All right, it's 6 o'clock. Happy New Year. Uh, I'd like to call the meeting to order. We have all board members accounted for [snorts] besides Joel Lynch. He is going to be gone. And we also have our new student rep, Lily Nelson. So, thank you, Lily. Would all please rise for the pledge of
allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. There's no we're not going to
call it really any additions to the agenda. We're going to we are going to talk about our uh committee reports right before uh we go to the new committee designations and then we'll also have uh some discussion
over our me ma visit that [snorts] we did in uh November and then also one thing I wanted to start doing uh this year is right at the very very end just going to kind of call it around the horn that we'll all just
go around uh uh with all admin or board members if there's anything that just [snorts] want to say of something that's going on in the community or whatever else that you want to have uh people be aware of or whatever else. So, uh if you got nothing, you got nothing. So, uh
with that, I will look for a motion to approve the agenda. >> I will make a motion. >> Pete on the motion. >> Second. >> Luke on the second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. I >> oppose. Motion carries.
All right. Uh first meeting of the year. This is our organizational meeting. So we will uh elect all of our spots and we will start off with the election of the chair. So I will look
for a nomination for board chair. I would nominate Clinton Chokquist to remain as board chair. Thank you. Luke with a nomination for Clinton. >> I would second that. >> Thank you. Is there any other
nominations for the board chair? Third time. Is there any other nominations for the board chair? All right. Thank you all. I will continue to try to do the best I can to represent all of us in our school. >> I would just note that um and I don't
even want to do this because I don't want his head to get too big, but he's done a great job uh in the short time coming on to the being new to the board and jumping in. You know, I got to see Bob do what Bob did for a long time and was great at it and Clinton has certainly a different style, but um has
been phenomenal. Um I think Jeff maybe there's days where he wears Jeff out maybe, but [laughter] um that's okay, too. So, uh, thanks for what you do. Clinton is certainly noticed. >> No, no, he doesn't. He is great. [laughter] >> Yeah, I second that. >> Thank you very much.
>> Yeah, thanks. >> All right. Uh, we'll move on to the election of the vice chairman/treasurer uh delegating statutory duties to the office of business affairs. I will look for a nomination.
I'll nominate Luke, the current vice chair, treasurer. >> I second that. >> Okay, we have Luke nominated for the vice chair and treasurer. Uh, second time. Any other nominations for
vice chairman, treasurer? Third time. Any other nominations for vice chairman treasurer? Congratulations, Luke. You remain my sidekick. [laughter] >> Also can't wait for that.
>> I'd rather duke it out with [laughter] on a daily basis. >> Exactly. >> Thanks, guys. >> All right. Uh, next one. Election of the clerk delegating statutory duties to the office of business affairs. I would look for a nomination for the election of
clerk. >> I would just know I did talk to Jolyn. She seems up for it again. So I guess [clears throat] if that >> that would be my nomination is to >> Is that your nomination? >> That is Jolin to continue. >> Appreciate that. >> Yeah. Thanks.
>> Yep. I'll second that. >> Second time. Is there any other nominations for election of clerk? Third time. Any other nominations for election of clerk? [clears throat] All right, Joe Lynn will remain the
clerk. Now, do we have to go through and actually do a motion and second on all those three or we we're good with the >> Nope, you're good. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> All right. [snorts] We'll move on to letter B. Uh this will be determining if
we have either two meetings per month uh or one meeting per month and when they would all take place and what time. So we have had some discussion on that uh previously.
[clears throat] Currently right now we do two meetings per month on the second and the fourth Monday uh with only one meeting being scheduled during May, June, July, August, September and December
or we will look at going to one meeting per month. Um Jeff and Lori and I have had started some discussions about this kind of I don't know quite a few months ago [snorts] just because there is
there is certain uh times where it's kind of a struggle to put an agenda together where the pledge of allegiance takes up half the meeting. So um I guess my recommendation would be is [snorts] that we look at going to one
meeting per month. uh knowing that there might be some special more special meetings which I I think that we can all handle if needed. Uh we just got to make sure the communication's out there for staff if they have anything that needs to get uh approved that they are well
aware that it's a monthly meeting. Uh but if there's definitely if there's ever anything that's in quite important and timesensitive that we can look at doing a special meeting for. So, um, that's just my thoughts. I mean,
>> I I tend to agree. I think as far as the community goes, too, I think it'll be easier for the community to know when our meetings are, you know, if it's always first weekend or first Monday and of whatever it is, I think versus two meetings. Um, I think it makes sense. And then on top of that, unfortunately
for this group, we've had a lot of special meetings for different reasons, but we've had to call those and they've all been able to be, you know, to we've never had a a quorum issue. We, you know, at least to this point things change. But >> to Clint's point, we we do have a lot of
meetings that are 15 minutes and, you know, we could handle those. I think one meeting a month. Yeah. My >> this would go into effect February. So we start >> uh we would start. So here's the the calendar [snorts] uh proposed
>> board meeting calendar >> uh for the one meeting a month. Uh the other one that we have in the board packet is for two meetings as or what we normally have >> uh currently. So this will be the the one meeting a month. uh we have to have a separate meeting for organizational
meeting uh called the first Monday and then we would start January 26 and it would be seen as the fourth Monday of each month. Uh however in May and in uh I believe December we'd still have it be the third Monday.
>> Okay, makes sense. Lori, for you it's I I know we have to approve certain things at certain times to make sure we get them submitted in time. I I would imagine that would change a few things for you potentially just to make sure we get those done, but that is that an issue or
should [clears throat] >> No. Being the fourth Monday will be a work. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Cool. >> Uh Mr. Strauss, do you have any this affect much? No, I I see what you guys are saying how you had to call on every single person here to give a two-minute
field to make the minute last 12 minutes couple maybe. [laughter] So, I totally get where you guys are coming from with that. >> All right. If uh there's no more discussion, I guess I'd look uh for a motion on one way or the other, whether it's one meeting per month or two.
>> I'd like to make a motion for one meeting per month. Jody on the motion for one meeting per month. >> I will second that. >> Pete on [cough and clears throat] the second. Any other discussion?
All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. >> Motion carries. And that will be at 6 PM right here at 8:20 East Minnesota Street, Canon Falls. [snorts] Lori, we got a typo. It says
Canyon. Come on. [laughter] See if you're right. >> On the agenda. >> On the agenda. [laughter] >> So, Canon Falls and uh right here in our boardroom unless uh stated elsewhere.
Okay. Moving on to letter C, designated designation of the official newspaper. We have uh one paper in town. Uh I guess I would recommend going with the Canon Falls Beacon. Any other suggestions?
>> So I will look for a motion. >> I'll make a motion to stick with the canfalls beacon as our official paper. Randy with a motion for the Cannon Falls beacon. I'll second Luke on the second. Any other
discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. >> Motion carries. The official posting place for the schoolboard meetings uh notices which is currently in the district office.
I think we would like to keep that the same. >> Yes. So, I would look for a motion to approve the official posting place for the schoolboard meeting notices in the district office. >> I'll make a motion. >> Pete on the motion. >> I'll second.
>> Jody on the second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. >> Motion carries. Uh, this next one we already approved back in July, correct? So, we do not
need a motion and a second on this one. >> That is correct. Uh, this was already done in July because work cuts were made prior to the vote and we typically do it during this meeting. So, we'll just skip this agenda item for now. >> All right. Move on to letter F.
Designation of the depository in accordance with Minnesota statute 118A.02. >> Uh, we do have a rotation of banks if you're if you remember that from last year. And um we have the district office
checking account that is currently at First Farmers and our activity account is at community resource bank. And so this is the schedule that we that
the district came up with years ago. All right. I'd look for a motion to keep the current depository schedule in place. >> I'll make a motion. >> Pete on the motion.
>> I'll second. >> Randy on the second. Any other discussion? >> I just one question. We in finance committee, we changed this one of these, right? Didn't we too? the student activity account. >> Yeah. And that just went from we just
had that in one bank. Now we're >> Yeah. And now we're diversified that as well. >> Any other discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. [snorts] Motion carries.
Letter G, designation of the board's legal counsel and authorized contacts. We use Ratwick, Rosac, and Maloney. The superintendent, superintendent, district office personnel, and schoolboard chairman are the authorized contacts. I guess I've been happy with our legal
counsel. Um, so I would look to continue on with them and I would look for a motion for that. >> I'll make the motion to continue as is with Ratwick, Roswick, and Maloney. >> Luke on the motion. I'll second.
>> Jody on the second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. [clears throat] >> Motion carries. Establish the annual salary for members. [clears throat] Currently, we are at $1,250
per year per member. Half paid on June 15th, half on December 15th. negotiators are paid an additional $250 and alternate negotiators are paid an additional $125 per year.
[clears throat] So, this is always a fun one to talk about. Um, I guess I just want to state that I I'm going to recommend that we uh keep that the same this year, but also just bring attention to I don't
know if [snorts] you guys look through some of the examples and stuff that were uh put in there compared to uh what other districts uh are receiving. I guess I would state maybe possibly
looking at this in the future next year, bumping it up a little bit, just trying to keep up. Um, this I know a lot of us, myself included, didn't know that you even got paid before you got on the board. Um, [snorts]
but your time is definitely worth something or at least your travel at least to cover expenses to get here. So that's something to uh always consider and I think we are all here for the right reasons and and put our time in accordingly. Uh but something we
probably look at in the future is of upping that just a little bit. So there's anything else anyone else would like to add or else I would look for a motion for one way or the other. I'll make a motion to keep it at the
current rate it's at. >> Okay. Any motion? >> I'll second. >> Luke on the second. >> Any other discussion? [clears throat] All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed.
>> Motion carries. [clears throat] Payroll authorization for the use of faximile signature on payroll and voucher checks in accordance with MDS >> Minnesota statute >> there. There you go.
>> Good team. [laughter] >> Brand new >> 47.41 and 47.42. >> Any other? >> It's basically description. It's a It's basically an electronic signature instead of handwritten signatures. >> Okay.
>> Call it auto pen. >> Careful. >> Careful. >> All right. Look for a motion to approve that. >> I'll make a motion. >> Jody on the motion. [snorts] >> I have a second.
>> Pete on the second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. I. Oppose. [clears throat and cough] Motion carries. Resolution for combined polling place. This resolution is no longer necessary on an annual basis basis. It's only
recommended or required. I Gosh, this is a bad one. It is only re required if the school district changes the polling location. The resolution will remain on future agendas for tracking purposes only. I recommend not changing our polling
location as it is currently for the combined at city hall for special elections. >> So, we can just skip that for now. [snorts] Moving on to K. Authorization allowing the superintendent to approve purchases
up to $10,000. I believe this has been in effect for >> quite a few years. Um, and $10,000 is plenty. I guess I I can't think of any instances where we even come close to that. Can you Josh?
>> No. And this doesn't want to be a nonbudgeted item. So, >> right. With budgeted items that are above the 10,000 that's already budgeted for. So, >> didn't we do Oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> This would be for like emergency. >> Yeah. Didn't we do something different for construction projects though or did we meet every time we did that? Be a
separate >> That'd be separate. Yeah. Since the construction project is done, we won't need to have that schedule anymore. >> So, I would look for a motion for authorization allowing the superintendent to approve purchases up to $10,000.
>> I'll make the motion to continue as is with the $10,000 limit. >> Luke on the motion. I'll second >> Randy on the second. Any other discussion?
All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Motion [clears throat] carries. Designation of superintendent as the LEA which is the local education agent representatives in the OWA for 2526.
consideration to approve the designation of the identified official with authority for the MDE external user access reertification system. The Minnesota Department of Education, which is the MDE, requires that school districts annually designated an
identified official with authority to comply with the MNIT enterprise identity and access management standard, which states that all user access rights to Minnesota State Systems must be reviewed and reertified at least annually. The
identified official with a uh with authority will assign job duties and authorize external users access to MDD MDE secure systems for their local agency or local education agency which is the LEA. The board recommends to
authorize Jeff Samson to act as the identified official with authority which is the Iowa with Lori Anderson or Lori Hansen to act as the OWA to add and remove names for Cannon Falls area
schools uh district 252. >> So this basically gives [snorts] our employees access to secure systems on the MDE website to allow them to do that basically. So, and then I have to assign all those out.
>> So, I would look for a motion to approve that. [laughter and clears throat] >> No, I'm not going to read it. >> I'll make a motion to maintain Jeff as the designated LEA >> in OWA with Lori >> Hansen. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. [laughter]
>> Laura knew what you meant. Keep her short and sweet >> with Lori Hansen. >> Yes. >> Uh, look for a second. >> I'll second. >> Jody in a second. >> You should probably run that around resolution.
>> Resolution. >> And I don't have my >> You can I'll believe in you. >> So I don't have to read it again. >> Voting. >> Okay. All right. Luke, >> yes. >> Jody, >> yes. >> Randy, >> yes. >> Pete,
>> yes. And I'm a yes. 50. All right. Before we get into committee assignments, then I want to go over just committee reports from uh last month. if anyone has anything that they would like to add on their committees.
We we had our WETAC meeting right before the holidays and it was more just around the funding that was coming into Canon for security. They were doing some project for security cameras. There's a grant that years ago apparently in the last administration was given and they're now deploying all those funds
for security cameras and technology updates to support those. So Ken was sounds like he just wrapped those up right before the holidays. So that was our last update that impact our district. >> Okay. >> Thank you.
>> We go ahead. >> Go ahead. Um we've had a couple edition meetings. Um they continue to raise great funds and support our school and community, you know, really well. and um teachers
are a lot of teachers are given some great things that maybe aren't um in regular budgeted items. So um we thank them for that. They're um a great supporter of the school. And then we also have had a couple ed community ed
meetings and I know our last meeting we went through and approved the survey for um looking at what the community thinks of the possibility of bomber care and wraparound care. So, I won't talk about that too much because I know we discussed it last meeting, but um that's
what's going on with community ed and the ed foundation. >> Thank you. >> Um and I had um a staff development and um oh, [clears throat and cough] and the district advisory um meeting.
And both of them there's really no updates. They're just continuing. They have they hope to have more come Jan this month. So for the next month so everything's on track. >> Okay.
>> I'll add that we had a transport or transportation meeting uh discussing if you remember last year we did not uh we had to cancel our bus. Uh we're looking at getting back on track with that as uh as well as we have some uh
quite a few vans that are uh really getting out of shape uh getting older [clears throat] out of miles. So uh looking over the possibility of getting some more vans. Uh there's been discussion on whether we
get one bus or we get two to get get rate us back to where we're keeping on schedule or uh if we go with one bus and possibly some more vans because uh the vans are what's kind of deteriorating a lot uh quicker. So, uh there will be
another uh there should be for the next meeting there'll be a recommendation coming from the uh transportation committee on how we move forward. So, uh or what we're looking at doing going forward. Uh and then also just kind of
tying that in with some facilities. Uh we a few of us did did a walk through at the bus garage. uh bus garage is in rough shape. So really rough shape. So whether it's uh the
office or if it's the shop or if it's the buildings itself. So we pre preliminarily kind of started looking at uh what some costs would be to either rebuild portions of it or the
whole thing or make some modifications. So uh that will be something that we have a facilities meeting coming up next week. So there will be some more discussion on that. Uh as well as finance. There's going to be a finance meeting which that will all tie in
together because it'll be talking about using those potential data center uh money coming in and how that's going to be used. So but bus garage could be possibly one option uh with how we use some of the funds. also talked about
uh soccer doesn't quite really have just an a good game field. So, we had we've had some discussion about putting a little bit of work into the current practice uh football field out there and
making that a game ready field. So that is also one other thing that's been kind of discussed on the facility level and discussions will continue to move forward. >> Question on if we were may and if we get to this next week that's fine but the or
the next meeting on the bus if we add one back does that bring back the routes then? So does that we're going to add back in a new route? Is that the intent or >> No, I think it's just uh buying that bus to keep us on schedule for making sure
that we're not getting back on leasing because uh as we were getting off our [snorts] leases that we had with our buses, the idea was to start buying them. >> Yep. >> Individually, if you remember. >> Yep. Yep. I recall that. >> Um and so, uh there hasn't been any talk
about bringing back that route that we cut. >> Okay. right now, but it's just getting back on track with our purchasing for the schedule that we have. >> All right. All right. Anything else want to be added for committees?
Okay. Uh then we'll go to uh a little bit of discussion on our MA visit which was back in November. My fault for forgetting about it for a couple meetings. Uh new membership. We joined there last
year, correct? So this was the second conference that um we've been a part of. I guess MA is kind of more uh up our alley [snorts] with smaller rural schools and uh
having discussion with uh other schools and other school leaders uh talking through very similar conflicts that we have or situations or whatever else. So uh I don't know if anyone wants to kind of
talk a little bit about what they thought there or what they learned. Yeah, I mean I thought it was a great conference. I uh I I guess I would just make note on one of the breakout uh sessions that I went to was AI in the classroom. I thought because I don't
really understand AI, so I was trying to learn about it and what it meant. And it was interesting because there were some teachers in there. >> You sent me some things that were made by AI. [laughter] >> Yeah, that's true. Yeah, I'm learning. And um [snorts] uh it was interesting. And it was really cool because it was I think there were some teachers in there
that were um interested as well as what it meant for them and what it meant for their careers. But the the person put on a presentation was a professor from Winona State and she was just talking about how you can use it as a tool to make your job more efficient. And
whether it was presentations, lessons plans or one example she had was she was using AI or chat GBT to um modify um uh math question like uh what do you
call them? They're spelled like word problems. Word problems, story problems. And it was more so so she had kids that dreaded story problems, couldn't figure them out, was terrified to even start reading them. She was changing the names to Justin Jefferson and Justin Jefferson
catches seven balls and whatever and or he catches, you know, for 10 yards but it's a penalty, whatever. And just different ways to get kids. And then she she found out she was having kids that were actually looking for the problems and trying to like trying to figure them out versus being terrified of of even
starting them, which was really cool. And she would use specific names like the students names or classmates names in the problems too. It got kids to dive in versus putting up a, you know, a barrier. Um, which is pretty cool. Um, but she said, yeah, just a tool to be
more efficient when there was lesson planning, drafting emails to parents, you know, and and she was very clear and said, you know, there's lots of errors that happen in in these programs. But um I thought it was a way of hopefully if our teachers are using it, they can use
it and save some time, get some of their time back that we all know they put in extra time and and uh which I thought was interesting. So >> yeah, I agree. I think it was it was very well aligned to what our district is. So you mentioned that, right? And
even if we were on the upper threshold of the size of some of those districts, I mean, you go into some of those breakout sessions and there's districts obviously much smaller than us, but their needs don't change. They're more aligned to what we're doing and how one of the breakout sessions I went to was around the differentiator of classes
that they get to offer. Right? So, you think about our innovation lab, our shop. So, what I'd consider non-traditional or some some programs that are getting cut at larger districts because they're very it can be very expensive. districts our size and even some smaller ones were gaining attendance because of that. They they
had an uptick in attendance because their kids are more aligned to a shop class, a welding class. Um so it was interesting to hear their take on it and how they are kind of marketed into that and really being similar what we do here. Um so I I agree. I think it was a great alignment with what our district
size needs we have. Yeah, I'll piggyback on that and just say I mean, yeah, going to a conference. I mean, we go to the large MSBA conference each year, too, but it's great to go to a conference with all schools our sizes and kind of talk and
network with other um district leaders. I thought it was interesting there's teachers there, too, and to to get their feedback and stuff. Um, we also sat down with some college grads or going to be college grads that, you know, is just a great informal area to talk to teachers
and stuff and um, new teachers that were coming on and get their um, opinions on some, you know, what's new and upcoming, what they're learning in college and stuff like that. Um, and what they could bring to the table for, you know, a new
perspective for young perspective to our school. So, it's very interesting. >> Yeah, I think you walked away with a dozen applications or so. It was cool. >> That was a lot of fun. It was >> a lot of kind of quick short inter uh
almost like an interview uh with these uh but very informal college graduates and they were very engaging which is great. >> Yeah. Made her more comfortable and spoke more openly. So, that was interesting. >> When we join groups like this, what's a typical do we do? memberships by the
year or what's typically the renewal? >> Yeah, we have a a membership that's renewed is it July 1 usually? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And then probably the other one, the other breakout session that I know Randy
and I went to, he was there too, uh was the 4-day school week, uh which we were all interested in because it was part of our potential cuts that were going to happen here. Um it was interesting. um you know their their
school district covered three towns and 350 square miles. So most of their savings was was from cutting that cutting a day out of that transportation essentially. Um and I Pete and I I think we check our area. I don't remember what
the square miles were, but >> it was like a half less than half. >> It was considerably less. So it was pretty easy to see where they were getting the cost savings for. They It was interesting because they were really excited about it. They loved it. Their whole community loved it. >> Um they said the first year was rough. I
think took some time to get used to it. >> Um and they just put an emphasis on if we're doing it, you have to be in school those four days. You can't, you know, unless you're terribly sick or whatever, but you can't, you know, even family vacations are tough when you're when you're taking out a day. Um, I thought
that was interesting >> for students and teachers across the board. You know, they make it important for teachers to know to take make their appointments on that their day off was Monday. So, make your appointments on Monday so that you're not taking uh PTO days or whatever. And then same with
students make, you know, and the town wrapped around that too and um set aside appointment times for students and teachers on those days. >> Yeah. One of the things they said several times were the the nights at home were short because you're going a little later and then you have
activities, but Sundays were great because you had you weren't in school on Monday, so you had time with family. >> Um, and we asked about um why Monday? So, they were off on Mondays and why not Fridays? just
naturally Friday seemed like, but they said attendance would show that Mondays are a bad day for kids to be or they miss a lot on Mondays. So if you gave them the Monday off, >> that was a way to, you know, because a lot of times on Fridays there's events.
So whether it's football or whatever, so they're they're, you know, >> maybe more motivated to show up. >> I'd say in general there's probably a lot less events on Monday nights as well. And they said they don't plan any they do have some events on Mondays, but they don't do any junior high practices,
anything like that. Um, >> yeah, they said the teachers like Monday because it's a prep day, right? And then you get into the week versus keeping it as a Sunday, you go right into [snorts] the week and Fridays. I thought it was interesting they picked Monday. I mean, it made sense in how they deployed it, but >> Yeah. Yeah. >> because teachers were off a majority of
those Mondays [clears throat] as well. Um, they used some of those days as their staff development days, but teachers were off most of those days as well. and they one of the items they were able to keep or continue to go on with was uh their fax program. So they were saving money, but they were able to
keep programs like that that aren't required by the state but are important and I think we would all love to have it back here someday. But um so to allow them to to do that, which was interesting. >> The other one that I thought was an interesting one that they talked to that
they had to work through was how they do fundraising. >> Yeah. So you they go down to that and so they go down to was it four that's it regardless of the program. So they only do four fundraisers across the across the year. They said it took multiple years to figure out which four are they going to pick and then how they
designate that [snorts] money. They want the the clubs or or the groups to come to them and ask you need new jerseys, you need new equipment, whatever it is. But I think I don't know how many years they said it took them to figure that out. Yeah. Cornell that one week they they didn't think that that was going to be an impact and going down to that cut
that down was they honestly think it was just >> but it sounded like they had huge community support for those four >> only four. So essentially they would do like a large event like a color run and the whole town or all three towns would show up and it was a great community event because you had everybody gathered
and then you weren't you know every activity wasn't asking local businesses. It was really cool. It's a little bit off base what we're talking about, but it was very interesting. >> Super interesting. >> I mean, again, that's why this conference is good because it's schools our size, you know, just getting ideas
of what would would work and some things of course are not going to work for our school, but some things could and just opens your eyes to things that we maybe didn't think about. >> And then I think the other thing uh Stephen would probably be interested in this there they have a crazy amount of applicants when they have a opening. So
when there's an opening, they get people that want that four day and they get >> Yeah. I don't remember what the numbers were. >> They It was something Yeah. Something like they got four that before four applicants for one position before they um went to this and then now they get
anywhere from 20 to 30 applicants per position, which is great, right, for the school to have that pick of many applicants. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'll just add to um the speaker, opening closing speaker was Joe Beckman. I know we've all seen him here.
Um he's great and he's just reminds us that public schools are important, you know, and they're good for human connection and great for students to attend public schools. And I just love that he um is he does a good job of sharing that message about public
schools and to be excited about public schools and where they're headed and um that they're needed. All right, good discussion. So, we will move on to letter M, committee assignments. Uh, everything is shown [snorts] who's
on what for this last year. Is there anyone that would like to make any changes? The one thing that I was going to look at doing is removing one alternate [snorts] for the GCED position. I'm good with what I got.
>> I'm good with what where I'm at. >> I'm happy to drop off. I don't think I've participated in that as an alternate. So, >> I would have to agree. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm [clears throat] personally I'm fine with where I fall on here. I um I
think there's some things in the work that I would like to continue on with, you know, within that committee. Um, on top of that, I did ask Jolyn about GCED, uh, because there's travel there. I mean, terribly. But, uh, and she's she
was good with continuing, too. So, >> well, I was just going to say now's the opportunity. Joan's not here, so [laughter] load her up. >> She has brought up for >> I'm happy where I'm at, too. I um feel like I'm just now finally learned the
learned the position. So now I can offer >> That's where like I I think it's good for everyone to move around a little bit, but also at the same time I think it takes probably a couple years to kind of get a full understanding. >> Yep. Yeah. That's where I'm like I don't think where I at. I'd like to be able to
know more and learn more. >> All right. Uh Lori, I don't need a motion or second for that. Right. >> Just making sure I'm following your rules. >> I'll let you know. [laughter] Okay. So basically the only one thing
we're going to change is we're just going to remove Pete as a alternate for the GCD. Else we will keep everything else as is. [cough] [clears throat] All right. So then I will move on to
reports and communication. And we are just going to change the numbers up. I'll just slide everyone down a little bit because I want to start off with our new student reporter, Lily Nelson. So, first off, thank you for [snorts] volunteering for this role.
>> Thank you so much for having me. I'm so happy to be here. Um, >> so basically the student body has been pretty good because we had only three days last week. It was very nice. [laughter] Um, even though those icy conditions on the gravel roads were pretty bad, I will say it was very nice
having school off. Um before our break it was pretty simple at school. We had bingo on the last day of school. Um ending off our last hour. Um we had lots of prizes, lots of activities, things to just it was a fun way to end um the end
of that end of 2025. And also two weeks before that um MHS had ran the food shelf and we had gotten way more food than I have ever seen before in my like ever. It was so awesome. I was so happy to just >> see all of that. Yeah. just did really
well that. Um, moving into like current events, um, this past weekend, um, there was dance, weightlifting, and wrestling over this weekend. I know dance did really well this weekend compared to previously. So, it was very I was very happy to see all of their faces this
weekend. Um, weightlifting had a meet in Lakeville South. It was good. I think there was over 200 kids there. Um just a just a lift um everybody anywhere from like Morehead to yeah K Falls. It was
awesome. Um wrestling had girls, boys and little kids this weekend and it was just fun to to just see how many people had showed up this over the weekend. [laughter] >> So many is what I heard. So that was super just
fun I'm sure and the wrestling program always does well for that. So, just very fun to see that. Um, moving into this week and we've got the co-op with Randolph for those girls and I've heard just good things, which is just very fun. Um, good stuff. Boys this week, um,
doing hoping for the best. [laughter] [snorts] >> [laughter] >> Um and then um basically because it's January, I know FFA has got some competitions coming up. So some extra extracurricular stuff for that. Um
trying to think of anything else. There was also tomorrow morning or tomorrow we have the courage retreat for the seventh graders. So that will be very fun. And I know um the school I tried to get a whole bunch of instead of usually MHS is like the kids that will run it, but we had a whole bunch of other people try to get it because the seventh grade group
has a lot of boys. So it'll be very fun to hear how that goes. Um I know that it's finals week, so it was really hard to get some of those people, but trying to get a lot of those senior boys to try to come out and just show some of those seventh graders and what respect is and just stuff like that. So yeah, that's
all I got. >> That's awesome. All right. Welcome. >> All right, move on to elementary school report. Mr. Strauss, anything you'd like to add to your report besides besides that I saw you a
picture on the roof? [laughter] I think >> I don't know what you're talking about. I heard rumors that there was no >> I'm sure there was a safety harness underneath somewhere. [laughter] >> Josh and I took the proper precautions. Uh yeah, that was fun. That was that was really fun. And I had a couple teachers actually that had asked me about it
right after Thanksgiving. Yeah, I don't know maybe. And then the next week a couple more asked me about it and they showed me some pictures and videos of other school staff principles. I don't know different places that I'm like okay that looks fun. >> Yeah, that was great. >> Yeah, that was [clears throat and laughter] that was >> that was a good time. >> Yeah.
>> Um the only other thing to add to my report that not nothing to add just to kind of elaborate on you know we got students another student teacher that started a week ago today. uh Kira, she's gonna be in first grade for a little bit and then preschool for a little bit. And just to kind of tie that back into what uh you guys were talking about with MEA
conference and some of those um students in College of Educations right now and eventually student teaching um Jeff forwarded me on some of those applications that he was given to and I actually reached out already to the ones that are either from within let's say 45 minutes of Canon Falls or their colleges
within like I think I did like an hour and a half of Canon Falls and just reached out to them and say hey we love having student teachers here you know if you want to talk sometime let me know. Um, a couple of them got back to me and said like they'll be student teaching in the fall or maybe next spring, but they'll keep us in mind. Um, and then
I'll likely be going to the way we get most of our student teachers here is through this Winona State student teaching day that I go to. Um, and there will be another one coming up in February. So, that's how I got Kira. That's how we had four in the fall. Two of them I got when I attended last spring. So, just trying to recruit as
many as we can because we've hired some for full-time positions. I've got two that are hired for this spring. one that started last Monday for, you know, maternity leave is coming up. So, the more we can get them in here and kind of teach them, you know, our ways too under the great teachers we have and when I
talk with the teachers and I know Jeff and I have had this conversation too about how somebody helped us out years ago, you know, when we needed to student teach. So, it's just kind of good to give back to the profession as well. So, >> yeah. Otherwise, any questions? >> All right. Thank you, Stephen.
>> Thanks, Stephen. Uh, everyone else's reports are there if you had time to read them. Else, uh, we will move on to the soups report. Um, I don't have much except for just a reminder that we have uh the MSBA
conference uh for a couple of you will be coming up tomorrow night, I believe. >> And then um phase two will be on Wednesday all day and then the rest of you should be showing up on Wednesday night. Um is anybody planning on being
up there later than five six o'clock? No, not I. >> Okay. >> I will not be there. >> That's right. Yep. Um and then Jo will be there on time. >> Um >> shame on you. I know. Bring back some sunshine for you. >> There you go.
>> And then uh Thursday, obviously with the conference beginning in Friday as well. So, >> okay. >> You guys have any questions on that? That's really all I've got. Uh we do have a facility and finance committee meeting. I was going to
mention that during the committee reports, but we have that those scheduled coming up information. >> I mentioned that too. >> We did. >> Yeah. >> Next Monday and Tuesday. >> Did you send a calendar in AI yet? Come on. [laughter]
Second ourselves. >> All right. Look uh at letter B. We got approval of the minutes from the meetings on December 15th, the 22nd, and the 30th. I will look for a motion to approve the minutes. >> I'll move to approve the minutes.
>> I'll second. >> Luke on the motion, Randi on the second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Motion carries. Public input.
I'm just going to go with that. There's no one that wants to talk. All right, that is closed. Moving on. Action items. Consideration to review Canon Falls policy series 200-500 and 800. No additional uh changes to
these policies. This is to keep the policies in a mandatory three-year review cycle. So, if you look at all of our MSBA policies on our website, they're organized in the 100s, 200s, 300s, 400s, 500, 600, 700,
uh, 800, and 900 series. And we, uh, assess them every three years with [clears throat] our policy committee and add any changes from the legislature or recommendations from MSBA or our lawyers from that at that time. But uh this is
just a housekeeping item uh that you guys would need to allow us to do to review those three series of the 200, 500, and 800 series. >> Any questions for Jeff? If not, I would look for a motion to
approve. >> I'll make a motion. >> Jody, on the motion. I'll second Pete on the second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. Motion [snorts] carries.
Number two, consideration to approve policy 104 district mission statement. Also, Canon Falls mission, vision, and strategic priorities. >> Um, I believe these have not changed since last year. Um, but we still need
to approve them at this point. What would be a normal you review it and make changes or change our mission statement? I mean, is it >> usually the the mission statement and the um vision and strategic priorities usually change during that process that
we went through probably a couple years ago. >> Okay. >> With um and we can certainly look at doing that again here in another year or two, but you want to set those for quite a while. um so they have time to accomplish some goals and stuff.
>> And who would that be discussed with? >> Uh amongst yourselves with your stakeholders like the the employees and the community and the students. >> Okay. So you would have like a committee for that. Um we could uh depending on you know we can look at I know Sue
engaged with the teachers and attempted with the community and there's a few community members that showed up for that for input into that strategic plan. >> Sure. >> And then uh had the board I believe had some input as well with that. So, >> so basically you're just reiterating
anybody who has any >> thoughts to add to it to >> Yeah. >> reach out to a board member >> or you or >> Yeah. Usually when you when you look at uh redoing your strategic plan, it is a process. So, it's not just a a committee
with a couple of people >> and then once you set that, that kind of sets the direction for administration to say we're going to accomplish these things. And then um Once those things have been accomplished, then the board will probably sit down and say, "Well, we need to look at our strategic
priorities again so that we set it for the next five years as a roadmap of what we want to accomplish." >> Make sense? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. The reason I asked is I don't have any reason for change. I just was curious if we should be when or when
should we be looking at it. >> Um, we can certainly look at it's probably a good idea. We do have a a spreadsheet here. I got to figure out which one it is. >> Yeah, the one I'm looking it says it goes until 2026. So that's this year that we have to
>> because the other one was 19 to 23. >> This one is through 24 through 26. >> Yep. And administratively, we got to look at where we are at with some of these priorities and addressing them. Um,
and then we can probably get back to the board to say how far and give an update on this as well. If you want to, we can certainly do that either in uh the end of January or we should probably look at the the first or the next February one just to say here's where we're at with
our strategic priorities and accomplishments. And you know, if we need to look at re-upping this plan, it could be something that we could talk about doing next fall. or start the process at least.
>> Yeah. I think if administration looks at this, I think would be a good thing to see where we're falling. >> Yeah. If we use it. >> Sure. >> Absolutely. >> All right. Good discussion. Uh I'd look for a motion to approve policy 104, our district mission statement, and
our canop's mission, vision, and strategic priorities. >> I'll make a motion. on the motion. >> Second. >> Luke on the second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Motion carries.
>> Consideration to approve the updated 2526 winter coaching list. >> I believe the only change on this one is a speech. >> Yes. >> Is the only update there. Correct. >> Was Mr. Fogerty, correct? >> Yes.
>> All right. And assistant coaches Annie Peterson and Emma Watson. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Look for a motion to approve the updated 2526 winter coaching list. >> I'll move to approve. >> Look on the motion. I have a second. He
second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. >> I oppose. >> Motion carries. Number four, public hearing and comment opportunity number two. And this is for the early start
options for the calendar. So Jeff, do you want to just kind of give a brief uh description of what's we're looking at possibly doing? >> Yes. Every two years a calendar committee gets together and the calendar committee is made up of administrators and teacher representatives to give
input to the next two years calendars. Um there is uh uh some momentum to have schools start not only one week early as the legislature allowed us to do but to start two weeks early and possibly look at that doing that on an ongoing basis.
Um the outcome was the two calendars that we have for the 2627 school year and the 2728 school year. uh if we do start two years early by statute, we have to uh ask for a flexible learning year uh application
uh that we need to turn into the state and uh to do this uh we have to have three public comment periods for it. Uh some of the highlights of both calendars uh obviously we would be starting two
weeks early. uh some thoughts and consideration were given uh around the Labor Day time frame and obviously students like any year if they have anything special going on we're very flexible with students to let them out of school and uh to attend things like
the state fair. Um it the calendars are nice because uh and Stephen can maybe help me out here a little bit, but we tried to end uh the quarters and specifically the semesters around natural breaks so that we're not
bringing kids back for long periods of time uh for example after Christmas break. Um and so we felt that that was very important as well uh when you look at when the semester is going to end and uh when the new one would start and
obviously the the end of the school year uh would be uh in the more of the middle to May time frame instead of extending down into June uh with as late as the calendar is pushed out for this year. But then also keeping in consideration
for the graduation with Memorial Day weekend and and that so that doesn't interfere with that. So >> right >> having that a [snorts] week before >> yeah having um a lot of things to consider. Uh it was some good conversation that we had
uh with our staff members and uh they ended up supporting uh these two versions obviously in um in listening to some of uh what the board members concerns were also. Uh we are going to have a spring break in both of the years
and we decided to have it consistent uh with it being this week in March because that will line up nicely with three scheduled trips that we have when students are out of the building anyway. Uh so there was some attention paid to that as well. Trying to think if there's
anything else special that we had that we really considered as far as big picture wise. >> Uh we talked conferences was one thing that we kind of looked into. This would give an option for conferences in uh I believe it was November and February on
the next year's to have an early release on a Thursday like a normal PLC time period in terms of an early release with some afternoon and evening conferences and then the next day no school for students with morning conferences and
then PLC meeting in the afternoon. So there will be options essentially from 8 a.m. all the way through roughly 7:30 p.m. one of those two days for conferences. So if the traditional 4 to 8 p.m. doesn't work, you could maybe sign up for a 1:30 one that afternoon or
a 9:00 a.m. one the next morning. >> More flexibility for parents for we get a I like that providing the opportunity. Do you get a lot of requests for >> the early morning? You know, we don't have specific requests just because we've never really had that option. But
we do have people that consistently >> not complain, just in conversation say like, well, you know, I start I work from 9 to5 and then my kids are home. You know, I can make an 8 a.m. one or you know, I I work nights, you know, when you want to work out well or whatever the situation is. Um, so try to
be cognizant of that. >> Okay, that makes sense. All right. So, I will uh open up our public comment right now. Now, I'm going to close it. All right. And lastly, we'll do the
newly added around the horn. Mr. Strauss, I'll start with you. if there's anything you want to get off your chest. [laughter] >> Uh, no. I'm excited for, you know, to keep going. Uh, I sent out my I actually sent out my newsletter for January this
morning and meant to do it last week and I [snorts] uh had it all typed up and ready to go and messaged Infinite Campus and everything and just didn't click the send button that I found out this morning. So, I was talking with one of my staff members this morning and I mentioned something and she's like, "What are you talking about? You didn't get my newsletter? You got
kids in my school." She's like, "You didn't send out your newsletter." So, I went back and I did it this morning. Um, and just one of the things in there is that it's always coming back from, you know, the winter break is kind of fun to renew for teachers to renew those relationships with kids to uh review expectations as well. you know, we I
review expectations of staff. Staff review expectations of students um just on all the things that are going on because you can't expect to go over something the first week of school and for anybody to remember it all the way through May. So, that's just been a big kind of point of emphasis, I guess. But
otherwise, no. Hope everybody had a good good Christmas season. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thanks, >> Josh. Anything you'd like to add? >> Well, busy time in the office. I'm actually kind of glad you guys are going to miss [laughter] Um you're revising the current budget
for finance committee on Monday. Um bring some stuff in again, but the facilities in [snorts] Tuesday. Um on top of that, basketball is going well and we're going to hit kind of a busy stretch now. And the 51 days that we've had basketball so far this year, we got 10 games in. In the next 18 we'll get
nine. So kids would rather play than practice anyway. But >> has been rescheduled yet? >> That 24. 24. So >> yeah, busy, but good. >> Lori, you want to add anything? >> No, just looking forward to the week
with all of you. [laughter] >> Was that serious? [laughter] >> Uh, anything? >> Um, I went to wrestling this weekend. I thought it was really cool. I'd never been to that before that we hosted. It was >> organized chaos. >> Yeah. I went Saturday and it was very As
soon as I walked in there was an injury that happened and the fire department came and but it was all >> well taken care of and >> other than I can't understand Kevin Landry on the microphone. Uh but it was really cool. I love to see a fieldhouse
used and they had six mats in there. So, I'm sure between the wrestling community and Steven's crew, they put a lot of work in to get that ready. Uh, which is really uh good to see. Um, I just would like to remind students that they're
free entry to our events. I think um that's something unique to Canon Falls and um you know, I love going to volleyball games when the student section is roaring and going and if we could replicate that and basketball and other things, I think that would be awesome too. And then lastly, um I'm
guilty of this because I've been on the board for four years and I remember once I've gone on the lantern's website and I and I'm blown away by how nice it is. And the reason I bring it up is because I have a niece that writes for the lantern and interviewed me for one thing and I had no idea what it was even for.
U but it's really well done. Um it's a good place to get information. Um it's easier to work than our own website. So that up there. >> Shots. That because that was gonna be mine if I identify if I'm allowed to speak. >> Oh, I haven't gotten to you yet.
[laughter] >> That's all I got. >> When you're called on, >> um, not too much. I'm just looking forward to going up to MSBA this week and >> seeing some of the speakers. [snorts] Um I'll say this is all well Jod and
myself and Pete this is our first meeting of our second year on the board and um I can only speak for myself in saying um you know we I learned a lot learned a lot. We had kind of a crazy
year and um I just want to thank you guys for taking our questions. I know I probably had some dumb questions sometimes and you guys were good at leading us in the right [music] direction and I appreciate that. So, um, we're all still here so here's to another year.
>> Exactly. >> Bill, anything you else you want to add? >> No, [laughter] Pete. >> Yeah, I just echo what Ronnie said. I appreciate you guys helping us with the first year, right? We intense, but a very good way for I guess I can only
speak for myself, a good way to learn, right? all the processes, what we um need to go through and the importance of the board. So, many thanks to to you guys. I greatly appreciate it. Um I was going to touch on the wrestling comment. I hadn't been an event that big in our school before, right? That was on
Saturday. There were 17 teams here. So, there's over 450 wrestlers um in that building and how smooth it ran. I mean, many kudos to the the facilities team, but also walking around right on the board of Matt Rats and people just hearing stop and talking like this is
incredible. you guys can do this. Again, the the Friday night was one [snorts] of the first events we hosted that type and so we're getting that off the ground and we had a good showing for that for the first one. So again, the the facilities there of the fieldhouse just um I think blew a lot of people away when they come
in and get to see the space. So >> a lot of activity this weekend >> and our wrestlers cleaned up. >> Oh yeah, they went very well. >> Five champions. >> Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. >> So that's awesome. >> Okay, your turn. [laughter]
Funny you mentioned the website. Uh because our our current website isn't ADA compliant, uh we are going to be required to change our website and so we got an early start on that and it's not [snorts] due until is it April of 27. So we're just over a
year out from being required to switch it. But uh we've been working on switching that right now and give you a sneak peek at what we've come up with. We are finalizing it right now. We will have an app also that people can download as well
>> with it. Um and so uh it won't be perfect and that is base camp. It won't be perfect when [snorts] it comes out. Um, but it will be hopefully a lot more user friendly and um things for people
to uh to basically get better information out of. And some of these pictures we have to keep up there and probably keep revisiting, you know, [laughter]
the best. So, but yeah, this will be the the first initial uh look at our website and then it'll have some Cannonfalls news in there. It'll have a live feed that'll feed in from our social media.
>> Uh the calendar thing we're still trying to work out because we have about 50 different calendars >> and so we're trying to figure out which ones that we need to feed into here. So that's still I think a hurdle. >> Sure. >> At this point without having to manually
do it. Um I guess I haven't heard an update on the calendar. >> That's the one thing that I still have like on my list of a big thing that we I don't know anything there. I think Eron was Aaron or Tim going to look into >> Erin and Tim were going to >> the calendar like how to sync them and
how many. I think Erin said you get with our platform that we purchased we get one. >> Yep. >> You can pay for another one or something. That's awesome. >> So, we got to figure out how the calendar piece is going to work out. So, it is >> it's in the background being worked on and kind of being fine tooth combed. It
won't be perfect when it comes out. We'll be looking for ways to for people to provide input about what we can fix or what needs to be fixed yet because there's so much information obviously on the current >> website that's live >> and we're trying to downsize it a little bit. So, we won't have a website for
every um school building. We're just going to have one website that you can visit uh that'll help um be a little bit more efficient. I guess >> you brought up an interest point on the ADI as Erin what that meant what that
means at our last we help with this and it was around what you just said being able to download an app being able to read PDFs or for individuals that are hard of seeing they can read it back to them. So there's a lot of [snorts] functionality of a website that only think how could how does it need to be ADA? But that's driving a lot of that
the design and some of the requirements that are coming through it which makes he said makes for a better user experience across the board um for interacting with all the information that schools have. >> Yeah. I mean I think it's definitely a pain point within the community our
current website and just trying to find things efficiently. You know, it's all there, which is great, but it's it could be hard. >> It's a pain point within our staff, too. >> Yeah. Me, too. I can't find anything. >> It's This will be much better. Yeah. We put in quite a bit of time with this. It'll be It'll be good. >> Great.
>> Yeah. You find what you need, you can't go back and find it again. [laughter] >> I have that problem. >> So, that's all I got. >> All right. >> I guess I'll just add uh I'm very thankful for our board that we have here and thankful for all our admin. Um
[clears throat] the last year has definitely had our challenges. Uh then us as a board we we definitely all have come from different backgrounds. We have different opinions on different things and I I feel that we do a very good job of working uh together to come to the
solutions and and doing it the right way and uh not uh being hostile towards each other and and talking our differences out. and and I feel that we've done a very good job at strengthening our committees so to make sure that we have
way more well-rounded uh input uh going in. So, I feel like we've made some real strides there. And so, I look I look forward to that continuing to get better and uh and uh I've just I've been happy with with how all of you have all
handled things. So, uh it is [clears throat] I guess I wouldn't say that last year has been the absolute great year, but we had definitely had some highs and we had some lows. Um so, uh working with all you guys to getting that referendum passed through, that was a that was a huge huge lift and that's
where uh everyone all involved uh all the board, all admin, a lot of staff members, uh everyone coming together to work for one thing that was uh big. So, look forward to at least one more year. So, uh, and besides that, I mean, I
really enjoyed watching that Packer Bear game. [laughter] We can end it now. He said, you said not hostile. So, let's see how fun this goes. [laughter] All right. Uh, next school board meeting will be right back here in the boardroom
on the 26th of January at 6 o'clock. Uh, there's just a couple things there that we have potentially on the agenda. [snorts] With all that, I would look for a motion to adjurnn. I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Luke on the motion.
>> I'll second you on the second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Motion carries. Thank you.