Well, good evening everyone and I wouldlike to call this to order the Anoga Henipin School Board meeting for today,January 26, 2026. Please join the board in pledging ourallegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of theUnited States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nationunder God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Our first order of business tonight isto approve the board agenda. Is there a motion to approve the board agenda aspresented? >> We have a motion for approval fromDirector Duchaine. Is there a second? >> Second.>> With a second from Director Erko. Any discussion at this time.Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I.>> Any opposed say no. With four in favor and zero opposed, the agenda isapproved. Members, our next order of business isrecognitions. This is our kindness poster winners forevery grade level. And at this time, I'd like to welcome Tom Shaw, our directorof student services, and Britt Oolen, our district school social worker, tothe table. >> Good evening and welcome. >> Good evening. Thanks for having us.Superintendent McIntyre, Co-Chair Hookman, Co-Chair Langfield, and membersof the board. My name is Tom Sham, the director of student services. Andtonight, I'm joined by Brit Leen, district social worker, in recognizingthe talent and the creativity of our 2526 kindness poster contest winners.Each year, the contest encourages students in kindergarten through 12thgrade in a positive call to action to counteract the negative impact ofbullying and to highlight Anoka Henipin's core values of respect,responsibility, appreciation of diversity, integrity, and compassion asthe basis of kindness. >> Good evening, school board members andSuperintendent McIntyre. Tonight, we are proud to celebrate the results of ourdistrict's annual kindness poster contest. This year's theme, My Vision ofKindness, challenge students at every grade level to illustrate what asupportive and kind environment looks like through their eyes. After eachschool's building level poster contest, we received over 150 entries this yearfor the districtwide contest. Tonight, as part of their recognition, eachwinner will receive a Kindle from the Horus Man Company, and their artworkwill be reproduced and displayed across the district. We would like to thank theHorus Man Company for their continued partnership in our annual kindnessposter contest. Additionally, thank you to our school board members andSuperintendent McIntyre for your support and recognition of ouramazing student artists. Thank you to the teachers and families who supportedthese students in bringing their vision to life. Students may come forward whenI call their name to be recognized and school board members are invited to joinus for pictures. Students will line up here to get theirprize and wait till every one is called so we can take some pictures.First up, we have for kindergarten, Landon Daly from McKinley Elementary.[applause] Next up in first grade, Brinley Jarvisfrom McKinley Elementary School. [applause] In second grade, Gabe Zuk, McKinleyElementary, [applause] >> third grade, Maggie Pervvis, Oxbow,Oxbow Creek Elementary. [applause] Fourth grade, Liam Miller, SunriseElementary. [applause] Fifth grade, Jenny Chen, JeffersonElementary, [applause] sixth grade, Kira Davis, Oak View MiddleSchool. [applause] Seventh grade, Matteline Parrot, AnokaMiddle School, [applause] 8th grade, Amelia Lynch, Anoka Middlepool. [applause] And finally, ninth grade, FatimaMuhammad Blaine High School. [applause] Put it >> goodness.One year warranty. >> [applause]>> Parents, feel free to come forward. You come up as close as you'd like. Thank you.[applause] >> [applause] >> Thank you guysvery >> Let's give them one more round ofapplause. They are amazing students. [applause] Thank you to our sponsors as well. Thankyou for their support. [applause] >> Again, congratulations. Thank you to theparents and all the all the folks here to support these beautiful amazing kids.Thanks for coming tonight as well in this cold evening.So members, as we move forward, the next item on our agenda is our consentagenda. And as normal, members can remove items for separate considerationand discussion if that's their desire. We'll wait a moment here, I think. Yeah. No >> right here.>> But we go to presenter. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, as as normal, uh members, we can uhmove remove any items for separate consideration and discussion if that'syour desire. So, is there a motion to accept the consent agenda as presented? >> We have a motion from co uh chair ordirector Duchaine. Is there a second? >> Second.>> Thank you, Director Arco. Is there any discussionhearing? None. All in favor say I. I. >> I.>> Any oppose say no. With four in favor and zero opposed, our consent agenda isapproved. Our next item is communications,delegations, and petitions. This section of our meeting is a time for ourcommunity members to provide input directly to the school board aboutissues that fall within the school board's authority. We plan about 15minutes for each item. It's my understanding that there are no cardsthis evening. All right, then we will move on.The next item on our agenda is the board calendar and I invite SuperintendentMcIntyre to share any thoughts and update us in important things we need toknow. >> Thank you, co-chair Langenfeld. I dohave a number of items tonight, but I do want to start uh briefly just by talkinguh about supporting our schools and our communities during uh these times ofuncertainty we've been experiencing. So the events of the recent days and weekshave weighed heavily on many of our school community and there continues tobe, you know, a wide range of strong emotions and perspectives. And as aschool system with caring staff who work really hard to connect with theirstudents, we know that this is a an unsettling time for students andfamilies as well. Um many of them are doing what they can to protect their ownwell-being during during this time. So, we've shared uh many times ourcommitment to safety and belonging in an Okanopen schools and our missionstatement to effectively educate each student for success. And I know as aboard um these are not just words on a page, but they're they're our promise toone another. And we've made remain steadfast in this mission through manychallenges, but also also to make sure every student and staff member feels asense of belonging. And at the same time I want to communicate clearly with asmuch you know transparency as possible regarding um just the activities in ourcommunity especially around immigration enforcement. Um community members havereported that they've seen enforcement officers or agents in our in ourcommunities and our students have had interactions with them and there was acouple incident incidents last week that we are still investigating. But I didwant to just publicly confirm that last week we did have two vans carrying highschool students that were stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcementduring the early mornings on and route near the border of the city of Dayton.Uh school staff have reached out to the families involved and Dayton Elementarydid send a community message and a staff message. I know there was reports of ofthis uh as well on Minnesota Public Radio. Um, in this case, uh,particularly these, um, in both in instances, both encounters were brief.I'm really proud of our van drivers. They did a great job taking appropriateaction to ensure the safety of our students. Those routes did continue andstudents arrived safely at school as expected and were provided with supportthat they they needed. Um, in addition, I just want to confirm too as manydistricts around the metro have that we've there were um agent vehicles thatwere spotted in a school parking lot in an NOA that were asked to relocate byschool staff and they did so upon our request. I should note that the agentswere not parked in this location to pursue enforcement activity at ourschools. Okay, that I want to make sure that was clear. We've also received somereports of ICE vehicles near bus stops in certain areas of the district. Andwhen we receive those reports, we do collect those. We monitor um thoseactivities and we do share that with local law enforcement as well. We havestrong partnerships with our local uh law enforcement.So um I share this there there so there's an awareness that we have had apresence and there is an impact whether intentional or not on our students,families and staff members. So as we move forward to support our students andfamilies through through this current time, I want to be clear that and andreally proud of our school principles, our teachers, our social workers, ourcounselors, many other caring staff who have done an excellent job uh takingimmediate action to support students and families that might be impacted uhduring this time and appreciate all their efforts. For students who needsupport, who may not be able to attend school, the district's approach tostudent support is a very focused school-based student centric approach,providing individualized or customized approach uh and support that addressesnot only family safety concerns, but really the student learning uh and thesupport that that requires um basically those are the staff members with thestrongest connections with our students. So, please know that this currentapproach is doing our best to address an individual needs. um again with thegreatest connection with staff that our students have. And we'll continue tomake um available and continue to develop really u is up-to-datereadytouse instructional materials for our teachers and staff that are designedto continue to help students remain connected, provide them grade levellearning, minimize instructional disruption um during during any absencesas much as we possibly can. So through this um feels like ever ever changingsituation, our goal continues to be um simple to continue to provide resourcesthat can be shared with our families, with our students to ensure that um wehave them in place, whether it's through printed materials or any of the digitalresources that we we already have in place and that we use on a daily basis.These supports provide schools with the most practical and impactful tools tothe to do their best to maintain engagement, access, and academicprogress for our students. So, finally, just kind of come back to our mission toeffectively educate each student for success. And that that is a statementthat requires a commitment to serve all of our students and families whereverthey're at, whatever they're going through. Uh when we do that, that's ourbest chance to achieve our mission. I also want to acknowledge too, it's beenan exhausting time for some and yet we must remain strong in our commitment toserve each of our students. We remain hopeful for for the coming days thatmaybe we can move beyond these safety concerns andum continue to um deliver what we can as best we can to our students and the noaHenipin School District's always been a strong one and together we'll do what wecan to support again our students and families that we serve. So, thank youfor that. I got a couple other really uh important announcements to make, too.Um, Anoka Henipin joined districts across the state in celebrating thededicated staff members who serve our uh students as pared educators through thePAR educator recognition week. These individuals that work in our system areessential for our daily operations, serving instruction,uh, special education, health, safety, transportation, and many other vitalroles. We have over 1,000 PAR educators in our district. Nearly all of them liveright here in our neighborhoods. So, this is a true call to service by ourcommunity members. So, to our PAR professionals, thank you for the vitalrole you play in ensuring the best possible educational experience for ourstudents, and we appreciate you not only during this recognition week, but everyday of the school year. Also, I want to recognize Hoover Elementary uh inRapids, which was recently informed that they are the recipient of the 2026Minnesota STEM Innovation Award by the Minnesota Elementary School PrinciplesAssociation, known as MESPA, in partnership with the Science Museum ofMinnesota. Hoover received this honor for arealworld learning initiatives where fourth grade students partnered with theAmerican Red Cross to plan and support a community blood drive. It was animpactful example of how students were able to harness a unique learningopportunity while incorporating it with making a difference for others in ourcommunity. Congratulations to Principal Men Struce and her entire team and theHoover community on achieving this statewide distinction.So, continuing on with a couple other school achievements, Anoka Middle Schoolfor the Arts has received national recommend recognition for their studentliterary magazine called The Storm. The magazine is a journal compilation ofstudents original writing and artwork. The process was traditionally begun inFebruary of each year with a collection of student submissions and it ends withthe unveiling of the journal and student readings during the school's artsfestival in May. The National Coun Council of Teachers of English haveawarded the magazine a ranking of first class in their realm program. So AMSA isonly one of 135 schools in the nation to re reach this level. They're also onlyone of six schools in Minnesota to receive this award. Notably, they're theonly middle school in the entire state to receive this honor. The Storm hasbeen an annual student publication for over 16 years since the school began in2010. Apart of that, Fredmore Middle School produced the journal titled TheSwarm. So, congratulations to the studentcreators and the staff adviserss for doing an excellent job every year andand uh particularly this year getting that special recognition.And then looking ahead to next month, the district's preparing for our annualacademic growth recognition program in February and in March. We will celebratethe academic growth in reading, math, and English language acquisitionfor over 3,000 students district-wide. Top 10 achievers from each elementary,middle, and specialized program will be recognized at the ceremonies in Februaryand March. Certificates will be shared with all students who who have achievedthis honor at their school sites. Families and community members can watchthe live stream of the ceremony on our district YouTube page and our website.And then lastly, just one more promotion as I did last month for our Noa HenipinEducation Foundation Northern Star Celebration on February 7th from 5:30 to10 at Bunker Hills Event Center in Rapids. Another entertaining anduplifting night and the proceeds all go to support our students through thefoundation to meet their unique uh learning needs that our teachers bringforward for uh grant opportunities. So, we appreciate our foundation for puttingon such a wonderful event. So, um, that concludes my superintendent'sreport for this evening. Thank you very much.>> Thank you, Superintendent McIntyre. Members, are there any comments,questions for Superintendent McIntyre? Yes, Director Duchaine.>> Thank you. Um, and thank you, Superintendent McIntyre, for addressingthe ongoing events in our community. I I think that's really important. Um, I'mworried for our school communities, our neighborhoods, for our state. We umsitting at this board table have all expressed that student safety is astated priority for us. So I'm hopeful that we can be united in a focus on thisongoing threat to student safety. Um and and that said, I want to address this.It's been weighing heavily on our community for the last several weeks andwe have directly seen the effects of this uh activity of immigrationenforcement right here in our own district. As Superintendent McIntyrementioned, um, district admin is handling these incidences as they come.And I I do appreciate the hard work that our staff is doing to navigate theseincredibly sensitive situations under immense pressure and public scrutiny.Unfortunately for me, this approach is no longer enough. We cannot keep askinghow do we normally handle this? How would we normally go about this? Nothingabout the last few weeks has been normal. Our families are frightened.We have seen attendance drop because parents are afraid to send theirchildren to the bus stop. We have examples now confirmed and continuedreports of enforcement actions occurring on our transportation routes at our busstops and near our schools, spaces that should be safe for learning, not sitesof trauma. These activities have no place on schoolgrounds. When a 5-year-old or a teenager sees that enforcement action at theirbus stop on their bus, their sense of safety that is required for theireducation to continue is shattered. And not just for that student, but for allthe students that they interact with, their families, the entire student body.We know that we have a moral and legal obligation to the constitution and thatincludes providing an education to every single child in this district regardlessof immigration status. And it's hard for us and we cannot fulfill that obligationif we do not have a broad transparent plan in place. Our community deserves toknow exactly what our protocols are. They deserve to have frequent regularcommunication about what is happening, what has happened, what we will do, whatareas of our schools we will or will not grant access to with judicial warrantsor not. They deserve to know that staff is trained and able to protect studentprivacy under FURPA. Therefore, I'm I am asking as as a single board member, andI would like the rest of the board to consider joining me that we move awayfrom a case-bycase approach and we move toward a formal public facing plan thatincludes increased communication, what options families can have for continuedlearning. I I do appreciate Superintendent McIntyre sharing heretonight that they have um targeted kind of customized student learning supportedby the staff in the buildings. Um I don't think that's enough. I thinkthat's leaving it up to individual buildings to self-solve. Um and that'snot in the spirit of us sort of directing and leading uh for our entiredistrict so that principles our our teachers our para educatorseveryone in the buildings knows what to expect and knows what support they canget from this board and from this district.uh we should send a clear message to our families that they're safe here, thattheir children are protected here in our buildings, and that we as a board willstand between the events of the day and the safety of our classrooms.So, I I would ask that we consider continued conversation. I know we have aclosed session today to further discuss the ex the specific incidences that haveoccurred so that we have all the information as a board. Um, I think thisis really important in this moment that we continue to ask for ouradministration at the district level to support our administrators and teachersin our buildings that are facing these families and students fears every singleday. >> Thank you. Were you going to respond? Ihave some thoughts as well. First and foremost, thank you for sharing yourcomments and your thoughts. and Director Duchaine, I want to um circle back andthank our leaders and our teams. I've been in the schools recently and I thinkat moments like this, times like this, it really is a time that tests ourvalues. We are truly tested in that space. And as our superintendent talkedabout, a core value of this district has and will continue to be safe andinclusive schools. We've um uh you see it in our mission statement. You see itfoundational to our work being safe and respectful learning environments, safeand welcoming environments. And from that foundation, we have found ourleaders in the district and also our school leaders um at central office andour school communities. They've created what are called I think networks ofcare. I've heard that term work out there and I think it's very importantthat we recognize the care and compassion and hard work that's going onto resolve and so and the resolve to make sure that our schools are safe umthrough the through the different efforts that are going on through careand compassion. And it truly is a time when our teachers um and I've seen themfirsthand have set aside their own anxiety and fears. They come intoschool, they show up for the kids, they show up for their families. And I thinkthis is a really important note that you raised, director Duchaine, about what aheavy lift it is for them as well. Um they've done an a yman's job in this andthe stability and sense of um uh normaly for our kids. It it looks pretty normalwhen you walk in our schools. um that they're they're mitigating and andtrying to address the fear and trauma and uncertainty our kids are feeling andat the same time offer that reassurance and be that source of hope for ourcommunity. So if you come in our schools, you see that there's calm,there's activities going on, there's learning going on, which is veryimportant. And I think what I'm hearing is is the fact that we want all childrento be in school and have that opportunity. And one of the things is II am no longer um the superintendent or or a principal creating and welcoming uhcreating safe and welcoming environments, but our board has thatopportunity. Um and it's a priority for us to do so. So I think it's just as ourleaders and our school community folks have stepped up with compassion,courage, and resolve, we too, I agree, must do that. And so one of the piecesthat tonight in transparency to our community and and addressing this momentis um working in partnership when co-chair Hulkman and I were setting theagenda with Superintendent McIntyre, we talked about transparency and theimportance of safety and security and making sure that our community had thatinformation. So we do have that report on the agenda tonight. I think it's timethat we ask further questions and I know that um we need to hear a lot more aboutwhat's going on for learning for the children who are not at school becausetalking to a mom at church on Sunday, she has five children and she is notcomfortable having your children go to school, but she certainly wants them inschool. So, it's it's a hard hard um stressor on families and they're makingvery difficult decisions. um the community of care that we see and thenetwork is working, but obviously um it isn't enough right now to get where weneed and want to be for every child. So, um looking forward to the safety andsecurity briefing and further information around the steps that thedistrict continues to take, but full transparency, I think we would allagree, is a top priority for this kind of moment to be met for for all of us.So, We're good.>> Any other comments? >> Director Era.>> Yes. Um, [clears throat] thank you, uh, Co-Chair Linkenfeld. Got to get that oneright. Um, yeah, I'm certainly committed to the safety and security of ourstudents. So, I I am open to all these conversations you guys have proposed andlook forward to working with you on it. >> Thank you.Have any Yeah, thank you. That the focus andpurpose, the hard work that um all the people in our schools have been doing,especially the leadership teams um to secure our buildings and make certainthat um we're paying attention to all those important pieces has been reallyum encouraging to see everyone come together, working hard to keep goingtowards that goal of effectively educating each student for success. So,paying attention to that goal and ensuring that each one of those kidsgets what they need. >> Thank you,>> Superintendent. >> Yeah, thank [clears throat] you, boardmembers, and I I do appreciate you sharing um all the different thingsyou're gathering and hearing from our community. I I want to reassure you thatand that's why we brought back our safety topic for tonight. We we didcover m um a lot of this information in August, but in the summer, noteverybody's always paying attention the same way they do during the school year,especially under the circumstances we're in. I, you know, speaking for our team,we feel like we are successfully doing a a really good job meeting individualneeds of students. We are not seeing the kinds of attendance issues that otherlarge systems in our state are. So those other districts have made differentdecisions and I think that usually center around online learning, distancelearning, those kinds of things. You said it well. We want our students inschool and to this point uh we feel like we are providing those kind of supportsand resources um to to meet the needs of the students as best we can within ourwithin the resources we have. Um now if this shifts in either either direction,we're going to reevaluate that constantly, right? uh we don't have a uhonline school. We don't have devices, one-on-one devices for K6 students. Sothat that that's another hurdle should we get to that point. And then we aretracking student attendance daily through our principles, through ourdistrict uh attendance department, really tracking making sure we're umseeing where we're at and and really targeting our efforts if there's sectorsof our district or community that we need to support. Dayton's a goodexample. they've um needed some added support here in the last few uh days,last week, and we we um make sure we're providing those supports for what thoseindividual schools need based on what they're experiencing. So, we'll havemore details as our team comes up here in a little bit to talk more widelyabout general safety. We have not had any incidents at our schools with uh onICE officials coming to our buildings. We have strong policies, visitorpolicies, other um pieces that you're going to hear about that um we feelreally strong about as far as on our campuses. Uh the challenge it clearly isout in the community with 8,000 bus stops and um lot 32,000 students ridingriding our transportation system. Um that's a different kind of challenge andand I know our team will talk more about that as well. So, um, we share the sameconcern and we also feel like, um, like I started with our principles, ourstaff, our teachers have done an amazing job trying to do everything they can tomake sure students feel connected and supported um, through what seems like adaily shift in whatever is happening in and around our region and our state. So,I know there'll be more discussion once our we get to that agenda item, butthank you for letting me weigh in with a few more comments. Thank you. Um just as a one more commentas a followup. I know that um we have heard some things about about thecurriculum and the delivery of lessons. So it would be great if the board andand the community could get some a little more clarity around that in thefuture. That would be great. Thank you. >> I I will add I you know based on our mycomments this evening, we are planning for another community message tomorrow,right? Oh, okay. That's another [clears throat] and for staff as well. Ifailed to mention that earlier on. >> Thank you. That's important.The next item we have, if there's no further comments. Okay. The next item wehave is finance. And I'd like to welcome to the table Mr. Neielenum who will talk to us about our 25 2025 annual audit. Welcome.>> Well, thank you very much. appreciate the chance to be here again this yearand present the results of the audit that we've completed for the year endedJune 30th, 2025. I'm sure your staff are excited to putthat year behind them entirely and focus on the current year and next year andfuture planning as well. So um [snorts and clears throat] you've gotthree documents before you that annual comprehensive financial report that yousubmit to the ASVO and GFOA uh association of school business officialsgovernment financial officers associationum for the certificate of excellence in financial reporting this year'sfinancial statement has been prepared again to allow you to do that andcomplete that submission. uh you have our special purpose reportsincludes the reports required by the audit and I'll hit those with theupcoming slide here and then the management reports. So the PowerPointpresentation I have before you is simply grabbing some of the information theslides and data that we had in the management report to facilitate thediscussion. So, I don't want you to feel like I'm trying to rush throughanything, but I realize, you know, you're getting a lot of this informationfrom your staff and your your management throughout the year, and really our roleis to provide that audit opinion that the information they've provided you isfairly stated and and is accurate to the report and testing we completed. So,with that, I'll move to our first slide that we have, the auditor's role asindependent auditors for the school district. uh to provide that opinion onthat act for that annual comprehensive financial report uh as well as to issueour reports under required under internal control and compliance for thefinancial statement audit and then the office of the state auditor's legalcompliance manual requirements and I'll get right to it with the auditresults. Uh as you can see for the district's financial audit, we've issuedwhat is known as an unmodified or a clean opinion on the financialstatements. Um meaning that the financial statement fairly presents thefinancial position of the district as of June 30th, 2025 and the results ofoperations for the year then ended is fairly stated. Uh you'll see there's aadditional paragraph with our audit opinion talking about a new Gazsbystandard. So again, your district uh was required to implement a new significantauditing standard that was completed um with regard to compensated absences forthis past year and we've successfully work through that process and have thatincorporated as required. With regard to the audit of internalcontrols and compliance or a report of that, um, we're pleased to report we hadno material weaknesses or instances of non-compliance to report for testingunder government auditing standards this past year.[snorts] And then my last slide on the auditresults, uh, the Minnesota Legal Compliance Manual, there's seven broadcategories applicable within the manual to your district. Um, within each one ofthose, uh, sections of that manual, there's many different tests andinquiries that we complete. And again, we're pleased to report we had noinstances of non-compliance to have to report this evening with that testing.Uh, you may recall with last year's audit, we also talked about the federalsingle audit. um you're still required to undergo that federal single audit,but the compliance supplement was not issued by the federal government untillate November. So, we weren't able to complete that in timely fashion to beable to issue the two reports together. Um but the federal single audit isn'tdue until March 31st. So, we should have no problems issuing that report umbefore that March 31st deadline. but wanted to make you aware that um we havebegun the testing and should be able to easily meet that deadline for you.All right, the next the remainder of my slides really just hit some informationI know is probably um old news to especially schoolboard members andstaff, but uh good for the public to see and and so I'll I'll move through itpretty quickly. I'm happy to circle back at the end of the presentation if youwant to discuss anything or if you saw something in the reports um we can tryto address that as well. We share with you the ADM or adjusted average dailymembership uh due to the share the size of the number of students that you'reserving really drian information as student enrollment is abig factor in the funding for Minnesota schools. So as you can see this lastyear we were showing 37,396 students served by the district uh thispast year which was a slight decrease of about 229 students or 0.6%uh compared to the 2024 final enrollment counts for the district. Um, moving on to the general trends, wetry to pick some financial positions, some key indicators of the financialhealth of your school district. Uh, as you can see, you've had a stablecondition for every year we've really presented up here absent of the real umum significant changes up or down from year to year, which is what we like tosee. Uh, your expenditures went up. We use that line really to help share thesize of the operation for the school district. And then two of the keyindicators, unrestricted fund balance and then cash and investments as two keypoints that you we saw increases at the end of the year going along with theincrease in the size of the operation with the growth in expenditures over theprior year. Looking at the next slide, we break downthat fund balance position of the general fund. And I've got severalslides for the general fund. It is your primary operating fund. Uh as you cansee here, the overall increase in total fund balance. uh but when you measure itas a percentage of expenditures for the applicable year, you can see there was asimilar uh year-end unrestricted position, a similar unassigned position,a slight uptick in both of those as you can see there and the districtcontinuing to meet the goal of the fund balance policy um as set by the schoolboard. We got a couple more slides for thegeneral fund. The first slide is a peek at the revenues. Uh we've got a budgetto actual to prior year comparison uh for really to share the size of theoperation. Uh revenues this past year totaled $670 million. Uh so when I talkabout some of the changes, you know, are looked very close. You can see they'reuh similar to the prior year and our big dollar amounts when I think about my ownbudget, but as a percentage for the size of your organization being a very largeoperation in the schools in Minnesota, you can see um really a consistentpattern or presentation compared to the prior year, very close to budget. Umthis past year came in over budget about 2.8% 8% so close to the anticipatedfinal budget compared to actual operating results. Uh an increase overthe prior year that was anticipated. And then as I've commented in the past,you can see that focus in your reliance on state sources to finance theoperation of the general fund. Uh this past year, state sources accounting for75.5% of the general fund revenues. Uh you cansee the next closest is at 18.2% 2% in property taxes and then it falls down tothree and a half% in that whole other category and then federal sources makingup only 2.8% of the revenues in the general fund operation when looking at our next slides. Sowithin your financial statements a lot of the focus is on the programs wherethe dollars are spent on the management report. We try to provide you additionallayer of detail with the split by salaries, benefits, purchase, services,supplies, materials, capital and then all other. So you can see even it saysall other many categories but it makes up the smallest component of spending inthe general fund. General fund spending this past yeartotaled approximately $656 million. Uh expenses were even closer to budgetwithin 1.7% of what was approved in that finalbudget and then uh 1.8% over the prior year as anticipated.Um a couple of comments you probably noticed in the management report we talkabout the uh conservative budget practices efficient or effective budgetmanagement budget managers and the controls really helping to account forthat um maintenance of spending within the approved amounts in that finalbudget. And then a couple of the other operatingfunds. Uh we've got one slide where I've combined the food service and communityservice. Now for your district, uh being one of the larger districts, uh each oneof these operations represents about $30 million of expenditures, which is largerthan some of the school districts we audit. Um but each individual you cansee in relation to the general fund um you can see the fund balance position uheach of the past couple of years there was just a slight increase in thegeneral or in the food service fund that was extremely close to what wasanticipated within $45,000 of what the final budget or final fund balance Ishould say was projected in the budget. uh the community service saw a betterthan anticipated uh increase in the community service fund. So both of theyou can see both of these funds having a healthy consistent financial positionfor several years now. Um I wanted to just make a couple ofcomments. You've got a capital projects building construction fund. Those finalresources were spent out this year. Um so that fund was closed for theconstruction bond proceeds that were in there. Uh the debt service fund operatedas anticipated uh with the increase in fund balancethere and and operating really right as anticipated. What we have before youhere is uh the internal service fund and u maybe one of the challenges not aspart of the audit but just as you can see just challenges in operation. uh youcan see the net position because we're talking about a full ac cruel internalservice fund uh net position has dipped to a deficit uh ending net position inthe in combined internal service funds and if within the act for that financialstatements you'll see that is in just is in one fund entirely of the three uhinternal service funds. So you have a positive balance in the dentalself-insured fund. You have a positive balance in the workers comp. But you cansee it's been the rising claims for health health benefit claims. The healthself- insurance fund uh reported a deficit this past year um when itfinalized and everything came complete as we wrapped up the annual auditprocess. And and just to share, I know the yourmanagement was aware of it as it, you know, monitoring it throughout the yearand and um understands and is planning to work with the process to what is itgoing to take to make sure that doesn't continue? You can't carry that deficituh for extended periods in a self- insurance fund.And then the last slide, uh, to this point, we really focus on how we believeour school districts are operating on a day-to-day basis, that individual fundpresentation. Uh, but what that doesn't capture is that long-term perspective ofyour capital assets, the long-term obligations and debt. Um, because thosefunds focus on the available spendable resources to the district, what you haveavailable to you for programming. uh the entitywide presentation, the dualperspective presentation of governmental funds and governmental financialstatements provides you the long-term position. So you can see uh the top halfwe try to share with you the reconciliation of the governmental fundsthat we talked about and what the differences are with uh capital assets,long-term debt and some of the long-term obligations to the net positiongovernmentwide for you. And then the lower half is a split of the individualcomponents of your net position. So we like to see the increase in the netinvestment in capital assets. It's really sharing that you're investing inyour infrastructure, paying down the debt of the infrastructure um at afaster pace than the depreciation on those buildings. Um so it's nice to seethat increase in that position, but it really is tied up in the buildingsthemselves and not available for programming restricted. that wouldcapture your dollars in LTFM funding, uh, food service, community service,debt service for instance, you saw an increase there. And then the the onecate you see a decrease is that unrestricted. And I would say that wasin due in large part to a change in kind of the accounting guidance with Gatsby101 for compensated absences. So, not really a it it was not a change in howthe board uh enacted anything with compensated absences, just in arequirement of how they're accounted for and reported within your financialstatements. So, with that, I know I went through a lotof information. There's a great deal of information in that Acer. I do want tothank your staff. Uh again, they've gone through an audit where there was newgazes uh to implement. Uh there's a lot of people involved in your annualcomprehensive report to get the data for those stab tables and and have alwaysbeen very responsive for the process and really helps keep that process efficientwhen we're going through the busy season and wrapping up these school districtaudits. So, >> thank you.>> So, board members, um before I before I open it for the floor for questions, umI want to give you a proper introduction. Um Mr. Neielen. He Mr.Nielsen is a certified public accountant with LB Carlson. So,>> I wanted the public to know you were the real deal here for us.>> Thank you. I should have known better by the number of presentations I've done. Ishould have done that. So, yes. >> Anyway, so I appreciate that. Um, boardmembers, at this time, uh, questions for Mr. Nielsen? >> Director Duchaine.Thank you, co-chair Lingenfeld. Uh just first thank you to you and your team forthese results. It's been a number of years that you have been doing this uhinternal audit with us and I always appreciate the way that you present theinformation, give us the concise summary, and then all of the backup. Umand with that, a a big thank you to Michelle Vargas and the finance teamhere at Anoka Henipin for the participation in this audit. Uh I I didjust have one question if you wouldn't mind giving just a brief overview maybelike a summary high level for the public of what that compensated absence changewas so that it's maybe more in plain plain language that they mightunderstand. >> Yeah, thank you.>> I'll do my best. Maybe you can help me clarify. Um so in the past the focuswith the compensated absences uh really was left with how many dollars forcompensated absences would be paid out upon retirement. The uh undergovernmental auditing standards there's a strong belief in the budgetary processand so with the annual budget you would anticipate when people would take sickdays that would be part of the annual budget process you would have peopleanticipate in substitutes for instance so um the biggest example is in theteachers because often cases some of the in the recent history most of ourdistricts have uh they no longer pay sick days when people retire, which isthe case for your district for the most part, but there's some of that that arepaid out as retirement benefits. But the portion that they use um in future yearsthat they've already earned, we would not capture that in the liability. So,that is the part that's captured now in the liability is what is anticipatedthey will use in future years. So there was kind of a one-time adjustment forthe part that will be used subsequently versus what would just be paid out uponretirement for individuals. So compensated absences would capture notonly vacation, which is always captured, um, but sub the sick days and othertypes of leave absences. So we're actually grabbing more, not just what'spaid out upon retirement. >> Thank you.>> Thank you. >> Other questions, comments from theboard? Superintendent Superintendent M.>> Just a [clears throat] couple. I think it's great for the public to kind of geta sense for like like how many weeks was your team or were they here with theaudit? I I lose track. Uh >> I know it's a pretty heavy three weekson site at the end. um in more the October time frame, it's uh probablyjust shy of a week for preliminary work and then all the back and forth betweenthem and then there's a heavy load that we're working on remotely because of thefinancial statement preparation and back and forth.>> So, just for the board to hear the multi-step um extensive time put in,including that on-site time where we're all available answering questions,providing information. So, thank you for that. And then um you know just want toacknowledge the board's work um and maybe you can speak to where this showsup but we've just went through three phases of budget cuts right so 22.2 2million and I know that was necessary to help us land where or you know with thisreport um knowing that um you know you said itwell earlier we rely heavily on our state funding>> and um when that's really a fixed range between two and 3% annually and we arelike many other sink costs exceed that revenue stream. Um we are I want tocommend our team and and our district for continuing to find ways tooperate within those those kind of tight parameters. Um so to hear you say about75% of our of our budget is is those state funds. So that's really a resultof very strong budgeting practices. You said management and controls uh all verysound that that's how we get it done honestly. So, I don't know if you wantto have any comments about that, but I want to make sure we didn't miss thehard work this board has done over the last few years with budget reductionsjust to keep us in the best financial position we can.>> Um, absolutely. It's it's always difficult to know what you want toinclude in, you know, a presentation. I I'm heavily leaning as the board membersknow and you know inside of the management report we've got a table ofthat basic formula allowance and you can see almost every year there it's 2% andthere's yeah I think it's less than a handful of the years that it's you knowa couple years with 4% and one with a little over two 75 um so I'm reallyheavily leaning on including that slide now in my presentation um when ourinflation was at 0% which I would still said was tough for school districtsbecause that was across the board and we're our school districts are are soreliant on human resources. Um sometimes that gets lost in in the impact ofinflation saying it's 0%. But um I appreciate the comment because I it onlyprobably presses me more. I probably should have a slide for that.>> That's why we ask, right? But uh and just I I want to echo again umdirector's uh comments and yours as well. Just theappreci appreciation for our team. This has only gotten more complex with addedrules and regulations and laws >> and we have a small but very mighty teamthat gets this done and you I stack them up against you know anyone in the stateright now. So um with that complexity we we have done a great job to you give usclarity on what what our position is. So, thank you for mentioning that.>> Other comments, questions? I have one um just for clarity'spurposes. The federal single audit, tell me a bit more about what that is andwhen that came to be. >> Well, um I've been auditing schoolssince 96 and I know it's been in place for that. So, I'm I'm not sure exactlywhen those rules existed, but even prior to that,>> uh the threshold has increased over the years. Uh for this past year, thethreshold was $750,000 if you're over that. And and now they'reshifting it to a million dollars. Okay. Uh, as as you can see,you're re I think we rec recognized federal dollars for you of 18 or almost$19 million this past year. So, you're well above the threshold. Um, and evenat $18.8 million, it only amounts to 2.8% of your funding>> within the general fund. But um with that federal single audit, we have tojust isolate your federal dollars and expenditures and perform additionaltesting um to the specific grants in accordance with the requirements of thatfederal single audit. >> Thank you. I appreciate the clarity. Umas we wrap up too, I also wish to express gratitude. Um thank you for avery clear and concise report. Um, and again, I know there's a lot behind allof this, and I know that uh our our uh CFO is extraordinarily good with thewith the numbers, helping us through, but it's always important to haveoutside looking in, making sure we're we're where we need to be. So, Iappreciate that. That gives us all confidence moving forward. Um obviouslywith all that all the the different kinds of expectations and and umopportunities that that we have um to have through this audit. That's why it'sso intense and takes weeks and lots of preparation. So want to thank you. Iwant to thank um Michelle Vargas and her team as well. Small and mighty. I thinkthat's well said. Uh there aren't a lot of them. So to have this information isvery good going forward as we tackle the next steps in terms of school financeand want to make sure we have spent every dollar the very best way we canfor our kids. So thank you so much and thank you for your presentation tonight.>> Thank you. As we move forward, our next item iselementary and secondary education safety and security update. And at thistime, I'd like to welcome Greg Cole, our chief operations officer, and TimPalmir, our general counsel, to the table. And I see that we have Tim Farnier aswell. Good evening, co-chairs Langenfeld,Hulman, and Superintendent McIntyre, members of the school board. Um, as youheard, I'm joined by Tim Paul Mater, general counsel, and Tim Fornier,manager of safe security and emergency operations for the school district. Andthis evening, we're providing you an update on safety and security for theInoca Henipin School District. Um, as Superintendent M. McIntyre mentioned, weprovided an update back in August. Um, as the board discussed andSuperintendent McIntyre mentioned, uh, recent events have, uh, created morequestions and concern among community members and, uh, the need for an update,um, was requested by board members. Um, so I think just some key things uh, forus to to set a framework here. First of all, when you talk about safety andsecurity, it means a lot of different things. uh it depends on what'shappening and specifically what we're talking about. So we're going to coveruh what I think are uh some of the main points or concerns uh related to uh theservices and facilities that we have in an noa henipin uh specifically infinfrastructure operational safety communication and strategic growth forthe future. Um just so people have an awareness of some of the things we'replanning moving forward. Uh this school board as long as I've been around uh hasbeen very supportive of safety and security measuresuh uh in a number of ways, but uh they've certainly put their money behindit and some of the upgrades that we've had. Uh I can speak to uh since I'vebeen in this role in 2019, we've done a pretty major uh security or safetyupgrade every year. Um, so that type of uh investment and commitment by ourboard uh I just want our public to know that that's really important uh andappreciated. So just for a framework uh we we like tolook at safety and security as layers of security and support. Um, the otherthing is I would characterize what we do as continuous improvement, continuousdiscussion, and we're constantly learning from uh others in the metroarea, the state of Minnesota and across the nation. Uh, we don't ever sit andthink we've got it all figured out. We try to make sure that we're as up todate as possible at what's out there and what's relevant to our schools and ourstudents and our staff. I think the core pillars of what we'regoing to discuss here today uh are physical safety that has to do with ourfacility hardening and monitored entries our operational safety um that has to dowith drills and incident response and then relational uh for example lawenforcement partnerships and uh very important staff and student connections. So just with regard to infrastructureand access controls, uh it's vital that we maintain a secure perimeter throughstandardized technology. Uh these are some of the upgrades that I've talkedabout. Uh single point of entry. Uh it was just five or six years ago that thatwasn't necessarily the case in our facilities. If you remember, we used tohave a lot of portables all around the district. We don't have any of those anylonger. Um, we have a single point of entry at every uh school site with avisitor management system which screens visitors against databases and local noentry lists. So, we make sure that we know who we're allowing into ourbuildings and why. Uh, a standardized electronic locking. This is a amulti-year project that we have completed which essentially centralizeslocks for all exterior doors allowing for instant monitoring and rapiddistrict-wide sightsp specific locking. Um this this another feature of this ismaking sure that our administrators know when exterior doors have been breached. Operational readiness and responseprotocols. So consistent terminology and rigorous drill schedules throughout thedistrict. Uh real world testing. This means that sites are encouraged topractice drills during high traffic times like lunch or passing periods. Um,we try to make sure that we prepare students for that. We make sure ourdrills are age uh appropriate so that we're not uh creating an environmentwhere we're retraumatizing kids or making them afraid. We really try tomake sure that they're prepared for those. But, uh, varying them um isimportant so that we know how to respond in different types of situations. Um andthere's different types of drills that are done depending on um that we webasically follow state guidelines with regard [snorts] to that.Um protocol terminology we use clear, consistent and direct language forincidents. Um district-wide radio communications.Communications are vital in um any type of crisis situation. We have radios thatare sight specific, but all our radio radios are also capable of communicatingfrom anywhere within the district. Meaning you if you're in one building inone part of the district, you can communicate not only within yourbuilding, but also to other buildings throughout the district. Um, so TimFornier in his position, he can basically be a command center in many,many situations. it doesn't matter where he is in the school district or whichschool or staff member he's talking to who has a radio. And then camerasurveillance. Uh we have more than 2500 cameras throughout the school districtand that number will be growing. Um that that is a constant challenge astechnology changes. So we have plans uh five years out into the future to ensurethat we continue to upgrade and maintain our cameras and their ability to recordinformation. school culture, community trust, andcommunication. Um, so as I think you're aware, we have a50-year uh relationship with our law enforcement partners and SRO's in ourschools. Uh we have 12 SRO's districtwide who support our facilities.Um we have trusted adults supporting students and families. Um, I go back toa number of uh seminars that I've been to and I think Tim has been to withregard to homeland security who will uh repeatedly point out the fact thatschool culture and climate and relationships are the number one mostimportant measure that you can take to keep your schools secure. We rely on ourstudents to support each other, to share information. Um it's a really big dealand those relationships are key uh to preventing things from happening and forgetting information to us so that we can intervene in situations.Uh we have various methods for alerts. Uh parent view for emergency updates. Uhthose are the only district verified sources of truth. Uh I will tell youthat um uh social media is always something that uh is faster than we are.Uh information gets out there. Uh I just think it's really important for peopleto know that uh we will share information when we feel that we have itaccurate information. The last thing we want to be doing is sharing informationthat we don't think is accurate or we can't verify. So we try to do it as fastas possible. We know that's really important to people, but accuracy isvery important. We also partner with our cities and law enforcement agencies tobe sure that we coordinate communicationsuh so that we don't get out ahead of each other. Um that can compromiseinvestigations in some cases or compromise safety in other cases. So, wealways want to be sure that we coordinate very closely. Jim Skellyy andhis team have relationships with all of our cities and their communicationsdepartments and our law enforcement agencies and the same. So thatcoordination is key. Um anonymous reporting. So the district tipline remains a critical tool for see something say something that operates247. Uh we also have many students who share information where with us on aregular basis. We follow up on all those things. Uh sometimes maybe they're justa rumor uh but there are times that there's there's truth to them and theyallow us to take action on something very important. Uh community members arekey. Uh we get not only information from community members, our parents um andguardians uh but also feedback on their concerns. That feedback we always takeseriously. We investigate it. We look into it. And often times those are thetypes of things that lead to our continuous improvement. We make changesbased on what we hear. Privacy and safety, a commitment to schools as safelearning environments and we strictly adhere to legal protocols for access tostudents and student information uh during the school day. So that goes backto our visitor management system and the protocols that we have in place when umpeople visit our sites to specifically see students. strategic growth and technologyexploration. So we do have targeted investments in visibility andcommunication. Um we are looking to expand surveillance prioritizing theexpansion of our camera networks. Mobile surveillance that is another area thatwe're planning to expand our ability uh to support different types of things. Iwould characterize one big example are major uh athletic events that occur athigh schools. We have large groups of people in our in our stadiums and in ourparking lots. And so, um, that's just something that some of the feedbackloops that we have with committees like our district health, wellness, andsafety committee and our facilities committees provide us feedback and justdirect communications with our principles and athletic directors andcoaches about some of the things that they feel would help make our largeevents safer. Uh, communication exploration, choosing a mass uh,notification application to better reach traveling teachers and staff innon-traditional classroom spaces. uh we feel that we're very close to anapplication that we'll be able to implement in the next few months. I want to just uh wrap up here before wetake comments and questions to the board. And I want to uh just highlight afew things. Um, I want to highlight the building supportstaff that we have. Um, meaning counselors, uh, social workers,principles, assistant principles, teachers, pair of professionals,custodians, you name it. Uh, the people who are working directly with our kids.I can't tell you how important those relationships are to ensuring that wehave safe, supportive environments. Um, I'm I'm going to say it again. That'snumber one. Um, and our staff are amazing. Um, I want to give a coupleother shout outs here, uh, to the two Tims on either side of me. Uh, TimPonteer has many connections with legal counsel across uh, the metro and thestate. Uh, those contacts prove valuable uh, in terms of getting information thathelp us make uh, sound legal decisions. Uh, he has tremendous knowledge himself.Um, I had the fortune of working with him a long time ago when he was aspecial education attorney supporting an Noah Henipin school district. And sothat breadth of knowledge is invaluable to us. Uh Tim Fornier uh has connectionsto police chiefs uh all around the the certainly around our district, butaround the metro area and around the state and other law enforcementagencies. That allows us to get access to information to have communicationloops. Um and that information is tremendously valuable in helping us makeuh good decisions. Uh Superintendent McIntyre uh reaching out to othersuperintendents around the metro area and so forth. Same kind of a thing welearn from other school districts um and and we always are curious about whatthey're doing um and how they're doing and whether or not that might make usbetter. And then finally, just our relationships um that we've grown uhwith our city managers and city administrators in the communities thatwe serve. Um I can't tell you how much that has improved my own knowledge andand the information sharing and and collaborations that we have with themhave proved to be very beneficial. Um I hope our public hears how important itis for us to have all of these connections with our community leaders.Um, not to mention our political leaders all around the state. I think thoseconnections matter a lot and I think they make us more secure and I thinkthey help us make better decisions. So with that, I'd take any questions orcomments from board members. >> Board members, director. >> Well, thank you guys very much for thepresentation. Um, it's always good to see all the safety measures we have inplace. So, I guess I just had a a follow-up thought. So, I know I believeit was Champlain Park High School, there have been a couple times within the lastyear where there's unfortunately like a weapon found.What things [clears throat] could we do to just I mean within reason essentiallymake that impossible like metal detectors for example, is that just outof the question or like what what are some things we could do to just makesure that never happens again? So, I'll start and I'm going to have uhTim Fornier piggy back um because I think we both have perspectives on this.Uh first of all, I would say we we don't we never rule anything out um in termsof that. I would say that um the systems we've have in place right now uh havebeen tremendously helpful because we figured those situations out. Um now,the fact that they were in the building is not good. I'm not going to sugarcoatthat. Um right now with regard to certain types of medical me uh sorrymetal detectors um those systems aren't perfect and then the other piece that wehave to kind of figure out how to manage is flow of students. So you know we havehigh schools with two to three thousand students that come into the buildingsand leave the buildings in large groups at a short amount of time. So those arethings that we have to figure out how to manage better. Um, but I will tell youthat we continue to look at any type of system out there that we think wouldimprove our situation. >> So, I don't know if you want to add tothat, Tim. >> No, good evening, uh, co-chair Langfeld,Hookman, members of the board, uh, Superintendent McIntyre. I Yeah, Iagree. I think there there's good technology out there. I think there arethings worth trying. I think it's worth uh looking at um and deciding if it'sright for us as a district and the size of our sites. I think the metal detectorsystems that are out there and if you ever gone to the Twins game and havegone through the metal detectors there, those are pretty much the the best onesyou can get. And it does take staff. It takes it takes uh it takes kind of it'slike it's a culture change uh to the sites. And is it impossible? No. It it'sjust a big change. So, I think it's something that needs to be taken uh youknow, it's not to be taken lightly. It's something to look into. I think we'veexplored some of this and um with the with the direction we've been given sofar, I think it's we haven't gone to the point of experimenting with thatphysically yet, but um nothing's off the table, but I just think it it takes thatkind of preparation and change, especially a district or sites our sizethat we'd be looking at uh when it comes to the technology and the personnelinvolved that would make that work. But if you've been through the ones at theTwins games, those those are the types we've researched. uh and theirapplications uh at our sites. >> I will just mention there are othertypes of systems out there. I think uh the the part of those systems that umhasn't necessarily been of great interest is that um they they don'tdetect things that are concealed. So they have the they have a system if ifthere's something that is out in the open um then it'll detect that like in aparking lot or some you know in that regard. But um you know, usually ifthat's the case, we're going to see it pretty quickly ourselves. Um so I thinkthe types of metal detector type systems that you're talking about are certainlyones that we've looked more closely at, I would say, but uh we haven't landed onanything yet that is is affordable and practical and and we think helpful uh toto actually making the the schools safer.So, um, are you saying then if they had like something in their backpack, itmight not even be detected? >> Yeah, that Well, it depends on thesystem that you're looking at, but yes, that could happen. It depends on thenature of what it is you're looking for. >> Yeah.>> Yeah. >> Well, just throwing this out there, notasking for any kind of action, but I I would be in favor of just tightening upsecurity in some sense to make sure no weapons are ever found in our buildingsagain. But it seems like the solution is pretty complicated. So, >> other questions or comments? DirectorDuchaine, >> thank you and thank you so much for thispresentation. I really value the work that you all do and the connections thatyou have made with our communities and law enforcement. Uh I do think it'sreally important and so thank you. I wanted to start there. Um, a couple ofquestions on um, [clears throat] safety and security specifically for ourtransportation routes at bus stops or on our buses. You know, we heard and we'vetalked about the incidences that have occurred. What what legal authority dowe have as a school district on our bus routes or at our bus stops? What safetyand security measures can we take and and what can we not take? Um, and I Idon't know what the answer is. uh you know and I think it might be animportant piece of this transparent communication that we're asking for forthe public right now to understand what they can expect from us as a schooldistrict. >> So maybe I'll start and I'll let TimPalmir finish just with regard to buses and vans and vehicles. Uh we have wehave always provided our drivers with with training. I will tell you that morerecently we have given them very specific talking points and directionwith regard to um interacting with anybody that might um pull them over. Uhuh so that that's uh definitely been something that we have tightened up andgiven them pretty specific things that they can have in their hands to helpthem through those types of situations. So we feel good about that in thatdirection. I'll I'll turn it over to Mr. Palmir with regard to bus stops rightoutside of our vehicles. >> Sure. And I I will add with respect toum transportation um a number of weeks ago we actually did provide uh clearguidance to our drivers understanding that there was this increasedenforcement action that was going on. Um we've learned from uh last week uh intwo instances um that we probably could benefit from giving even clearer supportto our our drivers. Um, so I've worked with um Greg and and BJ and um Tim hasalso had an eye on this uh about giving uh more scripted um kind of um directionreally to bus drivers because when you are are pulled over and it's darkoutside and you're approached um by uh by um ICE officers um it's a dauntingthing, right? So we're trying to give words and additional support. Um, I willshare with you that bus stops are a challenge for us becausewhile we have in in a loose sense jurisdiction over bus stops as itrelates to student behavior at a bus stop, we have very limited um authorityas it relates to really kind of managing [snorts] those spots in the community.Um, I know that that has has actually ended up uh maybe being a little bitmore organic at least at some of our bus stops, more parents out, uh, morecommunity members out that are that are providing support in those situations.Um, but I will say that that the ability and this is kind of where the line isreally clear between our buildings where we've given really clear direction onwhat's required. Uh, for example, and you mentioned it earlier, we arerequiring a judicial warrant uh before um any um ICE enforcement uh effort isis engaged in the schools. We can't do that in the community um because that'sout in the public. that's open to the public and um by statute and byauthority um uh the ability of immigration to um uh intercede uh toapproach someone to ask questions is much different than if you're going intoa business. Uh certainly much different if you're going into a home. So, um Iknow that that's an unsatisfying answer, but I I can't I can't say that we'reable to do much more than maybe um would it be fair to approach an individual andask them for their identification perhaps? Uh but in that instance, it'scertainly different than if they're actually on school property.And if I could just piggyback on that, um a challenge is that we have more than8,000 bus stops in the school district. And um they change from year to yeardepending on [clears throat] where where students are. So you might move themdown the block a little bit the next year because maybe somebody graduatedfrom a you know that from high school at a particular home and then thepopulation shifts around. So we are moving those around. So, it's just thesheer number of them and then they're not always in the same spot. So, that'sit's just a challenge. >> Yeah. Thank you. And um I do think thatthe honesty of that answer is what's needed and what's important. Even if itis unsatisfying, that's the sort of transparency and information that Ithink our community wants to know. Um, I don't know if it's a matter of an FAQbeing updated or something that goes along with the communication plans thatthe district is already working towards hearing that the the board does have umcommitment and kind of general agreement on more communication, more transparentcommunication. I think those types of answers are important for us to to getout there. So, thank you for for answering that. Um my my last questionis just uh about the role of our SRO's and if if there is any role if there areenforcement activities you know if um federal agents are on district propertyor in our parking lots or do come to our schools. I understanding that thathasn't um happened yet aside from the parking lot example. do they play anyrole in supporting us? Um, or is that kept fairly separate because their roleis one more of kind of community building and working with the staff andstudents inside of our buildings? >> So, maybe I'll just jump in to start andthen these two can chime in. Um, I would say that uh we have always had lawenforcement or SRO's support us if we have a different law enforcement agencyshow up in a building um for some reason and they wish to speak with a student.So that would be consistent with how things have been in the past. Um it'snot something that happens very often. It has happened. Uh I think too ourbuildings um it's not just law enforcement obviously they're they'reinstructed to reach out to Mr. Palmir as well if there's sort of any concern orambiguity about whether or not somebody should be having access to a particularstudent. So that is a a practice that we've always had where they have helpedus um provide that kind of support to determine whether or not it'sappropriate to be having that interaction at that time. But I I don'twant to say that it's just them. I I I don't know. I'll turn it over to Mr.Pauler as well. >> No, I think that that's accurate. Um andI I do appreciate the remarks because we still even though I recognize that we'rein unprecedented times, we try to find those parallels that we rely on in thepast. And um we have had such situations where um perhaps law enforcement comesto a particular building, wants to interview a student about activitiesover the weekend. Um and our and our strong practice in that regard has beenthat we're not a place um just kind of where students can be held and then umwhere law enforcement can intercede, right? Um so we have we have generallyif for example we've had situations where perhaps Bloomington police arecoming up and um we would then uh connect with our local SRO, ourinbuilding SRO, perhaps they're contacted in advance. Um, and so wedefinitely use that kind of as a as a parallel for the anticipation of whathappens if if uh uh federal agents were to come on uh school property. Um, wehave said multiple times in direction to our to our um to our administrators thatcalling local law enforcement is an absolute appropriate uh kind of responsewhen someone shows up at your building. Um, we know from what we experiencedthis past summer, we've had people that are posing as law enforcement, um,calling 911, uh, with the expectation where someone shows up, um, representingthemselves as a federal agent or otherwise, uh, and then picking up thephone and calling 911 to find out whether or not this person is who theyclaim to be is an absolute uh, appropriate response. I think um, TimForeer, I'm sure, would echo this sentiment. um that that's what we wantcommunity members to do if there's any concern about who is this person comingup to me asking me questions. Um so we do rely upon that uh and they certainlyhave an ability and uh much like Tim's experience they have um they can speakwith authority, right? Uh when a when a um a local law enforcement officer is isinterceding and asking questions um there's going to be some respect that'sgoing to be owed to that individual officer. So Tim, I don't know if youwant to add to that. I think yeah, you're absolutely correct. We've hadother agencies visit our sites. We've had um federal agencies visit our sitesand um the officers, if they're there, if they're on site, if it's a middleschool or high school, they're good about engaging who who's on the site. Uhif there's a suspicious vehicle on the site, the officers are good aboutengaging it. So, uh, we haven't had that yet, but I would expect the SRO's wouldwould engage anybody on that site that, uh, that they wouldthink is worth, you know, asking questions of of why they're there. Andwhether that information is shared or cooperated with, we don't know at thispoint because we haven't had the situation occur. But uh I have no doubtin my mind the SRO's uh would want to intercede and and be that bridge ifpossible because that the staff depends on that and they've done that in thepast. So um that would be uh my expectation is they would do that and itdepends on where their their their general orders are coming from fromtheir own department too. So, there's a lot of things that that are at playhere, but uh from the from the conversations I've had, the SROS areabsolutely all about um making sure if they need to be a bridge, there'll be abridge if they need to and help that administrative staff work through theseissues. >> I think the key is there's no need torush, right? >> You know, it's important to verify, makesure you get the appropriate information, so forth. Um>> that's that's key unless of I mean the exception would be an emergency, right?>> Yeah. >> Where somebody is posing a directthreat. >> That's a that's an exception.>> And we have had local law enforcement um make contact with ICE agents that arenearby bus stops in some of our cities and have the conversation. Hey, wereceived a call. Neighbors are just concerned. And sothey've made they've had that interaction. Uh and that's gone verywell. So >> Director HoffmanThank you. And thank you for the update. All the um work that's gone into makingour buildings safe, adding the security at the doors so essential. um and theattention that you all are working um to look at all the details, all the placesthat we can to make certain that our schools are safe because thesesituations from um you know looking at localsituations that are coming about um to past situations, the tragedy fromSeptember um in Minneapolis to the um abduction that happened in theneighboring district from a bus. I mean, these are really serious situations thatwe have to work hard to make certain that our students are safe and that ourparents feel comfortable sending their kids to school each day so that they canget that great education. Uh, so thank you for your attention and I am insupport of all options um from surveillance to communication to umwhatever we can do to make certain that our kids are safe every day.>> Thank you. Thanks. >> Other comments?I have a question. Um, we talked about visitor management systems and increasedenforcement action. I just um having conversations with people. I think oneof the asurances that people are looking for and it goes back to the transparencyand the question that's asked often to me recently especially is is thedistrict do I feel the district is doing everything we can do within our legalauthority at this time to ensure the safety and well-being of our studentsand staff at school. Um, based on what I'm seeing, I I can answer that, but I Ithink it's important to go on record what what the experts here at the tableare uh sharing with our principles. >> I'm happy to to uh go first on that. Um, I think the answer is absolutely yes.Um, and we're continuing to learn, right? umthis situation's evolved over the last uh 3 weeks or so. Um you're alwaysbalancing um when you're kind of in this in this new territory. We're u we'veactually one of the things a couple things I'll mention that we've done. Weactually uh did meet um with the teachers union last week, hadconversations. Um, we are, um, we have, uh, a nearly completed draft. I'd sayprobably a completed draft of of some clear guidance to staff in terms of, um,how they can support students if they were facing um, uh, immigrationenforcement action, for example. Um, I want to point out the the kind ofdelicate dance we do in those situations because we we and our staff is fantasticon this. they they want to do whatever they can to support families. Um weencourage that. We want that to be the case. We also need to make sure that wegive them guidance to that doesn't run them into an issue um in their ownright, right? Because we have to protect them as well against um uh you knowmaybe stepping in the way of uh of an enforcement action having a obstructionof justice or interference kind of um um assertions made against them. So, I I Iwill I will say we've we certainly have um uh rolled out a lot of guidance toour principles. Um a a lot of direction. We've we've talked about specificallyplans about what to do if enforcement actions come to the to the building. We,as uh Greg had mentioned, we talked to our transportationuh providers and our and provided uh information to our bus drivers. Umand then we're always balancing, right? we're always balancing really in in a ina new kind of unchartered uh territory for this time. So,>> I thank you for that answer. I think that um I appreciate the conversationand the the me mentioning that we're learning as well. Always looking for toimprove if there's opportunities and having those ongoing communicationsum with our with all of the partners that you just talked about. I'm sureeveryone is talking to one another at this very important time. Yes. Go ahead.>> One thing I I will mention and maybe this um maybe this is an example here.So we um and communications did a great job with this in terms of of rolling outum some questions that community members would have and we have that posted onour website. uh what what happens about do do we release student data if we'reapproached uh and ask questions by immigration about students email,address, phone number, that type of thing. We have very very clear guidancethat indicates that that information is not provided. Um it would not beprovided again without a judicial warrant. Um so that FAQ is is out there.We've tried to address the most common questions, but one of the questions um Iheard from Director Desaine tonight was what about bus stops? Um and frankly Imean one of those it was a it's been a struggling uh an area of struggle for usto think about what can we what can we say and u maybe the what we can say withrespect to that is is that while we this is this is the community at large and wedon't have jurisdiction in that area we don't own the property of the bus stop.um you know parents who um uh have the capacity and time who wish to you knowbe out and and uh at a bus stop and we always encourage that anyway, right? Wehave we have families out at many many of our 8,000 stops particularly with ourelementary school students uh where the parents are waiting there every day. Umand so they're whatever the case might be, a strange car pulls in. um a personwho we've never seen at the bus stop walks up um they're they're there and weum you know we're grateful for that. We're thankful for that. Um but that'skind of the that's almost kind of a community effort um because ourjurisdiction doesn't exist really uh wholly in that. Um so I I I thank youfor that because I think that's something we could add to our to our FAQas well and we will continue to do that. I mean we built this with the idea thatwe would add on to these um questions. Excellent. And I would call that part ofthe network of care that's out there that people are putting together to havepeople at the stops and things as well. >> Can I just add one thing too?>> Sure. >> Um I I do want people to know too thatuh we don't think we have it all figured out. Um we never do and um I thinkthat's really important. Uh that that you know you don't you don't rest onyour laurels or think that everything is is just okay. Um, you know, a primeexample is this recent situation that the two that that came up where wedecided that we needed to give we had given instructions to drivers. Um, wefelt we needed to give better instructions and we also needed toimprove our um markings on our vehicles that are transporting our kids. We havemarkings on them. We think we need to we could do a better job of um signalingthat to to others. We worked with uh uh BJ Ice and our transportation director,reached out to the state patrol to get some guidance on kind of making surethat we're in compliance with certain uh laws with regard to that. But those arekind of two recent examples where we're going to make changes if we think we cando better. Um and I just want people to know that we'll continue to to look atthings that way. >> Any other questions, comments?Director Ducha, >> just briefly because I just want to echowhat you just shared because I think it's very importantacknowledging that we don't have it all figured out yet and that we're open tothe continued conversations, open to learning from others around us, fromwhat's happening here. I I am so grateful that you acknowledge that andshared that because we haven't experienced this before. Um, and thefact that immediately you're thinking about can we mark our transport vansbetter? Do we need different signage in our parking lots? I, you know, I don'tknow what the the questions might turn into, but the fact that you're willingto say we're not sure, but we're going to keep looking into it and we're goingto keep pressing on what we can do to continue to make safety a priority and abetter experience for our students and families is so important to me. So,thank you. >> Thanks.>> I appreciate your time and certainly your report. It's very timely and umit's something that our community can listen to in true transparency. That'swhat our intent was when we had the conversation to have this and I we mayhave you back if that's okay in the future for for good good stories, too.So, thank you so much for all your hard work. All of you appreciate keeping ussafe. >> Thank you. Thank you.>> All right. The next item we have um board members is uh learning andachievement in curriculum adoption process and superintendent McIntyre.>> Thank you co-chair Langenfeld and board members. This is meant to be a verybrief kind of check-in and update and really a preview for your work that'sgoing to be coming to you starting at our next work session. Really just toget this on your radar. So our goal is to continue to improve on um ourprocess. we were maybe moving from a over a decade old um heavy lift model tosomething hopefully more nimble and um we just don't want to ensure that we'renot just doing those uh adoption steps for the sake of steps but to really getthe best results in our classrooms um also without without burning out ourstaff in the process. So in your packet is just more of a heads up. We're notgoing to go through those details tonight. Um, but it's it's a preview ofthe upcoming work that um the discussions we want to have with youaround honoring the current approach with the two-step process to does theboard have interest working with the administration on continuing to evenimprove upon that. Um, so we're really again kind of some like three bigtakeaways as as I want you to uh prepare for the the coming um work session.um moving away from that um you know nearly 40-step process to a streamlinedmodel that does consist of um kind of a pre-work or what we call igniting theprocess um followed by two major steps and that would reduce some redundanciesthat would make uh the management of the continuous cycle more nimble as we havestate standards continually changing in multiple content areas. It would alsosecondly prioritize our teacher time. So managing the workload of our staff andwe know their expertise and and their their input is so critical. I think ofour literacy adoption how valuable our teacher involvement whether it was asteering committee or the piloting teachers um really uh making sure we'remaximizing that feedback loop as we you know look at that implementation phasepiece. And then lastly, just the operational transparency as far as, youknow, the selection and adoption and how that unfolds with logistics, things likebudgeting, vendor negotiations, are are the materials aligned to best practiceand um research. Um how do we do those analyses so that the board hasconfidence and trust in that process? And that's just going to need somedigging into it together with you. And as the co-chairs and I were kind ofplanning this meeting, we thought it was worth mentioning this ahead of the worksession and upcoming meetings because we're going to have a lot of thecurricular areas coming to you now in the coming months through the spring. Umso we thought we'd just kind of tee it up a little bit uh tonight. And in themeantime, between now and February 9th, please feel free to reach out with anyquestions, any additional information you want ahead of time that we canprovide to help you formulate, you know, what you want to discuss ahead of timeso that Sarah Hunter and our team can be as prepared as possible for you and beon point and focused with that. So, that's it. I didn't I'm not asking forany more uh deep discussion tonight. It's more of a preview for our um worksession February 9th. So, thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, SuperintendentMcIntyre. Our next agenda item is elementary and secondary literacyupdate. And I want to welcome our executive director of learning andachievement, Sarah Hunter. Welcome. >> She's in a little bit of pain here todaywith an injury, but we're >> gonna be patient.>> Thank you for being here. >> Of course. Good evening, co-chairsLangenfeld and Hookman, U, members of the board, Superintendent McIntyre. Ialso have a relatively brief update this evening. Um, we are looking forward umto being able to share um a much lengthier update that will include ummidyear student data in March. Um but I wanted to provide a relatively quickupdate about what we've been doing um since the last time we spoke aboutliteracy, which was back in September. Um, so our and I'm gonna have lots ofquick clicking. Um, so you can probably go two slides. So I'm going to shareprogress on our um our adoption. The next slide just um speaks to our umboard priority around improving literacy in all grades.And then this um just is sort of referring to where we are in theprocess. So when we think about um the K5 literacy adoption, we are now in whatI would frame as initial implementation, right? So we are we have deployedresources to all of our schools and we are looking to gather information fromstudents, families, um teachers, literacy specialists and principlesabout how it's going. All of this information was shared withyou in September aside from that we have checked off that final one. Sofunctional morphology training um has been given to all of our K5 teachers orfour five teachers I should say. Then the whole next slide is new newinformation. So um we have provided that same training to our supplemental andintervention teachers so that um the teachers who are working with ourstudents who have um the greatest gaps in literacy learning are also receivingum instruction using high quality materials. Um and we did a second roundof CKLA which is our um knowledge building curriculum um training for allof our K5 teachers during their their professional learning day in October.Um we then followed that with um functional morphology coaching trainingfor our literacy specialists. So they are the sort of eyes and ears that of ofus our learning and achievement team in schools. Um and they have been for anumber of years um providing coaching on bridgeto read. Um they now have ureceived training on how to coach um functional morphology as well. Sosupporting our teachers and using that resource well. Um and then just thismonth um we provided bridgeto-read training for our ML teachers. Soteachers who are working with our students who have the gift of multiplelanguages um making sure they have access to materials that support with umreading uh with those students as well given that um some of our interventiontime uh students who receive ML services are receiving services from their MLteacher at the time. So we don't want them to miss that um high qualityinstructional material. And then the biggest deal, which is one of the thingsI will want to share lots more information with you um when we comeback in March, is that um part of our contract with CKLA includes um full daycoaching visits at each elementary school in um the last week of February.So every elementary school gets um either myself or a member of my teamalongside a CLA coach um who will be working with them on both observing inclassrooms, working with if there is a grade level team doing collaborativetime that day. Um and then providing us and then each school feedback onimplementation at the close of that week. Um so that again is one of that'sone of sort of the biggest deal things that we are doing as a team this year tosupport CQLA. This slide is all about that. So that iswhat we're doing the last week in February. Um the other piece that I justwanted to mention as um I've mentioned that the literacy specialists are sortof our eyes and ears in the elementary schools and our coaches are in our umiddles and high schools as well is on each of the three curricula that we umare using this year. We are providing support for our specialists so that theythen know how to support the teachers, right? Because they are the ones thatare sitting with um each grade level team on a weekly basis. um to supportthem in using the materials. Well, all right. So, a couple updates um thatare more related to the big picture or um the Minnesota Department of Ed. So, Ihad shared in my September update that we were anxiously awaiting um MDE'srelease of their approved intervention resources. All of the materials that wehave talked about thus far are our core tier one materials. We know that thereare students for whom that's not enough. Um and so one of the things that we aredoing now um MDE released their intervention materials in December umand we have a cross department departmental team including specialeducation um members of my team ML um our supplemental folks etc that areworking on um the process toward um piloting and then adoption ofintervention materials so that that second scoop for students who need it isum as high quality as the resources we have in core. Um and again my hope wouldbe to share sort of bundled with the student data that we're sharing in Marchan update on that process. Um the data I'll be sharing with you. Sowe are currently almost at the end of our um universal screening window forwinter. Um and then I'd mentioned earlier this year in um grades fourthrough eight all of our students will be taking the CAPY assessment whichgives us that much more granular um data that we can use to inform intervention.That data will also help us to make um the best choices we can for what wepurchase for intervention materials. Right? So once we have that data for ourstudents, we'll know what we most need. Um and again, I plan to share that withyou in March. The other layer that is just sort oflooking to next year um is that we are um finishing up phase one of the readactum professional development. So that's predominantly our elementary folks um inaddition to some special education teachers and ML teachers. But startingnext year, we will be um transitioning up to secondary. So um the the teacherswho are the bulk of that um training will be our secondary ELA teachers. Somiddle school and high school ELA teachers. Um and we have a plan for howwe will support those folks that um I want to frame for all of you when wecome back. They have just released the there are like four options um to takeuh as a district in terms of the professional development that thoseteachers engage in. So that's part of what we'll present to you in March. >> Thank you.>> Questions or comments for Miss Hunter? >> Well, I'm impressed. Anyway, a lot ofwork has been done in this space and um I had the privilege uh last week to bepart of a team at the Minnesota School Board Association where um they were ahuge success. Sarah and Lisa Simser in particular, Superintendent McIntyre werekind of on the side. He and I were on the side chiming here and there, but umwhat what it told the story was where we are in the process. And what I learnedas I was listening and talking with different folks in the in the audiencewith me and and um finding that a lot of our school districts are not where weare yet. um and the open the door to come and see um bridge to read at Monroehuge um response is what they've gotten from what I understand from theprincipal which is really important because it starts to to not only and Iknow superintendent you can maybe speak to the fact that legislators are alreadyhave already been there too but I think this work is so vitally important um andI have seen just the small benefits as we start to make these transformationalchanges. Um, it looks ambitious. It is ambitious and it's a a a labor um thatour teachers um really um need the support and want the support and aredoing great uh with it. So, it's a a great team effort, but again, Iappreciate you sharing with us where we are in the process. Really lookingforward. I I have a special interest in CAPD and the data that you get from ourstudents to see what our our students that maybe had slipped through thecracks in the past are going to be telling us as well. So, any othercomments, questions? Yes, Superintendent M.>> I got to take the opportunity to just uh mention the word is out about ourimplementation and results. We had the chairs of the education, finance, andpolicy committees last was January 15th come to Monroe to see it in action. sothey could see how this is taught and how how we are implement implementingbecause they're hearing about it. And I think that really helps us as we getinto the legislative session being a a model u example of how to roll this outand an opportunity to continue to ask for continued support to make it workthe way it's supposed to work, right? So, um we continue to get thoseopportunities. >> Thank you for that. Thank you, MissHunter. Appreciate all the work you guys aredoing. And next, I see Dr. Cherry back there,our chief human resource officer. Um, I invite you to the table to talk aboutthe teacher master agreement. >> Good evening, coach Langenfeld, membersof the board, Superintendent McIntyre. pleased to be here this evening toannounce that our teachers uh who are represented by a noanipan educationMinnesota local 7007 have ratified a new 2-year agreementwith the effective dates July 1, 2025 through June 30th of 2027.Uh a special thank you to the members of the union and the district bargainingteams who worked very hard in negotiating an updated employmentcontract. Uh this contract has updated terms and conditions which include step-in longevity movement for each year of the contract. Um uh as well as variableincreases to the K12 salary schedule um in an effort so that each teacher wouldreceive at least a $2,500 increase with step movement each year ofthe contract. The K12 schedule includes a new top step in year one that is$2,500 higher than the previous top step and also drops the first step in thesecond year of the contract. It also includes a one-time payment of $2,500for active K12 teachers who were on the top step and would not have receivedstep movement to be paid in October of next year.Uh, another uh addition to the uh contract is a $2,000 annual stipend forour teachers at River Trail Learning Center. Uh, the uh contract includes a2% increase to all extra service agreements and hourly pay starting inthe second year of the contract and uh also increases to contributions,district contributions to medical insurance. In year one, uh the increaseis $40 per month for employees who hold single coverage and $315 per month foremployment employees with family coverage. And in the second year, thedistrict contribution increased an additional $95 per month for singles and$145 for employees with family coverage. Uh and um in addition to that, thedistrict contribution for dental insurance increased $5 per month. Uhsome other negotiated terms and conditions include preapproval processfor credits to be considered for lane advancements. Um a reduced threshold forpersonal leave that may be taken uh in any given day. So the the thresholdpreviously was 7% of teachers within a building or program on a given day. thatwas reduced to 5%. Um as well as an elimination of the substitute deductionpenalty that was previously in place. Uh we've identified a religious leaveoption. So teachers may take three days per year that are deducted from theirsick leave balance um specifically for observance of of religious holidays. Umand uh I think one of the the large large increases to this contract is theaddition of our preschool teachers. Previously, our preschool teachers whoare also represented by Education Minnesota, Anoanapan EducationMinnesota, um have um uh now been uh folded into this contract and um are ona pay schedule uh very similar to our early childhood family educationteachers. For our EBE teachers, we have 33employees here. The total compensation package includes an 8.45% 45% increaseor approximately $194,000 in new money with a total package of$4.8 million over the course of the two years specifically for AB teachers. ForECF teachers, we have 21 um in this unit. The total compensation packageincludes a 10.96% increase or $170,000uh in new money with a total package of approximately 3.2 2 million over thecourse of the two years. For preschool teachers, we have 33employees here. The total package uh includes a 11.88%increase or $252,000, almost $253,000in new money with a total package of approximately $4.5 million over thecourse of the two years. And our largest group within this teacher group is ourK12 teachers. Here we have uh 3,180 FTE. Uh the total compens compensationpackage includes a 7.28% increase or approximately $27.9 millionin new money. The total package cost here is $800 million over the two yearsfor K12 teachers. In some this contract equals $812.7million over the course of the two years. And at this time, I'm seekingapproval uh of the contract as presented in appendix uh N of your packet. >> Thank you. Are there any questions fromboard members at this time? If not, members before us is approval ofthe 202527 teacher master agreement as presented inappendix N. I would entertain a motion to approve the 20252027 teacher master agreement. >> So moved.>> And there is a motion by director Duchaine. Is there a second?>> Second. >> Second by director Arco. Is there anydiscussion? >> Yes, Miss Hulkman. Co-chair Hul.>> Um, [clears throat] thank you. Anoka Henipin's greatest strength has alwaysbeen our classroom teachers. They're the heart of our schools. Their dedicationdrives what happens in those classrooms everyday. And I have deep respect for the work and immense gratitude for what ourteachers do and their commitment to our students. And it's because teachersmatter so much. It is a responsibility of the board to ensure the long-termstability of the system that supports them.And that is a financial reality that cannot be ignored. Anoka Henipin, as weheard tonight, has already cut $22 million from the budget, including staffreductions simply to maintain a balanced budget. We're facing ongoing pressuresfrom unfunded state mandates and additionally declining specialeducation reimbursements. When contracts exceed the funding provided by thestate, the result is predictable. deficits, cuts, and fewer resourceswhere they matter most, in our classrooms.Unfortunately, through this negotiation pro process,the union's leadership has not presented an accurate picture ofthe district's financial situation to its members. The approachlimited the solutions that we could find to fairly compensate the teachers andbalance that with the fiscal responsibility and the needs of ourstudents. We have urgent priorities. We heard about safety. We heard aboutliteracy needs, other curriculum things that need to be attended to. Everydollar diverted from our students into this contract is adollar taken away from those essential investments.The agreement as presented is not sustainable. Approving a contract thedistrict cannot afford jeopardizes the long-term health of our schools andultimately harms both students and staff. For these reasons and withsincere respect for our teachers, I cannot support this contract. Anyother comments or discussion? >> Yes, Director Argo.>> Yeah. So, I greatly appreciate the comments, Director Hulman. Um, I thinkyou kind of stated it very eloquently there. I just want to highlight thedifficulty of making decisions like this that are byits very nature unsustainable that will lead to things like more budget cutsafter we just cut over $22 million. Um it the problem with the conversationsthat you know the community has about the or just how the conversations arehad is that it's always presented as this sort of black and white like thisis the right thing that's the wrong thing. But I mean, the reality is wejust live in a world of painful trade-offs and you have to chooseuh how to balance those things. And so I'll be voting for this contract. Um butI also share the concern that we want to make sure we have a sustainablecontract. Um we balance other expenses as well. And then one of one of the moredisheartening things, if I could just point this out, something I realizedalong the way was, you know, just kind of how the union was messaging this tothe teachers is I mean, it's just a it's just a simple fact for anybody that wasfollowing the budget cuts that while we did maintain classroom size, and that isdefinitely my goal. Like it was and it still is my goal, there were someteachers that were cut in those budget cuts. And so one of the things I don'tI'm almost certain actually the union did not communicate this to its membersis that if we exceed a certain threshold just going to push us right back intobudget cuts and if we wound up cutting teachers before even when we were tryingvery hard not to. It's not a guarantee of course the board has to make a choicebut it's highly likely that will wind up being the case again. And so that's notan outcome I want. Um it's not something I I want to find other solutions otherthan doing that. But it again it just highlights the nature of the painfultrade-offs that are involved in choosing how to allocate money. And then anotherthing just again just worth mentioning is in the many conversations that werehad um the idea of how expensive insurance had become was also one of thebiggest constraints, one of the biggest difficulties. And again I agree it itwent up I believe it was 22%. It's a staggering increase. Um, one of thethings I was doing behind the scenes is trying to better understand like what'scausing that, if there are solutions other than simply just more money. Andwhile I'm not going to bother to go into that here, there are it does seem likethere are possibilities that can help alleviate some of those problems thatdidn't just go directly to a contract change. So, or just an increase insalary. So, but again, it's stuff like that that just it has no chance in thepublic discourse to be brought out because it's detailed and details werenot things I don't think anyone was looking for trying to hear. It was kindof just pressure is really what I felt is what I saw and a lot of emotion and Iget it. It's perfectly perfectly fine and normal to have that emotion. But umyeah, I think there are there's nuanced solutions that are still beinginvestigated to kind of address some of these other issues as well. So justthrowing all that out there. It was a difficult process. Um but I think thisis the the best possible path forward that we could find. So I I am in favorof it. >> Thank you. Any other comments at thistime? All in favor, please say I.>> I. >> I.All oppose say no. >> No.>> With three in favor and one opposed, the motion is approved. Thank you, Dr.Cherry. At this time, we are nearing our lastboard agenda item. It is board correspondence and communications. Thisis the time, members, that you have an opportunity to share any happenings inyour community, report on committee assignments, or other items of interest.Does anyone have anything to share? Director Duchaine,>> thank you. Uh, you briefly mentioned and I'm imagining that you'll share somemore, so I'll keep my remarks brief, but I was able to attend the MinnesotaSchool Board Association uh, conference uh, last week, two weeks ago. Now, atthis stage, the days are blurring together. Um, really helpful sessions.The keynote and the closing speaker were very good. I'm I'm still uh learningfrom them and reflecting on on takeaways that I that I had from that. And justanother shout out to our literacy team and to the folks at Monroe for thepresentation that they gave about our um readact efforts. It is inspirational. Itis an a pure example of when this board can work together and be unified behindsomething that is in the best interest of students, the the progress and thegood work that we can do. Uh and I really look forward to us finding moreopportunities like that and um the ability to showcase those. A few quickhighlights. We have great success in many of our sporting teams. Uh theChamplain Park boys swim and dive team is having an excellent season. and I gotto go to one of their meets recently against uh Rapids swim and diveteam. Wonderful swims by both groups. Uh similar for our basketball teams and ourunified clubs. I think that the joy that it brings me to watch our studentsparticipate in activities that they love and that bring them uh fulfillment is isjust one of the highlights of this role. Um, and it keeps the dark and heavyparts uh of the work that I know is being experienced by our families andour our staff um at bay some sometimes, you know, in those moments of of joy. Uhto that, you know, I've spent time this last week at Dayton Elementary and atChampl Brooklyn Park Academy. Um I'll be at Champlain Park tomorrow uh or onWednesday. And I think just extra time and care for our staff and and awarenessof what's happening in our buildings is so important and informative right now.So I encourage all board members to to do the same.>> Thank you. Thank you. Other board director.>> Yeah. I um well just uh thank you to Principal Shepard at Sunrise Elementary.I got to attend the science fair they had there and be a judge for some of theprojects. Um they were pretty impressive. Um I love the creativity.Also, I don't know why I get such a kick out of this when they students arepresenting. Like some of them would quite literally turn around and facetheir project and not even be facing me as they're like telling me about theirproject. I just [laughter] I absolutely love it. Also, some of themwere clearly done by parents. Also kind of funny. But I overall I I loved I lovethe science fair chair. I I look forward to going again next year. So well doneto the students. >> Very good.>> I have um the the schoolboard association um opportunity was anexcellent one this year. I think that the breakout sessions were many andafforded a multiple uh multitude of options for people and um uh differentvendors were excellent. They offered different food programs [laughter] thatthat uh we got to do a lot of sampling. I do want to share with you directorArco, you were missed. I had several people ask if you were present. So maybenext year you can join us especially our friends from next door of course wherethere are some of them are neighboring district as well. Um I am wrapping up mythird uh visit to teach uh Minneapolis Institute of Arts program at MonroeElementary. I've been trying to decide if I'm smarter than a fifth grader andI'm not. Um, if you're not familiar with that program, the Minneapolis Instituteof Arts affords volunteers to be trained and go into the classrooms um at variousschools. It's a coordinated effort with a lot of volunteers. We spend a half anhour with our grade level uh hosts um and we introduce two pieces of art umeach time we visit and have great conversations and quite frankly uh itbrings me great joy. It also helps me uh get a pulse on the incredible work. Umthere is having been spending most of my teaching career at higher levelssecondary there is something extremely joyful about elementary that you can'tcapture at high schools and middle schools in terms of just um where theyare in their headsp space and and I would offer that um again what goingthrough the schools right now at this important time is what I was speaking tothis evening having seen directly and been in our elementary schools withteachers who recognize the heaviness of the moment but are making sure thatthey're showing up for their kids and families each and every day. So, a bigshout out to all of our teachers again. Um, and uh, wish me luck tomorrow. I'mgoing to try to outsmart them, but they always have me, these fifth graders.They are geniuses. We call them the geniuses as well. So anyway, that wrapsup my comments and uh Superintendent McIntyre.>> Yeah, just a quick shout out to you, Director Langfeld, for achieving your100 points for the is it the director's award from MSBA and you were recognizedat the conference as well. So I appreciate your commitment to your ownprofessional learning as a board member. Thank you.>> You're welcome. Thank you. All right. Now we have a closed session. This isitem 12. It will be conducted in close session. The executive session will beclosed pursuant to Minnesota statute 13D.05subdivision 2 parent 3 to discuss private student data. The close sessionwill be held in the Michael Sullivan room. I would entertain a motion at thistime to move to close session. >> We got a motion to go into close sessionby director Duchaine. Is there a second? >> Second.>> Thank you, Director Arco. Motion by uh director Shane, seconded by directorArco. Any discussion at this time? Hearing none. All in favor say I.>> I. >> Opposed say no. With four in favor andzero opposed, we will move to close session in the Michael Sullivan room.Should we take a five minute break? All right. And that'll put us back at 8:45. I'm wondering what >> could be a good story but I