call to order. We'll start with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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. 3.0 is the roll call of all school board members. Let's see. Larson and Perkowitz are gone today, but we still have a quorum. So, here we are. 4.0 is to approve the agenda, and I'll move to approve. >> I'll second. King Spence,
>> if I can just a couple things. Um, so ju just so everyone's on board, theou for the Career Impact Academy, um, it is attached now. It was, um, again, it's been on there, but we just had a cover sheet to start with. Didn't realize it wasn't all in the document. So, I'll
talk more about that in a little bit. Um, we also added under the consent agenda MSBA. The bill came in for next year to belong to MSBA. You've always done it. we've always and so we just instead of holding it for two weeks we we added that and then if you would also
in your consent agenda pull Wyatt Hang Slaben and put it as an action item as 8.5 um just again apologize to Matt that we just didn't think of it. Um so anyway, other than that um the agenda is
accurate. >> All right, any other comments or discussion on the agenda? All those in favor of approving the agenda with the exceptions that the superintendent noted say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 5.0
communication reports and we'll start with superintendent. >> Yeah. So, um, end of year uh, busy. Thank you to everyone for participating in graduation. Um, again, I thought it went well. Um, and again, we can talk down the road of whether you want to
stay there, whether you want to come back when the arena's done. Um, for the most part, I've heard great things, but on the other hand, we haven't really asked or we can have conversation on that down the road. Um, it's just busy with um, end of the year stuff. Um,
working with Nexus, working on LTFM. Um, we've had numerous data requests. It's just crazy. I don't know what's going on right now. Um, uh, we'll work to finish admin evaluations over the next couple weeks. We have some of that scheduled. Um, just some I I'm going to
hit on the Career Impact Academyou Grand Forks approved it. Um, very happy to have this as an option. Um, obviously there's a ton. It's like a 16page document. There's a lot of legal stuff that it's all fine. Um, we would pay $600 a credit. Okay. Now, keep in mind
that's for like a two-hour block. So, a kid gets a one credit where they get like a half credit for a class here and then they take another because they're doing like a block. Um right now we have 18 kids registered. So it's not like it's um we've limited the five areas I
forget. Um construction, trades, uh CNA, culinary, automotive, and then I can't think of the fifth. So um anywhere anyway, obviously recommend it. It's a one one-year deal, you know, um see how it goes. Um and it'll come back. But I'm
just just highlighting that. Um, ESY is set to go. Um, they're working on summer school for the middle school. Um, had a question come up on busing. Are are we okay with We've done busing in the past. You don't have to necessarily. I
recommend we keep doing it, but um, unless the board says no, you don't have to. We have, you know what I'm saying? There's only a certain number of kids we have to. Well, not every kid that's special ed has transport. There's a few that do, but not every kid that takes ESY has transportation. But even the
summer school kids, you don't have to, but we've transported in the past. >> And >> yeah, I I guess I didn't wasn't thinking we'd do anything differently. >> Yeah. Well, I just there there was some question on if we were going to do summer school. Um so I just as long as there's not, we're going to run with it.
I think that's all I have at this point. I'll talk about obviously when we get to the um referendum discussion and possible action. We'll spend some time there. >> Um any administration talk tonight? >> No, we not unless someone has something
dire. >> Any committee reports? >> No. >> All right. 6.0 O is to approve the consent agenda um as presented and attached with the exception of removing Wyatt Hley.
>> I'll make the motion. Okay. >> A second. >> Okay. Any questions or discussion? Right. All those in favor of approving it with that one exception say I. >> I. I.
>> Um any opposed? Motion carries. 7.0 0 is for anybody to speak. Nobody wants to speak. 8.0 is district business. 8.1 is to approve the English reading curriculum
purchase for a total of $323,827.67 as presented and attached in board book. And I'll move to approve. >> We can have >> Keep second. >> Sure. >> Then we can have questions and discussion. We're not changing too much of it. Correct.
>> So, so what happens and again I I will I can give you a little overview if you have specific questions. The elementary for the most part is staying with the same company. It's an updated version because the older version won't be supported here in a couple years. Um and we technically had two years left. They
took that off and rolled it in as part and we've we've gotten them down a couple times. So, um that piece is I think very acceptable. a lot of at the high school you'll see like there's 20,000 in novels and I think 10,000 we don't have exactly those picked out
but they're sticking with mainly what they have but updating you know there's not as much reading instruction and so again for the most part there's one piece this uh handwriting and again if you look at it um without I keep saying with tears that just it's without tears
um we're doing a year and and we may need more but there's also writing in this HM HMG or is it H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H HMH that we'll see how that goes that we may have to add a little more writing for the lower elementary and it it goes um to preschool and stuff. So they've also cut
some of the technology up at the um middle school and high school and so that's actually we're in line with budget. We're we're okay there is I guess where I'm going to say and then I'm going to leave it to you know the people that picked out if you have more specific questions. I shouldn't say
people, they had teams that help out picked out and look at, but they can talk more specifically if you >> Well, it's like essentially the same ones that we're currently using updated version so teachers don't have to learn a whole new curriculum. >> True. the the upgraded version the version
three that we're going to is also the science read is and we are required >> okay >> yes but the same is the same company the stories are relatively the same but
the other aspect in in there now is what >> created Okay. And then when you said the technology was cut a little bit, you're talking about like buying of technology, not the use of >> some of the software programs that we use. Like part of this has dyslexia in which is a different technology that's
going to be used for intervention along with available for some of the English if needed, but we cut some other things. So when we put some of the tech budget together along with this, we're we're in in line if that makes sense. And then the novels, is that the name of the
company? >> No, no, no. The the novels are like like, you know, we might buy and I'm just going to take like the outsiders as it they're going to go up eight. It might come in it might come in at 15,000 for the high school. They're just they're still in that process of picking, you know, different groups of
30, 35, whatever they need. 50, you know, depending >> actual books. >> Their actual books because at the high school, middle school, that's more of what they do than >> an English book. >> Okay. And again, I will trust when they come by, you'll eventually approve those as
well, but we need the >> kind of here's what you got and let's go. >> That's all I had. >> Okay. Any other questions on the English or reading curriculum? Not a lot of training then. Is >> there
>> some >> as in Okay. Extensive. Okay. Good. Okay. All those in favor of approving the English reading curriculum say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 8.2 is to
approve the award of the Chromebook bid to the C, excuse me, Chromebook bid to CDWG as presented and attached in workbook. I'll move to approve. >> I'll second. >> If you notice, there are three and I
thank Jason for his work. Jason and Jill, there's three quotes in there. The company that we got last year, I'm gonna say, is the highest of the three. And so, um, I'm gonna say, you know, um, we're going with actually the second. There's about $2,000
different, but they're more of a is robust the right word. >> Correct. >> Um, >> and so it's worth the extra very little bit. And so I take, like I said, Jason and Jill's recommendation. And again, this is the student Chromebooks, you
know, where we've kind of held off on the majority of staff computers for a year. That was one thing that was pulled. >> I'm all about heavy duty for the students. Any questions? Okay. All those in favor of approving
the award for Chromebooks to CDWG say I. I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 8.3 is a motion to approve the career impact academyou as presented and attached in board book.
I'll move to approve. >> I'll second. So again, as I mentioned, for the most part, um I'm thankful for um you know, the opportunity to try this um with Grand Forks. Um, like I say, I think
it's a good opportunity um, for some things, especially for some things that we don't offer. You know, culinary being one, our CNA, we lost our person. Odds of us having a, you know, we'll never have a full-time person. So, keep someone. We only offer one class. Um,
the other things like like with the construction, they have to do they have to do all of our wood classes before they can take. So, it's not, you know, we're um, and we limit it. There are some things we're not allowing kids to try right now to see to make sure this
works. Um and so um like I say, I'm I'm in favor and think it's um a good start. Lynn, do you need some or Lindsay? Sorry. No, I saw Okay. No, >> same thing. And I was trying to >> Okay. So, yeah. Um like say I think it's a good good start and there was some
conversation. And I didn't realize they don't have welding program in that we're going to work over the next year where we could actually possibly get some kids coming this way. Yeah. >> You know, so I think Chad's doing a good job and we'll see where it goes. >> Did you um talk to some of these schools
that already participate over there? >> Personally, no. I mean, they bust their kids and they're on a little some of them are on a little different. You know, as far as transport, we're going to expect it's going to be like PSO. the kids get themselves where where like when Thompson comes, you know, they
bring a busload of kids in for, you know, say first and second hour and then take them back. They they run just like their Grand Forks kids. You know, they have a teacher, they get graded. It's going to be just like ours. You know, they're going to show up over there, do their class, they're going to be graded
by the teacher. If there's any issues, they'll be in community, you know. >> Oh, sure. I was just wondering what their experience was over there. Yeah, >> it was stellar or not. >> No, I guess I didn't reach out and um
>> I'm assuming it is. Do we hear differently? >> No, it should be a great opportunity. Excited to see where it goes. >> How many did you say we have? >> We have 18 right now registered. So, that's the I mean, it's not going to all of a sudden go. We originally had said
we'd limit it at 50. we weren't going, you know, um but it hasn't gotten close and we'll see, like I say, over time. >> Okay. All those in favor of approving the Career Impact Academyou say I. I.
>> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 8.4 is to review um and discuss the potential action of task force recommendation as presented May 7th, 2026. So, you may want to jump over to the Rob
Rob is with us again and has a a has a PowerPoint to I'm going to say quick review some of the stuff and then we we did give you he has this on the PowerPoint but gave some printed options that we can talk about so he can um zip
through his slides if he wants or some of it I I said he could jump over because it has a lot of the stuff you've seen you know the the survey and and so I'm going to let Rob run with that. Well, thanks again for for having me back. Um, can't remember if it's been
about a year or whatever, but I remember the first time I presented to the board, the only place warmer than Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, was Death Valley, >> but I'm like, I >> is it that way again today? >> It's No, not quite. Not quite. It is warm though today. Um, so working with
Kevin, working with the task force. Uh, Kevin and I have had several meetings with variety of different uh, community groups up to this point and um, today we're at a at a point where we're looking to review the task force recommendation that you all saw at your
last board meeting. Um, also just given some of the areas of interest working with Kevin, we've come up with a couple of potential different options from a structure standpoint. Um, and just because if an idea um, you have that's
not up there certainly doesn't mean it's not an option. What we're doing today hopefully is starting a conversation. The wonderful thing about not potentially going in August if the board so chose is that we have a little bit of time. You don't have to pass a
resolution to go to referendum until August or November. And if you choose to go beyond November, then you've got even more time for whatever reason. So, just quickly, um the screen over here, you saw this and I'm just going to step through quick. This first, uh slide is a
summary of those items ranked uh most important to your community to the least. Safety and security, uh HVAC, uh HVAC, so heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing systems. Again, you have three buildings that are all aging at the same time. opened in '98,
plus the high school, some of which hasn't been uh touched, special education space, electrical systems, the CT edition, updated classrooms and support spaces, exterior site, exterior and site maintenance work, and then a
new bus uh garage and maintenance building which tested very very poorly. And so if at any time you have questions, I can zip back to this bond referendum. How we got to um the task force, how they got to the 24
million that is currently uh their question number two. The first capital question is looking at the 50% mark. If you look at non-parents and non- staff, those folks make up in the East Grand Forks community about 70% of your public
of your voters. And so if you add 10 which is the 74.2 million to the seven which is the 60 million so on and so forth where that line indicates is where we have a majority support. And when we work through parents well we
see non-parents non- staff they were looking for something a little bit smaller than 30 million. Uh we look at parents they were all in at 30 million. Staff of course they were in at 45. Um, all in all, through the math, working
with the thirdparty survey consultant, we got to a tax tolerance of your overall community at about 24 million based on the average impact to the average home in your community, which is last year anyway was about $300,000.
Well, this is a few months ago when we took the survey early childhood edition. This was tested but tested separately than those other items that were ranked. Talking to Kevin, we know that uh your a strategic
goal, a board goal, administration goal is to focus on preschool. When we first started talking, we had options and we were testing an option as high as 14.2 million. And we see here as far as the results, we see that staff
and parents there were as far as yes significant support. But when we look at that 70% of non-parents, non- staff, that got us to about 36%. We promised the task force that we would
go back and work the numbers. And furthermore, right at about the same time, Kevin and his team had said we might have the opportunity to not need an addition. we'd be able to take an existing wing, move fifth grade to the middle school, potentially as an option,
reuse that space, and so Rob Nexus, what would it be to renovate um one of the wings at New Heights, as an example, and then move fifth grade over? We got to as of right now, $7.5 million to do that work. Um, and so if we compare the seven
and a half million to the, you know, 14 plus million here, we know we're going to add at several points. Are we going to get to 50%, don't know, but we also know preschool is is a significant need here
based on the objectives you have. Also as important when you look at the not sure typically these people are one of two things uh with staff parents parents non-parents non- staff it's you know I need more information I need to be more educated this is my first
exposure to this I don't know the other part of it is a a Minnesota nice way of saying no and so they're not sure ultimately they'll come to a decision once we have an opportunity to be transparent and educate at some point
So that said, moving on the task force recommendation, there were three questions and their focus was honoring the wishes of your community as through the survey both in tax tolerance as well as the importance of items. So for
instance, safety and security was item number one. They want to make sure that we address all of that in the first capital question. And when we talk about the f the the first question operational support, there was also conversation around originally 500 per year. We had a
special task force meeting to talk about adding an additional $100,000 per year that would support the uh school resource officer. So then if the first question were to pass, the district would be guaranteeing that during the
term of the levy that the SRO or the school resource officer would would that role would remain. Not necessarily you'd have the same person, but that you'd have the same role. And and by the way, Kevin, if I missed something, yeah, chime in. >> Um and so that moved from 500 to 600 for
10 years. The second question is the first capital question and we see that at the tax tolerance all the critical projects not to exceed that 24 million which is the tax tolerance of your public. The third
question was focus on the preschool, but also um at this point a focus on that fifth grade work at CMS, not to exceed $8 million at the time because the the opening of this existing space.
We just had learned that that was an option. And so we went back and said this is to be safe will not exceed $8 million. We're at seven and a half. So that number will come down. Um and then of course uh the financing would be school building bonds.
Something important that 24 million came from your financial advisor ellers. And what they did is that when the high school debt finally falls off, they created a bit of a gap. And so for the same tax tolerance, when we're asking
for 24 million, we could ask for 26.4 million or an additional 2.4 4 million. >> Do you understand that the orange here is the current debt? And so they often do this. They have a drop down so that if things come up, you know, 10 years, 9
years, 11 years, whenever that drops, there is a little bit of gap. You know, if you ever had to go back, it's just a common way they do. So what Rob's saying is if we wanted, and we didn't ask, you know, for how much is this on a 300400,000, you could keep that level all the way across. So, like on a a
$300,000 house, it's $221 a year. That would not change then other than, you know, if we lose population, if we gain population, it might go down. You know, if your value of your house goes up or down, you know, your taxes don't always stay the same, but in a hypothetical
situation, it would stay $221 on a 300,000 for the 20 years. >> Sure. >> And that would actually generate 26.4 million. >> Sure. >> So, that got us, that's where there's going to be some options coming in here. you know, we really hadn't thought because, you know, part of me and I'm just gonna be honest, there's there's
different ways to do the projects, meaning, you know, some of preschool can be done with LTFM where you don't actually have to ask the taxpayer. But again, we want to be transparent on all this, you know, or do we keep it flat, but that brings the third question down,
you know, like to a five million instead of, you know, because five sounds better than seven and a half, you know, type deal. So that's what we're going to look at in each of the three options. For the most part, they're all asking the same thing if everything passed. >> And that's going to be the board's piece
to noodle, if you will, of which one do you think sounds the best again. And like I say, we want to be transparent because the last thing I want is someone coming back going, "Geez, I didn't realize, you know, you were doing X, Y, or Z, you know."
>> Yeah. And so thank you for that. And that's a great place to uh pause for a moment. Um I just zipped through a ton of slides, all of which you've seen at least most. Do you have any questions or are there any slides you want me to go back on before I continue? And this is
your time. >> So the payment, let's say somebody has like a $300 tax payment right now. Their payment would never go up. It would just stay the same. Well, in a theoretical world where never nothing
changed. Yeah. Would I if we >> because it wouldn't p it doesn't hit them for another year or so. >> No, but what I'm saying though is if if theoretically this is where we're coming up with a $300,000 house, the payment is 221, >> right? >> If we went on the original the which
we're going to see is first option. >> Yeah. >> After nine years, technically it's going to drop a bit. It might go to 200. I'm just guessing. It's not like it cuts in half or anything, but there's a little bit where it drops, >> right? >> So, then we got talking and came up with
a different idea. Well, what happens? We just said we're going to ask for 26.4 is what it comes out to. >> It's going to be two 21 for 20 years. Nothing changed yet. You see what I'm getting at? >> Yeah. So it still go up and down essentially but not >> well the only way it goes up or down
then is if the number of taxpayers changes >> because say we got an extra thousand people in town. >> Well now your tax base is bigger and so I understand that or if you know we lose people your taxes can go up or if your house value changes >> but I mean in a hypothetical
>> to begin with how things >> be steady. >> Yeah. So something else to just to keep in mind again transparency is is important. Um you see where that bracket is page 3.4 when when the high school debt falls off and I what year is that Kevin?
>> 2036 >> 36 there's nine years left. >> Okay. And so in with transparency the community's uh property taxes if nothing else happens would would drop a little bit. If we took advantage of that
now where we say we're going to go after 26.4 million versus 24, everything just stays level. There is no drop off. >> But then you're able to do more in today's dollars >> versus >> which will get you more than a 20 years. >> Yeah. >> 100%.
>> So what other questions do you have before I continue? Anything about the rankings? anything about the >> it'll make more sense when we look at the three options why we're we're we're kind of >> seven seven million seems like a lot of money to use existing space like how
what's in that budget like what why do we need that much money to move >> there would be an add-on >> no there would no additions there's no addition >> no that's just using our existing space that's taking >> or the preschool >> but what you're doing is you're changing walls so you're changing lighting so
you're changing you know the again a lot of it's being used >> it's really high for not >> for using existing space >> yeah and so I mean the so in that in that space is the mechanical work the electrical work um we're adding bathrooms
>> bathrooms >> bathrooms >> but we're also doing some >> it's going to look like they did in that plan where it's like closed off one toilet >> oh so it's um for our preschool littles um they in their classroom they have a little person bathroom and it's big
enough so that a parent can go in with them and we know little kids if they're you know four years old whatever when they have to go to the bathroom it's I have to go like right now so they have the bathroom in that in the classroom >> so each classroom will have its own bathroom >> there
>> okay >> but there's also some of that at the at CMS so that we can kind of have a fifth and sixth if you re recall separate from seventh and name >> yes >> and so like on the far end you know there's some reconfiguration of those bathrooms as well. >> Yes.
>> Is it like we talked about >> Yeah. It's it's like what showed >> the stool in a closet type thing and then have the sinks outside like not an actual bathroom for them to go into as a group. >> Are we talking about the Jack and Jill? >> Well, no. Talking about one of those.
>> No, at the individual >> that individual toilet and then like sink. >> Yep. >> On the one. Not every bathroom in the middle school isn't all that way, but the one on the I'm going to say the far end when it got where we could put a >> current seventh grade thing would be
kind of split between like sixth and seventh. You know, on one side of the wall it's going to be seventh and eighth and one side it's going to be fifth and sixth. So that bathroom on the end is going to get redone into what we call individual bathrooms. If I recall right, it wouldn't be like now where you have a
boys and a girls and on the other side of boys and a girls it's going to be >> different >> whatever three four bathrooms I don't know how many were there individual >> and so at the just so the seven and a half we're talking about three um budget right now 3.3 of that is for new heights
and and that work >> um when we talk about CMS that's where the the 4.2 to or the the delta is for that. And the interesting thing about CMS and you know certainly chime it if you think it appropriate. Um what what
we heard from the task force is the idea of fifth graders you know roaming the halls with eighth graders wasn't overly attractive. What we've done with the plan is we've actually divided the school, the classrooms into a fifth and sixth grade house that is divided and
those individual bathrooms would divide the two schools. They'd have, you know, basically their own sink and the individual stalls. So, you'd have a house for fifth and sixth and then a separate house for seventh and eighth. So, you have that isolation. Um, and then we're using some of the additional
space that's um over by the gym. So right now there are three preschool classrooms. Then they have a another space which we use at homework rooms in our sixth and eight but we don't have that in our seventh grade homework room for Paris before school. Um but the
preschool has that space as well as well as the lunchroom which was the old wrestling room. So there is some square footage there. the preschool is using that as well as some reductions of the middle school that opened up another
classroom or two and that's why wouldn't the addition the square footage is there but it's not built as a 58 especially if we did want to almost be like two houses or two to have that elementary transition to fit six and then junior
high at 78 and this is still a little high in the sky philosophical kind of discussion. We're not ready yet. >> Yeah. And and again to Matt's point, we haven't gone into formal design yet. You
know, we've gotten far enough from a schematic design standpoint, which is just high enough level to uh provide budgeting at this point. >> Um but then you would have those houses and the isolation that I think your public feels comfortable with ultimately.
So, >> do you remember Rob, what was the cost of of adding on for preschool edition? >> Well, a standalone that's where the 14.2 like if you went off of South Point and developed a standalone cult preschool center which had, you know, I'm not
going to say a full-size gym, but it had gym. It had not a full kitchen, but it had some warm, you know, that type. You're developing everything. That's where that 14.2 came from. You know, standalone school, if you will. parking lot, everything, you know, off that.
Then we started looking at, you know, if you added a new wing on, >> but that's where the brakes kind of hit because we kind of went, hang on here, you know, how close are we? Can we fit it? >> But do you remember that number? >> Well, I don't think we ever got to there whether it was going to be it. I don't
know if we got >> there's a number of these >> number that big book >> and I want to say it was like you know eight n million dollars for the one I knew it was and the one it was >> I can't remember if it was a little bit more a little less >> one more million and you get a whole another wing.
>> That's what I'm wondering if longterm if it would give us more room to grow if we added on >> versus working with their existing space that's only saving a couple million dollars. But I think the tax tolerance and stuff
is like the variation is literally only a couple million dollars. So that might be why I'm thinking that this was the other. >> But it's more space. You know, obviously if you end up needing more space, but it's more area to clean, it's more area to maintain. You know, that becomes an
increased cost as well. self is where we could put an addition. And so you have school three, four, five buildings still >> unless you flip-flop one, two, >> you flip-flop.
>> Sure. >> Yeah. Yeah. I forgot about that aspect of it. >> Yep. Yep. keep going though because um like I say I think when we start looking at the different options you know some of it will become a little more
>> it's probably never gonna I mean if I can I don't disagree it's probably never going to be perfect like I think there's depending on the growth of the the community like there's going to be something we're going to have to do eventually regardless but for now with
this this might just be what we do. >> Yeah. hard to know what's hard. >> Have you, you know, you want to look back and be like, >> have you looked into if our community is growing or decreasing? >> Um, right now all we have is your your enrollment trends and you appear to be somewhat flat,
>> steady >> enrollment technically is slowly going down. you know, whether that continues. I mean, it's not a drastic, you know, where you're losing, you know, a huge >> shown to gain or lose a bunch out of Okay, so it's pretty much stagnant.
>> But business-wise, I guess you guys are going to have to tell me more over the last five years. Have you gained business or have you lost business? >> The last five years aren't the haven't been a normal >> Well, that's true. >> That's true, too. But I mean there's more and I'm just going to be honest more business going on the other side
>> but yet there are things going here. So I mean I don't know what percentage-wise you know obviously we'd love to have a another big whatever come in but if that happens yeah I think you're going to have some other challenges. Seems like as as the
years go on, there's even if as even if it's a steady enrollment, it seems like there's more and more things that we find that we want to add to our school or that we're required to add to the school and always looking for more space. >> Yeah.
>> Well, whatever it's worth, you know, when it comes to your public's supporting something with the school, >> it always goes over better when you're talking about making do with the space you already have. True. >> Yeah. And we have the space. It's just configured horribly. >> Right. Right.
>> At least that's what I've heard from the task force and from this whole process. We have the space essentially. It's just we it was never >> Well, but even when you go back to 98, I don't know if you had preschool way back. >> Zero idea. No. >> You know, and so what's happened, it's been added when the the buildings have
been more full. And so you put them in different places and now the gold >> we had we had three then >> correct >> adjusted correctly right >> the room size you know bigger room
kindergarten >> so unless there's anything else we'll step >> in and seriously I mean this is this is your time to have a conversation. So I you know we can jump around back and forth. So the the task force recommendation is what you saw on the
other slide. This is just a little tighter. Uh the one thing you'll see is that instead of the not to exceed 8 million, you see it's the 7.5. That's because that's where our budget is at. So we've been able to shave off that half million dollars. Um, and again, because the original $8 million
was based on, you know, less than a week's notice that this is an option, so we went to work right away. This is this is sharper. Um, now here's an optional approach. Um, so of course,
question one will be consistent through all of these because that's what you need. Question two, you see the capital referendum is not to exceed 26.4. Again, the intent is to take advantage of that original fall-off. We're just going to keep things flat,
continue to focus on the highly regarded projects per the the task force recommendation. Um, you'll see the CMS fifth grade renovation. That additional $2.4 million could go towards that renovation without impacting your taxpayers at all.
No question three. So instead of asking your public for seven and a half addition seven and a half additional million what we'd be looking at is uh 3.3 for a focus on prek which we could the board could take action like LTFM health
and safety IQ there's an LTFM for uh 4K prek specifically where that 3.3 again you could take action and then that would go on the tax roles without about a referendum. Now, to be clear, and Kevin and I, Kevin's been very
clear, and you all have been clear, and your task force has been clear, transparency and early communication through all this is going to be critically important. We don't want to have anybody thinking we're, you know, playing a shell game or, you know, hiding the cheese or any of that. We
would tell them up front, this is what we're doing and this is why. The reason this option exists is because if your preschool is that important where you don't want to risk doing that work, this would give the board that opportunity to
get her done. Well, you still need what it does is question two still has to pass so that you can get the CMS how it needs to be. >> But there are no >> you don't have to have a third question. But again, what I've told Rob is if
we're going to do this, the tax is going to be about the same to the first option to this option, you're you're getting the same amount of money. It's just what you have to you don't need three yeses to do it all. You need two >> two, >> right?
>> But again, when we go and explain, here's going to be the tax impact for 300,000. If we do all of it, it's going to be I'm just throwing a number $400 a year. So that's one way to go. You want to flip to the last?
>> So here's the here's the last one where we keep uh question one again the same. Question two stays the same except instead of 24 it goes into that 26.4 CMS fifth grade renovation focus
and then having a question three. So we are going to going to go to your public with a third question capital referendum not to exceed instead of the 7.5 we would ask them for 5.1 to Kevin's earlier point probably 15 minutes ago
5.1 is less than 7.5 >> you know it just sounds better the tax impacts the same in all three for the part you see what I was saying it's just >> but there's a chance that question three if we ask it then it it does not pass
and then we don't get to do what we want to do with the preschool. >> Well, correct. And then >> well, well, depending on what option we choose, >> well, we'd only have we wouldn't have enough to do >> if one passes and two passes and three doesn't pass, we can always go back and do that.
>> Correct. >> If I guess what I'm going though is I want to be transparent. I agree with you, but we can have the conversation later to go back and say, "Listen, we really feel like we need this community. We're talking about doing this." I mean,
we could do that >> or do you look at number and that's where again >> or you just do it this way right off the bat? >> I agree. I I really feel like the community supports this. I'm not saying that this is where I want to go, >> but this is I mean
>> like ask and then do the thing that they don't. You know what I mean? feels forced to do it like that because then they said no and >> I'm just laying it out there that that I'm laying it out there that is something we could >> Yeah. And so, and Lindsay, I think to to your point and and Kevin and I have gone
around and around this um is that ultimately if if you did this, question three fails, and then you go back and say, "Okay, well, fine, no question three." And then you take board action, you're basically going to the public and saying, "I
I don't disagree, but it's there." >> You're just saying it's an option. It is there. I get it. Thank you. Thank you. I get >> I'm not saying I want to do that. >> Yeah. Talk it up. transportation we could not but you know like no I get it it's just there as a fact. >> So why did the task force say they want
to do the 24 million and not the 264 we >> we didn't go there Eller's just we asked for a tax run >> and so they gave us the tax run for 24 million and they staggered it like they typically do because very often 10 years down the road or somewhere something
else comes up a little bit >> and so they that's just how they >> they just didn't have that information. We just never went no difference. You could you could drop it way down and have a big increase 10 years down the road. You know, they just did a typical run. >> Sure. >> Knowing where we're going to land.
>> And it was done after the task force met and made the recommendation. >> Was actually before the task force. We got some, you know, we got some just like the 500,000. I gave them a number, you know, kind of like, hey, that's 250 a kid. Way below the local Yeah. You
know, range. If I would asked for 300, they would have given whatever. You know, we just took a, you know, where's a good starting point where would help us out. I mean, I would love to have a thousand bucks a kid like some neighboring districts. And >> so, we have some time. We don't have >> you don't have to make a decision
tonight. It's it's up to with it a little. >> And again, there's other options. The more time we spool things, you know, all of these are very similar. You know, I mean, they're they're the exact same. >> If it was voted on in August or in November, does the start time change? No, we're focused on I'm I'm going to
say we're focused on November because if you want to do an operating question, you can't do it in August right now. >> Okay. >> And so, like I say, that's why I mean, if you were saying, "Hey, we got to do the capital thing." >> You'd have to do them separate. You'd have to do a special election in August for the bond and then come back for the
operating. The other thing that we haven't thrown out is are are there any questions you want contingent on one passing compared to the next, you know, and because again that is, you know, now I go back to my only prior life. We did
the operating question was contingent on passage before the other question. >> So like all or nothing essentially. Well, you well, you know, >> you were people weren't going to pass the building stuff, >> but they would pass the other ones. So, you had to put them together in order to
get the >> When would this So, if we >> This is all going to be in November. So, would that be looking like that renovation be ready to go for 2728 school year? >> So, we would start design. So, the downside of waiting till November versus
August is that we lose three months of design work. We typically want to go to bid in January, February. I mean, Matt, I think you'd agree is that that's when contractors are typ >> um and we would want to take advantage
of that. That said, um we would structure it so that we have certain things ready to go early so we're able to take advantage of when kids aren't in school and all that. And be also because we're not doing any full additions,
>> um, we'll be able to march along, I think, and make more progress than we would have otherwise. So I long and the short is we're going to lose a little bit, but we're not going to lose a significant amount. There will be work that will happen that following summer, >> and so there will be construction
inflation regardless. Um, just a couple quick things. the uh the survey, the community survey, you know, we tested what are those ranked items. Safety and security was number one and also what is the tax tolerance? And so you see the 221 for the $300,000 home. We did not
test specifically the 24 million. We tested we told them it was 24 million, but we said your tax tolerance is the $221 on the average home of $300,000 in this community. And that would be our commitment is that this is what you said you would support. it happens to be
more, we would explain why that is. And generally speaking, people will will accept it. As long as my taxes don't go up any more than what you said they were going to through the survey, we're fine. Um also, um if in fact, question one or and we
can talk about contingency here for a moment. If if in fact any of these fail or all of them fail in odd years, you do have the opportunity um to go for an operating
referendum during other months than November. What would happen then is you'd have a write in election, write in ballots. People wouldn't go to their typical precinct. They wouldn't vote as typical. They'd get a they get a mail and ballot.
There's there's pros and and potentially some cons to that. And so if you fail in November, whatever those items that didn't make it, you could choose to try again in that April, that April election. I mean, in Minnesota, you can
go five times, February, April, May, August, November. >> We typically would target in April, though, just given where things are at. It would give us more time to communicate, but it would be a mail-in ballot. almost always it falls in the favor of a school district to go that
way. Um, but it's an option. So, um, so let's talk about contingency for a second. I'm going to jump ahead to >> Can I say Rob? Can I say something quick just while we're on the subject? Um, one
thing I've heard several times uh talking to people about possible tax raises, they complaining about taxes never go down. They always go up. do always keep adding things, adding things, adding things, and they never go down. When we talk about the when we talk about the old loan possibly that
that tax level possibly dropping after that expires, um, it might be worth being able to tell people that it's not that your taxes will go down. when when that does expire, it's not going to just keep continuing, which people kind of fear that is always going to happen.
That there just might be something to have in your back pocket to tell those people that know your taxes will go down in the future when that first loan expires >> depending on which one we choose, >> which Yes. >> Yeah. >> Well, and I
school districts generally speaking and and what you've said is 100% correct, Matt. um they they generally don't go down typically because in districts where a district has allowed debt to or a levy to fall off, it becomes
significantly more challenging to get that that tax support back because once it's off, it looks like so much more money you, you know, asking for stuff than it does if you're just asking for a little bit because you've got debt falling off. It's just that u appetite
for for that payment, if you will. Sure. >> Um and you certainly could, but no board can commit a future board to anything, >> right? >> And so if you've got seven years between now, then that debt would fall off. I'm
I could be wrong, but I'm going to guess that all of you are probably doing something different. Maybe or maybe you love school board and you're on, but you'll be probably the only person. Um the district will likely need other monies for whether it's operating or for other capital work. I mean all in all
the uh the the prioritized needs of that 10-year report was $69 million. One of the things that you saw in the task force recommendation was that the 24 million that they offered up at the tax tolerance doesn't come anywhere close to
addressing all of the needs of your school district. And so there are districts that say, "We're going to do this 24 million now and we're going to wait three, four years. We're going to continue to communicate and then go back to referendum again as long as we can we don't surprise them. Nobody wants to be
surprised." I'm not saying do that. But I mean to your point, you guys as a board can do anything you want. Um I just be would be would be really cautious on that. >> Okay. >> So >> Sure. Appreciate it. >> But you're correct. I mean, we are all it's like everybody wants that.
>> That's just what I've been hearing. >> Everybody wants that. Who doesn't? Right. >> Right. >> Um, so as it relates to the work, so the capital project and we're only talking about the uh the first capital project. Question two, that 24 million if if
we're successful, we're and this is these are conservative numbers because we don't want to overpromise and underdel. We're looking at from a utility standpoint saving you approximately $35,000 a year. with with that work and then saving you
approximately $65,000 a year in ongoing maintenance upgrades, low voltage systems, HVAC, your lighting, a lot of it is not LED as an example. Um there's just a lot of stuff that your uh fund, excuse me, fund one will and LTFM will
need to continue to have money for that this addresses. And so as we're looking at cuts by doing this work, it provides a built-in cut. Now, all that said, as as Kevin said, when we talk about contingency,
question three should be contingent on the first capital question that it doesn't make sense to do it any other way. Um, the second question being contingent on your operating question. There are historically in every district where I work almost almost always
I say do that because there's as Kevin have said um sometimes you have air exchange systems or air conditioning or whatever work it just and the district needs that operating money. I think the conversation likely you'll need to have is
with the if you make question two or question one contingent on to that all or nothing and the communication we're going to have around question one with the school resource officer if they pass it, people
are going to be passionate around having that school resource officer in your community. I'm I'm confident of it. Mhm. >> Um it was brought up during our task force by an individual who said, "Well, it looks like you're you're putting the school resource officer making that hostage on question one and then you're
looking at all the capital work being hostage on the operating and then question three is hostage on, you know, question two." And so basically all of this money is we're making contingent on having a school
resource officer. The public may or may not like that. Now, you need the operating money. You need the operating money. And so, the conversation that you all should have, in my opinion, is,
you know, what do you want the message like with your with your public is if the if if question one is tethered to the SRO, I feel confident that that's going to be supported. But if you make everything contingent on the SRO,
it's a challenge maybe. >> And see, I I don't see it that way. You know, we increased 100,000, >> you know, to have that guarantee, but I I guess, you know, the 500,000 was being asked for before we made any reductions, you know, and again, even if you go 600,
you know, and there wasn't that, you may say we'd never look at the SRO again. you know, we heard that that but it was just a way to kind of guarantee. >> Yeah. >> You know, and my concern though is if again I'm and I Rob has heard me say this is if you did this and the building
projects pass and we got to come back and cut another 500,000 next year because that's really what you're looking at. You know, we pulled 400, you know, from the transportation stuff, the computers, this and that. We're going to need the support. You know, I I just
struggle with that. you know to and again yeah we need to upgrade our facilities will they last another year if we had to come back or two year you know the reality is there's probably and I'm just throwing a number 12 million of stuff that you could do without going to
you know if all the heat pumps start going if all the you know the preschool the again we don't want to do that because we want a bigger ask we want to be transparent but I'm just afraid like I say if that first of all the operating doesn't pass we're sitting back here
coming up with and I'm going to say we all of us in here where's another 500,000 next year >> right >> you know 600 whatever you know the number ends up being and I just I struggled and I understand the piece of going contingent contingent maybe that's where you go to two questions you know
and going two is a contingent on one there's only two questions but here's what the big picture is and here's what the total tax impact is for everything, you know. Well, >> go ahead. To add on to that, we talked a
little bit about April as a for instance. And so, hypothetically, if everything's contingent and everything fails and then you take everything and go again in April with the mail in ballot, the chances of
passing everything again is is not terribly great. However, if just given how the the taxes are paid. If the capital is not contingent on the operating and let's say hypothetically the capital does pass, the operating
doesn't, you could go again in April just with the capital. They have it be a mail and ballot and your chances of success are in my very humble opinion I think pretty good because the people that are going to respond are the passion people and all in the way we would structure the communication. All
of your parents would be we got to get after this. >> Yeah. Um, and so that provides or flip flip-flop, the operating does pass and they're not contingent. Then in April, we could go back with the the capital piece, but then that would be a regular
uh election. If the operating is tethered, that's what makes it the mail election. So again, you have flexibility. Um, in in my mind, if if it if you go in November, it passes or if you go in April and it passes, when those funds
become available to the district, both happen at the same time, which is that is that accurate? >> Yeah. Yeah. Because it's when >> Yeah. And so, and if and let's say April, it fails in November, it fails in April, and you win in August, same thing. It still pays, but that's your
last chance for it to pay that following year. So, you've got swings. But if you take everything and it fails and you go again and it's it's just going to continue to be this tidal wave of because you're asking for a lot and it's all contingent on stuff and then at the same time you're making all these cuts,
you know, it just I mean how do we make it bite-sizable for your public to readily consume, readily support and embrace and also provide the best chances of you guys having success? Did you say if option one passes and it's not contingent we can't go back in
April for option two and three? >> You can but it would be not a mail ballot. >> You mail in is the most expensive way to go and but that's the only way you can do an operating. >> Okay. >> Is either either in November or in odd
or in off years doing a mail in but you can do a capital any time and they go to wherever they vote and typically they go to one place. That's why we do that resolution every year to say if there's not nothing else going on, you do a single polling place. I don't know where
it is in East Grand if it's the school or whatever city hall, but you do that resolution every year just in case you need to. But like I say, building can go five times a year. Um >> Okay. Yeah. I think the operating is
just the most important out of the three options that we need. long term your people are going to need >> this other stuff. >> Yeah. Next year. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, just something else quick. Um again, you are the only school district in your
area that does not have uh an operating and then the other if both question. >> Can you go back one >> and repeat it? >> Well, no. And even at the $300 per kid, notice where we're going to be on operating. the $300 per kid is going to bring
roughly the 600,000. So, I mean, again, I think it's I think there's a good chance of selling that. >> Yeah. Yes. >> And you could argue maybe we don't even need a contingency, but I'm just afraid, you know, that if somehow that didn't go
there, you said you might have the upgrades physically, >> right? >> But you don't. So, sorry. >> No, no. And and again, we showed the the savings you know, if if the capital does go,
that's $100,000 that if you have to cut 500, you're looking at 400. >> Um, so this last piece here, this is just question one, question two, if both pass. Now, we went from 500 to 600, so
it's going to be a little bit more, but you're still right in the middle of the pack. Mhm. >> And so when we're talking to the public about where you're at and then if both pass where you're at in the future, it I mean it's it's it's highly palatable, I think.
>> And keep in mind Fischer's going way up, you know. So you stay right in the middle. >> Yep. >> If Yep. >> So that's the intent again was to start a conversation. You guys again don't have to decision tonight. What what questions
do you have? >> I don't have any right now. No, just >> is there anything? >> And if you can't make it, >> if you don't mind, as you think of it, please share with Kevin. >> Um, he'll share with me, we'll collaborate, and then we'll be back at
your next meeting and just get ready for another conversation. I I guess the question between now and I don't even know what our first June meeting is. Is there any time that we want to you know are we going to be ready? Well, not
necessarily special meeting. I mean say if if there's questions we need them by this date. >> Sure. >> So that a we can get answers and either not to say on the next meeting you have to but at some point we got to make a decision. >> Yeah. And we need to make a decision sooner rather than later. I think you said >> and like I say, all three are very
similar. It's just how you say it and what you do. You know, they're they're all asking the exact same thing. Whether you want three questions, whether you want two questions, do you want anything contingent? Do you want You see what I'm getting at? >> Is there a reason that we can't make a decision at the next meeting?
>> That was literally just ready. Oh, >> I think we should have as many people. I would like a green one. I get that next probably. >> I think we can >> do it next time. >> Yeah, let's have I mean, how in advance
do you want >> Well, what I'm getting at is if you give and I'm just not going to speak for Rob. If you if you emailed me this morning X and needed info, it depends if we have enough time to get it. Like Ellers's it takes several days to get information. I
ran just just so you're aware, I'd gotten them, you know, going from the the 500,250 a kid to 300 on the 300 house went up $27. Okay. You know, I But again, they're not going to provide that tax deal in three hours, right? >> So, I mean,
>> so if we can give you the information by the third and >> Yeah. Okay. >> If there's anything we need, I mean, some things you could get answers, you know, Rob could answer right away or maybe I could answer or or whatever. Yeah. >> Um it's just if there's any major questions that we need outside help
either MDE or Ellers or whomever, >> you know, if we can have a some days to to get them and then yeah, let's whatever conversation we have to have have and there isn't a wrong right or wrong answer. We just got to, you know, make a decision and now let's start communicating.
>> If we have any questions, get them to them by the third. >> Perfect. mental health >> and what I'll do just for everybody's benefit is I'll I'll share these slides with everybody >> right >> so you have something to you know as you know Sunday morning or Saturday morning you have nothing better you're like do
schoolboard work >> so yes I'll share all that with you >> if you guys have any questions just you know let let him know he'll share with me and we'll get after it >> perfect thank you >> yeah no it's next up
>> thank you so there's There's nothing to vote on there, right? Just >> No. No. Because again, I mean, if you wanted to, you could have. >> No. No, we're good. >> Okay. If five is to approve the hire of White Hang Slavven as summer maintenance >> and I'll recuse myself from that. >> Okay. So, I'll make a motion to approve.
>> I'll second. >> Okay. Any questions or discussion? Okay. All those in favor of approving Wyatt Hangman for summer maintenance position say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 9.0 O is payment of claims and accounts.
>> I'll make the motion to approve the payment of K12 bills 131 735 through131836 in the amount of $119,42853. >> Oh, go ahead. >> Lind. Okay.
>> Any questions or discussion? >> All those in favor of paying the claims and account say I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. See 10.0 board member comments. Matt, I'll start with you. >> Uh, congratulations to all of the
graduates. It was uh it's always fun seeing those ceremonies. So, good luck to everybody in the future. >> Lindsay, >> I have no comments tonight. >> Okay. >> Um, graduation was awesome. I liked it at the Chester Fritz, but I would love to know what everyone else thinks about it because I didn't graduate from
Eastside, so I don't know the nostalgia aspect of it. Um, and I really liked the discussion tonight about the referendum. >> Yeah. Um, congratulations to all the graduates. Chester Fritz was nice. I did graduate from East Side. It was I'm a
little torn. >> Yeah, me and Matt talked about it afterwards, too. He was like, I don't know. And I'm like, I don't know. I asked a lot of people. It's kind of split. I don't to me. I don't know. >> The band right there, the symbols on that Irish songof,
>> but it was a beautiful song. I don't want to take Beautiful. Yes. >> Symbol was a little tough. >> Yeah. >> Um but it was a really nice ceremony. So very nice. And there's still some spring sports going on. Summer sports. Spring. Spring sports. There's no summer sports.
>> So starts tomorrow. >> Oh my gosh. Yes. So uh 11.0 next meeting board of education scheduled for June 8th, 2026 5:30 this room. 12.0 is to adjourn adjourn the regular meeting.
I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> All right. All those in favor of adjourning the meeting say I. I. >> Any oppose? Motion carries.