All right. Good evening everybody. I would like to call to order tonight's regular meeting. It's December 15th uh school district number 2365 of our meeting in the new school. We will and it is now 6:35.
We will start with the pledge of allegation. I pledge algiance to the flag of the earth and to the stand indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
>> Okay. Uh before we approve tonight's agenda, we would like to um have an addition and it's an added uh personnel change. Um,
so with that said, do we have a motion to approve tonight's agenda and make a motion to approve tonight's agenda with the change? >> Thank you. >> Second. >> All in favor?
Right. Uh, Mrs. Elmer, any visitor recognition or public comments? Thank you. Um on to action items. Um we have a motion to approve last
month's board meeting. Um then we had a special board meeting some finances and activity review and personnel approval. >> Make the motion to approve the things. >> Thank you. Second. >> I'll second.
>> Any discussion? All in favor? All right. Well, just like that, we're on to information items. So, uh, super good from good. Bring us up to date. >> Yeah, absolutely. One of the most exciting things happening right now
around the district is open ed comes online on January 5th. As of right now, there are 125 new students that are waiting to be enrolled into the um the open ed option. Um, very rough math. You know, we receive $7,481
per pupil. With the open edet agreement, we get to keep 25% of that, which will equate to about $234,000 in new revenue per year. With us coming on um here in January, about $17,000
um in new revenue for our district. Um it's a great opportunity for us to have um >> and these these students are already waiting to be enrolled at GFW not anywhere else. They they are ours as soon as we go live. >> They are ours January 5th. >> January 5th.
>> Yeah. Um teacher contract teachers are planning on voting on the contract at the end of this week um which will be ready for approval at our January meeting. Uh tonight we kicked off paired professional um administrative support staff and uh food service staff
negotiations. Um we listened to uh their proposals. They brought forth some um great ideas and some uh great uh opportunities um to look at as a district overall. Um we did give a couple of feedback items on their
proposal and now we'll meet again uh January 13th um for another conversation about negotiations. Um one thing I do want um the school board to start thinking about um
is that Labor Day of 2026 and 2027 is late. It's about September 7th and September 8th um in those years. And state legislators last time around um gave districts permission to start school on September 1 without a major construction project. Typically, if you
wanted to do a pre-LOR day start, you'd have to have at $400,000 in construction projects um and get approval from the state. Now, we just need board approval to start before se um start on September 1st. Um given with Labor Day being late and trying to be done before Memorial
Day, um we will be asking the board for approval um to start on September 1st before Labor Day. That's the recommendation of the administration and we vote on that. Was it February? Yeah. In February. Yeah. Um and the other exciting thing happening around the district is the strategic planning
process. As of right now, we have 718 responses um staff, students, and community members combined, which is very exciting. Um just for reference the last time we did a strategic planning process in 2020 um there were 161 total surveys
larger sampling in student input um in the process as well. Um and I'd like to invite all of you on January 19th 9:30 to 11:30 it's Martin Luther King Junior day. Um if you're free, it'd be great to have you um mixed in with our staff um
as they go through the data and look at um what are our strengths and our accomplishments and where some opportunities for growth for our district and that'll be here and we should see moving boxes at the same time, right? >> Uh not until February.
>> When was this? Yeah. a president's day today either because we should be right. >> Okay. So, I'll start since um I have a couple student council members here like I have each month so far. I just have a
few things to highlight since this is a little bit shorter period of time. Our teachers are actively engaged in their PLC's working through their anchorage cycles. I've mentioned before, these cycles will conclude in mid January at which at that point teachers will either continue their current goal for the
remainder of the year or they might adjust or change their goals and establish new ones for the remainder of the second half of the year. Our math teachers are participating in statewide compass training and some of our staff
are engaged in the OLA training as well as part of the redact requirements. We continue to strengthen our PBIS programs for monthly team meetings, staff training, student of the month and high school highlight recognitions and our source tickets which our students will also touch base on when they do their
report. An exciting development is that our teachers were able to tour the new building last week. So we took tours Monday through Friday. Our PLC's took different days including the class
throughout the school. generated a lot of enthusiasm and excitement of our staff and packing up help that well since school will still be in session during the move. We need to ensure a smooth transition for our students particularly our high school students and juniors and seniors who are
taking college courses. So our teachers uh need to make this uh a seamless transition and a top priority. Our goal is to provide the support necessary to minimize the stress on our students. Ensure that every student is fully prepared for the success in this new
space. Since we have a lot of students that take college courses either PSO and or via our teachers, it is really important that we make this a seamless transition. We also hope to do student
tours if the timeline permits prior to the actual move in days so that our students can be oriented to the new building. >> Okay. >> Is there any uh buzz within the student population yet about moving
>> or >> I think they're getting excited. >> Yeah. Like I think a lot of people discuss like um when will it be like and all that and like now that people are figuring out like that's going to be during February, they're excited for that. >> Good.
>> Okay. >> Um I'm Madison Steel. I'm a part of NHS and student council. Um to start off for sports and activities update, the winter sport season is off to a strong start. Boys and girls basketball will compete in their first double header on Thursday
the 18th against BHS. Both teams earned a win against Lester Prairie on February the 12th with the boys playing at home and the girls on the road. The girls team also included their junior high players in the Lesser Prairie matchup. In addition, the Sonic dance team
competed in their first competition of the season at St. James on Saturday the 13th. for FFA. Our FFA chapter recently participated in winter career development events, competing in forestry, fish, fish and wildlife, and
farm business management. All teams put in significant effort and performed very well in their contest. Looking ahead, the annual FFA fruit delivery took place on December 12th with members assisting in unloading, sorting, and delivering
fruit. The chapter will also hold its annual Christmas party on December 14th at B Gibbon Bowling Alley. Following this event, more than 10 members will attend the winter leadership summit in St. Cloud where they will participate in
workshops, tours, and leadership development activities with FFA members from across the state. Student council winter week. Student council hosted winter week beginning December 11th. activities include door decorating, daily dress up themes, lunchtime
raffles, and in interactive games throughout the week. Highlights include a schoolwide rock, paper, scissors, shoot competition, hot chocolate sales, and staff voting on door decorating entries. This week
included include concluded with the jammed day, a schoolwide movie rec recognization of student of the month and announcements for contest winners. Winter week provided students and staff with a fun and engaging way to celebrate
the season together. NHS members have been actively involved in service projects. students created Christmas cards for nursing homes residents and participated in hearing and vision screening for younger students at PLS.
After after completing a training session, members reported enjoying the opportunity to work with younger students. NHS will also host student of the month recognization for December. highlights highlighting
student achievements in activities such as dance and all state band. Additionally, NHS members will participate in an art in an arts and craft event with children at the warehouse. PBIS sore tickets as part of
our PBIS program. Sore tickets were implemented on September 29th to recognize students who demonstrate spirit, optimist, optimism, respect, and accountability. Students receive tickets from staff and turn them into the office
for incentives. Weekly drawings recognize one student per grade and monthly drawing award reward student with a shared exper experience with a teacher. The program has been wellreceived and continues to encourage
positive behavior throughout. I'm Laura Steamman. I'm also involved in student council and NHS for middle school reward day. As mentioned before in previous board meetings, middle school reward days are another component of PBIS. Eligible students in grades 6
through 8 earn an hour of activity time by meeting academic and behavior expectations. The first reward day was held on October 31st with the next scheduled for December 19th. Activities offered include sports, games, baking, art, and other enrichment options.
Students have responded positively to these opportunities. For choir, middle school and high school students, high school choir students performed their winter concert on December 8th, showcasing a variety of holiday music for the community. The concert reflected the students hard work and preparation
throughout the semester. Pop choir will also perform for residents at Southby Living Center on December 15th. Choir students are now preparing for spring concerts and contest performances. For band, all band grade levels performed successfully at their winter concert. The high school band prepared
challenging music and delivered a strong performance as as the semester continues. Students are preparing for large group and solo and ensemble contests. Two sophomores, Meera and Isaac, competed in honor band auditions at the University of Minnesota with Meera earning a position and Isaac being
named an alternate plant science soil testing field experience. The plant science class participated in a hands-on soil testing exper experience at the school farm in early November working with GFW graduate
graduate Andrew Burns from CV Agonomics. Students use GPS technology to locate testing sites, collected soil samples, and analyze results. Andrew later visited the class to explain the data and its agriculture sign agricultural significance. This experience marked the
beginning of expanded hands-on learning opportunities at the new facility. >> Well, there's always a lot going on. >> Sounds like a lot of fun and a lot of learning. >> Yeah. Well, Miss Segman, thank you. Miss Steel, thank you. Mrs. Jacob, thank you.
Thank you. >> And if you ever visit um for the student of the month and the high school highlights um just let me know and I can let you know where to go during our home meeting times 8:30 tonight. >> And your next drawing is the 19th you
said for so I bet there's some buzz coming around the one so far right >> we've had uh two >> two and this time we'll also have the rock paper scissor u game like the finalist play against the teacher. But that'll be pretty close. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> Fun. Well, thank you very much. I say >> um we will do a quick report. >> Um so they are continuing their OSHA uh required monthly safety training for
um currently fully staffed. So that's good to hear. They have been for quite a while. Um they're continuing to learn temperature controls, plumbing features, water shut offs, cleanouts,
etc. Uh for this new building and continuing to do couple small repairs at the middle school high school um and ongoing maintenance with filters and air handling equipment and uh looking to do a detailed cleaning in the
new building over Christmas break. So that is what Dasher sent. Board reports. Mr. Gre, what's new at Riverbend? >> What's new at Riverbended? Well, we went through our financial audit
and with the way riverbed is paid this point in the year. Our finances are where we like them to be and so everybody is happy. Interestingly enough, in the month of October, they had conferences at Riverbend.
And of the four sections, three of them had rather stellar attendance. The imprints had 74% attendance. The Raptors 81% attendance and the rise section 90% attendance. If only the ALC the area
learning center rather poor attendance but they are uh little more happy in a lot of ways working on that. So and we're in such good shape that we're not having meeting in December.
>> Yeah. >> Thank you. Any questions in policy committee? Do we have a date that we're our first meeting? We're going to cut that into three big meetings. >> Yeah. Wait for they said February.
>> So, so we'll have a dandy of a report in maybe March. >> Okay. FRP. >> Well, I don't know. I guess we're kind of always looking at what's going on with the building and it's ongoing. You know, we're on schedule or all that kind
of stuff. But and I think we looked at picking around the bus thing if we should continue to own buses or lease buses. So >> yeah, that conversation still active for
>> Yeah. You know, we're looking at the age of our buses. Um looking at, you know, rerouting and the efficiencies with transportation. We talked a lot about the efficiencies with the transportation. making sure that once we're all together now in one building um that we're maximizing our roads to
the best of our ability. >> I wonder can we get rid of any of our vehicles or >> we had 26 I think by going to one site. better >> it, you know, there's a lot of variables with but we have a lot of cripples. So,
>> you know, we've got a lot of students that do go out on different routes and they require vans or they require different um modes of transportation or half days. It's it's a big it's a big undertaking to schedule the transportation for this district for any district
>> and you really won't know exactly what needs to be done or you may never know exactly what has to be done but >> it truly until we move in till we're all under one roof. Yep. It's just a moving targeted, >> right? You know, there's always two things that change in a school based on
a daily schedule. It's, you know, the lunch count for hot lunches and then transportation depending on who needs transportation on what day. Those are always the hail mary decisions. It's school day. Well, it's a big expense and I don't know if we know what
way we go. It's probably not going to change a whole lot. Yeah. So just looking at the studies and trying to help out and I know Dr. Smith had been working with CISO on a transportation comprehensive transportation study for our district
too. So, anything else? Uh, community engagement. Um, you know, you guys got a great turnout on the, uh, input for the next strategic planning site. Like, that's if what was done differently, you know, this time
from last time, but it it certainly got a better response. So, congratulations on that. What else is going on? Well, I think I think that I think the superintendent kind of went over what we're >> Yeah, we talked a lot about my update.
>> Oh, he kind of summed it up earlier. >> Nothing to add to that though. >> Okay. >> And then, you know, executive committee, it's an email to go over this meeting. So, nothing to report on that. Um, and then enrollment K through 12 for
physical students. Yep. Is 554. And what was it last month? 554. So that's good. Yep. We'd rather see it go up, but at least stay up. >> Okay. On to action items. Um,
I get a motion for approval of recommendation of to approve the annual comprehensive achievement and civic readiness report. I'll make a motion to approve that. >> Give a second. >> I'll second. >> So, Mr. Bird, can you elaborate on that?
>> Yeah. So, this used to be called I can't remember if this is the first year or the second year that the report titles used to be called world's best workforce report. Um, every school district needs to um submit goals based on all students are ready for school. Closing the achievement gap between
student groups, making sure that all students are ready for career and college. All students graduated and all students are prepared to be lifelong learners. So within that um those five main categories, each district is required to come up with different goal
areas to achieve that. Um we have multi-year goals meaning they're in effect for um for 2027. Um, so for instance, um, all students are ready for school. Looking at our preschool students and our school readiness students, you know, we had set a goal that 90% of our four-year-old
preschool students would score at or above expectations at letter sound knowledge. Um, and this past year we hit 86%. So there's still room for continuous improvement and continuous growth there. Um, increasing our overall fast bridge, we still have a lot of
work. We know that each um school year provides new opportunities for fast bridge Avery um and especially at our elementary level. Um all students are ready for career in college. This is one that we did meet. Um we had set a goal that 100% of eighth graders um will
complete a four-year high school career and college readiness plan by the 2025 school year. And 100% of our eighth graders did that. So we met that goal. um all students graduating. We had said that we would increase the four-year graduation rate to 90% of our students.
Um and we're at 85%, but we still have another two years to work the needle on that one. Um and then the percentage of students um in grade three who are reading at or above grade level will increase to at least 16% as measured by
fastbridge A readings. Um this one we've got some work to do because we were at 49% as of last spring. So um got about 10 11% more to go. So I know that we're working on that with a lot of professional development
direct a lot of uh in classroom observation those students out for a testing source as well. >> So who who puts these goals together? Is it you and a cabinet or is this state? >> So the five main categories are set
outside the state. Okay. Um and then the district um administration and school board approved them um on each cycle plan. Um like I said, we're at a multi- track right now. So um we won't be updating
goals here in the next year or two. >> So who how who measures these for us? >> Uh so the state of Minnesota like for instance the graduation rates that's measured by the Minnesota Department of Education. Um when we talk about preschool reading efficiencies are
recognizing their vowel sound their letters. Um that's with uh it's called teaching strategies gold. It's a uh curriculum based software program that we purchase. Every school district uses TS Gold for measuring um student growth and achievement. um with the third grade
reading scores um or in the achievement gap we use fastbridge um which is the software to maybe measure from where they started at when they entered our doors in the fall to where they went um with springtime. So it is a scientific process behind it
um that we utilize for the Okay, any other questions down there? shortage. Um I guess so we Yeah, we're we're up to a vote for it, right? Okay. So, all in
favor? Okay. Um action item B, recommendation to approve donations. And I have a motion to approve tonight's list of donations, which is healthy. I'll make a motion to approve the
donations. >> I'll second it. >> All right. So, what we have is uh Dr. Smith donated um $5,000
towards the construction fund. Another 500 uh for the green bus, which I'm not sure what. Oh, yeah. The green bus. Everybody's the Okay. And then 500 for the sphere of season which was just two weekends ago here right? >> Yeah. Still no it's still going on.
They're still collecting donations. >> What was the one of all the Christmas trees and everything? >> That was the Christmas tree. >> Two separate. Yeah. >> So um some very nice donations by Dr. Smith. Um and then Augustana Lutheran Church.
Another $500 for green bus and spirit of the season. uh an anonymous thousand dollars for generations of warmth. What is generations of warmth? >> That's Sandy,
not Sandy organization, Mrs. Ellen. >> Yes, that is correct. >> Okay, >> that's the quilters. Yep. Quilters. >> So, she collects items or she likes donations of money. She collects items
for kids that quacks Um, typically a letter goes out thank you to the don to make a donation from good. Thank you Emily for the explanation. And then another $800 by
the Simy County Sheriff's Mounted Posi for top spin volleyball and also Fairbanks Lions $200 towards top spin volleyball. And don't forget about and just give in Lions too just get fun. >> Oh yeah. And give Lions $3,000 for top
spin volleyball. Thank you. Catching that. Okay. So that's a nice list for this month. Uh and we will do a roll call. >> Miller. >> Yes. >> Breeze. >> Yes. >> Bakery. Yes. Turtle. >> Yes.
>> Stair. >> Yes. Rosome. >> Yes. asking machine. >> That added up to be like 18,000. >> Wonderful. >> Very nice, Kelly.
>> Um on to action item C. Can we have a motion for recommendation to approve approve bid for snow renewal which was an attachment? I'll make that motion. Thank you. A second. >> I'll second. >> All right. Um discussion. Mr. Berg, you
had two proposals. >> Yep. So, we had two bids come in very similar. Um one for $15,568 which included parking lot, sidewalks, ice, um and the walking path trail that's from our building to our property
right now. Um again that was for $50,568. Um and then the other um proposal that came through was for plowing and um blowing up the drive lanes, parking lots and the access roads, sidewalks, doing manual shoving, shoveling um ice as well
as um ice putting salt down. Um and that one was a minimum annual fee of $30,000. Um so the recommendation is to go with Jay Lararsson Construction Inc. who has the bid of $30,000. They refused them in
the past as well. Um last year we paid them about $20,000 for services and that included some a few lawn care um opportunities as well. Um this is always the big unknown, right, is you know you pay a minimum annual fee of $30,000.
Once we get that $30,000 that we start being build hourly, um depending on what farmers almanac you subscribe to, we're either getting, you know, one inch to 750 inches of snow. So, it's very difficult to gauge exactly where we're
going to be at. Um but they did have the low bid. Um and we've used them in the past as well for both our sites. So, and there's a lot more surface area this year versus previous years. >> Previous years as well. Yeah, if you look at our old elementary school or
excuse this site, there is a lot more. There's not much of a high school either, right? So, um, and then there was a nice detailed breakdown of hourly rates per machine per person once we go over the $30,000 retainer, which seem more than fair. Um, and right in the
ballpark of the market. >> Any of you have a power drone for the sidewalks? Yeah, I've actually watched them. Um, when I've had to make a snow day decision at about 3:30 in the morning, I pull up the cameras to this building. I kind of watch and see what they're doing all stuff. Um, because apparently I've
got nothing better to do at 3:30 in the morning. Um, but they're out there shoveling and they're moving. I saw that getting tons of salt that are concrete. >> No, and our and our concrete's been treated u which helps prevent salt pits.
stuff >> and I don't think it's necessary broom you should be able to take care of. >> Yeah. Until you get the big wet stuff like we had last week. >> What was the power broom? >> Jer all part of his package. >> I believe they both have the power.
>> I remember the equipment break down too. >> So that salt they're using up by the buildings and around our structure coming in. Is that are they using salt or something else? >> How much damage are we going to do up close? Well, so our concrete's been treated
and we got steel beams and you know doors stuff. Do we have to use salt or can we use some other We can use them. Um so that was one of the things with J2 is we had a a fairly hefty conversation about what should be applied what should
be treated up here. Um he does have a sand mix too that can be put down in some of those areas and I can just have a conversation just grip. >> Yeah sand will make a world of difference. >> Yeah that's I really want to see minimum
assault in that nothing but damage if they're removing it then they are shoveling to shovel something close to places. Yeah, I do, you know, while we're talking about this too is I do want to thank the city of Given publicly as well because last week when we did have that ice storm that came through,
um Jay and his crew came through and they had done some stuff but then it just wasn't the ice was too thick. Um and so the city of did come through and distributes the sand and salt down in our park and stuff too. So that was really nice of them
for everything. So, any other questions on the snow removal contract for >> this is only through the snow season. So, >> right >> whenever it ends in 2026 before summer,
>> you know, I'm feeling like it'll be June July this. It's been a long winter already. >> So, it does not include anything for the beginning of winter in 2026. Correct. But this is only through >> hopefully March. Yep. Okay. Anybody
else? >> At what point do we go over to them? What's included in there? >> Um, it depends on how much it's snowless. Really, realistically, that's what's hard. Um, both of them have minimum bids to pay. Um, you know, we're
going to get a monthly tracking statement from um Jay Larson basically saying, you know, we did three and a half hours on this day. Um, this is the equipment that we use that applies for sub. So, I think we'll know each month as to
how close we're getting. Um, but yeah, we should, >> right? >> It's just kind of a I I don't know. I don't think anybody knows. It's a big unknown and a big, >> right? But we know that we'll get a statement from them every month. So, we'll know exactly what you said every
month. Yeah. So, yeah. >> Right. Well, what goes into that 30,000 rate? >> Well, so it's a minimum. It's a minimum fee of 30,000. Then the hourly rates were broken down proposal.
>> So if we go over the 30, but how how many hours of each thing are >> Oh, it says it's in the contract. >> Hourly charges apply toward the minimum. So if total charges exceed the retainer home then the overages will be build as
follows. So like Bobcats, tool cats, pickup trucks with pe plows is $225 per hour per machine. Um the 175 $175 horsepower tractor with the 9 foot snow blow is $275 per hour. Manual labor is
$60 per hour per person for shoveling sidewalk steps and tight areas. So, we'll we'll see labor hours. We'll see machine hours broken down. There's not a fee for him to show up on site for here. It's you're going to pay me a minimum 30,000. Um, and if we only use
25 of it based off man hours and equipment hours, you're still going to pay me 5,000 extra dollars at the end of the season. >> Yeah. >> Whose discretion is if he should come up here and is he kind of watching the site knowing he's got to clean something or >> So, he's got in there. um that it's got to be a 1 inch accumulation of snow. Um
but he and I also have conversations that I mean um so we've been we've been contracting with him that his hourly rate until we get this bid process figured out um and approved. So I I've just called him and said, you know, here's what I'm thinking about school
tomorrow. We're going to do a two-hour late start. You know, try to show up there by 8:00 to make sure that we're salted and ready to go. Anybody else? Um, yeah, Jay's been around for How many
years has he been doing? It's a long, but it's been quite a while. >> I know for sure last year. >> Yeah, >> because I looked at how much we paid. >> Okay. And is there any benefit in just doing straight up late? Is anybody going to sign up choose to do
that? >> You know, if you go over, you go over and then you pay him hourly. But if you go under, that's a benefit to the contractor. >> Yeah. >> You can't expect the guy though with that kind of equipment sitting around with him. >> Well, that's why I brought it up. >> Be obligated. He might have to come. I mean, he's still got >> he's got to have equipment and stuff.
They I can see why they got to put up >> a certain dollar amounts there because they're sitting with guys ready to work >> at 3 in the morning and >> I wouldn't want to do it at 3 in the morning all the time either. So >> they they've got to have a minimum they've got to be paid if it don't snow
all winter. They still got to be on duty >> just in case. >> Right. >> Okay. Any further discussion on it? Good. All in favor? Removal of whom? >> Jay Larson. All in favor? Jay. Larson to
install removal for GFW. >> Okay. Could we revote please? >> All in favor? Okay. >> Thank you. >> Um and then last action item. Um, we have a motion for recommendation to
certify local levy at 6,510,5168. >> I'll start you. >> George, you second it. >> Yep. >> Thank you. Um, roll call. >> Gross. >> Yes. >> Ser, >> yes. >> Turtle, >> yes. Ary,
>> yep. Breeze, >> yes. >> Miller, >> yes. >> Okay. And then one clarification before we adjourn. Uh, Mr. Turtle's comments about cripples was not about students, was about vehicles that we own that are crippled. >> Correct. So,
>> yes. Thank you. >> Yes. So, um, with that said, may we have a motion to adjourn? >> We'll make that motion to adjourn. >> Thank you. Second. >> Thank you, George. All in favor? All right. Thank you everybody. >> Who's AP on service? Who
>> am