Yes. Hey, good evening everybody. Thank you for joining us tonight. Uh, sun's shining and it's fairly warm out there. I'd like to call to order uh this meeting at the GFW Edit Elementary ECF room on April 21st and it is 6:02
p.m. Uh start with the pledge of allegiance. nation, liberty, and justice for all. All right. I believe Dr. would like to add one item to our agenda before we um
and be at the end of the action items 7 and that would be to cons set May 5th as a special meeting date and that will be discussed in our 7C budget reductions section.
That will be the only item out there. We're ending immediately to discuss budgets. Yes. And to take action on this potent potential um issue here. Okay.
Um a motion to approve the agenda. Move the agenda. Second. I'll second. All in favor. Passes. Uh, Mrs. Elmer, any visitor
recognition? All right. Um, consent agenda. You want to? Yeah. Uh, just a number of items on there. So, just a couple comments. I'm going to start on the bottom with the
policies. They're all on the consent. um they were reviewed by policy committee. Uh all of them were literally one word change or addition of a new statute that impacted. So uh they're all minimal
changes so they can go on the consent agenda. And then I just wanted to point out we have a a certified hire in second grade and a resignation. And I just want to say they were not caused by one or
the other. Uh we received a resignation from Miss Thinnegan which we were we were sad to receive. Um but uh just wanted people to be aware she would have had a position here next year and we were hoping she would be back with us. So just wanted to point that out as
well. Anybody have questions or discussion? Anybody down this way? Okay. Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Make a move. Motion to approve
the consent agenda. A second. I'll second. All in favor. All right. Down to information items. Start with Dr. Kelly. Um just a few reports here.
Um, building update. I thought I'd see if I can do this quick here. Um, [Music] Um there um just some building updates. I just thought I'd share this. I receive
this will be going on the website. In fact, some of it might be on there already knowing Kyle. Um but this is uh received this from Ka Enrolled um today. Um just some updates on what's been
happening out there. Um so this past past month uh they've started working on windows which you see casework in the elementary tile in the bathrooms and throughout the the elementary
hallway. They've finished the storm shelter and the kitchen and gym roofing areas. They've done slab pores on area F and the kitchen. Um area F is the locker room area. locker room and fitness room,
band area, uh drywall, and started taping and sanding in area C. That's all been done in area A and is now starting in area B as well. Masonry and air barrier assembly continues around the building. Um
uh they're pretty much done with the masonry on the front. Uh the last scaffolding should be done this week. uh prep for framing on metal panels on the perimeter of building and uh prepping slabs at commons area and then dry more
drywall and taping and then the upcoming month starts with wrap up roofing at all areas of the building pour the slab at commons area and that work started today. I'm I'm not certain if they finished the entire commons today but if
not it will be complete tomorrow. Um, so now everything except the gym and the auditorium will have concrete slab at this stage. Um, and once that's done, they'll wrap up the building enclosure. Um, work on the larger
curtain wall windows. Those are the ones with the arched arch tops um that are larger than the regular classroom windows. Let's see. uh build out the locker room and music
areas which floors have been poured there. Um mechanical and electrical rooms, building those out and then again permanent enclosure. Um also they you've seen work out on the site. They're redistributing
soils out on the site to have final grade and they're starting to move soils off of the future athletic complex, the football field track area with hopes to start that work uh middle to end of May.
And then weather, as you recall, we lost something like 50 days uh due to wet weather last spring and summer. And now with wind and cold total
is 74 days that maybe haven't missed total working days but it's severely limited the amount of work that we've done on site. So um and then just a few pictures I'll show up here if I can.
Um, obviously, uh, manhole covers and things getting ready for installation when parking lots go in. There's the front of the facility. A miscellaneous bathroom throughout the building. There's the elementary classroom,
painted wall and cabinets going in. This is just outside the district office on the second level. You see no concrete floor on the far right and that um hopefully was poured as of today. Locker room area on the second
floor which also should have been poured the concrete floor on that today. Looking down the middle school high school hallway main floor. This is the the metal shop area.
You can see the exhaust areas for the welding booths are in place in that space. Um more middle school, high school hallway. You start to see some of the sheetrock drywall and work uh roof. This
is over the kitchen and the receiving dock area. It's the gym roof in the back or gym wall in the background. Here's the commons area roof which they are working away on right now as the floor was being poured
underneath. Um last week if you were by the site you saw a large crane putting air handling units up on the roof. Um so that the roof looks a little different as you're driving by with the larger pieces of equipment up there. Um, but
they did after several wind delays last week, they did get up there and get them all in place. And here's the commons area looking from the entrance to the gym going south. So that's the auditorium doors on the right. And the
gentlemen on the left are standing in front of the overhead doors for the kitchen serving area. But this is the area that was being poured concrete floor today. So, um, and there's back in the locker room and fitness area last
week for in those courts. So, lot is happening every day out there. Uh, here's elementary hallway in the blue pod. And then you start to see the tile Wayne's coating on the hallway. And over on the left here is where that's a
bathroom. So, the tile floor go tile goes up all the way to the ceiling grid in that in that area. more of that elementary classroom area. And this is in the kitchen area. Obviously, floor is poured. Deming has been in installing the
walls. Um, separating the the cooking area from the serving lines. We're looking at the serving line area right here in front right now for middle school, high school classrooms. This is the kitchen area, the cooking
area of the kitchen. There's some forks. So, um, stop sharing here. With the added uh 74 working days now from 48 and a half before whatever it
was full days 38 or 38. Yep. Um what are they saying about schedule? I think we're still Nope. We're still on schedule as planned. Yeah. All right. Um, and I'll get this off
here shortly, but um, rest of the report, uh, just end of year update. It seems strange to put that on there, but here we are, the end of April. Um, there are six weeks left of school. Some folks can probably tell me how many days back
there. Um, you will hear that in the high school report. Um just wanted to mention uh so uh got prom coming up this weekend and then obviously graduation just a month away literally. Also wanted
to mention um you know there's a plan for a time capsule out in in the new building. Uh we have a location for that. I will be trying to get some information out to the public just about um if people have ideas on what should
be in that time capsule. Um and then last thing I had was tomorrow night is a community meeting in Winthrop. Uh just city of Winrip is taking input on suggestions for uh potential uses for
the current high school site over there. Sorry. Tomorrow night, 7 o'clock at city hall. That's my report. Thank you.
[Music] Uh this is Thompson. Okay. Well, good evening. Um plans are being made right now for our edge summer school. Um this year's summer school will run from July 21st through August 1st. And um teachers will use the lip
camp model again that we've used the past few years um that has been updated to reflect the science of reading. Um third, fourth, fifth graders are busy taking the MCA tests in math and reading and fifth graders have the additional science tests that they completed as
well. U preK through second grade classrooms each took a grade level and decorated lockers and classroom doors to encourage our third through fifth graders taking the tests. We will finish up this week. Um, in early April, elementary students enjoyed watching the
tractor parade as GFW High School students drove their tractors to school. Um, thanks for doing that. It was really fun. Um, kindergarten kickoff was a success with 34 families attending and getting their children registered for kindergarten. Uh, students enjoy
spending time in the kindergarten classrooms and walking through the lunch line to get a snack. parents heard information about GFW and kindergarten from myself, Danny Brunes, Lisa Schwekie, Leehi Girtz, and the kindergarten teachers. Um, I attended a training session that covered the
requirements for our local literacy plan that has to be submitted and on our website by June 15th. A more in-depth session will be held on May 1st in Marshall, which I plan to attend. Um, there are several new requirements for that plan report through the readact.
Um, for TIG Community Arts, TCA had their annual spaghetti dinner during Grale Days in Winthrop. Um, Joe Voss is directing the summer musical Anastasia. Auditions for Anastasia have been announced and will be on May 4th and 8th at the GFW High School Auditorium.
Performances are July 31st through August 3rd. Stephanie Fernandez will be the TCA Arts Camp director this summer. Students in third through 8th grade will be putting together a production of Frozen Kids during the two-eek camp. And there will be one performance at the end
of the camp for the public. That's all I have. When is that performance? When is When is it? Yeah. Um, so it'll be the last day of camp, which is August 3rd, or excuse me, no, that's I'll have to I'll let you know. Okay, thanks. I guess I don't have those
dates on here. I have all kinds of other dates, but not that one. Okay. So, yeah, it'll be on the Friday of the last day of camp, so I'll get to that to you. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Is there anything from Mrs. I do have a report from Mrs. Jacobson as well. Um, she says, "Since our last
board meeting, we've had approximately 16 full days of school. Despite the shorter stretch of time, we've been busy with a number of significant events and activities. Over spring break, our band and choir students traveled to Florida. The trip was a great success. Our students performed exceptionally well
and received high praise from many individuals on the trip for their outstanding behavior. Multiple comments were made about their kindness, respectful manners, and overall positive attitudes. They represented our school with pride, especially in their interactions with hotel staff, bus
drivers, and restaurant employees. This year also marked an exciting milestone for GFW as it was our first time participating in the Minnesota Minnesota State High School League visual arts competition. Several students entered the competition and all received superior ratings. One student may even
advance to the state level, which is a remarkable achievement, especially for our first year participating. April is our MCA testing month. Students in grades 6 through 8 are taking both the reading and math MCAs, while eighth graders also complete the science MCA. At the high school
level, 10th graders are testing in both reading and science, and 11th graders are taking the M math MCA. We have nearly completed the reading and math tests with a few students still finishing up. This week we began science testing along with makeup testing for those who were absent. Our goal is to
have all assessments completed by the beginning of the last week of April. In addition, some of our juniors have signed up to take the ACT, which will be administered tomorrow at 8 a.m. at the GFW auditorium. Also, tomorrow, our middle school students will be attending a Minnesota Saints game as a community
building and educational field trip. It is a great opportunity for students to engage in learning outside the traditional classroom setting. While many other events are happening in our building, these have been the most prominent events. We have also started senior meetings to prepare for graduation. Staff are working closely
with students to ensure that they have everything they need and are on track to graduate. Our goal is to support and guide as many students as possible across the finish line. That's her report. All right. Thank you. All right. Next, we'll do a quick
Dasher update. Um, looks like just a bunch of maintenance. [Music] Uh, have all valve and check valve with a pump for some boilers at the middle school high school box sink at elementary. Work with BNR. Get that
resolved. Worked with Shrier Rifting to repair some areas that were leaking on the elementary in the classroom. uh put together 30 new classroom desks for the business class at the Are those moving into the new? Yeah, those are
ones that we bought um that have been overordered by somebody. So, we bought them at a reduced price. Those are those are coming over. Okay. Uh and then now that's nice of just general cleanup and tree trimming around the facilities.
So that is the dasher report and now for two meetings in a row. We have uh student council here for an update. Morning started off then with sports. Um
all the teams have been playing games and matches. Um there was a golf conference meet today at Alden Conger. They also have other meets on May 5th and 12th for the conference. The track conference meet will be on May 15th in Sleepy and the subsection meet will be
on May 22nd and the section meet will be on May 31st. The softball conference tournament begins on May 15th in Mano and the baseball conference tournament will begin in midmay. Next is music. The spring band concert will be on May 8th and the variety show will be on Friday
May 16th and Saturday May 17th. Moving on to FFA, the best informed Greenhand team placed second in the region. Claire Messerly placed second individually and Kelly Willville placed sixth. The FFA chapter banquet will be on May 14th at
Ponds in Winthrop starting at 6:00. Members will be recognized for their accomplishments and new officers will be installed. Egg experience day will be on May 22nd for the elementary schoolers. We have invited kindergarten, first grade, and fourth grade to come and experience our barnyard, greenhouse, and
farm safety stations. We also have many state qualifying individuals and teams that will be headed to state convention from April 27th to the 29th. I have some updated results here for the career development event teams. We have a dairy evaluation team and companion animal
science team. The companion animal science team placed first in the region. I placed second individually. Luxy Jazinski placed fourth and Maddie Lee placed sixth. For proficiencies, we have two state finalists. I am going for the outdoor recreation area and Abby
Willigle for the small animal production and care area. For star awards, we have two finalists including William Bashion for star in placement and myself for star in aggra business. We also have members receiving their state degrees. Those members are William Bastion, myself, Abby Willigal, and Matthew
Burns. A few students applied to play in the state band and choir. We are sending Luke Bastion, William Bastion, and Ellen Obriner who will be playing in the band. Maddie and Matthew Lee will be singing in the choir. For student council, spring fling will be from May 12th through the 16th. Students will
participate in activities including bingo, hunting for ducks, a guessing jar, and guess that song. The spring fling coordination and pep fest will take place on Friday, May 16th from 1:30 to 3. and student council is also planning a kickball tournament for
grades 6 through 12 on May 28th. Fantastic. Okay. Um the NHS the National Honor Society will be hosting a blood drive on May 7th. Then Thunderbird Greenhouse the Thunderbird Greenhouse plant sale will
be on May 8th through the 10th. They will be selling hanging baskets, porch pots, vegetables, patunias, folus, geraniums, and more. Next to prom will be on April 26th. Grand March doors open
at 6:00 and the program starts at 7. The dance will take place at the warehouse from 9 to 12th after proming the dance. Graduating meetings and details. The next graduation meeting is on April 30th. The vacc service is on
Wednesday, May 21st. The senior breakfast and parade to the elementary school will be on May 29th and graduation will be on May 31st starting at 6:00. Evening of excellence. The National Honor Society induction and the
event of excellence will take place on May 19th. Zoo day 9th and 12th graders will have a reward day where they choose to attend the Minnesota Zoo or Twins game on May 21st. Well, that's a lot going
on for you guys and congratulations to you and then everybody else that's being recognized and doing wonderful things and we wish everybody the best of luck. Can I have you Oh, everybody here knows you probably, but maybe our vast viewing audience does. So, could you uh say your
name and grade? Yeah. I'm Eden Mesterly and I'm a senior. I'm Tyler Limo and I'm a sophomore. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. Um reports
number see that was some time ago. It was a fairly mundane board meeting just going over budget and building and everything is on track as it should be. The number of individuals
to rise as a raptors are differentiated by the needs of the individual uh pretty well business. The one item of concern was the interview for a principal which
was taking place on the 7th and 8th of April. We got a community bowl meeting that was a part of. So I will find the result of that tomorrow night. That pretty much sums up what happened. Is there voted for was it a
board members? Two of them or something uh about a month ago. That was for something else, wasn't it? Was it for Riverbend? No. I'm trying to think if it was MS or was that the co-op? Oh, it was the M
you was for members that sell central service. Okay. And prior to that there was an as well for district lots of stuff happening everywhere.
Um All right. Thank you. and policy committee basically reviewed the policies that were went over tonight with word change maybe adding word taking out word change
word all over it didn't significantly change any other policies that we all legal state of Minnesota driven language Okay. Uh, FF LRP, I think we kind of looked at what's
going on with the school. It's been two weeks ago, but then kind of our budget cuts and things we had to do, and we're still kind of reviewing some of that. So, you know, talked about the city project with store water, what we're going to do there, what's legal, what's
not. So, anything to add um talked about open uh most of the stuff we learn in a few are action items that are on the agenda tonight so I'm sure there'll be some discussion but talked about open talked
about our budget um food service contract bus and contracts just looking in to seeing where we can save some money or be more efficient doing due diligence and just getting quotes and pencil and yeah good
memories anything to add not really most of the things are on say whole they're they're being calculated at the moment in terms
of are we going to do this are we going to do that with transportation and food service or anything else. And I think those conclusions are coming close or we're
coming close to conclusion on something. All right. Thank you. Uh community engagement committee. I believe you guys met right before this meeting. Members there. We had a pretty full agenda. We talked
about um the Thunderbird Foundation sponsorship ideas for the new school, what the sponsorship wall is going or ideas of what it could look like. Um you know with that. So honor wall uh naming
potentially naming rooms after donors. Um lots of different ideas for that. Nothing set in concrete yet. So just all ideas um and then a different idea for uh
scholarship donors as well. Then um we talked about uh open house for the new school a little bit more and uh as Dr. Smith mentioned contents for the time capsule, talked about how long we think um you
know when we should open the time capsule. Uh meeting in for Winthre is tomorrow night. Um that's that's I think most of it was allowed for an
order. No, just we talked about that abatement bond and you know kind of the same thing that you know been our agenda for last couple weeks busing what we should do there you know kind
of open yeah it's kind of cross yeah it's kind of crossing over we're talking about a lot I think with regard the time capsule as long as we're on TV and we have people viewing this we might u say now that you
can start thinking of ideas that the public can for items to put in that time capsule there will be information going out at some time as I understand Dr. Smith. But for those of you viewing, start thinking. What's the ETA of that
going out to Well, that's still to be deter going out to the public. I I don't know if I'll do it this month, but early in May. We'll get something out. Um, and I'm just not sure when that actual space will be finished, but
probably u late summer at the earliest. So, it's uh it'll happen quite from here. Yep. And and I should just maybe to touch on the FFLRP and and we touched on a community, you know, we we currently have RFPs out for
transportation services. So that's been a a conversation piece. So we we have at least six contractors who have expressed interest. Um and we'll be attending a anformational meeting tomorrow afternoon, a virtual meeting. Um so
there is definitely interest. Again, I I want to say state it as loudly and as clearly as possible. Uh we're doing this to see if it makes sense for the district. It's not that we're going to get bids and do this regardless. It has
to make sense for us as a as a district. Um but it's good to know that we have contractors interested in in the uh in the work. Uh food service have been brought up at our last meeting. I just want to mention that I've reached out to
uh several food service vendors that serve districts in our area um about contracting out for food service as well or the possibility of hiring a part-time food service director from one of our
neighboring districts. Um to be honest, it's been pretty quiet in response to that. I know they're busy right now with re-uping contracts for districts, but uh I have uh reached out to to food service companies as well there. So, how how
long a contract that you looking at for food service? Is that a year or two years? Yeah, it um that's going to be at least probably three years. Three years for them to make a commitment to it. Yeah. So, there's nobody's responded as of
now. Well, I talked in person to one and otherwise it's been a response that uh we got your information and we'll be getting back to you. I haven't heard back directly from them but I I have talked to one of the members. Okay. Anything else? N thank you. And
then uh executive committee that was absent. You want to start George? Okay. Uh, basically went over uh the busing that we're talking about
and the food service. Um, talked about the policies that were changing trying to put together agenda for tonight. Pretty pretty short meeting. Okay, good. You couldn't think of anything either. I was like, I can't think of anything that we didn't already say. So, trying to remember if I was
missing something. All right. Well, it sounds like that's all that happened then. Okay. Um on to action items. So action item is a recommendation for approval of
open ed contract for 25 through 28. So uh Dr. Smith, can you uh speak what this is all about? Sure. Um, so as we've discussed before, O Open Ed is a company that comes in and and works with families actually throughout
Minnesota that are home home school and uh seeks to enroll them in a public school and offer an online programming to to those families and students. um they are moving into Minnesota
starting the 2526 school year and so um districts have had an opportunity to sign up with them. Um the benefit to us would be a financial benefit as well as I believe um and a benefit to homeschool
families is um they are going to have a broader curriculum to offer perhaps their students than they're receiving now. Um but essentially the district would be receiving 25% of the revenue that those
students generate as enrolled students of GFW schools. Um and open ed receives the remaining portion of that funding. So I did have our legal counsel
review the contract. There are two other districts that have already signed a similar contract. Our attorney had some more changes that she recommended and that's what I sent off to Open Head. Um, and one of the changes I want to mention
right now, what I sent to you as board members had a one-year term with no with no automatic renewal. The contract that OpenV sent had a three-year term with an automatic
renewal. Um, Maggie Walner, our attorney, and I in our conversation, she did indicate that uh, Open Ed will likely push back on that, and I suspect they will because they have some upfront costs to uh, to market and to get these
programs going in various homeschools, and they're probably going to insist on that three-year or to two-year contract. And uh Maggie doesn't have a problem with it. It's just um she strongly recommends the automatic
renewal portion of the contract be changed. So, uh it doesn't just roll over it every every two years or three years, whatever we end up at. So, so if we're doing a one-year contract, you know, and we So, then it would Yeah. Oh,
I should have changed that. 25 26 would have been here. Yeah. Yeah. But the original was a three-year is what they had proposed. And so, I guess I'm telling you, I have not had a response from them yet. I just got the contract back from Maggie Thursday
afternoon. So, I don't know how many people were checking their emails on Friday. Um but um you know right the contract we sent would be for one year. That's a good good correction. And so there's no upfront costs for
anybody that doesn't um we're not con we're committing to them which is why they're they they're going to want a commitment for us. So, they're going to want for three year is why they'll probably come back with, but um that make renewable makes sense. I would agree with
um and it's it's only three districts in the whole state that they're trying to partner with. Yes. The other two are northern Yeah. and we're the only one in southern south central Minnesota, which means that kids from the whole state
could be tied to our um school district one way or another um for open or for enrollment through homeschooling. Yeah. Um, and then that's where the the state gives you extra hours, you know, $78,000
a student and they keep 75% and we other than a little bit of time up front to enroll a student uh through the computer. Uh, we're getting 25% of that every month for every people
signed up. [Music] Um, we've talked about this for the better part of probably four months now. Probably. Yes. Um, so I I don't know if there's any more questions uh on our last chance here. Any questions down your way? So, with
doing the one-year contract but not automatic renewal, do we have any anticipation that they would probably then offer to somebody else or you think they would stay? Yeah, I haven't. I think they're going to want us to negotiate that
one-year deal, the two or three years. And um but either way, just removing the automatic. Yes, that's the ultimate goal. Y and so what I presented tonight, the contract that you saw was for one year.
So if they come back and change, they'll probably be back here with a revised contract. We were aware of that change. Um, and I'm glad you brought up the fact that it I had mentioned they're coming into Minnesota this year. Their normal
practice is that they have two districts that they work with in a given state and um they are working with three and two slots are already gone. So I'm hoping that one is still left for for us.
Hope we find out. Yeah. tomorrow expected here shortly. Okay. Uh any more conversation on it? Okay. Uh can I get a motion to approve the open contract for
25 26? I guess we'll put it as Dr. Smith or just or the 2528 2526. Okay, that's the contract sent. I'll make a motion to approve that contract today. A second. I'll second.
All in favor. Great. Uh, next we're going to review 252.6 budget assumptions that we've been working on. Yep. I just gonna try to pull these up.
Maybe when I say we, I mean Lindsay and Movement Company. All right. So, uh, budget assumptions just, uh, you know, we we have basically used the first item on this list, which
is our enrollment, and that's what Lindsay built, our estimated revenue budget at that we looked at um, was it already two meetings ago or last meeting? Um, so that that is one of our assumptions. The rest of the
assumptions really deal with various expenditures. Capital expenditures. Uh we have um an overall operating capital budget of about $150,000. Right now we're just reserving
a h 100,000 for miscellaneous in the new facility if something comes up unexpectedly. Um and then down at number five, technology expenses are set at $50,000. that might be a little lighter than
normal. However, there are some dollars built into the school new school budget for technology. So, is being offset in that area. Special ed expenses will increase by 5% and that's a wild card.
Um, we never know from year to year. We know they're increasing. Um, but we're going to build the budget based on an increase of 5%. um our state aid per pupil. Uh we are in a year where we're pretty sure we know
what we're going to get. Uh it's going to increase by inflation now as set by the legislature last last legislative session and that was sent out to districts uh two months ago that it'll be
2.74% for 2526. We don't know for 26 27. I put 2% in there. So that's the assumption we're we're basing things on right now. I mentioned technology expenses
$50,000. Um again, that's upgrading um Chromebooks, other uh other devices throughout the system. Um salary and benefits. We're in negotiations with our our teachers group, our
[Music] uh our non-exempt um employee group, our classified staff, so basically everybody's up for negotiations. Our bus drivers if we if
we we still own our buses are up for negotiations as well. So, we're building 3 to 5% in there for per year for total package um reductions. I changed this uh to
about $450,000 um will be made for next year and we'll talk about that this next. transportation costs if if we're um that's kind of up in the air as well, but we put it would increase by 5%. And
I guess number 10 I should have put closer to right next to that. Um you know, a big question is bus purchases. We know we're in need of new bus purchases. If we're contracting, that item is off the table. If not, uh, we
can figure about a $100,000 per new bus um for for large large buses anyway. Um, and we would likely need to purchase multiple buses and and most likely lease them to spread that cost over multiple years.
Curriculum updates, which we've talked are kind of subscriptions nowadays, um are set at $50,000 just for renewing various curriculum subscriptions that we have. And then some changes uh legislatively that impact us. Minnesota
paid family leave uh becomes effective 1126 and that is being paid for by a8% tax on our payroll. Um and
so we're moving forward that the district would be covering port.44% 44% of that Minnesota paid family leave and employees would pick up the remaining44%. And then TRA, a teachers
retirement uh currently is at 8.75% contribution by the district and that is increasing to 9 and a half% uh effective July 1st. So, we're figuring that that's about a
$40,000 cost for the district for for the level of payroll we have certified staffing. Is that a Minnesota? That's a Minnesota teachers retirement. Yes. Okay. Yep. Um, so those are the main things. Uh,
Lindsay is working on that expenditure budget based on that group of assumptions. Um, and I just not asking for approval. We'll do that at our our May meeting, but just want to see if there are any
questions in regard to any of those. I know we've discussed those briefly at previous meeting. I think we actually went into a bit deep. Okay. Everything's conservative um with the numbers. You
know, number one's the building block of the whole system. Correct. Correct. And hopefully that's way undershot and u we're much higher than that. That would make life a lot easier. Our good news is we have been trending upward in that
area and so we hope we're being really conservative in that area and and we're counting zero students through open end if that becomes a reality. Um, so anything that would come in through there would be would
be authentic. Yep. Yep. All right. Okay. Um, item C, uh, review budget reduction adjustments for 2526. So, this
we also talked a little bit about as well. um shrink. Um but line item number one is is an item that was not on the agenda at the last meeting.
Um just for review, current currently um to get water and sewer out to the school district facility. Uh an agreement was reached that the city of Gibbon would bond for that sewer and
water project which they they have the legal authority to do. Um but since it was serving primarily the school district and it was put in place at the request of the school district, we would pay for them.
Um that meant that we were going to be paying approximately $130,000 a year or 20 years out of our general fund. So my recommendation is that the school
district pass a or approve a an abatement bond which we are able to do through board action alone. There is no vote of the public necessary. An abatement bond is an
interesting financing tool in that it is it can only be used to pay for expenses related to parking lot amenities of a school district
property. So in our case can pay for the earth work, the um all paving, curb, sidewalk, lights, anything related to the parking lot, which would be about $3.9 million for us. Now, we
would not we're not trying to access that. We're just trying to access money to pay back the water and sewer, which I'm still working to finalize a total amount, but I believe to be about
$1.6 million to pay that all off. So [Music] um the rationale for doing this obviously is a general fund
savings and with an abatement bond that becomes subject to the egg to school credit. So uh the state of Minnesota will actually pay for approximately 53% of the total cost. Um the downside
is this. This is a tax increase and so that's that would be the area of concern. Um and uh but it's still going to be my recommendation to move forward with the debatement bond. I I think I've
said early on in budget discussions, we need to circle our wagons around the general fund and um and this is going to save that general fund 130,000 a year for the next 20 years. So
um so that's why the addition of that extra agenda item if there is a process to to an abatement bond. Um and one of those is calling for a
public hearing. I did not want to make that call tonight by blindsiding the board with I just found out literally Friday from the attorney. They had some questions the way um we're getting
assessed for this bond and this whole process. They wanted to clarify. I finally got word on Friday that we would be good to go um to do this and um so that's why the recommendation is coming to me this this
late. So um I would if well we'll get to that later on. So there's there's that. Um uh I in your stations there's uh this document is is there and then there are
several documents related to the abatement bond including a schedule of events um which we would we would need to at at a special meeting on Monday May 5th we adopt a
resolution to move forward with Baitman bonds and to hold the public hearing and then at the regular May meeting um we would hold a public hearing and adopt what is called a parameters resolution and a parameters resolution
does exactly what it says. It sets the parameters for a successful sale to occur because the sale date will happen on a day that is not a typical board meeting. Um, and so any sale has to fall
within parameters set by the board at that Monday, May 19th meeting. The sale would happen sometime around June 4th. And then we would have a final action on June 16th to award, it's
called the ratifying resolution. And then Monday, June 30th, closing of the bonds, project proceeds would become available to the district and we would pay off um the special assessment directly to the city of Gibbon. Right now, we're
we're set up to get assessed through the county through the normal property tax system, but we would be paying it off in full. So, so that's uh why I've added the item down at the end of the agenda
um for that first item. Um, any questions? I know we've talked in FFLRP and other committees for several months. Uh, then some questions came up by legal counsel. And on on any bond
issuance, you need to have a bond council opinion. That's part of your official statement. And so, we certainly wanted to make sure we dotted our eyes and crossed our tees with bond counsel. uh they brought in a tax tax specialist
to look at it uh because it's kind of a unique situation paying off this special assessment um but I got confirmation that it would be appropriate so to just
say it one more time in in effect the abatement bond pays for part of the parking lot and that frees up other funds that we can use to pay for the sewers from the construction project from the construction and we would be saving a significant
amount of um interest right over the 30 years of uh paying off the bond to the city of 20 years 20 years to the city of Given um and then state pays for 52 53%
and I think we had some rough numbers of very very yeah and there here um is in in your packet there. Um, so and I just gave B, excuse me, Bard, our financial advisor, um, who would be issuing the
bonds, some general numbers because I wasn't really sure of the final amount to pay off the water and sewer because it's it's the issue plus interest earned through December 31st of this year. So,
I gave them 1.75 million. So, I think that's going to be more than adequate, maybe a little bit high. But, for example, on that in a 10-year payback period, a residential homestead would pay $14. Residential homestead of
$200,000 would pay $14.87 a year. And then egg homestead property at 10,000 would pay 13 cents an acre. and egg nonh homestead at 10,000
an acre would pay 26 cents an acre. So again it is a tax increase um but it is definitely a benefit to to our general fund why we're designing a list of
recommendations for budget adjustment. Yes, I would make sure we have a lot of this examples, more examples and data available for Yeah. the public hearing and again is there a way for that we so we can adjust uh our levy amount down
the road because we're um saving on interest down the road. um probably won't impact much on on that because right right now when we're paying for it out of our general fund, it's just
coming like it's not dedicated to that payment. So, it's not really accounting for that. Um our savings comes just in paying that off right away. Over time, we're going to save that amount. Okay. I would. So, just make sure we
have Yep. And again, these are estimates because you never know. Um, and they're slightly higher than they were three months ago just because the markets have been rather unstable in the last couple months, a month or so.
Um, but, uh, Bear is sells bonds. That's what they do. And so they have some estimated true interest costs for a true 10-year uh bond. True interest cost is
4.319%. And through our assessment, we're paying for 5.75%. So um but we will get this stuff refined as much as possible and certainly make that
available on our website. zone. When do we have to pick what time period? 10 or 14. So, um when we set that at the May 5th meeting, we need to
determine how much we're going to buy for and what the amortization period is seven grand. So, and just looking at these rough numbers, it would be my recommendation right now to go over 10 years. um try to minimize
that tax impact to anybody. So that's item number one on this list for program uh budget budget adjustments and reductions. The rest of these items are kind of review are
reviewed for you. Um, we have a special ed teacher, excuse me, retirement. Um, and that, um, that position served, um, PLS and did title services over there as well.
Um, we are eliminating that position and we'll have to pick up those services with our current special ed staff. Uh, item C was to re which reduce CISO contract
um for HR. We currently have a contract of about $60,000 and it is to reduce that by 2/3. we would still be contracting with CISO or some other entity to do uh benefits
um benefits analysis and uh and maintenance uh reduce hours for communications through CISO. There is a contract in place for about 48,000 a year and it's reducing that down by 25%
so $12,000. eliminate a Sibly County family facilitator. I mentioned we've actually had contracts over the past several years with two entities for family facilitator. One through Greater Minnesota Family Council and then one
through Sibly County um Children's Collaborative. um our option through Greater Minnesota Family Council is far less expensive and that's why uh it was recommended to eliminate the Cry County family
facilitator. Um I talked about subscriptions that we would be renewing for our curriculum. There are also others that that we've been reviewing and realizing we may have signed up for things that aren't being fully utilized or just aren't what we thought they
were. And we believe there's a number of savings that we're going subscriptions we're going to be able to eliminate uh to achieve that. Uh a teaching and learning coordinator position salary and benefits.
Um we currently have have two and this is recommending that we eliminate one. Um, and then finance director. I put on here a negative cost in currently contracting to maintain Lindsay Heiny
services at $50,000. Our our plan is that we are in search of two days of service and I'm thinking it's going to come in more than what we're currently paying. Um, so I wanted to
reflect that as we're looking at all these adjustments, departures versus replacements. Uh, typically, um, in the case of our retirements, we've got very senior teachers retiring and we're bringing in newer staff. So, there are
some savings to be to be had throughout uh throughout that rehiring process. uh that is not finalized until we we know who all those hires are. An AI coordinator. We currently uh move Mr.
Jacobson out of the classroom to work on AI initiative for the district and he's done a great job with that and has really worked in the area of um just uh streamlining all our online
curriculum and our schooly app so they are all talking to each other and our teachers understand how they're talking to each other. Um, and so it would be eliminating that position, but then providing a stipen to do some summer
work and then work during the school year to continue continue work on our AI efforts and to keep monitoring schooly as well. That change a little bit from the last. Yeah, I think I had 15,000 and
as as I looked to some summer work, I added 5,000. So yes, you're right. It was 15,000. And then I had a miscellaneous um we're just always looking for whatever areas we can save in. And
there's a total of $452,000. So um in males, you know, there's nothing on here that requires um action at this time. There's no tenure teachers on here that we would normally like to like to act on as early as April
because there's a timeline of proposing to place them on leave of absence and then taking a final step of placing them on leave of absence. So I wouldn't be asking for any action on these until the May or May 19th.
Uh so this is part of the special meeting on 55. Um no the real only only only real action needed on 55 is that abatement bond. Okay you know so deciding are we going to do that one? So that one we need to act on whether
that's going to happen and then we would pass that resolution establishing the public hearing and what so we have a a committee of the whole meeting that would be prior to this. So, so we'd have the special meeting and then follow with the
committee or the whole Okay. Um, well, I I need to think of that. Probably do it the other way around because um we have our FFLRP meeting will precede that and W and K are scheduled to come to the board, the committee of the whole after
that. So, it'd be good for us to talk the true numbers that are going to be worked on between now and then. That's a good point. So we'll we'll post it as following the committee as a whole. Okay.
So this will we want to talk more about this as well at our committee meeting and then that's 519. Anything else? So 519 we will have our 2025 2026 full budget. Yeah. Yep.
Yep. Um or I should say at least to review that night. Um won't have to approve it until June, but you'll have some time to review it. Yep. Yep. May not approve this on the 19th. We don't have We don't have Well, you know
what? Let me back up here. I want you to approve this list here on the 19th. That's not what I heard you ask. I'm sorry. You I I heard you say we'll have the full budget to approve.
Um we will probably have a proposed budget to show you, but we wouldn't have to approve that until June. Oh, just this would this Right. Right. We want to finalize this before we approve the bull budget. Oh, sorry. We've never done this
part. Okay. All right. Okay. There's actually a there's actually a resolution that that goes along with this that would be asked for approval at that May 19th meeting.
Oh, which will say Yeah. Um, and that's an MSBA resolution and it's just going to re remember is it already three months ago the board passed a resolution that directed administration to look at
programs and services for potential reductions. This resolution then comes back and says here's the recommendations. It's not listing any names but it's positions. So, we're going to have one fewer special ed
positions next year, one fewer teaching and learning coordinator if those were accepted. So, that'll be in that resolution and that would be approved May 19th. Okay. Um and and that's kind of what we're building that proposed budget on. If
there's any significant changes, we'd have to make that adjustment from May to June for final approval of the budget. Okay. Sorry about the confusion, but yeah, that and that's a process I've used. So, I'm sorry if that's kind of a new
process, but it's an MSBA resolution that um maybe isn't such a big deal for us this year because we don't have that tenure position perhaps up for placement on leave, but I still think it's a good
uh recommendation to have the board pass that resolution for detailing what those reductions are. Sure. Some more comments. Y and
then did that everybody. And now item. Uh looks like we have a $250 given given lines donation uh restrictions. It's supposed to be used
for the teamer club and then a $30 anonymous uh restrictions community bus. [Music] Um so can I get a motion to approve our donations tonight? Make a motion to approve the
donations. I a second. I'll second call. Yes. Stair, yes. Miller, yes. Turtle, yes.
Yes. Breeze, yes. Thank you. All right. Well, that concludes our agenda. Well, we got one more item. Oh, yeah. One. Sorry. So that's just to formally set May
5th as a special meeting following the committee of the whole. Yeah. Can I get a motion to make a motion to set May 5th as a special meeting? Second. Second. All in favor? Motion
passes. All right. Uh can I get a motion to adjourn? Make a motion to adjourn. Second. I'll second favor. All right. Thank you everybody.