Good evening everyone. I now call this meeting of the Prior Lake Savage Area Schools Board of Education to order. Please rise as you're able and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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. >> This evening, um, all board members except Director Johnson are in
attendance. He will be arriving uh shortly. Um, first up this evening, we'll begin this evening uh with Laker Pride with a presentation from the Minnesota School Boards Association. Please welcome
President Christy Peterson and Executive Director Kirk Shenowind. Thank you Christie and Kirk for your partnership and for being here this evening. >> Yes. And thank you Madame Chair for inviting us and including on your agenda today. And I'm just want you to know I
am the executive director for the Minnesota School Boards Association and we do represent all 331 of our public schools. Joining me is Christy Peterson and she is on the Shakape board as well as our president of the MSBA board. And I'm super proud to be here today because
uh I'm going to announce something today. And that announcement is that Oyama Ozu is one of the recipients of the Minnesota School Boards Association's Roberty Meeks School Board
Member Scholarship winners. So, YAY. CONGRATULATIONS, young man. And the scholarship award will give Obama 3,000 to use toward post-secary education. MSBA gives this award only to three
representatives in the entire state. The award started back in 2009 to award and encourage students to become invol excuse me to become involved in the governance of their school and to learn about the importance of having locally elected schoolboard members. As you
know, the primary role of a school board is to advocate for student success. And that is the reason the board members run for office and they put all their time into serving. There's no better way to get input as a board member than getting it directly from a student
representative. In Minnesota, we had approximately 130 school districts out of 331 that have a student school board representative at the board table. and the Prior Lake Savage Area School Board should feel very proud to have Obyama
working and supporting them as well. As the Prior Lake Savage Area School Board uh chair Amy Bullion wrote in her letter of recommendation, "Obyama's leadership is rooted in service and character, and he brings credibility, empathy, and
purpose to every role he undertakes." And I just want to congratulate you again. I'm going to turn it over to President Peterson. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Kirk. A committee of five MSBA board of directors selected Obyama as one of the three recipients from
nearly 60 applications. The committee recognized Obyama for his outstanding academic record, his extensive leadership in student government, his dedicated community service, and his participation in a multiple varsity sports. Academically, Obyama has earned
a 3.878 GPA while simultaneously pursuing college coursework through the PSEO program at Normandale Community College, where he earned deans list honors and membership to Fitheta Kappa Honor
Society, which requires a 3.8 or higher GPA. As a leader, Obyama has served as student council president, student council treasurer, and honor national honor society chair. In each role, he raised the bar, managing a $95,000
student council budget, overseeing 30 plus largescale school events, and generating more than $10,000 in seasonal revenue through the National Honor Society concessions operations. A two sport varsity letterman in both
football and volleyball. Obyama also co-founded Prior Lake High School's pickle ball club, growing up from 15 members to 175. What truly set Obyama apart was something he described in his scholarship essay. He wrote about how he
spearheaded the creation of studentled surveys to bring real data, not just anecdotes, to the schoolboard table. In his words, he wanted the board to make decisions with the students rather than simply for them. Superintendent Dr.
Michael Thomas put it this way. Obana Obama does not simply report events. He synthesizes student voice and connects it to a district level priority. His presence strengthens our board's ability to remain student centered in its
conversations. And school board chair Amy Bullan added, "His ability to listen carefully, synthesize diverse perspectives, and communicate effectively in a governance setting distinguishes him well beyond his years." And Obama, I just want to
say that you are one of the reasons why I run for school board and am a school board member. It's because you are the reason why we our future is so bright. And I just want to thank you for everything that you've done as a student school board member. It is our honor
today to award Obiyama with the MSBA student school board member scholarship. CONGRATULATIONS PICTURES. >> Thank you guys. >> How do you want to get a picture? take a break for the for the photo op so
that they all can get a I'm so happy for Obie. >> We wait for him. >> We'll move on. Okay. All right. Um next up, uh we'll now hear highlights from recent student travel experiences that
took place over spring break. uh the Prior Lake High School choir trip, the Prior Lake High School Spanish trip, and the Prior Lake High School French student trip. Um I don't know if how do we want to do those one by one? >> One by one by one. One
>> one by one. Okay, we'll start with the choir trip and I'll call up uh music directors Rob Han and Randy Erllinson to share more. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Um, I think we've got the presentation here. I'm not sure how to get it going.
Is there a escape twice? Okay, that did something. Thank you. >> And you are the one with the green in the middle. Yep.
There you go. >> Well, thank you for having us here this evening. I am Randy Erson. This is my colleague Rob Han. Um, we have now fully recovered from our adventure. Um, and are excited to share some of the highlights with you this evening.
Um, so Kade Milaf Falcha is the uh Gaelic way of saying 100,000 welcomes. Um, and you see this saying everywhere in in Ireland, and we certainly felt welcome during our time there. Wonderful country, wonderful people, delightful
place to live or to visit if you've ever been there. Uh, we left right after school on Thursday, March 26th, flew overnight, landed at 7:30, and then began uh an approximately 734 kilometer drive around the island. I didn't count all of
the inner city driving. That was just um Dublin to Gway, Gway down to Cork and then back up to Dublin. So um it was a a lot of driving, but we saw a lot of a really fantastic country. So
you keep talking it out. Uh first stop was Clon Mcnoy's uh 6th century u monastic settlement which was a reason to stretch our legs and just see a little of history cuz it was uh 11:30 in the morning in Ireland but for us it was about 4:00 a.m. and kids were a little
anxious. We were trying to keep them awake so we got them up and moving. Um but just beautiful sites, beautiful um history, great uh tour guides at all of these venues that we went to. Um and just a great way to kick things off and walking kids through, you know, a
settlement that is centuries old. >> Um our first major city stop aside from landing in Dublin was Galway. Beautiful city. I think this was probably the favorite city of our students. Um you see up there in the upper leftand corner that is a a sculpture of a hooker boat.
So a fishing boat. He was our tour guide was clear to explain what a hooker boat actually was. um because our kids were confused at first. Um outside of St. Nicholas Collegiate Church, that was our concert poster that was there waiting for us. Uh we did one performance here,
the with all the flags, that's just um Key Street in Galway, big shopping area. And then across the bottom, the gentleman right in the middle, um who doesn't look like a high school student, that was our tour guide. His name is, um Connor, and was truly one of the most remarkable human beings. We were so
fortunate that our tour company was able to coordinate um our time there with him. Um so a couple of things in the lower leftand corner you see students trying to stay awake. Um and what they're really actually doing there is learning some basic steps of Irish dance,
traditional Irish dance. Um so they promptly went to bed after this because we hadn't let them sleep yet. Um but you see our group that was our first big group picture in the upper right hand corner. saw some Laker colors in the the peak of the ceiling at St. Nicholas
Cathedral or Collegiate Church. Uh the gentleman in the upper leftand corner with Carly Hoverver um that is a Boron player and if you've seen Titanic and I'm assuming many of you have um he did all of the the Irish drum the frame drum playing for the soundtrack for that
movie. And as part of that dancing lesson that we had there's um a traditional Irish band of actual Irish instruments. So, an Alien Pipes, um, harp, the boron, and and he was there. And Carly loves Titanic, apparently, and so was just excited as could be to get
to meet, um, a world famous musician. So, >> that's a better view of the cliffs of more than we got the day uh, we were there. Uh, we the kids are like, "Where are they?" And we're like, "They're right there." Uh but it was windy as all get out and
quite foggy. Um but beautiful, beautiful um sightes to see. Lots of great stuff inside their visitor center, which is where we spent most of our time because the view wasn't fantastic, but really the only poor weather we had uh in the entire week. A little bit of rain here and there, but that that particular hour
was not good. >> Um the sun came out as soon as we got 10 miles down the road. >> It was a beautiful day. We just told kids to Google actual pictures. >> Yeah. Right. >> Um in in traditional Gaelic spellings of things that that word that you see up
there is not pronounced at all like it sounds. It's called Cove and it's a city um kind of down by Cork, Ireland. This is where we did our second performance of the tour at that beautiful cathedral that you see right there, St. Coleman's Cathedral. Um really fantastic space
there right along the water. Cove is actually uh speaking of Titanic where it departed from on its final voy voyage. So there's a really f fascinating Titanic museum right there in Cove um along the waterfront and gave kids some time to do some wandering before we had
our concert. A few more pictures of the space that we sang in. Um I'm an organist at a church here in town so I wasn't gonna miss a chance to play the organ. And Rachel Dagolowski is a very talented keyboard player. So gave her a little crash course on the organ there
and um just a fantastic fantastic church to sing in. So >> that was a midday on a Monday concert 1 in the afternoon and we had a couple hundred people uh in attendance which is just fantastic.
didn't have many pictures from Cork because our students were busy just shopping around and wandering and seeing some sites and experiencing the culture. Uh Cork is what they call the San Francisco of Ireland. So, it's built kind of downong along the water, but then very steep hills that quickly go up
away from the shore. Um so, we stayed kind of on the left side of that picture. Um but most of the city is built up on the big hill off to the right. But just pretty pretty standard Irish city. Little bit of old, a little bit of new, but lots of charm and lots of culture.
Okay, Blney. Um, we did kiss the Blney Stone. I do think that all 53 of us kissed the Blney Stone. Um, that's Rob right there in the middle. >> Yeah, thanks for that. >> Yeah, sorry. Um, we we didn't we did not force Andy and and Brody into the stocks. They chose that. Um, but I
wasn't going to miss a picture for their parents. Um, you see Barney Castle in the upper right there and Flowers which we hadn't yet seen in Minnesota because we were we left after 15 inches of snow fell. Um, but another really great place to stop stopped at some working sheep
farm. Got to see some sheep hurting going on. It was about it was lamming season. So that little guy up in the center there was about 10 days old. Um, kids got to bottle feed some of the lambs. They were pretty excited about that. Um, and then afterwards it was
another pretty chilly day, really rainy, too, but they treated us to fresh baked scones and tea. Um, after we got to see all the workings of the farm and stuff. So, yeah. Uh, pretty hearty. Sorry if you haven't eaten supper yet. This is going to make you hungry. But, um, our kids
were great with the food. We went to Italy a couple years ago and they thought it was going to be Olive Garden. Um, it was not. uh they were they were much more ready to try the meat, the potatoes, the the the heaviness of this stuff, but um really fantastic meals, fish and chips down in the lower
lefthand corner. So >> Dublin, >> uh so the pictures you see on the right and on the left, that is the main library at Trinity College, and it looks like Harry Potter when you look down this thing. Um, I I honestly I don't
even remember the number of books, but the most historic scripts that they have in Ireland. The challenge for us was they had emptied all but one of the bays because after the fires at Notream, they decided, hey, there's no fire suppression at all in this venue and it
was two stories high of thousands of year old texts. So, they had been taking them all out, storing them off site, um, and then retro, um, fitting that building, which will take them years, five, six years, something like that. Restoring all of the books, cleaning
everything. But just incredible. Uh, the the earth there in the middle that is spinning. It looks like it's spinning. Um, it's 16 feet across and you look down this big long hallway and it's just it's crazy impressive. It looks like it's just floating there in the middle of this massive library. But a
beautiful, beautiful space. >> Prior to this, they walked through an exhibit for the book of Kels, which is um an ancient manuscript of the four gospels of the Bible. And so they were able to kind of see what all the symbolism was for those articles or for
those documents and learn about how they're preserved for all these years and how how they came to be. So really interesting experience at Trinity College. >> Very colorful uh artwork. um all mineralbased. So they have some of the colors that they could track. The
closest the green color, one of the one of the highlighted colors, the closest you can find the mineral that makes that color is in Northern Afghanistan. That's a long way from Ireland, especially back, you know, 2,000 years. So, it's just it's was crazy um how
intricate the artwork was. The stories of where you could tell which monk did which page and which word he stopped on and which word the next one was continued by someone else because they could tell the the stylistic changes of of the artist. It was just beautiful work. Uh many concerts uh so Gway Cork
uh we didn't stop on street corners like we did a little in Italy. It wasn't quite the same uh that way. Um, but our final concert was uh at the LARK, which is uh the Irish Institute of Music and Song, and that is just outside of Dublin. We shared that concert as well.
Um, I'm guessing by the video tab, we get to see and hear some of it. Maybe >> if that's okay with >> uh we shared this concert with the National Concert Hall, so the National Youth Choir of Ireland. Um, they were fantastic. >> The little clip of this piece that we'll play is called Bend by Kyle Peterson.
He's a Minnesota composer. And so when we go on tour, we like to take pieces of Minnesota with us. So we'll play just a short little clip of this. Um you will see in this space in the Lark Theater, they have it looks like a TV studio, all kinds of cameras and and audiovisisual equipment
and they're recording this live. This was part of the link that we sent out. So if any of you checked the link, this is what that would have been from. But here's a little clip of us singing in uh Brian, which is just a little bit north of Dublin. If the sound will go,
>> sounds great, doesn't it? >> Very dramatic. >> Um, is there a trick to the sound? Well, it's there and those are our Lakers and we and we will send out the presentation as well for you all to see. Um, they sang so
passionately during this performance and it was just absolutely beautiful. Kids in tears, >> directors in tears, um all all of the stuff. It was just a really important experience. Um, so we we'll send that out so you can hear that link and we
would love for you to listen to it because it was truly truly special. Um, our farewell dinner was at a place called Mary Plowboy Pub. Um, so they have a live band that entertains us during our meal and then halfway through the evening the floor elevates and they
bring an Irish dance troop. So that's accompanied by the live music and this is just our kids just apparently getting really good at rhythm. Um but just having a great time and and enjoying their evening together.
Saw lots and lots of smiles, which is a good sign when you're on such a long trip. Um just our Lakers being awesome, just doing what they do and being with each other and enjoying all of these experiences together. Um I don't know
what was going on with the shaving cream in the lower lefthand corner, but that was um >> that was at room checks one night. That's what that's what walked into the hallway. >> Yeah. Well, and here's here's the setup to that hallway. So, you have never seen two more two girls more excited for room checks than the two that you'll see in
this next picture. Um, I went to check this room and found that. >> Yeah, >> there's there are no words. >> No, there's there's there's I mean, the door flew up and they're like, "We're here." I'm like, "Yeah, you are." Um,
>> so were we, apparently. >> Yes, apparently. Um, I I guess there's no greater sign of flattery than your face on your students pajamas. But the kids with the shaving cream came out in the hall to see what the laughter was about and we were laughing at that. Um,
but yeah, so just a lot of fun. Um, really fantastic time with all of our students. This is from our bus driver, Mick. Um, our steerologist as he called himself. And he left us, he wrote us a little poem. He drove us everywhere all over the country. and he wrote this poem on our last day and it said, "May you
live your life full of gladness and health with a pocket full of gold as the least of your wealth. The dreams you hold dearest be those that come true and the joy, happiness, and song you spread keep returning to you." Um, and then keep more tears on the bus, either
because we were just exhausted or because we were just just that moved. So with that, Gavi Lama, um, don't even try to sound it out across the top. it's not going to matter. Um, which which basically means
thank you and until we meet again. >> So, uh, our boosters were kind enough to send us, uh, with a little keepsake. So, each of the ensembles that we perform with the youth you youth orchestra in Gway, um, the National Youth Choir in Dublin and all
the various people that we met along our way got these coins. We have some military family connection program. So, this idea of A pin is a pretty standard thing, but this challenge coin is >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Um
something that >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> We took with us. We shared with you know bus drivers and hotel staff the managers and things. But just as a token of that uh in Mary Plowboys there are there's a strong connection with the Irish culture and the police force. So there's many of
the pubs you go to and you see patches of um police officers all over the world. Um, so one of our kids shared a coin with them and they found a little spot for it. So if anybody ever goes back to the Mary Plowboys in Dublin, you will see that coin probably the green side facing out.
>> Um on the wall along with all the the uh patches. >> Uh your Lakers, our Lakers did us very proud and they spent months um preparing for this lots. We 36 extra additional
hours of rehearsal outside of their school day to get ready for this. Um traveled beautifully and we are just so so pleased and the smiles you see are genuine. They're they were very excited. We were saying we've said the whole time that they were ready to come home but
sad to leave. So I I think we got something right. >> Was perfect. One more day we might not have been able to say >> correct that same thing. any any questions or anything for us to take back to our students, >> board members? Um, I just want to say
thank you. Our our you mentioned multiple times, our Lakers are amazing. >> Our Lakers are amazing because of their amazing leadership. Um, so thank you. And I don't know if our community all understands that you two along with how many volunteers went to help chaperon the trip?
>> Uh, just Mr. Marshall. >> Oh, okay. All right. but you're giving up your spring break and that just it's a lot. So, thank you to your commitment to our students. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Our pleasure. >> Anybody else? Just one question. >> Um thank you and thank you. This is so
thoughtful. Um really appreciate this. I'm I'm sure we'll treasure that. Um always um the the song by Kyle. Um I noticed too when I was watching that they were just they were so emotional. What was it about that song? Was it just
everything caught up with them or because I noticed that too. >> The song itself is is about what it means to bend but not break when things get hard and and how to, you know, when the wind
is pushing you, how do you endure that? Well, you endure that by people saying, "I'm here with you. I'm helping to." And when the winds subside, you will arise.
But for now, bend, don't break. >> And so, it's just about that common, you know, um the struggles that that kids face, the struggles that that we face in in in our classrooms and in our professional lives. And just
really being in that moment to share that musical experience and to really absorb the meaning of that piece. um hit them pretty hard. So >> yeah, >> and us too. >> I I can't talk about the piece without
getting emotional. Um >> which is why I talk. >> Cool, right? Bingo. Play to our strengths. That's what we do. Um I'd love to claim that, you know, all the learning that these kids did happened at the high school before we left. But honestly, their performance and um
practices, their their emotive musicianship happened on tour and it elevated to a level that we had not seen. Um in fact, uh at the lark, we had a rehearsal with the National Youth Choir and they were on stage when they
went up they went up first. It's their their spot. Uh and they laid down a rehearsal performance that was pretty incredible and the intimidation factor was very very real. They didn't mean to, but we got real quiet real quick. Um, but the connection afterwards, we all
shared dinner together. Um, our kids presented each of them with the coins. We had dinner with the directors. Um, the bonding was just phenomenal. And when we took the stage, they didn't have that anxiety, that fear anymore. They knew that they could be there. And they
truly did elevate every time we performed. Um, and we just had, we found the just the neatest stories. Um, concert choir. So we have members from all from four of the six ensembles on campus that are eligible to go on tour and we had singers from all of them but when we're lucky then uh the corral
singers are there's enough of them to put some of those songs on tour as well. Concert choir the same way. Um so concert choir had a song in Calonia which kids came rushing back to the bus in Gway and said we heard a street musician playing and singing that song
which is from Scotland not from Ireland. And I'm like, "Oh, that's neat. Super cool." We got to Cove and we sang it that day. We didn't sing it in Galway. I wish in hindsight we would have. Uh we got to Cove and we sang it and the kids came off stage and off the the altar off
the stage and said there were people singing along in the audience in the congregation of this of this church. And I'm like, I something is up. I don't know what this story is, but there's something going on. And our tour guide explained it to us that that song while
a Scottish song um made written by Donn uh Donnie McClean Douggee McClean sorry it was made famous by a Irish singer from Gway who had passed the week before. >> So like nine days from >> when we should have sung it in Galway and we just didn't because the night was
getting a little long so we didn't. Um but we had connections with that song and it was just a really moving um chance to to make a connection and it was accidental. I'd love to say we designed it, but we didn't know. We didn't know the story until we were there and got to experience that. So, we learned. >> Very cool.
>> Very good. >> Any other questions? >> Oh, great. >> Anyone else? >> I just want to say thank you for the wonderful experiences that you do provide our students. And while we do have great Lakers, I do feel that they emulate their leadership and what you
bring to them because these experiences and the quality of those experiences wouldn't be possible without your planning, your preparation, and I know there's lots of hours put in of unpaid work. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, Hani.
>> Yes. Thank you. Next up will be um the Spanish students traveled to Spain during spring break. We'll have Prior Lake High School teacher Maria. I would L. Brown. Can I just say L Brown? You
>> say Lucidone Brown. >> Lucidone Brown will recap the trip for us. Great. Well, the Ireland trip sounded absolutely wonderful. Um, okay. I think I remember.
First of all, good evening. Um, I brought a couple of students with me, so I was just going to kind of go through quickly what we did and then I wanted them to just share their experience firsthand. So, so like um you mentioned, we went to Spain over spring break and we went to
southern Spain to be specific. So, this is the route um just like choir. We were in um a bus quite often uh touring around these different areas. So, we started in Malaga and made our
way around to Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla and then down and around again. Um, so we started in Malaga. Well, first of all, these were all of our chaperons that went. So these wonderful people, super awesome. Um, so we started in
Malaga and the first day was a travel day. So it was really I don't quite remember exactly what we did on that day, just being super tired. But we did start off or we went and we did a lot of city tours. So as much as we were in the
bus, I felt we were also walking a lot of walking and just seeing a lot of different um aspects of all of the different cities. So we went to the cathedral de Malaga which is just means cathedral. Um and then from there we
took our trip from Malaga to Granada and we stopped at this place called Nerha and you can see the group of kids there and it was just like a really quick stop um to this balcony of Europe and it's uh obviously a balcony where you can see
this huge vast uh part of the Mediterranean. Um and we from there went and stopped at an olive oil museum. So they got to hear about uh the history of olive oil families that come and bring their own
olives from their olive groves and make olive oil and then they did some olive oil tasting. Do you have anything you wanted to say about did you like the olive oil? You have any thoughts? >> Um my name is Chance Hines. >> I'm so sorry I did not introduce them. This is Chance and this is Arabella. My
apologies. Um the olive oil tasting, we were able to uh test fresh olive oil, olive oil made with all natural ingredients. Um and it's a lot different than the olive oil
that we're used to here. >> Mhm. >> And we also had something called hone, which is just ham. Um, but it it was just really fun to learn about the
process that they use to make the olive oil and it was very tasty. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. It was a lot more earthy. >> Yeah. >> I felt like um and then we every night we ate dinner together so in every city.
Um, and so a lot of different Spanish cuisine, which often times when people go, this I did this too when I was a lot younger going to Spain, I had assumptions that the food was going to be like Hispanic food. Um, it is not.
It's not anything like that at all. So, some of it kids like, some of it they didn't, but they were always good sports in trying the different foods. Um, so that was a really nice piece to do nightly dinners. So then our next stop was it was Granada and Granada actually
means pomegranate. Um so Granada is a beautiful city, very walkable. Um so kids had um opportunities to walk around and just get churros and chocolate and some different things. And then of
course we had those times filled with a lot of other things that we did like we went to the Muso de Picasso and my favorite place was the Alamra which at one point it was a fortress but then it became a palace um for um the
the Moors the Moorish royalty until 1492. Uh so we were able to see go through that and we had some pretty awesome um guides for that one. Um, and there's also some really beautiful gardens that are next to it. So, we
spent a good chunk of day to that. Uh, I can't remember if it was that evening or the next day. Uh, we went to a flamco uh flamco show and they call it flamco in the caves because a lot of the gypsies,
Hitanos that still are that a lot of them live in in southern Spain. a lot of some of their homes they just took and carved out parts of um hillsides and created homes there. And so a lot of places, this was a restaurant though, too, are built into these caves. And so
that's where they have these live performances. Uh and then right outside of that actual spot is a view of that alra. So that's what you see at night is that upper right hand side. Um, and the whole time we were there,
it's during Simana Santa, which is Holy Week. And so it was there was a lot of people depending on where we were, but there was a lot of different processions that took place. So sometimes we could see them, sometimes we couldn't because they sell seats in the streets, these um
bleacher uh seats for people to have the best view. So it's really hard to see some of them. So it depends on what city you were at that you could see. And then from Granada uh we took a day trip to Cordova and in Cordoba we went to this mskita which is mosque means mosque and
it's a msquita cathedral so it's a mix um so it's a mosque as so as you can see on one part there is all of the Islamic architecture and then um when the Spaniards or the king and queen of Spain took over the remaining part of southern
Spain then when they started to add on the Christian aspects of it. So then that's the cathedral part of it. And so that's the other side. Um so there's a lot of mix of the two there. And then around this area too is the what's called laureria which is the Jewish
quarter. So in all of these aspects we had a lot of we had we had a variety of um you call them guides. We had one main guide who was awesome. Uh but we have different guides that split us up to tell us about all of the history. so
knowledgeable um very knowledgeable about what these different pieces and then we ended up in Sevilla and in Sevilla we went to the Royale Alcasar Royale just means royal um so that also
was a mix of uh Islamic and Christian architecture and there's actually a specific name for it where it was actually the two together um and it's escaping me right now And uh then next to the Rayal Accas Alcasar is
these royal gardens and it's just these huge vast gardens um there. And if anybody's ever watched Game of Thrones, part of um there was a part of that that was filmed there. And then if anybody watched Star Wars, which I'm sure many of us have, part of and I
can't remember which aspect of it. Uh my husband would know. Uh but the Plaza de Espa, there was part of that uh film there too, but the Plaza de Espa has it used to be for one of their big uh worlds or I think country fair. Um, and
that's where they have all of the different Spanish provinces just in these little seated areas. It's pretty cool. And that we were there super fast. Um, and the tuna musicians, that was during one of our dinners. And they're just uh that was a group that started in
I think the 13th century. I can't remember. It was like co people, college men who would just kind of do this singing, folkloruric singing, and dress up and go entertain. And so they were there and they were pretty entertaining. Well, I thought they were. I don't know. Did you think they were entertaining?
>> Um, and then that's just the heraldo. >> And almost getting to the end here, we went to Kadis. And Kadis is um port city. And so it's by the Atlantic. So this was a a highlight for a lot of kids because we got to have a beach day. Um,
so a time spent by the water. They got to see some sunrises. Wait, was that I think that was a sunrise. Um, and this heres de la Fronta is kind of like a side trip we took where we went to the an in an equestrian uh museum uh that we spent there. So, we
just spent a couple days in Kadis and um then last but not least, we did a day trip to Ronda uh which is different. The landscape is very different. It has um it's a lot more mountainous, more
cliffs. It's built on a cliff. It's a pretty pretty cool place that I'd love to go back to. And we ended up in which really is part of Malaga, but it's called Fuenhiola and that's on the Mediterranean. And so we were able to see the pink moon, which at first, even though it was
what, 8:00 at night. I thought the sun was coming up again, but it's the moon. Uh, so that is that. And so here are the Arabella and Chance. Just any highlights? You have any things you wanted to share or if anybody has any questions? want to go first.
>> Okay. >> So, some of the highlights were experiencing a new culture uh and being able to embrace myself into said culture. Um and
like my pro said earlier, the food was very unexpected. Um, I tried new food every single day. And I'm not usually a fan of seafood, but we had a seafood platter one night of squid, shark,
sardines, and all of that kind of stuff. And that was cool to try the new food. Um, one of the other highlights was when we were in when we were at the
beach. Um, there was a guy who had his dogs just running around and I was able to actually have a full-on conversation with him and about his life, how he likes Spain, about his work, about his
family, and all all of that stuff, which was really fun. It was really cool that I was able to actually talk to someone else that spoke uh no English. And
um something that I learned over the trip is that I mean I I learned about the history of Spain. I learned about um the history of cathedrals and how
they have changed from king to queen to Arabic rule that was in Cordoba. And I really enjoyed that guide that we had because the guides that we had the entire trip would answer our questions.
they would uh explain in detail like what means what like uh all all that stuff which was just really cool and if I could go back to Spain I definitely would again. Uh thank
you. >> Thank you. >> Um I'm Arabella. My notes just turned off. One of my highlights was our tour guide like Chance said. His name was Serio. He was really nice. He definitely made the trip like really fun. Um, I also liked
exploring the new culture and trying the new foods even if I didn't like all of them. I like seeing all the beautiful views and going to La Alhamra. >> Alra, >> Alamra. Um, that was really fun. I really enjoyed that. And one of like the
benefits of going on the trip for me was learning more Spanish words and like words that are a bit different when you go to Spain than they are here. Um, and then just like chance speaking with like native Spanish speakers and like actually applying what I learned in school. And my takeaway is probably that
I really like Spain. I would want to go back and definitely go to the southern part again, but also explore the northern part maybe for like study abroad. And it was just a really nice trip. I made some new friends. But yeah, I really enjoyed it overall. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> You have any questions? Members, any questions? Thank you so much for coming and sharing your trips. Oh, I was gonna comment. Thank you to you also for your leadership and for all the hard work you um put these trips together. How many students a total went on? >> 36.
>> 36. Okay. >> Yeah. And has a parent who's um had a student going not on a Spanish trip but on a different trip. It's just such an opportunity for our students. That's something that they may never a have ever and like um like Arabella mentioned, you know, the opportunities
opening up those her eyes to those opportunities of study abroad and those type of things are really invaluable. So, much gracias and bueno. >> Yeah. >> Thank you so much. Thank you students for coming. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next up, our French
presentation. Escape. Okay. Escape. Lots of presentations. So, where do we find them? You can hold. Oh, can you click on that one? Okay.
Okay. I'm Jill Hansen Folinkstead. I teach French at Prior Lake High School and my awesome college in the schools through the U ofM student um Adakus Bell is with me. He went on the trip. Um I had the pleasure of leading 20 students on an
11-day immersion experience in France. Uh we visited primarily uh Paris and then the Lir Valley in the city of Tour. Uh this is a picture of the high school we actually visited. The students attended two days full high school in
French. So total immersion. Uh Adakus can speak more to that. And it's called the Liss Schwazul in Tour in France which is kind of the start of the Lir Valley. And I I have to say it was a kind of a cloudy uh rainy day that day but still beautiful. So, we landed in
Paris, of course, and then uh spent a little time that day in Paris as we were dealing with jet lag. And then we took the Teje, the high-speed train to tour uh for five days. Um and so the first first day we got there, just to kind of warm up, uh we went on a boat ride on
the Sun. Um and they did a great job cleaning that up for the Olympics. Did you all see the Olympics in 2024? It looks so clean. Everything was stellar in in Paris right now. I'd highly recommend a trip and there's some of the great students on the the river sun. Uh
then like I said, we went on the the highspeed train to tour and this was really a highlight of our trip that made it special. Uh students lived with a French family for five days. Uh they were immersed in the language, the culture, that's why they're learning French. So it was a true immersion
experience. There's some of our students with their host families and when we left them they were literally in tears. many of them they exchange gifts and um just joy with one another. Um they plan hopefully to continue that relationship. You know, it could be a lifelong friendship that they developed with
those families coming here to Minnesota, going back to visit them. Um there's some more students uh at the train station with their host families. And then the host family experience actually Megan Megan's mom's over there because her sister went on the Spain trip, but Megan went on the France trip. So two
students going on trips. Um, she taught her French host family how to make chocolate chip cookies. So, she brought the ingredients and showed this really fun American treat to her host family and then they went on some tours of the I know it's confusing tour and tour. They went on tours of the chateau, the
castle region, which is right next to tour. Uh this is actually a couple pictures of the school and I just want to highlight um we have really beautiful schools in Pry Lake Savage and I think our students realized wow things aren't the same around the world you know um we
have beautiful buildings beautiful conditions it was kind of a rainy day but the you'll see an old overhead projector in the room for example and we don't have any of those anymore but they were wonderful to I mean just to experience the day experience the culture um some of the students at the
school actually were at boarding school there. Like they live there during the week because um they live far away so they stay there during the week. Um that's some of the school and then uh maybe I should have Attekus speak to the school a little bit. Do you want to come up here and speak? Because they had a
full day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Two days of school. So maybe you want to speak to that a little bit. >> Hi, I'm Adakus. So yeah, on Monday we got to school just about 7:30, maybe right about 8. We had a breakfast combined with all the French students and all the American students and it was
really really eye openening. You know, breakfast over there is a lot different. There's not the same sort of school breakfast we have where it's, you know, fruit juice and entree and then sometimes a side it's it's espresso and croissants. That's their breakfast and that's usually what they have just about
every morning. And um yeah, it was great. So I had art class first hour and art class over there is a lot different. And it's a lot of studying and talking about art rather than making the art which is um pretty eye opening. It's really different. And then we had a three and a half hour break. >> So on one day
>> one day. Yeah. We got to leave the school. It's an open campus. We got to go hang out um hang out with some of my host brother's friends. And yeah, I think school over there is a lot different. I think in general it's a lot harder than the school we have here. It really made me, you know, appreciate the school we have here a lot more. Um and
it's a lot I think you stay with like um the same group of kids the whole day, you know, it's sort of like um elementary school where you stay with Yeah. your whole group. It was great. It was really really fun. >> Okay. Awesome. Thank you so much. Um so tour is known for their medieval messa
colage which are these medieval timber houses and a lot of them burned over time but these are still the original. They're a signature of the city of T. Uh, and then we went to the chateau. The students went with their families and I went with Oh, Miss Eggerermanman, principal at um, assistant principal at
the high school was our other chaperon. So, it was just me and Madame Edgarman. So, it was all us that was visiting uh, one of the castles. And you can't go to France without talking about the food. The food is the best, the best cuisine in the world. Um, there's some lamb and
a lot of students hadn't even tried lamb before. So, that was interesting. And of course, like Adakus said, La Cafe. Um, we got to visit Notream at the opening of Notream. We were there on Good Friday. Can you imagine? It there was a live service going on with Christ Crown
of Thorns. It was an incredibly moving experience and we only had to wait in line, I don't know, 30, 40 minutes. Another day, the lines were like 5 hours long. So, we're very thankful we didn't have to wait that long. Um, and then we went on to Versailles, which is one of the, of course, the grand chateau of the world. A lot of other castles were
modeled after Versailles. Uh I think students really enjoyed walking around there having a guided tour with our tour guide Estal. Uh and then there's some more Versailles and the the Shambra de laan the queen's room. Um from from Versailles we went back to Paris and
this is the gallery Lafayette which is a shopping store. It's a department store in Paris and it's it's gorgeous. It's so beautiful. You can see all the o couture as well as just average uh fashion too. We had a guided tour of the Opra Garnier. That's the famous opera house
in Paris. We didn't get to see the opera, but we got to see the building. Uh, and then on to Musea Dorsce, which is famous for its impressionist and postimpressionist art. Also had a guided tour. And the Statue de Liberte, you know, Statue of Liberty was a gift from
France, the United States. Uh, and then the Louv. I didn't get a lot of pictures at the Lou. I think the students took more pictures, but you can't go to Paris without seeing the largest art museum in the world. Uh the Conuerie uh that really cool Gothic building in the background is a prison. It used to be a
prison where Marie Antuinette and her children were in prison before they were guillotine and the French Revolution. The children weren't, but Marie was. Um and then of course our last night in Paris, we said Ovoir to Paris with Lur Fel. We had dinner there at uh one of
the restaurants at the Eiffel Tower. So here are the students all dressed up for dinner. Uh they looked amazing. We had great food, great service. Uh we had trout ve which again a lot of American students haven't tried before and uh shola nugatin deser.
Um there's Attekus and some of the friends at the Eiffel Tower. Adakus, do you want to speak about that experience a little bit? >> Sure. >> Um yeah, the dinner was great. It was really really fun being all dressed up with friends and going to somewhere just really really different. Um I think it's the fanciest restaurant I've ever been
to. the um yeah, it was really really cool. It's like crazy high up so we had to take an elevator to get there and the elevator was probably 5 minutes of just straight going up. >> Um it was wonderful. Uh after dinner we went and explored the Eiffel Tower for a little bit and we went up to the
penultimate floor I think >> and um yeah, it's really really high up. We got to see the sunset from the second floor and then we missed the flickering but we got to see the flickering on the Eiffel Tower while we were on and it was really really cool. It was fun being there with friends.
>> Oh, awesome. Thanks. Um, I just have to show some Shola and the Fromage because we were there um Easter weekend, so there was candy and choka everywhere and the Fromage. Amazing. Uh, and that that's it. That That's Ovoa France. We all can't wait to go back. And I just
want to emphasize the American French partnership we had with the French high school and we hope to continue that going forward. And that's at the Jardan de Tuli right outside the Louvre. And I think I think that's all. So if you have any questions or comments, we'd love to hear. Do you want to speak any more or
add anything? >> Sure. Yeah. >> Sure. >> I think the big takeaway I had from this trip and I think a lot of me and my friends who went on this trip did is that we got to, you know, I at least I've been in French for four years. This is my fourth year taking French and it really felt like sort of a culmination of all my learning. You know, we got to
use all the French we've learned. And I feel like at Paris we got Englished a lot. you know, people would speak to us in English, but once we got down into tours, like we we spoke no English. It was totally French and it was a wonderful like a really really great experience. It was really fun.
>> Okay. Well, thanks y'all for listening to us. >> Thank you. And thank you for bringing Attekus. It really brings it home when we get to hear from the students. Board members, do you have any questions or anything that you want to share? >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Did you bring any chocolate? Uh, I know. I I wish I could have. I We didn't bring that gift. I didn't have a lot of room in my bags coming back, but should have brought needed like another suitcase for it. >> We'll dream about the chocolate. >> That's incredible.
>> Okay. Um, next up for our Laker Pride, we um I'm going to invite Where are we? Jamie and Okay. Yeah. I invite Jamie Anderson to present the 2026 Spring Grant Awards. Thank you, Jamie.
Okay. All right. Um, hello everyone. Good evening. Uh, my name is Jamie Anderson. I'm the executive director for the Laker Educational Foundation. Uh, the Laker Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization and our mission is um to
inspire and uh serve our PLSA PLSAS students and staff um by enriching uh inspir inspiring creativity and innovation and excellence. And one of the ways that we do this is through our annual grant program. And so this is our
second year um where we have crashed the classroom um of our uh very deserving award winners. And so um this happened last Friday. And so basically we went into classrooms um unannounced and um let teachers and staff know that they
were the winners of uh awards that they had um applied for. So a couple pictures um of our event. So this year we had uh grant winners from Prior Lake High School um both middle schools uh Edgewood and the district service center.
This year we were able to fund uh 15 different grant requests. We awarded over $20,000 um to our teachers and staff. Um and this will impact over uh 2100 plsas students. And so, um, a really cool opportunity this year is
we're actually able to impact our youngest learners, um, and our early care programs all the way through the Laker Launch program, um, that will be, uh, transitioning back in district next year. So, pretty excited that we're able to cover the whole gamut. Again, here are some pictures. Um, we
also had a big check. So, you know, big checks are really fun to get. A lot of people just love seeing a big check. Um, and so, just a couple pictures um, of our events uh, on Friday. So, we were able to um purchase or we will be able to purchase new motorroom equipment. Um
we are again transitioning and helping uh the Laker Launch program as they transition their program in house. We'll be purchasing different leisure and um recreational equipment for these students so they can find the love of uh physical activity and movement. Um buying new books. Uh we're really
into purchasing books and um trying to support um a love of reading for our students. And so, uh, new novels at the middle schools, um, a family resource bags at Edgewood. So, they're going to be creating, um, resource bags for families with their input, um, and having information in these bags that
will be helpful for for families, um, as they're kind of starting their journey um, with school and and learning uh, children childhood development. Uh, flexible seating in one of our um, EBD classrooms at Hidden Oaks. Um, adapted books for our life skills
learners. So, it was also also the unified track event um at the high school. And so, there was a lot of activity at the high school this day. Um so, we're actually able to to see a lot of um the unified students that will be receiving some of these um really great um supplies and equipment, but they're
adapting books um to help with reading um for their life skills students. Uh the unified coffee cart. Um this um is a coffee cart that it's going to be at the high school. Um it's for unified students and their peers. um and they're going to be kind of working on a whole business model in creating this coffee
cart and operating it um and then selling coffee to staff. So, a special um honor for this award. Um it's actually um the Bob Bars award. Um, so the Barcelos family is um a great supporter of LEF and the school district
and um Bob passed away um this November and so we wanted to honor him in a in a special way and so his family chose um the coffee cart as the designate um for his award this year. Uh inclusive yoga for life skills. Um, so she's going to be buying a bunch of
different yoga equipment um and then doing kind of a train the trainer model um and uh providing more opportunities for life skill students um to participate in different yoga um activities and exercises. Um this was at the high school a brain model BOF feedback. So buying um uh different
models um of the brain and this bio feedback bio feedback metric tool um so students can see see their brain level um patterns and how they're processing. Um a pretty cool opportunity for the um psychology students. The art of annotation um they're going to be purchasing books to help with annotation
in the Spanish immersion programs. um improving device access um for some of our students at the high school um making sure that they're set up for success when they start their um their day for learning. A time management and supports um so this came from the counselor guidance
counselor's office. So again, um buying supplies and equipment that will help students with some executive functioning and organization so they again are set up for success for their day to learn. Uh the language lab, they're going to be um purchasing some uh gamified linguistics um software um that will
help students again engage in um exploring the English language um in ways that are a little bit more um exciting and more appealing to how they learn. And um we'll be supporting the PLSAS community pow. so happy to contribute um to this event as well with
other partners. Um and um in addition, so another way um that we are really working to um uh strive to make our impact um with our students and in our community um is we have a uh Laker impact award. And so
it's kind of a a capital campaign. Um we pick a fund of a different organization and we really work to raise money for this organization to meet kind of a bigger goal that's going to reach a greater amount of students. And so, um, the recipient of the Laker Impact, um, award for from now until we meet our
goal, um, is the Everybody's Playground group, and they were going to share a little bit more information, so I won't steal their thunder. Um, we're really excited. So far, we've raised up to $30,000, um, that we'll be able to donate to Everybody's Playground. Um, and we'll continue working on our fundraising to meet our goals.
Okay, any questions? >> Board members, any questions or comments for Jamie? Great job. >> Well, congratulations to all the fans and thank you for supporting all the innovation. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> And to close out tonight's Laker Pride portion of the meeting, we'll have um director Chuka. >> You got they got it. Okay. >> We've got it to Yeah. Principal Glenn. >> Yeah. and the Everybody's Playground
Initiative. >> Chair Bullion, Dr. Thomas, board of directors, we are so excited to be here. This has been a two-year event in the running to come and present to you a little bit about everybody's playground. What a rockstar lineup for Laker Pride tonight. So excited to be a part of that. And I'm with three awesome
parents. Tracy Fleming from Glendale, Michelle Lindell from Jeffers Pond, and Katie Kelch from Red Tale. And together we're going to share with you a little bit about everybody's playground. Hi everybody. Good evening. Um, as Patrick said, my name is Tracy Fleming and I'm a parent at Glendale. Um, so I
want to share to with you today what is everybody's playground. Um, we believe that all kids deserve to have equal opportunities to play with their peers. Um, and we're just really committed to updating the Prior Lake Savage Elementary School playgrounds to make them accessible for all students. Kids
learn so much in the classroom thanks to the amazing teachers that we have in this district. Um, but we also know that so many important life skills are learned on the playground. Uh, we want our students that have cognitive and or physical disabilities um to be able to learn social skills and confidence and
have the experience of being included um playing with their um non-disabled peers. Um they do so much playing and learning together and it it's just such a wonderful experience to see these kids joining together with their non-disabled peers and learning from them, learning
from each other. We want the general education population to learn kindness, compassion, and inclusion. Um, and they they really do get that when they play and interact with um their peers that may have some special needs. Some of this is really already taking place in
our schools. We have a fabulous unified program. It really sets our district apart. It makes our district a wonderful place to be. Um, and we believe that these playgrounds are an important and really needed extension of that inclusive school culture that the unified program has already begun to
establish in our district. Hello. This all started two years ago when my daughter Claire transferred from Red Tail to Jeff Pond. A lot of the students were not familiar with students like Claire being in a wheelchair, non-verbal, needing nurse attention
throughout the day. When they went to recess, they always asked why Clare couldn't come on the playground with them. Why did she always have to stay on the blacktop? Um, because Clare is non-verbal. I did not know that this was going on, but her nurse who accompanies her to school told me that the kids are
asking. A week later, the kids are still asking. the kids want to play with Claire and they're not able to and they want to know why. So I said, "Okay, I hear you." I went to Mr. Glenn and Mr. Glenn said, "I hear you as well. Let's
listen to the kids, the second grade friends that want to play with their peers." And so here we are. We listened and now we have this wonderful initiative for you. So, the Everybody's Playground has two main objectives. Number one is to
resurface a portion of all the playgrounds here in Prior Lake Savage Area Schools with um the ability for all students that have mobility challenges to be able to access the playground area. So, many of our playgrounds right now have chips on that and that chip
area is really challenging for for anybody that has mobility challenges. That updating of the chips means to put a porous surface in it. If you've been to the ponds park, you've seen they're spongy soft. It's able to handle water go through that. So, that is our goal to
be able to do that. The second objective is to put some updated equipment that allows our students with special needs to interact with their gened peers. It'll be a wonderful opportunity to engage in some new some new equipment. Um, and we're excited because that's
what the students have asked for as well. So, there are different phases to this project and right now we are on phase one which is um putting together part of the Jeffers Pond playground. A lot of
the equipment is great. We don't need a whole new playground. We need a portion of the playground that will make it accessible and inclusive for all. So, as you can see by this rendering, we have worked with Weber and Miracle to get the port in place uh foundation um set up
and then some accommodations for uh play for the kids to interact together, whether it be music or spinning. Um, we really took a lot of consideration into all students, students with ADHD, students with
mobility issues, students with communicate issues. And so we really wanted to make sure that this part of the playground would be accessible for all. Two specific things I want to point out. This number rack concept, this is the same example of what we use in our
curriculum, our bridges curriculum right now at the primary level. So, GenEd classrooms can go out to the playground at Jeff respond and are going to be able to use that as part of their math curriculum. We wanted to make sure we tie that together. And then the communication board, the communication
board is specific to the board maker cues and pictures that are used in our curriculum and our life skills program. We model that so what is taught in the building can be used outside of the building as students go and be able to communicate if they're non-verbal specifically of what they want to do on
the playground. and that is being replicated as much as we can across the district. >> Glendale is the other school that gets to go in phase one. So, we're pretty excited about that. Um, we are paired um in the different phases. We're paired as schools um because the playground
manufacturer or Weber Recreation gives us a 25% discount for doing two schools at once. And that is huge because we're raising every single dollar to fund these playgrounds. So, we're really thankful that they did that. Um, so at Glendale, you can see our rendering there. Um, once again, we're not replacing all of the equipment we've
got. We're adding um this port inplace surface right through the middle there. You can see the green area. We're also adding um a few new clusters of uh equipment. And when choosing the equipment, we really prioritized at Glendale um choosing pieces that would truly allow all kids to play together.
that theme. You know, we just really want to hit that hard because um you know, these are not pieces that can only be used by students with special needs. That would be a really small number of the population. Obviously, still important, but um they're not pieces that are just for kids with special needs. They're not pieces that can be
used by one student at a time. They're pieces that will just really encourage the interaction of several students, disabled and non-disabled, all playing together at the same time. At the moment, this is where we have our financials. The cost for phase one is is
$253,000. Right now, Jeffres Bondwood committed to raise $73,000 and we've done that. Glendale is raising up to $100,000 and they are getting there. They're on their way. There are some pathways to make that happen. And we're so excited that
the LEF impact grant where Jamie go. >> She I I just I can't say enough about the LEF stepping up and helping us really get this going. I don't think we had a vision to make this happen without their support. And so we're excited. Their commitment is $80,000 for phase
one and we're working towards that right now. can also go to the food truck festival in a couple of weeks to help support. >> Very good. Um I'm part of phase two which is Red Tail and Five Hawks. Um we are actively raising money. Each
playground is costing around I would say 120 to $150,000 depending on the needs of the playground. The equipment each playground at each school is also different. So it's not the same playground across the board. Um, I will say too, one thing about these
playgrounds is a lot of us parents with kids with special needs, it takes a little bit to get your kids used to school and we practice going to school and we go over the summer to get them used to being in the school environment. Being in that in the playground is one of the areas, you know, that's open that we can access. So, we use these
playgrounds all year round. Um, so it'll be just so amazing to have this as part of our community. Um, so thank you to everybody. We have a very supportive community, whether that
be within the district and outside the district. We have Miracle League here. We have Darby's dancers. We have unified um, young athletes with community ed. So, we have a community that's very supportive of our students with special needs. Um, and we just have great students who want to, you know,
participate and be with kids who have needs that are not their own. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Is there any space for any comments or qu any board members have any comments or questions that you want to add? I think this is really
meaningful work. We thank you for all that you've done. Thank you for sharing with us tonight. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Thomas to provide the superintendent report. >> Chair Bull and board directors,
just a couple of things this evening. Um want to share with our community that I had my annual uh realators meeting uh this last week and shared important updates um around the district and also learning from our area experts about housing trends in the area and um hear hearing or understanding what they're
hearing from families as they're choosing Prior Lake Savage area um communities to live. That was really beneficial. I always enjoy that. Um, we also uh had our annual Athena Award lunchon last Friday and Key Mulling uh
three sport athlete in lacrosse, cross country, and track. Uh, and she was the team captain and role model for her peers. Um, she was honored um on from our district that day. It was a beautiful lunchon and just uh just amazing looking at all these um young
athletes and the leaders that they are um all throughout the Twin Cities um especially our own Key. So Keel is going to continue her academic uh journey at Butler University uh next year. So congratulations to her um as she goes out to um u make a splash in the world.
And I also want to, excuse me, fighting a little cold. Um, like to also recognize our Dakota language students. Um, four of our Laker teams competed in the fourth annual um, Hoka um, Hokata T uh, Dakota Language Bowl. Uh, and they
went headto-head with 31 teams um, from across the region. And they included teams from Canada as well as an immersion school from South Dakota. um and our students uh uh first in fourth place in the beginner division uh and then fourth place in the intermediate
divi div division and just want to uh thank Freddy our our Dakota language teacher. I'm very proud of his leadership and the students for representing our community and honoring the Dakota language and culture and showcasing um all of their hard work um for these past couple years. Um, and
then lastly, um, I'd like to, uh, last week we, um, kind of got ourselves in trouble by wishing Martha a well, uh, deserved retirement after 33 years of service. And, uh, now I want to officially welcome Danny Kle, um, who is
serving as the executive assistant supporting the superintendent's office as well as the school board. And this is her first night flying solo. So, congratulations, Danny. We are uh, grateful to have you aboard. Uh she's also a wealth of many decades of knowledge about all things Prior Lake
Savage Area Schools. She's worked in community education as well as the office of teaching and learning most recently. So congratulations, Danny, and excited to work with you. >> Thank you, Danny. >> And that is my report for tonight. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Thomas. And
next up, we have uh two proclamations. The first one is on Youth Appreciation Week. Director Smith, would you be so kind to read that proclamation? >> You know, I would. Whereas the vast majority of youth are
concerned, knowledgeable, and contributing partners within the community, and whereas the accomplishments and achievements of these young citizens deserves the recognition and praise of the community. And whereas Optimus International has since 1954
developed and promoted a program entitled Youth Appreciation Week. And whereas the citizens of Prior Lake Savage Area School District have indicated a desire to join the optimists in expressing appreciation and approval of the contributions of youth. The
district 719 board of education does hereby proclaim the second week of May as youth appreciation week in the district. By this action, let it be known that we have faith in the ability of today's youth as they assume responsible roles in the future of
humankind. Do I read the last part because it's got your name on it. >> Oh, I don't know. I I should open it. >> I'll just I'll go now. Therefore, I Dustin Smith Well, it's that should be you. That should be you. >> Well, I'll say now therefore I Amy Bullan, chairperson of the Prior Lake
Savage Area Schools Board of Education, hereby proclaim the second week of May, 2026 of Youth Appreciation Week in the Prior Lake Savage Area School District. Wonderful. >> We did it. >> We did it. All right.
>> And then um I think that we have to remind the board members there is an Optimus lunchon on the 13th and that there will be an RSVP for that. So I'll send out that reminder. Um next up, our proclamation is on the National Speech and Language Pathologist Week. Director
Mason, would you be so kind to read that? >> Yep. Uh whereas May is nationally recognized by the American Speech Language Hearing Association as better hearing and speech month honoring the important work of speech language pathologists and aiologist and whereas speech language pathologists aiologists
and teachers of the deaf heart hearing heart of hearing support students in developing communication language and hearing skills essential for learning and connection. And whereas these professionals are valued members of our student support teams who collaborate with educators and families to promote
student success. Now therefore, the Prior League Savage Area Savage Area School Board of Education proclaims May 2026 as better hearing and speech month and proudly highlights the Speech Language Pathologist Appreciation Week May 18th through the 22nd, 2026 in
recognition of their dedication and service to our students. >> Thank you. Uh, next up we have open forum. At this time we'll open uh we will open the public forum. Citizen input is important to the work of the board and we thank
speakers for your engagement. We ask that you respect the threeminut time limit and please speak in the manner in which you prefer to be spoken to. Our first speaker tonight is oh Adakus Beal.
Is that correct? He maybe felt like >> he might have >> he maybe felt like he was Oh, we got to we got to hear from Adakus and he >> he he did so good. Okay, so um
we'll move to Oh, and this one does not have a name on it. A speaker that wrote budget cuts and related effects. uce myself. I'm Tyler Sheridan. I'm better known as Coach Sheridan. It's my fifth season as
a volunteer track coach on the Prairie Lake High School team for the boys. I also have two children in this district. Uh good evening and thank you. Um I've been around for a while and I just learned our district's mission. I got to say I really like it. is to inspire and
empower each student to reach their full potential. And one of the most effective ways to do that is something I tell my student athletes a lot is surround yourself with good people and good things happen. >> All right. Unfortunately, uh we are losing one of those good people.
Our head track coach who leads a roster of 130 student athletes also serves as an assistant varsity football coach and his teaching position was cut. on paper, and I get it. Budget cuts are hard. It is what it is. It's just a position
being cut. But it's not just a staffing change. It's a loss of daily mentorship and leadership for a large group of our students. And while budget cuts may be part of the reason, it's one example of my broader concern. And really the reason I'm here
is it it seems like the reality is that tenure seems to outweigh or ends up outweighing impact that people make. And if the main question in staffing cuts is, well, who's been here the shortest, we risk losing some of the
most impactful adults in our students lives. If we continue down that path, we shouldn't be surprised when we lose the the very people who connect best with kids, lead programs, and truly live out our district's mission of inspiring and
empowering each student to reach their full potential. Now, I know that cuts are necessary and when they are necessary in the future, I just urge our district leaders and our decision makers to move away from a seniority based approach and adopt one
that also includes clear and consistent perhaps a point system criteria such as leadership that includes leadership roles, mentorship responsibilities, and involvement in student programs. Those are clearly defined contributions that should be explicitly factored into
staffing decisions. That way, instead of asking who's been here the shortest, we'll be asking who's helping fulfill our mission best. And those are the people that none of us can afford to lose. Thank you. >> Thank you.
The next speaker is Trinet Johnston on the survey results. Good evening. My name is Trinet Johnston and I am a parent of a first grader at Jeffers Pond and the newly elected PTC president for the 2627 school year.
I'm here tonight representing the concerns of many district families on issues that are not individual frustrations but are systemic challenges that have been consistently identified across our parent community. I want to begin with what is quite simply the most
urgent issue facing our schools class size and staffing ratios. Elementary classrooms with 29 to 30 students per teacher represent an immediate crisis. This degree of overcrowding creates an undeniable barrier to learning and puts
unreasonable strain on our teachers who are doing their very best under conditions that do not support success. Decades of research demonstrate that students in smaller classrooms consistently outperform their peers in larger classrooms across meeting
reading, math, and long-term academic achievement. Personally, I have witnessed families in Prior Lake choose private school or open enrollment in other neighboring districts, specifically because our district has developed a bad reputation for
unmanageable class sizes. Overcrowding also affects the physical and emotional learning environment for students. As a parent who volunteers in the classroom each and every week, I can tell you firsthand that these classrooms are not designed to hold this many children.
Just last week, we were notified that Jeffers Pond went into a hold to support a student situation. While I'm grateful that these safety protocols are put in place and that they exist, we need to be honest about the conditions that make them likely, which is high class sizes.
Now, I want to shift briefly and talk about district f uh fiscal stability by sharing with you just how our Prior Lake families respond when needs go unmet. Two years ago, a group of parents created a self-run co-ed flag football team because there was a clear gap in
what was available for our children here in the district. Since then, we've more than doubled in size with over 67 families each week. This league exists because a ground swell of highly organized grassroot families have recognized a need and stepped up to take
action for their children. This same group of fully engaged and committed grassroots parents show up powerfully in showed up powerfully in our recent survey by responding that they would support the highest proposed operating levy increase of $67 per month. It's
clear that they overwhelmingly believe our current budget challenges are symptoms of deeper structural district issues. The message is clear. We must reduce class sizes. We must fully support educators and pro preserve
meaningful student experiences like the ones we heard tonight. And the only way to do this is by passing an operational levy that will provide the resources our children need. We're asking all seven members of this board to work together to gain broad constituent support
specifically from residents without children who are key to securing this levy. Supported students and strong schools benefit everyone in this community. Your own board government uh statement commits you to advancing student achievement and proactively
addressing issues that affect local education. Tonight, I'm asking you to make good on that commitment. Our students and our teachers deserve nothing less. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Joseph uh Bamer on the
administration. >> Did I say your name right? >> No, that's fine. >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah. Uh up here again. So yeah, you'll My students been on here a couple of
times, so uh it's pronounced Beamer. Beamer. Uh, kind of like the BMW, but it's spelled B O E H M- E R. Uh, I am very public and you can find me. Basically, I'll follow up what you just said. Let me just read it straight off
of your website. The board with community input. Thank you very much. I'm here. So envisions the educational future of its community and then formulates the goals and defines the outcomes and sets uh the course for its district.
It's supposed to be effective two-way communications to build trust and support among the community. You have failed. Every single one of you have failed the board. So, you're supposed to build
trust and support for the board as well. You guys can't even do that. You have failed to do it with a superintendent. He's gone. Thank you. Appreciate that. Round of applause for you. It's amazing.
And I'll thank you, too, community because that's your fault. Staff, students, again, failure. Two-way communications. absolute disgrace. So that's the focus. Put forth
communitywide concerns and values that best support student achievement rather than being overly influenced by special interests. Failure Obi, you are not. You are the
exact opposite in what this community wants to put forth. It's an amazing achievement. What we've done for the past what hour and 20 minutes have put forth amazing students. That's
what this community has done. And you have stared them in the face. Look at that coin. Hold it in your hand. That's right there in front of you. That was given to you guys. Throw it in the trash because you looked them in the face
right here as they stood and presented. and you're cutting them right here in front of you. You're cutting them. It's a failure. It's just it's amazing. So, you have failed on every single one of those and
you just you can't provide what you have sworn an oath to do. Well, thank everybody in town. Uh, Moms for Liberty. Uh, I don't know. What do we got? Coyotes, the Suns, Jackals. I don't know what the hell else we got in
here, but the political divide in this community is sickening. And it's in the board. It's everywhere. Political divide is dividing this town. It's something I left in the '9s when I grew up in a town of 900 people, merged
with another town of 400 just so I could have a class size of 32. I didn't have these opportunities. Hobie, none of it. None of these ever presented for an hour and 20 minutes. I had zero of those opportunities. We are
cutting a pool. We are cutting swim team. We are cutting choir, band. We're closing an effing school. It is not what you have sworn to do. It
is not what this community is doing. Dr. Thomas, you were a DEI hire to this town and I apologize to that. But this town did that and I don't I don't take anything against you for chasing
opportunities. And as you have stated, people do want to live here. But people are leaving to find other different schools because they're better opportunities that you are stripping away.
opportunities I've given my kids for Spanish immersion up on the chopping blocks. You close your school. That's amazing to me when I never had any of those opportunities. I came here for that reason to give my kids those
better opportunities because it was something we never had. It's just it's ridiculous. >> Mr. Beamer. >> Well, co no >> three. I don't really care if you think you're going to come up here with the rest of these and just come now. You're
going to have a backbone when everybody runs over their time up here. You're not going to have any part of this gavvel. If we're going to come here and teach our kids as a boy scout on my honor, I will do my best to do my duty. Girl
Scout, I will do my best to be honest and fair. The Rotary who has given money to everybody's playground. I am part of all of this. It is Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it
be beneficial to all concerned? And you swore an oath to do the same. You can't do it. For you churches that are out there, James 2 14 to 17, faith without
action is dead. If you're going to come up here and run your mouth and not do anything to support it behind, why do you give money to the church? Why are you why are we doing any of this? Because it means nothing when
you run your mouth and don't support anything behind you when you said, "Oh, we thank you. Thank you choirers. Thank you." And you're cutting them. We had a track. Hey, thanks. appreciate
it. Bye. You're not essential because we need small class sizes and these cuts are not necessary because all we needed was a levy to pass and you guys gave misinformation to this
community so that they voted with the wrong information. That's your fault. It's not the community's fault. that's yours because you failed on your oath when you swore to take that seat to
build trust with this community and you have failed it time and time again. You have failed it. I'm a father, two kids. They're all states. They're in this. They get recognized up here like everybody else.
And I am in here as a parent. I am here as a booster. I am here as a Rotarian, a Cub Scout, a Boy Scout and everything. I support this community. I support these students in every activity that is
here. And I will put my goddamn money where it belongs to prove it. This right here is a sponsorship for the PAAA to sponsor our activities that you are cutting right there. The choir, I will be a gold
sponsorship level. And it will say when you go up there to all of our activities. So everyone that's banned choir when they have speech debate competitions everything it will say gold member
sponsorship the Beamer family and you will effing remember me. >> Thank you Mr. Beamer. You you are have over twice as long as everyone. >> Good. I thank you for >> for running this like it should be. remember that when everybody else runs
over their time, run the meeting like it should be and take that up with every god I every person on every side. >> Thank you, Mr. Beamer. Thank you for speaking. >> Next up, we have the approval of the
agenda. Um, may I have a motion um to approve the agenda as presented? So, made by Director France. Do I have a second? >> Second >> by Director Olstead. All in favor say I.
>> I opposed. That passes 70. Uh, next up we have the consent agenda. It includes routine items including financials, uh purchases over 25,000, monthly financial report, enrollment report, approval of minutes and
personnel items. Any board member may request removal of an item prior to approval. Are there any items to be re removed? >> Um yes, terrible yen. Um I would like to pull 10 F2. Um specifically just the addendum to the superintendent
employment contract. So 10 F I think it's under 10 F2. Okay. And then any others? Um Director Bullion. Um 10 C monthly financial reports and 10 we will move 10F 2 and 10 C
uh to the top of new business. All right. So, with that um amendment, can can we can I will we have a motion? Correct. Have a motion and a second. Is that correct?
Yeah. So, I will all in favor of approving the consent agenda less 10F2 and 10 C signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos say nay. >> That passes 10. Thank you.
>> 70. 70. Thank you. All right. Next up, we move to the resolution for acceptance of gifts. Let me get there
one second here. Thank you. All right. Next, I'll make a motion to accept the resolution for acceptance of gifts. Can I get a second? >> Second. So, made >> by director Ols. Thank you very much.
Um, this is we will take a roll call vote for this. Uh, the donations are as follows. Jill Kufren for $50 for Everybody's Playground. And the following donors will go toward the techn technology education at Prair Lake
High School. And they include Northern Tool, a $15,000 value for tools and equipment, ABC Building Supply and Lyman Lumber, a $1,300 value for safety apparel. Uh,
Blue Vera and Mortensson Construction, a $4,500 value for materials and tools. Napa Auto Parts, a $15,000 value for tools for auto and welding labs. Ryan
Companies, a $13,000 value for tools and construction materials. And finally, White White White Oak, a $45,000 value for Woods Labs. Um again acceptance by roll call vote is requested. I will
start with you director Atinson. With gratitude I >> I director Johnson >> with gratitude and thanks. I >> director Mason >> I thank you. >> Director Olstead >> I thank you. >> Director France >> I. >> Director Smith >> I.
>> And I that passes 70. Okay moving on. Next up is personnel items. I will entertain a motion and a second to approve. >> Made >> by director Olstead, second >> and a second by Director France. Um
before discussion, I'll turn it over to Director Cothorne to present. >> Good evening, Chair Bullion, Superintendent Thomas, and board directors. In front of you, you have um some additional staffing needs. Um the need has been identified for coaching support within the track and field program focused on pole vaults and
jumps. Uh this adjustment would align the structure of the program by balancing the number of assistant coaches across the boys and girls team. The cost would be absorbed through a reallocation of existing funds. >> Any questions or discussions by board members?
Hearing none. We have a motion and a second on the table for the co-curricular coach. All in favor say I. I. >> Oppose say nay. >> That passes 70. All right. Um the consent items that
were uh pulled, we will move first to um item 10 F2. Um sorry, that is the uh superintendent
um resignation. Dr. Mason. Yeah. Um, thank you. I I um just wanted to I think it's important to take this from consent. I think it's, you know, not routine and and something that needs to be discussed. Um, you know, I had raised
concerns. I guess I expected a letter of resignation instead of an addendum to the employment contract. So, um, you know, I think this is a resignation or termination and a shaded by Dr. Thomas. it's not a mutually agreed upon departure um or modification to his
contract. So um I guess you know my concern is just you know Dr. Thomas is our one employee of the board. Um his contract and notice period um explicitly states clearly that there's a 90-day advanced notice period. Um, and I think
that, you know, the communication that went out, um, initially stating the June 30th date, um, you know, without discussion and, um, alignment to that 90-day notice period. Um, I have checked many other SI contracts and I I think
it's pretty common to see that like um, that um, statement around the advanced days notice, 120 days. I've even seen six months in some of them. Um, so while I appreciate your service to our district and and this isn't personal, I think it's really putting us in a hard
place and um, you know, I don't see how approving this addendum. Um, and allowing, you know, a shorter notice period is in the benefit of our community and our students specifically. Um, and that's who we serve. Um so you
know we have a lot of important business coming up over the next couple of months, few months and also it would have you know these are in here for a reason to give the board time to replace the position. Um and I don't feel like we have that now with the shorter um notice period. So I just wanted to raise
that this evening. Um so I'm not sure, you know, I'm not in favor of this as an an addendum. I don't think we've seen a resignation notice yet and I'm not sure if we will, but just questions around that. >> Any other board members feedback,
questions? >> Um, go ahead. >> I was going to say that that's it's a little misleading to say that the only option and there was 90 days that was option C for termination under AB and C. And I think what we're exercising is
another option within the contract which is very very common in its standard language. >> So option C is in the scenario that Thomas terminates the contract which is what is occurring here and it says explicitly by providing the 90 days. So I think >> so what is option A and B?
>> Right? So he's trying to ask us to make an addendum to the contract instead of resigning which I think is um you know a big ask for us. it doesn't benefit our community and our students. Um, and I think it doesn't allow us time. Um,
>> Director Mason, that was option C, but option A and B were also in there. There were three options for terminations of the contract. >> Option A would apply when it's modified by a mutual written consent and option B would apply when the schoolboard discharges, which we this scenario is
not either case. So option C is when he is initiating the termination. Well, option A is by mutual consent when he uh what he's asking for and that is that is what he's asking for. So, there were three options in the in the contract. I just want to make that clear. That
wasn't that he's there's no contract written in the state that requires someone to stay for 90 days regardless of the circumstances. >> I I'm not sure that that's actually the case. This this explicitly states that, you know, with the his initiated termination that we would be providing
advanced notice period. again, it typically pro um protects the employer to allow sufficient time for replacement. Um so I just feel like again it's not in the best interest of our district and our students um and it doesn't give us sufficient time to find
a replacement um or it makes it much more challenging. So >> any other board members? >> Um yeah, I have several questions. Um my concern much like what director Mason raised is actually changing the terms of agreement from a resignation to a mutual
separation agreement and um my because that's what we're trying that's what your intent is correct Dr. Thomas >> the amend that's what the amendment that's the intent of the addendum okay so my question is if Dr. Thomas is requesting to change
the contract terms from a resignation to a mutual separation agreement. What type of impact did that does that have to the balance of his contract being paid out regarding salary and benefits? >> Have any excuse me, I know you've asked this in the past, Director Atinson, um
about severance um and I shared that there are no um clauses like that in my contract. So um there is no uh payout um you know any of my unused uh vacation or sick time um is forfeited. Uh and yes to
director France's point um option A. Uh so first of all I I did share um a letter of intent um to separate with director of HR. Um and I shared in that letter that I would be following up with an amendment to my contract to present to the board for discussion um to
exercise um clause A of my contract that it's modified by mutual written consent of the school board in Thomas. Um so there wasn't a reversal of resignation that a couple of you are asserting. Um this is a conversation um around option
A or clause A. >> Um thank you. I another question I have is um does this request um have any impact on pending and future litigation? And the reason that I'm bringing this up is because um it is my understanding
that with the any any pending or future litigation um that since you're we're changing it to a mutual separation agreement versus a resignation um it was recommended to put in a cooperation agreement to ensure that Dr. Thomas will fully cooperate
with our district in connection with any current and future claims, investigations, or litigation arising from employment with our district. Um, while I understand um just one other thing, why I understand an employee may offer to cooperate, there's a big
difference between participating in litigation versus a commitment to their full cooperation. And I'm wondering if we could make a motion to add um a cooperation agreement given our the situation in our district.
And I sent an example of a cooperation agreement to um Dr. Cawthorne and um did ask that they be shared with the board, but I don't believe it was. >> I have a clarifying question. Are we able to talk about litigation right here?
>> Um I don't Yeah, I don't think we're talking about it. We're just trying to protect our district. Um >> Well, we are talking about it though, so I just want to make sure. Can we just pause for a minute and make sure that we can >> that we can talk about it. >> Yeah, I invited uh we have uh Marcus
Jardine or Jardine, sorry, u from the district's uh law firm of Squires, Wallsburgger, and Mace. I invited uh him to the meeting to answer any of these potential questions that the board might have. >> Thank you. >> Good evening everybody. My name is Marcus Dardin. Um, I'm happy to answer any questions about the ongoing
litigation. I mean, we can't discuss obviously district uh litigation strategy or anything attorney client privileged, but um I mean, in terms of uh Dr. Thomas's obligations to the district in any litigation, I mean, I think like I I can speak in generalities
to what um to what typically happens in these types of cases if that's helpful. Um, so you know, typically in a case like this, and I don't know a lot about the pending litigation, and that's probably a good thing, um, since this is
public meeting. Um, but the I I I know that Dr. Thomas is a named defendant in the case, and I I believe it's it's public information, so it's being sued in his private and uh and public official capacity. And so, um, I guess
from a litigation standpoint, um, you know, it would be typically in his best interest, uh, and I I believe it's actually part of his contract, um, that the district will offer in indemnity and and provide, um, legal
legal counsel. So, I mean, that's what I would just say generally. And I I do have a copy of the um the litigation support agreement. Um I I've not seen something like this, but like you know, we of course our firm would be more than
happy to review it and and make any suggestions on the benefits or detriments it might it might have. I just haven't had time to personally go through it and and and make any sort of legal judgment on it. Um but you know
the in terms of uh contracting and the superintendent's contract I mean parties are generally free to contract as they see fit. Um and so you know you have a superintendent contract. Um and you know I'm kind of getting off the question here but just that for for the for the
contract that that you have. I think it's it's you know my I guess my general legal standpoint would be it's sort of the the board's decision but you know I'm happy to answer um legal questions about um about anything. So there is so
am I hearing you correctly to say that there is nothing out of the um nothing to be concerned about between or nothing out of the norm uh what may normally happen when a superintendent such as Dr.
Thomas is offered another position in another district for for how this process is playing out. Is there any concern um for the board as far as how it is being presented h how the mutual separation is
being um presented to the board um per contract? >> Sorry, do you mean on the litigation piece or >> Well, there we've that we've gone to two questions. We've had a concern regarding um Director Mason, you had a concern
regarding the 90 days and then Director Atinson, am I correct in saying you had a concern regarding the pending litigation? I think two two concerns change changing from a mutual separation to a resignation. How does that change the payout and how does that change um
>> the future or pending or future litigation in our relationship with Dr. Thomas and should we should we pursue a cooperation agreement just to ensure that um we have his cooperation in
future um litigation proceedings. >> Well, I'll start with how it's how it's framed whether it's a residation or if it's a mutual separation. I I guess like from a a legal standpoint um like the way that I read the contract it doesn't
it doesn't necessarily make a difference because I I believe both are considered to be a termination. So it's just it's just whether you know in one of them were saying that uh Dr. Thomas is uh a voluntary participant in that termination. Um and the other um you
know it would be I guess it would be like a resignation but it's still it's still a termination. And it's just like he's deciding to to do that. And the way that I read the contract, right, is that like when I go through it, I read it before I came here, is that everything is is triggered by that termination. So
like for example, like you know, his salary payments will will stop obviously. Um the the matching retirement payments I believe stop after he first gives notice. Not sure when that was, but whenever whenever that notice is made of
his intent to terminate, that's when the matching retirement was stop for example. Uh, you know, and he was my my interpretation of the contract that that his interpretation of the contract that he gave is correct for my opinion. There is no entitlement to any sick leave, no
matter how we frame it. I mean, if it's a, you know, I I would consider to be, if you do the mutual consent thing, it's still a termination. It's just he's a voluntary participant in that termination. And he doesn't get any sick leave in that there's no vacation approval. I mean, I suppose that if he I
don't know if Dr. Thomas has vacation time. I mean, I I suppose he could use some before he leaves, but I there's nothing in the contract that would entitle him to have any um like payout of of his vacation time. there's nothing in there that would entitle him to that.
Um, and and so when I go through the contract, I guess, long story short, I don't I don't really see any difference in how it's framed. Um, I I think that what what matters is that his contract is being terminated. >> Does thatice
your question? >> Well, that answers like the first part. What about the cooperation agreement for future litigation, which would be you probably your area of expertise giving your >> Yeah. So, >> your representation, >> I mean, like I'll say like I've I'll be honest, I've never seen something exactly like that before, but I mean,
there's nothing that like inherently would like prevent the board from signing a document like this. Like you you could um this particular document, like I said, we would just need time to to consider it and and whether it's something that we would advise or not.
Um, but I mean speaking in generalities, I'll just say in general, um, you know, we've litigation takes a long time. Um, like we have lawsuits going on for, you know, conduct that occurred precoid and it's not it's not uncommon for a
superintendent or administrator or principal to move on to a new job. And it does get a little bit muddy, right? because you know it's all about like who's the client like we have those conversations but we like our we take
the position that we we represent that person even when they depart and go to a different position and that that does happen um pretty pretty often and you know like t typically the interests are
are aligned and like I said I don't know a whole lot about this particular lawsuit um I skimmed the complaint before I came here tonight. Um, but from what I've seen of that lawsuit, my belief is that uh Dr. Thomas's
interests are aligned with the the boards. um you know and and there's also like a you know the MDE has professional like if if you're worried about anything else like there's a professional uh code of conduct for administrators and one of
those is that like you know an administrator at a school district can't you know go walk around giving out attorney client privilege information because that would violate their their duties uh their ethical duties. Um, but I mean that being said, if if there's
additional things that you don't believe those are are um protecting, um, you know, there's there's nothing, like I said, parties can really contract as they see fit. So, if you if the board wanted to consider something like this, um, there's nothing preventing you from
doing that. I I would just say from a legal standpoint, I would advise that you have legal counsel review it, make recommendations and edits and that sort of thing. But and I'm sorry I think there was one more. Did I answer everybody's question? >> I believe so. >> Yeah.
>> Are y um well thank you for thank you for your counsel. I think um directors uh if there's no other motion there I will take a motion to accept. >> I got a quick question if you don't mind.
>> Sure. Director. >> So I know we marked off C here. Um, are we is there a reason we have both A and B or is it does it have to be a combination or how does that >> I didn't mark off C? >> Well, it's it's lined out. >> I'm sorry.
>> Oh. Oh, I'm you're talking about on the amendment. I'm sorry. I thought you >> amendment. I apologize. I wasn't I wasn't clear on that. So C is C is lined out. >> Um, so to me, right, it was just pointed out there's there's three different options.
And now are we going with option A or option B? >> The amendment that's in the uh board book has is for option A. >> Yeah, the addendum the way I understand >> the addendum is for option A.
>> Okay. >> Maybe if I could restate because the way I understand it is that the addendum is asking to remove that 90-day advanced notice period. >> Okay. Maybe that's where I was confused at. Correct. Yep. The addendum essentially changes the date on the contract to end June 30,
2026. Okay. >> Um mentioned the option that we are going with which is to accept his reg resignation as a mutual >> and um basically to move on. >> Um so that that is very typical.
So giving that I'm going to take a a motion and a second to approve the resignation as listed in the in our packet. >> So >> with the with the um the the number and
um letter of the option on the on the um >> as presented agenda presented as presented. Yes. Yes. I will take a motion and a second. So made by director France and a second by director Smith. >> All in favor say >> chair Bullian. Point of order. There's
discussion after your motion and second. Sorry. >> I would like to Yes. I'd like to amend the motion um to include in the addendum >> a cooperation agreement um to be added to the addendum.
Is there a second for that motion? I mean, I would like to see what that looks like. I guess I haven't seen it. I don't know that there's any harm in including that or not. Right. I I mean, if it's if it helps us um ensure that we
will have representation if needed down the road. Is there harm in that? I don't know. I haven't seen it. So, I guess >> again, is there a second to that? >> Yes. >> Second. Okay. So, uh, Director Atinson,
you, um, asked for an amended motion to include, again, can you restate that? Um, to include in the addendum that we will be including a cooperation agreement and
the cooperation agreement can come to the board at the next meeting, but I would like a line in the um in the addendum to include a cooperation agreement. Okay. So, we have a mo we have a motion and a second to uh amend
the motion to include a cooperation agreement. All in favor, should we take a roll call vote for this? Uh we'll take a roll call vote. We'll start with you, Director Atinson. >> I. >> Um Director Johnson, >> I. Director Mason,
>> I >> sorry I'm I'm trying to I'm >> uh Director Olstead. >> Go ahead. I'm not sure that I would um support this addendum regardless. So I um I would like to see the corporation
agreement. Yes. But >> nay. >> Director France. >> Nay. >> Director Smith. >> Nay. >> And I am a nay. So the amendment the amendment to the motion fails um 40 or
43 I'm sorry. So then we'll go back to the the motion on the table is to accept the um termination of the contract as presented in our board book. Um I will
do that by a roll call vote as well. Um we'll start with you Director Smith. Uh I >> uh director France >> I. >> Director Wilad >> I. >> Director Mason. >> Nay. >> Director Johnson. >> Nay. >> Director Atinson.
>> Nay. >> And I am an I. So that passes 4. >> 43. >> 43. Thank you. 43. Um and then uh the other item pulled from consent was item
10 C, the monthly financial report. Director Atinson. >> Uh, thank you. I sent in a couple questions um that I am hoping that Director Ryder can help to answer um in the public here >> and it's regarding our financial report.
Um the question I had was on the page that has and I'm sorry I don't have the page in front of me. I guess I can pull that up but it has basically our revenues and our general fund revenue during the month of March was 12 million6. Year-to- date, our general fund fund
revenue as of March 31st was 90 million 90.1 compared to 83.26 million um the previous year. So, that's an increase in 6.9 million in revenue um to the previous year, which is wonderful. I know in the past that we've
talked about um the 4 million in additional revenue we received we received from sped but was hoping that you could add some um some um just clarification on where is this additional revenue coming from is it state funds is it federal funds and is
it I know it's forecasted probably in our total but does it have an impact on our total revenue forecast for the year given the fact that we're up 6.9 million um for the for this year so far the 2 million um of general education aid is
has increased this year over the previous year by 2 million and that is coming straight from the um ideas report which is being paid out based on our enrollment as we have budgeted. Um so I I feel confident that that's that will
be fine. and it's not sometimes they'll pay out and if you have enrollment submitted into the ADME system a little higher than what you're actually seeing come through that can be a problem where they'll take it back at the end. I don't see that being an issue for us for the gened aid. >> That's good.
>> Um beyond that also in state aid is the um special education aid and we have discussed the fact that um as we revised the budget that we pulled in $3.4 $4 million and at that time I also stated that there was still calculations being finalized and we're waiting to kind of
see where that's all going to land. The ideas payment is paying out a metered payment based upon the calculation that is most current out there and just recently updated and so that is the difference. Um it is higher than what we had talked about before. It is expected
and anticipated that if that is that much higher as we finalize our audit, we would find our fund balance being higher than anticipated under the unassigned because that is not restricted funds >> and that we would then um have the board would have an option then as to like did
they want to set that aside into a specific account um for future needs or is it something that we just leave alone in the unassigned and that would be a discussion at that time. >> Thank you for clarifying that. Um my second question I had is um as a board
um we approved 4 million in cuts for the 2627 budget. I know a large majority of our staff was made to our cuts was made to staff. Um since the summer teacher salaries are paid in June and I'm not exactly sure how that whole calculation works which is why I had the question.
If our 26 27 teacher salaries, if that portion is paid in June, shouldn't we see a reduction in that forecast and expenditures in June? >> No. The adjustments that we've made to the budget are for fiscal year 27.
>> And teacher contracts, their assignments actually start from September 15 and they run through the following August 31st. So those last four payment pay periods of July and August are essentially paid out in July and August as a cash flow, but they're all acrewed
back into the previous year. >> Okay. So it's it's a that would be part of this year's budget, not the next year's budget. >> That's correct. This this coming summer payments will be part of the 26th budget. Okay. And the reductions were made in 27. >> Okay. All right. I appreciate that because I know we always see this big
jump in our um expenditures in June for that. And I I I apologize. I was not aware that it was part of this year's contract versus next year's contract. So, thank you. Those are my two questions. I appreciate you taking the time to answer them. >> Absolutely. >> Any other Director France?
>> Um Director Ryder, um the special education payments that we get in. Um that's because our special education um count has gone up, right? The ADM for special ed. Well, it's actually more calculated now on the expenditures of
the prior year. Okay. So, as those are finalized statewide and then the um pration, if there is any is considered um as part of that calculation, the state does too. Um and then if there's appropriation bill that passes, then that can restore that appro that u pration.
>> What's our current cross subsidy uh percentage? um to put these numbers in better perspective because the state obviously funds and we we get the ideas uh funding but our our costs are usually higher regardless. So it's it's not like
all of a sudden we got a windfall of money. We still had to pay out the costs and they they don't cover 100% of the cost of special ed. >> Right. So we incurred the expense last year where we had over expenditures and that >> um dug into our unassigned fund balance
at that time. >> So this revenue that's now being received in 26 for the fiscal year 25 is basically restoring our fund balance and that is that's the expectation. Um, when I take a look at the estimate for the current year, it looks to me as though
one moment. Um, you asked how much is the cross subsidy. It's about $5.8 million is the cross subsidy that's anticipated for fiscal year 26 and that is being metered at this time. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> All right. If all questions have been
answered, thank you, Director Ryder, for that. Uh, I will take a motion and a second to approve item number 10 C as presented. >> So, made director there was a lot of you that said yes.
Director Olad and Director >> Director Atinson. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose say nay. >> That passes 70. All right. It is 8:00. I promised I would take a um short break
for our for Liz back in the room. We're going to take a five minute recess and we will come back to new business. I appreciate it. >> They took a >> All right, welcome back everybody. Um,
our next item or next up is new new business. And the first item in new business is um discussion on the superintendent search process. And again, we have Barb Dorne from MSBA uh graciously uh joining us to answer any
questions on the proposal that was um included in our board book. Um so I will uh I will just introduce you Barb. Um and if you want to share anything, we'll open it up to some questions any
questions that board members have. >> Very much. Can everyone hear me? Okay. Thumbs up if you can hear me. we can. Thank you. >> Wonderful. Thank you very much, Danny, for your help. I appreciate it. Uh it's nice to be with you all again this evening. Uh the very first thing that I'd like to do is to congratulate Oyama
on the scholarship award from MSBA. I knew that you're going to be getting that tonight and we're all very very excited for you here at MSBA. So, thank you for everything that you do there in Prior Lake Savage Area Schools and congratulations on >> Thank you so much. Well,
>> yeah, very excited for you. Uh, so board members, thank you very much for having me back. Uh, the last time I joined you, I was uh here as MSBA to answer questions, discuss your options, give you some things to think about. And as I
understand it, at the conclusion of that meeting, you were looking for more specific information upon which to base your decision about next steps. So, in conversation with the board chair, I did submit a proposal. I hope that wasn't presumptuous, but I thought it might give you some more concrete information
in terms of timeline, expenses, and services to decide what's best for you going forward. So, you do have the proposal in your packet. I know it's long. It's like 53 pages or so. What I'd like to do instead of reviewing the entire proposal because I know there's a
lot in there and you've had it since uh late last week, I'd like to suggest that we take a look at pages 14, 15, and 16, which are truly the differentiators amongst the different levels of services and what that means for the decisions
you might make as a board about next steps in your superintendent search process. Is that okay with everyone if we just go right ahead and start talking about the different options or did you want me to do >> a more general overview because tonight I'm here as a search firm and MSBA, but
I'm also here to talk about our specific process. So, is there anything else anyone would like to discuss before I review at a very high level the differences between those three options? >> Board members, anything? >> No, I think we're good, Barb. Thank you. >> All right, sounds good. Thank you very much. So if you look at pages 14, 15,
and 16, and then the accompanying timelines are on pages 21, 22, and 23. But I'm just going to talk about the overview because I think what you're looking at in these three pages are the typical 21 steps to a superintendent
search. So the last page for example that talks about a full search to occur next winter includes all 21 steps everything and every part of each steps totaling 21. So that's the simplest way to look at it. If we then reverse a
little bit you start to look at what is removed if we're looking at a full search this spring. Uh because of the timeline we're looking at you don't have time for some of the things that are included in a traditional full search. So page 15, the middle page, is
potentially a full search between now and the end of June. And that includes 17 of the 21 steps, but also some of those 17 are abbreviated because a few of these steps are very time consuming. For example, in a full search to be run
this spring, uh let's see, the second bullet point down, you would receive the opportunity for public input, but as opposed to a traditional four to six weeks of gathering community and staff input, it needs to be truncated down to one week. So even though there's still
17 steps in that middle option, a full search for this spring, it does require that some of these things do be condensed. And so a few things on there are not included. And that's what's hyp excuse me crossed out in red font. And
then the first option on page 14 is what I was calling an interim search. It's a shorter timeline. It would occur between early May and be done in early June. And it is definitely abbreviated. There's a lot more things that are the red
striketh through in the search. So it's I think 11 of the 21 steps are provided in that sort of sc search search, excuse me. Basically what the first option is the interim search is either for an interim superintendent, which we talked about last week was the opportunity for
someone to come in and serve with a one-year contract with the intent for a full search to occur next spring, or someone to come in as an interim superintendent with the option to audition for the role. and perhaps you do do not do a search next year. That
would be the interim opportunity. You also could look at it as a very very scaled down full search if you want to look at it that way as well. But it's definitely less dollars because there's less heavy lifting on behalf of MSBA. A
full search is a very heavy lift, but the option I'm giving you um on page 14 is there's a lot less involved. And so for us, there's a lower fee as well as your search firm. So I'm imagining you might have some questions about the differences between all three of these
options. And I want to make sure that you get all the information you need tonight to make the best decision for Prior League Savage Area Schools. So I'm going to stop talking and simply answer any questions you might have about what you might want to do next. >> Board members will open it up for any
questions that you might have for Barb. >> Um I have a question, Barb. Um and it was re really referring to something you said um when we met with you last last week, believe it or not. Um you had mentioned that one of the things that
MSBA um brings to the table is that we are you were able to allow the board to see all of the candidates as you receive all the candidate information. And then when I look at page 14,5 and 16, there's a bullet point that says conduct a meeting with the school board for purposes of presenting a candidate
recommendation. So the board can select um semi- finalists to interview. Um is that I I think I highlighted the right one, but I want to make sure that the board has will be receiving regardless of the search that we do that
they would be receiving all the applications, not just um MSBA's recommendations. >> Yes. Whichever one you may choose. Absolutely. We believe in a board-driven search and board ownership of the search. And so for that to occur, you need to see who's in the pool. >> Thank you.
>> Now the difference is for instance between a full search and the truncated perhaps interim search is a full search there's a lot of materials. It takes a long time to apply for the position. Not only the cover letter, the resume and letters of application, uh excuse me,
letters of recommendation, but there are also things like um transcripts. There's answers to very specific questions the district might want to ask. Uh there is work history. educational history. There's a lot of additional information that people need to upload for a full
search versus the interim search. You will still see who they are. You would still see resumes. You would still see two or three letters of recommendation. And so it would be less information for you to review, but you would still see that for every single applicant for the
one on page 14. >> Okay. Thank you. >> We do not ever provide you only with the ever. >> Thank you. And I' that's one of the things that I've heard positive things about your firm. So, thank you for clarifying that. >> Any other questions? >> Director Johnson.
>> Yes. You said that um you if they're looking um they probably well one you you kind of know who's who's out there who's looking. Would they already have most of that stuff
that you just said already prepared? Um, if we opened up for example tomorrow to to say yes, go would I be safe in assuming that?
>> Great question. Uh, some will, some won't. >> Okay. >> Some will because they know they want a change and they're looking for a change this year. Some won't because they're potentially waiting for
a more robust search next year. And by the time you may complete second round interviews for a full search, for example, we'd be looking at late June with a July 1 start date. And there will be candidates that
don't want to rush it. They would prefer an unhurried search. And um so there'll be fewer people potentially interviewed in a full search, be interested in a full search this spring than there would be next winter. Um but some will have the materials ready and some some won't
and some will say I'm going to wait. I'm going to wait and see if this opens again next winter. But it's hard to say because you if we all had a crystal ball, this will be a whole lot easier. I have received phone calls about prior Savage area schools and I've simply told them that you're meeting tonight to
decide what your next steps are. >> Excellent. >> Very good. >> Yeah, >> Dr. M Dr. Mason. >> Um yeah, just a couple of questions. So, um thank you for this. Um it's very thorough and easy to understand and follow. So, appreciate that. Um I guess
my only um concern maybe with the interim is just around the lack of transition plan inclusion and I guess um is that something that I mean obviously we're expected to just do internally
then and and if um for example we get somebody onboarded very last minute right before Dr. Thomas' departure. How does that look? Or do you have templates or I mean I don't know >> down at the bottom of page 14. Um just
the items that are strike that we don't get with the interim search is the transition planning. So that would be maybe my only concern. I guess I just any comments on that or how have people handled that? And of course, it makes sense to maybe not meet six months after if it's somebody temporary, but um just
the initial transition plan, I don't know if that's valuable to include. >> Yeah. Great. Uh so I'll tell you what, the the quality of the administrators that are out there looking for a new opportunity. They are probably already thinking through or prepared their own
transition plan. Uh they're ready for a challenge. Now, if they're a sitting superintendent, they may be more ready than someone who's not been a superintendent before. They also though have been probably watching your district, aware that Dr. Thomas will be moving on. So, I don't think that it's
um I don't think it's a grave concern that there wouldn't be a lot of transition time. They're going to be coming in probably ready to hit the ground running on July 1st. Now, when we do searches, the most common starting date is July 1st, irregardless of when you start a search. If you start a
search in September or October, they still don't start till July 1st. And if you start a search later in the year, perhaps in May or June, they still start July 1st. The only exception to that is we have done in my seven years, we've done one search where someone started
January 1st, right in the middle of the contract year. Otherwise, everyone builds their professional um aspirations around a July one start date, so they'll be ready to hit the ground running. Uh there would be less time of course uh depending upon if they wanted to perhaps
take vacation days in the month of June and shadow Dr. Thomas while he's in the district. Um that doesn't always work however because very often an outgoing superintendent is using vacation days in the month of June prior to being done in the district. So there's no perfect
scenario. And I would say again back to the quality of the people in Minnesota that work as as administrators, they'll be able to hit the ground running July one no matter what your timing might be. Uh the transition workshop is something that we we would do later in the year to set expectations for a performance
review and make sure that their first year is very successful and off to a strong start. Uh with an interim superintendent, for example, if it's a one-year appointment, that's not as necessary. However, we talked last week about your interim could be interested in a long-term job or you could clarify
that you want someone who's here only for one year and do a full search next year. >> Okay. Thank you. >> That answer your question? >> Yes. Thank you. And that it kind of led into my second question actually around that addition type rule we talked about last time. Is there a way to specify
maybe in the posting um or I guess maybe gather that information from candidates? are they interested only in a, you know, one-year term or would they potentially be looking for something longer? Um, I guess I would love to see candidates
come through that are interested in longer terms. So, um, you know, if if there's a way to at least gather that information or have that information as we're reviewing applicants, um, or even specify we only want candidates that are
concerned longer. I don't know. We could very easily add that to the application. So yes. Okay. I'll give a short answer. Really long answers. >> Yes, we could add that to the application very easily. >> Thank you,
>> Dr. Ol. >> I don't think so. >> Sorry. I don't think so. >> Yeah, no problem. Um, but >> if we can come back to you. I was going in order. >> No, I appreciate that. >> Yeah. Okay. Director France, do you have any questions for Barb?
>> No, I don't. But thank you. Director Smith, do you have any questions? >> Yes. Thank you. Um, so kind of off that point of the um transition plan um because I'm just curious about the the
contract the pricing structure cuz on page 13 um it does say transition plan and follow-up services and that uh there are no additional charges for any of the above transition services. So are we
when we strike off those three things at the bottom and I I I I get it. The the circumstances might not be there for um for that to be a necessity. But um at the same time like if we are in that uh interim to
audition space um maybe I would like to have uh MSBA visit the new superintendent, maybe I would like to facilitate a transition workshop. Um, so when we're talking about that cost for the interim surge being $6,000,
if we added those things back in, does that affect the cost or does it not affect the cost because there's no additional charges for them as listed on the previous page? >> Yeah, thank you for the opportunity to clarify that. So, this proposal as written is our full search proposal.
Okay. So, it's unusual that I have three different options. I usually only provide the option on page 16 which is the full search and it's everything all the bells and whistles. So that's why I want to include pages 14 and 15 to know what you are giving up if you're choosing to lower the cost of the
search. Now to your question and I appreciate you asking it. uh if you have option one on page 14, but you do decide that it's the right person and you do want to have a three-year contract with them right away, uh we could add back in
these things. We typically do not do all of cart options because it gets very >> uh muddy course and we don't ever want our members to feel as though we're charging them for things that they're not expecting. But if you do want to add those things back in, like our transition workshop right now is very similar to our inservices for
superintendent evaluation. >> And right now, uh, that charge for that is $1,395. So if you want the transition workshop with someone you select as an interim or full if you want it for three years, we would charge $13.95 for the transition
workshop on top of that 6,000. >> Okay. So absolutely we can do we'd like to be as flexible with your search options as we possibly can >> and we know there's just a lot to be determined. You don't know who's going to apply. You don't know what their interest level is going to be. Um
>> so we're we're more than happy to work with the board on this. Our our goal is to support you in your search for the superintendent and we do not want to provide extraneous services that cost you things when there's no value in them. >> Sure. So that's why I think these three options are here for you to consider.
But did that answer your question? >> It did. Yes. Thank you. Um you're welcome. >> The other question that I had was um for the both uh interim search uh and the full search for this spring.
Um the conduct background checks on all semi-final uh semi-finalists comprise national criminal background checks. Um, I just want to make sure that if that is something that's going away that um, there's not anything additional that
you're looking at that our that we don't have the capability to look at. So maybe that's a a question for you as well, Dr. Director Catherine. I don't know. But just want to make sure that we're not uh, leaving ourselves in the lurch if if we do pursue one of these options and we need that. >> Thank you for asking that because um,
with our metro searches, all of the background checks on the se semi- finalist and finalist of course are included. uh if they're not included, we do them for the districts at $395 per finalist. So if you wanted us to do that national criminal background check
and all of those things, we use a firm called Baker Eubanks for background checks. >> We could add that for your loan finalist >> or your up two or three at >> per finalist. >> Okay. It may or may not be necessary
because your district obviously is still going to do the standard background check that's required for all employees of the district. >> So, you would do that anyway. I think it's a 15 or $20 background check. >> Okay. >> Um that gets done no matter what. Even if we've done a more intensive national
background check, uh you do a local one. Your HR team could speak to that as well. Regardless of who you hire, they'd have to go through that process. >> Okay. Okay. I think that's good. Thank you. Um the last question that I had um was the
full search this spring. Um so one of the things that we talked about was on page 15 um you had mentioned that collecting input um for 4 to 6 weeks is your typical process but you would cut that down to one week. Um I am wondering
um because stricken from here as well is also multiple languages. Um and I feel for our community that that is um that's paramount for people to be able to access and uh and be able to participate
in any sort of survey. So how much time does that really save and is that something that we might be able to revisit if we went this this route? Um it's mostly on the analysis end. Okay. Sure. Cultural leaison that are
willing to do all of the translations and share the results with us. Uh we have surveys ready to go in Spanish and Somali as well as English. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> There's other languages. Uh >> we don't have the staff capacity to
analyze lots of surveys in lots of different languages. by English is the only choice if you went with this truncated timeline >> this spring. >> Okay. >> There there's always options. It just means the district is going to have to put more resources toward it with your internal staff to help us do some of
those things in the timeline that we've outlined. >> Right. Like you said, it's not so much on the on the front end. It's it's the back end and and the analysis there. I get that. Thank you. Um I believe those were all the questions that I had. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
>> You're welcome. >> Director said you had a question. >> I did. Um uh uh piggybacking off of Director Smith, um with the uh public input for a week, um under the full search option,
um does that include students? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> This is our list survey. I should take a minute to tell you about this because it was something we've done this year. Um, it's the same survey for everyone, but when you choose your self-identifier, if
you are a staff or a a parent, guardian, or caregiver, or if you're community member or if you're a student, the student survey just this year, it branches off into a studentfriendly version of the exact same survey. So, the results come back and we are able to
quantify the results by student versus staff versus parent, etc., but the language is different. So instead of fiscal responsibility, it says money. And so we've gotten a really um a really great return on survey students because it's in the language they speak and
we're not asking them to take a survey. It is written for more of the adult brain. So yes, that would include student surveying. We we would hopefully be able to rely on the folks within the district to allow some time for students to take that survey, maybe during an advisory period or a free period or
study hall back in my day. um just to generate more student interest. >> Optional, of course, you never want to require a survey from students, but if it's optional for students to be included, we would love to have that as much as possible. >> Yeah, maybe bro is in there somewhere or
bruh or answers to six and seven, you know, things like that. Um great. No, that's great. Um sorry, I could go on and on. Um, and then the timeline. Um, this is I
guess it's a question um for you Barb and for us too. Sorry. Am I okay to go to the timeline? >> Yeah. >> Is that okay? Um, for our interim search specifically under that timeline. >> I'm sorry. Uh, page 21.
Um, if since this is just discussion tonight, when would we make I mean for anything we choose really like how how would that work in terms of like when we would make a decision on what we want to do because this is just for discussion
tonight, right? So, I'm just wondering about >> Well, we're hoping to we're hoping to uh lean from tonight uh whether or not we're going to leverage MSBA to be our search firm. Okay. >> Last week when we had our special
meeting, um we had a consensus, a unanimous consensus that we needed to use a search firm. >> Um all seven of us agreed on that. uh five of the seven had uh mentioned MSBA. Not that the not that two um you know
were against said anything against MSBA, but I think tonight we want to we want to move forward. No um in reaching if we are going to be using MSBA to be our search firm. I feel like we we had over
a quorum uh agreeing to that last week, but we need to we need to state that I think. And then um second uh we need to figure out which option we want to start with. Um uh Barb has been you know she
has provided us with a lot of different op or with three different options. um in what I've understood and Barb please correct me if um I'm misspeaking in any way but I think that um the board
stating which direction they want to start with whether it be the the extremely scaledback search um which is listed as an interim search but I think uh one of the things that I learned um since last week and when when um we
closed closed out that special part of the meeting asking search firm or no search firm. We were unanimous in that. >> Um we the second question was um interim search or uh full search and I think the
board was kind of split on that. um in some conversations since I think that there may have been some uh misunderstanding or um with regards to the heart of an interim search compared to a full search. and in some
conversations. I think that uh an interim search can I at least for me I will speak for myself singularly as a singular board member um the my heart for stating interim search was um just
the timing that we're look we're up against um and I think that you know I would be very hopeful that uh the person that we fill would um seek
longer term than just the year. And so I don't I I think getting us to um come to a consensus uh uh on um what approach we want to start with given our fiscal, you
know, positioning uh that we're facing. I think those are the things that we want to move away with. And so um we can start if there's we can start with that very first question if the to find out
if the board is on board with using MSBA as our search form. Uh the second question will be you know what approach do we want to start with knowing that we can move into different options if necessary. Um, I know that there the
different options come with different timelines and and in my conversation with Barb earlier, uh, the first thing that would happen would be a planning meeting and that planning meeting would, um, share some more detailed information on how we move forward. So, Barb, did I
is there anything that you would add or change to what I just shared? >> Yes, thank you. I think you um captured it really well. So the the thing that the board needs to do at this point in my opinion, you do what you'd like to do, but in my opinion, is make a
decision about what are you doing and how soon can you meet? Because if you choose to do either a very brief, I would call it a bare bones, whether it's we call it an interim, and it might be if you choose that they're just a one-year placeholder or a bare bones or
a scaled down version. I would still say you need to meet next week for a planning meeting. >> Um early to mid next week at the latest for a planning meeting. If you choose to do a full search this spring, see if you're successful in finding someone with more community engagement. That's a
big part. Um there's a lot of things included in that full search that are not included in the bare bones. But if we were able to schedule a planning meeting, for example, next Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, uh we can post the position the day after the planning meeting. There are just a lot of
decisions the board needs to make at that planning meeting. Um finalizing all of the dates for the activities of the search so that all board members can be there for the interview training, so that all board members can be there the night that you name your semi-finalists, that all of you can be there for round
one and round two if it's a full search. Otherwise, you'll notice the scaled down version is only one round of interviews. It's much shorter, but that there's a lot to do at the planning meeting. And then the next day, usually we're able to post it and we're able to start gathering community input if you go with
a full search. So, that's the next thing you'd need to do is get hopefully something on the calendar pretty quick and then we can post it within one day of that meeting. >> And um this might be in our policy, forgive me. Um I'm just not remembering
is I mean clearly the expectation is for all board members to be present for those like interviews and meetings and things like that. Is it is it um required like as long as there's a quorum? I'm just it >> I plan on being there as I'm sure
everybody else but just I'm curious >> as long as it's a quorum. As long as we can hold all of those meetings, we simply recommend you do not delegate the responsibility to a subcommittee. >> Some districts say, "Well, we have a personnel committee. Can they interview and hire the superintendent?" No, we
won't have the full board engaged in this. But as long as you have a quorum, >> it's okay. The only caveat to that is if for any reason someone on the school board is related to a finalist within the fourth degree, then it needs to be a unanimous vote of the full board. And it
happens because sometimes education is a pretty small world. So if you're related by blood or marriage to one of the candidates within the fourth degree, then 100% of the board needs to be there for that decision and 100% of the board needs to vote in favor of hiring that
person. It's only happened twice to me in seven years, but it can happen. Otherwise, a quorum of the board will always suffice. >> Well, except for the person who's related to the person. >> They have to vote. They cannot M >> you have to vote.
>> Oh, interesting. >> I know. You would think they'd all be able to be they're related. Correct. >> It's the opposite. It's required to be the full vote, excuse me, unanimous vote of full. >> Okay. That would be awkward if they voted no. >> Okay.
>> It can be. >> Yeah. Sure. Okay. Thank you very much. So Barb, um can you share with the board um in SK in you know with with the second um task before us is to you know
figure out which option we are to pursue. Is that does that something that needs to be done here tonight or would the next step for us be for scheduling the planning meeting with you?
Um, so I will tell you that the reason there's a big price difference between the interim or the bare bone search and a full search is in large part due to the amount of work that MSBA needs to conduct before your planning meeting.
So I would need a direction from the board prior to the planning meeting to know whether I'm coming to the planning meeting with a bare bones or excuse me a bare bones timeline very simple vacancy brochure just like a one pager just really simple stuff or if you're wanting
to conduct a full search I've got to start working on that this week if we're meeting next week for a planning meeting there's a lot more heavy lifting involved on behalf of the search firm in order to prepare for a a full search planning meeting versus a really
truncated bare bolance planning meeting. So I would need some direction this week >> so that we can actually accomplish what we need to accomplish at your planning meeting. >> Okay. So >> that that yes, thank you so much for for expanding on that. I think board members
um the decision before us is uh does is there any disscent or any issue with MSBA moving forward? No hearing none. Um we'll move to the second question. And I think we were presented in the packet with three different options. Um but I think that
for us tonight for simplification, we're really looking at the um the the truncated um search, the really scaled down approach versus um the the full search
this spring. And so if we could um you know I think if we could go around the table like similar to what we did last week just to get um where everyone's sitting uh as far as which approach to take either the um super scale down or
what it's called in the packet as an interim um with the with the ability to put on an application that we're looking for someone for the long term or or the full search um and the cost differences
are are are listed for us. Um, so if we could if unless there's any other questions before I take that poll. >> Is that we're feeling good? All right. Well, I'm going to start with uh Director Smith. Um, if you could uh let
state whether you're looking for the scale down or interim or the full search approach. >> Um, yes, thank you. Um, I would be looking at the the interim search. Um,
just for I'll just qualify it briefly. Um, for a number of reasons. Um, it's cost-effective and just our our financial position. I just think it's the most uh, prudent move right now for us to be um, saving dollars where we can
uh, as we have been uh, as a district for some time now. Um, I agree uh with Director Mason that uh having something um kind of in the application or um maybe not like a
knockout question, but just like some sort of indication of whether or not this is something that they would be interested in um staying on for the long term. Um, I mean, if we can do the interim search now and and find somebody that is interested in that uh
interim to audition type of uh type of role and can avoid paying, you know, $25,000 next year, um, I'd like to do that, too. Um, so I think, um, I think we can get what we're looking for with
this this truncated search. Um, the barebones approach as you put it, Barb. Um, I think it's it's the prudent move. I think it's it can satisfy what we're looking for and and I think there are ways to um steer and guide that process
so that we can find a candidate that is potentially interested in um making this long term >> point of information. >> Sure. Just a question and a statement made um if I understand this correctly that doing an interim search now and
then a full term search later is 5,000 more ultimately. >> Oh, you're right. I misspoke. >> Is that correct? I just want to make sure I understand. >> It would be the 199. Yep. >> Okay. Because then we get that basically docked off the search next. Okay. >> Or the 18 189. That's right.
I think that well I'll let Barb I'll let you answer that. >> Did you have >> Do you want me to restate? >> I think so. >> A point of information just something that was stated I was questioning. Um the if I understand this correctly doing an interim search now and then a full search in addition to that next winter
is just 5,000 more. You're reducing the fee versus doing a full search now. So, the interim search, the barebone search right now is 6,000. >> Yep. >> You end up with someone who's only going to be here a year or they're auditioning
and it's not going well and you want to do a full search, we credit that entire 6,000 toward the full search next fall. >> Okay? >> So, it would be 18,900. >> So, it's like a down payment on a much larger search next fall. Similarly, we decide to go for full
search this spring at 199, but for whatever reason it's not quite working, we'll continue with another full search next year for only $5,000 more. So, we credit whatever option you choose, page 14 or 15, we're going to credit that
amount toward a full search next year if you need it. And that's a big if. It depends on who you land this year whether or not you're even going to need that. >> Does that make sense? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Really toward the full search fee if you do one next winter that might take three
or four months. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, and that's my fault. I misspoke. So, thank you for for clarifying that, >> Director France. Um, interim. And um, also I want to remind everybody that we're going into a potential levy that
we're going to talk about next. We're closing a school. We're moving out of the DSC and we're going into a lot of financial challenges into 2027. So, the sooner we get somebody with experience,
uh, the better. Um, I do have my opinions on getting an interim CEO versus, uh, that's going to, you know, probably a retired superintendent or something like that that doesn't have to spend half their year interviewing because I think they may be more
effective. And it and it will give um the school district time to find a uh a longer term prospect without the politics and the bias that goes on when someone's working full-time and also
interviewing every day to be in that final pool. Um so that that could cause and I've seen it cause issues. Um, and I've seen it also limit potential candidates for a long-term full-time search because of the competition of
somebody who's already here. In addition to the fact that when we make the decision to go into a long-term search, providing we all agree to an interim uh here that uh really um you're coming out of a very tumultuous time, election, you
name it. I'd like to see uh the board that's elected in November have the opportunity in January where they won't have a lot of time by the way or experience to um actually make the the decision on that instead of us um if
that makes sense but interim in in general and pref preferably a retired superintendent or somebody who uh has a lot of experience in in districts like ours. you. Um I just going in turn I have a
question. Um so my stance would be interim search based on not the interim not the shortterm um stay of the individual. Uh but the more scaled down approach um that you
had mentioned Barb um if if there was was something added to the application that that's you know asking the applicant if they are interested in you know um just an interim position or
possibly staying on long term. Um, I think for me the it's just the cost the cost approach knowing that we're starting with this um scaled down approach receiving applicants being able
to look at those applicants um interview start the interview process. if we are able to land someone who is willing to uh stay for the long haul with the experience that we're looking at um
it doesn't that that is a possibility. Am I correct in assuming that even though we're calling this an interim search if we if we have on the applicant application some you know does is my question making sense?
>> Yes. I I think there's two questions that you should ask on the application just hearing the board discussion. One is are you interested in only a one-year interim position or would you be open to staying longer and potentially receiving a three-year contract?
>> That that's like I think one question. I think another question that we need to ask, however, is are you willing to participate in a public interview process and your name going public in a competitive process? Because as I mentioned last week, there are going to
be some seasoned superintendent that are interested and may have the experience you need to help you get through u your closing of schools or a levy, all of those things. And then they're done. And I think strategically the board's going to need to consider a few things. One,
someone who comes on board this summer, July 1, and is interested in a long-term position is going to have a lot right out of the gate to deal with. Not all of it is positive. And so they're going to be faced with um a heavy challenge. And there are people who are up to that and
would embrace it and welcome it and run toward. They may be a great person to stay on. It's also possible in some districts someone who comes in for one year. They handle all that stuff, all of that unpopular,
angst inducing stuff. And then when they leave, someone starts in July of 27 and they have like a fresh start because the baggage associated with some of those decisions that are challenging, that baggage goes away with the person who was only there for one year. And so
some districts choose to do that in order to allow someone in 2027 to come in and not be connected to closing the schools or whatever. So, it's a strategic decision, but I think you need to ask that question because there may be applicants that will be
interested only in the one year, but as I mentioned last week, they don't want to compete for the job. They're just here to help if you want it. Because then those people, if you're looking at other applicants who want to stay here three years or more, you probably will not select the folks who only want it
for one year because they don't want their name to go public, which mean they will not interview with your board. Does that make sense? I'm trying to look at it from a candidate's perspective and as a professional courtesy, let people know whether or not their name is going to be public if they choose to pursue this
job, whether it's presented as an interim opportunity or um a barebone search. I just want to make sure they know that their name may or may not go public. So all of that information should be gathered in advance as part of the application so that when we meet
with you and we recommend who we feel are the strongest candidates, we can say candidates A, D, and E indicated they're interested in no longer term commitment. Candidates B, C, and M only want the one year and they will not engage in the
competitive process so that you have a more informed decision when to make those. Thank you for >> sorry about that. But I think it's an important distinction that candidates understand what they're getting into when they apply. >> And that's really I think that I appreciate you, you know, really walking
us through that because it is important to for us to think about the candidates's perspective and and all of those things. So, thank you for that. Um, Director Olstead, um, I am leaning toward interim um more
for budget reasons. um first off, but also just with the the things that we're, you know, going through yet this calendar year that I think um I would like an experienced leader um to help with that and help guide uh the district
through that. So um I'm leaning into him as well. >> Director Mason. >> Yeah. Um, I mean certainly my preference before and I think would have been a full search just um also with Levy in
mind I I feel like not having a leader in place um brings uncertainty to that to the community. Um but I think given the shortened duration that we have, I think I'm on board with interim. Um I'm not sure we really have a choice right
now and I think um doing a full search would require some of these things we had crossed off. Right. So um yeah interum is where I would go. Director Johnson >> is fine.
>> Director Atinson. Um yeah thank you. I think um the condensed um search um rather than calling it an interimm search even though that's the title on here slight site side slide 21 um I look at this more of a condensed search and given the
cost and given the timeline I would say um given um Dr. Thomas' um early departure. I I like the timeline in the fact that we would have somebody basically um in mind by early June so
that there could possibly be be a couple weeks transition um versus just the longer timeline gives like zero dates for transition. Um so I like the timeline on this. I think the cost is that's it's a very um how do I say it's
a good cost. um as well at as at the end of the day um we're here to really hire the right person for this role. And so I really like the idea of um putting on the application whether someone's here for an interim or for a longer term contract because then we're really being
inclusive of all applicants who may have interest in our district and leading um Prior Lake Savagerary Schools. So I think I like the way this is coming together. So thank you. >> All right, Barb. Uh so I think that we've reached a unanimous consensus on that as well which is is positive. Um
and so the next step will be scheduling the planning meeting for next week and if uh um I think we'll send out communication. We'll figure out how to how to get what date works best for the board. >> All right. Thank thank you.
>> Sounds wonderful. And I'm assuming with this board is an evening planning meeting the best? Yes, I would say that with everyone's work situations, I would say probably evening is is our best option and we can we can send out um
maybe Barb, if you could share your your availability for next week. We'll start with you because we'll need you and then uh we can poll to figure out um what night works the best for the most board members and hopefully we can get us all
there. I'm free Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. >> Okay. Wow. >> I have never had four days in a row available for the last six and a half months. >> Oh my. All right. board members. Well, we have four days to look at and >> I will be able to come to that meeting
prepared to run this very condensed search and then at that meeting we will decide exactly what verbiage you want to be advertised whether it's condensed, whether it's truncated, whether it's interim or not. But I think will be able to put something together for you. It's
definitely the best value at this point in time, I think, for you to see what you get. You may find someone who's exactly who you need for the long term. And I think that's a wise decision the board makes. So, uh, thank you for your time. Is there anything else you might need from me before I log off? I know you still have many things to consider.
>> Board members, anything else? Thank you so much, Barb, for the wealth of knowledge that you bring. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> I look forward to working with you all. I will also be there in person for the planning meeting next week. So, thanks for the opportunity and if you need anything in the meantime, just let me know.
>> Thank you. >> Perfect. >> Bye everybody. >> Good night. >> Good night. >> All right. Next up, um we'll now move to the financial analysis of the levy options and recommended next steps. The
goal of this discussion is to build consensus on whether to continue toward a November 2026 levy, the structure of a potential levy, and the funding parameters. Uh so I'll invite uh Dr. Thomas and Director Ryder to present at
this time. >> Thank you, Chair Bull. >> Yeah, thank you, Chair Bullian and board directors. Um I'm going to we've got an activity that will um walk you through similar to what we just did. I'm trying to build some consensus around various options. um one just getting some
confirmation that this is still um the path that we want to go down and then um if so then we would want to understand the structure of that levy. Uh there was a couple of items that we discussed or a couple of models we discussed with you all last week and then also
understanding what the dollar range uh the board would be comfortable with and then lastly um whether or not to have a second question around the um uh capital levy. So that's what our um uh desire is from the board tonight to get consensus around that because that will then give
us direction uh to come back on the 18th, excuse me, to um build out a costing model what uh how that levy would be structured. So with that, I'll turn it over to Director Ryder. >> Thank you, Dr. Thomas. Um the there was
a sheet that was laid before you on your um desk as you arrived tonight. Um I have it up here on the screen in Excel and um I guess the the concept is to run through these four different questions that will lead us through this process
and then um we have questions that are listed here that we would want to answer as much as possible with the consensus of the board. That's the goal. Um the reason for this is because our next meeting May 18th is when we want to
bring back information that would be pertinent to whatever is the consensus so we can lay out before you what that looks like. What does the ballot look like? What does the you know the questions look like? Um what are the actual dollars we're talking about then just to kind of fine-tune what you saw
last time could be fine-tuned then to um reflect what it is that the board's consensus is. So the first does a does the administration continue to build out a levy campaign? >> Okay, board members, um this is the
first point of um clarification that we can give the administration on how to move forward. Um and I think just for consistency, we'll do it like we were building consensus around the MSBA search. Um, and so I'll just go uh board
member to board member and the and again this is um does administration continue to do the work building out the levy the levy campaign and if I could start with you director Smith that would be wonderful. >> Oh yes. Yes.
>> Okay. Director France. >> Yes. >> And I am a yes. Director Olad? >> Yes. Director Mason, >> yes. >> Uh, Director Johnson, >> yes.
>> Director Atinson. >> Um, I'm a Yes. But I would just like um I think for our community some clarification around the fact that if we were not to go forward with this levy if you could just provide information um
then we would be looking at possibly an auto approval in the spring because my understanding is an operating levy can can only go on the ballot in November or it becomes a mail-in ballot. Is that correct? >> That is correct. An operating referendum can only be in November otherwise it's got to be a mail vote. Um, and if um,
even if you went for a referendum this November, you still have until June of 20 June 15th of 27. I just want to verify that here in our packet from last time, June 15, 2027, for the board to take action on just a straight renewal
with no inflation, no change. >> Correct. >> From current. >> Correct. Okay. Yes. Absolutely. Thank you. >> Very good. Number two, so if we're moving forward with a levy campaign, is this to include an operating levy for 10 years inclusive in of inflation?
>> So this question is just the including inflation on to include >> and a tenure >> and a tenure. All right, we'll do the same thing and I'll start on this side this time. Director Atinson. Yeah, I think this is a hard question to answer until we're seeing the full picture to
be honest with you because I think the dollar amount um you know is it a fixed dollar amount? Does it have inflation or not? I think this is a hard an um question to answer and um so I I don't know. I guess my feeling is I'd like to
see more information before we make that decision. >> Around the tenure, you mean? >> Oh, not around the 10 years. I'm fine with the tenure. It's the inflation factor. >> Oh, thank you for that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I'm the same way. T the tenure is is good. It just I want to see our
dollar amount before we really go into inflation. >> Okay. Okay. >> Um >> yes, I agree. I um yes, I I'm fine including inflation but a little bit dependent on the dollar amount also.
>> Okay, >> Dr. Oad. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Um, I too am yes on both. Director France, >> yes on both. >> Yes on both. And Director Smith? >> Yes and yes.
>> Yes and yes. All right. Okay. Um, so question. Oops. Sorry. So, the dollar threshold to use in the operating levy, we have seen different um layers of dollar amounts and we had a survey that kind of laid that out for
our our taxpayers as well. Um and so I'm just kind of wondering if there is an opportunity for us to determine that additional per month amount that we'd be talking about. Um, I have the the um information from last week's meeting or last time's meeting that we can pull up
if we want to see something too if you need a visual. Just curious if there's a dollar amount. And when I talk about the dollar amount, I'm I'm kind of talking about the dollar amount that's additional to what we currently have because that's the that's the frame we've been setting it so far. >> Director Ryder, could you just pull up
that slide that we have? >> U is I think I thought we had that pulled up. >> Yeah. from last week just for the visual for our community that's trying to follow as well. >> Just to remind folks. >> All right. Thank you. >> And so, let me make sure I get to the right one you want to see. I think
>> it's this one. You blow that up a little. >> Can you Yeah. Can you make it much bigger? >> Thank you. >> Um, let me see. How's that bigger? And then board direct
is also the link in the board book. We'll open it on your laptop if you need to zoom it even further if you want. >> And that's on page. >> This is um sorry. >> Oh, I got it.
>> Is page 13 of 20 in PDF. So remember this was a a a sheet that basically showed the current. The first column is the current. Okay. And with a revoke and replace then the the year one. This particular example is adding
the $762 per pupil allowance. And um it would be a referendum question. Instead of it currently being $623.97, it would be 1385.97 for example. And then inflation takes place in the sec in the second and the
third year. And then this example shows a step up in the fourth year to a set amount, which is what you have to do when you do a step up. And in this example, it's $1,800 with the following year being inflation. Director Ryder, am I
is this so is or or maybe Dr. Thomas, one of you if you could answer is this the is the recommendation from the district to be pro to be doing an operating levy including a step up. Is that a recommendation? I understand like
our exercise here and trying to build consensus so that so that administration has they're not so that you're not taking the time to build out multiple scenarios. I understand that that's what we're trying to do here tonight. I think
um >> uh yeah, Chair Bullion, I would say that uh our recommendation to start with our board conversation tonight is having the 10-year fixed um and that what we mocked up last week. Um that was our kind of starting point that we felt was
something that we gleaned from the data from our community. Obviously, the range went all the way up to, you know, the the high end and as low as doing nothing, but where those bar graphs kind of aligned up with uh voters and non- voters. And I know that wasn't a statistical survey, but just on that one
visual, that $32 additional what seemed to be where people lined up. So, that's so we're we're starting there and continuing that for tonight for tonight. Uh certainly the board can have conversation um to go higher or lower from there. So, right now we are on
number three of our exercise. Will the operating levy include a step up? >> Right now we're on number two. >> Oh, sorry. >> The gray part >> the gray part of number two. >> Sorry, I'm I'm ahead of us. >> The dollar. >> Director Bullian, could I get a point of information? >> Yeah, please. Um, has this conversation
gone through our finance committee? our finance advisory committee meets um finance and operations advisory committee meets on May 12th and we will be discussing that then at that point in time whatever information we have in fact to prepare the materials that are going out tomorrow afternoon it would be
a matter of me showing kind of what it is the board's consensus is around and if there's not a true consensus and it's still kind of split that's fine we just need to know kind of what we're preparing for the next next meeting. So, you know, the goal of this is to really kind of not be your final decision
necessarily, but for us to at least have a sense of what information to bring you so that you can make your decision. >> So, is it possible we have a couple different scenarios that we could be working on that they can then weigh in on um that could come back to the board? >> Certainly can.
>> Okay, that's helpful. Thank you. >> Yes. And when did you say the meeting is? >> May 12th. May 12th. Okay. Thank you. So, we're really kind of just focusing on that year one. Where would you want to start?
>> As far as the dollar threshold? >> Yeah. So, like if you think back to the survey, you know, would you be looking at um that $32 per month, the $46 per month, the $67 per month, or something lower at the 15 or the zero?
I think we already decided to go beyond the zero right now. Right. >> And I think um you know to Director Atinson's point um having options I guess if if what we're trying
to do this evening is um you know get consensus on maybe two different options to look at. Um, is there a threshold of having two options compared to three options? >> Yeah. Can I ask a question? Yeah.
>> Director Ryder, do we have anything? So, uh, when the Eller's representative was here last week, he he presum, >> the original levy that's now 623 was originally approved at 9:24. >> Correct. >> Correct. Um, do we have anything that
shows us going back to the 924 and then so I and then um >> inflation in that is that one of our numbers on there or is it just the 32? It would it would be between the um it's
probably you know 3.3 million more would get you I don't know exactly if that's the referendum amount of 900 or not but that's you know you're looking right now you have zero and you have 7 mil. So, if
you're looking for something in between that, we have not prepared those numbers unless it's maybe possibly closer to that 3 mil, which is the $15 per per month amount. So, I don't think we've shown that recently. Y,
>> but yeah, that's we just need to understand kind of like what kind of dollar amount are you looking for to be that uh revoke and replace amount, right, for that year one. >> Sure. I just >> the options >> that's what was approved before and I
think you know if that's what the community had approved and maybe we can put on inflation into it since we'll be getting that if that's our ask right going back to that amount right instead of the 623 I think maybe it's worth
looking at >> well and I think that's just my thought >> it's important too for administration to be able to share with the board like what is the thresh like you know is it two options or or is there looking at three options? I think you know
understanding what the capacity of administration is to build out so that we can make make the decision going forward will be helpful. Um >> I apologize for for adding more on but I just just bringing it to light. It it um
>> I don't want anything to fail again. >> Yeah. to Director Johnson's inquiry, if I can just remind the board to all of these scenarios, we also need to assume the $3 million reduction. So, um, it we need to have
something that offsets I mean that that level might get eaten up by the reduction. So, it's a net zero gain. Um so just keep that in mind um board with all of these as we are leveling or
planning for enrollment. Um that's a that's a a variable that we've built into these. >> Dr. Thomas, could I get a just some clarifying information around this um you know been a lot of questions and conversations from constituents around that. And if we have declining
enrollment, wouldn't we naturally have to make um >> rights? That's what I'm talking about. Right. That's what I'm saying. But regardless of a levy, regardless of still reductions because we don't have the enrollment money, the revenue
correct. So we have to still account for that >> as our net um gain. So if we're netting 3 million in a new levy, that 3 million is going to be canceled out by the declining enrollment. So we wouldn't realize that, right?
>> It would be a zero sum game. >> Okay. Board. Um if we're using the worksheet given to us, uh, looking at the the, you know, reaching consensus over what
threshold we'd like to have rolled out. Um, I've heard, um, Director Johnson, you mentioned what it might look like to go back to the original, um, approval of the $900, maybe
>> 924 and whatever that was. >> Um, if is that is that what would that be considered what the zero am zero amount was in the in the presentation
from Ellers? You know, you were you gave like a zero 15 32 46 and 67. >> It's likely just below the $15 per month. >> It's likely below the 15. Just >> so if we for for ease if it's likely
just below that $15 a month. Um could the board uh just use th those figures from that Ellers's G that was in the Ellers's presentation with you know >> in our survey? >> In our survey. >> Oh, sorry. In the survey.
on the survey. This is the survey. This is the survey. >> I can just quickly run through those again. Um $15 per month provided $3.3 million and was thought to last maybe one to two years. $32 per month was to generate 7 million to last approximately
3.4 years. And uh $46 per month would generate an additional $10 million and um would last approximately for four years with an 8% fund balance. And then $67 per
month is um $15 million additional and um approximately six years. Chair Bullion, if I may just again just to clarify for our community who um if this is the first time they're hearing this conversation versus tracking it >> when we say last US that means to
maintain the 8% fund balance before we would naturally start to dip below that. So I just want to make that clarification to the community. >> Um so that's what our marker is and I think in our survey we called it our savings um fund balance. We kind of interchange that to kind of have some
more friendly speak out there versus education speak. But that's what we're referring to. >> And that included inflation. All those scenarios included >> that those scenarios included an inflation. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Assumed inflation. >> So board getting consensus on this. I
realize that it's it's not an easy I think we need to offer. Is it two or three? Dr. Dr. Thomas, can you tell us do we need to whittle down? >> I would say no more than three. >> No more than three >> scenarios. You mean >> of these five that are given in the
survey. >> Go around the table again. >> Yeah, let's just we'll we'll do that. Let's let's start with you, Director Atinson. Um, I like the idea of um providing a scenario of what passed in the past and but just adding in the inflationary
factor. Um, I'm not going to complicate things, but um I live in the retail world and I think um the thing that we're really struggling against is when they go to the ballot and they see 623 and they see the number of 1300 that's
like more than double. And so like I don't know if there's a way to look at like an 1100 number because it's not quite double. Um but I don't know how much different that is from the 924. Can I >> So um I'm speaking please. Thank you. Um so that's that's that's my thing because
at the end of the day this has to pass, right? We need to come together to find an affordable option for all of our community members. And my concern is, and I heard about this this weekend, you know, there's we're not the tax the only tax show in town like you said, Dr.
Thomas, and um I know Northwood's development is going through a big assessment um street assessment from anywhere from 1300 to 16,000 per household. And um you know, that's that's concerning to. So I think you know we really have to my I believe our
our job of board members here tonight or not tonight but in the you know near future is to come up with a number that is affordable for all of our community members. Um so I would say for me it's anywhere under that double number
so under the 1200. >> I'd like to have a point of information. Uh, Director Ryder, um, in my entire time living in the Prior League Savage area district, um, we've never actually passed an operating levy before. We've
only passed bonds for buildings. Um, and the operating levy with the building was there to actually pay for the services of the building. So, we've never actually passed an educational levy or a tech levy here, ever. Uh and so we
haven't ever passed anything uh per what was just said that there is no history of that uh in relation to what we're doing right now. Second of all, street assessment that has been running through our entire city of Prior Lake only uh is not equivalent to that.
That is that is that one-time assessment that each neighborhood has been going through uh for the past couple years. Um obviously our neighborhood went through it too. Um, so, uh, but I did want to ask, uh, a question. what we're what
we're what we're working on here just to and I'm not trying to give my answer prematurely just to clarify that you're asking in the in the gray section of this question sheet you're asking about what's on 13 to do the step
up uh within with the with what we've already said yes to with the 10-year and inflation to do the step up on here. we're not actually going farther to that and which and which which scenario the 67 the 32 etc.
>> So yes, right now we're just on number two and we're talking just year one >> and um then we'll talk about whether or not there's um an appetite for the stepped up type question. >> Okay, thanks. >> And director Wright, our point of information, I mean November 7th, 2017,
we had an operating levy passed 924 per student for 10 years. It passed at 62% um a 38% no. So there really was an operating levy. I don't understand what what you're referring to, Director France, but >> that was an operating levy associated
with the cost of running the school paying for the building. It wasn't an operating levy that that actually paid for this. So we're not opening up a we're not creating a school and having to pay for utilities, maintenance, etc. for that building.
>> It still was an operating levy that our community voted on. So I understand your perception of that, but our perception is of our community's perception of it is still on their taxes as a voter approved levy. So I think that's years ago. So >> and and by the way, you don't speak for the community.
>> Board members, >> we can we just go board member by board member. Director Atinson, >> thank you. I'm done. Thank you. Okay, Director Johnson. >> Okay. Uh I'm good. it. Can Sorry, I I'm
I apologize for interrupting you, Director Johnson. Uh, Director Atinson, can you just restate where you you what you stated because I think that there was a lot of >> Yeah, no problem. Um, of conversation that happened. >> Again, I think it's voting perception when you go to the ballot and I think it
has to be under the,200 in order to get approved by our community. So, somewhere under the,200. So, 1119, I don't care. >> So, so which >> which one amount which amount? Which scenarios would you like them 32 >> 15? >> Oh, it is that what you mean?
>> Yeah, it would be um it would probably be that 15. >> Okay. And if you wanted to have more than one scenario rolled out because uh well I I >> Dr. Thomas was sharing that you know no more than three for them to
>> to give us information to move forward. You stated you're stating one around the the $15 mark. >> Yeah, I think that would >> Do you have another option that you would like to see? >> No, I think that that would pass. I I think our community could get behind that. Okay. All of our community.
>> All right. Thank you, Director Johnson. >> Uh 15 and 32 is good. >> Okay. Oh, I should say yes. I'd like to see 32 as well, but I mean I mean just those two I think for us as a board to come to agreement in as
>> fine. Thank you. Thank you. That helps. >> Okay. All right. Director Mason. >> Um yeah, I mean my mind just goes to what can our community get behind, right? And um you know I think obviously
we had the graphs and if we went the $67 mark only 32% of our voters would support it and only 46% of our resident families or whatever it was. So um or 46 combined I think it was. So I mean that it wouldn't pass right is what that
survey told us. Um, also just the feedback from the prior levy, um, at $45, um, you know, was largely that it was unaffordable. And I think, you know, learning from our failures is essential for success. So, I think it's
um, you know, it's not about me and my kids and me sitting on the board. This is about what I think our community can get behind and what what we can pass because I I don't want to be sitting here making the decision to renew. Um, and so I guess I would support like up
to the $32 one. Um, I think anything above that is just risky. Um, I don't know. I know I'd asked for this before, but if there was something between the 32 and like $40 level, again, just staying below obviously the
45, which didn't pass last time. >> Okay. So, Director Mason, you you would if if you were to pick three scenarios, you were saying you would choose them to show the 15, the 32, and and you're picking a different dollar
amount. >> Yeah. I don't I don't know that I'm supportive of the 46. I just don't think we have the majority vote there. >> Okay. With our voter with our non-resident families, I just again, it didn't pass last time. I I don't know why it would this time.
Okay. >> Director Olstead. >> Um I'm truly asking because I'm reading this chart a different way. Um when I look at the survey and again I mean I wish more people would have taken
the survey. Um but how much would you invest? I'm looking at am I reading this wrong? I mean truly I'm asking am I reading this wrong? >> So like the 32% of voters the blue
>> would support up to would support the 67. It's not like an up to. >> So what what do you what do you what are you confused about asking? >> Well I I just I look at I look at 67 a month. >> That's the highest one. And I'm looking at
right almost at 50% of now I'm looking at the resident families. That's the orange. 50% would support 67. Am I reading that cor incorrectly? >> No. >> Okay. So,
and then voting total I don't know around maybe 48 47 of all of the surveys would support at 67. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. I I just I I'm trul I'm not trying
to be sassy. I just I wanted to make sure I was reading that correct. Um so I'm just looking at our survey results. Um, I think our survey was really good about
detailing like this option would still come with cuts, right? This option would still come with this amount of of reductions potentially. And I look at the $15 a month and as you said, like it'll cancel itself out.
So I I don't know how I don't know how I can go to the voters and say vote for this and and trust me, I understand different amounts for for for
everybody. I I I truly do get that. Um but I don't see how in good conscience I could go to the voters and say, "Here's our scenario for $15 a month, but it literally will cancel itself out." And what do you get for that? So I just I
don't that's what I'm trying to again make sure I'm reading this graph correct. So if I'm looking at nearly 50% of the voting total would I want to see 67. I want to see 67.
um along with you know and again I know the scenarios would include or I'm assuming the scenarios would include this like what that really means and what potential reductions could mean at that level or
at any of these levels you know to to the point we know clearly but I want to see I want to see um 46 and 67 uh Please, >> director Billian, sorry I forgot to
mention one thing. I also think it depends on what the answer is to the capital levy and like the whole picture is a factor, right? So >> that's a good point. >> I don't know like I was going with these amounts with the assumption I would say yes to that but I don't know if that's
the decision across the board. So just >> we'll end that up. >> Yeah. >> Sorry, what? like I was picking my amounts with the assumption I would say yes to the capital levies project but I guess like again this is like looking at the whole picture right and so I think
>> agree >> it depends on the decision on this answer for me to put my amounts on this answer too >> and and and yeah that's very fair you know this exercise honestly board is and do Dr. Thomas, please, you know, correct
me if I'm wrong, but it is truly to give the administration some direction because rolling out all of the scenarios is time consuming and all of the the resources that it takes for that. Yep. So, trying to get board consensus on
which scenarios to bring forward. None of this is etched in stone. We aren't making decisions tonight, but it's helping the administration move forward. Am I >> That is That that is Sorry, that is true. And um and we can't build out
scenarios for every single dollar threshold. Um and so really, like I said, three would be the tops. Two would be ideal. Um, but you know, I think just in terms of trying to bring clarity to a conversation, we couldn't do this with
five different fully vetted things. We we'd be all over the place, >> right? >> So, yes, I I would say um trying to will it down >> to two. Two would be preferable. >> Two would be preferable. >> Preferable. >> Okay. Director Olstead, are you do you have anything else? >> I am done. Yes. Thank you.
>> You have Okay. Um, and then I will just go in line with my answer for this question would be um the $32 a month given the first time this was presented to us 7 million was kind of the floor.
Um um and based on that information I would say the third for me the 32 and the and the 46 I guess. Uh, Director France.
Um, uh, the 67 and the 46. I think anything, uh, 67 is the only thing that keeps us out of statutory operating debt. Um, especially given the last, uh, failed levy. Um, and that that's
something that needs to be clearly communicated because if we're considering trying to be fiscally responsible, we actually lose our right to control our own budget if we cannot afford the schools and the state will take over. So there's that's the only
option available and and the 46 is I I will say that's only with the capital levy also because that's the only way we'll stay out of statutory operating debt. um point of information. I just the use of the word statutory operating debt. It's our board's job to bring a balanced
budget and that will keep us out of statutory operating debt. So I think using those kind of terms at the board table are very um dangerous and I think um I mean I'm just going to say that um we would have to be at 1% fund balance
to be in statuto operating debt. And so I just I just think that it's our job as a board to bring a balanced budget and that keeps us out of keeps us below our I mean keeps our fund balance in line. So >> interesting. >> Director Ryder, would you care to answer
the definition of statutory operating debt and how we could >> begin around 2.5%. >> Oh 2.5. Okay. Thank you. But also, if we can't afford mandated requirement, statutory required services to our students because we don't have the
income necessary to do it, >> then we would first deduct from our fund balance, which wouldn't even cover that and we would end up in statuto operating debt because that's what you meant by the so many years that would cover us >> with the fund cuts of $4 million for the
last three years. Um I'm challenged at this moment to think of where those cuts are going to come from as we look at another three if um if we're faced with basically working only on the expenditure side of things and trying to to um stay in
balance by reducing expenditures. I will say that >> Director Smith. >> Yes. Thank you. Um, yeah, I just looking at the the survey
and the, you know, the $15 a month, no new investments, as Dr. Thomas just illustrated. Um, you know, it it's basically in and then it's out the door um for expenses. Um,
and I agree that a balanced budget keeps us out of statutory operating debt, but the fiscal picture that we are on um
that's going to take a lot of a lot of painful decisions. Um so and I I am I am struggling admittedly because again I I get frustrated when
we almost say it is a foregone conclusion that if we choose this amount it will fail. Um that's not how things work. And I think again if we are talking about being honest about what these different
amounts mean for the district and for our ability to keep providing a world-class education for our students. Um if we say $67 a month then that is what I would say is what gives us the
best opportunity to do that. Um and it is incumbent upon us to state that very clearly to say this is why we as a board
chose this amount. Um, so I just I I I I get I get a little frustrated when I hear that if we if we go based on the last levy that you know if we choose $46 a month like that it
will fail. I don't know if that is true. If it was true, why would we I I mean then I guess why would we even ask the question? I guess um we have to give opport an opportunity to people to understand what is actually going on. Um
instead of just assuming that they're going to look at a number and say, "Nope, don't want that." And I get it. There are people that are going to do that. But the goal, the idea is to reach as many people as possible to articulate
why does the school need this amount? How do we justify that amount? How do we talk about how that amount is going to be invested and used? And um and again, if we talk about why the last levy failed, I don't think it was the amount.
I think it was the from what I've heard from a lot of parents, the notion that it wasn't clear where that money was going to be invested. Okay, fine. Again, I have been very clear and I think that Dr. Thomas,
you and your team have been very clear about what this money would do. Um, I think that goes a long way in um in identifying what what amount we would choose and why why it was chosen. So,
with that being the case, I would go with the $46 a month option or the $67 a month option. >> Okay. um hearing from all board members regarding that question. Director Ryder
or Dr. Thomas, do you want to >> Yeah. Um >> guide us through the next? >> Just I just want to be clear. Um so if I were to just will it down to two um combining all of your ranges, 32 and 46 are where we have the majority
consensus. So that that's just where I've done my um tabulation. And so, um, if if it's okay with the board, I would like to go back with our team looking at 32 and 46. And then the other one that, um, everything else is kind of split
across on the high end and on the lowest end. But those are the ones where we had the majority of consensus. And again, for discussion, you're not making a vote. And certainly, we could tailor things from there. and you can kind of um do your math up or down um
when we have conversations, but it allows us to get more efficient with our time to turn this around for you in two weeks. >> Well, and can I just ask a clarifying question, Dr. Thomas, you I I understand that, you know, you said no more than three, two would be preferable. um you
know when I think to you know even public forum this evening um some of the um comments that um we're and look looking at public forum and also looking at this survey um you know director you
asked the question am I reading this right and it looks like the most favorable response from the survey was the $67 amount um and so given if we if we're to take the information from the survey um
and if we are truly having the ability to to you know roll out three different scenarios given just the magnitude of the survey results it was you know there was it was favorable to the $67 a month
I would ask if the administration would be able to in include that amount as well. Um, Director Bolan, can can we just um get a point of maybe clarification? I mean, we sat here last week and talked about how all of us didn't believe that this was really a
great survey that it was, you know, it it was definitely geared towards the people who are the consumers, right? It's the parents who are highly invested people within our district. And it really got just a small small portion of
our voters. And it's those, you know, the the people who don't have kids in our district. The people who don't, we lose to other educational options. There's how many v voters did you say, Director Mason? 28 38 32,000 voters. And this was represented by 382.
So I just I putting that much weight on the survey is is concerning to I I mean I I think it's I what I like the most about that survey is that the definitely support like people definitely said they definitely support us going forward with the survey regarding the dollar amount.
I think that leads >> the point of order. Director Bullion, we've had one board member speaking for over 32 minutes total that I just added when it went to 946. >> Well, that is on this one topic. >> Point of clarification. >> Can we just expedite this um please?
>> That's not true. has been questioned. >> What board? I think I think we're kind ofating it like I think there's a like when you look at this graph it's not yes the $67 amount has the most number of respons that makes sense but even given that
even if we thought this was the best survey in the world 49% of our resident families 46% of our voting total or 32% of our voters would support the levy that's saying that that wouldn't I mean
That's not the majority of the voters, the people that took the survey, right? >> So, it's important to look at like the percentages. It's not like yes, the graph is the highest because we had the most respondents, but that doesn't equate to that's the most number of people
supporting. So, there's a big difference when you look at this graph. And I think, you know, keeping in mind like anybody that supports 67 would support anything down. Correct. Anybody that supports 46 would anything down, right? So, when you look at this graph, what
this tells us is that actually the $46 a month is what would pass. >> Correct me if I'm mistating something. >> Yeah. No, I think I think I think that's kind of where >> I guess it's the most number of respondents, but that doesn't mean it's >> right.
I think um just kind of building off of that point and um other points that have been made around why would we ask for something that failed in the past but what we're seeing is that is actually where people seem to be settling in. I think now as a result of seeing the
repercussions of what we talked about back then of how big do you want your class sizes and how many schools you want us to close pass a levy like and it wasn't you know and I think there was some concern around fear but I think we're living the
reality that we forecasted and so you know to to be shortsighted now a second time around um I think will be very very costly and so I just encourage the board,
excuse me, encourage the board to really think about um what would it take to bring forces for every one of us want our kids to have on a daily basis
and that so I just landed again looking at the kind of the consensus right now 32 and 46 are the ones that seem to be consensus of tonight's discussion for us to go back and have some mockups. I
think from there you all will have much more detail then underneath to say okay let's ratchet this up or let's throttle that back. Um so so I'm good with that. >> Director Ryder, I have another question. Sorry. Um could we get any information
from Ellers on based on the how many ever levies are in the state of Minnesota? how many statistically have passed when they've asked for a higher amount versus a lower amount and I mean I know they they do this all day long so like can they provide any data on that?
I mean I did my own little chat GPT search and it basically said that the odds of something passing higher when it failed previously are very low. And so I know there's a lot of factors in that regarding um you know communication and like director Smith said being
intentional about our community understanding like what they're voting for but I'm just wondering if they have any data that could help support our board's decision- making. >> So I heard information regarding percentages of u referendums that have
passed um when asking for a higher amount than what had previously failed. >> Yeah. And I can send you my analysis that I found um as well. >> Okay. It's it did like a 10-year search of all levies in the state of Minnesota
and those that have passed, those didn't pass, and all that kind of stuff. So, >> okay, I understand your question. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Next. >> Yeah, >> we'll fill that in. >> We'll fill that in. So number three um
and that is right and that is going to uh asking the board if you recall last week we had Ellers present um a stepped up version um so that we would start with the basis of year one and then over
the life of 10 years we would um kind of grow towards a higher dollar threshold. So wanted to get a sense of from the board if you want a fixed amount for those 10 years or would you want to build so for example starting at 32 building towards 46 just using those two
that came out of consensus today or do you want to stay like at a 32 for example? >> Board members do you have any questions on that question? Okay we'll go around the table with Director Smith. We will start with you. Would you like to see a
step up or um a flat rate? >> A step up. Yes, >> Director France. Step up. >> Um I will I will take that in line. I do have a question on the step up. My
concern with the step up is confusion on the ballot. >> Um Yep. That is my that's my biggest concern because I feel like when people are not clear on something, you know,
they're they would say no. Uh and I am very mindful of that. Um so with that said, I would say I would I would be for not the step up >> fixed. >> Fixed. Okay. Is is that depend on the
language used or is that in general? >> Just in in general, even with the clearest language. Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, I was asking. >> Yeah, that is my my concern regarding the two. I mean, sitting here on the board, hearing presentation after
presentation, having the one-on-one conversations to I I feel like I have understanding. And at the ballot box, my concern would be if people are not understanding what that step up is, they
are going to say no. And so my my vote would be for fixed director. Um, we've never done this before according to Ellers's. I wrote that down that we've never done a step up here.
Um, con, yeah, it adds complexity potentially. The pro, we don't have to go back to the voters. there has been some success in other districts.
Um he mentioned I just because I wrote them down. Wasa, Edina, Minnetonka. Um those are also districts that I I mean anecdotally speaking don't
really have trouble passing levies. Um and others have done this with with no success either. I mean, sometimes they do it and it and it fails. So, I'm torn on this one if I'm being quite honest.
Um, I know that's not helpful and I don't want to ask for um I I really don't I don't want to ask for a scenario with and a scenario with them. I mean, y'all are doing so much already. Um, >> can I can I make a statement? I don't want to talk out of turn though. Chair
brilliant >> like director France's statement. Director. >> Sure. >> Let's hear it. >> One of the reasons why the step up works as long as the language is clear is because more people are apt to vote for a delayed expense than an immediate expense.
>> And I can see that too. >> And that's why Minnetonka >> I mean I read this the sample that he gave in his in his uh presentation. I read this and it's it's pretty clear to me. I mean, it's spelled out pretty
decent. I'm also right here versus the average person being right here, right? So, um I I wouldn't mind exploring a step up, I suppose. >> Director Mason, >> all that to say that. >> Yes, that's good. Um, yeah, I think I
agree with you, Director Brillian, and I think it adds confusion at the ballot and I think it um I think just it gives a level of like long-term uncertainty to voters. Um, so I would say no. >> They fixed. Yes,
>> Director Johnson. >> Fixed. >> Director Atinson. Um, yeah, I think it adds complexity particularly about how we communicate that to our um community. Um, we saw with the levy results, we have a hard time reaching our voters. I also would love to understand how do
they communicate that when you click into a website that says this is how much I'm expected to pay versus my homeowners, but then in three or four years, this is how much I'm going to pay. It just seems very confusing. And so, I think we have a better chance of passing a a fixed rate levy. Um, it's
just less confusion and knowing that we have the challenges that we have with communicating with our homeowners. Um I that's what I support. All right. So um next. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. So for question number four then
um we're now talking about a capital projects levy and whether or not to explore that. um the dollar amount that we have proposed and um from my perspective would be more
paddable to our taxpayers might be the fact that it's a replacement of debt that's falling off otherwise. Um so that's something to consider. I mean if we weren't in those circumstances I can see where there's lots of other questions that people would be asking, right? But in this case, the scenarios
we're looking at um doing that in 29 does not create a tax impact for taxpayers. >> Does not create any >> additional. Thank you. No new tax. So they won't see the decline, but they won't see new related to that.
>> And will this be tied to the first question or not? >> That's that's a call for the board to make. So it would be sorry >> it need not be. >> So this would be
according to you for us question one and question two or just a question one without a question two. Our recommendation question one
average home five and a quarter average home five and a quarter right now is paying about $17 a month. Um that equates to about $3.3 million um of capital levy uh revenue that we would u maintain. So, we would shift it
from the debt service to um uh capital. >> I think this is more confusing than the last one. >> Being honest. >> So, if if I might, I'm going to pull up another screen here that I'm hoping will
assist. >> And not I shouldn't say the the question isn't confusing. It's to put both of them together like >> Oh, you know what I mean? Yeah. >> So, you would not put an operating
referendum and a capital projects levy in the same question, >> right? >> You put them, >> right? >> They're two separate questions and then you decide >> whether you're making there a contingency between them. You know, if one's contingent to the other, some
sometimes that's done. There's no reason for us to make that happen here. Um, we can meet our needs by just having two separate questions and people just vote on those two questions. >> Excuse me. But the problem is is that what if people see a cheaper rate and no
new tax on the second question, go for that. I think that it's they could do and but they they're voting only yes for one. We could actually >> we could actually step on the rake. It's your point. >> Yeah, >> 100%.
>> Thank you for that. >> Director France, can you say that again? >> Step on a rake. >> No, this your whole the your point. >> Um, if you give and so let me give an example. The last time we tried to separate the cost of of the operating
cost of a of a building with the with the actual bond of the building and that was Red Tail Ridge. And people chose one or the other. and we ended up building a building and the operating levy associated with that building uh uh was
not passed and therefore we couldn't fun it sat mothalled for over a year. >> I understand that and the question here that we're on is number four reaching consensus from the board to will to will
the levy campaign include a capital projects levy question yes or no. So what we're being asked is two separate questions on the ballot >> or one contingent. So if you vote yet, you cannot pass a second
>> right now. But right now for this question tonight, we're not talking about contingencies. >> When we talk language, you can deal with the contingent part. Um at this point, if you want numbers, we need to kind of just understand like what dollar amounts we're talking about so we can get you to
that point. >> What it would look like costwise. >> Oh, we just need to know a yes or no at this point. >> So, this at this point in time, we need to know a yes or no. So, hopefully that gives us a little bit more clarity of tonight's consensus. Um, and
so with that being said, is there any other questions regarding this question um create for for director Ryder or Dr. Thomas? Board members hearing none, we'll start with our consensus on this. Director Atinson, can we start with you?
>> Um, my my vote is no because I think we're going to have a hard tough time getting the one passed. And I do believe that I'm looking back at the 2016 levy where it was $129 million bond and the 2.5 million or 2.2 million and that failed. Um, my concern is that people
are going to see the first levy for what, 7 to 10 million or whatever it might be, and they're going to say, "Oh, maybe not that much, but I'll go for the 3.3 million because it'll only it'll only be effective within the next it's not even effective this year. It'll be effective the next what, 29?"
>> 29. >> So, I I I I that's very concerning to me because I at the end of the day, if the operating levy doesn't pass, the board is going to be asked to u renew it in the spring. >> Okay. So you're I'm no for that. Okay. Director Johnson,
>> I would like to explore it. >> Okay. So that would be a yes. Am I saying that correctly? Okay. Director Mason, >> yes. >> Director Olstead, >> yes. >> And I am a yes. >> Director France. >> Yes.
>> And Director Smith? >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, next we're on the back side of the paper. Is there questions on this? That was the back side. >> Um on the on the back there's some list of items. These were taken from the
ballot language that was proposed and was kind of like just here's here's how much you could put into the ballot language if you chose to. My wondering is when we prepare information for you, is there anything on this list you feel
cannot be on that question? Can you take this? >> So, if you take a look at the ballot language that was provided as a sample related to the um capital projects levy and I'll get that right up here on the screen.
Uh the question I'm having is and and it doesn't necessarily I mean this is something that can be decided at a later time too. It doesn't require costing. Um, when you're talking about a capital projects levy, you know, since the debt that's falling off is 3.8 million, we
would assume just to fill it in, right, at 3.8 million. But when you be when when you get past the question and where you see the 38 million because it's over 10 year from there on, it's talking about how that money would be used or
could be used. Okay? And generally speaking, districts will keep this as wide open as possible to account for whatever they might need to have coming up that is unforeseen at this moment when they're trying to get the vote. So
what you're seeing here is like examples of what can and others do put in to the question. My wondering is is there anything that you absolutely feel cannot be in our question should we have one? Can I get a point of clarification on
something? >> Um, can you help me understand why this would be on this year's ballot versus passing one and then coming back the following year and doing it? I mean, given the timing, you know what I'm saying? >> Well, when you're talking about a
capital projects levy, oftentimes those dollars that you're spending it on do require some planning, right? So, I mean, we've been working on a capital capital budget out 5 to 10 years and trying to figure out exactly what the needs are for curriculum, what the needs
are for technology, what the needs are for operating um Dan's area, right? Um, this also can help with LTFM. So, like you remember, he has an LTFM plan that right now has $6 million a year and he's spending nothing the year before because
he doesn't have room for it. Um, so this could kind of like help out in that particular year, for example, if you allow it in the question. So my my concern is by the end of June, we need to have a review and comment prepared and ready for the department to approve
in order to have that back to us before voters begin voting. similar to like max certifying levies broadening it. You can always go less, but you can't add something after it's been reviewed and and approved,
>> right? >> So, so just keep that in mind. >> So, the question here for the board to decide and if we were to go around the table asking, you're asking is there anything on this list that should not be included? Is there
Are you >> We will Yeah, we will need to know for sure what we're putting into a review and comment, but it's not necessary until end of June for us to submit that. But we are sitting here at the beginning of May and I'm just I'm putting it out there making sure that you are aware
that we're going to have to make that choice. Those are so your qu what you'd like consensus on or what you'd like board information board member information is how do I ask this question
>> if we if we are going to move forward with a capital levy are there items on this list that you couldn't support you um using uh capital dollars for. So if um textbook and materials uh uh was
something like nope, I don't want to use it for textbooks, then you would say everything but textbooks or everything but renovation projects. So that's what we want to know. What would come off this and if there's consensus around something that should get pulled? >> Are you referring directors to curriculum when you say textbooks?
>> Uh yeah. Yeah. Curriculum, textbooks, material. >> I see textbooks listed here. So I mean Oh, I see. Oh, say I see. I'm sorry. A curriculum with curriculum. Um I mean can we is this again something that you can run through the finance committee? I think it'd be a great to get their perspective on that. Yeah, I
think that'd be great. >> Um I think I would caution with tech levy. I mean we went through town hall meetings um town halls and one of the things that I heard in the town hall meetings was um our community is concerned with the amount of technology within our district. Um, so I would
caution putting technology on there unless it's something that's very and I think in general if the board goes forward with this capital project levy, I think it should be very specific. I think the more specific we can be um the better chances of passing.
>> Board members, is there anyone that has anything on this list that they would like definitely stricken? um we do run the risk of putting everything into the pot and then um making it look like we're just asking
for money to do whatever we want. Um and uh historically try uh and while I appreciate um Director P's struggle with the LTFM and the maintenance um I think that there
has been a history of um you know especially as we're closing a school and doing all that of talking about using this for renovation projects. Um, as much as I know we need money everywhere, I think that may be uh a
little too broad. Um, as well as betterment of school sites and facilities. Um, those are the two things that I think that we should um maybe take out of the kitchen sink model here. Uh, and leave it with um basically your
your typical uh curriculum improvements. Um, internal software improvements. Uh, and I don't know anybody that would say no to safety and security improvements, which also has to do with software anyways. Um, but that would be my
initial guess. Thank you. >> Anyone else have anything to add, Director Mason? >> Yeah, I think I would strike the word acquisition on the first one. Um, >> leaving the betterment of school sites and facilities, but just given the
declining enrollment right now, I think that is a word I wouldn't include. Um, I I think I tend to agree that given the history with the tech levy and um, you know, I think perception from the
community is that they don't want technology. I know it doesn't always mean kids in front of iPads, right? But perception wise, I think technology gets risky. Um, and even curriculum to some extent. Um, I would support this also
being pretty explicit and I agree that um I don't know anyone that wouldn't support the safety and security improvements. Um, like the other items, maybe just like the bottom three I think are the ones I
would probably strike or reward else. >> Yeah. Um I think it's yeah I reme I wrote down um on the uh presentation that um this particular kind of question was brought by design but obviously we
need to say generally what the money would be used for but it was broad by design because to your point Dr. Thomas we can't go back in and add anything so I think that's why it's broad. Um, uh, technology is infrastructure,
training, it's it's all of these things. So, I would actually like to leave it in. Um, it's not just iPads. Um, and um, so I would like to leave it in. And I mean, curriculum,
I think that's I think I mean, we have to leave that in. It's my opinion. we're a school district. It'd be nice to, you know, have money for that. So, I don't I don't really see I agree with the taking out the word acquisition. I
think that's a good call. Um I hear you on the renovation. I think Yeah, I think that that makes sense. Otherwise, I don't think there's anything I'd strike. And just to be sure to for clarity, the
acquisition of curriculum, the acquisition and maintenance. >> It's I if I'm understanding you correctly, the top one, right? >> Oh, you're in the Oh, four. Because there's acquisition, I'm sorry. Yes. And >> the top one is what I meant. Yeah. >> Okay. Very good.
>> My only feedback on curriculum is I feel like perception of a capital levy like you always go to buildings or things you can you know what I mean? Like I don't know. So I just again I just am trying to community perception with that and like that should fall under operating
right but I hear you. We need it. >> It's that phrase the levies are for learning building. Bonds are for building. That's what I always go back to. >> Anyone else? >> Easy to remember. >> Dr. Thomas, do you feel like you've
gotten direction that you looking for on >> renovation projects and the acquisition in the first one are the two kind of strikes? Everything else is kind of still fair game. Maybe some word smithing. Um, I would just say, you know, uh, if you're,
if I were to be, uh, kind of encouraging the board, um, betterment of our school sites and facilities, just generally speaking, if we need to redesign space, if we need to look at, you know, different types of communal based, um, furniture, things of that nature, that would fall underneath that, that makes
sense. I don't know how we move forward with capital without safety and security. Um, that that has come up in every discussion that we've had. um uh playground improvements. Given the magnitude of what we're trying to accomplish with accessibility and
knowing that we have limitations for some of our kids, that would be something we know it's a passion project of our community. We know that they would get behind that. Um just from what we heard tonight um and that wouldn't have to be ongoing, but it's just something that we could do. Career and
teched equipment is something our Minaps program um and other high schoolbased programs is is huge. getting kids ready for um uh uh that would be important. Uh curriculum, textbook materials uh for me is has been capitalized for years and
decades. So that that makes sense. I know the average consumer public um thinks curriculum should be something that's just general operating, but it is a capital expense um oftentimes uh in every district. So
So that makes sense to me. My only push around technology um I would not limit the flexibility of tech technology related personnel and training. The reason being is that this is where you can actually leverage some of your capital some of your operating as I
shared last week some of your operating capital differently and maybe that's a that's a a variable that you can slide that leper for a period of time. So maybe we pay for um uh IT personnel from the capital levy for x amount of years
because we're going to free up that general fund and we're going to put that into uh or our our operating our operating uh fund and we're going to actually put that money into our general fund to build up our fund balance. Stuff like that. I mean those are things that you all can explore. I'm not
recommending that's what you do, but it's just those are some of the things that you could potentially consider. um you know over the life of you know the levy. So >> if I may you said something that I was just thinking actually um because you
know we can put some of the money from this into fund balance. Is that something that we should actually list? >> No. >> No. >> Why? Okay. Why? >> I I I Go ahead. If you want to give me a
rationale for saying no. You're asking people to um basically >> put money in a savings account. >> Yeah. Put money into a savings account. I get that. It's it's uh >> it's given all the other struggles we've had and and also the massive, you know,
obviously campaigns that were vote no. I mean, this would be a godsend to somebody to go out on a vote no campaign for. >> And I get that it's probably too broad. >> Yeah. and and it's not going to be like the intentionality round, but like similar to the conversation, you know, director Atinson had a question earlier
about um you know, the budget. And so the conversation, you know, with we get higher revenues um and if we have more revenues, we can make some decisions of saying, okay, are we going to put some of this into a restricted fund balance? Are we going to put some of this into our um our operating fund balance? Those
are decisions because you would be freeing up dollars. You know, you you have some flexibility in how you do this. So your revenue side will show more revenue because you've offset that with with a capital expense and now you can determine what you would invest with
that freed up um operating levy or what you might contain or save. So but those are decisions that the board would make. It wouldn't be something that you would go out and campaign for. >> Sure. Yeah. No, completely get it. >> Thank you. >> A budgeting exercise. >> Yeah.
>> Anyone else? >> All right. Did we do we feel like we gave good enough direction? I think >> having the having it go to the finance and operations committee too that will be helpful for the board. >> This was super helpful.
>> This worksheet. Okay. >> Yes. Thanks for providing that. >> All right. Let's find where we are on the We are on our curriculum recommendation. Next up is the curriculum recommendation
adoption. This item was presented at last week's meeting and is before us tonight for action. I will now entertain a motion to approve the curriculum recommendation >> by Director Mason. >> Second and a second by Director France.
Is there any discussion or questions? the board has hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Oppose say nay. >> That passes 70. All right. Next up um our next action
item is the CISO Transportation Consulting Contract. I'll invite uh Director Ryder to present. >> Yes, thank you. Um included in the board packet is the actual agreement. I want to preface this with an understanding of
where this is coming from. You know, why is this before you? We began an RFP process related to transportation. And in that process, we wrote that RFP with the intention that we were going to have routing separated from the bus services.
And um upon at our last conversation regarding the action the board took related to the RFP, it was for us to continue to negotiate an agreement related to the routing and to um with um CISO, which was the one um sole routing
that that fit the the um the needs that we had requested in the RFP. And then under the bus services, there were two vendors that we wanted to pursue negotiating contracts with and that is the Priy Lake School Bus Association and CST.
In the process of beginning those conversations around those agreements with the various different vendors, um we shifted we shifted what our needs are with regard to routing. Um it became clear that we needed to have routing
that was all in one system. We currently do not have a portion of our routes on a system. And so we want to make sure that moving forward we do have a system that encompasses all of the routes and that is um manageable by not only the routers
but also someone within the district for oversight purposes. And as we build these for 2627, we want to make sure that these routes are as efficient as possible. Given what we have with the condensation of our school buildings, we know that there's a couple of routes
that they've already identified. Um the the bus company has identified could probably be reduced. So, we've already put that forward as part of our reductions and you've seen that in the list before. Um but we haven't really figured out our special ed piece yet. Okay. And that's an everchanging model.
Um Michelle and I have been working with the various companies to kind of vet through some of those questions with them. And tonight present here and still hanging in with us, which I appreciate, is our Prior Lake School Bus Association representatives.
And um they can share their perspective as well. But I I just wanted to make sure you understood what the purpose of this agreement is. and that is for us to shift our focus in working with CISO to help us implement a new system, one that they have trained multiple districts on
already and can assist us in getting set up for all of our routes. Um we want to start with our summer school which is somewhat the urgency and then use it as a testing for those who are um at the bus company as they route and um get
used to the system. And then we also want to build all of next year's routes, right, for all of the um various different needs. Um doing that, we know that we currently are paying $15,000 for our current software, which is an older
software. They have an upgrade to go to that upgrade will cost us instead of 15,000, it will cost us 32,000. 27 the first year, 32 the next year and beyond. um and there's an additional $10,700 of training um for that
particular software. There are two other larger companies in the state that oftentimes people will turn to for routing software. Um all of them are more expensive than than what we're talking about. They're in the 20 to 30,000 range as well. Um the cost of this particular software if we buy it
ourselves directly outside of any other contract with CISO will be about 178 $17,800. Um, if we work it with the CESO contract, they're embedding it and there's no cost additional to us. If we leave um, CISO, which is the intent, the
intent of working with CISO is to get us up and running and having all of our procedures in place so we can continue our own oversight and our routers at the bus company can feel confident in how they can be efficient with those routing on this particular software and manage
that. Um then at that point in time we will see our data cloned off into our own and continue using it and we would then be build directly and um within 90 days as you see in the agreement our
data would be deleted from the CISO um hosting site. So with that um I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have related to this and I also want to provide the opportunity for um the perspective of the best company to be
heard too. Would you like to come up? >> I'm gonna let you guys um introduce yourselves so they know who's who. >> Thank you for being here. >> Yes. Thank you. Um my name is Lindsay Herrian and I am with Prior League
school bus association. Um kind of uniquely to Prior League school association, we are um an association that's made up of two owners and we work simultaneously under that contracted to Philip for Philip for the school district. Um so with me I have Jerry Barren, she's one of the owners and
Nikki Gendrin. She is also um affiliated with us. Um so together we're coming here tonight just to let you know that we've continued to work through negotiations um with the district on a upcoming contract. Um and we want to make it sure
that it's clear to you um that we are committed to finding a transportation solution that works best for the district. We are open to CISO helping with routing and possible software transitions that would include special ed routings routes too um to help with the efficiency to make sure we feel that
every one is more open and understanding to what's going on with transportation. Um and we are also confident that with working with them we'll have the right training and support um so that we can manage this moving forward after this year.
>> Thank you for that. Any other questions? >> Board members, open it up for any questions or discussion. >> Dr. Mason. >> Yeah, I had a few questions that I didn't get answered, I think, when I sent in. Um I guess and and maybe
concerns, but um in the contract I is there somewhere it's it's explicitly stated it includes the software fees because I think all the fees listed here are specific to services. Um >> it's embedded. It's just embedded within
can >> is it should we have them state that seems not typical. >> I mean it it it does spell out the fact that they are providing the software and the training. >> I didn't read that anywhere. I guess I was just curious where it says it would
provide oversight advisory implementation support services but nowhere does it state like we're including the software license fees. Um at least I might have missed it. I just >> so it says on page eight um e CISO will
provide and support the implementation of easy routing as the district's primary routing platform um will collaboratively work services under this will include the support the setup configuration and coordination of that implementation training
development of consistent routing ongoing guidance collaborating with the district under the um contract. Where did we put that? Page because we added it specifically about
the after working with tech on this information. It was suggested on page one under term and termination. In the event the client provides timely notice of non-renewal in accordance with section 2B, then uh the client may elect
to continue the use of the easy routing platform through a direct agreement with the software provider. Yeah, I saw that. Thank you. I saw that piece of it. I think it just may be on page it's 80 on my print out. I don't know what page it is on. It's not super clear. It just says it would support the implementation
and ongoing use, not the actual software. So, I don't know. that felt concerning to me. But um and then I guess you know my concern maybe with this more is well I guess the other question is it wasn't really clear if this is time materials or fixed fee
contracts. So if we um start getting into training and and I know you know the easy routing software looks great like they're touting it as easy to learn and quote we made our system user friendly so anyone can learn it quickly. if we learned it in, you know, a hundred
hours and not the 800 hours, would we be like, is it time and materials and they're only billing actuals or is this a fixed fee? >> So, you're seeing a list of the hours that are anticipated and you can see it rolled out where you're seeing it broken down by the periods of months and the reality is there's the setup, the
implementation of everything, getting it going, right? >> As I mentioned, we're going to do summer school, right? So that'll take us into the summer months of June and July. And we will want to make sure we're using them and utilizing CESO throughout all of September when we're getting our buses just up and rolling. Um we want to
make sure that the bus company can focus also on their services and not be worried about learning a new system so they have the backup and support throughout that period of September, even into October. They're still changing routes and um bus stops and things of that nature for the gened routes. When you're talking about
special ed, it's not uncommon to see that need um work its way into the November. I mean, special ed's always changing. >> It's always changing. So, >> yeah, but like will we need support to make those changes or will you be a you know, to learn it and then do it yourself is the question. I guess for me
it's risky and and typically with the fix fixed fee contract, they're adding a premium to do so. So I guess preference would always be with software contracts to do a TNM and if we don't use the hours we don't get build for them right so this feels high but again I don't
know the software so we're talking about from October on approximately 12 hours a week of support and so this this is this is things like setting up procedures where what are the reports I want to be able to know and learn how to run out of easy routing from my perspective so that
I can easily doublech checkck the bill that I at and make sure that if there's any questions, I know where I should be asking those questions, right? How is it that I can pull the data that I need at year-end reporting out of the easy routing system and what is it and how is it we have to put it into the system
from our CIS system? So, there's a lot of interactivity that happens with your routing software to your um student information system. And there's there's a lot of um you want to make sure that you've got all of those kind things kind of squared
away. My emphasis is this contract allows us the time necessary to truly make sure we're set up to to move forward on our own alone on this and it does um so I understand that I guess may not answer it is fixed fee or it is not
I'm sure >> it is $800. >> Okay. So they will bill us regardless or not if we use it or you know let's say we don't use it all. We will get this fixed fee $9,950 a month build. I have no doubt we will use the 800 hours. >> Okay.
>> If we use more than the 800 hours, then it's $160 an hour as stated in the contract. >> Yep. Saw that. >> Okay. Um I think Yeah. I mean, again, I just it feels a little bit
the long term and also like the auto renew language. I mean, can we strike that and just so that it comes back to the board next year to get feedback on how it's going and like we can choose to vote to re >> we already have our con our calendars marked for it so that we can make sure
that we like this is one of those things we'd run through the finance and ops committee next year right timely enough for it to also make sure then that we have that to um give the written notice then and we will know by March 1st and prior to that that you know we're set to
go with regard to how you guys are feeling about the routes and such. My only concern at that point in time will be the urine reporting which I have no doubt with the hours remaining I can still get what I need from that per perspective. So um I I intentionally left that in there for purposes of a
getting a good price on this as well as b having the ability then um should we run into problems we have a backup. So, with the auto renew language, they're giving you a discounted rate. >> I believe we got a better price. I can't
say that for certain. >> Yeah, I'm a little uncomfortable with that language. Um, and then I had just proposed a couple things around um including some language um
regarding change authorization. If we do go over that amount, does it require a change? does not come back to the board again for approval. Um I know there's not to exceed language in here, but um again if if you guys let's say we go ask for something additional or ask for
additional help with something or go over the hours putting language in to protect around requiring a change o before you're invoiced for that. >> Do you mean requiring board approval? I mean, in general, I think it's good practice to have the language in there
to require change approval from your sake, but um I don't know what the I guess maybe that's the question. What's the at what amount would that require >> a dollar $160 per hour for anything over 800 hours? >> No, but like at what point would you
bring it back to the board for approval if you were >> if our scope is changing, then that has to come before the board. In my opinion, >> change. Okay. Yeah, I don't feel like that's explicitly stated either. Um I there's a couple things in here
language-wise. I think it just would be if we were more clear on the language, it would protect us a little bit. Well, and keeping in mind too, Director Mason, just I understand like the the questions or the concerns that you're raising, but
the what's being brought before the board is action on the on the contract, which I know and I just again I go I go back to like this hasn't gone to finance and ops committee. This we haven't seen the full picture of the RFP. So, it's hard to
>> I'm uncomfortable approving it because I haven't seen the full picture and so we're doing this piece of it and and that's great, but um and then also with the new SI coming on board, let's say they come on board and they have a ton of experience with this particular software. I don't know, there's just a lot of unknowns and this is a long
contract with an auto renew in here, it makes me a little uncomfortable. Okay. >> Personally, >> any other questions or comments? Um Director Bull, I have some questions. Um, first of all, I appreciate your perspective as our treasurer and um, being on the finance committee, the questions that you've raised, um,
director Mason. So, thank you. I guess I would just love to better understand I mean, you go to the website for easy routing and they sell their yourself as a software that's easy to use, so anyone can learn it quickly and easily. Um, when I did a quick search on it, it appears that several rural districts like ours have already implemented the
software. And I just I'm trying to get wrap my heads around, you know, 800 hours of training when, you know, our teachers are doing, you know, we've heard what they've done for professional development training, which is way under 800 years. So, or 800 hours. Sorry, it's
late. Um, I'm just 800 hours, $130,000 for consultant fees. I mean, is it possible to reach out to one of these other districts that implemented and get their feedback on um the easy routing system? Is it easier to use than what we're I just I'm having a
hard time with this consultant contract. I mean, when we're making cuts to kids programs to sit and to hire a consultant. Um I mean, I just I have a really hard time supporting it for that reason. And then also given the concerns with some of the language in the
contract. Um, one other question I'd like to get clarification on. Will CISO be used in any other way, shape or form outside of just consulting on this this piece of this um contract? Because I understand in scope they do a lot of other different consultings um for
districts. >> This contract is for transportation oversight and routing system. >> So won't we will not be using them for anything else. >> This contract does not cover anything else. >> Okay. Um, and then, um, are we getting rid of any consultants that we're currently hiring or have hired, um, that
would replace this expense? When we began this process, the board asked for us to optimize resources and for us to take a look at transportation and try and determine what it is that we needed to do to kind of get this in sync
with what it needs to be moving forward. Is it rates? Is it how we set things up? Is it how we oversee it? Is it how we gather our data and interconnect it with our student information system? Those are a lot of different
possibilities there. And as we've had our conversations around contract, we're kind of getting into a lot of, you know, understanding both of us kind of where the other's coming from and understanding how this might be perceived or what it looks like and what's real, right? So, we I feel pretty
good about the um process that we've been using. It's been a long one, but um I think Jerry, you said it, >> but a very thorough, very open communication. We've it's we feel so much better about it.
>> We owe it to our bus provider to also support them in what they do. And the reality is, as they are working hard to serve our families, I believe that this contract's necessary for us to get off on the right foot with a software that will encompass everything and help us to
get where we need to go. We asked how many hours does that usually take for doing what we want help with? Not knowing for sure exactly like will it be um November and we're trying to figure out whether or not we can condense because we got to we have to put a plan
together for equipment for the future too. And as we ask for buses versus vans, they need to know and understand what that might look like. So this could include time spent by CISO and helping us to plan ahead or kind of whatif scenarios like if if we did this with
the routing what would happen with it. So they have kind of a a sandbox you might say of where you can do that with the software as well. So there's more than just implement the software set up our routes and get us trained. There's more to this than that. But we also want
to make sure that it's only one year in the need. Right? So this is presented as our best effort to serve the needs that we've heard through our process of negotiations and that we know we have internally as well.
>> So maybe I'm misunderstanding this. Are you maybe I'm misunderstanding that they're not necessarily training on the easy routing software system that claims to be super easy to learn. There's they're more consulting
on the whole picture basically is what you're saying. >> Yes. >> Versus versus versus >> we we have to approach our transportation matter with the whole picture. >> So is there any way the bus company sorry bus company can they absorb some of the cost of this? I mean I know you guys were charging no no cost for
routing. So I'm just thinking you know we were charging we were getting charged no cost for routing right? Is that correct? >> Correct. And now we're going to be paying 140,000 $10,000 a month for that. >> You were paying for like the software or whatnot that we use. Um so that would be
getting rid of Edgelog and switching to easy routing. Um and there's just a lot to learn with that and edgelog has been very cumbersome. So, anything that would help with that, for instance, like the easy routing would be very beneficial, especially because our general education
routes doesn't talk with or our special ed routes, we do all of that ourselves manually because Edgilog doesn't talk with Infinite Campus to be able to work with that for the special ed students. So, it's a it's forms, transportation
forms that we get for special ed. So all of that is stuff that we're doing without any software help at this point. >> With regard to the costs, um I take a look at the the 139,000399 is a cost of 14 months.
If you take off the amount that we would otherwise be paying towards software costs that are far more expensive on an annual basis and within five years would far exceed this contract. Um I also believe we're going to find some efficiencies with regard to special
education. Whether it's in the 26 27 year or beyond as we determine exactly how many buses we need versus vans, I'm not sure right now, but somewhere along the line that's going to happen. So, I I um you ask how can I possibly sometimes
you do need to spend a little bit of money in order to save it long term and that this is one of those cases. >> Thank you for that clarification. Um is there any other board members that have any other questions for the presenters?
All right. just didn't ask. >> Director Mason, >> is there a way to like get a check-in after a few months of using this and give us a board update if I mean again it's more just we're not I fully appreciate that like this piece is saving us more in the bigger picture. We
just haven't seen the bigger picture. So >> the hard can I can I add to your question? Can we also have when we I really appreciate you asking that and that's where I was going to go. I'd really like for the bus company to come back when that happens too >> because to hear directly from you guys
>> because especially with something like director Benson pointed out the auto renew this is like >> trash >> right >> we want it yeah >> to put it lightly right you guys are going to know >> not saying anything right but
>> um >> well we can we've reached out and asked other people like hey is this a good software and it's used by some districts but not all. And we're unique. We have all these lakes that we coordinate around. And our special education
transportation is greater than others and like there's so many other services that are offered that we transport for. So, it's just going to take time to get used to this, which is why they were doing the one-year contract. >> Chair Bullion. Um just to that request,
I think um after we do our first summer routing, uh I think that our summer school, that would be our first kind of proof concept that we can come back after summer school to kind of say, okay, here's here's what we learned for for an update. >> So,
>> and thank you for being here. >> Yeah, thank you >> so much. >> You'll see us driving at 6:30. >> I won't see you driving at 6:30. Any other perspectives or questions? All right. So, thank you all of you for for
your the information and and clarifications that you have offered. Um, we need to have a motion and a second. >> So, >> um, by director Johnson and Director France. All in favor of the CISO
Transportation Consulting Contract, say I. I. >> Opposed? Say nay. Nay. Uh, that passes 61. All right. Next. Um, next action item is the Reed
Act phase 2 memorandum of agreement. Can I get a motion and a second to approve? >> I heard Director Johnson and Director France. Um, is there any Well, I'm going to invite
Director Kern. Thank you. >> Yes, you're welcome. >> Yes. >> What you have in front of you, uh, directors, is just the, uh, memorandum of agreement for phase two of the RedAct. So, phase one involved our elementary staff and now phase two is involving our secondary staff. Um so the
board approved the phase 1 MOA um in order to um how our elementary teachers would uh do the read act as well as be compensated for it. So this phase two is doing the same thing but on our secondary for our secondary teachers.
>> Is there any questions or discussion for this hearing? None. All in favor say I. I. >> Oppos say nay. That passes 70. All right, moving right along.
Uh, next item for board action is the approval of issuance of purchase orders for the 2627 school year. Can I get a motion and a second? So made >> second >> by director France and a second by director Smith. Um, is there any discussion or questions
for Director Ryder? I think this is something that we we approve yearly um so that that purchase orders can start happening. Is there any questions discussion hearing? None. All in favor say I. >> I.
>> Oppos say nay. That passes 70. All right. Next up is policy. Um this is the second and final reading of the policies that we uh discussed in
detail last last week. Um so we will um be taking action on these and uh given the time um uh we can approve these as a group. If there's any of the policy
numbers that board members would like to uh have discussion on, um I can take those outside of approving them as a slate. But if there is not, I would take a motion and a second to approve these as read.
Um Director Bolan, I'd like to pull out 621.1 weighted grade system. Okay, we can do that. 621.1. There any other policies that board members would like to pull out to discuss? Okay. And then um would you like uh
director Kern to to speak on 621 or share what you want to >> Um I think we you Thank you. We've heard from you. Um, I think Director France brought up a great point um, last time that this policy really before it gets implemented should go through the TNL
committee meeting. I understand there was a TNL meeting that was planned for April that was cancelled. Is it possible to get another TNL meeting on the calendar just like they're getting a finance meeting on the calendar for May and run this through the TNL? Um,
>> so are am I hearing a second? Was there an amend? >> Oh, I never took an a motion. Oh, >> we're not Oh, you never did. >> Pull them out. Sorry. >> I never did take a motion. >> Um, so I'm gonna take a >> motion by Director Johnson and a second.
>> Second. >> Do I have a second by Director France? And this is to approve everything but 621.1. >> Perfect. Okay. >> Okay. So, um, with a motion and a second to approve all of the policies listed except 621.1.
Um, all is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. That passes 70. Now for 621.1. Can I get a motion and a second to
approve 621.1 as as presented by director France? So can I get a second? >> Second >> by director Smith. And is there a discussion? >> Yes. Director Atinson, do
>> you have to repeat what I said? >> Well, maybe not. >> Okay. I'm just curious. Can we get a TNL meeting on the calendar so that this can go through TNL before the >> I think it could certainly go through TNL. I would think it would go through when they reconvene in the fall because
they've um been received all the communication that were done for the year. They've filled out their feedback surveys and um the work is done for this year. the a potential wrinkle is the high school planning
>> for what they communicate to folks but you know they'll be aware of what the status is. So, um I think perhaps they're thinking since it went through uh policy committee and then you know we have the opportunity to take action. Um
but you know the board is the governor's. So >> Dr. Jackson, are you asking for a a um a motion to bring it to >> Yeah, I guess I'd like to make a motion to to remove this policy this evening and send it through the teaching and
learning committee. Um just for clarification, this this policy needs to be updated per statute and um that would have to be done prior to the school year because we have to state whether these kids are getting weighted grades or not getting weighted grades and that's part
of the confusion that happened this year is that we stated it and then we didn't do it and there was confusion. So I think it has to be done if we're going to do something with this and for it to go through TNL it would have to be in the next month and just to so finance went and added a meeting um for those
you know to talk about the levy. So I'm just wondering if if TNL could do the same. >> Can I make the statement? >> Okay. So, yeah. So, this is a statutory change that needs to go through, but um as I stated last time, this should go
through the TNL for weighted grades in the fall and be decided upon before the the the registration for new classes. There's no emergency to do it now. And this was the last TNL meeting we had in
April. April was not cancelled. Um, so I am fine with it as it is for the statutory change, but from now on, this policy should only go through TNL as it used to do before. And we'll just have to with the TNL committee and the leaders of that, we'll just have to make
sure it gets on the agenda uh first thing in the fall because it's a it's a fairly involved conversation. >> Um, Dr. Anderson, April was canceled, correct? >> March was cancelled. >> Actually, it was March. >> Oh, it was March. Okay. Sorry. But there was one canceled. So, okay. Um, but my
concern about this is that um that this does change um the weighted gradings. Minap students will no longer receive weighted grades as they are currently. So, going into next year, it'll be need to be communicated that MinCaps will not be weighted based on this policy change.
Um, college and the school will not be weighted based on this change. PSO has never been weighted in our district. So that will not impact our um our um PSO students. So it will be a change to our to what's happening in the fall based on
this already done. >> Yeah. So they they've registered and everything for next year and I would say the only feedback that came >> everybody else outside of the minaps um were in already aligned and we had no questions or concerns from any other um
student or family group. Um because with Minaps being a satellite site in the past, the communication was had at the high school. The assumption was of the administration at the satellite, but that communication was missed there. So moving forward, yes, that has been
communicated with Minap. So that they would have that that would be um part of that group um moving uh into next fall, excuse me, into next fall. That should have been for this year as well. So, you're saying during the registration process, we've already communicated that
all college and school, all PSO, and all Minaps will not be >> Well, I I I'd have to talk with um Dr. Beas to find out what specific communications that they sent, but I do know that the cohort of students that were only impacted this year was the
Minaps. Everybody else had acclimated into the to the new to this policy already. Minaps is the only outlier um course or cohort. >> My other concern with this policy is that back in I think 21 I saw we took
away waiting of honors and I think I brought this up during our study session. Um is it possible for us because honors is not considered an an AP or college and school credit. Is it possible for us to add in? I just my fear is we're taking away things from
kids and I don't think this is costing us any money um waiting grades or not waiting grades. Um I see some value in it. I see somewhere it could really hurt students. Um I think I raised those concern at our study session. Is there any way to add back in honors so that
there's there's something that our kids can look forward to or something that they you know. So, so >> by the way, it was decided in TNL and then by the board that that was taken away in 2020 in prep for the 2021 2022 school year. So, that was done during
that time. >> It was in the handbook. Yeah. >> If we could direct the the questions through me, that would be helpful. So, we have a we have a motion and a second on the floor to approve 621.1.
Um, Director Atinson, are you suggesting an amendment to that motion? >> Yeah, I'd like to make amendment to the motion to include honors classes um along with the AP classes. I believe statutoily we are able to do that. Um, and like I said, I think it would help
to keep some of the kids in our district as well. >> Okay. So, uh, Director Atinson is asking for an amendment to the motion to include honors and AP classes. Is there a second to her amended motion
>> of clarification? >> Yes, Director Johnson. >> Can we do that? >> Great question. So, there is a motion and a second on the table and you're asking to uh >> I am happy to I am happy to second. I
want to make sure that we can >> um it it can be done. I think the conversation needs to be with building level administration to understand what that would all entail. >> Um, >> I thought you were asking about the actual motion. >> Well, you said ask questions through
you, so I ask you. >> Yeah, please. >> Yeah. From a from a statute change standpoint. The only two cohorts that need to be identical um are PSO and um CIS, CIS, college schools. Um and you
can't if one is weighted they both need to be weighted and vice versa. If none is then both are not weighted. Uh I would say that uh I would want to engage our building level administration in this conversation understanding the
impacts of waiting honors and what that would actually entail. Uh I would not feel comfortable making that discussion without engaging um building leadership teams around that. Um, but definitely open to having the conversation >> and it still should go through the TNL.
>> So >> again, is there a second to director Atinson's amended motion? That is the question to add honors into this policy >> to add honors. And you said AP as well.
No, just AP is already listed. So it's it'd be APs and honors would be weighted um in the policy. >> Is there a second to that? I'm going to say hearing none. Uh that that motion fails and we will go back to the original motion.
>> I'm now going to make an amendment to that motion. Okay. >> Push this off until the next board meeting after discussion with bu building lever personnel with honors. >> I'll second that. Okay. So, uh, hearing
the amended motion to push it off for discussion with building personnel, uh, I will take, uh, we have a, a first and a second to that amended motion. I will take a vote. All in favor of that amended motion say I.
>> I. >> Okay. Maybe we'll do roll call. Director Atinson, >> I. >> Okay. >> I. >> Uh, Director Mason. And you're an I. Director Olstead. Um I >> I and I'm an I and Director France.
>> Nay. We're not going to have that conversation before the next board meeting. >> Director Smith. >> Nay. >> Nay. Okay, that passes 5.2. >> 52. Thank you. >> It's late. >> Just to double check. So this then you
want this back on on June 8th cuz that would be the next business meeting >> after after the conversation with >> business or the the building >> administration. Thank you. >> All right.
That is our final um action item for the evening. Next up is administrative reports. Do we have any of those tonight? None. Next up is board reports. We'll move to and I saw Obie
>> Obie's home studying for AP exam tomorrow morning. >> I do not I'm glad he's doing that. >> Priorities >> board members. Um are there any reports to share? >> Can we start with you, Director Smith? uh finance and operations committee uh
next Monday or Tuesday but other than that nothing. >> Okay. Director France just scale on Friday and I have to leave. Okay. Good. Good night. Um director said um quickly I visited Glendale a couple weeks ago. It was amazing and I saw the new reading
curriculum in action and it was awesome. Um so thank you for everybody who had me. Um celebrate was amazing. Middle school concert on Thursday. Um and Southwest Metro, we awarded a lot of different um staff um for their uh
contributions this year. Graduations are coming up and then we're looking at um a superintendent evaluation soon. >> Yes, Director Mason. >> Uh thanks and safety next. >> Director Johnson.
>> Uh only thing is uh sorry I was late. I got to uh go to the Savage City Council meeting this evening and see the seniors in our high school who are going into the military this evening. They were honored tonight. So, that's where I was. So, thank you to the Beyond the Yellow
Ribbon campaign for doing that and to the Savage City Council for hosting that event. Um and congratulations to all of them. >> Yeah, sad to miss it. >> Y >> uh Director Atinson. >> Yeah, thank you. Um just in our last policy meeting, I think one of the
things that um we did forgot to mention is that MSBA has brought forth an AI policy and um I had the opportunity uh several months ago to Washington DC to um learn I spent a full day workshop on learning about AI and education and it
was incredibly interesting. Um I've also attended a workshop last Friday, another workshop on AI and education. So, um really looking forward to um putting in hoping to putting in an AI policy maybe before the back before back to school because I've had several teachers reach
out with concerns about how how AI is being used in the classroom. And I don't think you can open up a news article or social media site and not hear about AI, how AI is impacting the learning, our learners or andor organizations. So, I just wanted to bring forth some
visibility to that conversation um that hopefully we'll be able to bring back a policy before um the school year on that. So, thank you and congratulations to Dr. Anderson. I don't know if it's official official or um >> while we sat here, it became official.
>> Oh, congratulations. It has been a pleasure um working with you here in our district. I'm very happy for you. So, thank you. >> All right. Um, Dr. Thomas, do you have anything else to add? No, nothing to add. Okay. So, we
are going to the board will now adjourn to a close session pursuant to Minnesota statute 13D.03 for the purpose of discussing negotiation strategy. Um, do I have a a motion and a second to adjourn
>> by Director Smith and Director Olstead. All in favor say I. I >> opposed that passes 6 and we will take a fivem minute break.