did a lot of last time in the spring because a lot of these things >> welcome everyone. >> Yeah. >> Good evening. I call this uh welcome to the Prior Lake Savage Area Schools Board
of Education meeting for April 13, 2026. Um I call this meeting to order. Please rise and join me for the pledge of allegiance as you're able. 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. All board members are present this evening.
Um, first up is Laker Pride. I will invite activities director Jeff Marshall to present and honor our winter athletics participants and coaches.
Thank you. Thank you, Director Marshall. Uh, just trying to get my slides up. >> Escape twice. >> Escape twice. >> We go. My wife has tried to escape twice and that hasn't worked before. >> Sorry. >> That was a good
>> That's probably being recorded. Um, >> sure is. >> Yeah. Good evening, Superintendent Dr. Thomas, uh, board chair Bullian, and school board directors. It is my honor and privilege to present to you the 20 2025 to 26 winter activities and athletics report, as well as to recognize and
honor those students who have qualified for state or achieved tremendous success in their given activities from this past winter season. Uh, please feel free to review the beginning slides of the presentation on your own. I'm not going to be going through all of them here tonight. Uh these highlight the definition of the the these highlight the department's purpose statement, the
definition of success and the participation numbers from this past winter as well as some wonderful pictures of our students involved in those athletics and activities. With that, we will actually now get started to highlight some of our specific sports and activities. We will start with our activities in our non
MSHSL sports. So, first we'll have our Olympic weightlifting team come in. >> Come on in, ladies. She can stand right up here in front. This year we had four athletes who participated in the Olympic weightlifting state tournament. Lillian No, who is here finished as runner up in her category and her sister Violet who
is a fifth grader finished third in her category. We also had John Mains qualify who finished third in his weight category and Mackenzie Richardson who finished third in her category and she was also named academic all state. They are coached by Scott Felstead. Congratulations to our OLYMPIC
WEIGHTLIFTERS. NEXT UP, we'll have our DECA students come on in. This year, DECA had 25 students who qualified for state. And I know not all 25 are there, but come on in. You guys can stand up here in the front. Maline Banis qualified in
two events. Olivia Zerbal qualified in two events. Aiden Join Join qualified. Ashwin Mandal, Nora Stanton in two events, Addison Vero in two events, Supra Up, Aurora Endrris, Uniza Sulleman, Jonathan Cha in two events,
Aaron Hod in two events, Zoe Rhymers, Sophia Zerbel, Max Dbor in two events, Cameron Stout in two events, Miles Burger in two events, Nick Rafett in two events, Kevin Justin, Tanner Long, Grayson Peterson, Josh Daramola in two
events, Andrew Sheffford, Adve Chawan in two events, Andrew Turner in two events and Mason Shannon. This year our DECA program was advised by Gemma Kilmer. And again, of the 25 students, we actually also had two who qualified to move on to the internationals, which will be happening later on this year. So,
congratulations to our DECA students. >> Next up, we'll have U members of our mock trial team. Typically with mock trial, we have three different teams who are out there. This year, the white team qualified for the state tournament after advancing through regionals. Uh many of these students who qualified on the
white team are actually uh sophomores, juniors, and even a freshman who made it through too. So, the future is very bright for our mark trial team. Team members this year included Mattie Belmont, Nathaniel Chu, Marikai Foron, Mallerie Hesky, Ifra Malik, Ella
Oheimer, Natalie Tilkis, Rachel Vegdal, Katarina von Schmidt Paulie, and Tessa Wesland. Coaches were Takama Padilla, Matt Bear, Mark Bear, the honorary Stacy Sornson Green, and Fatima Aayor. So, congratulations to our mock trial
members. CONGRATULATIONS. >> Not with us tonight is our one act play. Our one act play um this year qualified uh for the section finals after making it out of the sub regionals. At the section finals, they uh finished in second place with the top team moving on to state. Little bit of controversy that
happened there, but we were pretty proud of them and happy with with how well they did. >> So I am not. He's sitting over there. Coming in next, this is our unified basketball team. Okay, this was the first year that we fielded a unified basketball team. Uh these guys are all
members of the unified club and the unified program within our district. Um the team played first in qualifying rounds at Shakapei and while at Shakipi they won both games, thus qualifying for the state tournament that was held at Target Center. At the Target Center in the state tournament, the team finished
in fourth place. Uh very exciting. I was able to be down there to watch the games. We had a great turnout during the day and very very excited to be able to see how well the team did. Team members included as players Lukeman Abdelahi, Aub Hussein, Isaiah Menddees, CC
Brutivald, Gwen Storiak, Ben Fam, Ben Butner, Aaliyah Priby, Landon Mor, and Logan Raleigh. And the coaches were Cam Stout, Clyde Smith, Landon Perutka, Wer Jpa, and Cade Swanson. managers were Lucy Sadderland and Claire Drain. And
the adviserss that we have with us here tonight are Hannah Ring and Megan Head. So, congratulations to all of you. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. Next up, we're moving into our our band and choir students. This year, we had 10
students who were selected as MMEA all state in band. Those students included Griffin Beamer, Eleanor Busans, Talia Bushman, Samantha Chai, Andrew Coleman, Maline Duke, Audrey Ferraru, Bryson Schumacher, Noah
Wagner, and Anna Wang. In addition, we had eight students who were selected in the ninth and tth grade all state band. Those included Jace Jungers, Claire Shellhorn, Ian Cunningham, Smith Grojan, Miles McCabe, Harriet Presley, and
Graham Trudin Trudinik and Jackson Vigilleti. We also had two students who were selected to the ninth and tth grade all state jazz band, Jace Jungers and Claire Shellhorn. And our directors are Keith Kumos and Justin ShraMM.
Bobby Ferrar, right? And Aubrey is here with us tonight. Aubrey, if you want to stand out here and face the audience, that'd be great. It's great that she was able to make it. I know that um our our directors had also told a lot of our students that their names would at least be read tonight and so they're home listening
probably is my guess. But we appreciate all of you being here because in addition to our all state uh band members, our wind ensemble this year was also selected as a performing ensemble for the 2026 Minnesota Mes Music Educators Association mid-winter convention. And unfortunately, they
weren't able to perform down at the convention center, but they did move the convention to various locations including Prior Lake High School where we served as one as well too. >> Here we go. Few more here, which is great. Sorry you guys didn't hear it out there. So, uh, members of our wind
ensemble, um, this year who were selected to perform at the mid-winter convention include Harriet Presley, Talia Bushman, Claire Shellhorn, Millie Roupert, Barrett Schultz, Olivia Cunningham, Maline Duke, Kylie, Kylie,
Kylie Osen, Austin Klehorn, Ellen Zaden, Samantha Chai, Anna Wang, Audrey Ferraru, Rishihari, Graham Trudin, Alex Hutner Strot, Claire Downer, Lou Gabriel, Kayn Sppley, Annabella Deng,
Era Despandi, Sawyer, Pona, Vivian Mai, Anelise Dang, Clara Tutty, Jackson Welock, Elizabeth McCrosski, Jack Vigilleti, Nathan Morroso, Addie Turway, Carson Crier, Jordan Fear, Andress
Cambron, Ava Wartz, Luella Stangler, Smith Grojan, Eleanor Busans, Drew Fallingstead, Ella Ostimer, Braden Sppley, Griffin Beamer, Bryson Schemacher, Jace Jungers, Lindseay
Madson, Ryan Mai, Avery Oelman, Sam Berg, Alex Young, Alexander St. Polair, Andrew Duhini, Norah Wagner, Miles McCabe, Andrew Coleman, Cam Sumella, Sam Britain, Jack Harendin, Josie McWills,
Nolan Goss, Henry Tucker, and Ella Schmidt. Again, congratulations to our all state band members and our wind. Congratulations Next up, we have our all state coral selection. This year, we had six students who were
selected to the MMEA all-state choir. I believe some of them are out there. As part of the SSAA choir, we had Sophie Callas, Katie Weaver, Ingred Olsen, and Addie Turway. know some of them are out there.
>> Oh yeah, you're good. >> Right in front. >> So again, six students who were selected to the MMEA all state choir. As part of the SSAA choir, we had Sophie Callas, Katie Weaver, Ingred Olsson, who was here, and Addie Turway. As part of the TTBB choir, we had Wyatt Gillis and
Sawyer Olsson. And Sawyer is here as well. We also had three alternates who were chosen to that. Khloe Ericson, Andrea Stodall, and Grace Galvas. Unfortunately, the other four are currently at play practice because they're doing other um other things as well, too. Um and our directors are Randy Erlinson, and Rob Han. Just a
little bit of quick information. Um just over 450 schools have junior and senior students who are eligible for all state. 20% give or take of the makeup of the all state actually comes from our conference, the South Suburban Conference. And we are either tied or at
the top of our conference with the number of people that we have who earn all state honors. And on a side note, um I was willing to spend spring break in Ireland with these two individuals. Sawyer was part of my group um as I oversaw the men and certainly Ingred was
there as well too along with both of our directors and I know that there's been a lot of talk about choir directors and choir staffing and some of those things and I was able to witness firsthand um the impact that our directors have on this group and the impact that they have on each other. This is not one of your
typical classroom settings. you know, this is a um choir and band are one of those things that kind of cross that line between curricular and co-curricular and what does that look like? And for these students to have that kind of opportunity to be able to go there and perform three different concerts, to be able to work with um some amazing groups in Ireland,
including a national choir while they were over there, um and to be able to bond and spend that time with each other, have that experience, and have the leadership of both Rob and Randy, um guiding them through this process is invaluable. Um, and it truly was an amazing experience to see the kind of
family that the choir is and the work that they do to be able to come together. So, congratulations to both of you. It was great spending time with you in Ireland as well. Um, and certainly congratulations to Rob and Randy on on an amazing program that they have put together. We'll now switch over to our um
Minnesota State High School League athletic teams from the winter season. Unfortunately, nobody was able to make it here from the Alpine Ski Team. The girls did finish as conference champions, which I believe is either the third or the fourth year in a row of them doing that. They also finished as the section six runners up and going
from sections where they finished in second to state, they actually beat the team that beat them at sections and finished second at the state tournament that was held up in Giants Ridge. Uh team members include Elizabeth McCrosski, Coven Rice, Emily Reid, Emily Harris, Anukica Johnson, and Olivia
Reed. Additionally, we had two boys who qualified for state individually in alpine skiing this year, Andrew Turner and Saurin Johnson. And our coaches are Dave Everson and um Anna Hedon. So, congratulations to our alpine ski team. In addition, our Nordic ski team
finished in section one. Our girls were in ninth place. Our boys were in eighth place. Uh many of whom were were freshman or sophomores who were part of that team. Our boys basketball team finished with a 27-7 overall record. 16-2 in the South Suburban Conference. They finished as conference champions,
which is the first time ever that our boys basketball team has finished as conference champions, which was truly incredible. Just an amazing season. Unfortunately, they lost in section finals to Chesa, who ended up being the eventual state champ, and we only lost by three points. And so we throughout the whole playoff run, we were actually
the team that was closest to Chaza throughout playoffs when they went on to become state champs. So very excited certainly for what the future holds. Our seniors were were outstanding leaders this year, but we also have a strong core coming back as well for our boys basketball team. Our girls basketball after losing a lot to graduation came
back and finished 13- 15 overall, 9-7 in the South Suburban Conference. They ended up losing to Minnetonka in the section semi-finals, who was the number one seed at that time. The next team that we have here is our adapted floor hockey team. You all want to come on out, stand out here in front.
So, our adapted floor hockey team qualified for the state tournament for the first time in history. This is only the third year, right? Fourth year. The fourth year of this team being in existence. We are in a co-op with adapted floor hockey with Shakipi. um when we play soccer in the fall and
softball in the spring, Chask and Chanhasson also join us as part of that co-op. But for floor hockey, it's strictly just us and Shakipi as part of that. And so in the fourth season of existence to be able to qualify for the state tournament is truly remarkable. It's really an amazing feat that this team had. At the state tournament, they
ended up finishing in sixth place. Team members this year include Caleb Schultz, Colin Schultz, Ben Madson, CC Brutal, Aub Hussein, John Connley, and Dylan Norman. And our coach is Julia Ree. Ben, you have something you'd like to say?
>> Um, just for the record, uh, I made the all tournament team. I was the individual to make the all tournament team. I was doing so well in bowling at all. >> THANKS, BEN.
WE ALSO want to make sure we recognize the whole team too because the team did very very well this year and you had an outstanding year as well too. So congratulations. Way to go Southern Stars on a great season. We're off and running with softball. We as a district actually host the adapted softball program. All of their games and
practices are over at Twin Oaks. And so if you have an opportunity to come out and watch an adapted softball team this spring, we encourage you to do so. Congratulations. Congratulations. Next up is our boys swimming and diving team. This year the boys team finished 8-1 in the South Suburban Conference,
finishing as conference runners up. They finished seventh at the state championships and we have a couple of those individuals who are here with us tonight. The 200 medley relay finished in fifth place made up of Braxton Helmers, Owen Badett, Jaime Sultt, and Mason Zorra. In the 200 freestyle, Jamie
Sultt finished third. In the 200 IM, Braxton Helmers finished 15th. In the 50 freestyle, Owen Bodet finished fourth. In the 100 freestyle, Jamie Sultt finished fifth. In the 100 backstroke, Braxton Helmers finished fifth. In the 400 freestyle relay, they finished 12th.
That was made up of Jamie Sultt, Cameron Peterson, Braxton Helmers, and Owen Bett. And in the 100 breaststroke, Owen, who is here tonight, finished in first place. He was a state champion in the 100 breaststroke, setting a school record, also achieving an automatic all-American time, which means that Owen
automatically is one of the top 100 swimmers in that event in the entire nation. So quite an amazing feat as well, too, to be able to finish the state champion to be able to do that. So congratulations, gentlemen, an outstanding season. Also this year, our boys hockey program
finished 915-2 overall with a 78-1 record in the conference. Our girls hockey team finished 1412-1 overall, 96-1 in the South Suburban where they beat Shakape in the section quarterfinals before losing to Holy Family uh in the section semifinals who also went on to state. Wrestling. Our
wrestling team finished 8-1 in the South Suburban Conference, which was good for second place. Um, losing during the season to Shakape. In the section finals, we lost to Apple Valley by one point. And I have never seen such a heartbreak of a of a meet or as of a
match. We were up 31 to 10 and Apple Valley came back and ended up beating us 32 to 31. It was heartbreaking. But I will tell you to me the lessons learned of resiliency and overcoming obstacles and adversity that these boys
experienced and learned as a result of this are going to make them not just better wrestlers but better people. You know that is such a challenge and that's one of the greatest things about sports is you having that opportunity to learn those lessons when you have to overcome obstacles like that. Yes, it was
devastating, but again, these boys are better people now because of having had that experience. And we know that those who are coming back are going to be hungry to be able to come back and to be able to perform next year as well, too. We also had three individual state qualifiers. I don't believe any of them are here with us tonight, but Rockco
Michelac finished fifth at 121 pounds. Liam Collins finished fifth at 133 pounds, and Charlie Nelson qualified at 172 lbs. They were coached this year mainly by Solomon Nielsen, John Tolbert, and Alex Head. But for those of you who are are familiar with the wrestling world, you know, you got to have a lot
of hands in that room with all the different weight classes. And so, we've got a lot of volunteers and a lot of alumni and a lot of folks who come and help out with that wrestling program. So, congrats to our wrestlers with how well they did. Our dance team this year finished fourth in both kick and jazz at section 13A
competition. We are hoping one of these years soon to be able to get this group here. Top three goes to state and we've been fourth now for the last two years in both kick and jazz. So we know that we are right on the on the door being able to get in. The scoring gap has narrowed every year. So we're getting
closer and closer with our dance program. Our cheer team, both the JV and varsity traditional and game day squads qualified for nationals. Uh once again, they both finished in the top 10 in the nation, which is truly an amazing feat for our our JV and our varsity cheer squads. The last group of um students
we're going to bring out is our gymnastics team coming out with their medals as well. So, our gymnast this year had an outstanding regular season and they knew going into sections that they had a really good shot at being able to win it. and they went into sections where
only the top team then qualifies for state and they were to overcome and beat New Prague who is a perennial favorite coming out of section 2A um in an amazing meet. So as a team they qualified for the state tournament went on to state where they finished in fifth place at state and the state um people
the people who who uh who performed or who competed at state were Sophia Vold, Claire Drain, Anukica Campbell, Maya Heg, Maline Shapi, Gia Wilson and Anna Gillespie. In addition, we had four individual state qualifiers this year. Maline Shapi on the vault, uneven bars,
and floor exercise. Maya Heg on the all-around vault, uneven bars, beam, and fuller exercise where she finished in 12th place. Anukica Campbell on the vault and floor exercise. And Claire Drain on the all-around, the vault, the uneven bars where she finished in seventh place, the beam and the floor
exercise. Our coaches this year were Patrick Klener, Adriana Nafla, Julie Seagull, and Amanda Montacier. and also excited to be able to say that Patrick also won the state coach of the year honors and awards this year um for doing such an outstanding job with the program. So ladies, congratulations to
all of you. Patrick, CONGRATULATIONS. Just a few other um quick awards that I want you to be aware of. One is what's called the Excel Award. The Excel Award stands for Excellence in Community Education and Leadership. It's an award that's sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League. And it's a unique recognition program designed exclusively
for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, who are leaders in their schools, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service. This award is sponsored by the league's corporate sponsor, True Stone Financial Credit Union, and this year's winners were Sarah Yousef and Dallas Handit. In
addition, we have the AAA award. AAA stands for athletics, arts, and academics. This honors high school seniors throughout the state who have a minimum of 3.0 or higher grade point average and who participate in league sponsored athletic and fine arts activities. Our winners every year have
well above a 4.0 GPA um and are very involved again in the arts and in the athletics. The AAA award recipients are selected through a multi-level process involving member schools of the league, the league's administrative regions, and a special committee of educators, business leaders, and members from the fine arts and athletic communities. This
year's uh Prior Lake High School's nominees were Joe Ganon and Talia Bushman. Talia went on and actually became the region winner as well. And so she went on and competed at the state level um against eight other individuals for the state honors. She didn't win that, but um again to be recognized and nominated and to win that region level
is truly an amazing honor. So congratulations to them as well. Yes, we can certainly continue to be thankful. Um thankful to those who provide such strong support for activities programs, thankful for the custodians, thankful for again all of the people that between the parents who
are here, the parents who are watching at home, the fans who come out to our games. Um it truly is amazing um and exciting to be able to run such programs. However, we also know that this is a very difficult evening for all of us as you have to make some hard decisions in regards to budget and staffing for next year. And so we know
that while we're able to come here and celebrate these students, which is very exciting, again, I know there's a lot of heavy things that are also weighing on our hearts right now for the activities department alone to have to cut over $100,000. This will have a significant impact on our programs and our families. This includes cutting a number of stipen
positions, thus reducing our coaching staff with a number of our programs. And I think it's very important to note that with the teaching staff cuts that have to be made, these have much deeper implications than just the classroom. The co-curricular opportunities for our choir students will be greatly impacted
by not being able to offer as many opportunities outside of the school day. Additionally, four football coaches are being impacted with two of them potentially losing their teaching positions. We potentially are losing our head boys track coach due to the teaching reductions and potentially losing a softball coach and one of our
new girls flag football coaches. And these are just due to the potential teaching staffing cuts. I realize that I'm the activities director for the district, but I'm also a district resident and a parent of four students who have or are attending schools in this district. It is my sincere hope that this board and this community can
understand the budget crisis we are in, the deficit we face, the lack of community financial support compared to our neighboring and similar districts and the skeleton staffing we will have with teachers, administrators, coaches, custodians, admin assistants, front
office staff, and district staff. And it is our hope that the community and this board will come together to unite and make changes to this crisis. In the meantime, we as an activities department will continue to provide the best opportunities possible and the best experiences we can for all of our students. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Co coach Marshall, did you grab the uh certificates? >> Oh, thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Director Marshall. Uh, next up is a superintendent report. Dr. Thomas. Thank you, Chair Bullian and directors.
Uh this evening, just share a couple of uh uh updates with with the community and the board. Uh it's been a heavy uh legislative cycle going around right now. Uh a few weeks ago, I joined a team uh with our Minnesota Association of
School Administrators as well as our Minnesota Association of Special Ed Directors um to go out to uh Washington DC to advocate on behalf of keeping public funds in public schools as well as um a lot of advocacy around how we
can meet the mandates of special education from the federal level. um they have yet to um demonstrate their commitment to funding at 40% which was their commitment when they first passed IDA and to this day we still have yet to see um that level of funding. So a very
busy week out in DC. Um equally it's been a very busy uh session already here in the Twin Cities in St. Paul. Uh I will say namely one of the things just kind of in alignment with the federal advocacy committee uh that I was a part
of last week is that uh I'll be uh testifying to uh repeal the actions of the blue ribbon special education blue ribbon commission which is charged to find $250 million in reductions. Um, technically it's 300 million, but I
don't know if the governor's proposal will uh continue moving forward. But we know that's the minimum that they're asking, and many of us are saying that is absolutely impossible to to do. Um, just given the fact that we just got a reprieve with special ed uh cross
subsidy support from our state only a year later to have it taken away. Uh, that's a challenge for many of us to then look at how we would continue that cross subsidy. Um and then there's a lot of other uh ancillary funding that they're talking about uh replacing. And
then if we look at um some of the ancillary funding that would be more of the prevention side of our ads funding that is going towards um ways to fill that special ed uh mandate. So essentially the state would be robbing Peter to payole and um finding ourselves
in a situation where you know our tier 2 supports will likely dwindle um to fund the mandates through special ed if they move forward with this proposal. So there are quite a few of us out there advocating against that. So, it's going to be a busy session. Even though
there's no funding, um there's going to be a lot of voice um to make sure that uh we can try to get things uh repealed um revisited and uh see where it goes on behalf of of our students and our families in our districts. Um just real
quickly that uh Prior Lake Savage Area Schools has again received the certificate of excellence in financial reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International for the 24 um for this past fiscal year. Uh it's a national recognition that reflects the
district's commitment to accurate, thorough, and accessible financial reporting. And I just want to thank Director Ryder and the entire business services team as well as Christy and folks who have really helped um with the layout and everything. So, it's been something that uh has really helped and
been a useful tool here in our community. Also, I will just share that our kindergarten open house uh for the class of 2039 is May 11th at all at our elementary schools. This is a fun first up for our students to uh go into their
school journey. Students can hop on a school bus, explore their new building, and start getting excited for the school year ahead. The openhouse schedule uh will uh be Five Hawks and Red Tail on May 11th again uh 3:30 to 4:30 and and
on May 11th uh at Glendale, Hamilton Ridge, Jeffers Pond, Lyola, and Westwood from 4:30 to 5:30. Um and then lastly, just to recognize over uh spring break, several of our students uh were able to take some time
to travel overseas. Uh we had some of our students uh in French uh classes go to Paris and had a cultural immersion experience living with host families for part of the trip and attended high school classes during their their time out there. They toured iconic landmarks
Notre Dame Cathedral, the Cien River, and the Eiffel Tower to name a few of those uh hot spots that they were able to take in. Um, we had choir students go to Ireland and conducted several performances, including a special collaborative concert with a youth choir
from Ireland, and they immerse themselves in the Irish culture, experiencing authentic music and dance traditions while traveling to Goway, Cork, and Dublin. And then lastly, our um Spanish uh course students um went to Spain and students were immersed in the
culture and the history of the beautiful country of Spain. And they visited the Picasso Museum, tour toured worldrenowned historic landmarks, tasted authentic olive oil, and enjoyed Flamco, a flamco performance. If you've not seen one of those, it's pretty pretty hot
stuff. So, they had a great time and uh want to um wish them well as they uh finish out the year strong um with that extracurricular experience that they had. And those are my updates. >> Thank you, Dr. Thomas. Next up, uh we have several procla proclamations this
evening and uh for the sake of time as well as considering the potential of severe weather, I'm going to propose foregoing the administration uh the administrator's comments on the individual proclamations. And we'll start with um Director Smith, if you
would start with our first proclamation for National Volunteer Appreciation Week. >> Been waiting five months for you to ask me. Prior Lake Savage Area Schools recognizes April 19th through 25th, 2026 as volunteer appreciation week.
Volunteers provide essential support to our over 8,600 Prior Lake Savage area students and their families and over 1,300 employees. This week, we celebrate our thanks and gratitude for these essential community members. Whereas the
week of April 19th through 25th is designated as National Volunteer Week to recognize the hard work, dedication, and passion of volunteers throughout our nation. Whereas thousands of volunteers here in the Prior Lake Savage area provide essential support to our
students through generous donations of time, money, and talent. Whereas volunteers serve on our boards, task forces, and committees to help us move our mission forward. Whereas volunteers are motivated by the simple satisfaction of helping our students and foster a
sense of community and pride within our schools and district. Therefore, let it be resolved, the board of education hereby extends its appreciation to all Prior Lake Savage area volunteers for supporting the education of our students and declares April 19th through 25th,
2026 to be volunteer appreciation week in Prior Lake Savage area schools. >> Thank you. Next is um after school professionals appreciation week. Uh director France, would you read that proclamation, please? Yes. Um Prior Lake
Savage Area Schools recognizes April 20th through the 24th, 2026 as afterchool professionals appreciation week. This week we celebrate and thank these vital staff members. Whereas the Prior Lake Savage area school community firmly believes that afterchool
professionals, those who work with children and youth in a wide variety of program settings to provide extended learning opportunities during out of school hours have a positive effect on our children, families, community, and businesses. Whereas after school professionals are a decisive element in
young people's access to high quality relationships and expanded opportunities beyond what they have access to at school and home which they need to reach their full potential. Whereas after school professionals deserve appreciation and support for all that
they do that results in increased social emotional skills, school attendance and academic performance for young people. Whereas Prior Lake Savage Area Schools is committed to supporting the professionals who provide expanded learning opportunities that will help
close the achievement gap and prepare young people to be contributing citizens. Therefore, let it be resolved the board of education hereby extends its appreciation to all Prior Lake Savage Area Schools afterchool professionals for supporting the education of our students and declares
April 20th through 24th, 2026 to be afterchool professionals appreciation week in Prior Lake Savage Area Schools. >> Thank you. Uh next uh next proclamation is administrative support professionals week. Uh director said, would you be so kind?
>> Happy to. Prior Lake Savage Area Schools recognizes April 20 through 24th, 2026 as Administrative Support Professionals Appreciation Week. Our administrative support professionals are essential to keeping our district operating, which supports the success of our students.
This week, we celebrate our thanks and gratitude for these vital staff members. Whereas, National Administrative Professionals Day is being celebrated on April 22nd, 2026. Whereas our administrative support professionals serve several roles in our
school buildings and district offices. Whereas these professionals are often the first point of contact for families, students, and staff and help create a welcoming environment. Whereas our administrative support professionals carry out essential functions to keep
our schools and district operating so we can fulfill the mission of our district and the success of our students. Therefore, let it be resolved the board of education hereby extends its appreciation to all Prior Lake Savage Area Schools administrative support professionals for supporting the
education of our students and declares April 20 through 24th, 2026 to be administrative support professionals appreciation week in Prior Lake Savage Area Schools. Thank you. Uh next up we have the school bus driver appreciation
week. Director Mason, would you be so kind? Prior League Savage area schools recognizes April 27th through May 1st, 2026 as school bus driver appreciation week and April 28th, 2026 as school bus driver appreciation day. Prior League Savage area school bus drivers ensure
the safety and well-being of our students while transporting them to and from school. This week we celebrate our thanks and gratitude for these essential members of our Prior Lake Savage area community. Whereas over 120 Prior Lake Savage area school bus drivers are employed through Baron's bus company and
bus student transportation company. Whereas Prior Lake Savage area school bus drivers safely transport more than 8,600 students. Whereas Prior League Savage area school bus drivers travel more than 1 million miles total over the course of the school year. Whereas Prior
League Savage area school bus drivers deal with many challenging situations each day including inclement weather and traffic. Whereas Prior Lake Savage area school bus drivers are the first people to greet many of our students each morning and last to say goodbye each afternoon. Therefore, let it be resolved
the board of education hereby extends its appreciation to Prior Lake Savage area school bus drivers for supporting the safety and sense of belonging of our students and declares April 27th to May 1st, 2026 to school to be school bus driver appreciation week in Prior Lake
Savage Area Schools. Thank you. Uh, next up, National Principals Appreciation Week. Director Johnson, would you be so kind to read that one? >> Prior Lake Savage Area Schools recognizes April 27th through May 1st, 2026 as school principles appreciation
week. Our principles provide essential support to our more than 8,600 PLSAS students and more than,300 employees. This week, we celebrate our thanks and gratitude for these essential leaders. Whereas national school principles day
is May 1st, 2026. Whereas school principles are educational visionaries, instructional leaders and to students and staff, community builders, public relations experts, budget analysts, facility managers, special program
managers, and are entrusted with the education and development of young people. Whereas school principles provide students with opportunities and guidance to ensure their success and inspire a passion for learning. Whereas school principles provide direction,
support, encouragement, and guidance to staff enabling them to serve the wide-ranging needs to our support student community. Whereas student principles work with all stakeholders to foster a sense of community and pride within our schools and district.
Therefore, let it be resolved that the board of education hereby extends its appreciation to our district principles for supporting the education of our students and proclaims April 28th through May 2nd, 2026 to be school principles appreciation
week in Prior Lake Savage Area Schools. >> Thank you. Um, next up is the child nutrition staff appreciation week. Director Atinson, >> thank you. Prior Lake Savage Area Schools recognizes April 27th through May 1st, 2026 as Child Nutrition Staff
Appreciation Week. Our child nutrition staff are committed to supporting our children pro by providing nutritious scratchcooked meals to more than 8,600 students. This week, we celebrate our thanks and gratitude for these essential individuals. Whereas the school
nutrition associate declares association declares May 1st as school lunch hero day. To highlight the difference, child nutrition staff make to every child who comes through the cafeteria. Whereas Prior Lake Savage Area School's child nutrition staff serve approximately 1.2
million meals every year, averaging 6,000 meals each school day. That's pretty impressive. Whereas child nutrition staff are vital employees dedicated to preparing and distributing healthy and delicious meals directly to our students, all while providing a warm
and welcoming environment. Therefore, let it be resolved. The board of education hereby extends its appreciation to all Prior Lake Savage Area Schools child nutrition staff for supporting the nutritional needs and success of our student and declares
April 27th through May 1st to be child nutrition staff appreciation week in Prior Lake Savage Area Schools. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Dr. Thomas, would you be so kind? >> Sure. Um, I'll just say on behalf of the board and administration, we extend our
sincere gratitude to each of these dedicated groups of employees. Together, they represent the heart of our schools. They support, guide, and nourish and safely care for our students each and every day, and we are deeply appreciative of their commitment and the
positive impact they make across our entire school community. So, thank you all. >> Thank you. All right. Next up is open forum. This time is set aside to receive citizen input. Uh speakers are asked to limit comments to three minutes and uh please
note that the board typically doesn't respond during open forum and we will start with our first speaker which is Joseph Bner Bemer. >> Are there other speakers or am I the only one? >> No, we have two speakers tonight.
>> I'll go lastfully. Okay, then I would ask Don Leno to come up and speak, please. Good evening, school board members. I'm back again. My name is Don Leno and I'm the mother of two Prior Lake Elementary
School students. Um, like many other families with young children in the area, we moved here in 2020 for this school district, and we are proud to be Lakers. Tonight, I'd like to share with you some gratitude for my fifth graders teacher and all the other new teachers,
uh, aka probationary teachers out there. Right from the beginning, my fifth grader has been unsure about this whole school thing. I genuinely think he was confused about hybrid learning as a 5-year-old, only going to school two days a week in kindergarten. for five years straight, he would tell anyone who
asked about how school was. Um, he would tell them it was boring or stupid until this year. This year at meet the teacher assessment days, his new teacher told him, "I'm going to make you love school this year." And while I wouldn't call it
love, his attitude has majorly shifted. He now genuinely shares that his day was good, so fun, and even great at times. And that's thanks to Mrs. Weir. Mrs. Weir is exactly the teacher that he needed in fifth grade. She has an
enthusiastic, fun energy that is obvious in my students stories. And having spent a week with her at Wolf Ridge this fall, it was easy to see why her students adore her. Our district is truly lucky to have had her step in to fill a last
minute opening last summer. She's a passionate energetic educator and we have cut her. She was the first teacher to get my 11-year-old to like going to school. And we have cut her. We have cut her and four other beloved
teachers at my children's elementary school and 28 other probationary teachers. Um, for those of you who are listening and don't know what a probationary teacher is, it's um any teacher uh where their contract is not guaranteed where they uh are in this
case this year of budget cuts um all teachers in their first to third year um with our district. Another elementary level teacher who was recently cut shared that this is the third time she's been cut by a school district in 10 years. Not because she
isn't a fantastic teacher, but because the system dictates that the last hired is the first cut. It doesn't matter how good of a teacher you are. If you're new, you're fighting an uphill battle to keep your foothold in the district. And so, I just wanted to acknowledge my
gratitude for Mrs. We are a fantastic dedicated eighth year teacher and teachers just like her that come out sorry that come into our district and make a massive positive impact just to be cut. They give it their all and they get to know their new schools, their new
teams and invest in building that school community that is so important just to be cut. I see you. I appreciate you. I know that you're getting the short end of the stick, but I hope you keep grasping for the next one because you are a public school educator and you are
doing great things. Thank you. Next speaker Well, we'll see what I do here. But, uh, thanks for the opportunity. I apologize in advance to the school board, Dr. Thomas, uh, everybody here, parents, children. I'm here to basically wipe the
smug ass smiles off your face cuz this is insane as to what we're doing. The definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over again, that's what it is. You guys have failed to do exactly what
you have taken an oath to do. Stand up there with a smug ass smile listening to children and parents. It's insane to go up here. My child was listed up there twice.
My eighth grader, another Spanish immersion. Both kids are Spanish immersion. Mr. Kachinsky. They are juniors because of what this community got behind and started. They are juniors this year. They will graduate next year.
My son will graduate with a state certified stamp seal of bilingual on his diploma. Thanks to them, not you guys. This community that got behind them to vote for it. And that's what you guys need to remember. And you
sit up there in your chairs and you give a fake smile to do nothing but go about your other groups that are in this town and just back talk everything to throw
out the misinformation to quote ask the hard questions and throw out I'm doing clarity. It's stupid cuz it's not it's not fair to anybody when we have this we have a triple A students that are up there.
What's two out of the three A's? Academics and arts. What did you cut after we just gave the first part of this entire dedicated forum to director Marshall with all of those students?
$100,000. These FTEES, what? They're letters. They're not letters. They're people. The Hans neighbors to my wife's family. They grew up together from Shockp. They're here.
That's a person. A person that is sitting out there. They're not an FTE. They're not a one FTE. They're not a.5 FTE. It's a person. It's an Amy. It's a Christian. It's a whoever you want to put it to and you're just going to sit up there
and just kind of nod your head because well, we don't have money. I understand we don't have money. It's your job to fix it. The state and the federals have massively under pre underfunded everything because of politics and
politics is here and it's disgusting. This community needs to be a community again and you need to be a part of it. And if I know several of you are up this November and if you are not on board to be a part of bringing this community
back together, get the hell out of our way because we will do it. Next up on the agenda is the approval of the agenda. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? >> So made by Director France. Is there a second? >> Second.
>> Uh Director Smith. All in favor of approving the agenda say I. >> I. I. >> Oppose say nay. That passes 70. Uh next up um is the consent agenda.
Consent agenda items are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a board member or citizen so requests in which event the item will be removed as a
consent agenda item and addressed. Um we will be discussing financials uh purchases over 25,000. Oh, I'm sorry. We were not we are not to be discussing items in the consent agenda are
financials, purchases over 25,000, monthly financial report, approval of uh schoolboard minutes, personnel items and dis personnel items including candidates for employment, resignations,
terminations, non-renewals, and district retirements. Um, if there is uh no, do I have a a motion to approve the consent agenda as as is? >> So made >> by director Olad and
>> second by Director Mason. Thank you. All in favor of approving the consent agenda say I. >> I. >> Oppose say nay. That passes 70. Uh, next up is
the resolution for acceptance of gifts. This evening we have several gifts. Um, I'll read those and then we will take that by roll call. Uh, the first gift is for $2,000 from MVEC a for a panel for everybody's
playground. Uh the next gift is a $15,000 gift from the Prior Lake Lions Club for Every Buddy's Playground. Uh then we have a $8,000 gift from the Prior Prior Lake Rotary Club for
Everybody's Playground. Um there is next up is a $5,000 gift from the Prior Lake Sa Savage Optimus for Everybody's Playground. Uh, next is $5,15 from the power of 100 for everybody's
playground. And uh the next gift is $1,000 $1,79.76 um from direct relief uh to meet the legislative requirements around Narcan. Um,
so I am going to take a mo or do I I take a motion? I take a motion to um accept these donations. Is there a motion? >> So made >> by director Johnson. >> Second. >> Second by director Olstead and then we will do a roll call vote. I'll start
with you, Director Atinson. >> Um with gratitude for these community partnership partnerships. I >> thank you Director Johnson. >> I. Director Mason >> I. >> Director Olstead >> I. >> Director France >> I. >> Director Smith >> I.
>> And I and that passes 70. Thank you. Um, next up is Is this right? Personal item. >> There's nothing. Okay, next up is new business um
the 2627 preliminary budget which is report only. Um director Ryder, there we go. Thank you. Good evening. Um this is our similar presentation that you have seen
in the past board meeting. Uh but we have updated it for some modifications that we wanted to bring to your attention tonight. And um Director Catherine may also be um commenting as we go through as we take a look at this. All of our modifications
for this meeting have been identified in blue so that they would be uh a little bit more highlighted. our overview. Nothing has changed here, nor has anything changed with regard to the board um approved budget priorities
or the historical information. Our buckets remain the same. However, as we move to the budget, the bucket for the elementary, um talking about what it is we have here, we noted that our um we modified the amount of the contingency there to
be 28847. The reason is the EL teacher had um not been necessarily accounted for previously as it was um considered somewhat of a wash, but we have not yet had the title grant approved. So, we felt we shouldn't do that. So, we
removed that um from the dollar amount, leaving a greater amount of contingency. Our FTE amounts in total were modified to 21.875. And as we move to the next slide, we have our middle school. We are modifying
our proposed adjustments to fully restore the immersion pathway for the sixth, 7th, and eighth grade. We are modifying our adjustments for the band lessons from a 1.0 FTE, modifying it to
only a.5 FTE. This does utilize some of the um amount of dollars that we had as contingency. And when I say contingency, I just want to remind people what that means is there was a dollar amount for every one of these quote unquote buckets, right?
and as adjustments or as um I should say as I items came forward and they were actually costed based upon um a process that's used the um if it were over or under then if there was um over the
amount that we had planned for in this case 595,000 then you'd see a contingency um meaning we're not exactly sure where it was going to be needed but it was there as we work through this process Um and so then we have the um
total savings here modified from a 595,000 to a 501,483 and we are utilizing the savings contingencies for that difference. The next slide is the high school slide and here a modification has been made
for the choir modifying that to a.5 FTE modification to the paraprofessional testing center. Um this is really more of a an issue of the count. Um FTEES are not exactly a 1.0 in full for the pair professionals uh nor the campus
supervisor. So in total it's a 1.13 FTE. Uh then we have our savings contingency impacted there using used for modifications plus the 12,127. Um so that is completely utilized and at
the bottom we have modified our 765,000 down to 752873 using that contingency and modifying the FTEES to 9.18 FTE in total. Um the next slide is the athletics and
activities. We previously did not have necessarily a full list. Um since then though we have determined that there are some other amounts that are being added to this for the middle school shuttle, the helmet reconditioning, the strengthen the strength stipens,
scrimmages not funded, and the increase to athletic stipens. So, those items will um bring us to over everything up to the uh 15,000 of scrimmages. That brings us up to the over the $100,000 by 14096. And that is
earmarked right now at this point in time to be able to add some increase to athletic stipens. Uh Director Marshall is still in the process of working through and we'll be bringing forward any other adjustments as we move forward in our timeline
process. But this is where we are today. And our next slide is the district services center districtwide items. We did have a conversation with our transportation team um our bus company working through in our negotiations process. And one of the things that they
wanted to know from us is can you give us a list of all the kids and exactly what school they're going to be at for elementary school next year. We did that. They went back and determined that of all the routes that we currently have, they anticipate that there will be two less routes needed as part of the
consolidation. The guess was $100,000 savings previously on this slide. Um they told us it would be instead $150,000 savings. Uh 40,000 of this is being utilized to support the
restoration of the immersion program. So you see 110,000 now listed on the transportation savings. That changed the savings contingency then to 24570. Um in total we have um 34502 listed here
and nothing has changed with regard to compensatory. We still don't know the finals on that but we're keeping an eye on it. and then our timeline. Be happy to go back and touch on any one of these particular slides should there be any questions or concerns.
Board members, do you have any questions on on what Director Ryder has presented? >> Oh, yeah. I was going to uh we're going to try to so we everyone gets a chance to have questions. I'm going to go through the table. Director Smith, do
you have any questions for Director Ryder? It's okay if you don't. Just want to make sure that everybody has a chance. >> No, I don't have any questions. Thank you, >> Director France. Um, one of the questions I had, um, and I know a lot were answered already, um, but in the,
uh, athletics and activities, um, when we're reducing the stipen, could you just remind us, um, if we're making that up by by passing the cost through to families who participate or if we're actually reducing the, uh, the
activity, um, time, number of meets, etc. I see scrimmages, etc., which is horrible, but I'm trying to understand how that's going to have that impact. >> I'm going to have Jeff speak to the ones that were just determined as I do know
that the ones previously listed, it was more about, you know, a stipen because not as many students were anticipated. But please, Director Marshall, >> my apologies. I wasn't able to attend the last meeting. was at the um statewide athletic director's conference
at that time. But um the only program that we're looking at eliminating completely is the middle school girls swim program which would include two stipens, transportation officials, that kind of thing. With middle school girls swim program based on the numbers that we've seen over the last couple years, as well as the girls swim program numbers, the high school girls swim
program numbers. The plan is to be able to absorb the seventh and eighth grade girls as part of that program into the high school program. So ultimately any sixth grader who may have been a part of the middle school program or was planning to be a part of that, they're the ones that are probably impacted the greatest. Um when you look at some of
the other stipens, um again, a lot of that is based off of numbers. It's based off the numbers that we've seen. It's based off some comparisons with some of the other school districts. Um I think the question was are they going to go away completely? Are they going to be able to to come back? And that's really going to be up to the boosters, you
know. So, we'll be talking to our booster club, our Laker Athletic Booster Club to make a determination if they want to be able to to put in the money to be able to bring some of those stipens back if it we feel that it's necessary for some of those programs. >> Thank you. Thank you, Director Marshall.
Um if if you don't mind um can you ex um sorry can you explain the um on the elementary site consolidation can you explain the title grant one more time? >> Sure. So our um recommendation is to
reduce the e one of the e teacher positions. Um the expectation that we have is that we will be writing into our grant for next year the title grant the ability to
um cover the cost of the e teacher that we would then be reducing at this time. It is not supplanting when you have had to reduce it due to budget restraints. Um, and so the intent is that we try and bring that back in an application with our title grant to restore that
position. When I first ran these numbers, the contingency had considered that EL teacher as a zero when really it is a cost of 98,000. So at this point in time, that does add to the list um
modifying that savings contingency. But we do know that that um when we get through the process of writing the grant for next year, which is not yet ready or submitted, but as it is, then the hope is that will be approved. We'll know
that then come fall and that will be restored as um part of our title grant. >> When you say next year, >> 27. >> Okay. 27 28 >> year 27. And then but are those
guaranteed? >> No. So this is at this point in time it's not being included in our staffing. Right. >> That reason. >> Right. But then as we start with the fall by then we hope to have that fully approved because there's a narrative we have to write to the state to have that
approved for the title three grant. And once that's approved then we are able then to fill that position and and have that in play. Sorry, Chair Boy. I'm just making sure. I thought I had one more question. Um,
>> I don't I'm sure I'll think of it too late. >> That's okay. We'll come back to you. >> Thank you. >> Director Mason, do you have any questions or >> um Yeah, a few. I think most of them were answered. Um, I guess on the Spanish immersion. Well, first first of all, I just want to say thank you to our
community and so so many parents and people in our community who voiced concerns via email, etc. Um, I hear you. Thank you for sending it in. Um, I appreciate all the feedback that we got. Um, on the Spanish immersion teacher, so
I just want to clarify because there is one on the non-renewal list. Um, how does that work? So that those items are not necessarily position cuts on the non-renewal list. Correct. >> If you can just like clarify some of that, especially for our community.
>> Yeah, I can address it now or we can talk about it when we get to the non-renewal or does it matter to me? But um yeah, those I don't know. um they're not necessarily like the one the teacher who was at the
immersion program at the middle school was removed from the non-renewal list um due to us reinstating the immersion pathway. Um and then the other immersion teachers you're probably seeing on that non-renewal list are tied to lensure um reasons that we are required to then
non-renew them based on the tier level of license that they hold. So once again is when we talk about the non-renewals I'll get into that sometimes you know those teachers are brought back. It's just that they have to go through the process of of reapplying for that lensure. >> Okay. So we're stating for our community
there those courses will be available as they are today next year at the middle school. >> Okay. >> That is correct. >> Thank you. Um yeah, I mean I think I when we get to other pieces just maybe the deck doesn't
fully align to the resolution and other things. So it's a little bit I think confusing but um you know I think just generally my feedback on this still and and what will guide my votes tonight really is just you know outside of some of the reductions with the redundancy
and the building closure. Um, you know, some of these I I just don't recommend and and they don't align with our strategic plan, our board priorities, and our community's clear direction to to keep the cuts far away from the classroom. Um, what you see on here is
largely teachers. Um, I recognize we're running a really lean uh district and we're facing revenue constraints, but you know, over the past number of months, um, I feel like there's been many alternatives suggested and um, you
know, really don't feel like they've been incorporated. Um, I continue to support a more comprehensive like organizationalwide um, review and what we would refer to as like a spans and layers approach and reviewing in a longer term plan as we'll see with our
enrollment here. Um, but you know, it's just um, I look at this still and um, I feel like we've gone straight to the classroom. Um, you know, we've brought forward ideas such as reducing some of the student support staff and administrative roles that were one-time
COVID funding two years ago, returning special assignment roles back from DSSE back to the classroom, um, consolidating um, and finding efficiencies and roles, um, utilizing lowerc cost space for DSSE staff, um, deferring some of the non-essential meeting space and
remodeling that we've talked about. There's there's many options that have been laid out. And so I think um that will guide my votes tonight. I just wanted to say that and a little disappointing how much impact we've gotten straight directly to the classrooms.
>> Director Johnson. >> Yes. Uh Director Marshall, if I can uh just ask a clarifying question for you as far as the the girls swim uh for middle school. That's the way the the middle school boys do it. Is that correct?
>> I'm sorry. Say that again. Is that is that the way the middle school boys team? >> Yep. So, we don't have a middle school boys program. We have a 7th through 12th grade high school boys program. So, the girls would mirror what the boys have then. >> Cool. I just wanted to clarify that. I know you and I discussed it. I just wanted to make sure. >> And the boys are in the winter and the
girls are in the fall. >> Yep. Perfect. that is um I know you're I know you give a lot of credit to everyone else, but I want to say thanks for all the work that you and your team. I know you're you're not one to just take it gracefully, but thanks for all
the work that you do. >> I don't do much gracefully, but thank you, Director Johnson. Thanks. Um and then uh maybe Dr. Thomas or uh I know Dr. Bezek might be here. uh do you know the the trades pathways that are looking
the trades pathways? >> So as Dr. Bez comes up um to address that I know that the high school is still in the process now of building out the uh schedule for the year based upon the final registrations and they'll work through some of those individual courses
you know the music trades etc. So Dr. if you can speak to a little bit of what >> I know we kind of discussed that I fully aware of the the minkaps the education one just looking more at the >> at the trades pathways >> yeah trades pathway has a decent number we have uh two FT dedicated and I think
we're right around 50 students maybe a little under but we're still finalizing finalizing that but >> we've got that in a good place now we crimped it a little bit to make it more efficient but I think it's sustainable now >> very well yeah this just says midcaps education elimination and reduction in
trades savings. So, I didn't know if that was one specific thing or you were just trimming around the edges to >> No, we trimmed the uh the u uh um trades pathway. We did eliminate the education pathway. >> All right. I appreciate the
clarification. Thank you. >> That's all I have for now. No, >> Dr. Jackson. >> Thanks, Dr. Bzac. >> Um yeah, thank you. Um the just uh a couple comments and I'll have some more to share later on, but I think the one
of the things that I'm challenged with is when we go through and we add up all the FTE that are represented um in the cuts tonight, yes, the majority are classrooms. And I think our board budget priorities that we um that we developed back in November, um in my belief and in my heart, and I don't believe a lot of
this aligns with those board budget priorities. Um, as we go through this tonight, the thing that I'm also challenged with is as we go through the resolutions, um, the positions don't necessarily align. And so I'm sitting here trying to understand is, you know, if we're making,
um, 6.5 FTE of support positions at DSSE, where are they? They're not listed on here. So I I I want to I want to I I want to trust, but I don't understand the process. So maybe you can share with the board >> if we're not, you know, when we talked about consolidating Westwood
>> as a board, >> we were um advised that there would be 1.9 to 2.6 million worth of savings. >> Um we see several of those positions in here tonight, but several of them we don't see. >> And so if we were to make a $2.6 million
reduction, that should have made um these overall reductions much less painful than what we're doing here tonight. Mhm. >> Um because we would have only had to make 1.4 million worth of reductions to get to that 4 million. So I'm just trying to
understand where are the rest of those reductions represented. >> They are represented here. Um you do have on the elementary slide the principal, the dean, the administrative assistants, the building subs, the media support prayer professional and um and
the EL teacher positions that are coming from the Westwood. you will not see necessarily the same people or those positions necessarily listed because for example someone may have already resigned at an earlier meeting for example right so they may not be on one
of the list that you're going to see tonight or um someone may have actually been in a position say as a dean and they are now and I don't know that this is the case I'm just using as an example um but they may be somewhere else in our in our open positions that are remaining
right so in the process of all of This you have to kind of think of this almost in layers, right? We're going to start with the positions. What positions do we have in the district? How many sections do we have? How many FTEEs do we have with regard to the various different
levels, lensures, all that? Once the decisions regarding the positions are determined then we have to work with the people and you know we basically pass that to HR and then they go through the process of okay what openings do we know we have as a result of some of the
non-renews for example then that gets filled in with other folks lensures are taken into consideration seniorities are taken into considerations um in this case the custodians you see them listed on the district-wide tab but you're not seeing the names listed
because that's in the process of still being determined. A couple of those people, two of the positions are coming from Westwood. Um a half a position coming from this building being um closed and um and who exactly those will be will be determined
as we end the year because we know that there are possibly resignations or retirements that are coming. We just know that the total number of FTEEs that are going to land in our budget as we do the line item budget will be that many less. Does that make sense? So you will
not necessarily see a one to one when it comes to these lists of FTEES and the names that you see on the other lists that are um available tonight for you. If they are certified instructors, they've gone through their own process with a lensure piece. If they are not,
we still we don't have the requirement that you normally do for a certified instructor of providing a certain number of weeks or days of notice, right? And so therefore, you will still possibly see them on upcoming lists as people resign or uh retire. So there's, you
know, this is not done by any means. We just know that this is where we are at this point in time and we will move forward with that. With regard to the certified staff though, it was every effort made to get through them as well as um as many groups as we could. But I can tell you that there are certain
areas that you know we don't know who those two final will be for the custodial until we kind of have everything shake out at the end of the year. >> Um does that help to help? >> Yeah, be helpful as we go through each of the because I understand we're going to vote on these these resolutions
individually. it'd be helpful to know if they were um due to the Westwood consolidation or not for me personally. >> Okay. >> And then the one that I'm really confused about is the choir because I'm I'm having a hard time tying back to which which position that we're voting
on tonight impacts the high school choir reduction. >> Okay. Well, Director Atkins, I think that's operation that's operational. So I mean the it's not a we're not doing
that onetoone. That's a operational decision. We're we're making the decisions as the agenda states. Not which one and how that's not that's not how the board members vote. >> So which position are we voting on tonight that will impact the high school
choir position? We're we're providing you a report on what we plan to include in the line item budget as we move forward. >> Um you'll be making taking action on our final budget in June.
>> Um so to get to that point, there's quite a bit of work that needs to get done. So first we we um work through the positions like this. HR does their work with regard to the individual people and then as we carry forward we just
completed the retropay for the teachers which is the basis then for next year's costs for teachers and so we are going to be working probably the last two weeks in April on pulling together what that true cost is compared to the
estimates and the assumptions I made in that 5-year um projection. And so that's where we're going to want to kind of see how close was I on that projection compared to where we come in now with these remaining positions. So we'll be removing from our line item calculation
the positions that we've identified here for you on these slides and they won't be included on the line item calculations that we do as we roll everything up together to give you the grand sum totals of revenues and expenditures for the FY27 budget, which
is what you will take action on in June. I understand. I'm just trying as a board member, we're making a major change to our choir program. I'm trying to understand where am I voting tonight where I can show my opposition to that um request to make that change. >> Okay.
Um this does not require any action at this point in time. So I will defer that to the other items as we go through. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Anything else on this slide? >> No, I think we're good with that. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Any other board members?
We're going to move on to the next um the next agenda item which is um approval of resol resolution. Uh resolution reducing and discontinuing programs and positions. Um board action
via roll call is requested. Uh director >> yes order. Um do we need to go through the enrollment items 148 one and two? >> Absolutely. That is Thank you. Thank you, Director Mason. >> Okay,
>> in the in the board packet, you do have the kindergarten enrollments. This is something we're updating every meeting um for every month. >> And so, as we take a look at this, we have um added to this since March 13th. We have added March 20th, March 27th,
and April 7th. And um our kindergarten enrollments are creeping up a little bit, but when you consider where we are typically at um in the past 5 years, the average as of April 7th would be
that we'd be at 91%, which would mean using the numbers we currently have enrolled, that would put us at 480 students. Um so that's a little bit less than what we were talking about a month ago. I this is a difficult one because when you're talking kindergarten, families have the choice to enroll when
they choose to. So, um we will know for sure and there's it's not uncommon that you see quite a few uh enrollments that do come in throughout the summer months as well as into August um sometimes even that first
week in September. So, we will kind of keep track of this. every everything I see looks like we just keep um reporting this out to you on a regular basis so that you can see on a weekly basis how that's changing and shifting. You'll notice we still have open enroll listed
at 96 compared to like a year ago where there were only four. So our process this year is that we decided not to change that 96 number until all of them all of the placements which now parents have been notified. We're waiting for
them to respond about their acceptance of that placement. Once those placements have all been responded to by parents, then you will see us remove them from the open enrolled and they will show up as the enrolled. So, at this point in time, the only reason why that looks so high right now is simply we're just
waiting on those replacement or um excuse me, those um acceptance of the placements from our open enrolled families and then we'll see them shipped over into the far left column. Is there a deadline on the acceptances? Like was that communicated? >> Um I don't believe there was a deadline.
There was a suggested There was a suggested date. >> A suggested deadline. >> Yep. Yep. >> Very good. Do you know? Do you know when? >> I don't know off the top of my head. I'm sorry. No problem. Bring that. >> No problem. >> Next meeting. The other enrollment report that you have included then is the uh student enrollment data and we're
doing this on a monthly basis. And so we have added in as of April 6th our now this one is our current year. And so um we're down about seven from where we were a month ago. In total our numbers are fairly stable when it looks
at the K through K through 8 levels. Um, and then you'll see that the decline is mostly happening at the 9 through 12. And um, so we are going to kind of keep an eye on this. Some of this may be, as I mentioned, this is a headcount. This
is not necessarily ADM's. And so we'll see how this kind of pans out in the end. Um, it if you look back a couple of years, we see a similar pattern. It isn't similar to last year's pattern, but it is similar to a couple years back. And so it's just a matter of us um
reporting this out to you and making sure that you're aware. Thank you. Yep. Any questions or anything on the kindergarten enrollment or enrollment slides presented? Okay, hearing none, we'll move on to
14B, approval of resolution. Director Kern, >> good evening. Thanks, Chair Bullian, directors, Superintendent Thomas. Um, so yeah, just want to go over a few things. So tonight we're bringing forward several staffing items that reflect one of the most challenging parts of our
work each year. As we plan for the upcoming school year, we required to make difficult decisions to align our staffing with enrollment, programming, as well as financial realities. I want to begin by acknowledging that behind every item you see tonight is a person, someone who has contributed to our
schools, our students, and our community. and we truly value the work these individuals have given to Prior Lake Savage Area Schools and we are grateful for their service. I also want to recognize our principles who have spent a great deal of time navigating these decisions with care and professionalism. This is incredibly
difficult work at the building level and they have approached it with empathy and respect for their staff. As director Ryder has mentioned, this staffing represents probably about 80 to 85% of our staffing for the next school year, but there will be some other staffing changes, and those will be finalized
over the next few months as needed. So, the first item you're going to see is the resolution that's outlining the positions being reduced or discontinued across the district. Uh, these reductions are driven by a combination of declining enrollment, financial limitations, and program adjustments. It's important to note that this list
reflects where re uh reductions ultimately land not necessarily where they initially begin. Due to our contractual obligations, particularly around seniority and lure, we do not always have the flexibility to simply choose specific roles. Instead, the process determines where those
reductions occur. There's also a domino effect in staffing when reductions happen. We first try to look to place existing staff into open positions rather than hiring externally. Uh as a result, one reduction can lead to a series of internal movements and the final list of impacted positions may
look different from where the original need was identified. This approach allows us to retain as many of our current employees as possible. So when you look at the list, uh for example, numbers 11 through 16 might look a little bit different than the first ones. Just simply do those are some
different bargaining unit positions or they find themselves outside of the teaching um positions. That is what the resolution and I will take any questions. >> First of all, I'll take a um I'd like to
ask for a motion to res to approve the resolution. >> So made >> by director Smith. Is there a second? >> Second >> by Director Johnson. Any discuss discussion or questions for uh Director Kern?
We'll start with you, Director Atinson. Do you have any questions or >> um I just have a few comments. As I mentioned before, as we begin this budget process in November, I was generally encouraged actually we aligned around clear prioritiz priorities, maintaining or lowering class sizes so
every student received the personalized attention they deserve and strengthening different d I can't say that differentiation and enrichment so all learners are supported at their level. Then we listened through town halls. Our
community told us exactly why they chose PLSAS. They spoke about Spanish immersion, career pathways, and the arts programs that define who we are as a district. And yet, those very programs are now on
the district lists of proposed cuts. That is why this proposal is more than disappointing. In my opinion, is misaligned. It calls into question whether our stated priorities guided these decisions at all and whether the voices of our community, thank you to
everyone who wrote in for the thousand signatures on the petition for the choir teacher, were these voices truly heard and valued by this district. We have also heard the claim that there are no meaning meaningful administrative
cuts left to make. But our own financial data on our website tells a different story. Point of order. >> State your point of order. >> Uh that information is not in our board packet. >> Your >> and it's not derain of the conversation
right now. >> Your point um your point is well taken, Director Atinson. The um the critique of what's on the chopping block is having to do with our financial
state um not the district's choosing. So um the point of order is well taken. Director Jackson, would you like to finish? >> I would. And I also like to um reminder to the board of our code of ethics policy to listen and the appoint of
others and to respect the rights of others and have >> like to call the member to order please. >> Um if we could just maintain decorum at the table. Um, >> thank you. >> Director Atinson,
>> please conclude um any questions or um cons any questions regarding the um >> um thank you. As I was mentioning, it doesn't take anybody um you know, go look at our financial documents that are listed on our website. You can see over
the past 10 years um we have had an increase in administrative positions and that is the reality in our financial reports that is already stand over the years there positions >> um can I please
>> the point of order was well taken >> and can we please respect the rights of others to have and express opinions >> not if it's not >> I am talking about facts >> and not when it's opinion that has already been an opinion it has already been um discussed several times at the
table. >> Director Bullan, anyone can go to our website on our financial documents page 113 to 115 and they can see the data that is listed on our financial annual reports. I am not making up misinformation. I am stating facts. >> Director, I will continue. Thank you.
>> This the information that you are sharing is not information that is >> information that is driving my decisions though. >> It's not in our board packet. >> It doesn't have to be. It's on our website. It is what is driving my decision. >> This meeting, this meeting
>> and our oath as board members is to >> I don't mean to say >> is is to discuss information that is presented to all board members. It is our fiduciary duty to um protect the public record
and bringing up um pieces of information from the district website or any other place that is not um presented in our board packet is out of order. I respectfully disagree with you and as an
elected official per our code of ethics policy, I am striving to uphold my responsibilities and accountability to the taxpayers in my school district which is why I am not making up this on my own and I've had many people come up to me and share with me that they are concerned
>> directorative comments. I have 10 minutes. Thank you to finish. This is why I believe there's room to optimize administrative roles before continuing to cut from classrooms. This is why I continue to advocate for funding our classrooms first. As we sit here tonight and we
have a student who wore a t-shirt saying, "Always put purpose ahead of your feelings." We need to put away our feelings tonight. And we need to ask, "What is our purpose here tonight?" Our purpose here tonight is to fund classrooms and to fund our students.
Because when we cut classrooms, it's our students and our teachers who pay the price. And that's a cost I'm not willing to accept. These cuts will have long-term negative impact on our district, the quality of the programs, the choir program we offer students, and the support our students need to be able
to reach their full potential. For these reasons, I do not support the district's proposal, and I'd ask them to go back to the drawing board on to so that these um cuts align with our board budget priorities and our strategic plan. Thank you,
>> Director Johnson. Director Mason. Um yes, I have a couple questions. Um so, uh number eight, the K to2 date teacher. Um I that was not on our deck and I had emailed in the question around
that too. Um I guess I'm curious for the reasoning of this um position. So I do know that there are students in this district that were not receiving services earlier this year uh due to staffing shortages. uh they received a letter and I'm concerned about you know
this is a position that um our special ed students have IEP rights to have by law they have to be get these services so I guess I'm concerned cutting that position reasoning and um how will we ensure those students are
receiving the services on IPS >> sure I'd be happy to answer so um the the the date position um is due to a seniority. So um and I'll try to keep this I guess as general as I can. So for
example, we have a a DAPE teacher um that has lower seniority than another current FIAD teacher that has a DAPE license and that is capable of teaching DAPE. So in order to create a space for that more seniority teacher that has a
DAPE license and will be teaching DAPE, we then had to ula a current um DAPE teacher in order to free up that space. So we will still have the same amount of DAPE staffing that we have this year. It's just that we had to um make the
space for a more seniority teacher that has rights to a position. >> Okay. Because there was one on the nonrenewal list also. >> Sorry. Yeah. non-renew not maybe ULA but yes >> well there's one on each actually so >> okay um my other just kind of comment on
the resolution um I believe we're voting on each position separately but the resolution >> no as a whole we are as a whole >> okay so the like I don't understand why if we're listing all of it says programs
and positions that we're discontinuing why are we not listing out like atlas you know band end caps, those programs that we cut on the deck, even though there may not be a direct position assigned, right? Like I feel like in order to be transparent to our
community, um the resolution should state all the programming that we're cutting and I don't know if that's >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean so um for example like I think when you emailed in one of the things that I shared was um that for
example Minaps we are um reducing the education pathway but the program itself is the MINCAPS program. So we're not eliminating Minaps the program we're just eliminating one of the pathways within MENCAPS. So that's why you wouldn't see Minaps listed on there
because we're not eliminating Minaps. As far as access, I believe the discussion we had at the staffing table was that that is uh uh that provides services to students and we're still providing those same services just in a different format. We're not providing it through the access format. We're just providing
it now in a different format within the classroom if I understand how um uh the principal was describing it. So that's why that one wasn't listed. Um, and then as far as like the band and the choir, once again, those programs aren't being eliminated. We're still having those
programs. So that's why once again those weren't listed as eliminating those positions. >> Sure. I I I still just feel like it's not super transparent. Again, these are things that our kids register for today that will not be there next year, right, for them to register. So I feel like if
we're going to list it everything out on a resolution, we should list them so that it's transparent. my personal opinion. Um, yeah, and there were, I think, several things kind of missing from this that were on the deck. So, that was my concern.
Director Olstead said, well, does somebody want to talk to that or have we talked to that? Yeah, I think director just >> I think director kern if I if I would add anything to um it's
the difference between the the staffing and the operational is for the for administration that I think distinguishing the I the desire I understand the desire to you know wanting to have this one to one and and
understanding exactly but it doesn't work quite like that. And if is what I'm stating um if you could state it better. >> Yeah. So the resolution in itself is kind of showing where ultimately um we
have a contractual obligation to give those people a position back if we were to ever um reestablish those positions. And so once again, we there's when we start looking at the staffing process, um there's um ways where we're not
necessarily um eliminating uh positions or programs um because those people still maintained a job within the district. So what you're seeing in front of you is truly where the people that then are listed then below that um w
would not have um employment currently with the district and we owe them some sort of a job if we were to ever reinstate or get additional FTE back. So that's why in the resolution we can't necessarily list everything because we wouldn't be bringing um those people
forward as a reduction because they still have a position within the district. I hope that makes sense. I >> it does. I And I I understood that. I think it's just again from a a student community perspective, you know, if I go register my kid for Minab's education
pathway and it's not there, you know, when did that get cut? That transparency it doesn't relate. And you know, if that position is out um or let's say, you know, we have more funding, we want to bring back the education pathway in two years. um you know
does that position open back up right for the person that was released might might have been somewhere else in the district but I I just think again it's not super transparent my feedback >> thanks for the feedback appreciate it >> and I think too like if I one more
comment I would make is that when anything with staffing or or programmatic if a family is wanting to you know um if they're looking for something, they would go to the building administrator. That's not something
um that comes to the board table. So, that would be my last >> again, it's a it's a voting thing, right, for me. So, we are voting to remove certain programming. So, it's that's where I go. But, um >> Okay. >> And
I understand director >> um no questions. um appreciate this. I mean, it's I It's funny. I saw that same t-shirt. Um and I liked it. I
liked that um phrase. Um I think um this is heartbreaking. Um and I I think I think it I think it's okay, you know, to have feelings up here. Um I it's this is hard.
um these are our people. These are our people that our kids um you know have or or don't have and we see in the in the halls and at games and um it's it's hard
and it's hard every year. Um I hate this month. Um I hate this time of year. Um I don't think anybody likes it. That's not what I mean. Um, it's it's heartbreaking and I think as you know, Director
Cotherarn says there they're there people on this on this list. Um, and um, this is really hard. Um, and um, I know we're going to be talking about
this a little later in the agenda, but I I really I really urge our community to look um, at how heartbreaking this is. Um, because there's there's not anybody that's not touched here. Um and um our
kids, our educators, custodians, um Atlas, um this is our reality. And I I'm not sitting up here making excuses. It it just is. And uh for better or for worse.
Um I say for worse. And um we can advocate till the cows come home. Um which we do. I mean, Dr. Thomas talked about going to DC to advocate and um this is our reality and we're not alone.
We're not alone. There's other districts who are having the same conversation tonight. Um, and uh I just um just wanted to you know we we see you too and um it's um it's
hard it's hard to be it's hard to sit in this chair tonight. >> Obie. >> Yeah. I just wanted to I guess piggyback off that a bit and um you know tension you know and emotions are high right now
in the district and all that and like you know I don't even I don't even know really where to start because it's just so much but I want to say when you know before we make all the decisions we do tonight that we just really think about the community you know um all the
students all the teachers you know there's a lot names on the list we're looking at. That's a lot of player to coach relations, studenttoteer relations, and um you know, it just it really means a lot. You know, you have kids coming up to me at school telling
me to like advocate for all the things going on. Like um director Olad said, you know, every like a bunch of people are being affected by this. You know, no one's going untouched. And so I just think it's important that, you know, at the end of the day, we all remember that
we're all, you know, Prior Lake Savage Area Schools. We're all a team here. You know, like I said earlier, emotions can get high, but it's important that we all stay on track, stay on board, and I believe we can all make the best decision for the district moving
forward. >> Go. Director France. >> Well, um, thank you. um that like has been said um you know we are not like a lot of other districts uh we
are second to last or last in funding uh I want to make that clear um and when you don't have money you have to make some really really hard decisions the board makes uh you know the board agrees that we need to cut so many millions of dollars and we leave it operationally to
the administration to figure out what we can cut uh when we really don't have anything to cut. I think that's the important thing is that we we don't no matter what you cut ever, you are going to hurt a student's outcome in some way
or another. You are going to put more pressure on a teacher when you cut support staff to them. They're already under subsistence level. Um, and yet they are the heroes because they have
been and everyone in this district has been making up each year and I've been through these cuts now since 2020. Um, this is by far the largest um and um with the miraculous uh
creative financing of our of director Ryder and everyone sitting over at that table for administration. um we're really just kicking the can down the road. We're not solving our core issue, which is funding our programs not just
to be barely solvent, but actually to be growing and expanding. Um you know, I education gives students choices and everyone that's no matter what their role is student facing. We
heard from the deans, they are studentf facing. Um, and if and I highly encourage people if you do see all of our financial reports, realize that there's a way to manipulate how you interpret them. Uh, but if you really want to know how to interpret them and
which ones actually indicate headcount um, then please talk to administration, talk to your principles, talk to the finance director because a lot of the things that are going on and being said are not true and they've been debunked. I counted eight times. So, um, we really
we don't have any fluff. We haven't had fluff for a long time. We're cutting nice to haves which actually contribute to the holistic educational experience of every student. You, you know, students come to school sometimes just
for choir, just for band, just for that. That's what keeps them going. and statistically and scientifically those actually help improve mask scores. Um, foreign language helps every part of the brain. Um, so this isn't
none of this here is good. None of it. Um, it it affects everything. And by the way, it affects our whole community because it reduces the ability for academic excellence in our schools, which then is a trickle down effect for those of us who may be trying to sell a
multifamily home and a family doesn't want to move here because we are the lowest or near the lowest funded in our entire area, which is not something to brag about. We used to we used to brag about how lean we could be. Well, we're
beyond lean now. we're we're anorexic and dying and we and we need to come together as a community to turn this around. Uh we need to start um speaking with integrity. We need to start speaking um and caring about everything
that affects because everything is recursive. Um I you know I one of the questions that I have and one of the things that concerns me um well not just one I'm concerned about all of it by the way um but I am spec
specifically concerned about the cut to pair professional service and support as we grow the need as more students have IEPs and 504 plans as we are seeing that number increase proportionally regardless regardless of the enrollment
as we see what Dr. Thomas is advocating for and I think a lot of us are advocating for it at the state and federal levels. Um and and the talk from the federal just push it back down to the state and state saying we we can't do it. Um we're we're we're circling the
drain on that one. are actually going down the drain on support for um some of our most vulnerable students, which then of course has an impact on a a teacher's capability to support any classroom. Um
so I I just don't know if there's been a long-term plan on this one. um at least because we're going to come out of statutory compliance and a lot of school districts are if these if those funds continue to get cut from a uh from a state funding perspective and a federal
funding perspective and I don't know if if there's a plan if there's any any other than you're advocating um how much of a topic of conversation is this right now and and
do we have choices Well, yeah, and I I spoke to this a little bit. Some of the choices are uh just shifting from one pot to another, but that other pot that they're talking about shifting from is the preventative kind of tier 2 pot, >> right?
>> So, so, so essentially you can solve one problem, but you're going to lift up another problem. And I would say that uh reductions for example in this case ADS cys would actually create a broader issue because not just students that um
would receive special ed support at one point would be impacted. Every student who might be in tier 2 would be impacted whether you you know and so it impacts your whole general ed and your special ed population um in terms of enrollment um for for sport for kids. So, so no,
there and I think that's the challenge of kind of it's a fallacy that why would we have this commission to to task them to do something that structurally doesn't solve a problem and it probably creates more, you know, so >> the short-term solution with the
long-term follow falling off a cliff. It sounds like >> correct. >> Okay. So, um I think that's the one place where a lot of other school districts seem to be in the same boat. Um but, um thank you for
the hard work. Um and um thank you to all those educators who have already, like I said, been uh operating under subsistence level and we're going to be asking even more. And it's not fair and it's not right. And I hope this community can come
together and become educated about the issues and not listen to rumor, innuendo, and um some sort of social media splash. So, thank you, >> Director Smith.
>> Yeah. Uh thank you, Chair Bullian. Um, so just to circle back a little bit, um, Director Catherine, um, because it was mentioned that the DAPE position was listed on both the
unrequested leave of absence list and the non-renewal list. And I just want to talk out loud and and have you follow along and correct me if this is wrong, but the reason that is is because of the seniority. So, it's listed on the
non-renewal, I'm guessing, because that's a probationary role and that's less senior. And then it's listed on the other role because Exactly. Why? That's what I'm trying to figure out. >> Sure. So,
on the non-renew list, the one that would be on the non-renew list. So, we have currently a DAPE teacher who is on a leave of absence. So the teacher on the non-renew list is covering for that teacher that's on the non that is on the leave of absence. So they do not grant tenure or anything like that. So that's
the reason for for that the non-renew the ULA is once again because we are making a reduction from 10 FID teachers down to six. So we have to reduce four FIAD teachers. Okay. One of those one of those teachers holds a DAPE license that
has more seniority than one of our current DAPE teachers. So then that teacher who holds more seniority is entitled to a position and since they are eligible to teach DAPE then that is then the position that they will move into. So then our current DAPE teacher
then who still has a right to a position if we were to ever obtain you know another DAPE position would have rights back to that position. But right now, we are freeing up that date position to make room for a more senior teacher who has the ability to teach DAPE.
>> Gotcha. Thank you. Um, and I think that brings me kind of to the whole point. Um, we say that we want transparency for community and I agree. I I think we need to be
very clear up here with what we are doing and what we are saying and and what we are advocating for. But I I would caution us to to remember that words matter. Um and saying that we are not being transparent
with this list I think is incorrect. This as director Cthorne clearly just laid out is complicated. There are so many moving pieces behind the scenes here. Whether it be a person on a leave
of absence, whether it be tenure, whether it be contracts, bargaining units, people leaving jobs, and then refilling it with somebody already in the district, which is a very smart thing in optimizing resources, I might add. Thank you for doing that. Um,
this is not a lack of transparency. This is complicated stuff. And Dr. Thomas in an email to all of us earlier today uh offered a meeting for any board member that wanted to have and
get more clarity and information as it relates to these lists. And I would strongly recommend every one of us take them up on that offer. Sorry to, you know, take your time, but um but now is
not the time up here to understand. Now is not the time up here to try and fix this. Trying to fix it. I'm sorry. Is there something funny? Okay. Uh trying to fix this was two years ago.
Understanding what we're discussing at the table right now was last week. And if you still have questions, and I certainly do, I am going to take up Dr. Thomas on his offer and I am going to try and understand as best as I can what
is happening here and what is going on. And while we're at it, can we please stop saying that this that the district and the administration are not following our board budget priorities because that is an opinion. That is not a statement from the board. That's a personal
opinion. I firmly believe that when we are talking about these just awful circumstances that our administrators and our teachers
and our staff and our schools would love nothing more than to keep all of this. And as I said last time, we do not get a get out of accountability free card. We
helped create this. It is up to us, as it was so poignantly stated many times. It is up to us as a collective to also try and solve this problem. Not kick rocks down the road at the administration and say you fix it. We
need to fix it. We need to advocate into our communities to help fix it and we need to be very clear about what the ramifications are and the consequences are going to be if we refuse to fix it. So I would like to commend Dr. Thomas,
you and your team on listening to our community, obviously the Spanish immersion community, the choir community, band community, um, and so many others that, uh, that emailed um, advocating for teachers or for people in
this district that have made an impact on them. Um, I wish we could save them all. I'm sure you do as well. Um, but unfortunately, the reality of the situation is we cannot. Um, and I commend you for doing what you can to
respond to the feedback. Um, it's not perfect. And of course, um, nothing ever is, but uh, I do think that you did, uh, take to heart what the community was saying both in public comment and through emails. And I think that you've
done your best job to, uh, put something forward that, uh, that takes care of that. And that's all I can ask of you. So, thank you for doing that. Appreciate it. >> Board members, if there are no new points, we should move toward a vote.
The motion um before the board is a the approval of the resolution. This is requested to be a roll call vote. Um and I will start with you, Director Smith. >> Hi. >> Director France, >> I.
>> Director Olad, >> I. >> Director Mason, >> hi. >> Director Johnson, >> ni. Director Atinson. >> Nay. >> And I am an I. That passes 4 Z. >> 43. >> Sorry. >> 43. Thank you for helping me count.
Uh, next up for action is um letter C, >> unrequested leaves of absence, ULA. A resolution will be presented proposing uh placement of unrequested leave of absent. I will take a motion and a
second for uh for this >> made >> by director Johnson and a second by director France. Um director kern. >> Yes. Thank you. So the next set of items that you have are the unrequested leave of absences or sometimes referred to as
ULA's uh resolution which are tied directly uh to the position reductions that we just talked about um for the certified staff um that are on that list. These are going to apply to our tenur staff and this process is governed by state statute and our collective bargaining agreements and these
decisions here are based on either lack of pu pupils, financial limitations or discontinuation of the position. Uh these are not discretionary decisions about individuals. These are processdriven and contractually required outcomes. And once again as uh as you
saw in the previous the number 11 through 16 do look a little bit different just because some of those positions are in different bargaining units and they have different rights or they term them differently um or the positions themselves um are not in a uh contractual group and they are just
being um eliminated. So open up for any questions. Board members questions. We'll start with you, Director Atinson. >> Um, I guess my only question is a point of information. Are we voting on these individually? >> No. >> No.
>> Okay. Thank you, >> director. >> Just a process. We did the We did last year, by the way. We voted on them individually. So, I was just curious. We It is being presented to vote on on it as a
as a resolution. One >> resolution. Director Johnson. No. Director Mason. Director Olstead. >> Uh, no. Thank you. >> Dire Obi, anything. Director Director France.
>> No, I don't have any question to ask on the one that's listed in here. >> Director Smith. >> Nothing for me. >> All right. This this also is um action via re roll call vote uh is requested. I'll start with you. Director Atinson,
>> nay. >> Director Johnson, >> nay. >> Director Mason, >> nay. >> Director Olsen, >> I. >> Uh, Director France, >> hi. >> Director Smith, >> I. >> And I am an I. And that passes 43. Uh, the next item is probationary staff
for non-renewal. The non-renewal of probationary staff FTE stems from various factors including but not limited to long-term substitute contracts reduction in sections tier one licenser uh criteria or out of field permissions
requirements. It is recommended that the employment contracts not be renewed for the 2627 school year. Um board action requested. Is this also roll call vote Martha? Yes, this also is roll call vote. Uh, Director Cotherarn. Oh, can I
get a first and a second? A motion and a second. >> Director Smith, >> second >> and a and director France. Thank you, >> Director Cohern. >> Yes, thank you. So, the final staffing item uh is the list of probationary staff recommended for non-renewal. So,
this group is different from the ULA group. Uh, these are staff members who are still in their probationary period and do not have the same contractual protections as tenure teachers. However, this process is still very much influenced by seniority and contractual requirements. At the core, this list reflects the need to ensure that tenure
staff who have contractual rights to positions are able to be placed. When reductions occur, we must accommodate tenure staff first. In doing so, that can result in um numerous non-renewals as you see in front of you. So, in addition to seniority, there are several other factors that contribute to
non-renewal decisions, including budget reductions, lensure considerations, temporary long-term subcontracts, and in some cases, performance considerations. But it's also important to note that non-renewal does not necessarily mean the end of employment with the district. Some of these individuals may return in
the future, but they would need to apply for open positions through our standard hiring process. I'll open it up for questions or or discussions. Director Atinson, >> Dr. Johnson, Director Mason.
Um, no. I mean, again, I think I would just maybe point out it's difficult to know what positions we're eliminating versus staff members. And I think, you know, again, it ties back to programming from this list. So, um I appreciate the moving parts, but um it's it's just
difficult to understand, right, what what programs we're cutting versus um staff movements. >> Director Olstead. >> No, thank you. >> Director France. >> No, this is the same process we've gone through every year and unfortunately the
list is large and I do appreciate all the hard work and hope that we do see these teachers again. >> Dr. Smith. >> No, thank you. Uh, this will be roll call vote. We'll start with you. Director Atinson, >> nay. >> Director Johnson, >> nay. >> Director Mason, >> nay. >> Director Olstead,
>> I. >> Director France, >> I. >> Director Smith, >> I. >> And I am an I. So, that passes 43. Next up on the agenda is the 2026 levy
survey update. Dr. Thomas. Thank you, Chair Bullan and board directors. Sorry, I'm just trying to get this opened up here and blown up. So, a couple weeks ago, we had a study session um trying to determine um with the board
a survey that we could put out to our community to gauge um their interests um at certain funding levels. And so, what you have before you um is a survey taking into a lot of your feedback. Um I think there's one area um from a board
member around a range, but it just got um a lot of scenarios. We just allowed folks to kind of see their own range in funding sources. So we didn't have that um specifically laid out, but I think we captured every other aspect that came forward. One of the questions that came
up um last time was would uh an open enrolled family um be able to uh participate in the survey and again this goes towards our um ability to cast a vote and so um they may express their
thoughts and perspectives but that wouldn't be weighted in terms of the total end factor. Um it's those who are in our community that actually have the ability to vote for this levy. um but they may have perspectives um from a programmatic standpoint that we can consider outside of that actual um uh
survey if you will. Um so that's why we've expanded the uh demographics just to ask a couple of those questions. Um the priorities and funding um just wanting to gauge um that there's definite support, unsure, need more information or definitely not and then
what uh contributes to your decision for one of those. um considering some of the conversation the themes that we've talked about to not lead every aspect we have an other line but I think some of the bigger ones that came up through a variety of different engagement sessions um recently and over the course of the
year are listed here there were some suggestions from the uh board members to bifrocate the academic and the behavioral mental health supports so those are now two separate bullets so that it's not lumped in one um because individuals may uh support one but maybe
not the other and vice versa. And then four um as best we could convey um uh various funding scenarios. Um these scenarios that we have here are um our ability to ask our community
u in addition to your current levy payment, what um what would you be willing um to make uh in terms of an additional investment each month? And so that would obviously vary per household based upon your home value. Uh we did um
take a look at um we we do have it hyperl now um from Ellers. You can click into this. Another board director said can we look at um these juxtaposed to outside of just the five and a quarter average. So you can now pull that up. I mean you see that range that we talked about at the study session. Um, but just
to walk through um just verbally with folks reading this, um, $0 a month uh would essentially be pay what you're currently paying right now in in the levy. $15 a month is on top of what you're paying currently right now for
the levy. $32 a month, 46, you know, you can see the pattern. And then we've tried to capture um what that would mean in terms of our ability to have resources um to maintain um our fund balance and we are calling it district
SL savings and then in parentheses fund balance because some folks use that term differently. So we wanted to make sure we're capturing both usages. Um 8% is the board policy to strive for that. And so we've you we've built that in to each scenario. Um, and then we shared how
long that fund balance at that level would be able to be maintained. Again, making assumptions that nothing else would be changing. There's a lot of factors outside of our control right now. Um, but we wanted to to build that in. So, you can see then what that would
net in terms of additional revenue on top of what we're currently receiving totaling what that whole uh revenue um cost would be. Um, so we have that listed in each scenario as well. And we went from we felt the absolute floor to
um something that's well above that floor so that people can have some conversation about this. We felt that that range is uh wide enough. And then like I said, if you click that hyperlink, um you can go into a variety of home values from 200,000 up to a million um for each of the scenarios
that we have listed there minus the zero because the zero is what you're currently at. So we didn't mock that um in the elers report. So I believe that captures everything and um we're asking the board to take action on this so that we would then be able to put this out to
our community. Uh we would advertise, post this on our web, put it through the libraries, push it out on social media. Um again, any of you that have social networks to take this and send this link out. Uh we will vet and verify everybody
um to ensure that we are capturing folks who are within um our district boundaries. Uh and I will just say we get very creative entries um uh on on that. And if we can't verify um that will not be taken into account. And so
if you write your first name being Superman, your last name is Wonder Woman um and nothing else that it's just not going to be taken into account. Um so we do want to make sure that we are getting authentic um perspectives from folks. So we are asking that you do that and
that's the only reason that we're asking that. We're not sharing that with anyone else. Um so with that, Chair Bullan, I'll turn it over to the uh director writer. Did I miss anything? Okay, I'll I'll turn it over to >> Thank you, Dr. Thomas. I appreciate the
the gathering of feedback to create this this community survey. Uh I will um I'll make a motion to accept uh this levy survey um proposal. If I could get a second.
>> Second. >> Open it for disc. >> And then I will open it up for discussion and comments. Um we'll start with you, Director Smith. Do you have any any comments, questions? >> Uh just uh some questions again a comment at the top just to again thank
you for um you know incorporating you know uh our feedback. Um there uh are a couple of things that I suggested that I do see reflected in here. So um appreciate you opening that up to us and and hearing our feedback to make this um
survey the the best it could possibly be. Um can you just remind me um what is our timeline that we're working with with this survey both kind of like um when will this survey be launched? When will it kind of with the live uh
>> will be and then um when will we what's your process for kind of compiling the results and reporting back to the board? >> Uh yeah, Director Smith, this would be uh is director Musman still here, Chris? So, we'll if this uh gets approved tonight would be going live tomorrow. Um
correct. Okay. >> Um and we have that set up um ready to go um in our Google uh link and then we will run that for a week. >> Yeah. Um we'll launch it tomorrow and the window will be uh the 14th through the 20th. >> Okay. >> And we'll send several reminders to our
families. >> And then I don't have the time um Director Musman, sorry. uh the the timeline in in front of me right now, but will I know that uh Dr. Zumbush and folks will be compiling all this data and do you recall that target date coming back to report back to the board?
Was that the >> I think the 27th is what? >> Yeah. >> So, we'll be uh No, April. >> April at the next session. >> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. Okay. >> Terrific. Thank you. That's it. >> Thank you, Director France. Um, first of
all, I want to echo uh what was already said that um uh first you did a great job collecting our feedback from the study session and um leaving this open um and I'm hoping to get you know quite
a bit of feedback on this uh the way it's written. Um I do believe that the way you wrote the last section 4 uh is is very grounding and uh direct and I appreciate that explaining exa instead of just asking the rate actually
explaining it. So thank you. I'm gonna ask something that I did not bring up and please don't reach over and slap me upside the head. Uh because one of the things that is, you know, it it's happened tonight, it's happened all of, you know, a lot of other times where um
there are comments or something like that like, you know, we've increased administration by 37% using a report that was never meant to count administrators. Uh nor does it. Uh, and that's been talked about multiple times, but it, you know, and one of the things
that that happens when people get this is information that they think they understand about school finance about what's going on kind comes into play uh, with their answers. Would, again, I I say this while I'm
kind of half ducking because I understand the the impact it may have. Would it be at all conceivable to put a number five on here and to say check a box if you'd like to discuss this or do you have any
questions and we can reach out and I know that means that a thousand people could check that box and that could be very very painful. But um maybe a way to gather information on people that maybe we could have another town hall to
invite those people to or do something to try and have a more direct discussion. And again I I limited staff everyone's booked. I know that is a painful suggestion to do in public on the dis without discussing you
independently but um it would be interesting to see who picks up on that. >> That wasn't part of our plan. Um so I I think the will of the board was to deliver this survey um in its in in what
it's capturing. And so that's what I'm holding at this point just in terms of our timeline of trying to keep the conversation moving with the board and with our community. Um certainly the invitation is always there uh with our community. Should you have any questions around funding and finance, we stand
ready to have conversation, they can simply reach out, you know, to our finance department, reach out to my office, we can get something scheduled. Um so so that's what I would just offer. Would it be helpful to maybe just put a note, please reach out if you have any
questions or anything like that just to >> um I I think >> and I know it's it's implied um but we are I'm not from Minnesota. I'm very familiar with Minnesota nice so that never really reaching out unless somebody does it and and I'm and I and I
get the the the limitations for that. I guess what I could um I would recommend if that's the will of the board um is that uh we would just simply put a hyperlink into the business office kind of our funding 101 tab to at least get them started there so they can go into
that space um and if they have additional questions they're already in the department they can make a call from there um if that's the will of the board. I think that um I appreciate the I appreciate the thought and the question. Um
but I I would I would agree with Dr. Thomas and and um I think for where we are with timeline and all of the other things um we're already in a compressed timeline and I think you know the the
heart of this survey and the way in which the information was gathered to create it I think throwing another little wrench in it while I think your intention behind it is good I I I would I would say um
yeah I would say leaving I would I would say leaving it as is with the caveat that um the the website is a myriad of of information for people and we state all the time at the dis you know come to
the source um so unless there's will of the board we can discuss that as we go director to director so do you have anything else director France no that was it all right director Olstead >> um yes Um, I appreciate including our
open enrolled families. Um, I know they, you know, they can't vote of course, but I think their feedback is valuable because I would be really interested in, um, especially kind of the open-ended number two. Um, and number three, um,
and I think I would even, you know, if it's number four, you know, if if you could or something like that, you know, what would you be willing? I don't know. That's probably um overthinking it, but I do appreciate including our open enrolled families. Um I had two
questions. Um on uh under part two, number one, would you support and they have to check a box if they choose definitely do not support? Um does that automatically end it for them or do they still have to go through
>> the whole thing? >> Um >> I'm guessing they do. Yeah. I mean, uh, the the survey itself, I mean, they're not going to get like it won't like end the survey, so to speak. >> Okay. Yeah. >> So, they would still check definitely do not support. And then at that point,
whatever they have there is not related because it's not going to align to a levy option, >> you know, because they're not supporting it. >> So, I'm guessing they would not complete it, but they could still hit submit. >> Yeah. I mean I would still be you know interested in their answer to number two
or three or you know >> so they would put that as the rationale. >> So none of these are required except for the demographics part like people could end it at any time. >> Correct. >> Our complete surveys. So if like a partial survey is submitted that still counts. Correct. Unless
they're Superman. >> Well yeah I mean if we can't verify that they're a resident that's our biggest thing. >> Yeah. But like if they stop after they stop at I don't want to support and I'm not going to fill out the rest. >> We know that's why they're not filling out the rest.
>> Okay. Okay. Fair. Um here's this that you can throw at me because of my next question. >> Oh boy. >> Um is there a world? And and I didn't submit this either. So I I confess that I did not submit this as a question, but
is there a world under number four? 1 2 3 4 5. Is there a six option that doesn't require cuts or reductions that we could put on there? And I don't know what that dollar figure would be, but is there something on there where there there is an option that does not require
cuts? And I know that would require, you know, amending that paragraph where it says all options still require some budget cuts. Um, but could it be interesting to know how many people would potentially check that box?
>> Director Ryder, you can um, uh, weigh in on this, but what we're planning for is what we're forecasting in our reductions based upon enrollment. And so, uh, the only way that that would hold true is if
our enrollment flattened or started to grow. So, we have to remain stewards of adjusting based upon enrollment irregardless. So, that's why that's built into that. We're not going to >> Yeah. >> As our enrollment goes on, we're not going to just keep things where they
need to be. We We have to take that into account. So, that's why they're built into that. Is there anything else? Okay. >> Very well said. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. Well, you didn't have to throw anything at me. Okay. Um, yes. Thank you. Those are my questions. Appreciate it. Thank you for this,
>> Dr. Mason. >> Um, yes, thank you for adjustments that were made. Um, the only other thing I was advocating for also was just having an option between the 32 and the $46 a month was some small wins. And the
reason I suggest that again, just going back to the past levy, what was $45 I think um that didn't pass. Just something I think the whole goal of this for me is figure out the range that our community will support, right? So I don't know maybe along that line
director said like would it be possible even just to add another box at the bottom to add an other in comments if we're not doing that or or is that not something >> I'm not quite sure the value that we would gain from an open-ended other
around finance um with the average community member >> mainly just trying to get like a dollar value from our community that they're willing to go up to Right? Because from from my perspective, that's what's driving the vote, right? So, I don't
know. And again, I'm not sure what we would get for feedback there, but um or if somebody's willing to pay way more, right? I don't know. Um is that valuable information? So, that that was just sort of an alternative thought process from having that like
in between 32 to 46 range, which kind of where we were last time, right? Um anyway, that was my only feedback some somehow to see that.
>> Anything else? >> Director Director Johnson. >> Um why only a week? >> What's the why are we why are we having a week? We were we were trying to keep um timing of back mapping from when we
would bring a potential question to the board as well as Ellers coming in to develop um some scenarios in a more granular way by the time we at the you know publish a question. So that's what we're trying to kind of stay on time y >> track with
>> if there's an ability um to to extend uh we went back and forth on you know more than a week if we possibly could but based on the conversation that the board had several weeks ago also I think there was a lot of comments made that there
were some there were there were comments made of why why do we need the survey I think we know the issues that are really important of and So, not everybody was even in favor of doing another pulse sort of check, if you will. So, I think this is a good compromise. Um, if
there's any flexibility, that's something that we could certainly entertain. Um, and I'd want to make sure I go back with our administrative team to see what would that do to our inlined uh inline as well as we we've got some things already scheduled right now juxtaposed to this date with some like
ellers for example and see the availability availability to perhaps adjust but that's something I can certainly communicate to the board. Um and then if if we see that we are getting like super low participation perhaps that's a conversation then that we would say okay let's find a way we're
going to you know extend it if we can. Um but again you know we were talking about can we get multiple data points you know to to make some informed decisions and I anticipate we're going to get quite a bit of a response. >> Um I think the >> that'd be my only concern.
>> Sure. Yep. Uh >> so we'll monitor we'll monitor that and if if I feel the need to bring you know email the board to say we may look to extend I could certainly uh bring that forward to you. Uh second >> I know that you
maybe not you uh one of your staff normally uh throw this in something and deduce all the information give us big bullet points and I appreciate that. Can we also get >> Yeah, the disagregated Yeah. >> data as well.
>> We'll have the aggregated data that if you're uh wanting to see like the nuance similar to what we just did with the town hall, you you would have that. >> Perfect. >> Appreciate it. Thank you, >> Dr. Atinson. >> Yeah, thank you. Um thank you. A lot of the feedback that um we I provided was
incorporated in here. I think the one thing that um I'm still having a hard time understanding is that so is this a revoke and replace scenario or >> Go ahead. >> For all of the items that are $15
through the $67 per month would require a revoke and replace. Yes. >> Okay. >> Sorry, what was that? >> The revoke and replace. Anything from the $15 through the 67 would absolutely require a revoke and replace. And if you
are looking to include the additional or the um inflationary the zero would also require a revoke and replace or uh we wait until it ends and then it gets renewed with that but it would require a voter approval. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. Because of the inflationary factor
factor requires voter approval. Absolutely. And then um in those cases it' be a revoke and replace. >> Okay. I think the part that's just a little confusing for me is when you go to the chart. Yep. And it says the 364 is 3 million.3 million. It really is not
because you're not including what we're currently paying. And I understand we did a great job of explaining that in the language. But I think people are just so like, you know, click look. Okay, that dollar amount, you know what I mean? So, um, I hopefully people will read that and understand that because I
think you did a great job of explaining it. on question four. >> On question four. Right. Right. But like I said, I think when you click through, it's a little bit more confusing because it doesn't say >> um change in per the current per pupil
authority of 624 plus 364 762 because it's it's the 62 or 624 through 634 whatever it is plus inflation plus the dollar amounts listed. So you will find that once we know where we're landing as
far as what is proposed for the ballot question, all of this will then turn into exactly what you just described where everything is in whole >> and the language is written such that they would expect to see in the in the ballot box. >> Um until then though it's a matter of
trying to help people >> understand well what more is this to me is the approach we've taken. >> Right. Thank you. And I think >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Oh, go ahead. No, no, go ahead. >> I was going to say in addition to that um we would have partial ID um specific lookup as well um based upon our
conversation we're having at oneonone. You can just plop in your address and you know specifically what your more will be um in total. >> Yeah, thank you. Um and I think you know the district's done a great job with all the information on their website. So, if anyone wants to go look up financial reports or whatever, I think as a board,
we need to stop this he said, she said misinformation that continues to be rattled off at the board table because just like we heard from our speakers tonight, we need to come to together to agree on something that as a board we know that our we feel confident that our
community will support so that we're not in this situation um as we are today. And so it it it continues to hurt my heart that we hear board members making disparaging remarks about other about even our communities, our community members. And we just have to um
recognize the reality of our situation and make the best decisions based on what we hear from our community because we are here to repres represent our community and if we're hearing from our community that we have high administrative costs, that's a reality that we need to listen to. So, um, and
and there's going to be different opinions on that. I fully respect that. But continuing to have this division against that talking point is not doing our district or our community any good. So, thank you. >> All right. We have a first and a second.
Um, a motion on the table for uh approving the levy survey as stated. Um, and do we want a roll call vote for this, Martha? No. >> No. Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. I.
>> Oppos say nay. That passes 70. Uh, next up on the agenda is policy and we have no policies at this time. Um, and so we will move on to administrative reports. >> I will just quickly say that.
>> Yeah. >> Will you take it doc director kern? I almost gave you a doctor. I will just say and it maybe uh my fellow policy committee members are going to say it in theirs, but yes, we did have a very great uh policy meeting in April and so you will all have a ton
to first read coming up shortly. So, thank you. >> Can't wait. Any other reports? All right, then we will move to board reports and we'll start out with our student rep, Obie.
Um first I just want to start off with um thanking the community all the parents, students, teachers for you know giving all the input they did during this budget crisis. you know, um we really appreciate all the advocating the
community has done for themselves and you know, it's our job as a board to do our best to serve the community and listen and so I just want to thank everyone that has done their best to advocate for what they believe is right.
Um with as for academics, we have fourth quarter starting. We're in that final stretch of the school year. We have juniors taking the ACT tomorrow. So, best of luck to all of them. And AP testing's coming up early in May. So,
you know, students are just grinding with that, trying to do as much AP prep as possible to try and get some high scores and some college credit. And then, like Dr. Thomas said earlier in the meeting, um open house for kindergarteners next year is coming up
and we'll be welcoming the class of 2039. As for athletics, our boys and girls track teams had meets at the high school this past week. Our baseball team has started off 2 and 0, which is awesome. And softball is playing at home
Wednesday and Thursday with Thursday being teacher appreciation. And our boys and girls lacrosse teams also won their home openers. And our boys volleyball team is playing at Austin right now. So, best of luck to them as well. Our choir program has
their um celebrate concert coming up early in May. It's a very well choreographed um concert with very beautiful music. And so, I believe tickets are out now already, so you know, go and get your tickets for that. and um student council and national
honor society had a few representatives go to the Minnesota Association of Student Leaders Conference in which they gained amazing insight on how to lead our school and better our district. We are grateful to have two Lakers serve on the executive board for the Minnesota
Student Leaders next year. And so congratulations to Justin Borg and Sarah Yousef on that. And then as for student council, we're closing out our year with our spring events. We have a pickleball tournament coming up, our senior sunset,
and our surf and turf event. And so I invite all of you guys to come to our events. Graphics will be posted on our Instagram, PL Studco. And so we're just trying to finish out the year strong and boost up school spirit before it's all said and done. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Um maybe we'll start. Director Smith, do you have any board reports for us tonight? >> Yeah, just a couple of things. Thank you, Chair Bullion. Um so, uh I would also like to um just
begin by thanking our community and everybody who reached out uh to me personally or to our board email or um or spoke at the the study session. um you know you are passionate and uh and and advocating for the things that you
love and um and that your students and children love and I think that is that is wonderful and um I you know it's never said it was going to be easy being up here you know we've kind of said that a couple of times but um really do value
the input that everybody has uh shared and um allowing me to um to just hear it and and try to make sense of it as best as I can. So, thank you to the community for that. Um
earlier this week, uh and on Wednesday, um Chair Bullion and I will be again attending the Minnesota School Board Association, uh building a high performance schoolboard team. Um so, there was uh there's already been one session and there is another session
coming up on Wednesday. Um, you know, there was, we won't get into too many details, but there was a a nautical assignment which uh was kind of unusual, but uh did really uh illustrate exactly um how hard it can be to come to consensus sometimes. And I think it was
it was a really fun way to talk about how things are debated and how agreements are formed and made. So, looking forward to continuing that. On Wednesday, um I did visit uh Lola um for my site visit. Um obviously
there's a lot of questions about the move. Um and uh you know continuing with their um their skip plans. Uh they're they're doing their second round of community classrooms and thinking about how they can increase the duration of
those. Um, you know, there's been a lot of, um, a lot of great reception to, um, being able to learn from other individuals, getting kids, um, in larger groups, so they're able to talk more and and, um, and, uh, and learn from their
peers and and learn from each other and and learn from different instructors and teachers and staff. So, it's been a really um, it's been a really positive thing for that school. And it's it's really great to see that in their um, in their skip plan. They were talking about like I said in their built team how to increase the duration of that. Um you
know I think the interesting thing for me um talking to principal Kachinsky was um you know for Spanish immersion it's not just concepts it's also language right so we're we're teaching the
concepts that everybody is learning in elementary school but there's also the added element of learning a second language on top of that. Um so a lot of the instruction is it has to be dedicated and intentional and um yes it has to focus on content but they um but
they also need to be able to focus on those lang language skill language skills because the goal of immersion is of course uh both language and concepts. So, one of the things that they're um thinking about doing are um apple tests um and doing those more frequently,
which kind of identify what are some of the gaps uh that may be uh linguistically uh within some of their cohorts and um talking about how they can build those into not only their curriculum, but how they can think about um uh you know, packages for phonics and
how do they talk about math concepts and different things like that. So they can uh think about how they are instructing folks on not only the concept piece but the language piece as well. So and then just as a final note um you know the the wonderful Laker Pride um presentation to
to start the day. Uh you just talked about all of the the sports that are starting and the and the arts and um and and upcoming shows that are that are coming. So there's a lot of great um a lot of great stuff happening in the district right now and it's uh you know catch what you can because it's it's
only here while it's here. So >> good director France. >> Um well first of all uh we had our scale meeting and um Credit River provided an update on what's going on in their cities. Um and then uh you could see
that online including uh the presentation and then each one of the scale committees from Scott County provided an update on uh what they have accomplished and what's on their plate for this year uh for the coming year as well as what they've already uh
completed. But one thing was perfectly clear from the county perspective is that uh the Fed is no longer supporting the states. The states are pushing those costs down to the counties and the counties are pushing it down to individual homeowners uh to make up for
things that uh typically were covered uh uh more nationally uh and equally amongst each of the states. Um now there's lots of reasons for that. um mostly the deficit, the growing and extreme deficit that we are
experiencing, but a lot of it is just change in um um policies uh from Congress uh and budget spending. Uh but um realize that the changes they make now will affect us in the next couple of years. So it's not something that we
feel right away, but as they said, by October and November, you're definitely going to feel it. Um and uh that was the overall theme other than the actual uh details from each of the committees. Um teaching and learning. Uh we discussed
the recommendations for the elementary literacy from the read act and the curriculum. We also discussed the high school um math. Uh no final decisions have been made. The teachers are still working on that but they did give an update provide an update on where they
are and um it was very impressive. the process was was very impressive and the way it was delivered was equally as impressive. So, thank you very much. And by the way, for those of you who don't know, the high school math is for algebra and geometry only, uh, calculus and AP courses. Um, they're completely
separate from this because I have been asked that. Um, uh, Minaps Shark Tank, uh, that is my favorite time of year. uh I have been mentoring um my Shark Tank students uh individually as well as in
teams and uh for the ninth year so total number of years it's been no eight oh gosh 11th year almost I think that it's been in place that I have been a judge for Shark Tank nine years I have been a mentor uh for the various teams
and for individuals and as usual that is just people can show up to that. I hope they do. And when they have the final, it is really inspirational, fun. Uh um and uh some of those students uh are
able to communicate and speak better on a business presentation than many of my colleagues who have been in the industry for 30 years. So kudos to the MENCAPS program and everything that they have done. Um um on a personal note uh for the uh 16 years as well as 12 years as a
lead and state wars judge. I was a judge as well as a mentor this year for the science and engineering uh state fair for 6th through 12th grade. I covered both middle school and high school this time. I uh encountered four families uh from Prior Lake Savage area district.
I'm not quite sure how many of them went to the school and um two of them gave me permission but all four of them did not uh give me permission to mention their kids' name mostly because I haven't heard back from them. So I'm not going to mention that but I will say that uh unlike other schools we do not have the
resources to support an inschool science and engineering fair which many of those students do and then take it to regionals and then take it to state. um these students that participate who live in our district um and our district boundaries do so above and beyond. Um
and to make it to state is not only an honor, but anyone who participates. And if you ever want to feel good about the future generation, go to the state science and engineering fair from 6th through 12th grade. Sixth graders still believe zombies are real and some of their science projects reflect that. But
um nonetheless uh some of the projects uh were truly inspirational and really give you hope for the future. So uh hopefully more people will volunteer and um we do have several parents including myself uh in this district that are
willing to help mentor uh students who want to participate. >> And that's it. >> Thank you Director Alstead. >> Uh thank you. Um, uh, time is a thief, I'll tell you. Um, Obie, thanks for the punch in the gut when you mention the
kindergarten class, but um, it's it's crunch time. It's the last quarter. So, um, you know, students and and staff alike, um, uh, thank you for everything in this last quarter of the school year. Um, going to Glendale next week. I'm
very excited, um, uh, for a visit there. Um, also the community ed appreciation night um, next week which will be fun. Um, always love to do that. Um, and then kudos to the speech team for the uh, students that made state um, and the
ones going to NITAC and then can't wait to see Little Women on Sunday. So that's it. >> Director Mason. >> Uh, nothing more to add for me. Thank you. >> Director Johnson. >> Uh, I won't steal all the thunder on policy. We got through eight of them,
which was a feat that I don't think any of us thought was going to happen. So, it was pretty great. Uh, I got to go to JP this week. Last week. Last week. So, uh, Principal Glenn and I walked around and
talked about tons of things. Um, and, uh, he gave me a book that I haven't read yet, but I'm gonna throw it out there. He said that it was awesome. The Anxious Generation. Uh, Director Mason recommended as well. So, um, I'm going off your word. I'm gonna throw it
out for everyone else to recommend. And he's shaking his head like this. So, I think if you haven't, uh, I I'll go off his recommendation. And, uh, just say thank you to Principal Glenn and everyone uh, out at JP for welcoming me in. It is awesome to go out and visit
our students. They are they're great. He runs a great school. Um, everyone's super welcoming and uh, it's always great to see our teachers and our students in action. Um, just can't speak highly enough about it. So, thank you.
>> Thank you, Director Atinson. >> Um, no, just nothing to add. We had a great policy meeting and look forward to those coming to the board um, for further discussion. So, thank you. And I will wrap up just with saying I will
echo the um thanking the community for the engagement. Um we do this together all of it. We we need to hear from you. So I really appreciate all the community engagement. I had a community ed um advisory council
and I will just say our last meeting of the year is May 21st. Community Ed does such an amazing job um supporting our district in so many ways. Um the people of the community from birth to earth, they say that they uh have lots of uh
fun things to learn and do. Um and we're always looking for people for the community ed advisory council. So that is May 21st and we meet from 12 to 1:30. So, if anybody has their lunch hour open and looking for something to do, um
other than that, uh I have nothing to add. There are future events. Uh we're looking forward to the spring play with Little Women, which is April 17th, 18th, and 19th. Um, our next board study session is April 27th here at the DSSE
at 6 PM. Um, celebrate concert at Prayer Lake High School is May 1st and 2nd and tickets are on sale now and uh May 4th will be um the following board meeting. So with
that being said, I will uh take a motion to adjourn the meeting >> and a second by direct so director Olsed and a second by director Johnson. All in favor say I. I. Oppose say nay.
We are adjourned. Thank you everybody.