essentially what we're asking, uh, the school board to do is that, um, we're we're kind of looking for that next step, that next transition, whether it be a Minnesota State High School League sponsored activity or a uh, cooperating partner activity like some of our other um, teams are. And so we're asking the min uh South St. Paul School Board to support that emerging status. Um and essentially what that means is like with with this support when it does become a Minnesota State High School League sponsored activity or if it does, we would be committed to offering that that program.

As I presented at the finance committee, uh, we, uh, received seven bids for this project. Uh, we had, uh, one, uh, low bid. Uh, and I'm asking the board to approve that the project.

The state of Minnesota has created this funding u to pursue racial and economic integration to increase student achievement uh to promote and create equitable educational outcomes and to reduce academic disparities based on diverse uh racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.

I think that's really um there's pieces of that puzzle. One is how we set up our classrooms. Making sure that we set up the classrooms to be really affirming to all students, welcoming to all students, and doing that in a really strategic way so that um students can see themselves in the classroom before they come in. Um it's how we respond to conflicts. So making sure when there are conflicts in the classroom or when students get frustrated that we are doing so and responding in a way that affirms students and that um help takes into account what they how they might culturally respond to a conflict um and help them through the conflicts or struggles in that way. And then uh the curriculum and that's sort of the one that we uh are more familiar with um what students have access to in terms of the curriculum that students can see themselves in the curriculum.

this is one of those just extra things we do. it's the right thing to do. But I just want to give a shout out and I appreciate the county as well for partnering with us on this. Uh kids are denied school access if they aren't up to snuff on their um vaccinations. So just really nice to see that partnership and collaboration and I know I stopped by the um vaccinations earlier this year and lots of families benefited from that and said things like it was impossible to get into a doctor and we know how hard that is.

that's a lot of words there and that's because it's a legal requirement and as I shared earlier, we are eager to share information about our our bonding and uh make sure our community has all the information you need to be well informed when you make that decision. But this does take care of a legal requirement that we make sure that um we make space available, but again, we would have been doing that anyway. So, it's a it's a win-win and that's that's what that'll be.

This is um something that's partnered with the city. So Diana in the city office has her um seasoned election judges and so she's provided us a list of folks who have said they're available to work and uh we're very fortunate to be able to take advantage of their expertise in making sure that we have a fair and open election.

I just want to take this opportunity to acknowledge um first and foremost we have such an awesome community here. Um the Lions Club here has generously donated $600 for marathon t-shirts and $1,000 earmarks for school patrols. You know, it it takes a lot to to run a school district, as you know, uh but generous, kind donation from the Lions Club here goes a long way for our kids.