[clears throat] I call this regular meeting to order. Please rise to the flag of the United States of America [clears throat] and to the republic for which it stands. [snorts] One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat] >> Good evening, fellow school board members, district staff, and community members. Uh as a reminder to all of us, our mission is to equip all students with 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's agenda is the adoption of the agenda. Are there any questions prior to a motion being made on the agenda before? See none. Is there a call to motion for the November 24, 2025 meeting? >> Anderson. >> Is there a second? Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Any discussion on that motion? No discussion. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I and raising your hand. >> I motion prevails. Thank you. Our next agenda item is the Saint Award. The Saint Award is 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 community member Michelle Anderson for both her personal and professional contributions to the school district as a mother, PTO member, advocate, community member, business partner, and so much more. Michelle has been involved in the school community since her son began in the BETHL early childhood program in 2001. In addition to being continuously involved in different committees, groups, and organizations connected to the district for the last 25 years, she has been an active member of the community education advisory council for the last 10 years. As a professional, the Anderson hometown team has been a proud and consistent supporter of the district. They've sponsored numerous school activities, programs, and clubs, supported district publications, and positively promoted the district through the Hometown Highlights newsletter and podcast. The business is also looking forward to being involved in the district's new work-based learning program. Crystal, director of community education, said, "Michelle is a true representation of the humanity of this community, and she does it with a smile, sense of humor, and warmth." about the importance of supporting the district. Michelle said, "I firmly believe in the power of community and the success of St. Francis Area Schools is a vital part of that. As both a real estate agent and an engaged community member, I know that a strong community goes far beyond buying and selling homes. It's about fostering relationships, supporting local families, and staying connected. When our schools thrive, our entire community thrives, and I'm proud to play a role in supporting that success. Please help me in thanking Michelle Anderson for her Tyler's work and endless contributions to the district. [applause] >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> And thanks for coming. [laughter] Get a vote. >> [clears throat] >> If you have not seen that homebound highlights, uh I think there's a couple copies in the district office here to take a look at, but an unbelievable newsletter highlights the district as well as everything else that's going on in the community. So, great product to look at. All right, our next agenda item is consideration of visitors. We have four speakers tonight. Uh so we will allow five minutes per speaker for tonight. To maintain a respectful and professional environment, all visitors are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous and appropriate manner. Uh once your time limit is reached, please make your final statements and then allow time for others. Our first speaker for tonight is Nikki Cruz Guy. Nikki, >> hi everybody. Thank you again for allowing me to speak tonight. Um, I have a question for you for you all. When is the last time you read or wrote a full document in cursive? Other than my signature, I can't even recall the last time I've written a full sentence or even read a full sentence in cursive. Yet, my children in the third and the fifth grade are learning to read and write person. Should we eliminate those courses from the curriculum because they will likely very rarely use that resource? I believe that the resounding answer to this question is no. This is because most people recognize its benefits for fine motor development, uh, cognitive growth, faster note takingaking, and the ability to read historical documents. The benefits of learning cursive extend far beyond how often it's used. Its value isn't measured by frequency, but its long-term impact. School libraries function the same way. Even if not used constantly, their presence builds essential skills, supports curiosity, and offers opportunities many students wouldn't have elsewhere. Closing them because uses usage dips is like dropping cursive because kids don't write letters every day and it's very shortsighted and harmful. Media centers are where students learn how to do research and that's essential for higher education. Education is a public good, not a business. If something is underutilized, our obligation is to strengthen it, not erase it. Removing school libraries guarantees that only children with resources at home will have access, widening the very gaps that public education seeks to close. Uh, respectfully, comments from school board members that are clearly anti-public school have no place on our school board. They should not be normalized and this is not okay. I understand that you represent all the taxpayers in this community, but first and foremost, you represent students. If you go out in the community and talk to other politically leaning groups and their clear goal is to defund public school, you should be informing them that public schools are for what public schools are for instead of listening to these extremist groups whose [snorts] main goal is censorship and the alienation of marginalized groups in our schools. If you agree with censorship, alienation, and defunding important areas in our public school, I would urge you to consider if this board is the right place for you. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Nikki. Our next uh speaker is Beth Peterman. Beth, >> [clears throat] [clears throat] >> Um, my name is Beth Peterman and I'm an elementary e teacher at East Bethl Elementary School and St. Francis Elementary School. I've been in the district since 2023 and um I'm just here to advocate for the district to hire another EL teacher at the elementary level. This chart at the top shows the numbers for enrollment of English language students. Um St. Francis Elementary increased from 18 to 21 to 28 55% growth. East Bethl 32- 34 to 39 this year 22% growth and Cedar Creek 45 53 to 49 and 9% growth and I pretty sure that Cedar Creek has grown previous years. I just didn't have access to that data um since they are closer to the cities. Um, so the other EL teacher at the elementary level is Tammy O'Donovan. She was hired last year and she's at Cedar Creek. I'm at St. Francis in East Bethl. Her case load is 49 students and mine is 67. In my experience, most districts keep teacher case load around 25 to 40 students per teacher. I worked at Eisenhower Elementary, which is part of the Noah Humphin School District in 2022 as an EL teacher. At that school, ELEL students receive 30 minutes of EEL instruction from a licensed teacher four days per week. The students I teach are receiving 30 minutes only two days per week. Students Talon teaches receive 30 minutes two to three times per week. If the district hired one more full-time teacher, it would be possible for students at all buildings to receive 30 minutes three to four times a week based on language level, which I believe would benefit their ability to be successful in school and exit the program faster. There have been two elementary ELEL teachers since 2023. Having three e teachers so that there can be at least one at each elementary school would be helpful because teachers the e teacher could attend staff me meetings regularly sit meetings which is where they determine what other special ed or other services kids should be receiving and be more available for conferences at each site. going to conferences um has been difficult being at two sites because sometimes those conferences are on the same night. So um that that's a challenge and um yeah so I guess I wanted to just ask you if you had any questions. >> Yeah. And uh if I could just add uh one uh response is that we are creating a list of personnel requests and this was added to the list. Uh we just started discussing that at the cabinet level today. We haven't come up with any plans or recommendations but we are taking uh this under advisement. This is actually really helpful because it gives the data that we need. >> Sure. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Beth. Our next speaker is Barb Anderson. Barb, um it'll just be really quick. Um it's really just a to bring out or think about the custodians and the staff that work behind the scenes in all schools after events. When you look at the events, the plays, the things that goes on, the custodians are there. Maybe the custodians way late. Sometimes the principles are still hanging around. You've seen that. But um just a a thank you at this Thanksgiving time for all those who work behind the scenes in our school district that doesn't show up real often. So, thank you all too for your work, but thinking of those working the nitty-gritty stuff. Thank you, Barb. Our next speaker is Brian. [clears throat] Good evening, everyone. Um, while the idea of closing any of the libraries at St. Francis High School and Middle School might not be much more than rumors, sometimes those have a way of getting out of hand. So, I'm here today to speak in support of our school libraries and what they could be as both a parent and a community member. As a student in a school district not too far from here, I spent time in the libraries. Sometimes it was browsing through and reading books. Sometimes it was conducting research. And yes, this was in an era of microfich. Sometimes it was studying. [clears throat] And sometimes it was because they were the only place I felt safe to be intellectual and thoughtful. If you were there, it was expected, the norm instead of the exception. I've come here before to speak about the importance of books, and I'm going to do it again. Once again, with a focus on availability and access. Studies show that reading physical books equates to much higher levels of learning and retention compared to reading on a screen. As an institution of learning, we should support this, promote this, and advocate for books in school libraries that are accessible to all students. But because school libraries are academic spaces, we need to consider how to go above and beyond reading. A school library is not solely a repository of books. Libraries need to be fully staffed with media professionals, those with appropriate degrees in the field, those who can support teaching and learning, those with advanced experience in research across academic fields. Libraries should be about information media literacy. We want our students to be able to discover, find, and evaluate information and sources for accuracy and credibility. And we want dedicated professionals to lead them. As much as I have, as much as I have a supported bias for physical books, our world is much more complex and thus timeliness and immediiacy are necessary. So, one, we need our books to be modernized and diversified. Let's get updated books in the library. Two, having the libraries be solid, creative, and academic learner spaces would support the mission of the district. Access to contemporary technologies and assistance in using them, including how they can and should be used, could be built into the working nature of the libraries. Digital resources can be built into the fabric of the libraries. Three, I recommend that the libraries, again, effective research and critical study, be incorporated into existing pedagogy and teaching across disciplines. Having students establish learning experiences outside of the classroom, such as in the library, supports the concept that learning is not limited to the classroom, that intellectual fervor is a community endeavor as much as it is an in-class behavior. studies or four study spaces. With the developing needs of students to be able to do small group activities or quiet individual work, establishing the library as a home of study spaces is needed. and especially with the growth of high school students taking online PSO classes, giving them a quiet or private space to participate in those courses and meet virtually with strong internet connections, [clears throat] excuse me, um with their professors or classmates further demonstrates the school district's commitment to our students. In essence, I'm asking that we do not lean away from our libraries, but instead we lean in and develop the best library practices possible so as to show our students and our community how much we value them. Thank you. Thank you, Brian. Thank you to all of you that spoke tonight. We truly do appreciate the community's engagement. Our next agenda item is consent agenda. We have seven items on tonight's consent agenda. It will be a roll call vote. Are there any questions or requests to remove an item from the consent agenda before we hear a motion? Is there a call motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> Thank you, Mr. Shona. Any discussion on that motion? No discussion. Roll call vote. If you are in favor, say I. If you oppose, say nay. >> Miss B. >> I. >> Mr. Wing. >> Hi. [clears throat] >> Miss Anderson. >> Hi. >> Miss West. >> Hi. >> Mr. Sher. >> Hi. >> Mr. Humphrey. >> Hi. >> I'm I as well. Motion prevails. Thank you. Next agenda item is item six, our information items and reports. Again, uh try to hold all questions till the end of the report before we ask our questions and finish you. Our first item, our first uh report for tonight is student council. Mr. Humphrey, you >> Thank you, Mr. Bour, [clears throat] Mr. Bur. Good evening, school board, superintendent, cabinet, community members both here and online. Once again, the St. Francis High School Student Council is very excited and very thankful for this opportunity to speak at tonight's school board meeting. I'll be honest, it's a little bit of a shorter speech as there's not much more going on as we're wrapping up the trimester, but I'll get down to the nitty-g gritties. So, on December 12th, we have our community night coming up. For free, we will be offering out Santa cookie decorating, different games for our community members, and different craft items for these community members as well. This will be at the same time as a girls double as a girls basketball game and so that part does cost money but the community night itself is actually free for the community members and we highly encourage that everyone stops out and checks out our community night. There will also be performances by our jazz band and as I affer mentioned the basketball game will be a great thing to look forward to for the night. Otherwise a couple of things that we are wrapping up this trimester 1 is ending was first our gratitude wall. We had our gratitude wall going out throughout November to show our gratitude towards both our teachers, staff, and our students. And I believe I heard an estimate that we had roughly two to 300 leaves put up on our wall in the PAC or not the PAC in the commons area. And so it was a rather successful year for our gratitude wall. And then secondly, we finished up our food drive or at least is finishing up as November is ending. And I believe that our goal was to fill 10 shopping carts. And although I'm not currently on the committee or any part of the committee, I believe that we've reached or we're at some part of that actual goal. Otherwise, I have no further notes for you guys as tonight as we are currently kind of getting into the end of trimester 1 and then focusing on our community night before we start any more action items. Are there any questions? >> Any questions or comments? >> Mr. Humphrey. >> Hello. How [clears throat] did the debate tournament go this weekend? Glad you asked, Dad. [laughter] This past weekend, the debate team went out to Robinsdale Cooper to compete at the annual Robinsdale Birds of Prey, and St. Francis and Varsity Congressional Debate closed out the event, placing both first and second, and then also having a ninth place participant as well. This is [applause] this was an improvement on last year where myself placed second in varsity congressional debate as this year Skyler Alier placed ninth, Kaylin Enderly placed second and I improved on my runner-up finish becoming the first St. Francis student to win the Birds of Prey and adding on a fourth runnerup position to St. Francis's debate program at the Birds of Prey Tournament. [applause] >> Thank you for that update. I haven't heard. >> Oh, he has. >> Is that the same as the Adina debate tournament? >> Uh, at Adina I placed second and otherwise we had Skyler Alier in the bronze final I believe and otherwise we had a couple of noviceses receive awards as well. >> You finished second out of how many debaters? >> Uh, it was the largest Minnesota debate invitational in history. The second largest was 550 and this one had 720 entrance scattered across four different events. And I believe that there were roughly 90 students competing from across the state of Minnesota in varsity congressional debates >> at all levels from all levels being 720 entirely. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> Can I make further comment on that? >> Yeah. >> So I'm really impressed as my son but also just as a human being that you you and the debate team have done so much to grow so well. I think last year they had like four to six people and they have 16 people this year and we're carrying uh they're talking about carrying that over into speech as well. So good on you guys for building the program and uh leaving a legacy plus your successes are wonderful. So keep up the good work. >> Thank you Dad. We are moving into our section tournaments and our national qualifying tournament. I realized that at last uh school meeting I forgot to thank you all so much for your approval of our overnight trip. So I would like to thank you guys for approving our trip in Pquat Lakes. We hope to bring back another district congress Congress sweep stakes award and then hopefully a couple more national qualifiers to go compete in Virginia in July. >> Jack, when is night? >> On December 12th from 5 to 7:00 p.m. >> December 12th, 5 to 7 p.m. >> It'll be a Friday night. >> Okay. Will you be debating that night? I will not be at community night as I will be in Pequat Lakes competing in my first and second sessions of congressional debate session. >> So you will be debating? >> Yes, I will be debating. >> Any other questions or comments? >> Thank you as always for the thorough report. >> Thank you so much. >> Our next agenda item is the St. Francis Middle School update. Our middle school principal Richard will provide an update, answer any questions. Thank you for letting me come talk this evening. I'm going to try to keep it to person's time. Um, and it's really hard to welcome you, sir. I'm so proud of you. He was, I think, my first student I met at St. Francis. Way to go. That's awesome. >> Okay. So, tonight I really want to visit with you about two things. The first one is um I want to tell you about a little Oh, there we go. Um a program that we have going with our student council and some of our web leaders with U Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principles. And then I want to go over some data with you. So we have a student leadership day. I think it was I can't remember October and it's offered through the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principles specifically designed to build leadership, student engagement and capacity in our building. Um we are one of 10 schools selected for this. All of our student council members 6 through eight and a few of our web leaders that were interested and and did some of the paperwork and things that need to be done uh um also joined us. So we had a full group of 50 students. Um during that day really what we're getting is growing those leadership skills. You know when you you can be on student council you can be a web leader but it takes more to be a leader. And people go and get masters in leadership program but yet we ask some of these students to be leaders without really teaching them what that looks like. So they're very intensive about that. The first day is a lot of reflection. But what we're looking for is to build a really inclusive environment. We're looking to build school spirit, foster engagement, and lay really strong um uh leadership skills so that when they are whether they're at the high school or they're involved in different activities, they can bring those throughout our community. Um our first day we had 50 students was about five hours and now um we will have uh I think six more sessions which will be about an hour and a half. It's one of the things that I was really drawn to about this program is it wasn't a oneanddone. They didn't come for four hours and train us and then leave us, right? So, and um we have a multiple different things that we could do during these um some of their suggestions are building school belonging. Um how do we as leaders make our school more of a belonging place? How do we make it more inclusive? Teach them communication. Um you know, part of communication is being an active listener, right? And so really talking to them about that. How do we resolve conflicts? Um a big one is raising student voice. Um we're putting um some things into place that will really I think help us hear more what our students want. What the part I really like is this last one is other topics based on individual school needs. So, tomorrow after school, uh, the two student council leaders, um, Camille Zupper and Becky Beley and myself are meeting with the principles association to develop kind of what we wanted to look like for the rest of the year. And we have some ideas for our kids. One of the things is how do you um, stand up for others in a productive way, right? Middle school kids sometimes have a hard doing time doing that because they're so focused on themsel just they're developmental. They just they don't want to stand out. They don't want everybody mad at them. So, kind of looking at some of those things. Um, this is our day. It was so fun. We used the back gym in the middle school. Um, the lady right up there in the black sweatshirt, that's our leader. Her name is Trisha Beon from um she's the student leader advocate for uh the principal association. And these are all of our kids. Um sometimes here like here in the bottom they're doing some assessments of themselves where they're at on and their leadership skills. And then also um in the over there we also did some activities where they got to build connections with each other. Uh really fun day for them. They loved it. And that's the big group right there. They were wonderful. Trisha said that they one of the best that we were one of the best schools that she worked with. Sorry other schools, but we just work. So, yeah. No, the other thing I want to talk to you is about reading and math being a little vulnerable here because um I want to tell you right now, our scores are not where they we want them to be. Get that out of the way, right? But I am going to tell you that we're moving to where we want them to be. One of the things is I was working on a report for um some other project and this really stood out for me and I'd like to just take a look and look at that. If you look from 22 to 23, we have grown in every subgroup except it looks like American Indian we're down 70 last year but look at that. So that's some great growth and that's a lot of reasons for that which I'll talk about in a minute. So this is reading MCAs the proficient in advance that was a report I was working on that's the terms they use for us that would be meet or exceed okay for [clears throat] math um some even bigger results if you look at those so we're on the right track and we have a tunnel vision of where we're going um we're we're we're really using all of our resources that we have to make sure that we are going to continue to make our students competitive. Um, in the state of Minnesota overall, if you look at reading from 23, it was 37.5 and and uh 25 it was 51.5 and math it was 19.6 and 23 and now it's 36.9. So almost doubled. So we're we're pretty proud of that. It is not where we want it to be. If anybody knows me, I'm super competitive and we are going to keep pushing. We're going to do this. Our kids can do this. You're so wonderful. Fast bridge. Those were our goals for last year. We had a 64.47 to 74.7. That's called a stretch goal. We still improved as much as we all hoped. No, but we did improve, which is way better than going backwards. So, we know that we're doing things. I also [clears throat] would like to point out that math um during this time, which is incredibly unusual, they had a new curriculum. Um and for them to to move forward like that, that a lot of kudos for our math department. One of the things that I'm really proud about is we have a PBIS student feedback form that we do every spring. Um, it's one of our ways for asking kids, what do you think of our school? What do you need? What's where um can we improve upon? But one thing that I hang our hat on a lot is this one. On a scale of 1 to five, how welcoming is our school? Five is very welcoming. And if you look from 22, 23 to 24, 25, I'm not, you know, our fours and fives maybe didn't go up that much as last year, but look at how many kids shifted from one to twos to threes. We're getting there, right? The things that are doing are working. And we don't just take those one and twos and go, "Oh, well, they don't like it." Our counselors, our social workers, our assistant principles, um, and myself, we break down those kids and we call them in and say, "Hey, we saw that you marked this. What's going on?" Okay. Some of them say, "Well, I was tired that day, so I don't know. I didn't really read the question, right?" But some of them, we've learned some really big things. One student in particular shared that he um felt that because of his prior behavior that he felt like the teachers didn't like him. So, we went to that team and we talked to them and said, "Hey, this kid is feeling this way." So, it breaks kids down from it breaks us down from numbers to actual individual kids. So, they they tell us all sorts of things on these feedback, but that's the one I'll share with you. behavior goals. Um, we're proud of this, too. These are going in the right direction. And, um, my first year was 2122 and and and we've been continuously looking down. We had a little bit upre last year, but but like Carson said, going from 771 to 349 was a great was a great accomplishment. Um, and now we're, you know, hanging right around that time. So, we're proud of that. and the minors um too are going down. There were some bus in bus incidences. Some of the bus instances we get involved with and some of them we don't. So just kind of clarify that for you. It doesn't matter really other than I wanted to clarify that our goals for next year. Um these are part of our school improvement plan. Uh we're going to continue to see what we can do and push um forward. Um, some of the things we're doing is we have priority intervention which is a couple days a week. We really focus on those kids that are in the bubble. They just need a little bit more instruction. Um, we started that in the spring of not last year, the year before and we just did a really small group. Last year we went full throttle and we really saw a lot of improvement that I could share some of that with you sometime and I'd like to come back because I'm really proud of proud of our teachers and our students. Um they did a the kids are doing a really good job of settling into that. At first it was are they gonna feel different? We don't want them to feel that way. But now they come in and some of these kids that won't talk in math or non language arts class because they feel behind or they don't feel they feel someone else knows the answer all the time. They're kind of finding a little home in there and they are really u putting themselves out there and taking some risks with themselves in their learning. Um, that's one person. >> Any questions for me? [clears throat] >> I just have a comment. Um, I've gotten to know you a little bit over the past couple years and it's been a pleasure. I just want to thank you for I mean it's it's a tough job and every experience I've had volunteering for the Shark Tank week on that list for this year by the way >> um to field trips just events that you do. It's an absolute pleasure um being your school and being a part of what you do and watching you do what you do and makes people like myself, a community member, a father um proud to be in this district. So thank you. >> Thank you. That's great. Mr. Humphrey. >> Uh, yeah. Thank you for all you do. One of the greats. Um, what did we do here from 22 to 23? Our black students in your grade reading got 9.1 and then in 23 24 got 10 and then in 2425 66.7. >> So I don't know in particular for those different students, but I can tell you some things. I think it's a priority intervention. I I the priority intervention time. I also think that we're getting um we're really working hard on a tier one instruction which is our core instructions in the classroom. Having the new curriculum um we have like math study groups that occur where we break down the data and learn about our students and then look at the scope and sequence of the instruction and then in addition like what do these kids need? Um Joe Robinette, eighth grade math teacher, fabulous guy who did the math study group two years ago and he said that he felt in August from all the work that we did that he knew his students as well in August, you know, just on paper like what their needs were as he sometimes does by MEA. >> So all of this extra, you know, detailed work, I think it all builds up. >> Wow, nice nice work there. Great. um the PBIS student feedback, how did you gather that? Was that a a survey and what were the questions that were on it? >> Um it's things like what would you like to see in our school store? Um like and they'll tell us or what do you think about like the PKI um um celebrations that we do? Do you have any suggestions for us? Get more kids like they'll say things like get more kids involved. >> Okay. But you did mention that they shared some things that were >> Oh, that weren't that they didn't like. >> Yeah. One of the things was is they wanted so when we do our PBS celebrations, we have like competitions out in in the area and we do like states time versus saints time or advisory versus advisory and only like a certain if we play basketball for example only a certain amount of kids um we play scooter basketball I think and only a certain amount of kids wanted to be involved in it and wanted to be part of that. So things like that or um they wanted more things like a special place to sit in a teacher's classroom. I know they seem minor but these are things that are important to them and that's why we asked. So these were really kind of a benign I mean because I know we've we've spoke at at length about um surveys and and and our students and making sure >> that the parents understand that they're being surveyed and what that survey is going to look like. Mhm. >> Was that all those um >> Oh my gosh, we've been doing it now for I think three years, four years. So, um I could definitely present on those questions. I don't I can't think of them, right? Because we haven't done it since last spring. So, I'd have to I'd have to think I'd have to go through those. I can't think of it right off the top of my head. Email me that you sent them. >> I think I can. I will have to make a copy of it because it will help include the students responses which you I don't you know that's confidential for them but I I can send you the other. >> Was it electronic or was it on paper? >> It was electronic during their saints time class. >> Yeah, if you could send me that. >> Any other questions or comments? M >> um the I'm on the PBIS committee at the high school and we're thinking about implementing what the process you guys have there which is the electronic PBIS. Could you tell me some benefits? What the teacher is there more staff buy in? Is there more student buy in? What's the What's the benefit there, please? >> So, you're talking about our PBS reward system. Yes. >> Yeah. So, we were going to come and talk a couple Fridays ago, but we ended up having to sub. So, I'm sorry about that, but we'll come another time. >> Um, so our PBS reward system allows teachers to >> um reward students for positive behaviors. And so we have worked really hard on so all of these things including the feedback form and and the rewards are through the Minnesota PBIS system and that these are um tools that we could learn from from them. So essentially this student we set up for our pride PR what we're looking for and we teach the kids what we're looking for and at the beginning of the year what do you think we're trying to teach the sixth graders? P is for prepared right? And so we go over what it looks like to be prepared for class, what it looks like to be prepared for lunch, and then they could earn um it goes up to three points because we have to keep it kind of fair, right? So we have up to three points. So one point would be if they're meeting the the core um learning target for being prepared for that day, bringing the pencils, bringing whatever they need to bring. And then if somebody goes up and beyond, then they get a two or three. For example, if I'm walking down the hallway and I drop everything and you know some one of the students stopped and helped me pick up everything, that's super kind and inclusive, right? So, I might give them some points for that. >> Okay. >> So, >> great. And you like the system of being electronic versus >> we get a lot of data from it and so we can that's one of the big things is it because we get data and I was really excited to show that to you guys. It just didn't work out. >> That's all right. Thank you very much. Thank you for the clarification. Any other questions or comments? >> I just like to say I had three principles during my middle school years in St. Francis and I would like to say that I saw a drastic change in the actual view and climate of our middle school underneath your lead, Miss Kitchley. I am truly proud of all the work that you are doing at our middle school. You truly put the students first and I love what you're doing to make sure that the students are leading, that they are getting the education they deserve and knowing how to treat each other fairly in ever changing world. I truly believe that that is all because of you. >> Well, I have a whole bunch of people supporting me. So, thank you. But very kind of you to say, >> Mr. I have just two comments. Uh, one is, can you just talk a little bit? You're still doing the same success, correct? >> Yes. After school, that's one of the things. >> You just talked that. >> Yeah. So state success is through targeted services. You may have heard that before. And we do have targeted services after school. I think in the elementary schools too. Um is where uh we give kids extra help in reading and math. And um that we started three years ago I think. Um and so there we look at some of the skills that our kids are missing and we really focus on those extra that extra help. There smaller groups. after school the teachers do things like put a fireplace on there's a peromethine board and just make it really um really non like sometimes I think they feel overwhelmed by everything and so they kind of make try to make after school especially right we want to kind of make it calm and they really um have seen some good results with that so that's also one of the interventions >> thank you and then the my final comment uh there has been a noticeable noticeable um focus from you and your on communication uh for our parents and staff. So, thank you. Uh I'm hearing feedback from other parents of middle schoolers uh saying that they love the consistency and what they're getting. Uh so, congratulations on that. Thank you for doing that. Uh that's one area that we all get to work on at all times is communication. So, uh we notice it. We see what you're doing. So, thank you. >> It's fun to share all the the wonderful things people are doing. I agree. It's fun. Dad's a peaceful. There he is. He's my He's my guy. He helps me a lot. So, thank you. >> Carson joining. >> Ditto what everyone said. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Our next agenda item is the St. Francis High School update. Our high school principal will provide an update. >> I think it's so unfair. I have to follow her. So, I just had to go out to jail. impossible. I know. [laughter] >> Let me just make sure we're ready to go here. [clears throat] >> All right. I'm going to go over a lot of highlights to really start out. I want to celebrate some of the things we did last year into this year. Um, I'm proud to say that our graduation rate is 96.5% highest in Mississippi 8 and our surrounding schools and it is 12.3% over what the overall average for Minnesota Department of Education schools. So, very proud of that. Uh, we saw our math department work really hard and we increased our math scores by 12.1 for the previous year and we're third overall in the Mississippi 8. Uh, we also finished fourth overall in the Mississippi reading scores. It's still a place we want to see growth, but we've done a lot of literacy and things that we're working on that. We're really proud about that. We did decrease out of school suspensions by 57%, but I do want to make sure we thank the Genesis program for helping that process. So, we have an alternative that's really been valuable to us. Now, that 70% is a typo. It's only 30%, but that's still quite a decrease. So, just want you guys to cross that out and put 30%. I tried to get that changed before. The area that we did see increased behavior in is because due to our new cell phone laws, we got really strict on that last year. We've continued to do that this year. We're seeing progress there. You still have a ways to go, but it has been a really blessed thing. And I know the middle school implemented that before us. So, some of the younger kids have grown to get accustomed to it more so than maybe some of our upper classes. Couple things I want to stress. This is a lot of program. I've went over quite a few times, but I want to be really proud that we are going to start our Ajiway language class on Monday, December 1st. That has been something we've been working for for two to three years to make that happen. Also, you can see our Saints manufacturing deck. A lot of the programming that we have that helps us out and we'll talk about some more of that as we get through this program. Um, just so you go understand what happens for ninth graders that come in, they start with future scrap, which is a trimester course. And then building off of that, we do presentations throughout their high school careers so that in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade, make sure that they know where they're going. Some of that is college placement, some of that is career. We try to we try to help them do enough inventory so they have an idea of what they want to do. And the registration is fast approaching, just so you know that. um pathways here that the the pathways that we have kind of finalized on Zach. Thank you for great artwork you've done on some of that makes it look a lot better and we'll continue to build off of that and just so kind of going through that part. Arts, communication, business, health science and engineering is kind of where we're going with that. Um couple things. Um St. Francis is now overseeing the Saints online program. I think most of you know that. So it's been houseing us. What is really good and what our counselors were saying is we have certain kids that want to specialize in something and with the online program some of those higher level students or students that are just interested there's opportunities that they can have one or two people in the class and they can take it. It's an option that they have. So it really helps give them some more opportunities as they transition whatever they might want to do in the future. And just because there is enough class size for maybe 25 class, this helps us out quite a bit. Our counselors are really enjoying that. Has kind of gotten rid of some of the paperwork that always goes when you're transferring before schools. Um, we have internships with focuses on careers. We have some examples here. The Deca Dugout store is one thing that we do. We have a lot of programming we do. Uh, you know that we have a great music program, drama department. There are opportunities for students in our building if they have a real interest in to do that to work with some of our teachers kind of helping and assisting them on that and also we have some internships and internships that help students that are struggling in math and reading. Okay. Uh Miss Shro has has gotten her endorsement so we're on our way. I'm not going to spend a lot of time since she kind of took over the stage last school board meeting, but we're just really happy to have this going forward. We sent some counselors to Anna Annale High School. U Mr. Thompson's been very vital and trying to help work that through. He's been working with me as an AP. So, we're really excited about that. We will be sharing this with our juniors. Miss Shrog will be sharing that in early December. I think December 9th, but I got to make sure I check on the we just set up today. So, we're really excited about that piece and that we're moving forward. This is something we've been looking at doing for quite a while. All right. Our incoming ninth graders, how many of you had a ninth grader go through St. Francis? Okay. I don't know in your time. I think we we have them go and see all our programming. So, they go to music, they have to get like they have to get a sticker that goes and have them go there because we want them to see so they have those opportunities. So that way when they get to future prep, they know what we offer and what we have opportunities for. So want to encourage our parents, eighth grade parents to come and see programs along with their students. Uh we have I think about an hour, it's probably about an hour and a half, two hours that we have that opportunity and that's coming up and fast approaching. We just want to take with what Chrisley has sent with them to help us out and move forward. Um just a couple things. Fall sports participation, 294 students across all the sports were were involved. Fall winter activities participation about 192. And we're really excited. We did have the St. Crisis High School fair. 75 different colleges come out in the area. Probably about 200 guests attended the hour and a half fair. Couple things I want to talk about. PBIS. Mr. Humphrey, you are on that. Um you've done a great job on it. We are moving towards a more some of the what the middle school is doing. We're helping them implement that in January. One of the other things I'm really excited about it is a digital pass option. I hate to tell you not every high school student goes where they're supposed to go every single time. So this might help us track just a little bit better and will be will help us out. One of the things I can't stress enough is how our student and community gets together and we have what we call the allied fire class where our students work closely with our high school leaders work closely with this group of students to help them see success. It's one of the most heartwarming things you can see and we just have it right now for one trimester but we're hoping to extend it to longer down the road. just a great program and it's really something I don't we should be really excluding what our fire department is doing there. And then right below that I know some of the things that work we've done with literacy and math over the past two years and continue. Um you can see some of that there but those are strategies that we're using that we have went through um from last year until this year. We continue to do that and that we've seen success with it. It's hard to see how that helps us with test score. Sometimes you can't directly relate to it. Uh, Cornell notes is a really strong skill that most people need to know for college stuff. We'll continue to do that throughout the year as we get closer to that. And that I got through it. Might have gotten to it. We'll see. Did I make it? >> No comments. >> Means I [laughter] didn't make it. >> You're shorter than Heidi. >> I was Heidi's got more to share. So there you go. >> Questions you guys have. >> Any questions or comments for Mr. Austin? Miss West, go ahead. >> Um really excited about the career pathways and how this program is is taking shape. It's really exciting. Um can you talk a little bit about the cell phone um policy, what that looks like inside your building, how you guys >> Well, essentially what we've done now, we kind of learned a little bit from last year is the middle school done it before. We implemented it kind of with that class. So what we're doing is we have cradles and we are asking every teacher to have a cradle. Now, we have some teachers that have done that for 10 years, right? But we implemented the policy. The cradles help that process and it helps them, you know, check in their phone when they go there. We still have things we got to work on. We're still trying to adjust to it. Um, it's been easier with our incoming nth and tth graders because that was already set. It's always harder with that 11 12th grade group. It's just because that's new to them. But overall, it's been a lot better. Um, you know, and we haven't we'll kind of figure out how to go forward on it. But you know the other thing is there's other little things we have to look at too headphone you know other things that we're looking at too but we I think we've seen a drop in the number of calls that we're getting we're trying to track that individually because we used to just put in minors so we're trying to see how much that directly relates to this policy >> thank you >> Mr. Could you please tell me about the Ojiway language classes? >> Yeah, it is going to be taught virtually. Um, but we also will have a teacher in the classroom. >> Um, we are going to do like an A and a B. So, Jibway A, B, and then we're hoping to continue that the following year. So, you have to start somewhere with the language. So, you have to the first year will be that A and B piece and then hopefully we'll continue and grow that through. Um, we want to make sure we have the numbers to do that, but we're making a lot of progress there. Uh we have a teacher that is a military vet. He has done he's got a master's degree. Um he's teaching up north too and he's been so many things. So I'm excited to have him come on board and he's kind of developing for us. We'll use Rosetta Stone as kind of our backup. But u in this way we can also have online kids. They can also clue into it or be part of that process but they will have an actual classroom when they go to. >> How many how many customers do you have lined up already? Um, last I heard somewhere in about right in the early teens, somewhere in that range. I'm guessing somewhere between 10 and 15 is what we're hoping. Hopefully get a little bit more, but we want to grow that. But it, you know, we promoted it. We've done a lot of that. Yeah. But it's something I think we're really excited to go forward. >> Got to start somewhere. Thank you. >> Yeah, we got to start someplace >> for sure. >> Mr. Mr. Shack, >> always scared here. >> Yeah, you should. Uh, as you know, I've ran the school dance, the snow dance the last couple of years. >> Okay. Uh, I was hoping to add a fall activity night for the kids. >> Um, but going into that, not only did I not get the activities night, the snow week dance was taken away. I know administration is overworked. How can we add more activities for these kids or something for them to do after school? >> Well, I mean, I think there's twofold. Dance definitely makes some of that part of it. And look at that. I think the other part we're looking at is how what what what are they looking for, right? Um we probably would argue a little bit what a dance does in some cases like prom is pack homecoming pack but sometimes other ones aren't. Um I mean thinking maybe you can do it I think what we're having on a community night is something that summer if we could do more traditions like that that might be a good situation. So that'd be my answer to you but I'm not sure that's what you want to hear. So just let me know what I think. >> Yeah. I just think giving these kids more opportunities to be kids and not taking that away from them. Um, and I'm not trying I know you guys have a lot on your plates and I'm not trying to add more. It's just for me taking things away is just detrimental to these kids. >> Yeah. I mean that's continue to look at and stuff like that too. Any other questions or comments? >> I could add a couple. First, u thank you to Heidi and Doug for their presentation tonight. And I I do encourage them to have the shortest possible. Um which makes it really challenging for both of them because they're both really passionate about the work they do and there's so many things going on. They have to kind of pick a few items. And so I appreciate you prioritizing. Uh, as far as the high school, um, I I'm really grateful for the Ajiway language class. >> Uh, and I know that you consulted with Haley Dogle quite a bit as part of this process. And of course, she communicates with the parent committee committee >> and so I think that's really valuable. Uh, and then also again for your team, thank you for the workbased learning work. >> I think we're setting the stage for something really amazing. So, thank you. >> There's still areas for us to grow in that there. I think that's crucial as we move forward. I think the one place we see that medical careers is kind of that next horizon. Um I do have to compliment somebody here who has done a really good job. Um we have a our um veterans day ceremony which is really incredible and this young man over here the best speaker that both Heidi and our follow [clears throat] an incredible job. He did the prisoner of war salute and also was our during that he's so good at that part of it. So I appreciate everything that he did to make that happen and really appreciate that. >> You know, I want to be clear that all the district and building administrators are really grateful that you're graduating this year because you are a hard act to follow. Everyone says the same thing publicly and privately. Yeah, very much. And you can't do graduation all by yourself. >> Other questions? >> Yep. I've got uh three comments for you and then I think I know somebody he might not have to graduate this year. [laughter] Um just to clarify, you talked about Mississippi 8 and our ranking in that area. There are 11 schools in Mississippi 8. >> Yep. There are more than we're 11. So those numbers up. Uh you talked a little bit about the MCA and the math department and what they did. Um is there plans to continue that this year? Have they shared what they did with other uh groups to to expand on that and are we sharing that with our middle school as well? >> I think what we are doing >> I think the more ownership this teachers can have what we try we're going to do with across the board. Biology we don't really we haven't gotten any test results on that and they have traditionally biology has done it within the class framework. um our math what they did last year for the most part. I mean there's always an exception here or there. We want to have our students take it with the teacher they have the class with so that they can really work on those skills, get them developed and ready to go there and do that part of it. It also builds in ownership, right? I would say the biggest issue we have with MCAs and Fastbridge, especially at the high school level, is taking the test seriously. And that's a big thing that comes up. I don't want to use that as an excuse, but it's it's somewhat the truth. And I talked to some of my colleagues and they're asking how that we did that. Now we also had to continue to do that work moving forward. Every class is different. Always looks different. Obviously with math there's a lot of things that are changing. But the thing is we're hoping to do the same thing with reading and they'll be working with their students. So they'll be actually testing in their language art class. So that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to do that across the board as much as we can. Hopefully it'll help them. We did see success last year and hope it continues. Uh, and then, uh, orientation night. Are you fine with hosting a schoolboard meeting at the same time so some of us can attend orientation as well? >> I think you're going to have to have a choice. So, >> I mean, if you really want to come to chaos, you can be there. Is it the same? Is it the same night? Unfortunately, >> I'm so sorry. >> Did not look at the schoolboard schedule at that stage. And I'm sorry I let you down to pay back. Any other questions or comments? >> Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you, guys. Thank you. >> All right, our next agenda item is 6.4. It's the first reading of policies 3067 12 and 722. Uh any changes or updates that the policy committee made are included in the board packet. If you have any questions or comments, we have policy committee members here and we have Mr. Nelson to answer any questions or comments on those policies. >> All right, see them. Brandon, you're off. Next agenda item is 6.5 uh administrative report. Mr. >> Three quick items. Uh first, the community engagement task force is meeting as we speak. They're touring Cedar Creek and East Bethl elementary schools. In January, Site Logic would like to give an update about the planning process. And then later in January or February, maybe even later, uh the full task force is planning to present their report as well. Uh second item has to do we did with a fourth grade classroom teacher at East Bethl. We did authorize the hire of another teacher due to the class sizes there and the position has been posted but it's unknown when that will be finalized. Uh it's actually kind of a lengthy process. We need to post it. We need to hire someone who's qualified who's going to be a great fit with that grade. And then we have a whole bunch of movement to make uh including notification of parents and those kinds of things. So it won't be in the next few days. Uh it's going to take a little while. And then finally uh Rob uh Jake and I uh conducted Mark mock interviews with seniors as part of one of their classes. And it was really impressive with uh the kinds of documents they presented to us. Uh the how they dressed, how they answered the questions that we randomly picked from a list. Uh Rob and Jake, I'm sure, you know, can uh further provide testimony to that. But I I'm impressed [clears throat] every year that that happens. It's it's a great thing that our business class does. That's all I have. >> Any questions or comments? I have two. Um, thank you for being attentive to the needs of the fourth grade teachers of them reaching out. I really appreciate that. So do they. So do the students and the parents, of course. And then the mock interviews. If anyone is losing hope in today's youth, sign up for this next year. It'll reinvigorate uh the love of uh uh kids with their stuff together. So I I really uh appreciated being part of that process and I highly suggest it to anyone. There's there's a the future is bright. That's all I'd say. >> Mr. Sha, >> yeah, I was just going to expand on the mock interviews. It's this was my first time doing it. If you haven't done it, the students go into this room and [clears throat] the interviewers go in there and pull the kids out and you walk to your table and you interview them. But during the walk, you can just see it in their face that they're just so nervous to be interviewed by this random old guy. Um, but by the time the end draws near and they're calmed down and you can just see the look on their face that I got this. So, it was fun to be a part of it. >> Yes. Uh, sign me up for that next year. I would love to be a part of it. It sounds awesome. Um, and then I just want to say thank you for supporting those fourth graders, these fourth grade teachers at Woods Elementary School. Do you see if everything goes according to plan that we can make that iron this year? That's >> Oh, yeah. Definitely the the plan is as soon as we find a qualified candidate, >> uh, then we'll everything will be in motion. Beautiful. So, >> it it did take us a while to authorize it because we have a very careful process due to budget restrictions and fairness between grades and schools. Uh, but really it was the whole cabinet that looked at it together and came to that conclusion. And then um is there any top [cough] [clears throat] for that grade level for the following years? I know there's three fifth grade elementary schools teachers at that school and then we're going to have the same problem with that particular grade next year. >> Hopefully we have the same problem. Uh you know we'll continue to look at enrollment especially late spring and early summer to see if it holds. you know, sometimes the numbers go up, sometimes they go down. And uh that was one of the reasons why we waited a while because sometimes there's some classrooms that have, you know, relatively high numbers, but then all of a sudden two or three people move out. Uh this year in some of our grades at East Bethl, we've actually increased by two, three or four students in a grade, which impacts it. So, uh, yeah, we're going to continue to look at it and, you know, hopefully we can make a decision sooner rather than later. >> Awesome. Well, I appreciate it response. >> Any other questions or comments? >> I I also wanted to echo about the fourth grade. I thought the teachers handled that really well. How they presented their piece and the response to the district was fantastic. I appreciate it as a support. >> Yeah, there were a lot of uh very thoughtful comments made, you know, really professional comments made. I think mostly by teachers, possibly some parents as well. And uh so you know we we do read those emails and take those under consideration and then we kind of compare it with our district guidelines and we looked at the budget and you know we got some preliminary audit figures you know from last year and so we kind of look at all those things together before making the decision. But yeah it was it was very respectful thoughtful dialogue you know email. Good. >> Good. >> Good. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. All right. Our next agenda item is item seven. Uh we have two action items for tonight's meeting. Our first one is 7.1, the comprehensive achievement and civic readiness plan approval. Samantha Hall and our district [clears throat] data coordinator will present the CAR comprehensive >> civic readiness results and our new goals. Reminder, this is year three of our group. >> Yes. Hi. So, my name is Samantha Holland. I'm the district assessment coordinator and data coordinator and a few other hats in there. Uh, this is my third year in the district. I inherited these um world best workforce and kept them going because it just kind of made sense when you look at overall what we are doing in the district. It made sense just to stick with what we had. And as Nate already reminded us, we are grounding this work in the mission of St. Francis area schools that we heard already tonight. And my goal is not to be done or mighty. So I'm going to continue along. You had access to this board packet ahead of time and all of the details are in there. I will show you the goals that we set for which am I? Okay. Um this is so I'm reporting on 2425 and then tonight's approval for action items is for 2526. Uh the first area that we um conceive a goal on are the all children are ready for school. This is mostly our preschool teachers. um they did uh they use a measurement scale called the ounce scale and it's measuring measuring that funological awareness for those students and you can see uh the goal was 72.3% to 80% with all of these goals and I want to make sure it's known right now we did set aggressive breakthrough goals so our goals are very aggressive and loft with that being said though uh preschool did meet this goal uh they achieved it and a few more percentage points in there also. And uh I think this is probably attributed to not only the letters training that they all received due to the read act last year, but also their new curriculum, Frog Street. So that's a second um time Heidi mentioned that they middle school got a new math curriculum and saw some movement forward already, which is uncommon in a first year. Uh Frog Street at the preschool also saw some movement forward on their first year of implementation. So that work is going to continue for this year. Also, uh the next goal I have is uh was previously on world's best workforce. that got dropped with KCER, but we're continuing it with our three-year plan and it was regarding third grade students meeting their reading proficiency and the goal was not met. We went from 57% actually to 49% but again we are working on teachers are getting that letters training. They all received units one through four so far. We have um studied extensively basic and advanced phonics work and that's when we're going to start seeing this needle move forward um in our fastbridge testing hopefully with all of that letters work that we're starting to implement. Another area where we didn't make the goal but we were so close to it was closing the achievement gap between students with IEPs and students who don't have IEPs in the elementary school. We did set another lofty goal which was 22% to 33% and we met we didn't meet it officially but we did hit 31% which was an 8.1% increase which is really incredible when it comes to this student population. This we can also attribute to the work we've done with letters. Uh the special education teachers also received the first four units of their letters training and that's that basic and advanced phonics. And we know that students with IEPs are really often working on those foundational reading skills. So, it was really apparent that that letters training is being implemented by our special education teachers. Um, which bodess well for the uh read act. The next goal was uh all students are ready for career in college and we base that on the ninth and 10th grade reading proficiency scores from 62% to 72%. We did not meet that goal. We actually backslid a little bit. Um, we are like Doug mentioned working on the Cornell notes, the morphology. Some of those teachers have received some letters too. So, we are working all around on getting those foundational reading skills amped up and then also supple um supplementing with those words you need to know in the Cornell notes. Um next one is a new goal from KER the uh it changed to um prepare students to be lifelong learners and I collaborated with uh the profile of graduate experts in our district. Amy Pollson and Bethany Styles both helped me uh develop the school. I said, "What makes the most sense when you hear that phrase, prepare students to be lifelong learners?" [clears throat] I also consulted a statewide um group of other people in my position and said, "What are you guys doing for this new goal?" And they all kind of are doing something similar, really looking at those responsibility, those um essential skills that we want students to exhibit when they leave our district. And so, this was the first time measuring this goal. Um I used our student information system to do it. I pulled the report. I said, "Oh my goodness." Okay, 71% of our students are exhibiting college and career readiness skills um in the midtry uh report cards from opportunity um I wanted to measure students with opportunity moving from opportunity for improvement to um exhibiting essential skills and we wanted to see a 10% increase. Um we saw the students did not meet that. They actually also backslid again. But like we said, this is the first time measuring this goal and we're also moving forward in doing some measurement on that goal. And I know um Heidi would have lots to say about this, but we are focusing on exhibiting those essential skills at the middle school. And I would going to follow that goal for three years again just to see where this cohort ends up before they go off to high school. Um last but not least, this is getting a little fishy now with the all students graduate. I'm reporting on 2425. Um the goal was a 5% in this case because we were already in the 90s and at the 90s obviously I can't make it 10% can't go to 103%. Right? So I want to make sure we uh frame this in I have locally reported numbers because the MDE report card is not published with our graduation rates until the spring. So I do not have official statewide graduation rates. And the reason our numbers are going to look different is because the state tracks those students who drop out, those kids who continue somewhere else, those kids who come into a seven-year cohort or the or the next what is it, the four or the seven, then there's one other cohort. So the state tracks all of those kids in all of those other um statuses, right? So our local numbers will differ from the MD report card number. So I have here local numbers as of June 3rd, 2025. I have it broke down by St. Francis High School, Saints Academy, and Saints online. And then I did also St. Francis area schools as a whole which includes um everybody together. So I really want to make that clear. [snorts] Okay, that was reporting on 2425. What the goals moving forward? I'm sticking to the same exact ones we're doing. Um I used the end spring number to make the goal for next year. So again, um, when we get into these 80 90s for this first goal, for example, setting it to 99% didn't make sense with numbers in the data. So I just did what would be considered not a breakthrough, but just not a normal, but a regular goal set, a 3 to 5% increase, and I shot for 3% because they're on their second year of implementing a new curriculum and implementing letters training. So it'll be the same measurement tool and going from 89% to 92%. Um, again, it didn't make sense to drop the school because it is one of our areas that we work on is reading proficiency, especially in third grade. So, keeping that one along and especially since we saw a back slide, I wanted to keep it on here again. And again, doing another 10% breakthrough for the third grade reading proficiency. Uh, following uh the students with IEPs in our K5 program, they made such incredible u progress in closing that achievement gap and I stuck with that one again. and it only made sense to keep going with it because we are on the right track. So again, another 10% increase from spring's end number now moving forward to spring 2026. Uh same thing for 9th and 10th graders college and career readiness. We did backslide on that one, so I wanted to keep it again. And then finally, um, keeping in mind that the graduation rate will change, still wanted to stick to just, um, a 5% increase and make sure that I was using the locally reported numbers. We'll see those final numbers in March and we have them and we take them into consideration, but just want to stick with the 5% at this point because we're in the 90s for that graduation rate. Um finally this goal for this year um those sixth graders and now seventh graders we want to see their career and college readiness skill improve improved from um 69% to 79%. And I think that is it. That is ker. We call it ker. It works way better than wubble for world's best workforce. So I'm really happy for the acronym change. >> Were there any questions or comments? I know I went fast but you had access to the report ahead of time. >> Yes. Yes, please. Um, I'm not political, but in Minnesota, which is considered one of the more progressive states and like forefront of education, it surprised me when I heard the data, not from this report, but um, previously on news, uh, internet, blah, blah, blah, everything that, um, Minnesota has one of the largest disparities of the achievement gap. Do you have any insight as to why that is? uh insight as to why I know but as we saw with Heidi's report we are in St. Francis specifically making great strides to closing those because we didn't close it just in one subgroup right as you saw from Heidi we closed it in four and now I'm reporting on a fifth group that we are closing that achievement gap >> so are you confident that even though I mean even what we're doing and we're continually doing it and we're working in the right direction that at least in our little um bubble here in St. Francis that we are going to hopefully address this uh achievement gap because it sounds I I Aren't you surprised? >> We are. >> Weren't you surprised that the state of Minnesota is one of the worst for the achievement gap? >> I have no comment. >> I'm very surprised at that. Um and not afraid to say that. Um you know, it seems like um the people in charge have the corner of the market on what they think uh and I'm talking governmentally, not you, uh on what's right for education. and yet here we are bragging that we're so welcoming, but we are by far the wor one of the worst uh in the achievement gap. That is very concerning and I it was completely surprising to me. Um >> we're moving the needle the right way here in St. Francis. >> Couldn't agree more. Thank you for that. I do have more but I'm going to go through it. >> Miss West. >> Yes. >> I love the data. >> Yeah. I love seeing the growth. You know, obviously we're not thrilled about when we're falling backwards. And I appreciate the tracking of of the data that is not required anymore by the state because we can't we can't continue to measure growth if we don't continue to provide the data and our our um community needs to see that improvement. Um so, thank you for that. >> Yes. And keep in mind that graduation one always makes me super nervous because of the MDE reporting and other things. So any questions, please just email me. Yes, Mr. Hump. >> So here's another one that surprises Okay. >> Oh, sorry. >> Here's another one that surprises me. Um the goal that all students read by third grade no longer legislatively. Do these people not pay attention? What's the story? They want to because of the readact we're shifting to we have a much more thing to do. >> Yeah. >> What does that mean? >> We have um well the read act so we are focusing on all my thoughts are leaving my brain. Um the readact kind of covers all of what the third grade proficiency was going to cover. So it seems redundant to have both which they actually just made it kind of easier. And then uh the preparing students to be lifelong learners was one they wanted to shove in because we want to shift to creating students who can function outside of our education system and outside of our state of Minnesota or outside of our school systems. Um uh I have probably more information. It's just all escaping me at this moment. So I can follow up later and I'm sure if Stacy had the floor she would have some pieces to answer but >> certainly it just surprised me. I mean everyone in the reading reading reading and I personally think there's nothing more important than reading. like I can't shut up about reading. Uh and uh my son um just on his ACT got a 36 out of 36 on his reading part of it. So that's a testimony. I'm not trying to brag. I'm trying to lead by example. The reason why I ran for school board is because I kind of got it figured out with my kids and I was hoping to share that with people. Read to your damn kids early and read often and read with them and then read around them and set the example. And it just drives me crazy that people are not helping us in that fight. And it's something that we need the parents to be helping out with and we need the kids to be helping out with. Um so we can do and I I know you're trying to do your best job here and the state supposedly is trying to do its best job here too. But it's just amazing to me that uh even though we know these numbers are so droian, uh we uh it's no longer a priority. It seems no longer legislatively required. >> You know, it is a priority here in St. Francis and that's why I kept it on here because it doesn't just go away because the state or the law changed. So I wanted to keep it forefront and by putting it here in this board packet I'm also memorializing it and um once we're finished here tonight Dax and I will work together to get updated on our website where it doesn't leave. So this will stay here and it will show um the people of the world and our community that St. Francis area schools values reading no matter what grade level you are. >> Amen. And I also appreciate Miss and her address on that same thing with the superintendent and critially in all these uh it seems all the educators um fullront on this and all hands on deck but we need the help of the parents. Read to your kids. It's simple, it's easy, it's the most important thing you will ever do. Um please please please read to your kids. Thank you Sam for leading the way. >> Any other comments or questions? Okay. So before we do our vote on the goals, um I think our data coordinator likes data as well. So this is great, right? >> It's a good >> and uh thank you. We have seen improvement over the last three years. I'm excited to see the next two years. So thank you for being here three years and the work that you're doing towards that. Okay. So uh we do have an action item uh with us. It is the goals for the 2025 2026 comprehensive achievement and civic readiness or capar plus one. Okay. Could we keep the >> uh So, is there a call to motion to approve? >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Working. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing no discussion. Uh if you are in favor, signify by saying I and raising your hand. >> I motion. Thank you. Thank you, Sam. Our next agenda item, just for those of you, um, my nose is super active right now with smoke smell. Uh, so Brandon did go and check the entire building. Our building is fine. That smell is coming from outside. It's definitely coming from outside. Smells like Thank you, Brandon. >> Agenda item 7.2, approval of nutrition services work agreement. A summary of the agreement is provided in the board packet and Nelson is here to answer any questions. Is there any questions prior to a motion? See no questions. Is there a call to motion for approval of the nutrition services work agreement as presented? >> Anderson there second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Shaun. Any discussion on that motion, Mr. Sh? >> Not really on this, but [clears throat] what number agreement is this? This is number four. That's coming. We have a fifth tend. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? Okay. Uh do you need a roll call for this? Okay. Uh if you are in favor of the motion, say by saying I and raising your hand. I motion prevails unanimously. Thank you. Our next agenda item is upcoming meetings and preliminary topics. Any questions or comments about the upcoming meetings or topics? Okay. Uh we will be adding a as superintendent talked about with the community engagement task force, we'll be adding a meeting. Uh currently it looks like availability for almost everyone on Wednesday, February 4th. Wednesday, February 4th. Uh we would plan for an hour and a half, but most likely uh two hours uh because there will probably be some good discussion that comes out of that. Will not be here. >> That's at 6:30. >> Uh tenatively, yes, 6:30 for right now. And again, we're going to let the that group continue to drive this process. So if they uh determine like they did before, they need more time, we'll push that meeting as well. uh as they go forward. >> A work session or actual meeting. >> Uh there will be no action items. So we'll call it probably work session. [clears throat] >> All right. Uh agenda item nine, school board member reports. Member Anderson. Um just negotiations. >> I got enough negotiations. I do want to give Brandon a shout out for all his work. Impressive decision. >> Mr. Uh yeah again thank you fantastic job and administration for the support for our program. That's all I got to share. Thank you Mr. Sean. So I got the delegate assembly resolutions which we applied for two of them. MSBA is urging passage of one and opposes another. So, they're opposing the voter one where they say they don't want us to be able to nominate or just vote in ourselves if there's no extra candidate. Um, they just feel like the public would be left out of the loop and wouldn't be able to write in a candidate was kind of their rationale behind it. But our treatment facility one they support. So, we'll see that. We vote on that on December 6. So give you a report after that. Um mock interviews, we already went over that. Madricals went there. It's just amazing that the kids basically do everything. They write the I don't want to call it a play, but they write the script. They set up everything. And it's just a fun night that And if you haven't been there, go and watch one. It's really fun. Um, winter sports are in full effect. Girls basketball has their first game at home tomorrow night. So, got nothing going on. Be at the gym. >> What time? >> Varsity is at 7 and JB 5:30. Um, what else we got? Oh, Thanksgiving this week. Good luck to all those that are traveling. Um, and just enjoy your Thanksgiving. And then I also we talked about possibly making a recommendation about the school calendar. Um, I was going to pass out some stuff just to read over in case we do make a recommendation down the line. >> That'd be great. >> All right, that's it. Thank you, >> Miss West. >> Um, Friday, December 5th, 5:30. Um, well, we'll start over. Friday, December 5th is the Oak Grove Tree Lighting Event. Food trucks will start serving at 5:30 and the St. Francis Choir will be performing at this event. It's at the Oakrove City Hall. Um, food trucks again start at 5:30 and the tree lighting happens at 6 between 6:30 and 7. [cough] [clears throat] So, invite everybody to attend. They always do a fantastic job. the choir desk. It's always really good and it's a good event. >> Thank you. Said trees get lit between 6:30 and 7. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh my update uh attended teacher negotiations uh that's continuing to chug along. uh EA negotiations uh they have uh filed for mediation uh for the EA negotiate negotiations. So EAS have filed for mediation. We do not have any date set yet for that. Uh community engagement task force as superintendent mentioned it slightly. Uh but there is I want to make sure everyone knows that the district has a facility planning website uh that is providing updates of each of those meetings as well as long as well as videos and other uh documents that are presented to that group. That's for all of the public to be able to see. that is part of the master planning and there's some more detailed information on the tax impact as well. All of us have been given questions about the tax impact. Uh there is a response from the district as well as uh information on the website that breaks down uh what we pass as a board. Uh and then uh going into the hopes and dreams uh the two that were picked tonight were actively listen to students and help them reach their goals. Uh I think that is a uh awesome hopes and goals for all of us not just our students and our staff but uh as well as board members and district staff and community members uh that are participating. And then the other one just said building relationships. Uh so as uh we learned tonight um with some highlights of Jack uh in building relationships from day one, from the first time you meet someone, how important those relationships are as we continue to go forward. And that stretches far outside of our facilities. And then I wanted to highlight one thing. Uh I've got to do a small site visit at East Bethle Elementary, uh specifically looking at fourth grade classroom areas, but got to see the entire school again. Uh and they had um a kindness jar event. Uh they had a jar hanging up on the wall, paper jar that the students and staff could fill with kindness that they saw throughout the day uh throughout the week. Uh something leading up and uh there was some really good things that I saw on there and I was going to share those. So uh this is from a uh teacher. My student showed up showed so much respect learning names and sounds. Wow. Uh so again I got to watch uh the ULI that principal Gibby showed us with the literacy and some of the stuff got to see it in action. It was so much fun that I wanted to sit down and actually sound out what they were doing as well. It was really the kids uh fully had it. They understood it and it was a lot of fun to watch that. Uh the other one that I saw is wow you're doing really good. uh another student said to a student. So, a student was working with another student and that was a comment that they said. So, absolutely awesome to see our students sharing that kindness. Again, I think they get that from our staff uh as well as their parents and how they're being raised, but it was absolutely awesome to see that. Uh and then uh the other one that I I highlighted was saying thank you when you're being helped. Uh so a lot of times uh our staff help students uh far beyond just teaching right uh and when our students are out there saying thank you for the help uh that is something that's really important and I love seeing it and again we all have to do it tonight with our staff that presented and shared. So good things to see all around. Uh so that awesome kindness show. I know our other schools are doing similar things. That's just the one that I got to see. Uh last agenda item adjournment. We need a motion to adjurnn the meeting. So >> thank you Mr. Any discussion on that motion discussion. All in favor signify by saying I motion prevails. >> [laughter]