##VIDEO ID:Ifkj99jVotI## good evening and welcome to the organizational meeting the annual organizational meeting of the St Peter School Board it is Monday January 6th 2025 we are in the governor's room uh it is 6: p.m. this meeting is so good we're starting it early this week um but we will call the meeting to order first item up is the Pledge of Allegiance I pled ALG to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands andice we need to consider and adopt the agenda which is before you and also in the board book El rically I'll make a motion to approve the agenda I'll second we have a motion and a second any discussion we will proceed to vote all those in favor signify by saying I I oppose same sign motion carries the agenda is adopted first item up is the election of officers first one up is chairperson we have a motion in a second I accept the nomination what do we have to do three oh anyone else any other nominations for chair any other nominations for chair any other nominations for chair all right we have one nomination for chair and then we do all those in favor all those in favor signify by saying I I oppose same sign thank you welcome back yeah thank uh next up we would accept nominations for vice chairperson I'll nominate Drew Dixon I second the nomination any other nominations any other nominations for vice chair going a third time any other nominations for vice chair hearing none we'll proceed to vote all those in favor of Drew Dixon as Vice chairperson signify by saying I I I oppose same sign thank you drew next up we would accept nominations for clerk Mr chair I'll nominate Keith Martins I'll second we have a nomination to Second Kate Kate accepts any other nominations for clerk other nominations for clerk other nominations for clerk hearing none we'll proceed to vote all those in favor of Kate Martins as clerk signify by saying I I I oppose same sign thank you Kate uh and finally Treasurer would accept nominations for treasurer I nominate Bill C I'll second I guess I'll accept any other nominations for treasurer nominations for treasur nominations for treasurer hearing none will'll proceed to vote all those in favor of Bill cout as treasurer signify by saying I I oppose same sign thank you Mr C next up we have several uh depositories that we need to designate as the official Banks and depositories of St Peter School District these are the uh depositories that you've used with the exception of the CCF Bank CCF Bank we we've always had a practice of uh having depository at our local financial institutions and they're no longer a local financial institution so we would recommend that you uh I designate the depositories as listed do we need to take them individually or just as one I think you can do it as one one group okay Mr chair yes I I move the deposit design as itemized one through seven in the the um agenda for the day thank you I'll second we have a motion and a second any further discussion discussion discussion discussion hearing none will proceed to vote all those in favor signify by saying I I oppose same sign motion carries we have designated First National Bank of St Peter Pioneer Bank of St Peter Hometown Bank of St Peter US Bank of St Paul Wells Fargo South Point Financial Credit Union and msdf the msba investment program as official designated depositories thank you next up designate the official newspaper of the district is currently the St Peter heral currently the St Peter Harold and the one of the statutes that we follow is that if you have a newspaper generally in your community that becomes the official newspaper and you are required to publish the minutes and proceedings of your Schoolboard meetings um in the newspaper on a regular basis which we do so I would recommend designating the St Peter heral as the official newspaper for the St Peter public schools that motion second a motion in a second any further discussion discussion discussion all those in favor signify by saying I I oppose same sign motion carries St Peter is the official newspaper of the district next up we have to designate the official auditor for the school district the we've used Abdu aen Meyer for a number of years going back to my second term and then before in my first term even so uh they do a great job for us I do think though that the official name now is Abdu and the Ike and Meer is out so we would uh recommend that we designate the otter for school district as the Abdu firm would to entertain a motion I'll move thank you a second a motion and a second any further discussion discussion discussion hearing none we'll proceed to vote all those in favor of designating Abdu Abdu as the auditor for the school district signify by saying I I oppose same sign motion carries next up designate the business manager or her design to continue to make wire transfers for the school district that's a practice that is goes is very common in all school districts it allows the business manager to make those wire transfers as necessary between different uh different funds at Etc uh and generally the uh second person that would be doing that would be the uh senior accountant who is bong the approval of making to continue Ro I'll second we have a motion and a second any further discussion discussion discussion all those in favor signify by saying I I oppose same sign motion carries next up we need to designate the superintendent to approve non-resident student agreements and as you will see by the report that we'll be getting in January on our our enrollment in and out we're doing well and we want to be able to continue to sign those on a regular basis so I would recommend that you designate the superintendent to approve non-resident student agreements just as a little background um open enrollment forms have to be completed by January 15th um but on a regular basis school districts around Minnesota um allow students to move freely by signing non-resident student agreements outside of that open enrollment window uh so we it a a lot of it happens in you know August early September but just signed a couple that helped us uh last week so I move to superintendent to approve non-resident student agreements second have a motion and a second any further discussion discussion discussion hearing none we'll proceed to vote all those in favor signify by saying I hi hi post same sign motion carries thank you next up set board salaries um we have them listed below do we take these all as one or do we do individual you could do it either way you could do them individually or you could do them all as one I think if you read them off and made a motion as as listed so we set our the board member salaries each year um we don't aren't doing this job for money right and we have not moved these salaries much uh over the years um I think slight increase a few years ago um but hardly minimal yeah we've kept it minimal um because this is a service that we provide but it does take time in that regard Mr chair I might mention I'm going on memory which is dangerous but 20 years ago when I was on the board they were very close to y y yep I do know there are several districts in far outpace what we're looking at we have a long-standing history of being comfortable with with this and yeah I and I would mention just this set monthly uh salary or stien uh it's many districts have that and uh they pay for attendance at at meetings in addition to that so you're an AER group don't get their money wor the next few weeks or months assuming we do our job and you mentioned Charlie too Nobody Does this for the money it's it's something we all enjoy doing I move to set board salaries as proposed and those are as follows the board shared $500 a month Vice chair $300 a month the treasurer $400 per month the clerk at $350 per month director position at $300 per month and a $100 month stien to be paid to members of the um the it is now the human resources committee and really that's focused on the negotiations piece and it's to recognize the amount of extra work that goes into the negotiations periods when they when they happen so is that just the month that it happens or is it every month as as we've looked at this I believe it's every month not on my payroll is not it's been during the negotiations period so then we'd probably want to have that discussion and as we this has not been on the on the organizational meeting for a few years so we're sort of bringing it back and I think the discussion should should Center on what do you believe is the appropriate approach the difficulty is you could be in negotiations for two years yeah or sooner but you know uh it's typically goes well into that second year but but it's up you know whatever you guys decide I'm comfortable with it remaining monthly um for a couple of reasons I think the nature of the of that committee's work uh can fluctuate so wildly um I think just keeping tabs on the the clerical part of is keeping tabs on oh were we on or we off would be I don't know cumbersome at best and there may be months when negotiations begin and then not meet again for two months right so yeah it's it's difficult to Define yeah yeah I think there's some question of what what constitutes work for the month exactly if it's one meeting on the last day of the month does that month count or does it not yeah but I'm certain that 10 meetings the next month correct right yeah and I'm certain that any of the members in the committee would could tell you that there are several hours spent um every time and if you get into a mediation kind of a situation that takes a tremendous amount of time uh sometimes days uh to uh work through those mediation sessions as well so you were saying you don't believe that it was monthl now you know I'm just going from and again the money part doesn't really matter no I know but we just want to make sure we get it right right but but on uh I look at the the payroll notifications for for edification and it was I'm going on recall again but like 168 to run 38 it Dro $30 which every two weeks so and that was about gosh May June something like that when negotiations that typically end and we actually negotiated a bit beyond that but that's really immaterial I mean it doesn't matter to me at all I'm happy to whatever monthly and I think just consistent is best considering the amount of work that does go into a negotiation session this is not a ridiculously high sum it's not it's not it's in fact if anything again we're among the lower for negotiations teams I'm sure so and that's a clerical thing we can check yes yet to make sure that it's well well one of the one of the questions that has that came up uh because the question did get posed is so where did we set this what where was the record for setting this and it we don't have a record for setting it so there was no basis for it so that's important why it's important tonight to make so we know going forward absolutely thether clarification if I may when I noticed it was a little bit less on every other week basis I asked Megan if I had been overpaid before if I should reimburse the district and she explained that was her understanding that was just because of the of the U negotiation stien that was on a as performed basis essentially but again that was our conversation like mention it should be clarified yeah no that's helpful context thank you okay so we do have a motion as Drew outlined them there which included the last one 100 month $100 per month stien to the HR committee which because of the negotiations process okay so we have a motion in a second further discussion discussion discussion hearing none we'll proceed to vote all those in favor signify by saying I I I oppose same sign motion carries thank you next up identify primary legal counsel um I would recommend that the primary legal council continue to be Kennedy and Graven uh and we work with a number of their attorneys but primarily with Maggie walner um and that you authorize uh the following individuals to contact legal counsel the chairperson the superintendent and the special programs Human Resources administrator uh and that is important by the way to make that designation because uh otherwise you sometimes have a situation where not because they're trying to do anything un uh unethical or anything but a principal might reach out to the legal councel and you really don't want that happening you want it to be tight with these individuals or a board member or a board member right would entertain a motion also move I'll second we have a motion and a second any further discussion Mr chair if I may yeah Jeff is that on a a retainer basis or is that as needed it's a on an as needed basis okay yeah and I I forget the the the framework of the it's like 20- minute increments okay but it's it's it's reasonable sure okay thank you thank you yeah but still talk fast yes all right we have a motion in a second any further discussion how you doing no time no time any further discussion hearing none will proceed to vote all those in favor signify by saying I I I poose same sign motion carries thank you next up setting the day time and place of regular Schoolboard meetings and study sessions this is consistent to what you've been doing in the past uh to hold regular meetings uh the third Monday of the month uh at 6:30 p.m. in the governor's room at the community center study sessions for the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the middle school media center and then the January January organizational meeting the first Monday of the month in the January and February February regular meetings for the third Thursday of the month due to conflicts with holidays that's the same calendar you would have been operating under currently I have a question with the construction happening in that is that going to be a problem doing the study sessions in the media center it could be especially in the summer months yeah and you typically have a study session or two during the summer months but we could look at alternative spaces at another school in the district or the community center there are lots of spaces we yeah so your question is should we be designating the middle school media center as opposed to yeah to be detered to be determined right not setting a location for these I think that's a probably a good idea so do we say at a location to be announced yeah or something unless you wanted to move the study sessions to the uh High School community room although there's a lot of room there if you were to get public yep you can always move it out into the cafeteria that that's true once you're there yeah that's good that's a nice space yeah yeah okay change that to the high school community room plus they have capabilities there for electronic stuff yes yeah right move we set the daytime in place for regular school board meetings and study sessions uh to include to remain relatively consistent with our current uh practice um Regular board meetings on the third Monday of the month here at 6 6:30 in the governor's room in the community center um study sessions the first Monday of the month at 6:30 in the high school community room uh and the January organizational meeting for the first Monday of the month of January and the February regular board me member U meeting for the third Thursday of that month due to conflicts with holidays I have a motion I'll second Motion in a second any further discussion discussion discussion all those in favor signify by saying I I I oppose same sign motion carries thank you next up discuss appointments to school board committees um I reached out to everyone individually um with an email to see if you had thoughts on committees um and based on I got a few responses about not moving of committee so I didn't move around a whole lot there was one request to change the chairperson of the HR committee Mr cout was willing to take on that role and then I added the ad hoc legislative committee um with Rita Kate Ken and Bill who had expressed interest but I'm fine I was I didn't have email last week so it's fine I'm fine I'm good I was just yeah I'm good um so these are updated based on that stuff I mean we also can make changes if we need to right that's not this isn't carved in stone discre chair's discretion actually yep so we have these in front of us pretty much unchanged all good um will it cause problems to have for a four-person committee for legislative we in terms of in terms of what having a quorum quum on the board but well you it's a public meeting and that that would be the reason that you if you had a quorum of the board you thinking that that you could look at making a decision at a a committee meeting I think that or maybe we include a statement that this committee exists only to make recommendations to the board or something well you did approve that in your I think it's the December meeting and we do put on all committee meetings that there could be a quum of the board but we don't make we don't vote on decisions at those meetings so I mean are we comfortable with that yeah okay do we need to approve those no no that's just a discussion your your okay correction uh next up a resolution to proceed with budget planning process as a part of the budgeting process uh the board has asked on an annual basis to direct the administration to develop budget plans in this case for the 2025 2026 school year the plan may include budget additions reductions Andor adjustments uh and this resolution is required to officially start the budget process and the resolution is included in your materials that you have tonight and essentially um the plan would be based on the fund balance goal that will be coming back as a policy second reading at your January 23rd meeting uh the 2025 2026 enrollment projections and the anticipated funding level provided by the state of Minnesota and again as noted the plan may include budget additions reductions adjustments in order to maintain the fund balance goal set by the school board and in order to address the possible increase or decrease in general fund Revenue provided by the state of Minnesota and in order to meet enrollment changes in the school district so that's a resolution um I'll just mention that couple of things will be coming back um should you proceed with this resolution and in your January 23rd meeting we'll ask you to set a um budget adjustment Target for 2025 2026 that information and recommendation a will be presented to the business committee this Wednesday at the business committee meeting and we've been um really talking about these kinds of adjustments all along but then then that specifically sets into action bringing back a more specific plan for what that budget adjustment Target looks like and how that it then impacts meeting that fund balance goal that you've set so any questions enter entertain a motion to move the resolution also move I second I have a motion and a second any further discussion discussion discussion uh this is a resolution so we need to go around the table M Rach hi Mr Russell Hi M Stewie hi hi Mr hi M Martin hi resolution passes get to work all right those were all of the business items uh we have some upcoming meetings of the Schoolboard the business committee meets on Wednesday at 10: a.m. in the district office the policy committee at 4M in the district office on Wednesday education committee is Thursday at 1 o'clock in the district office uh the 2025 msba leadership conference is Wednesday through Friday next week at the Minneapolis Convention Center um and then our next regular school board meeting is in here on Thursday because of the holiday we meet on Thursday this month at 6:30 p.m. right here in the governor's room any closing just just to mention you received an itinerary for the uh the conference um in your uh bonly update I think it was sent out in in in addition so uh just maybe take a look at that if anybody has any questions contact Kimberly and we'll we'll work on that um but the uh idea is we'll try to meet together if everybody can be at the uh Lobby in the hayatt by 6: pm on Wednesday the 15th yes in that regard there's an early brid session that re and I will be attended at that basically that same time I think it's at 7:30 actually I was thinking it was 6:30 but you're probably right uh it's usually early but maybe 7 you're the PHD I bet you're right yeah well Bill's got the brid right there I've got it right here but you thinking May meeting at five rather than six no I I think the board should do it they deem appropriate just if in terms of timing it may or may not work yeah it is uh seven to n seven to nine in the middle yeah so maybe we'll maybe we'll change that to like 5:30 545 right in that time frame does that work yeah fine okay M because I four I think phase three phase three so yeah yep be ready to go at 450 all right that is all we have would to entertain a motion to ad before I Rita was on the and I were on the um Zoom call with the search answer question and answers and I was very impressed with the presentation of Amy and Barb there weren't anybody watching there wasn't anybody you'll be able to watch it it is recorded recorded be on the website yeah and the one thing that I really appreciated a number of times they said that everything is open to the public but we also have data practice laws so no one will be identified until they've been selected to be interviewed so just I think that'll be something that people want to know and yeah just in that regard tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock the msba group uh Amy will be meeting with the administrative team to talk about the search process and then at 3:45 meeting with the leaders of the various bargaining units to talk about the interview process so that's moving right along the survey window does that close do you remember tomorrow I think the 12th the 12th okay so if anybody gets a chance to watch this we'd encourage you to fill out that uh superintendent uh search survey and that can be found on the school district website correct yeah if you needed a paper copy connect it with Kimberly and the district office and it's in three different languages this is really an important time for the community to be able to follow the process and provide any kind of input man one more thought yeah please since it's not even close to 8:30 yet yeah keep going now I just just um I always enjoyed the the student Spotlight that's something that's fun to see and hear also really appreciate it when the student council Representatives going to be here and recognizing they're very busy people they often have conflicts if the regular designated student council repres reps can't be here would it be possible for the adviser perhaps to name a substitute for a meeting or two question yeah that that that is a good point actually that would be something that would be worth thinking a little bit more about and and talking about uh a number of school boards that I'm familiar with um they actually have an active process of identifying somebody who actually goes through phase one training at least maybe phase two training and then is a is a member of the non- voting member of the board but as opposed to the student council representative not that that's necessarily a bad thing but you might have somebody who's just really interested in participating in local government kinds of Affairs and there their interest is there and and and that may be something to to think about down the road they may even have let those come freebie the students I think they do at least they did I don't know if they do anymore good good point good question either that or we we could require the advisor to come they may real they may find someone to come fast well out of that class of what 140 or 50 I'm sure there's a handful of people for sure that would love the opportunity to and so for sure it's a good experience for the students really good experience absolutely AB all right I'll move we adour I'll second that motion a second all those in favor meeting is a jour thank you everyone good job is the city coming in