Good evening and welcome to the meeting of the St. Peters School Board. It is Wednesday, June 18th, 2025. We are in the governor's room. It is 5:03 p.m. and we'll call the meeting to order. We'll start with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We need to consider and adopt the agenda which is found in the board book packet
online and in front of you. Make a motion to adopt the agenda. I'll second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. The agenda is adopted.
Uh Kimberly, do we have any requests to speak? All right. Next up is the approval of consent agenda items. These items are found in the board book packet online and in front of you. be happy to discuss any of the items to pull them out and acknowledge them or
would accept a motion to approve or both I guess. I move to approve the um consent agenda items. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Just looking back at the minutes from u
uh previous meeting back on May 21st when Ethan, our our buddy and meteorologist, was here. I wanted to call him tonight to find out if I need an umbrella, a coat. I know. Shovel, but I didn't. Or there you go. Exactly. I have actually thought about him multiple
times in the last week. Every time there's Exactly. I wonder what Ethan's thinking. Does he agree with Ian Leonard on Fox 9? Yeah. Any other discussion? I will say I looked at the bills, everything appeared to be in order.
There was one slip up in the credit cards, but they caught it. So, great. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Treasurer. All right. Discussion. Discussion.
Discussion. Hearing none, we'll we'll proceed to vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Same sign. Uh, excuse me. Opposed. Motion carries. Consent. Agenda is approved.
Thank you. We do not have a student spotlight or student council report tonight. Correct. All right. We will move into action items. First item up, consider acceptance of gifts and donations. There are three donations that are listed in
your packet. A $2,428.94 donation from the St. Peter Booster Club uh was received to reimburse the St. Peter Public Schools for purchases the district made on behalf of the booster club. Second, a donation in the amount of $800 was received from the Oyola
Council number 30 degree of Pocahontas directed to the cheer student activity account. This is to help pay for the cheer summer camp. And third, a donation totaling $1,239 from a variety of businesses in St. Peter were given to the choir student
activity account. These funds were acquired during the pops concert in May at a silent auction. I would recommend your acceptance of these three donations as presented. Also move. We have a motion and a second. Charlie,
any discussion? Yeah, I have a question. Just kind of a curiosity. Do we have a new cheerleader advisor? We Mrs. Engle. I'm not sure. Not yet. No, there are several.
So, will we have one before these camps occur? There'll be somebody in They still have some of the old ones, the assistant cheer adviserss. Okay. I don't believe that. Thank you.
Any other comments or questions? Just a clarification, if I may, Mr. Chair, under the uh donations sended various businesses. I'm assuming that's a sizable number of maybe some fairly small amounts. So, it's difficult to acknowledge them individually. Individually? Yes. Okay. There were
I I would say four at least 40 or more items at that silent auction. Sure. Okay. I think we certainly appreciate it. Yes, very much so. Thank you. Good clarification. Uh we do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? 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. We have accepted these gifts and donations. Thank you to the generosity of those who gave. Next up, consider approval of
preliminary 2025 2026 budget. Miss Gracia, always fun stuff. There are four documents attached in board book related to the 26 preliminary budget. The first one I'm going to review is the detailed budget. It looks
like this. The number of columns, it's two pages long. Um, if you recall, the very first page is the general fund as a whole. It's broken up into sections. We spend the most of our time talking about that top section which is the unassigned. But
just a reminder, this whole first page is general fund. The very left column is where we anticipate we're going to start fiscal year 26. It ties out to the budget that you approve, excuse me, approved this spring for fiscal year 25. So where we thought we were going to end
25 is obviously where we start 26. We have our moving to the right, revenues coming in, expenditures going out, any adjustments in or out, manual transfers, and then our un end ending fund balances sort of to the right hand side. That very right column then is changes either
going up or down both in dollars and percents such as the structure of this um similar as it's been before. The top section, the unassigned general fund. We're estimating we're starting at $5.5 million with $28 million in revenue,
28.1 in expenditures, a net transfer of $100,000 out of the unassigned general fund ending with a fund balance of 5.38 million. Uh if you move down to the bottom of this first page, that equates into 69.9 days of operating expenses for
that unassigned general fund balance. Could you just take a minute to review the the adjustment and if the adjustment had not been made what approximately that would have done to our unassigned fund balance? Sure. So the manual adjustment is composed of two different
things. Um so first it's $200,000 coming from the assigned fun uh assigned general fund which is down below Viva severance. Um so we have $200,000 coming in. we have $300,000 going to community ed uh fund for both for the annual
contribution that we're going to be making and then that long-term plan. Um so if we didn't make those those two transfers um then we would have $100,000 more. Our fund balance would be slightly higher. Um but as a net of those two, our fund
balance is $100,000 less than it could be if we didn't make those transfers. Thank you. So um the middle section then is the restricted funds. So those are things that by statute or by application we have to spend them on certain
expenditures. Um we utilize those to the best of our abilities. There are two different sets of funds both MA revenue and some of our readact dollars um that we anticipate spending down a little bit further but other than that we try and utilize everything that we can in those areas. And then the bottom section are
the assigned funds. So things that we set aside for specific purposes as a district. We deem that we want to have those balances in there. Um again, that's where, like Dr. Olsson pointed out, that's where we're going to take some of that money from the severance in VIBA as a one-time transfer into the
unassigned fund. So general fund as a whole, we're starting the year with eight just over $8 million um and ending the year at just under 7.6 million. Any questions on this first page? Perfect. Uh the second page then looks
at everything outside of the general fund. Uh so food service, we are estimating a decrease in the food service fund. We do have to spend on some of those dollars. We still at this point are um based on the budget, we are still going to have a fund balance that
is too high. Uh there was a grace period for a number of years with COVID and with the Minnesota um paid meals. Uh they were allowing us to carry six months worth of expenditures in our cash. Now they're going back to three months in this year. Um so even with this fund balance, we are going to have
to find strategic ways um with Dr. Graph, with the principles, with our food service director to um find one-time expenditures that we can decrease this balance even a little bit further to make sure that we fall within that three-month balance. um community service. As you can see, we
have $300,000 transferring in um because our revenues and expenditures were aligning with where we anticipated they were going to. Uh so we are slowly going to chip chip away at that community service fund balance. We anticipate we're going to end with uh just under
negative 800,000 there. So again, trying to do the annual transfer to um net zero out that given year and then slowly work on that nine nine-year plan that we had. The building construction fund is for the middle school. Uh so that is
activity for interest coming in on our accounts and then any outgoing expenditures for July, August, and next to June on the middle school project. So that's what they have planned as of right now with an ending fund balance of just under 20 million. Debt redemption
is based on our bond payments. So you will see that there's a negative number there. It's all related to timing when we have to make our bond payments versus when we get our levy revenue for those corresponding bond payments. So nothing that we need to be concerned about there. The trust fund um it's two of our
scholarships that are held in a trust fund. So we don't anticipate activity um more than just ins and outs of those scholarships. And the last one then is the insurance fund. So again, we're self-insured with health and dental. Um, we have had a very high claims year this
last year. So, that's something that with our insurance representative, we're going to have to continue to monitor. Um, because we are utilizing a substantial amount of our fund balance there in the health insurance fund. We did establish a 9% increase for our health insurance premiums going into
this coming year based on his recommendations. Um, but we are just going to have to continue to monitor that to um, ensure that we have a healthy amount in that fund balance there. Any questions on this second page?
You can't use the food service budget for concessions. You cannot unfortunately. A couple questions more on that food service budget. Um, so are there like that can be used for like
obviously equipment or upgrades or things to the kitchen? I'm guessing. I mean like what kind of I mean how creative or what are we doing in terms of Yeah. I mean it can be kitchen stoves, kitchen heaters. Um something new that they just added this past year was tables for the cafeteria that used
to be an unallowable expense which now you can use it. Okay. Um I know two of our buildings had have received a couple tables, but that's an area that we could look at. Um, but we did really want to make sure that it's just one-time purchases because we want to while we have this money available, we don't want
it to have tails and have future years get us a negative food service fund balance. Um, one of the only other pieces I saw as part of the legislative process is that we could potentially use it to help supplement some of our or offset some of our administrative costs, which we can't currently do. Um, so we
could look at that. I haven't seen a lot of guidance from MDE on what that entails, but that could be an avenue that we go down. So, well, and I know we don't want to just like buy things for the sake of buying, but I was just kind of wondering if we were doing like any strategic thinking or a process to
determine what to do with that. There have been conversations at the building principal table when and with the full administrative team. Um, I think we we need to wait till we get just a little more guidance because they they shifted some things made made things more flexible with the legislation that was
just passed. Okay. But we don't have all of the details on the fine print behind the legislation that was just passed yet. So, okay, there it'll be ongoing discussions with the team in July and and early August. And then my other question is um the community service I
mean and not I'm not picking on those because that's like a very important fund um but with the community education you know with the revenue expenses which that's my favorite fund by the way um
I know that the revenue has exceeded the expense was that just after co where it started to flop around and do we know like at what point we're going to hopefully see that be able to like equal or has it always been one that we've had to supplement? It was one that we've
always supplemented, but we didn't supplement it for a number of years and that's what created the larger Okay. deficit. Well, and I know that like the studies show that like the more connected and seniors and the whole thing. I was just curious about that.
So, my favorite fund. So, good to move on. I'm good. Thank you. Okay, perfect. Um, the second document you have is just a summary of that same information. So, I'm not going to review that. It's just um the numbers summed
up. Uh, there should be a third document then that is the three-year roll out. So, it looks like this one. Um, that very first page, just as a reminder, the lefth hand side is a three-year roll out if we were to do um nothing. So, 26 is the very top number.
fiscal year 29 which is 2829 school year is the bottom. So at this point if we have if everything stays the same and our assumptions are accurate in fiscal year 29 we'd be looking at a fund balance of 1.8 million or 21.3 days. That middle section then is where we do
any of our adjustments any of our planning. Um so if you recall from the three-year rollouts that we've talked about this year we're looking at at this point budget adjustments of 200,000 in fiscal year 27. So, 26 27 and then
you'll see the $300,000 each year in a transfer out of the unassigned general fund. Again, going to community ed um for that two-part process. At this point, as of right now, those are the only adjustments that we have on this three-year roll out. Then, you'll
see to the right what that does to our fund balance in terms of dollars and days. So, you'll see that the fund balance if we were to go with this plan is down to 1.5 million or 17.9 days. Um, one thing to keep in mind is that, you know, this current year we ended up with
60 students more than what we anticipated. Um, who knows what the legisl legislative process is going to going to do. Um, so as we get into the fall and as we do our quarterly fund balance trackers, we'll continue to analyze this. That number might go up, it might go down. Um, but this is at as
of this point with the preliminary budget that we have, that is what our three-year rollout is looking like. I will add that the legislative pieces are not in here. We do know that we have impacts both up and down, but we didn't have solid numbers going into the
preliminary budget. So, that'll be part of the quarterly fund balance tracker that we bring to you in the fall once we know compensatory and student support personnel and have some of those numbers figured out. Megan, two things. The first one is a good question asked at the business committee and that is why
if we have adjustments made do our number of estimated days of operation decrease more after we make our adjustments than before. So and then that's a great question. So the only year that we have money coming or adjustment coming in is in fiscal 27
where we would either um have additional revenue or then cut expenditures. Otherwise, you'll notice that in those three years, all of those are transfers going out of the general fund to community service. So, that's why then we have less less dollars in the general fund. So, then our number of days go
down and our balance goes down. And and we talked at the business committee about levers and there are basically four levers that you have available to you. You can increase the budget adjustment for fiscal year 27 above
200,000. you can increase as a second lever the budget adjustment from zero for fiscal year 28. A third option would be to put a halt to the payback plan for the community service fund. And a fourth
option would be to consider an operating levy. So there are are levers that you should be looking at and considering as your planning continues over the next months. All of the attached pages to this are just the um the numbers in the
background for what goes into that lefth hand column. So whether it's unemployment going out or additional expenditures, uh the impact of our pupil units going down. Um those are the attached pages that make up that lefth hand column. So I'm not going to go over it in detail unless there's any specific questions.
Otherwise, oh Mr. Chair, I just have um I don't know, I guess a question concerning our calendar, budget calendar. When we look at our quarterly tracker,
at what point do we make adjustments to the budget if the tracker I mean, how far off do we have to be? You know, we have an expectation where we'll be at the end of
the first quarter. If we're way off on that, do we then make adjustments? We typically would make one primary adjustment a year, which is a rei revised budget, which would typically be in April and that would reflect most of
the activity that's would have occurred in quarter 1, quarter two, and quarter three. um because you know trying to make that multiple times again too many variables but that usually gives you a pretty good accurate starting point and
as Megan and John and I have talked about um you're it rolls right into your preliminary budget then as well. So it's a pretty accurate revised budget by that point. I mean, we're tracking the the
three-year roll out more often, but well, it it's still a great tool because if we're off, we can start making, right? You know, we can take a look at expenditures a little more critically.
We can put a halt to the transfer if we need to. Those types of things, right? The only Last thing I have is there's a page for enrollment. Um so one thing to note it's the very fourth document that you have. Um you'll note that over the
last three years. So our 25 number is not um completely solid, but it's as of the latest Mars report that we have, which is close to end of year data. But you'll notice that we've had some pretty stable enrollment compared to what we anticipated over these last couple of years based on the grade progression
ratio model that MDE has us or recommends that we utilize. Um, we are still anticipating, like I said, 16 weighted pupil units in 26, um, 32 in 27, and 30 in 28 in terms of declining enrollment. Um, we do have those large
graduating senior classes, the smaller incoming classes, but then as you get to 29 and outwards, it's going to start start to taper off a little bit as some of those larger outgoing classes start to dwindle down in size. So, the end of declining enrollment is hopefully in
sight. Hopefully we have another year like this year where we had 60 to 70 kids that we didn't anticipate. We can't bank on that, but but we feel I mean we're using the methods that MD has recommended. Um and so that's that's the enrollment that we're
estimating as of right now. Semiconservative. Yeah. Have we compared this to that demographic study that we did? So they actually estimated that we were going to be further below where we are. Okay.
I was just curious. I mean, that's only a guess, too. For sure. It's an informed guess. Yeah. But it's good that we're on the right side of that. How far off are they when we can get our money back? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, well, you
know, demographic studies generally are very accurate for three to five years out because they've got live birth numbers, they have they have the capture rate, they have all of those kinds of things. But you get past that. You can't really predict. No, I mean
can't predict what's not there. I don't have anything to base this on like real numbers other than just gut gut check in a sense. But regardless of the increasing cost of like building materials and the increases of interest
rates, it feels like the activity of building housing here has increased dramatically. And I think that's the plans are for that to be in continue right now. Yeah, I think it's fantastic. We've been kind
of Andrew, you're exactly right. Hoping for that significant increase in housing. What we need is housing that has kids. Yes. Preferably between ages five and 18. Sure. Things like the transfer curriculum and so on. I think
those are going to help too. So, right. a good community service, community ed, and those things help those younger families to Yes, they do. See how I did that, ET? Work that right in there. I like that.
But it is true. Any other questions for Megan? I do have a question, too, but I'll want a motion first to get it on the floor for approval. I uh will move the approval of the uh projected budget for the next fiscal year. Second, we have a motion in a second. Further discussion and I do have a couple
thoughts if I may. Uh first of all, on the the first page that Megan referred to where the u uh the general fund on the sign goes from 5,530 down to to 5,382, a 3% decrease. That's, I think, really a
a successful year relative to what we thought we'd be looking at back in December, January, that kind of thing. And my compliments to Dr. Olsson, Megan, the business office, and the administration putting together some very creative rearrangements, uh, highly
resourceful, if I may use upon resources. U, you can delete that if you want or Tony. Um the uh again I'm very impressed with that and that's pretty much a stable year and the next year given what we know at this point appears
to be relatively similar to that. So keep like Drew was saying those houses going up people moving in and hopefully the fiscal cliff we've been concerned about as have many other districts will become a nice level prairie.
We do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion discussion? Discussion discussion. Hearing none, we will proceed to vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries.
We've approved the preliminary 2025 2026 budget. Thank you, Megan. Next up, consider approval of individual employment agreements. Dr. Olsen, you have in your packet uh and in the board book the actual agreements. There are in
19 individual employment agreements. Those need to be completed prior to June 30th because those agreements end on June 30th and there they are not part of continuing contractor agreement uh regulations or laws. Um the all uh 19 of
the agreements are within the salary benefit parameters set by the board of 3% 3% total compensation 0.02 here and there up or down but in in general at that 3% 3% range. The agreements also include changing the
dates, ensuring that the a statement is in the each of the agreements that the school board shall determine the terms and conditions of employment for the position of blank because these are all at will employment agreements. Um a third point is eliminating serious
illness or death and briement leave and replace it with earn safe and sick time language. So earn safe and sick time uh applies and gives the same in fact broader uh flexibility in leave uh options than does serious illness or
bereavement leave. Uh the fourth is where applicable not in all agreements single health and hospitalization at the viva level and then the fifth is consistent retirement benefits for like positions. So like positions maybe
within the business office. Uh the uh some of the agreements had $45 a day for unused sick leave at retirement. Some had 50. So this increased that to $50 a day. Uh there were uh some places that had life insurance for seven years or
eight years or nine years at retirement. So we made that language consistent. Uh some of the agreements had eligible for retirement benefits at age 55 after 10 consecutive years of service. some at age 56. So, we moved those all to age
56. Um, and that pretty much includes everything that we've talked about. We have met individually with all of the 19 positions that are listed. Um, and I would recommend your approval and I believe you could do that with a single motion or if you chose to do 19 separate
motions. I was just thinking and these move the approval of the 19 individual agreements. I'll second that. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion discussion discussion
discussion hearing? None. We will proceed to vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I oppose same sign. Motion carries. We've approved all 19 individual employment agreements. Thank you very much.
Number four, consider approval of membership in the Minnesota State High School League. This is an annual thing and it requires a resolution. Yes. Just just as a note, probably the biggest change, and you've been made aware of this over time, is that uh the Minnesota State High School League at their June
board meeting with input from all member districts uh has uh included ninth grade under their governance model. So now all of the Minnesota State High School League rules apply to ninth grade, but in addition to that, the catastrophic insurance coverage also now applies to
nth grade. Uh again uh all um high schools that have interscolastic activities uh including speech, athletics, music, uh drama, etc. belong to the Minnesota State High School League and they
provide rules of governance for those activities and uh tournament competitions. So I would recommend that you pass a resolution authorizing membership with the Minnesota State High School League. I'll move the resolution. I'll second. We have a motion in a second. Any
discussion? I have a question. So, it's all activities that the high school league sponsors or so for instance, how does trap shooting fit into this? Trap shooting is a sort
of uh I I'm trying to think of the right word. semiconnected activity to the Minnesota State High School League because I think the Minnesota State High School League and that you'd have to help me. I think they help participate in running the state trap shooting competition but the
activity itself kind of runs as an independent activity in all schools much like fishing club and etc. So the reason I asked the question is does the liability insurance or the
catastrophic insurance apply to this or to the participants? I I can't answer that question. We'd have to do some some research behind guns. And I I would uh my
uneducated answer, gut level answer would be no. But I think that'd be one we'd want to research. That would be my gut. If it's not a right state high school league sanctioned, that's my concern. And whether or not
then we should have a rider or something on the schools insurance that covers that activity. The statewide activity may have that kind of a rider. Yeah, I think so. And I think we would have on our on our property and casually
as well. But I appreciate because it's school sponsored. It's just not Yeah. Yeah. We'll we'll research that one. Thank you. Good question. That's good. Mr. Chair, just an observation for
people that may not be cognizant of the scope of the state high school league. In the fine print, it talks about the over 50 activities between fine arts, athletic, etc. Uh tremendous opportunity for for student participants.
The St. Peter has 30 of them or I mean honestly. All right, we do have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? Discussion. Discussion. Discussion.
Just a resolution. Yep. And this is a resolution. So we need to go around the table. Mr. Russell. I Mr. Hi. Mr. Dixon. Hi. Miss Martin. Hi. Motion or resolution carries.
Thank you. Item number five, consider approval of membership in the Minnesota School Boards Association for 2025 2026. Again, this is an annual um process of uh your agreeing to membership with the Minnesota State or with the Minnesota
School Boards Association, excuse me. Uh MSBA, as you well know, provides policy updates, advice to superintendents and schoolboard members, a variety of inservice training for board members, the board book that we use, uh financial services, including uh operating the
Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund, Mislaf, uh and lobbying efforts on behalf of member schools. Uh, I think all at one point there was maybe one K8 district that did not belong to the Minnesota School Boards Association. I'm not sure if that's still the case, but virtually
everybody belongs to that. Uh, the cost for membership for 2025 2026 is at $10,849. I would recommend that you approve our membership in the Minnesota School Boards Association.
I would move um that we continue our membership in the MM MSBA. Second motion and a second discussion. I would just indicate that it is a cost but I think it's an investment. Oh yeah.
spent. I mean, just in terms of everything that you've talked about, but in terms of the inservice activities, remember that the the leadership conference in January is tuition free. There's you there's there's not a charge for that. So,
that's quite an activity as far as schoolboard member inservice development. Um, and I think the other one is the policy services. That's been invaluable for us. That's huge. I'm surprised it's so cheap.
Don't don't no don't say that. I thought it was just really No. Exactly the right cost. Exactly the right cost. Also being there's potential for more waters or students. Yes. Mhm. Yeah. All right. We do have a motion and a
second. Any further discussion? Discussion. Discussion. Discussion. All those in favor signify by saying I. I oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Thank you. Item number six, consider a resolution to approve
the yearly governmental lease. Megan is back. This be a quick one. Um, every year we do an RFP with our local banks for a lease for um, in the recent history it's been for technology. It doesn't have to be, but that's what we've been using it on the last number
of years. Um, we have both a four-year lease and a five-year lease. Four-year lease is for student technology. Five-year is for staff and other technology. Um we had some Chromebooks, iPads, desktops, uh some interactive TVs that were included in this lease. Uh the
three banks that we had reached out to all responded. The lowest um lowest bid came back with Hometown Bank and so it is our recommend recommendation that you would authorize that we go with Hometown Bank for our lease this year. I'll make a motion to
move the resolution to approve hometown bank for the lease purchase agreements for technology purchases for the district. We have a motion in a second. He's just still going, I think. Yeah, I know. It just was a lot to say. We have
a motion in a second. Any discussion? Thankful for our banking partners. Yeah. showed up for us and help us out every every at every opportunity. It's also very I think appropriate to give all three institutions equal opportunity. Absolutely. I feel like
they all take turns. Do they take turns? We don't know that. Yeah. Sure. It's not a conspiracy. Yeah. Any further discussion? Discussion. Discussion. Discussion. We will proceed to vote. This is a
resolution so we need to go around the table. Mr. Russell I Miss Stewie I I I I Martins. The eyes have it. Resolution has been approved. Thank you, Megan. Item number seven, consider approval of
new change order process for men the middle project. At your last meeting in May, the discussion centered on u uh amending the change order process authorization. Previously, you had authorized the superintendent of schools to sign change
orders under $50,000. Anything over $50,000 required schoolboard approval. Uh in discussion with you, the business committee, ICS, our general uh contractor, um we moved uh to recommend
a three tiered plan. Uh the first tier would be for $50,000 and under, the superintendent of schools can sign the authorization for change orders. Between 50,000 and 100,000, the superintendent of schools with consult
and authorization from the school board chair and school board treasurer can approve the change orders. And any change orders over $100,000 need to be brought forward to the school board for approval. I would recommend your acceptance or approval of the three-
tier change order process. Yeah, I move the motion. Um I think it's a I think it'll be a smoother process for everyone and uh allow us to be as nimble as reasonably possible. Mhm.
A second. Motion and a second. Any further discussion? Discussion. Discussion. Discussion. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries.
Thank you. Item number eight. Consider approval of culturally responsive TDE rubric. Dr. Graph. Come on now. All right. Thanks for having me. Um, as you are aware, a 2023 change in state
statute required us to go back and review our um, teaching evaluation rubric because it now needs to incorporate uh, components of culture responsive pedigogy. Um, we have completed those updates uh, throughout this school year. Those updates have
been approved by SPEA and the final step um, per statute is a is approval from this body. So, I would like to walk through the steps that we took to get where we're at, provide a brief over overview of the final product, and then
recommend your acceptance. So, uh, in your board packet, you have, um, the rubric, and the first page of that rubric talks about kind of the steps that we took. Everybody able to
find that? Okay. So step one uh because all teaching rubrics need to be based off of the standards of effective practice. Step one was to review this document. This document is put out by the licensing board. Uh step two the guidance was to go through the standards of effective practice and choose some
domains that we felt um were most pertinent to our goals. So we as a school district decided to go with domain two. Domain two is the learning environment. So we chose to focus on just that. uh inclusive environment within the
classroom and really what that encompasses is um the physical space and the atmosphere that our teachers and students create uh within that space. Step three uh was to develop some looks for each of the components within the
standard. So we did that activity as a admin team. We did that activity as a cultural uh I'm sorry an equity advisory council and then we also did that activity with our building leadership teams. So what we did is we went through the various bullet points within this
domain and we tried to spell out what that actually looks like in the classroom. We looked for commonalities uh and then we incorporated those commonalities into our existing Danielson framework. So the following pages are the finished product and the
finished product is uh kind of a mixture of the existing Danielson framework with some additional language and two new components. So if you're okay with it, we'll walk through each of those pages relatively quickly. So the existing Danielson framework which is
used by I I do I dare say most districts um as their teacher evaluation rubric includes four domains. The first domain is planning and preparation. The second domain is instruction. The third do I'm sorry the second domain is uh classroom environment. The third domain is
instruction and the fourth domain is professionalism. So on page two of the document in front of you, you will see the existing rubric with no changes. So this is the beginning of domain one. St. Peter Public Schools uh chooses to use these components. The first component is
demonstrating knowledge of content and pedigogy. You will see in each column the various uh levels of proficiency from unsatisfactory all the way up to distinguished. Each column has a statement describing uh what that
proficiency level looks like. and then critical attributes which we would call look fors. So as an administrator going into a teacher's classroom, what does it actually look like? And you can see how those progress from uns unsatisfactory to distinguished.
If we move to page three, this is the second component of domain two. You'll see there are no changes here. Page four has additional language. This is the beginning of domain two, which is the classroom environment. That
additional language comes in, as you would expect, because we're doing learning environments for our focus. And the highlighted areas are the additional language. And that additional language comes from those look fors that were developed by those teams that we just talked about. So you can see uh how
those look fors progress throughout the proficiency levels in this uh particular page. It's really about um how teachers are responding to students. So we can start with unsatisfactory just as an example. Uh the teacher is not consistently
welcoming or may show visible frustration with students and you can see how that progresses. The teacher is generally welcoming but may be inconsistent in tone or approach. That's the basic level. Proficient, the teacher greets students warmly and consistently builds a welcoming environment all the
way up to distinguished. The teacher creates a consistently inclusive and affirming atmosphere where all students feel welcome and seen. Questions about the new language in that component. If we move to the next page,
this is page five. There's additional language here. And this is really about routines and um expectations. Our goal is for those routines and expectations to be posted, referred to, and have student
collaboration uh when when making them. We want students to have a say in what our classroom environment is like. And this is where uh that pops into this rubric. If we move to page six,
this is where we add new components to the classroom environment domain. We felt that these look fors were different enough that they needed their own component and you can see how those progress. So on page six, this is really about that
welcome and inclusive classroom community. Um it's about the stuff on the walls. Does it represent our students? It's also about um students opportunity to shape the norms within that classrooms once once again.
And then finally if we move to page seven, this is also a new component within domain 2. This is that idea of uh respect and responsiveness to differing perspectives. We know that culturally responsive teaching includes gaining
perspective from students and having students take ownership in their own perspective and being comfortable sharing that. Um we know that collaboration involves constant sharing of ideas and we want to build that inclusive environment uh where students are comfortable to do that and you can see how that language progresses from
unsatisfactory to distinguished. And then when we get to domain three and four, there is no additional language. So once again, uh, state statute requires that if districts adopt their own rubric, it needs to be a joint
agreement between the teachers union and the school board. Uh, the teachers union has put their stamp of approval on this and the process and now I would recommend that you do the same. Any questions for me? Dr. Graph, I would like to go back and
the managing student behavior language and we're talking about um expectations with student input. Can you maybe describe
I gotta believe kindergarteners don't have the same amount of input as seniors or so through our PBIS is our behavior management philosophy and in PBIS what we we try to do is we try to proactively teach expectations and kids are part of
that process through the whole the whole thing. So in a kindergarten level what does kindness look like? How do I show that I'm a good friend or I'm a good neighbor all the way up through a senior in high school? What's acceptable in this classroom? What should we be doing
with our cell phones when we walk in the class? How should I respond when I disagree with you, the teacher or my my co um classmate? Um, so that input in a culturally responsive classroom is constantly being solicited and in these
rubrics the idea then and aligns with PBIS is that those expectations are posted. So at SPMS those expectations are pride, preparedness, respect, integrity, determination, empathy. Kids help us define what that looks like at the beginning of every school year. We
already know the answer, but we're soliciting and driving students to come to that agreement as well. Does that answer your question? Yeah. I mean, I have a better understanding though. Yeah. Without that, you get that feeling
of this isn't my space. It's the adults telling me what to do. When you come to that agreement together, you you're a little more bought in to the process, especially at the middle school level. Any other questions? Um, I don't know if
this is a question so much is one of the conversations we had because we hear about culturally responsive and I figure sometimes it almost can be like a trigger point for people and so something we talked about during one of the meetings and it was kind of a different way for me to think about I was wondering if you could share that we
talked about it's more than just culture or race or things like that and the example was given about if you walk into a classroom um maybe Mr. Dr. Dr. Olsson gave it was talking about where there's just a lot of like sports and you know and so kind of talk about that and not
that those things are bad but you just want to be able to feel like you belong in that classroom. Can you just kind of talk about that a little bit? I mean and kind of how it is more than just race or you know that. Yeah, we want I mean just to to back up a little bit, we want every single
student to feel heard, uh, welcome, like they belong. And part of getting there is to see themselves in the building. So, if I only see myself in pictures of athletes in the classroom and I'm not an athlete,
I might feel like this isn't for me. If I'm in a wheelchair and I don't have any books about kids in wheelchairs or the main characters in a wheelchair or I don't see that anywhere in the building, I might feel like this isn't for me. So, it's how do we get everybody to feel
that they're a part of the system and that comes through representation. And maybe everybody else thought that already and I was just behind on it, but hearing that click something for me. So maybe somebody that's watching, maybe that'll help them be able to look at it differently and feel differently about
it because for me it kind of helped me think about that differently. And when you feel I'm sorry. Go ahead. No. And we don't want like there to be like we're not looking at blank walls and that I mean because that's not it. It's just we do I mean if I walked into a room and it was full of what's something that I
couldn't identify with. I don't know. I'm just such a fun person. I can identify with anything. But I'm trying. You know what I mean? like if I walk if everything was in in Spanish and I I would feel like I don't really belong here and so therefore you know so I
don't know you know what I'm talking about but thank you for sharing it like that. Thank you. And the goal of that obviously is when you feel like you belong you're more you're more engaged. Yes. You're more invested and when you're more invested you learn more. And we also had some discussions about the fact that this allows it to be a little more student centered where classroom
decor has a lot of the time been a teacher introducing themselves and it just kind of stays that way. But as the kids start to participate and contribute to the decor, then they have a chance to show themselves to other people.
And we do still want our teachers to feel like they matter, too. Do you know what I mean? Like I don't want I don't want teachers to think that either. But there's they can't have a Green Bay Packer poster. Well, we are saying that actually. We are saying that they can't have that. That is absolutely what this
is about. That's why we started this whole thing was to get rid of the Green Bay. I'm just teasing. Unsatisfactory green. Exactly. That's in there. Just teasing. Can I go back to the evaluation plan? So, there are
four different domains in this. And at what point does someone get put on a improvement plan? So there are four different cohorts that we run. So probationary teachers receive three formal
observations every year for three years. Cohort one and two, there's not a formal observation, but there's the walkthroughs, the informal boins, and then the formal summitive evaluation. And cohort three that's teachers who have been teaching for three years after continuing contract they get a formal
observation as well. And through that process when teachers are in the basic or unsatisfactory categories in that summitive evaluation that's when there would be a formal plan for improvement. Okay. If we're doing this right, the
first walk through, the first formal observation, you and the teacher are have you, the administrator and the teacher having those conversations. It's about coaching. It's about support. Yep. Yep. And the rubric allows, it gives us the language. It gives us the commonality to
have those coaching conversations. I think the beauty of this whole plan is you used to hear all the time it was impossible to get rid of a tenure teacher. Sure. And this gives you
the framework to identify areas needed for improvement, set up an improvement plan, and if progress is not made, that's justification by statute to terminate. So, correct.
Hopefully, it's not too much work for all the principles to do everyone, but I think it's very important and it should improve our instruction
throughout the district. Definitely, this is the most important part of our job. And I think one of the advantages to the way this is, and it's so nicely written, it's not vague. It's very clear and very concise. And for those other than when you're doing the observations or you know one's coming up or
something, this gives you each teacher it gives you a a way to evaluate how you are doing yourselves and where you can okay yeah I can pump this up just a little bit more. It's a nice clear concise way for teachers to go on their own progress path.
I would I would say Bill just in support of our response to your statement um and what Dr. graph indicated being an instructional leader is the most important job of a principal. Um but they have lots of
other jobs. This process is a lot of work. I mean it is a lot of work to go through with four cohorts and provide summitive evaluations for everybody but it is the most important work. Mr. Chair,
Dr. graph. I uh I know enough about this to probably not even ask a very intelligent question, but I'm impressed. Obviously, a lot of work went into it. The the language selection is is well thought out, but I am confused to some extent on how the measurements are done.
Much of the terminology is really subjective. And when the observations are being made, you said three times a year minimal for a probationary teacher. And is that always completed then by the principal of that the supervising
principal for that that individual. So our process observation number one and observation number three are done by the respective building principal. Observation number two is done by other building principles. So let's say Darren
and Annette might come to observe middle school probationary teachers. And the value of that is they come from a different perspective. Mhm. Um, so it's a well-rounded feedback. Are they also then is the teacher cognizant of the time and date of the observation? Yep.
There's a formal meeting after the observation where you review the whole rubric, uh, talk about strengths and areas of improvement, but they also know when the observation is going to take place. Tuesday at 10 o'clock or whatever. Yep. So, isn't that a a bit of a heads up, which may modify behavior?
The the reason we do that is because they have to submit a formal lesson plan. uh and they wouldn't have that formal lesson plan otherwise. The walkthroughs that we do regularly of teacher classrooms, those are the the the unannounced visits. Yep. So, we
get a well-rounded picture of a a teacher's performance throughout the school year. Okay. Do you also solicit feedback from co-workers, colleagues? Um through the PLC process, it's a it's their own learning. Um, we aren't
soliciting feedback on a teacher's performance from others for the forming evaluation, which is probably really important for morale. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. That could get a that could get icky. You bet. Thank you. You bet. We had a chance to meet Dr.
meeting and um walked through all of this and it was clear that it was a highly collaborative process uh to come to the additions of the um what look fors and also the additional
um um what do we call them components two additional components um so it didn't just happen in a vacuum it's a collaborative process and We have our SPEA also in agreement with that which I
think speaks volumes. Um so because of that I would also move that we approve um the language here. Sorry. Yes. The plan set before us the culturally responsive TED rubric updates. Thank you. And I
will second that. Motion and a second. Any further discussion? Discussion discussion discussion hearing none we will proceed to vote all those in favor signify by saying I I oppose same sign motion
carries thank you Dr. graph. We appreciate your work on this. Item number nine, consider approval of True North Consulting Partnership Contract. Miss PvK, good evening everyone. Throughout the superintendent search process, there was discussion related to
a transition plan and mentoring for superintendent's first year in the position. After consultation with with Chair Pototts and incoming superintendent John Graph, recommending the approval of a service provider agreement between St. Peter Public Schools and Jeff Olsen True North
Consulting Partners LCC. That um agreement would be in effect July 1st of 2025 through June 30th of 2026. Some services to be provided would include consultation regarding St. Peter Middle School and MVED construction projects, strategic priorities and
initiatives, consultation on on an as needed basis which would include monthly meetings, in-person meetings and additional meetings as needed and five sessions of professional development regarding the superintendency and leadership. My recommendation is to approve this agreement, but I would
certainly take questions and the service agreement is in your board book. I will say we had multiple discussions about this. Um we are incredibly excited for Dr. Graph to take to take over as superintendent, but we also know we have a wealth of
information uh and a trusted mentorship partnership between Dr. Graph and Dr. Olsen and felt like this was a really good way to help with the transition. Um and I think it's a it's a very favorable agreement for the district uh for the services received from True North
Consulting. And so, um, I'm excited about what this that this could help during the transition incredibly. I was very excited to see that agenda. Not because I don't trust our new superintendent. I just want to be clear
about that. I mean just excited because you know there's a wealth of information there and the institutional history can't be institutional knowledge can't be undersold like just having that and being able to make a quick call and get
some more information. It just will be I think it'll be make for really smooth transition. Well and that was one of the things that Dr. Graph had talked about was wanting to know about exactly about that. So we were able to meet that need and That's good.
So, I would entertain a motion. I'll make a motion to approve the True North Consulting Partnership Contract. I'll second. Motion and a second. Further discussion? Discussion. Discussion. Discussion. All those in favor signify by saying I. I.
I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Thanks, Aif. Thank you. Welcome back, Dr. Olsen. Yeah, welcome back. I thought there was something about a penny three times. Yeah. You have to be out of school like five
years to get that one um um to be in like the Hall of Fame. He's never going to get in there. He's never ever going to get in there. Item number 10, consider approval of tenure action for probationary teachers. U building principles have identified
teachers that would qualify for tenure. uh and are recommending that you're that you recognize this tenure action. Just want to point out that Minnesota statute 122A.40 identifies the first three consecutive years of a teacher's first teaching
experience in Minnesota as a probationary period and the probationary period in each district in which the teacher is thereafter employed shall be one year. So if they're successfully completing three years consecutively uh and then are uh moved into uh
employment the following year they have tenure or if they've previously had tenure they have one year and then they earn tenure. So the list of uh teachers is included in your packet. Uh if you have questions, you can address those at specific building principles, but
they've done the thorough evaluation process as just was just explained. Uh and I I would recommend that the school board recognize the tenure status of the teachers being presented by their building principles. So
second, we have a motion and a second. Further discussion? I was happy to see this particular list because uh there some great teachers here and um I know that when there are threats of reduction
reductions and shifting and that could be a stressful time for some of our newest teachers and I know some of these people were affected by that. So it makes me just happy that it
worked out uh to be a positive thing for a number of the last three years were stressful for them. Yeah. I Yes. Yeah. And we recognize that. Yeah. Do you want to read through? Yeah. So just for the record, uh those teachers, Ethan
Cindelier, Olivia Mickelson, Joey Brown, Alyssa Weller, Alexandra Fritz, Wesley Heiser, Jennifer Kaepernick, and Sherry Carlude. Any further discussion? Just like to extend congratulations to all of them. Being granted tenure is certainly a
significant milestone and look forward to 35 years from now when they can all be congratulated for their retirement. Well, I don't know if it'll be that long though, Ken. I noticed the ones that we hired in the agenda today, a lot of them
are fairly experienced. So, people are living. We expect a lot. I think the legislature just lowered the bar though as far as when they can get out. Right. Any further discussion?
Discussion. Discussion. discussion. We will proceed to vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppos. Same sign. Motion carries. Congratulations to those who have achieved tenure. The last action item, consider policies
for approval with a second reading. You have two policies that are being presented for a second reading. They had a first reading in May. Uh they were reviewed again by the policy committee at their June policy committee uh meeting. uh and they would recommend
your uh uh approval of these policies with a second reading. The first is policy 412.1 expense reimbursement. Uh it has been expense reimbursement for clothing but now it adds uh clothing or personal
property damage. So in the event that a teacher is carrying out her or his duties uh with in the performance of uh regular responsibilities and there is damage to their clothing or personal property, there could be expense
reimbursement from the district. That's been a kind of a question mark. clearly clothing, but what happens if during the course of your duty somebody goes out and damages your car for an example and there's a deductible that
doesn't get covered in your insurance. So, it's those kinds of things. Um, so that's that policy. We'll just stop there. Policy committee members, any clarifications or then questions from anybody else? We just felt that that was an
appropriate addition to the language. Do you want me to go through the second one as well or you want to do them individually? I'll move that we approve um policy 412.1. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Discussion. Discussion. Discussion. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Policy 412.1 has been approved. Next up is policy 610. 610 field trips. Again, that had a first
reading in May. Uh the the May uh suggested language changes involve trying to make the policy more consistent in terms of the approval process. So the approval process for extended for uh instructional trips and supplementary trips involves the
principal and or in some cases activities director. for extended trips. It would involve the teacher adviser, principal, and superintendent. Uh it also added that there would be a report to the school board on a bianual basis of field trips.
Um and I think those were the primary changes. At that meeting, there was some discussion about um overnight trips that are regular trips. So for an example uh on a regular basis uh teachers are
taking students to the Concordia language villages or on a regular basis an annual basis uh teachers are taking uh choir students to the allstate choir competition and they may stay overnight or to the Dorian festival and they may stay overnight. So the suggestion was
under supplementary trips to add the statement uh that take place outside the regular school day or are an annual activity of a school organization or group which would then call qualify those to be approved by the building
principal andor activities director. So those are the changes that were occurred as of the policy committee meeting and the policy committee recommended your approval of this policy questions
thoughts I just have a concern with the four example of trips and that is the nonschoolsponsored trip. Um, just simply because we list those
four types, the the classroom experience, the supplemental, the extended, and the non-school sponsored. And then we have the section about regulations talking about the expectations of
behavior and other items of students and employees will be followed in all field trips. And I don't know how we can insist upon that for an event that we do not
sponsor. And so I just thought it's something that should be raised and determine if there's a concern or if I'm just being real nitpicky.
What would be an example of a nonchool sponsored trip? a teacher uh working independently uh decides to be kind of interesting to
take a group of students to Poet's Corner in London, but that is doesn't have anything to do with their assignment or their club or organization or group that they activity that they are involved with and so that wouldn't
be a school approved trip potentially. I don't know, Mrs. Single dinger. Do you have other Yeah, I think that's a good example. I al I just feel like anytime there's a nexus between school in an activity like that, kids are held
to certain expectations without it being I guess for the teachers. My point is that I don't see where they can't be held to those expectations,
but I don't know that the school district can require that. I mean, if the individual teacher who's involved in this chaperoning, I would certainly encourage them to follow those guidelines and make that
really clear. But since we don't have any responsibility or liability, I don't know how we can impose our stuff on them. Your policy clearly states that in for those trips, the school district will not assume any liability or
responsibility for the participants. One of the potential you so I think you've got a couple of options. One option would be to just add a statement to the title uh Roman numeral 3 regulations and add to that that govern
all school sponsored trips. Regulations that govern all school sponsored trips. So therefore, all of the regulations would apply. Alternatively, you could table the approval of the policy and send it back to the policy committee for more discussion.
Whatever you whatever the pleasure of the board teacher who's willing to take that on is crazy anyways they want to do that you just can't get enough of their students. Yeah, I think we I I'm fine
with either way. I mean we certainly can table it and take it back to the committee to discuss more and seek additional input. I think that I I do get your point. we have the policy disavows any liability. I think one of the things that we're not the the the
fact that this is a classroom teacher or a teacher who is accompanying these students and the the the contractual obligation of a teacher for you know care and whatever of the students and stuff that kind of flies into this too.
So those are sort of a regulation as well. I mean, if you we could it it could be researched a little bit more um to see if there's any any wisdom in the in the statutes beyond that. But I'm I'm comfortable with this
because it's the the the teacher organizing this and it would be a teacher understands that the the rules and regulations of the St. Peter School District should apply to those students while wherever they are.
And I don't know, we maybe we need to talk about it a little bit more. I'm kind of with Bill. I'm thinking might be confusing for I don't know if our teachers would always would they necessarily know that. Yeah. I don't know. Not that they're going to let the
kids go rampant or anything, but Right. So, for instance, this just popped into my head again. Um I love things that just pop into your head, Bill, and then you just say them. It's very exciting. Let's let's assume our varsity baseball
coach is coaching the American Legion team and the American Legion team qualifies for the national tournament. And so they're going they're going out of state overnight,
but it certainly is not a school event. Does that even does this policy even apply to that? My my gut feeling on that one is that does not apply because that coach is working for the American the the
baseball association, not for the school. But the they're not working for the school in the other one. Yeah. Well, they're not working. That's no different than the teacher who would take to Poets's Corner in London
if it's not a school sanctioned event. They're like coaches doing their summer coaching and that's a really good question. If you're if you're uh not employed as the coach during the summer because you're not even though you're working with students and you organize a
trip to well seven on seven camp seven on seven camp or basketball camp in in the University of Minnesota duth do school regulations apply so and do they so actually given those kinds of things that you're asking I
would say you should we should table we're tableing it I think so too and we do so with motion. I move that we that we table for further discussion with the field trip policy because I know the high school. Do you have to second it? Right. I don't know
if we do. I second the table. Yes, we do. Second the motion. Okay. I second the motion. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Jeff, just a follow up to your comment a second ago relative to summer activities for coaches that are not covered by insurance. for example, football
scrimmages that are off site somewhere. That's part of the coaching contract here, I would guess, is it not? Uh, summer coaching, I believe, would not be part of the coaching contract, but but generally those activities, I think, are through
maybe even community education. I'm not sure. So then they would follow under our liability. But once a state high school league sanctions the start of the football practice, practices are held. Scrimmages can be held wherever. Yes, that's was my concern. Yeah, thank you.
I think we just opened up a can of worms is what I think. So, welcome. Good questions. Welcome, Dr. Graph. Discussion on this. Yes, absolutely. Appreciate. So, we do have a motion and a second to table. Welcome, Dr. Graph. All those in favor signify by saying I.
I oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. We'll table it. Stay tuned. Mr. Chair, Dr. Graph, this is on you now. I know next policy meeting. Let's do it. Just for clarification, my intent
with the motion to table was actually was a defer action to the next meeting to our next meeting here. So 30 30 days. Okay. Table mean if I understand Robert's rules correctly, table means to defer to defer action but no no spec
specified date to return to make a decision. Okay. deferring action to a specified date, then he required to bring it back up again at that time. And that was my intent with that motion to bring it up again at our next board meeting. Okay. Pending discussion of the policy. Pending discussion before the next meeting. Yeah. And you would meet
prior to the next which we will meet before the prior to the next meeting. Was that the understanding that that you had? Yeah, that was myction. Okay. The next one. Yeah. All right. Information items.
schoolboard election filing dates. So, um the there's a very strict timeline to follow when you have a schoolboard election. You have a schoolboard election for three members to be held on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. I believe it's before July 10th. We have to post a
notice of filing for the general election at the principal bulletin board in the district office. So, we have to now make very clear that we have a new principal bulletin board in the district office with Kimberly
uh at the high school. We also have to publish the the dates for filing. And those dates for filing begin Tuesday, July 29th, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. and shall close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August
12th, 2025. So, we want to be clear that in order to file, you have to come to the school district business district office, which is now located at the high school. We also will publish this notice of filing for
general elections twice in our uh newspaper of record, which is the St. Peter Herald, and those will both be published and in the Herald prior to July 10th. So information is out there. Note the
location for a affidavit of candidacy. The cost is $2. Uh so someone who's interested has two bucks, come on up, pile away, and make sure you recognize that the location is
in the high school. And we'll have to we do have signage, but we'll have to make sure we have very clear signage available there for that. So that mean the district office has to be open till 5 those days. Yes. Yes. Uh
and early in my career I learned that thank you. Uh next up, first reading of revisions to the policy manual. You have uh in front of you, policy 417, chemical use and abuse is uh we started to review the policy and matched it up against
MSBA model policy. Um we discovered that um there were had been legislative revisions to the model policy prior to this year that didn't fit with our review of the policy back in 2022. So uh there are quite a few changes and
those are legislative changes uh to review. Uh so I would u request that you look through those carefully and if you have any questions bring those to the policy committee prior to the July policy committee meeting. U but there
are some things in here that uh require uh some programs and services for staff that were not in place before. So um working with Dr. graph and and the committee, they'll be looking at those very carefully.
Comments. There's more red than black on this, so please read through it carefully. All right. Reports are up next. Building principles. over here. All right. Well, summer has been off to a good start and hopping.
Just to give a little bit of a report um on Monday of this week, we started our early childhood special education summer school at housed at South um for this this summer during the construction and we have about 28 um preschoolers coming to our program there and that's Monday
through Thursday 8 until 11:00. that's been going well. Busing went smoothly, so we're excited about that. Then the read and feed um has been going strong since June 4th and that's being housed at North Elementary. Breakfast, we've been averaging about 60 kids a day.
Lunch, we've been averaging about 220 a day. So, we certainly are seeing the need and kids are coming on bikes and families are coming. So, we're really excited about that. Um, we'll be starting our targeted services summer school, our STARS Academy on July 7th. Those students will be coming also to
North Elementary, kindergarten through 8ighth grade. They'll be taking part in the read and feed program as well. So, we'll see those numbers jump. Um, again, we'll have the 200 coming um and then probably about a hundred more for that program. Um, some of those might be duplicates, but we'll provide a report
later on that. So again, that targeted services program will start July 7th, four days a week, four hours a day, um four weeks, and we're getting those um final details in place like transportation and finalizing registrations and that type of thing.
And when Mr. Dhy reports, he'll give a little report on our meeting that we held today, getting organized for that. Just a little little one. Greetings from North Elementary, um aka the hub of summer activity going
on. Um it's been great. Stage one of uh transition um is complete. We have uh the middle school office including Dr. Graph um secretary EC uh central enrollment is all right there within about 20 ft of each other in the
office and it's it's great. It's going really well. Stage two, ET mentioned um is getting everybody set up for summer school programming. Kindergarten through 8th grade is all going to be in the building for Monday through Thursdays, pretty much the whole month of July. So, ET uh did a great job leading about 40
staff members in an online meeting today. There's quite a few there are quite a few logistics to go through. Uh especially since the cafeteria is is completely full that read and feed time for lunch. uh breakfast. There's a little room, but there are about 120 other students that we're going to have
to get through uh lunch and breakfast for summer school days. Um which includes bringing over some cafeteria tables from South. I think we have about eight more tables coming over and we'll get creative on uh where to find that. And our teachers are great figuring out the logistics of the transitions and
getting all the home rooms of um kindergarten through 8th grade kind of through those spaces. So, I'm sure we'll make some adjustments after the first couple days, but we're really fortunate that we have a lot of returning teachers and um coming back to do that program year after year. And so, it's kind of a finely oiled machine now. But, yeah,
it's always good to touch base and make sure we are on the same page. They are. Yep. All the forums and um plans are other than, you know, just being everybody in the same space this summer. That's about the only adjustments we have to make. And there even still two home rooms still open unassigned. So,
plenty of space at North. So if you'd like to one couple more teacher openings if you want to find something to do in July. So Yeah, that's right. That's right. That's right. You know, and um all kidding
aside, you know, I as a as a program at North, it's it's so nice to have um South over there um because it helps with that transition and read and feed helps with the transition. Um when we did those tours for um first graders coming in as second graders in the spring, every single hand was up when I
asked them like who's been to North? So everybody's been at North. So it's really that seamless integration K4 experience. All right, hustling along here. Um I'm happy to share uh North Elementary successfully got our uh school of excellence application turned in by the end of the school year. We'll
find out before the beginning of the school year if we receive the accreditation or the acknowledgement. Thank you Dr. Pototts and Dr. Olsen for reading the 72 plus page report. Um my leadership team, the North leadership team did a did a great job on that. Um
so we're we'll be keeping you informed on next steps on that. So also uh and finally I want to recognize Mrs. Mikester. Stella Mner put in her letter for retirement. Snuck it in there right after the end of the school year after 31 years of being e teacher. when I
started um Stella was the only I believe the only EL teacher in the district and uh so she bounced between all three buildings. Um obviously that program has expanded um but she uh she will be missed. She will be some tough shoes to fill. Um
just quick example like we had a PD day and I asked Stella to go through some strategies uh for students that are new to country as far as like how do you teach? How do you get break down those communication barriers? So she had 30 teachers in the in the um media center at North. She taught us she had a
worksheet for us all in Mandarin. She spoke in Mandarin the whole time and she was successful to get all 30 teachers who nobody spoke Mandarin to successfully complete that worksheet using just like actions, pictures, uh
gestures like so very uh very talented teacher. She will be missed after 31 years of leading that program. So thank you Mrs. is Mike Sner. [Music] Uh, as you all know, there's like a flow to summer. Summer's a little slower, but
there's like the to-do list. And this year, uh, my to-do list is the same, but in a different spot and kind of to two to-do lists. So, it's been it's been exciting and excited for the next step. And I'm excited to get away from Dory.
Uh, but in that flow, uh, the hiring process is well underway. We're super lucky at the middle school. We have all positions filled except for an ELA position uh which is open due to a transfer, a recent transfer. Um and then we're looking for an ADS cyst position, a behavior interventionist. Um our
master schedule is complete. Michelle Dozy's actually stationed at the high school working through individual student schedules and those will be she couldn't she couldn't handle it. Uh those should be completed uh by the beginning of August. Um, also, uh,
preparing or or doing my best to prepare for Jessica Butell, uh, who will be taking over July 1st. I've been fortunate enough to have her at a couple of admin meetings already. Uh, she's going to be an outstanding addition to the team. Um, Annette, myself, um,
Michael Michael Johnson, STEM teacher, your STEM teacher, um, Schwagger, Mr. Schwagger, Miss Schwagger, uh, all attended the MEP conference today in Owatana. The focus this year was AI. Um, I left feeling enlightened, uh, but
slightly overwhelmed. There's just a lot out there. Uh, my takeaway was slow down. AI is a tool to enhance instruction, not replace instruction. Um, so am excited for the work that we'll be doing uh, for the rest or into next year with that. And then lastly, I
just want to provide a brief mend the middle update. Seth, please help me if I mess this up. Um but demolition is underway. Uh scheduled to be complete by the end of the week, which is pretty amazing. Uh the speed that they are going. Um footings for the chiller are
poured and the kind of the slope of where that chiller is going next to the pool. Um it's been like there's the straw I think they're growing grass there. Straw mat. Yeah, straw mat. Uh so that's moving right along. And lastly, um the new stairwell, which will go in
that area where like the dumpsters are kind of back there. Uh they've poured the foundation for that. So you can start to see the footprint of where that new stairwell will go. So moving right along. Super exciting process. Um was at Owatana High School today and our middle
school is going to look just as nice. So very excited. Better. Very excited. [Laughter] That's going to require more than schoolboard. I still don't think that place holds a candle to St. Peter High School. Truth
be told, it's a beautiful building, but um I love the feel of St. Peter High School. Um I am also reporting for Mrs. Sakora, who had to leave for a baseball game. Um, South uh, kindergarten registration is at 120 kids right now, which is slightly ahead of last of where
we were at this point last year. And at the Ashawa Learning Academy, uh, two out of three teachers are hired as well as a secretary replacement. So, that's excellent news. And they have summer school going through June 22nd. Um, as
for the high school, number one, I'm just relieved to be out at the high school and not at the hub. if you know what I'm talking about. Um I thought it Oh, also thank you that we had um every
single one of our school board members was in attendance at graduation. Um and that really says a lot about your commitment um to our kids and their journey through school. So, thank you for being there. It's it's one of my favorite days of the year. Uh and so it means a lot that you guys are there. We
had a lot we had great spring sport success. We sent over 20 a 20 track athletes to state. Um which is the most in a very long time. Um and we sent yet another doubles team to state. Uh so congratulations to all of those
athletes. We had a we had a fun meeting yesterday out at the press box at the um at Frank which will be hopefully the Frank Fredland um press box. We'll we'll have to go
through some um some naming rights and all that kind of stuff, but as you know, Frank Fredland's estate uh donated a very generous $67,000. Um and so as a team um we tried to think about what would be the most meaningful
uh for Frank and his years uh dedicated to our football program. So we went to check out the press box and it does indeed need some updating. I said it looks like a kids clubhouse when you walk in there. Plywood floors and some
windows that that need updating. So, we're looking forward to um to getting to work on that. Uh, other exciting news, uh, we were awarded, I don't think I said this last time, we were awarded a grant through the, uh, from Minnesota Housing
for $99,999 through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Um, the the majority of that money will go toward building materials, but $20,000 of that will go to our building trades class um, for updated tools and equipment for doing the build.
So, thank you to Habitat and to Scott Robinson, that teacher, for helping um to write that grant with us. Um, and we we've had summer school going for two weeks now. So, 31 kids are making up credits this this month at the high
school. I do want to Dr. Graph mentioned our accessess grant and so you may recall in March we kind of last minute decided to throw our application in. and we worked hard as a team um and submitted that and we were awarded that that grant that
which will allow us three I'm going to get the title wrong behavior intervention assistance and one reading intervention assistant. Um so we're really excited about that and those positions that are posted. Thank you. Thank you.
Dr. Olsen, three things. One, I wanted to just share that remember we we talked about a comprehensive communication plan. It's a part of our strategic priorities. Uh, a v number of things have occurred in that, but one that is kind of exciting. Uh it's it's a takeoff on something that's happened before, but
we're in the process of developing a brochure that highlights all of the sites and programs in the district. Uh and includes information about registration easily with a QR code for somebody that's interested in joining our student body, families that are
interested in touring the district. So, uh Dr. Graph will be working on finalizing this with uh Tammy Skinner and Kurt Hildebrand in the next uh couple of weeks. The idea being this is going to go all over the community chamber of commerce places where people
are waiting uh maybe dentist office, doctor's office, other places that we can think about uh just get this all over the place. uh hall of fame uh recognition ceremony have these about and around and hopefully uh help to
market and recruit students. Uh secondly, Rockbend. Rockbend is an ever evolving uh story in terms of the location. Uh we are uh we've we've talked about the community center. We've talked about the uh the new city hall.
uh just based on a variety of different factors, we're probably back to the community center as a long range solution. Um but more information will come. Uh Dr. Graph and Mrs. Engeldinger will u be kind of touring that facility
and seeing if and how it can be renovated to meet the needs of our students in the most effective manner possible. Um but it's looking like that is probably uh the best possibility at this point in time. It's a positive in many many ways. If
you think about the community center that we're in right now, you've got uh access to a gymnasium. You've got access to a library. You've got access to a school office in the community education office in terms of supplies and copy machines and all of those kinds of things. You've got access to fields and
uh a ball field uh at this area. So, I think there are a lot of positives there, but more to come on that. And then finally, I just want to thank you for the opportunity to uh work with you and and serve the community and the school board and the staff and students
of the district. It's been a a great experience. Uh my wife and I were driving home from a meeting with retired superintendent last night and I said, you know, I told those guys that it was enjoyable and they said, "What?" I said, "Yeah, it was it was an enjoyable experience." So, thank you for that.
board members around the table. Mr. Russ, just three very very quick things. The first one, just to reflect back to Jeff, thank you for your wonderful service over last uh how many days? Two and a half left.
Well, enjoy them. Okay. And then July 4th, you're available 247. Maybe July 6th. Okay. Uh secondly, as as Mrs. Zingleddinger just mentioned, congratulations to all the uh athletes, parents, coaches. Phenomenal spring sports season. That's
that's wonderful. And then lastly, also Mrs. Engelinger, congratulations on filling out the 30 class uh our student uh cohort group. That's wonderful. Is it still possible for me to get in or am I too late?
Well, there there's a threshold. Yeah. Well, that's great though. Congratulations. Seriously, if anybody else does want to join, is there a possibility for that later in the year? There is a possibility, but it would be very hard to complete all of those over the summer, they could, right? If they
meet the minimum requirements, but starting late, it would be very difficult. Yeah, I just was thinking the first couple days of school, they decided they would like to try. Okay, good. Thank you. Yeah. Um, I also was just going to thank Dr. Olsen. I always appreciate working with you and you've always just been a really
good mentor to just as we're learning. I'm feel still feel like I'm learning how to be a board member. So, I just really appreciate that. Um, I wanted to always thank the teachers that are writing these grants that get us this money um that they seek that out and do that. That's wonderful and thanks for
that. And hats off to the students that take part of their summer to earn those credits to graduate because it's really hard, I would imagine, to come back after everybody else has taken off. So, good job to those students. So, that's all I got. Yeah, I would just echo. I mean, this is
an exciting time, right? We have a big transition coming. Uh, immense gratitude for you coming back and now going away for a third time, but really excited about what we have that the the next time we'll be together to meet as a board, we'll have a new superintendent here. So, just excited
about often it's not e it's not it doesn't always feel easy to have a transition. Uh, but I feel good about this transition. So, in in large part to Yeah. the work you've both done. So, thanks. Welcome.
I have a couple things. Um, I'd like to echo the comments about the students and we did have a couple individual champions, right? Track team. Yeah. So, that was awfully nice. And it's kind of
nice to see the tennis guys win their first match. That's always makes the trip worthwhile. Get a get a win. I mean, you can really feel good about that. So, um,
I would like to sponsor a resolution to the MSBA delegate assembly concerning what we talked about last year as far as urging the legislature to pass
into statute funding for school readiness programs and prek kinderg garden programs. And so I'd like the board's permission to go ahead work on the language a little bit, talk with
uh our lobbyists at MSBA and work with ET to update our stats from we should have a couple years now that we can use to use as rationale for trying to get an
increase in our revenue. without really increasing our expenditures because they're already there, right? So, so if the board would give me the go-ahad on that and then the next thing we have to do
negotiations committee, we have set some dates. So, we could meet just real briefly after this to uh set up some dates. Dr. Olsen mentioned that
Um the custodial group has contacted us. They wanted to meet tomorrow, but we told them it was a holiday. So it might be uh oh, it might be just as simple as that to work through Kimberly uh to set
those the dates because everybody maybe doesn't have their calendar in front of them right now. And but yeah, just Kimberly could work. When would you kind of identify that? Early this after the fourth. Shortly after the fourth some time or Well, that's why we could just
meet for a couple seconds to get some parameters and then because I think our committee needs to meet first of all to start preparing for all our collective bargaining agreements. Um, have we been notified by anyone
other than the custodians that they want to negotiate? Not officially food service has reached out and they'll be sending us something shortly. Okay. The other guys missed the timeline. So they're just they're just staying status quo. We did have a verbal from our
teachers. Yeah. And professionals also have reached out. Okay. So as you can see our summer's going to be quite busy, too. So welcome Dr. Brad.
And and I'll apologize in advance trying not to flag you down as you walk up the street to ask you a question. So I I've been spoiled. So I'll have to get Dr. Graph on speed dial. Find out where
he lives. Just walk by his house. No, he walks by mine. He walks much more than I do. That's all. Thank you, Dr. Olsen, for
your years of service and helping us out when we really were in in need. And I know that we all feel more comfortable where we are right now compared to where we have been in the past. And I know that we all feel comfortable moving
forward. And that's um that's a that's a gift. So, thank you. You're welcome. I too. Thank you and congratulations and we're looking forward to this. And I think the fact that you the two of you have doctors have um got such a good
collaborative relationship. It just adds to the overall collaborative I'm using that word too much, but that's what it is of this district. This the staff and the students and everybody. This has been the a good season
and you're not gone. All right, I think we covered almost everything from committees. Are there any other items from any committee that they want to share here before we I just want to throw in about the policy committee that we have lots of things that are going to be yet tbded on the
legislative and the MSBA language suggestions and stuff. So, we're going to be busy as well. Yeah. If you're interested in any of that legislative stuff, you can go on their website. They've got some pretty good documents.
Yeah, we are still awaiting the what we would call the runs. So, so typically by this time, we would be getting a very clear run of what all of the legislative changes mean specifically for our district. And Megan, to our knowledge,
we haven't seen that yet. Right. So hopefully that's h coming soon. Mr. Chair, have anything you'd like to add relative to the middle school? Seth, do you have anything you'd like to add to the middle about the middle school? Any updates or anything?
No, still holding on time on budget. Oh, I like that. On time on budget. Like it. All right. We do have some upcoming meetings um all the committees in July. Business, Policy, and Education. All
meeting before the next regular school board meeting, which is Wednesday, July 16th. Same time, same place. Cannot wait. All right. Would entertain a motion to adjurnn. I'll make a motion to adjurnn.
Second. Motion and a second. All in favor? All meeting is adjourned. There you go.