e e e e e e e e e e
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[Music] good evening I would like to call to order this Anoka hennipin school board meeting for today March 24th 2025 please join the board in pledging our Allegiance i al 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 our first order of business today is to approve the board agenda is there a
motion to approve the board agenda as presented thank you do we have a second thank you with a second from director adet any discussion hearing none uh I had something oh yeah sorry Jericho
so I know this is last minute but I would like to make a motion to add to the agenda an item to consider or to vote for whether or not we can adopt a b Squad volleyball team for the district so I think first we have to vote on the mo because we have a motion
and a second um on the existing board agenda so I think we'd have to vote on that and then we could um offer an amendment at that time okay any other discussion while
we're in discussion from any board members on that action okay um no further discussion would all those in favor of approving the board agenda as motioned and seconded signify by saying I I would any oppose say
nay okay so six in favor and zero opposed the agenda is approved and I think um so now director Arco so now I make my motion to yes okay okay I would like to make a a
motion to add an item to the agenda for um the consideration or adoption of a b Squad volleyball team in the district okay so board there's a motion on the table to add an agenda item to the board agenda is there a
second thank you director adet any discussion director Arco so thank you for the quick opportunity to just kind of give my my thoughts on this um so there um I I actually had thrown it out to um Casey and Cory when we were
discussing adding items to the agenda I was totally prepared to let it just be you know considered at a future agenda or a future board meeting but it came to my attention that this is kind of the the deadline for it and if it doesn't happen not saying that it will happen of course um but if if a squad team were to
be added it would have to be added now and it can't really wait till another board meeting so I figured I would give it its moment in the light and just let us you know talk about it or discuss it so I normally would have waited but like I said there's a deadline looming so that's why I motion to put it on right
now just to let the board make their decision um and then my quick thoughts on it are this and this is kind of why I put it Forward um I think everybody agrees sports are important but of course we do have um you know budget consideration so there's trade-offs my understanding I could skew the numbers
here but I believe uh Cory had estimated tell me if I'm wrong please it was up to a $20,000 additional cost could be getting that number totally wrong um just my quick take is in the grand scheme of things I don't think $20,000 is a huge cost and considering that we do have like a whole list of students
who actively would join the team if it existed I think that's at least a cost I'd be willing to pay for because sports are very valuable in that it's buils teamwork it's extracurricular it's it's a engaging physical activity to do it there's just so many benefits that come from it but I don't have to sell you on
the benefits of sports and uh the just for consideration so I know we had kind of had some internal discussion and I'm I'm not sure I'm not 100% where every board member is I'm fairly certain I know where every board member is but um while 20,000 would be an expense if that
number is correct um I do have confidence in Cory and his team if they if we so directed them to find that money somewhere else um in the same way that when we restructured the VC's they were able to find that money somewhere so I I I don't think it would break the bank by any means or hurt anything I think a a non-human cost could be found
that's just my opinion and then just something for the other board members to consider um I did vote actually I believe the vote was a 4 to2 vote so I voted with um director Simon desan and langenfeld to temporarily at least for
now closed the the pool at Oakview Middle School um the savings that we got from that are far in excess of what adding the be Squad volleyball team would be so since I had voted with you guys I guess my friendly request is please vote with me on this and just add
the team to the district so those are my thoughts so members I think um members I think before us we have a motion and a second to add an agenda item the discussion at this point should be about anything related to adding that agenda
item if there is more to discuss and then we can vote on that and then once it comes up I think if everyone kind of gives me the nod I'll just put it at the end end of the meeting right like kind of tack it on at the end before we go into board correspondence and communication should should
the vote pass any further discussion about adding this agenda item okay uh members uh hearing no further discussion uh would all in favor of adding this agenda item say I I I any
opposed say Nay with six in favor and zero opposed that agenda item is now added to the end of the meeting thank you all right members the next item on our agenda is the consent agenda as normal
uh members can remove items for separate consideration and discussion if that's their desire is there a motion to accept the consent agenda as presented thank you director langenfeld is there a second second thank you director Simon any
discussion hearing none would all those in favor say I I any opposed say nay six in favor and zero opposed the consent agenda agenda is approved okay members our next agenda item is Communications delegations and petitions this is time for community
members to provide input directly to the school board about issues that fall within our Authority um do we have any yellow cards from the community today okay all right so I will move us right along to our next agenda
item Board calendar and District update so I will turn it over to superintendent McIntyre all right well thank you board members and tonight uh as usual I'll be presenting some items of interest for the board in our community regarding activities and events that we're proud of in our district and there's many
again tonight we do this to celebrate student staff and community members who are contributing to the accomplishment of our mission which is to effectively educate each of our students for Success the Minnesota State High School league winter state tournaments are concluding uded with snow storms and all
right uh with strong success of our student athletes in on numerous areas in our district so to start things off congratulations to our Andover High School boys hockey team for making their fifth state tournament appearance in school history to conclude this season
the enoka high school girls and boys basketball teams each capped off successful Seasons by qualifying for the state tournament as well the girls team made their fifth state tournament appearance in school history and the boys has made their ninth overall appearance but it's their first one since
1993 Kon Rapids High School once again served as the proud host of the Minnesota State High School league adapted floor hockey tournament held March 7th and 8th the in Noah hopin Mustangs qualified for this year's tournament in the pi division congratulations to the Mustangs on a
successful season and thank you to the Rapids High School staff and all those involved for hosting another outstanding state tournament hin was represented by seven individuals in three relay teams at this year's boys state swimming championships Anoka High
School's Dante framy placed 10th in the 100 yard freestyle and 11th in the 100 yard backstroke the enoka high school 200 yard medley relay team of Dante framy Wesley Anderson Levi garberg and ab Olsen placed 15th and over high
schools Charles noner placed 16th in the one meter diving the State Wrestling Championships for boys and girls were held February 27th through March 1st at the Excel Energy Center and an Noah hennipin was represented by represented by 13 student athletes at this year's uh State
wrestling meet so in the girls bracket Blain's High Blain High School's Mandy Lou placs fifth in the 155 U uh bracket and in the boys areas Anoka High School's Dean doll plays fifth at 107 PBS while Jack brenen Stein
of Rapids High School placed fifth over all at 133 lbs so congratulations to all of our student athletes and coaches on a successful winter season uh the spring Sports have already started so we're looking forward to celebrating more as um all five of our high schools
begin those uh spring Sports next Blain High School Advanced to the Minnesota State High School mathematics league tournament held March 10th at Spring Lake Park High School sophomore team member ton scoffield also
competed in the individual um part of the event as well scoring in the top 10 in the state math leagues and after school activity with topics ranging from Algebra 1 and two geometry pre-calculus probability statistics and
more the Fieldhouse at Champlin Park High School is going to be the place to be on April 12th Saturday April 12th as an Noah hanapin Indian education program hosts a Pao in partnership with neighboring school districts the event is free and open to the public I know
many board members have attended in the past uh doors open at 11:00 and Grand entries at 1:00 p.m. with a community uh Feast at 5:00 pm the event will feature native vendors informational breakout sessions such as hoop dance classes and drum teachings along with special dance
performances throughout the day Anoka hennipen has five Educators who are nominated in the field of 142 Educators running for the Minnesota teacher of the year award the candidates include Andrea uh pter kindergarten
teacher at Sunrise Elementary Katie Hower music teacher at Roosevelt Middle School Kate tverberg math teacher at Andover High School Rebecca Thomas World Language teacher at Blaine High School and Ted Erikson special ed teacher at
Blaine High School and of these candidates Ted Ericson has advanced onto the semi-finalist round so just a congratulations to all the nominees this in this year and the 61st minute teacher of the year will be announced on May 4th and finally tonight the district
will be hosting an in-person hiring event for operational and student support positions Thursday March 27th from 3:30 to 5:30 at Anoka High School the hiring event will take place in the atrium located near the main entrance of the
school so we encourage um people to come and learn about employment opport opportunities and have a same day on-site interview for various positions so so participants are encouraged to complete an application ahead of time and the location or our website for that
is ahschools.us SL jobs and come prepared to interview with hiring managers full-time part-time and substitute positions are available including flexible weekly schedules with hours ranging from early morning midday late afternoon or evening opportunities
so again visit ah schools. usjobs or call 76356 J OBS for more information so chair Des Shan with that that concludes my superintendence report this evening thank you thank you superintendent McIntyre board members do
you have any questions for the superintendent okay our next agenda item uh items are several resolutions brought forward by Employee Services the first agenda item is 7A the resolution relating to the non-renewal of teaching
contracts of probationary teachers as presented in appendix J we wel welcome Dr Jennifer Cherry Executive Director of Human Resources thank you chair Des Shan members of the board superintendent McIntyre this is the time of year where we are reconciling our annual Staffing
process each year we staff for um the needs within our schools based on our student population and our enrollment as that enrollment shifts um from grades to grade classroom to classroom students are registered for different types of classes we have a lot of shifts in um
the the classrooms that we are Staffing for and so the first resolution um that you have in your packet today in appendix J item 7A is a resolution relating to the non-renewal of teaching contracts of probationary teachers uh
that we have a list of uh 194 teachers on this list uh probationary teachers um are non-renewed for a variety of reasons it may be a reduction in student enrollment um um it may be the financial condition of the school district and um
there are other appropriate reasons where we may um need to non-renew one of these probationary teachers and uh with that the recommendation is to approve the resolution as presented board members are there any
questions for Dr Cherry on this resolution if not members before us is a resolution relating to the non-renewal of teaching contract of probationary teachers as presented in appendix J hearing no request for discussion uh would the clerk please call the role
Simon votes I hulman I AET I langenfeld hi Arco I desay I with six in favor and zero opposed the resolution in appendix J is adopted next
is 7B thank you um and with this resolution and it is appendix K in your packet it is a resolution relating to the non-renewal of teaching contracts of either tier one or tier 2 teachers uh
these are teachers that are on contracts um that are shortterm in nature uh as you know the Minnesota uh has a tiered lure system tiers 1 through four teacher or I'm sorry tier one and tier two are
shortterm uh licenses and and um what we consider uh a long-term or a fully licensed teacher is a tier three or a tier four teacher so with all tier one teachers it is an annual uh process and a tier two uh teacher may have two years
under that but um they do have uh very limited terms and um as such we have a list of 82 uh teachers in front of you that are either on a tier one or a tier 2 teacher contract at this time uh or
teaching under a tier one or a tier 2 license at this time those names are presented to you and um as well as a resolution to non-renew these teaching contracts members any questions for Dr
Cherry on this resolution okay if not members before us is a resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of teaching contracts on tier one or tier 2 teachers as presented in appendix hearing no requests for discussion would the clerk please call the role Simon
votes I Hulan I AET I langenfeld I Arco I Des Shane I with six in favor and zero opposed that resolution in appendix K is adopted next is item 7 C and the next item is appendix Allen
your packet a resolution relating to the non-renewal of principal contracts of probationary principles uh similar to the first uh present ation uh persons as probationary principles in a Noah hanapin uh may be non-renewed based on a
reduction in student enrollment or the financial conditions of the district or other appropriate reasons and as such we are recommending uh non-renewal of the three principal contracts listed on appendix
l so before you you see a resolution weend members any questions uh for Dr Cherry on this resolution okay um members before us is a resolution relating to the non-renewal of principles and assistant principles
as presented in appendix l hearing no request for discussion would the clerk please call the role Simon votes I Hulan I AET I langenfeld I Arco I tan I with six in favor and zero opposed that resolution in appendix L is adopted as
well thank you for being with us today Dr Cherry thank you our next agenda item members is finance item 8A the amended budget second read for approval tonight we welcome Michelle Vargas Chief Financial
Officer welcome thank you good evening CH Des Shane superintendent McIntyre members of the board as you just said I'm here for the second read and looking for approval of our midyear budget amendment for our fiscal year 2425
to start with this again I said this was our our midyear adjustment um depending on grants and other items that come through there may be a final one to do a final one just before the end of the fiscal year for a final cleanup um those are generally our one-time items um the
mid years generally your pupil units and any ongoing changes that you are looking at current year Trends or based on prior year um now that we've closed the books we hadn't closed the books when we adopt the budget so you're making those changes just as you're seeing that um we
are not making any changes to the Food Service The Debt Service and trust funds so this is going to be for your general fund Community Ed and our capital projects fund overall the budget adjustment that we are making and proposed is a $20
million increase in revenue and $15.4 million increase in expenditures almost all of this is in the general fund we are making slight changes to community ad and capital projects so overall 2.8% increase in
revenue and 2.1 increase in expenditures for the general fund um a large change is due to our projected pupil unit so after our October 1 enrollment came in and then our final um adjusted pupil units for last year so we
look at how we started and what we trended to at the end use the similar kind of trajectory for the current year and that adjustment um brought us down by 449 pupil units for our projected year end adjust justed pupil units our Revenue increase is 20.2
million again most of the adjustment is in the general fund or 3.1% and expenditures are 15.7% or 15.7 million 2.4% our projected ending general fund balance is 146 million with 57.5 million of that being
in the unassigned which is then at 10.8% and we'll see on future slides the change from what we adopted where we were projected at and now where we are projecting to be now for the revenue side that 20.1 million has to do with a state aid
increase of 9 million 3.5 million is actual reduction in the general form General Aid area due to the reduction in pupil units 3 million is on the Basin formula and then we have a bunch of other categorical um that are also based
on pupil units which listed we have operating Capital staff development Learning and Development Talent development the library Aid long-term facilities Aid and achievement integration all have pupil unit components in their calculation special education
reimbursement is increasing by 8.7 million so once they close out all of cedra at the end of November and the final expenditures in order to put out what the expected um increases are or Revenue um they don't come out until
late February in order to see where that so we are adjusting um for that for for that 8.7 million um in Revenue based on prior year expenditure increases and increase um for the you have a one-year leg on your cross subsidy because you don't get the revenue for the next
year we have an increase in endowment Revenue that's the land trust revenue and it was just the in payment not increased payment based on investment um earnings in that management of that Land Trust 810,000 increase in compensatory
Revenue our 710,000 increase in that between term unemployment Revenue so we're scheduled to be in reimburse for our actual expanders until that onetime funding runs out and that was the increase to get to the 2.1 million that we've had out there for the year 6
134,000 increase in our English learner revenue and that's based on the number of students we're um serving so then again waiting for last year's numbers to come in and rolling those forward and then a slight increase for our student support Personnel revenue of
221,000 continuing on within the revenue um we also have 600,000 increase for integration um transportation reimbursement so that's um based on prior year expenditures where we were at last year we assume we're going to be similar this year so that increas is
there non-public Transportation reimbursement was $125,000 increase and then we have a reduction in the litery aid Revenue So based on last year we made that reduction the property tax increase is a shift so when you adopt next year's tax levy
which we did in December there are two levies in there that revert back and that's the unemployment because you're making estimates on it for the current year and your career in Tech Career in Tech is based on what you expect your current year expenses are so it's part
of an accounting so at the point in time when we're adopting the budget we don't know what the next year's estimates are and then it's a shift that you're required to recognize actually in the current year even though the levy comes the next year so just trying to explain what that means and it isn't because our taxes changed it's just that's how you
have to recognize it once you adopt it the last one's the big one and we talked about this last time the change in the cross subsidy of English Learners that amount we will get a cross subsidy starting in fiscal year 27 we get 25% of
the Cross subsidy in fiscal year 25 we need to start reporting that cross subsidy so we have to make sure all of the expenses that we had which we've been coding in basic skills comped um the El portion and then the rest in
compensatory um we're short that 10 almost 4 million between the 4 million in Revenue we spend over 15 million or 14 a. half million so what we'll end up doing is we have to make this entry an expenditure side of a transfer in on the
revenue and a transfer out on the expenditure they're equal to each other it's not um it's not like a real expend it's an accounting entry in order to recognize it for the state for them to see um the the difference so although on
our expenses it will look like our expenses went up it'll also look like our Revenue goes up but it's an offsetting entry so there's no effect on your fund balance on the expenditure side we have a 15.7 million increase 3 million is for
the increase in special ed contracted services so again we're looking at our existence our existing Staffing um the contracted that we've had out the increase in special ed students that we've seen this year so that was that um where we're at 710,000 is the increase
on the between term unemployment expenses what we've seen for the um the July August term um of those and that is reimbursed 1.2 million increase was the pair Educators contract settlement that you settled after we adopted the budget
and then the 346,000 for the office professionals contract settlement will be for this year again we see the transfer out of the 3 point or 10.4 million for that accounting entry for the English Learners that's the the transfer outside the expenditure
side this slide just shows the kind of the side by side of all the changes that we're making in the general fund and looking at which items have a revenue and an expense side to it most of them are on the revenue side with all of the adjustments I just have
to do for pupil units we didn't make adjustments necessarily for the this you know we've already allocated budgets and we're we're based on what our original estimates are once pupil units come in the revenue adjusts um you can see that the special ed item we see a $8.7
million increase in a $3 million increase on the expenditure side um and then the very one at the bottom that 10.4 million shows the in and the out um overall we're looking at then uh operating deficit of
16.4 million on the next slide when we show it with all of our revenues and expenditures um by the different categories again we also have our strategic Investments that are in those expenditures which are one-time expenses so that reduces our adjusted deficit
from that 16 million down to 7 million so that's kind and we keep track of that um we always look at our unassigned our unassigned is our that's kind of our savings account that threshold of the 10% that you set we had projected it to
be at 9.8 these adjustments now have it at 10.8 or 10.8% with the 57.5 million again the projected um the proposed increase is that 20 million of 3.1% um and then the 2.4% on the
expenditures with the the majority of it being that English language Learners adjustment the next slide is all of our fund balances all the required reserves which are the bottom restricted the assigned where we carry the different
assigned balances for the board and approv strategic Investments um we used to have q comp up in the assigned the state just made it restricted this year so we switched it down to restricted we've always tracked CU comp but because of it I even though the State didn't
recognize it we were we were only allowed to spend it on that so if we had a reserve we needed to this year they happen to start with a A deficit um and that will be made up over time but as you can see in that very top right hand corner when we talk about what our
operating deficit or Surplus because there are some other ins and outs um in the different reserves it's basically $6 million so we are operating at a deficit this year of $6 million if everything happens exactly the way way that we say
it estimate it to um other than that you can see um in the assign that's that 9.4 million that we're spending within strategic Investments that um has textbooks in there and has many many um building things the Dayton and um
Franklin finishing up this past summer we're all in there for those items so overall spend down to 16.4 million the majority of that being in strategic Investments um but a lower hit on our assigned that also leaves us at a higher
we're still projected to be at our 10% if there aren't any questions on the general fund I'll move on to the community ad fund the community ad fund we have some um Minor Adjustments overall we're looking at a revenue increase of 118,000
or 4% on this page these are all increases School Readiness is going up 138,000 due to program implementing some income verification which resulted in fewer discounted enrollments there's 100,000 increase in
adult basic basic ad which is local grants and um having higher contact hour driven so that seat driven program of our adult Learners um actually in a seat getting instruction the 125,000 increase in central service is due to additional
interest earnings so after our last year they've ued they get a portion um when we allocated all of our cash is sitting together earning it but based on cash balances throughout the year it's allocated out to the funds that have cash balances so they're upping their um investment earnings in the community ed
fund 40,000 increase in nonpublic in homeschool which is due to their increased student count that are being served in that these ones are all decreases on this page 120,000 decrease in facilities Revenue that had to do with our phase two budget um realignment so there was a
hold back of for Community Ed that managed all of our facilities rentals and that they're not that's going to stay in the general fund um Community Ed will no longer keep that for management 104,000 decrease in Adventures Plus childcare Revenue due to
lower than budgeted enrollment 30,000 decrease in facility monitor Revenue um just originally over projected for the amount that they thought they would collect and monitor Revenue with facility rentals 10,000 decrease in Aquatics Less in Revenue due to reduced pool
availability and then 13 ,000 decrease in just other program Revenue adjustments on the expenditure side for Community ad a very minor adjustment of $29,000 or .1% 210,000 increase in
School Readiness and ECF fee um due to additional positions and wage adjustments and some onetime Capital 15 thou 50,000 increase in parent involvement expenditures this again was due to P phase two budget alignment and how we are doing managing the um parent
involvement expenditures there was a general fund and a community ed shared position and Community Ed took the position on fully in um their fund 40,000 increase in enrollment driven homeschool that's kind of the the revenue the expenditure side to the
revenue for the increase in hes School expenditures 268,000 decrease in Adventures Plus that was mirroring the revenue for the um lower enrollment so you have lower expenditures for payroll non-payroll items and a $3,000 decrease
in other programs and adjustments so again just like the general fund Community I have more of a increase and decrease as most of their programs are Revenue based and um enrollment based and fee based so it's a
a different object than the general fund and overall as you can see it is a very minor adjustment um of less than 1% on either side and a net operating balance of $235,000 and a fund balance of 9.5
million again on the next Slide the tables where we look at our actual fund balance and the revenues and expenditures by categories 4% increase in the revenue in .1% in the expenditures as you can see over the
three years they're Braiden line that 9.8 million 9.5 million sitting at around 31% which is pretty common for a primarily fee based fund then the last one that we're this is the wrap up of the 2017 fit for the future
capital projects fun we are wrapping up all of um the final projects and getting back some of the escrow accounts with the cities that we have in order to close that out um in order to do that when we adopted it we were basing on where we thought it was going to finish
last year so the the timing of bills and that change it um so we we still have some money that we have invested so we need to increase our Revenue um by 990,000 due to the in additional investment revenue and then we are increasing our expend our decreasing our
expenditures by 277,000 due to the available funds after the final close out projected fund balance will be zero we expect to have this done and we will no longer have a capital projects fund until we have another Capital project
season at that time so as you can see we are looking at 110,000 for the budget the increase of 990,000 and then reducing our expenditures from 4.1 million to 3.89 million um and expected to be done with all of that and complete
close out at the end of this fiscal year so what I have before you is a proposal to amend the fiscal year 2425 budget to 7 37.6 million revenue and 758 million
expenditure budget 2.8% increase on our revenues and 2.1 increase on expenditures and I will open it up to any comments and questions thank you very much uh members any questions for Miss Vargas okay if not members before us is
our fiscal year 25 um oh director I I didn't have any questions but I did just have a comment sure um so when we originally passed this budget um I didn't vote for it um due to the objections that I had to any number
of things that I highlighted we talked about a lot um but I'm still at the same place with it so I wanted to thank M Vargas because as she always does she put she puts forth a a clearly as clear of an understandable uh budget as you can get
it gets more understandable the longer you sit in one of these chairs but um my my read on it is we we're probably ending with these adjustments about as well as I would think we can um maybe with the exception being the decline in
enrollment um which I do think is probably worth us taking a look at again but um but all of that said so I I don't find any issue with the budget it itself as it's prepared but I'm not going to vote for um the amended Budget on the
same principle that I didn't vote for the original budget and I would just add that many of the things that um I rais as objections you know going back now a year ago uh they have now been
um they've been somewhat litigated in the Public Square through the most recent national election and they were defeated pretty soundly as a result the president has now put
out a number of executive orders that he has said if if Public Schools don't comply with they risk Federal funding so at a recent work session we heard about it and for us it could be as much as $29 million dollar in federal funding that
we put at risk to the extent that we continue to um have programming in here that now um could be in violation of those executive orders so my point really is is we have a chance as we come forward into the next budget cycle
to do what I think is responsible for a number of reasons but has now added um I think emphasis with the fact that up to 30 million uh dollars could be at risk for us to the extent we continue it so it's my hope that when we look to the
next cycle we could take a look at any of these things that we're doing voluntarily that are not required of course we've talked about some issues with state laws mandating certain things so we could probably put some of that out of scope but the things that we do voluntarily and um and and we
know they're here uh we could take a look at in order to protect the community protect our schools and the $30 million that could be at risk which would of course layer on to millions that were already in deficit so I guess
that's a just a thought going forward and how vote tonight thanks members any other discussion uh director hulman thank you um for many of the same reasons I am also um voting no on this
amended budget um just to make it clear that I don't support um the kind of programming that doesn't focus on improving academic performance such as literacy math skills and stem um it's time to put proven evidence-based learning ahead of costly untested unconventional ideologies that risk
federal dollars that we can't afford to lose thank you director Arco thank you chair to Shane um so yeah I think director adet said it pretty much spoton I agree with the sentiment that he's expressing um I think we
should halt the voluntary things that we're doing and like you said kind of put out a scul the stuff that is required by state for another time um that being said I do plan on voting for this amended budget I passed the budget last year and I think it's appropriate to stay the course
so thank you um director Simon uh thanks Casey so you know we we talked about this in depth at the work session unfortunately you know that's not televised for the public to to see and I know that out on social media I think
there were some very misleading um descriptions of that discussion so let me just say it an open meeting right here um I am for looking at all of those things too uh there weren't just three board members there are at least four and maybe more that were okay to do that
um I would say that I continue to hear that there's all kinds of things within our budget that that would uh go against President Trump's executive orders or what have you I don't believe that's the case so I've mentioned to specific board members and I'm mentioning it to all
board members right now come to me and tell me what those specifics are and I will work with you so that's all I'll say about that thanks any other discussion director langenfeld thank you I think as we look
to the budget coming up is very important that we look at the things that are our priorities um it's going to and it's taking ideology out of it and just looking at the things that really focus on what director um hulman was
saying around our priorities I don't know what those are um specifically I've I've thought about them I've looked for them I actually spent several hours since our last meeting really looking at policy to see if they are in there um
I've had some conversations as well so um I think that as we look to cost savings and things that are very important and we're looking at millions of dollars in budget cuts and hundreds of teachers um of classrooms um being
reduced I think we have to really look very carefully um at what the budgets are are telling us and and where those areas are that we can create greater efficiencies I I like to look at it that way I I did not see a great deal in
policy and so I think it's really important that we have clarification and putting dollar signs out there that we could lose I'm not sure I'm assuming that's the speci Ed funding that you were referencing in the 30 million because you can come up with a lot of
figures and I I just would caution us to really um have the conversations first before we put out dollars I I just really think that's important to our public to be as transparent as possible with with the budgets that we currently
have and the budget that we are going to need to have going forward to address the budget shortfall which is quite significant and and gaining more attraction of the possibility of even more so lots of moving Parts I I think we have to be really Mindful and as our
legislators I've attended in the last two weeks three weeks uh time with legislators who are now putting out their budget and the governor came out with his budget that will potentially be impacting us even greater so again for
for me it's looking for any efficiencies that we can gain and focus on priorities ities around literacy and math and uh the the priorities around uh behavior and so forth that we have established um I think it's vitally
important we take that step um together looking forward to how we will'll have that process and do that yeah I think you know oh coo go ahead I didn't know if yours was related to if you wanted to carry on before I moved us
okay you know I think members as we've talked about this over the past year uh specifics matter right we've asked for specifics director AET you gave a list of specifics and we've spent months days hours in meetings extra meetings talking
about all of those and found some areas of compromise and some areas of further investigation that has been ongoing and continuing work on the administrative team here at the district um I think we've all committed and been aligned to finding ways to focus on the academic
needs of students in our district the achievement of students and what what students need to be successful in our district that includes things that we still need to talk about right that have not uh come back up to a a discussion for compromise even though alternative
ideas have been presented including 20 some plus year old physics curriculum books that we're we're waiting on social studies curriculum you know we've got some of that in the pipeline but we've got a lot of a lot of important work ahead of us to talk about and the really really hard work of these budget uh
concerns that are coming to us from all kinds of different places including our own decisions right that we've made here at this board table to um increase contracts pay for for our important staff and if if we continue to be distracted by nonspecifics and kind of
cultural War topics without going into what we're talking about we're not doing our students a service so like director Simon please if there are specific examples let's talk about what those are so that we can actually make some Headway on this topic instead of recycling it over and over
again director or coach arle so at the work session I did provide at least what I thought was one specific um related to the underlying philosophy of how we deal with student behavior um I think is driven by if I'm recalling this
correctly I think I said it was restorative justice practices and Equity based ideas um so to answer uh the question that two the two of you poed to just give another example I think is pertinent um some of the things that you're asking for will be like very
specific like you can point to it put your finger on it like the equity achievement plan most of what I'm actually concerned with are what I would describe to be derivative derivatives of let's say Dei so there's not going to be some program or poster that I can point to and say that right there but it's
underlying philosophies and systems that are put in place that operate on Dei principles but are not in the truest sense specifically Dei themselves so to give an example we discussed this one a while back standards based grading um
just to give the really quick explanation my understanding is rather than the traditional like a b c DF grading scheme it's it's a numbered scheme like 4321 um we did have a present a on it so we the board got to learn the basics of it um I've also had talked to various
teachers about it as it currently stands um it's causing a lot of confusion and frustration both for um teachers and parents in the district because when parents have you know a student that has one class that uses standards based grading and one that uses traditional
grading it's just confusing um I know at same thing for teachers it's it's a lot to use sometimes multiple grading schemes or to have to learn one and then it's not even implemented fully and also at the same time I know that grading systems and Grading schemes are very
near and dear to teachers and it's it's something that they take great pride in I think we should give that ability back to them um and the reason I bring up standards-based grading is because W is not Dei it is driven by the philosophy of equity in that and here's the
specific my understanding is that even if you get a one you still pass the class that's as low as you can get now I think it is perhaps possible to get a zero but the only way you can do that if I'm recalling this correctly is essentially just not show up to class so you just have to not show up so you can
know virtually none of the material but provided you're just in the chair you're going to pass the class with a one but you're still passing the class the idea of passing someone despite them not being able to demonstrate you know the ability to do the or demonstrate knowledge and what was taught that is
equity so standard B grading is a derivative of equity and that's a specific thing that I think we should get rid of is standards based grading make it uniform put it back to the teachers make it clear and easy to understand and the reason I think this is such an easy one to compromise on is
because well not every board member might be in support of getting rid of Standards based grading or stated another way they might like it yeah without actually asking you guys directly I would suspect that no one is necessarily opposed to traditional
grading it's not it's not like you view the board the board members who are not in support of getting rid of Standards based grading it's not as though my understanding at least is that you're like categor categorically against traditional grading in the same sense that like I am categorically against
using standards based grading so I I I I think it is bad I think it's degrading the classroom I think it's not useful I think it's h masking a problem I definitely want to get rid of it I I don't again correct me if I'm wrong I just don't feel like that sentiment exists for traditional grading so so in
the absence of a strong opposition to traditional grading it would make sense for the board to transition back to that in my opinion but either way that is a very specific thing I'm not going to blaber the point and mention more I could keep going but that's to just provide one specific and to kind of
answer the question that you guys posed all right members um any further discussion director Simon um so I know we're not going to get into or shouldn't get into specific issues here but I'm just going to make comments about standard your standard
based grading comment because um my understanding of standard-based grading is completely different than yours and the caution of coming to a public meeting and saying an opinion as opposed to fact I think and and I won't go into that because my my reading too is that
now the public has an idea in their head of what standards based grading is which we've had presentations on that and it didn't match up to what you just said at all so I I think there's a there's a caution in that but I will say my understanding of standard Poli grading is we've stopped it so in secondary we
are no longer continuing forward with standards based grading um we are allowing teachers that um have implemented it to High Fidelity and like it to continue doing it and other teachers who are doing what you call traditional that's my understanding of
what we're doing um so even though I think standards based grading when done really well I don't think that we've done it well in um in secondary at least in NOA anapen so I'm fine not doing that so I I just wanted to say that so the
public heard maybe a different view but my understanding is we are uh we are not going forward with further implementation in secondary maybe the superintendent can um correct me if I'm mistaken your agreement of the board last year was a pause on any new
implementation CTS and teachers that are effectively implemented can continue straight in notes from number two um of the 10 items you the board spent hours discussing uh last spring before this last budget so happy to dust that off
and freend that uh I I like you need Clarity um and I need to you know I've been honoring the agreements of this board to have a process follow provided the time we need follow the law and get to a majority of the board for Direction so that's what I'm asking of you and that's I think what you've all committed
to uh throughout the last year up to this point and I guess IID just add to if I can Dr langenfeld and I were with six legislators today alone um you know we the governor's budget has
up to between 15 and2 million of of additional cuts that we're going to have to sort out in addition to the 14 million or so that we have already identified with help of Miss fargus so we need Clarity because we're going to have some tough decisions now we'll see
where we'll land at the end of the session um and we've been there at the legislature talking about the impact of of those kinds of things and that may not be where we land at the hopefully May or June hopefully not the end of the summer um those are the things that are
you know really being reviewed very carefully but uh at best it's going to be worse than than what we initially projected so I need your help with Clarity right we can't be in May and June or you know and
and not having agreement because we we have to land our budget on time and we have to notify our staff because those cuts are going to really be in the form of of people uh primarily with our 80% of our budget being staff so that's my ask of of the board yeah so I'm asking
you to help me with that all right thank you all so members before us is our fiscal year 25 amended budget for approval as presented in appendix m is there a motion to approve the fiscal 25 amended budget as presented so moved thank you director
langenfeld is there a second second thank you director Simon any further discussion would all those in favor say I I I I any opposed say Nay Nay with four in favor and two opposed the
amended budget is passed thank you thank you all right board members the next agenda item is what we have added at the beginning of of our agenda setting time this uh this evening talking about the addition of a boys volleyball B Squad uh
coacher Arco since you added it to the agenda item would you like to begin with any commentary before we move into discussion with the rest of the board y uh thank you for that so uh my apologies for making the motion mid motion that that was an error on my part um kind of
what I'd stated I based on some Communications I've had with uh the staff in the district who are involved in volleyball sounds like there's already a roster of students who would play on the team if it were available it also if it's going to happen it has to
happen now otherwise it'll have to wait till next year so there's really no more time to delay if a decision were desired and then again correct me if I'm wrong here I believe Cory had thrown out uh a high number of perhaps 20K for cost additional costs um it's just my opinion
that I'm confident that that low cost could be offset by again non costs um in the same way that we did that with the VSC restructuring so I'm in favor of it and like I said I think um I voted with you guys on the the pool closure and the
the cost that we're saving on that I believe is far in excess of what it would cost to add the B Squad volleyball team so I just strongly encourage board members to vote Yes on this uh director langenfeld thank you and this is a really important topic and the timing is
is concerning to me because I have a lot of questions when we received uh a brilliantly written thoughtful um request um it came from one school and my concerns were what are the other schools thinking do they have the same
capacity do they have the same resources are there numbers available you know do we have the numbers is there gym time can we get coaches and all of those things because I think that those are things as a former administrator that just rushed through my mind because I
really thought that it it's an important conversation to have and so the response that I thought I received from from um superintendent um was $100,000 so I would assume that means
five schools at 20,000 and my wonderment and it and it says that people we can charge them for the season but we're already in the season you know so I'm not and then there's a question of whether or not they have capacity gym space if I'm
understanding this right that some things got cancelled but maybe they could that's my real concern um because I know we approved this I think in August if I'm not mistaken and so I'm just looking at that and I have to look
to the superintendent and ask those kinds of questions because I don't know where the other high schools are with this I can tell you one school has really done an amazing job and and it's you know as as I when I received that I
sent a response right away to Casey and said I'd love to do this I'd love to do this but I don't even know what you know it sounded like they had it all figured out at almost zero cost and so then the question became where are the other folks at and what are the ads and
principal say so I'll just step at that but I know it was very thoughtfully put together in response to Great enrollment at that particular school but I don't know what the numbers are at the other schools either so that's my wonderment and the other piece that kept coming
through and correct me if I'm wrong is their Club weren't they playing like Club volleyball so there would be an opportunity I know it was referenced there's a league out there that some students could play in but could they play in a club situation so I'll stop I
just need way more information unfort did you want to respond to that or should we go to other Members First superintendent M okay okay director adet go ahead uh a couple things one uhu I think just with respect to the club um
based on the discussion I had with with the the folks in the booster club at Andover the clubs are more or less disintegrating as most schools in the in the state have have moved to a Varsity Sports so then that that club thing is
is it's very much Limited in the scope that's part of the problem is that they're finding that the kids that uh didn't make the varsity don't have they really don't have the good opportunity to participate anymore and it and so I think that's part of what's really driving in the other I think is just as
you move forward of the Varsity Sport being able to have those kids stay in the program is is part of what is going to lead to um as many kids participating as possible and and you know being competitive so um I think you've asked good
questions Dr langfeld but I I guess I would just say for me this especially based on what we got sent in through the booster groups and the number of kids participating which is really great um this one feels to me very much like a
good thing for kids um and it's really it's really no more um complex than that for me as far as that goes so I feel pretty strongly we should uh find a way to make this happen so I'm in support of
IT director Simon thanks Casey um I I might be kind of where Michelle is I don't think you know I didn't know this was coming forward I'm not sure if others did so I'm not prepped for it at all and I think I've mentioned to folks before that um I I I do a lot of prep in
the background to try to figure out these things so I don't know if I'd be able to vote tonight um I did when Zach first made it at the beginning of the meeting I went back cuz I remembered an email that that we all had an exchange email about if we were going to do this and it was back on 3:13 so two weeks ago
and it did talk $100,000 of added cost so again I think you're right I think it's probably 20,000 per high school would be my guess um and the admin recommendation at that time was similar to back in August when we approved it is
that starting with JV and varsity is kind of a a process that we followed before for other sports that we've added um such as lacrosse we started with that in the first year and then expanded um in future years which seemed to be a
reasonable um thing and was reasonable when we voted on it in August I think that you know if I guess if I have to vote tonight um the thing that would make me say stay the course of what we did is that the ads gave um so beyond
administrative recommendation our ads gave the following information about how it would be challenging for them to add a b Squad and that was 11 days ago and they said and they said timing is the big thing like right now back on 313 when the season started so this I think
would even be more of a challenge um they talked about high schools have already taken the steps of cancelling lower level games signed contracts for tournaments with JV and varsity games only issued uniforms and volleyballs it would be back on 313 it was a tight
turnaround to get those supplies as needed and then the biggest thing those were all obstacles but not roadblocks back two weeks ago maybe they're roadblocks now but the biggest thing they talked about was um again 11 days ago being able the time and for the
staffing to post and repost and get coaching positions it sounded at least in that email to me that it was almost next to possible 11 days ago so I I would think it might be impossible now so I think that without added information or added time to be able to
look into this I am all for more participation for students and opportunity for students I think that's why we added volleyball in the first place and I'm for an expansion but especially with the ads the people on the site telling us that these are
either big challenges or maybe even uh impossibilities I I'm not ready to vote yes tonight any other comments members uh director hulman it's definitely a challenging situation with the timeline
uh and implementing new programs takes time and insight and there's many challenges I also think that giving students opportunities um is really what we're here to do to make certain that that we get um successful kids um
educated for their future and I think that participation participation in sports is part of that so as I'm looking at it I wonder um is it I'm going to vote to support such a measure uh because I would hope that the
ads um if they're able to make it work they can make it work and if they find that they don't can't find staffing maybe um that building just it doesn't move forward Ward um so I I just really trust in the ability of our staff to um think creatively and hopefully find some
opportunities for kids coach hero yeah so to address I I believe at least one of the points you brought up director Simon um so regarding like time slots or certain costs for like referees um the idea was put forward that the
refere and again I'm just repeating what I what I had read so uh the referees they're contracted for believe it's a certain time slot or a certain amount of games and like the varsity game for example might only last so long so they could theoretically do a second game but there's nothing slotted for that so the
B Squad could take up that kind of secondary time slot so that would mitigate against some of the costs um just a thought and then yeah I think Linda stated it correctly um maybe it doesn't work maybe there's not enough time but even if it works in one of five
schools okay i' I'd more than happy to give them the go ahead and give them the resources to get it off the ground and if some schools can't do it or don't want to that's not that's totally fine as well so I would just I would just feel um bad to not give them the
opportunity if they had the list of students ready to go and the staff who were like willing to implement this and put it in place if they want to do it and they can do it I say go for it and let it be their concern director langenfeld
I I I'm I I'm struggling with not all the information I keep going back to the fact that we don't know which schools can do what where in terms of access and so my question is are you proposing who would I don't know who the team would play unless you're proposing intermural
kind of support I mean college kids are an intermurals that kind of thing so then what would prevent that from them playing in that kind of inter in in a in a school I'm just because I think it's
important for the kids to play if they have the gym space why couldn't they do that but that's not a b Squad that's not an official school team so I I'm not sure um I know that one team one school has thought it through very carefully I
don't know how the other ones feel I don't know how many extra kids came out you know I know I think we read over 40 um some kids in at at and over can't necessarily make the team or be there available I think that's what I read um
so I understand that that concern there um and the support for those kids the th those kids the kids at Andover I'm just curious if we have any numbers for other schools even and any feedback from you
know to to the ads again I'm just not sure where they're at and I feel it would be unfair if we could offer it at your school you get to have it and my student at another school
maybe not be able to unless they would take on other kids I'm not sure what the plan would be so I'm struggling with that superintendent McIntyre so board members um this conversation started February 10th and by uh March 13th I
shared the information with the co-chairs asking for Direction by March 17th because that's when the season started um I didn't know this was coming forward tonight so I can't answer those questions a heads up on that would have been nice um so what you have is what I've given you 10 days ago because I
have not been able to ask those questions it wasn't posed to me until we sat down this evening director Simon is correct it's really not as much about the finances as it's about the logistics all the other spring Sports have started right this is about finding coaches it's about all the
the um rescheduling of games where we can uh tournaments as well uniforms volleyballs um you read in that email the high schools were doing the work they just need time you'd made this this decision months ago so a weekend of The Season's a challenge when they have all
the other spring Sports going now if you say do what you can I'm sure they will right uh it's it's not the process they would have asked for I think um the kids that don't make JV R Varsity can play JV gold those options are there but it I'm sure it is fluid I mean this is new for
every District this year right that's why we we kind of modeled it after the lacrosse roll out starting with JV and varsity intentionally adding in the next level where we could plan ahead for it um we all share we want as many kids to participate as possible that's not a
question it was a matter of capacity and also being sensitive to the budget situation we're in as well knowing that many more deeper cuts are coming and adding Sports while we're making Staffing Cuts is a is a challenging uh dilemma that we're in but if the board decides to move forward I I think
the best I can offer you right now is uh maybe those schools that could Qui move quickly and do this they have limited capacity you know our ads are already overwhelmed with all the other activities they're managing but they will do the best they can if they have the flexibility to um see if they can
put it together and maybe get a partial season in place and that's probably the best I I can suggest because it'll take a little bit of time just to get it organized find those coaches make those adjustments get the all the materials and you know equipment that they need
and and rework the the schedules and that doesn't happen overnight but you know ultimately what I heard from the board through the informal um asking of the board members I didn't hear a majority so we didn't move it any forward further forward um in the last
communication I think it got was around the the 20th so um that's sort of why I think how we're in this awkward spot um this evening knowing that the recommendation on your prior board approval was to start with varsity and JV and then bring on B Squad the following year so whatever the board
decides we will do it wholeheartedly and do the best we can with what we have knowing that it's it'll be a um a bit of a a challenge logistically director Simon as I as I hear and think more
about this I you know I think back to um that we're we're potentially creating chaos and I think we've done I think this board has done that before we've made a decision and then gone back on a decision and it's created chaos for our system so I see I see potentially ads I
see Andover having probably no trouble they've done the probably the background work they have a very strong booster club they could probably roll right into it whereas we're putting potentially some other ads in our other four high schools in just a really difficult position and that's our leadership doing
that to them if if we go forward with this so without further information I don't I can't vote Yes I am fine um I am fine if this pass does not pass tonight and we can get more inform information
from ads um I would be fine looking back at it again but I think tonight there's just not enough information and there's too big of a risk of just again another example of pushing our system into chaos d director uh
hulman thank you uh I think that this kind of exposes an issue that we have a bigger issue in why we're produ creating some chaos perhaps and that's um like polling behind the scenes and getting an idea that maybe there won't be support
for an agenda item being brought forward so then that agenda item isn't put on the agenda so we never have the conversation necessary for us to determine what the right choice is um and that I think is probably a bigger problem here
is bring items forward that the board is interested in discussing so that we can actually discuss it not eliminate them from being on the agenda because we think the votes won't support it so just just as we look forward in being a
productive group making wise decisions that um will enhance education for our kids um we need to be more deliberate in making certain that we have discussions as a board director
Arco solid gold Linda that so funny enough I had the same thought um not too long ago and so just to to give my take as a new board member never been on a board um I'm one year in it has seemed strange to me because if you think of the open meeting law the
intent is for board decisions to be made publicly for the public to witness right and work sessions aren't filmed on board meetings are that's okay I'm not saying work session should be filmed but um I had somebody tell me and they're exactly correct on this that if you want to see the real action go to the work
sessions CU that's where like the actual conversations take place and they're correct and I think just what I've come to conclude on this is it's kind of a shame because um as much as the board decisions matter um the reasoning behind
the board decisions is arguably as important or more important like I I think the public wants and needs to know why we're doing what we're doing not just that we're doing it and speaking as a millennial um we live in the day and age where everything is digital now if you give somebody the option of saying
hey you want to let's say you care about one of the agenda items out of five on a work session agenda you can set aside your Monday night drive somewhere spend an hour or more two hours three hours to hear that one conversation it's a great inconvenience to you um and then nothing
might even come of that decision you're just hearing the why of it it maybe that made sense years ago but in in the day and age we live in where everything is so easy to access online now I think it's so much more important to have these conversations in the open because you're going to get
like a 100x more engagement if the conversations like these take place in public and like someone instead of setting aside their Monday night they can do it when it's convenient for them and just skip to the one conversation they wanted to see anyways and not have to listen everything else so that's just
my take I I I really think having these conversations in public is good and also and the goal is what I'm about to say I'm not trying to step on anybody's toes but I'm just being honest um yeah I think it's it's not a violation of the open meeting law I don't think it is but I think it's a violation of the spirit and the intent
of the open meeting law to do kind of what Linda described which is to filter these things out in advance rather than just having the discourse having the discussion like let's just have the discussion now it's on the record and people can watch it whenever they want they can hear our take on it and that's that the board's going to do what the board's going to do so I think it makes
so much more sense to just give the public the option to just hear the what hear the actual genuine discussion that the board members are having rather than us kind of having one-on-one or two-on-one discussions behind the scenes um so there's that I love your thought on that Linda um so back to the
volleyball thing just one last Quick thought I agree there's the possibility of chaos and it it is clear that there's one school that's much more prepared for this than others so there's kind of two ways you can there's two lenses you can choose to see this number one we're creating chaos and number and and it's going to be hard logistically that that
second part is going to be true no matter what or alternatively you can view it as to those that are ready and to those that are who want it the board says go ahead we're going to give you the opportunity and if it just doesn't work out for some schools okay we don't I'm not saying you have to do it I'm not
saying we're going to stress you like I'm not forcing any school to do it but I guess what I'm hoping to get from this vote is to those schools who aren't interested that have the roster ready to go that clearly have a thought out plan maybe it's only one school maybe there's one who's considering it but they haven't you know because they didn't
think it would happen they just didn't bother with the details but to those schools who are ready just give them the option and then if it works that's it's on them to make it work and if they can make it work great and if the board votes yes and they decide after the fact you know what this isn't going to work we're not going to do it okay I'm not compelling you to do it I just want to make sure you have the resource to do it
if you want and then for any other school who's interested specifically to avoid chaos again this is this is a b squad team um and the season has already started so even if they get half a season if to avoid chaos they delay a month and then manage to get into a
league and have half a season that's great I because now students get half a season we don't have like I I guess what I'm getting at is we we talk a lot in board meetings about the difference between governance and management and all I'm trying to say is to those schools who want to add the B squad team and who are willing to put in the work
and plan out the details go for it that that's my take um I'm not going to plan those details out for you and honestly even if I vote Yes even if the board votes yes and it doesn't work okay well you gave it your best shot that's the management part I'm putting on putting it on them to manage and but here's the key I'm not compelling and I'm not
suggesting we compel anyone to do it I'm just saying to those who are interested and to those who can let's just make sure the resources are there so they can give it a shot and I think it would be a shame to say no to everybody because not everybody can do it or or sorry it would be a shame to say no to
those who are ready and to those who want to because we can't give it the same opportunity to everybody right now and and that second part isn't even a guarantee I I do have faith in the staff to make it happen if they so desire but I just want to make it possible to those who want to do it so that's where I
stand on IT director Simon yeah I guess just two things to that um there is a governance piece that it's good leadership to give enough time to be able to successfully Implement things and I don't think we are here um the other thing is my
understanding of this volleyball is it's important for every team to have a b Squad so they have someone to play CU our teams play each other yeah they may play outside the conference to and may have a few games but it's important for everyone to have one is my understanding of this without further
information so I I just want to add that um I enjoy this type of collegial mostly respectful conversation I really wish that we could use these same skills skills on other topics specific to like academic achievement curriculum adoptions literacy other things that we
are focused on um in the time that we are in of budget cuts we have already accounted for the cost Savings of not repairing the pool we can't account for it twice that math doesn't work for that I am going to steal a phrase from Jeff
uh staying the course seems the most prudent option to me in my assessment of our financial sit situation and um the fact that we did already put out an expense above and beyond our our budget abilities to have varsity and JV start
this year I'm a huge supporter I I hope that's obvious every time that we sit at this table of our students extracurricular activities sports academic all all of their extracurricular opportunities um and it pains me to not be able to to give another option in
that way but I just it just is not uh fiscally responsible to do so in my estimation at this time so that's my my take any other discussion before coacher Aro makes a motion uh director
lefeld yes I think one of the things and it goes back to wanting these conversations in public when I think about this had I known this was coming forward I would have asked the questions I'm asking now because those are important
questions for me to make sure you know and you and everyone has said some really important kernels of truth that I think we can you know look at um they the information is really important to
to not create cha chaos the information is very important so we can ensure opportunity for all kids um which I think is vitally important and so then the question is is it is it something that we can
vote do we vote tonight um or do we try to get more information I mean and is it even possible to have a shorten season you know those are the kinds of things that we could have asked and and those
are the things that you know again um I I I wouldn't be opposed to that um right now I can't support it but it's very difficult to say no because it's I'm saying no to something that I don't know
that's how it feels when it came up tonight at as an as a point it's like oh gosh I wish I knew this and this and this and this I can and I read carefully everything that I had um I was trying to read it but I there's I don't have all
the other schools that's that's my my problem right now is that I do not feel I have enough information to support it but I truly don't have enough information to say no if that makes
sense uh superintendent McIntyre just maybe this I think is helpful I mean the the board's previous decision was really the direction you gave the ads so that to prepare for varsan JV in in essence not prepare for rby Squad season this year so you know they may not they may
or may not have all that information because they prepped for the two team approach um I understand and believe this is true they've already had outs and made cuts for VAR and JV so they'll have to they'll have to work backwards
through that process um it's not that it can't be done it's just um so my my sense is they're going to support the best course of action is you know move forward as plann versus really starting
over um during the season to to make those adjustments I know they will do whatever we direct them to do and they'll do it as best they can and they'll give it their best shot to to do you know a really great job so uh hopefully that's important but this is
when you're in two weeks in roster decisions have likely been made by now so just a piece I I didn't mention earlier that came to mind as I listened to the board discuss it thank you uh coacho do you want to make your
motion um our motion that we vote to add a b Squad volleyball team for I guess where applicable um thank you coach Arco do we have a second thank you director adet any
discussion hearing none uh would all those in favor say I I and all those opposed say Nay Nay with three in favor and three opposed the motion does not pass all right board members we are uh
nearing our last board agenda item board correspondence and communication members this is your opportunity to share happenings in your community report on committee assignments or any other items of interest does anyone have anything they'd like to share director
langenfeld I think the superintendent shared the fact that we were at uh the legislature today um learning more about the governor's budget and um looking at the current reality that we're in in terms of you know um where we will be
able to go there's a lot of work underway in certain spots and a lot of things as you all know um have reached places that kind of non-starters I think that the piece that is is overarching though is the money is
just not there is that it's the message over and over that that uh we cannot anticipate uh significant financial relief in any District um recognition that schools are struggling right now I would say there
was recognition that there were mandates in our mandates that some can be addressed potentially but from a fiscal perspective in fixing them if that makes sense where we have some of the mandates um requires to do one thing and they
were maybe funded for a period of time and no longer are sustainably funded those kinds of things there's concern there so I think our legislators on both sides of the aisle have been really honest and straightforward with that I know that there is some movement I
believe on the Senate side to address uh the the our our platform around uh student discipline and potentially extending the time that our schools can work with families and parents um when a
child is really struggling and we really need that time to bring that parent in and make sure that parent voice is part of the solution for that child's well-being so there's there's understanding and and there is some some support for that I think that
potentially could move forward which I think is a good thing but as far as any kind of additional fiscal relief I don't believe we can count on it I think we're fortunate that we do have um some cost of living increase I don't know if
that's what they're calling it on the CPI or whatever that we can potentially or can use for salaries but other than that in terms of addressing budget shortfalls I think that's that's going to be very problematic for pretty much
every school district across the state right now they keep talking about it the other piece though is that right now the governor's budget really puts us at a place where we have to have some deep conversation I think as a group at some point around if it continues um um
around the comped pilot and it's the compensatory pilot was put into place um many years ago taking into account that we have um a number of students who would qualify for free Endor reduced
lunch but because the district one runs economy of scale I call it where our buildings are large even though for example we have more than 13,000 students who would qualif ify for free and reduced lunch there are others
Minneapolis I think has more than 16 a little over 16,000 students and yet they get almost twice as much money so that was an attempt by the state to provide uh some relief to make sure that the children that we are serving in in Noah
henpen also have resource so this has been ongoing but now it it showed up as a potential cut um which we have to be mindful of because that would be very devastating for our children and it means a lot of Staffing if that it
doesn't come through and then the other piece um really looking at uh Q comp and what that will do which is a program that the district um was able to uh put into place in partnership with former Governor Tim pente and the commissioner
at the time was Alice seagen um when that was particularly brought in in okah henin uh brought that forward to uh lift up our teachers in terms of their skills and provide them with support and then offer them a styen basically for the for
the work so maybe I'm not characterizing that exactly so I I defer but a lot of important conversation going on in that space thank you uh members anything else to
report no uh I just have a quick a thank you to all of our staff who take groups of students on trips over spring break I know all of our different high schools and some of our middle schools partner with various programs to go to Washington DC or or other places the
Kennedy Space Center you know they've got they've got all kinds of really cool programming and I know that that's a personal time commitment from those staff members so just a heartfelt thank you to all of those staff members that are providing those opportunities to families anything else
members okay okay our last agenda item is to adjourn do we have a motion to adjourn thank you do we have a second thank you uh director Simon any discussion hearing none would all those in favor say I I any oppose say n with
six in favor and zero opposed we are adjourned at 7:58 p.m. [Music] [Applause] [Music]
for