All right.>> So, I would like to call to order the September 23rd, 2025 Columbia HeightsPublic School Board meeting. Uh, if you're able, please join us in stand touh for the pledge of allegiance. >> 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.Thank you so much. Uh Michelle, could you please call role?>> Absolutely. Uh Madaras >> here.>> Pway here. Palmer >> here.>> Granley >> here.>> P here. >> Smith.Anoir >> here.>> Rude. Superintendent Stick>> here. >> Wonderful. Thank you. Columbia HeightsPublic Schools where we create worlds of opportunity for each and every learner.All belong. All succeed. Core values are community, excellence, collaboration,integrity, respect, courage, and innovation.All right. So, can I We're going to move into the agenda. Uh can I get a motionto approve the agenda? >> So, move.>> Jessica, can I get a second? >> Second>> by Michelle. All right. Uh any discussion?All right. All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed? Abstained. Motion carries. All right, announcements.Uh September 22nd through the 26th is homecoming. Uh Friday the 26th, we haveour homecoming football game here uh at Columbia Heights with fireworks tofollow. Uh October 10th is a flex learning day. October 14th at 4:15, thesubcommittee on policy superintendent will be meeting in superintendent'sconference room. Uh, also on October 14th at 5:00 pm, the subcommittee oncommunity engagement uh will also be meeting, but in the community room.October 14th at 6:00 p.m. we will have our regular school board meeting in thecommunity room. And on October 21st at 5:30, we will have our work sessionagain in the community room. All right, moving forward into the consent agenda.communication to the board. >> Oh, sorry. Correct. I skipped that one.>> There's >> there is none.>> Is there any communication? Uh, at this time, citizens and employees uh maybriefly address the school board. The board will listen to their briefremarks, ask clarifying questions, and if desired, request the administrationto follow up. The board will not take action at this meeting on requestspresented at this time. Time will be limited to three minutes per speaker. Isthere any uh communication to the board? There is not. Okay, moving into theconsent agenda, keeping us straight on track.All right, the consent agenda can this week includes the personnel report, theemployee handbook, and the school board minutes.Can I get a motion to acceptthe uh consent agenda? >> So moved.>> Thank you, Michelle. Can I get a second? >> Second.>> Thank you, Julie. Any discussion? >> Yes.Um, I just wanted to note that the uh employee handbook uh changes to thatwere presented to us um as anformational item at the last meeting and so if folksare interested in that uh it is online. >> Thank you.>> Appreciate that. Any other discussion? >> All right, there's no other discussion.Uh all those in favor say I. >> I.>> I. opposed. Abstained. Motion carries. Moving into discussion, reports andinformation items. Starting with reports from members of the board. >> Michelle,would you like to go first? >> I'm like, I got this. There's literallyalmost nothing to report, so it's going to be very easy. Um, uh, I attended thework session last week. Um, this is very rare for me. However, it's been quietthis month. um as I have learned to say no to certain things. So yeah, that'sall I have for today. >> Wonderful. Thank you. Uh Jessica.>> Oh, you went the other way. >> Be on your toes.>> Yeah, it's good. Um so since the last board meeting, um I had uh the chancewith my kids to attend yet another parent and me cooking class at the highschool. We took a learned how to make ravioli and that was really fun. It'salways great to see um such a a broad representation of the community um kidsall different ages in those classes. And for anyone who's interested, there'sanother one coming up. Uh we're going to make chocolate zucchini muffins onWednesday, October 8th over at the high school, and registration is still openfor that. So, I definitely uh recommend that to anybody in the community who uhwants to cook with their kiddos. Um, I was able to attend a meet and greet withfamilies over on the Highland playground last week. Um, and uh, I was prettyexcited about uh, the number of families and some staff that came to that eventand uh, had some freeze pops and just played outside and did some chalkdrawing and got to know each other a little bit. So, that was great. Um, Ialso attended uh uh Columbia Heights Pride uh over two weekends ago. Um, andwas happy to see our high school uh GSA uh represented at that event. Um, andthen I did attend like all of you the work session last week. Um, also as theliaison to the family center, I attended their um, gathering in the garden eventlast week that was put together by their parent advisory council. very successfulevent. I think they had 180 people is what they sent out after the event. Um,and they raised over $1,000. Might have been closer to $1,800uh at that event, which was really great. And they had lots of freeactivities out in the garden with all of our early childhood staff. And then theyhad some um drawings in the community room and different stations wherefamilies could go and explore the ECF room. So that was a really great event.Um let's see what else. I attended the PTO meeting at Highland last week. Umand we had uh nearly 20 families that attended that meeting which was a greatstart to the year there. Um, and then I attend uh was able to um go to thelibrary last weekend for the great Northstar read together, which I knowall of us were invited to that event um by the library. So, I really appreciatethe opportunity to attend as a board member and the invitation that went outto all of us to do that. Um it was great to see members of the community out umspending time together and independently reading. So that was kind of a a coolevent and giving everybody the opportunity to talk about um whylibraries, public libraries are important to them.Um, and then lastly, um, I was able to watch the most recentMSBA webinar, um, and Morris Leatherman was presenting on their annual Minnesotasurvey, and I absolutely recommend, um, that other members of the board take thetime to watch that webinar. Um it goes through umsort of sentiment around all different issues, public schools, uh politics,capital projects, um across the state and they divided outum results statewide in the metro area and then also perception of parents umin school districts. And so I just thought that that was really greatinformation. Um in particular gave me a couple things to think about that wemight want to have some conversation here. One is um statewide um and evenamongst parents there is a lack of understanding about technology and howthat's used specifically academic technology and how that's used in thecurriculum in 2025. And so an opportunity for us maybe to think abouthow we're communicating to our families and also the broader community. Whatdoes technology in the classroom look like in 2025? How does it differ whatwe're doing now from what maybe families experience during virtual learning?>> Um and just to be, you know, continuing to provide um good information aboutwhat learning looks like now. So I thought that was really interesting. Andthen also a good discussion about assessments and um echoing a lot of thediscussion that we've had here around um MCAs and how to talk about uh both thevalue and shortcomings of the MCAs while also providing the community withinformation that we do find very meaningful like growth and the fastbridge assessments. And so the idea of like we can't just tell the communitythat the MCA has shortcomings and that's the end, right? We need to be able totalk to everyone about um what value we find in in the MCA and then otherassessments and particularly um as we've talked about around the board table,what that growth looks like in our district. So um a couple ofopportunities there. I'm sorry for my long-winded report, but I appreciateeverybody's time. Thanks. >> No worries. Thank you so much for that.Uh, superintendent, if possible, could you get those links in our Fridaypackets up for us so we have easier time finding those? Thank you,>> Julie. Um I also attended the work session last week and um I had requestedfrom um director Henneakans to provide some financial um informationspecifically around um expenses for electrical expense because we had someit it happened to come in I've looked at four months and we had like three monthspaid in one month and so I was like confused by that. So I asked about thatand um I actually did some analysis on our payroll just to kind of look atthat. Um our external auditor had mentioned that we had a a deficiency ininternal controls around payroll. So that was something I wanted to just kindof take a look at from a high level and just see kind of where our percentagesland. And um I'm still getting some additional information after I kind oflaid out my spreadsheet, but just to tell you that um the energy bills thatwere explained away that we don't know why um Excel was, you know, behind inbilling us, but they build us three months in one month. And so that waskind of a um just kind of a weird thing, right? I looked at it and went, "Oh, whyare we getting build three times?" Um, and then I'm still working on thepayroll analysis, but there isn't anything that I saw that was unusual.Our percentages are are comparable to other districts, so I'm really happywith that. So, >> well, thank you.>> Oh, and I had conversations with Chair Granland as well.>> Yes, thank you. Um, so as was noted, I also attended the work session lastweek. I had several phone calls with several members of the board, includinguh Julie. Uh I also had several phone calls with Superintendent Dembeck andconsulted with our legal counsel. Um I attended teacher negotiations, uh thesoccer game last night. However, I left before the bonfire because I was toldthat parents weren't invited. >> Oh.>> So, just you or board members. And then and then when that guy I was like theside eye I got from this gentleman telling me this. Um which is fine. Itwas a joke. But uh then he people said well what about the chair? And hereplied no any other school board member could come just not the chair. And I waslike so uh no I let them have their fun. Umbut it was really great to see the soccer game. Uh our varsity team reallydid you know they it was a hard it was a hard fight. Um, but they did really welland it was really fun to see uh so many people in the community there to supportthem for that. Uh, I also received uh an email from Principal Sherk about theAmerican Indian overnight trip that she went on last week and that was it wasreally wonderful to hear and to be able to um to see her reflections on thatwhich I'm you know I was very excited to to read. Uh, I also attended the chairmeeting prior to this one. And I believe that's it. Then we'll go on.Wait, what did I Oh, and Laura, go on to Laura. Yep. See, this is what happenswhen I mess up my own flow. Laura. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And you went to allthose training sessions, too. I know. >> I haven't screwed up any of the motionsyet. >> That is true. That is true. Okay. Um I Idon't have a very very long one here. Um, so I attended a couple of chairmeetings, the work session last week, the close session last week, which allof us were there. Um, so I'm just reminding everybody that we were all atthe close session. So that is considered a meeting. Yes. Um, I also attended thenthe following night um I attended the um the uh the Metro Heights Academy. Um, wegot we just moved into a new facility and oh my gosh, it is gorgeous. Um, soas soon as they have some more open houses and stuff, definitely check itout. It's it's it's beautiful. It is just beautiful. I mean, it looks like alittle mini college on the inside. It is a really And it is and we're paying thesame amount as we paid with with the old the old place. So, I mean, it's it'sgreat all around. They're they they said they'll be able to um uh be able toaccommodate 250 students. And then that is um of course it's an ALC. They evenhave college opportunities too. Um, so all kinds of stuff over there. It's goodstuff. It's alternative learning. They can help with credit recovery and theycan also um uh help to uh and and students can actually open enroll intothat particular school too. So it's it's pretty good. And um actually if I canhave this added to our packet, this is some of the um information. It's it'sabout the programmings, how her services have changed over the years. And if wecan get that added to the packet. I forgot to submit that earlier. Um, letme see. Uh, I'm g sure meeting prior to this and that's it. All right. Thankyou, Superintendent Denbeck. Uh, thank you. Imet with the Northeast Metro 916 superintendent today and I was going toask you um, Vice Chair Palmer, if you and I received the same presentation,which I think we did. Um, and I will definitely include that in the Fridaypacket. Um uh so they did provide an overview of the programs and services.Um and we had a robust robust discussion on how we can better collaborate amongstthe districts to ensure that we're getting off of the waiting lists andinto the programming that students really need. Um so I really appreciatedthe conversation there. Um this week, Assistant Superintendent Nemway and Ispoke to the high school education classes. Um they asked us questionsrevolving around our own journeys working in education and also asked usfor advice for becoming a teacher and we just found the group both groups to bedelightful and just amazing critical thinkers andum just a reminder that the compensatory task force meeting is coming up um onOctober 6th. That's a full day meeting for me. Um so after that I plan toprovide an update to all staff and if the board pleases I would at that timeshare the board goals because I I think that the compensatory work is directlylinked to the board goal of creating developing a legislative task force andso at that time seeking staff interest if anyone might be interested. So that'skind of a timeline that I'm thinking about. I know the goals are yet to beapproved, but I'm hopeful. Um,and as mentioned, it is homecoming week, and it has been very fun to see theschool spirit all around, including our own student school board rep, who I'veseen, I think, all days so far. >> Um,and then again, September continues to be schoolboard recognition month. Sojust another shout out to you all and thank you for all you do on behalf ofstudents and families in the community. Thanks.>> Wonderful. Thank you. >> Thank you.>> And now we will go to Atanad. >> I would also like to say thank you toall of you for what you do for the community. Um happy schoolboardrecognization month. Um like um Superintendent Stemic mentioned, it ishomecoming week. Uh I think the spirit days are all pretty cool. I did helpplan them, but um I do succeed myself. I'm having very much fun. Oh, let mejust show you. >> Oops.>> Yeah, tell us what the day is today. >> Today is white lie day.>> Could you turn us just >> so everybody has to write of like a alie? >> So, it's captured it's captured on audiobecause I'm standing up. White lie was the theme today. So, you take a whiteshirt and you write something that's not true on it. That's a great idea. That'sfunny. >> Yeah. Uh>> that is very much fun. Yeah. And then um I also attended um the bonfire lastnight. It was so much fun. I really enjoyed it. One of the custodial Iwouldn't know but there >> it was the event of the year.>> Yeah, it was it was a great time. Um one of the custodial staff Dale brought outhis like giant speakers. So he's playing really nice music. If I do so say myselflike I think he had a good playlist. Yeah. It wasn't like I don't want tolike shade you guys but it was pretty Gen Z.>> Move along at >> love it.>> Um I also attended senior night. One of my um best friends were getting honoredfor senior night. So it was a great game to watch with family. There was a lot ofpeople there which I love to see. I hope we can bring that energy the rest of thegirls soccer season. and just in general uh height schemes. I think that's allfor me. >> Thank you.>> Thank you. >> We need to make sure that we let Daleknow that his music list was >> very Jenzy approved.>> Very Jenzy approved. We make sure that we we pass that on.>> Uh all right. Thank you so much. We will move into action items. First up is thelanguage access plan and that is presented by uh Assistant SuperintendentMiamboy. >> It's a longer walk now, huh? >> It's a runway.>> It's a longer walk than it used to be from.>> I I wonder who made that decision. >> Somebody who doesn't have to walk thatvery often. Uh good evening, Chair Gremlin,Superintendent Stanvvic, and members of the board. Um I was here two weeks agoand presented the language access plan and uh we talked about the policygoverning the language access plan. We talked about the procedures and uh wewere able to share information about uh agencies that we work with to provideaccess to language and interpretation including translation. So, I am heretonight seeking the approval of the language access plan as presented.>> All right. Thank you so much. Can I get a motion to uh approve the languageaccess plan that was presented at the September 9th, 2025 meeting?>> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second?>> Second. >> Thank you, Julie. Any discussion?Laura, >> I'm just going to make a comment. Wewent into great detail with this and um the scaffolding that you're putting inplace to make sure that we have better access is just absolutely amazing. Icannot believe how far it's come in 12 years or 14 years that we've beenworking. That's that I mean 14 years ago was just like oh my gosh we can't dothis. It's just too expensive. But now there's all these great opportunitiesnow you know for you know instant translation and and all I mean it it'sit's pretty incredible. So, um, so details of that are available for thegeneral public somewhere. I'm I'm >> Yes. So, the language access plan isposted on our website under families and it says language and you'll be able toview it. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you.>> And we're still working on the beautified version for family friendly.>> Yeah, >> it's always a work in progress.>> Thank you. Any other discussion? All right, there's no other discussion.We can move into a vote. All those in favor of accepting the language accessplan as presented say I. >> I.>> Opposed? Abstained. Motion carries. Thank you very much.>> Thank you. >> All right. Next up, we have theinsurance renewal. Um, and that'll be presented by Director Henkins. Thank you, Chair Grahamlin, members ofthe board, and Superintendent Steenbeck. Um,supposed to be in this folder somewhere. Why don't I see it? Okay, it's not there. >> Prior to this meeting, Brian, weren'tyou just saying that maybe you were there some space between you doing a lotof technology work? >> All right. Okay.Um since uh this was uh discussed in detail at a work session the previouswork session but was not on camera um I wanted to take a quick minute to gothrough the slides um um so that it was out there on camera um so every year uhI'll just start with the um mission Columbia Heights public schools creatingworlds of opportunity for each and every learner all belong all succeed in ourcore values focusing in this presentation of excellence integrity andinnovation aligning with our CH HPS board of equity statement. So this againwas presented at the work session in in detail and discussed uh and this eveningum seeking action for approval for our insurance renewal um for the district.Um so uh property liability insurance um includes um or within this we'reincluding the property liability package as a whole, business auto, umbrella,boiler, machinery um and cyber liability. So those are the things thatare included. Um every year we go through this process. Uh June, July,August, we're evaluating our current plan, any changes that need to happen,whether we need to uh go out to to bid. Um and uh August, early September. Umwe're receiving those renewals, uh the quotes. Um I'm filling out um these umlong questionnaires on on what we have what we've changed in the district. Umand then in September we're bringing it to the board because this is an Octoberone renewal every year. So um on the left hand side uh of thisgraph uh or in the center I should say you have the starting premium in eachcategory from last year and then we have a renewal premium that um is beingproposed um and uh focusing at the bottom of the total premium you can see$346,8609 and the renewal premium of 358,19308.um a very good renewal for us. Um we do spend a lot of money on propertyliability has been going up a lot. Um evaluations of the buildings have beengoing up a lot. Uh there's been high claims with storms in in um not just ourstate, the Midwest, but also across the country. Um it's been driving up umthese costs for us. Cyber liability has been driven up. Um obviously we hear alot about in the news. So a 3.3% roughly increase is very good. we've seen, youknow, the 18, the 20, 26% increase um over time. Um over the last five years,we've seen some pretty hefty ones. So, very happy with this renewal this year.Um actually seeing cyber liability going down a little bit. Um which isfantastic. Um so, those are the the premiums uh in this renewal.Um and and we talked about, you know, some of the key factors, um you know,high claims, the things that happen, um events that happen, lots of hail storms,um typically, you know, these things as they're happening. Um and uh they'llcause great increases. We've seen a um calmness of those storms this thissummer. Uh knock on wood. And then wind and hail. So um that's lowered loweredour renewal. And uh and actually even with an inflationary adjustment um toour property um you know we still only saw that 3.3. So very good for us. Umand so um I guess again this evening um just seeking uh approval um for this aspresented. Um and our um insurance um is covered by chub handover and travelersfor cyber liability. questions.>> All right. Thank you, >> Julie.So, Director Henkins, did we do anything I mean, other than a lower amount ofacts of God, is there anything we did to help reduce our costs this last year? Umthe things that we continue to do I think help uh manage our costs in thatarea with uh cyber liability the the security things that we implement likemultifactor authentication um additional tools um we've uh addedinto our um network um you know help um control that cyber liability. So thethings that we're doing um in those areas uh with our buildings um theproperty liability things like um replacing roofs, replacing windows,maintaining your facilities um those are those are good things. So the averageage of roofs is something they really look at. So you know as we continue tomaintain our facilities, it it helps maintain these um these renewal prices.So um so you know we've done a lot of roof work um in the last five years. theboard has approved a lot. Uh we just did over a million dollars at ColumbiaAcademy this year. Uh these things help our renewal.>> Thank you. >> Any other questions, >> Julie?>> So one question on the cyber security. I just kind of wanted for the public. Umso with that what is our what is our deductible on such a thingwhen somebody attacks us either you know doing fishing or you know um or justgetting into our system. What is our liability there and what is covered? Umso uh pretty much any I mean there's differentaspects of it. Um so like if you say social engineering um uh you know SteveMcKelpin um with Northern Risk um is talked about that at the work sessionand and you know that aspect of it is covered both under our cyber liabilityinsurance and under our crime. So, you know, if we have 250,000 coverage underour cyber liability, we have additional 100,000 on our crime. Um, and so betweenboth our liability insurance and our cyber liability insurance, we have somecoverage there. Um, and depending on what plan is, depending on what thedeductible is. Um, so, uh, I think on the cyber liability, it's it's $25,000deductible. It's significantly higher on our, um, not significantly higher, butit's higher on our, um, on our crime. So, um, those are factors. Uh, over thelast few years, we've seen our deductibles, and I think Steve talkedabout this, um, really over the last handful of years, we've seen ourdeductibles go up a lot. Um, you know, Steve recollected back in, you know, adecade ago, we saw our deductible at 25,000 for anything that happened in thedistrict. Um, you know, tornado wipes through, it's a $25,000 deductible.Well, now our buildings have a $250,000 deductible on them. So, it's thedeductibles have changed a lot. Um, and uh, thankfully they've ratcheted back onour roofs um, a little bit um, again because of a good, you know, stormseason. Um, so the renewal was was beneficial for us this year in thatarea. Um, so, you know, we'll continue to monitor those things. Hopefully, wecontinue to have a couple years of of uh, um, you know, good acts of nature,less acts of nature, acts of God. Um and uh uh and so we can continue to seethose renewals. Um and uh um cyber liability would would hopefully thencontinue to tick down and more importantly our larger dollar amount andour um and our liability, property liability, which is really the majorfactor in that total cost. Um and it it wouldn't be unprecedented. He Stevetalked about also that, you know, in his lifetime as insurance, he's seen, youknow, decreases in those um costs. Um so, and we're seeing them currently inour workman's comp. So, hopefully we can see them in property liability in thefuture, too. >> Thank you.>> Yep. >> Great questions, Jessica.>> Thank you for laying out all that context and thank you, Director Hull,for your questions to the public. I think that's really helpful. As Dr.Henkin noted, we did have um a lot of discussion about this at the worksession. And I'm very thankful that we're in a position that we have umthese renewal bids that are uh you know, a very small increase, no decrease toour coverage or seeing these huge um increases in our the values of ourproperty that necessitate these larger increases. So, I appreciate that. ChairGarland, I'm wondering as there's not yet a motion on the floor if I would beable to make a motion um that would select just correct some errors that'sin the suggested motion. So, I move uh that we approve the renewal of theproperty and liability insurance coverage package from CHUB handover andtravelers insurance as presented. And so, just to be clear, my motion is toapprove the renewal. um as that's not in the suggested motionas well as changing in the suggested motion it says hand over and I believethat's supposed to be handover. >> Oh yes.>> Uh so>> that's my motion. My motion is that we approve the>> second. Thank you. Y I was just Yep. I was just going to say can I get asecond? All right. Uh discussion on the amendment on the motion. All right. Allthose in favor of accepting the uh a the motion to amend the>> not a motion to amend just the motion friendly amendment.>> Yep. >> Uh thank you. Yes. Uh all those in favorsay I. >> I opposed. Abstain. Motion carries. Andwe will >> go ahead and correct that.Thank you for catching that. >> Thank you.>> Thank you. All right. Moving on touh the 2025 payable 2026 preliminary levy with again director Henkins. Thankyou so much. >> Thank you Chair Granland, members of theboard and superintendent SEIC. Um so this evening uh my second item here isthe prelim preliminary levy uh 2025 uh payable 2026. Um and in thispresentation I'll I'll cover um what that really means. Um again our missionColumbia Heights public schools creating worlds of opportunity for each and everylearner all belong all succeed and our core values of community excellencecollaboration integrity respect courage and innovation aligning with uh the CHPSboard of education equity statement. Um again this was presented in detail anddiscussed um at the uh the work session on September 16th and an action itemthis evening um on September 23rd uh at the regular meeting. Um, so tostart, I want to just uh go through uh you know, school funding. We've talked alot about this uh the state in in the levy uh process. Um and again, it's astate regulated process. Um and so they're setting the formulas umdetermining, you know, where we what we can get revenue from um in this process.Um so they're they're the tax policy itself, the maximum authorized amountsthat we can receive. These are all set by the state um and the legislature. Umand so you know even as much as you know what exactly we can go out forreferendums for and what that process looks like. So the state is likeeverything that we do is highly regulating um this process.Um in and within this process uh there's formulas that that create these dollaramounts in these categories and uh um within um this process over time.There's been some aid that's been added to these categories. We're just talkingabout the levy, the tax directly to the community this evening. That's what whatwe're asking the board to approve, but there are aid components in some ofthese categories that offset the levy, which is a benefit to our communitybecause we're levying less to the community and the state is pumping insome additional aid. And that, you know, again, there's formulas that sit behindthe scenes um that that factor into that and and you typically the wealth of thecommunity, the the tax capacity of the community is a primary factor in whatthat aid looks like. Um, you know, some districts get very little, somedistricts get more. Um, but there are two components in that. So, um, I justwanted to mention that long-term facility maintenance is one of thosethings. Um, that does have a component to it.So, what's in the levy? Uh, or where does the uh, the levy is is propertytaxes directly to the community that's approved by the the um, uh, the schoolboard based on again all of the regulations within the state. Um there'sthe general fund categories uh which is fund one. Um there's the community eggcategories which is fund four. Um building fund which is fund six. Um anddebt service which is fund seven. So there's different funds um that uh theserevenues go into. So when I say levy 2024 payable 25 or umlevy 26 payable 20 or levy 25 payable 26 um which the title is incorrectapologize for that. This is the 25 levy um so it's approving and certifying itin 2025 collected and paid in 26. So thetaxpayers are paying this in 26 and then the school district is getting therevenue in fiscal year 27. Um so what we're approving right now um or we're inthe process of this is a preliminary um is collect taxes collected in 2026 whichwe received the revenue in fiscal year 2027. So school year 2627um and we talk about this approving the maximum and what that means. Uhapproving the maximum allows the district to capture changes made by thestate prior to the levy certification in December. So the board will be asked toapprove the levy in December. Um there's also as part of this process is truthand taxation and and that presentation. Um changes happen and for a variety ofreasons we've talked about in detail. Um you know there could be a change in thelevy calculation. Um for example last week um there was an error with the levywith 916. We weren't seeing it. Um, then we started seeing part of it andsupposedly this week when they do the new levy run, we're going to see all ofit, but I don't have that yet because the next levy run isn't out yet. So, um,there there is uh there's there's always there's moving parts to this process,but we have to approve it in September so the county can um get their estimatesout to the taxpayers um and then we'll final certify it in December.um and approving the preliminary levy in SE. Did I already said this? Yes. Sotimeline. So September 2025, we're approving the preliminary levy. Weapprove it as the maximum is what we request so that we can capture thosechanges as they happen as we head toward the certification. Again, we're we don'twe don't have the authority to arbitrarily change um those numbers. umthis the formulas are you know may fluctuate a little bit but the fact thatwe get it the revenue integration revenue or the fact that our debt is ourdebt um those things still exist we can't just change that suddenly um andOctober and December again we're through that time frame there's a levyadjustments that naturally happen and then we will certify in uh Decemberum so that's the process um and then I just wanted to quick throwthe one pager up here um that shows the breakdown. So you can see in the umsecond column here our preliminary levy payable 2026 received in fiscal year 27um versus our certified levy of last year. So then the far column is ourdifferences. So you can see that there's not a lot of changes in this topcategory. It's uh student enrollment is a big factor in that category. We'reprojecting again um I have to we have to the district has to project um ourenrollment for the 26 27 school year and what our projection is is what is builtoff of what our our levy um dollar amounts will be because a lot of this ismainly per pupil. Um and so we project a slight decrease in enrollment. So that'swhere you're seeing negative number differences here because we're startingto see a small decline in enrollment. Um the next category is you know they'reum restricted categories. Um so they're assigned specifically uh you see twosafe schools because there's safe schools for us security dollars for ourdistrict and then also there's a levy component for 916 who we are a memberof. Um so intermediate school districts can't um uh levy themselves directly. Sothe member districts levy for them. Um so that's that component. Um not a lotof change in that category. Uh the next category is our operating capitaldesignated. So that's where our operating capital is, our long-termfacility maintenance is our lease levy. This was another component I I mentionedin changes. So um in that first column you can see or that uh number 16district 916 lease levy. You can see that previous year was 250,000. Rightnow it's only 50,000. That's because that that the that the that systemhasn't caught up that there's an error there. They know it's there. Theinformation is getting there and that will adjust. Um so it'll bring it upclose to approximately where it was the previous year. Um community service, nota lot of change there. Um that levy set um you know it's so much per there'sjust not a lot of change there in community service. it uh you know it'sbased on census and so census changes every 10 years. If it drasticallychanges within that 10 years we can petition to change it which this boardhas done um about three years ago maybe um we've done in recent history umbecause there was a drastic enough change that improved our funding andcommunity service but typically it's a it's census on every 10 years so there'snot a lot of change there. Um again like fund or item number six in thiscategory. Um we're projecting what our expenses are going to be and we'reentering that into the levy system. We believe it's going to be here and youknow we see if we hit the mark based on the positive and negative adjustments.We had a hard time filling adventure club at North Park Elementary. We keptthinking we were trying to we were going to have it. So we levied in the sensethat we were going to have that expense. We didn't. So there is negativeadjustments which is lowering that dollar amount. So, um, so those are thethings that can happen in that category. That's one of the big ones. Um, capitalprojects levy, that's our voter approved levy. Um, so just not a lot of changethere. That changes based on the net tax capacity of the community. So, um, as asthe um, valuation of the community grows, um, this can grow with it.um we haven't seen a decrease in that category in many years, but historicallythere have been decreases in the net tax capacity of the community in our debtservice, which we haven't added any debt, so there's not a lot of changethere. So, right now we're seeing about a negative 2.61%.Again, this will change um as things fluctuate. It's not going to changesignificantly, but I know there's going to be the lease levy that comes on. Um Iknow that um you know through our indoor air quality project um we we are umchanging um our LTFM a little bit because we're bonding forthat case work in the bathrooms within that indoor air quality project usingour existing LTFM dollars. Those dollars are going to shift down into uh debtservice once once the state catches up to us. Um and I talked to the person atthe state actually this morning. So I think we're getting there. So, thatshould show up there soon. Um, and there's going to be a a period of timeover the next few years that that'll sit on there and that'll shift from up aboveLTFM down into the debt service. We will see that change when it comescertification time. So, I'm guess I'm over um stating the fact that this isgoing to adjust a little bit just because I want to make sure thateverybody's aware of that. But um right now um we we really will see a fairlyflat um levy to the community. Um so again this evening seeking um approvalum or of the preliminary levy as maximum from the school board.>> All right. Thank you. Can I get a motion to accept the preliminary uh levy aspresented? >> So moved.>> Julie, can I get a second? >> Second.>> Michelle. All right. discussion. >> I think it's beautiful.>> I think you did a fantastic job. Um I want to thank you. We did go really indepth with this last um at our last work session and I do appreciate you callingout explicitly that this will change. I had written down in my notes that if youdidn't do it, I was also going to do it. So um just as a reminder that thesethings are not static. So >> Jessica,>> um I would echo the appreciation for laying this out in the work session andthen again today. I think for the public um it's a very complicatedum set of uh levers to understand I thinkparticularly around a lot of the language that is used that is not ourlanguage but is state language. things like approving the maximum. I think thatcan send a message to the community that we're actually like levying new like anew tax burden on them. Um and while we while it is a levy, it is um sort of ourportion of the levy that has already been approved by the community. And sowhen we talk about the maximum, I think it's helpful to have that explanationabout um sort of balancing out what we end up getting from the state in theseareas versus what is coming from our community. Um and knowing that that isreally in flux uh through the fall. Um and so we have to um consider approvingthe maximum every year in order to ensure that we um are operating on thebudget that we um were expecting. So um I just it is a really confusing conceptand I know we're going to have u more discussion uh in the fall when weactually approve the final levy and have our truth and taxation hearing. Uh, butI just appreciate um being able to kind of slow it down and have multipleconversations about it and talk about it on on camera as well for anyone who's umtrying to understand that. So, thank you.>> Thank you. >> Yes.>> Any other discussion? All right, let's move to vote. All thosein favor say I. >> I.>> Opposed? Abstained. Motion carries. Thank you so much.>> Thank you. Okay.All right. Next, we will move into our school board goals. So, as a board, we work to develop threegoals for the 2025 2026 school year. They will be we will be asked to approvethem at tonight's meeting with assessments of achievement at midyearand year end intervals. Uh can I get a motion?>> Trevor and Lind. >> Yes.>> Uh I move that we um add the following preamble to the goalsas presented which reads and Stephanie if this is approved I'll share later.Um, the Columbia Heights School Board annually identifies and approves goalsfor the board to pursue during the academic year. These goals align withcomponents of the district's strategic plan and are designed to advancespecific short-term goals that strengthen the school board as agoverning body. These goals supplement the regular and ongoing governance workof the school board. >> Yes, that's all right. Thank you.>> This is a friendly amendment. Well, I move to add that to the to So, Iwould look for a second. >> All right. Can I get a second?>> Second. >> She can have it,>> Laura. All right. Uh, any discussion, >> Michelle?>> Thank you for adding that. I know um during our discussion we um wanted tomake sure that uh we were transparent about our goals and uh we wanted to addthem to our website um where the schoolboard members were, but we alsowanted to let people know that they're not the only things we're working on. Sothat's very important and thank you Jessica for doing that. Um and yes, uhthese goals are amazing. I am on board with them and yeah, I appreciate ummember Maderas for um for drawing them up for us um and taking all of our ideasand putting them on paper. >> Thank you for that.>> Yes. Um you know, now we're doing amendments soor no that you motioned it. So now >> the motion's on the floor. We're indiscussion. >> Yes. Okay. Um so we aren't going to needto do another one. Uh so I just wanted to for those people at home um you knowthis will be on our website. We we've discussed that and that's something thatthe board really treasures um is that uh transparency. So I just will I wouldlike to read what those goals are. >> Chair Gland. Yes.>> So the motion that's on the floor is just to add the preamble so we can maybevote on that piece and then >> we can move on to the goals.>> Thank you for that parliamentarian madaras. Yeah.>> All right. Um, so we'll move into uh voting on thataddition. All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed.>> Abstain. Motion carries. Now we will go into the board of education goals.Can I get a motion to accept? Well, actually, let me readthe goals first and then I'll ask for a motion. Um, there are three goalslisted. These are number one, the board values continuous learning andparticipation in leadership development that broadens perspectives andstrengthens government governance practices. The board will participate inlearning opportunities with other districts including the MSBA leadershipconference and will invite student schoolboard members to attend eventswhere possible. Number two, the board recognizes thestrength of collective advocacy and the importance of civic engagement insupporting Columbia Heights public schools. The board will develop alegislative action committee to collaborate with Columbia Heights PublicSchools families, staff, community members, and partners to build a unifiedvoice in legislative matters that benefit Columbia Heights Public Schoolsstudents and families. And three, the board is committed to deepening andexpanding relationships and partnerships with the community that promote trust,transparency, and support for CHPS and our students. In collaboration with thesuperintendent, the board will expand their participation in events andopportunities to build relationships in our schools with local partners andthroughout our s our surrounding communities.Can I get a motion to accept the Columbia Heights Public Schools Board ofEducation goals for 2025 2026? >> So moved.>> Can I get mute? >> Oh, I guess that motion's on the floor.The the suggested motion in the packet is includes a little bit moreinformation. So I'm wondering if >> Yes, thank you. And I had highlighted itand then Yes. >> Well, there is Was there a second onthat motion or did it just Okay. >> Nope. We have not seconded that motionyet. So, let me change my motion and then we'll go to>> Well, it was moved. So, >> we need to either let it die without asecond or director, you could withdraw. >> I can withdraw my>> my uh motion. >> Laurian never had to deal with this,honestly. >> Y'all are>> I'm a pain. Um, no, no, that's okay. Uh, all right. So,>> can I get a motion to approve the schoolboard goals for the 2025 2026school year as presented with assessments of achievement at midyearand year-end intervals? >> So, moved.>> Thank you, Julie. Can I >> Thank you, Laura. Discussion.>> Uh, >> go ahead. Yes.>> I mean, >> um, I I wasn't just trying to be a pain.I wanted to make sure we had the full motion on the floor. um because we didtalk in our work session about um ensuring that we're checking in on thesegoals throughout the year and so um there was consensus that we wanted toassess how we're doing on these both midyear and at year end. So I thinkthat's an important piece. >> Yes, thank you for that and I appreciateit and um it is important to us and uh Stephanie filling out the packet workedreally hard to make sure that that was in there and I read the wrong part. Sothank you for that. Um, I want to say the other thing that I really like aboutthese schoolboard goals and something that um I did not read out but will alsostill be available is our the way that these goals are tied to the um vision2030 where we are um trying and and workingto make sure that we are collaborating in all of the ways and there's a verygood through line um from the classroom all the way through governance. So, Ireally uh appreciate the hard work that you did with this,>> Jessica. So, >> Julie,>> Julie, I was just going to say that. So, >> took the words out of my mouth. Well,>> all right. Uh, any other discussion? All right, then we will move to a vote.All those in favor of accepting the Columbia Heights Board of Educationgoals with assessments of achievement at mid-year and year-end intervals say I.>> I. >> I.>> Opposed. Abstained. Motion carries. All right. Thank you everyone.Um, next we will move into close session. BeforeI ask for a motion for that, I do want to say um the live stream will notcontinue once we come back from closed session. However, um the rest of ourschoolboard meeting will be on uh will be recorded and posteduh tomorrow with with the entirety of the meeting minus the closed session. Sojust so everybody knows >> and that would include board topics andthe adjournment is what we'll be coming back to.>> Thank you. Yes. And so we will be coming back to board topics and adjournment aswas stated. Um all right. Can I get a motion to move into close session forthe purpose of discussing discussing negotiation strategies?>> So moved. Second. >> I'll do a second. Michelle, she gave methe last one. >> First move.>> Laurel Laurel will get second on that. Any discussion?All right. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Opposed. Abstain. Motion carries.Thank you very much. >> Can I have five minutes before we>> Yes. Roll the tape here? >> Okay. >> So, we'll take a quick second if youneed to get water recording. I know we're not back online. Thank you. Allright. Thank you so much. We are returning from closed session where wehad just discussed um contract negotiations.All right. Now we will move into board topics.Does anybody have a board topic? >> I know it was in the announcements buthomecoming game came on Friday. >> Who are we playing? I don't even know.Bloomington Kennedy I believe. >> Kennity. Thank you. Yes.Let's go. >> And as a reminder, we um there will befireworks. So for everybody who is >> in social media and has pets,>> it is fireworks. Just getting that out there now.>> But only at the end of the game. >> But only at the end of the game now.>> You have to stay. But also that um students and staff get in free. Yes.>> $6 for everyone with your with your ID. >> ID. Or students can also show their umstudent view. >> Oh, got it.>> Um and as a reminder, this is something that's newer, but middle school andyounger need to be present with a guardian.>> So, there six bucks for everyone else,right? >> I>> There is a fee. There's an entrance fee. >> There's an entrance fee. I'm pretty sureit's six bucks. I'm just saying. I that's something I remember because I'mcheap and so I like to tell people what they'regetting into. However, it will be worth it.>> Yes. And also Saturday is the homecoming dance.>> So I am really excited to see >> any ideas on the>> Are you shaperoning? >> Possibly. I may be chaperoning.>> Are you Are you allowed? >> That's good.>> I proxy. Always allowed. Oh, I'm just kidding. I'll be a proxy and keep my Ikeep a care. >> Tickets are $6.>> Tickets are $6. Not to the homecoming dance. That's $25to the game on Friday night. For the public is $6. So, uh would love to seepeople there. I know the boosters will be there with hot dog. Nope, not theboosters. Sorry. >> We are tailgating.>> No. >> Nope.>> Oh, no tailgating. >> Nobody's tailgating. People can tailgateif they want to. Not the boosters will not be having their>> but other people can other people are. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Wow. Well, thishas been a roller coaster of an end of a meeting, guys.>> Um, if there's no other board topics, I have one. Um, and so,uh, every three years the board negotiates contract with oursuperintendent. Um, at this time, Superintendent Stemvik's contract is upfor negotiations. Uh the board has spent two work sessions and a lot of time inbetween discussing the nuances and this board is unified in our support andapproval of the leadership superintendent Stunvvic brings to ourdistrict. After multiple conversations uh with ourlegal counsel, I have asked that Superintendent Stunvik's uh contract bean action item on our next meeting, Tuesday, October 14th. So there you go.>> Awesome. Thank you. >> Yeah.>> Any other board topics? >> Can I just make a comment?>> Yes. Um, we have to remember that SuperintendentStemik is our only employee that we monitor and supervise and um, and she'sresponsible for over 560 employees in this district even andshe's always texting us, hey, this is happening atthe school. The communication is great. I just want everybody to know thatthat's why we support our superintendent.>> Absolutely. >> Yeah.>> Yeah. And we can we will obviously discussthis more at our at our next meeting, but I do want to echo that and say umSuperintendent Stev has brought us uh this districtback from a really hard place during COVID and she has um worked incrediblyhard to make sure that we have the resources um to allocate to our studentsand families and community. And that's why I wanted to make sure to say that weare unified in our support for her leadership. Um, and uh, that has neverbeen something that we were, you know, discussing about. So, uh, we're verypleased with that. But I just wanted to give a heads up to the community thatthis will be an action item. So, at our next meeting. All right. Ifthere are no other board topics, can I get a motion to adjurnn?>> So moved. >> Michelle, can I get a second?>> Second. >> It was me. >> She can do that.>> It's been so long. Right. >> Right. Just do one thing. All right.>> All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Opposed. Abstain.>> Abstain. Just for fun. All right.>> She said no. >> Motion carries.>> Motion carries. >> Right. We didn't have fun board members.>> We are adjourned at 7:26.