Good evening everyone. It is 7 o'clock and I would like to call this meeting this business meeting of the Robbinsdale Area School Board to order. We are in the business we are in the um education service center boardroom. It is Monday, October 6th, and I would like the clerk to please call the role. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Before we call the role, part of the welcome is I want to read the land acknowledgement. We acknowledge Robbinsdale Area Schools is located on the homelands of the Dakota and Ajiway people. We recognize the painful history of genocide and forced assimilation of the indigenous inhabitants of this land. We honor and respect the many indigenous peoples who live and on and hold sacred these lands and we stand with members of these nations to fight injustice in all of its forms. We uphold the preservation of Dakota and Ajiway languages, land-based education, and tribal sovereignty. Now, will the clerk please call the role? >> With pleasure. Director Basset, >> here. >> Director Bowman is here. Chair Evans Becker, >> I'm here. >> Director Hillbrand >> here. >> Director Holmes, Director Long >> here. >> Uh, Director Wuto >> here. >> And Dr. Stalo >> here. >> We have a quorum. >> Okay. Um, the next thing on our agenda is to approve the agenda. Before we approve the agenda, I would like to move to amend the agenda to add accept the resignation of a board member. So, I'm moving that. Is there a second? >> So, second. >> It's been seconded. Moved and seconded. Um, all in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. Oppose. Say nay. >> Okay. So, that the agenda is amended. Now, I I would like a motion to approve the amended agenda. >> So moved. Second. >> Moved by Bowman, seconded by Director Basset. All in favor of approving the amended agenda, please say I. >> I. >> Post say nay. We have an agenda. All right. The fun stuff. Ardale proud. Superintendent Stalo. We are delighted tonight to have uh principal uh Adams and her team with us this evening to share information regarding the words matter initiative at Sonnetson which is a schoolwide effort to teach students, staff and families the power of language um and its impact on relationships, learning and community. So welcome and thanks for being here this evening. >> Thank you for having us Dr. Stalo Chair Evans Becker and uh board members. We're excited uh to start with the mission of Robbinsdale because the mission of Robinsdale directly connects with the words matter um work that we're doing at Sonos. So the mission of Robbinsdale Area Schools is to inspire and educate all learners to develop their unique potential and positively contribute to their community. So, I'm here to talk uh about words matter and I brought a team with me because it's a team sport here at Saison. So, I brought Shelinda Sherrod, our assistant principal, and Kelly Betszel, our social worker, and they'll be sharing in the presentation a little bit. There's also some other participants that are surprised at the end. So with that um I wanted to share a little bit about why we started uh a focus on words matter. Last year we started noticing a pattern a pattern of our students using unkind words and language with each other and with grown-ups. And as we continued to examine that pattern, what we saw was kids using the best language they had at the time and we also know that when kids are sad, mad, confused, upset, frustrated, the amount of language that they have shrinks. And so what we wanted to go about doing is thinking about rather than trying to consequence kids into positive language, what if we taught the power of their language and what if we taught them habits around language. So we've embarked on a year-long schoolwide plan to teach our students how powerful their words are. Our goal is to create a culture of kindness, respect, and inclusion. And we knew that we couldn't just do it with staff and students. We needed to wrap our whole arms around the whole thing. We needed families to be involved, too. So, what does uh what does words matter look like across uh the the school year? It's organized in monthly themes. So each month we are connecting a theme with our restorative practices and with our SEAL curriculum. So for example, September we focused on just what are words and why are they powerful. October is all about kindness and action and November will be gratitude and compliments and we will go on from there. So what do students experience when they are engaging with word and matter? First, daily announcements around words matter embedded into our morning announcements. Monthly classroom lessons that have readalouds, discussions, role plays. Uh we already are deeply invested in restorative practices and so embedding this work into our daily community building circles has been a really important practice. Then we've added many schoolwide celebrations and we're embedding um some very clear language agreements. All of our teachers built clear language agreements in their classrooms. So this is an example of one of our words matter announcements from last week. We're focusing on not just using kind words but connecting them to action. Teaching them that kind words followed by an action makes a big difference. This next one is also an example and it's a challenge. This has been really fun and interesting. One of the things that we noticed is as students walked into the building or left the building, you could say good morning or good afternoon or have a good night and they just keep on walking. You can either get mad about that or feel like that's disrespectful or you can teach kids to say good morning. You too. So, we started over the course of the last couple of weeks really emphasizing using those polite words that we learn when we're little that we just need to have practice using. And I am telling you, it's been a gamecher. Mornings have always been my favorite time. Now, they say good morning. You too, and they're saying good morning to each other. We also introduced Excuse me. Today, I was working with two first graders. There had been a little incident where one kid bumped into another kid when they were both trying to put their folders away and it created some argument. And as I was processing with him, I got to the point of what could we do have done different? And the first grader said, "I could have said excuse me." Yes, he could have said, "Excuse me." Language that that first grader didn't have before this process. Here's some examples of the words matter agreements that our staff are doing in the classrooms. They're also looking at things like what kind of words build relationships and what kind of words break relationships. And then a picture of one of our classes engaged in in the community circle. With that, I want to talk a little bit about a student leadership um theme. And for that, I'm going to introduce uh Kelly Bets, our social worker. Hi. Um so, I am super excited to share about a really cool opportunity that we've given our students this year. Um and I look forward for it to come more years to come. Um so our kindness team is something that we initiated this year for our students to have a leadership opportunity in the school. Um so we're we've built a team that is going to come together um on a regular basis to engage in school projects that help encourage kindness in the school. Um we might do different volunteer opportunities, be part of those assemblies and morning announcements, all those kinds of things. Um as you can see, we had 60 student interviews. That is 73% of our fourth and fifth grade students. It took some time. Um but they were so inspirational. Um, we had students that not only shared what kindness means to them, but went deeper and talked about how kindness is a way of being having a safe community. Um, a place where we can show up authentically ourselves. Um, some of them even shared very personal stories about kindness in their own lives. Um, and some even went even deeper, I think, and were vulnerable to share experiences of when they weren't kind and how they want to be a better person every day. Um, so yeah, we're really excited to have this team show that leadership opportunity. We also because we had so many applicants are working with our climate and culture specialists so we can provide some additional leadership opportunities in other ways because clearly we have kids who want to show up for kindness at Sonos. So how are we involving families? Uh every week we're including words matter content in our newsletter. We have a family pledge that we are inviting our families to sign. We had it at open house. We had at our back to school barbecue night and we'll have it at bingo tomorrow night at Saison. We want to encourage parents to talk about language and how it's used at home, how it's used at school, and how that powerful work together can create a community of kindness. So, we're working holistically with everyone. These are some pictures. It includes our our pledge and from our back to school barbecue and our open house. So with that, I'm going to introduce Shelinda Sherrod. All right. So why does kindness matter? So research shows that students thrive in environments where they feel safe, respected, and included. When harmful language is addressed in restorative, not punitive ways, students learn responsibility and empathy. By working together, our school staff, students, and families, we are creating community where words are used to lift others up and strengthen belonging. Words matter. And here's some pictures of some of our amazing Sonos scholars and why our words matter. So our commitment, we are committed to teaching, modeling, and celebrating language that makes our school a place where every child and adult feels seen, heard, and valued. So here is the surprise at the end. If I if you can stop really quick, I'll say what this is about. [Music] Yeah, it kind is the way. We need a reminder to be kinder. The before we speak will build up, show up cuz that is what we need. kindness every day. [Music] I'm making a choice today and how I act what I say. I'm making a choice to say kindness is the way. We need a reminder to be kinder. So pause before we speak. Will always build up. Show up cuz that is what we need. Kindness [Music] away. and bring the flame. I make the choice to say this is the way it can take the cloud away. It can bring the sun away. Make the choice to say is the way. [Music] We need a reminder to be kinder. Are you glory build up? Show up. That is what we need. Take the clouds away. We can bring the sun to you. I make the choice to say kindness is the way every day. [Music] >> So that song was created by our music teacher, Mrs. Lutz, and those um individual students, our amazing son and scholars self- selected to participate and sing in the song. So there are second graders from Miss Stoka's class and fourth and fifth graders from Mr. Adanusi's class. Words matter, better words, better world. Nice. So with that, um I also have some uh some words matter work for you. So we have a family pledge for you. So you can take a look at that. And we've got some bookmarks and stickers for you to uh use as well as reminders for you all. >> That I'll take questions. >> Oh, that's wonderful. Thank you. What a great program. Um any questions? Board members. >> Questions? Uh Director Basset, >> have you seen you know those little bumblebee thingies? >> I love those from Sonnis. >> Yeah, right. Yeah, we see any. If you see any, hang on to them. Okay. Yeah, I I do have to give a shout out. This uh logo work, it was done by our um one of our EAs, Sam St. Clair, who also has a degree in graphic design. So, we got to take take advantage of her gifts, too. >> Very nice. >> Very nice. Wonderful. This fabulous. I heard this over here. Just fabulous. Well, thank you. I want to uh extend my thank you as well um not only for the presentation and the work you're all doing with your kids and for the amazing students um but thanks for kicking off Ardell proud proud this year you know when we ask principles to say hey who wants to start and do this first I love that you jumped into it knowing that this is important for all of us um to hear and to remember and I think that song might be a really good way for me to start every single one of my days. So, thank you. If we could get a photo, we have certificates. Please make sure that the students who hopefully are going to watch this performance, um, they did a fantastic job. So, thank you. [Music] >> Thank you. Should we pass them down? >> Okay. Thank you. [Music] Oh, sure. We'll do them like this so everybody knows. >> I have something too. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you for the reminder to be kinder. >> Workshop. I went to >> All right. One more. Thank you. All right. The next thing on our agenda number Oh, I should tell you um when we amended the agenda, I slipped in that new item as the new 7A under new business. And so that's where we'll be dealing with the addition to our agenda. Okay. Next up is the consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda are routine in nature and are generally enacted with one motion from the board, unless there's a person on the board who would like to remove a particular item, in which case we will remove that and vote on that with a separate motion. Items on our consent agenda tonight are um administrative, the health and dental assurance insurance renewal, um meeting minutes, the financials for the month, monthly dist distribution dispersements, and the personnel reports for licensed and non-licensed staff. So, do I have a motion uh to approve the consent agenda? >> So, moved. >> Moved by Director Hillenbrand. Is there a second? >> Second. Seconded by director Wuto. Any questions? Okay, I don't see any hands. Let's move right on to the roll call vote. It involves money, so it's always a roll call vote. >> Director Basset, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Hillenbrand, >> yes. >> Director Holmes, Director Long, >> no. and uh director Wuto. >> Yes. >> Okay. Motion carries. Uh five 2 one. >> All right. Unf unfinished business number six. We don't have any unfinished business, so we're going to move right on to new business. New business 7A is a resignation of a board member. I was given this chair Evans Becker and Vice Chair Long. I am writing to inform you about my decision to leave my position as a board member of Robbinsdale Area Schools effective immediately. After careful consideration, I have concluded that my approach to leadership, oversight, and governance is no longer aligned with the current direction of the board. This is a matter of professional and personal conscience as well as ethical standards. It has been a true honor spending time listening to and working on behalf of staff, students, and their families as well as community members who care so deeply about the district. I wish the best to all of you to you all going forward. Sincerely, Kim Holmes. Director Kim Holmes. So, do I have a move to accept the resignation of director Holmes? >> So moved. >> Moved by director Hillbrand >> and >> seconded by Director W. All in favor of accepting the resignation of director Holmes, please say I. >> I. Oppose say no. No. >> Okay. We accept the resignation of Director Holmes. And also I I want to thank her publicly for the time she spent on the board, her service to the board. Being a board member is hours and hours of commitment. And so I thank her for her hours and hours of work on the board. Now we're going to move to um the new B action, a resolution accepting the donations. Uh, is there a move to accept these donations? >> Move. Move approval. >> Moved approval by director Bowman, seconded by Director Basset. Mrs. Money. So, I don't see any hands up for discussion. Can we take a roll call vote on accepting the donations? >> Yes. Uh, Director Basset, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. Director Long, >> yes. >> And Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Okay, everyone is that's unanimous. So, we are accepting the donations and we thank the donators very much. Okay, this moves us on to item number eight, policy policy committee report. Um, and we have the first reads for quite a few policies. Uh, Director W, would you like to speak about what we're going to be looking at? Yeah. So in front of us is a first read. The policy committee convened on September 17th to continue our work. Uh as part of this process, the cabinet is actively reviewing and providing input and engaging other relevant stakeholders as appropriate. Uh we appreciate the dedication to all that are those who are involved and we are hoping that this process will continue. Uh a lot of these policies are only review. There has been no substantive changes. Uh most of it I think I circulated some documents for all of us to see uh with each of the policies. The changes that were recommended are in red. Our next meeting will be October 15. >> Okay. So we are not voting on these tonight because it's the first read. If you have concerns or questions, be sure to contact Director Wuto, Dr. Basset. And um actually it's also common that if there if you have a comment you can make it right now as well as send notes and so I will uh but I did want to just point out uh to the committee and first of all thank you for your work and thank you for this grid. I really like it. Uh we appreciate that. Um my comment kind of has to do with uh policy number 205 open meeting and closed meetings. And I noticed that um when I read through the policy uh I do think that uh I will ask the committee to take under consideration adding just one little section that I think will be clarifying. There is a section on these that talk about special meetings. Uh we do address special meetings in our bylaws and in particular I just would recommend that we include uh item refer to the bylaws in the section for the for calling meetings and include section V or five rather call and conduct of meetings section VB and uh B u does specify that um as we discussed previously and perhaps when sometime in the future we'll talk about again but uh special meetings of the board may be called by the chair clerk or any three members of the board those are our standing bylaws at this time and I think a cross reference to that in these new policies will just kind of help clarify that because there seems to be some confusion about it and so that would be something I would ask the committee to take up when you next meet. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right. Seeing no other comments on this, thank you very much for your work on this committee and we'll be voting on these at our next meeting. This brings us to number nine, administrative reports. Superintendent Stalin, take it away. >> Thank you very much and good evening, Chair Evans Becker and board directors. At Robbinsdale Area Schools, our mission is to inspire and educate all learners to develop their unique potential and positively contribute to their community. Our collective work is focused on that mission. And tonight, I'd like to share some of the work in which we've been engaged. In the priority theme of academic achievement, it's an honor to have three of our Ardell seniors, Tessa Lanak at Cooper and Raina Nerin and Allison Wadmacher at Armstrong, earn academic all-American awards from the National Speech and Debate Association. These awards celebrate their strong academic performances along with their leadership, service, and integrity within their community. Tessa, Rainer, Rea, and Allison have joined an elite group of students from across the country as fewer than 750 students annually earn this award. Our speech and debate program has a tremendous trend of success as this is the 10th consecutive year at least one Robindale student has earned this distinction. In addition uh these to these three students along with fellow Cooper senior Lily Plan and Armstrong class of 2025's Quinn Hillberg all qualified and participated in the 2025 National Speech and Debate tournament in June. They're wonderful representations of our school district and we are incredibly proud of them. Continuing in the theme of academic achievement, Cooper's newspaper, student newspaper, The Quill, continues to be an outstanding example of student engagement and journalism in Ardale and beyond. The Quill has won an international first place award from the Quill and Scroll Society, an international high school journalism honor society for the nine issues published in the 202425 school year, making it the sixth consecutive year the Quill has received an award from the society. The students that make up the Quill's staff continue to demonstrate fantastic practices and coverage of Cooper and district events through excellent writing and editing. I congratulate the Quill's student staff and their advisor Eric Sakola on their continued success and I can't wait to read this year's issues. uh in the dis district priority of student engagement and wellness. Um two of the various events I've attended uh in the last couple of weeks were the senior parent nights at both Armstrong and Cooper's boys soccer teams. Um these home games celebrated the tremendous growth of the of the students. Uh and it also honored the continued support and dedication of families and caregivers helping them succeed as students. And that's one of the things that I've noticed throughout this uh school district um is the incredible support that our students receive in the district priority of collaboration and partnerships. On Tuesday, September 30th, students, staff, families, and community members across the district showed their support of Orange T-shirt day, which honors the survivors of Indian boarding schools and remembers the ones who never made it home. It was my honor to walk with this community at the Orange Shirt Day Remembrance Walk. It was joined by uh Chair Evans Becker um at West Medicine Lake Park organized by our American Indian Education team. We shared prayer at the beginning of the walk to ground us in healing and reflection as we honored the past and walked to strengthen our future. Orange shirt day reminds us that yesterday, today, tomorrow, and every day yet to come, every child matters. On Thursday, September 18th, I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony at Fair School Crystal for their new community schoolyard. Made possible through grants from Trust for Public Land, Henipin County Ship Program, and the Seven Dreams Foundation. It was inspiring to see the fruition of four years of thoughtful planning and collaboration between our students, our staff, and our community. Uh, which result in a series of incredible outdoor spaces. Congratulations to the students and staff at Fair Crystal, as well as the 2,000 surrounding community members on their incredible new spaces. Uh, and thanks for inviting me to be a part of this. I know director uh Basset was also able to join um in that celebration. Um, in the district priority of staff investment and impact, uh, last week I had the opportunity attend to attend the Minnesota Association of School Administrators fall conference, one of the keynote spotlights, uh, focused on the dignity index. Um, a framework that really resonated with me. Um, the dignity index is a tool that scores language on a scale from contempt to dignity, helping us recognize how the words we choose can either divide or connect us. It challenges us to think about how we speak and listen and how we show respect and curiosity even when we agree or disagree. Ultimately, it's about creating cultures where dignity is the default and where every person feels seen and valued. This ties so beautifully to what we heard from the Sonison team um earlier this evening. Um, in addition to that session, I also had an opportunity to co-present with World Savvy sharing the work we've started in Robbinsdale developing our profile of an RDAL learner um, using the the data from the Reimagine Ardale Vision 2030 uh, community engagement process and I look forward to us continuing that work in the priority of staff investment and impact. It's a pleasure pleasure to share that our own Zorba Ross, principal at Fair School Crystal, has received the excellence in education award from his alma mater, the Ohio State University's College of Education and Humology. This honor is well earned by Principal Ross as he is in his ninth year of leading Fair Crystal, positively impacting the lives of students, families, colleagues, and staff who have crossed his path. His leadership has helped learning at Fair Crystal be rooted in equity in the arts, focusing both on creativity and critical thinking in his school's community. And to continue in the priority of staff uh investment and impact, Armstrong's theater team recently received a special recognition for outstanding achievement in educational theater from the Minnesota Educational Theaters Association for last fall's production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. uh many of us had a chance to attend one of those performances and certainly saw how this dedicated team along with the cast and crew of roughly a hundred students was magical and breathtaking. Um as I end I just want to uh show some gratitude um as I continue to be impressed by our staff across the district and their service to our students. Um, you may recognize on social media and other places that we have specific days that we recognize staff in various roles. Uh, today is actually National Coaches Appreciation Day. Last week was Operational Staff Appreciation Week, including uh, National Custodian Day on October 2nd. And October is designated as National Principal Month. Um, I certainly celebrate and am grateful for the work that I our staff do each and every day. Uh, and it's especially fun to recognize them on their uh, times of celebration as well. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. That's a lot. Okay, we're going to move on to reimagine Ardale Vision 2030 statutory operating debt plan work. Uh, Superintendent Stallow. >> Excellent. I'm going to go ahead and kick it off and then hand it off to uh, a couple of my colleagues. Um, as a reminder to board members and to our community, at the study session on September 23rd following uh the vision team's presentation, the school board provided direction to the administration to begin acting on the draft timelines outlined for both the statuto statutory operating debt plan and the reimagine 2030 work. So, we're trying to be responsive to what we heard um all of you say. uh we know that there's been a lot of information shared and that's one of the reasons we have 10 meetings planned between now and mid December uh to make sure that we have enough time to work through the processes that need to be worked through. Um the board obviously received the vision team recommendations. We provided the timeline uh in which we must be engaged over the next several months um for you all to have the information that you need um and for us to ensure that we have plenty of time for community engagement. So here again is the shortterm timeline that we're prioritizing right now. I'm going to ask uh chief financial officer Hohheisle to review the statutory operating debt planning including where the finance advisory council and the board connect on their work. And after she's completed, I've asked assistant superintendent Dr. McDow to provide an overview of how we want to stay in front of all of your requests um and our shared goal of community engagement. So with that, I'm going to hand it over to uh CFO Hoheisel. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Salo. Chair Evans Becker, board directors, um what could you to the next slide is the SOD planning process. You have seen uh this on the September 23rd presentation by Dr. McDow. Ultimately, just looking at the buckets, how does this work? How does this play out? And when looking at it, you can see that the end the end result has to be done and uh submitted to the Department of Education January 31st of 2026. The areas that that the SOD plan in and of itself needs to address. So, you know, keep this as your framework as we work through as a board how to essentially how to create a statutory operating debt plan. We need to have uh clear financial projections. We need to have and and that will have to be addressed in the plan. We need to have specific strategies that will be addressed in the plan. And then we need to have multi-year framework monitoring and accountability which means we have to have a plan of how we're going to do that. And then we don't get this is not a one and this plan will be refreshed and revisited as we go through the year. But I believe there is a submission annually to the department of education. So the first step is the clear financial uh projections. Now we had had a conversation, it's been a a while ago now about what is the role in the financial advisory council and how do they play into uh supporting the board's work. And at that time it was discussed and agreed upon by the board that that they wanted to listen to the committee's recommendation. And so the timing of the financial advisory council is we are set to meet. It's essentially every two weeks, two weeks in October, two weeks in November to solely focus on and talked about this at uh the se September 23rd meeting as well. Solely focus on what are our assumptions. This work would be done by the finance advisory council regardless of us being in an SOD planning state. But because we are the board maybe is more intimately involved. So the plan would be for the council to discuss what student enrollment projections do they believe as a collective we should move forward with in a one to threeyear budget cycle. Do we believe the student count is going to go down? Are we going to be heavier at the elementary level to the secondary? They'll be working through that work. They will also be discussing unrestricted revenue projections. Do they think that legislatively, you know, we might get 10% from the state of Minnesota? I mean, making it up. All of this revenue work is set for the first two meetings. Um, and then the expenditure work would be the second two meetings. But if we move quicker, it will come quicker. And so the plan would be as the council is working through this information and developing what they believe the district should use as its assumptions, it will then come in front of the board to say this is what we believe to be true or what we would believe you should follow. Do you want to do that work? Now, the one thing I would ask of the board is if the plan as far as the committee or the council's work has changed and you are no longer comfortable with not working through this information as a collective unit, as a board, you want to do that as this group and not the advisory council. Please tell me now because I will stop that council's work and we will do this focused work at the board level. if that makes sense to everyone. Uh, the next slide, please. Molly, >> well, do you want us to say yes, we're comfortable right now? >> I would say I would say I would certainly love a discussion at least by the end of the presentation, and it can be right now. um in part because again that they are set to begin their work on Wednesday and I just don't want um I don't want to use people's time and make a significant investment in research and dialogue and coming in on nights if the board decides that they are at least as it relates to this subject area they're not they would prefer to do the work themselves I think that's appropriate if that is decide that decided tonight in some capacity So, do we have consensus that we would like the FAC to work on these projections and work through this as it's been shown to us? Nods, nods, nod, nod. Yes. No. Nod. Nods. Nods from all board members. Right. Director pass. >> Nod. And I do have a a question. And so my question is because these um and we're talking about the budget and so these the the items that were up there just before this changed before this slide changed uh really kind of talked about um fiscal assumptions. >> Yes. >> And very appropriate for the finance advisory council. But what comes to my mind is um wondering about the intersection between programming and facility because um both will inform the fiscal projections they pollinate each other. So at what place um does that discussion come together? So specifically to that and and in part just because there is such a a facility conversation with the reimagine work and that is kind of the board's work. We will move on to the to the next one of the strategies as far as what is now moving away. So a large financial assumption component on the revenue side will be the FAC because again that's annual work. That's work they would do um regardless of of the board creating a statutory operating debt plan. As far as it relates to programming and uh potential school closure, that is the board's work. And so what the committee would be doing but you know you see school school closures uh contingency budding bud uh excuse me easy for me to say uh contingency budgeting which is you know what if what if we do have unexpected costs what if we do have revenue shortfalls board work. The expenditure side of what the committee will be working on are things like do we believe again what would be standard assumptions do we believe that utility costs are going to go up 5%. Do we believe that transportation just typical annual budgeting sort of assumptions, school closures, programming, >> staffing will not be that committee or that council's work. >> Fine. And I and I get that. So that's why my question was the intersection and how do you scaffold up? >> Yeah. >> So that the intersections come together. So the intersection of that >> and maybe and if I might um so I I'm believing and I could be I'm certainly can be wrong that there is a different conversation that needs to be had about programming and all of that. And so then the alignment and the timing about when that >> when that overlap happens and when they come together or not >> intentionally and so be helpful to me to envision how that all happens because or what the plan is and so is that coming in the slide and and I you know made a little pre premature here but >> no I actually don't think you're premature but I think it lends itself to the first slide of the short-term timeline. line because what will happen is as the the council is doing their work and coming forward with their assumptions, the board will be doing its work as it relates to um you know what are what are options that we can do as looking at school closure and uh ultimately programming with facilities. So, it's kind of it's it's going to scaffold um as they're off doing what they're doing and trying to get those numbers. the board will then be working on the other side and and we'll keep intersecting that information so ultimately it develops. >> Okay. So it may not be known right now but I think for me what would really be helpful for me is to understand because I I and a couple of others serve on that finance advisory council. So what would be helpful to me is to understand the pacing and the timing and the subject matter that's going to be talked about on the program side so that it informs what I may or may not think is a good idea on the physical side. It it's you can't do that for me I can't do that in the abstract without understanding kind of where we're going. So um so that would be really helpful to have a a det I don't say detailed because it's will still it's a work in progress that I believe. So if it's a work in progress I don't expect it immediately but that's the kind of presentation that would really help me to get to a decision at the end of the day. >> Thank you. I we have other board member with question but I want to hold off other questions from the board till you're finished with your presentation except for superintendent st >> I just wanted to we don't have it in this slide deck but um we did in the last slide deck we had a more detailed timeline between now and December right that that time that we have to get the statutory operating debt plan uh submitted I think some of again if you recall what we're dealing with right now is really the short term and the short term is what are those decisions that have to happen right now between now and January when we submit that statutory operating debt plan. Some of the other decisions, some of the programming decisions, some of the longer term decisions we're going to be making after that. So there's some immediacy >> and then there's some of the other longer term that come from those vision recommendations. Well, superintendent, if I chair, if I might, I just have a comment to the superintendent's comments. So, I I guess if I might, I think that um because we've been on such a tight timeline and the board just got the report last meeting. So, uh and we will continue to be on a tight timeline. I think that the sooner we can begin to build out what some of that looks, you know, discussed maybe, you know, because you if you have that, then maybe that should be kind of top priority. Well, I'm asking that it be a top priority to talk about it because the recommendations that we got from the committee uh are not necessarily the ones because we know it's a draft, the ones that we will all embrace each each of the six or seven of us will embrace. And if that's not the case, what are we don't have options. We didn't get a list of options to do and I think I understood that options will come from the work we do. So I'm just saying it's you can't come up with options if you don't have some you know content. >> Okay. So we're going to hold any other questions or comments until you're finished with your presentation. All right. CFO Hisel take it away. >> Thank you. And I in in in fairness I did open myself up to to dialogue. So that's that one's on me a little bit. Um and then as we move to specific strategies which is the next folder it is it's more of board and administration work. It is the building closures the contingency budgeting and the staffing. The final folder um is the multi-year framework and that is where the action plan to remove SOD uh we describe you know what we're going to do with budget adjust adjustments and how to get to how to recover and to be stable as financially as a district and then the special financial operating plan. This is actually fancy words for it's an Excel spreadsheet that we're going to do in um as part of the SOD plan that's prepopulated with like prior year numbers and then we plug in all the information, the numbers. So then the Department of Education can see at the end of the day, this is where you think you're going to be at the end of year one. This is where you think you're going to be at the end of year two. Again, it's it's verbiage that they use, but that's what you're looking at. So you're looking at a multi-step process. One of them is an Excel spreadsheet. The rest is more narrative on why how you got to something and why you chose that and what is ultimately the plan. That is what the SOD plan is in its entirety. And again, it's no different than any other budget. It it we adjust, change, pivot as we see fit. That's addressed within within the um document in and of itself. The final slide that I have uh tonight for my piece is the clarity of the different funds and and and I wanted just to start laying out um what we does and what the decisions that are made and where it could potentially impact when we look at the different buckets that are up there. you look at the general fund impact and limits when you and I'll say for example when you are were to be if you were to close a building things that impact the general fund are your staffing do you still have administrative staff do you still have support staff do you still have custodial staff do you still have the volume of utilities you were using garbage services all those things that is all an impact to our general fund whatever we do it might increase in some buildings because they're absorbing more students. I mean, whatever we do, that's a uh impact to your general fund. When we talk about facility considerations, should we at some point do decide to sell something we own, that facility, that land, that building does not impact our general fund. We've already done something to impact that. If we were to sell this building, that goes into a capital account. It does not go into the So, we couldn't sell this building for, you know, $200,000 and say, "Oh, here here this helps out the general fund." It does not. But what it does do is it provides opportunity then to this one might actually impact the last bucket, the debt restructure. If we were to go out for a uh referendum, a bonding question, we can apply that dollar those dollars to the debt restructure. So you can take if something were to sell a piece of land or a building, you can apply it to your debt, what you owe, you can apply it to remodel or build, but it doesn't go into your daily operations. A physical asset is a physical asset is a physical asset. And then finally, the additional benefits. the this is the general fund, but what's interesting about it to me is um the approach and and naturally so people hear reductions and it's a deficit mindset, but you very well could have additional programming or different programming because the money follows the kids. So what you receive in reductions in one might actually increase or make it more robust as far as additional benefits. And I think that's the element that gets a little bit confusing. It's really hard to explain, but as we work our way through this process, it's the if then. The if then, you know, it's it I I hate to say it's like when people, you know, do you go to your do you go to um a small store? Do you go to a volume store? The volume store can get things at a discount because there's more there. I mean, it it's not a great assessment and it's a it's a poor analogy if you were to put it in the paper cuz that creates a bunch of different feelings, but ultimately saying reductions in one can be used to pivot and not necessarily mean hurt or reductions in another. It gives you a little bit more option. So, just wanted to identify maybe some clarity on how things impact and I'll continue to work on that as we work our way through uh the SOD plan in and of itself. At this point, I will turn it over to Dr. Dr. McDow. >> Thank you. So the next piece we have related to both the statutory operating debt planning and ultimately um to the question around a potential bonding referendum is a preliminary residential survey. So Robinale previously has used Morris Leatherman uh to do surveys. Uh we have shared with the in the board packet. So, uh, it's it's public and the board has had, uh, a chance to see this, but we've asked, uh, Peter Leatherman to put together what would be considered an initial atmospheric survey. Uh, really would cover, uh, through 57 questions, a general perception of the community has of the Robbinsdale schools. It then would go into uh taking a perception of what's a tax tolerance level based on certain factors. Uh pretty typical for these type of surveys. No matter when you do them, uh these are this is how it starts out. And then uh it would go into general perceptions that the public has of the reimagine Ardell 2030 recommendations. So what Peter has done is put questions uh towards the back end of the survey that ask and try to establish what's the perception from the general community of all of our communities of what they know about reimagine 2030 and then from what they know about what do they think about those recommendations. Um and then there's some general demographic questions in there. So even for the community, this is part of the the board packet for tonight. Uh it's a draft. Uh the reason we're doing this is because we need to get in front of all of the conversations. Um, and one thing we want to ascertain is to what degree does the totality of the community have a perception of all of these things as we enter into conversations with you as a board so that you have the best information from a valid and reliable survey going into this. Uh typically we we may not do this this soon, but considering that if you remember the long-term planning involves potentially going out for a referendum at some point, it will behoove the board to understand at this point where is the baseline the community's at because if if there if the tolerance isn't there to do X, then it doesn't make sense to have this conversation. However, if it is, then that right, it's that domino piece. If we the more we know, the better conversations we can have and the better decisions that you can make as a board. The one thing that I would ask the board um that because you've had a chance to look at it is um as soon as possible um if there are any additional uh things that you would want to have as part of the survey simply because it takes about two weeks for the survey to be administered. And I do have Peter scheduled currently to be at the November 3rd board meeting. So, as we're looking at all those timelines, right, and as I laid out the the 11 pieces in order for you to have as much information in a timely fashion, it and given that it takes about two weeks for the the call center to do the survey, the timing works to would work to have Peter here on the 3 to be able to talk you through the results, what they mean, what information you can take by them or take from them. >> Thank you. And we would end tonight uh just reminding everyone again of the short-term timeline and where we're at. So right now we're in October and the plan is to do exactly what we are doing which is to get to a spot where um the Kristen is or CFO Hole Heisel is working uh on the finance side and then on the operational side we're starting to put together what potential options there would be for you as a board to consider and trying to get that all organized so that at the end of November uh we can we can make some decisions uh as a collective. >> Thank you. Okay, we do have a couple of board members with questions. Uh Director Long, you were first. >> Yeah, if we could go back to slide four about the FAC. Um so I was just wondering with the student enrollment projections, I'm wondering if at all possible we could find out too, sorry I wrote it down because I wasn't sure if I remember. um what schools might be most impacted by open enrollment and what those projections might be going forward. >> Open enrollment in or out? >> In. >> In that it >> Okay. Director Helen Brand. >> Yeah. My questions just had to do with the Morris Leatherman survey. So okay so when he comes uh when uh Peter Leatherman comes he's presenting the results. So then my questions are um I I I know he's highly respected. He's been in the business for a really long time works with lots of schools but at this point the efficacy of phone surveys because most of us don't answer the phone if we don't know who's calling at this point. Um just curious have you talked to them about that and how that plays out in the efficacy of these surveys at this point? I I'm just really curious about that because I know I don't and I I don't know how many of us do at this point. >> From my understanding in talking uh with Peter Leatherman, it's a question they get all the time. um and they have created a database that works and continues to work and they have a significantly high response rate um and are able to to talk to people uh directly and I think it has great impact on the accuracy of the results of the survey is actually having the the uh phone conversations uh and as you can see the scripting that that comes with it >> and not just senior citizens I mean I love we need the opinions of our senior residents they pay taxes, too. But some of these pieces, right, like we need to hear from parents of students and right, I I'm just trying to make sure that it's going to be a really representative sample. >> And like I said, I fully respect the work that they do. I I appreciate I've seen great results from their work. I'm not casting any dispersions on their or aspersions on their work, but >> um so they're going to be doing it now in the next couple weeks then is what you're saying and then the results will come on. >> Yes, that's correct. They will um their their methodology and Peter will explain that in part of his presentation, but it will be representative of the communities that Robinale Area Schools serves. they have a whole uh scientific method behind it u to provide uh valid and reliable data. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Director Long. >> Yeah, I have another question. Uh slide seven, when we were talking about the buckets, I'm wondering if we have an investment bucket at all, if we have any investments at all. We have a series of investments that impact different buckets. So we do have and and I'm just thinking of what we have today, right? Like we do have cash that if we don't need immediately, we do an investment. That's our operating or general fund. Um we do have um investments in OPE. We do. So we do have a couple of categories where we actually have money invested if that's what you're asking, Director Long. or do I am I missing the actual question? >> Yeah. Well, and I would I'm kind of wondering too like what are the ba what's the balance in those investments that we have and how any of those might come to play in some of the decisions that we have to make. Unfortunately, the balance is decreasing. And I'm more than I will respond with an with an official answer. Uh uh just as a a general comment is those balances are decreasing because our cash flow um scene we're we're in we're we're in statutory operating debt. We're going based on what I'm seeing for um preliminary audited numbers, our unassigned fund balance is going to be close to $11 million, which means we're getting into a point where we're cash we cash flow is going to becoming a problem. So invest the the investment vehicle is lessening for us. Um oh, also our long-term facility maintenance bonds that we've issued is another investment that we haven't really used that is actually gaining interest within the that investment. Um, so it is decreasing and it's decreasing rapidly where I'm actually a little bit concerned that we might have to borrow uh just for cash flow purposes. Um, but I'm more than happy to provide balances of where we are today with those dollars amount dollar amounts and uh I anticipate that the audit um will be presented to the board uh the first meeting in November. So you will also have a very comprehensive picture of where all of our money is at least as of June 30th of 25. Director Basset. >> So, um, so my question kind of has to do with, um, as we kind of I know there's been some effort on reconfiguring the finance advisory council. We were down a couple of members and, uh, trying to, you know, um, recruit some more people to be on that committee. Uh, and then also, um, historically, of course, that has been a board committee, meaning that the board commissioned the committee in the first place. Uh so I'm not quite sure how the agenda is being developed for for the work that that committee will do. So I'm wondering about how uh that will work uh how much forecasting of the agenda will we have and the content of the kinds of things that will be on it because in order for the scaffolding to be effective issues have to be addressed that have impact. So that's kind of one question. And I'm not necessarily looking for an answer right now because the chair of the finance advisory committee is not here, you know, but uh I would imagine our treasur is and so I would imagine that there'll be some conversation about what that content looks like and I'm I'd be interested in knowing what how that will go and how you get input into that. Um, so the other question I that I have kind of uh goes to um options. The report that we've got from um the reimagine committee is one that uh I I think I heard everybody else, but I know I appreciated the work that they did. Uh but there was really one primary option that was pre presented and so um there was not an option or scenario that really talked about when we talk about new build there are other models of what new build could look like. It's not necessarily high school. So I'm wondering to what extent and in what committee and in what forum will those kind of conversations take place? And I'm believing that perhaps it will be from the board's some of the board's work that I've heard alluded to, but I have no sense of when, how, and what. And it's that kind of data that can help inform everything. >> Superintendent D. >> Yeah, slide five, I think, was the intent of this presentation. And if you go back to slide five again, I think that's talking about um uh CFO Hohheisle talked about how the FAC fits in and then specific to building closures, contingency budgeting and staffing. That is the work that the board will do with administration over the next two months. So, that's one of the reasons um you know, we added those uh three additional long study sessions that we're not putting anything else on the agenda except the starting with next Monday night. >> Well, I I really appreciate that. And would next Monday night then be the time to well before that or to for questions that we have that might uh or information that we might think we might need? I guess that's what I'm wondering about. how do I make the request for information I might need? And because for example, if we if we have some thoughts about uh closures uh and uh what does the financial picture look like? What does the cost look like? What are some of the factors? I'm not asking for it right now, but if we were to do A, B, and C, what's the impact of that fiscally? And then um you know so that really is the rope we have to do. We don't have a choice you know and so uh so then seeing this is helpful but you know I'm really more of a tactile person. So, I mean, that doesn't really tell me, but I'd like to know what route you'd like us to take to get those questions to you and the time frame and what the agenda, how you would see the agenda unfolding so that we're working together, you know, and not with any surprise questions, but um, you know, that we actually have the data we need to actually be able to make a decision. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. And we'll we obviously we're a week away from that. So as soon as possible so that we can be prepared with the information that's going to be most useful. Obviously we've been also working since those recommendations come come forward um from an administrative team and meeting and talking about what does make sense. So we'll be bringing forward some ideas to you but certainly information that you think would be helpful um or needed uh I would say ASAP please. Yes, that'd be great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Oh, Kristen, >> I would if if if I could, I would like to address your question as far as it relates to the FAC agenda and how that was established. Um it it so because the bylaws have been suspended and our membership as far as board appointed people have uh declined. I had um honestly taken it upon myself to say to every uh bargaining group that we have um they would have the option to have one member sit at the committee table with us, right? because different lenses from people working within the district, what is, you know, what is their lens coming out of their particular groups, their lobbying, whatever. >> Um, and so membership, at least as far as this year goes, that was open to all groups. Some chose to send a member or are sending a member, others have not. >> Um, the piece of how was the agenda formed, it was by me. I know the revenue assumptions that if it were me or anyone else that needs to be made annually to create a um all of the line items of a budget. And so I was the one who created to say here are the questions that we need to um have materials for be able to discuss and ultimately come to uh some form of consensus with. So that came that is not the the chair anymore or necessarily the duties. It's being run different this year. >> Chair Dr. Bass follow up. So um to the point that this actually initially was a board committee be that it may that it's down or whatever. I guess I would really like to see a robust effort to reach out into the community to get some community people on that committee. One of the uh one of the some feedback that that I hear and maybe others do as well is how um the desire of community members to be part of some of the committees that we have and some feeling that it's uh overly populated by staff. >> Okay. And so I think that and I haven't seen any flyer and I know that uh director Vento as our former treasurer used to send out notices and try to get us some new people and I don't know that I've seen an initiative to do that. We need some citizens on that committee, not just the bargaining units and the people because it's really at the end of the day the taxpayers are going to pay. And um and from what I heard tonight from many of our constituents, they represent more constituents because they have the children, you know, and so I think that input for people to understand what's happening financially is vitally important. It's I'm really glad that you invited some of our bargaining units cuz I love labor. Okay. you know, I mean, quite frankly, I do, you know, but the reality is that the public needs to be involved. And that's one of the hallmarks of that committee and I will be maybe uh I'll turn it to the treasurer because that typically has been the treasur's area to kind of get the word out and beat the bushes to have some people. And so I appreciate that you, you know, you're moving us along as fast as we need to go. You're doing your job. >> So I applaud that. the board needs to do is, you know, and so that's part of the board's work is to make sure we we make that happen. So maybe they're not going to be at the first meeting, citizens, but a robust effort to try to get some folks in there. Thank you. All right, seeing no more hands, thank you very much. And I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about this next week at our study session. Okay, thank you. All right, moving on to number 10. Uh, board committee report, board committee reports and board reports. I would like to start with director Wuto because you were facilitating listening session tonight. >> Yeah. So, we had 15 speakers. Um, one was about restorative practices and a grant opportunity uh for the district to partner with uh if we are interested. Uh we had nine speakers uh in favor of keeping the magnet programs in the district. Uh we have a speaker talked about the large class sizes in the district. And then we have one speaker with two topics. One on the lack of teaching in one of our high schools. Uh second one was the safety and security and was wondering what the board was doing. And then we had a speaker talked about concerns about making sure all voices are heard at the board table. And then the last speaker discuss the vision team and how the staffing at the proposed staffing for the proposed changes in the district uh will happen for the fine acts and to make sure that we are copying the uh previous staffing models that were in place at fair NC. >> Thank you. Um anything else to report? >> Uh no. >> Okay. Thank you, Director Basset. Um, in the interest of time and I know we have a closed session, then I will um pass. I will say that I enjoyed today uh being over at u um Fair Crystal and um actually we were invited the board was and I know you all got the same invite that I got that you know I got the superintendent was present but um I I have to say that students were invited to talk with um um Congresswoman Omar. Those students asked some of the best questions and I think they were sixth graders, were they not? Do you remember? But I think they were. But those students asked some of the best. They asked great questions. They're very respectful. They covered a wide range of things that they wanted to know about. Um, Congresswoman Omar was very candid with them. uh in the questions that they asked her the maturity level of the questions they asked and her answers met which is a joy to see and so um I think I just want to say that uh for to this board uh I was so proud of them uh and to know that we have students who are that have that much critical thought and uh they are asking the right questions because it's their future that we all have a duty to And so I just want you to know that that was that was worth making a comment on tonight. I really appreciated being there and thanks for letting us know and making sure we knew about that, Super. I appreciate it. So that's it. >> Thank you, Director Basset. And uh just one comment for me, seeing the picture of the whole group up there for the orange shirt day, that was very moving to see that. I mean, that was a quite a moving night, but seeing everybody up by the lake behind us was a brought it all back. So that was a great night. Uh, Director Long, >> I have uh two committee meetings coming up this week, Tuesday and Thursday. >> So, I'll tell you after. >> Dr. Brand, >> I think I'll pass. >> I will also pass. >> That finishes offboard reports. Okay. Which brings us to the closed session. The Minnesota Open Meeting Law, Minnesota statute section 13D.05, 05 subdivision 3B allows the school board to close a meeting to engage in attorney client privilege discussions related to a lawsuit entitled Brooks versus Robbinsdale Area School Board. The board seeks to meet with its attorney to discuss the claims, defenses, and strategy for responding to the lawsuit. It would be detrimental to the district's interests for the board to hold a public discussion with its attorney or any adverse party or their attorney could listen to or be made aware of the attorney's advice related to the litigation. It is in the district's best interest for the board to obtain legal advice in a confidential setting to maintain the attorney client privilege. Accordingly, I will hereby entertain a motion that this meeting be closed pursuant to the attorney client privilege for the reasons cited. Do I move? >> Moved by director Bowman. >> Second. >> Seconded by director Hillbrand. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Oppos say nay. >> All right. We are now in close session, which means we need to clear the room. >> Thank you. >> Can I grab food? >> Yes. We will start the close session at 8 And we are back from our closed session. And so I would like to entertain a motion to adjourn our meeting. >> Move approval. >> Second. >> Moved by director Bowman to adjourn. Seconded by director Basset. All in favor of adjourning, please say. I >> I >> oppose say no. We are adjourned and it is 8:48. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I might have to stop calling us this motion. >> Okay.