earn life skills. Learning how to cook is a valuable life

050skills or valuable life skill. I taught him how to eat bread. So that was fun, you know. So we we go all out with these meals. One policy that I felt I was strongly about I wanted to institute is you all eat together. Like so we have a one big long table. Well, we bring out three. You want to eat, you eat at the table cuz not a lot of kids these days get that central family meal. So um we do also ask like the families to get involved. So we invite them to our meat witch Thanksgiving meal um Christmas tea and then sometimes they'll help out with the food. So like one of our students father is the one who made all the fried bread for the tacos. So we get the families involved

051for that. And then at this point we move on to enrollment. Um so right now we are currently two licensed tier 4 teachers. Uh we have 25 students enrolled which is still under the 28 threshold. 28. >> Yes. >> 29. So we're still under it. Soon to be another. >> That includes adults. 29. >> Yeah. So we are soon to add another one. But so we have a little bit of a waiting list. Um but we have several students. I believe we have five that are currently under three credits. So we're hoping to get some movement from them. Once they transfer out, then we can get some new ones in and start moving forward. uh graduates. Since again I started in August, I'm gonna let Cole take over. She's got this. >> Well, last year

052um my co-worker departed me at the end of March. So I was 7 months into ELC experience when I was flying solo. It was a fantastic finish to our year, but we made it and we persevered and we graduated 11 learners out of the program last year. So that was um that was pretty great. Empower's graduation rates do fluctuate from year to year. Um right now we have a pretty good mix. I think we have 13 that are considered seniors eligible for graduation this year and we have about 11 or so that are considered that 10th 11th grade age. So, next year could be two people eligible for graduation. And it looks like, you know, you just don't know what your your groups are going to be. But, um, most of the students that are

053eligible for graduation this year are on track. So, that is positive. We've had a few students move on to Pine Tech, Anoka Ramsey. Uh we had a couple that already had their PCA um degrees through online schooling that they did through Empower or with the support of Empower. So they moved right into a medical position. Uh we've had a few join local 49ers. We have some that are working for a landsc landscaping company. We have a lot of food services. We have a couple cooks which yet on a Wednesday those cooks don't show up. I'm not sure. uh a lot of startup with industry and hospitality. Have a lot of um students that are starting at the casinos like in the hotels or the restaurants out there which is perfect. So then um I don't

054know credit recovery we still offer night school so students are still able to come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 just like Brad had ran before. Um, summer school, you guys already talked about that, but we're looking forward to gearing that up and running that program. Egeneuity will be our main source of um, curriculum for that. Adult basic ed, I am definitely learning that role. Um, I call Brad weekly with my Brad to-do list. Um, so without his support, that would look a little different. We did just host the AB teacher or the whole SCR AB staff was just at empower for our January meeting and um took them through a little of the egenuity programs of how to do different basic >> so a little a little bit about me for

055those of you who don't know um I was previously at Malaca alternative learning center about year two they discovered that they were going to have to do some budget cuts. Um, but we came up with the idea, hey, let's start the online school. So, for the last eight years, I've been running Malaca K12 online. So, I'm I was the student online coordinator. I have worked with Ingenuity for eight consistent years. Um, and so most of the people at for the AB had no clue how any of that worked. So, it was nice cuz I was able to walk them through exactly how things are supposed to go, how we're changing it, how it works. So, and that's part of the thing when I jumped in here of why I really focused on taking a look

056at the credit recovery program with the annuity because I want to make sure that gets back up into good shape because >> Yes. >> Kyle, can I ask you a question? Yes. >> Mr. Shepard, when you were at Malaca, were you able for the online school? How did Malaca or you guys work around um the different license areas and not having a teacher in every area? duty or the duty hour. So we had one science teacher a duty hour was given to egenuity online. So that hour was they were designed to check the work for the classes that are science-based and then math and then English and then social and then you don't need a license for the electives. So we were able to script that. >> So they didn't teach but they checked the

057online work. So what we had set up previously was there was a um TA. So we had set up certain amount of kids that you could meet with once a week to just check in, see how it's going, make sure you get that human connection of seeing somebody face to face. We did everything virtual. Um but kids never unmuted their video. Um and then every other day that you weren't in a meeting or every other time you weren't in a meeting, you were checking to see if that popped up on the dashboard. So if your science class popped up, that was your responsibility to go do that. If social studies popped up and it was my turn or it was my my class, I checked that one. So that's how we were able to assign.

058So instead of doing like a study hall or um lunchroom duty, um each one was given a duty hour. >> Should that work? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Yep. >> Is that kind of going off? would that be something you'd be interested in bringing here? And I ask because I think that as we get to enrollment, we lose more and more kids to online or homeschool. Is that something that could work here, do you think? >> I I mean, I guess I don't know the dynamics and we could definitely talk about it. Um, you know, it's easy to give somebody a study skills hour and then have them do that. >> It's the getting it all set up and getting everything aligned. That's the part that takes a little bit of time. Um, so it's

059definitely doable and I'd love to sit down and have that conversation with anyone about how we set it up and we did that because that's literally what I did before. So yeah, it is definitely doable. >> And I just have one more comment and then we'll open it to you guys. But um, this guy right here is your new map board president. >> He's president-elect. So at our map conference in duth that he very much so was involved with the organization and implementation of this conference bringing 350 ALP teachers together. Um shop planned and organized a lot of that conference and it ran amazingly well and throughout the conference there was the meeting and the voting and you are now looking at your new map president. So congratulations Kyle. >> Thank you. He said it

060was smooth, but when you're planning it and everything's falling apart, it doesn't look it's the duck on water kind of situation. Um, but like I said in the beginning, so we'll end it on this. Um, we love answering questions. Alternative ed is different. It does not jive with some people. People sometimes take a little bit harder time to understand it. We love answering questions. We love communication. So, if you have any questions, please stop over, send us an email, shoot us a text, whatever it is, we want to answer the questions versus word of mouth hearing it through somebody else. And I heard that this is what they do. >> Come talk to us. Hopefully, we're not too scary. >> Now, do you have any questions? Yes. >> No, but I just want to say

061thank you. I can tell you put a lot of work into this. >> They do do a great job over there getting it all set up and >> Oh, sorry. >> They do a good job over there. It's always nice to go over there and see what's going on and the interaction that hasn't happened. So, >> we feed you sometimes. >> They do. Yeah. Well, >> I go over >> again. If you ever want to stop over, Wednesdays are your best days to stop over. Thank you for all of the hard work that you guys have put in. We love it. >> Yes. >> Very much so. >> All right. We will move on to board committees. Would any board members like to report from their committee meetings this past month? >> I can. >>

062So, I I've had a couple spreads. So, with Heather taking on her new position, I am now on the spread board and Heather is the alternative. So, um I had my first grad meeting um I had wrote my notes, but I did have my first grad meeting and that was that went well. Um a lot of it just kind of going over some of the board stuff. Um and okay so on January 13th so they also there was a presentation from the early childhood program um policy approvals discussion of budgets um especially about billing since the every district is different with sizes and needs. So that was some interesting feedback. Um then on January 19th I attended a virtual orientation. So more information about Scrab the organizational chart, their multi-tered systems for support. Um their

063funding sources. Um they also provide a review of some of their online resources, the read act and the dyslexia screening that they purchased for all districts. Um so that was um some interesting feedback. I have another meeting tomorrow at the evening um in which it's for all of the board members for I don't know it's from 5:30 to 8:30 so it's a lot of still the background about spread and uh position on there. Um one and that's for the whole governing board. Um, one thing uh that was recently sent out this week from SCRD was that um in the past there due to budget constraints um and needing to prioritize core educational services across the SCRD member districts they are discontinuing the project seek program starting this summer. So, um I know that that's pretty

064unfortunate and there's been some feedback that they've received about that was not a decision that was made lightly, but um all the school district or there was um some of the the superintendent board >> yeah superintendent operating committee. >> There we go. That was involved quite heavily in some of the discussion about that. So, um Jamie and Angela and I and Brian attended the MSBA conference. Um it was not every year it seems like you get maybe I don't know a little bit less. Um this year there was a lot happening down in that area when the conference um was taking place. So, um, a lot of conversations were centered around those topics. So, topics that we usually would get information on, we didn't. Um, but I mean, it's always a good day to network

065um to get specific questions answered. Um, yeah, it's nice to spend time together. >> And we did learn there's more of a rural Minnesota schoolboard association um which I think would benefit us more than MSBA. So I don't know if we can look a little more into cuz they have a conference in Brainard in the fall >> and they're geared more towards >> M. Yeah, they're geared more towards us. So the classes and the seminars and the speakers would benefit us more. >> Yeah. Ma is geared a lot towards like the big schools like the city schools that um I mean you just have differences. So maybe checking into that role >> with schools our size that >> I would think we'd want to stay part of MSBA just if nothing else cuz they basically

066write or all those policies. Um but I wonder if MA is similar to C or SFF. Um, so that's what I'm trying to pull the comparisons on. We do we have been part of C or SFFF for long time just to see what the differences are there um in cost and and what they offer for us. So >> they don't policy stuff. >> Not that I've been able to find so far, but >> All right. Um, anybody else wish to share anything? So, next up is communications. >> In your f folders, you should all have something from resource training and solutions. Remember last month you all nominated Angela to be a represent representative from Hinckley Fendleston School Board to run for the resource training and solution board of directors. You each have a chance to

067vote. You don't have to tonight. If you want to tonight, you can. But each each of the seven of you can vote as an individual Hankley Finson School Board member. And then either you could get it back to me or if you want to email it in yourself, you could certainly do that. But I would be happy to collect your votes and send them into resource. You have until March 13th. Uh you looks like you have to vote for six and uh there are six people running. So But if if you could do that, get your ballots either back to me or let me know if you're sending it in yourself and I'll make sure if I got them that they'll be in by March 13th. >> All right. Next is budget topics and unfinished

068business. Brian, do you have any information you would like to highlight? >> Yeah. Um start just kind of with normally in in February, I'd like to show you the first round of revenue projections for next year. Um, but that's coming out of the levy process for all schools. The state was a little bit behind. We've had Ailers help us the last three years. They're going to help us again this year. Um, and and Bridget's also going to take her run at it away from Aaylor's. So then Aaylor and Bridget can work together to make sure everyone's on the same page. Anyway, I talked to Aers today. Uh, they're going to have the first run for us probably end of this week, early next week. So, what I can do is either I can do it

069both ways. I can share the first round revenue projections with you behind the scenes and I could have it on the special school board meeting with MSBA just to show you and have it out publicly. Um, but I just don't have that out yet and admin teams kind of anxiously waiting to see that. um along with the final audit. So, we kind of know where those uh numbers are as as we're kind of making some assumptions or thoughts of what our budget could look like next year. But till we see some of those key numbers, hard to make any final decisions, but I should have that, like I said, end of this week, early next week. Um the admin team has begun to look at programming uh what projected enrollment could be and how that

070could uh have implications on staffing. Um we have put out at least to the teachers all the classroom teachers budget for materials that they need in their classrooms for the next year. So that process has started but uh we we need to see the projected revenue um and then what our uh fund balance was to start this school year. actual fund balance, audited fund balance. So, we can kind of see that. Um, just kind of rolling over what our current enrollment is from four four year olds all the way up to 11th grade. Just moving them all to next year, assuming no other changes. We are projecting a decline in enrollment next year of I don't even know for sure, but we could be at that 750 740 number. So again, we don't know for

071sure with open enrollment, things like that. That's just moving numbers over. So, uh, in our minds, we're thinking there could have to be some reductions, but we don't know that yet. Um, you can see where our enrollment was as of February 1st. Um, our budget for this school year was ba based on 825 students. Um, and we've hovered right around that 800 to 810 kind of all school year. And then you can see what our daycare enrollment is. Uh as of last Friday that um we have 14 full-time spots. You can see her very first line. We do have 16 total children. Some are sharing a spot. Maybe one child's there half a day and then another child is coming in to fill that rest of that half of the slot. Um but you can

072kind of see her stats that she has um of where the daycare is at for now. She did tell me, and by she, I'm talking about Sarah Ranger. We have had one more person show interest in that last kind of open slot. Uh, but they just haven't filled out the paperwork yet. So, uh, hopefully that will be filled when I show you the report next month. And then the last one I really wanted to hit in this uh item, and certainly we'll open up to questions, is just the first run of the capital budget for next year. Um, we will probably bring an updated version. I know we will bring an updated version of this in March. Um we don't necessarily have to approve that in March, but we will approve this as the first

073budget item. So, um we can start ordering and and uh getting these things in place. Um we have some numbers in there. I know for sure that Keith and Mike were still working on numbers. Bruce, um I don't know if you have all your numbers in there or we're still working on some things, but it we're we're kind of tweaking it. Um you can see Keith also put in just we've talked about the lawn mower a few times. Do we want to continue leasing or just move to purchase our own? Um and then he was still working on some numbers um for a few more things as far as buildings. Mike U McKe, our technology director and admin or he he's I asked him to put the the the biggest numbers in. We are looking

074kind of how we want to redesign what our one's look like. Um and how far down Chromebooks should go versus iPads and what the cost is. Um there's talk of a possibility of going Chromebooks all the way down to third grade. Uh if we could afford it, he was going to work with the elementary teachers, Mrs. Scullard to talk through that, but I asked him to put just the high-end numbers in for now as we kind of work through that. So, these are definitely not final. Um, they're not finished. There's still some work to do, but um and and the big thing right now in the bus garage, uh you can see Bruce has a garage door on there where we need that door needs some uh TLC and door replacement. So, you can see

075that on there. Um, but we are still working on this. This isn't final. I just wanted to see if any board members had any questions on any items in here or anything that you're wondering about that we should be looking as far as as far as facilities, technology, or uh transportation capital purchases. >> When was the track resurfaced last? The track was reurfaced when we did that whole bond in 2019. It may have been finished in 18. Um, we may need to restripe that track. Um, which Mandy and Austin Lick were working at looking at costs for that. Oh, you can see that up to 12,000. >> That's what I was wondering. How often does that need to be that? I thought it was just read. >> Yeah, that that was when we added the

076high school edition, but it might have been the summer before the high school edition opened. >> So, the lines were lost. >> No, they fade. >> But any questions on capital budget or anything um that I talked about in budget or unfinished business? All right, next up is policy reapproval. Um, we have two policies. Policy number 427, workload limits for certain special education teachers, and policy number 522, Title 9. >> And like last month, uh, there are very minimal changes to these. the changes were the recommendations coming out of MSBA and um looking for board approval on both these. >> Does anybody have any questions about either of the two policies? >> Um I noticed on the title N there's not a coordinator listed. Should there be one? >> There should be. It's on page

077one. It's uh D category one. >> Yeah, it's it's currently I I will add that um tomorrow before I put it on the website publicly. >> Okay. >> I am the title N and Mallerie Greenwalts the backup. >> That's what I thought. Okay. >> Any other questions? looking for a motion to accept the two policies. The >> motion motion. Is there a second? >> Okay. Have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion passes 70. All right. Can I ask a question? It says names. So, is this something that >> maybe just put the superintendent Okay, >> I can just put the title. >> It doesn't have to be name. >> Yeah, I can put the title especially because this policy may not come

078up for three more years again. So, >> I'll just put titles. >> Thank you. >> No, you're good. All right. Next >> is Jaguar Pride. We'll just read through these. Um, thank you to Thank you to Fish Pro for the donation of an underwater camera for the angling program. Congratulations to the cast of the one act play for making it to the section competition. Congratulations to the directors, Alyssa Richter and Eric Richter. Thank you to the Hankley Lions for their donation for book bingo at AS. Thank you to the Hankley Lions for donating the profits from the pancake supper to students attending Wolf Ridge. Thank you to Jill Hopkins for setting up and running book bingo at AS. Thank you to Sam Faber, Dan Craft, and Annie France for organizing and helping with the ice

079fishing event this past weekend. Congratulations to our science fair winners, Serenity Young. She got first place in her category, certificate of award from the American Psychological Association, UMD best psychology product, which was a $50 award. A Northeast Minnesota and American Indian Science and Engineering Fair AISE Science Award. Corbin Cllandi, second place in his category, Duth Rotary Award, which is a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card. The team of Carly Kman and Jolie Kapp, they got third place in their category. Stockholm Junior Water Prize Regional Water Prize Award, NRRI Environment and Earth Science Award, American Fisheries Society Minnesota Chapter Aquatic Sciences Achievement Award, and Carly Kman received individual awards, DUTH Rotary Award, a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card, and student award for geoscience excellence. >> Next up was meet and confer. uh met with HFA

080president to go over any non-cont contractual issues and um there was not a lot to discuss. We did talk about professional development days um both for this year and going forward as far as making sure uh especially if early release does go away next year to get more time for grade levels or department level work. Um he didn't have a lot of feedback from HS other than it was going well in FES. Uh we I'd ask Mr. Lyndon every time I meet with him how the climate and the buildings feel and and he reports positive. Um there of course are some behavioral things always to work through but um he stated it felt much more positive than it did a year ago. Um we had a little bit of refrigerator issue in the high school

081lounge. So we worked through that. Um and then we just talked about that when we met it was coming out right around the time of the superintendent search. So just what the role of HF HFA would look like um with that superintendent search. So again I've always been happy with the communication with HFA. I feel it's very positive and uh we are making progress. So and he's not able to be I don't think Mr. Lynon's back there. Um I'm sure they have basketball so or they did have practice so I don't know. >> And that's what I have. Are there any questions or discussion about any board topics that have been presented? >> Well, then we'll move on to board goals. >> So, it's also coming to that time where we start thinking about school

082board goals for next year. So, just as we start to think about that, just put some progress items based on the goals um that the board set for this year, which were very similar to what we had last year. Um, you can see kind of the things that the schools, the district, the admin team are are working on. Wondering if there's any questions on the things that are going on, anything more the board would like to see. Um, especially as I I believe it's April where the school board will approve goals for next year. So, just wondering if there's any questions, comments, feedback, things that I can take back um first with the admin team and then the rest of the staff. No questions. All right, then we will move on to our first reading

083policy reviews. >> Um the the first two are policies that we have and I highlighted um the things that MSBA has recommended changes of. The last one, um, the information security policy, this is coming from our technology committee, uh, and Mike McKe would like to have some more information security put in place. Um, he certainly would take any questions you have, but this is the policy that'll be brand new to us. Um, so it's it's a first read of the three policies for this month, but 408.2 is brand new. So wondering if there's any questions on any of these, but especially the last one that I can bring back to Mike or the tech committee. >> I didn't have any questions on the policies. Um I had just when I was reading through the parent

084involvement had wondered um if there's been any uh progress on that watchd dogs. >> Yes. Um so we Mrs. Scullard reached out to them and the first part was Mrs. Scullard, Mr. Latimore and myself had to watch some training. We have done that. So now we are waiting to hear some dates where the three of us can sit and meet with their team. I don't remember if that was put on the calendar yet. I know emails have gone back and forth to get that date. I don't think it's on our calendars yet, but we had some training to do, videos to watch. We did that and we're just kind of waiting for the date. So, >> okay, >> that's where we're at for now. >> All right, any other questions? >> And we'll move on

085to expenditures. >> Um, doing well with our overall expenditures. Uh, January 31st was roughly 59% of the budget year and at that point we had spent about 54% of our budget. Um you you'll note as you look at the different areas again, community education is a little higher because a lot of those activities took place before the school year started or were coming to the end. Um you'll notice our debt service is basically spent. I I did talk to Bridget today. We don't have any more of those bills coming. That's for our bonds, things like that. So we're right in line. Of course, we're already at that 99%, but there are no more bills uh coming for that. So overall, we're we're doing well with expenditures, even with a little less kids than we had

086planned. But are there any questions on any of those categories um that you have? Oh, I should add community education's also higher because that's what we're running daycare out of. That's where the funding source, but the revenue is catching up with that as we've had more kids, too. Any questions or discussion about expenditures? >> Okay, then we will move on to J track. >> So, we've got some quotes um just to start the conversation and and if we want to dive in deeper, we could certainly do that. But, um I had Jill Carlier pull a couple quotes for what it would look to bring back the Jaguar track for printing. and she shared that with you all. We based these numbers on what the January Jag track looked like. So that's why I attached uh

087the January 2026 Jaguar track. Um based on those quotes that she got and I believe that was roughly 23 or so odd pages. Um you can see that we would have to apply for bulk mail permit at least in the first year. It would go down in the second year. Um there is some staff time that was built in. Now we could find ways to have staff do that with what we already budgeted for. But between printing staff time and postage, at least from these two places, and again based on the January 2026 JAG track, we'd be looking at uh roughly $10,000 per print. Um, so depending how many times the board would want to do that, if it was monthly, if it was quarterly, if it was whatever it would be, we'd be looking

088at roughly $10,000 um a time that we would send that out. So, I'm wondering if the board is interested in that, would like us to go find some other options um or talk about other ways that we can get out some of that information to the community. Seems like a lot of money to me. >> I I think we need to cut it back. It's based on 23 pages. It used to be I'm going to say two sheets that were 11 by 17. So, it's two copies versus eight pages versus 23. Not all of the information in there, I don't think, needs to be a whole page. If we could look at getting a quote for it shrunk down to get the basic information up there to highlight the good things happening to highlight the

089events coming up. Um, I guess I'd like to see a more condensed quote than 23 pages cuz the billing I mean the the postage and the staff time is just over 2,000 and it doesn't have to be in color. It would be nice, but just giving me information. >> This was based on color. Um, so we could tweak some of that certainly if the board wants, but I thought let's get a starting base so we could see what that would roughly cost. Um, you know, even if costs were reduced by half, again, 5,000, say it was 5,000. If you do it all 12 months or 9 months, you know, it's still it was more expensive than I guess I had thought, but I guess that's what it costs. I think the Jaguar track looks very

090nice and I'm wondering if maybe you could maybe think about having parents sign up for it via email just monthly send it out via email and it doesn't cost anything to send it out via email postage >> and we did that and have done that. Um, that's how initially when we had it printed, we asked people to sign up either to have it mailed or to have it emailed and we don't get a lot of feedback from that. But we could certainly try that. >> Or another option might be when parents come in for school events, maybe there could be a table set aside where here's this month's Jaguar track. >> We do have copies in the district office. I don't know that the other offices have them but >> we do have copies at

091least in the district office each each month but and some ask but not often when uh it used to be called the vulcan remember when we used to get it and it was just passed out to all the students >> that was called the torch >> that's right yeah >> it was just uh done to students got all that like a student student it uh it off to the uh senior high or the um sixth grade. >> I guess I think getting it more to the community, like showing the community what is out there, not just our parents, cuz our parents know what's going on in our buildings. >> I want to get all of the good stuff and all the events to get everybody in our community into our buildings. Like, let's >> let's

092show the good things that are happening. And if it takes a few thousand dollars, well, our taxpayers are helping. I I don't know. I just get a lot of feedback saying, "Let's see what's happening." So, not everybody h I think email's great, but that's been an option since the drug door track went away. I would just like to see something out there. >> Yeah, maybe. >> Kyle had >> Yeah, go ahead. Kyle, >> is this more like I'm not familiar with this. Is this more of like what's going on right now or just a these are the things that have happened are happening or happened at the school cuz like could you potentially print off one big bulk and do it at like the you know the fair in town or the parade in town

093like something like that or do you want it to be more of like a running like this is what's going on this week happened and what's happening. One of the big parts is also the community ed offerings. Um, and get trying to get that out a little bit more consistently. Again, we're using social media the best we can, but those those pool openings and community ed offerings, trying to get that out a little bit more regularly on top of the good things that are happening, too. >> Yeah, I think maybe sending out a reminder of, hey, you know, if you want an email, sign up for it. like it's maybe been a while since something like that went out. Um, but then also I would be interested in seeing a quote for a condensed version

094as well. >> Eight pages. Well, I mean, what would be pages? That might be too large to even send me an email. >> Less than Yeah, >> it might be. >> Yeah. So maybe eight pages and see where that gets us and go from there. >> We can work on that. And I I don't know if you need a motion on that. I just put it on there in case you wanted to approve, but unless >> I think maybe we need to get a little bit more information and then bring it back once we have all of that. Does that work for everybody? All right. So then we will move on to live streaming and board meetings. >> And again, the board does not have to take action on this, but had talked with a

095few of you about this, so I thought let's bring it up to the board. Back in November of 22, the school board approved live streaming uh both our board meetings and special board meetings. We have also uh live streamed any work sessions that we have. and just wondering if there's any um want or will to change that, especially work sessions. Um we haven't had a lot of work sessions this year, but those have typically been the admin team or or maybe the managers of certain areas come and just have discussions with the school board. They're still certainly open to the public. Um but um it's more of a time there's no action, no voting, anything like that. It's more of a discussion on things that are upcoming. But just wondering the board's thoughts about live

096streaming uh board meetings, special board meetings, andor work sessions. >> I think what we're doing is great live streaming. >> That's not for work sessions, correct? We have been that's not what what the board approved back in 22 was just uh special meetings and regular meetings. Um we've just done it for work sessions. So I don't know if you want to change that into or not do that for work sessions. We've just streamed everything. But the only thing the board actually approved in words and writing was board meetings and special board meetings. And usually the difference between special board meeting and work session, it's a special meeting where the board needs to take some voting or action. Work session is a meeting, but it's more of a discussion. There's no voting or action taken. We

097don't even have to do the pledge of allegiance, things like that. It's more of a just come have a discussion. I'd like to see the live streaming go away for the work sessions at least. It might inhibit people's opinions, discussion. These work sessions are open. >> They're still open to the public. >> Yep. >> Would still be promoted to the new, you know, media, newspaper, things like that. >> I agree with Dave. Not to stream work sessions. >> I think it's maybe a little bit too much. >> Are they even viewed much? Because you can see the viewing. I guess I we haven't done a work session for a while, so I guess I don't remember. >> Yeah, >> I don't I don't know. I can look at our last ones, but now it might

098be skewed cuz you could go back and watch it many times. But >> what was the reason to start the live stream? Was it the CO thing or what? CO is when it started and then the the board my understanding again I was principal but maybe Bonnie can help is it was just a way to get that information out more and be more transparent. We don't have a lot of attendance always at board meetings and just to have that information out there. >> I feel it'd be nice just to keep the focus on the schoolboard meetings and the special school board meetings to kind of highlight that that's where the meat and potatoes takes place. We're not changing anything that needs to be. >> Looking back at your at the special board meeting in January,

099there was 75 years on YouTube. >> That was special circumstances. >> There's 217 at the December special board meeting. >> Yeah. So nothing would need to change if if that's what the board wants cuz the only thing that I could find in writing that the board approved was board meetings, special board meetings. It would just be I wouldn't stream any work sessions. So >> nothing needs to change. >> Just live streaming board meetings and special meetings and no longer streaming work sessions. >> Need a motion. Maybe make a motion just so it's clean. >> Yeah. >> Not not stream work sessions option. I'll make that motion. >> A second. >> We have a motion and a second. >> Any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. Motion passes 70.

100All right. And next up is land sale. >> Back back in December, we had talked about uh selling two pieces of property, district property. Um, one is on Tower, 39.54 acres, and the other one is on um Second Street Northwest in Hinckley, which was 6.67 acres. Um, we certainly could go get a realtor. I I believe we would probably need to go out and get bids for a realtor as this there could be seven different people who would make seven different recommendations, things like that. or we could choose to sell it ourselves as owners. Um, and I don't know, certainly the board could decide if they want to get the realtor. The the benefit of a realtor would be the the promoting help with the cost. Um, my thought is also then we could possibly

101be paying, you know, realtor fees, things like that. So, just wondering if the the board's interested in selling the property ourselves as owners and then um would the appraised value we received be what the board would be comfortable with listing those properties at. So if the land is sold that does not go that's more so for going into building and all of that not then um >> yeah you guys could certainly decide where that went to. My my thought was always it would go into building improvements or things like that not necessarily into the general fund. Um but the seven of you would definitely have choice what you want to do with that. That that was always my thought that it would go towards building sidewalks, you know, those kind of capital improvements >> like

102systems. >> Yes. >> Anybody have any feedback for Ryan or discussion or questions? I would imagine, you know, the realtor probably promotes it more. What do they uh where would we advertise this? It's in the paper. I mean, >> my thought was to start the paper. >> A lot of people Yeah. My my thought was start in the paper, start with social media, put some signs up. I mean, I >> I don't know. That's what I thought starting with. Did that uh land ever sell that the city of Kingsley had put up for sale that we know? >> I don't know. I don't believe so. >> Shine's still up anyway. >> Yeah. >> Well, it hasn't sold. >> We just have so many great realtors in our area. How do you how do you put

103it out for bids? Like, how I I don't understand that part of it. Like, how >> Yeah. >> How do you decide on which realer >> when you have so many >> great ones around? I I don't know. >> Yeah, I don't >> that's that's where I struggle with. Yes, I would love to use a real letter and support somebody, but how do you >> How do you put it off the I don't know how it works. >> And it wasn't >> interest benefiting. I suppose We could try it ourselves and if we're not getting >> any interest for a couple of months and it creates a lot of talk and communication among people, you know, >> I mean, we would need help obviously if it sells with writing up the paperwork, things like that,

104but we've already worked with John C. I haven't reached out to John Kback to see if he'd be willing to help, but he helped us get these values and things like that. So, >> maybe he'd help if it does sell >> through the paper >> with the paperwork say. >> So, a couple months advertised for a couple months a month. I don't know. >> If if the land did sell, what would the proceeds be used for? >> My thought was always capital building type improvements. um not going in and you know helping with declining enrollment but more my thought was always fixing sidewalks boilers um you know those kind of big type expenses or the board could just say we're going to put it here for a rainy day and that's fine too but my

105thought was always to help with building um capital type projects but wouldn't the revenue from students aren't the revenue supposed to cover the expenses, part of which are capital expenses. We get a specific amount from the state every year. As our enrollment's gone down, that's gone down. Um, but I think there always is more that we could do than what, you know, we're given funding to do or we could get ahead of some things instead of waiting till they break and now we don't have necessarily a plan. Um, was my thought. I guess my thought is, you know, the land is a hard asset and I think if I mean part of the school board's goal is to, you know, be financially responsible to the taxpayer and if you're removing hard assets off the asset

106side of the balance sheet, I feel like we should then be reducing the the bond debt on the liability side of the balance sheet to maintain and that goal, that stated goal, and I feel like revenue from our student enrollment should be covering the boilers and all of that. And if that's not able to cover our capital needs due to declining enrollment, then maybe we really need to take a look at why is our enrollment declining. And if we need to get an outside uh person to come in and do an investigation and take a look at why we have declining enrollment, then maybe that's a direction we should look at. Like I feel like selling land to cover declining enrollment doesn't really solve the declining enrollment problem and it's just a band-aid. I will

107clarify because I my thought was I did not want it to cover declining enrollment would be to get ahead of capital projects before they either are broken or absolutely you know if you say you're not going to fix the boiler and then the boiler it goes but you know maybe we could have gotten one more year was trying to get ahead of things. My thought was not to cover declining enrollment it was to get ahead of capital projects. >> Same thing. Okay. Go ahead. No, go ahead, Leo. Okay. >> I'm thinking if we're sitting on land, it's costing us money every year cuz we pay taxes on it and our income from rent doesn't cover it. I'd rather sell it and have it on tax roles. And maybe that might help enrollment if we get

108housing. I don't know what chance of of that happening to be, but I don't know. Well, we could sell it and then, you know, put the money in a can and and uh decide later what we're going to spend it on. You know, I mean, it shouldn't keep us from selling it. That's kind of the issue we're at is selling it and then we can talk later and come up with a compromise on what to do with it. >> Probably something will always show up, you know, >> like a better idea. We could, you know, when you look around, there's a lot of areas that we could improve. I mean, you think of bus garage and we could use that money in a lot of different ways rather than sitting on sitting on land. But

109>> yeah, a bus garage and DNR building are a good example is they probably have not had the upkeep in the last however long and it could help with improvements just in that building or >> cuz at some point that's going to need to be done. So >> So are we not getting adequate funding for our capital improvements year, you know, year after year? We're just kind of running short all the time. >> I wouldn't say that. know we've been able to cover what's needed immediately in front of us, but I think there are, you know, let's just continue to use the bus garage and DNR building. That's a building that hasn't been upkept as it probably should have and this could be a way to do that. Look at, you know, we own the

110church that has not been upkept. Not that we have plans to currently do that, but it could help us with some of those things and not take away from what we use that capital money to cover as far as yeartoear. Do we do we are we funding our uh transportation department properly? I.e. are we buying enough buses every year to kind of keep our fleet up to up to date or are we get is our fleet aging? Are we getting >> is aging? The district had moved away a while ago from getting buses every year where we've gotten them lately every two years. Um, but yeah, some of our buses are very old. >> How big is our fleet? How many large buses we have? >> We have 10 routes, 17 buses. >> 17. And

111then I I would think we'd take the number of buses and how what how old do we want each bus to get and then we should have a plan as to you know how each year we have to get a new bus every year. >> Could could we table this and talk about that in our transportation discussion? Would that be fair? Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. So one thing I just land initially the 40 acres there was potential for a rebuilding of a school that was in I corrected >> that's what Mr. Prader had always told me was his thought. I don't know how the board felt. >> That was what Mr. Prader had told me was always his thought that if ever any anything major happened to our buildings, especially in Hankley, um

112Hinckley Elementary and the high school needed to be rebuilt. That was his plan. >> Um I think we've talked about it as a board once and thought at that time, at least that I took away was wouldn't we just rebuild where they are? Um, but that was I know what Mr. Prader's vision was when he was superintendent. >> So then as of now there's no purpose for the school other than a hard asset. >> Correct. >> Um, and that's kind of the same thing with that six >> correct >> whatever that is. And then with the declining enrollment that is a statewide issue and even the governor had put in his proposal added funding for school districts due to cl declining enrollment. So um I get that it is an issue and there's been many

113factors in different articles I have read on that but that is a statewide issue that's not just a hley issue. >> Okay. Well, if there isn't any further discussion on the land, um we would be looking for a motion to approve putting up the land for sale um and to try to sell it ourselves first and see how that goes. Just looking >> For the appraised values. I think that's >> we'll make that motion. >> All right. There's a motion in a second. Any further discussion? Say I. I >> opposed. >> We will do roll call. Um, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> Dave, >> Heather, yes. Angela, >> yes. >> Janelle, >> yes. >> Toby, >> no. >> Motion passes 6 to one. All right. Can we move on to the bids for

114DNR improvements? So, um, talked about DNR a little bit earlier in the agenda, but we have two bids for some improvements around their part of the building. Uh, one bid is for, just want to make sure I'm reading it, uh, correctly, remove replace brick mold jambs, uh, around the doors, and the other one is to remove the loft from their large uh, garage storage area on the east side of the building. These were two things we had agreed to when we signed a new lease. Um, these would be covered by increased rent andor capital that we have left of of things that were budgeted for from this summer. So, looking for approval to approve these two bids, which will allow us to get them fixed before the end of June, which is what our lease

115specifies. >> I just had a quick question. Are we able to just move one bit or do we need to do more? >> Both of these were with the same company. >> They're under the dollar threshold where we can do and they've done some other work for us at that building. So, they're under the dollar threshold. We're we're okay with this. >> Okay. So, we don't have to have additional quotes. >> Did Keith try to get other bids under this or not? Do we know? >> I No. The DNR helped get bids. Um they had reached out to Keith and I just because we had used them with other garage doors we have done and felt they did good work. Um and and Keith did not uh feel that he has the staff or the

116time with other things going on to get these done with our own staff especially the loft removal. But Eddie did not ask for any other minutes. Okay. >> Is there any other questions or discussion? >> If not, Ryan's looking for a motion to approve the improvements to the DNR building. >> I'll make a second motion and a second. Any further? >> No. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. Motion passes 70. Moving on to schoolboard elections. >> Um I was asked to get a little bit more details on the costs associated with our last schoolboard election. I shared those uh with you. You can see we spent uh this year for elections uh just under $3500. Um did reach out to Pine County to see what the cost difference would be

117if we ran them um in the even years when the usually there's some kind of other election going on. Um they said reimbursement to the county ends up being about half. um costs are and the reason for that is cuz costs are shared among the county, school, city or town. Um we would also not have the public accuracy publication things like that. Um so what I asked her is I shared with her the same election spreadsheet costs that you all see. I said, "So if we had ran this um in a different year," she said, or in an even year, she said, "The following expenses is what we would have had. Line two, which is Northstar Media School Board filing election of about 225 bucks, and half of line 13, which is what we spent

118uh to the Pine County auditor treasurer. Um, and the other thing that they added from the county is um the the work, the day-to-day stress, things like that comes off the district office. Um, and it the county takes care of at most that work. What I have not found out yet, um, is I wanted to see if the board wanted me to continue investigating. I have not found what that would mean for those of you who are up both in 2027 and then again in 2029 if everyone's term moves forward. If if my belief is that everyone's term moves up one more year. Um, I have not officially uh got that information myself, but wondering if with seeing those costs, would the board like me to continue investigating this to see what that would mean

119as far as moving to a 2026 or 2028 election and what that means for those of you who are up in 2027 or 2029. >> Can I just clarify? Um, so the cost of line two and 13, those are the same or those were the ones that were half. >> She said we would have the cost of line two and half of line 13. >> Okay. And everything else would be about >> everything else we wouldn't have cuz the county we wouldn't have to pay judges, things like that. It would be much cheaper to do it on on even years. This board has always decided to do it on odd years because then yes, it's it's a little bit harder on our voters. There's only a place here and a place at the high school.

120So, the places to go vote is much more constricted, a little bit harder, but we're the the feeling was we're getting people to come vote who are interested in schoolboard elections and dialed into what's happening in the school. Um, that feeling could have changed. So, that's kind of where this conversation came from. >> Brian, can I ask what would be the savings then if we had it on even years? >> Um, looks like about $1,600. >> $1,600. >> I'd rather save 1,600 bucks. >> I'm educated voters. >> It's a lowhanging fruit. It's an easy That's an easy one. I feel >> I like leaving it the same. I think we get more connected voters come out for that election than even years you just put you might not know any of the candidates and you

121just put their name down. So I'd rather leave it the way it is. >> I have those same feelings. I would agree because I think the scoop of elections would be lost than in all of the other elections that going on. >> You're going to have a lot more people just checking a box to check a box. >> You vote for a judge, you have no idea who they are. >> Yeah. We want people voting for people that they have done research on and make it a point to come out to the voting polls and make as educated of a decision as possible is my thought as well. >> This year with having um like the panel >> Mhm. >> did that increase cost at all? >> Okay. >> Nope. Just uh nope. >> Haley's

122time, Mr. Latimore and my time. No, no costs. if if the school district is really doing their job and let's say we're we're having those forums like we did this past year. Um people have their positions in the local newspaper. I would think that the general voting public should kind of have an idea of who might be a candidate to vote for unlike a judge where there's no debate or discussion or there's no you know where do you stand on certain issues in the local newspaper. So I feel like I don't see what I don't think that's a valid comparison with judges and people should be educated even in an even year and they're not just checking a box. Plus, we have more voter locations, which makes it more convenient for people to get out

123and vote who maybe people would love to vote on an odd year, but they just it's not convenient for them. >> Are there any other questions about elections or further discussion? >> And we are selling land and we have a lot of costs and expenses. 1,600 bucks. It's an easy 1,600 bucks. you just bend over and pick it up in one second. >> Next year there should not be any election costs because there is not an election. But yes, every other the odd years it' be about $1,600. >> I think with the $1,600 too for consideration is the amount of time that we're going to be asking like looking into this and the work of moving forward with it like that has a cost as well. So, if we're pulling Brian's time from other topics

124that need addressing, too, like that does cost money for his time. It's probably not $1,600, but it's other things to consider with it as well. That does I mean, I don't know how much time you'd spend on it, but it is going to pull your time. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Masterson I found in the state statute changing of general year election by the resolution the terms of school board members may be lengthened or shorten shortened by one year as part of the transition process. So >> lengthened or shortened >> they'd be part of the process that the board creates. >> All right. Are there any other discussions? If not, um, we'd only be looking for a motion if we wanted to change it, right? >> Yeah. I mean, I have it as discussion, but if

125the board wants to take action, it would just need a motion, a second, and then a vote. >> Okay. Otherwise, we would leave it as is and continue elections in the odd years. Okay. If there's no other discussion, we will move on to um the draft of the 202627 school year calendar. >> Everybody's favorite topic. Uh the school calendar. I'm hoping to bring this to uh the board for approval next month. I did put this out to staff to see this past Friday. Um, and I wanted to bring it to you all to take a last month of feedback on that. Um, some highlights based on surveying staff and community. There is a full spring break. We would still have deer day. The first day of school in this calendar, which would be September 1st,

126is before Labor Day. Um, the first day of school, again, September 1st would be for kindergarten through 8th grade only. All K through 12 would start on September 2nd. Um I would recommend with this calendar um that the district goes back to doing e-learning days first and then moving to makeup days. Um I have not yet put what those makeup days would be into the calendar. I wanted to hear some feedback uh on that, but I'd recommend going to five use the 5e learning days first and then move to makeup days if need be. And this calendar uh does not have early release on Wednesdays. So there is a few more staff professional development days built in. Um but looking for any feedback, any questions, any comments on this calendar. Again, it would start before

127Labor Day, the first day we're able to do that, which is September 1st. And uh it would go through where the teachers last day ultimately is June 4th. Does this kind of coincide with Pine City and D Central? >> Every SCRED school is starting before Labor Day. I in fact I can't I've only heard so few of who are waiting till after Labor Day. Seems like most schools I've talked to want are planning to start before Labor Day >> and that works out better for some of our >> um I've surveyed staff twice. I I don't think staff loved it the first time. um if I'm remembering the survey results, but seeing where Labor Day falls being the second week and possibly going further into June, I think uh people changed their opinion a little

128bit the second survey around >> is there survey sent to parents as well. >> a survey went out to parents community. Correct. >> Their thoughts on before they were going to start. >> Oh, let me see if I can find it quick. I have it. Wow. >> And as far as a four week spring break too, what was staff parent response? >> I have parents first. Um, as far as spring break, um, just over 50% wanted the full spring break. Um, I don't know if I asked the community about before Labor Day. Oh, sorry. Got to back up and go to the right school year. I was looking at last year's survey. >> And did you have a question if there was spring break >> and we started before the days? >> It did with

129staff, not with parents. So, parents want, do you want to see a 5day spring break? Uh 62% said yes. Um the state could allow us to start school before Labor Day. Um this one was where the the community and staff did not agree. Parents um or community 39% said yes, 60% said no. Um everyone still wants deer day. And um the community kind of said as far as professional development, do what's best for staff, but 57% ultimately said give uh professional development time and get rid of early release. I can pull up the second staff one starting >> not to the community. Um survey staff >> and was that community or parents? I put it out on Remind and Facebook >> so anyone could have staff calendar number two. So then with staff the second

130one um 79% say it said they were okay starting before Labor Day again knowing that um Labor Day is late. 61% said they wanted to see a spring break. Um, I did ask staff, do you feel it's important to end school in the month of May before Memorial Day? And 77% said no. Um, and then I asked any other things you consider and that's where I heard a lot about e-learning, things like that. I just wonder if those parents because that's a high percentage that didn't want it to start today if they knew that it would go to the middle of June if we didn't. >> I could certainly ask parents again. My thought is even with some of the the maybe parents not being on board, we share so many programs with Scred and

131Pine City and East Central that it'd be hard to be a week off. Um, but I could certainly I could send something out to the community again. >> So, pretty much a lot of us a lot of our local districts are also ending in that June. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Um, >> so the community feedback is always nice to hear. That's always helpful. on the calendar. If we uh if you don't do the e-learning days, then you would have to build in additional days for like we used up all of the >> like the one year we did use up all five, then we would do like kind of weing now, we'd be looking at things like President's Day or spring break being taken away or things because we have to hit

132a minimum number of days. So, if you had a horrible winter like we did 2 3 years ago, I mean, we ran out of e-learning days and we had to make them up. Um, that's only happened once since I've been here, but we all remember that winner. >> And I think the big reason we got away from e-learning days is cuz the internet was not as widely accessible in our district and now it is. like I feel like it's more everybody also has it or has access a lot of questions. I like that option of using e-learning days first um before snow days and it's not last minute families cuz families do plan those days off and >> staff too. I mean, our support staff is I mean, any of our staff, I mean, we

133say we're going to have February 16th off. Oh, just kidding. You know, 2 3 weeks before. >> Yeah. >> So, I think >> even though it was publicized, it still always seems to come >> at a very late moment. >> The community survey part, they probably don't realize how you coordinate with other schools, right? >> No idea. So then that would maybe change their opinions if they knew the whole story, right? Right. >> Um, spring break is that kind of coinciding with other local districts. So, I know we talked about that. >> I'll look I have not looked that closely at their >> because of what it was sports and then also with ITV classes. >> Yes, >> I will ask that. I don't know when their spring breaks were. >> Um, and then the

134other thing is is the month of December. You did just didn't know any time off. So there is no time off >> for our winter for the winter break. >> It's not >> Oh, it's not tight. Okay. I was like, I've seen green. >> No, >> it is. It is gray. It's beautiful gray, but >> it's just not typed out just as a way. >> Okay. >> It is tight. No. >> Perfect. He magically appeared. >> Okay. So it was January 1st. I was like, I see it. >> I think overall I like the calendar and I really like that we do not have early release on Wednesdays. I feel that is just super. The only one critique that I would suggest would be can we have K through 12 come to school on the

135first day and let's just let's get energized with K through 12, not just K through 8. when I reached out and and not that I want to speak for Mr. Latimore, but it sounded like the staff at the high school still felt that was beneficial to get those seventh and eighth graders in. Maybe it was even nth graders. So, seven ninth graders in and and get them off to that good start, especially the seventh graders coming from the elementary. It felt like it was still valuable. And so, that's why I would still recommend that. Um, and Mr. Adamore could certainly add more if he wanted, but >> so then if it's doing K through 9, that needs to be updated. >> Fixed. >> Yeah, I feel if this staff feels that it's beneficial, they're the

136ones that are having to see it and see if it works or not. So, I value that opinion. and we've reworked our ninth grade. So, it's a it's a day of for them like exploring like because it's their first time of like quote unquote credits count, right? Moving towards graduation. So, we spent uh last year we worked on um like what's it going to look like for me to take classes throughout my four years here? What are some what are some ideas I have for after school? What do I want to do? What courses would work in that? Uh and then we just had our adviserss meet with our um ninth graders with their plan of action um after first semester to then start discussing, okay, where we at? What do we think? And then

137these papers because they have their adviserss throughout their high school career will then be able to go back and work with them about, you know, planning for classes. What are we going to take? What does that look like? Has your has your interest changed? like is there a different course you want to take? So I think that's a powerful thing that we can have our students using as a um okay this is what I thought here's where I want to go type thing. So um I think it's been bene beneficial especially since we changed our nth grade look to it last year. Does the board want me to reach out to the community again and clarify that Labor Day start? Um, like I said, I I put it out to staff last Friday, too. As

138of today, I had not a couple questions, but not a lot of feedback yet. But >> I don't think it's necessary. >> That's necessary. >> I have some cleaning and and tweaking before a formal recommendation, but is the board comfortable with doing e-learning days first? >> Yes. >> Okay. Can I ask a question? Um did we um survey parents regarding JAG day? >> I don't know the last we did initially or we did after the first year if I remember correctly but probably not for a few years. >> Did we survey them for the early release? >> It was in one of my questions uh to the parents as far as early release. >> And what would do you recall what the response was for early release response from parents? Um >> you Yeah, you

139just said it. So that was interesting cuz that changed from last year's survey. Last year's survey I think was right. It was 40 something%. >> So it was below 50 and then I remember seeing the results for this year and this year it was above that. >> 57% said give staff one full day, eliminate early release. Um I had asked do you want to move to a late start? Only 14 and a half% wanted to do that and 28% wanted to keep early release as is >> and that that that was from the community. >> That was from the community. >> That was this year but last year's was different. last year since I happen to have it up. Um I only asked last year should the district continue to have early release time on

140Wednesdays which is devoted for staff development requirements. Students would be continued to be released 1 hours early. Uh 63% of that time said yes, 36 said no. And part of the jab day was to also help to orient students as they transition to the high school. Correct. >> Because if I remember correctly, that was the population that there were a lot of um referrals. >> Behavior referrals. So when we're looking at, you know, discussion about some of that, that's something to keep into mind, >> I guess, with that. And then um you know obviously this year's the technology so that's causing a fair amount of referrals. So with that I would just say um that technology just really needs to be reinforced and that people are following the handbook and be a big thing and

141I don't remember like if you're not following the handbooks then what are the consequences >> for adults? So that would just be the thing. >> I I just feel like if you if a family has like an upper classman who doesn't come on the first day and then they have someone junior high who does on the first day, it's kind of an inconvenience. >> It's no different than students when they're graduating and they're getting out early. And I I'm I'm just thinking the parents might scratch their head and say, "Why are why is Hinkley Fison not educating my upper classman? Why is why are they penalizing him a day of learning him or her? >> So seniors get out on May 28th. That's another class. So that's not a difference. If I remember correctly, when

142I looked up required school days, it's 165." >> 165 >> and we've got 171. >> Correct. So we are offsetting that and so I guess sick days are built into that too. >> I think that setting our seven incoming seventh graders up for just an extra day to get nerves out and to be in the building and get their expectations and just figuring out what it is. And I think that ninth grade idea is excellent because in seventh and eighth grade, you don't know that those classes or your grades really matter for anything. So I think it's great and I think that that far outweighs the first day of school. They're not losing any education. They are getting set on that right track. And we have so many staff that put in such hard work

143for that J crew day. It was a vision that I feel like has come off very well these last two years. So, I fully support seeing that carry out and just giving our students, especially those incoming seventh graders, just that best foot forward so that on that second day they're not scared to go sit in the lunchroom and eat lunch. So >> um since it's only it's been two years and then I think even just doing a threeear cycle really helps to kind of see how things are going and also then just that enforcement of some of the policies making sure that you know again this is that first year of that technology policy so that is hard. Would it not be possible to have that, you know, that gathering in the in the gym

144with seventh, 8th, 9th graders, get everybody together, get rid of that nervous energy, maybe have the same pepfest style atmosphere like we've used um while simultaneously having our 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in class, getting their syllabus, talking about classroom expectations. get that out of the way on day one so that when they come on day two, second day of school, that that's already been accomplished. So now they're like getting into the coursework. Why can't we get it all done on the first day? Well, >> I think a part of it, sorry, I'm just so for me, so like these are the grades where we have everybody, right? 7 through 9, all of them come to our school. 10th grade can start to do some PSO in school 11 and 12th graders get to do

145a lot PSO work too. So I mean we can say that we're like have a bunch of students that are missing out but some of our students have already started classes in their colleges for their PSO work as well. So I mean it's not like a a one forone type deal in terms of like we're missing out these all these students are missing out. There are a few but a lot of there's some PSO that are going 11th to 12th graders. Part of why we did this also because our staff isn't big enough where we just have seventh, eighth, ninth grade teachers and then just 10th, 11th, 12th grade teachers that they overlap. So a lot a lot of those seventh, eighth grade, 9th grade teachers wouldn't be available if we had school the other

146ones depending on the activities that the high school planned that day. I think at least this year you had all the teachers that are together at least for part of it with the kids and there's so many that do both either seventh and then 10th or you know have a younger and upper grade. So I think it'd be hard staffing wise to do both >> or could that nervous energy just be eliminated on say like orientation day isn't done like in August. It is from my experience there wasn't enough time to do that as you're having kids check lockers, paid lunch balances. Yes, they meet Mr. Latimore and his staff. Um, but there's not a lot of time to get into all the things that at least Jay Crew has covered the last few years.

147You have them from roughly 12:30 to 3. It's just hard to get through all that and you're with your parents >> which is >> and navigating that first day of classes without you know all the upper classmen in the hallways and just getting your bearings before all the big kids show up I think is is helpful. I think that um we hire our staff to be experts on this and I think that they know what's going on more so than what we as a school board and me as an individual. I trust them. So I'd say leave it the way they want it. >> Well, I will bring a calendar for your approval next month. >> Thank you, Brian. All right. And then we are moving on to um transportation discussion. >> Transportation department asked

148to have a conversation with the school board. So that is now the time. >> Good evening everybody. Um just wanted to give you an update of what's going on. Um I've got waiting for bids to be returned on bunch of different things. uh as far as someone to uh do a DOT type inspections on the buses and the type 3es. We've got I'm waiting for bids for different um like a leasing option for the buses, that kind of things. Um hopefully that will get back to us soon. Um, I just want to open my door to you guys at any time. Ken, come down and see me if you have a question or anything. Email, telephone, in person. I'm always there. So, come see me. Um hopefully we can work through an ablical solution to

149what we've got going on. And we'll get it worked out. I want to thank my team. They're they're a strong group. So I don't know. I just wanted to say that and I'm going to let George say some words now. Oh, >> can I get clarification on um did you say that you were seeking bids on people to do DOT inspections? >> Yes. >> Is that something that was asked? >> We were looking at Yeah. Bruce and I talked on Friday looking at other people to come in and see who could help out with our transportation department or looking at our buses, things like that. >> More than just what we knew about. >> Bruce had said he had reached out to some other people and Bruce knew that we I had also reached out

150to 4.0 to come do that as well or possibly come do that. Okay, >> you had mentioned when we had >> when we met Y >> uh a few of the schoolboard members and some of the transportation department, you had mentioned visiting the MOA school. What were some takeaways from there? So, um as far as what were some things you learned? Are there things that they were doing that you've implemented? Uh any follow up with that. >> It was more for my files, the way that she sets her files up there for my files that the DOT goes through. >> Okay. >> And going through that. And then I had a discussion with Corey over there. And Corey is also willing to come over and help us out over a little bit, too. Okay. >>

151Okay. I was just curious. >> And then the other thing not for you, but Terry mentioned the letter. Now, that was the DOT letter, right? >> That was referenced earlier. Okay. So, that wasn't something that Mr. Masterson wrote that. >> Okay. That's >> initially what I was thinking, but I just wanted clarification that that was the letter from DOT. was not from the superintendent. >> Correct. >> And I think some of the things in there were misconstrued or personal opinions. I guess as far as >> you feel DOT had, I guess. >> Pardon me. >> So when you said it was misconstrued, that's what you're saying. >> They were they were suggestions. Yes. that if things could have is this a possibility that this wasn't happening or this and that was what I meant by

152that. >> Okay. >> Terry, were you reading um the letter from the DOT or were you were you referencing the email that Brian sent out? Okay. So, that helps. So, no, she was not. So, for clarification on that, um, we did share the letter from the DOT during our meeting with some of the bus drivers and then Brian sent out a recap. So, I think the confusion on um things like having discrepancies. Am I free to talk about this letter? Okay. So, in the letter um it is cited that from the DOT. So, this is like from the DOT. The letter, this letter cites, um, where the pre-trips weren't happening correctly. In the email that you're seeing, um, Brian had also added comments from the drivers. And I do believe it I maybe think it

153was Doug when you said your feedback was um DOT has come in in since and checked and there have not since since this letter there haven't been any discrepancies noticed in the pre-trips. So that's two separate events. So it is correct that we did get a DOT letter that pre-tripur have were not done correctly which resulted in some buses being out of service. And then in that email that you wrote that was just bus driver feedback saying you know we believe we are doing our pre-trips correctly because DOT has stopped in and there have not been further writeups about it. So, if that helps clarify that at all, >> I guess. Can I speak? >> You can. Yeah. >> Okay. So, as part of that though, Heather, is is it that they did their DOT

154inspection and and I don't work in the garage and I'm not in the garage, so I mean, please bear with me, but um >> if they did their pre-trip, but the mechanic didn't fix what was on there, then that's an issue. Correct. that would be, but in some of the reports that we got, they weren't even mechanic issues. Um, buses were written up because they were dirty. That's not a mechanic issue. Um, those are things from from pre-trips. So, I do understand that. Yes. Like you can pre-trip your bus. You can drive it down a bumpy road and you can have a light go out and that's going to happen. Um, and I think we all understand that things happen and but there were certain things like that that weren't mechanic issues that would have

155been directly related to the driver if that helps. I still would like to say though that you know um and and I've been in your position um to step up and and to seek them and ask them what's going on and get the other side of the story cuz one side of the story is never going to give you a culture. We we have had the DOT make spot inspections before this came out and they did not find any discrepancies with their bus inspections. Okay, so that's number one point and that's why we contradicted his presumpted uh comment in that letter because they had made previous uh spot checks and they found nothing wrong in that letter. So that's why we questioned his comment in there and that's why we passed that back. >> Yep.

156>> You know, in that regard. >> Um so that was the reason that for the correction the way it was stated. >> Oh yeah. >> In the DOT letter. >> Yeah. Right. Right. Right. >> Yeah. So that was that. >> Yeah. >> And I think >> that makes sense. uh to eliterate why we're here is we want to express our concerns with uh uh making sure our communication is good. Number one. Number two, making sure that you understand how committed we are um as a team and as a as a group. Um, I've worked for the school for over 20 years and I've never seen as many dedicated bus drivers as we have now. And I've never seen as many good type threes as we have now. And we have a very good supervisor who

157cares, who fills in, who is there extra hours to make sure things are done. And you board members need to realize that. >> Yeah. >> And the drivers that are stepping up to fix the buses because there's not a mechanic. >> We we would probably pass DOT now with a lot less because we have that dedication from our group here and that's something you need to bear in mind and compare apples to apples when we get these bids if we get these bids. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. I just want to say it Doug and all of you it's not for me personally it is not a question of if you guys are dedicated if you guys care about the job that you do if you care about the people that you work with. you

158care about the students that you service. That is not that is not even a question in my mind and I don't think in all of our minds. We appreciate every single one of you especially in the meeting that we had. It was said we appreciate the drivers that are stepping in and fixing the things and taking care of the things while we're in this spot. The issue is right now is we don't have a mechanic and we want to do what we need to do what's sustainable going forward and we've had that mechanic's position open for a long time and we just were not able to fill that. So um and we were given direction that we needed to take immediate action. So we're just trying to take steps to show that we're trying to

159do something and >> well you did do immediate action. is that you did uh let the mechanic go. I mean, there was a big problem right there with the mechanic. And if you look in your records for the last four years that were all bad years, he had the same mechanic. >> Yeah. And now we don't. >> And that should have been taken care of a couple years ago when you started seeing after the first two years were bad. We should have somebody should have stepped in and >> and I will just speak to that that every time it came before the board it was asked how are things going down there and the board was told things are going great. >> Well, the board is more than welcome to come down to the garage

160anytime and visit with us and they can see what we're doing down there cuz like they said right now the buses are all in great shape. We're fixing them. The minute one of our drivers says there's a problem, I'm on it. >> Yep. And we don't we don't doubt that. And that's one thing too with having um a company come in that has offered to come in and look at our buses. Maybe that's going to Amy cuz you guys are saying that your buses are great and we're not doubting you and maybe that's just what you when they come in and look at everything, maybe that's what we're going to hear. You know what? everything is looking good like and that just speaks volumes to what you guys are doing down there in the meantime

161while we don't have a mechanic. So take that as somebody coming in that's not affiliated with the school at all that's looking and they might be like you know what hey they are doing a great job we don't have any recommended big fixes right now and that's kudos to you guys >> but until 1.0 know is one of the ones that'll be bidding and they're going to probably try to make us look bad or they would hate it. >> We're not we're not going to speak bad about companies. We don't even know if anybody's bidding. We have not crossed that line. So, we have to be very careful that we're not talking bad about individual companies or industries that >> I'm not saying we're not talking bad, but they're going to come in and say,

162"Yeah, all this you need to redo all this stuff." And then they get the beard. >> That's an assumption and we're we have to be very careful to not to not do that. >> I got one question. Do you think we could get a mechanic if we had it so that he didn't have to drive be a straight bus driver if that would make a difference? >> I'm only asking. >> No. And I get that. The thing is is they have to have a mechanic. Ideally would have to have their bus license because we all know buses go down. Who's called is the mechanic. They have to be able to to drive a bus and they have to be able to >> I thought you could drive a bus if you don't have passengers on

163it. >> No, >> but sometimes they might have to have passengers. >> I've just asked. >> But even if they could commit their whole time to being a mechanic and not having to drive a morning run and an afternoon run and then try to get the buses fixed in the meantime, that's pretty much impossible. And I don't think that you know any mechanics that are going to want to drive a busload of kids every day. They want to work on what they're supposed to work on. I think um any of us that knows a mechanic knows that that's a fact. And so to not to say that you're not getting any money to apply, I think if you switched that around and had it so that they did not have to drive the routes, yes,

164have a license. Yes, I think that's necessary. But to not be on the agenda to drive buses all the time and actually need to fix the buses, you're going to fix your bus problem and you're going to get a mechanic. And I think the posting, correct me, it only says like it'd be for like emergencies. Like my fear would be >> they wouldn't be taking a route. They would be >> they don't have a route. Um but say we have some illness or things h things happen all the time. There are times that the mechanic is going to have to do a route and I would hate to lose that because the bus drivers are going to get sick or something's going to happen in their family life or Bruce may not be available and

165>> it comes in handy. Yes. >> Correct. I I would just I understand. >> Yep. Devoting that time to to fixing, but it's also nice to have another backup cuz life happens. um something's going to come up and sometimes we do need that person to help with a route. Um >> and that happens everywhere. I mean it, you know, >> and really and truly, we've got um Mr. Masterson and Mr. Laddermore >> and Mr. Horbach >> and Mr. Horvot that they all have bus licenses >> and Tony Steel >> and Mr. Steel. So again, we're in the same situation. They are an emergency backup, but they also have their other responsibilities that they would need to do just like a mechanic. It's kind of that last scenario, >> unless Mr. Ladder wants to bring everybody

166home before >> at the end of the afternoon. No. >> Yeah. Doug, >> is the board willing to seek out a subcontractor for maintenance, case towing, riches repair? Um, >> or I mean not riches repair. >> Um, that's another option we have in this scenario too, especially if we do the lease because the lease gives us new buses every 3 years. Okay. and the major components would be covered under warranty is my understanding and we just have basic maintenance. Is there anything wrong with that scenario? >> Do we have any numbers on the lease? >> Not yet. >> Bruce is working on that and we were working on starting to call these other garages to see >> if they're able, what that would cost, things like that. So I will say that there was some

167definitely some good communication and some good ideas because like leasing the buses that was not something that I had been made aware of. So that's some great feedback. After everybody had left, I did ask um Bruce if there would you my concern and the discussion of leasing things out to local garages is great. My concern is that consistency. If you're working with too many garages, you might have a few too many balls in the air >> that something could get missed. So, I had even said at that meeting, what if 4.0 since they have everything in house, if we leased mechanical stuff to them? So, that was a question that I asked. It would be great to get bids from everybody else locally, but not everybody else locally does everything. It would have to be

168peacemealed out. And that's my concern with some of the maintaining everything. >> Well, the larger concerns if we have newer fleet, newer buses would be covered by a warranty. >> Yep. You wouldn't have it. >> So, we wouldn't have that. So, we'd have oil change, um, windshield wipers, >> stuff, things like that. You know, >> that could be done >> that we could handle ourselves >> potentially. Absolutely. >> The only thing about if you lease buses, once you get rid of the buses, you'll never be able to afford to buy them back. That's the only thing >> and that was a discussion too is because whether or not we do an independent contract, we lose buses. If we lease, we lose buses, >> but we're able to maintain staff. So, you know, that's kind of

169where it's at on on both perspectives, but it doesn't hurt to look at them. >> Yeah. >> With that um idea of local shops, would that have to go to bid? Would all of you have to put that to bid? >> We probably would have to put that to bid >> just to be fair competition. And you know, I'm sure depending on what needed to be fixed, >> that cost threshold maybe. >> I mean, that's hard to predict, but I think to be fair and open, we would want to put that to bid. >> Yeah. Well, then we would as a board, you know, have like numbers that we could look at because I think that's like a big piece then as if if we're leasing buses, there's that cost to lease. And then if

170we're then having to um pay shops, you know, their shop fee to fix, you know, like everything has a cost. So then taking all of those costs and comparing >> the final picture, >> what that Yeah. what that final picture looks like. Um I think is important. But I think getting as much data as we can and information about all of the different options that are being brought forward is really important. >> Bruce, can I ask something? I was told not to talk in this meeting, right? Um, since the board seems to be fairly enamored with our staff and our work ethic and everything else, if we were to get a mechanic hired, and I think if we get a little more aggressive on how we go about it, not just run an ad in

171a local paper that basically very few people read, okay? I mean, really go out after uh mechanic schools, people that are graduating from these places. Get a mechanic hired. Is there really a need to look anywhere else? Once we get a mechanic hired, we got the people, we got the staff, we got the backup. We just need a mechanic, >> right? And I I do think that the job is posted in more than just our paper, >> but I mean I mean really getting aggressive, put somebody on it, could be any one of us. I I'm I'm happy to help to start list going after mechanic schools and say, "Hey, here's an opening, whether it's online, whether you talk to them on the phone, whatever." And not just be passively looking for a mechanic, but

172aggressively looking for one. That's what places like Indeed do. That's exactly how it works. Is that a possibility? >> I I just want to be careful because I I don't think that we are passively looking for a mechanic. >> Okay. Um I I excuse the word. >> Okay. >> You know, I mean, just putting it in the paper is >> posting has gone up several times. It's not just in the paper. So, I just want to be clear. >> Okay. >> Clear that way, too. Um in our meeting, we did talk about how we could maybe update that mechanic posting >> was in the Evergreen this weekend. We did get it on Minnesota school jobs. It's on Ed Post. It was in the Moose Lake paper. So we have gone in the last week or

173so to some other sources. >> We thought about going down >> said he had someone call today. So >> like mechanic schools. Has anybody approached any of those? >> It' be an ideal spot for a young mechanic to cut his teeth, get in, be dedicated to stay in a position for a while. That's, you know, that's kind of where I would, that's where I'm coming from, right? Bruce, that's it. I'm done. >> Are you sure? >> Yeah, I'm sure. >> And I have reached out to Bruce. Bruce and I have talked. So, it's not like none of us have reached out either. So, I just want to make that clear that we have, >> maybe not all of us, but some of us have reached out. And our numbers are all posted on the website.

174So our emails and our numbers. So reach out to us as well if there's things that you don't see. >> A lot of this is uh has come about because uh things got delayed on buying the buses. They should never have happened. They should have been buying regularly. Uh, some of the buses have gotten old enough that the dashes are good on the road and the dashes are just fancy. The the vents fly out of the the defrosters and are flopping around on top because nothing's held together. It's all plastic. These buses should be um replaced on a regular basis. And if you don't, this mess that we're in is what happens. It's when you don't take care of things. You know, we didn't have a mechanic. He had buses that got too old. It's

175a perfect storm. I've been driving for quite a few years now and uh I've seen a lot. This is a perfect storm. This is what happens. You've got a dedicated bunch of guys here and not all of them are here and some of them are really frustrated that aren't here. It shouldn't happen. You got the best of place. >> I will say, Jerry, when it comes to deciding when we're buying buses or or if that is brought to the board by the transportation manager and he comes with what what he wants. And I know there has been specific times where it's we don't need a new bus this year. If it's not put on the budget for the transportation and brought to the board, we and if the board is told we don't need a

176new bus this year, we take that from from the transportation manager. Okay. If he's saying that it's good and we don't need a bus this year, then the board we don't buy a bus that this that year because we're taking the word of the transportation. And so it's not the board sitting here saying, "Well, this year we're not giving them a bus. They ask for a bus. We're not that that's not what's happening." >> Yeah. >> So just so just so you're aware of that, >> the word to the wives, you need to keep replacing them on a regular basis. >> And if you, you know, that's one of the things with the with talking about the lease, the lease can be a really good thing. Only problem is you don't own anything. >> When

177the lease is done, >> you're basically out of us. >> Yeah. >> Until you start leasing another one. >> Yeah. >> Angela, for someone that drives a lot of different buses, >> everything's fixable. >> It isn't. I mean, I sit here and I listen and people that make it sound like it is so so bad. It's not. These spices are fixable. There's some little things that are wrong with them, but they are fixable. And I, like I say, I drive four, seven, eight, 16, 3, 10, 6, 12, 17. >> He drives them all. >> I driven them all. >> Yeah. Anybody else have any questions? >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other further discussions on that? All right, it looks like we have reached the end of our

178agenda. Looking for a motion to adjurnn. >> Second motion and a second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right.