WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=nSsHlrWll7I

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: nSsHlrWll7I):
- 00:00:01: Meeting Called to Order; Pledge and Roll Call
- 00:00:37: Agenda Modifications and Approval of Modified Agenda
- 00:01:27: Presentation of School Perceptions Facility Survey Report
- 00:24:19: Discussion: Access to Survey Comments and Theme Analysis
- 00:27:03: Discussion: Pursuing Gym Expansion; Listening to Data
- 00:30:15: Darren to Create Presentation; Tanya's Financial Report
- 00:34:47: Legislative Updates and District Events (Brown Report)
- 00:37:34: Staffing Updates, Principal Search, Leave Request
- 00:41:11: Agriculture Grant and Website Update Announcements
- 00:44:58: Approval Payment of Claims (Mr. Porter's Report)
- 00:51:19: Consent Agenda Approval; Reviewing Personnel Items
- 00:54:38: Summer 2026 LTFM Projects Discussion and Approval
- 00:58:10: Resolution Accepting Donations and Thank You
- 01:01:28: Approval of Kennedy Porter's Science Teacher Hire
- 01:02:01: Resolutions on Unrequested Leave of Absence
- 01:04:20: Approval of Class of 2026 Graduation Candidates
- 01:05:18: Approval of the Milk Bid with Stony Creek Dairy
- 01:06:25: Call for Propane Quotes; Adjusting Spelling Error
- 01:07:25: Approval of the Revised 25-26 School Calendar
- 01:08:12: Bond Referendum: Woods Review and Comment, No Gym
- 01:12:58: Approve Disposition of Obsolete, Surplus Equipment
- 01:16:22: MSHSL and Targeted Credit Service Agreement Approvals
- 01:18:15: Audit Statement and Motion to Adjourn


Part: 1

1
00:00:01.839 --> 00:00:18.320
All right, you are live. >> All right, it's 7 o'clock in the secondary school media center. We'll call the meeting to order and we'll start with the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation

2
00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:37.280
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call. Gross >> here. Porter >> here. >> Sanstead >> here. >> Sour >> here. >> Olrich >> here. >> Vincent >> here. >> All right. We do not have any public

3
00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:53.520
comment this morning. Um so we'll move into the agenda. Um you'll see a couple of modifications. At the bottom of your agenda, we will be approval uh approve the disposal of obsolete and surplus equipment. We will

4
00:00:53.520 --> 00:01:11.680
also approve 2627 resolution for membership in Minnesota State High School League and approve the 26 targeted credit service credit recovery extended time service agreement. Um, anything else additions, corrections

5
00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:27.759
to the agenda? And I would look for a motion to approve the modified agenda. >> So move second. >> All in favor say I. I >> motion carries. Uh that brings us right to our committee reports and we'll start

6
00:01:27.759 --> 00:01:44.079
with Darren from school perceptions for our facility survey report. Okay, very good. Good morning everyone. >> Morning. >> Can everyone hear me just fine? >> Yep. >> Okay, great. So here I have a PowerPoint

7
00:01:44.079 --> 00:02:01.200
prepared for you to give a summary of findings from your community survey. For anyone watching in the audience, we have a slide telling uh the audience about our background, who we are, what we do, and then we'll get right into the the survey respondents uh who took the

8
00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:17.680
survey and then our results analysis and any questions that you have as a board. So again, one slide about us. We are school perceptions. For 24 years, we've been doing independent research to help educational leaders gather, organize,

9
00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:32.319
and use data to make strategic decisions. We've done 3.3 million staff, student, parent, and community surveys. And we've helped over 1,400 school districts navigate strategic planning and referendum planning like the process

10
00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:50.319
that we went through with West Central. So, let's talk about your survey results and findings. your survey had a May 11th deadline, so it's only been closed by for about a week. Um, and and quite honestly, survey results continue to come in. Um the the

11
00:02:50.319 --> 00:03:08.000
461 responses we received was just updated yesterday, but as they come in the mail, we always we say we have a deadline, but that's not entirely true because every survey that comes back, we enter into our findings and then I will send Paul an updated uh report if things

12
00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:22.800
were to change at all. Uh we want to honor each and every person that took the time to answer the survey whether they met the exact deadline or not. And sometimes the mail service isn't always completely reliable. So as they come back to our headquarters in the mail, we

13
00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:40.560
enter them right away. So that gave you a 17% response rate. I always get asked, is that a good response rate? Is that a bad response rate? Well, that's it's it's an excellent response rate. Our company average is between 16 and 18%.

14
00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:57.519
So you are right there at our company average. Um, I just was with ISD 78 last night. They're a much bigger community. They had 15%, but we've had a few districts hitting 20 this year as well. So, right where we would hope you would be, and we're glad to see a good

15
00:03:57.519 --> 00:04:14.959
response from your community. Now, later on, I'm going to give you a slide that gives you a projection of voter support. I think that's the core reason that you brought us on board is to get an idea about how your community would feel about some proposed projects. Know that

16
00:04:14.959 --> 00:04:30.720
with a community your size, we we need to calculate and watch your margin for error very closely. The smaller your community um and the smaller the number of respondents, the more volatile your data is going to be. So, we use a statistical formula to give you a

17
00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:46.160
projection of findings, but then we're also going to tell you those findings have a margin of error of 4.68%. That's completely based on 461 respondents. Bigger the community, a community like I said, ISD 728 where we

18
00:04:46.160 --> 00:05:01.600
got 5,000 survey responses, they're only going to have a margin of error of around 1 and a.5% because they we process so many more surveys. their their data is a bit more stable than our smaller community. So, as we did our highly anonymous

19
00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:19.360
survey process for you, we did ask some questions from the survey takers based on uh demographic information, their age, uh and where they live, things of that nature. Um, and this was your distribution of of ages within your

20
00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:34.560
community. This is a pretty typical distribution of survey respondents. We almost always see our two biggest groups being the 35 to 44 year olds and then the 65 plus population. Uh that group um

21
00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:52.000
is your retirees. Um they're on a fixed income and and they watch all of these tax portions very very closely. 35 to 44 tends to be your prime parenting years and so that's why we tend to see a higher response from that group. So, this is a very typical distribution. Uh,

22
00:05:52.000 --> 00:06:06.960
our 18 to 24 year olds who are just trying to get their life started, they're not always paying real close attention to what's going on to the school because it doesn't have a direct impact to them right now. Another way we disagregate your data is

23
00:06:06.960 --> 00:06:22.400
we ask a question. Is your primary residence in the West Central Area School District? Well, when we asked that question, 93% of survey takers said they do reside in the district. 6% said no and 1% weren't sure if they were

24
00:06:22.400 --> 00:06:39.520
within the boundaries or not. Um that 6% that said no is a composition of staff because we sent the survey to all of your staff members. We really want their input on their working conditions. But not every staff member resides in the district boundaries and they're not all

25
00:06:39.520 --> 00:06:55.039
voters. So we take them out when we do our analysis. also have some families that open enroll their children into your school system and they can't vote either. So going forward, we will be focusing all of our projections based on

26
00:06:55.039 --> 00:07:11.599
the 93% of survey takers who said that they reside in the district and that they can vote because in the end we're trying to give you a projection of voter support of the questions you ask them. Another way we can break out your survey

27
00:07:11.599 --> 00:07:28.720
data is by municipality and you have a lot of them as you know. Um in talking with Paul uh we we got a the impression that this is a very good representation of your municipalities. Maybe some aren't quite as as well represented with

28
00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:46.080
the number of survey responses, but a fairly accurate uh distribution of of your population relative to the number of surveys we we process from each municipality. And this is important because we for your sake we can drill down and look at

29
00:07:46.080 --> 00:08:06.479
support levels by municipality and give you an idea where support is stronger or weaker um within these townships and cities. Another question we ask on the survey is are you an employee of the school district? Well 20% of survey takers

30
00:08:06.479 --> 00:08:22.720
identify themselves as being employee. That's very important to have uh that occur because we really want them to weigh in on their working conditions and get give the board some direction how they feel about what's going to happen to the schools that they work in. That

31
00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:40.159
being said, um less than 1% of your voters are the staff. So that's a large misrepresentation of how many can actually turn out at the poll. So when I give you a projection of voter support later on, we will need to rewe the staff

32
00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:58.160
down to less than 1% of eligible voters simply because they can't show up to the polls at that number and we don't want the survey representation to skew your numbers. We're trying to give a a projection of voter support. Same thing with parents. 48% of the the

33
00:08:58.160 --> 00:09:14.160
people that took the survey said they have children in the school system, but our company average is 25% of voters in each community, typically our parents. So again, excited to know that parents are paying attention and engaged and

34
00:09:14.160 --> 00:09:30.320
giving you feedback, but we'll need to rewe the parents down to an appropriate level because they're they're also over represented in in our survey uh responses. So when I talk about staff being typically less than 1% of eligible

35
00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:46.720
voters and parents generally being about 25% of eligible voters, that leaves the non-parents, non- staff being 75% of your the average community. And so those are the folks that will make or break any bond referendum question because

36
00:09:46.720 --> 00:10:03.040
they need to be on board even though they don't have kids in the system and they may not work for the system. And we'll talk more about that group and how they support the question because I'll give you uh disagregated results by all three groups by staff by parents and by

37
00:10:03.040 --> 00:10:21.519
non-parents non-staff. Another question we did ask within the survey because we're talking about all the individual sites and the all the sites have a significant impact with what's being proposed. We asked if they have children um in the school system which school they attend and this was

38
00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:40.560
our distribution of survey respondents by schools that they attend. Another question we asked early in the survey is how do you like to receive information from the school district? This is not just a question about bond referendums. It's also a very helpful

39
00:10:40.560 --> 00:10:56.800
question for Paul um and you as a board to know what's the best way that people just want to hear from us. And we broke it out by the parent group and the non-parent non-staff group. And the results are very different. Uh and there's good reasons for that. Parents

40
00:10:56.800 --> 00:11:13.680
said, "Hey, uh you can send us an email as our top choice." >> Uh but they also value social media. 47% said that they would look at social media. 44% like a mailed newsletter. And we're noticing that mailed newsletters are making a comeback with the districts

41
00:11:13.680 --> 00:11:30.560
we work with. And then the website is another source of information for your parents. Non-parents, non-staff, that 75% of of the typical community that doesn't work for you and have kids in the system, you typically don't have a lot of their email address. So they're

42
00:11:30.560 --> 00:11:47.760
counting on a newsletter or else they're going to go to the Grant County Herald for their school their school news followed by the website and social media as well. So again going forward as you're trying to communicate any school news with them this gives you some

43
00:11:47.760 --> 00:12:04.000
guidance on the best ways to reach them and also now that we have the survey results this these are some means by which that you can get back to them and tell you tell them what your next steps are. um and what you're thinking about doing um with the facility project

44
00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:20.639
considerations that were on the survey. All right, let's talk about the survey itself and our findings about the facility questions. So, the survey was more of an interactive newsletter. We call it a survey, but there's a lot of information in there that the taxpayers

45
00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:37.440
need to consider. And we outlined for them the facility challenges you're facing with North Elementary and with South Elementary and the secondary school. uh we provided fairly succinct bullet points that you helped write because

46
00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:52.959
we're trying to keep the information uh impactful but also digestible enough that they can skim over it and read it and get a good idea about the challenges at each of the facilities. Then we asked a general question. We said, "Would you support the West

47
00:12:52.959 --> 00:13:09.279
Central Area School District pursuing a revised bond referendum at this time?" Now notice we didn't mention any dollars or any uh proposed program. We just said would you support the district doing something? And this was a very important

48
00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:27.200
data uh set for to compile and report. 84% of staff said they support the district doing something. The parents 70% said yes and 45% of that non-parent non-staff group said yes.

49
00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:44.000
You can see the distribution of people said they were against doing anything. And then you have a group saying that they're not sure and that's no surprise because we have not told them the exact plan or the exact cost, but they've given you permission to go forward and

50
00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:59.360
do something that shows that they have a recognition that your facilities have needs and something's got to be done. And so we we move forward with the survey and we propose a plan. So the task force uh worked very hard at coming

51
00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:15.120
up with a recommendation and the survey outlined that if you were to update and modernize all three schools, it would be in the $44 million range. So the task force came up with a a recommendation that would consolidate to a one site

52
00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:31.839
school campus at a cost of $33.6 million. And we outlined what that would mean in terms of operational savings and uh having schools under one roof and what the remodeling and mod modifications would be. And with the

53
00:14:31.839 --> 00:14:49.360
help of Krauss Anderson and Witson, we have some great a great uh details about what would take and a good image that shows people pictorially what would take place at the main campus site.

54
00:14:49.360 --> 00:15:05.279
We also with the help of Michael Hart and PTMA outlined for the survey takers what the tax impact would be and that there is the egg to school credit which would cover roughly 50% of this project

55
00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:22.720
in fact exactly 50% of this project and that was represented on the pie chart as well and then we provided for them a very specific tax chart on what the $33.6 million project would cost with various

56
00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:41.279
property valuations based on the the valuations that representative of your community. And we broke it down by an annual amount and a monthly amount. Here are your results of support broken out by the three different groups once

57
00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:58.240
again. So we ask a question, would you support the $33.6 $6 million bond referendum. 85% said yes within the staff group. 9% were undecided. 6% said they would be voting against the

58
00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:15.759
project. By the way, if you're wondering the undecideds, if that's pretty typical, our company average for undecideds is around 11 or 12%. So that shows us that there's there's good clarity from the staff about the project and the opinions are very clear. If we

59
00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:32.399
see an inflated undecided like 18 19% then that tells us maybe we weren't as clear as we needed to be with what you're asking. Same for parents. 69% of parents said they would be supportive of the $33.6

60
00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:50.240
million bond referendum. 7% were undecided and 23% said they would be against the project. And then we get to that largest group, the non-parents non-staffed. Well, their support uh landed at 47%

61
00:16:50.240 --> 00:17:07.280
supported, 11% undecided, and 42% said they would be against going forward with the one-site plan. So going forward then as I talked about we need to rewe those groups and their

62
00:17:07.280 --> 00:17:23.199
support levels. So what we did, we use a formula where we talk about the 69% support we got from parents and we weight them at a at a 25%. We study your census data and the 2024 census data

63
00:17:23.199 --> 00:17:39.600
tells us that 25% of your population are parents and have children at home. So their support was weighted at 25%. the 47% support from the non-parents non-staff was weighted at a three out of four

64
00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:56.880
voter 75% level. And so our projections if the vote were held today are that 52.5% of voters would say yes to the $33.6 million bond referendum. Now this is where that margin of error I

65
00:17:56.880 --> 00:18:13.280
talked about at the beginning, that 4.66% margin of error comes into play. These numbers could vary by 4% one way or the other. So, it is not a certainty that you would land at 52.5%,

66
00:18:13.280 --> 00:18:29.200
but definitely favorable and exciting for the district to know that there's that many people in favor of this project. We also act the support for some expanded considerations, a $3.6 6

67
00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:47.600
million uh multi-purpose facility. And we outlined for them the additional costs that would mean for their tax bill. And here are the results for the expanded gym project. 71% of staff were

68
00:18:47.600 --> 00:19:08.320
in favor of it. 66% of parents were in favor of the expanded gym. But only 33% of the non-parents, non- staff were in favor of the gym. So when we go back and use that same waiting formula,

69
00:19:08.320 --> 00:19:25.200
our projection is that you would only have 41.3% support for the expanded gym project if the vote were held today. So that tells us quite definitively that the taxpayers right now are only supportive of the proposed one-site

70
00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:42.880
solution and are not ready for the ex expanded gym consideration. Within our survey, we don't just ask tax impact questions and facility questions. We always ask satisfaction questions of all three groups as well. We ask, how is

71
00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:58.000
the district doing in each of the following areas? delivering a high quality education, keeping the public informed, managing funds appropriately, and building pride in the community. Our rating scale is on a one to four

72
00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:15.200
liyker rating scale with four being great, one being poor. So the median middle score is a 2.5. So for math, we we encourage you just to skim the staff, the parents, and the non-parents, non-staff, and see how many

73
00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:31.679
of those scores are above a 2.5 and which would mean above average. And you had many scores above average across the board. The staff were feeling good about four all four areas. Parents were above a 2.5 and three out of four and managing funds appropriately

74
00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:47.919
were just slightly below 2.5. And then also the non-parents non-staff the scores from the non-parents non-staff were very similar to the parent scores. That is not always the case. Typically I see quite a drop off from parents to the non-parents non-

75
00:20:47.919 --> 00:21:05.520
staff but their scores were quite similar and these are strong scores compared to many districts we've been doing this year. So I was very pleased to see how how people were rating the district. So another way summarizing this is to show you the percent all the groups

76
00:21:05.520 --> 00:21:21.760
combined the percent gave that gave you a three or a four the first column your score would average all three of those groups together and then finally the last column we compared your scores to all of the other

77
00:21:21.760 --> 00:21:38.159
districts where we've asked the same question and as you can see your scores are either right at the average level of all the other districts averaged together or um just slightly below the other districts where we've asked these

78
00:21:38.159 --> 00:21:53.760
same questions. So we've been asking these questions for 24 years through good times in the economy and bad times in the economy. So we were quite pleased to see the rating scales you receive. And finally and this is a very powerful

79
00:21:53.760 --> 00:22:10.000
question for our company. We ask a question on a scale of 0 to 10. How likely would you be to recommend the district to a friend or family member? On a scale of 0 to 10, your score is an average of a 6.77.

80
00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:25.280
And the average score of all the other districts, and we've asked this question thousands of times, the average score is a 6.6. So, you scored above the comparison group on this closing question. And we've studied this question very for many years. And it

81
00:22:25.280 --> 00:22:41.120
links very closely with referendum passage rates. The higher number of people you have in the eight, nine or 10 range, the more likely you will be to be able to pass a bond referendum because those people are not just happy with you. They tend to be the very vocally

82
00:22:41.120 --> 00:22:56.000
happy people that will go out and say, you know what, it's time to pass a a facility plan. Those schools need some attention. they'll they tend to talk to their neighbors about supporting the school because they're they're very happy with what's going on at the

83
00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:12.720
school. And 51% of survey takers gave you that eight, nine or 10 rating. So we were very pleased to see that on your behalf as well. So as we wrap up this report, we almost always close with a what did we learn

84
00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:29.360
spot. So what we learned through the survey process on your behalf is that there is majority weighted support for the $33.6 million recommended plan, but that support level does fall within the margin of error. Therefore, our

85
00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:46.159
determination is there's enough support to put something on the ballot and let voters decide how they feel in November. That can't always be the case. Many projects we come back in the 40s or even the high30s and we have the unfortunate

86
00:23:46.159 --> 00:24:02.320
news of coming back to the boards and saying you don't have enough support to put anything on the ballot. But uh we are saying there's enough community support for this plan to to move forward with your plan. However, there is not support for expanding the recommended plan to

87
00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:19.600
include the gym project at this time. And we also found out the West Central area's overall satisfaction score is higher than our comparison school districts that we work with. So with that, that's my formal report.

88
00:24:19.600 --> 00:24:35.840
What questions do you have for me? Are there any slides you'd like me to go back to? Um I'm available for as long as you need to answer any questions about the survey, our data, anything the board is wondering. questions.

89
00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:52.320
>> Are we going to be provided with the comment sections of the survey and all the comments? >> Yeah. So, we we've been studying the comments for you. We read every comment and what we can provide for you. Um, so we can provide you two options. We can

90
00:24:52.320 --> 00:25:08.000
download every comment if you'd like to see them all. Typically districts don't ask for that because a it it's it's another way to create uh confidentiality because some sometimes in a small community you can you can identify someone by their writing style or what

91
00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:25.039
they're writing about. Another option we can provide you, it's called a comment theme analysis. And that is where we will summarize for you the most frequently commented on topics and report that back to you and tell you what the most frequently uh what the

92
00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:40.799
topics were that people commented on the most. And that oftentimes gives some insight into the data I provided because you'll see why people are saying yes and why people are saying no in greater depth, what they were against, what they

93
00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:58.080
are for and that tends to be helpful. So based on your direction um I can provide you a download of all the comments or I can just provide you a theme analysis that would that would really show you the most commonly commented on topics that that were shared by many many

94
00:25:58.080 --> 00:26:14.159
people in your community. I >> think the last time we asked for all the comments didn't we get last time in a spreadsheet >> I think we had a spreadsheet last time we did. I don't know that we were I don't know that we got offered though the summary of

95
00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:31.279
>> No, Paul, that is a that's a new fairly new report that we've been running recently. Um because again more and more districts are worried about confidentiality and quite honestly sometimes the comments you get a couple of real real passionate people with a with a strong opinion but it doesn't

96
00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:45.840
represent the masses. So, we've been going to that frequency report just to show you what the majority of people feel, but we do it both ways. I'm here to serve and report to you. So, whatever you'd like, I'll provide you. >> There was a question. Can we get receive

97
00:26:45.840 --> 00:27:03.360
both both themes and the Okay. >> Yeah. So, it takes us about a week to prepare that comment theme report. I'm, you know, you just closed last week and there's still surveys coming in. Uh, but we will start working on that comment theme report. But Paul, I can provide you the download of all the comments to

98
00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:21.039
date by the end of the day today. >> That sounds great. >> Okay, very good. >> I have a question about the gym. Um, given your experience when you have a question such as posed for RGM and it's,

99
00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:38.159
you know, lukewarm support, do you recommend that districts continue to pursue that and put it on the ballot or do you recommend that districts back off of that? >> Yeah, great question. Thanks for asking. Um, our our company philosophy is listen

100
00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:53.679
to your data. Yeah, >> you hired us for a reason and we we have found that it is is most successful if you take the data that we compiled for you and write your next steps, write your resolution based on our findings.

101
00:27:53.679 --> 00:28:10.799
So given how low the support level is for the gym, I would say don't pursue that now. Set that aside and try to come up with just a good plan. The $33.6 6 million plan seems to have support. We would encourage you

102
00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:24.799
just to go forward with that singular question and and come back to the gym later or maybe try to come up with an alternative plan based on the support level that you had. We would not feel uh it would be a good decision to put both

103
00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:43.440
on the on the ballot. No, >> I I guess I have just one last question. If the board were to decide not to put the gym on the ballot or to sort of revise thing on, would it be advisable to be um public with the district that we listen to the survey results and have

104
00:28:43.440 --> 00:29:00.240
done a pivot? >> Do you? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Absolutely. >> Right. >> Our whole our whole position is you did a survey. Some folks very skeptical about surveys. They're like they're not going to even listen to our our voices anyway. They've already got a plan. And

105
00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:15.279
so we have found actually with some districts where they've gone gone forward regardless of the support data I presented that it can set them back many years because the community ends up getting angry and saying you're not listening to us. You sent out a survey and you did what you wanted to do

106
00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:32.480
anyway. So we've had some some pretty bad situations where it has really alienated uh the relationship between the community and the board. So yeah, by all means, the more you can say we heard you, um, we're listening to you. The

107
00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:49.600
data says that you want that you feel we should build a new one-site school and really wrap your communications around that. That would be our best recommendation. That's that's the whole principle that our company is founded on is is we say we measure what matters. It's kind of our slogan, but oftentimes

108
00:29:49.600 --> 00:30:15.600
in our company meetings, we say we should really have our slogan be please listen to your data. Because when districts don't listen to their data, it typically doesn't go very well. >> Other questions? Okay. Thank you, Darren.

109
00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:31.520
>> You're welcome. And and Darren, you'll put a recording together, right, with just a voice over on the presentation that we'll be able to get on our website or get up for folks to to review. >> Yeah. So, today I'm on the road uh traveling from site to site, but my plan is this evening to create your

110
00:30:31.520 --> 00:30:46.559
recording, Paul. >> Okay. >> And you'll have that. It'll come from my personal Gmail because the file when I do a recording of this PowerPoint with my voice explaining the results to all your voters and taxpayers, it gets too big for my Outlook. So, when you see it coming from my Gmail, that's just

111
00:30:46.559 --> 00:31:02.720
because of the s the size of the file. But, um, yeah, for board members, what I'm going to do, I I'm going to create a one-way presentation of findings with these slides where I'll explain exactly what you just heard, you just won't have the dialogue back and forth with the

112
00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:18.960
questions because that if I do just a straight data report, it's about 12 or 15 minutes long. And we've had very good luck this past year. a district like Yellow Medicine East, they had over 400 views of the recording. So, we've made this a core part of our help in

113
00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:34.080
providing you communication. So, I'll make that recording tonight, send that off to Paul, and you can email it to your staff and parents, and you can post it on your website as a way to say, "Hey, everybody, the survey is complete. This is what we learned." >> Sounds good.

114
00:31:34.080 --> 00:31:49.519
>> You'll also get the comment download by tomorrow morning, Paul, and our team will get to work on the comment themes. Um, that report takes some time to put together, but it's a nice professional document that really breaks out the the number of people that commented and the

115
00:31:49.519 --> 00:32:08.480
top topics that they commented on. So, it'll be it'll really help you guide your planning. >> Thank you. >> You bet. You bet. Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you, Darren. >> You bet. My best to you. And please, if you drive away and think, "Oh my

116
00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:25.039
goodness, I should have asked him a question. I I forgot to ask this." Just work through Paul, you're never done with me. I'm here to support you all the way through to your determination of a resolution, all that kind of stuff. So, um I'm wishing the best for you and good luck with your project.

117
00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:44.159
>> Thanks, Darren. >> You bet. Bye-bye. All right, that brings us to Tanya. >> Yes. Good morning. My my report is much more brief. So you should have the spreadsheet

118
00:32:44.159 --> 00:33:00.159
available. Um so this will report the preliminary results as of April 30th, 2026 and then compare to the previous two years. So, um, the first page is the general

119
00:33:00.159 --> 00:33:16.880
fund and we received for revenue about 8.5 million out of our 12.2 million budget. So, we received about 69.8%. Compared that to the previous year of

120
00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:31.279
69.3 so in alignment with the budget. Then for the expenditures, we have spent almost 9.5 million. Compare that to our budget of 12.7

121
00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:48.240
million and that's 74.4% in comparison to 73.9 the prior year and 72.8 the year before that. So general fund is sitting good in comparison to the budget.

122
00:33:48.240 --> 00:34:06.240
The second page are includes all the other funds and nothing unusual here either. So everything is looking in alignment. Um on the very bottom the summary the revenues are 68.7%

123
00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:22.000
in comparison to 67.3 the pre prior year. been expenditures 73.9 compared to 74.5 the previous year. So we're in alignment. Um next month

124
00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:47.679
we'll be presenting the original budget for 2627. So but this is where we're sitting at for this year. >> Any questions? Any questions for Tanya? >> All right. Thank you, Tanya.

125
00:34:47.679 --> 00:35:04.960
>> Yep. Thank you. >> That brings us to Mr. Brown's report. You have to be as brief as Tanya. >> I I will work on that. Uh so the legislature completed their work on by the May 18th deadline. Some disappointing news. We were hoping that there was going to be a $50 million infusion of funding for compensatory

126
00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:22.160
aid. that is sign as is a significant dollar amount for WCA and uh however they they put $10 million towards that. So as you see in my report we're expecting a net reduction of about $146,634 for next year. That $10 million equated

127
00:35:22.160 --> 00:35:39.440
for just under $10,000 for WCA. Now the one positive piece is but it requires uh voter approval in the statewide election. So, the legislators did pass for the B the permanent school trust fund question to be added to the ballot in November. That does not impact

128
00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:55.920
taxpayers. Um, it just says we've got there's land set aside and resources set aside and they use the interest off that. There's a cap on there. They're looking to increase that cap by a little bit and that would generate um around $52,000 a year for WCA. So, it would

129
00:35:55.920 --> 00:36:11.839
help offset. But as you know, if the the vote doesn't happen until um November, we're not going to see those dollars right away to start next school year. That would be the following year. Um so, it's uh kind of talking to MA, MSBA. MSBA is really going to do a public

130
00:36:11.839 --> 00:36:28.800
campaign to get pieces out there. Uh but again, we've got to find the right way to share that message that it's not looking to raise taxes at the state level. that's just looking to tap more into those reserves to be able to uh get some of those dollars out to school districts. Got the district year- end

131
00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:46.880
picnic uh next Thursday at 1:00 and so the food's been ordered. Hopefully you're able to join us. The board's always done a nice job of helping serve and things like that. So, if you're able to join us, just let me know so we have enough staff on hand to make sure we can get everybody fed before the district uh

132
00:36:46.880 --> 00:37:02.240
end of the year program starts at 2:00 where we'll recognize years of service, support staff, and teacher of the year. And we do have a retirement and of one of our support staff members. So, uh that you approved at the last meeting. Graduation will be held on May 29th at

133
00:37:02.240 --> 00:37:18.640
6:30 here at the secondary school gymnasium on the new stage that was purchased uh at the beginning of the school year and been used for some of our elementary programs. And Nathan and Josh will be the two board members that'll be on stage to pass out diplomas to our graduating seniors. But more than

134
00:37:18.640 --> 00:37:34.400
welcome to join us, but I think we kind of figure that the space on the stage with the administration and then as well as board can be a little full. But you're definitely welcome to join us to recognize our seniors for all of their hard work. Staffing update and you'll see that as we get that to our personnel

135
00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:50.720
items. Um we're still we got many of those positions filled. We got very lucky with our part-time physical education position. That person also has um experience as a e profession pair professional for four years. So, we'll be able to move that person into both of

136
00:37:50.720 --> 00:38:07.440
those roles, but we're still seeking uh an elementary school principal, elementary secretary, and elementary music teacher. Remember, we've kind of got it posted right now to do that shared time position. We did interview someone offered, and unfortunately, um they did not accept, so we're still working through that piece there. We

137
00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:24.560
currently do have somebody sitting in the secretary role, so it's not that somebody's resigned and you haven't seen that resignation yet. That resignation was earlier. Um so, we'll get that posted. And I think there's some internal interest already for that position. So, we shall be able to get that one taken care of. Elementary school principal, um, our response there

138
00:38:24.560 --> 00:38:41.440
has been minimal. Um, I think right now we have five applicants, so the deadline is Friday. Um, I did put an email out to our staff yesterday asking if there was any interest to sit on the selection committee. Did get quite a bit of interest actually from some teachers from both buildings. And so, we'll put

139
00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:58.079
that committee together. I think the last time when we hired um Caitlyn, we had two committees. The candidates went from one committee to the other committee and we'd like to do the same thing there. Um there was a question about, you know, maybe we should include parents and I think we did that before in the high school principal uh hiring

140
00:38:58.079 --> 00:39:13.280
process when we did that. So, we'll include uh parents, probably reach out to the PTO with some names that they would have or if they have somebody there that would like to do that. And then I know we've had a board member in the past. Is there any board member that would be interested in serving on that

141
00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:29.200
um elementary school principal hire process? We don't have a date set. I would say probably mid to late next week since the posting closes Friday. It's the holiday weekend. So, I would think probably Thursday might be the Wednesday or Thursday because Thursday

142
00:39:29.200 --> 00:39:44.400
is also the end of the year, but I think we could do it maybe right after that, but our teachers may not be quite as eager on that piece there. So, it might be Wednesday. Do we have any board members with administrative background that would want to be on that committee? >> Wow.

143
00:39:44.400 --> 00:40:04.960
>> But I I'm happy to do it. But I also think it might be good to have another do instead of me. >> I'm working that day >> just for the principal position. >> Just for the principal position. Yeah. >> I've done it before. I can do it. I'll

144
00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:23.680
do it. Okay, >> good. Okay. And then um a couple other items too that I'll bring to your attention, but leave request. We did receive a leave request um last week and still working through those details with the education

145
00:40:23.680 --> 00:40:40.400
association, which is the teachers union, as well as gathering information from MSBA and legal council to see how we set that up. um doing a little bit of checking, probably just doing a blank page kind of like we've done in the past, they said you probably want to check those just to make sure that you have parameters in place. Um so if

146
00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:55.680
something down the road comes up and somebody says, "Hey, I just want to take a leave and we don't have those pieces that could cause some hiccups there." So we'll work through that and I would say by the June 3rd board meeting, we'll bring something back um to have a proposal ready for the board to review

147
00:40:55.680 --> 00:41:11.359
there. Then some good news um well, I don't know if Mr. Swansky ever brings us bad news ever or average news. And so he received or I should say the egg department but with his work uh received

148
00:41:11.359 --> 00:41:28.800
a case um grant here to work with some of the curriculum in our program. So I think it helps them um as well but to work on their machines is my understanding right Nathan. If I'm explaining anything incorrectly let me know. Uh but my understanding is there's some professional development to the to

149
00:41:28.800 --> 00:41:45.680
the tune of about $8,000. So they'll go out of state uh to get that training and then $17,000 for equipment in our shop. So it seems to be an ongoing process. And I know last week we said in another uh session that he's reached out the guy

150
00:41:45.680 --> 00:42:01.440
like has golden touch. Whatever he touches it just moves. And so another exciting opportunity I would say is we look to transition um with our facility project of really offering some station learning platforms where hey right now

151
00:42:01.440 --> 00:42:17.520
you can set it up and it doesn't take I mean the the lady who was sharing the information said you don't need a large expanse to make this happen. They used small classrooms, different spaces like that, but kids would have access to some engineering pieces from CNC

152
00:42:17.520 --> 00:42:34.160
uh to a wide range of things. Again, what they do is they help develop the equipment. So, they get partnerships within the area here. There's one school down in St. Paul that we'll try to visit probably in August to see what they're doing. Uh she said she was from Michigan and I think there I mean they're talking

153
00:42:34.160 --> 00:42:50.480
hundreds of thousands of dollars. And so what they do is they develop this curriculum, bring it in, instruct the instructor on that, leave equipment there as well. It's ongoing. And I think the key piece again, and Claire would appreciate this, is it's just not dropping off equipment. Sometimes you'll see so many grants where they'll say,

154
00:42:50.480 --> 00:43:06.640
"Hey, we're going to drop off this $30,000 piece of equipment and 5 years down the road, then the equipment's sitting in the back closet and it's not being touched, right?" And then people want to know why they've invested money in that. of these it's really um an engineering oh association I think across the nation

155
00:43:06.640 --> 00:43:22.079
that's putting this stuff together and so they would develop that work with our staff to get that put in place and again just another great opportunity and I think the timing is appropriate as we look to see how do we evolve and change our systems of how we do things and I

156
00:43:22.079 --> 00:43:37.440
think it helps us keep our kids locally as well if they can get some of that high techch training right here at WCA and I think goes back to our vision statement clarifies this more for me. I remember when um Gary um Subalik had mentioned he want you want wants us to

157
00:43:37.440 --> 00:43:53.599
become that magnet school. These are those options and opportunities that I believe really follow fall into that vision piece there. So, exciting um news on those pieces there. And then update on the website. Did do a little further checking. The prices that we got were

158
00:43:53.599 --> 00:44:09.440
very competitive um from what some of the other ones that I did check. And so, Julie said she's already starting to put things together and hopes to have a June 15th roll out um for some trial pieces to make sure that on July 1 it's set and ready to go. So, that's also uh moving

159
00:44:09.440 --> 00:44:24.720
forward as well. And then as you'll see, last day for students is next Thursday at early dismissal at 12:30. We'll have that picnic, end of year picnic at 1. Uh teacher prof professional development and checkout is on May 29th. And our schoolboard committee meeting is June

160
00:44:24.720 --> 00:44:41.359
3rd. We have our four folks signed up to do the Joins's Renaissance piece. And I've got to tell you, one of the other exciting pieces is just to have people now come in and say, "Hey, is there opportunity over the summertime for some professional development where we could get paid, but we'd like to do this?" So, I know our high school leadership team

161
00:44:41.359 --> 00:44:58.200
is getting together to do a training in August down in the metro. Um, and there's some other pieces there as well. So, that is starting to really take shape and move forward. And I think that should be it's very exciting for me. Um, but should also be very exciting for our district as well.

162
00:44:58.240 --> 00:45:17.359
All right. Any questions, comments for Mr. Brown? And we will move into the approval approved payment of claims. Mr. Porter. Okay. Um, checking this month we u some

163
00:45:17.359 --> 00:45:33.720
topics of conversation or some highlights uh expenses we we uh Angelina's uh was our postprom uh food provider and that check was for uh $2,469.74.

164
00:45:34.000 --> 00:45:51.599
Our ACT costs for our juniors was 3127.50. We also paid some for our scoreboard, $3,200 for the to JH signs. Um, another one was the

165
00:45:51.599 --> 00:46:08.599
um Lakes we for the we paid our knowledgeable fee team fees to Lakes Country Co-op for $3,450. Um, postp prom I wrote it to for $1,815.25.

166
00:46:08.880 --> 00:46:29.480
Um, sixth grade trip rust uh was provided by the bus company Rustad for $3,270. So, um, total checks was $325,128.39 $182.

167
00:46:31.119 --> 00:46:51.880
>> 128 >> 28 Okay, I double check. Just the my sheet says 82. I just want to make I want to make sure we get it right. >> We'll check the register here. 3251 18239. Um,

168
00:46:53.040 --> 00:47:10.200
wire register was uh we paid community head camps, event signups, um, credit card fees for I3 vertical, but uh, the community ed camps, event signups were $3,154.98.

169
00:47:10.720 --> 00:47:28.640
Um there was some driver ed driver's ed classes um stuff paid for the credit card statement included uh robotics team hotel costs prom supplies FCS

170
00:47:28.640 --> 00:47:48.560
groceries and umpire gear of $5,856 postp prom supplies for um from Amazon on included in there $3,700.39 or 37 $3,739

171
00:47:48.560 --> 00:48:09.760
16 cents. Um that included uh postprom supplies, teachers items, and prepayment for next year's supplies. Our Minnesota paid leave quarterly tax payment of $15,928.98. And that total, go back here so I get it

172
00:48:09.760 --> 00:48:38.480
right. Um, that's $538,74142. So, uh, total claims of $863,923.81. Were there any questions on the either one of them? >> I got a question on the checks. Y first page there's one that's El Lake fire

173
00:48:38.480 --> 00:48:55.839
relief for $4,500. Did you write a check to them? >> Yes, we had to reimburse them. We wrote a they wrote us a check for 5,000. It should have been for 500. >> Okay. All right. >> So, I saw it too donation thing.

174
00:48:55.839 --> 00:49:12.079
>> Yep. All right. And then what's the do you have an estimated cost for like paid family medical leave? what that cost the district. >> Well, that's a quarterly. So, I would say you could probably say 60,000 is what it's going to cost and it'll be just slightly less because this was with

175
00:49:12.079 --> 00:49:27.839
the state and now we'll go monthly with U Madison National Life. So, we went from 888 to 78. Um I continue to hear that that dollar or that percentage is not going to be able to be held because of all the utilization that that could increase. I think the cap right now is

176
00:49:27.839 --> 00:49:44.079
set at 1.35 I believe. Um, so it's not supposed to exceed that, but the great utilization, I'm not sure that they'll be able to maintain that, but we haven't heard anything different yet. But, but I would say that that's a pretty accurate reflection except Well,

177
00:49:44.079 --> 00:49:59.920
but even our teachers get paid, you know, their payments are still over the summer months. So, I would say it's going to be fairly close to that um, you know, 30 $60,000 per year. And this it is that 60,000 that's includes the

178
00:49:59.920 --> 00:50:14.880
>> their portion as well. >> Their portion and our portion we're just >> you can split that in half about that 30,000. Yep. >> District expense would be around 30. >> Yep. >> And then probably just a couple points to clarify a lot of those pieces because there may be concern of why is the

179
00:50:14.880 --> 00:50:31.520
district paying for postp prom? Why are they that's just all in and out, right? we get so the the we collect the fees now with our online system for postp prom and so then that's they take all the fees out credit card charges we don't pay any of those and then a check goes to them the Angelinas I think as well was for I think they do a meal at

180
00:50:31.520 --> 00:50:48.800
prom so that's the meal there and same thing the sixth grade class trip all those dollars come in so those are not we pay the bill however there's re there's revenue that comes in you don't see it reflected here but I want to just clarify that that's we're not covering all those expenses for everybody

181
00:50:50.160 --> 00:51:06.079
Good questions. Any other questions? And I would look for a motion to pay the bills. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor say I.

182
00:51:06.079 --> 00:51:19.680
>> I. >> Motion carries. >> All right. Then we're going to move on to um the consent agenda. So we have the following items. We're going to approve the meeting minutes from April 15 26

183
00:51:19.680 --> 00:51:35.440
regular meeting, the May 6th um committee meeting. Also uh May 12th buildings and grounds committee meeting. Are there any um additions corrections to those

184
00:51:35.440 --> 00:51:54.960
minutes? I'll just move on here. Then we have the personnel items as well in the consent agenda. We do have one resignation from Shelby Aoya and then we also have the hires of Brooke Krauss um twice on once as a part-time physical education

185
00:51:54.960 --> 00:52:12.160
teacher and also part-time English language learner teacher and we also have oh boy Reese >> Wilpr agricultural teacher

186
00:52:12.160 --> 00:52:28.000
um where have the continuing contracts for Taylor Lampy, Gage Wley, and Melissa Randall. We also renew the renewal of probationary teachers for Chelsea Gasser, Elijah Gasser, Y, sorry,

187
00:52:28.000 --> 00:52:44.079
>> Elijah Wallace, Kayn Olrich, I think I got that one right, >> Kaylee Walsh Logger, and Anna Ericson. And then we have the Deina students agreement for the 2627 school year. And we also have the final reading of the

188
00:52:44.079 --> 00:52:59.200
following policies with statutory and recommended changes from MSBA policy 506 student discipline policy 603 curriculum development and policy 611 homeschooling. Are there any questions comments on any

189
00:52:59.200 --> 00:53:15.520
of those items for our consent agenda? So continuing contracts just to confirm actually they tell us that in the K12 world we don't have tenure that's a college level piece although many of us call it tenure. So that means that those folks have either served their three

190
00:53:15.520 --> 00:53:30.800
consecutive years here at WCA or were uh received continuing contract status in another district and only had to work here for one year. Um so those are now going to be considered tenured or continuing contract status and then the other um five folks there are still on

191
00:53:30.800 --> 00:53:49.200
probationary status >> and the dean position was one year to get us on track with the other ones that are two-year. >> Yep. Absolutely. Yep. typically start with one year on those agreements just in case after year one we say we need to go a different direction that we can do that otherwise you give a two-year and

192
00:53:49.200 --> 00:54:06.240
then well I've got a two-year contract and and so yeah like Darren said that just matches us up and they'll be on the same cycle as everybody else and Clar and Darren I think safe to say that those dollar amounts that he received were very similar to all of our the 3% in salary and so very minimal difference

193
00:54:06.240 --> 00:54:23.200
than what any of our other contracts for this this next year included. Okay. Then I would look for a motion to for the consent agenda. So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second.

194
00:54:23.200 --> 00:54:38.319
>> All in favor say I. >> Motion carries. Uh brings us into old business. We have the summer 2026 LTFM projects. Um we were going to try to finalize a few things there.

195
00:54:38.319 --> 00:54:54.480
>> We did. Yep. So, the the um buildings and grounds committee, as you saw, the minutes got together on May 12th and kind of reviewed a few pieces um of what we need to take care of there. We are going to pull one item off there at this

196
00:54:54.480 --> 00:55:09.200
point to make sure that we're getting the best price um in that work on the boiler repairs up at North. So, the plan is still to do the work. We just want to make sure that we've got the best price moving forward since that's a significant expense there. the burner boxes I think are the controllers is

197
00:55:09.200 --> 00:55:25.680
what needs to be fixed there. We know that one is out. Um the understanding being, you know, if the second one would go out over the winter time, that could have some some real um strong effects on the on the operations up there. So, we want to do both. We just want to make sure we get the right price there. Um

198
00:55:25.680 --> 00:55:42.160
looking to replace uh the parking lot up at North Elementary for that 58,324. The boiler repairs, that's what we're going to remove off of there. And then um actually after our buildings and grounds meeting up at North um there was noticed that the sidewalk needs to be

199
00:55:42.160 --> 00:55:58.000
replaced or and kind of shaved off there. So we've got an estimate right now of $5,000 to take care of that work. Um we're going to delay the carpet in the auditorium at this point. Um parking lot seal and gravel at South Elementary.

200
00:55:58.000 --> 00:56:12.960
All the other projects were already approved um there. And I also know on the capital outlay repairs for the fence um up at North there's an additional I think it was $975 roughly to have a gate um on the far

201
00:56:12.960 --> 00:56:29.200
side there. Um we have to put wood chips in there and so just making sure that we can get equipment in there if we need to would make it easier. So we'll add that expense there as well. Um and then the other one um my understanding and buildings and grounds committee please feel free to jump in but I think that's

202
00:56:29.200 --> 00:56:43.920
going to be a team effort was my understanding. So, I did put an estimate of $2,500 for materials, mileage, but as buildings and grounds committee, did I understand that correctly, that we're going to get together as a team and a crew to patch up the potholes that are

203
00:56:43.920 --> 00:56:59.680
in the back there and also grade I think the the gravel that's over in that parking lot. Eventually, we'll get that work done, but I think the consensus was if we had them, if we paid the 58,000 now and we have a facility project, all of a sudden we're going to be paying more because that's not included in the

204
00:56:59.680 --> 00:57:16.799
current project of the $33.6 million cost there. Is there anything I left out or didn't include? I know this is minor, but that double door that you go into that north Elementary is a way we can paint the exterior

205
00:57:16.799 --> 00:57:32.160
just to clean up some of that rust look. >> It would probably be pretty modest cost even if it's not, >> you know, >> replacement. Just something to make it look cosmetically >> okay >> more cheerful.

206
00:57:32.160 --> 00:57:52.799
>> It's tan with rust. >> The south or North, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, at the North Elementary door number one coming into the office there. >> Lots of pockets all over it. >> Okay. Anything else there?

207
00:57:52.799 --> 00:58:10.720
So then we look for a motion to approve the summer projects. >> Some move. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. I. >> Same sign. >> Motion carries. Moving into new business. We got the resolution

208
00:58:10.720 --> 00:58:26.319
accepting donations. Uh we got quite a list here, so hang on. Um Hoffman Auxiliary, $275 for summer wreck. Uh Treasure Palm deter $250 for summer wreck. Ben Wade Township, $500

209
00:58:26.319 --> 00:58:44.240
summer wreck. Uh Stony Brook Township, $100 for summer wreck. Nora Township, $300 for summer wreck. Uh, Lean Township, $700 for summer wreck. Land Township, $1,200 summer wreck. Um, pay

210
00:58:44.240 --> 00:58:59.520
Central, $80 transition program donation. Kensington Lions Club, $250 for summer wreck. Douglas County Dairy Association, $114.40 for two milk Tuesday.

211
00:58:59.520 --> 00:59:15.359
Uh, South PTO, $27,145 for field trip buses. Um, Lakes Country Service Cooperative, uh, $1,661.72 for National Policy SE seminar. Um,

212
00:59:15.359 --> 00:59:32.480
Lawrence Township, $50 for summer wreck. Grant County Lions, $500 for summer wreck. Kensington Fire Relief, $1,500 for summer wreck. Uh, Soom Township, $400 for summer wreck. Elbow Lake Fire and Relief, $500 for age friendly

213
00:59:32.480 --> 00:59:47.359
program. Um, Ela Lake Fire Relief, $500 for Changemakers Program. Ela Lake Fire Relief, $1,500 for softball dugouts. Elbow Lake Fire Relief, $1,800 for wrestling mats. Ela Lake Fire Relief,

214
00:59:47.359 --> 01:00:04.720
$4,000 for summer wreck. Uh, Ela Lake Fire Relief, $1,000 for portable staging. City of Kensington $1,500 for summer wreck and softball booster is $271.91 uh for softball gear.

215
01:00:04.720 --> 01:00:21.839
Any questions, comments on any of those? >> I just a quick question or comment. Do we How do we thank those people? Like if we don't send personal thanking notes, which maybe isn't practical, but do we put something on Facebook that says, "Hey, we just want to thank these

216
01:00:21.839 --> 01:00:36.720
corporations for helping support our students or some some I know they get records here but >> I don't know how it's been done in the past. >> Yeah, I think that's why they read them all but yeah, I think it's a great idea to get something on Facebook.

217
01:00:36.720 --> 01:00:55.280
>> Yep, we can definitely do that. >> We can definitely do that. >> I agree. That's big. These are big dollar amounts over the course of the year. >> This total is n this for this month is $19,2248 in donations. I I almost townships that don't have a lot of money that's still

218
01:00:55.280 --> 01:01:12.559
>> Yep. Yep. >> Absolutely. >> All right. Then I'll look for a motion to approve the resolution. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call vote. Porter. >> Yes. >> Sanstead.

219
01:01:12.559 --> 01:01:28.079
>> Yes. >> Sour. >> Yes. >> Olrich? >> Yes. >> Vincent? >> Yes. >> And Gro? >> Yes. >> And I'll be a yes. All right. Um item 7B, approve the hire of Kennedy Porter for science teacher vacancy. If you remember, um because

220
01:01:28.079 --> 01:01:43.040
it's a by blood >> by blood relative, um this will require a unanimous vote of all board members. Um and so that is why this is separated out again. So I would look for a motion

221
01:01:43.040 --> 01:02:01.119
to hire Kennedy Porter to teach science here. Some >> move second. Um all in favor say I. >> I oppos. Same sign. >> Done. All right. And then we have the uh

222
01:02:01.119 --> 01:02:17.880
resolution placing continuing contract tenure teachers on unrequested leave of absence. Um as you remember we did the proposal last month. This would be the formal placing this month. Um

223
01:02:18.000 --> 01:02:33.680
the first teacher would be I got to find that resolution I suppose. Do you have the No. All right. Uh whereas the school board of independent school district 2342 adopts

224
01:02:33.680 --> 01:02:51.599
a resolution proposing placement of Rebecca Holland on unrequested leave of absence um on April 15th, 2026 on the grounds of lack of pupil. of financial limitations. Is do I have a a motion for that?

225
01:02:51.599 --> 01:03:08.960
>> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Roll call vote. Sandstead, >> yes. >> Sour, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Vincent, >> yes. >> Gross, >> yes. >> Porter, >> yes. And I will be a yes as well.

226
01:03:08.960 --> 01:03:31.520
And item number two, whereas school district independent school district 2342 adopt a resolution proposing placement of Tracy Frickman on unrequested leave of absence on April 15, 2026 on the grounds of lack of pupils and financial limitations. Do I

227
01:03:31.520 --> 01:03:47.599
have a motion for that? >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Roll call. Vote. Alrich, >> yes. >> Vincent, >> yes. >> Gross, >> yes. >> Porter, >> yes. >> Sandstead, >> yes.

228
01:03:47.599 --> 01:04:03.680
>> Sour, and I will be a yes as well. Um, note that there is also a one.1.0 FTE school counselor, a 0.25 FTE science teacher, and a 0.25 25 physical

229
01:04:03.680 --> 01:04:20.760
education teacher that are being reduced at this time through two resignations and one extended leave of absence. So again those are all part of this process. Any questions on that?

230
01:04:20.960 --> 01:04:38.799
Then we will look at the approved the class of 20 26 candidates for graduation pending final approval from administration. You should all have the list. Does anyone see anybody they don't think

231
01:04:38.799 --> 01:05:01.039
should be on the list? >> Then I would look for a motion to approve the list of seniors. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. both same sign.

232
01:05:01.039 --> 01:05:18.079
They made it through our through our checking, >> right? Yeah. There's still some that are close. So, continue to check those pieces there. >> Um approved milk bid for 26 27th school year. >> So, we were fortunate to get responses

233
01:05:18.079 --> 01:05:35.599
from three um milk companies and the recommendation is to go with um >> Stony Creek Dair. >> Stony Creek Dair. Yep. And so those are those are the ones that actually works back with the grant and they do the bulk milk for us, but now they'll also do the cartons of milk at both elementary

234
01:05:35.599 --> 01:05:51.920
schools and came in with a very competitive price. So we put our uh potential quantities. We're not held to those quantities, but saying here's what we potentially see working through. And you'll see that it's uh just about a $2,000 difference between them and the next closest bidder. And I know that

235
01:05:51.920 --> 01:06:08.720
Andrea says they provide really good service. And so this year we were split between Stony Creek and then I believe the other was Cass Clay at the elementaryaries, but now it'll be completely Stony Creek. >> Questions on the milk bid? I'll look for a motion to approve the Stony Creek

236
01:06:08.720 --> 01:06:25.200
dairy milk bid. >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Motion carries. Um item F is to call for propane quotes for 26 to 28 heating season.

237
01:06:25.200 --> 01:06:41.280
>> We changed that process to go two years two years at a time. Um just because it's kind of a volatile market and remember up at North we've got four large tanks that are not owned by the district. They're owned actually by the propane company. And so to make that more favorable for somebody I mean then

238
01:06:41.280 --> 01:06:57.119
plus the vaporizer and all those pieces a lot of equipment there. So, the recommendation was to go to a two-year coding um process. And so, that's what we plan to do again um for this next time around. >> Questions on that. >> The only thing is my last thing spelled

239
01:06:57.119 --> 01:07:25.200
wrong on there. You just want to adjust it. >> I will adjust that. Yeah. All right. So, we'll call for quotes with the adjusted spelling on there. Can I get a motion for that? >> So, move

240
01:07:25.200 --> 01:07:39.200
>> and a second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. We have the approved the 2526 revised school calendar. Fortunately, the weather was favorable this year. So, had one two-hour weather related late

241
01:07:39.200 --> 01:07:56.480
start, some early releases, and then had two days where we closed school, but one of those we made up on April 6th, and then just had the e-learning day on January 23rd and had the early release at 2:30 for wrestling. So, little impact due to sporting events or weather, but

242
01:07:56.480 --> 01:08:12.400
that's the updated calendar that we need to provide to the state um to ensure state funding. >> Questions on that? Motion to approve. So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor say I.

243
01:08:12.400 --> 01:08:28.319
>> I. >> Motion carries. Um item H uh approve Woods to proceed with review and comment for a November 3rd, 2026 bond referendum. Um, so basically we need to kind of just

244
01:08:28.319 --> 01:08:44.880
formalize that we want Woods to move forward to prepare a review and comment to be submitted to the state and what that looks like. Um, we have a June deadline, remember, is when that needs to be completed so we can have it all ready to go by the August deadline to

245
01:08:44.880 --> 01:09:00.719
put it place it on the ballot. So it's just telling them to continue that work and then bring that proposal back. So you'll see a final copy of the review and comment. That doesn't mean that they just take it and run with it, but they just needed direction after the survey, what was needed to to happen there. So,

246
01:09:00.719 --> 01:09:16.319
I guess the one piece that they would need direction on as the survey, as Darren said, from school perceptions, is it the $33.6 million project? Is that the one piece that they'll be is that how we want them to proceed? >> So, you're saying, are we putting the gym on? >> Correct. Yeah. So, the question comes

247
01:09:16.319 --> 01:09:34.000
there. I guess my feeling after um listening to Darren, I did ask in a separate meeting of him, you know, there used to be a a thought process that you you put something on the ballot that they can automatically throw away, it makes people feel better. He said, that's not really the case anymore. that

248
01:09:34.000 --> 01:09:51.120
um like he mentioned in the the his presentation, they're more often now seeing that putting something on there that the community didn't support says you're not listening to us and you don't care what we say anyway. Um so I guess my feeling

249
01:09:51.120 --> 01:10:08.239
is we should at this time only move forward with the one the 33.6 and not necessarily saying we can never do it but at this time it's not It's not in the cards for the gym.

250
01:10:08.239 --> 01:10:25.600
That's my belief, but that's why we're having a discussion about it. >> I feel we should follow his recommendation as well. There isn't support for it. Shouldn't put it on the ballot. >> Be based on the plan as designed

251
01:10:25.600 --> 01:10:41.360
currently, >> right? Yep. I mean, the board would still have if there's any minor tweaks, you know, but I think that's kind of where that 33.6 $.6 million piece balls. It does include that wellness center on the south. >> Right. So, if you remember, the gym took the wellness center from the backside

252
01:10:41.360 --> 01:10:57.360
and the bathrooms and that put it into the into the gym piece. At this point, then it would just be the wellness center in the back portion. Again, there's nothing saying we can't do that down the road. If it if there's warranted, you know, need for it. But, um,

253
01:10:57.360 --> 01:11:12.719
I think at this time we'll have to come up with a different plan. Um, >> would if we say no to put in the gym, would we add the new bathrooms over here? >> Yes, that's that would be part of the wellness center and the exterior bathrooms would stay in that back corner

254
01:11:12.719 --> 01:11:29.040
of that um instead of being moved up to the front of the the gym portion. >> Was that was that expanded on the like the wrestling room? >> Yes, that corner back there is where that would go. >> The softball fields are included in the

255
01:11:29.040 --> 01:11:45.280
plan, right? We just don't know where they're going to go yet. >> We just have to basically at this point then making that plan and finalizing going forward, then we would probably be able to start having conversations as far as

256
01:11:45.280 --> 01:12:00.640
contingent on the passage, you know, making agreement, that kind of thing. I feel like we should have had that agreement in place like we did the last time prior to when this went through route, but >> I don't know that I don't know that we started though prior to having a

257
01:12:00.640 --> 01:12:21.520
finalized plan though. >> It was worked in between now and and the ballot date. So again, that'll be part of that process. So then I guess I would look for um a

258
01:12:21.520 --> 01:12:42.719
motion to move forward with the $33.6 million portion of the plan soth can begin that review and comment process. >> Is there a second?

259
01:12:42.719 --> 01:12:58.080
>> Who'd you get? >> I'll go Josh. All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. >> I motion carries. Um, that moves us to

260
01:12:58.080 --> 01:13:14.640
approve the disposition of obsolete surplus equipment. >> And so what we'll do is we'll compile a list and bring that back to you. I know that uh Mark down at South has brought up some pieces. I mean, we have storage bins down that are full of desks. So, we've updated done a nice job of updating desks and classroom furniture.

261
01:13:14.640 --> 01:13:30.320
But now we've got desks sitting on the stage up north. We've got uh equipment sitting here. So, we'll compile that list, but I'd say mainly um no longer used desks, maybe a few tables, things like that. If there's anything that um our custodial department has as well, but we'll come up with that list. If

262
01:13:30.320 --> 01:13:46.320
it's larger pieces of equipment that we're looking to to maybe sell, we would do that silent bid like we did before. I'm trying to think what when we did the snow blower up at up north there, we do the exact same thing. But otherwise, we'll probably just have a a rumage sale. To be quite honest, desks cost a

263
01:13:46.320 --> 01:14:02.000
lot now when you buy them. But we've had these desks for a long time. So, we're not going to probably get much more than a dollar to $5 is what you're going to get. Sometimes you'll find a prochial school that'll come in and say, "Yeah, we'd love to have those." But that's even changed, I think, over time. So, we'll get that list prepared. Um, it's

264
01:14:02.000 --> 01:14:16.480
probably not going to be itemized right down to 27 desks, 14 chairs, but we'll have desks, chairs, the larger stuff we would itemize and make sure that people are aware of that. And it probably be at each site. I know um you know one of the suggestions was when Kensington room when Kensington has their days let's

265
01:14:16.480 --> 01:14:33.520
have that sale down there when Elake has their community days same thing that we get pieces out like that and I think they had a better practice and I'm going to date myself but I think when Chuck Kenna was here I think that was a pretty regular process to to reduce equipment and like I said I think the garage in

266
01:14:33.520 --> 01:14:50.159
Kensington as well as that storage bin that's sitting there are full of things that will never be used again so It's probably an opportunity to see if somebody else has a better use or at least clean out some of our spaces. >> I feel like we've talked about this many times and hope

267
01:14:50.159 --> 01:15:04.800
everything in the back never gets looked at again in some of that stuff. I don't know is there there be any advantage to using like KID or something just to let them take care of it. And I mean we're not looking to make a bunch of money off

268
01:15:04.800 --> 01:15:19.920
this thing, right? Let's look at I mean we're looking to make some revenue off of it obviously but >> clean up our spaces mainly >> but time is money too for our staff to have to >> yeah I can check with KID I've never done K bid before but yeah I can

269
01:15:19.920 --> 01:15:37.120
definitely check that to see >> this will be just to essentially create the the list initially right >> that you're comfortable with us that you're not caught off guard when somebody says hey I see they're selling this and you say what you started selling stuff like that.

270
01:15:37.120 --> 01:15:51.920
>> And I don't care any just I don't care either way. Just whatever. Make it easier for keep it simple for my staff that doesn't have to make keep making taking time out of their day to do this or do that or whatever. If we can just get it all on pallets and >> go let somebody take care of it.

271
01:15:51.920 --> 01:16:08.239
>> Okay, that sound like a plan. Put it out on the curb on cleanup day and see how it goes. >> That's right. >> That's the 27th. >> Yeah. Um we got to get we got to get to work then. Um, is there a motion to

272
01:16:08.239 --> 01:16:22.960
approve that disposition? >> So, move >> list. Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Um, approve the 2627 resolution for membership into the state high school league. This is just an annual

273
01:16:22.960 --> 01:16:39.840
um annual occurrence. Is there a motion for that? >> Second. >> Second. >> And roll call vote. Vincent, >> yes. >> Gross, >> yes. >> Porter, >> yes. >> Sandstead, >> yes. >> Sour, >> yes. >> Olrich,

274
01:16:39.840 --> 01:16:53.760
>> yes. >> And I'll be a yes. >> And then we also have approved the 26 target credit service credit recovery extended time service agreement. So, we can't just go out and get that aid oursel. You have to be tied into one of

275
01:16:53.760 --> 01:17:10.480
these targeted services groups. Freshwater happens to be that group. And so, uh, there's a reimbursement that we get. We're fortunate again to have um summer school at both North and South Elementary. The beauty now is we'll actually get reimbured for part of that teacher salary. That's always been just

276
01:17:10.480 --> 01:17:26.080
an expense that we've uh taken the burden with and now we'll be able to get probably I would say 80% of that covered. So again, another way to help fund for wherever we can. So just looking to get that set up for summer school. Right now it's just planned at the elementary levels in August, the

277
01:17:26.080 --> 01:17:41.360
first two weeks in August. Um Carrie Bentrip's going to do it at South. Kaylin Hull's going to do it at North and then quite honestly we can look at a more um broad a broader program than during the school year like an afterchool program is what this becomes and you can meet certain goals and you

278
01:17:41.360 --> 01:17:57.280
get reimbursement there too. It allows us to go up to 0.2 for each student. Kindergarten is a little bit different because our numbers are more limited but it's still a pretty could be a very big program there. >> All right. And that's just a regular it's not a resolution. >> Nope. No.

279
01:17:57.280 --> 01:18:15.040
>> Okay. So then I just need a motion to uh enter that agreement. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries. >> Seeing no further business.

280
01:18:15.040 --> 01:18:30.800
Just the only other thing I guess real quick. Um Maya and I are citing signing off on the statement of work for uh Clifton Larson Allen. That's been the auditors. And I know I did a check a couple years ago with neighboring schools to see where the cost was. It always seems to be expensive, but when I found out what neighboring schools were

281
01:18:30.800 --> 01:18:46.480
paying, we're still at a reasonable, very reasonable cost. So, they'll be starting that audit work first part of September. It'll be a much cleaner process. We've got great business management services, great payroll services. So, this will be a and oftentimes they charge additional funds

282
01:18:46.480 --> 01:19:04.000
if they got to do extra work to dig into things. And this time should be quick and smooth. We've now got payroll and business management running very very smoothly. >> Do you remember how much it was going to cost >> the audit? I

283
01:19:04.000 --> 01:19:20.719
don't know why off I can double check to see. I don't think it included in their letter. I can double check. >> I don't remember what it was last year. >> Yeah, I think it it was I think it was more >> paper because it was pretty extensive. >> Let me reach out to Mary Reed and just kind of ask her what that would look

284
01:19:20.719 --> 01:19:29.280
like. So, >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor say I.

