All right, we will go ahead and call the meeting to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> We have an agenda before us this evening. Are there any corrections or additions to that? Mr. May, >> I would ask that we uh table the principal contract. they threw that information out to you, but I think
there's well, there's still some questions as far as some of the numbers on there go. And um it'd be better if we put that off and and had a a committee if it's the board chair and vice chair meet and look that over a little bit
closer before it comes to the full board for approval. So, uh, and I did speak or text with the principles, um, just so they're aware. So, >> sure. >> We just table that until April.
>> If you don't mind, can we just remove it off of the agenda and then then it kind of frees us up from having to address it perhaps at the next meeting or whatever. >> So, we will just be removing >> uh letter F under number 11. And so the
principal contract will be removed off the agenda. Any other corrections or additions? >> That's it. Perfect. >> I'll make a motion. >> No, that would be great. >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as shown, but removing the principal
contract from the agenda itself to make. Second. >> Motion made by Miss Herky, seconded by Miss Tyer to approve the amended agenda as presented. All in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries.
>> Are there any public comments this evening, Mr. Bay? >> No. >> Uh, let's move into the superintendent's report then. >> Yeah. Um, no other administrators uh to report. Everyone's got their slides updated. So, you'll have all the information, all the
updates u presented that way. Uh the only thing that I wanted to mention is I did hand out I spoke of this in our study session this MREA handout that I provided the re-examining school property tax fairness in Minnesota. This
is something that MA obviously is pushing in the legislative act legislative session this year. Um, and this is just one of the different uh bills that are out there that are of
interest again being a nonfunding session. There are a couple different or bills that do have some financial ties to it. I did mention there's a a bill out there that um is referencing
districts that have a zero dollars of operating uh referendum. Um if you if you're paying attention to anything that's going on up there, follow that one. There's another one out there that's looking just to it's looking to
actually rename the um L the local operate our local optional >> revenue um and then increasing it up to 7 $979
I believe is the number that they're throwing out there. But they've looked at doing something like that in the past and that's a pretty substantial jump. Be a $250 roughly $250 per pupil unit increase. Um the $100 increase
more specifically tied to less districts maybe would have a better um opportunity uh for gaining some steam. So, um, just encourage everyone to kind of follow along as much as you can and
especially those particular bills that have some direct financial ties to it. And then later on, we're going to look at this um the first reading of uh new policy 625 um and
I'll ask a policy committee for our second ever meeting. I think it's going to be worthwhile that we get together and take a closer look at this policy as it's brand new. It's obviously a pretty big topic with
the use of artificial intelligence. And so after the meeting, if we could just take a minute and look at calendars and get a uh policy committee meeting date set. Other than that, that is the uh report the administrative report for this
month. All right. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. May this evening or anyone? >> Great. We'll move right into >> Oh, did I jump right over it? I apologize. Good snag there.
>> That's why you >> Good work, ladies. >> Let's go ahead and do a roll call. >> Kelly Dana Cruz here. Terry Engel here. Amy Hery >> here. Phillips is absent. Lauren Chamrock >> here. >> Pat Tire here. And Rick Schles
>> here. >> Okay. >> Thank you for catching that. >> Good work. >> Now I will ask for board member comments if there are any. Quiet month. It's not always bad.
All right. Our next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 20th at at the secondary school media center in Richland. It takes us to our consent agenda items and Mr. Mayock, if you would introduce those, please. >> Yeah, our consent agenda item or our
consent agenda disclaimer is all school board members have been provided with background information for the items listed on the consent agenda. These items will be acted upon with one vote without discussion. If a board member wants to discuss any of these items, we
can pull it out of the consent agenda and we can vote on it separately. Uh we appreciate and recognize the donations that were included in this section as well. Those donations are $10,000 from the Minnesota Vikings football LLC for
our girls flag football program, a $100 donation for choir robes for an from an unnamed source. $100 for from Pemington Photography for National Cheer, a $290 donation for
National Cheer from the Sentra Credit Union for a total of $10,490. Bringing our yeartoate total at $83,53.94. And with that appreciation and recognition, I ask the board to
please approve the consent agenda as presented. >> I move to accept the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Motion made by Mr. Shonra, seconded by Miss D. L Cruz to approve the consent agenda as presented. All in favor say I.
>> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. moves us on to the recommended actions and we've got a second reading of policy 503 student attendance. I believe we've covered the first reading last month uh
quite thoroughly or had some discussion anyway. Uh anything you want to add Mr. May or hit on there again or are you comfortable moving forward with it? I'm comfortable if the board is comfortable and uh no one had reached out and so
with the the biggest note of that being a re quick recap was um many of the changes or many of the fine details are listed in the the student handbook and obviously referencing back to the the policy in general. So I'd ask for your
approval on the second reading of policy 503. I make a motion to approve the second reading of policy 503 student attendance as presented. Second. >> Motion made by Miss Tiger, seconded by Missy to approve the second reading of
policy 503 student attendance. Is there any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. We also have before us this evening a first reading of new policy 625
responsible use of AI. >> Yeah. MSBA has provided a new AI policy for boards to adopt. Also, please check your emails from MSBA as they sent out a specific uh email uh outlining a video
or with a video specifically explaining this policy. As this is the first reading, I'll ask you to approve it. take the time to review it in depth over the next month. Contact me or the policy committee members. In the meantime, with any questions or concerns since AI is
still new to in education, this is a policy that may be revised more as we live with AI uh in the future. And again, like I said earlier, a policy committee meeting may be needed. And I would uh uh uh
expect that we will need to meet uh prior to our April meeting and suggest like I said that we set a meeting date after we conclude the regular meeting. So again, I'd ask for your approval of the first meeting and get together and
go over it individually and then as a committee. >> I make a motion that we approve the first reading of the new policy 625, responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Second. >> Motion made by Miss Engle, seconded by Musty La Cruz to approve the first reading of new policy 625, responsible use of AI, as presented. Is there any further discussion? All in favor say I.
>> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Um, letter C, we have staff reductions due to enrollment. Mr. May, please explain this to us. Yeah, this is our little our our bubble of students
currently in second and third grade, third and fourth grade, third and fourth grade. And you're asked to approve then the reduction of one fifth grade section for next year due to the reduction in student enrollment for the upcoming
uh school year. And with that then we'll have the addition of one section of third grade as that again that bubble moves through. Um, this then is a staff neutral adjustment. I felt it was important that the board approved the
reduction and the addition for public record as adding the section back to the third grade was part of the district's plan when the original uh reduction was made a couple years ago. Couple years ago, we had a resolution to reduce that.
But since this is just an adjustment of sections, which happens frequently, it was just a uh a motion that was added a public record that we're switching that fifth and third grade section and most importantly
adding that third grade section back. I make a motion to approve the reduction in one fifth grade section and addition of one/3 grade section staff neutral adjustment as presented. >> Second >> motion made by Miss Tyer, seconded by Miss Urky to approve the reduction in
fifth grade and an addition in third grade uh equally a staff neutral position nurse. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed.
Motion carries. We have a non-renewal of probationary teachers before us this evening. Mr. May, please. Last month, the board was uh went through the formality of uh allowing the
district or myself as a superintendent and then obviously as a district to make um reductions especially of of non-renew non-renewal probationary teachers based on enrollment or budgetary uh for budgetary reasons. And uh we are
unfortunately in that situation here with uh enrollment where we could make a reduction at the secondary level because of class sizes and section sizes. So I'm recommending uh through a resolution that
Rick will read here to um approve the non-renewal of a probationary teacher. And with that Rick has a resolution that he would read for the board. Uh whereas Bri Brian Belcort is a probationary teacher in Independent
School District number 2168 in Richland, Minnesota be resolved by the school board of independent school district number 2168 that pursuant to the Minnesota statutes 122A. 40 subdivision 5. The teaching contract of B Brian Bell
Court, a probationary teacher in Independent School District 2168, is hereby non-renewed and will thus terminate at the close of the current 2526 school year. Be it further resolved that the written notice be sent to said
teacher regarding the non-renewal of his contract as provided by law and that said notice shall be in substantially the following form. Notice of non-renewal Mr. Brian Belcor 309 Main Street West Mano Minnesota reads as
follows. You are hereby notified that at a regular meeting of the school board of independent school district number 2168 held on March 16, 2026, a resolution was adopted by a majority roll call vote not to renew your probationary teaching contract for the 2627 school year. Your
contract will thus terminate at the end of the 2526 school year. Said action of the board is taken pursuant to Minnesota statutes 122A. 140 subdivision 5. And then that is signed by the clerk of
the school board. At this time I would entertain a motion to that roll call. I assume that uh no it looks like just an ordinary
motion for that then. So I would entertain a motion to move forward with that resolution. Please, >> I'll make a motion to move forward with the resolution relating to the non-renewal of the teaching contract of the probationary teachers. >> Okay,
>> second. >> Perfect. So, it does say we need a roll call on that, Mike. That >> is that what you guys have? >> I believe on the resolution roll. Okay. >> All right. So yes, it's moved by Miss Urki and
seconded by Missire to approve the resolution. And now we will do a roll call vote. So Miss Engle, please. >> Terry Engel I Phillips is absent. Kelly David Cruz
Shane. Hi Tire. Hi Schultz. >> I resolution carries. Noted. I guess this voted 5 to one.
Um, we have the recommendation for continuing contract rates and probationary list. Mr. Mayo, please. >> Yeah. Each year we provide the board with a list of probationary teachers. In Minnesota, a teacher's first three consecutive years in the district are
considered a probationary period. After successfully completing those three years, the teacher earns the right to a continuing contract, and we often refer to that as tenure. The uh the attached list identifies probationary teachers by their years of service and highlights
those that have been that have completed the probationary period. I ask for your approval to grant continuing contract rights to the identified teachers. A point of clarification that Mr. Bell court has fulfilled three years of probationary service. Obviously, the
nonrenewal that was just acted upon um remains in place and Mr. Bell court will have one probationary year of service when he's hired in another district within the state. Just a point of clarification here.
Also, Mr. Mayak, if for some reason later in the school year, an approved tenure teacher, is there is there an ability to reduce after they are approved here
tonight or >> Yes. >> Okay. Y >> So if the budget dictated that we needed to reduce yet, just because these people are approved here doesn't necessarily mean >> that our hands are tied on reducing. >> Correct. There's different contract
language that outlines kind of a timeline of when notification has to be okay established and whatnot. But again, it's um the the continuing contract rights is regardless of
uh non-renewal or okay returning that it it happens if you if you fulfill that probationary period that is um granted that is yours. >> Okay? And then the nonrenewal or the termination or you know whatever would
follow can always be if the timeline is followed that can always take place. >> Okay. Thank you for that clarification. Any other questions on that subject? Not. I would entertain a motion to approve the
recommendation for continuing contract rights and the probationary list as presented. >> I'll move the recommendation for continuing contract rights and probationary list. >> Second. >> Motion made by Mr. Mr. Shonrock seconded by Miss Engle to approve the
recommendation for continuing contract rights and pro the probationary list as presented. Is there any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries.
Letter F was removed. So it takes us to the paraprofessionals contract and we're happy to have that before us this evening. was quite a lengthy process this time around for some reason, but we got to what we all hoped and that is an
approved contract I believe by the Paris. Is that correct that they approved it and now it is before us this evening for our approval. Mr. Mak. >> Yeah. After the mediation session with the pair professional union and your
negotiation committee, the language changes have been finalized and are ready for the full board approval. I support the committee's work and recommend the full board's approval of the contract and ask for your approval. Could I just ask for a couple of the
highlights? I think it's about a a nine% increase over the two years. I'm catching me a little bit off guard here, but >> yeah, I should know those top Lauren and I were on the committee. So, just to update the rest of you on that a little bit. That
>> was a touch over 9% two years. Um trying to think of what the other >> Oh, there was the language changes. uh mainly dealt with um paid family medical leave. There was some um
like some simple language as far as jury duty and being called in if uh you were subpoenaed for some jury duty. Um there was a slight increase. I believe
it was $50 a year to uh the matching 403b contribution but total package you're right it was we were looking at um at 8.3% total package over two years the par
union was at 13 9% I believe it was 13.3% and the through the mediator we settled in the the 9% range Thank you. Any other questions from board members
that weren't on that committee? Feel free to ask. But we, like I said, are happy to have this before us and we're glad to be to this point on it. So, if not, I would entertain a motion. Please
>> make a motion to approve the paral contract as presented. Second >> motion made by Miss Engle, seconded by Miss Tyer to approve the pair of professionals contract as presented. All in favor say I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Motion carries. >> Uh before us this evening we have the 2526 revised budget. Carla, I assume you're in charge of that. We got a lot of time we can spend on this. >> Yes. >> Let's just sit back and will click
through with me. That'll be great. So you guys are used to us for sure doing a revised budget in June periodically. We've done throughout the year we're not required to. Um we just decided with that work session last week. So we get this together do this
barring any significant changes that's that we'll be done withvious revisions. But um obviously a lot of you know, when I was putting this together, I was feeling pretty good about snow removal, um, energy, um, repairs,
a lot of things have changed in the last few days, but, you know, we'll see what happens. Um, so if we click to that next slide, this is just a reminder what you guys approved last June. Um you're very well aware you approved a overspending
budget um close to 400,000 or just over 400,000 in the general fund. Okay. U the next slide. Why did you do that? Because of fund balance policy 714 that you have in place that says we'll try to maintain
an unassigned fund balance between 22 and 28%. We go to the next one. You've seen this slide before when the auditors presented Deb um from Abdo where they just reviewed u fund balance and how that is
as a percent. And so you can see the black line represents your policy and we're slightly over. We talked the other night about how we continue to approve overspending with the exception of I want to say it was
2324 when we still had a lot of co money. Um and then luckily things go our way. Um either we get a $200,000 security grant to put in new equipment that you were willing to spend out of your fund
balance on. Um so things have been good. Um and then if we go to the next slide, average daily membership, you also saw this graph when Abdul was here. Um and you we just the only reason
we put this out is is it's just so essential that you make your decisions and plan around the moment. It's going up, it's going down. We just got to react to it. Um this year we've stayed steady bodywise. But, you know, what
classes they choose and what agreements we have in place and whatnot ultimately will determine our very well verssed in how that all works. Um, but the good news is this year we didn't really experience any large swings out the board at semester break. So, we're
happy about that. Um, just to bring it back and you're probably getting sick of reverting back to 23. 23 drove a lot of what's going on, good, bad, or otherwise. Um, and I won't talk about well on this one I was just gonna remind you guys heard this the
other night but starting in FY26 which was this school year um the formula increases are supposed to be tied to CPI uh with a floor of two and a cap of three so this year we received 2.7 over and they've come out and announced to
plan on 2.69 for fiscal year 27 barring a change which we don't believe there will be a change because it's just start this year so you know fingers crossed that's good um library aid we
talked a little bit about that the other night it just kind of got started it's already been slashed more rules tie it to it or more strings to it but we got that figured out um I don't know what's going to happen with hourly unemployment we talked about that I want to be there.
But and then you know the other biggie that we're going to all be you'll read about we're going to be watching is that paid family and medical leave and what that's going to like right now it's starting out at 28% tax
the employee pays half of that district pays half that and that's statewide. And so now we'll just all be reading and responding to what's it going to actually cost and how I don't I don't know how it's written how often they raise that to pay for it but we shall
see. Okay. If we go to the next one um it talks about 25. 24 was mostly tied to the read act um in that non budget year. Um 25 focused on a few things. Mike mentioned a couple earlier that we're
watching. $00 per pupil in 25. We were excited to get that roofs. If you do over $100,000 roof, you can attach it to LCFM dollars that pass. We're happy about that. Um, thanks to our terrific
food service, we have a large fund balance. We're excited about the ability to expand the flexibility and how those dollars are used. So, those were some good things that last session. and then we hop on weekly and we're
constantly monitoring this year. But now to get to the next one, um this just shows as of today and we're mostly focused on the general fund. Um this includes all the reserve accounts, the LTFM, staff development and whatnot.
Nothing's final till it's audited in the fall, you know, all that. Um just a few notes regarding um the revenue side of things. Um state a revenue is relatively changed on here from the adopted. Um I did do if you recall that big check
to Riverland where we changed kind of that agreement on how like we're going to pay we're going to pay them instead of having the state pay them and then we should get more revenue. Um I just did a like a neutral expense increase and revenue increase. I think in the end we
expect to come out a little bit better on the revenue side, but for now I just did money in my account. Um so enrollment stayed pretty steady. We've had we luckily we hit some good um rates with CD investments that we did a
year ago. Um kind of worked with PMA to find those. So we're really happy with those decisions we made and those as they come due for benefiting that um medical assistance revenue. I think we
touched on this the other night. You know, I'm a little worried about it. Um you read a lot about what's happening at DHS up in St. Paul. Um a lot of controversy there, but we're just we're as far behind as we've ever been on receiving the rally from. So what
happens is there's all these billable services happening. Tracy Hollms, our um kind of our resident expert. Um she sends all those claims in. They get denied denied denied and
but they'll say, "Well, send them in again. We're still trying to understand this new coding system they have and they have all these like reasons." So, she's pretty confident like eventually they'll be approved. Like it's nothing we're doing. It's it's all up there, you know? Figured like I just hope it's
hopefully they'll be there. confident it'll come eventually, but we project $100,000 in what's called third party bill and to date we've received 30, which is a little behind where we're at. So, you
know, fingers crossed that all comes through for us. Um, on the expenditure side, didn't change a lot as things happen. Um, health insurancees get dropped, they get added, whatnot, make some of those changes.
If you recall last year you approved and we purchased this year a new reading curriculum. It was close to $100,000. We called the company. We're like we really want this but our budget 60,000. They said that's fine. Pay us 60 this year. You pay the rest next year. That's
great. Um our teaching and learning director, she's aware of that. She'll kind of work around that. So we tried to stay within budget there. Um, I did, and we talked about this the other night. I made that budget adjustment for that property you purchased. There's one line
item of $100,000. And now I'm just going to wait and see. You guys are going to decide what's what there. So, that could change some numbers here. Um, depending on next steps. And then we did talk about some additional par FTE
um have raised this up a little bit but again we'll see what happens going forward. We talked about utilities field prices how quick I mean fully um we talked about our transportation
budgets kind of break use but we'll see what happens between now and then. Thankfully we have those four spare buses. So hopefully nothing significant happens uh in the next few months.
And I already talked to you about paid family and medical leave. If we go down to food ser just stay on that one just one second. Food service really didn't make any changes there. Uh community edi time. She's she's real busy. I don't know if you guys see that when she
presents, but um if you just look at her expenditures and revenues, she's ahead of schedule. So, she probably will finish in both categories higher than what those numbers show. But right now, she doesn't have any reason to think
it's going to sway one way or another. Like you heard about the new football program, $10,000 in, they'll charge um fees to play, whatever it's going to take. pay a couple coaches and get that program started. I think the way that works is they're going to give us a
little bit more money next year and next year and then phase it out. By then they must think we can pay for it ourselves again. Um and then like she said when she did that budget she wasn't planning on nationals for cheerleading but it
raised the revenue and they spent the money. So again, she's she's a little further ahead than these numbers might end up being, but um and those other things to talk about. So again, barring any um
barring any significant changes, we won't come back with the revised budget. Um but there are, we will come every month if you want. So anyway, if we go to the next one, um the motion to approve should say that
what you guys are going to do, you want to go ahead and do that. Again, it's just showing um an overall fund decrease about 442 or in case the general fund over that. There's a motion and can you think of
any questions? I feel like we hit on a lot of this stuff today. So our our budget the last time we adjusted am I understanding it properly and I apologize I missed the other night but
>> we were projecting to >> deficits been 297 is that correct >> overall >> overall and now we are up to >> 447 >> correct >> okay >> which is what
>> I digest just in my shall. >> Yeah. >> But yeah, >> and again overall, you know, talk about the general fund, >> right? >> Right. But no, appreciate you breaking it into the others. It's a lump some
figure in my mind, but it's also needs to be we need to know the reason of getting there also. >> Yeah, we haven't sat down with department had and said what's now the rest of the year look like what anywhere
drill down the line by line just significant increases we just thought let's get that out there talk about it >> right >> and then see what happens >> and I think that is a good I think like you stated we should revisit it whenever we feel it's changed significantly and
keep ahead of it and that's >> yeah try to make sure you're voting on the significant things But to bring it all back together and say, "Hey, >> it's a lot better than finding out in October that the year was
>> Yeah. You know, and you know, just to remind you how significant things can swim between now and October, good and bad. We talked about, you know, those those special ed placements, the transportation, the tuition, billing. Um, it's hard to get a grasp on that
this time of year on what the kiddos that live here but are served there are costing. It's always kind of an after the fact thing. >> Well, then the ask for funds that we approve because we knew that was coming in the property that we're still sitting on
to meet on. So, that's on us. >> Oh, absolutely. Yeah. And that that's why I did want to be clear. I just literally just did one line said $100,000 for that project and we'll see what ends up happening. >> Right.
>> Yep. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> We haven't really talked about I guess since tonight, but we've been trying to keep you that again. I could have said that back on why did you guys approve this adopted? You know, our hope again is that that access funding that we're
just going to get started on, stays in place for a while. But again, we spend the money this year over spending, you know, minimum money, >> get reimbured next year. >> And then next year, we hope to be able to recap recapture some of that revenue and be able to maintain that for the
next few years depending on St. Paul. Do you think there was a glimmer of hope in the MA presentation today or >> Yeah, you know, um glimmer. >> Yeah,
>> I didn't feel so hot about that local optional revenue. kind of was like, you know, I think they made it pretty clear they don't want to give you any more rights to increase your levies, you know, like putting $100 on there or
levying for, you know, I just thought if they can't afford the hourly unemployment, it goes on you guys. I just assumed like regular un regular unemployment, you can levy those costs. You know, you can't because you have to
kind of talked about this the other night too. You have to not renew or let people go for business reason. Then you're allowed to levy those costs but not hourly unemployment and they don't want that to be the
solution we understand is giving them more. So yeah hopefully yes this I don't know about compensatory one more year >> but that doesn't guarantee numbers still could change based on last
year's revenue >> so that doesn't guarantee the the same revenue from last year but >> hopefully closer Anyway, >> thank you.
>> Yeah, you got it. >> All right. Yeah, good information, quality information. Perhaps not the direction we hope we wanted, but as stated, there's been some things we've decided to do as board also
that took us in this direction. So, I don't think it comes as a surprise to anyone either that way. So, yeah, thank you for that presentation. So with that I again I think it is good that we revisit this budget periodically
especially if there are changes to keep us in the aware type position as a as a board. So if there aren't any further questions I think it's time to call for a motion on
a 2526 revised budget as presented. Make a motion to approve the 2526 revised budget as presented. Second. >> Motion made by Missy, seconded by Miss D. L Cruz to approve the 2526 revised
budget as presented. Is there any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Concludes our business for this evening and I would entertain a motion for adjournment. Move to
>> second. Motion made by Mr. Shra, seconded by Miss Herky to adjurnn. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. We are journ. Thank you everyone. Is that exciting as you thought it was going to be?
>> Is that as exciting as you thought it was going to be? >> Don't wake him. >> Looks like Ours has been for about the last four or five months, but >> before that he was a cop there.
>> Well, you got you got you got here for the best day like to hear Carla's presentation about our