I think before technically before we can get started I would uh entertain a motion to approve the agenda. >> Motion by start of a second. >> Second >> second by Jones. All those in favor please signify by saying I. >> All those opposed. Oh. So Dr. I'll just turn it over to you to introduce >> our kids. We are so excited to welcome our youth and government students to um share with us about youth and government this year and we are very honored to have Steve Hold their advisor um with us again this year. So come on up. >> Thank you. Would you like to be here? >> So that you're in the microphone so that our viewers can hear it. Thank you. [cough] [clears throat] >> Well, thank you for having us back. Um, I was trying to count on my fingers and toes and I need a few more things, but I believe it's my 29th year um, taking Fidley students to uh, youth and government conference and leading our club this year. So, have the distinct honor and privilege of having some of our leaders here. It's hard to narrow it down. Um, I'll have them introduce themselves quickly. >> So, just so you know, she's only asking you to sit down so everybody can see you on camera. >> Oh, good point. Good point. [clears throat] >> Okay. Um, hi, I'm Sophia Good. Um, I'm a junior and I am the president of our Fidley club as well as the upcoming secretary of state for youth and government. Hello. Oh my gosh, that's really [laughter] loud. Hi, [clears throat] I'm Amamira Hussein. I um am a senior currently. Um, and I was the representative for like the statewide for the friendly club and then I also was the 2026 NIF presiding officer. Hi, I'm Elanor Anna. I'm a freshman. Um, I'm the Frilly Yig Club's 10th grade representative for next year and I'm also the upcoming Humphrey House speaker. And um I'm going to have the students do most of the talking. The that's what YIG is. It's a student run program. I get to do a lot of the behind the uh behind the scenes sort of stuff with our students. And it's been a wonderful year. We had two great great years in a row. And we have a lot of our leadership coming back next year. And I wanted to start by thanking the school board for supporting this program for literally decades. Um it's I know it's a it's it's means so much to our students. I wish I hope you get a sense of that here tonight. Um also wanted to thank the Fridley Lions Club. They've been huge donors over the year. If you know any any Lions, please thank them on our behalf. Um, the YMCA runs this this program. There's in like 43 states or so. Um, and Minnesota's known as one of the top states. We have people that come every year to observe from other states. And um, it's really been a big deal. They they really make it possible to get so many students there. It is expensive. Um, then, uh, the NWISD is a continu has continued to to fund us, making it possible to take all these students. Um, the Bankro Foundation as well. um they support this program uh strongly. We sort of pioneered using it that grant for YAG and now it's um all over the state. Um it's come a big thing. So we had I think 28 kids apply for that this year and 20 got it. Um our Fley school administration is is again fully behind us and the staff puts up with all the puts up with us throughout the year. So it's been I want to thank the school board, thank all of the sponsors and supporters and let our students talk about their experiences. want to switch seats. >> Are you guys gonna >> We'll switch seats. Might be a little easier. [clears throat] >> Okay. So, Youth and Government is offered by the YMCA and it's a branch called like um the Youth Center for Voice. And then the Youth Center for Voice offers youth in government um or model assembly which we'll get into in a second. But they also offer two other big programs which are model United Nations. So students represent a nation or a group of students represent a nation and they work together in committees debating global issues and writing resolutions. So that's one of the big opportunities. It's something coming up very soon. And then we also have conference on national affairs which is a nationwide conference. Um Minnesota and every state gets 25 representatives and they send them to the Blue Ridge Assembly in the Appalachin Mountains in North Carolina or South Carolina. Um and then you debate you write a proposal and you debate on national issues and affairs with students from all around um the country. So, Yig, which is what we're here to talk about, it's um a completely studentled mock government with multiple different branches. There's a mock legislature. There's like a lieutenant governor's cabinet. There's um like mock courtrooms. There's a bunch of different ones. Um, and we stay in the Hilton in downtown Minneapolis. And a lot of students come, as you can see, like 1,500. And it's a lot of fun. There's a it's a good way to like be in a professional environment as a youthful person. And but we also have a lot of a lot of fun this year and every year so far. Um, Fidley has hosted launch which is um the statewide training event before YG. It's the big event that we get to see all the people and really practice before we get to go to the like actual youth and government conference. Um, Fidley students led training sessions to prepare students for the conference. Students then complete the required written work for their program area. And I was lucky enough to be able to lead the National Issues Forum, which is kind of so I got to like practice and make sure that all the National Issues Forum people had what they needed before the conference. >> So it's a big deal. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Big deal. [laughter] >> Um so in youth and government, it's pretty similar to Minnesota's um government itself. We have a youth legislature. So um it's split by grades. So, at the capital, there's 11th and 12th graders in the House, the actual House and Senate. And then there's also um 9th and 10th graders at the hotel. And they're split up into two groups of House and Senate. And then there's also courts. So, we have trial courts and appeal um the court of appeals, which is for 9th and 10th graders, [clears throat] and then district courts and supreme courts for 11th and 12th graders. And those are also in um like the actual supreme court at the capital. And then we have lobbyists um which are distributed between the upper and lower house and senates who lobby on students actual bills. We also have media. So they have like an Instagram and a Tik Tok and they write a newspaper every day. They have a TV show that can be watched at the hotel. Um then there's the governor's and lieutenant governor's cabinet. So we have a youth governor uh youth lieutenant governor and they have their own cabinet where they um they >> well yeah they pass um or veto bills. Um the governor is for the upper ledge and then um lieutenant governor's cabinet is for the lower ledge. And then there's national issues forum which is like kind of like the legislature but on a national sta scale. So you write a proposal instead of a bill and you like rank these instead of passing or failing them. And then for our eighth graders there's leadership corpse. So they spend the whole conference like experimenting with the different program areas. Um getting to tour the hotel in the capital and just seeing what they want to do in the future. And then for elections, the governor, lieutenant governor, and then the secretary of state or SOS office um run elections where we vote for student leaders. So, Yig has a lot of benefits. Um it promotes like how to be a model citizen starting at like a very young age. Um it develops leadership confidence and public speaking skills. Before Yig, I probably would not be able to do what I'm doing right now at all, but it's really given me the confidence to be able to speak in front of a room of people. Um, and it promotes our school's values. So, at Yig, you have to be open to many ideas. Um, whether you agree with them or not. And at Fidley, we promote a very similar idea. So, it helps you be a model citizen, a model a model leader, and a model student at Fidley. All right. So, because it's a mock government, we obviously have leadership positions. Again, I was the 2026 National Issues Forum presiding officer alongside like two other people, Frederick Bridto and Kaylee Clardy, who were from other schools and I actually got to work handinhand with them to um pass and fail proposals and help rank them and things like that. Um Sophia Good was our 2025 president of Spear Senate and um she helped with uh bills. I don't really know much about [laughter] sorry. Um, and then appointed officials. We had 10 FHS students served in leadership roles as appointed officials. So, appointed officials are students who apply to be appointed by the elected officer. Um, and then on to the next page. Okay, perfect. Uh, this year we actually had a huge election turnout from our own Fidley like crew. I'm so proud. Um, Sophia Good is our elected secretary of state, one of the three the only three statewide officer positions, which is a huge deal. Uh, Malik Ba is our elected speaker of the house. And crazy enough, Malik wasn't in the program area he ran for. He ran from a completely different program area. And with the leadership skills that he learned from youth in government, he was able to win. and many people enjoyed his presence and voted for him which is a huge deal as well. And Eleanor is our elected speaker of the house for ninth and tth grade which is um the lower leg legislative but I think it's one of the biggest houses which is it's huge which is a big big deal and is honored as an MVP of her program which was really really good. She got a huge award in front of everyone. It was amazing. Right. >> Oh, yeah. So, um, Vivian Neely, she's a sophomore and she's also going to be our 11th grade representative. Her bill was honored for being the best bill, which is pretty self-explanatory, but she also got a good award for that. Um, 81 gig students from Fidley, which made us the third largest in the state. I think first was like Shakipi, but that's makes Fidley look really good along with all of our like leadership leadership representatives. And then Sophia was elected to attend Kona, which as we mentioned previously is like Yig but national level and it's really a really really big deal. That's all we have. Yeah, that was our last. [laughter] >> Awesome. Thank you so much. Do you guys have time for some questions? >> Of course. >> Okay. You're used to it, right? >> We [laughter] got it. >> Does anybody have any questions? >> Yeah. Well, I'm This is always my favorite day of the year when y'all come. Um, so my full-time job, I'm the state director of an environmental nonprofit, and I um I like to think of myself as an advocate, though legally I am the principal lobbyist. So, I spend all day at the capital lobbying for clean water. Wow. >> And that picture with Speaker Hortman um kind of threw me off the comment that I was going to speak because she embody everything that Speaker Hortman was passionate about. She taught me 20 years ago how to door knock with a new baby and how to be in politics and how to be a woman in politics. It's a not an easy thing to to to do and to be. and she um I don't know if anyone has had the opportunity to watch the memorial today, but the way that she led and brought out the best in people and really valued compromise and took historically marginalized voices to lift them up is exactly what you're doing. And it just makes me so proud. Um you know, we didn't have this opportunity when I was in high school. Um, and I'm just so glad that you do. Democracy work is really important. Democracy is hard. It is something that we have to do every day, not just when there's an election. Um, engagement can be hard and it can be messy, but it is so so important. Um, you know, there was I I love when I'm there and I run into the Fly Kids. I ran into Malik one year and he was so excited and we got talking and then I was like, "You have to go. Like, you have somewhere to be." Um, but I'm just also really grateful for Mr. Holt and I sometimes feel like I blow up his email with opportunities of like this thing is happening [laughter] and you should, you know, share this with the kids and we've had Yig students come to we have a annual brunch for better and they get to meet legislators and they get up early on a Sunday. It's so impressive. I would have not done that at your age. And they they get to really engage and and and meet the people who make this hostage. And I I give you this offer every year that if there's an opportunity somebody wants to come and shadow, learn something, sit in on a committee, learn how we're passing bills, um part of my job is going into colleges and going into high schools and talk about how do you do democracy and why should you do democracy and what role do you have to play in it? And I'm just I keep looking at this picture of my dear friend and the role that she played in democracy and what her how her murder has impacted all of us and what does this mean, right? And now we're seeing all of these wonderful legislators too afraid to run for office again because of what have what has happened. And so how are we picking up the baton when other people need to just take a breath? Right? So, I think that this is I I love when I run into run into all of you at the Capitol and and hearing how excited you get about this process. I'm going to um bust out Aaron Cles back there. He is a candidate for office, so you should get to know him and the the the way that he is engaging in democracy, but he's also a lobbyist. So, um, you know, lobbyists tend to get a bad name, but we're we're teachers and we're advocates, um, and we help people do democracy. So, I just think everything you're doing is really wonderful. >> Thanks, Mom. Any other questions, comments? >> Um, that [laughter] I I I do have a I want a clarification. It seems to me like every time you guys present, you always come in and we're the the second largest delegation in the state of Minnesota, the third largest, the first. Is this is that an accurate reflection that we are normally in the top five in the state of Minnesota? >> Absolutely. Yeah. >> Okay. >> I don't think other than maybe like the co year we took seven kids don't count [laughter] >> virtually took seven kids. >> So I really appreciate it. Um and I and I'll I'll offer this for Avana. If you do take her up on that offer, I can guarantee she'll buy you lunch at the state capital. So >> it's not a very good lunch, but I'll buy it. >> It's lunch. >> It's lunch. It's food. [clears throat] >> So you guys did fantastic. Thank you again. >> Can I Can I add one absolutely >> longterm context? Um, I look forward to some of our leaders, see what they do, whatever they go into. But we have some great, unbelievable kids every year. Um, Ericson Se was a student that I taught years ago, an ELLL student, came from Liberia. My wife actually taught him from another school. She's ELLL teacher and and now he's been running for office. And um, Stephanie Martinez was working on Kamla Harris's w with Kla Harris when she was VP and then on the campaign. So we and she was our vice chair here. So, we've had some unbelievable kids who have gone on to do all kinds of things and they just keep getting better. They're just I'm so lucky to work with them. >> Well, we're lucky to have you. Thank you. >> Thank you, [applause] >> Mr. Holt. Lori is going to reach out to you. Um, you know how we push out like um AVID grads and we push out um activities and athletics grads. Let's start pushing out some of the alums that you talked about. So impressed with all of you. So very proud. Thanks for being amazing leaders. >> Yeah. >> Thank you so much for having us. >> Thank you. >> Okay. I know we have some um guest presenters here in the audience. If you can give me a little grace. We usually put our guests up front. Um but I am going to move us into the financial um update and the statutory operating [clears throat] debt update. And um yes, if you are not able to stay, can you just come up and tell Relle um that and we'll roster you for the next agenda. All right. So uh as I have been reporting board, our audit is still being worked on. That was a December 30th statutory um requirement. As I've talked about, we have been working with MDE. They of course know about our audit not being done. The question is why is it not done? And really with respect to being in statutory operating debt, MDE as well as our auditors continue to believe that we have coding errors back to 2017. And that's a lot of coding errors to kind of go through. I think you heard Ry reference something like 70,000 line items just in the budget that carries and then you think of that over since 2017. So, our auditors really want to be diligent uh with respect to ensuring that we get those line items corrected going back because that will make our fiscal outlook look very different as we've talked about. So, for the here and now, we're using the statutory operating debt numbers that we submitted and you approved in the January meeting. Um, and we met that statutory operating debt plan guideline to MDE. Um, but that's why our audit isn't done. I wish I could tell you the exact date it will be done. That really lands in the lap of our auditors. Um, Michelle has another call with them tomorrow. Again, I really want to have our board understand and continue to understand the level of thoroughess that our auditors are doing and it will pay off as we look again at where the numbers land for statutory operating debt. So I also wanted to talk about open enrollment because there are so many um thinking behind open enrollment and also open enrollment directly impacts finances, right? And there's some kind of outdated information that is out in our community and in many other school districts regarding laws that were changed in 2014. So, some of us are still using pre204 knowledge around open enrollment. So, I just wanted to talk again and some of this is repetitive from the referendum campaign and other pieces, but open enrollment in Minnesota is really built on school choice. So, if you want to look at a state in the nation that is heavy about school choice, it's right here. Ours, open enrollment is the heart of school choice. We're an open enrollment state by design. Our school choice is written into state law. Families are empowered to choose the public school district that best meets their child's needs both into and out of district. Open enrollment is not an exception or a loophole. It's not something where a student gets expelled from one school district and then open enrolls into ours. That's not how it works when students are expelled. You can't just open enroll into another district because that expulsion follows you. Um the funding model assumes student mobility and family choice. Fidley is also proud to be one of seven districts in the Northwest Suburban Integration School District. And that partnership is exactly about school choice. And we are the only seven districts in the state that are still part of an integration school district. There were several more in Minnesota prior and those have since not been in existence, but we are part of that with um Elk River Area Schools, AIO Area Schools, Anoka Henipin Schools, uh Rockford, um let's see, Buffalo, Hanover, Montrose, Brooklyn Center, and Fidley. I just want to note I did that from memory but you saw I used onetoone correspondence with my um fingers there. Um and really the partnership exists to expand access opportunity and integration across district boundaries. Open enrollment is a core tool in that work. So, in the very nature that we're in the state of Minnesota, in the very nature of Northwest Suburban, we're supposed to have high levels of open enrollment in and high levels of open enrollment out. And I hate that second part, but that's how um open enrollment works and how Northwest Suburban works. Um, so there's this financial kind of misnomer about that it costs our Fidley taxpayers more when students come and through open enrollment and that's factually incorrect. State funding follows the student, resident or non-resident. Fidley receives the same general ed and operating capital aid for students who open enroll in as for resident students. For the 2526 school year, Fidley receives approximately $10,838 per K- through6 student and $13,6 per 7 through 12 students. Open enrollment is a major revenue source for Fidley public schools. About 49.5% of our students are open enrolled. That generates nearly $12 million just this year. And if you recall back to the referendum campaign, that was more like 8 million. So you see that and I am also not adding in there compensatory ed dollars, special education, state and federal dollars. I'm not adding in title dollars. This is just your base funding that I'm giving you. Over the past decade, open enrollment before this year's uh amount uh this is last year and before $78 million into Fidley public schools. We also lose revenue when students open enroll out of Fidley in 2025 2526. So this school year, $1,165 students enrolled elsewhere. That represents $13 million in lost revenue. This shows clearly that enrollment choices have real financial consequences in both directions. Here's where I want to talk about that little bit of old um kind of law that was there in 2014. in Minnesota changed how students are counted for tax calculation, not who pays for whom. Local taxpayers are not subsidizing non-resident students in Fidley public schools. The state aid received per non-resident student exceeds the marginal cost of educating that student. In plain terms, non-resident students bring in more revenue than they cost. And again, I want to pause and say this isn't about programmatic all of these pieces. I'm simply using this as part of our financial updates. So I don't equate open enrolled students to solely about dollars. As you know, my first responsibility is academics and then my second or let's call it a 1.1 is fiduciary responsibility. Capacity and facilities. Fidley currently has space to serve all of the students that we have. As you've seen, we've had to make modifications regarding special education spaces. So, as we think about when our buildings were built, the level of need and services and the laws around those services have changed quite a bit regarding special education. So, you've seen how we've been able to change kind of the construction that we've had in the layouts to make our buildings much more responsive programmatically and also much more responsive for safety. private spaces, classrooms that instead of having just a like a curtain to divide, they have walls. And all of that construction is done through state specialed reimbursement dollars. Our facilities are long-term community assets. They're built for residents and are used by our community. Um, and we are very proud of that. Why does this matter for students? Open enrollment is a helper. It keeps our class sizes smaller. as we just pushed out last week or around there. Um the Bright Works study again found that we have the smallest class sizes in elementary in the metro districts. We have a very competitive class size in secondary as well. And I would encourage all of you if you haven't delved into that to really delve into that. We need to pay staff competitively to be able to retain talent. I always say it's one thing to recruit, it's another thing to retain. And while not a popular thing to say, especially with our teachers, you did right here in the audience, um, which I love that they're here. If you pull our comps, we're significantly behind um in teacher salary and para educator salary and really across the board with our union contracts, but we are making progress. But again, if you look at us compared to other school districts, our staff are not staying here for the dollars. Um teachers union, you know, I love you. So, just hold that with the intent that it's meant to be. Um we our open enrollment helps us to expand academic programs including our IB continuum our AVID programming strengthening student supports and s and services. This is what would happen without open enrollment in less revenue larger class sizes fewer programs and supports greater financial strain on the district and the community. Bottom line Minnesota is a school choice state. Open enrollment is how the system is designed to work for Fidley. Open enrollment is not a cost. It is a critical support to our financial stability and educational opportunities for all students. We also are very similar level of open enrollment in percentage that you'd see in Minnotonka public schools. So with that, I'm going to transition over into our statutory operating debt board members. Uh as you know, I pushed out these modules. Lori is going to put this one pager that you all received onto our website. We didn't want to do that till after tonight's meeting so that you have that. It's accessible for our community as well. It'll be under the board um meeting. As you know, we have six modules tonight. We'll cover module one. All of the modules are already here linked. It has our um this is a clickable document. It has the slide deck here and then it has the narrated slide deck. Um so feel free to access those that's very open and ready for the public effective tomorrow morning. The first uh module of six and we'll do one per business um meeting is really understanding our current situation and the path forward. So when we really think about statutory operating debt, that's where the amount of operating debt is at or more than two and a half% of the most recent fiscal year's expenditure amount. And that's statutory language. And this is clickable so that you can go into that statute. What does it mean? State oversight is required as we've talked about that state oversight is from Minnesota Department of Education. We must submit the detailed corrective plan to Minnesota Department of Education. that was submitted um earlier this month in the timeline compliance that was presented to the board at the January meeting and regular reporting and monitoring until the debt is eliminated. So like what we're doing tonight plus our um financials coming forward. How did we get here? Unfortunately, there's a wide variety of factors that contributed to this and we started that painful conversation in August of 2023 about what that would look like. Um, we've had quite a bit of transition in the business office really starting from 2017 on and that's really where we started to see those gaps. We had a very long-term um business manager here that the superintendent at the time did the grow your own model um where she took someone that had a lot of finance background and worked um with him to really grow him into a business manager and then he left. But as you know that story isn't all sad because he works for Ellers which is our financial adviser. So a little bit of sunshine there. Trust me, I'll probably get in trouble with Ellers. I have courted him so many times to come back to Fidley and he loves where he is right now, but he is a huge helper to us and he knows so much about the district and has that history and he really cares in deep level. So that's kind of when these coding errors started was in 2017 and the district has had a hard time including under my time [snorts] of having stability in our business finance office. Unfortunately, many districts across the state are in the same boat where there's just not enough business managers to really meet the need for Minnesota school districts. but also they're seeing like many other parts of education where they're aging out of the profession and retiring and there's just not the number of business managers to come in and that's why districts are really working to grow your own um and grow people into that. Um, as a result too, really since his transition out, there has been limited access to financial information. um a lack of real-time budget information preventing effective budget management at the site and district level and um the leadership transitions have been happening during critical periods and our coding dates back coding errors a little um under 10 years. As we look at our current financial picture, where are we now? General fund status, negative fund balance requiring corrective action, state requirements, submit and implement the MDE uh approved plan timeline must demonstrate progress annually with targets to eliminate debt within 3 to 5 years. MDE is really clear about not on the backs of students. We want to work with you. We don't want to decimate your district etc. Our key financial metrics from 2425 current enrollment then was 2628 revenue projection 53 million budget expenditures 64 million leaving us an SOD balance of negative8 million again as we've been talking about once audit comes through I'll update all of you and the auditors frankly will update you on where that balance is our path forward you heard this talked about tonight really that enrollment growth and stabiliz ization. As we know, we came in 100 students exactly over our projection in the 2425 school year and then in then the 2526 school year, 104 students. Again, I would be remiss to talk about what was also to not talk about what was referenced today. Um, we have 112 students that were with us in December that are not with us. To the point of our commenter, we have been our teams at the schools have been literally working to find students. Some are in other districts, some have moved out of the state, some have moved out of the country, some are in detention. Um, and some we are not able to find at this time. So, that's really our reality. So, we are continuing to work on that. As you know, I'll be testifying on that 15-day drop and talking about the impacts of CO um coming up. I can't remember if it's tomorrow or Thursday because I'm testifying three times which we'll talk about. Um so that's really to the point of what was heard tonight. Enrollment is what really drives us. Um and our October first count was just fantastic, right? Our October 1st count before it was fantastic. again when you realize 100 students over and those are actuals those are not numbers of students before MDE you know verified and certified our count so that's good news I just want us to really ensure that with the ICE surge that we are able to still maintain that level um the uh plan for statutory operating debt which you'll hear about uh in later modules is really built on staying the same as our October 1st, 2025. It's really important to stay on the conservative side as we do the SOD plan so that we're not saying, "Oh, we're going to come in 500 students more." That would be lying to you and lying to our public and painting a false picture of what's actually happening. So if we continue with our trends that we've been seeing 100 students over projection each year that will help our fiscal health um each year in a more rapid manner as we talk about also continued work around open enrollment strategies as we've talked about how do we continue to have that large um percentage of open enrollment into our district as well as really um looking at most of our students that open and roll out. Don't ever start with us. So, how can we really work to find out how can we get you to come into our doors? Um because many have made the choice to not even come to us to begin with and they open and roll out. And again, that's a choice that every family makes. But how can we really look at is it can we look at our um early childhood family ed programming? Can we look at um uh families choosing us for their early childhood program instead of other providers? And those are really our pipelines, ECF program, early childhood programming. Then looking, of course, at revenue enhancements, maximizing our state opportunities, pursuing our available grants and funding sources. The grants I'm going to pause on um for a moment here. We are in an interesting situation where grants that we have been awarded have been paused, halted, not fully funded when they've been awarded um by the current administration. So, we work through um getting those back, but sometimes there's a delay in payments that we have already been approved for. And this isn't just unique to Fidley Public Schools. It's across the state and across the nation. continued buildout of our federal setting for programming. So that's our VISTA. Last year we started with one building. Um Vista was a K through 12 at that time or really think of it K through age 22 which is the requirement of age that we have to serve students in the state of Minnesota. Then as we thought it would well really expedited, we filled that program well before we thought we would. And our program serves resident students first. So there's a really um interesting way that this is all funded. So when we think about federal setting 4, what we were doing prior to last fall is we were sending our students to 916 that we're setting for, which is the highest level of disability needs that a public school district serves. So, we were sending students to um intermediate district uh 916 and we were paying tuition plus the transportation cost to 916 to serve our resident students. So, now that we have our resident students fully served here, again, it's about programmatic, but it also is a fiscal helper. The second thing that has happened is there is a huge demand for setting for programming across the state and the intermediates that serve the metro most are have waiting lists of two years, two and a half years, three years. And so we are able to take students from their resident districts who the resident districts are looking for a placement for the setting for um programming and then they come to us on a tuition agreement and that's a fiscal helper. Number one, the fiscal helper is that that helps reduce our special ed cross subsidy. So special education services are required by law and our cross subsidy is about 30% and this is not unique to Fidley which is um well over $2 million of required legal services which are also the right thing to do but where they're not covered by state special ed reimbursement or federal um special education dollars. So then we are able to offset our cross subsidy that comes out of the general fund and then we are also able to take just as you see central office staff like Mark Mickelson, myself, Michelle, Lori. Um just as we serve Hayes Elementary and Stevenson Elementary and Fidley Middle and Fidley High School and FCC early childhood, we also serve setting four. So portions of our salaries are able and benefits to be build through those tuition agreements in setting 4. So kind of a multipleprong way of how setting 4 is a fiscal helper. And as we know we expanded to the high school this year. it's colllocated and that has also helped us with leasebacks for that portion of the building like $254,000. It's also helped us with utilities for that portion of the building, snow removal for that portion of the building and then next year we're colllocating at Fidley Middle School a setting uh for program as well. Again, it's first and foremost about programming with dignity and then it also is a fiscal helper that we have as well. So, setting 4 is a pretty significant part of our SOD plan. We also have districts that come from multiple parts of the state that are also [sighs and gasps] just in a place of we need help. We need help, right? So, we serve 10 other districts currently, but then we also have districts that come um to tour us and to learn from us and to learn how to do that piece. Setting 4 is not about open enrollment. It's about tuition agreements. So, I just want to make sure because that it works differently in a setting for program. The next piece that I wanted to talk about is um the strategic expenditure management. And this really comes down to those operational pieces and coding issues that we have um fixing those. And then the next piece is staffing reductions that remain away from schools. So for example um second semester effective we uh eliminated one cabinet member's salary and benefits midyear and reorged and now he has changed his role completely and he's serving entirely setting four. So then that comes out of the general fund. So those are the type of pieces um and we'll see that in more detail as we come up to our budgets and the monthly um reporting out and then again MDE repeatedly says this cannot come on the backs of students. Um so prioritizing those essential services while protecting the instructional quality. [snorts] Other pieces too that are helpers is um we have professional development dollars. those are required under law. How we use those, the the amount that comes in, etc. Um those cannot be used for certain expenditures, right? Just like we can't use food service dollars for classroom teachers. However, setting for then we can put that in our tuition agreements for that portion of professional development. So that helps with more professional development dollars to go around our enrollment targets. Again, I talked about this already. Our SOD plan is really built on staying where we were on the October 1st, 2025. So, you see, we're built on 279D to average daily membership. And average daily membership kicks in um especially once that 15-day drop starts. Um that's where then a portion of the ADM is reduced for the rest of the school year based on that. um piece. So that's when I talk about ADM, its average daily membership. Um each 10 students that we increase generates just in the basic aid $75,000. Our retention focus keeping our current students, especially during the transition years, preK to kinder, fourth to 5th, 8th to 9th grade. One of the things too that we heard referenced tonight is um and talking about the program enhancements here under federal setting for when I came to Flee, we did have very explosive behaviors. We had children that would physically um harm our teachers and our staff. We had children that were disregulated or were not regulated and running through the buildings. We had children who were leaving our buildings. We had children that were throwing one another through windows. And that is not our staffing our staff problem. It was a staffing problem because I think when I came we had at least 13 special ed teaching positions vacant and that wasn't these are required by law vacancies. And then we had more para educators in special ed than I can even count. Um, so when we have our staff that's strained at that level and they're still trying to teach, we had to make some immediate corrections. And then a lot of our behaviors were because we were serving students who were setting for in our neighborhood schools because they were on the wait list for the intermediate district. So, we really um have benefited and I wish I could sit here and tell you that the setting for was just this great innovative idea. It came out of pure desperation for me and that's the truth, right? [snorts] And so having that has really calmed how our buildings feel. We used to also have children walking um in the middle school especially during the class time etc. That is not what you're going to see now. [snorts] When I was here my first year, we would have probably 13 physical fights a week. And I don't mean Avana slap slapped me. I mean like which Avana you wouldn't, but literal pretty violent fights. And that has just been an anomaly. We don't have that in our district. Do we have moments? Yeah, I think we've had maybe three this year. Um, and just to see that level of difference and it shows in our staff. Our staff are able to not be extended beyond the brink of breaking point. Our staff are serving our children in a way that's different than when they were physically being assaulted. And while I don't love that that's the circumstance that we had, and this isn't the first time you've heard me talk about this, it was our reality. But our reality is different now. And I would just invite us to continue talking about yes, we can honor that past, but that's not our current reality. And then if we look at our revenue enhancements, again, Avana, you spoke so um uh much to this in a different way, the level of advocacy that we have been doing um really with our elected officials, I think, is is um noticeable and really brings out the needs that we have in our district. And they've been responsive to that. the comp ed um situation that we have, a whole commission was formed to really examine that. Our lobbying last year, I truly believe along with other districts, but as we know, compensatory ed, we're one of the districts that has highest per people rates on that, right? We saw the governor put in a hold harmless on that. we are going to also ask for another hold harmless. So these are the pieces to really look at pursuing grant opportunities. We didn't get the full service community schools grant my first year but we're going to continue doing that and those are the pieces that really help with out of schooltime programming which helps our academics. Then of course, as we talked about, the federal setting for um continued buildouts, strategic expenditure management, those operational reviews, reviewing all contracts and services for value. We've had um again sometimes we contract out for services because we've done it for 25 years and really looking at how do we train our in-house team to do some of that work. Now, obviously, we're not going to have um staff members doing electrical work, right? But there are pieces that we sometimes contract out that we can potentially look at training our current employees to do that. And then um again, as you know, the reductions in uh district office positions and or the way that we have um shifted uh jobs as our setting for grows. So really looking at okay is there a way that we have these needs in setting four then can we also use that to reduce an expenditure from the general fund. Um and then again prioritization of protecting um core instruction and student services and making datadriven decisions. Um, our targets here are to reduce SOD by 2% each year. We will better know that once our audit is finished and know what those actual numbers are, stabilizing um our operations and our enrollment initiatives. Again, with the impact of the ice surge in Fidley, we'll have some recovery to do along that with student enrollment, but I'm confident that with our lobbying and the work that we're doing that we'll be okay in that area. But does it keep me up at night? Yeah, it absolutely does. What does this mean for our district? Protected priorities. Again, core classroom instruction, special education services. Number one, it's the right thing to do. Number two, it's required at the federal and state level. student safety and well-being. We've talked about that repeatedly and we've been responsive to that. Essential student support services, our federal setting for programming and special um programs, again, areas of strategic adjustment, our administrative efficiencies, again, the service contracts, really looking at all of those. How can we train from within on some of those um the utility contracts, some of those um buybacks from setting for those sorts of pieces? That deep analysis which we're doing of the coding issues, consolidation of roles at the district office level and the implementation of budgeting and procedures within the finance department that really has not existed since 2017 essentially. Um, as we know, regular board updates here, monthly financial reports, our enrollment tracking, um, and quarterly updates on the SOD and then our state reporting requirements. We did the first one, which was the corrective action plan, and then they require the annual update to our SOD. MDE has been very um, responsive and and very helpful. key performance indicators. Enrollment is our number one key performance indicator. Um that's what drives our revenue. Revenue versus expenditure trends, fund balance progress, staffing ratios, and program outcomes. Board actions required. Review and approve the budget adjustments, which we already do. Obviously continuing to do that. Receive the regular progress reports, which we are doing. support the community engagement efforts and provide um the oversight and accountability. Fidley Public Schools, as we know, remains committed to providing exceptional education for all students. You heard tonight about the concerns about our proficiency rates. We all know, we all agree with that, right? We all know that if you look at our summerrise data, if you look at our achievement data, we have seen those remarkable gains and that progress towards eliminating the gap. Am I worried with what has happened with the um learning since end of December? Yeah, I'm worried about that. But again, that's about our recovery and how do we work with that and how do we work with partner organizations as I had referenced. I was at that event with former Secretary of Education Arie Duncan on Sunday where we both spoke and he made a beline to me and said, "Hey, I want to help." He has um a foundation. So really those types of um pieces as well to help with um the recovery. We also have huge recovery with mental health. Um, and not only for our children, but the mental health that our staff have had and their stamina of what they have to had to deal with. And this goes well beyond the employee assistance line. So really commitments around that. So with that board, I'll stand to entertain questions. I know that was a lot >> thorough. Any questions? I I do have one, Brenda, and it just kind of occurred to me with the the gain of 100 two years ago for our our enrollment 104 this year. Are we seeing a trend like where those gains are coming from? Like does like one grade level stick out? [snorts] >> It's pretty it's pretty [gasps] similar across grade levels with the exception of we tend to do well above in ninth grade. Okay. Awesome. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Question. Um I think [clears throat] you mentioned earlier on that we do lose some of our students to Spring Lake Park. That's the biggest school district that we lose from. I'm just curious because I know that we're seeing a lot more students coming in for our setting for programming with um >> um Vista. Sorry. Yeah. >> Anyways, what school districts are we seeing most of those students come from? Where where are they coming? need a helper on this. Yep. Columbia [clears throat] Heights. Um, Spring Lake Park, >> Centennial, >> Centennial, you just name them off. You know these. [laughter] >> Relle overseas special education. So, >> you know, I think when we look at the population of our students requiring those services, um there's not a mass. So, what we're seeing is real individuals from different districts, especially smaller districts. um you know intermediates typically serve and um uh this there's very few school districts who have their own fed setting for program. So I would say not seeing a mass from any one place but seeing just a a real sprinkling of of of smaller districts >> just based on the ones that you mentioned are most of them the smaller school districts that are in our area as opposed to the bigger school districts. Correct. >> They're the ones that are served by 916. >> Okay, that makes sense. Okay. And then um I'm going to word smmith a little bit um on this. So our setting for our tuition agreements with the resident district and then when we talk about that with the exception of Spring Lake Park and Mounds View, every other district, we have more students open and rolling into us than open and rolling out. So open enrollment is different than our federal setting for >> Thank you for clarification. Yeah, >> and I haven't asked this question in probably six months. Um, the percentage of our open enrolled students, the majority of those students live in the city, but because of our footprint of our school district, they're so they might live in Frley, but they live in the Columbia Heights school district or the Anocanaban school district and they're living in the city and open and rolling into the district. Do you remember off the top of your head? I can pull that. I think we're confusing things a little bit. So the majority of students that open enroll into Fidley is not all residents of Fidley, but the majority that open enroll um into Colombia Heights live in city of Fidley or from Columbia Heights >> Yeah. But our open enrollment is much larger than that. So, from those districts, yes, but they don't carry the largest pie of open enrollment, but I'll get you the numbers on that. And I'll present it at the next board meeting. Good idea. >> Awesome. Thanks. Um, so those of you here, I would certainly encourage you to go to the website, check out the other modules. Uh, they'll be presented at the next subsequent board meetings. Um, and then with that, I think we can continue on with your report. Dr. Thank you. >> Um, thank you so much. Um, next up we are going to call up Josh Callahan, our parent rep, and um, Miss Gunderson on our American Indian Ed annual compliance team. I'm so thankful and grateful that you stayed. Um, so sorry about that. >> I mean, >> you're all hurting Josh's feelings. [laughter] >> Thank you for your patience as you waited, though. >> Yeah. Yeah. [clears throat] >> All right. >> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. So, I'll start real quick. >> I'm Josh Callahan, the chairperson for the APAC committee. Um, I'm an enrolled and registered member of the Osage Nation Tribe. I do have one student currently enrolled at Fley High School and two Fley High School alumni. Um, this is Jana Gunderson. She's our Native American education coordinator and allow you to introduce yourself if you'd like. >> I'm Natasha. I am my student. I have students at the program and it's a great program. I love it. So, >> Natasha, I'm sorry I didn't introduce you. So, my apologies on that. >> No, that's your So, we are so glad to welcome you too. >> Absolutely. >> So, you um what APAC is? >> All right. So, um what APAC stands for? >> Yes. >> Okay. A AP pack stands for the American Indian um parent um >> advisory >> advisory committee. I was going to do my next slide here. I'm sorry. >> That's okay. Um which we can go to the next slide, which is why I'm here today. I'm going to try to hurry it up because I know we're kind of late. Um I'm here to talk about the American Indication Indian Education Aid. So each year the Fidley School District applies to receive funding from the American Indian Education Aid Grant under the Minnesota Department of Education. The aid is based on the number of students enrolled in a district who are reported as American Indian. That first slide did say we have over 125 American Indian students throughout the Fidley district. >> One second. Can you stop them, Steve? Josh, you're super captivating, but I just want to say goodbye to them. >> Yeah. >> Okay. But key point. >> Okay. Um, well, real quick, I'll point out I think everybody else would like to hear that, but these funds do not come from the school district. They come from the Minnesota Department of Education. So, yeah, >> I thought people would like to know that, but they all left. >> Um, [laughter] so, right. >> I want to know. Mhm. >> Um so in the application process for these schools identifies goals on how the aid will be used to support American Indian students. These goals are approved by the American Indian parent advisory committee. That is APAC. Um prior to March 1st of each year, the APAC votes as to whether or not they concur with the educational offerings that have been extended by the district to American Indian students. The results of this vote are shared with the school board and reflected in the minutes as a record, which is why we're here. Our first goal area one is support post-secary education preparation for pupils. Our attendance goal by the end of the 2526 school year attendance for American Indian students will improve by at least 5%. Um our progress after the first semester American Indian students are on track with 8.4% better daily attendance than all of last year. [applause] >> And [clears throat] and continuing Thank you. I like that. And continuing um post-secondary pre preparation for pupils, our graduation rate goal is 100% graduation rate. Of course, our progress currently is only 80%. Uh we have four out of five seniors that are currently on track to graduate. And if you want to look at the picture, the tall kid there is my middle son who graduated last year. >> Um thank our second area, support the academic achievement of American Indian students. Our goal, American Indian students will demonstrate at least a 5% improvement in proficiency in both math and reading on the state MCA assessments administered in the spring of 2025 and move to closing a gap between American Indian and white students scores. Our progress American Indian students exceeded the 5% improvement in proficiency in both math and reading. The gap between American Indian students and white students is decreasing, but there does continue to be a gap. Our [clears throat] area three, make curriculum relevant to the needs, interests, and cultural heritage of American Indian pupils. Our goal, the district will reflect at curriculum meetings on how can we incorporate Native American voice and perspective into upcoming unit plans? How did we do on incorporating Native American voice and past plans? What can we do differently or better next time? Our progress. The American Indian Education Coordinator meets with the teaching and learning and IB coordinator team regularly to jointly review these goals and share new information. Our next goal area provide positive reinforcement of the self-image of American Indian pupils. Our goal is uh increased in I'm sorry increase participation in student culture groups and activities by American Indian students. Our progress American Indian education program has seen an increase in participation in native culture groups at the elementary and middle school levels. Participation by high school students has remained pretty steady from previous years for field trips and activities. And regarding field trips and activities, these include trips to Minnesota State University, Mano, a very quickly upcoming trip to Max Friday, uh the Indian Museum and Trading Post, a trip to Sugar Bush, which is my youngest son's favorite uh trip to learn how to make maple syrup, you know, on on the land there. >> Yeah, like >> um also some winter storytelling sessions and a vision of Indian work. The next goal area, develop intercultural awareness among pupils, parents, and staff. Our goal is to increase the number of cultural activities that students and staff have access to in the district. Our progress um we do celebrate indigenous people days in October. Uh we have districtwide lessons and discussion and uh November is Native American Heritage Month. We have weekly district-wide lessons specific to grade levels which are supported by the FPS equity and inclusion team. Um continuing that goal to develop intercultural awareness among people's parents and staff. We do have upcoming an American Indian education collaborative powo. The date of that is April 11th, 2026 at Champlain Park High School. And this year, Fidley is collaborating with nine other districts to host that um annual conference pow. And everyone is welcome to attend. >> Our next and I believe final goal we're going to discuss tonight is um uh our supplementing not supplanting federal, state, and educational and co-curricular programs. So our goal is to offer services and opportunities to American Indian students that do not supplant or replace services offered to all students. Our progress American Indian students have access to a dedicated American Indian education coordinator who is a licensed school counselor that is Jana as well as culture groups and culturally specific field trip uh speakers and activities. These opportunities are supplemental to their regular education opportunities. And kind of new to us, um we have an elective class at Fidley High School, an American Indian culture language. This course provides an exploration of the rich and diverse cultures, histories, contemporary issues, and languages of the indigenous peoples of North America. And in conclusion, the [clears throat] American Indian Parent Advisory Committee APAC resolution vote each year after resuming after reviewing the district's program and goals, the American Indian Parent Committee issues a vote of concurrence or non-concurrence. Uh Apac voted on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026. We, the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee, issue a vote of concurrence. We attest that the school board and our district are compliant with Minnesota statutes and the school board and our district are meeting the needs of Indian sorry American Indian students. >> And that concludes that. >> Thank you Josh. >> You're welcome. >> Any questions? [applause] >> You you present every year and I'm pretty sure you broke the record for the the speed. >> But but also thank you for like sticking around. Like that was a long meeting. Thank you. Um >> can I can I add just a little bit? Um I I saw your list of field trips. Amazing things that you're doing. Um in my day job, I work with post-secary stuff at a high school level. Um and so things come across my desk all the time because I really do a lot of connecting kids with opportunities. And you may already know about this, but just in case you don't, um with Henipin County Medical Center, they have American Indian Youth with Stethoscopes Youth Summit and it's coming up on April 18th. Um it is free to students. It's for ages 12 to 18. they uh meet and will hear from American Indian health care professionals specifically um engage on handon activities using real medical equipment and then they receive a book filled with information about healthcare careers. So just something to think about and then I was also going to say because I see this stuff I mean it's it I get it all from all over the board but um if you wanted to leave your email address or get it to me then I would happily pass those things on as they come across my desk as well. Um, I've done some partnering with the college and career readiness person at the high school here in Fidley. And I'm a firm believer that when we share resources, we get things to more kids and the more kids that succeed and are ready to do what they want to do after high school. I'm all about that. So, um, you probably also know about a lot of tuition free opportunities for our native students and how do we get them there and what exists. Um, I've collected a little bit of a a list for our American students, [cough] Native American [clears throat] students that we have at our school and I'm happy to share any of those resources that I have. So if you're interested, I would love to connect just about the things that exist because this is such important work. So thank you. >> Awesome. Thanks, sir. Awesome. Thanks, sir. >> Absolutely. And I can be found on the American Indian page of the Fidley website, too. And I will I will share that with you as well. But please, anything that you have, I would love to to please pass it along. >> Thank you. >> Awesome. >> Cool. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much, team. So good to see you. Um, next up, I am proud and excited to introduce Alta Sims, our equity and family empowerment coordinator, who will be sharing with us the work that she and her team and our community have been doing for Black History Month and then AfricanAmerican Parenting Involvement Day. Take it away. >> Thank you, Superintendent Brenda. And boy, thank you guys all for having me here. And so I am very excited to share about a wonderful amazing experience last week with our African-American parent involvement day. Um I was really nervous um about that day um because it was so much has been happening in our community, right? And it has really hit our district hard. And so when we sent out personal invites for the African-American parent involvement day, we had an enormous and amazing turnout. We had about 120 families that visited our district on that day. And that day, um, the smiles on the kids' faces having lunch with their parents, coming in with their McDonald's and their Subway and being able to sit down with their friends and have lunch together. Um, I made it a point to go to every building. I wanted to shake the hands of the parents. I wanted to thank the parents for coming. And from from the feel and the the energy in the room, the parents were excited to come in. that parents were excited to know that we had a community home for their kids and for their families and to be able to sit down and have conversation and say, "Oh, can I take your picture?" And they were like, "Yes." And so, it was just an amazing night. The principles came out, greeted everybody. And it was such an amazing time for our parents to just have conversation and commune with their students and with their teachers in that moment. Um, we did it at um the Fridley High School. We did a college and career on behalf of Black History Month. Um, this was an opportunity for parents to understand what are the pathways for colleges, what are the options, what are the opportunities. It was a way for parents to talk about finances. Um, Matt Kefir, shout out to Matt Kefir if he's listening today. He really helped out and jumped in and helped me out as a partnership that day and it was an opportunity for us to just grow that family engagement opportunity for the high school and also Indian. We're coming. We want that. We want to build that family engagement with our Indian ed and Native American students. And so our goal as an equity and family empowerment is to continue to bring our families in. And on that day, um, our parents realized significantly how important their relationship is to our community. Um, it was very important to just have a sit down and have a conversation. I had one parent that stuck in my head and what she told me was, "Today it felt like an extra layer of support for our students." And I I said this so many times because it really touched me because that was true. That was significantly true. This was an opportunity for the parents to come in and just have that love of support through food. Conversation happens through food. And I think this was a great opportunity for our families. We have been doing the African-American parent involvement day since 2013. And I would have to say this was one of our biggest turnouts this year. And so I thanked the teachers, the principles, everyone that helped us engage sent out flyers and they personally got flyers sent home with their kids. And so this was a very lovely event for our parents. And I'm going to admit it filled my cup, too. I really needed it to fill my cup. So the excitement of me going from building to building, I was so excited to see some of the parents that I have not seen in a while. And so to be able to have that engagement with those parents right now significantly at this time that was important and we did it. And when I went to Brenda I'm like look I got this idea I want to do this. She's like let's do it. Let's go. And so to have that support and to know that we know what family needs and family needs us and we need this families. And so in that moment hey we were there. We were there with our parents in a significant moment in time. And so we're going to continue to do this event. Um, coming up, we do have a pre-recording of our Black History Month program that will be on Thursday. John, you kind of heard a little conversation with us today about the program. And so, it'll be livereamed. Um, not livereamed, but there will be a link that I will post and give to the superintendent and also to the board members and you guys can take a look at it. We have like nine acts from elementary school all the way up to high school. So, this would be a great opportunity for us to just engage. Again, we do have families that are going to come in and watch their students perform. So, that's another family engagement event. We family engagement, if you know me, that's my heart. That's my passion. I love our students. I love our families. And we're going to continue to grow our family and empowerment um team up and continue to reach out to our families because we are in commune and we all in commune with each other and we're going to continue to do that. So, I just wanted to share a wonderful opportunity with you guys. Any questions? >> Thank you. two, right? >> It turn >> fantastic. So, >> it was a great timing. Thank you guys all for having me here. >> No, thank you. >> Oh, you need to stay. >> Okay. Okay. [laughter] She always gets me like this. >> Well, I don't tell you in advance cuz you say don't do it. >> Okay. Okay. She's right. >> So, when I came to Fidley, we talked about the work that you were doing, right? >> Yes. Yes. I remember. >> And I said, I think it's undervalued. >> Yes. >> Right. I do remember >> and I have seen you grow in just unfathomable ways. >> Thank you. >> And I continue to be so proud of the work you're doing. And as chair just talked about, the fact that we had that turnout right now speaks. If you recall when we had our first newcomer breakfast, it was the week after the week of when the executive order went through that schools were no longer safe spaces. Yet our Hispanic Latino families came >> and they showed up. >> They did. >> Ala, please know your worth. Please know your value. I know you are so committed to this district >> and I continue to be so proud of you. I see you and I love you. I'm so proud of the work you do. >> I appreciate it. [applause] >> Okay, next up we're going to talk about our donations. Um, this is also just unfathomable. We're at over $20,000 in donations. $20,000. They're coming from around the world. Um, literally week February 7th through the 13th, $1625. January 30th through February 6th, $16,263. January 23rd through the 29th, $2,275. Supply donations that supplied 45 family deliveries. February 7th through the 13th, 51 family deliveries. January 30th through February 6th. 46 family deliveries January 23rd through 29th. This these donations are literally going into the hands of our families that are unable to leave home. Families that have experienced job loss, families that have received uh family members that have been put into detention. um our community whether that be city of Fidley, Minnesota, US or around the world, they have said we see you, we hear you and the donations keep coming in. Um there is still uh funding for the scholarships and the teacher grants and all of those pieces that we have in our district. That's not this p pot of money. This is going straight to the um families in need. So, I think the ice surge has been awful beyond belief, but there are shining stars here and this is one of the many shining stars. the way that our community, whether it's fiscally, whether through its observers, whether it's through volunteering, they have continued to show up and protect our children, support our staff, and really show how we center our children and safety in an academic environment. So, I'm just really proud of our donations. And every donor will receive um a a personalized email about their amount and a note from me. So, I'm so proud um to see this. And the notes that come in with the donations, too, are so touching. Lori forwards those to me. Um and they're just really personalized. The whole world is watching our district, literally. And um just the support is immense. I'm excited uh to honor National School Counseling Week. Um so congratulations. That was Was that last week? Yeah, last week. So we're so excited to honor um school counseling week. I already did the monthly financials, the SOD. I'm going to move into proposed legislative update. [snorts] I think we're going to see more coming in this vein. We linked in here um the I believe first legislation to pop here on student enrollment flexibility. Um and this is really about continuing counting students in our ADM, our average daily membership if they were enrolled prior to January 1st and not enrolled in another Minnesota district. So, this legislation doesn't say, "Hey, they left Fidley and enrolled in AIO, so we're going to give Fidley the money and AIO." That's not what it's saying. Um, and uh this is also um talking about for this school year only, and it's a change to the Minnesota Education Finance Law. So, this really gets at the 15-day drop um language around this. I think we're going to see a lot more um coming forward, but this is the first one. Next, we'll talk about Lori decided to really um highlight the superintendent of schools on this slide. So, as you could see, you get a trifecta of um different moments. I prefer the left one, but um the other two are definitely action shots. So, here's the testifying um team. this really has come together literally today to the point that Michelle and Lori and I were typing on the slides during the work session because it was literally coming in and coming together. So, we have I'm actually [sighs and gasps] these are in a little bit um a different order that I'm going to say them. Tomorrow morning at 8:30 I'm um testifying state education finance committee um kanesh that was um only invited speakers. There's not public sign up for that, but it's publicly open obviously. 8:30 Senate building impact advice of ice on schools. Then tomorrow at 300 p.m. I'll be in the House Education Policy Committee Rep. Jordan. Um, this one is along the same veins as our lawsuit of prohibiting ICE agents from being on schools. So, this would be Minnesota. Our lawsuit is also Minnesota, but it's really federal, too. So, this is a nice blend of a priority that we as Fidley have already stood behind and now we're standing behind um this proposed legislation. Then on Thursday, House Education Finance Committee with KGO 1M impacts of ICE on schools. So, I hate that this is what we're testifying on, but I'm so glad that our voice is in the space. I did not sign up for any of these. These were all invite. So people understand that while every district has impacts of ice, we can agree as was stated earlier tonight, Fidley Colombia Heights are severely impacted as ice surge areas and that's being seen by our elected officials. So I look forward to that. They are live televised and um you can come in person. Director Stark shared with me earlier today. just pre-prepared for significant um changes in the wait time to get in through security. If you remember last year, we didn't have that, but um definite changes to security. I'm now going to move into the AMSD legislative preview. This was previewed the first Friday in February. This is where the AMSD districts association of Metro School Districts Fidley is a part of come together with the legislative agenda, stabilize education funding. Um, right now there is that $250 million cut to special education cross subsidy. Again, as I stated earlier, districts are legally required and it's the right thing to do to provide special education services to all who qualify. However, while it's a mandate, it's not fully funded. So then districts end up with what's called that cross subsidy. So our responsibility out of general fund for federally and state required services is called the cross subsidy. So this $250 million cut along with the 5% in transportation cut that happened last year that increases our responsibility and cross subsidy which takes more funding out of our general education fund, right? Um then there's the blue ribbon commission on special ed. We would like a report out in that in fall of 2026. Where are we at with that? Um, districts continuing to cover 30% of the cost for the underfunding of special education. [sighs and gasps] This takes from general education funding. And then um it's just getting harder and harder as special education costs rise for us to continue to find cuts in general fund to subsidize federally and state required services. Again, it's the right thing to do, but we also need the funding to go behind that. And right now, it isn't even an ask of more funding. It's please don't bring in this $250 million funding cut. Um mandates and local control continue to support an increase in the state's investment for special ed cross subsidy. Just talked about that support um recovering costs associated with data requests. So whenever there's a data request from the public that costs us in time, it costs us in making copies. So, we would like that cost to be put upon the requester. Sometimes it's like $30. Sometimes, um, and again, I would encourage you to look at that piece about Rochester public schools, it's unfathomable amounts. And again, that comes out of our general fund budget. Um, continue fully funding the redact training that was only partially funded. So as we bring in new teachers, we don't have the funding for that. Do we want to continue supporting readact? Absolutely. This isn't about not supporting that. This is about putting the funding behind the mandate. And I also talk about let's make sure that it is new money and not money pulled from another pot of money. That's just that's oftentimes what we happen is, oh, we'll give you more flexibility. No, it's new money because then you're taking from a different pot of funds. Um, permanently fund uh unemployment for hourly workers. Okay, so you saw I left out the word repeal there. AMSD's stance is fully fund or repeal unemployment for hourly workers. We've talked about this, talked about this, talked about this. We know that our hourly workers that are seasonal, so student nutrition services, para educators, um they're not year round and they also are not making a livable wage. So, we are not asking to repeal that out of school time um summer unemployment. We're just asking for that to be fully funded. And as a reminder, this is state law. So the district does not have a choice in that unemployment piece, but there is no ongoing funding for that. So that hits us as a district when it's a state law. The next piece um that I'll talk about is fully fund Minnesota family medical leave. That went into effect January 1st. Again, we're super supportive of that. It's not funded. So again, it's law. We support it, but it's not funded. We're also not looking for repealing of that. Um, okay. And then we've got fully fund uh for any new mandates. This is so important. We continue getting these mandates which again come from the right place, right? Literacy, unemployment, paid family leave act. We are not anti- these mandates. Please put the funding behind it as in new funding, not switch pot funding. I just made up that term and I like it. Yeah, switch pot funding. [snorts] >> DBL is going to use that in the future. And then [laughter] um our Minnesota paid leave, intermediate leave for bonding is permitted under the law, but the system does not currently support it. This is a glitch in the law. So right now when folks have leave over the summer that are not contracted employees over the summer, we end up paying them for that. So they actually realize more than their salary because of a glitch in the law. So I shouldn't say a glitch in the law. The law was designed for um 12 month continuous employees. So this is a piece um that we need to look at. This is not about taking away money from people that they're entitled to. This is just resulting in an overpayment which is then kind of a double hit for us because not only are we paying for the leave, we're then paying for above salary amounts. Again, we are pro the leaves. We just need the funding behind that. Thanks for your patience, board. I know this has been a really superersized meeting. Um, but I just appreciate the level of detail that you allow me to go into and the questions. So, with that, I'm now going to um open the floor for board member updates here. Uh, board member Jones, did you want to start with Northeast Metro? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. I hope to um we had two meetings for 916 since the last um business meeting. the January meeting for 9:16 was pushed to the day after our meeting so that um in case that there was any adjustments in um districts uh who they were sending as their board representatives um at our organizational meetings. So there was a couple changes um but from different districts not from Philly and still representing us um we got our annual reports in the January meeting. We got our report audit in the January meeting and we reviewed the five-year um joint powers agreement just it's on a five-year cycle. Nothing had changed in it. No, there was no amendments or anything like that, but it was just the renewal of that. And then in our February meeting at the very beginning of February, we had a legislative update from um the intermediates uh legislator Valerie or um yeah, Valerie Doland who came and presented the legislative platform for the four intermediate school districts. And um then we also approved the calendar for the extended school year and summer programming um for 9:16 for the coming summer. >> Excellent. Thank you, Sarah. And then we have um director Anna on Northwest Suburban. >> Okay. Um the meeting was >> January. >> I don't think you're on. >> Push up like on the >> Is that better? >> I don't think >> I don't know if any Mine's on. Do you want to switch spots? I could use a bathroom break. Maybe. Yeah, maybe flip it. Jake is off. Um, okay. >> Sorry about that. No, >> you're good. >> So, January 28th, we had our meeting, Northwest Suburban. Um, we went over the fiscal year of 2425 and there is currently a fund balance of $1.5 million. So, we're questioning that. So, we're going to go through that. Um, we dug deep on this one because um there isn't a lot of there aren't a lot of policies with how the structure is with Northwest Bourbon. So, we are going to dig into that for sure. Um, starting next meeting where uh Tanya Prince who's an AIO on the school board, she's going to start running that and getting all the policies together and so that we can all be on the same page. Um, let's see. Um, sorry. Uh, oh, we are also confused if, um, Northwest Suburban had to pay the MSBA fee if all of [snorts] the districts are part of it. Um, so we're looking into that. And then um we were talking about the lottery for the magnet lottery which is now open and so far it's looking good. I think the first wave went through and now we're on to the second one with all that and that was about it. A quick update. >> Thank you so much. Um and then um vice chair Jones I believe that I already gave the AMSD update. >> Yep. >> So then um I think chair is locked out. Okay, perfect. [laughter] Chair is now back in. Chair, I stated that um I had given the AMSD update. >> Awesome. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> That wasn't a strategy that we locked you out. I promise. I mean, >> it was my strategy. >> I'm not quite [clears throat] sure what the end game there was, but [laughter] >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Lewis. Um, so next up, we have our business action items. First on the action item is our gifts. Uh, the chair would entertain a motion to accept gifts with appreciation from the following uh persons uh events with taste. They donated the food for the history day judges, which is always fantastic. And then again, as Dr. Lewis mentioned, the countless dollars of donation, [clears throat] the food, the supplies. Um, and then also, um, Clappy Monkey donated $3,500 to the Fley Foundation. So, that was awesome. So, certainly entertain a motion to accept those gifts. >> So, move. >> Motion made by Shiner. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Anna. Uh, roll call vote. Miss Anna. >> I. >> Miss Jones. >> I. >> Mr. Mr. Car is I Miss Shiner. >> Hi, >> Miss Stark. >> I >> Miss Yang >> I. >> Motion passes. And then next up, I would entertain a motion to accept the bids for the basement project at FCC with um CM Construction. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Motion by Jones. I have a second. >> Second. >> Second by Yang. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Uh, next up I would entertain a motion to accept the consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Motion by Stark. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Shriner. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion [clears throat] passes. Important dates. We have the Fly High School adapted bowling begins on February 23rd. Preschool welcome night on February 24th, 5 to 6:30 here at the community center. The for the middle school winter band and choir concert is on February 24th at 7 o'clock at the middle school gym probably I'm assuming the front gym. Uh second grade choir concert February 26th at 5:30 at Stevenson Elementary. We have a Freley High School open mic night on February 26, 7:00 at the district auditorium. Freley High School badminton begins on March 2nd. Uh we have the IB silver platter breakfast on March 2nd at 7:30 a.m. at the Frley High School. Fley High School and Fidley Middle School jazz band concert on March 2nd at 7 o'clock at the uh Fidley Middle School cafeteria. Spring conferences at Stevenson start on March 3rd from 4 to 4:00 to 7:20. Well, seemed like an odd time to end it, but we'll go at 7:20. [laughter] Uh Vista Family Night on March 11th at Vista Elementary from 5:00 to 7:00. Fridley Middle School Musical, the Adams Family Junior on March 11th. and March 14th, 7 o'clock at the district auditorium and it continues on March 15th at 2 o'clock. I'm assuming that's the matinea on Saturday. Um again at the district auditorium high school boys volleyball, baseball and boys and girls golf begins on March 16th and then [snorts] our next board meeting is on March 17th. Um, no business, no no working meeting. Uh, just here public forum at 7:00 and then the business meeting at 7:30. Any other important dates that we missed? >> Chair, I'm trying to recall I think March 17th. The reason we don't have a work session is the Hayes um kindergarten. So, we would really love it if board could um stop in and see that. >> Yep. Awesome. Or could you send something on that just to remind mostly me? Awesome. Uh uh with that I would certainly entertain to a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion by Anna, second by >> Stark. >> Stark. [laughter] >> All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed? Motion passes. Thank you everybody for sticking it out. Appreciate you all.