I aliance 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. >> Okay, we're going to start with
attendance. Steve, do you have any questions on our attendance? >> I do not. Next up is our agenda approval. >> Do we have any changes or corrections, Brian? To tour our >> I had uh two changes. One, the high school principal's report will be a
written report only as Mr. Latimore needs to be at the basketball game tonight and then our agenda letter L has been changed to an open session um at the individual's request. So, I've updated that as well. >> Toby, do you agree with this change?
>> Yes. Thank you. So, we have an agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second it. >> There's a motion in a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor say I. >> Opposed? [clears throat]
Motion passes. 70. Board member recognition. >> Okay. Want to thank Jody for your eight years on the Hingley Finson School Board, six of which have been as the chair. Um, thank you for always putting the students and staff of Hankley Finkelson
first in your decision-m. I appreciate, even though maybe not at the time, the disagreements we have had and the agreements we have had um, as I feel those conversations ended up uh, leading to better decisions for the school district. Um, and I wanted to share a
quick fun story. About nine years ago, the high school principal at the time uh was trying to make sure written passes were being used in the high school more frequently. So, if a kid needed to come out of class, you need to have a pass. Well, at the time, the principal wasn't
quite sure that uh this situation had different circumstances. As a student came into the office, I uh got after that student for not having a pass. Um the office staff knew that this student didn't need a pass, but the the principal at the time didn't. Um that is
how I was introduced to Jod Stoley as I was the high school principal at the time and Jod Storley uh gave me quite the fun phone call about 15 minutes after that. So um in all seriousness, Jody, thank you for great eight years and everything you've done uh for the
school district, for our school board, for our staff, and we are going to miss you. >> Thank you. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you. [clears throat] Can I say something? Okay. I want to personally thank Jod for being my mentor and pouring your time and knowledge into
me. Jod, you have served our district well through your professionalism and compassion. You have been selfless with your time and dedication and you will be missed on this board. Thank you for your leadership and most importantly your friendship. >> Thank you. >> Very good. Whoa. All right, we're going
to move on. [laughter] Open forum. Rules for open forum. There are three minutes per speaker. Open forum shall not take a total of 15 minutes. Um, no complaints about individual staff members, about our students, or about other persons are
permitted. All presenters will conduct their business in a manner that meets community standards for decorum. The board will not take action on items presented in an open forum. Um, Mrs. Hardle is here to speak. >> True. Do
>> you want to stand Pacific? You can stand wherever you would like. >> Um, well, we're not going to move on because I also wanted to come in and thank Jodie for all of her time. Um, she's led us through some pretty difficult
events. Um, got a referendum, construction on a couple different buildings, COVID, online learning. Then when we came back from online learning, there was a sub shortage, so she showed up in the building. Every time we needed subs, she was there. Um, she's really
one of the most selfless people that I honestly know. Um, she's always been kind and compassionate, but not afraid to ask the hard questions. And always her motivation has been what's best for our students. and myself, my
children, my whole family, um is better for you having been on our school board and I will be forever grateful. >> Thank you. Um all right, we're moving on again to the consent agenda. Does anybody need anything pulled from
our consent agenda? Place later. >> Is anything changed? >> Nope. >> All right, then. I'm looking for a motion to approve our consent agenda. All >> right, good motion. I'll second. >> There's a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? >> All in favor say I. I.
>> Opposed? Pass [clears throat] the second zero. Next up is the bills. Um, if you have a question on the bills, please state the bill number and the [clears throat] page number. Does anybody have any questions on the bills? If there are no questions on the bills,
then I am looking for a motion to pay our bills. >> One second. There's a motion in the second. Is there any discussion? >> All in favor say I. I. >> Opposed? >> Motion passes. 70.
Uh, first step for reports is the superintendent report. I'm going to jump down to number three just because I have uh quite a bit to kind of go over tonight. Just um for everyone besides Jody, the MSBA winter conference is coming for board members through MSBA.
It's January 15th and 16th. So, if you'd like to attend, um I believe you guys have the agenda. If not, I can print that and send that to you. But if you'd like to attend, like to spend the night, please let me know so I can get you reserved and get you hotel reservations.
I know we have at least two board members already signed up. Um, so if you'd like to go, let me know and we'll get you signed up. Jill and I will. Next, uh, number four is just the seniority list. We do, uh, publish this to staff by October per our contract,
but just if you're curious what our teacher seniority list, it is there for you to see. Um later in the agenda, the board's going to discuss my midyear evaluation uh process. So I shared just it's December for me, it's midyear, so I
shared an update on goals and can answer any questions on that. Um but then I wanted to go to number seven. If you remember last month, Becky Mackey came to the board and talked about adult swim prices. The board asked her to come up with uh make a little bit of changes.
So, that is attached where you can see as of January 1st. Um, she has some fees on there, $3 for adult swim, Saturday aerobics, and open swim. Option one, there can be a punch card, and you can see the costs there for
that. Or option two could be part of the fitness membership, $60 a year or $7 a month for 65 and older. Um, and a onetime of $21 for badge and background check. So, looking for approval
to change that for our senior citizens. Um, and it does need board approval cuz in July when we set our fees, um, activities and events which the pool has fallen under is free for our senior citizens. Um, I don't know if you want to do that first or want me to keep going.
>> Um, yeah, let's do it now. Does anybody have any questions regarding adults one price change? If not, I'm looking for a motion to approve it. >> There's a motion and there's a second. Is there any discussion?
>> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> Motion passes. >> Um, next mechanic position. So, um, I do have a little bit of an update since I typed this. We do have three applicants. uh we had posted on Indeed and and
superintendent thought that Indeed sends emails when uh a person applies there. I have not received that but did look at Indeed today. We do have three applicants. So I did reach out to them to get uh the full application process
as some of them submitted a resume, some of them just said yes, I'm interested. So, I did reach out to all them and and waiting to get their full application materials. Um, I I'm wondering, however, if the board is open to giving a little
more flexibility into the salary for the mechanic. Um, it starts at about $20.75 per hour, which I do not believe is is fair compensation for someone who works year round. has to be pretty much on
duty at least during the school year around the clock in case something happens. We also ask them to get their class B CB CDL license and uh the posting which we've always done is had the mechanic bring their own tool set.
Um I don't even know I I put a number in there where 60,000 could be a starting point. I could certainly repost it and put that and then still say dependent on experience and and references and things like that, but um our support staff
agreement does doesn't give me the authority to go that high. So, I'm looking for either approval to go a little higher or at least post it a little bit higher as a starting point to see um if we can get someone who has the
skills and also to to compensate for the the bigness of the job. So, I'm happy we have some applicants, but um and the couple who's shared some of their resume, it looks promising, but
I am fearful that when we get to that end of the interview process that our current salary schedules may not be high enough, >> Brian, under the current posting, is it set up to where the uh the job posting
would require the mechanic to drive bus routes? We do require them. They'd be a backup basic. They wouldn't have a normal route every day, but they're one of our go-to backups. >> Maybe. >> Yeah. >> Who pays for the CDL?
>> Um, they pay for the license. We can train inhouse. Um, plus there's some online training that they can do. That could be something we discuss, too. Um, but we are able to get them the road experience and get them some of the
testing materials in house. >> Okay. >> And you did say you currently have three applicants, >> correct? >> Okay. >> I think we're going to have to raise it and we're going to get a quality mechanic.
>> Better the mechanic, the uh less you have to send out, >> right? But it isn't just the mechanic here. If he's going to take some if he's got the ability to take things apart, there's only one stone. You know, this time of
year, you're not going to work outside, right? So, you limit his ability or potentially limit what he can do by the facility that we have. Summertime, it's different. you know, you can
just if it doesn't rain, you know. >> Yep. Yep. >> So, >> so you mean if he has a bus tore apart in the stall, he's not going to be able to fix another bus, >> right? >> Is that kind of what your point is, Dave? >> Right. And maybe there's enough, you
know, substitute buses where that can can put that off. I mean, it's a juggling act, right? Um and then the last one at our um climate retention and communication committee meeting um we [clears throat] had an individual ask about uh those
students in grades 7 through 12 who live on the west side of Hinckley. Currently our bus stop policy and at least in my 15 years we do not bus uh students in grades 7 through 12 who live on the west side of Hinckley. Um, and there was talk
by this individual who brought it up as well as that committee. Is that something we want to change, look at changing? It would require bus stop policy. The the part we can look up. We do know how many kids live on Westside.
Um, in 7 through 12, we don't necessarily know yet how many of them would ride. Could be 10, could be 20, could be 30. Um so what we were are currently doing depending what the board does but we are currently looking at just that route. How much room would it
have? Um otherwise if it would overfill that route we would possibly have to look at another route that just goes to the west side. Um part of why it was brought up is is at least for student retention is you see the east central school bus go through that town. I don't
know that they're going doortodoor. Um, but they're for sure doing bus stops and their billboard that says East Central is going through. Would it be a way to keep more of our high school students? For sure in the winter months, it would probably be safer or warmer, especially, you know, we're going to have some snow
on Wednesday. Those snow banks build up quick. Kids are crossing Highway 61 in the dark uh both morning and afternoon now. Um, so we would have a possible temporary solution in the meantime because we have some other people who
can drive bus if we were just adding a quick route. But, uh, we're still doing research if it would currently fit on our existing routes. But I wanted to see the board's thoughts on that first. >> It wouldn't take long to run that route, would it?
>> For wages wouldn't be expensive. Even one option could be they, you know, the current buses except for time maybe could loop back around. Um, like I said, we have some other people who have their license that maybe it would work in in a temporary while we're working on the
logistics of this could maybe there's some shifting, but I think we could figure it out pretty quick and then have a permanent solution if not yet this month for sure after the holidays. Well, I think if we're going to do it for that bus route, then we also have to
do it for the bus route that goes north and the bus route that goes east and south off of 48. Um, I mean, even though I believe it's it's [clears throat] law up to two miles that
you can ask a student to walk to school, if there's room on the buses, I don't know why we are saying no or I mean, I understand policy, but if there's room and we can make it, I think it will help
with tardies. There's lots of times you see kids walking when you know they should be in the buildings. >> Yep. when it's cold out. >> So, I think if you >> do it,
>> they're safer on the bus >> than they are walking across 48 or across 61. >> Yeah, those are the two big roads. >> And it may be five kids. It could be more. I [clears throat] mean, even if we offer, it doesn't mean they're necessarily going to get on, but at least the offer is there.
>> Well, the policies reads may be required. It's not I mean we should be blessing >> but what school starts sooner? The high school >> elementary >> elementary starts sooner. So even if you got those kids dropped off and
>> like a little early on that bus route there's breakfast. >> Yeah, we serve breakfast from 7:45 to 8:05. So, I mean, you'd be able to drop off, go back through town or at least >> I think we and I would my envision would be still we'd use our bus stops. We
wouldn't necessarily go door todo, >> but you know, we have those four or five bus stops >> in the square around >> west side. I would just envision we do it again or another route does that. And >> yeah, >> and maybe they just fit as is. Maybe
there have to be no adjustment. We we've always or we've tried, you know, when it's really cold or really snowy, if they're out there, we're not going to say, "No, you got to walk." You know, we'll let them on. But it probably hasn't been publicized >> well enough either. >> No, but I think it has been told to some
kids that once you get to seventh grade, you're not riding the bus if you live in town. >> Correct. >> So, it would have to be communicated. >> Yep. So, Bruce and my thought was here what the board thought tonight. he and I would sit down, work out the logistics,
and if not yet this week, for sure by next week, we'd have it up and running um to pick up those kids. You know, we got to communicate and times and locations, but give us a couple days to iron out those details and at least have it ready to roll by Monday next week, if not sooner.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> It's supposed to be cold this week. Can they if they're at the staff? I mean, >> on the bus, right? Do we have to even turn them? >> No. It's there. I'll take them off. >> And Brian, regarding just taking a step
back to that mechanic position, are you going to elevate the recommended starting? >> Yeah, I think I would post it at 60,000 and then also put could be negotiated based on experience and and expertise and go from there. >> Are the buses diesel?
>> Most of them. We have three gas buses. >> Okay. Most are diesel low >> with labor market information. An automotive technician, the range is starting out as right 1863 and going up to 90th percentile is about 3826. For a
bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist starting is right around 2454 going up to the 90th percentile at 4080. So yeah, so >> our low end may be there but our we're we're at the low end. >> Yeah. >> If not very low end.
>> Yeah. All right. Does anybody have any other questions for Mr. Masterson? All right. Then we are going to move on to high school principal report which is written only this year. Would um does anybody have any questions they want to
ask? And if you don't have any questions, um, make sure you get them to Brian and he can, um, get the answers to the whole board in the Friday update. There are no questions, then we're going
to keep moving on to Mr. Scholar's report. Good evening. [cough] Um, just a few updates on kind of what we're doing in our school buildings. Uh our PLC time mainly is focused around our ELA. Um
trying to boost up our scores on MCAs as well as our benchmarking. We do three times a year. Um a lot of our identifying deficits through our MCAs was around vocab um and kids being able
to make those context um connections. So we are we're spending a lot of time on that. um trying to find ways to get more student discourse or kids talking more in our classes. So um
we uh number two we talk about our win time. Each class has 40 to 50 minutes of wind time really focusing on what our kids need. That's about the only time of the day. Um we ability base we ability group in our classrooms. teachers do small group and whatnot as they go
through their instruction, but um we really allow for our high-f flyers to to fly a little bit and enhance and and um push a little bit uh where or some of our learners who are struggling with certain components, we
are able to delve in a little bit deeper with that. So, wind time is um I think it's very productive and very beneficial for our kids. We've also added a fluency block. Um, again, just trying to get our kids reading more. So, hopefully we see the results in that through our MCAs and
our benchmarking. Uh, had really good attendance again this year at our conferences. Um, Hankley dropped a little bit below 90, so that's a little heartbreaking, but um, we're at 86%, so I'm not going to complain. Connecting with 90 almost 90%
of our families is is huge. Um, it just just I was very busy those nights and just watching our the relationships our teachers have with our families and those connections and both positive and and those conversations about the struggles our kids are having are just
really it's awesome to hear and see. Um, fair is always huge. Um, brings a lot of people in. Kids love it. Uh, parents use it as kind of a [clears throat] reward system and love it. Um, Finison has their the um, book
fair will be up here on Friday during the concert. So, we're hoping that will bring a few more people in as well. We have the cafeteria jobs again this year. Still going well. Super proud of the kids. Even when kids are gone, they just love to help and they volunteer to go
clean and and pick up after each other. So, that's awesome. A new thing we're doing this year, we partnered and teamed with WCMP. So we started this in November. Um so our sponsors from our community really are making this possible for our
kids. Students nominate another student that they see being kind. They are selected. They're on the radio I believe 7:30 and 4:30, [cough] [clears throat] excuse me, for that week. They come in and that student that nominated them
gets to tell them why they were nominated. They get a t-shirt and they get a little trinket that was um supplied by our sponsors. Um and it's been pretty well received. Kids are nominating kids all the time. It's it's
really fun. Uh we had TC Bear at Hinckley Elementary with the strikeout plan talking about mental health. Um notice it, name it, and share it. Um there was a video [clears throat] clip included there. Kids loved it. It was
recommended for K five. Um, we assumed our sixth graders could handle it. We were uncertain what the program was like. If our preschool kids could have done it, and I I really do think they could have. So, if we
bring them back, it will be a full um school assembly. So, that was really fun. The kids again loved it and they really we have the posters up throughout the school. Um, it's fun to see some of the things they see on TV making their way to their
school. So, and finished up with quarter one reward day. We went down to Rush City and went bowling. >> Um, 92% of our kids got to go on that reward day. So, um, that was kids who either didn't get a referral or they were able to buy it back and kids who
were at school and met our attendance policy in that regard. So only four students bought back a referral. So we're not letting, you know, kids just randomly buy it back. If they have a major incident, they can't buy it back. And those
students who are gone too much or um tardy, they are not able to buy that back either. So 92% so it was pretty awesome. Unfortunately, we did have 18 students who were not there that day just because it's that time of year where illness is going through. So,
[cough and clears throat] >> any questions or concerns for me? >> How do they buy it back? [clears throat] >> Uh, Jag bucks. >> So, they when they're caught doing a kind gesture and practicing our pause expectations, they get a pause buck. They get 10 of them. They get to buy
that referral back. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. Sorry, I didn't explain that very well. I just said buy it back. So, [laughter] it's a good question. >> I thought maybe you were profit. Yes, like little side Christmas shopping. [laughter] >> Um, the only question I have, Bonnie, is
on conference attendance. Um, so if parents don't show up, do our teachers call then so they still make contact regarding the students. >> Yeah. And sometimes if they even have a phone conference, we'll come we'll count that as attended.
>> Some families you just >> we aren't able to connect with. So Okay. Our teachers work super hard to do. Yeah, it it really helps having those appointment times. >> Fifth and sixth don't have appointment times at Hankley Elementary just because
they they're departmentalized so they see all the teachers. Um and that's where we see the biggest drop. Even here in Fenison, >> we just see a drop as as the ages go up. Um but they if they have a conference time set for that time, they make a call. They make calls before school,
after school. They really work to connect with our families. Okay. >> It's pretty awesome to see. >> Does anybody else have any questions for Mrs. Fuller? >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Next up is communications. I don't believe >> board committees. >> Next up is board committees. Does anybody want to tell our board committee meetings for the past month? I'm described around the letter
negotiations talks um and then we did have a special meeting special meeting to approve the teacher master agreement. So there's progress being made there. uh PD was um they were just updating on
Epic which is happening on January 19th 19 I believe to schedule that the I would say the climate uh communication retention meeting there was a lot of discussion and that was really good to hear there was a lot of
um you know the discussion about the school buses trying to figure out some of the problem solving with students Um then there was some like Autumn and Matt they
they shared some really good ideas >> you know for students and have how to um just different areas and then also Matt the con connection that he's really working hard to do with connecting the teachers and staff and just making it
kind of a more cohesive team inviting high school and the elementary schools. It was just really good to hear. So, >> yeah. >> Good. And it was also brought up to bring the Jaguar track back. >> Oh, yes. I forgot about that.
>> If not necessarily monthly, but maybe quarterly to start out with. So, I don't know if that takes board action to get that up and running or how we go about getting that. >> It's a cost. So, I don't know what the cost is. We there would be a cost
to do that. >> So if we mailed it quarterly, but what about if we also did like monthly kind of flyers and had them at public spaces? >> Yeah, we could do that just printing and getting them those places. But >> I think we need to get them into every
household to celebrate all the good and to let people know what's going on. >> Well, and not everybody is on Facebook, >> right? M >> I can figure out what the cotton we probably haven't done it monthly. >> I don't remember it being that much even
when we did do it and we dropped it down to >> we wanted Yeah, >> but >> I can do some digging, find out what that cost is and >> let you all know. I mean, if if we went from monthly to quarterly, obviously
that goes down, too. But and the cost probably it's probably been 10, maybe not 10, at least since co since we've mailed them. >> It's been fine. >> It's been fine. >> So cost probably goes up a little, but I'll find what I can and get you that information.
>> Thank you. All right, moving on to [clears throat] budget topics. Um, you can see where our enrollment was as of December 1st. Um, which I believe went down a couple from last month. Um,
still 12 down from what we had budgeted for. We we knew the enrollment was going to go down compared to last year, but we're still a little bit under that. Um the biggest change uh from parents is we had some people moving um and some
moving to online schools. So that's kind of the reasons why the last kind of group decided to leave. Um Mr. Latimore and Mrs. Hardle will begin registering kids for next school year this month. I believe I saw Mrs. Hardle
put out an email that those meetings are happening later this week. So that will um start to set the at least high school classes for next year once uh we kind of get through the levy and taxation. That will also kickstart our budgeting process for next year. So uh those are
big things at least um budget-wise that we're working on right now. And I'll take any questions on that part. Next up, >> policy. >> Yep. Next up is um our fund balance policy. >> Uh
>> that one or >> no? I mean, we can talk about fund balance policy if you'd like. It was last approved in April of 25. Otherwise, it'd be letter B. >> Okay. So then we're going to move on to section 504 policy conflict of interest
policy 210 policy 311 principal evaluation system policy 408 acceptable use. >> The only policy that has changes in this is the 504 policy where I just updated names. Um the other ones it's just a
review as we haven't reviewed them in 3 years and nothing has changed. So, the only policy with changes is section 504 and that was just updating uh putting make sure my name in there and Mallerie Greenwalt's name is in there. [laughter]
>> Does anybody have any questions regarding the four policies or does anybody want any of the four policies pulled? If not, then I'm looking for a motion to approve section 504, policy 210, policy
311, and policy 408. >> Make a motion. Second. There's a motion in a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed?
Motion passes. Zero. Next up is truth and taxation. >> Ju Pride, I guess. >> Oh my gosh, I keep up. >> Jaride. [laughter] >> I keep going up too fast. Um, does anybody have anything to add to Juwar Pride?
>> I think I'd like to add add Matt Milwaukee. Now that you say that, just for all the work he's done to um put our staff gatherings together, he's been in for six or seven times throughout the year. So that would [laughter] A lot of work.
[clears throat] >> All right. Now we're at Truth and Taxation. Aaron is here. [laughter] >> All right. The floor is yours. >> All right. Good to see everybody again tonight. Uh it's snowing out in in December in Minnesota, so we're all
good. Brian, I made it. >> We're good. I'm glad you're here safely. >> So, um we've just got a presentation to go through. um you've heard a lot of this from me before, but so I'll just kind of uh kind of cruise through the beginning section and then dig in a little bit deeper to uh your specific
situation when it comes to property taxes. So again, um just there uh you have to by law hold a truth and taxation hearing. Uh there's certain dates and times you can hold it. Um what you [clears throat] are required to present
as part of the treatment taxation presentation is your current year budget which is uh for school districts 2005 2000 2025 2026 budget and then the proposed property tax levy. So just a little bit about what we're going to go
through. Um, a little bit of background information on school funding, your uh district's budget, your proposed uh taxes uh payable for 2026, and then um part of the requirement is you offer public comment if there are uh any
public comment at all. So, [clears throat] um, just kind of big picture, uh, funding for Minnesota school districts is, um, established, uh, by the Minnesota Constitution. And so, they provide the legislature with the, uh, mandate that they must set funding for
Minnesota school districts. And as a result of that, uh, funding for school districts is, uh, highly regulated. Um, the formulas which determine the revenue most are based on a per pupil amount. So as you're on your as your enrollment
changes um your overall funding will change as well. Uh kind of along with that there's um pretty stringent tax policy for school districts. So the legislature really sets the maximum um allowable levy for for school districts
that they can levy on taxpayers. And then um of course the state also authorizes uh districts to seek voter approval for operating referendums or uh school building bonds. So, um that authority lies within uh school boards as well.
So, just a little bit um and we'll show you in a couple slides here, but um as you may be aware, the state of Minnesota provides the majority of funding for school districts to operate. So, in your case, in the the general [clears throat] fund, it's about 80% of overall funding comes from the state of
Minnesota. The majority of that component comes through the general education formula aid which is um based on a per pupil amount. So again that's based on the number of students you serve. Uh we have a chart in the truth and taxation presentation uh that looks
at the actual general education funding formula and compares that to inflation over time. And so that funding unfortunately has not kept pace with inflation. Um recently this legislature did make a change where um that funding
automatically grows uh with the estimated inflation amount. So um so that is good news and that means that that gap won't necessarily widen um but there is already a gap in place that has really kind of u reduced the purchasing power for for school districts over that
time. So the general education funding piece is an important component. Uh the next that we also highlight in the presentation is um special education funding. And as Brian and I have worked through your budget a couple of years now, that uh is one of the most
challenging components to try to determine and try to estimate. So um um as you may be aware, there is a um special education funding is underfunded. So there is a what we call a cross subsidy. We're having to contribute some of your general fund
dollars to make up that difference. And so, um, statewide fiscal 2024, that statewide cross subsidy was over $500 million. So, um, again, just, uh, putting some pressure on districts, um, from a budgetary standpoint, um, and not
funding the the services that you're required to provide your students. So, just wanted to point out a couple of those pieces. Uh the next uh page is just a comparison um of your operating um I'm sorry you don't have an operating referendum but
we're comparing operating referendum authorities with some of your neighboring districts. So um Moa, Hinckley, Finlesen, East Central, and Little River currently do not have operating referendums authority. So if you look statewide, uh there's um on
last year's levy, there were 91 districts in the state that did not have an operating referendum authority. So that's about uh 28% of all districts. So about a quarter of all districts don't have uh any authority and um you and along with some of your neighbors um do
not have some of that authority. So then moving on to uh the district's budget information. So again, you're familiar with your general fund that houses theology operations. You also do approve a budget every year for food service, community service, and debt
service funds. So um those are kind of important components along with your general fund in uh kind of your financial operations every year. Um the next slide just shows uh your budget for the 202526 school year. Again you're
required to set budgets by June 30th. Um it lists your general fund, food service, community service, and debt service funds. So um those budgets are in place. Then digging a little bit deeper um into your revenues and expenditures for the district. So um when you look at the
revenue for all funds, it's at just under $17.5 million. Uh again, the general fund is the majority of of your operations, uh food service, community service are pretty straightforward. And then uh your debt service fund as well. So you're um
levying for those debt service payments and you're making those those scheduled principal and interest payments. So, so that's the revenue. Again, that general fund makes up about 85% of of the total district revenue. So, when you dig a little bit deeper then into that general
fund uh revenue budget, uh about 82% of that funding, so as I previously mentioned, the majority of that funding does come through the state of Minnesota. Federal funding is just over 3%. [clears throat] Um other funding, which is things like fees, [music] interest, revenue, that's about 6%. And
then other um I'm sorry, local levy is about 9% of your overall budget. So um while we're talking about the property tax levy tonight, um really when you look at kind of that whole general fund picture, um it's a it's a smaller component compared to some uh the state
funding um when you're looking at at those different things. So um so that's on the revenue side and then transitioning over into um the expenditure side. So, when you look at um all expenditures
um I'm sorry, your expenditures for all funds for 2025 to 2026, it's just over $18 million. And so, again, like all Minnesota school districts, um you know, um we're reliant on the staff that
provide the services for our for our kiddos and for our families. So, uh, salaries and wages, uh, make up about 50% of your overall budget for all funds. Employee benefits is about 16%. So, that salary and benefit makes up
about 2/3 of your overall spending. Um, when it comes to um, all of your funds for the 2526 school year. Then just looking at the expenditures in a little different way um, what we call by program. So, um, in green there is
regular instruction. And so about 40% uh of your overall expenditure budget goes towards regular instruction. And then um on the left hand side in the blue is special education instruction is 18%. Vocational ed instruction is about
1%. So again um about 60% of all of your costs are going straight into the classroom, straight into instruction uh within those different categories. The next uh slide shows a comparison. And this is some information we have
that compares uh your undesated unassigned fund balance as a percentage of expenditures. So you can see you are at the top highlighted in the orange and um we've got a 7-year trend here. So you can see um you're at uh 38.9%.
You can see you've got some neighboring districts that are higher than you, some neighboring districts that are a little bit lower than you. uh that group average is about 29% and the state average is about 23%. So um you're you're a little bit higher than those
averages. Um but I think especially when you look kind of from a more statewide perspective, the metro area tends to have a little bit lower fund balance policy. Uh just due to the number of students that they serve and um outstate districts tend to have a little bit higher higher fund balance and higher
fund balance policy. So then uh transitioning then into your property tax levy. So um we think it's important to note that a change in a tax levy does not necessarily determine a change in your budget and a change in
your tax levy does not necessarily mean an increase in revenue um for the school district. So there's a variety of funding uh sources that um have an equalization component where the state determines how much state aid and how much local levy will contribute towards
that funding source. So over time we've seen that formula kind of eroded where a lot of that burden has shifted over onto the taxpayers. And so um again that doesn't necessarily mean that your overall revenue is increasing. That just means who's paying for that is is
changing over time. So um so then just a little bit about difference in levy cycles. So again our city and county friends right they all operate on a calendar year. So this is pretty straightforward for them. We levy on a calendar year but our budget is based on
a fiscal year. So that's why um you know we're showing budget information for 2025 2026 even though this levy is going to generate uh revenue for you for the next fiscal year for 202627. So just like [clears throat] to to point
that out and then um as kind of part of this process um right you approved the preliminary levy back in September. uh this allowed the county to generate their proposed property tax statements that went out to taxpayers in the month of November and then right they received
that information which allows them to come in uh to their um to your truth and taxation hearing if if they so choose. So, uh, we just point out that, um, those proposed property tax statements have been mailed out. Again, um, they include property taxes, uh, for each of
the different taxing jurisdictions, uh, which within your communities. And then a little bit uh more about school district property taxes. So again, each school district has limited authority uh, by statute to levy taxes. Um and then the Department of Education
calculates those levy amounts that are either based on state law or based on voter approval. Uh we will also mention too um just kind of talking about our our city and county counterparts um their taxes tend to be
more on a tax rate. So as values uh have increased over time uh they've typically generated some additional revenue. Again, school districts is based on the number of students that you serve primarily or your debt service, which is uh um set, you know, uh based on your
debt schedules. So, uh a little difference between school districts and and cities and counties. So, regarding the the property tax process, so again, um um for those that receive proposed property tax statements and proposed valuation notices, um the
city or county assessor determines the values of their properties. And again, the legislature sets formulas uh for school district property tax levies. So, really, they have uh kind of a a big role in all this. the Department of Education works to to calculate those
and then really your role as a school board is to uh approve that preliminary levy and then approve that final levy as well. And then the county the county auditor um spreads all of those taxes and and manages that process uh on behalf of the school district. So again
uh just kind of a sequential um you approved the preliminary levy back in September. the county mailed out those proposed property tax statements and then we're here tonight to to do your TNT hearing and uh approve that final levy.
So then um a little bit about uh your tax levy in particular. So the proposed uh pay 2026 tax levy uh is decreasing by about just over 200,000 or 7.7%
uh from the previous year. Um the next slide uh that looks like this just shows those changes in more detail. Um so I would say generally speaking you're going to see a decrease um in some of these due to your projected decrease in
enrollment. So um that's going to continue to kind of push that levy down a little bit since the majority of that funding is based on a a per pupil amount. Um so the next couple of slides we just have uh just explanation of uh some of
those levy changes. So the first you can see is on the general fund prior year adjustments. Uh that changes about $150,000 decrease. And if you recall last year we had um a lease levy adjustment. Um so we kind of sorting out your lease levy to make sure that that
was up and current. So we had an adjustment there last year. It's not there this year. Um so that's um the majority of the reason why we saw a decrease from from the previous year on that. And then the second slide shows um
general fund debt service fund uh levies. So, um you'll see a a an in um on this page here, you'll see an an increase in the voter approved levy by about 278,000, but a decrease in the long-term
facilities maintenance uh levy of about 235,000. So, again, those are somewhat offsetting each other cuz um if you recall from a debt service perspective, really we're trying to keep your levy as constant as we can. um some of your bonds mature at other
times and so they'll make up different components of kind of that flat debt service levy over time. So what that's doing then is that's changing the makeup of your debt service levy even though uh it's staying relatively constant. We
point that out because on your property tax statements there's two lines for school districts. One is voter approved and one is other local levies. So your um property owners may see an increase
in voter approved and wonder why that is, but they're also going to see a corresponding decrease in other local levies. So just so you know, if you might get that question right, they didn't approve anything new or anything like that. It was just a change in the
makeup of the overall debt service. So, [clears throat] >> and then just a little bit then about um kind of what impacts individual school taxes. So, it can be a change in an individual's uh property valuation. It can be a change in the total property
valuation within the district. And again, it can change based on kind of those equalization formulas and those state funding formulas. uh kind of transitioning uh the overall cost uh from the state aid to local property taxpayers.
Um on the next slide, we've just got a just a a real kind of basic example of the impact of property valuation. So, if you had $200,000 properties within the school district, and there was a $500 levy, right, they would each pay $250 uh
towards that levy. The next page shows um so the orange house increases by 10% and the blue house increases by 25% in valuation and they're still paying that $500 levy. Um the orange house pays
$234, the blue house pays $266. So just the point being that even though you may have some increase in your property valuation, doesn't necessarily mean you're going to pay more towards the school district portion of your property taxes. So then we also uh put together a
four-year school levy comparison to give you some context as far as kind of where your school district property taxes have been and where we're projecting them to be for the next school year. Um so we've got a few pages on that. Um we are assuming on the last slide that I'll
show you here. Um kind of based [clears throat] on average um your average homeowner has seen about a 22% increase over the course of the past four years in the valuation of their property. Um, again, that's on average. So, individual property owners may see
um increases more than that, may see increases less than that, but that's just kind of the average uh again to give you some context as far as what we're looking at. Uh, the next slide is is a table. I'm not going to go through that in a lot of detail, but you can um kind of take a
look at that if you want to just show a high level of of what taxes have done uh over the course of the past four years for different property types. But the next few slides really uh represent that a little bit clear clearer and a little easier to understand.
Um so on the the slide that looks like this then um so on the left hand side is an example $125,000 residential homestead property within the school district. So we're assuming that that uh valuation of that property
didn't change. So, back in 2023, uh, that $125,000 house was paying $294 towards the school district portion of their property taxes. You can see that that has decreased over time. So, um, we're estimating that $125,000 house is
going to pay $218 for this upcoming money cycle. The same kind of analysis and same trend on the right hand side. So that's a $225,000 residential homestead property. So again, four years ago they paid $584.
Um this coming year we're projecting that they're going to pay $442 towards [music] the school portion. So those are residential homesteads. Um and then um the next slide shows an egg property. So
uh a $3,000 homestead egg property. So, they were paying $151 uh per acre back in 2023. We're estimating that they're going to be paying 98 cents then uh for the next um
uh levy cycle in 2026. And then finally, the last comparison is a $250,000 commercial industrial property. Again, paid $999, now projected to pay $761. So, you can see just kind of an example of all the
different property types. residential, um, agricultural, commercial are all seeing, um, kind of the decrease in school district property taxes over time. >> The next slide then just shows an example of um, we're factoring in that
valuation change. As I mentioned, on average about a 22% increase um, in the valuation of those uh, residential properties. So on the left hand side is a $125,000 house. So, back in 2023,
that home would have been worth about $102,000 and they would have paid $228. Uh, then on the right, not on the right graph, but on the the fourth bar there, you can see that house is now valued at $125,000.
They're paying $218. So even though that that home has increased in value by about $23,000, they're [music] still paying less actual dollars than they were four years ago. Um when you look at the school district portion and then again that same example
on the right hand side for a $225,000 house back four years ago, that house would have been valued at 184,000. Um and now again that increase in valuation um but overall decrease in in the school district portion of the property taxes.
Then finally we just have a couple of comparative charts here. Um so this is taxes payable in 2025 again to hopefully give you some context of um kind of your district compared to your neighboring districts. So $150,000 house last year I
would have paid $317. And you can see you're kind of third lowest uh in your comparative districts there um with Isle and Willow River being below you and then Pine City, Bram, East Central, Rush City, Mora and Obey um with higher kind of overall
school district taxes um on residences on residential homesteads compared to uh your district. [clears throat] And then uh the next chart just shows voter approved levy. So again, um, voters can approve an operating referendum, capital project levy, or
school building bonds. So we just do a calculation that shows how much levy per the number of students that you serve to give kind of an apples to apples comparison. So you can see um this represents your voter approved school building bonds that you levy for. and
then others um in those comparatives include either operating referendums or uh those school building bonds as well. The last thing we just wanted to touch on that we think is important for community members to know is um there's
a few different state property tax refund programs. Uh so the first is the homestead credit refund program. Um you can see that information there. [music] The second is a special property tax refund program that's specific to if uh
a property owner sees their uh property taxes increase by a certain amount from the previous year, then they qualify for a special tax refund. Um the third is just a senior citizen property tax deferral program. I don't mean just a a
senior citizen property tax deferral program, but it's a little different because it's a deferral. It's not a refund. So all it does is defer the taxes in subsequent years. Um and then finally, we also like to note on income taxes, um starting with 2024, renters
can claim the renters's refundable credit on their Minnesota income tax return, which is different than in previous years where they had to uh file [music] a separate form. So So important to note that there are some refund programs uh that are in place. We know
that only about 70% of qualifying owners take advantage of these programs. So we like to point that out. >> So then again, next steps is you're required to allow for public comment if there is any. Um and then you are
required by uh December 31st to approve your levy and submit that to uh the department of education as well as um your coming auditor. So, so with that, I'd be more than happy to
answer any questions you may [music] have. >> Our special ed funding, how much are we underfunded on that amount? >> That is for at least when for last year it's about $500,000. Did it used to at
one time be close to a billion dollars >> before the state about two years ago, three years ago did increase the cross subsidy. It cut it about in half, but we're still about at least $500,000 underfunded. >> That's a lot of money. Okay. Yeah.
>> So, I just um [cough] [clears throat] I know with the decline in in enrollment that taxes are a little bit lower and that is nice and helpful, but I will say I am just still concerned about the community and the taxes, you know, with the levies. Um, and part of
that is, um, you know, I I just saw something this morning on the economics in the state of Minnesota and it's not looking very good. The state of Minnesota, um, ranked 44th 44%
in the tax system. You know, that's when you look at all the other states. Um there's new taxes that are coming up for our community members with um the paid leave um taxes. I know that there's some road
taxes like with deliveries and some of that. There's just things that are just getting added in here and there and it might not seem like a whole lot but it adds up especially for those which I was glad to hear about you know for the individuals that might be on fixed
incomes that they're that they can um I forgot the term but you know use the deferment which is nice [clears throat] >> um and that can be very helpful for those but then the other thing is is that it's we all know the state of Minnesota
is in the spotlight right now. There's a lot going on in the state [music] and I feel that even from the public with some of those issues of fraud, you know, and the state not managing the money. So, even like the biggest one with the feeding our future
with um $250 million fraud scheme and if that money would have gone back to public schools that would have been a million dollars for each school, you know. So, when you look at that and um [clears throat] communities do pay into taxes and it goes to the state and then it does come back locally. this is an
added tax and that does have a concern for me. Um especially when we do have a pretty healthy fund balance. Now I know that where our current fund balance is at that is going to be reduced once the jump is [clears throat] paid and the buses and everything like that is paid.
Um, for me, I personally would like to see maybe we could use a little bit of that fund balance to help offset the taxes to go back to our community members because of just frustrations overall with
uh when you're spending about a quarter of your income on taxes overall. From what I could find, that's what it was. So, our wages in general, we spend about a quarter% of our income on taxes. Um, I don't know if you have something different, but that's kind of what I was
finding. And then I know too we're also looking at a potential deficit in the state. And I know then taxes are going to increase again. So, um, even if we could get use some of
our general fund and we were at that 25% once everything is paid out, I think that could be a helpful way to give back to our community. And I know that's not in one of your options. >> Nope, it's [laughter] [clears throat]
>> um to to just kind of hit what Janelle said, we are anticipating when you guys will see the audit uh at our next meeting, we're anticipating that report to show a fund balance of 32%. However, the money that we had allocated last
year for the gym floor, the two buses we purchased, and what's the other one? I can't remember. Either way, the things that what the auditors wanted us to do, we had budget for it and was planning to spend it by June 30th, but since the
work or purchase happened during this school year, they wanted it to be on the 2526 budget. So then it'll be reported on next year's audit. So that 32% once that money comes out that we budgeted for
would roughly bring it down rough. Matt, it's about $470,000ish, which probably is around 4%. So the report would say our fund balance is going to look like it's 32%. where in reality after we pay those
things it probably comes down to 27 28%. Um my opinion is is if the board chooses to levy the max the fund balance would eat that difference. um as a possibility.
We haven't talked about any reductions, anything like that for next year, but that would be part of my thought is the fund balance could go towards that difference. Um could it go more? Maybe. I don't know how much right now. Just we
haven't we got to see what enrollments are, what class registration looks like. Um, and truthfully in the elementaryaries, I don't know that there is a lot more room, at least at Hinckley Elementary, to make staffing reductions. So, that's kind of just my thought to some
of what Chel said. I can add and I don't know if you need to open it up to the public first at least what my recommendation my recommendation would be to levy the max simply it is yes the max but it is still
a 7.7 reduction for our taxpayers 7.7 decrease for our taxpayers I don't know if you want to open it to the public there's Uh yeah, I will. Um does anybody in the public like to speak
on truth and taxation? >> Am I the public? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So you're going to increase taxes but decrease them by 7% and then one of the things you said was an increase in a levy doesn't necessarily bring more
money to the school district. >> I'll answer my part. I'm [laughter] recommending the max, which when you look at what the state has allotted for Hley Finelson, the MAC, we did the max last year. Comparing the max last year
to what the max could be this year is a $213,000 reduction in funds. So, yes, it's the max, but comparable what we approved a year ago at this point, it'd be $213 less. >> $213,000.
>> That's almost what I said. [laughter] So that would be important to tell people that it's not actually an increase in their taxes. >> Correct. >> Mhm. >> You're you're I don't know if perfectly your taxes should go down, >> right? Yep. >> For for your part.
>> For the school district, right? For the school district part. >> Yeah. Nothing's increasing this year. Sorry, I wasn't more clear. The increase I was referring to was over time. The state has shifted some of the fan funding to local property taxpayers. So it may not show up exactly this year but
sure at a high level. So >> I think people are really most focused on the bottom line. So if the bottom line is that their taxes are going down won't emphasize the max. If we don't do anything we're still going to have to go into the fund
balance 213,000 >> if if we make no reduction which is roughly >> what? 1.5 1.75%. So now you're down to 25%. 25 12%.
The board did approve it being able to gone to 22 last year. So there' be a little bit of room still. Janelle, do you have a a a do you want to make a motion or is it is it that is that where you would like to
go or as far as under levy? >> So then what was that under? We've this district has either [clears throat] in its as far in the research that I could find and I don't know there are certainly other options this district
has other either levied the max or the places it has historically looked to underlevy in is unemployment which is something that happens during the school year or that the district has looked at safe schools before um which for us pays
for our SRO um not that it couldn't be funded out of other way. There are other places you could look to under levy just as I've kind of done at least the history from my predecessors. It's either been kind of levy the max or these have been the two areas which the
board has looked at before. >> So I would not want to affect the SRO for sure. >> I I would argue we'd still have the SRO just it would be funded >> whatever the levy part doesn't cover it would be funded out of the general fund.
And there's a reason why it's those two specific categories because those are only levies. Um, so when you look at your other larger funding components, as I mentioned, there's that state aid, local levy mix. So once you start under levy, the corresponding state aid
decreases with it. So you would be lowering your levy, but you'd also be losing state aid as a part of that outside of a couple of very specific items like unemployment, safe schools levy. So um so that's why those two have
chosen. >> So with the unemployment, how does that affect things for um Paris that are taking unemployment during the summer? >> Summer's different. This would be for anyone who would take it once the school
year starts till the last student day. Summer unemployment is funded out of a different pocket. So this is >> right now >> as of the last legislative session, >> um, summer unemployment's different than this unemployment. This is for things
that come up during the actual school year. >> And I think to your earlier point then, right, you don't necessarily have to levy for it, but you do have to pay for it. So it would just come from other general fund resources. >> Correct. And we don't we haven't always paid the full amount we levy, which then
the next year we get that credit back. that some of the adjust if you think back to the last few months where you saw in what Aaron talked about tonight some of the adjustments do come from unemployment because we don't always use everything that we've levied for
I have a question so if we max levy tonight that means we have to max levy then there's no the the board doesn't have any leeway to do something less than max levy if that's what we decide tonight >> not after tonight correct I guess unless a special meeting was called and I haven't submitted it to the
state. I mean I I have to submit it to the state by the end of the month. Typically I do by the end of this week when the board has approved it in the past. I don't know what happens once I hit the submit button to MDE if that can be changed before the end of December or not.
>> Potentially. Yeah. I'm not sure. >> Once we get to the end of December it could not for sure it could not be changed again. >> Sure. So then if it's under levied and then you said then that would affect state what is coming back with the state? How
much do you have any idea? >> Um it depends on each funding category. I'd have to look to see what it would mean. But >> if we went with anything other than max, what percent decrease would it be for a
taxpayer? I mean, are we talking much for a taxpayer? >> No. >> No. >> Especially when it's 10,000. $10,000. So, it's not like >> on the $19 million budget. Well, yeah, cuz your total projected levy is
2,562,000. >> So, and your your average homeowner, we're assuming, is going to pay for $142 next year. So, whatever proportion it is of that
[cough] [clears throat] Yes. Can I make motion? You can if if there's no other discussion, I'm looking for a motion. Yes. >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll There's a motion and a second. Is there
further discussion? >> Dave, is that for option one? Is that what the motion was? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. All in favor say I. >> Opposed? >> No. >> We'll do roll call.
>> Leo, >> yes. >> Heather, >> yes. >> David, >> yes. >> Toby, >> yes. >> Janelle, >> no. >> Angela, >> yes. >> Jody, yes. >> Thank you. >> Motion passes 61. >> Thank you, Aaron.
>> Yeah. Drive safe. >> Yes. I'm sure you have far to go. So, go if it's snowing. [laughter] All right. >> So the one request that I do have >> is in the future if we do an under levy. So if we can actually see how that does then also
>> impact >> the different categories. >> The state and all is that what you're speaking. Okay. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Yep. >> [laughter] >> All right. Um, next up is board
committee and officer discussion. >> So, just if if you wanted to discuss next month, uh, for sure we will need to take some action on this as, um, it's that time of year. Plus, our board is is going to look different. So if if the
board would like to have conversation, um our past practice is that the board chair, which we don't know who that's going to be yet either um assigns committees, but just wanted to put this on the agenda as next month uh we are going to have to make some decisions as
Jod will not be here. We'll have uh Jamie Hendricks and we'll need to make some changes. >> Does anybody have any questions right now? >> Does anybody have any interest in being chair? I I would be interested.
>> Okay, great. >> Some of the committees that you are on, Jody, is that typical of the chair position or did you take on extra ones? >> Um, scholarships, negotiations, both negotiations are usually a chair
position. Um >> probably evaluation teaching >> evaluation. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Commodities. Yes. >> That's past practice. Okay.
>> Thank you. >> All right. If if you have any questions, um, email Brian um before next month and then he'll have an idea of the vacancies or who wants to not be on it or um
or be on something. Um I was assigned committees my first meeting by the board chair at the time. So, um if there's empty spots, uh it will be at the discretion of the board
chair to assign you. Um next up is our first read on policy 409, employee right to know and policy 410, family and medical leave policy. Does anybody have any questions today
regarding those two policies? >> I'll just add the second one. The first one, there were no state recommended changes. The family uh and medical leave policy, I did highlight what MSBA recommends being changed, but the the
changes were minimal. >> Is that going to include the aid? Is that falling under this or is there going to be >> there's going to be we're we were going to probably have a whole new policy next month to look at. Okay.
I think we have to create a handbook. >> Mhm. [clears throat] >> Yep. [sighs] >> Um next up then is our expenditures. >> Just sharing where we are through November. Um
that uh all all areas are looking pretty good. Of course, community education is still a little higher um as as a lot of those events happen in the summer and um with some additional pool pool costs that are happening cuz we are still
working on trying to find a cover um and the best things we have found are about just over $40,000. So, we'll we'll have a recommendation for community ed hopefully next month uh what to do, but in the meanwhile without a good cover on
there, we're spending more on chemicals, heating, things like that. So, but otherwise, all in all, our budget spending through November looks very good compared to the budget year. >> Is there any like safety grants available for a pool cover?
>> We are looking, not that we have found so far. Um, does anybody have any questions regarding expenditures? All right, next up is polling place resolution. >> Little weird. We are not planning to hold any elections next school year, but
by the end of uh each calendar year, the board does need to approve a polling place resolution just in case some extraordinary circumstances come up. So, looking for approval of this. If we do have to have uh any election, we would hold it in the same places like we did
this year. Again, we're not planning to. This is just in case anything comes up. Um so there's really no changes from what our last resolution was other than the year. >> At our previous meeting, we did discuss that um having elections on even years
would save us some money. And since things are tight, do you know about how much money we might be saving? I have not gotten that yet. Um, but even if the board would want to move to even year, we would still need to do this every year in case something additional comes.
Say we wanted to go out for a bond referendum or something like that. This would still cover those whatifs, but I can get those costs. Thank you. >> Any other questions? If not, I'm looking for a motion to accept the polling place.
I'll move that. I'll second it. >> There's a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor say I. >> Opposed. Motion passes 70. Next up is a resolution to accept donated funds.
>> First one is from the Finland Easy Lions Club for Empower Learning Center to help with some of their activities and they have donated amount of $1,000. So looking for approval of that donation. I'll make a motion. I'll second.
>> There's a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor say I. >> Opposed? >> Motion passes 70. Next up is the backpack. >> Um this one is from Northview Bank for $1,000 to help with our backpack
program, which is um food for for those in need that we send home with kids um on a weekly basis. Looking for a motion. I'll >> make a motion. Second. >> There's a motion in the second. Is there any discussion?
All in favor say I. Opposed. >> Motion passes. 70. Next up is another uh donated fund. >> This one is from the Hankley Lions who have donated a total of 2,339.
The specified 300 is going towards uh supplies for the district daycare, $1,539 towards community education for a swimming pad, and then $500 to help with costs of book bingo at HS.
>> Looking for a motion to accept the funds. >> I'll second. There's a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor say I. >> Opposed? Motion passes 70. Next up is the watchd dogs.
>> Uh about at least three of you um in the last few months have have brought this up or or even in the last year I've had some behind thescenes conversations about this. I had reached out to Pine County almost a year ago now about this.
Um and at that time they were the county was applying for some grants and and thought maybe if they um secured those grants they could help school districts and this was one idea they had to help with some supervision and some support in the schools. Uh the county did
receive a grant but they did use it for some other purposes. Um, but what the watchd dogss and and doesn't have to necessarily be we wouldn't have to follow it exactly, but what this one stands for is dads of watchd dogs as
dads of great students. Um, and I attached kind of a flyer about what it's about. It it's getting um this program was about getting dads into school, positive male role models for students. um and helping with positive presence to whether it be mentor, help with [music]
just some different areas of the school, be be a positive role model for students in the school. Um you can see in in what I put what the kind of costs would be. Um it's uh there there's a starter kit.
It's about $500 for each. So if we if we did look at doing something like this at each school be about $1,500. Um, you can renew it each year if you want, which then the cost goes down a little bit. There would probably be some costs for t-shirts for anyone who would volunteer.
Um, just a ways so you you know who's in the building and and what they're there for. Um, then if if we do follow this program, do decide to do that, uh, there some cost for a pizza launch event. Um, I just have it on for discussion that
there's probably maybe questions or more things that we could look at. It wouldn't necessarily have to be just dads. I know a couple of you as I've talked to you. What about moms? What about other positive male or adult figures in in these kids' life? We could
certainly look at any option, but just enough of you have have broughten that up that wanted to have that conversation with all of you to see if that's something that we're interested in, something you want to get me more information on, or see if there's any questions.
>> I have one. Do we have to do a background check on parents then? >> We would if if they're ever going to be alone with kids, we would do a background check. >> And what's the cost of that per background check? >> Oh, I want to say it's around $20. >> 22. >> 22, I think.
>> Okay. I think it's a great idea. Just I know some school districts where it's been a phenomenal success. changes the climate in the classroom for behavior. >> I can tell you I reached out to just a few of the neighboring principles that I
talked to and nobody um that I talked to is is aware of the program or has ever dabbled in it much. Uh I did talk to a gentleman who works at Resources Solutions. Uh he's been around a few different states. He was a principal out in Montana where he said he did it and
it was hugely successful. Um there was a disagreement between the board and one of the parents and that's kind of where it went away for a while but he said he since talked to them and they brought it back. Um it's just really about being very structured staying ahead of the program of like
really have to give these parents expectations of like this is what your job is to do. This is how you interact with a kid. this is, you know, it it's really about training the parents ahead of time before putting them in with the students. Um he said they had t-shirts
that the parents were um very easily easily recognized. Um uh they ran their program primarily through the counselor who then set it up with with kind of where they would be. Uh, I did ask if they
had just random um community members, if it was just dads, and he said they they stuck to just dads at that school district. It was able to I think they had a couple thousand students. Um, they started out with one dog a day and they grew to multiple dogs a day. Just
it was really successful. Kids recognized them. Um, but he said you really just have to stay ahead of getting people in kind of when they're going to be so it's so it's structured and it's not chaos adding more to the teachers. But he said the kids loved it and the teachers loved it.
So that was just one gentleman's perspective. Uh there is one other person I'm waiting to hear back from that has a little bit of experience with it in a Minnesota setting. So, my first um assumption was this was just like in the hallways, not
necessarily in the classes. >> I think it could be how we set it up. >> Oh, okay. >> I think this what I shared with you reads hallways and kind of just presents, but >> yeah, lunch room. >> But I think it could be how you know we
would want to set it up as a board and administrative team [clears throat] and teacher team. You know, one of the other things that I forgot that we had talked about during the um climate and communications meeting was the community engagement
>> and how this is a way to engage the community and how this could be beneficial and just, you know, making that connection with the students in the communities and the engagement of parents. So, I I've heard positive things, not necessarily this specific
program, but other programs that are similar. I've heard positive things about >> give our some of our community members who don't necessarily have that college degree an opportunity to get into our school building and still feel a sense of belonging and
part of that team. >> The dogs program's been around a lot of years. My thought would be, you know, >> I haven't called anyone yet from this myself. You know, I've just been working with the county and and the few of you who brought it up. My thought would be
to reach out to this company directly and maybe they could come at least to the the principles and I kind of explain what that is and then we could bring it back to either the next board meeting or at least February's board meeting. Hopefully next meeting, but with holidays in there that these next couple
weeks are going to go pretty quick. But at least maybe the admin team could hear a presentation from Watchd Dogs Dogs and then we could bring back a recommendation to the board. Um get a little bit more firmer exact costs and
exactly how it could look for us and then board could weigh in, make a vote, and if voted yes, maybe we could start yet this year or at least for next year um have something in place. But I I guess that would be my thoughts unless
the board is not interested in learning anymore about it. >> Imagine you have to find [clears throat] out who's interested, sign them up and then educate them on what train do and what their expectations are and vice versa. >> Yeah. So there'd be I don't know that
we'd be able to you know even if board says yes, let's do it. >> I think like Mrs. Scullard said that that training part >> and what what is what is the role exactly and what does that look like and spell it out not only for those people volunteering but also our staff and
students you know kind of what the role is but I'm certainly willing to get more information and bring that back. >> Yeah, I like that idea. >> Okay, >> I will do that. All right, next up is um the
superintendent midyear evaluation. So, um my only thought is um this next week I will send out the midyear evaluation with Angela's help since she's vice chair.
um she will receive your responses um because I'm guessing they will be due after um I am no longer on the board. So look for a um email from [music] Angela.
Um, I'm assuming maybe we should give you guys a few days if you want um to to look at it any differently. I I've always used what MSBA has given us and
what um the board chair before Steve cuz I did do um superintendent evals for Steve. So, if you um have any questions regarding the evaluation or how
um that's done, I guess let Angela know and we can go from there. Otherwise, it'll look the same. It'll be a a Google um evaluation. It's just going to be midyear. Does anybody have any questions right now?
>> I will also share with all of you um survey results from staff too, just for you guys to have too. So, I will have done that and completed that and you'll have it in time for the January board meeting. >> Okay.
All right. Next on the item on the agenda is a preliminary consideration of allegations against [music] an individual subject to the board's authority. The open meeting law [clears throat] Minnesota statute section 13D.05 05 subdivision 2B states
that a public body shall close a meeting for a preliminary consideration of allegations against an individual sub subject to its authority. The individual has elected to have the meeting open rather than being closed. Um during this portion of the meeting,
the board will discuss the allegations and what if any action should be taken to address the allegations. So, I'm going to start with a statement which reads, "Toby, last month at the November board
meeting, your words came very close to violating data privacy laws. I feel they most definitely violated our schoolboard code of ethics policy 209. This is not the first time. We have went
over our policy 209, code of ethics, in the past few years. I have read it line by line. [clears throat] I do not want your words to be representative of our whole board. I believe the school board members should be held accountable to
the policies just like the admin and staff are accountable to. Uh do you have anything to respond? >> Yes. Uh, Chair Storyley, can you please read into the record the exact um
sentence or sentences I said at the November meeting that you believe violated uh policy 209? >> Um, yeah, actually I can. >> I think we need to make some changes internally time to revamp it.
There was comments made about our students, um, our test scores that violate our policy. And I do believe there was a statement to the high school princess
that um, [clears throat] you accused him of being a conflict of interest to assign after school detention. Also violates our policy 209 code of ethics. I can tell you which code of ethics it
violates if you would like, >> please. >> All right. Which one would you like me to start with? >> You can just start from the top. >> Well, number one, which is the statement regarding [clears throat]
we need to revamp it. Um it would be a number seven work through the administration employees of the school board not over or around them. E1
present any personal criticisms of employees to the superintendent. F3 abide by all rules and regulations as promulgated by the Minnesota Department of Education and other federal and state agencies with jurisdictions over our
school district. talking down or negatively about our students in certain schools, including test scores. A4 be motivated only by a desire to serve the pupils of my district.
D5 [laughter] considered an important responsibility to interpret the educational program of the school as it relates to the needs of our community. D4. Interpret the needs and attitudes of the
community and do my best to translate them into the educational program of our school district. The school district. Moving on to high school principal A7. Work through the administration
employees of the school board not over or around them. E11. Present any personal criticism of employees to the superintendent. Those are the three I just listed. I
could go on. Um, Superintendent Masterson already stated in writing on November 11th that quote, "We came dangerously close to getting into a potential legal situation," unquote, but never said
anyone actually crossed the line. He also wrote that staff [music] quote should never be the target of the conversation in an open meeting unless the [music] staff member gives permission unquote. I even asked you, Toby, at the board
meeting that we couldn't finish my statement. >> Since no individual staff member was named or targeted, and the superintendent himself confirmed, no legal threshold was exceeded.
Can you please explain here in open session what specific law, policy, or ethical rule you believe was violated that now justifies discussing this matter at all tonight? I I just said it came close to violating data privacy
laws, but I feel it most definitely violated our code of ethics policy 209. and I gave you examples and I gave you the the the letter and the number that's in our policy that I feel violated our
policy 209. As a board member, we have um duties given to us by the state of Minnesota through statute 123b.02. um that states that the board must have the general charge of the business of the district, the school houses, and of
the interests of the school thereof. The board's authority to govern, manage, and control the district to carry out its duties and responsibilities, and to conduct the business of the district includes implied powers in addition to any specific powers granted
by the legislature. Uh Minnesota statute 123b.09 09 boards of independent school [music] districts states and subdivision one um schoolboard membership the care management and control of independent
districts is vested in a board of directors to be known as the school board. So uh chair stoley what I was
uh discussing asking questions was regarding um behavioral issues that are serious. The other topic I was discussing was the transportation
department having received a letter from the state patrol since the previous regular schoolboard meeting and I feel as a board member I have a duty to ask questions about safety related issues as it pertains to our transportation
department and I did not name any individuals and no threshold or or line was crossed as stated by the superintendent. >> I didn't say any laws. I said our code of ethics policy 209. [music]
I I feel there was no no violation of that code of ethics by simply asking questions about the status of our transportation [music] department, what things we can do to improve. And when you meant you did mention that I said
something what was that first quote I'm sorry um revamp or >> I think we need to make some changes internally time to revamp it >> that was in reference to what can we do with our department in terms of process
and procedure [music] and I did not mention anybody's names >> we're going to disagree So I will say the concern especially with the bus situation when that was brought up >> is that was confidential information.
>> What was confidential? >> The letter that was confidential and I had >> the state patrol [music] letter. >> Yes. So if you go back in your emails that was provide that was given to us as confidential as things were being worked through. And when that was brought forward, I will say I had some concerns
because I didn't know if because I didn't know really some of the policies if that was going to violate that confidentiality. And so um that I will say that that is the concern, you know. So if we have
confidential information that is shared, can it be communicated or brought forth in a in a in a school or me. >> Are you asking me? >> Yes. [clears throat] >> Nothing regarding employment or data privacy can be shared um without the
consent of the individual in an open meeting. So about staffing or students, we should not be discussing specific people in open session without that individual's permission. >> So even though there was maybe not a specific name, there was a reference
[music] essentially. Superintendent Masterson, could I ask a question? >> Was this letter from the state patrol [music] deemed confidential? >> I would have to look back in my email and see how I put that. I don't remember how I quoted that because the way I read
your email, this was not coded or line item out as confidential. And in your email, you did write confidential on each line item that was demarked as confidential because some parts of the email was confidential and some parts were not. That's the way I read it
anyway. >> And then regarding um Cherley's um with the reflection of you know the the questions with the behaviors and um
test score results and some of that. I will say that at this last communications and community committees meeting retention meeting that actually was brought up and just so that you're aware of that that it was brought up by
a community member that said that this is a concern that they get feedback about some of the negativity that might stem from some things that are said. Um, and I am not going to say that you're wrong. And I'm not saying that you're wrong, but sometimes I think it kind of
comes across as almost attacking. Whereas I think and I think I guess maybe I shouldn't say I think, but you know it's a legitimate concern and and I believe that's where you're coming from is through a legit legitimate concern that you want the best for the school,
you want the best for the students, but I think it's interpreted more so as attacking and that negativity which then puts things in a bad light. So, it's it's some of that perception that just actually really truly was
brought up at a meeting with the the climate communications and the retention meetings. So, >> thank you for sharing that. I do appreciate that. Yeah, >> I did have a lot of questions regarding the behaviors and how it's dealt with
and um the process and procedure regarding the behaviors. >> Well, something that might be helpful, you know, is it's good to have questions, but what could some solutions be? So like even
this potential pro program with the dogs, I mean that could be a [music] solution. So what are some things, you know, so um how can we work together as a school board, as the school, as a community, how can we work together? And
I I think and I believe that's where we're all at. >> Absolutely. So >> there's a comment about after school suspensions and we had questions about what it would cost
for the staff. Is it 2 hours? 1 hour >> 2 hours roughly. >> Okay. What it would cost for that? Okay. You had to make it the transportation to take them home as students. And [clears throat] then you asked Mr.
Masterson and um the principal if they got paid if they had to watch those students for a couple hours and they said well no we don't get extra
pay a teacher would. And then you rudely said well now I guess I see why there's no afterchool suspensions. That was a quote. >> Do you mean detention? >> Detention. Yes. That's what I meant. Detention. Very insulting.
Very insulting. >> I wasn't directing it as a personal attack to the principal. >> It was exactly that. That is exactly what it was. It was a personal attack. >> It was a critique on the policy. >> But we don't critique the employees. We
critique Brian. We evaluate only the superintendent. I I even brought up a point that I I wish we could have made a change to the the teacher contract to have a line item where there would be compensation for somebody to be assigned to watch after
school detention because I know our administration, they work very hard during the school day. They have long days, very busy days, and the last thing they want to do is extend that day for another 2 hours when all they want to do is go home, have a good meal, and get some rest.
I understand that Toby, but I don't think you heard what Mr. Latimore said at the meeting that there after school detention might have worked when we were in high school, but in today's world, he gave examples and he he it's his call.
He is the principal. It it wasn't for us to open back up any negotiating with our contract. The teachers had voted. They voted for their yes for their contract [cough and clears throat] and maybe his idea is going to be better
than after school detention. We don't know. We have to give him the chance. He has the education degree as a principal and I think we have to stop Michael managing so to speak. It's not
our role. Especially when he gave us examples of how other things are could be working are working. Does anybody have anything else to say? I I don't feel like there should be any
possible action. I I just want it put in front of you that there are there are violations of our policy code of ethics and we would never let our staff talk the way that
things have been said in past meetings. And I want to make sure that we're held accountable the way we want our staff to [clears throat] be held accountable. Cuz I don't want to be talked to like that.
If I went through all the years of schooling and 14 years as a principal and I have a different idea than than you, I I don't I don't want the the negative nature to go out into our
community now. It it it shouldn't be like that. I have an accounting degree. I don't have an education degree or a teaching or a superintendent's license or a principal's license. We pay these people to run our buildings
and we can disagree. That's that Brian and I, he told you we disagree a lot whether you believe it or not, but we respectfully have conversations and move on.
That That's all I wanted to say. We're going to move on to another close session. I recommend we go into close session as allowed by Minnesota statute 13D.05, 05 subdivision division 3 C to discuss
potential sale of district owned property. It is 8:48. >> I'll make a motion. Second. >> I'll second that motion. >> There's a motion in a second. Is there any discussion? >> All in favor say I.
>> I. oppose.