We if our uh if our secretary is not here, do I just appoint somebody to take role? Okay. >> Roll call. >> Awesome. Laura, will you take roll call for us? I'm gonna Not yet. I'm going to call to order the uh January 6, 2026 organizational meeting of the Columbia Heights Public School Board. Um, we'll start with a pledge of allegiance. If you're able, please stand and join us. >> 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. >> All right. Thank you. Laura, could you please do a roll call for us? Are we going to put up the item 1A? >> Oh, yes. We will do that one first. I realized that. Yep. All right. So, at this time, we're going to get started and swear in uh at least one of our student school board representatives. So, if you would stand and join me. We're going to go back there and I'm going to try and be very loud. It won't be hard. >> It is an honor to have been appointed as a student school board representative. As you recite the oath, you assume a tremendous responsibility as a student representative of our school district, Columbia Heights Public Schools. This role puts you in the position of an advocate for equitable, highquality education for every student in the district. To achieve the district's vision, the board establishes a structure. It creates an environment that ensures all students have the opportunity to attain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework by swearing in student schoolboard representatives. The elected school board elevates and includes student voice as part of its accountability to the community. Your work as student representative requires you to work closely with the district administration and the superintendent and to seek to understand the multiple perspectives of the entire student population. Uh having signed the acceptance of this rule, will you please publicly affirm your commitment by repeating the oath after me? I affirm that I will support I will support >> the Constitution of the United States, >> the Constitution >> and this state >> and this >> and that I will discharge faithfully >> and I will discharge >> the duties of the role of student school board member >> the duties of the role of student school board member >> of independent school district number 13 >> of independent school district number 13 >> to the best of my judgment and ability >> to the best of my judgement and ability Wonderful. Congratulations [applause] >> [laughter] >> You are welcome. >> Welcome to the board. >> Welcome back to the board. We are so glad to have you here. We have two other student school board representatives that we um will be joining our board. Unfortunately, they were not able to make it tonight. So, and congratulations again to you, Atma, and happy birthday. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. All right. Um, as we're still waiting on our secretary then, Laura, will you please uh call roll for us? >> I will certainly try to manage this. Okay. Granland >> here. P here. >> U here. Maderas >> here. Uh Pedawway not here yet. Um uh Palmer here. Uh Anoir >> here. >> And Superintendent Stenbeck >> here. >> Wonderful. Thank you so much. >> Got that. >> You did. >> Got everybody. Okay. >> You did. >> All right. Uh welcome to Columbia Heights Public Schools where our mission is 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. >> All right, moving on to approval of the meeting agenda. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? >> So moved. >> Laura, can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Julie. All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. We are now moving into the organization of the board meeting. First and foremost, we will uh at this time the school board chair will open the nominations for board offices. Any board member may be nominated for any office. A nomination does not require a second. Thank you, Stephanie. Appreciate that. Uh each office is voted on separately. First off, we have election of school board chair. Are there any nominations for schoolboard chair? >> Can I make a nomination? >> You may. >> I would love to nominate you. Okay, Mary. >> Thank you. There's a nomination for myself. Are there any other nominations? Any other nominations? Any other nominations? Since there are no other nominations, we will uh vote um nom I'm sorry on nominations for the office of chair are closed. Uh as I'm the only candidate nominated for this office of chair uh I hereby declare myself elected by acclamation. Thank you. Thank you everybody for your trust in me. I appreciate that. Um, I would like to have a question. >> Um, since we are missing one other person that is supposed to be here now, should we um, >> we can still nominate. Can we still nominate? >> Yes. >> Even if they are not here. Yes. Okay. >> Even if they are the one nominated for something. >> Yes. >> Okay. Just checking. All right. Thank you very much for all the clarification from the parliamentarians. I appreciate having lots of them in the room tonight. >> Yes. >> Um because they never make it easy for me. Um at this point um uh we will be asking the board to elect a vice chair. At this time, are there any nominations for vice chair? I would like to make a nomination for Michelle Pway as vice chair. Are there any other nominations? >> I'd nominate Laura Laura Palmer. >> Okay, we have two nominations for vice chair at this moment. Are there any other nominations for vice chair? Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Okay, at this time we will move into a roll call vote. Laura, >> can I make a motion? >> Oh, you can make a motion. Yes. >> Thank you very much for the nomination, but I'd like to withdraw. >> Oh, thank you very much for that. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you for that clarification. Um, okay. So, we have withdrawal. We are back down to one nominated candidate for vice chair. >> Do I need to ask three more times? >> I'm getting Yes. >> Did you already do that? >> I did. Yes. >> I would ask once more just in case. >> Thank you very much for the clarification. Are there any other nominations for vice chair for school board? All right. Since Michelle is the only candidate nominated for the office of vice chair, I hereby declare her elected by acclamation. Thank you very much. Next, we uh um nominations are now in order for the office of clerk. Are there any nominations for the office of clerk? Laura. >> Sure, I'll do it. >> Laura is uh nominated for uh for schoolboard clerk. Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? All right. I [laughter] We are such an easy board. I love this. Um, as Laura is the only candidate nominated for the office of clerk, I hereby declare her elected by acclamation. Last but not least, we are asked uh nominations are now in order for the office not least. Not at all. Uh, now in order for the office of treasurer. Could I get a nomination for treasurer? >> Go ahead, Jessica. >> I nominate Julie Hull for treasurer. Wonderful. We have received a nomination for Julie Hoo as our treasurer. Are there any other nominations? Any other nominations? Any other nominations? All right. As there are no long no more nominations and only one candidate uh nominated for office of schoolboard treasurer, we I hereby declare her elected by acclamation. All right. Welcome. Thank you very much everybody for that. Um appreciate uh all of you and the work with that. Moving on to appointment of parliamentarian and adoption of Robert's rules of order. Uh the position of parliamentarian is appointed by the chair. Robert's rules of order newly revised except where modified by schoolboard policy are recommended as the board's official rules. Sorry guys, I'm trying to get through all the papers. All right. Can I get a Well, I guess I'm it's an appointment. Uh we have can we have had uh Jessica Maderas as our parliamentarian for the uh for our school board. I am hoping that Jessica would like to continue in that role. Yes. All right. Um if there are no other uh if no other notes about that, uh we will I will appoint Jessica Mandaras as our uh parliamentarian and adopt the Robert's rules of order. Yes. >> Chair Greenland, there is a recom suggested motion. >> Oh, thank you. I will do that. It's been a long day, guys. All right. couple days, >> I think. Yes. Uh, let's start that over. >> Can I get a motion to Wait, why do I have to get a mo Oh, can I get a motion to adopt Robert rules of order uh newly revised as the rules of order for the school board of Columbia Heights Public Schools ISD13 except we're modified by schoolboard policy and appoint uh Jessica Maderas as parliamentarian for 2026. Can I get a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Julie. Any discussion? All right, no discussion. We'll do vote by acclamation. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Opposed. [clears throat] Motion carries. All right. Trucking right along here, guys. Nice work. Uh, next up, we are looking at meeting dates. All of those. Um, quick pause for this. Atanon, thank you so much for being here and thank you all so much for being here to to support her, too. We are very very blessed to have her as part of our board and we appreciate all the work that she does. Thank you all so much. You can feel free to head on out. Drive, be safe. It's uh it's a little icy out there. >> All right. Thank you everybody for for that time. We'll let them head on out. All right. Right now, uh, in board book, we have our, uh, recommended board set meeting days and times that are aligned with significant governance deadlines. Schoolboard meeting dates should be convenient for its members. Additionally, the school board should refrain from addressing any new business after 10:45 p.m. unless there's unanimous consent from all board members. Additional meetings can be added with 3 days notice. Schoolboard meetings will take place in the district community room. The dis the recommended schoolboard meeting schedule is um available there for everybody. Can I get a motion to establish the schoolboard meeting dates as outlined above? >> I move to establish the schoolboard meeting dates as outlined above. >> Thank you, Laurian. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Jessica. Is there any discussion? >> [clears throat] >> I did have I guess a question. I just wanted to confirm that the recommended meeting times and dates align with the newly proposed schedule of condensing meetings >> that was shared with us the packet. >> Yeah. >> Superintendent Steck. Yes. >> Uh yes, these are the same dates that were shared. the district admin team uh took a look at governance uh that's needed and then also meetings that were we had a handful of meetings that were just very brief. Um and and so the recommendation was that some of those meetings could be consolidated. um some of those shorter meetings could be items could have be added to a meeting prior to >> so this does represent a change to our regular meeting cadence um that we've been used to and I know there was some a note about considering holding dates um in the case that we need them is that what's also encompassed here or is the the idea that we would add additional meetings if needed within 3 days notice? Go ahead, Superintendent. >> Yeah. Um, the recommendation is does not include, you know, the all of the possible dates that the board could add. Um, the idea is that that might be confusing for people. And so, for transparency's sake or, you know, or clarity really, um, these would be the actual set dates. And then if we needed to add dates, we certainly could. Um the the district admin team spent several weeks on really going deep and looking in and there are a hand there's just a few shorter me fewer meetings than what we've typically done. Um there were there was strong consensus among the team that no no we really do need two business meetings and a work session on these months. Um but then there are other months where it it just didn't make as much sense to have that many meetings. >> Thank you. That's helpful. I think since it does represent a change, I just wanted to note that and express my support for using our time um as efficiently as possible, especially when we have um staff that are that are here for those meetings and presentations. So, thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um, I just want to Yeah. say I know that this was something that was looked really um closely at and was several several months in the making of gathering all this information and looking back at previous years to see the trends and to make sure that we were as um Jessica said using our time efficiently. So, thank you for that work. All right. Any other discussion? Julie, go ahead. >> I have a question. Um, [clears throat] so I noticed we have no meetings in July and so but we still have three in June >> and um I know vacations are you know those two months are pretty busy for vacations and such. Um is there is that the reason we don't have a July meeting is because it's kind of the I don't know. I think last year we had a July meeting, >> so I'm kind of looking at that. >> Yep. Yep. Go ahead, Superintendent Curic. >> It's kind of hearkening back to the pre- pandemic days where we didn't have meetings uh in July. Okay. >> And really, you know, when that happened, then that's when we began having meetings in July. So, it's kind of going back to >> the regulars. >> The regular Yeah. and and while we do have, you know, summer programming, um, school's not happening in full swing and there aren't really many governance, if any, governance items that happen aside from a personnel report. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Uh, welcome, Vice Chair Pway. >> I've been here the whole time. [laughter] >> I'm so sorry, guys. There's no excuse. I spaced. It just Sorry. >> It's been a very busy uh couple of days. No worries. All right. Um, right now we are on meeting dates and times. >> Gotcha. >> Uh, and we are in the discussion phase. Uh, are there is there any other discussion? Good question by the way, Julie. >> And one other note too is dropping all of those endless meetings in August that we really weren't doing a whole lot of business. So that that that's probably I would say is going to be the biggest change in all of this >> you know but u there was always so much going on that month and we can always add a date if we do actually have pressing business >> and we have done that in July you know usually we want to not have a meeting in July and then we kind of go but we have this really important thing so we'll come in and and we'll do that and >> and it's not usually three days it's usually we know ahead of time we we we are able to post it >> y >> in a timely fashion so everybody can make arrangements to be here if they're interested. >> Yes. Well said. Um I do appreciate that in this motion uh or in this discussion uh in in the paperwork that we have that you did it is listed that additional meetings can be added with three days notice. I think that that's very helpful and also continues our work towards trans to continue transparency. All right. Any other discussion? All right. Right. If there's no other discussion, we'll go ahead um and move to a vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. Next up, we move into appointment of liaison. The following appointments of board representatives will be made to standing committees. Uh, do I do I move for it before we decide on names or do I do we talk about names first? That's what I remember too, but again, I want to make sure that I get it right. So, thank you. >> All right. Uh, I believe in board book, everybody should have the previous appointments listed there. Um, so let's go ahead and start at the top. So MSBA legislative liaison was uh Miss Madaris Jessica um is there is there anybody else who who is interested in having that role? Is there anyone looking at us um moving into a legislative action committee? I think it would be very helpful to have somebody who is um coordinating with that team very well. Um as well as I think that would be important >> and what like what does the role entail? >> Sure. Jessica, would do you have um would you share a little bit about what what you did over the last year and what you you've done in that role? >> Um so it's really just helping it's helping our board be represented with MSBA's legislative work. So it's staying attuned to like the legislative updates that they provide and the the meetings that they or um the recordings that they offer. or the meetings they offer and then also arranging around organizing around the um the day at the capital. >> Thank you very much for that. >> I'm not not interested. [laughter] I feel like um just being or trying to move the LAC forward that would be >> right up my alley at this point. So um I I can do that >> especially as our new vice chair. Yes. I was just gonna say as vice chair you do you do um chair that committee. So, >> right. So, it kind of makes sense. >> Yeah. All right. So, Michelle will um we will appoint as our MSBA legislative liaison. Thank you very much. Next up, we have Bright Works. Go ahead, Superintendent Dick. >> This entails one meeting a year. >> Is that meeting still in April? >> I think so. I I would be happy to [laughter] museum the liaison to Bright Works. Love it. Any Thank you for that. I appreciate you. Um, is there any anybody else interested in that? All right, Laurian for Bright Works. Thank you very much, Laurian. All right, Minnesota State High School League. Uh, Julie, you have been in that role. Go ahead. Yes. [laughter] Oh, you want >> I would like to nominate myself for that role. [laughter] >> Got it. Got it. Okay. Um >> unless somebody else wants it that badly. But >> is there anybody else interested in that role? All right. We'll let Julie continue on in that role. Next up, Northeast Metro Intermediate District 916 board. I think Laura, she could do it. I was going to say I want it. >> [laughter] >> Laura, would you like that? >> Yeah, I I think I could work on that one. So, yeah. >> Uh, >> I would love to do that again. >> Awesome. >> That's okay with y'all. >> Yeah, I would love to have you continue in that role, too. So, I think that sounds good. Um, all right. Uh, liaison to the city of Columbia Heights. Right now, that is >> [clears throat] >> uh, Miss Maderas. Um, would you like to continue in that role? >> I'm happy to continue in that role. Okay, >> sounds good. Anybody else interested? No. All right. Just keeping the status quo. That's just fine. Love it. Uh leazison into the city city of Fidley. That is currently Julie. Is there anybody else interested in doing that? >> I'd like to continue unless somebody else would in there. >> Uh anybody else interested? >> Everybody keeps looking at the people. [laughter] >> I know. >> You want it? You >> I like that role. >> You've been doing great. >> Great. All right, we'll keep Julie in that role too. It sounds like uh leazison to the city of Hilltop. >> I can keep it if interested. >> Michelle would uh we'll go ahead and have you keep that. >> Yeah, that's awesome. >> All right. Uh moving into the schoolboard policy subcommittee. There are three people. I am automatically one of them as chair. Uh, who else would um like to be on that subcommittee? >> I'll never be on policy. [laughter] >> You say never. >> That's what I say. Every single year. Why Why do you think I gave up the vice chair? [laughter] >> Jessica, >> I would like to continue on policy. >> Jessica, >> Laura, you want >> I would really love to be on policy. Please. Thank you. >> I would too, but obviously we can only have three. >> We can only have three. Yeah. Um you and I did have an opportunity yesterday to talk Yes. about this the subcommittees as well. Um >> and now that we have the um LAC like there will be still that legislative opportunity for like other types of change. So >> exactly. Um so myself, Jessica and Laura sounds like um we will do that. Uh the schoolboard community engagement subcommittee um is Michelle and um I want to take a second right here and just share one of the things that um I had an opportunity to talk about with Julie yesterday is um that as we're moving into uh creating a legislative action committee to help further our engagement with the community and um the people at the capital that make the decisions around um the finances and other things that uh that impact our students and our policy here. Um, I think Julie really does have uh quite um an amazing pull in ways that we don't like some the rest of us don't. And um I think your advocacy here at the board um and through policy that you have helped us to create and mold um I think that this is a really wonderful step to um and would we would love to have you in that role. Um, >> like I said yesterday, um, you know, I'd be happy to help >> however that that role is. I just, you know, there's some things going on with my life that I may not be able to put in a lot of hours in that, >> but I'd be happy to help. And and I think with the establishment of the legislative action committee, we are in a place where we're talking about like what does this look like in that roadmap and um my my hope and my goal is that we are not adding um a lot more to other to our to our board members plates. this the creation of something um is a lot. And we, you know, some of us that have been on the board when we created the student school board and and the the community engagement subcommittee um we know that it takes work uh to get it off the ground, but it doesn't have to be uh all-encompassing and and take over so much. Um, I think your what you can bring to it is going to be incredibly helpful for us, not just now, but for years to come. So, I really appreciate >> Yeah, I happy to do it. >> Thank you, Julie. All right, so it looks like it'll be Michelle, Julie, and um, and Laurian. >> Exciting. >> Yeah. All right. uh Association of Metropolitan School Districts, AMSD, that is uh Miss Pway and Miss Mueller right now. >> I mean, I'd be fine still um there, but I'm not like I don't have to be. >> Um I enjoy, you know, the the meetings, but aren't they like available? >> They are available for all of us now >> to like catch up. >> Yeah. Jessica, were you raising? Well, I was also going to express interest in that, but I >> Yeah. >> And I mean, we'd had one, right? And then last year, we just decided we'd do >> Yeah. >> two. So, Jessica would like it. That's fine. >> Um, we'll have Jessica in that role then. And then Columbia Heights Business Council. [laughter] >> I'd love to. >> Okay. Anybody else want to arm Russell Lauren for it? No. All right. >> We did skip over you for AMSD, though. Were you interested? Because your name was there. Okay. I just wanted to make sure. >> All right. Uh, the appointments of board representatives um are listed as followed. I will read this out um and get an emotion. So, MSBA legislative liaison for the 2026 >> isn't >> what? >> Never mind. the building liaison are a separate motion. So, I was confused. >> Stephanie set me up for success today. Um, not like she doesn't usually, but especially today. >> Uh, all right. Uh, MSBA legislative liaison will be uh Michelle Pway. Brightworks leazison will be Laurian Mueller. Minnesota State High School League will be Julie HooL. Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916 board will be Laura. Um, Leah is into the city of Columbia Heights will be Jessica. City Leah is into the city of Fidley is Julie. Leah is into the city of Hilltop is Michelle. Schoolboard policy subcommittee will be Jessica, Laura, and myself as chair. Schoolboard community engagement subcommittee will be Julie uh Lauren and uh Michelle as chair of that subcommittee. Association of Metropolitan School Districts. AMSD is Jessica and Columbia Heights Business Council will be Laurian. All right. Can I get a motion to accept the following appointment or the the previous appointments of No, let me start that over. Can I get a motion to approve the appointments of board representative at uh >> to standing committees as was stated? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Julie. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Michelle. We got there. >> All those in favor say I. >> Discuss. >> I. >> I missed discussion. Do we have any discussion about this? >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. Cool. Moving on. 34 minutes in, guys. Uh, all right. Next up, appointment of building liaison. we have in our board book the appointment of board leaons two schools sorry I've got lots of papers I'm trying to figure it all out okay so liaison uh this will be effective January 6th through June 30th. >> There it is. Thank you. It was Yep. Um January 6th through June 30th of 2026 previously. See, so uh Columbia Heights High School is currently me. Is anybody else interested in taking that? I will keep that. >> I will just say you can put me wherever >> wherever >> you all choose first and then I'll take >> you'll take whatever's left. Got it. [laughter] All right. Um so I am happy to continue on as the liaison to the high school unless anybody else is interested in that one. Um, Columbia Academy is currently Jessica. Is anybody >> It's me. >> Oh, it's you. >> Yeah, you're looking at >> Yeah, you're looking at the what was January to June in 2025. >> The second You look at the second section. >> Just showing the past two times. >> Yeah, it's >> showing the past two years. >> January through June and then July through January. >> Okay. >> Do you have it on there? >> I don't. >> Oh, here. It's here. >> Oh, it is at the bottom. Never mind. Thank you. >> Getting some exercise over there. [laughter] >> Good god. All right. Uh, >> I would like to keep Columbia Academy. >> Okay. Thank you. >> If no one else. >> All right. Michelle would like to keep Columbia Academy. >> Check. Uh, Highland is currently Laurian. Would you anybody else would >> chair Granland? >> Yes. >> I'm wondering if without objection we could just keep our liaison appointments through that we have through June 30th >> until the uh January 5th of 2027. >> Yes. >> We're talk we're talking right now about the appointments January through June. >> I can't hear. >> So what you're saying >> we'll keep the current. So I'm thinking that everyone in their current appointment building liazison appointments could finish out they'd finish out the >> school year. >> School year. >> Oh yes. I Does anybody have any objections to that? >> No. >> All right. >> I was trying to figure out how to phrase that. >> But that would still go into >> January of next year, right? >> No, no, >> no. We're going until the end of the school year. We've typically split the liaison appointments January to June >> and then June to January because you go over to school. >> Yeah. I don't know how I've like missed us doing that. >> We used to go January to January. >> Yep. >> Okay. And then we decided we were going to do it by the school year. So >> So in June, have we been doing that? >> Yes. We often uh go to the scaling the heights lunchon and some of us may forget which liaison table they should be at. >> This is very tricky for me but yes. >> Yes. >> It's hazy but it's there. So, >> so my suggestion is just that we we make new appointments for next school year for starting in in July, but that January through June of this year, we continue in our existing liaison appointments. >> Are you suggesting that we um do a the liaison for the next school year starting at in June or are we doing that now? I was not suggesting that, but >> I don't suggest that we do that. >> Okay. I think we should just do that in June. >> I think we should do that in June. >> Okay. That's that's what I'm saying. Like we continue on our roles and then we we will come back to board leaison um at the end of the school year. Does that make sense? >> I just need it repeated. What are we doing? I can't hear. So we're the the uh suggestion is that right now we just continue with our current board leaison uh to the schools. We continue in those roles until the end of the school year and in June we will then appoint for the next school year. So we're going to shift what the appointment process until >> so it'll go July to June. >> Yeah. So we'll do it on the fiscal year every year after that then it'll be a full fiscal year. >> Yeah. >> Gotcha. That is splitting in the middle. >> Makes sense. So I will be North Park until June. >> Yes. Gotcha. >> All right. >> Because now that means that in January we won't be choosing it again. So are we doing twice a year or no? >> No. >> Okay. >> Moving to June. >> Moving to June. >> Got it. Moving to June. >> It's just going to be a little clunky for a little bit here. >> Are we rolling? >> Gotcha. Yep. >> Yep. Right. I was like >> I was trying to make it easier and it >> we made it. which is why I was having trouble figuring out how I was going to >> This is why we're kicking the can six months down the road. [laughter] >> All right. Um, so all the So, can I get a motion to continue in our liaison roles uh until uh June 30th, 2026? >> So moved. >> Thank you. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Julie. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. All right. Motion carries. Looking moving into salaries and pdeium for board members and board officers. All right. Uh, attached for your review is a compensation comparison grid of several area school boards. Also for your review listed below is the Columbia Heights schoolboard compensation history. At this time, can I get a motion to set the 2026 salaries for all board members at $500 a month and to establish additional compensation for board officers as follows. chair with an additional $100 a month and furthermore that all members of the board may receive per DM payments over the salaries established by the board of education for meetings of NSBA, MSBA mediation sessions and such other meetings as may be approved by the board and which take the member away from his or her regular obligations of the regular workday or which are held on Saturday or Sunday. said compensation for the per DM payment is to be uh $500 I'm sorry $50 per day >> um $50 per day up to four hours with and $100 per day in excess of four hours. Can I get a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Michelle. Discussion. I would like to say that um our board we do have a lot of meetings even though we just adjusted our meeting schedule >> still more than most. >> Yep. And um this is a very small amount for the amount of work that we are doing on behalf half of our community. Um so, uh this I feel like is while not fair, it is very much in line with um our approach. I think this board's approach to governance and transparency. >> I I don't think it's changed in 20 years. >> I don't think so either. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, it's probably changed. We've had more meetings. Huh? >> It's probably changed in which we've added more meetings. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. No, that [laughter] the compensation hasn't changed. >> Correct. Yeah. Absolutely. >> Not paid by the meeting. >> We are not >> paid by the meeting. >> No, we are not. >> Um All right. If No, there's no further discussion. We'll move into a vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you very much. Next up, we are moving into the designation of depositories resolution with not me as the presenter, Director Henkkins. [snorts] Thank you, Chair Granland, members of the board. Superintendent Steinbeck. [clears throat] All right. So, the first item I have is recommendation for depositories um that are included in the attached resolution. So, I'm seeking approval to adopt the following uh resolution. >> All right. Thank you. I will read the following resolution. Resolution designating depositories. Be it resolved that the following be designated as depositories for certain monies of this school district and as such are authorized and directed to honor and or paychecks or orders when signed by the treasurer and the clerk for the withdrawal [snorts] or transfer of funds on deposit in said bank in whatever form. Northeast Bank, US Bank, Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund Plus, MSDL AF Plus, Wells Fargo, Bank of America. Be it further resolved that the following investment brokers are hereby authorized and directed to honor orders when signed by the treasurer and the clerk for the withdrawal or transfer of funds on deposit in said instruction in whatever form. PMA financial network. Be it further resolved that in case such deposits in the designated banks shall at any time exceed $250,000 said depository shall immediately furnish bonds or securities in lie of bond according to law and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Minnesota or any of the aforementioned depositories are hereby designated [snorts] as the place for the safekeeping of all securities furnished in lie of such bonds. respond. As this is a resolution, I believe we go into a roll call vote. >> Oh gosh. >> Laura, would you please >> we have a motion? >> Oh, do we have Oh, can I get a motion to approve the resolution designated depositories? Thank you. >> So, move. >> Thank you, Michelle. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Julie. Uh, all right. As it is a roll call vote. Oh, no. Is there any discussion? I can see Jessica's eyes from over here. Um, is there any discussion? [laughter] >> Go ahead. >> Um, Director Hennekins, is there any changes to the banks that we're designating? >> Nope. No changes. We've had the same banks for many years. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? >> All right. Since it is a roll call vote, Laura, would you call roll for us, please? >> Granland. >> I. P. >> I. Mueller >> I Maderas >> I >> Ketwe >> I >> Palmer I >> All right resolution carries moving into designation of electronic transfer designates with my gosh it's director Hennekins again go ahead. >> Uh thank you chair Grenland members of the board and superintendent Steic. Uh the second item for action um seeking approval uh to appoint design for processing electronic transfers um designating myself director of finance and operation and Kate Westper deputy director of finance and operations. Um so seeking approval this evening for that. >> Wonderful. Thank you very much. Can I get a motion to appoint Brian Henkkins and Kate Westper as it our design in processing electronic transfers? >> Thank you Laura. Can I get a second? Second. >> Second by Jessica. Is there any discussion? >> I have a question. >> Julie. Yeah, go ahead. >> Um, Director Henne, is does there require two signatures for a wire or in this an electronic funds transfer? >> It's designating two of us um so that if one of us is unavailable that there's still someone uh to move money. We have um I receive uh currently um the primary person that's uh transferring funds um from um PMA where majority of our money sits um to Northeast Bank um where we pay a majority of our bills and payroll all through um and US Bank uh that's where direct deposits roll through um [clears throat] and I receive notification of any transfer. Superintendent receives notification of any transfer. So there's checks and balances on money that moves. Um uh so that's that's currently why we have two. Um and it's it's myself and the deputy director. >> So the system doesn't require two people to approve, you know, set up the transfer and then >> it does not >> release the transfer. It but it does notify you when somebody >> and the superintendent. >> Yep. Both of us receive notifications. So there's two again just in case one of us is, you know, on vacation, unavailable, but there's there's that redundancy in that notification process to make sure we know what's going on. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Y >> um along those lines, uh question for you. Is there a dollar amount under that you would not receive that or is it for any amount of money? >> Any amount of money that's transferred, we received the notification. >> Thank you. Wonderful. Thank you very much. >> Y >> All right. Any other discussion? Okay. If no other discussion, we'll move to a vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. All right. Motion carries. Thank you very much. Next up, we are moving into designation of legal counsel. Director Henkins. >> Thank you, Chair Granland, members of the board, and Superintendent Stebe. um this evening uh for this agenda item um seeking um approval appointment of design of legal counsel as noted um below um for they've been our same legal councils for um quite a few years now Margaret Skelton Joseph Langel Laura Tubs Booth and others from Ratwick Rosik and Maloney and then Andrea HK Dorsy and Whitney um so um Andrea HKY we work with bond sales um um levy um uh and the above um working with our employment law or contracts um that we have with like say the bus company um and then uh special education as far as their expertise areas. >> Right. Wonderful. Thank you. Okay. Can I get a motion to appoint Margaret Skelton, Joseph Langel, Laura Tubs, Booth, and others of Ratwick, Rosewick, and Maloney, PA, and Andrea Hedkkey, Dorsey and Whitney LLP as its legal council design, with the contacts uh being schoolboard chair and superintendent andor her design. Can I get a motion to accept? >> Can I >> Oh, no. Yeah. Can I just >> Yep. Go ahead. >> Um I just wanted to I it's not amending it because I'm going to make a motion, but it's slightly different just because we say um and others when we're talking about Rat Rick, Ros and Maloney. >> Um [clears throat] I just I I think it would make sense to do the same for Dorsy and Whitney in the case that that particular council were to leave the organization. So >> um so the so the motion would be to appoint Margaret Skelton, Joseph Langel, Laura Tubs Booth [laughter] and others of Rat Rick Rosik and Maloney PA and Andrea Head Key and others of Dorsy and Whitney LLP as its legal council design. The contact Shelby school board chair and superintendent and andor her designate. >> Okay, thank you for that. Um >> so >> that's my motion if there's a second. >> Yeah. Is there a second to that? >> A second. >> Thank you, Laurian. Uh, all those in favor say I. >> Oh, wait. Nope. Discussion. >> Discussion. >> Is there any other discussion? >> Go ahead, Julie. >> Director Hennekins, do we use additional people at Dury and Whitney? Um those three are primary, but if [clears throat] in cases they're unavailable um and we we need some immediate um or more immediate um legal counsel um then there that was where the other usually would come into play um if they're unavailable. Um but they are our primary three um in their again their expertise areas in contract law um or special education. So >> thank you. Thank you very much. Great question. Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor uh say I >> I opposed. >> Motion carries. Moving on to authorization. Authorizing administration to contract for budgeted items. Director Henkins. >> Thank you, Chair Granland, members of the board, and Superintendent Senic. Uh this item for action uh this evening uh was brought to the board every year um giving authorization this for the school board to give authorization to the superintendent um and the business manager in this case as outlined in statute in this our case is the director of finance and operations um to authorize us uh to lease purchase and contract for goods and services within budget as approved by the board. Uh the board's uh delegation of authority under this provision applies so long as estimated amount of the transaction does not exceed 175,000 in which case will I would be bringing it to the board and going through the formal bid law process. Um in those instances again the the board must explicitly authorize a transaction um and and that's a process I go through every year with you guys. Um and again it as I said the we need to renew this authority every every January. Thank you. All right. Can I get a motion to designate the superintendent and director of finance and operations authorization to lease, purchase, and contract for goods and services within the budget as approved by the school board in the amounts up to $175,000 pursuant to Minnesota statutes section 123B 52 subdivision 2. Can I get a motion to accept? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Julie. Can I get a second? >> Second. second by Laurian. Discussion. I just want to say that I remember one of the very first things that Julie brought to the board um is the discussion around the $175,000 because that is a lot of money to families uh at home. That is not a lot of money to our school district uh in terms of the purchase power that we have and the amount that we are responsible for. However, this designation is as outlined pursuant to Minnesota state statute. All right. Any other discussion related to that? >> I have Julie, go ahead. >> I have one question for Director Henne. Um is there [clears throat] is there um controls around piling on to a a vendor for instance so that you can have 50 50 50 and approve over the 175 even because they're multiples. >> Yeah, there are um we look for that internally and also our auditors look for that. >> [laughter] >> So, um it's it's uh in our best interest to look for that internally um and make sure that we're not doing that. Um you know, when we're looking at um u services um contracted services versus purchasing um product. Um there's there's additional latitude with contracted services. Um but um from an actual um purchasing of of construction equipment and yes, it's in our best interest to to repairs um um for HVAC equipment and stuff to to monitor that and make sure that we're looking at that. um both the deputy director of finance and operations and myself um and then um our accounts payable person who's um kicking checks out. Um we're all looking for that um throughout the year um and making sure that when it comes to audit time um we're uh we have everything that we need and also then when our auditors look at it they don't. So yes, there's checks and balances. >> Thank you. Fantastic question. Thank you for that. Any other discussion? All right. Can I get a motion to uh approve? >> We already have the motion. >> Oh, yeah. That's right. Uh now we're going to move into voting. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. Next up, designation of uh election clerk. Superintendent Stenbeck. Chair Granland, members of the board. Um, this evening I'm seeking approval for the appointment of Stephanie Alvarez as our election clerk. >> All right. Thank you. >> Can I get a motion to approve Stephanie Alvarez as our election clerk designate? >> Michelle, can I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Laura. Discussion. >> Question. >> Yes. >> Stephanie, you're good with this? >> I sure am. >> Okay. [laughter] I mean, she's being >> some some years are harder than others. >> I sure hope so. [laughter] >> I feel like it's I feel like it's a little volunttold, but still. >> Yeah. [laughter] I I know it's part of your job description, but some years have been has been rough. >> Go ahead, Julie. >> Um, I just want to thank Stephanie for doing that. I know it is complex and complicated when election season comes along and we just want to thank you for for taking that role because we know it's comp complicated and we appreciate your expertise. >> Yeah. And we uh Yes. Well said. And also uh shout out again because we know that you are in the midst of doing this as we are uh beginning the nominations for uh our special election coming up in April. So thank you very much for that. All right, discussion. Uh is there any other discussion? All right. All those in favor in appointing Stephanie Alvarez as our election clerk designignate for the Columbia Heights Public School District, uh, say I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Congratulations. [laughter] >> All right. Next up, we will be setting the designation of official newspaper with uh, Kristen Stungle, director of community education and communications. Welcome. >> Good evening. Good evening, >> Chair Granlin, members of the board, Superintendent Stenvik. I'm here this evening to ask for approval for The Life to be the official newspaper for our school district. I uh was in communication with the other newspapers that are local. Um no other newspaper submitted a bid. So, we have one bid. Uh a reminder that The Life does cover our full area and is weekly. Um, and so, uh, with that, I I'm just seeking approval for The Life to be the Columbia Heights Public Schools official newspaper. >> All right. Thank you very much. Can I get a motion to designate the life as the official newspaper for the calendar year 2026 for the Columbia Heights Public School District? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Lauren. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Laura. Discussion. Go ahead, Michelle. Um, I mean it's a question I probably should have asked a couple years ago, but um, them being our our paper, like what does that mean for us? So like when we send them something or do they ask us for like information, how does it work? >> Most important thing is that there are a number of items that must be publicized in the paper. And so, um, Director Henkins, um, Stephanie Alvarez, others, uh, but especially for our finance, um, department, things need to be posted officially in in a publication. And that is where the fact that they are a weekly versus every other week which another local paper is does make a difference in terms of posting bids for example uh and other official notice not notifications that have a very short turnaround where it would be difficult to forecast that out three weeks in advance because you have to get it in in time for it to get posted. Does that make sense? So um but then also uh I reach out of course to them in particular but to the other local papers with different story ideas and occasionally I will say you know you are our official newspaper even though I am sure that you would like to cover this before I give the story to another paper. Um so we do have what is considered more of a closer relationship because of that. >> Thank you. >> Great question. Go ahead Julie. Um I've been kind of curious about um do we use other methods like if we go out for bid is the life the only paper that we use or is that the just the official paper? Superintendent Sambeck, >> my understanding, I know Director Henkin is here, is um we are required to post in a newspaper, but in reality, most of the bids go through a website, >> right? >> Um so we do use other methods, but currently school districts are required to post in a newspaper. >> Thank you. >> So we, as you know, follow the law. >> Yeah, that's right. [laughter] >> Yeah, >> that is something that has been discussed recently at the state capital of if that should continue. Um, and so you might hear about that in the news that that uh question about the necessity to be posted in a local newspaper. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead, Jessica. >> I did just have one question. Maybe you know I I went back and I looked at the life's bid from 2025 and the bid was not um archived in the meeting material. So I just didn't know if the current bid represents a change in cost from last year or not. Um, I'm sorry that that wasn't I I thought that that was included in your board book, the current bid. Did you >> Oh, the current bid. Yes, the current bid. I'm saying does the I went back and looked like at last year. I'm just wondering if the current bid represents a change in in price from last year. >> That's information I'll need to get to you. I don't have that information off the top of my head. Um, yes. >> I see Superintendent Steenic is making a note and we can we can assume that that will be in our packet this week. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Great questions. Um, as always, uh, I appreciate the fact that you bring this up. Um, and explained the reason why we aren't using a local paper paper. I think that would always be our um, a specific local to us paper instead of a conglomerate um, owned newspaper. Um, and I appreciate the outline that you had as to why we are not able to uh, to go with another newspaper and that this is really our choice. So, I appreciate that explanation. Uh, with that, any other discussion? All right. Um, all those in favor of designating the life as the official newspaper for the calendar year 2026 for the Columbia Heights Public School District, say I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. All right. Thank you. >> You. >> Um, next up we have our consent agenda. Our consent agenda at this time includes a personnel report, our Treasury report from November 2025, and the minutes from our December 9th, 2025 meeting. Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Julie. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Lauren. Discussion. All right. If there is no discussion, we'll go ahead and move to a vote. All those in favor of accepting the consent agenda say I. >> I. Opposed. Abstained. Motion carries. [clears throat] All right. Moving into action items. Resolution for sale of bonds. Director Henkkins and Mr. Hammer will be uh joining us. didn't hand these out, but I can pass while you're doing. Thank you, [clears throat] Chair Granland, uh members of the board, and Superintendent Stebe. Um so uh this morning um we officially had the sale of the bonds for Valley View Elementary project and um had some really good news there. Um, so this evening we'll be seeking approval um moving forward with this the or approving the sale of the bonds and I have uh Matthew Hammer here from Ellers um who we've been working with on this process and I'll kind of just turn it over to him to kind of talk about what we have. >> Yeah, thanks everybody. Um Matthew Hammer from uh Ellers. Uh I've seen everybody um here over the last number of uh months as we've talked about this bond sale and we have outstanding results from this morning. So we took bonds this uh bids this morning, competitive bids um at 10:00 a.m. um and received uh five bids from across the country and Fidelity was the winning bidder this morning for the bid result. We were offered a 3.57% interest rate um which is an outstanding rate. Um, typically at the beginning of a calendar year is a good time to be in the market and um, with the demand in the market, um, uh, we're seeing a lot of bidder. So, I think our timing was really good this morning. If we go back to our pre-sale estimates, we were at a 4.05% rate. So, we're about almost 50 basis points or a half a percent lower than what we were estimating prior to. Obviously, there's a lot of factors that go into it. Um, the district was upgraded. um with their bond rating um which that uh is uh obviously impacting the interest rates that um the district is getting and ultimately is just lowering um the taxes that property owners will be paying from interest. Um we did uh the overall bid the range was very tight, right? Which that means we did really likely receive a very competitive rate from the standpoint of what we were seeing in the market today. And u we'll remember or remind everybody we did set this estimated levy as part of the tax levy right as part of the district the levy that the school board approved in December. So those levy dollars were in place to pay that first payment that will be collected in fiscal year 27. So the levy cycle been a year delay that first payment that the district will be making in fiscal 27. How this sets us up for the phases that are coming is really good. Um because as we've been working with you guys on the phases for the second projects um right um the lower interest rate and lower cost gives us some um additional capacity as we look forward to phase two. I think overall um these bonds will have a call date on them. Um, so each maturity that you have has a specific interest rate. Um, that call date right now that we put on it is a fiscal 33 call or an 8-year call, which is what the market has. So there'll be an opportunity at that point in time for us to look at a refinancing opportunity. And based on the interest rates we got or the coupons that we call them, it's likely there'll be an opportunity at that point in time to look at refinancing and savings and future interest costs for taxpayers. Um, and you kind of think of that, right? We issued this over 17 years. When we get to that point in time, we'll be looking at a shorter issue. At that time, um, just like a home mortgage, um, you take out a 15-year loan, it often comes with a lower rate than you take out a 30-year loan. Um, and that's something that we do with the district on an ongoing basis. We're always reviewing, um, your commitments and trying to manage those in the most effective way. So, with that, um, we're right on target. Uh obviously from what the tax impact that we were assuming. Um those levies were incorporated into the levy already um we're right at that $6 on a month increase that we were planning as part of the 10-year plan. Um and then this really positions us well for our additional phases that are coming that we'll be talking about over the next number of years as we get into. >> Wonderful. Thank you for that. Uh, at this time I'm going to go ahead and read the resolution before I ask for a motion and discussion. >> Chair Grandon, can you wave the reading? >> Oh, yep. Uh, >> I would love to second that. [laughter] >> All those in favor of ra of waving the reading say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? No. >> Discussion. >> Discussion. >> There are ample copies of this available. um in our board book. So, anybody who wants to actually delve into it and read it, I'm sure, is going to be welcome to it. >> Thank you for that. Yes. Um as this is a resolution and we wave the reading, do we still go through a roll call vote? Yes, we do. Okay. Any other discussion about the motion of accepting the resolution as presented um at this time? All right. As a roll call vote, Laura, would you please call the role? >> Granland >> I. >> H >> I. >> Mueller >> I. >> Maderas >> I. >> Pway >> I. >> Palmer I. >> Resolution passes. Thank you all very very much >> and thank you everybody. I I'm just going to say too as part of this process uh the the rating report is in the documents that you have. Um those rating upgrades don't just happen. um the district and the job the management's been doing, the representation that Ryan and Zena had on the call are super important to that process. So um I just want to reiterate that right is uh that process is super important. It's just like having your auditing firm come in and look at the district. It's another outside set of eyes, right? and Moody's your rating agency um felt strongly when they looked at your financial picture that um not only now but as they forecast forward that the financial operation of the district has made much improvements which resulted in the upgrade which is um a big win for the district from the standpoint of what taxpayers are going to be paying for these bonds and as we move forward can play well into some of those conversations for um keeping the impact of future plans down too as well. So, I just want to say that because um that's an important process um and it's something that the school district and the school board have been working on hard, right? To manage taxpayer dollars in a in an efficient way that um reeks benefits when you come to this type of sale or type of project where you're trying to do some things from a capital investment perspective. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Thank [clears throat] you very much for that. Um, and you are right that sort of went kind of under the radar at this discussion, but it is [snorts] an important thing for us to highlight and I appreciate the words, the kind words that you had um, and echo them. our school board and especially um the administration under uh Superintendent Steenic has worked very very hard and we have clawed our way out um and very much appreciated your words and it was a quite the surprise to know that we had gotten um upgraded by Moody's. This is not something that we applied for. it just happened and that's um because of the due diligence of the administration in managing our our funds very responsibly. So um thank you very much for your words on that. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Next up we have early childhood fees with director uh Stunkle. Granland, members of the board, Superintendent Stenvvic, I'm here this evening with an action item um seeking approval of the increase in our fees for our community education programs. Um the I uh provided the details of that at our previous meeting. It is approximately a 5% increase this year. We are hoping in the future we don't need to increase it to the same degree. Um but again these programs um need to be self- sustaining. So this is with adventure club and mini adventures program um and then also with our prek3 program. So that's um I I provided the information um at the at our previous meeting about that. But for example, um with mini adventures, um there would be if a family is invol is enrolled uh five days a week, it would go currently it's $339 a week up to $356 a week. Um with Adventure Club, currently um daily uh families are paying $24 a day. It would go up to approximately 20. It would go up to $25 a day for ECF, uh, early childhood family education. Um, currently a family that is making 0 to$19,000 a year are currently paying $25 uh for the fullear class. It would go up to 26, for example. Um, and then with preK3 that again, that's a sliding fee scale just like ECF. Um currently if a family is in the zero to $111,000 salary or um family income, they're currently paying $23 a month uh for three days a week and it would go up to 24. So we are trying to keep the amount uh the increase as low as possible, but we do need to increase it because costs are going up, particularly with our child care program. Um that does have to be self- sustaining. there are no other funding streams for that. Um and so that is why uh we we need to have the increase that we have. I met with um director henkans about this to make sure that this is reflective of the covering the cost of these programs and um I do want to add that there is a lot that's in the news currently about child care programs and um I so I do want to address that because when I've presented in the past I have said that we don't have an internal scholarship program for our child care program. We don't inflate the cost in order to have extra money to provide internal scholarships. However, there are funding um resources such as CCAP um that is county money funding that a family would go to the county services and receive to help to pay for their child care. Now, CCAP is um a program that you've probably heard about in the news. We, Mini Adventures and Adventure Club have families who receive CCAP funding. And what I'd like to share with you all, just to give you some context, if you don't mind, is that okay this evening? >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> Thank you. Because this is this has happened since we last met. Yes. >> Typically, we don't go into all of these details in an action item, but I want you to have a thorough understanding of what's currently happening. So currently in Adventure Club at Highland, one of our 28 families are receiving CCAP funding. At Valley View, five out of 21 families receiving CCAP funding. At North Park, three out of 16 receiving CCAP funding. And with our many adventures program, four of our families out of 40 are receiving CCAP funding. I literally at 5:40 this evening got another communication from the Department of Children, Youth and Families regarding this. This is something again that is um developing. It's a developing story. Um when you hear that there is increased scrutiny of child care centers throughout the state that receive CCAP funding, that means all of the child care centers in the state. So it is not just increased scrutiny for some. It means that all of us who receive who uh partner with CCAP funding uh can expect to receive visits. Um so I want to share with you that uh what what I learned at 5:40 today from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Uh they did communicate with us on January 2nd uh with their first update about child care uh program funding after federal officials posted on social media about a child care funding freeze in Minnesota last Tuesday. Um currently child care assistance programs are continuing to operate as usual. Providers should continue to follow all CCAP licensing and certification requirements and practices including billing. Um, and so that is continuing as usual. And what they shared today, which was new news, is that in Minnesota, CCAP is funded by a combination of state and federal funds. State funds are sufficient to support CCAP services for several months, while DCYF, that's the Department of Children, Youth, and Family, works to respond to federal requests. So that's interesting information that uh that we are a stable program for a couple of months while they try to work through this. So um but as part of an ongoing commitment to oversight and to instill the necessary public trust in the integrity of Minnesota's child care providers participating in CCAP DCYF is adding additional on-site compliance checks in child care programs. These do not replace the annual lensure visits which we which we do have and we always pass with flying colors by the way. [laughter] Thank you Jod and her team. Um these I want to say this um publicly. These checks will be conducted by the DCF Office of Inspector General Investigators with assistance from agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the BCA. The partnership reflects a coordinated working relationship between state agencies to protect protect taxpayer dollars and prevent fra fraud. BCA agents will be clearly identified as law enforcement. The presence of BCA agents does not mean there is a criminal investigation. So we um it it is very much to be expected that um the inspec the DCYF inspector general and BCA officers uh will come to our sites. um uh coordinator Jodi Gadient communicated with the principles and their secretaries because this could happen at our schools when adventure club is taking place that this could happen here at our family center. So um so that is something that as an organization we need to be prepared for. The other thing is that um our front office closes at 4:00. Our families that are in many adventures have a prox card. They come in the side door. Should someone come at 5:00 to check and see if our organization is open for business, they would they would see that the no one is at the front door. So, um, per the superintendent's suggestion today, we are adding a sign um that says, "Mini Adventures families, should you arrive after 4:00, please use your Prox card." They already know to use their prox card, but this is >> so that anybody else that might come and see that the door is locked does that does not indicate that there is no child care program. >> It's up right now. >> Y thank you. I had asked I had asked uh Jody to take care of it, but I came in the side door >> because [laughter] it's up right now. So I just want to be clear that should someone have come over winter break it would have looked like we did not have an organ we did not have a child care program. >> We do >> that we were on break and thank goodness they were cleaning it very thoroughly because there were colds that had happened before break. [laughter] Um but I just some of these things you hear about in the news. I want you to know what this looks like lived experience here in in Columbia Heights public schools. >> Thank you. Thank you. Very much appreciated. I imagine there's going to be a wealth of calls after we get to after uh we do the motion. So, can I get a motion to increase the fees of community education programs beginning with the 2026 2027 school year? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Julie. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Michelle. Discussion. Um, yes. Go ahead, Laurian. I I just want to clarify that the fees will be increased based on what was presented since that was not included in the motion. So, thank you for that clarification. Yes, >> discussion Jessica. >> I um thank you for um uh presenting the action item and then also giving us additional context about um recent actions around CCAP and other child care assistance. Um I did actually reach out to superintendent ear stem earlier today um because I um had concerns about how um the withholding of CCAP funds um could impact um our both of our families that receive CCAP funds um as well as our um early childhood programs overall in their solveny. and as we're looking to um make a change to the fee in order to um stay afloat um how that could impact our our overall enrollment and the ability for families to stay enrolled in our early childhood program. So I really do appreciate the context. Um my understanding of the CCAP program, the split is about 6040 um 60% federal money and 40% state money. Um and so um knowing that there is enough uh state money um that we're able to use to get through the next few months of maybe some uncertainty um and knowing um the number of families that that are using CCAP funds. That's incredibly helpful information. Um, this is maybe an aside to the the the action item that we're here to vote on tonight, but I do think that it is um connected in the sense that whatever we approve here when we approve the motion here tonight, um that's going to be the fee that's set for next year. And if there is uncertainty or withholding of um CCAP funding that were to extend into next school year, I do have um concerns and outstanding questions about again how that imp how that impacts the current families that you know are enrolled and would like to stay enrolled next year, what that means to our overall enrollment in all of that programs um and how it impacts our early childhood as a whole. So, um I know you none of us have answers to that now, but I just I I want to note my concern and and that those questions are still outstanding and and may impact um our families, our programming, and our budget for next year beyond what we're able to approve tonight. Mhm. >> Um and then I also really appreciate the the public um information related to what we might expect from um inspection visits with BCA agents to our early childhood programs. Um, as a parent who has uh a student that that is enrolled in one of those programs, it's extremely alarming to me that um our students um might see these um identified agents in their child care settings um and the alarm that that could cause to them and to their families. Um, and I know that the district is going to continue to um, communicate uh, publicly with our community and with all of the affected families about what we learn. Um, but that is hearing that here at the board table that is extremely alarming to me um, as a board member and as a parent in this community. So, I really do appreciate all of that information. Um, I think that's all my discussion for this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you for that. Um any other discussion? Um I just want to echo what uh Jessica said. Um the idea and and I think for for folks at home uh the idea that you know we are supposed to continue billing as as we would. um that is not actually functionally different than any other services that um are provided uh through fat through state and federal uh funding streams. Um it's very typical for there to be a a you know two to three month lag. Uh our governments uh state and federal again do this a lot. This is not that um far out of normal for things. So, I don't want people to think uh that this is going to be something that's completely extraordinary and out of the ordinary in terms of the billing portion. the rest of it is absolutely out of the ordinary and um I do appreciate the information that you the extra information that you provided as well and I know that we will continue to you know it's it's great that you have multiple roles uh director Stunkle because as as community as the director of both community education and communications I feel very comfortable that you will continue to make sure that folks uh in our community and uh those that are directly impacted will have the information that they need. So, thank you. >> Thank you. I would be remiss if I missed an opportunity to say we still have some openings. So, families, if you're seeking child care, we are open for business and it's wonderful. And I would just also like to acknowledge our great staff who provide outstanding care for our children. Um, and when they have that yearly headband yearly visit, uh, it's very scary as anybody would, you know, anticipate. um though very common. So you can imagine uh that there's some nervousness on the part of our staff um with with what all all of this um might pretend. So >> yeah, and and I will say um I really appreciate you being very explicit that um the BCA are the ones that would be doing the investigation and that means they will be on site with uh wearing things that label them as police and knowing that that is incredibly alarming to see coming into a school at the best of times. um just acknowledging the fact that that can be incredibly worrisome um to our community and to uh those that trust us with their children and those that trust us with their employment. Um I appreciate you making that explicit and I know that you'll continue to get those communications and share that with everybody. So, thank you. All right. Any other discussion? >> Go ahead. I guess I just want to note back on the the actual action item that we're voting on tonight. Yes. Um that we did have pretty extensive discussion about it at the last meeting including a presentation um by Director Stunkle. So um that is all available to see um because we do um as a board uh really try to balance um and prioritize affordability and balance that with the operations of the program. And so we did have some discussion about that as well. >> Correct. It's not like we're making tons of money on this program. It we make just as as much as we need to continue. >> And just that reminder that this would not the fee increase does not start until next school year. So just wanted to be very explicit about that that that there is a lot of um a lot of time so that families can anticipate that. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Any other discussion? All right. Um, can All right. So, we are voting to increase the fees of the community education programs beginning with the 2026 2027 school year. Uh, as noted in our December 9th, 2025 meeting and here again tonight. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Abstained. >> Motion carries. Thank you very much. >> All right. Next up we have um the resolution regarding primary elections. At this time um we are being asked to approve the resolution for revocation of resolution establishing school district's primary election system. So let me get to that. Uh, Superintendent Dick, do you want to Is there something? No, you're good. Okay, >> it would be just reading the resolution. >> Yep. So, I'm going to read the resolution and then I will ask for motions and discussion. So, uh, board of education resolution reaffirming the general election cycle, I'm sorry, schedule for school board members and eliminating primaries as the method of nomination. Whereas, pursuant to MS205A.04, 04. The school board of Columbia Heights Independent School District number 13 has resolved to hold general elections for schoolboard members. Whereas MS205A3 states that the school board of a school district may by resolution adopted by April 15th of any year decide whether to choose nominees for schoolboard by a primary. and whereas the board does not believe it is in the best interest of the district to hold primary elections as part of the nomination process. Now therefore be it resolved by the school board of Columbia Heights Independent School District number 13 that nominees for school board shall not be determined in a primary election and instead candidates who submit an affidavit of candidacy for the office of school board members shall proceed directly to the regular scheduled general election. Be it further resolved that this resolution upon adoption shall be effective for all ensuing elections of school board members in this school district until it is revoked. Can I get a motion to accept the resolution as read? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Julie. Discussion. Laura. Um, I I was just going to we we looked at um uh quite a few of our elections and really we only had one that exceeded the the minimum amount to go to a general election. So, um this actually saves the district quite a bit of money to not have to hold these additional additional um additional elections that have been really uh completely unnecessary. >> Thank you for that. And I actually was going to piggy back off of that. Yeah. And the fact that we did have discussion a couple years ago on this topic just to make it more competitive so people can come in and not feel like um you know we don't have that many people that a primary would be necessary. So um I'd just like to save the cost. >> Exactly. Yes. Jessica. Um, I also wanted to note that this resolution will apply to the special election in April. And without this resolution, um, we, um, would have the possibility of having to hold a primary for a special election, which is already an offcycle election. So, um, in the case of a general election where we might have a primary that aligns with, um, primaries in other races, we would have to have, um, two elections that are solely about school board and paid for, >> um, by the district in that case. >> Yes. Thank you very much everybody for quite effectively articulating the um, the very real financial um, implications of not approving something like this. And again um after we just got such a glowing review from um Mr. Hammer regarding our Moody's uh designation and our uh administration and board governance related to um the fiscal uh responsibility that we have. I think that this just makes a lot of sense. So any other discussion? All right. As this is a roll call or as this is a resolution, we need a roll call vote if you would. Laura >> Granland, >> I Mueller, >> hi. >> Maderas >> I >> Pway >> I >> Palmer I. >> All right, resolution passes. All right, next up um in accordance with Minnesota State Statute 13D.03, 03. The board will meet in close session for the purpose of discussion discussing negotiations. Can I get a motion to move into close session? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Michelle. All those in favor say I. >> I opposed. All right. We are moving into close session. Uh we as there is no other further business after this we will not return to our stream after this close session. However um the end of the session will be available via the um the link on YouTube later. So it will still be recorded. We just will not return to streaming. >> All right. And with that we'll move uh can I use the restroom? >> Yeah sessions. Yep. [cough] >> I'm going to assume there are no others or no others. I'm just looking for a motion. I move to adjourn the meeting. >> I second >> motion to all those in favor say I. I >> motion carries at 9:2. Getting a seal.