I call this regular meeting to order. Please rise. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. [clears throat] One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Good evening fellow school board members, district staff, community members. As a reminder to us all, our mission is to equip all students with the knowledge and skills to empower them to achieve their dreams and full potential while becoming responsible citizens in a dynamic world. Our first item for tonight is agenda item two, the adoption of the agenda. Are there any questions prior to motion being made on the agenda before you? No questions. Is there a call to motion to approve the December 8th meeting agenda? [clears throat] >> Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Mr. Work. Any discussion on that motion? See no discussion. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I and raising your hand. >> Motion prevails unanimously. Thank you. Agent item three is the Saint Award. The Saint Award was established to publicly recognize St. Francis area school staff, students, and community members at a schoolboard meeting to highlight the positive and impactful work happening in the district. This month's STAR award is presented to not one but three outstanding eighth grade students from St. Francis Middle Schools. Addison Kaine, Ava Hedber, and Adriana Hoski. All three of these students are high achieving academically, are involved in many school activities, and are leaders in the building. Addison is the president of the student council, a member of the yearbook committee, plays saxophone and band, and is a web leader. She also plays tennis for the high school. When asked why leadership is important at St. Francis Middle School, Addison said, "I feel that it is important to take responsibility and learn different skills. I would love to be part of any change that could potentially be better or can help our schools make a difference. Mr. Brock Libby, a geography teacher at St. Francis Middle School, said this about Addison. Addit is a phenomenal student. She gives so much of her time and talents to being a web leader as well as her individual work in class. She consistently demonstrates a high level of knowledge in class and always puts in the time to create work that she is proud of. Addie is extremely disciplined, always has a smile on her face, and is willing to help out anyone who asks or doesn't ask for it. Ava is on the student council and is a web leader. She plays both volleyball and softball for the high school teams. When asked why she is so involved at school, Ava said, "I love doing things that make school a more enjoyable place for students and leadership roles help me do that. It feels great to know that even small effort can help people connect. Watching new friendships from because of what we do makes me happy." Mr. Libby said this about Ava. Ava is a prime example of what a great student and person is all about. She's an exceptional student, always careful to do her best and put forth the utmost of effort when tasked with a project. More importantly, David is a great person to be around. She is friendly to all people. She interacts with and is always willing to help out those around her. Adriana is the vice president of student council, a member of the band, and is a web leader. She also competes on the high school volleyball and basketball teams. on why she chooses to lead. She said, "I think it's really good chance to get experience in these kinds of things, and it's really nice making connections with the school and other people." Miss Katie Katy, a language arts teacher at St. Francis Middle School, said this about Adriana. Adriana is a responsible and conscientious student. She has high standards for herself and works hard to achieve her goals. She is a pleasure in class and gets along well with both peers and staff. She exemplifies excellence academically and socially. Please help me in thanking Addison, Ava, and Adriana for continuously being shining representatives of St. Francis Middle School. And we wish all three of you the best of luck with the rest of the school year and beyond. [applause] >> [clears throat] [snorts] >> Open your mind. [applause] There we go. [clears throat] One more time. [applause] >> [clears throat] [clears throat] >> All right, moving on to our next agenda item. Uh, item four, truth and taxation hearing. Our director of business services will present the proposed 2025 table 2026 levy along with FY26 budget information. Following this [clears throat] update, members of the public will be providing updated [laughter] comment on the proposed levy. Uh just so everyone knows, we will try our best to respond to any questions, but if it's going to take time and some research, we most likely won't do that at this time. Uh later in the meeting, we'll have an action item for the board to approve the 2025 payable 2026 final tax levy certification. >> Thank you. Good evening, Chair Bird, members of the board, Superintendent Anderson, and community members. Tonight is the district's truth and taxation hearing for the 25 payable 2026 school taxes. Later on this evening, we'll ask the board to approve the levy limitation [clears throat] based on the information provided in these presentations. >> Thank you. So part of the agenda is that we'll have some background information whether it's on school financing um property tax levies and the budgets. In particular, we'll talk about the fiscal year 26 budget, the current year budget. We'll also then talk about the 25 payable 26 levy and then there'll be an opportunity at the very end for public to have comment and we'll talk a little bit about that and when we get to that portion. So truth and taxation requirements um before the board approves the final levy certification this evening. This hearing must take place and the dates are listed up there as November 25th through December 28th with very specific rules and um and content requirements. Specifically, the law requires [clears throat] presentation of the current year budget, the proposed property tax levy, including percentages of increase or decrease, and then special purposes and reasons for the tax uh increase or decrease. uh the district must also allow for public comment and as we mentioned earlier and then at the end we'll have that opportunity. So public schools funding is highly regulated and driven by revenue formulas tax policy and the tax levy process are established through state law. It is important to know that while schools can levy under what is authorized by state law, they cannot levy more than what the legislation gives them the authority to do. In this slide, you'll see that the data that the district must provide to the state of Minnesota in order to develop the levy certification, student enrollment, facility information, and voter approved referendum are [clears throat] included in the general fund. In community education or community services, the population for the school district, the number of children under age five are included in the information submitted to the state of Minnesota. For debt service, the principal and interest payments scheduled for for voter approved and facility bonds must be included in the data necessary to finalize the levy certification. Here we go. So the chart on the left side that you see are showing the percentages of the t total tax levy for three different district levy categories. 40% of the total levy is for the general fund which provides funding for the programs listed on the right side including instructional programs, special education, transportation, capital projects and so on. Only 1.7% of the levy is for community services. 58.3% of the district's levy is to repay principal and interest payments on the district's debt service or bonds. So the levy certification process takes about six months to complete starting in July where we submit information to the state of Minnesota. Some of those items that I mentioned on the last slide. The board approves the preliminary preliminary levy in September, which is important in order for the county to mail the proposed property tax statements. The final step in the process is for cities, counties, and school districts to hold a truth and taxation meeting. That's the meeting tonight. After the hearing, the board is asked to approve the final levy certification. >> [clears throat] >> So, here we are on uh in December asking for the board to certify the final levy in 2025. It's for taxes collected in May and October of 2026. And it's for the school district's budget to record the revenue in fiscal year 2027, which starts July 1st of 2026. So [snorts] next we'll talk a little bit about the 2526 budget which is the current school year that we are in. [clears throat] So the school district has budgeted for several different funds is listed on the slide. The budget for the majority of the K12 operations lies within the general fund. It's not worth noting that the estimated fund balance for the general fund includes the non-spendable, restricted, and assigned fund balances which are located on the left the right side. In an upcoming slide, I'll review the various fund balance categories a little further. The amounts for each fund on this slide show the approved budget for revenue and expense for fiscal year 2026 budget, which was approved by the board back in June of 2025. The upcoming slides will focus on the general fund budget since it makes up nearly 83% of the district's total budget. So the general fund 91 or almost 92% of the the revenue comes from state and local property taxes. Federal makes up about 3.1 and other revenue just under about 5%. on the expense category. Um 78.2% of the the expenses are in the form of salaries and benefits. This is in line with other school districts in the state of Minnesota. Purchase services is the next category that is a little larger. That's 10.1%. That includes things such as transportation, [clears throat] communications, utilities, repair, maintenance, um payment to other Minnesota school district for tuition purposes. So if we look at how the district um uses the funds that we receive for the general fund, um 80.2 sorry 8023 cents of every dollar goes directly to support students. So if you look at the red portion and the little sliver of blue, those are the categories that are for direct instruction and pupil support to educate our students. Just under 11 cents um goes for operations and fixed um costs. The operational pieces are things like utilities, maintaining [clears throat] our buildings, our custodians, maintaining the sidewalks and and others. Three uh just over three cents is for district and school administration. So this is like the superintendent's office. It's all of the principles in our schools. And then 5.9 cents of the dis of the spending of the district goes for district support which is things like the finance department, HR, communications, etc. So as I mentioned earlier, the fund balance categories the district has to maintain certain fund u balances. um which fund balance is really the revenue, what's the expense and what is residual and that can accumulate or deplete depending on the year. So the first category is non-spendable and that consists of things that are not in spendable forms such as prepaid items and inventory that we might have paper pens those type of things and other long-term assets. Assigned fund balance are amounts that the district sets aside in order to pay for something in the future. The restricted constraints, those are set by law and that is however the revenue comes to us, it comes with a specific funding source. It must be paid out of that funding source and any residual we must keep track of. Committed fund balance. School districts use that if the board sets something by board action in order to set money aside to pay for something. St. Francis school district doesn't have any of that right now, but school districts use that for instance if they're going to purchase land for a new building, something along that. And then the unassigned is the remaining amount of fund balance. what is left over which um is not specified for anywhere and it's usually the one uh fund balance that most individuals are um aware of or hear about is the unassigned. So this is just a look at the fund balance estimated fund balance. This is before the audit presentation which will come tonight later on in it. But as you can see, we've made some strides, but in 2026, it's estimated that we'll drop down by just [clears throat] under $3 million, which means the expenses are a little higher in this upcoming year than the revenue coming in. Uh the district at 21.863 million in the general fund um is a good position, but you can see all the different categories. Um, the blue is for the unassigned, the red the assigned, which I talked about earlier, restricted. Those are the funds that can only be used for certain things. That's in green. And the non-spendable, the smallest portion um is in yellow. So now when we talk about the um 25 payable 2026 tax levy, we have a number of slides going on about this. So I'm going to spend a little time talking about what causes the increases and decreases in levies. And you can see the four categories up there. But the purpose of the property tax is used by school districts to your funding for those programs for which property taxes are a mechanism approved by state law. The majority of other school district funding comes through state and federal aid. So the first category is changes in state law. Um, so it's important to know that the district's ability to levy for local financial resources is highly regulated, as I mentioned earlier, by the state of Minnesota, a local school district cannot increase a levy without there being specific statutory authority to do so. Um, and it's important as we talk about the levy um at the end of the presentation. Second way the levy must be may make changes is through pupil unit or specific population changes. So as our population grows we will have more uh can have more tax levy because some of the formulas within the tax levy are associated with it. Likewise if the if the population or the student enrollment decreases so does the levy. And [clears throat] then as I mentioned earlier in in specifically with community services as the population changes that too is affecting what our levies might be. So the market value and tax capacity of the district can also change as well. And so the market value just for information is the assessor's estimated value of property. So when you get your property tax statement, you see in the upper right hand corner what it is that they estimate your property to be valued. District does not do that. Um but the the county does do that as well. And having that market value also then um assists with a couple of other categories we'll talk coming up called referendum market value or RMV and net tax capacity um which is NTC. And then the last category is in changes in expenses. And there's very few categories that this is affected by but certain expenses I'll I'll talk about um child care uh program for school age child care for students with disabilities or are displaced that is based on on the actual expenditures. Okay, turn that page over. Sorry. So, this is the proposed tax levy for St. Francis area schools. You'll see in an upcoming slide that the tax levy is increasing by 3.468 million or 26.69%. And I'll describe each category in the upcoming slides. Sorry, that's the slide. I'm sorry. Okay, you'll see the number again coming up. Okay, so general fund levy referendum market value. Um, and I just wanted to tell you to explain what referendum market value means. It's the total market value. Remember I said what the county assessor assesses of the property excluding certain categories like agricultural and seasonal recreational land. [cough] is a [clears throat] specific tax base used to calculate property taxes for voter approved levies such as those for school district operations or certain city and county facility projects. So for um the school district the local op optional levy is um just over 3.2 million. It's actually a decrease by about 84,000. Um there's a total there's a number of um levy changes that are happening within that local levy and I'll describe that in an upcoming slide. And then I just want to remind you on the equity line that is not uh the equity line is not a programmatic levy. It's an equalization levy. The state calls it equity levy. an [clears throat] equalization for property values that are rich for districts that are returned for as they will for the um parody with other schools. Um and because the school district does not have an operating referendum, um the district is eligible for a levy about $747,000 on that pro that equity line. And then on the uh adjustment line, $288,000 of the $389,000 change from year to year relates to the state's lowering of the fiscal year 24 um local optional revenue. So many times a school district receives tax in one year and then in subsequent future years it lowers that based on different categories of funding and different things that affect. So [snorts] when the referendum market value uh general levies are going down nearly 12%. [snorts] Next we have the net tax capacity. And again to just explain NTC this is the tax base used for most property tax levies other than referendas. It's calculated by multiplying a property tax properties taxable market value by a classification rate. And so that's a percentage of a rate that's set by the state. Um, for instance, it might be residential, might be commercial, maybe apartments, agriculture, there's different property classifications. So, the majority of this um levy overall about $2.9 million. Um, the major change in here is due to what's called OPED or other post employee employment benefit of 340,000. This funding is um funding the implicit subsidy and subsequent payments or co-headed. It's due to rel related to employees who have retired and the district's obligation. Next is the community services levy that will be decreasing as well by 11.58%. Um it's the smallest of the three levies. Um and um sometimes when levies decrease in proportion it means that sometimes the aid is increasing. Uh the early childhood decrease by due to a reduction in the population of children under age five. And then the decrease in school age child care is due to right sizing the levy due to qualifying expenses. That was one I mentioned earlier. And then the adjustments made to a reduction of the 24 school child care um program of 31,000 and a reduction for early childhood again due to lower number of students age. So next we'll talk about the debt service levy and I'm going to walk you through these because there's kind of two different categories. So the top three lines, initial debt service, the debt excess and the adjustments are related to voter approved um bond issuance. So you can see that the first line, the initial debt service excesses or debt service is going up um about $818,000. That's due to the structure of the bonds and the payments of when those principal and interest payments are made. The debt excess is a complicated calculation, but when school districts levy for debt, they have to levy at 105% of the principal and interest payment and that's more than what is required to make those payments. So, at some point in time, the state makes an adjustment through a calculation and lowers that. So what you can see in 25 levy it was $420,000 decrease and in this year a 78,000 decrease. While it looks like there's an increase, it's really just that the amount of our debt excess calculation which lowered taxes in 25 is just smaller than it was the previous year. And then the adjustments are minor adjustments that the state makes along that line. So, next, the long-term facility debt is for um existing facility bonds, which the district has some issued as well as the new bonds that were issued um in October. The new bonds are for indoor air quality as well as some abatement bonds for parking lot improvements. A portion of bonds will be that were issued in this fall and their payments will start in the school year 2627. So the debt service um bonds that were just issued those are under statutory um authority from the state of Minnesota. Um we have had a number of discussions of that at the school board meetings. It started in June 23 had a board meeting again in July of um July 28th. There was a presentation made by several um organizations that provided a lot of information [clears throat] to the school board as well as the funding and financing of that. July 28th, there was a resolution for the general obligation facility maintenance bonds as well as the tax payments. July or August 25th, excuse me, there was a public hearing uh financing both resolutions as approved and then the resolution for the vacant fund and then setting the sale. Setting the sale means the date of when those bonds will be sold. September 28th at the levy certification um the preliminary levy certification we talked about the bonds and then on October 27th the school board accepted the bond ratifications. Um and then one other thing I'll say that we do a fairly um decent job with Vanessa's help of recording all that in our minutes. So our property tax levy information and those obligations were brought forward. So, local property tax levy. Um, as I mentioned earlier, the state of Minnesota limits the local property tax levy by statutory defined formulas such as pupil counts, eligible expenses, population, voter authorization, and districtwide property valuation. >> [clears throat] >> Now, I recognize this might be a little small for those of us sitting out in the audience, but I'll just briefly walk through the example of a tax impact for the district school taxes in 2026. And this is assuming that the increase went up by 6%. So, the top gray portion of the levy is for um and this is on a $385,000 residential home. So, the top gray portion displays the amount of the levy for operating capital, long-term facility maintenance, community education, leases, um, and others. About a $23 a month. The green selection shows the amount of taxes levied for board authorized debt of $230. The dark blue is for voter approved debt and if the district had any a capital project levy, which we do not, for $372. [snorts] Finally, that turquoise one at the bottom is amount for local optional referendum equity $231. [clears throat] And then if the district had an operating referendum, which they do not, there would be one more bar underneath. And that's what that blue line is going to that little square box at the bottom. And again, I recognize that it's hard to see from out the audience, but these are classifications with an increase of 6%. There is a copy back in the the book back there. The main thing I want to show you is that if on the top is the residential homestead, commercial industrial, agricultural homestead, and then agricultural non-h homestead. These amounts are what the um [clears throat] 2025 value is is the first column and then the second column is the 2026 estimated value of that increase by 6%. And if you look at a home that is valued at $385,000, [snorts] that home in um the new increase is $247. Um and we'll show you in an upcoming slide of what that would have been had the value not increased. I'm sure all of you have seen a valuation of your home increase at some point. So the increase in the value coupled with what the the taxes are by city, counties, and school district leads to where you're at with your um taxation. So this is the slide that's showing if the value of the home did not increase and that's the top bar chart. So if we look at that um a home at 377,400 and it remained the same the taxes would be $1,13. This is comparable to the $385,000 home. It would be $191. So about $60 less than what it would have been. So your property value is not changed. That's what it would occur. The bottom chart is showing what was on that previous one. And so overall, these are the tax increases for the residential homestead for um some varying school districts. So I'll just read them left to right so you can see the names of the school district. St. Francis is on the left with 840 and then Chicaga Lakes, North Branch, Princeton, Anoka, Henipinman. The state average is in the middle. That's at $1,295. And then it goes to Forest Lake, Cambridge, Iani, Becker, Big Lake, and then Elk River. Elk River is nearly two times what the levy is in St. Francis area schools. I will tell you this is from 2025, so a year ago. So some tax levies are not included on this. This is the most current information that we can get. But just to let you know that um C Francis is in that lower um portion of the So the 26 versus 25 level looking at what has increased that was on an earlier slide but general fund is going down by 65,000 or.99%. [clears throat] Community service is going down 37,673 or just under 12% and then the debt service going up by 26.6 uh 9% and I'll describe that on the upcoming slide. So, I mentioned earlier the OPED, the other postemployment benefit went up $340,000. That was that increase for the benefits from the um payments and are reduced from prior year. the local optional revenue um a decrease of 360,000 um due to adjustments for fiscal year 24 and in 26 in the local opt op optional revenue and then debt service um increase in the voter approved debt payments I talked about that earlier that was due to increases on the schedule um from an existing debt uh voter approved levy and then an additional 2.381 million increase for the facility and abatement bonds issued on November in in November um 25th when we closed and then debt um 371,000 due to those debt excess calculation that I probably with earlier but so one thing to just keep in mind that um tax levy and budget so an increase in the tax levy doesn't necessarily mean there's a change the same percentage change in our budget some levies increase are an offset to an the state aid calculation. So combining the two, they probably remain the same, but there's just a portion that's paid more in local property tax less in aid and then vice versa. And then I just wanted to talk a little bit, you we kind of mentioned market values and property values, but um and again I realize the the numbers at the bottom might be kind of small, but the um the blue is the referenda market value. That's the values of those properties where we would um tax related to um referendas. And then the net tax capacity, which is the green, which the majority of the taxes are taxed on. You can see in 2023 the valuations of your properties went up um significantly um about 24% increase um during that time. Since then that's tapered off but again to the left of that in 2018 through 2022 your property values were going up anywhere from 5 to 10%. Um so calculating your property taxes are are kind of handled by three different things. It's the estimated market value and again remember that's what's established by the uh county assessor, your property tax calculation or classifications, excuse me, whether it's um a homestead, non-h homestead, agricultural, commercial, etc. And then it's also based on the established by the taxing jurisdictions which includes school districts, city, counties um and maybe um townships. So the levy certification board will be asked to approve the levy at 16,465,788. Um this is an increase um from the past levy certification for St. Francis, which last year was about 12.9%. So with that, Chairman Barb, sorry. Um we would welcome um public comment, but as a reminder to community members, all comments or questions during this public portion of the meeting need to be relevant to the presentation that was just being made um for property taxes in 2026. and it must be relative to St. Francis area schools, not to the city or county taxes. So with that, I'll change. >> Okay. So for the public hearing portion, uh individuals that have requested to speak on again the topic of truth and taxation may now. We're going to limit it to three to five minutes per speaker. Uh please Vanessa will hold up a 2 minute and 30 second. Uh, and then we just ask that at the end of your five minutes, uh, try to fi make your final statements to be respectful [clears throat] of anyone else from the budget. Uh, I'm going to start with those that signed up on the list. Um, Lisa, you're first. [clears throat] >> Move it back. Thank you. >> Good evening, board members. Uh my name is Lisa Valley. Um my family um we moved into the school district in 1991 and we raised three kids all the way K through 12. Um during that time um they all graduated in 2003, five and six. Um, I was very involved. Um, I served on the junior highsite management council, the senior high management council. I don't even know if you have those anymore. Um, booster club member, wrestling football, fast pitch softball, all of the things. And I always supported the school with any referendums that came out because I think it's important that we um I value our education and I value our buildings, want them to be safe spaces. What's concerning for me and for many people I talk about or talk with about this issue is in a [clears throat] time when we've seen exponential increases in every part of our daily lives especially pertaining to our connection to our property taxes and everything to our real estate that we are lucky to get to own. um insurance, not only homeowners and autos insurance, but every piece of our life. I feel like I'm torn because I want our buildings to be healthy, safe places to be, but yet I'm concerned about what the cost of this abatement levy will be. Um I know you could go up to almost $37 million. I know you just shared what it's going to be. What are those terms? Rate, time to pay back. We take other serious going down the road for other improvements. I think that this is just a time where we do need to address some of the things, but I think it's almost like you need to stop and read the room. what's going on in people's lives right now with the increased cost. As a real estate professional, I see what it's doing to people who are literally needing to maybe sell their home. So, we have a lot of people in our community. I haven't been here probably near as long as half the people in this in this room today. So, I'm here. I kind of feel like this is just when you were saying talking about the process and how that happens. I kind of feel like this is just a rubber stamp thing. It's already done tonight. So, what is my public comment going to be good for? But I wanted to come on record and let you all know this is going to make it harder in the future to pass other kinds of levies that are needed. And I really ask you to pause and question this at this time. Could it be delayed for a year or two? Could we just do a little bit and chunk it out? It needs to be addressed. We can't ignore it forever. So, thank you for your time. [clears throat] >> Thanks. Christopher, is it Ry? I'm going to have not as elegant a presentation. I'm going to be jumping a little bit. Uh first of all, my wife and I have lived in this area for 25 years. Uh we have not had any children in school. They were all educated elsewhere before we moved here. Um so we don't have direct contact with the school. Now I have [clears throat] let me get uh quickly into the actual tax levy. There are two line items and this might be for there are two line items on here. One says voter approved levies and other levies. Well, other levies would be the ones you are picking. Correct. >> No, other other levies are we had the voter approval and then >> right, >> you know, so if we had an operating and then it's everything else that's not voter, >> but I'm trying to get to voter approved levies would be the bonds. Correct. >> Mostly. Yes. >> Mostly. >> Well, because in other school districts they might have an operating, >> but I'm talking about ours. >> Okay. Yep. It's just the >> I want to understand this. Yep. >> So, if the bond is in my case, the bond part went up 100 bucks roughly 20 uh about 20%. But the other levies went up 200 which was pushing it was over 30% increase in one year. Those are big. I'm going to quickly say my wife and I are on social security. You may be aware personally or with others. Our increase this year is 2.8%. Well, you've got a 10 times percent increase in your real estate tax. [clears throat] I don't work. We have some investments, but the Fed has been busy driving interest rates down, so I can't earn much on those either. So this, please keep this in mind. I mean, you're talking about a $3 million increase here if I heard you correct. Last year's levy was 12 million and now we're talking 163 to4 million. Well, that's a giant jump. And what are we seeing as taxpayers for that? I mean, how how is this directly affecting the children's education? And and another comment I'll make, again, I'm jumping around. I would strongly suggest in the future when you're going to do this, send something up out of to the I would say a mailing or something to the taxpayers about three months ahead of time. I'm a retired CPA. I understand fund accounting, but I am totally mystified by all of the detail and all the moving pieces here. You and I would need to spend about a day to get me up to speed. I don't understand how layman without that kind of training can understand. This is great. I mean, you I'm not challenging that your numbers aren't right at all, but they're not understandable by regular folks. So, there's limited usefulness to all this presentation. Send something out ahead of time. Simplify it. So, but people can get a feel. That would be my suggestion. [cough and clears throat] So, I I don't know. It almost sounds like this whole process you're going to approve it tonight. So, I guess it's a little late to stop this train. Train's already almost in the station. If you're gonna really want people to give you impair, you gota tie, you got to get us involved sooner. Maybe tell us. Don't wait for the deadline to sit with the tax lo. If you know what it's going to be in June, tell us the cover real estate what it's going to be. By the way, my house expense this year went up 3%. So that tax so that's not a factor here for a 28% increase in the taxes. So, okay, I'm done. We'll manage to pay it, but I really think you could do some improving. And and I'm not even into the details about, well, are there places you could cut? Are there places we could do something different? Maybe if this bond process I don't know if you sold the bonds already or not, but if it hasn't been done, maybe that could be delayed if that helps. Okay, I'm done. Thank you for listening. [applause] Next, Marsha. [clears throat] [clears throat] >> Well, good evening. And of course, my school taxes went up significantly without voter approval, just like everyone else is speaking to this evening. Um, I did have one question. On my property tax statement, it said there would be a virtual option tonight. And when I looked at the agenda and everything, there was no reference to where that virtual option was or how that was supposed to work. And so, um, it says virtual option available, discuss the school district portion right here. So, I couldn't find it. And so, if there was a virtual option available tonight, it wasn't obvious on your agenda or any of the materials online. Um, my question for you is, what process did the board did finance use to balance the tax increase that you have proposed for tonight with the county and city tax increases that were also going to occur? And so we knew from the Minnesota legislature that cost shifts were going to occur and there were going to be cost shifts that were now going to be uh pro before were not at the county level were now going to be at the county level and we knew that back when the legislature adjourned in June and so in 2025 county also said they would have to raise taxes again this year. Now, to their credit, when they did their vote last Monday night, I believe it was, they did decrease their levy by a half a percent. And so, they came in here asking for this big amount as well. Not nothing like the school district is asking for. I think they were asking for 9.9 and they went down to 9.4. So, they did decrease it a little bit tonight. So, I would encourage you to decrease as well, but we knew that was going to happen. Um, if you're paying attention in your city, you know that there are projects going on. So potentially you also knew and you should have known as a board in my opinion what was going on in the city in St. Francis and now in Oak Grove and East Bethl and all the cities that you are a part of as a St. Francis school district. And so that's my question for you is how did you figure this out and did you consider that there were potentially going to be other property tax increases in our cities in our county and so I would just like to know what your process was. I don't know if it was just the finance director decided this or the school board if you had um work sessions. Now, I heard about this kind of late and um I think you're a bit disingenuous. I know that you followed the process. I know that you were allowed to do this, but it's just an enormous enormous tax increase for everyone. >> [clears throat] >> And it's um I I just I'm hopeful that you'll tell us what the process was and how you considered the county increase, how you considered the city increases, knowing that you were also going to increase 27% for our taxes of my taxes. The unapproved part of my taxes went up $2778. And as the gentleman spoke to here before, my tax value um changed just negligently on my home. So, thank you for your time. [applause] >> If I could just talk a little bit about the process and certainly some board members and Mr. Linquist could expand on it, but this u the primary driver for the increase has to do with indoor air quality mods. uh that were sold and um the facility committee uh talked about uh the needs and options over a period of many months and uh the board as Ed mentioned earlier considered you know that information I think starting in June um and that we followed the the process at several meetings after that time. So to kind of answer your question Marca is that you know the facilities committee really looked at the needs in depth and you know review the options and then prioritize that work. Uh so that's a short synopsis for kind of >> did you include the thought process though in the other taxes going up? >> Oh yeah thank you. I was going to mention that too. Uh Mr. Burr and I have had several conversations with different city leaders. were really focusing on expanding our relationships. I do not believe we specifically talked about their tax uh burdens for this round. I know with at least some people we did, you know, identify that we were looking at this project, but um you know, we were not inquiring about what their taxes would look like, their tax increases. Thank you. The next is Nick. >> I'll pass. Okay, >> Tina. [clears throat] >> Hello. Like um a couple of other people have said, I don't currently I don't have any students in that go to school in the district. Um, but I am a homeowner and I pay taxes. And we just had the conversation with the city council last week about something similar to this is we have to learn to live within our means just like us as residents need to. We have to tighten our budgets when costs increase as much as they have been. So, the school district needs to learn to do the same thing and stop spending money that they don't have and just coming to us to get more money without letting us know. And those little public uh hearing notifications in that newspaper that you can only get at city council on Friday mornings that they're only open till 11:00. Most people can't get that. Trying to find anything online on those information does not help. We need to be notified. You know who all the homeowners are in the district. We need to learn to live within our means. But what I'd also like to know is what exactly is the air quality uh upgrades that you guys are doing to the schools? What are you doing? Yeah. If I could uh uh Did you have more that you're going to talk about? >> Oh, I will after I'm done. After I hear what the in improvements are going to be. >> Yeah. And uh [clears throat] you know, it's a pretty significant project and uh one of the goals is to get as many areas as possible into our quality standards. I'll give you some examples. Mr. Linquist could give a broader explanation. Uh but some of the work would be to replace decades old um mechanical units on the roofs uh that have not been replaced in in like I say in decades. That's one example. There are some indoor quality um repairs, you know, internally uh in the building itself. uh as well as some enhancements into areas that don't have, you know, the air quality that we really need to provide a um an appropriate educational atmosphere or uh setting. Uh so there's the indoor air quality, that's the bulk of the work. There are also some parking lot improvements. That's a relatively minor amount. And we we took some of the highest priority needs uh there. Um I don't know if Mr. >> Sorry. What kind of enhancements are you looking at? Yeah, Mr. Hinquist can give a broader explanation. >> We have two rooftop units at St. Francis Elementary. One dates, >> sorry, what kind of rooftop unit? >> Um, the particular ones are either heating or I don't know. >> So, our schools have air conditioning. >> Uh, some are >> Wow. I'm sorry, but I remember growing up we had windows that we open. >> Dehumidification. >> Windows kept open. Not all of our schools have windows. >> That seems kind of like fire hazard to me if our windows don't open. >> Yeah. If we could let Mr. Linquist provide, you know, his response if possible. >> Rooftop units dating back to the 60s and the 70s and high schools full of the units dating back to the 70s. >> Okay. So, mainly heating, some air conditioning. >> Is that what you're saying? That's what provides in quality. Yes. >> Okay. Um I guess to me I don't know who all here I mean I'm I don't know my age compared to some of these but I went to school in speestus bound uh schools. I'm alive. I lived without air conditioning in my school. I'm sorry but some of this has to not be a priority for us to do right now when we all need to tighten our budget. So many people are sitting at food lines trying to get food [snorts] and we're worrying about trying to upgrade a air quality in our schools when we can open windows. We can find ways to open windows. We can put off some of these things. We all need to learn to tighten our budget. Thank you. [applause] Next is Gary. By the way, uh, Mr. Burr, I apologize for getting a couple phone calls. U, my son is coming up to the area. I need to buzz them in at the apartment and so my apologies. I just need to communicate briefly with him. >> Hello. Um just like to um [snorts] clarify um I'm when you're saying levy on everything. I'm confused as to the voter approved levies. you know, that's what I've always thought, you know, and now it's you got the other levy or you're calling everything a levy and it just, you know, confuses me which is, you know, what am I paying additionally for other than this, you know, the base school budget and then you got the levies that we voted on. [clears throat] Now, um the way it's listed on the property tax form is to me in um not detailed enough when you say the voter approved levies and other levies. [clears throat] You know, if I gave you um a receipt that was, you know, you bought a whole house load of stuff and I would just say stuff. Boom. You know, you want a little more detail as to what exactly you're getting. Then there are a few other points that [clears throat] have a problem. the the um the slides and presentation was, you know, a lot of work went into it. [clears throat] And after the third or fourth page, everything just sort of, you know, turned into numbers, everything. And um the one I am fixated on is your uh there was 425,000 for medical or dental. You know my my uh social security um Medicica went up the um out of pocket expenses was 2,800 last this this year. Next year it's going up 4,300, you know, and like the previous um previous I have never had a I've never utilized any school district and yet you know I'm paying >> and it's getting to be unreently paying you know, and uh they say everything's going up big time, you know, but you get a 2% increase or you know, COA and you know, you're going up 25% according to my um paperwork, you know, but yet my house level uh only went up $6,000, you know, so I just, you know, I when when do you get the numbers for the county estimated uh property tax or estimated home values? You know, when is that decided and when do you get that? because I'm feeling your process is sort of backwards [clears throat] because you're already you know in June or July you're you're working on this and yet I don't believe you have the complete package of numbers needed. So, um, and I doubt you guys adjust anything just like, um, like they said earlier, you know, cuz, you know, it's a deal that I taxes when I don't have a finished basement. And the assessor said, "Good." You know, cuz they had me down with a finished basement. And, you know, you're always given the line. Well, that will reduce your property taxes. >> Never happens. You get called up later. Well, it didn't go up, you know, as high as it could have, you know, and uh this is getting out of line as far as myself as a senior, you know. So I just, you know, our our income is fixed and our [clears throat and cough] medical is not. So [clears throat] I'm not sure how you guys get your your medical and dental benefits compare with the uh men care and what people have to get, you know. So I >> [screaming] >> You want to respond to a couple of those questions? >> So, first of all, the school district does not set the property values, >> right? I know that. >> And so, when you get >> We don't control when those tax statements go out. >> No. No. But for you to figure out, you've got an overall property tax number based on the value of everyone's home >> and and that's part of your calculations for creating your budget. >> So if I can correct you just comment on that. So we set a dollar amount. Okay. Based on state statute, we set a dollar amount. We do not set a property tax on a certain percent of [clears throat] your home. >> No, I I know that. I know that that's not what I'm saying. is part of your calculations to come up with a budget. You know, includes [clears throat] percentage or whatever it is, the property tax value is [clears throat] tax, you know, that money or somehow that's figured in to the overall budget of the school. >> Sure. I want to know when this county does the school district know what that value accumulated value is pretty based in your formulas to get it into the your budget. So we c we the information I provided tonight that shows what the property taxes for the entire district is driven by the state of Minnesota by some expenses by outer approved levies. So it's not based on >> right but you don't going to your budget do you have that figure to do you know [clears throat] do you know how much the city or the county [snorts] >> it's like okay I'm making a budget >> yeah y >> for you know housing insurance Yes. >> And um whatever. And I don't know what my medical is while I'm putting up this budget. >> Sure. >> Now, does that [clears throat] medical aka property tax number come after you've already >> So, so this is for our school district starting next July, >> right? But when do you get the number? the next the July [clears throat] >> next July. That's that's what's going on right now tonight. This dollar amount is what will be the budget for taxes for the district's revenue in July 1 of 2026. >> Could I go ahead >> mention something? Um one thing by the way, thank you for coming tonight and everyone. Thank you. Um and I I think you made a good point about simplification and that's a similar point that Mr. Ry had said earlier. Uh it's a [clears throat] very complicated process. Uh one thing that's different uh with school districts compared to the cities and counties is that the city and county um talks about percentages when they're calculating their budgets. uh the schools don't because our our budgets are determined largely based on student enrollment and other factors. So we don't talk about a percentage of you know the overall property value in the school district. It's totally different than the cities and counties. And so I think that's where you know the three of us are discussing that it's just different in schools. Um also one other difference is that you know the school fiscal year uh starts on July 1st. you know, unlike, you know, January 1 starting date. Um, and so that kind of changes some of the calculations and timing and everything. So, like Miss Carring said, uh, you know, tonight we determine the levy and then we use that, uh, not only to set the school taxes starting January 1st, but also the next fiscal year for the school, which starts on July 1st. So, it's just different. >> Okay. And um I hate to go long, but another issue is all the levies that we voted on. Is there a balance and you know, how many years do we have left to pay? you know, I would like that information because they all, you know, we've had a number of them and it's just, you know, it's like an open checkbook for me that I'm giving you guys when I don't know what the balances and how that's going. If I could add one more thing and sorry for jumping back. You brought up the dental insurance fund and uh one really positive uh financial move that this district has really focused on is that cap [clears throat] is how much the school district pays for health insurance and you know other kinds of insurance with employees. some places, uh, some school districts, some cities and counties, you know, they pay a percentage [clears throat] and so if health insurance is going up 20%, then those places are paying, you know, about 20% more. We have a cap and so our employees pay that difference. So I think that's a really smart financial strategy that we've employed here for many years. I I can't take credit for it. you know, it came that way, you know, when it started. Um, then also the dental insurance fund is a self-funded uh dental insurance policy and and Mr. Nelson, could you just briefly describe what that means? >> Correct. So, school district, we do not go to a carrier to buy the insurance. We're selfinsured. We have an administrator, Delta Dental, that administers claims everything. So, that $25,000 just showing the the budget estimate of what the revenue would be coming in and the expenditures and fund balance. One more thing, sorry, but um [laughter] at the end of this fiscal year or um is there a you know do you did the budget come in lower and is that um do we know if if we are budget and if so does that carry over. >> So for the current year, we're in the process of updating our budget um based on information we get from the final audit which will be coming up today and then we revise the current year budget and then that helps set up for the following year. So if we follow that through revenue less expense, if we are exceeding in our expenses over revenue, we have to make some revisions to lower our expenses [clears throat] so we're not overspending in our Does that help? >> Maybe offline we can talk. >> I'm happy to meet with you if you don't. >> It's very complicated. School district finance is complicated. >> [clears throat] >> Well, I'm taking so much time. >> Thank you for [clears throat] [applause] >> Mr. Janice, if you could get your phone number to us, that way we can follow up with some of those questions. Uh, next is John Anderson. [clears throat and cough] everybody. Um, I really didn't intend to speak to that. I really came out to find out what the heck are other levies and a very concise presentation. I enjoyed it. Um, but everybody here has said that that is there can be nothing less transparent than other And as we're all kind of hearing that learning these things, we're also faced with you guys already discussed it. You've already had plenty of conversations about it without our knowledge. And yes, it was probably available to us if we dug in somewhere somehow. But I tried to crash course today and I got a lot of links into the U state legislaturator's updated uh laws and that is that there's not enough time to get through all that. So I have no doubt that this is being done legally, but there's no question to whether this is transparent or not because nobody understands this. >> No, not at all. >> And other means nothing and anything and everything. Personally, this increase this year is 33% on my house. Just just this other There seems to be consistency to the voter approved stuff, but this thing is as shown instead of my checkbook. >> What the hell? >> So, like I said, I'm I'm I'm more confused and frustrated at this process than anything else. I don't even question that it passes legal muster. But that doesn't that doesn't make it right for our community. It's legal but not transparent. This would not pass a voter referendum. It's the wrong time in Oak Grove. We just spent we just spent uh $15 million for a new fireh hall. And we can say, well, geez, that was too much or too little or we need it or we did. But that's not the point. I can drive by it and see what they're building. I can see how big it's going to be and I know everything about it. I don't know what other is and I don't know what air quality means because I know it means a heck of a lot of different things to a lot of different people because some people think that carbon dioxide is toxic although everything on the planet needs every living thing on the planet needs carbon dioxide and yet leave sought to live it. Okay. Is that safe? Any [snorts] I will yield any time that I have left. I thank you for hearing me and giving me this opportunity. Uh if I could just say one thing, please vote no to this or put $1. Approve $1, but that's it. [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. Anderson. And uh just to follow up on the the other again, we don't control the county document that gets sent out that lists the >> you benefit from like, oh yeah, we didn't do it. It's this again. Oh, we didn't do it. The state did. >> Yes, sir. I'm I'm just acknowledging that we don't put that word on that document. That's why we have the presentation tonight that breaks out all >> kinds of burden on the county and on the cities and [clears throat] but they're doing it directly to us too. But sometimes you got to push back. There has to be other things we can cut. There has to be some of this curriculum that does not teach the kids to read, write, do math. We're failing in these things and yet we're worried about some mold or dust. Let's buy a couple of damn air filters. [applause and cheering] >> And a reminder to all speakers to please watch your language. We do have children in the audience as well. So, thank you. >> Yeah, they're in the schools, too. >> Next is John. Is it Cal? All right. So, you guys have to deal with me for a little bit. I got a little bit of cold try to get this done. Um, I moved out here in 2021 and every year taxes have gone up. I understand taxes go up all the time, but I'm going to hit on everything that everybody else has said. Basically, the big thing that sticks in our fraud is the other levies part of this, as Mr. Anderson said, is going up 30 something%. Mine's going up 30 something%. My wife and I built our house in 2021. We moved out here because we like the area and everything about it. And it just seems like everything keeps getting crammed down our throat with no input or opinion from anybody who lives, works, or does anything. I know all you I know all you guys that live in the city are taxpayers do. Um, based on how everything has been brought to light in the last couple years, um, with how stuff has run in the state being what's come to light in the last few years, having an $18 billion surplus that's all of a sudden gone away, all this stuff, it seems like we are constantly being pounded into the sand and told to just stand up and keep going. At some point it's going to come to a head where people are going to stop doing the stuff that they need to whether it be, [clears throat] you know, shoveling roads, stuff like that. It it seems like everybody needs to stand up and you guys included and we need to start talking either higher up, but it has to start somewhere. and it h and the school board is the city is the lowest level of government that you can start at to try and start the ball move. So, I'm asking that if anything does happen tonight, whether it gets approved or not, it's fine. My wife and I work our ass off, pay the tax, that's fine. I know I come from a construction background. I do a lot of mechanical. I do a lot of HVAC stuff. I do know that there are other options to fixing air handling units other than complete replacement and air quality as well. Whether that be duct cleaning, filters, motors, whatever. I'm just asking that you guys take into consideration everything that we've brought to you guys and think [clears throat] possibly there is another way that we could re-evaluate and find a different solution to the problem other than immediate replacement because everybody here has a house, has a budget, everything else you have to live within your means. And the first thing that happens when you live within your means is you don't go to your neighbor and ask them for $500. You find something to cut from your budget or you save money. Whether that means from the general fund, we have to save money and spend it somewhere else somehow someway get approval to do that from whatever legislative body that has to happen. Or we just say we don't need to do this right now. We can wait or we can chip away at it in smaller chunks. So that's all I wanted to say. and reiterate. And I thank you guys for your time. [applause] >> Mr. [cough] [clears throat] So on six of eight speakers, we've been asked what other levies are, and I know the presentation included that. Is there any way we can just black and white show what the other levies are, please? >> Um on the slides. >> Do whatever you need. [clears throat] >> I do have another question. Just just here. Is there any way to make the other levies part become voter approved? >> That's the state of Minnesota, >> right? It starts it's it's got to start somewhere. And like I said, this is the lowest level of government we're asked to start. Is there anything that this the school board itself can do in order to try and get that ball moving or at least inform all of us on how to help get that ball moving? >> Yeah. >> I don't have an answer. You mean it's local legislators that are going to help? >> Yes. Okay. So, if you want to change the state statute for what school boards are authorized to levy, which is the other levies, which she's going to go through the list again that was on the slide before, that is all state legislators. Okay, >> we do not set state law or state statute. We can advocate on behalf with our state legislators as well, but that is your voice matters when you're speaking to your state legislator. >> The other piece that I would say is that city, counties, townships do not have any voter approved levies. Those are assigned. Okay. >> Right. >> Right. So that's sort of similar to the other levies in a school district. So followup question to the state legislature. I'm so sorry. Um is that changed right? >> Yeah. There was some opportunity >> because this was never couldn't do this in the past. Any levy had to be voted up. Correct. >> No. >> No. >> No. Please. >> No. >> So that there was a change in legislation that specifically addressed indoor air quality roofing and tax abatement. parking lot, >> correct? Which is parking lots in our case. Uh that is changed. But all the other ones that she's going to go over that list, that has been in place for as long as I've been alive, that has been in place uh that school districts can levy for those areas. >> So for this school district, the top three lines, those are your voter approved levies. So, it's the initial debt service levy, that's the bond issue that was approved, the debt excess, and the adjustments. Everything else I showed you today is part of the other levies. Okay? So, the bottom ones are part of the other levies. The community are full of [clears throat] are the other. These are other as well as these. Okay. So again, it goes back to those formulas and how the state determines what the school district levies. So um I looked at for instance the operating capital on the top line a portion of that is a school district levy that is calculated by a formula. The part other part of that is some state aid and the total amount is what comes here. So, as the state cuts state aid and changes it over to tax levy, we have no choice but to have it be part of the levy versus the state fully funding it. An example is LTFM used to be health and safety that used to be almost fully funded by the state of Minnesota. They pushed that over to be a tax levy. So, those are part of the other levies. In other school districts, if you had an operating referendum or a bond referenda that or a post capital project referendum, those are voter approved as well. This district doesn't have them. So, the majority of what you saw in other levies or in all these other categories other than that original funds and the reason they went up is because of the mostly because of that indoor air quality and the abatement funds. Can I just say something? I I know there's interested times some people haven't talked. So before I take other questions, I want the board to direct who's talking. So >> sorry, I just had one comment. >> I would just like to show one more if we could um in advance. Um if you could show that slide where St. Francis was on the left. I think that's tied into what you were just saying. >> This one right here. >> Yeah. And that shows that we do not have an operating levy >> or a capital >> or a capital levy. >> And I can't answer if all of those on the right do. I I think Chicago Lakes does now and probably there maybe North Branch. I know they've had a harder time doing that, but the ones on the right definitely would have both of those other two voter approved bodies. >> Are there other schools to the left of St. Francis? >> I I I couldn't tell you for sure. I couldn't tell you for sure. Can you share these slides with the people that are concerned so we can move on? >> Okay. Our next uh speaker is John Fitzpatrick. John >> Good evening. I hope you can hear me. Um it's the first time I've been here. Um so I'm going to start with the basic [clears throat] are the six people there. the board. You guys board seven of us. >> Oh, there's seven. Okay, fine. So, when you pass something, you have to have a majority, right? So, four out of the seven have to approve something, right? Okay, cool. Sorry. I just have to start with the basics. Okay. Um, I'm going to beat a dead horse. Okay. Voter approved levies. I appreciate what you've done. More information than my brain can take. But voter approved levies, most of that is bond, 90%, 10%, 30%. >> All of it. >> Oh, okay. So, bonds have to be approved by us. Correct. >> Okay. And the reason it goes up >> bonds, voter approved bonds, I got >> bonds that are not there are other bonds [cough and clears throat] that are not voter approved. >> Okay. >> That's what was passed this summer. >> Okay. So voter approved letters are all bonds approved by the voters. >> Correct. >> Okay. In my case, it went up 24.17%. Okay. Is that increase due to I I guess I'm naive and not again not real smart. Okay. I felt when you issued a bond, you issued it at a specific interest rate over a specific length of time and you pay [clears throat] interest every six months or every every year to the holder of the bond and then after the bond is comes due at 20 years, 30 years or 10 years, you then pay back the bond over. Okay? >> I mean that's con the concept of a bond, right? >> Okay. So if it went up 24.17%. Then we're paying more to the bond holders than we were last year. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. So when we approve the bond and again I have to admit that I'm not that smart about this stuff. Okay. I evilly thought that if I approved the bond levy it was a flat amount. Okay. It's not. Okay. Is that told to us when we vote on it? >> Um, yes. There's usually a debt schedule. There's a percent and a dollar amount and then when the levy comes when the actual bonds are sold, okay, to the bond holders, that's where the structuring of the >> And how is that publicized? >> It's part of the public meeting. When at a schoolboard meeting, >> is it online? Is it is it on a piece of paper that is published in a local local paper? >> Okay. So, everybody here would have access to that >> at the time of when they issued the bonds, but you have multiple bonds that are been issued here over the past and that's what you're paying [clears throat] for. >> All right. I understand that. And and those bonds have increment they increase over time. The percent decreases over time. If you have multiple bonds, sometimes the way the bonds are structured to make your debt payments level for the taxpayers, >> right, >> you might have this bond and [clears throat] then you have another voter approved bond, >> right? >> This bond might fall off or this one might fall off. You might refinance it, which can happen, but in future years, you might have some bigger bond payments that you structured it. But you're talking about bond A, B, C, and D. >> Okay, guys. I I just want to be clear. Bond A, B, C, and D individually. Individually, are they a flat rate or they individually can go up and down? >> The rate is can go up and down as well as the principal and interest payment. Yes. >> Okay. So, if you issue a bond, you could issue a bond and then you can pay 3% one year and 3.5% the next year, 2.75% the next year. Okay. And all that is made public. >> Yeah. >> Has anybody ever seen that information? >> No. >> I'm just ask where >> I'll Okay. All right. I didn't mean to. Sorry. That's fine. I just direct your questions to >> Okay. No, that's fine. All right. I just wanted to learn. Okay. All right. That's fine. Thank you very much. That helped out. Then I have last last items on your agenda. 8.1 is the approval of 225 payable 226 final tax levy certification. Okay, that means four out of the seven have to approve that, right? In order to approve is when you make that vote, are you approving the other levies? Is that what you're approving? You are or you are not. You are. >> Yes. >> Okay. It's Yes. >> Okay. Here's my question and I I really think as taxpayers we deserve an answer. Okay. If four of the seven of you vote not to approve it, if you do, what's plan B? >> Well, if I answer that, we have to approve a levy in the con in the constraints of state law. >> You have to approve it. >> No, I didn't say that. Okay. >> I said within the the state law. >> And my my question is So the backup plan is we would have to approve a levy before the deadline. >> What is the deadline? >> I I don't recall off hand. >> Okay. So So in case >> 29th >> Okay. So if tonight four of the seven of you do not approve this levy, the other levies, you would have to go back to the drawing board and come up with something on or before and approve before on or after on or before December 29th. to meet state law. >> Okay. Are you guys prepared to do that? >> Mayor, are you are the wheels in motion to say, "Okay, if this doesn't happen, here's plan B. This is how we're going to address it." Are those kind of wheels in motion? >> Yes, sir. We have procedures that allow us to meet that. >> Okay. All right. Okay. But I didn't know. All right. The father wanted to know. Appreciate time. Thank you. All >> [applause] [clears throat] >> right. Next is Keith Kirsten. Yes. First, I'd like to thank you for letting us all speak. That that is what makes our country so good and great. Um, I uh I am I'm pretty much with a lot of what has been said tonight and I've always been very much for smaller government, lower taxes and all these types of things. [clears throat] Um, in fact, uh, I don't really consider this my community. I've been here for 15 years, but I live on the very edge and and Cambridge II is my community. Uh but we paid uh taxes in St. Francis because we're right on the border. And uh when I got my tax statement, um it showed 38.5% increase just for the school district. Over $1,000 a year. My next door neighbor is my daughter and son-in-law and theirs went up 48%. Again, over $1,000 a year increase. neighbor on the other side went up 29% $680. So, it's I mean it's it's incredibly um incredible increases and that is a real hardship. I've just spent the last four months really fighting hard against the Cambridge ITI school referendum and we we we beat that and it was the right thing to do. Um, I'm on the uh Iani County Economic Development Authority. I serve on that and so I work with a lot of small businesses and that referendum was going to really hurt them. My wife and I are also provide free biblical counseling uh to to people in Sani and around this community some even in St. Francis and we know that they're these people are really hurting. And it used to be when property tax or property values went up so fast, what they could do is they could reortgage and take some money out to to to to take care of some of the problems that they had. Can't do that today because most of them are sitting on three and a half to 4% interest rates and they have 7%. They wouldn't even qualify. So this hardship of increasing taxes like this are really significant. As I was fighting that CI referendums um and leading that fight really uh I got a thing in the mail to to join the community-based committee for St. Francis schools and I thought I'd be very hypocritical if I didn't uh look into that and serve on that too. And so I went and and uh applied for that and and to serve on that so that I could really understand from the you know from the very beginning anything that was going to increase and I've learned so much but unfortunately the first day that I went there there were only 19 people and about a third of them were from from uh you know employees at the school district and so everybody that complains all the time they weren't there. And in this last two months of eight meetings, two to three hour meetings, uh I've learned so much and I applaud what you guys have done. First of all, it took a lot of lot of fortitude to do a nonvoted tax levy. And the reason I found out that the state has that is because this district has almost $400 million worth of assets. And the state has that provision, if you don't know this, just so that those assets don't deteriorate and fall apart. I know you guys know that. And if you didn't do that, then if you had to rely on the voters getting educated to do that, it would be very very um difficult and it could really uh um destroy the assets that the community has. So that's very important and I think that that's something that's left out. Now this gentleman over here, Mr. Anderson uh he he mentioned earlier that most of it is of the increase or a great deal of it is because of this $36 million of bonding that was approved. Is that correct? Well, the important part of that is your district did it right. They didn't extend this out 25 years to saddle future uh people in this district with things that are needed today. There's a lot of been talk about air quality. It's not the air quality. It's the equipment that is expired that provides just the general air quality. Is that right? And so so if you don't do that now, the cost that you're going to run in your general maintenance and everything is going to is going to continue to rise so fast that that we will spend a lot more money and our taxes will go up even higher. The the the other part of it is is that I think you guys have been very after I've gotten involved and really gone. I've been in tours of six of the seven buildings. Um, seven of eight build, excuse me, because I went to the bus depot, too. And that's a that's terrible. It's just it was so we saw video that was so bad that the next morning I called the woman that runs it and said, "Can I just walk through it for five minutes? It can't be as bad as the video said and it was worse." So, I think the district has done really well in in utilizing the resources that the community gives here. But more importantly, as I've gone through these schools, and I've been in a lot of schools, our kids never they we've never used a dime on the school district here. Uh we have one grandson who is homeschooled so we don't we don't use any of the services but uh I've never seen buildings as clean and wellmaintained as the as the six of the seven buildings that I've been in in during the tours and and so I just I I know that it's really hard to to raise taxes. I hate to see it. It's very I'd rather use that money for other things. Uh but it is it is important that you do uh maintain the buildings that you have and I think that that's a great deal of what you're doing and I think that I just wanted to thank you for u taking the steps necessary to do that. [applause] >> Uh that is it for the list of anyone that signed up. Is there anyone else that wanted to speak on [clears throat] >> Brian Fur community member of three kids in the school district also have been heavily involved in the school district up until this well rather recently came to slow things down and want to just start by I guess apologizing um I'm sorry you made a great financial decision last year and the taxes lowered and they went and nobody came to fill the room then and say thank you. Uh I do believe I sat back in that corner and said thank you for being fiscally responsible the entire time and now you've actually doubled down on your fiscal responsibility because anything we know in order to fix the things that are on this list that need to be fixed will be two times the cost they are by the time we get around to fixing them and trying to get them passed at the local level. You also have staff, especially support staff, that are some of the lowest paid in the region. You cannot give up a dollar that you have in order to run this school district. Even $1 down makes you so incompetitive regionally that you will continue to have difficulty filling job positions and keeping your school safe. And as someone with three kids in the school district, if you allow my school to have asbestous in locations that would put my kids at risk of cancer or you harm the air quality and make them sweat so much that we would lose a child, people will not show up and say, "Sorry I said that." But you know what they will do? They'll come after you and come after the school district that family will. and we will have community tragedy on our hands. We can't risk that. Not today's day and age. We have heard some very creative ideas. I wish we could exchange more on the things. And I I hope our folks engage on what other levies looks like and what it should look like, but we cannot be putting children at risk. These things are overdue. I've seen the gymnasiums that would be impacted. We held uh three years ago I my daughter was lucky enough to win uh St. Francis um she was one of the princesses and we held it in the St. Francis uh gymnasium and I watched my father and my greatgrandfather sweat so bad in that gymnasium that they had to get up and leave because that section couldn't be taken care of. Those things cannot be allowed to happen when these cities rely on St. Francis area schools exclusively to host nearly every internal event because we have no community spaces left. We have a duty to this community to take care of these areas. Um, I am sorry that the cities have spent unheard of amounts of dollars at unbelievable times and we are in a tough situation. We're we're having problems, too. But for you, the time is to continue to run the max levy because you have no other choice. some of those graphs that they showed earlier. Just remember, you are one of 25, one of the lowest 25% of school districts funded in the state of Minnesota. You are one of under a third that have zero extra dollars for learning. I have not seen a dollar wasted on curriculum here. I have seen some poor choices and sometimes don't agree, but this scenario, and I've said it for 15 years, we've tightened the pocketbooks. You've done the best you can, but this is not the moment to play games with your budget as you continue to do what you need to do to provide for children. And that speaks to putting children at risk, with the air quality, and staff at risk. Um, I I am so proud of how bold you were over the summer to make a tough decision, and it sucks that this is the way you're going to have to hear from the community around it. So, thank you for your time. ANYONE [applause] else has not spoke? >> Okay, final question. >> Yeah. >> Um talking air quality. Um the way I am envisioning it is there's um you get so many parts per million of not unacceptable stuff floating through the air. Do we have a baseline of what the quality is now and what we hope to achieve with the money? Also, is there a way that you can just um cut it in half? So we'll pay half this year that gets you to the priority fixes and then next year you get the other half and do the rest of the job. That's >> yeah and uh there are some restrictions as far as what the state allows in terms of IQ or indoor quality bonds. And so my understanding is that we need to go building by building and then you know do the upgrades uh for that building in one project. Now that's my understanding. I know there are differing opinions at the state level but that's what we're assuming. So, you know, we're monitoring that and we do have certain set standards uh that we need to meet and so, you know, we'll meet those um as our um engineers are calculating. Yeah, there's no doubt. But it it's really a complicated process because you look at capacity each building in [clears throat] each room, what type of space, our engineers could certainly answer that kind of question. Um, and I I know the board has considered, you know, kind of overall projects and why we're doing them and that those are all available on our website. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you to all those that spoke for the public hearing uh with the truth and taxation. We do appreciate the engagement. We welcome the engagement uh outside of just December. Uh we welcome it throughout the year as well. And like Mr. Anderson said, uh, all of this information is public data. It's all on our website. Uh, if you have trouble finding it, uh, shoot an email to any one of us and we can help direct you as to what meeting that was at, where to find that those documents. Uh the district website has a facility planning site uh that is very detailed goes through a lot of things has videos of presentations that uh break down exactly uh what we are doing with the indair air quality uh down to each facility. Uh we would be here [clears throat] for many hours if we went through everything that is being worked on but all that information is provided in in there as we go forward. Our next agenda item is consideration of visitors. Um, we have eight speakers tonight. We will limit you to three minutes per speaker. Uh, ask that once your time is reached to please uh, make your final statements quickly and be respectful of everyone's time. Our first speaker for tonight is Travis. Is it >> Gosser? My comments are a little bit longer than 3 minutes, but I'll try to keep it brief. My name is Travis Gosser. representative of the school bus mechanics for local 49 international operating engineers. Uh good evening members of the board, superintendent Anderson. Uh community stakeholders, thanks for the opportunity to speak. Uh this evening we're at a breaking point this evening, one that threatens student safety, operational stability, and the long-term integrity of the district. Our uni mechanics are not being compensated anywhere near the market for their skill and responsibilities. And this isn't conjecture. It's reality. and choosing to continue to ignore this fact is not an option. In fact, it could be irresponsible to do so. Uh every day, thousands of families in the district trust [screaming] uh them to provide transportation, getting their child safely to school, every behind every bus that starts at 20 below, every engine that outlives its expected lifespan, every roadside emergency that doesn't happen, stand a highly stand a small group of highly skilled mechanics. Um, despite >> they're the last line of defense between a safe fleet and a dangerous, expensive prices. The labor pool shrinking. The applicants to fill these jobs are shrinking. These guys right now under contract for heavy diesel automotive technician make less than $30 an hour. Every one of us knows that when they go to a repair shop, those bills are much higher. They're 50, 60, $70 an hour. The district knows this, too, because in times of vacancy, they've hired mechanics off of our bench rate. Our autowork mechanics rate, that total package is over $75 an hour. Had no problems doing that in times of crisis. That position stayed open for a year and a half. But we cannot continue to refuse to pay competitive wages to existing staff that would aid in preventing that crisis or being okay doing it in times of crisis. Uh here's a snapshot of what your mechanics have accomplished in the last three years. They've returned over $375,000 to the general fund out of their mechanics budget. That's real money that went back into the budget. They've done this through questioning invoices, choosing better parts at lower costs. They take on bigger and more complex projects. If you go over to the school district, they they're doing motor replacements, transmission replacements, maintenance, heavy line repairs, not just windshield wiper fluid, not just putting, you know, lug nuts on. This is real skilled work. The initial contract asked that we asked for over a two-year total package period was $3.56 an hour. That's roughly $1.75 a year. It was a modest, reasonable marketbased adjustment. Let's also be honest about the district's financial capabilities. District policy states based on the uh financial statements that are on your website that you have to have a minimum of 12% of the operating expenses in reserves. The total government activities that were last reported were around 66.5 million. The total expenditures on your statement of revenues and expenses are around 60.7 billion. that $12.5 million is up from $7 million in your unassigned fund balance from 2022. Those numbers state that you should have about $7.9 million left in your unassigned fund balance to maintain your minimum 12%. Currently, you've got 18.5%. That's $5.5 million increase in three years. Our mechanics aren't asking for anything unrealistic or unsustainable. They're asking for a fair market adjustment that reflects the values that value that they've already provided the district. They've proven what skilled hands and good judgment can save this district hundreds of thousands of dollars. Tonight, I urge this board [snorts] to choose safety, choose stability, and choose responsibility. Let their success be a reminder to you all that when you invest in your people who keep your district running, the returns are substantial. And when you don't, the costs are greater. Provide the proper authorization to an align agreement with the mechanics wages respectively for their skilled and diesel automotive technical skills. Invest in the professionals who protect your students. I appreciate the time this evening. Thank you for what you do. Have a great evening. Thank you. [applause] [cough] >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Brian Brian D. Ryan, I can wait. >> Okay. [clears throat] Sorry, I wanted to talk about par professionals and what we do. And uh this is my son Preston. He's a fourth grader at uh Cedar Creek along with uh two of my other kids back there. And then my daughter goes to uh the middle school. Um but uh [cough and clears throat] thanks for uh hearing us and uh letting us speak. Um my name's Ryan. Um I come to you today because I wear two hats. um one is a proud paraprofessional in the district and the other is parents of a child with significant medical needs who also attends our schools. Um as a paraprofessional I see how essential our role is in helping students succeed. We are steady hands, extra eyes, consistent support that allow classrooms to run smoothly. We help students regulate emotions, access curriculum, communicate, stay safe, and build independence. We often are the bridge between the students potential and their ability to reach it. But I also speak to you as a parent who trusts this district, my own child, a child who requires medical attention, specialized support, and understanding. For families like mine, school is not just a place for learning. It is a place for where we can be safe. They can be safe, healthy, and have dignity that must be protected. When my child is supported by a skilled par profofessional, I can breathe a lot easier knowing that someone is there who sees them, understands their needs, and helps participate meaningly in their school day. Um, it's very rewarding to see their self-ride daily. Um, [snorts] before this, I did a various jobs. I managed a fleet farm, a Lowe's, nothing like this. I took this job because I'm a single parent. I needed something that matched their school. Um, massive pay cut doing this. Um, we are massively underpaid, underpaid, and quite honestly, I think we probably all agree we're unappreciated. Um, kind of goes hand in hand. Um, uh, we're not just assistants, we are educators, caregivers, advocates. We provide one-on-one attention to many of these students who simply cannot be without. Um, and on top of that, these students are comfortable with us. They come in and it's a comfort factor. If they came in to strangers or temps, they're not going to know what to do at all. Even as simple things as just getting off the bus, we meet them at the bus, help them get in, help them get their day started. The hugs we receive is the most rewarding thing. I can't even begin to explain to you. It's so rewarding. Um but uh we help the teachers do their best work by ensuring that no student is left behind. Um and for students with medical [music] needs, par profofessional support is often the key factor that allows them to attend school at all. I mean yet in many districts including ours paraprofessionals are often work for modest pay, limited hours, minimal recognition despite caring for tremendous responsibility. When paraprofessional positions go unfulfilled and turnover is high, students feel that impact immediately. Teachers feel it, families feel it, and the entire learning environment is affected. Investing in pair of professionals is not an expense. It's a safeguard for student success, equity, and safety. It is [snorts] an investment in stability, inclusion, and well-being of every child who relies on us. Whether it's academic support, behavioral guidance, and medical care. I don't I'm asking the board tonight to recognize the value of us pair professionals that we bring to the district and ensure that we have the resources compensation and support needed to continue doing this critical work. We pair professionals supported students are supported. When we thrive the whole school thrives and I'd ask the district to look at making us the president, not just keeping up with the other districts. just get ahead [clears throat] which uh show the appreciation I feel we deserve and I'm I'm one of the newer ones so I'm seeing this is I'm seeing this I don't know there's new eyes fresh eyes on it so just uh thank you for your consideration [applause] Thank you, Ryan. Our next speaker is Jessica Diamond. >> My name is Jessica Diamond and I'm an SDC TA at Cedar Creek Elementary School. I have worked at Cedar Creek for three years and prior to Cedar Creek, I worked in the business world and managed adults. I came to school because I wanted to make a difference, try something different, and have some meaning to my career. Over the last three years, I've worked in every elementary grade level as well as in ASD, centerbased, and SDC programs. I've supported so many different students, and I truly love each one of them. I love my job, but like every job, it comes with challenges, and ours are becoming harder to ignore. One of the biggest issues we face is that students are being left behind. IEPs are not consistently followed and students needs are not being met at their grade level. Educational assistants are often pulled to focus on behavioral needs which leaves students with learning needs without the support they deserve. As a result, they move on to the next grade unprepared, not because of who they are, but because the system failed to support them. We are short staffed and burnt out. We struggle to hire new people because the wages are too low. And we struggle to keep good people for the same mistake. [cough] [clears throat] This constant turnover creates instability that affects everyone, students and educators alike. It is heartbreaking heartbreaking to give everything you have to this work and still watch kids struggle because the system is stretched beyond its limits. instead of looking for temporary staff to fill the gaps which I still haven't seen a temp in our school yet or pulling from Peter to pay Paul. We should invest in the employees who already have. We need to ensure the people doing the work can earn a living wage and find hope and and sustainability in their career. Every a every EA is dedicated to giving our students the best quality education. But that goal is only achievable when we invest in the people who make it happen. I invite and challenge you guys to come into our schools and see what we do on a daily basis. The behaviors that we have to handle being hurt on the job. The struggle is real and it's not getting not getting better. And listening to these people over here and I don't have kids in the district. I live here. I own a home and I get the increase and it sucks. But everything else is going up and we need to support our schools and our children. Thank you for your time. [applause] Thank you, Jessica. Next speaker is [snorts] Sophia Woodbury. [snorts] Okay. Yes. I'm Sophia Woodbury. Um, I'm a newer EA and I started the position just because I have a higher needs kiddo and I felt like not only did I have something to contribute to um, the position, but I felt like I could also learn more um, that I could contribute to my own household with my daughter. Um, I want to say that I love my job and I care deeply about the students I work with. This work is meaningful and I think I can speak for a lot of us when I say that um, we show up every day because we want these students to succeed. However, as much as I love the job and what I do, the current pay is not sustainable. I personally support a household of three. And even working full-time, the wages aren't enough to cover basic living costs, let alone the demands of the job. Special education isn't just academic support. We manage intense behaviors, physical aggression, and unpredictable situations while maintaining the calm, safety, and the dignity of our students. Just last week, we had staff injured while attempting to deescalate a situation. One had a contact lens knocked out of her eye by being punched. Another had her hair pulled. And there were a few others who had socks soaked in pee tossed at them. We're trained. We respond with compassion. And we do it because the the students deserve a fair, safe, and supportive education. A colleague said, a colleague of mine said something that really stuck with me. The only thing standing between a student and another child, including possibly one of your own, um, for being hurt is an EA. We are the front line of safety, support, and stability. The value we provide should be reflected in the pay that allows us to stay in this profession. I'm asking you to invest in the people who make inclusive education possible. We love what we do, but love alone doesn't pay the bills or retains skilled staff. Please consider raising EA wages to reflect the reality of this work. [applause] Thank you, Sophia. Our next speaker is Cassandra. [clears throat] [snorts] >> All right. Um, I would like to start by saying that I have been working in this district for about eight years. During that time, I have had the role of an educational assistant, a behavior intervention assistant, and a coach. In every one of those roles, it has always been more than just a job for me. I genuinely care about the students I work with in all those settings, sometimes senior in all three of them. [clears throat] My reasoning is simple. I will advocate for my students on every level, in the classroom, facing disciplinary consequences, or on the court. That being said, I want you to know that as an educational assistant, myself and my colleagues will go above and beyond over and over for any student, but especially those who are most vulnerable. When a student in the district who is visually impaired was told that their vision was going to continue to diminish, the district decided to introduce Braille into the schools, something that we didn't have yet into the curriculum that wasn't wasn't available yet. They just started that. And guess what? They didn't ask licensed staff to learn Braille. No, they asked EAS. And I will tell you why. They said, and I quote, "You know this student better than anyone." So, myself and two others spent our summer studying Braille, reading and writing it so we could support one student. Now, imagine what we do every single day for all of the students that we work with. We even train to become CPI certified to help deescalate high behaviors. When others step out, EA step in knowing that we may be punched, spit on, or called some of the worst things that you can even imagine. But we will do it again and again and again because EAS matter and St. Francis EA matter. We deserve to be freely compensated for the work that we do and we deserve a little wage. THANK YOU. >> [applause] >> THANK YOU, CASSANDRA. Next is Alyssa. [cough] [snorts] Sorry. [clears throat] Uh, my name is Lissa at East Bethl Elementary. Um, so currently according to the posted job descriptions, EAS in the St. Francis School District are required to obtain a highly qualified status, obtain PCA certification, and become CPI certified. They also, and I quote, provide necessary support that enables students to succeed and grow both academically and in their independence. They are expected to be advocates and positive role models for the students and staff they work with and in the school. All for around $18 an hour. Now, if you check the same position in the Andover School District, they are required to assist teachers with clerical tasks such as correcting tests, recording the results, xeroxing, and maintenance of student records. They have a starting wage of 2784. Let's hop over to Elbert real quick. Starting wage for an educational assistant [clears throat] is 21108 with an added benefit of an extra dollar an hour once you are CPI certified. Member CPI certification, we have that too, but it is just required with no further compensation, but which by the way means we are trained in nonviolent crisis intervention. stepping in to help deescalate high behaviors, oftentimes being kicked, punched, spat on, and called some of the most horrible things you could think of. EAS in the St. Francis District deal with these behaviors daily um most of the day, while all trying to support students in classrooms, small groups, and one-on-one work tasks. But that work is definitely worth way less than other jobs. I guess we should all go make some copies for $10 more per hour in a different district. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you, Alyssa. Our next speaker is Sherry. Sorry. Hello. I work as a me fake elementary. Um, I would like to share a concern regarding my grandson who has an IEP. There have been many times he's been left without support. He realized not because his EA was pulled to assist another high need student. During these moments, he has had to manage on his own in his classroom despite the supports outlined in his plan. And this has been understandably difficult for him. I want to acknowledge that the EA's work incredibly hard. However, when one EA is responsible for multiple students with significant needs, it becomes unreasonable and unfair, not only for the AS, but especially for the students who depend on consistent support. At the same time, I want to express how much I truly love McG. students, my wonderful co-workers, family, and the tire staff creates such a caring, supporting environment. Every day I see the dedication, compassion, and commitment these people bring to our students well-being and success. My grandson has been especially blessed to have such loving and supportive days in his life. Their patience, [clears throat] kindness, and dedication have made a meaningful difference for him. I am deeply grateful for the positive impact they've had on his growth and confidence. I truly appreciate these people that work with him and they are amazing people. But thank you. Sorry. [applause] Thank you, Sherry. Our last speaker is Angela. Good evening. Thank you everyone for being so patient and listening to all of our feedback and comments to you. I'm reading remarks prepared by my colleague Amy Spindler. She can with us tonight. [snorts] The drive to become an EA is primarily driven by a deep personal commitment to advocacy and service and a desire to the profound fulfillment that comes from helping children with the challenges achieved the success. Why do we choose to be special education EAS? Well, this falls into a few main categories. First, direct impact and fulfillment. We are present for the light bulb moments, the small incremental victories. For example, a non-verbal student communicating a need for the first time, a child mastering a self-care skill, or a student over overcoming major behavioral hurdles. These moments are intensely rewarding. We build deep trusting bonds, often working one-on-one with students for extended periods of time, even with some students multiple years. We forge strong trusting relationships. We become the dis the consistent anchor for their students in their educational journey. The second category of why people like us want to become our special educational assistants is personal connection and empathy. Most of us are drawn to this role due to our personal experiences, the empathy and understanding. Whether it's because we have a family member with a disability or it may be because we have experienced our own past educational challenges with learning or behavior, we connect and truly empathize our students frustrations and struggles. Some of us are drawn to nurturing roles and feel compelled, called to care, and serve those needing extra support. We have a passion to problem solve for our students as they present unique puzzles requiring creative and flexible strategies. We are continually adapting our approach and finding ways to break down information. The final category of why we would choose this job is lifestyle and career goals. There is that many of us are parents ourselves. Although that's not a traditional job. The schedule works for our families. It builds in the holidays and breaks that align with our children's schedules. It gives us a work life balance out outside of a 9 to5 office job. Or for others, this may be the stepping stone, the valuable entry point into a lifetime career in education. The hands-on experience prepared for those of us who may be pursuing advanced degrees in special education or other related fields. Providers like speech, OT, therapy, social work, etc. Maybe even admin, maybe even your job, school board. This is just a brief summarization that covers why many of us standing and attending here tonight have chosen to serve our school district, ISTD15, and our community, St. Francis, Oak Grove, Lynwood, East Bethl, I'm forgetting some SAR. Why we have chosen to serve our community as educational assistants. We would continue love to continue serving our communities in the future. But in order to do so, we need a livable wage and that's all we ask for in return is a livable wage so that we can continue to serve you, to serve our community, to serve our students, and to keep providing all these wonderful things that our colleagues talked about today. >> [music] [applause] >> Thank you, Angela, and thank you to all of you that spoke tonight during consideration visitor. We do appreciate you. We do appreciate your engagement with us. All right, our next agenda item is consent agenda. Uh there are nine items on tonight's consent agenda. Are there any questions or requests to remove an item from the consent agenda prior to a motion being made? If >> I could just comment that there were two extended trip requests that we received in the district office uh actually this afternoon after the end of the workday. I did add them because they are coming up one over Christmas I think one right after Christmas. Uh normally our expectation is that there's a 45day notice um so that we can process things and post it uh on the schoolboard website. That did not happen here, but I did talk to high school admin and they will circle back with some people to make sure that happens in the future. >> Thank you. Any other questions or comments before is there a call a motion to approve this consent agenda? >> Is there a second? >> Second. Mr. Shoff, any discussion on that motion? Seeing no discussion, uh, this will be a roll call vote. Uh, so if you are in favor, say I. If you're not, say. >> Miss Anderson. >> Hi. >> Mr. Sha, >> I. >> Mr. Humphre. >> Hi. >> Miss Pocken. >> Hi. >> Miss. >> Hi. >> Mr. Working. >> Also, I as well. Motion prevails. Thank you. All right. Before we move on to the next one, I'm going to see if there is a motion um to amend the agenda. I move [clears throat] uh swap 7.2 and 7-1 so student council can go early and then that way you can get moving because we know you have math homework. [laughter] We're getting that update here shortly. So, our first uh information and report will be student council. We have the freshman with us tonight. By the way, usually board meetings are not this long [laughter] or boring. Thank you for coming. >> Uh, good evening. School board chair, cabinet, superintendent, and community members both here and online. The SFHS student council is once again honored to have been invited to speak to the school board meeting to talk about what we currently have going on at SFHS. I'm Angelie Mulleno. I am a rotating member of the SFHS student uh student council school board uh representative committee. Um some events that we have going coming up are community night. It's again once again happening this Friday, December 12th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. Francis High School. There will be a free activities offered to community members such as meeting Santa, games, crafts, and decorating cookies. Also, the SFHS jazz bands will be playing there and will and the girls basketball team will be playing, but community members need to pay to attend. Our SFHS student council alpha on the shelf, Franny's bag for the season. Each day, Franny uses her magic to move around the high school and we offer prizes for both the first Alfie selfie sent to our Instagram as well for the prize of the best picture of the day. Winter break dress up days. Monday, wear red and green holiday. Tuesday, holiday character/movie dress up day. Wednesday, ugly holiday sweater day. Thursday, crazy Christmas attire and PJ day. Otherwise, we are winding down as we approach the winter break and can't wait for all these things to come in 2026. Thank you for listening. [laughter] >> Thank you for being here. Thank you for doing that. And we did not follow Robert's rules. We just thought that we didn't do a vote. We got a motion to the vote. Great. Our next uh item is the financial audit presentation and Aaron Houston and our rep from our time Carlson will present and update the FY2025 audit findings and then answer any questions. >> While Erin walks up, I want to announce that this is De's last school board meeting representing CISO and the school district business office. So, I want to thank her for her classy work and just your presentation, your transparency, just everything about you. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Well, um, chair and, um, board members and superintendent Anderson. Tonight, we have the audit report for fiscal year ending June 30th, 2025. Um, I just want to draw attention to, well, first of all, um, this is an amazing document. talk about transparency. There is a lot of information and a lot of information last year as well. But as you know, this is the first second year of an act for for the school district. As well as if somebody wants a quick and easy read, the management report is super simple, as simple as school districts get. And so that was put together, too. So, um, I also want to thank a couple of people. Um, Adam Lloyd, if you haven't met him before. Adam, um, is my colleague at CISO, but he has been here working through getting all of the reports prepared along with Pam Jensen, who you've met or heard of before. She did some of the work as well. So, I'm going to turn this over to Aaron because our meeting's been long enough and Erin is just coming forward and Erin is from LB Carlson. Um, the former lady that MMKR now Carlson We're pleased to have him here and he said, "We're going to make sure you get in on November." >> Well, thank you very much. As mentioned, my name is Aaron Olsen and as you can tell, our covers have changed. We've merged with another firm. So, believing [clears throat] we're enhancing our audit process, but giving the benefit of both those enhancements, and we add some continuity to the clients that we serve. Um, we're pleased to report this re documents you received this evening. The annual comprehensive financial report. I hope I'm not taking anything away for a later piece, but you did receive the award from ASPO International for your document submitted last year. Um, we believe this document should also achieve that award and should be submitted for that for your district. Uh, we have our special purpose reports that are the required reports under government auditing standards. And also, as mentioned, our management report really used to summarize. So, the PowerPoint presentation I'll try to click through pretty quickly is simply just to help me stay on track for the meeting, keep us all on the same page, but I'm happy to go back to any of the comments and any of the reports if you uh feel overwhelmed for any reason. We'll start with our role as independent auditors. Good point here. Okay. Our role as independent auditors to provide that opinion on your financial statements, those numbers provided by our staff and teams within the district. Uh also to issue our report on internal controls and compliance. And we'll get right to it for the audit results this year. Uh as you may have noticed in that audit opinion is really the our part done that largest of documents. uh we've issued what is known as a known modified or clean opinion. So that fairly states the results of your financial position as of June 30th 2025 and for the year then ended. So um I really probably should have started saying I'm taking you back in time a little bit. So I know you're looking out at even next year's budget and talking about where you're living today in the 26 budget. Um but looking back um we're pleased to report we issue a nonmodified or clean opinion. We had a couple of emphasis of the matter paragraphs. I'll skip over the first one because it's on the next slide as well. Um, but we did implement a new Gatsby standard this year that you probably saw had an impact on the uh bottom line of those entitywide financial statements. We had reported two comments with regard to the internal controls over compliance with the financial audit. Um, I really attribute it to turnover this past year that that has happened in recent years for the district, the segregation of duties. And then we had an adjustment that we had to make for the prior year that really did not impact your fund based statements or what I will say your operating funds where you're working through the budget process, but just that dual perspective entity wide financial statements is where that came through. uh you can see that and then we have just the one legal compliance finding to report to you. There's seven broad categories of legal compliance for school districts. And we had one uh comment in regards to claims and dispersements. There's a typically a 35day payment of when you've received the services or when you receive that invoice payment for it. And we had two that fell outside of that normal range of the 40 tested specifically for that. So, not really an uncommon finding. I'd probably say it's the most common finding we'll run to into a districts when we're presenting. Sometimes there's delays in the approval process or it gets stuck over the summer at a at a district site where they're not staffed all year round. So, um there are occasions that that will happen and we just look for making sure it's not a routine issue happening at the same place every year and we'll follow up with those comments next year. The slide I have before you is showing your enrollment for the past 10 years. Um you've historically been encountering declining enrollment which really adds to the financial challenges because it's appeared a lot of your funding is based on per pupil student funding. Um one of the easier things this year in your student enrollment was almost basically flat. So we can just talk about seeing some of the improvements with enhanced funding for general education and special ed. Actually seeing an increase in those resources not offset by your loss of student s. The slide I have before you here is simply our financial position and the district's financial position for the past 10 years using just a couple of points of interest to to gauge that the cash and investments that unrestricted fund balance and then expenditures as a size of the operation to share with you how that's changed. And I know I'm really probably sharing a lot of things the board gets to hear a lot. Um but I do want to share it for the public and make sure um we're presenting that completely. uh as you can see your financial position has improved greatly from where it once was and you were getting a different message from me at that time how lean things are the need to have a adequate fund balance level. So uh you can see you really have leveled off at maintaining that unrestricted fund balance uh in recent years uh almost have changed when you look at the size of the scale of the operation notice it on the graph actually um you can see the improved timing of cash balances at year end um but [clears throat] that's important as the size of the organization has grown based on expenditures um those levels would need to increase as well but maintain that same level of finan financial um percentages switch. With my next slide, you can see there's been a change in that. Um even with your overall fund balance increasing this past year, those percentages that we share with you as measurements of your financial uh position, unrestricted fund balance for instance, actually decreased slightly. The unassigned fund balance decreased slightly. And part of that is due to the shifts in the components where you saw an increase in restricted fund balance. So you have to spend that in the particular manner that you receive those resources for from outside source. Um and then the shifts between assigned and unassigned. But um there'll be comments on how you're unassigned or unrestricted because you can assign for particular projects and the district has employed that over the years knowing there's important components that you need to be planning for. Um, but even with those shifts between the two, your unrestricted fund balance, a slight decrease, your unassigned has also gone down. And part of that is because you adopted a budget for the year you're living in or your deficit spending or anticipated to see a deficit in spending. I've got a slide for your general fund revenue similar to what I have presented in the past for the district, the key sources of revenue. So um I know there's a lot of discussion on property taxes. You can see that um component alongside state sources, federal sources and then other local sources uh budget to actual the prior year. You can see the significant change was in the state sources um that increase over the prior year with those funding improvements in uh uh with general education and state special education. um providing a big portion of that. Uh the one comment I do like to make with that um with regard to the general fund revenues, as you can see, the concentration of where those resources to educate your students is coming from and not reliance on the state of Minnesota to provide that [clears throat] funding. this past year uh similar to what was presented in the first presentation this evening. Um this is a look back to the FY 2425 school year with state sources making up 78.6% property taxes at 11.2% federal sources at 3.4 and then other local sources which is fees dues and investments [clears throat] uh only making 6.8%. So, um, your revenues this past year were about $65.1 million for the general fund coming in better than anticipated in the budget coming in over prior year, which was anticipated and expected that there would be that increase with those funding improvements. [laughter] Um, the one comment I missed missed on the previous slide I did want to just share is with that 16% you're continuing to meet the district's fund balance policy. So I think that's important to be sharing your policy. You have a unassigned goal of 12%. Um that will change as your approved budgets and I realize you're looking down the line quite a ways at this point. Um moving past the revenues and the expenditures. You can see my tilt as I'm still getting used in the up window of the glasses. But um general fund expenditures this past year amounted to $63.6 $6 million. They came in more than budget. You can see that investment in spending went to the employees of the district to educate your students and salaries and benefits making up 79.7% almost 80% of the general fund spending this past year. You can see after salaries and benefits uh where the dollars are spent really falls off and purchase services capital. So, um, trying to avoid the pun, but it, you know, obviously the budget and, uh, um, everything gets very personal when you're talking about the general fund and and how you working through the challenges of balancing the budget from year to year. Um, when you look at the comparisons to budget, you can see they're almost right on line with what the budget is presenting for with each one. uh some favorable, some unfavorable with each individual component, but overall within 0.3% of what was expected of that adopted final budget for the school board. It was for the school district to manage the operations um and operating schools this past year. So within 310 of 1% uh of that total for 2025 and I will comment the dollar is the savings. So, as an auditor, I like to see revenues coming in better than anticipated in the budget and, you know, hopefully planning for the worst and hoping for the best. Um, living within your means as a budget is approved and staying within those parameters. Um, but there is a key component where in an act where you'll see we don't say favorable or unfavorable, which is hard as an auditori, we came in better than expected. Um, but if you're not meeting your goals, then that's why you underspent. You know, that's why they won't allow you to use that terminology coming in under spending. Or maybe maybe you didn't get to do something you had wanted to do timing wise or improvement to a uh your facilities or be able to achieve what you wanted for most. And that is what drives that terminology of why they don't want that in that act for program that you're following for that detailed transparent document. um were as transparent as they provide uh us to present within those guidelines. So you can uh overall you came in better than anticipated I would say with revenues coming in over budget expenditures living within those means almost right on budgeted total and those dollars do stay with the district and carry over to the following year. Um and part of your management plans as was said with concur to the now the budget revision that go out ago and then you're planning for the future um to use those resources and the best needs that you have. Just a couple comments on you can see that the level we were talking about in the $63 million range for your expenditures of the general fund. Um, you know, we're at a much lower level at the food service and community service, both important funds and um, significant spending in each operation individually. I'm not doing that, am I? [laughter] >> I should have talked even faster. >> [clears throat] >> back on two slides. >> I'll make my comments on the operating funds if that's okay for the food service and community service ones. Uh I can speak to both of them at the same time. Their financial positions have improved over the fiveyear period. you can see is looking at just the ending equity in each one of those funds um and give them that healthy financial position. You know, it does allow those funds to pay for their own capital needs [clears throat] if they were in the deficit position. You're not able to utilize resources within those funds to meet their capital needs. There's some limitations on that. Um but we do share you know make sure you're spending uh coming to the looking at your capital needs to be utilize those resources as well as um get to that policy level where you want to be for the optimal within the limits of what's allowed um by state thresholds or federal thresholds in those dollars. >> [clears throat] >> And just for the public, we're showing just an increase uh this past year from about $2 million to 2.3 for the food service fund. The community service fund went from about 1.6 to $2.3 million increase in both of those cases. the last slide and I'll I'll get back to it, but if you want to make comments after this as we're waiting for it to open up here, we've got our entitywide net position. So, at this point, I've been speaking to your individual governmental funds. Um, and with that, the individual governmental funds is how I believe my districts that I work with operate from year to year. um with the budget process and the entitywide financial statements is what the slide I'm referring to that I believe the council has received ahead of time. Um but with that it's a dual perspective. So that fund basis is a close shortterm look. We're looking really only out at the next future year of current financial resources the district has. So um we're capturing only the um readily available resources and the currently due obligations. So what we're missing in those individual fund [clears throat] statements is that capital assets of the organization. So you'll see they're not presented in the general fund or long-term obligations which would be your pensions, your bond payments and outstanding levels. Um that is provided in the current reporting model in that entitywide presentation. So when we looked at the individual funds for your organization this past year, fund balance increased by about 1.4 million across the board. Uh when we talk about your individual governmental funds, even including your debt service funds, the spend down that occurred in the capital project this past year. Uh when we look entitywide, you also reported an increase entitywide. So um people are generally more comfortable seeing that. It's important to know which components increase. So the net investment in capital assets increased. I say around a million dollars. So [clears throat] you're paying off your buildings at a faster pace and we are depreciating them over time uh with the buildings. The restricted category we're seeing an increase due to the increase in the funds we talked about with that service fund, food service fund, community service fund. And then within the general fund, some of those other statemandated restricted purposes. The one area we saw a decrease in entitywide is within that uh unrestricted component and that's where we're capturing the net pension obligations of the uh participants in PE T. But a big change this past year was a requirement of that CASBY standard and let out with and a change in accounting principle. you didn't change your offering in benefits for compensated absences and that's what I want to share but the obligation had to be presented at a much larger number and that's because we used to focus only on [cough] the dollar amount that would be paid out upon termination for those individuals. So when you they may have sick days in the past that you would pay out as they use them, we wouldn't have to budget that or book that as a liability because it was anticipated that the budget process would cover that. You knew about that as planned in the salaries. Um now the Gatsby wants you all sort of recognize an obligation for that amount. So, I just wanted to point that out that you'll see that change to your beginning equity reducing it this past year and really that was the driving factor, not any board decisions. It was a Gatsby standard decision. Um, so apples to apples, there wasn't that significant other change from the prior year. Um, with that, I really would only have one more comment to share. I do want to thank your staff. that does go beyond well beyond financial staff that involves a lot of people with in regard to you also have your single audit requirements. Um I missed out on my slide I wanted to share with you is that um due to the shutdown of the federal government and they did not issue the compliance supplement for federal awards that was just recently issued late November I think the weekend before Thanksgiving. Um so we're issuing that separately which is allowed by the MD this year and um really isn't due to the federal government till March 31st. So we'll make sure that's completed that's not about it completed most of the testing but we were allowed to issue that. If there's any questions, this was the last slide I was referring to that overall increase 2.3. I talked about those individual position components, but I'd be happy to try to cover any area I may have gone over too quickly or if I missed something that you want to cover. Is there anything you want to cover before I ask questions? >> No. >> Any questions for Aaron from any board members? All right. I do have two questions for you. >> Okay. >> Um, you talk about the untimely payment of two two of them, right? You you tie that directly to the other comment of the um limit of segregation of duties. >> I normally I wouldn't and and I really don't want to just say yes absolutely, but it it could have had some relation to the timing and turnover. Um, but I wouldn't say that's the end all of it. You know, at times it can just be the approval process, adding documentation for that if that's ongoing because uh if you do have an invoice, we want you to challenge it if you're not comfortable paying it at that time and that would be acceptable. We just want to make sure you're documenting it. I can dig deeper and I can report back to staff and make sure they know it. So, >> thank you. And Aaron, thank you for the detailed report. super appreciative of the products that you guys present to us. I know that many of us schoolboard members like what you present and it wasn't you. I was hoping they'd all stay to hear your uh report as well, but uh thank you for Thank you. [snorts] All right. Our next agenda item is 7.3 St. Francis High School math courses for 2026 2027 school year director of curriculum instruction. Stacy, [clears throat] >> yes. >> No teacher today or >> I didn't send her home because it was late to teach. >> But no more fund balances, no more revenues for the district, but rather some math courses that we need to implement so that we meet some state standards um and some new legislation. So as you know maybe over the last several years the state has been updating standards for all the different content areas and math is the next. So in two years um we will need uh to be able to teach those standards fully and because of that we have some course needs that we need to add. Um and so already this year we are talking about um standards and we have been training teachers since last year because it there is a lot to take in. Um grades K1 and nine are already starting to use those standards this year because they need to be ready to be testing in the new MCA4 in two years. Um there is a new emphasis on rigor which I'll show you what that is. um math practices and math contexts. This is math rigor. They are saying that we need to have a balance between teaching procedurally procedures and skills. So those equations that we're used to balanced with conceptual understanding and real world situations. That is kind of a switch in how we've been teaching. We've spent a lot of time on uh the procedural skill and fluency side, but because we haven't focused on some of the other areas, we also have kids with lots of holes in math. Um they are adding some math practices that students need to be able to do. There's eight of those along with some context that teachers need to teach the standards through and those are the five contexts on the wheel there. um they are providing all kinds of trainings online for teachers to attend. I just attended financial literacy and an example of that is instead of just teaching how to add money. We now are teaching kids how to plan with their money and how what will they do and be financially wise with their money. Um so it's really uh enabling them for life outside of school. So this would be an example of some standard. Here are the strands which I'll show you that in just a second. Uh the math practices they're noted at the end of benchmarks teachers need to teach as well as the context. And so that's what teachers see and these are the things we are training them on how to understand it and teach it. The three big topics that teachers will need to start teaching is data analysis, spatial reasoning and the patterns and relationships. Now what's a big shift is data analysis is becoming a third of the standards. Before it was nearly hardly any of the standards. So because of that increase we are going to have to add a math course in order to get all those standards taught. Um I'm not going to show the video but if you get a chance take a look at this just to see trouble that students are having of making sense of math. That's a huge focus the state is putting on. We need to help students make sure they understand what problems are asking them to do. So, some of the changes that they're going to be making are um quadratic A typically has been eighth grade algebra 1. So, they will be dropping that so that they can add um the problems and stats B to go along with props and stats A. And then algebra 2 will become a, b, and c instead of just a and b. So it'll become a yearlong algebra. And this is kind of the sequence of how students will now receive their math courses. Um, geometry A and B in freshman year along with probs and stats A and then sophomore year will be algebra 2 A and B and then junior year probs and stats B and algebra 2 C. Um, and that reason is in the junior year because they get tested in math that junior year. So, we want some algebra in there because they are tested heavily in algebra. Um, and so we didn't want that whole year of no math um around algebra. All right, those are the major changes. I had a short presentation. Any questions from you? >> Any questions? >> Jake has a question. >> Mr. I'm very appreciative of what you and your team are all doing in regards to uh addressing like the concerns over MCA not teaching uh what needs to be taught and when. I love this plan and I like how um the sequence plans out too. I I I too was concerned with sometimes you go a whole year without math. I mean some kids are doing that. But I wow this is uh very applicable and it sounds like uh just right what the doctor ordered. So thank you and good luck. I just want to give a props to my math coaches who are on fire on training the exact thing teachers need. We are getting that learning in there. Um and really teachers are starting to shift already and it's a hard shift. So I'm just very thankful for them. if I could uh um extend that because I was in a kindergarten classroom just last week and this little girl came up, pointed at my tie and said blue, gold, white, blue, gold, white several times and then she said that's a pattern. And so when you showed the the emphasis on patterns, I think we're already doing it at the kindergarten level and I'm sure in other grades too. So kudos to you and your team. Thank you, Stacey. All right, our next item is 98 start discussion. Um, you all saw the document that is in the board packet. Does anyone have any questions or any additions? Uh, this document will be presented to the members of the meet and confer committee as they go forward in future planning for 90-minute late starts. Any questions or comments on that document? And it's just a board recommendation for them to look at. >> Right. So, we're just recommending the late starts and nothing else about the calendar >> with this one. Correct. >> Right. >> Correct. >> All right. >> No, I love the calendar. [laughter] >> Yeah. And I think um our process for reviewing it is the district cabinet will will review and at least start the brainstorming process so that we just don't hand it over to the meet and confer committee that at least we have something substantial to look at. Uh I know that Stacy led a group last or earlier this fall to kind of analyze some things and so she'll she'll be writing up those notes um in relation to this document. And so we'll we'll be on our way even before Christmas with starting the process. >> Mr. Shock, >> because as you know, I'd love to have a work session or something to get the board involved in the process. Right now, we have teachers, which is statewide. We have to have them at the table, but we don't involve anybody. I shouldn't say I'm sure there's input asked for but transportation nutrition nobody else has asked for their input on the calendar. So I think it would just be nice to have some sort of work session to get some input >> and that's what this document uh is setting up for. So it allows them to give recommendations to the board and then that will set a work session for the board to help make decision. No other questions or comments? All right. Next agenda item is administrative reports. Mr. Anderson. Sure. Uh first I'd like to introduce our new director of uh financial services. Uh Don Duval who is you could stand up Don so we know who you are. Um she was uh we had posted for the position u and uh she was the top candidate. Uh Don is very well trained in school finance. U most she's been a business manager in some other settings. [clears throat] Most recently she uh worked uh for region three which is it's also called CMERDC. I have no idea what that stands for but that's the organization. Uh region 3 is one of I think eight regions uh in the state that provides financial support for member school districts. And so she has done a lot of that essentially consulting and support for a variety of school districts in our area. Uh she comes highly regarded and uh so we're sad to see Dee uh kind of step away um you know uh focus on some other things but we're glad to have Dom here and uh just wanted to introduce her. Um, and I thought now is the right time instead of right during the truth and taxation part just to differentiate who was making the presentation. So, Don, welcome to St. Francis Schools. >> Excited to be here. >> And uh, let's see what else did I have on my my report? My apologies. Oh my gosh, I've been so excited about the conversion of the phone system >> literally for months. And I'll tell you what, uh, you know, the whole technology team led by Joe Brazil of, um, CISO, Hannah and Liz, and all the the lead techs, uh, they hit a home run with this transition. Uh, because our previous phone system was not being supported anymore by the the company that provided the service, we had extended the time frame. And so uh with that came some risk uh because you know systems that are not supported can be hacked. There can be some problems with that um like with 911 calls and just all sorts of things. And um the cut over went really well. And so uh over like a one or two day period they installed the new phones, they imported all the phone numbers and they made the transition uh for everyone. Uh now with that being said, and I've said this before, there are always hiccups along the way. You know, nothing ever turns out just perfectly. And so the tech team is addressing, you know, those work tickets, you know, probably as we speak because I know they've been putting a lot of time on it. So, we're grateful that that uh process went through. And then finally, uh there have been some questions about uh basic needs uh money that the county provides. And so, we're we are reworking some of our procedures so that all of us kind of understand the process that we follow in granting those requests. So, just want to let you know the the update on that. That's all I have. >> Any questions or comments from Mr. None. Moving on to the next agenda item, which is eight. Our action items. We will have [clears throat] four action items for tonight. Again, I will make sure everyone has a chance to talk before you get a second time. We just ask that don't just reiterate the same thing over and over. Um, make the comments worth our time. All right. Next one is approval of the 2025 payable 2026 final tax levy as presented earlier in the meeting under the truth and taxation presentation along with public comment. We'll now decide whether to le the maximum amount allowed by MD or the levy amount below the maximum levy. We will do a roll call vote on this. De will provide a quick update before we go into discussion. >> Sure. There's just a one-page summary um with the cover sheet, a reminder, the general fund at 6.58 million, community service $287,000, and then debt service just over $9.5 million for a total of 16,465,788. And the request is to approve the final tax levy for repayable 2026. All right. Are there any questions for DED prior to a motion being made before discussion? Any questions specific to that one? All right. Is there a call a motion for approval of the 2025 payable 2026 final tax levy certification? >> Second. >> Anderson. Is there a second? Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Shock. Any discussion on that motion, >> Mr. H? >> So, the reason why I will be supporting this is because the need was great in the thing that is upsetting everyone about the district and the indoor air quality and the abatement in the lots. This is also this is also uh somewhat separate of this in addition to what those two things that had been added. This comes up year after year after year. Um, I do believe our uh district is financially responsible. I know it on a day-to-day basis because we work in negotiations and we listen to the people um that are reporting to us. Uh it kills me as a conservative to increase anyone's taxes or to pay anything. But like we had shown time and time and time and time and time and time and time again where St. Francis is at the lower end of everything because of um no working or operating levy or whatever you call it. Uh I and as an electrician I know the efficiencies of things. I trust the audits that we have done. Uh and whereas this is hard it hits everyone including all of us uh equally uh you know at the same percent. Um I and I would prefer to see uh things like this go through a voter approved uh levy. That was not the case in this regard. Um and so I've chosen I'm choosing to support this because the need is great and I do believe in protecting the investment. uh like one of our representatives, one of our conservative representatives who's sitting on the uh uh council amongst uh you know advising the district and the school board on needs. Um so I'm just uh ahead of the game just trying to say that I am uh not [clears throat] happy uh that uh these things are needed, but um I definitely know that this is part of my budget taking care of our public education. uh you know I grew up in a different uh city so I paid my parents paid taxes to that district. I have relatives who have never had kids who paid taxes to their district. Um they at one time were a school uh a student at a district. So, it's kind of one of these things where we pay forward. And I do believe it's important in society uh uh to uh have a robust uh and vigorous and accountable uh and efficient and effective uh public education system. So, I will be supporting this levy. >> Any other comments from the school board? No comments? We will move on to a roll call vote for this one. Um again, if you're in favor, say I. If you oppose, say nay. >> Miss BL. >> Hi. >> Mr. Shon, >> I. >> Miss Anderson, >> I. >> Mr. Working, >> no. >> Mr. Humphrey, >> I >> Miss West. >> No. [clears throat] No. >> Excuse me. I am I as well. Motion prevails. >> Thank you, De. >> Thank you. >> Moving forward to the next action item, acceptance of the FY 2025 audited financial statements. Again, we just heard from Aaron. All of this has to be completed by the 2nd of January. And then he also explained to us the federal piece for the end of March. So D anything else to add before we >> Nothing further once this is accepted then we'll submit it to as certification. Okay. >> Uh any questions prior to motion be made. Is there a motion or call to motion to acceptance of the FY 2025 audited financial state second. Any discussion on that motion? Seeing no discussion, uh, if you are in favor of the motion, signify by saying I and raising your hand. >> I motion. The motion prevails unanimously. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Next agenda item, action item is approval of policies 306, 606, 712, and 722. All of those changes uh were made or recommendations from the last first reading. Are there any questions for policy committee members or Mr. Nelson before motion? No questions. Are there is there a motion for approval of policy 606? Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion on that motion? Seeing no discussion, if you are in favor, please signify by saying I and raising your hand. >> I motion prevails in the state. Thank you. All right. Next agenda item, approval of office professional work agreement. A summary of the agreement has been provided in the board packet. Mr. Nelson is here for any questions that may come up. Are there any questions prior to a motion? Seeing no questions, there a motion to approve last professional 2025 2027 work agreement. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Worker. Any discussion on that motion? Seeing no discussion, if you are in favor, signify by saying I and raising your hand. >> I motion prevails. 7 to zero. All right. Next item is agenda item nine, upcoming meeting improvement talks. Any questions or comments on what is presented before you for upcoming meetings or topics? >> Another meeting till next year, right? Just to make sure the same thing. >> That is correct. Our next meeting will be our organizational meeting. So there are a lot of things that will be taken care of during that. Mr. Shock, >> and just an update, it's the first Monday, not the second Monday. Anything >> [clears throat] >> All right. Next agenda item, school board member report. Anderson, >> Mr. Shack attended the delegate assembly on Saturday. Um, if anybody wants to know what passed and what failed, let me know. Um, as far as our two resolutions, the treatment center one passed and the