001All right, we do have everyone here. So, um, are there any adjustments to tonight's agenda? Okay. Do I hear a motion to approve adopt the agendas presented? Move. Okay. First item, consider approval of adjustments to graduation requirements. turn over the superintendent. Yes, ma'am. But I I like it because this is a big deal and I like that board members, you know, it's like we need to be sure of what we're doing, you know. So, just I'm going to kick it back to you guys. Okay. Okay. So, I'll uh open it up to the board. I cannot in good conscience approve a year-long capstone project for those seniors when there's so many other AP or elective courses they might like to take in that spot. A lot of the kids have already done that kind of
002work in projects or activities that they've belonged to and requiring them to be in a class year long for that. I just in good conscience I can't say yes. I would agree. I think, you know, from the questions the other night, the feeling that I got was not that there was an objection to a capstone project, but that it being a requirement that the supporting a capstone project for certain populations is and and you guys tell me if that's kind of what I got from our conversation last time is from certain populations it would work well and for others it wouldn't work. And and then I think the big concern I have is our staff. This is a big shift and for the staff to need to come up with something that has an equitable
003rubric for grading and that it can be I think that the idea is a good idea for a capstone project, but I like it being an elective. But um other other thoughts from board members and the superintendent slides I know you're catching up because you know we were talking about it last time but um I do know that there are applications that we got like innovation zone and all those different applications to receive funding there is a requirement for for those different CTE pathways. Um, and the state is mentioning it and I think as we're as we work on the walk graduating I mentioned it a couple years ago ahead of it now it's became a requirement. Um, we're going to go with what the board feels needs to happen but I definitely want to
004keep it at least for those. So when you're saying it's a requirement, you're not saying it's a requirement for graduation. It's the district has to show evidence that they offer a capstone project. Is that what I'm I mean is that what for the requirement? Okay. Mr. Dlet, I know it's um it was a lot to go over. It was a lot to go over and and and the discussion that we had before was there's such a variance and and please you guys jump in. Anybody wants to add to it. There's such a variance of what falls under the capstone that you know h how do we set that up you know um right out of the blocks for a requirement? And uh I I agree. I I uh I like the option of kids being
005able to do a capstone project and it could be in a few years it's like okay we have all these kids doing it and then we revisit that again. But I I think it it's a nice option, but as you said, uh, Miss Anel, at the last one, our kids are so tied down with options and that things they want to take and it limits them and different pathways they want to go. I mean, that was, you know, then all of the sudden something they wanted to do, they can't. And I know we can't, they can't do everything, but at the same time, that really put a limit on some of them. So, I think I think it was a good point to bring up, you know. So, if somebody's wanting to do a third
006year of Spanish and AP environmental science and seventh period athletic trainer, they they've got one elective and I don't think we should dictate that they should have to do that as a capstone project. So, based on the wording in the agenda, what we're going to be doing is approval of adjustments to the graduation requirement. So, what I need to hear is a motion for what we would like it to look like as far as and we're just talking about that third bullet, the district uh and one of them will be the communication skills and then um if I'm understanding everybody correctly, the other one would be an elective. Now, is communication all year long or a semester? Well, you guys need to decide what your requirements are going to meet, right? That's what we were
007saying. Those two and and so communications, we already had that one. Is that a year long is what she was asking. Yes. Well, I mean, I I think our kids need communication skills, but see, I think they need it in eighth grade. If they're going to start working on a capstone project, even as an elective, they need some communication skills before they even start on that. I think so. If we started communications even in eighth grade, because we have kids doing presentations in culinary arts and in the science and in, you know, robotics and Okay. So, so it can't be it has to be an elective. I mean, it has to be a a communication and Spanish or it has to we have to pick something. Can't you say elective in there or can it
008say I heard you say the capstone? Right. So we would name it, right? So from what I'm understand I think a semester see I would like to leave those I mean is There's something I'm sorry I interrupted. No, that's fine. Having a classroom full of kids that I I just picture my classroom full of kids that I don't know what they're I mean, is there curriculum? Is there guidance for the teachers? Who's going to teach it? Um when they don't have how do you grade it? We've got to give them numerical grades and do you do tests? Do you do weekly grades? How do you I just see lots of problems for the teachers if it's especially year long. So I'm hearing you say I think but that wouldn't give them two full units. Right.
009Yeah. It's listed as one of your credited. No, we don't want that. I don't I don't believe that's what the board's wanting. It would be it just like if we said hospitality or you know any of those required. That's what I like. I like the kids being able to do what meets their needs because I would like to see how many of them decide to do a capstone project. You know, I think there's there's a learning curve to happen there. If you've got some kids who are like, I don't know, maybe they're in work-based learning or something, it's like, can we do this? And I think then that kind of can help guide, okay, how is this going to work, you know? So, I I like the communication skills and an elective, right? classines. So,
010the Spanish students that work on um the um huh? Yeah. The bilingual seal, would that count as a capstone project? I mean, they have to put together all kinds of stuff and make a presentation and Yes. So, that would work towards Yeah. But they do that in their Spanish class for the most part and in their spare time. They wouldn't a lot of other extra time and and to get credit for that. Yeah. So, right now we have the 3.5 units of electives plus the two for district. And so, um do I hear a motion that the district's uh to our communication skills and another elective? Is that Yes, I I agree. Okay. I will make that motion. Okay. I didn't really know how to roll that out. Anybody else want to rephrase it? Go
011right after it, you know. Okay. The motion uh that the district's uh choices for graduation requirements is one unit of communication skills and one unit of the elective of the student's choice. Is that right? Yes. Very good. Thank you. It It's one of them just like baking whatever. Okay. That's I was sitting there going through the course descriptions and so Okay. And really Dr. Parker, I know that we have inundated you with questions and thank you for your patience with this. I uh I know it's a lot of work and I know it's it's it's a change that we may see coming, but I I hesitate to shift on the fly when we still have so many unanswered questions. So, thank you very much. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. We had a motion in a second.
012Oh, I made a motion. He did. Bradley. Now, Mr. Williams can tell his counselors, here's what we're doing. I know you guys have kind of been sitting on go on some of this, so thank you for your patience as we kind of worked through that. Okay, next item. consider approval of the 2526 school calendar and I'll turn it over to the superintendent. Yes, ma'am. So, before you you have um a key takeaways on the proposed calendar. I just put a draft together for you to give you some other tidbits and then the voting across the district what each draft received and you will see there which draft won um according to the district. So, of approximately 550 employees, we had 291 employees respond. Out of the 291 responses, 126 voted for the winning draft that
013you see before you. So, um I'm open to any recommendations that you would like to make or approve or not approve. All right, I'll open it up to the board. I think it's a consensus that we all know that that you don't want to brew it at all. Yeah. the the 189 days and and just just for you know y'all's knowledge and board members are actively looking at uh getting some clarification of some wording because uh it doesn't help us for this year but moving forward and and we are determined to really push on this and we've already reached out to some legislators and we'll continue to do so because the only thing in any capacity that's listed in days is K12 plus every professional development um every and any industry anything you do is
014in hours and so um we have been working on moving forward with that because there there's a better way to do this. It can be a district choice but there's a better way to do this. So, but anyway, there was some talk about a calendar that didn't start as early but then went after came back after that's I was going to say Hobs is doing that come back after um actually HOBS goes into June if we came back after uh Memorial Day and did that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, we'd still get out in May. But I didn't you talked about putting together a couple of drafts of that. I did work with my team on proposal number five and I do have a mockup of what that would look like coming backmorial. Have [Music] we I
015mean Oh, I think it would have to go out. We're not the ones doing it. It's the teachers. I think it would have to go back to the teachers. I I I would I would be I absolutely would have to see proof in the pudding on that one because I I I mean and maybe maybe the staff does say no problem so early this year. Sure. that even if we came back that week after that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, we'd still get out in May and not have to go into June like most of the rest of the world. Thank you. Apparently, I don't know how to pass out. Put your name in the right hand corner. So, you're still starting in July. The staff and the students are still starting in July. They would
016just start two days later, but it puts in an October break, right? Is that in the But the but the one we had the one that you're asking for approval on right now has the October break. So, if Okay. It puts in Yeah, it starts then it puts in all of Thanksgiving week. Okay. So where we pick up those four days of coming back after Memorial Day is one and a half the two days in Thanksgiving break. So it's a full week and then the two days in July. So students with this number five, students would begin on Thursday the 31st and Tuesday the 29th is the current one. Monday the 28th is when right you know and and again whatever the staff would want to do on that. Um I'm I'm a little disappointed
017that less than half of our staff responded. Um but Oh, no, no, it's not your fault. And so what that tells me and and a lot of them say, "You know what? I'm going to come when you tell me to come." And so um but an interesting thing that I had not thought of was I I had a parent tell me, "Nobody likes the kids having to go to school during the fair." We all know that. But they said when we do start the week before, their child who's involved in so much actually got to go and get familiar with their school before they were gone for a week. And I had honestly never thought of it in that context. And said they they and and that's when she was going into junior high. And
018she said she got to go and and get familiar with her new school with everyone else before being gone for a week. And that was kind of an interesting take on it that I hadn't thought of. So yeah, that is good. And both of these would allow that. Do what? And both of these calendars would allow that. Well, yeah. Now, the new one that she just handed us, that would be two days of school and the other one would be four days. Yeah. So, okay. So, what does the board want to do? I'd say let the teachers vote. Let them I don't think we can make that decision. I mean, we can, but I don't think it's No, sir. That does not count as an instructional day. So, if we put those in, then we
019have to pick those days up. Tanya, when is the budget due? The 14th. But we and our board meeting is on the 12th. And so if we have the calendar to approve. But did do I remember them saying that the calendar did not have to be included with your submission this time or it did? It it does have to. Okay. Okay. But we would still slide in because if we have the board meeting on Monday the 12th. So, okay, superintendent slots. I I have it ready if you want me to put it back up and put it out, but it's going to be a short turn around. I say let's put it out for a vote with draft five. I mean, I I think the message I would certainly want to convey is that the
020it's not that the board is not approving the any of the one that was that one, you know, because this is just another Yeah. that if staff wanted to come back after Memorial Day that this would be the that and have the full week of nove of Thanksgiving. Yeah. So with that would so graduation would probably change, right? I mean you wouldn't graduate on the 17th. They would graduate on the 24th or 23rd that Memorial Day weekend that we would graduate on the Saturday the 23rd because that's going into Memorial Day weekend and are coming in and the that Sunday. I think it would be easier on our high school staff and all the graduates to just um graduate on the 23rd and I want to graduation. Yeah, I think that's smart. Good. Mr. Delap,
021what do you think? I don't like neither one of them. I know. That's just me. Do you think we should put out uh this other option for them to vote on? It's going to have to be really quick. Then we got to call another meeting. No, we have a we have a board meeting on in two weeks. 12. Okay. And then probably on Thursday or Friday. Friday. Yeah. I I just want it to be clear because misperception can be that the board didn't approve the first one. The first one. And that's not the case. It's the board wants to give an option if they want to do that other, you know, and and maybe moving forward, you know. Well, I don't know. I guess it depends. If we get a resounding no, then we'll be
022like, okay, we won't try that again. Or I I don't know. I you know, I don't I don't I guess I mean the looking at the big picture, it gives you really a whole full extra full week in July, right? This this option five would and it gives you a week of Thanksgiving. Yeah. Yeah. That's the That's the one that's like, "All right, Mr. Williams, how happy is your staff going to be to be not putting you on the spot at all?" But they still get out in May. I don't know. Oh, yeah. Oh, no. I know. It's just, you know, I mean, it's just a perception of should be the end. It just And it could be that, you know, the staff says, "No, that's not a problem at all." But then with that,
023you'll have to do testing and all that stuff. It be that last week of after they come back from Memorial Day, right? I think that does concern me about attendance. I'll be honest. It it concerns me about attendance. Um I think you know staff I mean because as much as we care about our staff, we have to always think about our kids. It really does con concern me about attendance. So, if we do this, um, I would hope that the board would be open to thinking about, okay, you know, which Well, and and you know, I said it gives you a full week in July, but it also takes a week in May. Yeah. Well, it's the old fable of you cut the top off the blanket and sew it on the bottom so you
024have a longer blanket, you know, and so it it's either way. So, it doesn't work, does it? No. Okay. So, do I hear a motion? I move that we put the number four, which was the favorite, and draft number five, out for the teachers to decide between those two with a note that number four was accepted. Yes, number four was the top pick of the first four. And this goes to all staff, not just teachers, right? This goes to all staff. All staff. All staff. Okay. Yeah. Good. Everybody that's affected by Yeah. Yeah. Oh, no. And And I know you guys worked really hard at it and and we're not going to get a higher percentage. I don't believe. I mean, I think that's gonna So, what do you say? She wants the They already
025picked number four as their favorite of the first four. So, take that one. and draft number five and let them choose between those two to see if they want to stick with four or if they prefer five, start later and get out a little later and have the full week of Did we hear from any staff that even toss that idea around? I mean, no, I don't think I didn't hear from anybody, but I don't think it was thought about. I guess I you know what I mean? I don't know. It wasn't Well, I have family in California and Iowa and Texas and they all go into June. It's not a big deal. It's just we've never done it that way before. So, but it's up to them. And if they want to if they
026want number four to be the one, they need to get off their fannies and vote. Oh, I made a motion. I don't know what you can in July. I think we're going to have to redo the motion simply because of the way it reads of approving the calendar. So, I would probably recommend that you make a motion to table it and then Oh, okay. Because it didn't I think it gets in the weeds on the way that's worded. Yeah. Because we can we can not or we can because what I would need is a motion to approve this one that's presented. So, it's either going to have to go approve the one that's presented or a motion to table. Does that make sense? I make a motion to table it until the next meeting so
027that the teachers have a chance to look at another option or staff, not just teachers. I'll second and they may not want to do it and that's fine. table. They understand. We took that into consideration, their thoughts. Okay. Thank you. I'm assuming it went through. Did it all go through? Leave me alone. I need you need the sticker that says you can do hard things. All right. Next. Thank you. Next item. Consider approval of budget adjustment. There is one budget adjustment and this brings our cash into our fund. Okay. Questions from the board? You said this brings what cash? We you guys had voted to We have a CD transfer that cash. I didn't hear the CD. I'm sorry. I never did this second part where we could actually spend the money. So, okay, cool.
028Okay. Any questions? Motion to approve the budget adjustment as presented. Second. Okay, thank you. Next item, discussion of the FY2526 budget. Okay. All right. I received the 910 B5 at 3:25 today. So I've not had a chance to review it. It is a little bigger than what we had discussed at budget committee and that's due to they had um added bills to the calculation and then also some CTE funding that we had not anticipated. We had not anticipated yes that the legislature had given to us. Okay. So, I did not have that in the projection. Um, of course, there's a 4% salary increase and a 10% medical premium increase. Our risk insurance is increasing 16% this year, which is 140,000. Those are just a few highlights. So, I really don't have a whole lot to
029share with you regarding that. Um, I know we did get our title application submitted. So our risk went up how much did you say? 140,000 but percentage wise 16%. Last year it increased 32%. What percentage of and I know it's not down to the penny that you will I mean because you you are so good at this but what right now what percentage of the overall budget are you seeing dedicated to uh salaries and compensation package? 85%. Okay. I normally stay around 85%. Okay. Okay. And and it fluctuates a little bit. um with our levels. [Music] That's really good. Questions from the board? All of these salary schedules show that 4% increase. I know the athletic increment you did a little bit of a different adjustment there. Um, and so do you want to speak
030on that or I know that a couple years ago there was some adjustments there just trying to get a little bit closer. So we cleaned that up and Okay, this is new where we have the over 30 pay scale. Yes, you wondered if I'm glad you brought that up. I I I thought and so I wanted to hear the the tale of that. I want to explain this so that you understand. So what happens is is when someone hits the 30 mark and they don't move down, I have to increase that 4% because it's required that you get 4%. Right. If someone moves into that line, they have to get they usually end up getting the six or 7% because we've had to skew that bottom line. Right. Right. So that moves everyone in that
03130 and over where they get the 4% but then it does not skew the bottom line. We can keep it level because you've worked so hard to compress the salary scale which is great but I I I like this. I just was curious. Well, then they have a little room to keep to keep growing. Um, but then it doesn't we don't have to adjust and make the whole all the way up. Okay. Okay. I like that. Okay. Any other questions on the budget? I think just one thing as a suggestion or I don't know if this is appropriate, but during our budget meeting, if we could have something like this would be very helpful. You know, the meeting we had the other day with the budget committee. Yes. I mean, just because like that deal
032is just an overview basically of how the budget works, you know. You want the salary schedules. Yes. So I think I mean and maybe not for the public people. I guess it wouldn't be appropriate, right? I mean that's what we have on our committees. We have public, right? So maybe that's not a an appropriate place to do it. I don't know. I just I think there's in that budget committee meeting. I would like a little more information I guess about the actual and if you could tell me specifics of what you want. I'm not sure. And and it's usually at that point I don't have Yeah, I agree with that. Maybe that's something that you share with the members, board members that are on the budget committee later, you know, like when you get them
033that way, just in they'll come to me and ask a question about this. The first time I've looked at it, honestly, you know, I mean, I haven't seen it. So, you know, and I I think that, you know, when we know that like for this year, a 4% raise, okay, so we're going to know that all of the salary schedules, that's what they're going to show is a 4% raise. Um, but I think any additional, you know, like some tweaks that come every year because you guys get to talk, okay, we're looking at this, let's tweak this. So I think that information to the budget committee when they're saying okay yes you know we're going to have the 4% or whatever the state mandated so this year it was 4%. Then would it be helpful
034if in addition to the 4% we are looking at a 10% increase in risk and then um you know we're going to adjust this much and 85% Oh. So she did say like 85% of it is going towards salaries. Okay. Okay. So really just the salary scale you would I think it would be it'd be beneficial for me. I know it a little bit before talking about ahead of time, but it's okay. Right. Well, I would say maybe just grab one of the things because I look at like a fiveyear T, you know, maybe just instead of building the whole schedule because when I look at it, I'm kind of like, okay, let me grab a level two teacher with 10 years experience. Where is that? You know, I I think it can be challenging
035to get the whole salary schedule built, but our custodians, our bus drivers, our certified, you know, okay, so we're looking at this and this and this, but when the the amount is mandated, then it's pretty black and white of this is how much it's going to be. So um but yeah I think any communication so that Tanya's always great to whatever we ask her for is you know ne at the budget at the board meeting in two weeks we will approve the budget. Is there anything that board members want with that so that she would have time to prepare for that? I I I just have a concern that on our athletic increment schedule, we still have such a disparity there. Cheerleading is year-long and it's at 8,000 and volleyball is seasonal and it's at
03611,000. Softball is seasonal, it's 8,000. Um, most of the seasonals, I mean, basketball does more, but they bring in more revenue. It's that just seems so offkilter to me that head varsity volleyball is at 11,000 and cheer is at that goes all year long and is at 8,000. Those um sports that were pointed out is where we made the increase when we had a discussion. So let me ask you this. Would it be helpful to have this type of meeting before the committee budget meeting with the comm with the budget committee? Yes, sir. Yes, absolutely. So what I would like to propose for next year is that I'm going to build a budget calendar so that you would know when to expect what like not specific date because you know that changes fluctuates and of
037course your 30 and 60-day sessions but like February blah blah blah March that type of thing. So would that would be helpful. And one of the things I've thought about with the cheer is it's actually two different roles. There's cheer sponsor during the fall and there's then the competitive season starts in January which runs aligns with the spring. So, I think that's where, you know, almost there's an increment because I think if we go in and look, which I was looking up something else, but there's probably an increment for, I don't know, student council sponsor or junior high, you know. So, even though it's probably the same person, it's really two different things. I'm not saying they're not working on it, but isn't that Did I dream that up? I thought somebody talked about that
038before and maybe I dreamed it up that the cheer in the fall is you're a cheer sponsor but you're not in the competitive season you know um okay we'll take tennis or swimming some of the you can you can practice tennis all year long all year long but the season is in this part so you know personally I would like to see us go to um what we've seen in some other districts where every head coach has this base amount and then it's x number of days based on their level, you know, uh level two, level three, etc. because then that gets into your academic part as well, you know, but I hear what you're saying because cheer is 11 months out of the year, but I don't see on the um on the increment
039schedule. I don't see one for cheer sponsor and so that may be something to you I mean we Yeah, we don't have a cheer sponsor. It's cheer coach. So then is she coaching the entire year, you know, and so because they Yeah, because they cheer at football and they cheer at basketball and Yeah. They cheer all year long and then they go competitive. They start their competitive stuff in the summer really, you know. Okay. Anything else that you would like from Tanya before our board meeting in two weeks? I just want some clarification. Are you asking me to go back and reook at the athletic schedule or implements? Is that what Oh, I don't know. What does everybody else think? Am I the only one that thinks that's so offkilter? Well, I mean, I can
040get in the weeds on spring sports when baseball and softball earn this much and tennis, track and golf earn this much. I think I think everybody's trying to do something and I like seeing the increments. I just worry about how we're going to pay for all these things and that's that's the part that's concerning me. It's not that our people are not deserving. It's like how do we pay for all of these things? And so, um, I I really appreciate that there is an increase. I I think it's something to look at, but I don't know that. I mean, I would like there to be some thought into Oh, yeah. What would that look like, you know, and and so, as you said, you're working on doing something different for next year. I maybe not
041do it in the la I mean not not you but I mean as a as a as a leadership team we don't do this in the last month. It's like, okay, where are we where are we looking at it? You know, I mean, I think to your point with the cheer versus like volleyball, look at the athletic trainer is paid the same as head football coach and but that's a year round deal too, right? I mean, he's there multi-ports at one time and yeah, covering summer conditioning. Yeah. Yeah. It's hard to you know I have been um researching other districts what they've done and I know before my time um there was research done right and while we we we want athletics and activities for our kids. We want them to have something to do
042and it's getting harder and harder to find um coaches and those people to take those responsibilities on. But I will say that we are educators first before we are coaches. And I like the idea of having a base pay and then paying our people according to where they are on the teaching salary schedule because you are you're reinforcing you're a teacher first and then coach. You can't live on a coach and you can't live on $16,000 a year. And um and again, it is so extremely difficult um to fill those positions because it's getting harder and harder to be a coach and a ref. Oh, yeah. And um it's it's extremely difficult. And those people go in 100% and they give everything and they're passionate about what they do and they truly don't complain. They
043just go get it done. And so I do want to honor that as well. But there's a balance in the whole thing is um making sure that we can afford that and keep up with that. But this AC this athletic schedule um I've tried to honor what I have been asked to do to really try to look at those different positions and well and I see where we've added an assistant athletic trainer which I'm I'm all in favor of to not spread our trainer so thin because like you said he's well just like in the spring we have tennis, softball and baseball at home. He is truly running all around place. Yeah. No, I think that's a good And then you have out of town sometimes that they ask us to bring our people to.
044So, yes, I think that we all agree that it needs to be looked at. Um, my recommendation that it that we right now I like the way that I was going to show you that, but um I do appreciate that like you said on the meals even trying to get a little bit of an increment each time. Yes. and and continue to look at it. Um, so that we we want to be fair, but we need to be able to pay for it, you know. So, anything else on budget? No, ma'am. Thank you. Okay. Anything else before we All right. Thank you to the big crowd that showed up. And do I hear a motion to adjurnn? So, move. Okay.