Let's get in here. Hello. Good evening. Welcome to the Columbia Heights Public School Board meeting for December 9th, 2025. If you are able, please join me and to uh do the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the >> and to the republic for which it stands. >> One nation one nation under God indivis indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Thank you Michelle. If you could do roll call please. >> Absolutely. Uh Palmer >> here. >> Here. Madas >> here. Mueller >> here. >> Pway here. Granley >> here. >> Superintendent Stendon >> here. Wonderful. Thank you. Columbia Heights Public Schools where we create where we are creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learner. All belong, all succeed. Our core values are community, excellence, collaboration, integrity, respect, courage, and innovation. You may notice that it says that we have a highlighter highlight. We do not actually have that tonight. that's been rescheduled because we value the safety of our students and staff. So, they will not be joining us tonight um to BD when they will be here to celebrate. Um agenda, approval, adjustments, announcements. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda as presented? So moved. >> First by Jessica, seconded by by Laurian. All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Abstained. Motion carries. Announcements. There is no school December 22nd through January 2nd. The district is closed December 24th, 25th, 31st, and January 1st. January 6th uh at 6 PM is our organizational meeting here in the community room. Uh moving on, communication to the board. At this time, any citizen or employee may briefly address the school board. The board will listen to the brief remarks, ask clarifying questions, and if desired, request that the administration follow up. The board will not take action at this meeting on requests presented at this time, and time will be limited to three minutes per speaker. We do have a few folks here to speak. So, we will wait while we put up the uh the um return to bus screen. All right. Thank you very much. um we had some teachers come and uh discuss concerns related to um the teaching contract. So, thank you so much for being here to share those with us. Uh moving into the consent agenda and can I get a motion to accept the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Julie. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second. >> Second by Laurian. All those in favor say I. >> I. I >> opposed. >> Abstained. Motion carries. All right. Oo. Acknowledgement of contributions. [gasps] This is a resolution. All right. So acknowledgement of contributions resolution Minnesota statute 123B.02 permits school boards to receive for the benefit of the district request be requests 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 pupils thereof. Therefore, the school district, the school board of Columbia Heights Public Schools, Independent School District number 13, resolves to accept with apprec appreciation the $2,61428 in monetary contributions detailed in the background. Detailed background monetary artonia donated $18,928 to North Park School for Innovation. Anonymous parents donated $2,275 to North Park School for Innovation. Innovation for school supplies and the Black Bow Bow Giving Fund donated $150 to Valley View for school use. In kind, Northeast Gold Bricks donated turkey dinners valued at $1,500 to Columbia Heights High School for student and family use. The total fiscal year 2025 2026 monetary contributions to date, $23,988.56. Can I get a motion to accept this resolution? >> So moved. >> Laura, can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Michelle. Uh, is there any discussion? >> As always, the generosity of our community is is is wonderful to see. um especially um you know the the the the turkey dinners. I thought that was a really really nice thing to do and definitely was well appreciated. >> Well said. Thank you. >> Anybody else? All right. Um as this is a resolution we need a roll call vote if you would please. Michelle >> for sure. Uh Palmer >> I >> Maderas >> I >> Mueller >> I >> Pway I Rley >> I All right motion carries. Thank you so much. Uh we'll move into discussion reports and information items. So reports from members of the board. Um let's start with let's start with you Julie. >> I have nothing to report. >> All right. Thank you. Uh Michelle, >> yeah. Um wasn't able to attend everything that I wanted to, but um I did get to a couple things. Uh I went to community giving at Valley View, which was a great event. Um it was nice to see so many families show up and just sit together and have community. Um so that was really nice. Um I also attended our second uh districtwide BIPOP family advisory group meeting. Um it was at North Park this time. Um, so we had a lot of families show up. It was really nice. Um, next time it'll be at uh it'll be at CA and so we're hoping to bounce back and forth a little bit to try to involve our other schools and the old Greek kids too in the in the discussions and their parents and stuff. So that was really good. Um, I did uh watch the recording of the AMSD board of directors meeting. Um, that was last Friday. Um, I [snorts] attended the Newsies musical which was amazing. Um, like I knew it would be. It's great. Um, and then I also attended the subcommittee on community engagement meeting right before this. >> Awesome. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Jessica. >> Sure. So, um, since we last met as a board, I was able to attend the, uh, PTO meeting at Colombia Academy. Um, I also I had, uh, mentioned at a previous meeting that I was elected to be an alternate to the MSBA delegate assembly last weekend. Um, and I was in fact called up to fill in for our district. So, I spent the weekend or Saturday with Director Palmer and our uh other district delegates at the assembly. Um, and it was it's always really interesting debate to hear the perspectives of different districts across um the state on different platform issues. I think um sometimes uh we don't always understand how different issues that are impacting us impact uh districts in rural areas or urban or other suburban areas in similar or very different ways. Um so that's always really helpful. Um because I also work at a community and technical college, I was also interested in uh the level of very robust debate that they had over uh several policy issues related to dual enrollment um both PSO and concurrent enrollment. And so um that was really interesting discussion and um gave me a lot of perspective to apply both at the board table and in my u outside professional life. So that was really helpful. Um, I also had the opportunity to attend Newsies with my family and as always they did a great job and so kudos to all of the students um and the staff who were involved in putting that together. Um, one thing I always love about our um, theater performances here in the district is how many members of the community who aren't necessarily affiliated directly with our schools come out to the production. So, that was really cool to see um lots of community members um in attendance there. Um, I've also had um many conversations lately with um parents um who on a variety of topics kind of fielding some questions or getting to them to the right people around um issues related to special education services um enrichment and activity offerings, our school calendar, questions about contract negotiations, gifted programming, and other topics. Um, and then lastly, um, I just want to conclude my report by recognizing, um, personally that the current deployment of ICE agents in our area is causing fear, pain, and confusion for many in our district and surrounding community. Um, I want to thank Superintendent Stenvik and our administrative leadership for ensuring the safety and well-being of all our students and for supporting all of our families who contribute so much to Columbia Heights and Fidley and Hilltop and making them thriving places to live, work, and learn. I want our school district community to know that we embrace our diverse community, including all of our Somali, Hispanic, and immigrant families. So, thank you. That concludes my report. Thank you very much for that. Well said, >> Laura. >> Oh, I can't follow. >> I know. [laughter] >> Thank you. That was very very very very well said. >> So, um I attended also the uh the delegate assembly. Um as always, um that is really fascinating to hear the the hot button issues from around the state. Um some things of course we we're direct impact us more directly than others. Um it is interesting to see how something that is is kind of a minor blip in our district is something major in another one especially when it comes to rural versus the metro area. Um so I thought that was very interesting. I think we had some very healthy debate. Um there's also um some there was actually a very good presentation as well on the school trust land trust um which um we will be getting some information to be shared with the board coming up um because of uh of some changes that they want to make um on the constitutional Minnesota constitution level and um and how that can benefit every student in the entire state because it is a it is a legacy and it is something that every student have you know um it the land trust is is to support our students. So that's fantastic. Um I also um attended the um the chair meeting prior to this the sub community and community engagement and I will move on. >> All right. Thank you. I will go next. I will probably miss things um since it's been a long time since I've been at the table and at the uh on camera with you all. Uh so I also attended Newsies. I attended it for uh two different times and it so fantastic. Um like uh Jessica said are it's amazing that the level of um like the quality of the performances you you know you hear oh it's a high school performance like but they these they worked so hard and they nailed it. There was a lot of really hard choreography. So super impressed with our with our um with our theater program and especially knowing that a large portion of the News cast was ninth and tth graders. So really big big props to Mr. Nelson at um Columbia Academy for for helping to nurture those kids to get them to where they were um and where they are. So uh I also attended the Valley View Site Council last night um which was really fantastic to hear the work that they're doing as a family or as a full-ervice community school. Um then I also attended a meeting with superintendent Stenvvic uh our legislators uh the superintendent of St. Anthony and a number of uh staff and uh the vice chair for their school board there about um uh sort of an opportunity that we are working to develop and superintendent Stev will definitely talk more about that. Um, I also was able to help out for Turkey Bingo, which was really fun to be able to help set that up. Um, and just lots and lots and lots of interactions with families and staff and community members about um, ways that they can support our students and also the ways that our students and families and community need support right now. So, um, thank you, Jessica, for so eloquently stating what you did. Um, I also was able to attend, uh, the policy meeting and the chair meeting prior to this one. I'm sure I've forgotten stuff. It's okay. Uh, so, thank you. I will pass it on to Laurian. >> Thank you. I have a short report this evening. Um I um just spent some time prior to this meeting um preparing for our action item on the Valley View um construction um since I was not here for the initial part of that presentation. Director Henkin did send me the information needed so I could get up to speed. So I reviewed all of that documentation u reviewed the biders um so that I could be prepared for this evening. So that's it for me. >> Wonderful. Thank you, Superintendent Stenvik. >> Thank you. Um yesterday I spent the day at the legislative task force on compensatory revenue. Uh my subgroup presented on um what the research says about how what metrics to use and how to identify student poverty. Um we are my subgroup was definitely pushing for the use of multiple metrics rather than um educational benefit forms alone or direct certification alone. and there are multiple states that use um multiple measures. Um we are next our next project is working on creating the preliminary report that's due to the legislature in February. Um so we're plugging away and making progress in that area. Um as mentioned by uh Chair Granlin, uh we met yesterday evening. We're looking at um joining our neighboring community of St. Anthony New Brighton School District. um and partnering with city councils and you know local community members to bring in the national organization called the dignity index. Um board members are aware of it but uh we are looking at February 5th and that would be an evening um event a keynote speaker um kind of community conversations and it would be we're planning for it to be free to the public to come. So we'll be once we have everything solidified people will be receiving invitations and notifications. So, that's coming up early February. That's my report. >> Thank you so much. All right. Uh, it may also say on your agenda that we have student representative report. We have no student representatives. We we canceled them for tonight because it is snowy. Um, so then we will move on to the district's annual budget hearing, truth in taxation, uh, with Director Henkins and Mr. Matthew Hammer, senior municipal adviser with Eers. So, we'll pass this on over to you two. >> All right. Thank you, Chair Granlin, uh members of the board and superintendent Senvic. Um I'm just going to uh just really do um introduce Matthew Hammer from Ellers um and they've been our financial consulting for uh this now's second year and I think a second goound with true taxation. So, most of you um probably have seen him before. Um and he'll kind of go over the reasons why we do truth and taxation and and uh and what we have to present. So, just turn it over to Matt. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Brian. Good evening, everybody. And and I'm hoping everybody can hear me clearly. Um uh we're here tonight to have the annual public hearing that's required of all municipalities or taxing jurisdictions in Minnesota. and we'll um provide an overview of some of the financing challenges that school districts are having um the district's budget for FY26 and then an overview of what we're anticipating seeing in the final levy for taxes payable 26 when the property owners will receive their final statements. Um they've received their truth and taxation statements here in November. Um, but they'll receive their final tax statements, which we don't anticipate to change much here come spring. So, I'm going to share my screen and let's hope this all functions perfectly tonight. Right. So, does everybody see that? >> Yes, we do now. Thank you. >> Perfect. Um, like I said, uh, all jurisdictions in Minnesota are required by state law to hold a truth and taxation hearing each year. Um, that has to happen between specific deadlines. This year's dead or dates. This year's dates are between November 25th and December 29th. Um, and that meeting has to [clears throat] happen at 6 PM or later. Um, there's a few items that have to be uh, presented. um the current year budget and the proposed tax levy for uh taxes payable 26 in this case. And we'll talk about all these things tonight as part of the presentation. Um just we'll we'll go over some background as well. Um by Minnesota statute um in the constitution uh the legislature is required to provide a uniform system of public uh schools and that um really the the purpose is the stability of a republican form of government depends mainly upon the intelligence of its people and it is the duty of the legislature to establish a general and uniform system for public schools. The legislature shall make provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure through efficient system for public schools throughout the state. And with that comes uh um requirements in a highly complex system in Minnesota for how school taxes are spread and how school districts can access levy revenue for for their school districts. I I think as we look at school districts right now, we'll talk a little bit about some of the pressures and this is not unique to your school district. As we look at schools across the state of Minnesota, um they're largely funded through state aid. Uh they're the local levy revenue is an important component of the overall levy. Um but schools for the large uh portion of their revenue are going to rely on state funding and what's happening at the state level um for ongoing increases. And I think this picture really points a picture of what's been happening over the last two decades in regards to funding. Um, for fiscal 25, the district saw 2% increase in overall funding in the basic general education formula. For 2526, which is the current budget that we're in right now for the school district, a 2.75% increase or about a 200 annual um increase over the previous year was provided. And that brings the overall general fund pupil uh formula to about 7,481 in total. Um what we represent on the bottom bar which is represented um that's the that's the actual formula allowance over the last two decades that's how it's trended um for increases in the basic education formula. So when you hear uh this discussed at the state level, this is really the formula they're talking about when they're talking about providing an increase to the school districts. The top bar represents what that formula would have done if it just kept up with inflation. And I'll point out here, as you can see, um um when we get to 2021, that bar had stayed fairly steady. And then um the inflationary pressures that all of us are seeing um in our pocketbooks when you go to the grocery store, when you go buy goods um those have happened with the inflation that we're seeing in that inflationary pressure um has really widened that gap in that funding formula and districts are now um having budget considerations and discussions um asking for additional revenue, you know, across the state to help support operations. um that gap right now is about a 19% difference. So if you think of if this formula just would have kept up with inflation, school districts in Minnesota have about $1,420 of additional revenue um for the budget, which would be considerable um when you kind of think of uh how funding has trended in Minnesota for school districts. The other category that uh is often talked about at the legislative level is special education funding. Um this continues to be a pressure. Um out of the last legislative session um really there was the effort to try to put a pause on what the growing cross subsidy um and districts that were seeing in a growing cross subsidy for school districts. your school district um expenditure budget is north of $12 million for special education funding um which was has which was supposed to be provided through federal and [clears throat] state funding to to pay for those programs that are required by law. Um that gap has is projected to widen still even a little bit because of uh the funding gap and the state budgetary pressure that we're seeing through fiscal 28. So albeit the gap has been um somewhat stopped with the cross subsidy uh reduction in aid that districts are seeing, it's still projected to grow a little bit based on what the state's forecast is through FY28. And that overall gap is about 524 million in funding that school districts don't get for special education. A district's budget is made up of several funding categories. Um we'll talk a little bit about this as we move forward. The general education fund makes up the majority of funding, but there's other non- major funds for food service, community service, the building construction fund for which for your school district is where your capital project levy resides, the debt service fund that pays for uh debt service commitments through bond issuance that are repaid for larger construction projects, internal service fund, and then the OPED trust fund, which uh is other post-employment benefits that the district are obligated to fund. This is a breakdown of the how 25 actuals came into play and where 2526 budget was set in June. When we look at the district's overall uh revenue budget, um it's about $77.5 million in total. Um the general fund makes up about 68.1 um a little bit north of that of the overall revenue budget. And then you can how the other funds um kind of break out uh for the FY26 budget. When we just dive into just the general fund, you'll see that your school district in in Columbia Heights receives about 80% of its funding through the state of Minnesota. Um so as the state budget is pressured as you as we move forward um that is something as we look at budgets as we move forward is something that the district is keeping a close eye on um in monitoring from as they're making their budget forecast as we move forward. Federal revenue makes up about three and a half%. All these portions are very important to the school district's budget. The local components about 16.4% 4% that comes through local funding and then other revenue which comes through um um various miscellaneous uh things that account for the general fund budget or just make up almost a negligible amount of the overall budget. The expenditure budget um to no surprise school districts are are people oriented, right? It's a a human business. Um the most of the funding comes through salaries and benefits that makes up most of the overall budget. Purchase services uh makes up about 25% u of the overall budget. And that comes from the main area there is transportation services and other contracted services provided um for providing um educational supports for for for the school district. So that makes up a majority of the district's budget. Supplies and materials about two and a half million or three 3.7% capital expenditures um through uh make up about 2.9 of the general fund operating budget and then other costs for other obligations that the district has makes up about less than 1% about half percent of the overall budget. Um this is just a programmatic look at it um of how it breaks down um from a pro program perspective. I'll point out here, like we talked about, special education continues to be a big portion of the district's overall budget with about 18% of the overall budget going to special education expenditures. Um, and the district only gets a portion of that funding, right? When we kind of think of the overall funding the school district gets providing those programs. So, as those costs grow, um the district's uh budget has pressures from the state level, um as the state and federal government haven't kept up with funding those programs. When we look at a change in overall budget, um uh the tax levy, just because a tax levy changes doesn't mean that's a direct impact on the overall budget of a school district. It's important to uh point that out. Um those that levy report that school districts get on an annual basis which is about 40 pages long in size for font is made up of tons of funding formulas that change based on various factors for the school district. Most of that's driven by student enrollment. Um student enrollment drives most of the funding that a school district receives. Uh but it also is driven by various formulas that look at tax base and just because a district's levy goes up um oftentimes state aid can be reduced at the same time which doesn't mean necessarily that a direct increase in the levy results in a direct direct correlation increase in the district's overall budget. um the expenditure limits that are saving formulas also uh are provided and districts can ask for additional revenue through voter approved means which the district is very um it's a very important piece of the district's overall revenue budget um that that accounts for that funding that the district receives to support operations for the school district. When we look at the levy cycle, this differs from city and county. Um, our school districts right now as they're setting the levies for taxes payable 26 are really forecasting what those expenditures and what those enrollments are going to be for fiscal 2627. Um, so our uh budget year is July 1 to June 30th. Um, currently the district adopted a budget for 2526. This levy right now is going to be revenue for the school district in 2627 which that means we have to base this on estimates. Um and um we're putting estimates forward for what enrollment's going to be. Um and then those uh levies will be um refined and corrected over the next number of years through adjustments that will flow through future levies. This differs from cities and counties. their budget year begins January 1st and that means when they're setting their levy, they're setting levy revenue for the calendar year that that they're levying for. This is a snapshot of what property owners will see in their property tax statement. Um I do like to point out here when we look at this, there's several juris uh categories that are incorporated into that levy. We're as a school district um are the entity that actually gets two levy categories in the levy. We're the only district or only jurisdiction that gets two categories. Um we have levies that are broken out between voter approved levies and other levies. And that's uh really driven because school districts are are regulated um from the standpoint of what they can generate revenue for based on the limits that are set in statute and the specific items that are authorized by the legislature to provide additional revenue. This differs from other municipalities that have more control over their annual levy and um for the most part when school districts are need additional revenue specifically for operations, we have to ask for it through a voter approved means. Um so that that's different for us than um what you see in in other taxing jurisdictions. So we get two lines on the levy report. Um, but I will point out right that as property owners are looking at their overall levy, it's important to look at um all the categories, not just the um not just the bottom line because the the other jurisdictions are also included on that levy report or on that tax statement when you get it. Um, property taxes for school districts uh are limited in authority. Those authorities are set by the legislature. And I'll just give you a little look at how this plays out. Um, it really starts and you'll see that we're a long way down in the overall steps of where the processes. It steps at the county level when they say they create the assessments for the property way back um when property owners get their valuation statements um in their early calendar year. It it is driven by the legislative set formulas for how is how taxpayers um and the assessors have to define the tax capacity and limits for the school districts. The county auditors then are responsible for spreading those taxes and determining the values that'll be uh taxed for each property owner. The Department of Education uses all those limitations in step four to define the levy limits for school districts that are approved by those formulas by the legislature. And then the school board then is uh comes in at step five where they are setting the levy um after all these limitations are created and um provided to them in the levy reports that are provided to the school districts in early September. We established that through preliminarily certifying the levy in September and then now tonight we're having the hearing prior to the school board final certifying the levy here in December. That'll be the basis for taxes and taxes payable 26 for property owners. After the school boards and the municipalities uh set those final levies, um the county auditor will take all those levy limit or those final levy amounts and they will actually spread those levies based on the the tax rates that are determined um and take those tax rates times the capac [music] the the um property owners net tax capacity and referendum market values on the property tax statements here in here next spring. and property owners will receive their final tax statements in the spring. Um, which we don't anticipate any major major changes for the school district um of where those amounts are um that we'll talk about later tonight. Um here's just that uh breakdown of where we've been um with the reports being provided in September, the school board preliminarily certifying that levy in September 23. Those property TNT statements, we call them, were provided to property owners in mid- November. We're having the hearing and then the school board will be approving their final levy later on in the meeting tonight. What we're looking at in the proposed levy um for taxes payable 26 is an overall increase of about 979,000 or about 6.7%. We're going to talk about um what is causing this change um for the levy in Texas payable 26 and it's right in line with where we were assuming the change was going to be based on um where we thought the levies were going to come in as we made some changes to the district's overall levy um to fund some projects that are are going to be funded at the Valley View site um starting next summer. So, this is a snapshot of the overall levy. The district's overall general fund levy is pretty much in line with where it was uh for taxes payable 25 at a little bit north of 12.4 million. The community service levy remains pretty consistent based on the state defined formulas. And then we do have an increase that's built in for the estimated debt service levy that's going to be used to fund the bond payments uh the value few project um when the bonds are going to be issued here next month. Um that overall increase is about 6.7% in total. Um and we'll show you how that uh plays out for property owners um of what we're anticipating they'll see from changes in their in their property taxes between 25 and 26. The main driver of this change uh is the district's uh projects for the Valley Fuel Elementary site. Um the state of M or the state of Minnesota when we talk about uh uh providing limited um um resources for districts to fund additional projects through the district's long-term facility maintenance program. and the district has approve was approved by the commissioner of education to fund deferred maintenance projects and health and safety projects for for projects at the Valley View site and that's been incorporated in the district's 10-year plan that the school board approved last summer. Um and those estimated debt service levies have been included to make the first debt service payment that'll be due in fiscal year 27. Um because of this, there's a slight change in the state um portion of funding that's being shifted to the debt service fund um which is uh causing a district's general fund LTFM revenue to be a little higher. But that's because the debt service fund gets the state aid first as part of um as part of the state formulas. Um, as we look at this change um to individual property owners, it's right in line with what um we were assuming would be the change that um the board was looking for as part of the overall plan and what we were planning for last summer. Uh when we look at um individual property owners change, this is gonna when we talk about that uh property tax statement, it's really important for property owners to to pay attention to what their overall value is doing. Um right now overall valuations for the school district specifically on um residential homes are trending pretty much in line with the valuations that property owners had overall in the tax base for taxes payable 25. But if you as a homeowner have made changes right to your specific property that are trending or if your valuation on your property is trending different than the than the average across the district, you can see a fluctuation. And this is just an illustration of how that can play out. Um, as the district's overall levy changes, if your overall levy is ch is trending by about the same amount, you're going to pay about the same as you did the year before compared to everybody else. But as if your property value changes um at a higher level, right? you pick up a larger portion of that pie or a larger contribution of that overall levy um and your taxes be going up um because your market value is just going up more than the than than the average. So when we look at this uh from a comparison of where we're at the overall change your average residential home value is about $275,000. We're looking at an increase right now for that average property value of about $76, which is about $6 a month, which is right in line with what we were assuming that change was going to be um when the board approved the project. Um this gives you a trend of how that's trended over the last four years. The the 23 to 24 change is a result of this the election that voters approved the increase um um as part of the election. um taxes trended down between 24 and 25 outside of any valuation changes. Um so we're a little bit higher than where those val the the taxes were if you looked at 24 and we're about about a $6 a month on average change for $275,000 residential home. If we look at this 97 to 173 where we assume um property owners will see for if you owned a $275,000 residential home. Um when we look at commercial and industrial in in apartments, this gives you a snapshot if you own a million-doll commercial property or a million dollar apartment um non-residential of how those taxes would have trended over the last four years. These are estimates, but um again, they're going to trend pretty close to where we think final numbers will come in next spring. Um there's typically a little bit of change as uh the county and Noa County will determine final values for setting the final statements. When we look at that from a trend perspective over the last number of years, valuations um from the market value perspective really have stayed pretty stable between 24 and 25 and 25 and 26. If we go back to between 23 and 24, overall market value changed about 5%. And that's really what we're showing here is the trend. Um if your home value would have trended on average, what would your taxes look like? So, if we take a look at that $275,000 property, really those valuations haven't changed very much over the last three years. Um, but if we go back to 23, that $275,000 property would have more likely been valued around 260,000. So, um, this tracks trend with the increase from the ref operating referendum that happened between 23 and 24. And then if over the last three years, we're really on a pretty consistent trend for school district taxes over this period of time. 151 and 24, 997, then around a $275,000 property in 25. And then we're estimating that change for between 25 and 26 will be about $76 or our set tax is about 173 for for um a property owner with a $275,000 home in 26. We always like to point out um programs that we're told by the Minnesota Department of Revenue were underutilized. Um, so if property owners aren't um aren't looking at or haven't talked to your accountant that does your annual taxes, these are important programs to take into consideration. The first is the homestead credit refund program that is based on income and your overall property value. It's a sliding scale. The special program um and this is all taxes, right? Not just the school portion. So this includes taxes for all the jurisdictions. If your taxes by go up by more than 12% in a year, you can qualify for a refund. This that's not income dependent. There is a deferral program that's not tax relief. That's a deferral program for property senior property or senior citizens. And then um rental uh renters now have an income tax credit. This used [clears throat] to be um a property or program that flowed through the property tax refund program, but renters now that program has moved over to the income taxes. So that's a little bit of a change that's happened um that started in Texas payable 24 for property for renters. So that is an overview. um that is for the hearing portion. Um the board uh if anybody is here would take probably comment and then the board's going to certify their their final tax levy in 20 for 26 later on in the meeting when they take action on on the levy. So I can answer any questions folks have in regards to the overall levy. I think the important thing is right is it's right in line with where we were assuming um taxes would be when we were uh setting up those debt service levies for the for the projects that we're funding for Valley View. And then we're right in trend over the last number of years, not really too far out of line with where taxes were for taxes payable 24. So taxes have remained pretty consistent for the school district portion of the levy for property owners over the last number of years. So, with that, I can answer any questions um folks have in regards to anything levy related or or the budget. >> Wonderful. Thank you so much for that um really important and detailed overview. Uh there are no members of the public here at this time. So, I will open it up to questions from the board. There any questions or comments? Um, I think my only question actually is, uh, if it would be possible for us to get a copy of this presentation in our, um, packet this week. Is it possible for us to get a copy of that, Mr. Hammer? >> Or Director Higgins? >> Yeah, the district the district has it and they can provide it to you. >> Wonderful. [clears throat] Will this also be available on our website? Okay. >> Yes, the the it looks like the answer to that is yes. So, >> yep. The entire presentation, the video, everything will be listed on our website. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> I was pretty sure I knew the answer to that. I would just verify. >> Well, and I think >> lots of lots of numbers and lots of information. So, >> yeah. >> Um, no surprises there, which I kind of like >> when it comes to budgeting. I like no surprises >> there. I did see um a conversation happening uh in a community group where somebody had sort of mused, can we have a schoolhouse rock for our property taxes? Um and I think that this is as close as we can get to that. Um and it's it's veryformational and I've heard this many years. Um you know, this being my second term on the board, but it's it's really helpful to have these reminders and to help people understand why their property taxes are where they are. So, thank you for that. >> I have a quick question. Go ahead. >> I'm not sure if it's quick or not because I I get a little lost in the tax stuff, but with this project we need to do for Valley View. Um, I know the bonding is 16 million and in that and it's not an a taxpayer voter approved, it's a board approved. How does that fall into this? Because I know that's a project that goes over a period of time, but it it starts next summer. >> Yeah. So, the district will be it's part of the overall plan, right, is we're we're putting estimated debt service levies that are incorporated into this levy. So, the levies are already there to make the payments in fiscal 27. >> Okay. um the bonds won't be sold until um next month and that's on purpose because we don't want to pay interest when we don't need the money, right? So, agreed project will be happening next summer. So, we're trying to align the timing >> um from the financing to the timing of when the funds are needed to actually pay for design costs and um construction costs as we move forward. As we move forward, think of this. It's it's more complicated than a home mortgage, right? But the payments are going to be fixed at the time of bond sale. Um and we've incorporated our goal is right to create consistent levies right with the debt service schedule that um the payments for phase one of the plan right are going to be at levels in line with where we're at. Um okay and then as we move forward obviously the the projects um um through the phasing that we've talked about um will be determined as we move forward. [clears throat] So when looking at the proposed levy payable and the the slide re I was taking screenshots as we went here. Um the slide that says fund levy category general fund community service debt service actual levy versus proposed levy and percentage change. So in that is the new money that we're spending included in this document? >> Yes, >> it is. >> Okay. So, it's probably under other in debt service or that's not very much. So, >> yeah, it's in the the payment is the long-term facilities maintenance payment. That's 900,000 on >> Okay. >> on that line. So, >> perfect. Thank you. >> Share my screen real quick so that we're >> so everybody can see what I'm asking. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, this line item right here, right, you'll see it was zero last year. It's now 900,000 [clears throat] this year. That's the estimated amount for the payment. And then just by default, right, we get a little bit of shift because you'll see that the state the payment for or the LTFM revenue last year was about 968. They move state aid from here to here, right? Okay. >> Um for the debt service component. So it's the combination of both. Now, a portion of this is coming through the projects qualify for an additional levy authority for indoor air quality, right? And a portion of it is coming out of existing um LTFM revenues um that are going to pay for those uh some of those debt savers payments as a budget measure for the district as we move forward. So all of the funding for value view is included in this and um we're not anticipating increases for the value view project as we move forward. It'll be at these levels as we move forward >> for the value project specific. So >> thank you Mr. Hammer. That's really helpful. >> Great question. Any other questions or comments? >> All right. Thank you so much for the presentation. We appreciate it. glad that you were able to zoom in and uh hopefully you get to stay home for the rest of the evening. >> Yes. Thank you so much from letting me uh join virtually tonight. Yeah. >> Didn't have to battle the snow. So, I think we're going to see you in a month. So, looking forward to seeing everybody here in a month as well. >> Sounds good. Thank you. All right. And next we'll move into community education uh early childhood program fees 2026 2027 with director Stunl. Welcome, Chair Granlin, members of the board, Superintendent Stunvvic, it's nice to see you all in person. Um, and uh, and also those on Zoom. It's been a while since we've had a hybrid meeting. Um so I come here this evening to present about the need to do an annual increase with our community program fees. Um and so uh with that of course this our programs are aligned with our mission of creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learner all belong all succeed. Um you'll particularly hear me speaking to the core values of community collaboration and integrity. And um I'm going to start off with our mini adventures child care program. So I want to preface this by saying that I did meet with um with director Henkans to talk about our budget and then also with Superintendent Stenvik. Um this we are pres uh proposing a 5% increase as we did last year and we are hoping that going a forward after this that it might not have to be 5% but we are still in a position where we're needing um to to increase by that amount to cover our cost. A reminder again as I say each year uh with these programs they have to cover themselves with our adventure club program and our mini adventures program. So it really is looking at what are the expenditures and then figuring that figuring out what the fees need to be based on um the enrollment and covering our cost. So what you'll see is approximately 5% I round it you know up or down uh so that we have whole numbers that we're working with um and you'll see that with mini adventures participants this is again our 3 to 5year-old child care program that takes place here at the family center um that families can choose one two three four five days a week that they're enrolled. We're very happy that um right our enrollment has really increased. We've been able to do that because our staffing has been stabilized for which we're grateful. Uh we do still have openings on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. So if anybody is needing child care um and uh so it's it's a great program, but um again, you'll just see the comparison of the fees from this year to what we are proposing for next year for many adventures. And then again with adventure club, this is our child care program after school, non-school days, and during the summer. Um we are very happy that we were able to reopen our North Park site. Um and again that 5% or yeah 5% difference. So you'll see that uh if one is enrolled daily it goes from 24 to $25 a day. Um if it's a school release day so it's a very long day. You'll see that there's um from $53 this year to 56 and then also with the summer. So we do have um full days that uh the that we provide the child care and then that's for students uh at the elementary school age. Just a reminder that we work very closely with CCAP uh funding for so county assistance for our families for mini adventures and adventure club. And then for mini adventures we also have some other funding streams pathways dollars um that we're able to use. We work with families both on pathways one and pathways two that's able uh to be used just for many not for adventure club. So there is some possibility of fee assistance. Sometimes people say do you have an in-house scholarship? We don't because we don't pad our fees in order to decrease it for some people. We just try to keep it as low as possible for everybody. And then also with our ECF uh program uh we're proposing a 5% increase. you see that uh that program is sliding fee scale. And so uh if somebody is in a zero to um $18,999 income range for the household, it would be $25 for the full year of classes. I do want to say that ECF has a no one turned away for inability to pay. So if a family says we cannot afford $25, we absolutely work with the family. We say what can you afford? Um but we um but this is a a ballpark for us to work off of. So you'll see a $1 increase uh from this year to next year at that lowest amount for example. And uh and then there are some partial classes. Uh we've got an infant class that's uh shorter uh and also short sessions. And then with preK3 also a sliding fee scale. Um, and then we've got the two-day a week program and we've got the three-day a week program. So, you see the difference with that. And, um, again, at that lowest, um, income rate, we're going from $23, uh, to $24. Um so the this is a governance uh question for you because you do oversee and uh need to review and decide if you accept this proposed fee increase. Um you know we of course don't enjoy increasing our fees but as you can imagine as you just heard costs are going up and we do have to cover those costs. So, um, with that, uh, this is information this evening and then it'll be coming to you for action in January. >> Sounds good. Thank you so much. >> I'll stop. >> Are there any questions from members of the board? >> I have one question. >> Go ahead, Lauren. >> Um, on the prek3 program, uh, fee scale, it has, for example, the Monday, Wednesday, Friday class at $23. >> Is that per week? >> Per month. I'm sorry. I should have said that. That was per month. >> So all all the rates on that slide are per month. >> Yes. >> Whereas with ECF it was for the whole year. That meets once a week. >> Thank you for that clarification. >> So great. Thank you very much. >> Thank you for asking question. >> I have a question. >> Go ahead Julie. >> Um so actually I have a question on that same sliding scale fee. You mentioned that um on the other programs that we have to cover the the cover co we don't raise the price on other people to cover the cost for the lower of of others or something to that effect. Um so you did but on this one you mentioned that there is assistance for if somebody can't pay that we can offer them. Is that >> our school district money that is used for that or is that other aid that you were talking about? >> Yes, thank you so much for asking that clarifying question. Uh there's the answer to that is twofold. So with ECF and with preK3 we receive state funding. We receive ECF funding that helps to uh cover the bulk of the cost of ECF and fees are just a very small portion of the braided funding for ECF. With preK3, we have school readiness funding that comes from the state and then the fees are again braided funding for that. With preK3, we're able to use pathways one and pathways two funding as well. So a family um so basically those fees are highly subsidized with the cost with the income that we receive through school readiness and ECF from the state. If families aren't able to pay that uh for preK3 that amount then we can use the pathways one which is money that they bring in or pathways two which is money that we have as scholarships to cover that cost. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Go ahead, Jessica. >> Thank you for the presentation. Um, good information. And I just wanted to say that I appreciate the reminder to us and to the community that community ed is responsible for covering the cost of their own programming. So, the way we look at the budget is a little bit different than we do for a lot of our other our other programming. Um, I'm also glad to hear that you're looking at projecting lower fee increases in at least the more immediate future years of the program. Um, and I know that you and your staff have been doing uh lots of innovative work to um, you know, shore up the budget, bring in new families, um, offer a good variety of programming. So, um, I know that we see that as a board and we appreciate it. Thank you. Um, I just wanted to ask about um the overall fee structure and as you're looking at um these proposed increases um how that compares to some of our neighboring programs. >> Yeah, thank you for asking that. That is something that we always compare because of course um we we are in proximity to other uh school districts and other child care opportunities and so we do want to be within the range and that is something that we look at. Um, and that is where that is why we um, again I was meeting with Jod Gadient who is our coordinator overseeing our mini adventures and adventure club program and she said she also said I hope that in the future we don't have to because we don't have to raise it at 5% because we will start to outpace um, some of our neighboring districts. We are not at that point right now. um is a little bit like comparing apples and oranges when we look at other districts because they might uh be for shorter hours or that kind of thing. And so there are there is some of that nuance. Um, but we do of course check it against um some of our our neighbors uh because we do want to make sure that we are at a price point that's appropriate, but most importantly that it's something that our community can afford and that again that we can cover that cost. In some school districts, child care is a cash cow for the community program and it helps to to pay for other programming because it is such it can be an income um opportunity uh that's that other districts experience. We do not uh we do not treat it that way. Uh we really keep it absolutely as low as possible just to cover those costs. Well, having had children in that program, I can attest to it being a really wonderful quality program and a great pipeline for bringing families into the district, too. So, that's great. Um, I did just have one more question. I know some families um may have heard about um changes to uh voluntary prek funding for for 4K, which is, you know, not part of the presentation this evening. Um but I was just wondering if you could maybe speak to um that impact in our district and how it might affect 4K fee structure and access here in the district. >> Yeah, thank you for asking because it was I was going to say and I'm and I'm not here to talk about an increase in fees for preK4 um we did meet about that and uh until a couple weeks ago. So let me let me go back uh with this year. This is the first year that MDE said you have to have qualifiers to use VPK funding for for students in preK4 and uh and we had very few but a couple in previous years that would not have qualified for VPK funding. So we had to create a fee structure for that. We used the fee structure for preK3, but going from half day, three days a week or two days a week to, you know, five days a week. Uh that that is how we came up with that fee structure for this year. Until a couple weeks ago, we didn't have anybody that paid for preK4. We didn't have anyone that didn't qualify for VPK funding. We now, my understanding is we have two families that are going to be paying or are paying um and uh so very few. So I met with um Assistant Superintendent Nmway and also Director Henkkins and we determined because it is so few families that we were not going to increase that fee for next year. So prek4, the fee for next year will be the same as it is for this year. So that's why I'm not here with a fee increase. This is my presentation of not increasing a fee [laughter] um for that. Uh so again, we want to really encourage families and let them know if you live in our school district, that is a qualifier for free VBK. We have openings AM and PM at all four sites. It's not too late to register for V for preK4. There's still a lot of opportunity for getting in some good learning for your four-year-old by September 1st. >> Great. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> I love your passion for [laughter] that. >> Thank you. Um, I know that I've seen the research before and I can't cite it, but um, I know that there is an exponential increase in positive outcomes for children and families when they like with this investment. Um, and I would love to be able to see some of that research too so that we can talk about it from that way. um not to put more on anybody's plate, but I think it's really important to also talk about why the investment in early childhood education and and um is really beneficial across the lifespan. >> Um so, thank you so much for your passion, like as was said, your passion and um your just constant support and love for these programs. It comes through and um it's much appreciated. >> Thank you. I do love it and um happy couple weeks ago National Community Education Day which we celebrate. I I can if I may say one other thing and that's we really want to increase our enrollment in adventure club. If we can get up to full capacity with adventure club obviously then we have more students carrying the cost of the two staff. When we have fewer students then those fewer students have to carry the cost of the two staff. So, if you know anybody that's looking for child care, we know that January is a time when sometimes people make changes with their jobs. We do have openings still um at all three of our sites for Adventure Club. So, that too, it's not too late to get on board with Adventure Club. Please enroll. >> Sounds good. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> All right, we will move on. Uh Director Henkins, I believe you are up with the 2025 payable 2026 levy. Thank you, Chair Granland, members of the board, and Superintendent Sten. Um, as mentioned earlier in our truth and taxation, um, each year we must certify our school levy. Uh, it happens in December. Um, we do it right after that tax hearing and, uh, I did attach, um, the spreadsheet, which you've already seen a version of from, um, the truth and taxation presentation. Um I am going to just briefly share my screen and just show it. Um even though you guys have already you know seen it and ask questions um about it. Um and hopefully you see it. >> Yes. Um so uh to the the far left side um or um on the left column where the numbers are that's our our paid pay payable 2026. The the second column is our payable 2025. And then the final the end column um is the difference. And again as was presented earlier um very little change in our levy overall with two exceptions. um and they are related to our Valley View Elementary uh project um and our long-term facility maintenance. So, you can see here line 14 um that increase on long-term facility maintenance. Um my number is slightly different than what was shown, but the the totals are correct because I'm including the deductions and um the adjustments within that number. And in the previous presentation, you saw the the adjustments in a separate line item. So that's really the only difference. I wanted to point that out in case anybody started going back and forth and comparing. Um [clears throat] and you know again community education very very stable. The state hasn't made any changes there in what we get from our levy. Um and then again here's that those facility bonds. Um and again it's it's looking at adjustments there um and how it works. you the number to to to look at um is that 668 or 6.7% which is exactly what um the truth and taxation number was and that total of 15,649287. So, um uh that's our our levy 2025 payable 2026 um that um I'm seeking approval to certify um this evening. >> All right. Thank you so much. Any questions or comments from the board? No. All right. I think if there are no questions, I mean, it's very helpful that we just had that presentation. [snorts] Um, then [laughter] then we will go ahead and Can I get a motion to approve the uh levy >> as presented? So move. >> Thank you, Michelle. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Julie. Discussion. Okay. Uh, so because we are hybrid, we're required to do all of our action items as roll call votes. Uh, with that, can we get a roll call vote, please, Michelle? Absolutely. Palmer >> I >> Maders >> I >> Mueller >> I >> I Granley >> I All right. motion carries. Thank you so much. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Moving right along with uh Director Henkin still in the hot seat. Moving into the Valley View construction bid. >> Thank you, Chair Grahamlin, members of the board, and Superintendent Steenbeck. Uh the second item is the Valley View Indoor Air Quality Project. Um presented previously, um we received uh sealed bids on the project. Um opened on November 18th. Um we presented this again as information item on the 25th. um and uh seeking approval to move forward with the recommendation that Krauss Anderson provided on the contracts um for each work scope um which was attached to this uh uh meeting documents the [snorts] full list of the best value and low responsible biders. I am going to share my screen and just read them off. Um Yes, everybody can see those. So, >> uh, work scope one, um, SPAR, construction final cleaning, Spar LLC. Work scope 2A, demolition, Ramsey Escavating Company. Work scope 3 A concrete and masonary uh, Eert Construction. Work scope 5B.1 uh, combined structural steel red cedar steel erectors. Work scope 6A, carpentry, um, reeling, uh, construction company. Work scope 7H, roofing, central roofing company. Work scope 9A, drywall, um, commercial drywall. Work scope 9B, uh, precision floors. Work scope 9 C, ceilings, acoustical treatments, Janning acoustics. Work scope 9D, flooring resilient and carpet, super set flooring and tile. Work scope 9K, wall covering and painting. Uh, painting by Nakasam Nakason. Uh, work scope 11F, food service equipment. Uh, the Boltier Companies. [clears throat] Work scope 11K, gymnastic equipment, SportsCon LLC. Work scope 12C, manufacture Casework, Woodside Industries, Inc. Uh, work scope 21A, Fire Suppression, Summit Fire Protection Company. Work Scope 23, Geothermal. This is one of our best value. Uh, Midwest Mechanical Solutions. Um, Work Scope 23B, Combined Mechanical, Widener Plumbing and Heating Company. Um, another best value section, Work Scope 26A Electrical, uh, Wolf River Electric, uh, Work Scope 31A, Earthwork and Paving, uh, Kevit Excavating. Um, so that's all. also a total of 13,180,185 $151.79 um for um all those scopes. >> Wonderful. Thank you so much. Can I get a motion to approve the Valley View construction bids? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Jessica. Discussion. >> I have a question. Yeah, go ahead, Michelle. >> Um, so there's a best value section. I guess I'm wondering what uh constitutes as best value versus the other sections that aren't stating that specifically as best value. >> Uh, so with those sections, um, just based on what they are, um, we wanted to make sure that, um, we weren't just going with lowest responsible bidder. Um, that we could take other things into account. Um so we could take into account of their experience in the marketplace. Um we could take into account um you know not just their experience like in geothermal, not just their experience in geothermal but what's their experience with schools um you know and so we could look at different aspects of metrics um and then we point value them. Um so lowest responsible bidder um gets um it has to be the highest percent um in our point value system. So for the single item it has to be the highest percent um I think it has to be over 50%. So it has to be the highest there and uh which it for us the it was um 60%. Um and then uh the other things and we just we give them a point value based on that. So it's a um the people on the committee as we interview them. So we interview them um and uh we one of the other questions we asked is what other value based on the project um could they suggest that the district could save money? Um so um you know if they if they >> No. Oh dear. >> Oh, I was waiting. >> Yeah. No, Brian froze. So, >> yeah, he's still thinking. >> Yeah, [laughter] Director Hennekins is buffering at home. >> Um, which is a bummer because it was really >> all those interviews. >> Oh, hey, >> welcome back. >> Oh, I was going to say I was talking and then all of a sudden I realized that Michelle was frozen and my internet is connection is unstable. Okay. Yeah. So, um the there was on the interviews there was uh there was three different um groups involved. So, it was w um our architectural firm, Carl Anderson and the district. And so, we had multiple representatives from each um in the interviews and then you know we asked them questions and you know we point valued them based off of their responses and determined what the best value was. Was it the best value actually the lowest? Oh, >> I get it. I don't want him happen. [laughter] >> It's like some sort of torture. I get >> the hybrid. The hybrid never fails, right? >> I thought it was a great question, Michelle, because I was going, "What does that mean?" >> Brian, we get it. I I don't want you to have to keep repeating yourself. Thank you so much. I lost you again and I was like, "Well, I was getting there." But >> yeah, no, no worries. Thank you. Uh that was a great question. >> Any other questions? >> Oh, no. Just discussion >> or well or state? Yeah, go ahead. >> Um I mean, seeing all of these recommended biders in one place, I think really just um drives home how large of a project this is. The multiple contractors, multiple layers, very complicated. Um, and I, as a board member, feel very fortunate that we have the opportunity to be able to um, take on this project. Um, I want the community to know that, um, while we're not asking a lot of questions this evening. We've had multiple conversations. This is part of a multimonth discussion um at the board table um and with our our staff and with vendors about how to make this project happen. Um we're able to engage in this work because there's been a change um in statute that allows us um to uh to levy for long-term facilities maintenance and deferred maintenance projects. Something we haven't had the ability to do before. Um, and a project like this at Valley View is very needed and very significant and something that we would not be able to do um over time just trying to save enough money in our deferred maintenance um accounts. So, I just want the community to know that because I mean when you look at all of this in one place, the scope of that project is is um just very clear. So, um that's where we are. And I I just want to also note that while um this does that this project does have um as we discussed intersection with the um the tax levy. Um and that normally, you know, we we don't have the ability in operations or other areas to just say we're going to unilaterally levy the the community. um but that this is a project that um is much needed and I I just again I I we could not do this without the change in statute um and all the board discussion. So thank you. >> Well said. Any other questions or discussion? >> I' I'd like to kind of piggyback a little bit on that as well. And you know just for clarification very large districts are able to do projects like this because of how much they have to work with with their long-term. We just never we we have to kind of meter it out over years to be able to make it affordable. Otherwise, we literally wouldn't be able to get these large projects done in a district of our size because we cannot just not pay anything for not do anything for 10 years to be able to finance something like this. So, um >> turns out we have roofs, huh? >> We have roofs and other things that Yeah. >> Well, yes. It's it's it's it's a it's it's it's really this is this has really been a very very good thing to be able to assist um assist and and up until not too long ago we didn't even have access to any of these kinds of funds. So um so there has been some uh significant improvements in some legislatures and policies. So it's not all it's not all criticism at the at the capital. So >> well said. >> Sometimes they do things right. >> Well said. All right. Um, if there are no other questions or discussion, we'll move into an all call an all call vote. >> Go ahead, Michelle. >> Sure will. >> Thank you. >> Uh, Palmer, >> I >> Hades >> I, >> Mueller, >> I, >> Pete, I Grim >> I. Motion carries. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Next we will move into the resolution two combined precincts for special elections. All right. I have the resolution here. So, resolution establishing combined polling places for multiple precincts and designating hours during which the polling places will remain open for voting for school district elections not held on the first day of a statewide election. Whereas pursuant to Minnesota statute section 205A.11, the precincts and polling places for school district elections are those precincts or parts of precincts located within the boundaries of the school district which have been established by the cities or towns located in whole or in part within the school district. The school board hereby confirms those precincts and polling places so established by those municipalities. Whereas, pursuant to Minnesota statute section 205A.11, the school board may establish a combined polling place for several precincts for school district elections not held on the day of a statewide election. Each [snorts] combined polling place must be a polling place that has been designated for use as polling place by a by a county or municipality. Therefore, be it resolved by the school board of Columbia Heights Public Schools, Independent School District number 13, State of Minnesota, as follows. The combined polling places designated in this resolution are the polling places unless a change is made in accordance with Minnesota statutes section 205A.11 subdivision 2 or pursuant to Minnesota statute section 204B.175 or because of polling places become unavailable. The following combined polling places are established to serve the precincts specified for all school district special and general elections not held on the same day as a statewide election in the calendar year following the adoption of this resolution. com combination name ISD13 P1 Highlander Center door 41 North Gym Polling Place one uh 1400 49th Avenue Northeast comprised of City Precincts Columbia Heights P1 Columbia Heights P2 Columbia Heights P7 Columbia Heights P8 Fidley W I P uh 4 Fidley W3 P3 Hilltop P1. [snorts] Uh, next is ISD 13P2, Highlander Center, Door 41, South Gym, 1400, 49th Avenue Northeast, comprised of city precincts, Columbia Heights Precinct 3, Columbia Heights Precinct 4, Columbia Heights Precinct 5, Columbia Heights Precinct 6, and Fidley W2P3. Pursuant to Minnesota statute section 205A.09 09 voting hours. The polling places will will remain open for the school district elections not held on the same day as statewide election between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The clerk is directed to file a copy of this resolution with the county auditors of each of the counties in which the school district is located in whole or in part within 30 days after its adoption. As required by Minnesota Statute Section 204B.16 subdivision 1A, the clerk is hereby authorized and directed to give written notice if the location of a polling place has changed to each affected household with at least one registered voter in the precinct stating the location of the new polling place. The notice moving to second page must [snorts] be a nonforwardable notice mailed at least 25 days before the the date of the first election to which it will apply. A notice that is returned as undeliverable must be forwarded immediately to the appropriate county auditor. This paragraph does not apply to a polling place location that is changed on election day under Minnesota statutes section 204B75. Can I get a motion to accept this resolution? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Jessica. Discussion. >> Um I'm thinking I'm sorry. Nope. Go ahead, Julie. >> Um, that first combination name and comprised of city precincts, I think the Fidley is W one, not >> W. Yep, you are probably correct. Thank you. Yep. >> Yeah. I just want to make sure if there's some sort of edit that needs to happen. >> Yep. >> It's taken care of. >> Thank you for that. >> I have a question along those same lines. I was just going to ask if the formatting was going to be um kind of shaped up a little bit just around some of those so that they're more uniform. >> I'm sorry. Can you repeat that question? I missed it. >> What formatting? >> It wasn't really a question, just a >> I guess a request. >> Yeah. >> Um to see if we could um just get the formatting uniformed on there. Um some of them have >> Yes. >> hyphen, some of them have periods. So um and [snorts] yeah. >> Yep. Thank you. I noticed that too. Um, but thank you for calling that out. I appreciate it. Go ahead, Jessica. >> Um, I just wanted to note that though we are considering a resolution on a special election later in the agenda, that this particular resolution about combining precincts is something that we consider >> um as a board um every year um in anticipation of the possibility of special elections. So, yep. Yes. Thank you. Go ahead, Laura. >> And uh furthermore, it has to be done at the be. We cannot do it like pick and choose when we're going to combine it. It has to be done in a set time. >> Correct. >> And we do this every year. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Since it became effective that we had to do this every year. >> Yeah. >> So, exactly. Yes. Um I think I would just like to add to this that um we do do this every year. This is also um a different change than has usually been. Um the fact that this is all in the Highlander Center instead of um at one or two of our schools is really important. So um obviously I'm glad that we are having this discussion even though we're mandated to, but also that this information will then get out to our to our community because it is a little bit of a change. I know where I vote is not obviously generally the Highlander Center. So, um it's good to have that denoted. Yeah. Any other discussion? >> Go ahead. >> Yes. I just The reason that we um generally approve um the combining of precincts for special elections is really about cost. Um a special election always costs money, but the if you have more polling locations that cost um obviously increases. Um and the Highlander Center in particular is a central location within our district that still allows um lots of voter access. So yes, thanks. >> Well said. Um, I think yes, it's really important that we um, as with everything, we're we're trying to manage the fiscal responsibility while also making sure that our elections continue to remain um, available and open to the people that can vote. So, all right. Well, if there's no other discussion, we'll move into the roll call vote. If you would, Michelle. >> Yep. Brandlin. >> I Pentley I Mueller >> I >> Maderas >> I >> I >> All right motion carries. Uh the said resolution resolution was declared duly passed and adopted. Okay. We will move into the special election resolution as was foreshadowed by uh member Maderas. Uh a resolution declaring a vacancy in the office of school board member and calling for a special election to fill the vacancy. Whereas school board member Karina Smith has filed a written resignation with the board effective September 30th, 2025. And whereas Laurian Mueller was appointed to fill the vacancy and to serve until a successor is elected and qualified. Whereas Minnesota statute section 205A.05 provides that a school board shall call a special election to fill a schoolboard vacancy pursuant to Minnesota statute section 123B.09 subdivision 5. Now therefore be it resolved by the school board of Columbia Heights Independent School District number 13 as follows. One, it is necessary to hold a special election to elect one individual to fill the vacancy in the term of schoolboard member expiring the first Monday in January 2029. Two, the district shall proceed to select a successor to fill the vacancy by special election to be held according to the following schedule. Special election, April 14th, 2026. Be it further resolved that the school board of Columbia Heights Independent School District number 13 directs the clerk to make all necessary preparations for the election required by Minnesota statute rule and administrative policy of the district. Can I get a motion to accept this resolution? >> So moved. >> Laura, can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second with Julie. Thank you. discussion. Uh I just want to say since I wasn't here for uh the official swearing in of Lauren, thank you so much for fulfilling this role for us while we um seek to replace uh Karina's spot on the board. So any other discussion? All right. If there's no discussion, we can move into a roll call vote. >> Mueller, >> I mad >> I. >> Between I, Granley, >> I >> I >> All right. The resolution uh is the said resolution was declared dually passed and adopted. All right. Last one. Superintendent Stunvvic, if you would please talk to us about building capacity. >> Thank you, Chair Granland. Members of the board, um, as you know, we are regularly monitoring our enrollment and, um, much of our high many of our high school grades and programs are closed to open enrollment right now. Um, one of those programs is our transition program. So, as you likely know, it's a actually a terrific program for um students with special needs, older ch older students with special needs. Um we actually have two classrooms this year and therefore our capacity is such that um we are able to reopen that to open enrollment. Um you'll note in the um the recommendation for the motion that um it's uh seeking approval to reopen the transition program to open enrollment for the 2526 school year rather than until this or that capacity because I really don't anticipate um it's not a program where there's typically a large influx but of course we'll continue to monitor it. >> Wonderful. Thank you. Can I get a motion to accept the building capacity action item? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Michelle. Can I get a second? I'll second it. Why not? I never do that. Uh discussion or questions. >> Just a comment. Transition program is fantastic. >> It is. Yeah. >> So, I'm I'm actually kind of surprised we have openings, but I'm delighted that we were able to expand capacity. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. All right. If there's no other questions, discussions, or comments, we will go ahead and move into that roll call vote if you would. Michelle. >> Yes, I will. >> P. >> I. Pedway. >> I. Granland. >> I. >> Mueller. >> I. >> Maders. >> I. >> Palmer. >> I. >> All right. Motion carries. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Moving into board topics. Does anybody have a board topic? >> I just want to thank Michelle for shaking it up with our roll call vote. [laughter] You know, it can be a lot. So, thank you. >> I'm online and I see Julie's face and she just enjoyed it so much. [laughter] >> Thank you, Michelle. >> Yeah, well said. Thank you. >> Oh, I did want to mention that I was at the board uh the policy meeting before the board meeting. I hope that gets put in there because I just couldn't think of anything. I've been so busy with family last couple of weeks. So, >> no worries. You were definitely there. Um, and it was a delightful time >> for [snorts] sure. Um I think uh my other is uh Superintendent Stenvvic looking at this the uh accumulation of snow that we've received and what we're getting. I would be remiss in in uh not saying that there's a question about whether or not we're going to have a snow day tomorrow. >> Thank you for that question. [laughter] Um there was a late night uh winter weather webinar for superintendent last night and then there was another one this morning and they continue to send um the weather folks continue to send updates. Um it's highly highly unlikely uh you know the the uh snow is already lightening up as we speak and I'm confident that u the mindot folks will have the the roads cleared up nicely. So highly unlikely. Um, we did consider and weighed out whether or not we would send devices home with our youngest scholars and the answer was no. So, [laughter] >> yeah, >> thank you so much for that. >> Yeah. And I have I have uh not one but two others. >> Yeah, >> I know. That's amazing, right? I never have others. >> That's amazing. >> I have another and other other, >> right? So, two things. Um, one is um I briefly touched upon it. This um the the school um land trust. Um so the land trust was actually established over 160 years ago and it benefits all of our all of our students. Um the land is held in trust and proceeds from um land use u mineral rights and so on um actually go into a fund and there's an endowment um that belongs to all of the students in the entire state. Now currently this endowment prior to 2010 um uh the proceeds that were that were gained from the original endowment the over what the initial endowment was was actually um put in as a line item veto that would come directly to the schools but the legislature said oh you're getting $20 from this so we give you $20 less okay it was very generous of them to do this okay so because so we never actually saw a net benefit now a number of year [snorts] back in 2010 um Representative Dietrich actually put forward a proposal and got it passed um where instead of it coming off the top that it was it was given to us as a separate line item. So um I believe the first the first payment was about $26 per student and that goes to every single student in in the entire state. Okay. So, it's going to it's basically whatever that money is and it's divided up and it's sent out to all of the students and it is an unrestricted dollar amount. So, it can go right into our general fund. Okay. So, forward now the endowment has grown from its initial um its initial um it's almost basically double of what it was in 2010. So there has been some consideration on turning it on treating it more like it is a um like it is a normal um uh charitable endowment fund and um changing it from every year only certain uh portions of the um the net proceeds um are going out to the students instead turning it into like four to five% of the uh of whatever its growth is so that more more of those funds can come directly and be able to be utilized by the school districts almost immediately. Um so the proposal that's going to be coming forward there's going to be a lot more information about this will come as a constitutional amendment and um and just remember that um that this this money is already it is not coming out of any it isn't coming out of the legislaturator's fund. It is a fund that is owned by by the districts. >> It is it is an entitlement to directly support every single student in the state. Okay? And we just um um if they if you vote no or you don't vote at all on this particular amendment, remember that it is counted as a zero in the final counts. So, we need to make sure that we're engaging our community so that they understand exactly what this particular amendment comes from. It does not come out of any of the state budget. It is already funds that are there. We just want to be able to access a little bit more of it. It would increase um what we're receiving by about 40%. >> Wow. >> So, anyway, so more to come on that. We had just a brief the first presentation was just a couple of days ago and things are going to get rolled out and I said, you know, we need to kind of jump on this right now right away. we need to educate ourselves and then be able to go out and educate the community when they kind of look at and they go about the schools. What does this mean? We want to be able to provide clarifying answers. >> Okay, so that's >> Yep. Thank you. Yeah, that >> topic number one. >> Topic number two is um coming up in January. Uh it's an early bird um um uh class I guess you could say or seminar um is around it's called pathway to advocacy and since we have right now as part of our mission is uh creating some sort of a legislative action committee. Um, I was hoping that perhaps we might consider as a board um most of us or all of us or many of us being able to attend this particular um uh seminar. It is on uh January 14th. Um it is a Wednesday and it is from 1 to 4:30. Um since it is an early bird, there would be a um there would be a fee um for each of us that that actually participate. Um, but since this is part of our uh ongoing board goals and on on missions, I I think that this might be something we might possibly be interested in. So, I thought I would just put that out there. So, >> I see Superintendent Steenbeck is taking notes. I assume that you'll try and get that information into our packet. >> Absolutely. Thank you so much. >> Okay, that's that'll do it. >> Woohoo. Oh, there's an other other go. >> Well, I just want to thank you, Laura, for explaining all of that. Those are really important things to note. And I just I thought the slogan um that they've been pushing around with the land trust is kind of fun. So I just wanted to share it here too that they're saying that every Minnesotan student is a trust fund baby. It's a land trust. >> Okay, that's cute. >> That is that's amazing. >> And I love the idea of the of us attending the the advocacy session. I just wanted to note for the other board members too that it's part of the presession for the MSBA leadership conference the next two days. So, it's like part and parcel of the same thing if people are going to that. So, that's awesome. Um, and then I often in board topics uh try to promote all of the parent and me classes that community ed does. I always go to all of the cooking ones. I'm branching out a little bit into a non-ooking parent and me class. There is a canvas painting class um on the 15th um painting uh like a reindeer >> painting class um and they still have openings. The registration cuto off date uh is the 11th is that that's Friday. What day is the >> the That's a Thursday. >> So um if anybody's watching and wants to take on a fun activity uh I'll see you there. Thanks. >> Wonderful. Thank you for that. Any other others for board topics? All right. With that, we will Can I get a motion to adjourn? >> So moved. >> Julie, can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second [snorts and laughter] by Jessica >> dies for lack of a second. Okay. >> Um, dice for Yeah. Thanks. All right. Can we get a roll call vote to adjurnn, please? >> I guess I don't need Do we need a roll? We don't need a roll call vote for adjourn. Never mind. All those in favor? >> We do because we're hybrid, though. >> Do we have to? It's not a Well, it is. >> Didn't you say that was it to >> We didn't do it earlier in the um meeting with the other with >> Yeah, it's because I I for I forgot the hybrid rule. So, that's why that was me. >> That's okay. >> I'm the problem. >> Yeah. Yes. >> Call for roll call vote. >> Okay, great. Jessica calls for roll call vote. Thank you. Go ahead, Michelle. [laughter] >> Maderas, >> I Mueller >> I >> Granlin >> I >> I >> All right, motion carries. We adjourn at 7:51.