Right, it is 6 o'clock and I will call to order the April 22nd Columbia Heights Public Schools uh Independent School District number 13 uh meeting. So, if you are able, please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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 very much. Michelle, would you call roll, please? Absolutely. H here. Smith here. Maderas here. Pway here. Palmer here. Granland here. Superintendent Stim here. Wonderful. Columbia Heights Public Schools where we create where we are creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learner. All belong all succeed. And our core values are community, excellence, collaboration, integrity, respect, courage, and innovation. Um so moving on to the agenda. Can I have a motion to approve the agenda for this evening? Michelle, can I get a second? Second. Jessica second. All right. Any discussion? All right. If no discussion, we'll take a vote. All those in favor say I. I. opposed, abstained. Motion carries. Moving on to announcements. Um, all right. So, we have on May 8th at 700 p.m. here at the PAC, we have our um scholarship night. Uh, on May 13th at 4:45, we have our subcommittee on policy at the superintendent's conference room. May 13th at 6 PM we have our schoolboard meeting in the community room here. May 20th at 5:30 is our schoolboard work session also here in the community room. May 26th we have no school and the district is closed. And at May 27th at 6 p.m. there's a school board meeting here in the community room. Additionally, uh I want to take a second to just say that tomorrow is administrative assistance day. So, um, a very, very warm thank you to our administrative assistant Stephanie Alvarez, who true to form is out supporting her community as well and is coaching our track team tonight. So, she's not here, but we will extend our thanks to her for all that she does um, given that. So, moving on to communication from the board. This is at this time any citizen or employee may briefly address the school board. The board will listen to brief remarks, ask clarifying questions, and if desired, request that the administration followup. 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. Superintendent, do we have any communication to the board? Uh, Madam Chair, not at this time. Awesome. Thank you. Okay, moving on to the consent agenda. Our consent agenda tonight includes the personnel report, the Treasury report um for February of 2025, minutes from the March 25th and April 15th meeting. Uh and the policy second reading for um 410 family and medical leave, 511 school fundraising, 713 student activity accounting, 720 vending machines, and 808 water safety. Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? So moved. Laura, can I get a second? Second. Julie, any discussion? All right. No discussion. So we'll move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. Abstained. Motion carries. All right everybody. Now we are moving on to and again this is a wonderful problem quote unquote problem to have but we have quite the acknowledgement of contributions. So, I'm going to take a quick drink and everybody else just get comfy because I'll be reading this for a bit. Okay. So, I will go ahead and read it and then I will ask for a motion to accept. So acknowledgement of contributions resolution Minnesota statute 123B.02 permit school boards to quote receive for the benefit of the district bequest 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 Board of Columbia Heights Public Schools Independent School District number 13 resolves to accept with appreciation the 31,483 monetary contributions detailed in the background. Detailed background monetary Minnesota Vikings Football LLC donated $12,000 to the Columbia Heights School District for girls flag football. Anne and Scott Larson donated $1,200 to the Columbia Heights Scholarship Fund for the Latte family. Cheryl Riggs donated $1,000 to the Columbia Heights Scholarship Fund for the class of 1976. Gan and Robert Richards and ENG Hubble each donated $25 to the retired staff scholarship. Gerald Riding donated $600 to the retired staff scholarship. Roger and Karen Sat Satalowski, Wayne and Linda Kutsky, Stephen and Paula Hall, Michelle Marie Edward, Elise Bokeist, Janice Olsen, and Elaine Narbo each donated $100 to the retired staff scholarship. Diane Roffler donated $100 to the retired staff scholarship in memory of Carolyn Kuster. Randy and Kathy Kelly donated $1,000 to the retired staff scholarship. Philip Lundine and Susan Brun donated $100 to the retired staff scholarship in memory of Lynn London. Leo and Katherine Makavoy and Karma Doge each donated $250 to the retired staff scholarship. Paul and Constance Hansen donated $75 to the retired staff scholarship. Anne Hennessy donated $300 to the retired staff scholarship in memory of Betty Justin Howard and Nance Hornbrook and Janet Larson each donated $200 to the retired staff scholarship. Andrea Cowell, Nicole and Marsen, Carolyn Bang and Glydia I'm sorry, and Glenda Glor each donated $50 to the retired staff scholarship. Francis U donated $250 to the retired staff scholarship in memory of Bob U. Lindseay Lang, Kathy Well, and Monarch Bus Services Service each donated $2,000 to the Columbia Heights Scholarship Fund. Barbara Gavin donated $1,000 to the Columbia Heights Scholarship Fund. Kathleen Dhy Kaine and Haron and Doris Downing each donated $500 to the retired staff scholarship. William and June Cuther designated fund donated $5,000 to the Columbia Heights Scholarship Fund. Gan and Robert Richards donated $150 to the Columbia Heights Scholarship Fund. Scott and Laura Martinson donated $875 to the Columbia Heights Scholarship Fund. Megan Edammansky donated $15 to the Columbia Heights Scholarship Fund. Carolyn Palianne donated $55 to the Columbia Heights High School for Teachers and Staff. PDS Health and Colin Anderson each donated $150 to help sponsor the Valley View fund run. There was an anonymous donation of $438 to North Park School for Innovation for School supplies. The Black Bowed Giving Fund donated $50 to Valley View for school use. The Valley View PTO donated $200 to the Valley View fund run. Pam Ziggardson donated $300 to the Retired Staff Scholarship Fund. Stephanie Noak donated $75 to the retired staff scholarship fund. And the fiscal total, I'm sorry, the total fiscal year for 2024 2025 monetary contributions to date $12,341,000. Can I get a motion to accept? Absolutely. I move. Motion by Michelle. Can I get a second? Second. Second by Julie. Discussion. It blows me away honestly every single time we read these lists. The generosity of of our community and and ret and staff and in memory of other staff. Um it is just it it takes me back and and I love I love reading these and and very grateful for all of the uh all the support that the community gives. Thank you. I mean, what a I mean, so it's it's beautiful. It's a beautiful thing. Yes. Well said, Michelle. In addition to that, I'm excited about girls flag football. Um I'm like surprised and excited. It seems like a really cool thing to have. I know a few uh little little ones that would love to to be a part of that. So, yeah. Um, this is great and I'm just appreciative of of all the the support that we get, you know, here in our our small scrappy school district, but we do good. Yes. Anybody else? Jessica? Well, it is scholarship season and so it is really wonderful to see so many folks with different affiliations to the district uh donating money to shore up all of those scholarship funds and it is uh really uh exciting to see all of these come in and know that they're going to benefit our graduating seniors um in just you know a few weeks. um seniors are going to um uh be recognized with those scholarships. And so um I I know the list was long. You did a lovely job of reading it, but the reason the list is so long is because we have so many generous donors to our scholarship fund. So that's great. Yes, thank you. Um, I think well said. We are incredibly lucky and grateful to have such a a thoughtful community that is continues to be forward thinking and supporting our students in all of the good work that we're doing here. Since this is a resolution, Yep. I will need a roll call. We will need a roll call vote. We sure will. Um, um, sorry. H I Smith I MadiRas I Pley I Palmer I Granley I All right motion carries. Thank you very much. And with that we will move on with uh to discussion reports and information items. So we will go to reports from members of the board. Um, let's see. Uh, Laura, do you want to start us off? Um, sure. I I don't have very much to report. Um, I mean, I did uh I did attend the work session the last time around, a couple of chair meetings, um, one prior to this. Um, I also attended the, um, conferences over at the high school, not in uh, the guise of a of a schoolboard um, member, but um, as a parent, and um, it's very well attended. It was really it was a really nice event. So, um, was really it was really, uh, great. I mean, everybody seemed to move through really fast. I like it. I like them out in the hallways instead of everybody crammed into the gym. That's actually really nice. Plus, you get to see all the artwork in the school and get to walk around. That's really cool. So, my hats off to all the coordination. There's a lot that goes into that. and uh for the teachers taking all that extra time um to work with uh to work with parents and uh help them you know um do what they can to support your student their students. So that's pretty much it for me. Thanks. What did you attend the We had the chair meeting right before I did say that right? Yeah. I missed a couple of chair meetings. You're right one prior to this. Wonderful. Thank you, Michelle. Yeah. Um, so I attended the um AMSD board of directors meeting earlier in the month. I attended a fine arts night at North Park, which is great. Um, you know, they have every grade does their own uh kind of song and dance thing. Um, and now that we're in fifth grade, I got to watch Anita do the things that I've been watching all the fifth grade classes do for like a couple years. So, it was it was a lot of fun to watch her uh kind of reach that right of passage at North Park um getting closer to the end of the year. And then um we had a BIPAC um family advisory committee meeting at North Park as well um which was a lot of fun. It w we had like an ice cream social because it's like getting nicer out. We um told them about our summer programs and the programs of for the um for the city um and just try to you know get everybody in the mood for for fun and sun and oop sorry and no school um but yeah that that was a really good meeting um for our families and then I attended the work session last week and um that is all I have. Thanks. Wonderful. Thank you Jessica. Yeah. So, last week I uh took advantage of the opportunity to tour one of our 916 schools, uh the Carer Blue Education Center out in Blaine. Um and as always, I really enjoyed the tour. I had not toured that building before, but every year I try to um participate in a couple different tours of buildings in 916. And so, um, it's always really wonderful to meet the staff and meet the students and see how they're constructing those different programs. Um, the superintendent of 916 was there on my tour, which was great. Um, and, uh, Carer Blue Education Center, um, has a nature focus and is also, um, the entire facility is designed with like, um, calming and relaxation features in mind. And so that was my favorite part was seeing the facility and how they integrate um both the nature theme and the calming strategies into the building itself. Um and it was just such a I don't know it was just it gave me a lot of uh ideas right about how we can um integrate uh different types of inclusive design like within our own like classroom spaces. Um, so that was uh really great. And so I know I've plugged that those tours here before, but um I just I think if you have the opportunity to go and see the buildings in 916 and learn more about those programs, um it's really really um good information. Um and then I did attend um like all of you the work session uh last week. Was that last week? And then um I was able to What was that? I said sorry because I started the last week thing. Oh yeah. Um and then uh I did attend the um uh inaugural volleyball game celebration last week and wow a lot of people came out for that. That was so awesome. The energy was really high. Um it was great to see folks from all of our um you know member communities in the district, all of our cities. Um, and a special thanks to Susie Vesio for making hundreds and I don't know how many there were. 200 uh volleyball frosted cookies for everybody. Um, so I was I was glad to be invited to that. Um, and then I also attended the policy subcommittee meeting right before this meeting. Wonderful. Thanks. Thank you, Karina. Yeah. Um, earlier this month I also attended the AM BDS director's meeting. Um, I also attended the special education law conference. Um, I did also middle of the month attend the work session and also toured the 916 Metro Heights tour. Um, that's what I was up to. Wonderful. Thank you, Julie. Um I also attended the work session and um the policy subcommittee just before this meeting and the inaugural boys volleyball um tournament or game which was I have to admit probably the highlight of my week. Um I found out was since I played volleyball that they can use their feet now. Oh I know. Right. and and probably 90% of the boys on the team play soccer. So, you know, we have a unique advantage. It was a lot of fun and there was a lot of excitement. It was good to see the mayor of Hilltop and Columbia Heights come and celebrate with us. So, it was really a great night. Wonderful. Thank you. Um it was wonderful to see so many people there as you said. Um, I, you know, this is our first meeting on camera since the end of March, so there's been a lot of things. We had spring break in there, which was, you know, sort of a really great break for everybody, I hope. Um, I attended the PTO meeting at Columbia Academy. Um, I also attended the work session last week and a chair meeting before that. The boys volleyball game was just so much fun. Um I was sad I had to leave early. Uh but it yeah it was so great and the energy was amazing and just to see so many people there to support our students. Um it always brings me so much joy. Uh and it was great to see so many other schoolboard members there as well. Um, I also attended the uh chair meeting and the policy meeting prior to this one. And I've had several phone calls with Superintendent Stenic um over the past few weeks. And I do believe that is all I have for today. So, uh, we'll move on to superintendent report. Thank you. Um, I've held several administrative meetings because there is much planning for the end of the school year. We do have a lot of exciting events coming up this spring. Hopefully people can take advantage of um attending those. I've been able to visit all of the schools since we've last met. Um and it's really amazing to get in there and see the growth and the progress of our students. And I think over spring break the all the fifth graders grew a couple of inches. They're so tall all of a sudden. Spring has sprung, right? Um Director Hennekins and I presented to the Fidley Columbia Heights Rotary Club. We really appreciate that collaboration and camaraderie with them. Um, I will concur with all of you about the boys volleyball volleyball event. Um, I really do we all appreciate the support from the community and people coming out. Um, and that concludes my report. Wonderful. Thank you. Okay. Um, we will move on to action items. Uh the next uh the next portion of our agenda is the termination of probationary teacher contracts resolution uh resolution number two with uh director Lindseay Bennett and director Brian Henkins chair Granland members of the board superintendent Stenvvic in your packet is the second resolution for the probationary teacher non-renewals Um, as we have said in the past, we do two separate resolutions and this is the second one. So, the name's listed on the one name listed on this um resolution. We just do not have a position for next school year. So, I'm seeking approval of this resolution. All right. Thank you so much. Um, it's a resolution. I will go ahead and read it and then I will ask for the motion. So uh resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of the teaching contracts of probationary teachers whereas the following persons are probationary teachers in independent school district number 13 see list below be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 13 that pursuant to Minnesota statutes 122A 4.40 40 subdivision 5. The teaching contracts of those persons listed on page two of this resolution, probationary teachers in independent school district number 13 are hereby terminated and not renewed at the close of the current 2024 2025 school year. Be it further resolved that written notice be sent to said teachers regarding termination and non-renewal of their contract as provided by law and that said notice shall be in substantially the following form. And then it says notice of termination and non-renewal dear name. You are hereby notified that at a regular meeting of the school board of independent school district number 13 held on April 22nd, 2025, a resolution was adopted to terminate your contract effective at the end of the current school year and to not renew your contract for the 2025 2026 school year. Said action of the board is taken pursuant to MS122A. 40 subdivision five um probationary teachers. The motion for the do I read this part too? No. All right. So, uh can I get a motion to accept? So moved. Laura, can I get a second? Second. Second. Karina, any discussion? So, um just a couple of questions. Um, I know we've had uh discussion about the um non-renewal resolutions and sort of the process for that at past meetings and I know you mentioned this is the the second uh annual resolution. Um, but I'm just wondering if you could just um spend a couple minutes just talking through sort of uh what that two-part process looks like. sort of like what gets us to this point and like how how the reductions um are identified uh for recommendation across the district. Um so about five years ago we started doing two resolutions. Um and the first resolution which was done back in March that was for um teachers that were cut for performance. if they're on a one-year contract, their license was expiring tier one or tier two. Um, so by law, we had to non-renew those staff members. Um, and also with the goal some of these lensures to get the people rehired, which we've I think we hired three or four already. Um, and then between that resolution to this resolution, we still continue to look for efficiencies. So, we have met many times, looked at class size study or class sizes and determined that based on this resolution, we just yeah, we're going to cut in one FTE and we do not have a spot for this teacher. Um, the person's encouraged to apply if anything opens up. Thank you. Um, and so the could you just talk a little bit about sort of how that you've mentioned the class size study? Um, I'm just trying to think about like what are the principles we use as a district when we're looking to make efficiencies. So you say like we continue to look for efficiencies. Um, of course, as a district, I'm sure we are sort of reallocating things efficiently from year to year, but we also have budgetary constraints is my understanding that drive um some of the need to like continue to look for efficiencies. Um, is that correct? Yes. So, we looked at um the class size ratios. So, for elementary, it's 25 to1. 24 to1. Oh, 24 to1. um and looking at overall by the building and then also the primary to the what's the word I'm thinking of not secondary but primary to there you go um really looking at trying to keep them maybe a little bit closer to 20 to1 in kindergarten and maybe fifth grade is just a little bit more and then we also look at um 30 to one for the high school and Columbia Academy so looking at bringing the numbers up so sixth graders into seventh grade seventh into eighth with um and accounting for that. Thank you. And then can I just make a a comment too? Um I appreciate that information. I think it's helpful for folks that aren't um that may be watching this that uh haven't been privy to the other conversations that we've had on camera at the work session to understand sort of how we get to this point and what are some of the principles that uh the district is using to make those determinations. Um I just want to note though that um uh I'm sure none of us uh look forward to uh this particular resolution every year. It's very difficult to lose people. Particularly the second resolution every year um is really um often uh um terminating contracts of uh really wonderful teachers um within the district. And we know that that does have an impact um on those individual teachers um but also has an impact um on um that team that the teacher works with on the school building and on on the student. So um we have to make these really difficult decisions in the name of uh financial sustainability and efficiency as you spoke about. Um but it is a really difficult um conversation every year. It's a difficult resolution every year and I just think it's important that we we recognize that in our conversation. Thank you. Thank you, Laura. Um I would I would like to add one more thing too. Um, I really appreciate this coming to us early um because this does give um the these individuals that are that are affected by what we need to do as a district to um to be efficient and thoughtful um but um giving them enough time to be able to um perhaps look at other employment. So, um, getting an extra month and a half, you know, instead of finding out at the very last minute because if I recall correctly, we have till the end of June to make I mean, it wasn't June 1st. Yeah. Till Yeah. So, we we actually would have until June 1. So, being able to get this about six weeks earlier than that I think is very beneficial so that they can plan for next year. So, there probably won't be a gap in their employment. So, and they can always reapply. So, we'd love to have them. Well said. Thank you. Anybody else? Just echoing that um I have uh I've seen this change and I hear every year around this time. Um even though it is really a difficult conversation to have uh and it is happening at all sorts of levels. Um what I hear in the schools from staff and from teachers or sorry from families and from teachers is that it is it's they really appreciate this. So um I just want to make sure that we echo that as well because it is something that people appreciate having that head that head heads up. So, all right. Since this is a resolution, um I we will need a roll call vote. Yep. H I Smith I Maderas I Pedwig I Palmer I. Granley I. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Moving on to our revised 2024 2025 budget with Director Henkins. A minute to make this bigger. Okay. Thank you, Chair Grahamlin, members of the board, and Superintendent Steck. Um this evening I have before you for action the revised uh 24 uh 25 school year or fiscal year 25 uh district budget. Um this was presented to the school board at the work session um in detail um and at length. Um so this evening I'll try to um go over the highlight um of uh the main funds of uh of the budget. Um so what I'm going to do is I'm just going to focus on the revenues, expenditures, and then just the change in balance um in in those uh key categories. So um I'll start at the top um under the unassigned. So uh the unassigned revenue or revenues for the district of uh just shy of 47 million um and expenditures of just over 43 million. So, a change in fund balance of almost 2.5 million um and an ending fund balance of 7.85 million um uh projected at the end of this fiscal year. Uh we also project um adding uh an additional million dollars in that assigned category. So that first assigned category is uh district assigned dollars. Um and then under the restricted, assigned and non-spendable category, those are statutory um assigned uh restricted and assigned areas. And um down at the bottom of that uh total revenues of 20.1 million, just over 21 20.1 million and just under $19 million in expenditures. Um so then a balance um of uh just over 2.6 6 million in that um restricted and assigned area. And so the total general fund um we have 67 million just over 67 million in revenue just uh about 62.5 million in expenses and so a total of uh just under $13 million in balance and the general fund. And in the general fund the prediction would be that this would move us into fund balance policy. Uh just a reminder that we are currently not in fund balance policy of 10 to 18%, we were ended the year last year at 9.4%. So just under that fund balance policy and and in the goal of our fund balance policy is to be towards the top of that fund balance policy so that um as we move forward, we're more uh fiscally sound with uh what we have on hand. we can make decisions when needs arise uh versus being at the very bottom and and of our fund balance policy. And then if we have something that comes up like um our current dilemma with our um compensatory aid um then we don't have the fund balance to account for that. So um again, it's we're that I predict that this moves us into that fund balance policy in in a much more stable place for the district fiscally. um in that general fund. We also have other funds uh that I'll uh go over here quickly. The food service fund um this fund uh has uh revenues projected uh at the end of the year of about 3.2 million, just under 3.2 million and expenses of just over 3.2 million. This is a healthy fund, fund two for food service. it does have restrictions on the on how high that balance can go in that area and we're we are at that um we're at the top of that. Um so that we we do intend uh through um capital investments in in uh equipment within the kitchens to bring that fund balance down a little bit. Um uh revenues have increased in that area uh mainly because of increased meals served. Um so um we've increased since meals served has increased, our staff has increased and we're increasing our investment in our equipment um in that area. So very healthy uh fund for us. Uh community education's been a challenging fund for us. Um we've made some adjustments over the last few years. We've seen four or five years in a row now of negative um um revenues to expenditures. Um so this year uh we predict that we will uh change the tide there a little bit. Um so total revenues of about 1.5 just over 1.5 million and then uh total expenses is just under 1.3 million. So we'll actually see a positive um within that fund. Um we've had some staffing changes in that area. Um mostly in the school readiness area um that we've had to make some adjustments for um because over even though that our total community ed fund is in a is in a positive fund balance coming out of last year the school readiness area was in a negative um and we can't carry a negative in that area. Um so we have to make some make some adjustments to make sure that we're writing that. Um, so and right now I feel like we are we are going to do that building construction fund or that uh fund six that capital projects levy. So about you know just shy of $2 million revenue um and just over $1.7 million in expenses. So about a $900,000 balance in that area. Um so the deferred maintenance projects are onetoone technology initiative. Um we've been basically running a zero in that area as well or pretty close to historically. Um and again not in a great place to be when things come up. Um um we have facility needs and and they're large dollar amounts and when we don't have a balance it's tough to figure out a way to do those. Um and we did have one year where we were actually in a negative in that category. Um so very happy, you know, that we're getting back into a financially stable place in that fund, debt service fund. Um so, uh we have very low debt in our district right now. Um you know, typically we'll see about a balance there. We're um so $2 million in expenses and about $2 million in in revenue and uh so just a slight decrease in that area adjustment. We got a $550,000 balance. um dental service uh fund. Um so we are self-insured for dental. Uh so we have about $343 or $1,000 in revenue and about 335,000 in expenses. So increasing that fund balance a little bit. It's a healthy fund balance for that fund. Um since we are self-insured, we've got to make sure we carry a decent enough balance in there to cover if if expenses um increase dramatically. Um thankfully we won't be able we won't have to have a dental um increase to staff for next year. We'll be able to hold that rate um for or that premium for our dental um stable for next year. So that's a good thing. Um and then our OpEd trust um you know we we'll kind of see how things shake out. The market's been a little bit rocky um as of recent we'll say. Um so predicted about 250,000 in revenue. Um we're predicting about 377,000 in expenses. Um so um a net loss in that area, but it's still a very healthy fund. Um and that trust for post-employment benefits um at over $4.6 million. So total all funds um revenues uh you know almost $76.5 million um about $71.5 million in expenses and then overall all funds uh about just over $21 million in balance. So again, um you know, this this budget, this revised budget for FY25 does um predict that we will move into our fund balance policy and uh um though we'll we'll we predict to be more on the lower end of that policy, we will be in that policy. Um so that's good news. Wonderful. Before we move on to questions, um we need so we're being asked to approve this. So I need a motion to approve the revised budget for 2024 2025. So moved. Julie, can I get a second? Second. Second from Michelle. All right. Discussion. What sort of questions do we have? Julie. So, Director Henkins, you mentioned the food service um fund has a cap and you'd said that um we're we to get below get lower, we need to spend some of that. I think we I want to just mention to the general public that we're not just spending down that money to get below the cap. We have needs in the food service area of equipment um and and tables and chairs and things like that that need to be replaced. Um and so I just wanted to make sure they understood that we're not like a government situation where you're just spending money so that you get more next year. Um we don't do that. Not here. So, I want to get that on camera so that everybody understands that that is not our purpose. We're not I know the military sometimes did that and that is not us. So, thank you for that comment. Yes. Um the other thing I want to bring up is our assigned funds that we're moving into um additional we're we're adding a million dollars to that. Could you just reiterate why we have assigned funds and what those are for? Yes. Um so the assigned funds um was something that's in board policy of what we were going to assign funds for. Um and our uh fund assignments looked in three key areas of um facility needs um which is the largest category special education um and EL. Um we know in special education we have a very large cross subsidy. We know that uh the needs of the students es and flows. Um mostly it es and flows on the kids that come in and versus the kids that go out um and what their needs are. It difference it changes over time and we get reimbursement based on on those expenses or that cross subsidy uh a year u um behind. So, we have the expense and then the next year we get that the funding for part of that expense. Um, and so we have to incur that expense first. And having an assigned balance allows us to be able to have money um to make those adjustments where it's not um as of a negative impact to the entire organization's um fund balance um um or abilities to cash flow. Um, you know, in recent history, we've been cash flow borrowing. We did it two years. Um, you know, we had months where we were, you know, in the the hundred, maybe $200,000 cash on hand, um, even with the cash flow borrowing, which is barely making our payments um, and barely making payroll. Um, and you know, so this is the goal of of that cash or that fund balance policy and the goal of of having that uh assigned category um is to not put us make sure that we're not in that position again. Um, to make sure that we have the ability to make those adjustments um, and when we're not borrowing money at a cost. Um, and you know, in the past, the first year we cash flow borrowed, it was interest rates were great. Um and it didn't cost us a lot. The second time we did it, it cost us a lot more. Um interest rates are much higher uh now than they are were then and it would cost us significantly more. We don't know where the state is going. We know that the state has a deficit projected in the next bianium. And the state um likes to do things like state aid shifting um to balance their budget um where they give us less of our money in the year um and then they and they give it to us the next year. So again, cash um on hand, a balance in our unassigned fund balance is very necessary um for us to be able to handle something like that. Um and uh where we don't have to cash flow borrow. So um we're putting ourselves in a position to be able to to weather some of those. Um, and it's it's it's incredibly important for us um to be uh in that position and be uh financially stable to be able to handle those unknown things um that are coming. Thank you. One more. So, at the end of the day, our budget had approximately $7.8 million of unassigned fund balance. Now, we know that we've got for 2526 this potential $3.7 million that needs to be somehow either funded from the state or we're going to have to use some of that fund balance. Um would that then put us below our policy again? Um, do you know approximately what that percentage would be, the fund balance, if we had to use that $3.7 million out of fund balance? Yeah. Um, so if we had to use that 3.7, so if the state doesn't fix um compensatory aid and we um we don't get that $3.7 million back, um it'll put us between seven and 8% um in the first year. um um so after next year we would be at that 7 uh to 8%. Um and then we would have to make some very drastic cuts um in that year in order to that not go down even further. Um and in the past when we were around that 6% um is when we start hitting into the realm of cash flow borrowing. So we're really close uh to being in that range of where we're going to have to cash flow to make make payments. Um and so it's uh not a not a healthy place to be in. Um so uh we are um seeing positive things from the Senate, the House, and the governor on fixing um compensatory aid. Um but it's not done. It's not approved. So um we just kind of sit and wait and hope. Thank you, Brian. Thank you, Laura. Um yeah. Um, one more thing you had touched upon as well is um is the the the shift in the withholding of some aids from year to year because currently we're in 9010, right? That's correct. We get 90% of the funds this year and then they kind of leave that 10% gap when we're doing our adjustments with our student counts and so on. Now, in the past, it's been as bad as 60% and 40. So, I'm glad to see that we have u you're you're you're accounting for two potential major uh shifts. Um hopefully they both won't happen um because but we still would be in a better position because of your um your work on making sure that we built these balances up. So, I'm extremely happy about that. Thank you. Right. Thank you. Thank you, Jessica. Um, as you mentioned, Director Henkins, we did we were presented with this at the work session and had a lot of discussion about it. And so, um, although we're kind of breezing through a lot of this in our discussion here today, we did um, you talk about it in substantial detail at the work session, the different um, contingencies that that might happen um, between now and the end of the fiscal year. um that would uh make additional adjustments. I guess my question is around um again that unassigned general fund projected fund balance and knowing that you know if this um projected fund balance does pan out um will be within our um fund balance policy um can you remind us of the percentage that that would put us at? About 12 and a half% would be projected. Yes, about 12 and a half%. And I know you had mentioned that um the we didn't we weren't quite um within our fund balance policy with last year's budget. Um and that's true. I also just want to note however that that fund balance policy went through significant revision by this board and we did increase the um range of fund balance um as well as made the changes to the assigned general fund that we discussed. Um and I think that was a very financially prudent thing to do it for all of the reasons that have been discussed around the table here. Um, but I did just want to note that because we do as a board um want to comply with our policy and so us being out of our fund balance policy last year um is really uh sort of a a consequence of us making that change to the policy and doing what we can as a district to rebuild that unassigned fund balance so that we are able to whether um all of these storms that are upon us. So, thank you. Yes, thank you for that. Thank you. Uh anybody else? I just want to say um you know echoing what other people have said, we did we spent a lot of time on this last week because it's really important and I want to thank you and your team and superintendent um you as well because I think we have um as Jessica said, we revised that fund balance policy and there are there have been a lot of unknowns this this year more than than others um especially with the change uh to compensatory aid and sort of us having to to wait for the legislature to make a decision about that. Um, but I am really proud of the work that our school district has done to try and make sure that we are um not only just fiscally responsible. That's that's super important. But also we are still providing a world-class education for our students and we are working hard to make sure that there are no cuts to the classroom. Um, and I think that that bears out again and again. this is um another year where we haven't had to make substantial cuts to the classroom. Um and I think that as well as the fact that we have within the first year really of having this new revised fund balance policy, we are in that. Um I think that that is a testament to the really great work that everybody is doing here. So thank you. Thank you. If there's no more discussion, we will move to a vote. Uh all those in favor of accepting the revised budget for 2024 2025 say I I opposed abstained. Motion carries. Thank you so much. I guess we are speedrunning this uh this meeting tonight which is fantastic for everybody. It's a beautiful day. Um so board topics. Does anybody have any board topics? I do. I'm so excited. So, um, this Friday, the 25th, uh, is Valley View Carnival. Um, it is a really fantastic opportunity to come to Valley View and play games and eat, you know, eat food and see families and friends. And, um, even if you have kids who are older, it's really great to see the kiddos that come back. So there are kiddos coming from high school, from the middle school, um and from other schools. Uh everybody just comes together and it is wonderfully overwhelming and so much fun and it is a highlight of the year for me. So I'm excited. Also, this year they have a dunk tank and the principal will be in there. So I'm excited for that. Um of course he will. Hopefully it's warm. Um, so this is a fun run. Come to the carnival and see hypothermia. No, I'm just kidding. So, it starts at 5:00 p.m. and they are very strict. They will not open doors until 5 and there's generally a line to get in. So, it's great, but everybody is welcome. Um and then the other thing is uh we received an email that next Tuesday uh here at 4 pm there is a reception for the teacher of the year and that is Miss Cahill who is a kindergarten teacher at Valley View. So that'll be here. Um generally there's a cake and we get to celebrate. So if you are available to come please join us for that as well. So what time is that? That is at 4 4 pm. Yep. So, any other others? I don't care if it doesn't say other. I'm gonna say it anyway. We should just add other. I should just like do it. Yeah. Board topics. Board topics. Other. There you go. See? Yep. Can I make one comment? Yes. Go ahead. When at the volleyball, our band was amazing. Okay. They played a Chicago song that I just sat there and went, "These guys are great." So, I just wanted them to to know that I appreciated the music. Yeah, it was really great. And that is a fantastic segue for what's coming up to in the middle of May there. So, keep I want you to make sure you write on your calendar, the Expressions Art Show. Yes. Okay. And I believe it's the 21st and the 22nd. Yeah. Of um Yeah. May of May. Um, definitely. That is literally the I mean other than graduation. Okay. Graduation is still better at Well, and turkey bingo. And carnival, Laura. And the carnival. Yes. And the and the art fair. I love the art fair at North Park. Okay. There's a lot of great events, but I but I love the expressions one because all of the um all of the gray all of the the uh the different grades are are honored in that um you know, both in artistic ways, you know. Um they they the the little ones sing and there's bands and there's little vignettes and there's dancing and and the special bands and and then of course all the art and then there's button making this year and it's just it and it's a great venue, too. If you've ever been out to Silverwood, it is it is beautiful just to walk around and the weather is almost always perfect. Um maybe sometimes a little windy. I knew it was coming. It's rained. I think it's only rained once in all the years we've been doing it. So, I know. I'm going to continue with it. It's beautiful. She's putting it into the atmosphere. I'm going to continue with it. I have I have faith. I have faith. It's It's such a great event. So, um So, and if we can volunteer or or at least just show up and and be able to just really um And cookies. Cookies. Yes. Oh, yeah. Cookies, too. I forgot about the cookies. Yeah, I did. I did. So, it's a great venue and and hot dogs, right? Will the wagon be I believe the boosters will be there as well. There'll be a boosters tent. Oh, and I I believe that superintendent will be sending out some information for the for us to be able to um Well, this is also for the public. Yep. But for the public, yes, please come. Please come. It is It is wonderful. And it's at Silverwood. It's at Silverwood and um parking's always great which I which is one of the things I really appreciate. You know, I can always find a parking place unlike some of our other events sometimes. You're going to make Mary for the first time. So, that' be beautiful. Yes. Thank you. And actually, that reminds me um you said all the bands will be there. We I found out last week I did attend the Mima band at CA. We are the only school district in the entire state that has a middle school Marima band and they were great. They were fantastic. Yes. So, um hopefully people are able to attend and hear them play too because so good. It Yeah, it's pretty amazing. So, anybody else have anything? All right. With that at 6:55, we we will move to a Sorry to interrupt. I was not able to get here. Oh, sure. Spoke. It's out of order. So yeah, I don't think you can you can probably grab I'd be happy to sit and to to chat with you after this, but because of the order of the meeting, um it has to be at the beginning, but I'm happy to sit and and hear some things for me. Does that work? Um I think Okay, I'm sorry. email the whole board. Yeah, you you can feel free to email all of us as well. Um if that works otherwise um I mean thank you for coaching like super important. Um and please do come and otherwise like I said I'll I will be here afterwards and I'm happy to to connect with you too if you want. Okay. Okay. Um all that being said I will go ahead and adjourn this meeting at 6:57.