All right, we're good to go. Welcome everybody. I would like to call to order the April 28th, 2026 regular school meeting of Columbia Heights Public Schools. If you are able, please rise and join us in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In a break from our general uh flow of meeting, we will next be swearing in our new school board member. All right. Are you ready? Yep. I'm do it over. I don't need a microphone. [laughter] Uh, school board member oath of office, it is an honor that you were elected to guide the education of our community's children. As you recite the oath of office, you assume a tremendous responsibility as a director of our school district with the duties empowered by the Minnesota legislature. This power puts you and the other members of our schoolboard in the position of being both morally and legally responsible for equitable quality education of every student in our district. In carrying out this responsibility, you will be asked to fulfill the roles of vision, structure, accountability, and advocacy and providing vision the board with extensive participation of the community and envisions the community's educational future. and then formulates the goals, defines the outcomes, and sets the course for the public schools. To achieve this vision, the board establishes a structure and creates an environment designed to ensure all students have the opportunity to attain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework. Because as a board, we must be accountable to the community. We must ensure a continuous assessment of student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our children. As board members, we serve as education's key advocate on behalf of students and our community schools to advance the vision for our schools. Furthermore, we must strive to work together with the superintendent and staff to lead the towards fulfilling the vision we have created. Fostering excellence for every student in the areas of academic skills and knowledge, citizenship and personal development. Having signed the acceptance Having signed the acceptance of office and oath of office, I hereby publicly affirm my commitment to the oath of office. I swear and affirm that I will the Constitution of the United States and of this state, and that I will discharge faithfully the duties of the office of school board member of Independent School District number 13 to the best of my judgment and ability. Congratulations [applause] All right, now we can move on to roll call. >> Pedweight >> here, >> Palmer here. Maduras >> here, >> Vodnness Bandis >> here, >> here. >> Uh, Grenland >> here, and Superintendent Senvic >> here. Wonderful. Thank you very much. Columbia Heights Public Schools. Our mission statement is creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learner. All belong, all succeed. Core values: community, excellence, collaboration, integrity, respect, courage, and innovation. Next up, we have agenda approval, adjustments, and announcements. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda as presented? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Julie. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Michelle. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Announcements. Hang on a second. May 12th, 5:00 pm, subcommittee on policy in the superintendent's conference room. Uh, also on May 12th at 5:00 pm, there's a committee on community engagement/legislative action in the community room. Uh May 12th at 6 we have our regular schoolboard meeting here in the community room and May 19th at 5:30 we have our schoolboard work session here in the community room. Communication to the board. Is there any communication to the board? Not at this time. Thank you. All right. Next up we have the consent agenda. Within our consent agenda is the personnel report, the treasury report, the minutes and policy second reading of um 203.5 schoolboard meeting agenda, 205 open meetings and closed meetings, 206 public participation in meetings, 208 development, adoption and implementation of policies, 209 code of ethics, 210 conflict of interest schoolboard members, and 211 criminal or civil action against. Can I get a motion to accept the consent agenda as presented? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Jessica. Any discussion? All right. No discussion. We'll move to vote. All those in favor of accepting the consent agenda as presented, say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. Next up, we have the acknowledgement of contributions. Welcome. And just a quick note, we have our student representative Cade is joining us. Welcome. All right. Um, I will read the acknowledgement of contributions. Uh, Minnesota State Statute 123B.02. 02 permit school boards to quote receive for the benefit of the district bequests, donations or gifts for any proper purpose and apply the same to the purpose designated on that behalf. The board may act as trustee of any trust created for the benefit of the district and for the benefit of the pupils thereof. Therefore, the School Board of Columbia Heights Public Schools, Independent School District number 13, resolves to accept with appreciation the $24,275.35 in monetary contributions detailed in the background. Monetary Dean and Joyce Bliss and E and G Hubble each donated $25. Albert Agdi, Luan Restad, Corus Johnson, and Elizabeth Thomas each donated $50. Glenda Glor and Carolyn Bang each donated $75. Elaine Narbo, Elise Bo Bokehist, and Janie Olsen each donated $100. Leo and Katherine Makavoy and Francis U each donated $250. Wayne and Linda Kutsie and Jay Anne Hennessy each donated $300. John and Kathleen Kaine, Gerald Rying, and Haron and Doris Downing, and Pam Sigardson each donated $500. Kathy Kelly donated $1,000 to the 2026 Retired Staff Scholarship Fund. The Black Bout Giving Fund donated $50 to Valley View and $300 to Columbia Heights School District. The American Heart Association donated $350 to North Park. Gan Hartwell donated $100 to Columbia Heights Public Schools. Justin, this is the this this will be one that I've >> Sherinbach >> Sherinbach, thank you. Donated $143.35 to the Columbia Academy musical. Danielle Berg donated $550 to the Valley View Sunshine Scholarship Fund. Becky Duba Dubus donated $100 to Columbia Heights Public Schools. The Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters and Laura Martinsson each donated $8,480 to the Columbia Heights High School Scholarship Fund. Anonymous donated $500 to Columbia Heights Public Schools for the gratitude event. And the Valley View PTO donated $1,000 to the Valley View thank you event and $200 to the Valley View fund run. Nadia Bey donated $1,000 to Columbia Heights Public Schools. Kim Wells donated two yearbooks from the 1940s valued at $0 to Columbia Heights High School in honor of her grandmother, Carol Robo. And Sam Oi Oh, is that is I uh donated a bike valued at $350 to Highland Elementary. Can I get a motion to accept the resolution? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second. >> Yeah. Second by Julie. Yeah. >> All right. Uh discussion. >> Go for it, Laura. As always, the generosity of our community, our former um former staff members, uh former um you know, um graduates. Um it's it's just amazing, especially in a year where we're all kind of all strapped um to see them coming out and in the same generous levels that they have done in more prosperous years. And it's very much appreciated. >> Yeah. Well said. Thank you. I just wanted to point out that the names aren't updated on the resolution. >> The resolution at the bottom needs to be adjusted. >> Yeah. >> Jenna added. Yep. >> Thank you. >> No, [laughter] no, just we're just noting it. >> Yeah. Um the part so one thing that I should add that I didn't the total fiscal year 2025 2026 monetary contribution to date is $93,254.30 which again goes to Laura's point of our community continues to be um just a wonderful support for our students and staff and it is humbling to see. So, we're very very lucky and appreciative. So, thank you. All right. If there's no further discussion, we'll move to a roll call vote if you would. Laura >> Pway >> I >> Palmer I Darus >> I >> Fodnus Mandis >> I >> H >> I >> Gremlin >> I >> thank you. Motion has passed. >> Motion carries. Thank you. All right. Next up, we will go into discussion, reports, uh, and information items. So, we'll start with reports from members of the board, and we'll start with Michelle. >> Yay. >> Yay. >> Um, so I, um, seems like I've been busier than what I have down, so I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Um, but I attended the Mima and Jazz Band concert over at CA. Um it was our first one and it was so amazing and um there was mood lighting. [laughter] It just it gave a real jazz feel. It was very fun um getting to see the students um who were amazing. I also attended the work session last week. Last week. >> Thank you. And we also um I so I work at Bethl University. Um we worked with the schools um to collaborate on some gratitude and healing events that we had last week. Um they were amazing. They both felt different. One was more workshop kind of CEU uh for for educators and social workers. Um and the other one was more for the community in which um uh Superintendent Stenvvic um kindly sent out invites to all the people. Uh so thank you so much for that. Uh, but I just I just wanted to take a moment to to acknowledge people who probably couldn't make it or or weren't there. Um, that there wasn't It was just beautiful seeing everybody come together and we all just wanted to say thank you to the community for um for being there for one another and having each other's backs during such a a critical moment. Um, and it was really fun to be able to see everybody come to the school who do not have children or who aren't as involved in the the schools. Um, so they got to come and see, you know, our performing arts center and see this the school and and so there was just new energy added into the place and so that was a really really good time and I appreciated being able to do that for folks. Um, I attended um a chair meeting or maybe two um chair meetings and then um I just attended the teacher of the year um I'm going to let someone else say the name. I >> don't Nicole Herie. Okay, >> I didn't want to butcher it cuz I could see it in my head, but um it was really nice to see another, you know, ceremony of that. She gave some great words and and appreciation um to her role as well as the district, and it was very very heartfelt and and nice of her. Um and I also attended the um the committee, the subcommittee for community engagement and legislative action committee before this. We need to do something about these names. [laughter] Just want to put that out there because I am I am struggling. I did it though. But anyway, um thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much, Laura. >> Um well, I I don't have a lot to report. Um I did attend the conferences um over at the high school um uh the work uh study session last week. Um which we had boy, we had a really really indepth discussion on many of the topics that we're going to actually be uh voting on this evening. um you know, including the budgetary forecasts as well as um some of the the um struggles that we're going to be having um and how we're going to be working with those and the great incredible work that our that our uh administration always does on uh making sure that it stays as far away from the students as possible. It's very much appreciated. Um also the special call meeting um and a policy subcommittee just prior to this. We're just going to leave it at that. Thank you, Jessica. >> Thank you, Chair Granland. Um, since our last meeting, um, like many of you, I attended, uh, the district gratitude event that was held for the community. Um, and I also attended the work session last week. Um, and in between those things, I attended a symposium at Mitchell Hamlin on social connectedness and the power of social connectedness as a driving force um, to create agency, to advance equity, to advance social justice um, and to increase sense of belonging. Um and it was really interesting to attend that symposium um which was presented through like a public policy lens sort of sandwiched in between um these two discussions in our community. So the gratitude event and seeing um sort of visibly the bridge um between our district and our greater community. Um and then having discussion at the work session about um how we sort of um harness um those relationships moving forward to continue to strengthen our community. Um just made me think about a lot of those a lot of those things. So I know we're going to be having more discussion about that um moving forward. Um but I just wanted to kind of share um some thinking that um I've been doing about that as a result of that symposium. Um in addition to that, I attended um PTO meetings at both Columbia Academy and Highland as they're planning to wrap up the end of the year with some um celebrations and in-person um activities for families, which is really exciting. Um, I also attended uh Highland's Fine Arts Night last week, which was an incredibly packed event that featured um not only a band concert and a uh choir concert of third, fourth, and fifth graders. Um, but also had a visual out display, it had um animation that students had created on a loop like claimation projects and a science fair. So, there was a lot going on that night and lots of families coming together, which was great to see. Um, I also uh uh went to um one of the recent uh Columbia Heights boosters meeting to get a sense of the ways that they're um currently supporting our community and what they're looking to do over the next several months to support um athletics and activities in our district. Um, I attended the subcommittee on policy just prior to this meeting and I was also able to attend the um, teacher of the year reception for Nicole Hergy. Um, and I'm so pleased that she was honored and recognized um, by her peers and also to see that 710 um, honored a social worker um, this year. It was really wonderful to see and there were um folks from all over the district, all of our buildings over at Valley View in the media center to celebrate her and um the impact she has on students. So that was great. Thank you. >> Wonderful. Thank you, Julie. >> Yeah. Um last week I attended the work session um with all of you and um before this meeting at the community subcommittee on community engagement and legislative action committee. Um, and then I did as treasurer have my review of December, January, and February financial information provided by Director Henkins. And um, one of the things that I noted is we did receive our $18 million from our bond sales. So um that is available now to spend down which we've as of J end of February I think we spent about 1.3 and that's just startup type costs. We we'll be seeing more of that going out um coming coming soon. Um but I you know I I do look at all the vouchers and all the um checks that went out considering my name is on them as a signature. So, it's important that that I get like personal um into it. And I have, you know, every time I've seen a new vendor or um an what I would consider just new, um I generally Google the vendor and go, "Oh, that makes sense." So, I haven't found anything that's unusual. Um and as I've gotten more and more experience, um the vendors are very consistent. you know, we generally use the same vendors, but also um the expenses seem to be more consistent as well. So, just to let you know, didn't see anything weird. [laughter] >> That sounds good. Uh all right. Thank you. Uh I'll go next. Don't worry, John. I didn't forget about you. Um so, it's been a while since we've had a formal meeting. I've had lots of conversations with other elected officials. Um, I spoke with Ilhan Omar's office um about sort of, you know, what's what we're doing in the district and how we're still continuing to respond to um to uh our students coming back and what the plan was there. Um, I was also able to attend um I to join Superintendent Steenic and Representative Feist uh at Valley View for a tour which was wonderful. Um, I also was able on April 13th to go to the state capital and um provide testimony at the Ways and Means Committee to talk about the impact of um the Operation Metro Surge on our school district. Not only the impact on uh our students and staff and community as a whole, but also the financial impact that it is causing our school district like many other school districts. um what that sort of what that looks like. Um I also was able to attend the the gratitude event uh that the district had and it was really wonderful. I actually had people come up even over the last week and tell me what a great um opportunity it was and they really enjoyed it. So, uh much much thanks given to Superintendent Demik and to Vice Chair Pway um along with uh Stephanie and Nick Zimtt. Uh it was a really wonderfully well put together event and um I think it was you all did a fantastic job with that. Uh we had our work session last week as well. Um and carnival at Valley View, which of course you can't miss that. Um and then there was a some mutual aid events that happened as well. So I was able to attend a 10,00 cranes folding ceremony or um not ceremony, 10,00 cranes folding uh event in order to help raise funds. and I see that they've raised $3,000 from that, which is fantastic. So, that's donations from all over the world >> [snorts] >> um coming in. So, we sat and we folded a lot of cranes. There's still more to fold and that's okay. That's part of what what it's all about. And then uh on Saturday night, I also attended a a benefit concert for mutual aid as well. So, that was a lot of fun. Um and then before this, I also attended the teacher of the year ceremony and the policy subcommittee. we decided to say no thanks to the chair meeting because we had a lot of other things [laughter] going on right beforehand and it was more important for us to go to the teacher of the year than it was to to talk about what we're going to talk about right now. So uh all right then we'll go to Jenna. Thank you. So I was able to attend the fine arts night like Jessica at Highland which was an absolute blast. It was it had a showcase of music, choir and band as she said, but also art and they had a um science fair. So, it was impressive to see so many elements put together and it was just so joyous to see families coming to an event like this after so many cancelled events. It had great turnout. It was packed um and everybody seemed to have a great time. And beyond that, I also have been um serving on a planning committee for another end ofear event that Highland will throw to and that will be another great way for families to come together. >> Awesome. [clears throat] Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. And also, you attended the uh You're trying to get out of saying it, weren't you? The subcommittee meeting before. [laughter] >> Oh, that's right. And I attend. Yeah, that's right. The subcommittee meeting. Can't forget. [laughter] Um, wonderful. All right, Superintendent Denick. >> Uh, I want to thank the voters for coming out to vote in our April election. It's unusual for us to have an election outside of November. I just, however, it was necessary given the previous resignation of a board member and just wanted to welcome our new member uh, Jennifis. Um, compensatory revenue continues to be a serious financial issue for our school district. We did send out a sample letter for parents and community members um to send to Minnesota lawmakers. Just as a reminder, there's only a few weeks left in the session. Um, I participated in the Native American student trip to Malax for the big drum ceremony and I appreciate Chief Virgil Wind for hosting our school group at that important event. Um, as was mentioned on April 17, we hosted a community gratitude event to thank the community for all of their support this year. The event included student speakers, parent testimonials, musical performances, and really great food. Um, and the event was made possible by um generous donations. Lastly, I recently had the opportunity to meet with Caroline Kennedy. Um, and she asked me to be one of the four people to represent the courageous people of the Twin Cities um, in accepting the 2026 profile and courage award. So, um, this is a responsibility that I take very seriously. That's my report. >> All right. Thank you. Next up, we'll go to student school board representatives. Kade, what have you been up to? >> Um, I haven't really been up to much. I went to Max with Zena and that was very fun. Um, Big Drum was a very nice and healing time. And honestly, that's kind of all I've been up to. Next week, we start layout for journalism. So, I'm pretty excited for that. And I'm still writing my indigenous representation story about um just indigenous representation in media and in like places like schools because not a lot of schools have as much representation as we have. So that's all I've been up to. >> Wonderful. Thank you. All right. Next up we have uh Assistant Superintendent Bondo Nimboy. and we're talking about the James R. Hemac Junior Achievement Fund. Welcome, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent Bundo Yamboy. >> Thank you. Good evening, Chair Groundland, Superintendent Stanvvic, and members of the board. Um I am here to talk to you about the James R. Emac Colombia Heights Junior Achievement Fund. Uh our mission Colombia public school creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learner. All belong and all succeed. Uh all our core values will be represented tonight in this presentation as you will see. And this is anformational presentation and no governance questions. So it is important to note that partnership are essential to the academic learning and the livelihood of students. And so Colombia Heights has a strong partnership with junior achievement and we've had it for the past few years. To give us some context, we know that student programs are central to academic success and many high impact program rely on short-term variable funding and that's why some schools are limited in programs that they're offered to their students. But we also know that budget constraints of which we know of uh and competing priorities limit sustainability. And so an endowment support continuity, equity, long-term planning, and that's why we went and we're seeking an endowment. It's also important to know that as we look at programs that we bring for our students, we make sure that they're aligned to district priorities. You're familiar with our comprehensive achievement and civic readiness plan. And the fifth element in that is lifelong learning. And the programs that we'll be talking about today are indeed lifelong learning. And so our program support the district strategic plan vision 2030 and they also advance equitable access to enrichment of program for our students. More importantly, they reinforce the whole child. So we don't just focus on academic, we look at social, emotional and provide students opportunity to participate in non-academic activities. And finally, we know that those programs strengthen the district's stability. So it's important for us to share about the James R. Emac Colombia Heights Junior Achievement Fund. It's a long name, but beautiful. So after partnering for so long with Junior Achievement, we realized that it was important for us to continue to provide our students with these highquality programs. So we reached out to Jim Hac and made a proposal to fund our program for 10 years. Well, Jim came back with a big bang >> and agreed to donate $200,000 to Colombia public school and start an endowment that will support and sustain this partnership with Junior Achievement for many years to come. So these programs are JAB town, JA finance park and personal finance. So the goal of the endowment is that we will invest this money so that we can get the interest and use that interest to fund this program annually. So that's a long-term sustainable plan. So a little bit about Jim Hac's a Colombia graduate from the class of 1965. He was the alumni of distinction in 2018. is an avid supporter of Columbia Heights student. He's a supporter of junior achievement program both locally and across the country. And we know that he's also a retired entrepreneur and business owner and he continue to serves on the Junior Achievement Foundation board of directors. And Jim is in the room with us for those who don't know it. >> So, a little bit about the Junior Achievement program. So, at the elementary level, we have J Bistown, a wonderful program that combines in-class learning with a dayong visit to a simulated town. This is where elementary school students, but in Colombia, it's only fifth graders >> who get to go and do what you do on a regular basis. They learn how to work in a city. They vote for a mayor and they get to work, get paid, spend money and write checks. So they have clear objectives and within a 4hour period they've experience what we do as adult. Our second program is JA finance park. J Finance Park is a middle school program but in Colombia it's only for our eighth grade student. uh they provide personal financial planning and career exploration. When they go and participate in that culminating activity, they are able to identify career interest. They define taxes and explain their purposes. Uh they create successful budget using hypothetical life situations. My favorite is when these eighth graders go and they assign them the role of parent. You're a single parent with two kids and you have to put your kids in daycare and they have to come up with a budget and pay for daycare and others are married with two children and others are you know the scenario goes on and there are multiple station where they get to experience this livelihood of learning a real life experiences. Our third program is for high schoolers and it's a financial literacy. Basically student get to learn about financial literacy in a semester long course that is led by a teacher and the application are real world applications right they apply these standardsbased concept to real to the real world and they analyze a business solution principle through the use of a case study so examples we've had some history with junior achievement and uh you can see starting in 2022 23 until 2020 25 our fifth graders. You can see there is consistency in terms of our numbers and in case you're wondering in 2223 uh North Park did not participate because they had already participated in Star Lab that's why that number is 171 otherwise would have been 225 and then you can see in 2025 26 we've been talking about drop in enrollment and that's why we have 202 student as opposed to 220 When we look at eighth grade for finance park in 23 24 pretty consistent and then there is a jump for this year. >> It's because we went from only having the eighth grade AVID students to having the whole eighth grade uh uh participating and let me throw in a plug J Finance Park is happening tomorrow in the Highlander Center uh and the following day. So instead of going to the junior achievement, they created a mobile JF finance park and so we're piloting it in our uh Highlander Center and some of you are signed up to volunteer. And then the uh personal finance uh with junior achievement uh started this semester in 2026. So what do we say? A story [laughter] a picture is worth a thousand word. You're laughing so you've read it. I'm not going to read it for you. Right. [laughter] Here's another picture. [clears throat] And that wonderful volunteer is Jim Emac who was there working alongside our students. And these are students from Highland. So the first the past four years we've been able to send our students to junior achievement because every year we went back to Jim and he was able to provide some bridge funding. And that the idea there was give a little and help a lot. And uh we know that for the next h 100 years, Jim has given a lot a guarantee for our students to experience what he experienced and what they can become as they go through the walls of Colombia public schools. And so this endowment reaffirms a commitment to students and longterm success for our students. This picture is two years ago, I believe, when Jim recruited his former classmate from the class of 1965. Those are the young guys in the back with yellow shirts and they were volunteering at JAB town. So, to that we say thank you, Jim, for supporting Columbia Heights Public Schools. >> Yeah. Well said. >> And I'll take any questions. >> Go ahead, Michelle. Um, yeah. So, I actually had the opportunity to volunteer at Bistown last year. Um, and it was so fun watching all the students with their credit cards go to the the real looking US Bank ATM and the, you know, um, the people who were work the cafe who had to, you know, serve uh, lemonade and cookies and you had to go buy it with your money. Like, it was so fun watching them kind I worked at Excel with the students. It wasn't that [laughter] I don't think they enjoyed mine as much, but they learned something. But, um, it was just fun watching them in their roles and how serious they took them. There was even a student who made business cards because he was going to be like a shop owner and, you know, I mean, he took it very he dressed the part, too. Like, it was really fun to watch. So, um, I do just want to say thank you for giving them that opportunity. my daughter actually uh participated that day and um and and it was so fun to just watch them uh understand, right? They they're they're having fun because they're doing something, but they're actually like, "Oh, this is what that is." Or, "Oh, I have to pay my bills or, you know, I have to do this thing or they weren't paying their light bills, their electric bills." So, we're going around to different shops going, "Hey, where's my money?" >> [laughter] >> um you know and so having them do that was just it was it was fun. I love seeing um I love seeing the illumination right um on a child's face when they finally understand something. Um and I love that these are this is a sustainable way, right? It's not just fifth grade, then it's age appropriate into eighth grade and age appropriate now into high school. And so yeah, I think this is amazing and I'm I'm I'm so happy about it. So thanks again. >> Yeah. Julie, >> I know. I participated in Junior Achievement when I was in high school and just felt like it was such a great experience. We actually made a product product and had to sell it. Um, but one of the things that is really fantastic about this program is that parents during our um strategic planning process really wanted our kids to learn more about finance and and personal finance. And I this is actually a great program to help do that. And so what a great um partnership to you know that our community was able to um voice that and now we have a way of also um educating our students in a real world world manner. So thank you so much for your gift >> Jessica. Thank you for the presentation and I just want to um add my own uh gratitude for your generous gift. Um I think this is a really powerful and engaging program. Um and as as Julie said, it does meet a lot of needs of our families and in our community. Um and I as I actually am a parent of an eighth grader and a fifth grader this year. So they are both going to have their own junior achievement experiences in the next week. Um, and uh, I know from what they've uh, been telling me about how um, these experiences are incorporated in the classroom. So, this isn't a one or two day field trip. Um, these are they they they prepare for this in their in their classes. Um, I know my eighth graders been working on a project as part of Finance Park. My eighth grader when uh, still talks about when he was a fifth grader and went to Bistown and got a speeding ticket. [laughter] So, he has been uh trying to to scare my fifth grader a little bit to keep keep it slow. Um, and my fifth grader is very excited to be part of uh UPS next week at Biztown. So, he was telling me all about that. Um, but I I also I just wanted to extend my gratitude. you know, you mentioned several times um the the importance of consistency of these experiences and um we're not always able as a district to extend these opportunities um to students every year or students across entire grade levels. Um and so having um an endowment to be able to offer this to all of our fifth graders and all of our eighth graders um in perpetuity is incredible. So, thank you very much for that. Yeah, >> Mr. Heck, would you like to come up and say anything? >> You can go uh right by director or assistant superintendent name. >> And I should add that on that same day when the class of 1965 was volunteering, Patricia was also there volunteering. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank Thank you, B. >> Well, Bond Bondo is a heck of a salesman, [laughter] but it really didn't take a lot of selling. be such a terrific supporter of Junior Achievement and and he's such a wonderful wonderful person. And yes, I'd like to acknowledge my wife who's also a supporter of this program as well. My wife Pat who's here with us. Um my Junior Achievement journey started in the auditorium right across the road here um in 10th grade where they put out a presentation for Junior Achievement and it became a life-changing experience for me participating in that J company program we we we we had and and my connection to Junior Achievements remained strong for the years. Actually, after graduating from from from the U and having some time in the military, I spent 16 years working professionally for Junior Achievement um and my dedication to the program. And then after that, I took up the entrepreneurial part of the uh experience from Junior Achievement and and became involved with Great Clips as a one of their earliest franchises. And so for 35 years, that's what I did. Um but uh it it it's so u pleasing and and and so uh such internal gratitude and and um and affection for the Columbia School District and my loyalty and and commitment to this district and and Bondo says we come I have a group of the 1965 graduates. We come to a basketball game every year and um um and have a good time and and and still stay connected. we'd have more volunteers in the classroom, but if you start figuring out the math from 1965 to now, [laughter] we're getting tougher and tougher to be on our feet. So, uh, it becomes a little more difficult to to recruit the recruit the volunteers. Um, but I'm so excited for this program and for its sustaining part to it. And I'll just throw out one little added little twist to this and and Superintendent Zena and Bondo know and u we're hopefully establishing and going to establish another program with junior achievement at the high school level called 3DE which is just incredibly transformative experience. Um we're uh they it's in 68 high schools in the United States right now. Three in the St. Paul district, Harding, uh, Washington Tech in Komo Park. And the results have been just incredible in terms of the increased student achievement, the reduction of disciplinary action, the um, attendance growing and and and and very uh, very bottom line statistically proven results of the of the of the program. And I'm sure hopefully you'll hear hear more about that in the future and really hopefully to be starting that program here. So, so just the final thing though, um you folks have just been through hell and back over the last few months and and you've done a just a wonderful job in the public image of of of being so professional and so supportive and I just have to commend um the leadership of the district, the school board, the staff, the faculty, the the students in terms of how professionally you've handled this. I'm very very proud to be part of this district and having experienced that and you guys just you went through such a difficult time and and um and thank you very much made me very proud and my my colleagues other graduates of the district very proud what you've done. So thank you >> thank you so much for that. Um >> you're welcome. Uh, as a parent of a current 12th grader and a ninth grader, uh, my kids have missed most of these junior achievement opportunities. Um, because they weren't in the right grade for it. I don't think they were they quite made it. Um, and I there's so much value in in all of it. And I'm very excited to volunteer tomorrow so I get to finally see what all of my friends have been talking about with their younger kids. Um and also just thank you very much for for your comments about um how it's been and acknowledging that. Thank you very much. That means a lot. >> All right, with that um >> we uh No, we'll go over here in a second. Uh we present we're going to present uh in recognition and deep appreciation. >> We have a flag for you. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Oh, did we hug? I'm like, are we supposed to >> we get to share? >> All right. It says, "In recognition and deep appreciation of James R. He alumni of distinction, we're establishing an endowment that will support Columbia Heights Public School students in perpetuity through financial and business education. >> Oh, thank you so much. >> You're part of it. picture now. >> Oh, wow. >> Now we're going to shift [laughter] where I am. >> Yes, that's perfect. >> Yeah. Yes. Stay in. Yeah. Both of you. Yeah. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Oh, you're welcome. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. I almost tripped on it twice. >> A fancy box. [laughter] Thank you. >> Oh, thank you so much. >> Wonderful to meet you. >> Take care. >> And this is the portion where we say you're welcome to stay, but you don't have to. >> But we gave them that heads up ahead of time. So, >> um, wow, what a gift. >> All right, take a deep breath so I don't cry. Um, next up we have the ESSA grants with uh director of teaching and learning for now Tara Tuck. [laughter] >> It was in the approval like it's not a good thing in the personnel report. >> I know it sounded way more ominous than it was. Yes, it did. >> It is not ominous. Everybody look at the personnel report. It's a good thing. [laughter] I did wonder if this is my last time doing this one or not, but who knows? >> I had a >> It's been years. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, Chair Granland, members of the board, superintendent Denvvic. I'm here annually to share about our federal ESSA grants or Every Student Succeeds Act grants, which include title one, two, three, and four. Our mission in Columbia Heights Public Schools of creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learner. All belong, all succeed. And this evening's presentation focuses a lot on excellence, collaboration, integrity, and innovation. And our Columbia Heights core values are aligned with Columbia Heights Board of Education equity statement. I'm here tonight with information on our allocations for the FY27 school year. And I will be returning May 12th with an action item seeking approval of the preliminary federal ESSA grant funding. Our focus of a lot of our title grants focuses on all parts of our vision 2030, all three areas, but with a big focus on academic growth. So really looking at how we support with resources to support our students as well as our staff with academic achievement and growth. Title One's purpose is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity for highquality education. The key activities are determined at the school and district level and are decided by a team which includes families, students, and staff. In Columbia Heights, we have focused our key activities on supplemental materials to support academic support, instructional coaching and leadership, family engagement, which we heard a lot about this evening about the different events happening, support for students who are experiencing homelessness or in foster care. And then we are also required by um federal law to support non-publix within our school district which qualify. So within Columbia Heights, we have two um schools that qualify, Immaculate Conception and Little Voyagers. And we have a strong collaboration with them. And so each of them have the opportunity to accept the funding or not depending on if they want to. And we work with them throughout the school year. So with non-public, they're able to support with materials and a title one teacher. And for title one, Immaculate Conception has accepted the funding. So we've been working with them on that. Our projection for FY27 recently came out and the projection up there is around 969,000. On the right you'll see a comparison to previous years. We receive an initial allocation around this time around May and then we receive another allocation later on which means it's an increase or it's a decrease. Well, we don't usually decrease, it's an increase. And the reason it increases is federal government um gives the state the allocations for the state. The state divides it up by the school districts that qualify for it. And if the school districts or the schools choose not to, that funding goes back into the state and then they reallocated to the school districts who have said yes, I would like the funding. So usually we'll see an increase or we will see a zero change when it comes to the final allocation. But looking at our initial allocation, it has gone down a little from last school year, which isn't an indication on our school district. It's an indication on how the state is doing itself economically. So in comparison to other states, our allocation as a state went down, which would mean that ours would also go down. Looking at how we estimate how we're using the funding for next school year, the majority of funding is on staffing. We really focus in on the fact that having highquality teachers, coaches, and leaders are what will support our students best. Title two is focused on professional development to increase access to effective educators through professional development, recruitment, and retention. And once again, the key activities are determined by a team. Our key activities in Columbia Heights include coaching, professional development around the key areas of math, science, literacy, AVID, PLC's, and MTSS or multi-tered systems of support and then supporting our non-public and our non-public in the past that have um agreed to the title 2 funding has been Little Voyagers and Immaculate. Our projection for FY27 for title 2 has gone up in our initial allocation. So it's around 143,000. And once again, we do spend quite a bit on staffing. So that instructional coaching is a big piece in here to support our staff. We have found that professional development, the one and done doesn't work well for supporting our students with academic growth. And really that coaching where the coach can go into the classroom and support the teacher and provide that on the spot professional development or modeling or planning has shown a larger increase in that. So we're able to support it with title two. Title 3's focus is on our multilingual learners. So aims to ensure that English language learners and support with English language proficiency and meeting challenging state academic content. And our title 3K activities um include teacher support, language support, family involvement, and our non-public mandatory support which includes immaculate conception. And our projection for title three for next school year has gone down quite a bit. Um and the majority of this once again is in staffing. It supports our liaison in our schools as well as our coordinator and coaching within that. We also in the past have received title 3A. Title 3A supports schools that have had an increase of new to country students and families. Last school year we did not qualify for that funding as it's dependent upon what other schools are seeing as well. So if we are one of the top schools seeing a huge increase in it, we receive the funding. Last school year we didn't. We don't usually know this until October. So, I added it on there just in case we do receive the funding, but we won't be notified yet until then. And the focus of Title 3A funding really is on supporting our new to country families and students. So, with family involvement and supplemental language materials, Title 4 focus is really on that well-rounded education and activities to support safe and healthy students, including technology to improve academic and digital literacy. So within well-rounded it supports in Columbia height STEM, it supports accelerated learning. Um it supports arts safe and healthy supports physical education and social emotional technology as professional learning tools as well as professional development. And then our nonpublic mandatory supports include little voyagers and Immaculate Conception. Our projection for title 4 has also went down um from our initial allocation in FY26. And the majority of this funding really does go to support innovativeness in these areas. So working with arts teachers and our STEM our new STEM classes at the high school and supporting with materials, professional development, and resources. So, I'll be back again on May 12th seeking approval of the preliminary federal ESSA grant funding for the 2627 school year. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> Questions? >> Do we have any question? >> I'm sorry. >> No, no, no, no, no, no. Don't be sorry at all. I just chuckled because this is just what we do know. We just go financial stuff questions. Go ahead, Julie. >> I just have a question about on every slide we have that anticipated rollover from the previous year. Could you explain how that it it looks like pretty significant dollars is rolling forward. Could you explain why? >> Depending on each school year, we work with a finance department to look at the allocation we have and plan out our activities. In some years, and we have seen that recently, a lot of different things has happened happen that have not allowed us to do some of our planned activities. So we work with director Henkin and his team to say these are the activities that probably won't happen and the funding is still there. Each of these titles have different requirements. So for example, title four that's up here, we can carry money over and then there's requirements and compliance around how long you can carry money over all the different pieces for us. So we work with them closely on that. But from what we've anticipated or what we've planned or if we planned for different professional development that didn't happen then we have carryover from that. >> Thank you. >> Great question. Any other questions? >> Go ahead, Jessica. >> I'll go. Go ahead. >> I I just was looking for some clarification around what you were saying about how the states are allocated money. So you're saying that the that the state allocation that they get from the federal government is based on like the changes in that you were saying is based on how well the state is doing. >> So the way that it's calculated yes you're correct. So looking at the federal level they have amount allocated. the state receives a fund the funds from the federal government dependent upon different numbers and census that they look at to see economically how the state is doing. So it could be that we're a very diverse school district and we're sitting here in comparison to a different state and getting a different amount because it's dependent upon the states. So dependent upon the state allocation then it's divided into school districts based upon our needs and supports. >> Okay. So, could you give me an example of a criteria that goes into looking at how like would you say how states are doing like what's a what's an example of something that they look at? >> I can get you the exact calculations that they have because originally when I looked at it, it was like, oh, you go by this number, but it really goes by the census on your economic pieces of the state. So, I can get the exact poverty level like >> Yes. Yes. Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. That's helpful. >> I don't know the exact numbers, so I didn't want to say it's exactly this, but they look at the overall economic for the state. >> I see. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Helpful. Go ahead, Julie. >> Um, I was just, is there a And I noticed it says conferences and things like that. Is there a process that has to go through approval for each one of these types of grants? So you guys administer like having to fill out forms and go, okay, this is the conferences that our teachers are going to attend or anything like that. How much administrative work is the title money? >> Quite a bit. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Yes, it's a lot. Um, we have a process for each of these pieces. It has to go through pre-approval. It has to match the goals of the grant. Every within these numbers are multiple categories and within that has to have a goal and all the activities have to match that goal. and through working with the finance department, he's back there smiling, nodding his head. We go through a lot of auditing just on federal title grants and there has to be a process that's in compliance with the Department of Education for each of them. >> Thank you. >> You're right. There's a lot in there. [laughter] >> Any other questions? >> All right. No other questions, but we will see this as action item on May 12th. >> Thank you very much. >> Next up, we have action items. First up is discontinuence and reduction of positions for 2026 2027 with Director Lindseay Bennett and Director Brian Henkins. Chair Granley, members of the board, superintendent Denvvic. Last week we discussed at the work session information about um position reductions for next school year. Um we do have to make budget reductions due to declining enrollment and possible state funding of compensatory aid. Um revenue being decreased. Um staff reductions were determined based on enrollment numbers. Um so tonight we're here seeking approval of this resolution. Okay, this is a resolution so I will read it. Resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of the teaching contracts of probationary teachers. Whereas the following persons are probationary teachers in the independent school district number 13. See list below. Be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 13 that pursuant to Minnesota statutes 122A. 40 subdivision 5, the teaching contracts of those persons listed on page two of this resolution, probationary teachers in Independent School District number 13 are hereby terminated and not renewed at the close of the current 2025 2026 school year. Be it further resolved that written notice be sent to said teachers regarding termination and non-renewal of their contract as provided by law and that said notice shall be insubstantially in the following form notice of termination and non-renewal. It then says, "Dear blank, you are hereby notified that at a regular meeting of the school board of school independent school district number 13 held on April 28th, 2026, a resolution was adopted to terminate your contract effective at the end of the current school year and to not renew your contract for the 2026, 2027 school year. Said action of the board is taken pursuant to Minnesota statute 122A. 40 subdivision five. Can I get a motion to accept the resolution? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Julie. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Laura. >> Granland. >> I think you read the wrong resolution or they might be out of order. >> There's two. >> Yeah, >> there's two of them. >> I have the probationary teachers. >> Yes, that'd be the third one. [snorts] That's what's listed on the first. >> That's what's listed first in mine and on board book. >> Oh, probationary one. >> The resolution for probationary teacher terminations um I think is erroneously attached to the agenda item on discontinuous and reduction of positions. >> Thank you for clarifying one. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> I do probationary teachers first. >> We'll do that one since I just read it. >> That sounds good. Yeah. >> Parliamentarian is that >> is that okay that we go out of order of the agenda. >> Sorry. I'm just trying to understand this. >> It was also in order of paper. Um, Chair Grelin, I'm noticing that we actually don't have a resolution for discontinuence and reductions of positions attached to any of the agenda items. So, um, >> Oh, >> yeah. Yeah, this one just >> I we could either move to take up the resolution on teacher terminations item 10 C first while we figure that out or we could pause while we get that out to members. I suggest we take a quick pause because this is serious enough that I want to make sure that we have >> Do I have All right. >> Do we have to make a motion for that? >> I I think we would. >> No, they're both the probation. >> What? >> I think if we do move this out of order, we'd actually have to vote on that. >> Yeah, we do have to change the agenda midstream. >> We've never Let's >> You call for a short recess? >> Thank you. Yeah, I would like to call for a short recess. Uh, can I get a motion to call for a fiveminute recess? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Julie. Can I get a second? >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> All right. We're going to take a quick five minute hold. Please stand up. and I said and there's no Okay. I it was it's a five minute so we have less than 30 seconds left and we'll come back to order. I'll call us to order. >> Okay. All right. Meeting called back to order at 71. If you could please call roll again. Laura >> Pway. >> Oh, here. Sorry, weird. >> Palmer here. Maderas >> here. >> Uh, Bodnes Bondis >> here. >> H >> here. >> And Brenland >> here. Thank you very much. Um before we move on, there was a motion on the table. Uh would you like to >> I would withdraw my motion. >> All right. >> I will second that. >> All right. Thank you. Okay. Now, now we will move forward in the appropriate manner. We will start with the discontinuence and reduction of positions for 2026 2027. >> [snorts] >> Um this is a resolution so I will read it out. Resolution discontinuing and reducing positions due to enrollment in departmental in departmental efficiencies. Whereas the school board of independent school district number 13 adopted a resolution on January 20th, 2026 directing the administration to make recommendations for reductions in programs and positions. And whereas said recommendations have been received and considered by the school board, be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 13 as follows. The following positions or positions thereof be discontinued due to enrollment program elimination circular changes and departmenturricular I'm sorry curricular changes and departmental efficiencies 11.0 FTE net licensed teacher positions 2.0 0 FTE licensed/nonaffiliated district center positions 2.0 FTE non-licensed secondary positions. The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly well can I get a motion to accept the resolution? >> So moved. >> Thank you Julie. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Say a second by Laura. Uh discussion. I will go first. Um we don't have >> we don't have the list of teachers that are not that are the positions that we are we don't have the list of positions is that in board book now >> because that was not included in what we were passed out >> these three this is >> that this isn't the positions >> this is the resolution discontinuing the positions and then the next two resolutions. >> Got it. Yep. Okay. All right. I think another Okay. Any other discussion? Go ahead, Laura. >> Uh, we had extensive conversations about this at our work study session. Um, and this is just about the overall impact that we've had to make with our budgetary changes and our um our enrollment uh challenges and yeah, a lot was taken into consideration. Hence, um, lots of discussion other discussion. Go ahead, Jessica. >> Um, I I just wanted to note I want to start off, I guess, by noting that this resolution uh does identify uh 15 FTE positions that are being eliminated. Um and I just want to be very clear that that doesn't mean that um there will be 15 terminations of employees. Um as Laura mentioned, we did have discussion about this at the work session and many of these be these cuts are um coming these eliminations are coming as a result of or were able to um make them as a result of um attrition. um not all of them. Um that being said, I want to be very clear that 15 full-time positions in the district has a devastating impact >> across all of our buildings and on our staff and on our families. I know that um Superintendent Stenick and her leadership team, including all of the building principles, work very hard to find ways of balancing our budget that have the least impact possible and that prioritize our mission in the classroom. However, there's no way to do that with 15 positions across the district and not have detrimental impact. I'm really frustrated that we're in this position as a district right now um through even though we've had very strong community support for um our last uh referendum, even though I know that our administrative team including Superintendent Stenic and our entire school board has worked very hard to make good budget decisions and try to provide all of our students with equitable academics and opportunities in and outside of the classroom. When um Director Bennett was talking about this resolution, she mentioned that we are facing declining enrollment and uncertainty about revenue coming for the from the state. And while we are seeing declining enrollment and that does have an impact on our budget, the reason we're in this position and having to cut another million dollars from our district is most related to the uncertainty of funding cuts that we're seeing coming from the state, particularly around compensatory funding in the neighborhood of 3.63.7 63 $3.7 million and in potential special special education cuts. We have done a lot of advocacy. I know our staff, our community members, our parents continue to do a lot of advocacy to talk to our lawmakers about how these cuts impact our district. But we are a small district. a million dollars to us to cut in a single year from our district is is major, right? 15 positions. Having to cut potentially close to $4 million from a budget of a district our size is going to continue to eliminate programs and opportunities across all of our buildings. It's going to put our students in a really perilous position of not having the same opportunities as our neighboring district through no fault of district budget management, no fault of our supportive community. And as a parent in this district who saw many years of escalating cuts and then have has been able to see some consistency in funding through the support of the community the last couple of years. It's really heartbreaking >> to have to sit at this table and be back in a position where we're cutting a million dollars again. And so, um, I just want everyone in the community to understand that. I want our staff to understand that we recognize that these this level of cuts across our district has impact on their working conditions. And just to make sure that we're advocating publicly in this board meeting to say that this is going to have impacts over many years. Um cutting a million dollars this year is is just the beginning for us unfortunately if these proposed legislative cuts end up hitting our district the way that they look like they could. So, I know we'll all continue to advocate. I hate that we're in this position and I I I hope that we're in a position next year to be able to restore essential programs and positions and be able to show our community that all of the families in Columbia Heights, our students in Columbia Heights matter just as much as students in our neighboring communities and they deserve the same opportunities as everyone else. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you and very very well said. >> Couldn't add to that. >> Um last week at our work session when we were discussing the proposed cuts and when we hear it from state level legislature they're pretty I will say it turn and at times it feels very flippant that we are facing these cuts like it should be no big deal. Other districts are weathering it, but our district can't afford it. And we had two wonderful years where we were not in this position and we climbed ourselves out of a hole. We did. >> Our school district is financially solid. It's our partners at the legislature and at the federal government that are not that are not being good partners in this. And it is incredibly frustrating to sit here from a place where we are fiscally responsible and had been thriving within the confines of the all of the the school finance. Um all of that red tape and all of the things and our our admin team, our superintendent and and those of us sitting around this table, we have advocated time and time again. our community has advocated time and time again. And yet to sit here and have to pass this through nothing that we have done is incredibly upsetting. Last week at our work session, um you know, we they talk about the blue ribbon task force and it was called the blue ribbon death squad because that is how it feels because the legislature not funding us and thinking that it is nothing, that it is not a big deal, that we should weather it. That is truly the definition of death by a thousand paper cuts. they do not care is what it feels like. And yet this is the hardest meeting that we will have all year. And this is the hardest meeting that we've had in three years. And we do not take this. This is serious. We take this very seriously and we continue to advocate because you are correct. um Jessica that that this is just the beginning unless we do something. So to the community members, to the staff, to everybody watching this, I am sorry. And also we will continue to partner with you to try and make sure that this does not define us for the next few years. soap box off. Um any other discussion? >> Go ahead. >> Thank you. I do just have a couple of questions about the um the reduction of positions themselves. So just a question to uh Director Bennett and Director Henkins. Um, can you just talk a little bit about how when you're looking at, you know, the overall million-dollar cut, what considerations go into identifying where those cuts could or would land? >> I can start. >> We did look a lot at class sizes. So due to decrease in enrollment um some class sizes at the secondary were 12 15 kids in a class. We're running 27 in elementary class. So we did look at um reductions there where we can combine classes. Um also looking at the elementaryaries it's a little bit easier because you can see each grade level how many students are in that grade level. And um we were able to make one grade level cut at each elementary school just based on numbers. >> Thank you. And um are the um building principles involved in um recommending uh these proposals? >> Yes. So, it's a lot of meetings with building principles, building administration, um, district center, really looking at where we can make reductions. Again, trying to keep them away from the classroom as much as possible, but over the years, we have made cuts away from the classroom. So, we really are running out of places to cut away from the classroom. >> Thank you. >> Great questions. Any other questions, discussion? All right, it's a resolution, so we'll need a roll call vote. >> Pway I, >> Palmer, I Maderas, >> I. >> Vodnesses Bondis >> I. >> W I, >> Bradland, >> I. Resolution carries. All right. Next up, we have the resolution discontinuence reduction programs positions nonaffiliated. So, Chair Granley, members of the board, the second resolution is to approve for the termination, elimination, and reduction of non-affiliated non-licensed positions for the 2627 school year. >> All right, it's a resolution, so I will read it. Whereas the following are positions or employees in independent school district number 13. Um be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 13 that those persons or positions listed above and independent school district number 13 are hereby terminated, eliminated or reduced at the close of the current 2025 2026 school year or the date otherwise noted. Be it further resolved that written notice be sent to employees regarding termination and eliminate termination, elimination or reduction. Can I get a motion to accept the resolution? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Julie. Discussion. >> Go ahead, Laura. >> Um, just to verify that these individuals have been notified. They have been notified and at least one of them has been asked to reapply for another position. So, okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Y great question. >> Any other discussion? >> Everything that was said in the last one will just play replay especially >> Jessica's amazingly a passion speech. So, I appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> All right. All right. If there's no further discussion, we'll move to a roll call vote if you would. Laura >> Pway. >> I. >> Palmer. >> I. Maderas. >> I. >> Fodnnesses Bondis. >> I. >> Pool. >> I. >> Granland. >> I. >> Motion. >> Resolution carries. All right. [sighs] Last up, we have resolution probationary teacher terminations. Yes, Chair Grland, members of the board, superintendent Stenvik. This is the second of two resolutions being brought forward to the board. One was brought back in March. Um, this is the non-renewal of licensed positions for teacher contracts. All right. Thank you very much. Uh, it's a resolution, so I will read this as well. Resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of the teaching contracts of probationary teachers. Whereas the following persons are probationary teachers in Independent School District number 13. Be it resolved by school board of independent school district number 13 that pursuant to Minnesota statutes 122A.40 subdivision 5, the teaching contracts of those persons listed on page two of this resolution, probationary teachers and independent school district number 13 are hereby terminated and not renewed at the close of the current 2025 2026 school year. Be it further resolved that written notice be sent to said teachers regarding termination and non-renewal of their contract as provided by law and that said notice shall be in substantially in in substantially the following form. Notice of termination non-renewal. Dear blank, you are hereby notified that at a regular school be school meeting a regular meeting of the school board of independent school district number 13 held on April 28th, 2026, a resolution was adopted to terminate your contract effective at the end of the current school year and to not renew your contract for the 2026 2027 school year. Said action of the board is taken pursuant to Minnesota statute 122A. 40 subdivision five. Can I get a motion to accept the resolution? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Julie. Second. I'll second it. Discussion. This is the one that I originally read erroneously first, so if it sounded oddly familiar, that's why. And again, go back and listen to all of our responses to the first one when we get back. >> Go ahead, Super. >> Just to um clarify for folks, the board um does, you know, approves these resolutions in two rounds. Um so as um director Bennett mentioned the first round was in March and those were largely due to performance lensure um other required um reasons for people needing to not come back such as the the tier of their license right um between the round one and round two. The district working with the building administrators do everything they can and look at all of the possibilities to keep as many people as possible. um and remain within our school bun school board policy. Um between round one and two, the district did receive um some retirements and some resignations. Um so between round one where there were required um non-renewals and a lot of the resignations or retirements um of those 15 positions um there really weren't that many more left. So I hope um there's a little bit of solace in that. Um and then secondly, I would just want to really recognize the um fiscal management of the school district of this school board and the transparency that this school board requires in terms of all of the school district finances. Um uh because with the loss of over 100 students since October, um we know that that's about $1.7 million. And but because the work of this board that you all have done over the last few years means that rather than cutting 1.7 tonight, we're looking at one. Um so Chair Granland, you mentioned, you know, you talked about fiscal responsibility, but I just wanted to give a little bit of that p that perspective. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> Any other discussion? All right. No other discussion. It's a roll call vote. If you would please order. >> Thank you. Hatway. >> Hi. >> Palmer. I >> Maderas. >> Hi. >> Vodnesses Bondis. >> Hi. >> P. >> I. >> Granland. >> I. >> Resolution carries. All right. Thank you very much. Next up, we lose director Bennett, but we retain uh Director Henigans up here for the budget summary. Uh revised 2025 2026 budget. 2025 2036. >> All right. Um, bear with me a little second. I'm gonna zoom this in. >> School budget. >> Thank you, Chair Granley, members of the board and superintendent Stembeck. >> Um, let me do some zooming here. >> Yes. Tough a little bit bigger. Oops. There we go. I think that will be good enough for this. Okay. All right. Uh so um one one of the tough things in this conversation around funding is is uh in this conversation I'm presenting a budget that um is a good budget. Um and you know we're in fiscal year 26 right now. Um as of and we're this is the revised budget for this school year. Um but in this conversation of staffing we're looking into next year. Um so I think that's one thing. um that I want to start with. Um already mentioned was the loss of enrollment and uh um and if you look at that enrollment this year it's just over 100 kids but if you compare this year to last year it's more like 160 almost 170 kids in difference. Um you a little perspective on that. Over the last um four years, we've seen consistent growth in our enrollment. Um and our enrollment actually in the um last year uh peaked at um and at the beginning of last year um over the last 30 years. So um you know, we were at a high point in our enrollment. Um but obviously there was some extenduating circumstances this year that did not help that throughout the year and that loss of over 100 kids throughout the year here. Um and then we've talked about compensatory aid and what that forecast looks like. Um uh the projection model for state aids for next year just came out this morning. I looked at that. Um and if you look at our enrollment, you look at the compensatory aid as it is today, it's just over $4 million less than state aid for next year. Um and so typically don't want to see you you don't want to see that go down. Um you know there's a revenue increase um of you know 2 to 3% on that on our on our per pupil for our general formula. And so typically you would see you know if enrollment holds steady we're just going to see that you know tick up a little bit. Um but now we're looking at that $4 million. Um, one other thing to note, um, yes, we're making this million-doll adjustment just because of that enrollment change that we talked about. There's more than the general formula reduction in aid that we receive, there's also reduction in our compensatory aid that we receive. So, given the decrease in enrollment for next year, even if the legislature acts, we're still losing $1.6 million. So, I just want to stress the importance of and that's not even talking about the special education conversations. I just wanted to stress the importance of the action that we're taking now or did take uh just previously is very important even though um I'm looking at a revised budget. We're talking about a revised budget. I'm asking to approve a revised budget that looks very positive. So, um I wanted to start with that and spend just a two minutes on that. Um we did um uh review this uh in depth in the last meeting and we talk about that a lot. Um um somebody clocked me and it was an hour. So um we did spend some significant time um discussing this. So I'm just going to kind of go over the highlights uh of the revised budget and the changes from the preliminary budget. So starting at the top um on the left column here we have our audited June 2025. So these are the the uh the reserves that we had um uh in our funds at the end audited by our auditing firm. Um so we had just under eight and a half million dollars in the unassign um and you know just under 14% uh fund balance. Um and we have $3.5 million in the assigned fund for construction projects, some for special education, some for um eel. So that's what that reserve is for. Um and then I'm going to kind of move from left to right just on the highlights. So we kind of move across the sea. Um so uh this year and our unassigned um uh currently with the revised budget about $48.5 million u in revenues that's actually up a little bit um about 600,000 from the preliminary budget. Um and there was um some some things that um caused that increase in revenue. We have you know $300,000 additional revenue in um in grants. We have um $400,000 additional revenue, $300 to $400,000 in compensatory. And so we're seeing increase in revenues in areas. Um we have additional revenue and interest earned because we have a fund balance right now. Um so all of those um you know help us in that revenue category overall in the fund. Um and then on the expenditures we actually see a decrease of about $900,000. Um we've talked about that. So, um, in, you know, original budget around a million dollars, um, uh, um, revenues, um, over expenses, and then the revised budget about $2.4 million. So, an ending fund balance of about 10.8 million, which is about 16% fund balance. So, that's where we predict right now we would we would land. Um, which is again within that fund balance policy of the school board of 10 to 18%. And maintaining that uh, assigned fund balance. Um so I I talked about uh we've talked a lot about compensatory so we'll we'll start there. Um between compensatory revenue um and our EL revenue is the total in this category they they combine them together as far as how the revenue and how we code that coming in. Um so again that increased um by by um over $300,000 um from um what we anticipated in the preliminary as our final numbers came in for the previous year. Compensatory funding is one of those that we get in rears. So our October numbers for this year um will affect our revenue for next year. Um our revenue for this year is affected by October numbers um for the previous school year. So again, that's why sometimes loss in re students um it's not a full impact in that first year, it's a full impact in that second year. Um and uh the other thing I mentioned was a grants and increase there. It's about $3.4 million. Um we received additional grants than we anticipated in the prelim. We're also attempting to spend down some grants uh with additional they're the second or third year of their grant ending. Um, so we have a little bit of expenditures left there. Um, we've we're actively applying for grants. Um, we have a position specifically that we're hoping that a grant comes in so that we can maintain that position that's on the cut list right now. Um, so but we don't we don't know yet. So um, uh, so I, you know, right now, you know, I anticipate this number to go down a little bit in our prelim, but it did go up this year, which is fantastic. It helps support additional staff for students. Um, so, uh, you get down to the bottom down here, and again, I talked about those increases a little bit. Um, so total budget, uh, in the general fund. So, this is fund one, um, of 69, uh, almost, uh, $69.5 million and our expenses at just under $67 million. So, again, about $2.5 million um, um, of revenue more than expenses. And so, about 17.6 6 million um balance. So food service um food service fund is um has been a wellunded fund um in recent history. It continues to be um we continue to work on our expenses or on our staffing as the enrollment went down um which will affect that fund balance um this year a little bit. Also we've been working on kitchen improvements um in the district. We worked on Columbia Academy previously uh last summer the the high school. This year we're working on Valley View Elementary with that um in um kind of combining projects with our IEQ project there. So um a little bit of a spend down but not much in that in that area. Uh community education um we were able to rebound that fund a little bit um in the previous year um fiscal year 25 through that audit. So, um, this year we, um, in 26 here now, uh, we anticipate a little bit of spend down. Again, um, still it's a challenging fund. Our community education funding has not increased. The general funding that we get, a lot of the funding for the program is is fees um that we receive. And, you know, we do scholarship money, we get pathways dollars, we get grant money to help support the family so that they can afford it. But um that that's uh it's it's been a tough uh fund really since co um so you go back to the 1920 school year um and it's not our district only it's districts across the state um seeing but we do have a positive fund balance there which there's a lot of districts that do not have a positive fund balance there. So we're fortunate in that um but we continue to work hard at that fund. Um, building construction fund is that uh fund six uh capital projects levy, the voter approved levy for the district. Um, and uh uh again, we're all that fund, our long-term facility maintenance fund and our capital fund. We've been working over the last few years to build those up a little bit knowing we have large projects coming and spending down those funds so that we have zero dollars in those funds at the end of the year is very challenging because as years transition over as things come up um you know like a handful of years ago about decade ago now probably but there's a pipe that runs under this facility that burst um uh under the parking lot that fed the heat for Highland um and that was a very expensive um you know, popup project um to have to dig up the parking lot in the family center and replace that pipe temporarily and then that kicked off a project to put boilers over there so they had an independent heat plant so we didn't have this problem again. Um so these are the reasons why we have these funds and we want fund balances there because those things don't happen for 10,000 or $20,000. Um they happen for $500,000 or $750,000. So they're really big things. Um and that so it's important for us to have a a good fund balance there to support that um as things move forward. Debt service again for bonds that we've sold in the district in the past. Um so that's money that we levy and then money that goes out we're able to levy a little bit more so there's always a balance there so that we can cover those payments and as that balance builds um then there's underleving that happens and the money goes back so we don't necessarily get to keep that money. Um, and then now we have uh the building construction fund as as uh member HooL mentioned earlier uh that uh $18.5 million. Um, we're anticipating to spend about 3.23 $3.3 million this year. Um, we received um a couple first pay apps. Um, and we've had the architectural fees. So that $1.3 million and we just received a um a handful probably six, seven, maybe eight uh pay apps that are still smaller because the companies are just starting. The project really kicks off in June. Um but in June's going to be a big month. So we're going to see some big ones coming in June. Um companies are buying the supplies they need to kick off in June and so we're going to start seeing those larger bills. So we do anticipate roughly that. um you know if it's under that a little bit more of it comes in July because of how things um you know um supplies and you know supplies come in and um product comes in um or the billing lag but uh which isn't a big deal um with that. So, um, and then our dental fund is is we're self-insured for dental. So, we have we we have a fund that supports the payments out, um, for for dental. Um, we collect the revenue for it, uh, to support that. Um, anticipate a little bit of downspend this year. We didn't raise dental rates this past year. Um, we're not raising dental rates currently for this next roll out of of uh uh um coming in May here for as people are enrolling for benefits for next year, but we will have to um increase the following year. So, I don't we have a we're well funded there, so I'm not terribly concerned about that. Um but we will have to have an increase after this next school year. Um and then the OPED trust for post-employment benefits um again is well funded. Um, and we continue to to support that. Um, and it or continues to earn interest and our expenses in and expenses out range a little bit, but it's around $300,000. Um, so, you know, again, the total funds looks a little different than normal because we have that extra $18.5 million in there. Um, and we don't have large expenses. So, our revenues, you know, far exceed our expenses at when you look at all funds. But that's that's the biggest reason why. So that's the revised budget. Again, seeking approval um from the school board for the revised budget um this evening. >> All right. Thank you. Can I get a motion to approve the revised budget? >> So moved. >> Julie, can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Jessica. Discussion. Um, one thing I want to to say is, you know, again, at a time where school finances are particularly under the microscope and we have several district districts that touch us that are not um that are not fiscally respons. You know, it seems as though there there's some fiscal discrepancies happening. Um, money is missing. you know, all of those things bud um budgets haven't been provided in a timely fashion to the state. And I think um again this transparency that this board has and the questions that we ask um and the thorough uh discussion that you you bring us and that we had at our work session because as we always say but it is incredibly true we had an incredibly long in-depth discussion about a lot of these different areas and had an opportunity to talk with director Henkins about those things. Um, I think again our school district is incredibly fiscally responsible and especially when you are looking and hearing about what's happening in in other districts around the metro and around the state. So, um, thank you for your stewardship on that. Thank you for your leadership with that as well, superintendent um, and the rest of the board members for asking these really hard-hitting questions. and um and continuing to call out for transparency. >> Yeah. Any other com? Go ahead, Laura. >> I I just have one real quick. Um now the the fund right now for the building fund, uh we have that in some sort of an interestbearing account. >> I would assume we gain interest. We have investments with that fund. Um with that those bonded dollars, um there's a cap on how much interest we can earn. So, we work with Ellers um our financial advisor to monitor those investments to make sure that um we're we're maximizing our interest that we can earn um but we're not over um earning our interest um because then we just have to pay it back. So, >> that is so ironic. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> It really is. I you know, I just I just wanted that said out loud. I was just like, well, they they it's okay to make a little bit to offset your cost, but but heaven forbid we should make enough to really make an impact. >> But thank you. >> Yes. Any other questions? >> Go ahead, Jessica. >> Just I guess point of discussion comment. >> Yes. Thank you for the presentation. I especially appreciate you setting the context at the beginning of um the presentation about um how this uh revised budget fits into our overall budget picture when we're looking towards next year. And I just wanted to underscore um a point you made about fund balance and that um this revised budget puts us at a projected fund balance of around 16%. Um in our board policy uh goal for fund balance ranges 10 to 18%. Um, and I just I wanted to note that that is relatively new in the last few years that that fund balance range had been raised um with an eye towards ensuring that we're um you know can can remain um financially stable during difficult times. um that the board felt like the previous range um you know just got us a little too close um to you know being able to weather a real emergency and the new range also allowed us to assign some funds um towards meeting obligations that we have um specifically in our district. So, um I think that's important to note as we're looking ahead to how we absorb potential um reductions um in our revenue from the state um that could come down. So, when in our earlier conversation when we talked about um the possibility of compensatory aid and special education funding being cut um again in the millions of dollars of impact to our district, that while we do have this fund balance and this revised budget puts us in a um pretty good position to weather a storm, that that is one-time money. So, when we're looking at how we absorb um cuts that could be permanent, um that really just allows us to buy some time um to figure out how um we're going to operate moving forward and isn't >> um enough to um make up, you know, the difference in perpetuity of what we would get from from the state. So, um it's a positive thing for this year. I feel confident that um it puts us in a position where we can um get through some tough times um but it's not a solution moving forward for what we might see. So, >> thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions or discussion? All right, we'll move to a vote. All those in favor of accepting the budget as presented say I. >> I opposed. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Thank you. Uh, board topics. So, you want to explain what board topics are for? >> Oh, board topics are special things that are coming up that we want to highlight that we um didn't get a chance to talk about earlier or you know, generally it's what's happening at >> Tricky Bingo. [laughter] >> Highland. >> I'm just kidding. It's happening at all of our schools. Well, you know, because we can't meet uh we have to have open meetings and so um cuts down on us talking outside of the boardroom about board business. So, this is just kind of an overall moment. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I have something clearly. >> Um so, there's been actually a lot of conversation about the amount of flock cameras that are coming up in our community. Um, Flock is a brand of camera and um, there have been a lot of discussions. I've actually received emails from staff um, messages and talking to me about flock cameras in in around our school community and having concerns. Um, additionally, >> installed by the county, >> I'm sorry, >> installed by the county, correct? >> No, not entirely correct. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. No, we have a the city has a contract, too, is my understanding. >> Okay. um after talking with council member James about it. Uh so the other thing is the county is having um a discussion or they had one today at their work session about the use of um the sheriff the ana county sheriff met with the ana county board of commissioners and talked about the possibility of having flock drone first responders. Yep. That's the appropriate Yep. It's very confusing. Yeah. And so having a first responders that are drones, um I shared my concerns uh as you know with my experience um with drones lately as well as uh the >> the impact that the search has had and the additional flock cameras that have been popping up it feels like very rapidly in our community. Um, all of that being said, uh, Mayor Marquez Simla is having a an event on the 14th of May. The time has not been determined yet, but it will be at Merion Hall to discuss these things. And my understanding is Commissioner Meisner will also be in attendance for that, as will the chief of police. So, um I've had several conversations with Council Member James about this and I did, like I said, um provide my my concerns about the uh the possibility of having flock drone first responders. Um >> what is what does that look like? What is that? So what >> when we say respond, do we mean like just >> like So so yes, like they would show up to so the the one of the analogies was um if there's a fire, they could have a drone show up and they would be able to see where the where the hot spots are to send people, right? Um, I will say personally, um, given what we saw with Metro Surge, my own feeling about that is government surveillance overreach is already a concern and providing a private company with access to our community in that way, even if it is through a contract. There's already been several documented pla uh discussions about uh inappropriate use by so not here in the in the uh other places in the nation. There there have been documented uh places where law enforcement officers are using flock cameras um for non-law enforcement purposes. And that's again documented. This is not this is not an opinion. This is a fact. So, uh I would encourage anybody who is concerned about that to attend the May 14th uh town hall about specifically about flock cameras and again that'll be immersion hall. Unfortunately, do not have a time but I would assume it's in the evening. >> Go ahead. >> Um just a question on the cameras. Do we have a bunch of them on I mean can they just bring them on to the schools and say you know watch our students from you know what I mean I I'm worried about >> you know the privacy of our kids >> and correct >> um that just seems so odd. So they correct I would agree with you and my understand we do not have any that are directly on school property as far as I am >> yet >> yet but they are but they are popping up with regularity and they are outside >> right close right outside on 49th right over here by highland >> and we have had them back 47th we've had them >> because we don't know who's actually behind the camera watching it that would be >> something I would be concerned about for our students safety >> there are several security concerns with that. Go ahead. >> We do know that it's not our local police department that's behind the camera. We do know that. >> Yep. Yeah, it is. So, Flock Flock is like a name. It is that is the brand and our and it our city is in a contract with Flock cameras right now. Um, and so is the county. So, again, I think a lot of people have questions. This did come up at the town hall that we had in January with police chief and the mayor. And at that time it was a smaller discussion. Um but a lot more information has come out lately and a lot more people in the community are having concerns with it. And again as a school as a schoolboard chair I did receive messages from staff and community members specifically about them being directly around our school. So that's why I'm bringing it to everybody's attention here today. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. You're welcome. Is this where they're mo mostly concentrating is or is it just the main I I'm just >> No, they're all over the place. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. And they've they've prolifer there's been a massive >> increase surge. It was mainly around the schools. >> During the surge, it was on university and central only. They have since >> No, not flock. I I'm talking about during I mean that that was the main >> You're talking about the focus. >> The focus was was in that area. So, are they focusing again? their school. >> I don't know. >> Yeah, [sighs] there are websites where you can look and see all where all the flock cameras are in your community. And I don't know what that website is off the top of my head, but yeah, I think it's deflockd.com or something. >> So, we have a new course on dystopian fiction. >> We we do actually we approve. >> Yes, I actually do know that. Yes, my child was in that course. >> Maybe it should move into the social studies department. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Yeah. Any any other Go ahead. Yeah. Any other others? >> I just wanted to note that next week is teacher appreciation week and encourage all of our community to celebrate our wonderful teachers throughout um the district. I know that there are um appreciation events planned um at all of our buildings next week. And so, happy teacher appreciation week. >> Yes. >> Go ahead, Superintendent Zbe. >> High school play is this weekend. Uh, it's called The Play That Goes Wrong and it will be Friday night at 700 p.m. Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. And on Sunday afterwards, our girls flag football team will be playing right outside of the high school on the field. Um, and so that's pretty exciting, too. >> Lots of fun things as we ramp up to the end of the year. Any other others? All right. If there's no other others, I will call to adjourn at 8