Good evening everyone. At this time, I'll call to order the business meeting for the Fable Public School Board here on August 18th, uh, 2025. We welcome all of you who are in attendance here at district office and those those of you who are watching online
at this time. Uh, director Steves, is there a quorum present? Yes, Mr. Chair, there is. Thank you. Would everyone please stand 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. Thank you. Agenda item number two is approval of agenda. Is there a motion for approval of the agenda? So move. Thank you, Director Budro. Is there a second?
Second. Thank you, Director Steves. Any discussion? Any discussion? Discussion. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion passes. 6. Agenda item number three is recognition,
awards, and presentations. First, I'm going to deate from the agenda for just a little bit. First, uh, first of all, I'd like to recognize our new student board representative over here, Miss Amamira Williams. Uh, air is going to be
I'll let you introduce yourself a little bit, but a junior at the high school. And if you have followed the high school, you know that she's an outstanding student as well as a three sport athlete and a tremendous I'm going to say bass player in the orchestra. Did I get that right? I always want to say
cello, but bass player like that. So, if you just want to say a couple words about yourself, Amamira, that you don't have to give the school report now, but just a little intro about yourself and we'll go from there. Um, so my name's Amamira. I'm a junior at Fabro High School. Um, I've been in
the district since kindergarten. I've been a part of orchestra since fourth grade. I play the bass. Um, I have also been a part of student council since fourth grade and I'm now the secretary at Fable High School. Uh other clubs I've been a part of uh have been honor
society, district youth council, DECA, faith club, and that's all while attending the high school. Um I have also been a part of four varsity sports since seventh grade. Girls basketball, volleyball, softball, and now swimming. Uh this coming season will be my second year as captain for the girls basketball
team. Uh while at the high school, I've always had seven periods in person. So, if any of you guys have questions about what it's like um dayto-day, feel free to reach out. Uh my mom also works in the district. She's a fifth grade teacher at Lincoln. Uh and I have
siblings at FMS, FMS, and Lincoln Elementary. Uh I would love to set up a time to speak with uh each and every one of you individually just to get to know you better and if you have any questions or concerns. Um uh but then other than that, uh thank you for your time and I
just want to know uh I'm going to give it give it my all. Thank you, mayor. Excellent. Uh, next we'll move on to agenda item 3A, uh, recognition, uh, for No Tummies, uh, Left Behind, uh, Miss Ella Bettner.
So, if you'd like to come up to the table, please, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here first. And, um, welcome once again. Thank you. So, I'll give you a little intro here. Um, it is with great appreciation that I recognize
an outstanding act of generosity within our community. Ella Bettner, through her initiative, No Tummies Left Behind, has generously donated $824.76 to eliminate the negative lunch account
balances acrewed during the 2024 through 2025 school year. While standard school lunches are now provided at no cost to families, balances then can still accumulate when students choose second meals or additional items.
Thanks to Ella and the generosity of those who supported her, we able to alleviate this burden for many families. Her thoughtfulness, compassion, and commitment to helping others represent the very best of our school community, and I want to personally thank her for
stepping up in such a meaningful way. On behalf of the entire school board, school district, and community, I extend our our heartfelt appreciation to Ella and every donor who made this contributional possible. Your impact is real and your generosity makes a
difference. So, Ellis, what would you like to say share or say to us tonight? Um, well, I'm the founder of No Tummy Left Behind, a charity I started to help fight food insecurities in school.
Um, I've been here before to support schools and speak up for students who might be going through tough times, especially when it comes to something as basic and important as Even though Minnesota has the free school meals for all bill, which is an
amazing step forward, it doesn't cover everything. There are still students who are food insecure and families who might be slight silently struggling. That's why my work with No Tummies Left Behind isn't done yet. Today, I'm proud to donate $824.76
to help pay off negative lunch balances for students in Fairville public schools. But it's not just about the money. It's about sending a message to those kids that someone cares about them even if they don't know who I am. I started No Time Left Behind because I believe
students shouldn't have to worry about food. They should be thinking about science, art, sports, not if they can afford a meal. Lastly, I would like to remind other young people that you don't have to wait until you order to make a difference. You just have to notice a problem and care enough to do something
about it, no matter how big or small. Ella, we thank you once again so much. Let's all give her a round of applause. [Applause] And Ella, I'm going to ask you to come up front here. And board members, if
you'd come around and we'll take a Mr. Benty, come around. We'll take a photo. Okay, Candace, I just can't see you. Okay, there we go. Okay, ready. We have one more.
Are you able to take a copy of the what Mr. Millham read the family? Next agenda item 3B, we have a presentation uh from the Farwell Area Learning Center, Mr. Jake Hager, our uh
Farro Area Learning Center director. And is Miss Jarvis also going to Okay. So, good evening, Mr. Hager, and welcome. Thanks for having me here. Thanks for
inviting us to share a little bit about the ALC and some highlights from this year. So working yet? Perfect. Um so just going to highlight, you know, three or four things just from this year. In all honesty, it was a great year. Um as far as graduation
goes, what I love about the LC and how we get to um celebrate with our kids is instead of just having one ceremony at the end of the year, we actually get to have two celebrations every year. Um I don't a lot of times people don't realize BLC,
but we have people graduating all year long. So last summer we ended up graduating four students and then for our winter celebration we ended up having eight more students and then we finished off with 21. So in the end it was really a great year getting to
celebrate with our students, our families on getting the to that getting across that final hurdle because in the end that's what this is about is really helping our students you know bridge the gaps whether it's on the personal side of things, the academic side of things
to find those successes to really be able to get to that final goal the graduation and then on to the next steps in their lives. Cool thing. So this summer we already have four more graduates. So we had one student come over from the high school,
helped them get, you know, just a couple classes in, and then we had three more students that really were with us full-time at the ALC. So already celebrating this summer. So um the next thing that I just want to highlight is symposiums.
So when I was teaching at the ALC, we actually that's when we started symposiums. And what symposiums are is it's just an opportunity for our teachers to teach different things that they normally wouldn't. It's an opportunity for our students to experience things that they normally
wouldn't. And if the students are successful with the symposiums, they're actually able to earn some extra credit. So when we were looking at this, we were trying to figure out what's the best way that we could approach symposiums because in the past we've done it where
we just have one symposium session in a year. We've done it where we have two symposiums and we're like, you know, slow and steady wins the race. We don't need to jump in. So what we ended up doing is just focusing on one session for this year or for this past year. And
so what we end up doing is taking one week from the very last week of first semester and the very first week of second semester and we just sort of pause our regular classes and the students they're able to choose what classes they want to participate in
which we have they'll choose one class will be before lunch for two and a half hours and then the second symposium's after lunch for two and a half hours. So, um just some opportunities that they had. Um our science teacher taught forensics. So, most of the classes are
elective credit, but if we are able to tie in standards from different classes, then we can actually get them credit for some of the core classes that they need. So, forensics was a really cool one, super popular, you know, crime scene investigation. And that's actually me.
That's my autopsy on the right hand side. Um Abby, our English teacher, got mad and slit my throat with a hockey stick. So, what you don't see in that picture is right next to me is our office manager, Maria Garcia, and she was murdered by
our social worker, but her her murderer was not found guilty because she pled insanity. So, I think she's over in St. Peter, right? I forget. But, but that's another one's financial literacy. Um, what it
was truly called is how to get out of your parents' basement. That was Abby Bloomquist, our uh English teacher. And then Josh Mitchell taught a sort of a sports focused class but in brackettology.
Um some other opportunities, tan tanning and leather working, digital storytelling, I like to call it movie making. And then anime and Japanese history that was taught by our social science teacher. So any students that were taking that one actually got to get world history credit, too. So, um, the
tanning and leather working, it was interesting. We actually brought in actual hides from the animals and the kids had it surprised, it surprised the crap out of me, I'll be honest. And they were actually like scrape it off the bat and they
actually truly made, you know, they tanned the hides. So then on top of that, they made some leather belts and things like that. Like it was really cool. And last but not least, made in Minnesota.
J want to talk about it? Okay. What was really cool about this is so Jackie called it made in Minnesota, but I really I would have liked to call it Maiden Fairbowl because you she did an awesome job of highlighting the history
that is in Farbo. I think a lot of times we forget about it and Jamie you were talking about it earlier today to the new staff all the things that really go on in Farbo and that you can do in Farbo. And so it was almost every day or every day that the kids were out and we
actually took them on different field trips. Um the lefthand picture that's in the cathedral they were ringing the bells. Um went to the Alexander Farwell House to uh what were all the tours?
Wills. So it was really just getting them out to experience different things. So, um, farm animals, lit Hershey, she just retired, but actually taking the kids out and working with the animals at her house, lined up some other tours of some
other farms in the area. So, really making those connections. And then parenting 101 from Heather Castile. Um, the other thing that I want to highlight and I've been super proud of is our collaboration between the ALC and
the high school and really working with each other to try and figure out what opportunities can we create to help get students back on track at the LC, but even uh more importantly or just as importantly at the high school. And
every year we've been coming up with different ideas of how we can go about this. Two years ago, we started looking at the idea of learning labs. And what we really saw was we always had the summer school and night credit recovery option, but there's always a lot of barriers in the way for our students to
be able to access those opportunities. So we figured out how can we eliminate all those barriers? Offer a credit recovery or a learning lab during the school day. And as you can see with the numbers, it's been very very successful. I mean, last year in
learning labs, 338 courses were covered in summer school. Um, instead of using egeneuity, we've been really focusing on meeting students where they are. And so if a student if Jake failed US history with a 58%
instead of having them start all over at zero, we're actually looking and starting them at 58% looking at what didn't they complete and then um no in this instance no more. He's a social science teacher. Then he looks at what standards what have they needed to
complete to get to that 60%. So then he's creating new curriculum. So then once they complete that, we get to that 60%. They're able to move on. So instead of just throwing away all the work that they did because even if you got a 58%, you put in a decent amount of work,
we're just we're we're able to meet them where they truly are. And so night credit recovery obviously went down a little bit just because we had we're able to get the students into the learning lab. So cool thing that we're always looking at is looking at
different volunteer opportunities and work opportunities. And one thing that we were able to add this year, this summer already, is teaming up with Workforce Development, Inc. to create some opportunities with the Summer Steam program. So, we had some students from the high school and from the ALC that
were teamed up with them and then they were actually getting the experience of working at with the students at summer steam all summer, getting paid for it and getting elective credit for that, which I don't think it can get much better. A lot of our students, they always make
that argument, well, I could be working and getting paid. Why am I here? this is, you know, meeting that need and they're getting credit towards graduation. I really don't think it gets much better than that. So, um, yeah,
there's just a lot of other things that are in the works for looking at what is credit recovery when we meet with different SAPs at the state level. That's one of the big questions is what is credit recovery? What can it look like? What opportunities are out there to meet the needs of every student. So,
and then the last things that I just wanted to highlight is relation and student opportunities. A great thing about the ALC is, and if you come out to the ALC, you'll actually see it on the posters that our students make in uh one of Jackie's classes is
the idea that the ALC is not just a school. It really is a family. And the reason it ends up being like a family is because we do truly get to focus on building relationships with the students first. We can slow things down and then with building those relationships, we're
able to support the social emotional side of things because we all know if there's issues going on on the personal side, until we can fix those things or help support those things, we can't truly have academic success. And through those relationships, we're able to do
those things. And then the second part is the student opportunities. And there's always a argument of uh or the idea of the achievement gap. And I truly believe it's not an achievement gap, it's an opportunity gap. Um our students can achieve just as well as any
traditional student, but oftentimes because of life circumstances, we haven't had the opportunities that other students have. and really trying to get different experiences such as the picture on the right hand side that's uh we want took kids to construct tomorrow
last year and it's an opportunity just uh we went we were up in Minneapolis for this one we tried to get to Mano but it was full and it's different trades and different companies that come in and uh offer exhibits where you students can actually go and experience those things
so that's an iron iron workers union that put that one on or that was doing that exhibit it, but then so the students are able to see what these different careers might be like, what they entail, things like that. But then
also looking at um being able to go on different field trips and have those experiences that a lot of our students don't have the opportunity to. I always remember we were go driving up to the cities one time and you you see the skyline in Minneapolis and we had students that were taking
pictures of the skyline of Minneapolis, which to you and me it's not a big deal, right? And I'm like, "What are you doing?" And they're like, "We've never seen this." And it's those different opportunities that they just haven't they haven't had that many of us take
for granted. So, being able to take kids to Oxbow Park, the Bell Museum, different field trips to uh different colleges, taking some students down to RCTC last year was awesome. Um, for me, the one that stood out that I really enjoyed the most is probably the Saint
St. Paul Saints game. So, one I've always wanted to go to the new CHS field. So, I got to check that off myself. But just getting to see kids like, you know, even if they weren't big baseball fans, right? They finally got to go to a baseball game. And what was cool about this is it
wasn't just us. It was actually an educational day. So, somehow the Northfield ALC actually ended up being there and a lot of our students and their students are friends. So, it was just it was a quick meeting, you know. So, but Toys for Tots, I'd like to do a
little shout out to that. Um, our students do an awesome job of um not bringing the toys in, but going there, setting all the toys up, being there for the families, being translators, taking care of children and things like that, and wrapping the presents. So, they
really do an awesome job of helping support that and sort of being behind the scenes and really helping out in that aspect. So yeah, that's a little little highlight from the ALC for this year. So
thank you, Mr. Ager. Well done. Uh any questions, board members, comments? Director Moore. Yes, that credit recovery recovery. Microphone, please. I was looking. Yeah, sir. Thank you. you know, the credit recovery. I think that
was the numbers are really Yeah. Right on there. That's that's good. I'm really excited to see that. Uh I have visited the ALC a number of times and it does feel like a family. First time I was there, uh it was just phenomenal and every time since uh I like the fact that
you meet the needs of students. You said 58%. I I guess I didn't realize that sometimes you if if they don't if they fail, they have to take everything over again. That makes sense what you're doing. start them at the 58% because they've done all the work. And so, uh, I
really like that idea. Um, and I just congratulate you because I I know the teachers, uh, I've been there several times and you just do great work. Teachers are fantastic and, uh, as I said before, uh, you really are a role
model for a district, the LC. So, congratulations. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, Mr. Hager. Uh just thank you to you and your staff for all you do for the students and um greatly greatly appreciated. So thank you. Thanks, Director Steves.
Um yeah, echo u Miss Moore and Mr. Wolf's sentiments. Um so I did a little bit of math here while you were speaking. So just in the last year with your graduates, um the average high school graduate earns approximately $350,000
more throughout their lifetime. Um so just with this year's graduates um they will earn over 11 million more um in their lifetime. So economic impacts of a high school diploma are whether they come from a traditional setting or an
ALC setting are incredibly meaningful. So I really appreciate all of your work and meeting students where they're at. Well said, Mr. Chair. Director Vudro. Thank you Mr. Hager for coming and presenting to us and I hope Hope you're
looking forward to your new setting, which not this fall, but you know, we're working on that. And I hope it will enhance the programs that you have in place. You have more space. You'll have a gym, you'll have a kitchen, which is
something really that are basics. And I am just happy that we are moving in that direction. I'm sure you are too. I'm sure our board is as well. And uh thank you. for preparing for that. Thank you.
Good, Candace. Um, so I've spent a lot of time at the ALC as a former teacher there. You didn't mention the egg drop. Well, it was on there. It was on there. It was on there, but that's been going on for a long time and I know that Jackie is instrumental
in that, but there's just so many cool things that we've done over the years and and I'm so glad to have you in the driver's seat. Yeah. Thanks again, Mr. Aer. Thank you and your staff for making a difference for our kids in Farbull and and and the community as
well. So, you're greatly appreciated. So, thank you very much for the presentation. Thanks. Move on to agenda item number four 4A student board representative. Amamira, do you have any additional things? Excellent. Uh yes. So, I have like a preview of the
school year. Um, so fall sports kicked off last week and as the school year starts off, we'll swing clubs will begin. Uh, weightlifting club, DND club, DECA are just a name of to name a few. For student council, uh, we'll begin our fall campaigns and revolving around
homecoming as well as our fall blood drive. Um, there's a lot to look forward to in this school year. uh especially at the high school hopefully section championships and state as well as fun field trips like Costa Rica and our language department or college tour
opportunities. Um our elementary schools reorganizing should bring new friendships. Um it will be exciting to have kindergarten and preschool all under one roof. At the middle school, PGC looks uh to welcome entering sixth graders and to use their leadership skills to show them what the middle
school is all about and the opportunities it gives them. Electives like Kona robotics, art, and newly added forensics are just to name a few of the cool classes offered at the middle school. Um I think we're all looking forward to a great school year and go Falcons.
Thank you. Excellent report. Uh, school board members, items of information, anyone? I think all of us here are eagerly anticipating the opening of the school year and Oh, director Moore, sorry.
No, I was just going to say uh, you know, I've talked to a few people in the um, in the public, you know, taxpayers and voters, and uh, they had a suggestion. And I I think we're I think we're moving toward that especially with the superintendent evaluation that I think we really need to clearly define
our terminology that we're using. Um and I I think that's a good idea because you know just for the students too we can be a role model for the students because you know academic writing is really precise and it's unambiguous and for example you know if a student is
writing is doing uh researching for research or a paper uh especially research you know you have to define your terms and when you do that it's it's a necessity that does lead
clarity and conciseness and I think most importantly it um eliminates any confusion when which can lead to a multitude of problems. So I think I think working on with especially with the superintendent evaluation this year I think we we did move more towards you
know a concrete measurable and I I do appreciate that. I think we need to continue to do that. Anything else board members? Okay. Uh, Superintendent Benty. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so I have a few different items here to go over. So,
this morning we welcomed 35 new teachers to our district as we kicked off new teacher week. Um, additionally, this summer we hired Nate Molader, who is in the back there, uh, as our new principal at Fable High School. Uh, and we
welcomed Kim Goblish, also there with Nate, uh, as our new student student language success coordinator. Um, I'm proud to say that we exceeded registration expectations. Uh, as of
this afternoon, we plan to welcome 315 new students to Farbo Public Schools this fall. That's 108 from Canon River STEM School and 27 uh incoming kindergarteners, which out uh outdoes our projection and our
budgeting. We had budgeted for 190 and as of this afternoon, we had 207. So, uh I got to attend our communitywide night to unite with our infamous Freddy Falcon mascot. Um it was fun to be out in the community seeing our students and
families. Thank you to the Farbo Police Department for planning our route and letting us tag along with them. Uh we are grateful for our Farbo Chamber of Commerce. They are providing individual treats to each of our staff members during all staff welcome week, which is
just one example of the many things that they do for our school district and for our community. So, thank you, Chamber of Commerce. Uh we're proud to continue our school supplies for all program uh for students in preschool through 8th grade. That means that parents do not need to
purchase school supplies for their children. Instead, we ask for a onetime fee of $35 per student to help cover the cost of materials. Uh for students in grades 9 through 12, we we recommend they bring a few notebooks, folders, and pencils on the first day. Uh if
additional items are needed, teachers will let students know during open house or during the first week of school. And then, Mr. chair. Uh upcoming next week is teacher workshop week and welcome back week for all staff. Uh and
then meet and greets and classes begin after Labor Day this year. So uh Mr. Chair, that concludes my report. Excellent, Mr. B. Thank you. Agenda item number five, public comment. Our first uh person to comment publicly here is
Carolyn Treadway. And Carolyn's topic is district leadership. First of all, I want to say I I do some subbing at the ALC. It is a delightful place to be and I'm always
um encouraged that students who may have met some obstacles in their lives do so well in that environment. So, thanks. Um, I'm here to ask the board to investigate what's behind the departure
of four administrators this summer. I don't believe it was mere coincidence and I know that we lost some excellent educational leaders in their departure. A school district that lacks stable leadership doesn't provide the level of
quality education that its students require. So I'm asking you again, please look into FPS leadership issues. Our staff, students, and community deserve that.
Thanks. Thank you. Next, uh Martha Brown, her topic is turnover. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to piggyback on Carolyn's um comments. I um am very involved in the high school. I'm
the Rotary liason who coordinates the music and arts scholarships um $6,000 that we give to kids every single year. I'm a subteer and I accompany the high school choir and the middle school um choirs. And um I was shocked and
dismayed and I'm actually getting tearary at the loss of um some of those who left. I was very close with two of them. Um, and because of our relationship, I I do know why they left. Um, they were the kind of people that
were doing exactly what Jake was doing. They were about those relationships. They were about connecting with kids, with staff, with um, faculty, with parents, with community members. They were trying to move the district forward
to be better. And it is no coincidence that they all left. If if this were a uh public corporation, which in a little bit of a way it is, a
board that a business that was losing its innovative, creative, excellent leaders the way our school district is, that board would call the CEO in and say, "What is going on?" Right? We just
saw it happen with Tesla. It happens. I would think that as a board you would want to know why did they all leave and why did they all leave at once? Why is the school board turning a blind eye to this issue? Because this is not normal.
People leave their jobs when they can no longer thrive at them. Why are they not thriving? Farbo schools can't continue churning and burning its best people, including teachers. Turnover is expensive.
Resignations of good leaders leave staff demoralized and hopeless, which leads to teacher turnover, which again is expensive. None of this is good for any of the kids in our district, especially those who really had relationships with some of these folks and those relationships were
making a difference to them. When things that need to be changed don't change, people choose to work or be educated someplace else. I encourage this board to start conducting exit interviews to uncover
what is driving good leaders to leave this district and to address the problems head on. It's getting frustrating and tiring to see positive change, new perspectives, evidence-based practices continually getting shut out and shut down. and our
families and children deserve better. Thank you. Thank you, Martha. Agenda item number six, the consent agenda. The consent agenda consists of minutes from the July 21st, 2025 and
August 4th, 2025 meetings. Uh employment uh additional assignments and other and authorization of payments, transfers, and investment account. Is there a motion for approval of the consent agenda? Thank you, uh Director Wolf. Is there a
second? Thank you, Director Budro. Uh any discussion? There's no discussion on consent agenda. Sorry. Thank you. Uh no discussion on consent agenda. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion passes. 6. Agenda item number
seven, district advisory committee. There is no report. Uh agenda item number eight, the policy committee. 8A is policy committee minutes. Uh director Steves and Director Moore. Over to you.
Um so several policies were um reviewed and um approved to be put forth to the school board for um first and second reading. Um there were two policies um I'm just looking up here. policy 425 and
512 um were tabled until the next um September 2nd uh policy meeting in which um Mr. Benty is going to get some legal clarification.
Director Moore, anything else that summarizes it? Very good. Thank you. 8B approval of revisions to the following policies. These are all revisions from my understanding uh from here. So they are uh this is actually
correct to Mr. Benty, Director Steves, Director Morret, and uh Miss Kenny if there I'm wrong, but these are just revisions of date changes, statute changes, etc. And through our policy 208
does not require a first and second reading. We can do this just all of these policies in one swoop. Is that correct? That is correct. Right. But that's so and they're on board book here for our review as well. So they are policy uh 413
uh harassment and violence. Policy 414 mandate mandated reporting of child neglect or physical or sexual abuse. Policy 418 drugfree workplace drug-free school. Policy 501, school weapons
policy. Policy 503 is student attendance. Policy 515, protection and privacy of pupil records. Policy 516, student medication and teleaalth. Policy 516.5,
overdose medication. Policy 524, internet accept acceptable use and safety policy. Policy 534, school meals policy. Policy 621, Literacy and the Read Act.
Policy 707, Transportation of Public School Students. Policy 709, Transportation of Public School Students, policy 802, disposition of obsolete equipment and material. And policy 806,
crisis management policy. Is there a motion to approve those uh those policies? So moved. Thank you, Director Steves. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Director Kudson. Any discussion? Yes, Mr. Chair.
Director Moore. We are just approving the revisions. That's correct. What I ask? Okay, that is correct. Further discussion. Discussion hearing none. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I
opposed. Motion passes 6. Agenda item number nine, other committees, finance committee. So I will report on the finance committee meeting from July 14th uh 2025.
Um some of the many most of these items we've are approved at the July uh business meeting. But first of all, in that meeting, we approved the fiscal year 26ou and LEA agreements with uh Farbo public schools and Elleian Head
Start Center. Our financial performance in the the June student count, we had nothing to report. There weren't any changes between May or June. And as we just heard today from Mr. Benty, uh we estimate about roughly
3,000 students will reported will be reported for fiscal year 25. and we're expecting an increase, which we are in fiscal year 26. Our June investment financial report, we're sitting a really good spot for investments. Uh we're working with PFM
on our investments to ladder and diversify. We're getting some very good rates. Our June comparative financial report, uh in June of 2024, we had credits, so we're not seeing any bill for HVAC. uh for in 2024 utilities on the on the
whole are under budget. Uh our self- insurance revenues are less than expenditures for June and our expenditure or deficit expenditure was only uh $48,500 for the year compared to was looking like earlier in the year. Uh their rates
will also be recre increasing by 15% for fiscal year 26. Our June analytics uh our fund summary expenses exceed revenues by about 6 million uh but we'll change as we go through the audit due to booking receivables and additional
invoices coming in fiscal year 25 expenses. The bulk of that deficit deficit is coming from in from con the construction fund which has 4.7 million in expenditures and only $280,000 in revenue.
Um, our multi-year guideline, our expenses for the general fund is coming in at about 58.7 million, which is less than where we were we where we had anticipated, but again, that number will change as we make year-end uh closing
entries. Uh, lastly, our financial strategies. We approve we approve the uh 10-year long-term facilities and maintenance plan. uh we have to do that by July 31st of each year. Uh the LTFM plan to the
schoolboard which we did approve and then it's sent on I believe to MDE with that. And then our uh re regular revenue is based on student count and building age. And in fiscal year 25 we're expecting 1.3 million in revenue and
1.27 in expenses. That will leave 43,000 in fund balance uh in fund one. uh going into fiscal year 26. So that pretty much sums up our meeting unless uh directors Wolf or Budro have anything
to add from that? Nothing. Okay, Mr. Chair, what about Tuesday's meeting? Well, we on the board book we go back we're a month. So I do have Okay, I do have Tuesday's meeting with me, but uh
I only mention that, Mr. because we're voting on some of the things, but I guess we'll review them as they come. I can go over Tuesday's meeting if you'd like. They're not they're minutes that are not approved.
It's okay. But practice has been we we do the approved ones since when we go through committee. So, I think we'll leave it at that. Other matters. Um go to gifts and donations. Here we have resolution 26.02.
Uh the donations um resolution 26-02 approving acceptance of the following gifts and donations. $7,84.17 for the Fairbell High School Golf Center from multiple donors and fundraising
from the recent Farbull Booster Club golf tournament. Is there a motion for approval of resolution 26-02? So moved. Thank you, Director Moore. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Director Kenudson.
Discussion. Mr. Chair, I'd just like to clarify one thing, and this very well could be my fault. Um, the Fairbo Club did not host a golf tournament. The golf teams, the boys and girls coaches led a golf tournament, and those donations flowed through the Fairbo Club. So, I just want to make that clear.
Okay. Uh, and just a big thank you to all those people that played in the tournament and gave donations to the the new high school golf center. Excellent. We'll note that in the minutes. Thank you again. Yes. Thank you for that event and once again the the golf center. A lot of
contributions coming in is going to be a great thing great thing for our kids. So yes, any other discussion? Yes, I agree with you. That was $7,000 $7,84.17. So yeah, that was I think that's really
a good deal with the with our golf and our sports. So thank you to all of those who contributed. Okay, Director Steves, this is a roll call, please. Linda Budro, I. Candace Kudson, hi. Linda Moore, I
Cassie Steves, I Chad Wolf, I. John Bellingham, I. Passes 6. Thank you. 10B. Consider uh consider approval of the new athletic and activities graphics. Uh is there a
motion for approval of the new athletic and activity graphics? So moved. Thank you. Second. Director Director Steves for the motion. Director Budro for the second and discussion. Uh Mr. Benty or someone can I turn it over to you?
Yeah. So actually the the the information around this is on page two of the document. Um it talks about once again it's athletic and activities graphics only. So the uh Falcons logo that you see behind us and the one that is similar to that that says Farbo and
it will remain our official districtwide logos. Um these are the updated pieces that we're looking for uh for our act like like I said athletics and activities. Um so I guess you know with the information there that's on page two. Does anybody have any questions?
Uh, Superintendent Benty and I see activities director uh Gunderson is here. So, thank you. Oh, I'm sorry. Just to confirm that, um, obviously some of these, if you will, the the the head shots, if you will, um, they look a lot
like our mascot, Freddy. U, but all the other birds are indeed falcons, not eagles or not hawks or something like that. I know other schools have done that before. I just want to confirm that. Whatever. These are all falcons, correct? Yes. Thank you.
Um I worked with Brendan Cox. Um and he came up with the majority of this stuff and we did make sure because we did have one. If you go back to the green one, there was a white head on it and it looked too much like a bald eagle. So we had to mess around with that piece. So but yeah, we wanted to make sure that it
was a falcon. So Mr. Gunnersonson, my apologies. I did not see you sitting there. I came in late. Would have called you up first. So any further discussion or questions? Thanks for putting this together. I think it gives everybody a common
graphics here to work with and I think it' be good. So yes, Mr. Chair, I do have one last question and maybe it's in here and if it is I apologize. Is there a common uh panone or PMS color that or or is it you know there used to be confusion over Kelly
green or forest green or whatever? There is a there is a code. It's not in here, but I can I can certainly get that. It's okay. Whatever that number is. Yeah, there's a number and then a name to it. Okay. I won't be ordering it, but just for consistency purposes, right? I mean, y Thank you,
director Moore. Yeah. I just have a question. I we had Freddy Falcon when I was in school and that's that's back in the dinosaur age. You know what? How long have we had this? I think it's almost been forever, has it, since the Fable Public Schools.
Um, as far as like the know I'm just curious. Yeah, the Falcon. Freddy Falcon. Um, he I Yeah, since I want to say it's like the Falcons have not always been our mascot. That's correct. I think it was 1940s.
Yes, I think it was the 1940s that far turn changed to the Falcons. So, yeah. Oh, okay. Any further discussion? Motion to approve. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I opposed. Motion passes 6. Thank you,
Mr. Gun. Thank you very much. 10 C. Uh, consider approval of the fiscal year 25-26 school resource officer. Miss Raceler, if you'd like to come up, please call you up right away. Is there a motion for approval of the fiscal year
2526 school resource officer? So move. Second. Thank you, Director Budra, for the motion. second by director Wolf. Uh before presentation or questions for from Miss Raceler, just want board members to know that this this agenda item was approved by the finance
committee on Tuesday. So the uh contract that you're seeing in front of you is just a one-year contract. Um it is an increase from what we saw in in prior uh year. Um it increased about 18%. So, just to make
you all aware of that and and that was something that was known to us. Um, but it does pay for the school resource officers that we have in our schools and and um are thankful for those folks for for being part of our district family.
Any questions or discussion? Uh, Mr. Mr. Chair, I think I made this comment at the finance meeting when we approved this, but you know, it's just interesting how
times change and I I'm getting old quickly. Uh, but when I graduated in 1996 and, you know, obviously the years before that when I was in the middle school and high school, we never had resource officers. Uh, I I don't know that anybody hardly did. And so, um,
times change, things change. I think this is a great thing for hopefully relationship building in our community and also, um, just an added layer of of hopefully, uh, safety with our students and and families and things of that nature, but, um, I I don't know if I
want to say fortunately or unfortunately. I I can't imagine going forward without it. Uh and so it's just a added cost that uh the district shares with the police department. Um but I think it it really is great hopefully for our students to build that trust and
relationship with our local police department and um what goes on there. So anyway, thank you and and I appreciate the the district working with the local police department and all that they do together. So thank you Director Wolf. Mr. Chairman, Director Budro, I don't know if it was mentioned, but
the cost is split between the city Yes. police department and the school district. That is correct. 50 cost share. Thank you. Thank you. For the record. Good point. Any further discussion?
Discussion. Hearing none. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion passes. 6 10 D consider approval of the 2025 2026 superintendent goals. Is there a motion
for approval of the 2025 2026 superintendent goals? Also move. Is there a second? I'll second. Thank you, Director Wolf. and discussion. Board members, you see
uh I believe there's a hard copy in your packet. There's just mine. Okay. Thank you. on board book. Okay. And uh with the changes that were made from our last meeting. So, uh in fact, some changes were just made this morning after a
couple emails, etc. Uh and checking back over our notes once again. So, anything board members or super Mr. Chair? Yeah. Uh couple questions for you if that's okay between yourself and superintendent Benty just on the same page.
Uh how many exact things are we measuring? So I see you know goal one two three three goals but then within those there's several things. So, um, do we do
we have three goals? And then how does that work within the many different bullet points within, you know, there's I I look at goal three and there's four action steps in there. So, um, I I just want to make sure that I'm understanding so that when we, you know,
fast forward to January, I can give valuable hopefully valuable input or feedback or ask questions at the midyear review and then also obviously for you know roughly 10 months or so when we do a annual 11 months when we do an annual
review but can you just help me out with that and I apologize I was gone uh the last meeting where there was some discussion so I just want to make sure I'm understanding excellent that's a good point I should I should have brought that up so what we have and I'm just going to go to goal one you mentioned goal goal three but
for the public's uh knowledge and board members to review remember we we created uh action steps and then what's first of all there are only three goals And goal one is elevate student achievement. There are three action steps and then what does success look
like? And so those are three bullet points there on what success looks like. So in January when we have the midyear eval or in the end of the year my opinion and what I've discussed with Mr. Benty is you take each one of those
three points since it's on a one to four point scale. you take and say, "Okay, so the first bullet point, uh, observable student growth in literacy and math." I'm just going to cut it off there. Whatever. There's more there. You would rate that one. My opinion, this is what
I'm going to do. Rate that one through four. You go to the second bullet point, sustained prek and kindergarten enrollment and increased new partnerships. Da da da. I would rate that one through four. The same thing with the third bullet. I then would take uh then say it was 333. That's pretty
easy average, right? Or or 342 or etc. Average them out. You might get a 2.75 might get a 3.4. Whatever. That's how that's how I see each one of those. So when you report for goal one, you
would have those three bullet points explained. That's how I see it. Director Budro, I think that's what we talked about many times, etc. like that and go from there. So that so Mr. Chair, when when we look at what success looks like in the document in
front of us, the third bullet point under goal one, higher rates of sixth and 9th grade credit completion, CTE pathway, you know, on and on. Uh we will at some point see what the
end of the 2024 2025 information is. So we have a baseline or a starting point and and then you know as we go through the year So if that starting point is let's just call it X whatever that is right. Um then in January or you know fast forward 11 months or whatever then we'll
have Y and we'll be able to compare. Is that Am I Yeah. So I think to keep it as close to apples to apples as possible we would look at um where we started the this school year versus where we started last school year and where we ended where we end this coming school year versus where
we ended this past school year. Perfect. Okay. Yep. Thank you. I appreciate I just want to make sure that I'm and that's on each of the three goals. What each how to measure each one of those? That's okay. That's how I came up with it. Director Moore, do you have something? I always do, right? I I think at the
last work work session, I think we all worked together quite well. I think it was a lot of give and take there. I appreciated that. Um, regarding increase to student achievement, um, compared to last year's goals, I think we made some great improvements going from the abstract unquantifiable goals to
concrete measurable goals. For instance, we're going into the, you know, with the fast bridge scores and the ACT scores. Uh, as far as the tech integration, um, I I do think we still need some work a little bit on the measurable outcomes.
However, I do like the fact that we added age appropriate instructional technology. Uh so, you know, that we do know that too much screen time can be detrimental to students. So, I'm glad we put that in there. Uh develop policies
regarding the ethical use of AI. I think that was really important to I like that phrase, ethical use of AI, because, you know, I I believe AI is already in our classrooms. So we need to put forth I think some ethical pol policies regarding that that we'll have to work
on. I have to say I don't like Musk idea that we can integrate machine with man but because that is antithetical to my beliefs and morals but that's beside the point right now as far as communication and community partnerships. Uh I like the fact that Mr. Benty will ensure and
I'm quoting transparency with families and stakeholders. I think that's really important. uh timely updates, engage parents in decision- making. I really like that aspect of it. Uh and also document building and staff visits uh and this is a measurable quantifiable
goal. I think it's very important that we have not only parental feedback but the staff feedback and I think Miss Fedro, you were talking about that last time that staff feedback is really essential and it needs to be documented. Uh finally I just uh I I guess my one
concern is but I think we did a great job in uh working together uh that it is based are for goal number one it is based on the science of reading and the Minnesota state standards and a lot of
these standards are for me they're you know chalk full of they call DEI or DIIE diversity equity inclusion uh now they've changed it to EDI And uh sometimes when you get a hot topic, they'll change the terminology or they'll change the de definition. So I
know this is going to pass and they think we did a good job. But I'm going to go on record that these achievement standards have a basis on racial and gender gender principles and that goes against my belief and values and it also may be a violation of civil rights. So I
know this is going to pass but from the principle I'm going to have to vote against because of that. But I think all in all we did a good job. Any further discussion? Director Budro. I would just like to ask Superintendent Vendy
if these are doable goals. I I find them very lengthy and I'm just concerned. This is my personal view that maybe more than we need to impose.
The older I get, the more I believe all things are possible. And the reason I say that is because, and I'll go on a little bit of a tangent with the chair's permission here. Um, oh well. Um, is that, you know, I I've been in
this district now for 13 years, and we have stared down the barrel of declining enrollment and cutting for 13 years. 12 of the 13 years, excuse me. There was one year we didn't. And it was just kind of has been the understanding that Farbo
reduces its budget every year because Farbo loses students every year. Um, and in the last six weeks, we have taken that narrative and we have spun it around. Um, we are up in enrollment. We
are one of the only districts in the state that is not reducing our budget and we are doing the right things, you know, for for our students. I believe that our achievement on our test will
prove that in the coming years. Um so do I think it's too much? I don't. Um as as somebody that has to perform to this, I don't believe it is too much. Um, and I do believe it is doable because we have done in the last six weeks what most
people thought Farbo would never be able to do. Um, and we we are going to continue to build off of that and I think this is an excellent way to start that. So, Mr. Chairman, to that response, I I just
wanted to make sure understand that I don't think you're incapable. I think you're very capable and very competent, but I just had concerns with the amount of paperwork this requires, but if you are
fine with it, I am fine with it. Mr. Chair, director Moore. Uh, yes. Uh, uh, actually, Mr. Miss Bedro uh, brought up brought up a good point. And I think what you said last time too, you're doing all of these anyway, right? So, you're really not adding on into anything. I think the
last time we met at the work session, you said, "I'm doing all this stuff anyway." Something like that. Is that true? Because it's really not adding on so much. It's just so and so there. Therefore, it is doable. Yeah. These are the pieces that we believe will propel our district
forward. So, this would be the work that I would be doing um honestly whether the board chose these as my goals or not. Okay. I' personally I'd like to thank uh directors Budro and Robisho for their work uh as part of the uh superintendent
evaluation committee and Mr. Benty for his work and input uh and our dialogue in between of uh for these goals. So I think they're very suitable and and I think it was a good process although little lengthy and a little cumbersome at times but that's what makes good
stuff I think. So anyway, so with that, uh, we'll vote. Uh, all in favor of the motion to approve the 2025 2026 superintendent goals, signify by saying I. I. Opposed? No. Motion passes. 51. Agenda item 10E, second reading of the
new mission statement. Uh, the new mission statement as proposed is as follows. Federal Public Schools partners with families and the community to educate, elevate, and empower every student to achieve their full potential every Falcon every day. Is there a
motion for approval of the new mission statement? So move. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Thank you. Discussion. I would like to start the discussion please. here. Uh the board in this new mission
statement has had three retreat sessions uh to work on not only the mission statement but the visions as well. A week or so ago, Director Moore informed me that that policy 104 states that the board should adopt a mission statement.
The mission statement should be based on the beliefs and values of the community and review the mission every two years with a comprehensive review every 5 to seven years. I'm I'm paraphrasing that policy. It also the policy also says to have
extensive participation by the community. So to have this participation by the community, I suggest directing Superintendent Benty to put a link to a Google form to receive community input about the current current uh mission
statement and proposed mission statement. This link should also be sent to parents of our students and staff as well. With that information, I now move to table this item until the October 27th, 20202
2025 board business meeting um for action in order for staff to complete the above directives. Is there a motion to my There's a second for my mo to my motion for tableabling. Second.
We have a second. Uh the tableabling is not uh debatable nor is it amendable. So we will simply vote. Point question. It's not debatable. It's not amendable.
I'll clarify a question for you if you need to. My question is if the um statement is put online for others to read that we also put the process that
was involved with this that this was after that has been already presented at our board meeting and it was the culmination of a discussion at a retreat and it was something that
um was a compromised I think we should have a little more info than just here it is. It's been debated. It was discussed thoroughly. Not everybody agreed with it. Um it will replace this statement here on our wall.
Okay, we're getting to the discussion point now. So I think information let let's take and we're if we table it if it moves to table then I will work with Mr. Venty on what you have suggested and other board members suggest that we put out in our
description of the uh vision statements and go for there. But right now we have a motion to table. Mr. Chair, can I ask one question? One. Yes. Regarding the dates, you mentioned tabled until our business meeting in October.
Will we see any results from the survey at a work session or anything in between or we should anticipate just taking action two months from now? We will take we will have information by the uh October I don't know is it fourth or whatever work session we'll have
information beforehand and then the action that's why I specified action on this but yes we will receive information that way it's out there a month go from there. Okay. So, our work session, just for clarity, sorry, um October 6th and then the business meeting is the 23rd.
All I want to do is table it till October 27th and we can bring it back for discussion on the 6th. Okay. All in favor of the motion to table signify by saying I opposed. Okay, it is tabled. Thank you.
With that, then we'll move on our dates to remember. Uh September 2nd, 2025, 3:45 is the policy committee. September 8th, 5:30 is our work session. September 11th, uh
7:45 p. I think it should be is it PM or AM facilities committee? AM says PM here. Uh September 15th, 7:30 a.m. is finance committee. September 22nd is our regular business meeting. And next Tuesday,
August 26th, is the all staff welcome greet at the high school. And all board members, you are invited to to attend if you so wish. And we go from there. So that's all the dates to remember. And then agenda item number 12. Is there a motion to adjurnn?
So moved. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Discussion. Discussion. Discussion. All in favor of the motion signified by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion passes. We arejourn. Thank you everyone.