I know [applause] she's being a bit aggressive. >> Good evening. It is 7:05 p.m. and I would like to call this meeting of the Robinsdale Area School Board to get to order. Today is Monday, January 5th, 2026. We are in the Education Service Center boardroom. I am Gita Evans Becker, the acting school board chair. I would like to start by reading our land acknowledgement. We acknowledge Robinsdale Area Schools is located on the homelands of the Dakota and Ojiway 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 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. And with that, I would like to have the clerk call the role. >> Thank you. Um, Director Basset, >> here. >> Director Bowman Marks herself is here. Chair Evans Becker, >> I am here. Director Hillenbrand >> here. >> Director Long >> here. >> Director Wuto >> here. >> Dr. Stalo >> here. All right, we are we are all here. The first thing up is approval of our agenda. Do I have a move to approve our agenda? >> I'll move approval. >> Moved by Director Bowman, seconded by >> Second. >> Director Hillenbrand. All in favor of approving this agenda, please say I. >> I. Oppose. Say nay. >> We have an agenda. Good news. Next item on our agenda is the ceremonial oath of office for our newly appointed schoolboard director, DJ Brimson. Meet me at the podium. It is an honor that you were selected to guide the education of our community's children. As you recite the oath of office, you assume a tremendous responsibility as a director of our school district with duties empowered by the Minnesota legislature. This power puts you and the other members of our school board in the position of being both morally and legally responsible for equitable quality education of every student in this district. In carrying out this responsibility, you will be asked to fulfill the roles of vision, structure, accountability, and advocacy. In providing vision, the board with extensive participation of the community envisions the community's educational future, and then formulates the goals, defines the outcomes, and sets the course for the public schools. To achieve the vision, the board establishes a structure and creates an environment designed to ensure all students the opportunity to attain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework. Because as a board, we must be must be accountable to the community. We must ensure a continuous assessment of student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our children. As board members, we serve as education's key advocate on behalf of students and our community schools to advance the vision for our schools. Furthermore, we must strive to work together with the superintendent and staff to lead the district forward, fulfilling the vision we have created, fostering excellence for every student in the areas of academic skills and knowledge, citizenship and personal development. >> All right. Are you ready for the oath? >> I am. Okay. Um, I hereby publicly affirm my commitment to the oath of office. >> I hereby publicly affirm my commitment to the oath of office. >> I affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States. >> I will affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and of this state >> and of this state. >> And that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of school board director. I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of school board director >> of the Robbinsdale Area Schools. >> Robinsdale. >> It's okay. Go ahead. >> of Robbinsdale Area Schools. >> Independent School District 281. To the best of my judgment and ability. >> Independent School District 281. To the best of my judgment and ability. >> Congratulations, Director Brenten. >> Thank you. >> We'll have a picture of you with your family over there by the logo and then take your seat at the board table. OKAY. >> FANTASTIC. >> [applause] >> IT'S GREETED A new family member. >> Sorry. [laughter] >> We'll just get a little lovely referral out of the way here. Hi Okay. [applause] >> I think he's going to sleep. >> Okay. Just flip flip up your little name thing and you're official. Okay. [laughter] All right. Next thing on our agenda is item number five, elective election of schoolboard officers for 2026. Uh the first position up is to elect a school board chair uh director Bowman. >> Um I'm nominating chair, current chair Evans Becker or Director Evans Becker to the position of chair. >> Thank you. Are there any other nominations? Director Basset. Well, I nominate uh our newly uh seated director DJ Bryensson. Now, the only reason I would pause on that is because director Brindensson has said that he feels he might be premature for him and he would decline. So, based on that, I I will hold that. But I will speak to why I am voting the way I'm voting and why I'm saying what I'm saying. It's imperative that we have a chair for our board. And I'm talking about generically any chair. It's imperative that we have a chair for our board who ensures that the board is in the decision makingaking position that the legislature placed us to be in. It is not the duty or the responsibility or the honor of the chair and the certainly not the responsibility to make decisions solely that really are in the purview of the board. Discussing it with the superintendent and making decisions and preempting the board is un unacceptable. It is totally unacceptable. School boards matter. and they're they're not carried out by a chair and the superintendent there. There are matters that should come to the school board for a discussion and we don't always agree and that's okay but that could not be preempted and I've in addition to the things that I have experienced I uh received some information from another director and it really caused me grave concern. So I'm sharing those things publicly because I'm not a gossip. Well, I'm being I'm keeping it real. I'm not a gossip. I'm not a backbiter. For every chair we've ever had, I have supported. I have been the vice chair to at least four, maybe three to four other directors. I have myself served a year as a chair and I do believe that people should be in their office at least two years so they can be helpful to the people come behind them. So, chair uh Evans Becker will have almost three years in that capacity. And after three years to be for me to actually have to say these things which [clears throat] I've never said before and take a position that I've never taken before. I'm serious. So, um I and I don't expect that to and it will come to this table again should that continue to happen. Should chair uh be Evans Becker prevail. >> Thank you. Are there any other nominations? I have to ask three times. Are there any other nominations? Any other nominations? Okay. >> What about comments at all? >> Oh, would someone like to make a comment? >> I would. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I also have a lot of concern too. I know last time we were sitting in this spot, you and I had a personal conversation on the phone and I had asked that there be more transparency in things um that when there are questions answered that we don't just use things like well is it the will of the board to not get those questions answered that board members might want and that was something that I thought that we had an understanding in and I don't feel like we did. I still feel like there's, you know, from sitting in those agenda setting meetings, there's a lot of stuff happening that doesn't come up here to the full board and we're not getting all that information. We're not all getting all the same information. And it I find it hard for me to do my due diligence and my fiduciary responsibility when I'm not getting all the information. I also feel like there is a lot of conversations that are happening between you and the superintendent that the rest of us aren't privy to. And that was one thing that I found out when I asked some questions about what was happening in the engineering um department and asked if we could have a closed session about it so we could find out. And you gave me some information that you had heard from the superintendent that the rest of us did not get. So, I don't even know how to vote here because I really feel like you have a good heart and are trying to come to this from a good place, but there's a lot of things that are being missed that make it hard for the rest of us to do what we need to do here at this table. And I don't know how to stop the bureaucracy part or whatever it is that's getting in the way of us functioning well. And you know, people always talk about not getting in the superintendent's way. Well, I feel it comes the other way around. And so, how do we stop some of that happening too, so that we can really function as a board? >> Order. >> Okay. Any other woman? I just want to say at this point that we continue to put off having board evaluations uh for ourselves for setting our goals for looking at the work that we're doing. We continue onward with being disparaging to one another without giving ourselves the formal opportunity to review what we're doing and and look at what people actually want and need from their board chair. One of the things that was really apparent to me long before I even got onto this board was the lack of formal formalization uh to board roles and responsibilities to the roles and responsibilities of the chair and the clerk and and the other people and it was left up sort of lacadasical all these years never really being formalized. Well, so one person comes along and yeah that's the way we want done it and then things changed and things get dropped through loopholes. So, uh, with the com the negative comments that I hear tonight, one of the things I really want to stress is as as a board, when are we going to be doing our board evaluation? When are we going to get together and look at collective goals for the work that we're doing? And the other thing is is that we have though it was approved in our governance manual, the roles and responsibilities of our board officers. they were greatly expanded by the uh uh Robert's rules utilizing Robert's rules in MSBA. Um and that was also a question when I was on the board. It dissolved into well we just don't like your personality. And the reality of it is is that we have nothing formalized here that gives us a road map to lead by and it changes and it es and flows and that is something I would like to see us fix. >> Thank you. I think we have to get back to the part about voting. Yes. Did you have something? >> Yeah. I mean, I just want to say that it's very easy to point fingers and I'm this literally one year on the board and have no interest in being the chair, but um for example, closed meeting, you know, there's laws that specify that you can only have closed meetings in very specific prescribed circumstances. And that's just an example. So I'm not So my point is that if it nobody else is [clears throat] stepping up and so um it's very easy to point fingers and say that people are doing it wrong but rather come in support um or step up if you'd like to be the chair happy to you know but I don't hear anybody else stepping up to to fill that void and so rather than in a public setting here tearing people down why don't you step up if you want to be chair then run then put your name in the hat and and we can vote. [snorts] >> Out of order. >> Out of order. >> Out of order. >> We will have order. >> Director Basset, did I see your hand? >> You did see my hand. And uh I just want to make it clear that the only reason we that I have mentioned you is because you are the chair. My comments really are about what I expect in a chairperson. I believe I said those words. Did I Did I not? Okay. I I I'm just being transparent about what I expect going forward. Whoever is the chair. I did not make any disparaging remarks. I commented on a couple of experiences that I have had that are unacceptable. That is objective. It's not personal. It's business. And and I will go on to say that agenda setting matters. Departing from past practice where we had a fixed time and we had former chairs who had sent out note to say we're having it this day or everybody knew what it was because it was the same time or if everybody sent in information about what we should talk about on the agenda that would get put into a chart. We'd all get to vote on it and we see what we're going to talk about. So the reality is that when a director says we the folks are sending in things that they want to talk about even if it's the evaluation it's managed by the chair and the vice chair in the agenda setting meeting as to what we're going to talk about. So we're not going to have any circular thinking here. The reason I'm talking about this is because the role of the chair matters and it's not an independent person. It's not a a you know a throne, you know. Uh I've it's a lot of work and if you're a vice chair, it's a lot of work and I've done that work for years. But I expect if we're going to be up here listening to our public and doing the work that we're all going to have equal say, no position by law, the chair or anybody else, we're all equal. We are all equal on this board. Everybody has the same election certificate. It's not an elitist activity. I've had privilege. A lot of people up here have privilege. It's not about that. It's about what we were here talk listening to tonight. That's what it's about. And it's about representing the people who who sent us here to do it. It's the public. It's not the administration as much as I respect them. So that's these are just business comments and I will not have them misinterpreted into some kind of personal vendetta. It's not it's what I expect and I deserve. >> Thank you. All right. Seeing no more hands up and having no more nominations, it is time to vote. And this is a roll call vote >> for the position >> for the position of chair. And at this point and the position while we are voting on Evans Becker, Director Evans Becker. >> So there's one name. >> One name. >> Okay. So, uh, this is to vote for Director Evans Becker as our chair. >> Yes. >> Director Basset, >> I abstain. >> Director Bowman votes yes. D uh, Director Oh my, I have not said your name out loud. Brenten. >> Think like venison. Brenon. >> Brent. Bren. Brennan, thank you. Very helpful because [snorts] I just didn't want to say director DJ. So, [clears throat] Director Brennan, >> yes. >> Dire uh chair uh director Evans Becker, >> yes. [gasps] >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> abstain. >> And director Wuto, >> yes. >> Five to motion. >> I will be your chair. I take the responsibilities of the chair very seriously. And I'm going to move us on for the election of a board a board vice chair. Director Bowman, >> I nominate uh Director Wuto for the vice chair position. >> We have one nomination. Is there another nomination for director Wuto? Whoops. Let me rephrase that. Is there another nomination? Is there any other nomination? >> Anything? >> Any other nomination? Was that three times? Okay. In that case, we will vote. Great. Roll call. >> Roll call. >> And I am ready. Director Basset. >> Yes. [gasps] >> Director Bowman votes yes. >> Director >> Brennes. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Uh, Chair Evans Becker. >> Yes. >> Director Hillbrand. >> Yes. >> Director Long, >> yes. >> Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Unanimous. >> Congratulations, Vice Chair W. All right. Next thing up, next up is to elect a new school board clerk. [snorts] >> I'll I'll nominate myself. >> Okay, we have one nomination. Do we have another nomination? Any other nominations for clerk? Director Basset. [snorts] >> Well, I don't have a nomination, but I do have a comment. And since uh the person who's can make a comment themselves if they want to or others can as well. And my comment is this. Um, past practice has been that the chair would rotate when they call the role for any vote. They rotate through the whole roster of board members. That then allows every board director to have the first time to be the first vote and it rotates normally. If it's always left to the last person to make the vote, they often can be in a position where they can shape the vote. Now, that's maybe one of the reasons why Robert's rules or others kind of do it that way. I I haven't researched it. I just know that for 23 years or 22 years, every clerk has pretty much rotated it that way. I did bring to you, Chair, uh, Evans Becker, that, you know, can we rotate that? And uh and well, I'm just saying I I did bring it to you because I don't, you know, I'm not into starting the drama, you know, and and I have just continued to conform. If that does not change or the the ch clerk, whoever is the clerk, decides they don't want to do it that way, I'll just pass because I think, you know, from time to time, but I think it's better if we have a formal process where we do. And if past practice has served every board up until now, I think that it's important that we try to honor those things because the last person who votes should not always be the one who gets to decide. Uh remember, you can't collaborate nothing. Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Meanwhile, are there any other other nominations for clerk? Yes. >> Um I'd like to nominate Director Basset for clerk. Okay. Can you accept the nomination? >> I decline that. >> Okay. >> All right. Good try. >> Yeah. Well, then can I make a comment? >> Sure. >> Okay. Um, this is another nomination that I'm having a really hard time with um with there being a direct um attack to constituents here at the board table. Also, uh the emails haven't stopped or other um things to our constituents that are negative and harmful to them. I guess I just don't understand how and why that doesn't stop and um especially when we've asked for it to stop. There's been numerous complaints um [snorts] brought to the chair that were ignored even from board members who are currently no longer seated. And so this is really conflicting and hard for me. I I I [laughter] don't know how, you know, it's hard enough with what our community is going through right now with closing of schools and buildings and then for them to get these harsh emails back in return from us is not something that they need at this point in time. I think it would be better maybe just don't respond. And so I don't know how to change some of that behavior, especially when there is privilege to allow it to happen. Um, and there's never a conversation with us about that at all. Somehow it always gets skirted or pushed aside. Any other nominations for clerk? Any other? Okay. Um, we are voting on a Bowman for clerk. Will you take the role, please? >> Yes, if it's appropriate. >> Uh, Director Basset, >> here. Wait a minute. >> Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> no. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Brenson, >> yes. >> Close enough. >> Renee Bowman votes yes. Director Basset, I'll >> vote yes. Okay. Thank you. We have a clerk. >> Next up is election of a school board treasurer. >> I will nominate Aviva Hillenbrand. >> We have uh Director Hillenbrand has been nominated. Are there any other nominations? Any other nominations? Any other nominations? And I don't see any hands up either. Is your hand going up? >> Well, it's almost going up, but I'm making it not go up. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you. [laughter] Thank you, Director Basset. All right. Um, Director Bowman, I believe we're ready to vote on >> Wait a minute. Can I make a comment? >> I guess I would like to know what happened with the FAC cuz that's something that the treasurer is supposed to be in charge of. I know we put that aside, but then it seemed to never come back up in our agenda. And so I'm asking that cuz you're the treasurer and the treasurer is usually responsible for that. So what are you going to do to ensure that we get the FAC back up and working again? >> Um, director Long, I'm going to rule you out of order. Uh, this is just about voting. This is not about the FAC right now. >> Sure. But I'm happy to we can put it on the agenda. I'm happy to to tell you. >> Yeah, >> we've the CFO and I have talked about the plan for moving forward on that. So happy to if we get that on the agenda talk about. >> Okay. So we have one nominee for treasurer and >> we are ready to vote. >> Are we ready to vote? >> I see no more hands. So yes. >> Sounds good. Director WHO. >> Yes. >> Director Long. >> Yes. >> Director Hillbrand. >> Yes. >> Chair Evans Becker. >> Yes. >> Director Brenson. >> Yes. D >> uh Director Bowman votes yes. Director Basset. >> Yes. >> Unanimous. >> All right. We have a treasure. Now, we have I should let you know we have a lot of one time of year business things we have to go through at this meeting. So, what's up next is the election of a deputy treasurer. Um, law allows us to combine and delegate the duties of the offices of clerk and treasurer into a person employed by the district. And so uh we need to have a motion designating Kristen Hohheisle CFO to the position of deputy treasur. Is there a move to do that? >> So moved. >> Moved by Director Hillbrand, seconded by Director Brenen. Um seeing no hands up. This is a roll call vote again. So we're voting on the uh delegation of deputy treasure treasurer uh CFO Ho Heisel. >> Sounds good. Director Hillenbrand, >> yes. >> Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Uh, Director Brunson, >> yes. >> Renee, uh, Director Bowman votes yes. Director Long, >> yes. >> Director Basset, >> yes. >> And Director Wau, >> yes. >> It was unanimous. >> Thank you. Okay, moving right along. uh director delegation of assistant clerk. The position of assistant clerk to the board uh was authorized by the board first in 1985 for the purpose of keeping the school board records. It's recommended that Molly Olsen be appointed to this position which she has right now. Um so is there a move to approve Molly Olsen as the assistant clerk to the board? >> So moved. >> Moved by director Wuto, seconded by Director Basset. Seeing no hands up, could we have a voice vote on this one, please? >> Sounds very good. Director Long, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Basset, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Director Brenson, >> yes. >> Uh, Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> And Director Wo, >> yes. >> Unanimous. >> Congratulations, Molly. You've got your job again. Okay. Um, next thing up, yearly board compensation. Is that correct? >> Yearly board. >> Yes. compensation. Okay. Uh the recommended action is to approve the annual board compensation. This has not changed in years. Uh in case anyone's wondering, it's 7,800 uh for directors, 8,400 for vice chair, and 9,000 for the chair. Is there a move to approve the uh annual board compensation? >> I'll move. >> It's been moved by Director Basset. >> I'll second. >> Seconded by Director Hillenbrand. It has to do with money. It is a roll call vote. >> All right. Chair Evans Becker. I vote yes. >> Uh uh. Director Brenson, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> yes. >> Director Bassid, >> yes. >> Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Unanimous. >> Thank you. Okay. Uh, just one second here. I have to Okay. The next thing up is a resolution authorizing the use of facil. It's easy for me to say facimile signature and shy bond. It's a resolution and will anyone move the resolution authorizing the use of facim facimile signatures and security bond and wave the reading of the resolution. >> I'll move it wave the reading. >> Thank you. Director Bassid has moved it with waving the readings. Seconded by >> seconded >> second by director Brinson. Okay. This is a roll call vote. >> Great. Uh, Director Long, >> yes. >> Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Director Brenson, >> yes. >> Director Basset, >> yes. >> Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Unanimous. Thank you. All right. Next thing up is the resolution authorizing Oops, that was it. Author designating brokers for investment of district funds for 2026 20 for 2026. Yes. Uh will someone move the resolution designating the brokers for investment of the school district funds and wave the reading. Director Bowman, wave the reading. >> I will move approval and wave the reading. >> Thank you. Seconded by >> I'll second. >> Director Hillbrand. Okay. Seeing. Yes. Question. >> Just want to clarify that these are all the same um banking facilities that we've been using for years. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> And um >> none of them have changed, >> right? And some of this we have done in the middle of the year and some of it we have done previously in January. We are combining them all to be at the organizational meeting at January from here on through. So we don't have to do it spot spottily all year long. Okay. So we are ready to um let's see it was moved by what did I say? >> Bowman. >> Bowman. Bowman and seconded by >> Hillbrand. >> Hillenbrand. Okay, take the role, please. >> Ready for the vote. Director Wu, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Brenson, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Director Basset, >> yes. >> Okay. Now, we have a resolution uh designating depositories for the school district for funds for 26. >> Someone please you. No, that's for one. >> Yeah, pardon me. >> I jumped ahead. My bad. >> Just clarification. >> Yes, >> this is the depositories. You have a cl You want to clarify? >> No, there was a clarification happening over here at this end of the table, >> but we're good now. >> Yes. >> Excellent. Okay. So, will someone move the resolution designating the depositories for the school district funds for 26 and wave the res wave the reading? >> So, moved and I'll wave the reading. >> Director Hillbrand is moving it. >> I'll second >> and director Basset is seconding it. Um, seeing no hands, let's do the vote >> now 80. Director Basset, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Director Brentson, >> yes. >> Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> yes. >> Director Wu, >> yes. >> Okay. 6F is voted on. Now we're up to 6G. Resolution authorizing specific statements to be paid in advance. Authorizing specific statements in advance for 2026. This is routine. >> Yes, I'll move it. >> Okay. And will you wave the reading? >> I will wave the reading. With the exception of that, I think I'll name those payments of which expenses. There's a very short list. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> It needs a second. >> You want me to? >> Yeah. Second. >> It needs a second. >> I second. >> It's been seconded by Director Printen. Okay. >> Okay. Great. Uh so those bills that are included here are the utility bills, contracted transportation invoices, registration and travel expenses, employee group expense payments, employee retirement plan payments, payments necessary to be eligible for discount privileges, uh postage meter and bulk mailing payments and officials referees and judges fees, special program speaker fees, consulting fees, and contracted personnel service fees tuition payments for resident students and payments necessary to meet the 35day statute. And these are all payments or expenses claimed against the school district that would be eligible for that advance board advance in advance of board approval. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Great. Seeing no other hands, let's vote on resolution for um 6G. >> Sounds good. Um Director Bowman votes yes. Director Brunson, >> yes. >> Chair Evans Becker, yes. Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> yes. >> Director Wu, >> yes. >> Director Basset, >> yes. >> Unanimous. >> Okay. Thank you. [clears throat] The next item is 6H and that is the appointment of legal counsel for 2026. Uh the legal council that firms would be Ratwick, Rosac, Maloney, Squire, Wsburg, Mace, Becker Law LLC, Martin Law Firm, and Coutac Rock LLP. Okay. And the authorized district staff to contact legal counsel are school board schoolboard chair, superintendent, assistant superintendent, CFO, executive director of human resources, and executive director of community education, athletics, and activities. Will someone please um move the legal legal firms for >> I will move approval for the list of legal legal firms that were read and and authorizing. Yep. Thank you. Okay, Bowman. And the second would be director. See no hands. It's a resolution. It needs a voice. It needs a roll call vote. >> Perfect. Director Evans Becker. >> Yes. >> Director Brenson, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. >> Director Basset, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> no. >> Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Motion prevails. >> Okay. Okay. And it wasn't a resolution, but it had to do with >> the >> Yeah. >> Okay. Item 6 I, appointing a financial advisor for 2020 for 2026. The financial advisor would be PMA. Um, is there a move to uh appoint PMA as our district financial network adviser? >> So moved. >> Thank you. Moved by Director Brenten. Bren Brenten and seconded by >> I'll second brand. And then clarifying question. >> Clarifying question. >> Um, does anybody know how long have we been using PMA Financial? >> And what you what was >> does anybody know how long we've been using PMA Financial as our appointed uh financial adviser? >> Couple years. >> It hasn't been real long. >> No, it has been maybe three years. And and I'm not the treasurer, so you know, but I believe about three years. Something like that. >> Okay. Thank you. Seeing no other hands up. Ready to vote? >> Yep. It has to do with money. >> Director Basset, >> yes. Director Bowman votes yes. Director Brenson, >> yes. >> Uh, Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> yes. >> And director Wuto, >> yes. >> Motion prevails. >> TMA >> 6J designated designation of it's an OWA. It's the identified official with authority for the Minnesota's Department of Education external user reertification system. And the person that we are designating is Dr. Bob McDall, assistant superintendent. There move to appoint him. >> There's two on there, right? >> Oops. Dr. Talo. Sorry. >> Yeah. >> And he's the proxy. Sorry to goop that up. >> Person in charge, superintendent, proxy, Dr. McDallo. All right. So moved. >> Moved by Hillenbrand. >> Second. >> Seconded by Basset. >> No hands. Okay. Let's do >> uh uh Chair Evans Becker. >> Yes. >> Director Hillbrand. >> Yes. >> Director Long, >> yes. >> Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Director Basset, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Director Brentson, >> yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Motion prevails. >> We have designated our All right. Now, now we need to designate our official newspaper and our official newspaper uh is ECM Publishers Incorporated, Rapids, Minnesota is the district's official newspaper for 2026. That's the Sun Post and Sun Sailor Homes Horn Source. Same one we've been using. Is there a move to designate? >> So moved. >> Thank you. But director Brinsen, >> seconded by Director Bowman. Yep. >> Let's do the vote. No hands are up. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh direct uh Director Brenson. >> Yes. >> Uh Director Bowman votes yes. Director Basset >> abstain on that one. >> Pardon? >> I'm abstaining. >> Okay. [snorts] >> Uh Director uh Chair Evans Becker. >> Yes. >> Director Hillbrand. >> Yes. >> Director Long. >> Yes. >> Director Wo. >> Yes. >> Motion prevails. >> Okay. We have a newspaper designation of official television producer for 2026. That would be CCX. Any questions? Okay. Do I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> Moved by Director Basset. >> Seconded. >> Seconded by Director Brinsen. No hands. Let's do the vote. >> Let's do this. All right. Director Hillbrand. >> Yes. >> Chair Evans Becker. >> Yes. >> Director Brunson. >> Yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Director Bassid, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> yes. Yes, Director Wo. >> Yes. >> Motion prevails. >> Thank you. We have a television station. Okay. Next thing up is the review of policy 209, code of ethics, statement of compliance. And um during the during the board's organizational meeting, a review of the code of ethics and signing of the corresponding statement of compliance uh will be implemented as an annual item. And so all Robin School Board members must sign annually a statement certifying that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by the code of ethics and affirm their commitment to hold themselves and other board members accountable for any violations of it. And so I passed out the code of ethics to everyone. If you haven't signed it yet, please do. And they all need to go to Molly at the end of the meeting. And if you have any uh possible uh >> conflict, >> thank you. Just looking for the word. If you have any conflict of interest, please let us know now. State it now. Uh Director Hillbrand. >> Um two of my one of my children is a student intern at um Adventure Club and one of my children is a seasonal worker at Adventure Club. Anyone else have a director Brunison? >> Uh, yes. So, I'm the head debate coach at Robbinsdale Armstrong and Robbinsdale Cooper, the head golf coach at Robbinsdale Cooper. Uh, my child, my oldest child, uh, is also a debate coach at Robbinsdale Armstrong, and my wife occasionally subs for the district. I think it's like three times this year. >> Thank you, Director Huto. >> Yeah, my wife is uh, on the teacher contract with the district. >> Thank you. Anyone else? No. Oh, Director Basset, >> I have none. [laughter] >> Thank you for that, Director Basset. >> Welcome. >> And you want Okay, I think that covers that >> and the conflict of interest. We're good. >> Okay. >> Best part of our meeting. >> This is the best part of our meeting. >> Ardale. Proud. Superintendent Stalo. >> Excellent. We're very excited tonight. uh especially with this full crowd to um have uh principal Jennifer Smith and Trudy Monet of the Stages Theater Company and students from uh Fair Pilgrim Lane come and present um to us tonight and highlight some of the incredible work they're doing with arts integration. [snorts] [applause] [cheering] >> [applause] >> right here. >> Is my stuff all up and ready? >> Amazing. >> Not it. [laughter] [gasps] >> All right. Hello. That was quite the the welcome. Thank you everyone. Um, hi school board members, cabinet, members of the community. I am Jen Smith, the principal of Fair Pilgrim Lane Elementary. Um, the first thing I'm going to say, this is kind of an awkward moment. I need everyone to know in here that I signed up for this date back in September, August >> of the school year. OKAY? SO, [applause] ME being here tonight has absolutely nothing to do with the proposal and the board vote today. And I just need that out there. So rumors and assumptions are not made. This was done what you asked us in like August, September to sign up and so I signed up around I think it was September. So um it is just coincidence that I happen to be here tonight. So I just want to make that really clear. But regardless of any of those decisions made tonight, I'm so very proud to be standing here in front of all of you um to have a chance to share a little bit about fair as well as well as show off some of our students performances. They're going to totally show me up tonight, y'all. So, um, so first of all, arts integration, as you know, um, we are the arts integration school, and it's an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art art form. This includes visual art, music, dancing, theater, and media arts. Tonight, I'm going to show you a small sampling of how we integrate arts into all areas of the curriculum at fair. um how our partnership with stages and support of our PTO enhances our curriculum. Um and in addition, you will hear from a student about her experience at fair. And finally, you will watch a performance done by some of our current fifth grade students. So, we are going to start our little arts integration journey here. I have some pictures of some kindergarten students. Um from the first days of school, our kindergarten students engage in arts integration activities. Um, in this photo here on the left, we have some students working on their literacy response journals. Um, so after reading a book, they write, draw, create, um, about either what they learned or following a prompt from their teacher. Um, in the second photo, the kinder students are creating a tableau, which is a recreating a still scene from a book to help retell the story. So, they're doing a little scene to help um, tell what they learned from the story. So these are just two examples that begin in kindergarten and continue throughout the years of how students [clears throat] show what they know through art during their language arts time. In addition to that, to increase the cultural relevance of curriculum, students learn about other cultures and important people in history through arts integration. So the first photo up there in the upper leftand corner is from Hispanic Heritage Month. Students learned about Tito Poente, the Mambbo King. Um, Miss Trudy, who you'll see over here, um, taught them how to mambo during their stages time, and they did a little performance of it. Um, and then they also, you know, read a book about Tito Poente. Um, our third graders were learning about sea exploration through poetry, art, and literature during a module in Wit and Wisdom, which is our new language arts curriculum. During this module, they learned about a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Hokuai. They then created their own watercolor interpretations of the print, adding in their own elements. And that's that bottom middle photo there. Um, our fifth grade students, some of who you'll see here tonight, um, were learning about Native Americans and what it means to belong to a culture. During this unit of study, students also learned about Frank Big Bear Jr. in Ojiway artists whose art can be viewed in galleries around Minneapolis. Students learned about his art process and then created their own self-portraits based on his style. Arts integration is also used to deepen students understanding of science concepts as well. Um, our first grade students were learning about creature features when the big northern lights event happened here in Minnesota. Um, so our teachers then connected those two events and they created those northern lights photos you see there on the light left hand side. Um, in second grade students were learning about animal habitats during mystery science. The teachers expanded on this topic by also reading over and under books by Kate Mesner. The students then created their own hibernation photos you see here. And in addition, they created little habitat popup creations and some pottery. We know that students learn math at a deeper level when they move through a sequence of using concrete manipulatives than visual representation prior to that abstract knowledge of using numbers. Um, these two photos show just a few examples of how our third grade students see math through arts integration. So, that top photo represents place value. The larger the number, the higher the place value. And then when you count up all of the various size circles, you can come up with a larger number. Um the second photo, students were learning about the array model in um multiplication, and then they turned their yellow arrays into a cityscape. Students also learned many important social emotional skills through our arts integration. About once a month, Miss Trudy will pull a small group of students during our win time or what I need time. Um during this time the students expand the social emotional learning they are gaining from our district provided curriculum second step. Um they work on developing and learning a short skid that is then performed for their grade level peers during one of our pride assemblies. Stages is a co-taught oh sorry in addition to the learning teachers engage with students in class. We have a wonderful partner with Stages Theater Company and Miss Trudy is at fair every day engaging students in theater, music and dance activities. Yeah. [applause] Right. Give it up. [cheering] [applause] Um they engage students in theater, music, and dance activities that are also rooted in our English language arts standards. Stages is a Kota class where students come together with their teacher weekly to engage in lessons. And then starting in second grade, each grade level engages in a larger capstone project. So the photo on the left there are second grade students performing a story through reader theater. On the right hand photo is a picture of some of our third grade students last year performing a black history presentation. Um, prior to the presentation, they engage in some rich discussion about unsung heroes and then perform a piece that helps them and the audience to understand that black history is American history. This performance has been featured for the past two years at the district's black history celebration. In fourth grade, [laughter] students engage with local elders through a penpal program. After exchanging letters, the project culminates in connecting generations performance. The students first meet their pen pals and then they perform a piece based on their letters that includes music and visual art. So that example on the left is one of the visual art pieces that they create. It's a po, it's a poem. And then on the right hand side, you see our students sharing that piece with one of their elders. Our fifth grade, this is the big one. Our fifth graders annually have a spring musical. Um this photo is from our performance last year of the Lion King Jr. This students per or this year the students will be performing the musical Dear Edwina which is a show about a young problem solver who offers advice to her peers with the help of her friends and a little bit of song and dance. The show celebrates the joys, challenges and growing pains of growing up in a fun and uplifting way. Um, thank you to our PTO and the amazing fundraising efforts of our families. All grade levels are also able to engage in a week-long artisan residence. You all like this is the best. [laughter] Thank you for all the cheers. Um, and so this allows the students to dig deeper into one specific art form as well as learn from artists who are working in the field. So, the week right before winter break, um Lisa Arnold came in to work with us and she has come back year after year. She told me that we're her favorite because she actually went to Pilgrim Lane as a student many, many years ago. So, she does always love coming back to Pilgrim Lane um and working with our students. Um so, our first graders engaged in making some masks out of recycled and upcycled materials that reflected their passions and artistic style. And then they also created pictures and stories about their mask characters. And then the photo on the right is um our fifth grade students engage in lessons around mosaic art. Students learned art and mosaic vocabulary, practice techniques, used tools, and built skills by designing and creating their very own individual mosaics based on nature. In second grade, our students learned from dancer and studio owner Anat Shinar. Students learned about various movement patterns. You can see them moving there on the lefth hand side. And then they created a short performance piece based on the life cycle of plants. Third grade invited in the actor, singer, playwright, and director T. Michael Rambo. Um he used our theme of the year, better together. And the students created a spoken word poetry piece that some of them even performed as our closing to our talent show at our night of the arts. And that's our photo on the right. Um fourth grade and our 34 split combination classroom. um did a residence with Kat Katrina Kenson um and they discovered the vibrant world of graffiti art. The students learned a brief history of graffiti and its cultural roots. They then celebrated the power of words by creating their own graffiti drawings. And next week, I don't have pictures does not happen until next week, but kindergarten students are engaging with Broadick Pool. Students will design a personal character and create many outfits inspired by their own traits, attributes, and interests. Using fabric materials in their imagination, they will craft a work of art that expresses their unique identity through the art of fashion. Um, here are some photos of our annual night of the arts. Um, annually we celebrate all of the great amazing things that we do. Um, this usually happens in December. It is also a family engagement evening funded through our PTO that is filled with students showcasing their individual and small group talents in a talent show. You can see our friend drumming down there. Um, students sing in a mixed grade level performance. Families engage in creating art together and all will they view our gallery of artwork that is hung up all around the hallways. And thank you to all of our volunteers that came in and spent many hours hanging it all in the hallway. Um, this year's theme was better together. And all the performances and activities were centered around the theme. And that bottom picture is what we create as a community. Um, students and families wrote what makes them better when on small circles of paper. And then it went on those outlines of people and that is displayed in our main hallway. Through all of these rich experiences, students grow and develop in ways that you don't always get in your typical classrooms. Students at fair are confident speaking to others, be it in small group class or in front of a large audience during a performance. Their critical thinking skills increase and that they can show their understanding and learning in ways that are not just found on traditional tests and quizzes. At fair, working together is common and this increases students ability to collaborate. Above all else, they are so creative. My favorite parts of the day are just walking around the hallways and seeing the creativity pouring out of all of our classrooms. Um, all of these skills are so important to life and I feel especially in this digital age where so frequently students and people are engaging with peers and others in unhealthy ways over social media and texting. Those soft skills of being able to interact and collaborate and share information with people is something that can't just be taught. It must be fostered and engaged on a regular basis and that happens routinely at fair. So now that you've heard me talk, I'm going to turn it over to the real show. So next up comes Miss Trinity Glass, who will share a bit more about how attending fair since kindergarten has helped her. [applause and cheering] Fairfield Lane has helped me feel more comfortable sharing my ideas and being more confident, especially when I have to speak in front of others. I think this is because over the years I've had many performance opportunities. We use Reader's Theater, which helps me read with expression and confidence. We also retell stories using Tableau, which helps me understand story structure. Sometimes we retell stories using singing, dancing, and acting. This helps me understand the characters more and connect to how they feel. At Fairog Wayne, we all we learned to look for art everywhere. We made mosaic art projects, learned about different styles of painting, and even learned how to mold clay. All these activities helped me be creative, and express myself in new ways. Because of their pilgrim lane, I feel more confident, creative, and excited to share my ideas with others. And please hear a word FROM [applause] >> HELLO, we are fifth grade students from Fairfield Lane and we are excited to share our page to stage project with you. In our science in our stages class, we chose a picture book and turned it into a play using our actor's tools, theater knowledge, and literacy skills. First, we identified the main idea of the story and the characters. Then we wrote Then we decided which roles each actor would play. After that, we wrote our scripts, added blocking, and created prompts. All this worked to help us bring our stories from the page to the stage. We hope you enjoy our performance. [applause] >> Let me ask you something. If you could be any animal in the world, what would it be? Probably not a frog, right? Exactly. I don't want to be a frog. [laughter] Hey. >> Hey. I want to be a cat. >> You can't be a cat. >> WHY NOT? BECAUSE YOU'RE A FROG. >> I don't like being a frog. >> That may be, but you can't be a cat. >> Well, then I want to be a rabbit. You can't be A RABBIT. WHY NOT? LOOK, I CAN HOP. You may be able to hop, but where are your long ears? >> I don't know. >> You never hear in your life. That's a fact. I want to be um let's see a pig. >> You can't be a pig. >> Why not? >> Most of all because you're a frog, but also you don't have a curly tail and you don't eat garbage. [laughter] >> Everyone says that. [laughter] And I want to be >> an owl. >> Of course you want to be an owl. [laughter] >> An owl is the greatest thing ever. Why would you love being an owl? [laughter] >> Of course not. >> OH, WHY? ONE, you can't shoot your head rounds all the way. Two, you don't have wigs. Four, you don't look wise. at five. You're a frog. >> Well, I don't like being a frog. I'm sad now. >> Why? >> Because I don't want to be a frog. >> What do you want to be then? I want to be a cat, a rabbit, a pig. >> Um, a owl. >> Anything warm and cozy. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. >> What is it? I love eating all those animals, [laughter] and I might just keep one up RIGHT NOW. THAT'S TERRIBLE. WELL, it's who I am. I guess you're right. We are who we are. You're a futurel. >> And you're and you're a slimy very lucky spot. Just be happy that you're not a fly. >> Why would >> [applause] [cheering] [applause] [applause] >> I'm just going to hand these out really quickly. August, >> Ryan. [applause] Yeah. [cheering] [applause] >> Um, I also just want to take a minute to say I loved watching the students who were in the audience that saw their pictures on the live show that was presented. So, you guys got to be up here in spirit and photo. [applause] >> [cheering] >> Um before we see if uh board members have any questions or comments and students I for sure want to get a picture with you all. Um I just want to thank you. Thank you uh Jen. Thanks Trudy staff for being here. Students, thank you for sharing your talent and your courage with all of us. Um you did a fantastic job. I would like to say thank you. Thank you. And the best part of the meeting is definitely over. You guys are amazing. Thank you. [clears throat] >> Don't blow the school. [cheering and applause] [applause] >> Okay, while they're getting their picture taken, I think some other board members might have something they want to say. >> I just want to say thank you for eating the flies. [laughter] >> You're welcome. >> Yeah. Really appreciate it. >> Basset. Um, while they're taking their picture, I just like to say I have been up at uh fair Pilgrim Lane when there has been a um arts um extravaganza for the community. That place was packed. The art was all over the walls. They had all kind of mixed media art. It was you couldn't find a parking spot. [applause] Thank you everybody. Thank you. [applause] Okay, back to business. >> Back to business. >> All right, we need we need to have order again. >> Thank you. >> We'll let them get out of here. The next thing up is the consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda are considered routine in nature and are enacted with one motion. There's no separate discussion of these items unless a board member requests to do so. In that case, the item would be removed from the agenda. We have a rather short consent agenda tonight. Uh we have the study session minutes, the business uh meeting minutes from December 15th, uh dispersements for dispersements and the license and non-licensed personnel report. Is there a move to app uh approve the consent agenda? Director Bowman, Director Huto. Thank you. All right. and it has to do with money. So, we need a roll call vote. >> With pleasure. Let me let's allow them a second to >> Great. We'll proceed with the vote. Uh, Director Basset, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Director Brenson, >> yes. >> Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, yes. >> Director Long, >> no. [clears throat] >> And Director W, >> yes. >> Motion prevails. Okay, we've approved the consent agenda. We're going to move on to unfinished business uh a 9A property and liability insurance broker. This was um brought up previously at uh the one of the December meetings and what we need to do is uh vote dire uh CFO Hoheisel, is there anything you want us to know? >> Yes, I would actually like to speak to this for a few minutes. Thank you. Good evening. uh Chair Vince Becker, board of directors, Superintendent Stalo. Um when I originally had presented switching our property and liability insurance broker, which was on December 1st, what was presented was an estimated annual savings based on an estimated um current charge of our our incumbent of we anticipated saving uh $63,000 a year. that number has uh was revised to an actual savings, but a whole lot has gone on behind the scenes since then. So, let me catch you up briefly. Um, what was presented and what to the board on December 1st was that we had an insurance broker that was proposing to be able to provide the service and run a targeted riskmanagement program for $75,000. the incumbent who at that time um their fee was based off of a percentage of premium had uh responded with that and it's part of the cover letter uh saying that they would match the $75,000. I believe director long had asked you know what would the cost be on a 5-year basis and so we were going forward um since that time the uh USI who is administration's recommend uh recommendation to switch to has since then come down and said we would they would provide the same service for $70,000 uh dollars for a flat fee of 5 years. I know there have been questions um regarding that if we were to do that, is there a a way that the district uh could terminate the agreement if things weren't working out? [snorts] And the intention of the 5-year term would be to secure our rate or the $70,000 proposed rate, but if we weren't happy with the product or service that they were offering, we could terminate uh that agreement. it. And there was also um one of the questions that had come up is this primarily just a cost-savings measure and it is it's a cost-savings measure. Um but I also would suggest um consideration for the targeted risk management program. Uh currently USI we switched to them a handful of years ago for our workers compensation [snorts] and what they do is they focus on things that the district can control and how we can get better to limit our exposure and liability and therefore ultimately that ends up in uh better rates. So it's not just a broker out there uh doing the work of essentially shopping our insurance package. uh their targeted risk management program does the work by coming internally and focusing on areas where there's maybe a higher exposure for underwriters and and everything that's happening. So what is before you is uh administration's recommendation uh to switch to USI as our broker for property and liability insurance >> and it would be for a 5-year period >> for the five-year period. >> For the five-year period, correct? >> Okay. So, do I have a move to approve the proposal provided by USI uh insurance services LLC? Director Bowman. >> Um, I'll move approval. >> Moving approval. >> I had a question. >> Great. We have to have a second. Then we can have a question. Okay. Second. Seconded by Director Long. Director Brenson. >> Um, thanks for answering those questions. I think they're super helpful. The one thing it was kind of brought up before. How often do contracts like this get reviewed? Right. So, there was other contracts that were brought up. This would be another one. Is that an annual basis? typically every couple of years. I'm just I know it's probably different for every contract, but in general >> it is different for every contract. Uh you know the review is I would say again annually are you producing what we need you to produce? Are you delivering on um commitments that were made of here is specifically to this here is the risk management program. Are you actually fulfilling the terms and are we making progress as far as what that looks like? So the work in and of itself I would res I would say is reviewed on an ongoing basis. It's every interaction. The contract in and of itself because we're locking in a flat rate um might be evaluated after you know a few years just to say okay you've implemented or done the work as far as the risk management program. Are we actually seeing the results in our premium and what that looks like and then therefore that lends itself to the satisfaction moving forward. >> Great. Thank you. >> Okay, seeing no more Seeing no more hands, this is a roll call vote. Then the vote would be on approving the proposal provided by USI Insurance Services LLC. >> Ready? Great. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> can you come back to me? >> Director, uh, Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Director Brunson, >> yes. Director Basset. >> Yes. >> And Director Long. I My head is like spinning. There's too much going on today. Um I'm going to abstain just because there's too much going on in my head right now. >> Okay. Uh >> motion prevails. >> The proposal passes. Okay. Now we are moving into unfinished business. Letter 9B, continued statutory operating debt planning site consolidation. Superintendent Stala. >> Thank you. Good evening and happy new year. Chairman Becker, board members, community members in the boardroom or other rooms in the ESC and those viewing online. I want to begin with some comments that I believe need to be put into the public record. First of all, I want to provide facts about the agenda for this meeting. We have received emails with concerns of a lastminute agenda change and there is information on social media post including from school board members that the agenda and recommendations for tonight's for tonight were changed last minute. That's not true. There was no last minute change to the January 5th meeting. At its December 8th meeting, the school board voted to consider a plan to discontinue Fair Crystal Middle School programming, trans transition those students to their boundary neighborhood middle schools, and repurpose the Fair Crystal building for an elementary school. As part of that same mo action, the board also approved publishing notice for consideration of closing the Fair Pilgrim Lane building and moving its elementary magnet programming to the Fair Crystal site. On December 17th, board chair Evans Becker and Vice Chair Long were part of the standard agenda setting meeting where final decisions on the January 5th agenda were determined. The board chair on December 20th provided a follow-up communication to all board members outlining the agenda which included the vote to discontinue middle school programming at Fair Crystal would occur prior to the Fair Pilgrim Lane public hearing. Well, the initial While the initial board packet While the initial board packet posted on December 31st included the agenda item continued statutory operating debt planning site consolidation, the corresponding action item was inadvertently left off the agenda. That omission. >> What a joke. [snorts] >> All right. You will be asked to leave if you can't maintain order. >> That omission was corrected the following day on January 1st once it was noticed. The agenda update reflected that they what had already been discussed and documented with the board, not a change in the direction. Additionally, I sent an email to all board members on January 1st letting them know of the omission and the correction. Tonight brings us closer to decisions that will inform and help us finalize a draft of the statutory operating debt plan that we will bring forward to the board for review ne at the next meeting. This has not been an easy process. However, this is the process that is necessary for long-term stability and success in our school district. The work in which we've been engaged has been forecasted for well over a year and being in statutory operating debt was the final factor that solidified the fact that we as a district must do things differently. We can't cut our way out of this and that there are needed changes that must be implemented in order to reserve reverse the significant challenges in Robin still area schools. Those challenges which existed before my arrival and the board unanimously hired me to address include but are not limited to the following. Poor academic outcomes, inequities in programming and opportunities. Concerns with student and staff safety resulting in a less than positive school district reputation. Schoolboard conflicts being carried out in the public. outdated facilities with both deferred maintenance needs and a lack of modern learning environments and programming, declining enrollment, and significant financial issues. The eight months spent studying all aspects of the school district with the vision team exposed many of the things we've wanted to do as a district, but in several cases, what we did to try to get there was not carefully implemented and monitored. We're now in a position where we can't do what we want next until we become financially healthy. The process to improve the district as a whole has been clearly communicated and we've worked for well over a year to stabilize our financial situation. Financial concerns in Robbinsdale Area Schools have been mounting for several years, resulting recently in a $17.4 million reduction needed for the 2425 school year. However, as we discovered in November of 24, approximately 14 million of the approved 17.4 budget reductions were not implemented, which which exasper exacerbated the already unstable budget. Since November of 24 when we learned that we would need to make budget reductions between 19 and $21 million. And even before that, I talked numerous times to the board members and publicly about five specific actions that were needed to identify the current reality of Robbinsdale Area Schools and to set the course for improvement. Each of these actions was grounded in our priority of implementing a process of robust community engagement to co-create with the community an academic vision of the school district our students want, need, and deserve. First of all, we knew we needed to have a review of academic programming to identify gaps in curriculum instruction assessment to improve student outcomes. We needed to engage in a demographic study to identify updated enrollment projections to plan for the number of students that we will serve in our near future. We needed to complete a comprehensive facility assessment districtwide to ensure datadriven decisions, short and long-term facility planning and a clear understanding of our facilities portfolio. We need to utilize data from the demographic study and the comprehensive facilities assessment to inform decisions about how best to rightsize the district with site consolidation. And finally, I've talked about a potential building bond recommendation to the board to support modern learning environments and opportunities for students. This work is needed to be done in the school district. It's not been a secret to anyone and we've been focused on processes to complete tasks aligned to this plan. We've engaged with the community with multiple opportunities to provide input. We've established a vision team who worked for eight months and provided recommendations to the school board in September for a better future. And we've communicated with staff, parents, and our community throughout the process. On October 13th, 2025, we shared information that we wanted the board to be aware of to anticipate that they could expect as we embarked on this first phase of school closures, site cond consolidations, and budget reductions to get us to a balanced budget, which is required in a statutory operating debt plan. As a reminder, we said that the work is complex. It's going to feel clunky. It's imperfect. Folks will experience the notion that the pond is shrinking. There will be competing interests that result in intense advocacy and strong statements. Almost everything will have trade-offs. There will be direct and indirect impacts on student staff and families. There'll be impacts to staffing, programming, and boundaries. Possibilities and opportunities will be created. And predictably, this has come to light. We've heard many perspectives, experiences, questions, concerns, and celebrations as decisions have had to be made. The board has seen and heard that people love their schools. Most of the comments and the emails have highlighted the great things happening in our schools. However, there have been inaccurate comments made and I want to provide clarification for the record. People have stated that our financial crisis and reason for being in SOD is because of the error made with the counting the compensatory dollars twice resulting in the approved budget not being implemented in 2425. That's not entirely true. It's easy to blame the SOD on the compensatory dollars that were counted twice which ultimately delayed reducing staff for an additional year. However, for years, the district has been experiencing declining enrollment, a lack of tracking systems, lack of expenditure review and adjustments, and a lack of strategic long-term thinking to not to do not only what is desirable, but also ensure decisions are both feasible and sustainable. When I was hired as the sixth superintendent in 10 years, I knew some of the challenges. However, the significant system gaps and frankly lack of systems altogether in several areas have exposed needs that must be addressed in almost every area and department and more needs continue to be uncovered on an ongoing basis. The first of these was four months into my tenure and three months into the the position, our CFO's tenure, when we realized the reductions that were not made the year prior resulted in the 19 to20 million deficit. I've heard repeatedly that in making these district-wide reductions, there were no cuts to administrators and bonuses were given to administrators. Again, this is not true. As we reduce the budget, including administrative reductions, I also restructured leadership positions to get the experience needed to address the significant and complex needs of this school district and to get us out of this dark place. This is common practice as new leaders come into an organization to determine what I hope you would expect of the CEO of a school district with a $285 million budget. In addition, we reduced the ESC administration and staff by approximately $2 million this current year in addition to $2.8 million the year prior. We reduced, reorganized, and restructured positions based on district needs while maintaining overall budget reductions. Bottom line, budgets are about dollars, not the number of people or the positions. I help held the promise of administrative and district office reductions. As we work through the additional budget reductions needed for a balanced budget for 2627 and beyond, I'm sure there'll be more administrative reorganization. My responsibility is to make needed change to structure all positions and departments in a way that provides organizational efficiencies and improved outcomes. Concerns have also been raised about administrative bonuses in Robbinsdale area. schools, teachers, principals, and the superintendent have performance all or alternative pay as part of the negotiated contracts. Specific to my contract, a performance pay incentive was part of the terms of the condition, which was approved by a 70 vote. The board in review of my goals after my first year, and through the evaluation system, found that I met or exceeded expectations and earned the performance pay incentive. Concerns about transparency have also surfaced and it's important to note that this information was shared with board members and much of it was done in public meetings as we predicted at the beginning of the statutory operating debt work. Site consolidation in the budget process. The pond is shrinking. Decisions will have impacts. There will be questions about process timelines and data. And we also knew because it is unfortunately what happens to educator educational leaders that it would start to get personal. The closure the closure of a school is an emotionally charged process that can produce feelings of sadness and loss. While debate and advocacy can be healthy, emotions can lead some people to lose sight of the issue and to engage in unfounded personal attacks. This type of behavior goes too far. As an example, recently several individuals have made unfounded personal attacks against the district CFO, Kristen Hohheisle. Kristen has had to be the messenger of bad news. Targeting the messenger, individuals have claimed without a legitimate factual or legal basis that Kristen had a conflict of interest in the sale of bonds in 24 because her husband works for Robert W. Baird, the firm that was selected to underwrite the bonds. The same individuals have claimed that the relationship between Kristen and her husband and Bar was not disclosed. Those claims are false and defamatory. Kristen did not participate or have any role in determining that Barrett's bid was the best bid or in recommending or selecting Bar to serve as the underwriting firm for the bonds. The district contacts contracts with an outside firm PNA for financial services. PMA outlined a process for obtaining proposals and then solicited proposals. From the seven bids or proposals that were received, PMA recommended Baird based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis. Baird had the lowest overall fee, lowest true interest costs when the scales were normalized, meaning the bonds underwritten by Baird would be at the lowest cost to the district and its taxpayers. Based on PMA's recommendation, the board entered into the contract with Baird. The claim that the relationship between Kristen and her husband and Bar was not disclosed lacks a good faith basis. The relationship between Kristen and her husband and Baird was disclosed in writing no less than four times. It was written in Baird's written proposal. It was in PMA's memorandum of recommending Baird. It was in PMA's email transmitting its me memorandum and it was in Bair's engagement letter. This disclosure was forwarded to the school board two weeks before it voted to approve the contract with Baird. Unfounded personal attacks against public officials have real life consequences. Individuals do not want to work in public education when they're the subject of baseless attacks. In addition, the victims of these types of attacks are forced to make difficult decisions about whether they will spend their own funds pursuing legal action against the individuals making defamatory comments. I'm disappointed [snorts] and discouraged by the number of people who are engaging in divisive rhetoric and personal attacks simply to advance agendas. While I respect and strongly support the right to advocate for beliefs, unfounded personal attacks detract from the issue at hand and they're not constructive. This is not an us versus them scenario. >> It's a district and an educational community and we're invol all invested in the best outcomes possible. Personal attacks do nothing to help our educational community achieve the best outcome. This fall, I attended a training with the organization, Dignity Index. I'm actually trying to work to see if we can get them to come into our community. What they say is our disagreements aren't causing the divisions in the country. It's what we do with them when we disagree. Do we treat the other side with dignity or do we treat them with contempt? The first brings us together and the second drives us apart. With that, we'll continue with the SOD presentation. The first slide on this presentation is one that you have seen a number of times. Uh actually since September 23rd, um [clears throat] the budget, uh we've had a lot of dates on here and where we are at this point and this started on September 23rd with the vision team's recommendation. Um tonight, the board will make final decisions on the site consolidation. We have added a study session uh for January 12th to review the draft SOD plan and the board will vote on the SOD plan on January 20th. We've also shared this timeline at every board meeting since September 23rd that shows a multi-year phased approach to not only getting out of SOD, but to improve academic outcomes and equitable opportunities for students, to improve facilities, and to set a course of excellence for our future. We've also shared these ideas several times, but as a reminder, I wanted to show them again um and to update y'all on the reductions uh that currently um have been uh we're implementing currently. Tonight, what we'd like to do um is uh we'll share some additional SOD facts just again to make sure the facts are out there and to counter any misconceptions. We'll revisit financial district needs. We'll review the process leading up to tonight and review Fair Crystal reality and opportunity. With that, I'm going to turn it over to our CFO Hisel. Thanks, Kristen. Thank you. As anticipated, the district has officially been an SOD since the completion of our audit in November. This was stated by the auditors in our audit presentation to the school board. The official letter from the Minnesota Department of Education was received by the district on December 16th. While it is true that stat the statutory operating debt plan does not require school districts to close buildings, it does require school districts to adopt a structurally balanced budget. Ardell operates many underutilized buildings and demographic reports suggest the district will continue to operate significantly more facilities than needed under Minnesota stats. statutes section 123b.81 subdivision 4. A district in so sod is subject to section 123b.83 which in part requires the submission of a special operating plan to reduce the school district's the school's deficit expenditures. The plan must be submitted to the commissioner prior to January 31st, 2026 for review and approval. We entered into statutory operating debt after the 2024 2025 school year. Although we reduced the budget by $16 million for the 2526 school year, we are not balanced and we continue to go further in debt. As you will see on this slide, statutory operating debt or SOD occurs when district deficit at the end of the year exceeds 2 and a.5% of the annual operating expenses. For us, our deficit would need to be approximately $4.3 million to put us into SOD. And we [snorts] are currently at approximately $11 million. Here's what this means. For a plan creation, the district must develop a detailed plan approved by the school board and submitted to the Department of Education outlining how it will recover financially by the end of January. There will be increased state monitoring. The state closely monitors the district finances and may require regular progress updates to ensure the district follows the recovery plan and the potential consequences. If the district doesn't make adequate prog progress, it could face additional state imposed restrictions which might impact local decision-making flexibility. [clears throat] The statutory operating debt plan has several requirements including that we reduce the current year expenditures and immediately discontinue the practice of approving deficit budgets. And this is a slide that has been presented in the past. [cough] The next graphic is what has been shown um for quite some time now that is meant as an illustration of what happens if reductions um to balance go unmade. And in the yellow uh you can see in 2526 which is the second um column that is where we currently are today. And we're currently pacing pretty close to what was estimated at that time with the yellow being how much we are overspending compared to the revenue we're taking in. And what happens is when you don't make those reductions, those carry forward into the next year. And in just like anything with inflation, increased contract costs, what have you, your costs grow. And that's the orange. And you can see how that continues to work farther and farther down. The next slide however indicates what happens when um we the district moves forward with a balanced approach and this is also what the statutory operating debt plan is trying to achieve with the department of education is to be able to stop the deficit spending and move in a direction to try to um work our way out of statutory operating debt because it's even though initially this coming year it is about trying to just balance the budget Eventually, we will need to uh continue to make progress to get our way out of uh the deficit that has been created thus far. So, here's how we arrived where we are tonight. As you saw on that earlier slide with um with what's already been determined to be reduced, the board has approved approximately 6.4 million of the 8.1 million um budget reduction target that's needed for that balanced budget. One of the recommendations that the board did not entertain was the elimination of elementary magnet transportation, leaving a gap of 1.7 million to reduce yet. The board requested that the administration come back with additional options to secure the budget reduction target. So on December 28th, per board direction, additional options were provided uh to reach the approximately $1.7 million rather than eliminating elementary magnet transportation. The options included discontinuing elementary school magnet programming, discontinuing fair school crystal programming, the closure of fair school pilgrim lane, uh, and discussion of negotiation contract parameters. Uh, the board did not do that. That's something that would have to happen in close session. On December 8th, the board gave administration direction to proceed uh with moving forward with the process of the closure for Fair uh School Pilgrim Lane and the discontinuation of the Fair School Crystal Magnet programming. The board also approved that evening the publishing notification per statute for the consideration of closing Fair Pilgrim Lane and the board added an additional listening session uh with no time limit on December 22nd. Well, this is how we got here. I'm going to ask Dr. McDow to share information specific to Fair Crystal as a starting point to how we move forward towards arts and innovation at all of our middle schools. >> Thank you. I just >> Yes, it is. >> I I do think that uh I do want to ask a clarifying question and it also is rooted in the minutes as well. uh at the December 8th work session that was the one where we had the II point you know and others and and so on and so forth I'm remembering correctly the various proposals there was an ask to come back and make sure that language was clear because several of us mentioned that it was not as clear to us as to what we were actually talking about. So I just want to point that out. Secondly, what we talked about and what came up all of a sudden, this is December 8th, which is the minutes, which is one of the reasons I wanted to stop. I I wanted to ask this, but I missed that opportunity when we we approved those. We approve, we knew we in order to even contemplate it, it needed to be published. So, I my vote was because we we want to be transparent and publish this document that says we motion to remove it and all of those things. We've not actually taken the the final formal vote to remove those things. >> That's correct. >> That that language really should be clarified. I I'm just saying because it's confusing, you know, and and and and because and and because it is confusing and and and in deference to many of the comments that the super made superintendent made a few minutes ago, clarity and and transparency is important. So, and I I don't want to be in a position where it's seeming like I'm just making up stuff and just, you know, I would never do that and just tell, you know, say something about somebody. And uh and I'm really pleased. Also, I'll just quickly say this that you brought up the issue of u director Wholeheisel. Uh she is one cabinet member that I really hold in high esteem. Yeah. just going to say this is related to the same thing about clarity. And the reality is that um you know when we all said verbally and publicly and disclosed that we had no conflict. What the superintendent has shared means that director Hohisel could have just done the same thing. I don't recall that. I'm just saying that now that could have happened and I don't want to go backwards. I don't want to be labor, but but what I really do want to do is because superintendent, I think you made a great presentation. You covered a lot of things that I didn't expect you would, but you did. And so I don't want to move past this moment without my opportunity to speak to some of the things you said. You know, uh I think that's makes sense to do it right in this moment while we're all thinking about it. So that m those minutes are not clear because we were voting to publish because we want to make we have to do it to make sure the public knows it's even being discussed. So we had made no decision that we're going to close these programs in that December 8th meeting. And I'll go on to say that uh on def December 5th you and I as you know the 5th that night we were at a meeting uh for the department for um schoolboards association and the next day all day half day we were there as well all coming up to the Christmas holiday. And so the email that I received that came at well yeah you know just within this short period of time was shot was kind of a surprise. So communication matters and it matters all around because no one wants to be making assertions against anybody. >> I mean you know and so and I'm speaking directly to what the presentation we just heard. So, I [snorts] don't really expect anybody to be trying to say that this is not appropriate. It's right on point. We're talking about closing a building. We're [snorts] talking about communication related to it. And it's important because I'm tired of this mantra about dysfunction. This is the business that we are in. And if we can't speak to these things honestly, we will never build trust. >> [applause] >> like to clarify to clarify the motion was just like when we had the motion and we couldn't decide which four ele which two elementary schools to close we had a motion to close all four so that it could get published and then when it came down to it we voted to close two is the same thing the initial vote was so that we can publish publish it. The final vote is the vote that happens after the hearing for the school closing and tonight before the hearing for the program closure. >> Thank you. >> And also uh per state statute there is no disclosure that is needed. It was it was it was given four times >> but you just affirmed what I was saying. You know it was confusing. That that's that's the point. It was confusing and this minutes really should reflect for the publishing just like that statement just said a few minutes ago for the it included the fact that we needed to publish. It's helpful to have that in for the record so we all know what we're talking about. Clarity matters, you know. So I'm I'm you know it's not a soap box. This is a direct >> comment based on what I just heard >> and I'm we can move on. >> We will move on. Assistant Superintendent McDow. >> Thank you. Uh the next couple slides are intended to just provide information from questions that came from the school board. Um as we moved on from December 8th, um and I appreciate administration helping uh clarify things so that uh we were as accurate as we could be. Um, as of the past October, Fair Crystal had an enrollment of 444 students. And when examining programming for these students more closely, Fair Crystal's current course offerings are uh not unique within the district because both core academic and elective courses offered at Fair Crystal are also available at the district's other middle schools. However, in 2022, a pathway plan uh for Sea and Pilgrim Lane and also Fair Crystal was started. However, that plan was never fully developed, nor was it fully implemented in its entirety. There once were unique residents art programs at Fair Crystal, steam coordinators, and specialized electives offered, but now current offerings match other district middle schools. You have heard speakers talk You will be asked to leave. >> Maintain order. >> Thank you. >> This is a presentation. Just be listening. Oh, >> so you've heard speakers talk about unique opportunities, which there are unique opportunities with Fair Crystal, and there are others that take place in the same manner that clubs and activities take place in the other uh middle schools. Speakers have also shared the importance of the partnership with Stages uh theater company and no one's going to argue that this mutually beneficial partnership is built on a contract which the district pays $188,570 for. It allows stages to provide not only staff but also support for theater classes and productions at both Fair Pilgrim Lane and Fair Crystal. However, along with the fee, the district also provides stages nine weeks during the summer of dedicated space. the blackbox main stage, six classrooms with no facility charges and programming open to non Robbinsdale students. It is true that the design of the school is centered around middle school best practices with teams of teachers and as you've heard tonight um in listening session programmatic um things that teachers are doing with students. Additionally, there is staffwide belief in steam and leadership that encourages teachers to build integrated units and all the programming essentials that are here can be scaled across the district to ensure every student has paths to opportunities and success. Next slide, please. Although this is an extremely difficult decision before you, discontinuing the magnet programming at Fair Crystal and consolidation with Plymouth Middle School and Samberg Middle School does bring an opportunity to support the beginning movements towards arts and innovation for all middle school students. However, with consolidation, first comes the questions around space and utilization. Based on capacity and utilization calculations, as well as our enrollment projections and special programming needs, there is ample space between Plymouth Middle School and Samberg Middle School to house all Robinsdale Middle School students and the related specialized programs. The middle school consolidation also creates the conditions to expand the curricular integration focus and begin realizing the vision 2030 and what can be for all students. This move along with all or along with other middle school changes can allow for things like Spanish immersion programming and the potential expansion of stages theater for both middle schools. Having leadership and staff from Fair Crystal already puts the district in a position to allow us to leverage their experience and their knowledge with other middle school staff because the current programming is seemingly about environment expectation, culture, instructional belief and curricular integration. The opportunities for implementation will exist with both Samberg Middle School and Plymouth Middle School. Finally, this change provides the opportunity to further improve district alignment, get us closer to ensuring a guaranteed and viable curriculum across middle schools because both leadership and staff will play a valuable role in planning transition and expansion. >> So, tonight the there are action options for the board. Um the school board could take the action to approve the discontinuation of the middle school magnet programming at Fair Crystal at the conclusion of the 202526 school year and repurpose it with academic programming. One of those options are if the board approves the closure of Pilgrim Lane, the above action assumes that Pilgrim Lane programming would move to Fair Crystal or if the board does not approve the closure of Pilgrim Lane. The above action assumes that High View RVA programming would move to Fair Crystal along with at least some of the ESC departments. Hi guys. [clears throat] >> Sorry. >> Should I call a recess? >> Recess. Recess. >> Recess. >> Okay. I'm calling a recess until we have some order. The board is not recessed. We're back. Okay, I'm calling the meeting back to order. It's 8:56 and we're back in session. Um, >> starting again. >> When the camera is on, the live stream is on. >> So, we are back and uh, assistant superintendent McDow, is your presentation concluded? Is And >> do you have anything more to say or we have board discussion? I think board discussion. We just wanted to be sure that you knew the action options that you had in front of you. >> Thank you. And if you keep those up, that is great. Okay. Does anybody have a question? >> Director does anybody want to ask a question of our superintendent or Yes. Director Brimson? >> Yeah. So, um I want to step back to the middle school programming. you'd mentioned that there's, you know, essentially the same between Fair Crystal and PMS and SMS. Um, and one of the things that seemed to get a pretty good reaction from the crowd, so I might might as well ask the question was around the resident artists. So, obviously the resident artists are at Pilgrim Lane Elementary. We saw that fantastic presentation earlier. Are they non at the at Fair Crystal at this point in time? Um just kind of curious still here. >> So here's what I will respond to that question is the slides that I put up >> I confirmed with the administration. Um, and so I'm led to believe that the artist in residence programming that was intended originally back from the 2022 study is no longer in place. Now, does that mean that there is not an artist that comes in in residence? I can't say that for sure. Um, but what as part of that initial programming was in place is no longer from what I was told. Uh Dr. Huto I just have a quick question Bob. So you did mention that there is a high possibility we might move some of the programming at fair if the programming is discontinued into the other two middle schools. Has there been any cost analysis done as far as if that will cost the district any more money or not? the cost analysis would be would be dependent upon what exact programming would happen um in those buildings which we're not to that spot yet. I'll remind the board that um well I'll remind everybody this right so uh what people don't understand is that when you're put in a position to try and come up with what are pros and cons in these things my job is not to convince people My job is to convin is to try and figure out what can be done if right what can be done if if the board says hey what happens if fair crystal were to close I got to figure out what would happen I don't know all the answers to that I won't know the answers until my teaching and learning team digs in with fair crystal people the other middle school people the consolidation process we decide what can we actually pull off in a here in two years and all of that. So the idea that you can be peppered with questions up here to answer with specificity is misguided. Um we can give you ballparks, right? I can give you ideas of what happens. I can tell you from experience that regardless of whether this was Fair Crystal that was on the table, if it simply was Robbinsdale Middle School and Samberg Middle School and Plymouth Middle School, it's the same answer. We have to take a team. Once we know what the decision is, we got to dig into it. We got to figure out exactly where do boundaries end up. Who are the kids that are going to be in the positions? Where will the teaching staff be? What's the programming outlook? What can we pull off and stay with inside of a statutoily operational budget until we know what's next? So that's a roundabout way to say do I think the exact programming not the curriculum you'll notice that I talked about curriculum curriculum not programming curriculum the programming to say that that will be exactly the same that's at fair crystal no it's not going to be the same the curriculum >> the recess >> so school board the curriculum and the courses that are currently offered are also offered in one or more of the other middle schools right now. >> So that that's how I can >> Thank you. I need some order. I need it quiet back there. This is not time for public comment. We will not be calling on anyone from the office audience. >> No. No. You will have to leave if you can if you want to talk like that. >> Stop. Stop. Stop. Don't don't scull. >> No, >> public comment is going to be next. >> Uh public hearing is next, not public comment. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> I have a question. >> All right. If we need to take another recess, we will. >> Yeah. >> I would prefer for the adults in the room to be adults. >> [clears throat] >> Well, I don't know what we're voting on. I don't understand this at all. >> That's what I'd like to I would like I've got lots of questions down here. So, go for >> Well, listen. >> We have lots of questions that we would like to ask and have answered. We need our people in the audience to be quiet so that we can get our discussion done. Make some decisions here. >> Stop. No. Stop. trying to be disrespectful. >> Please, please be respectful of the process. >> All right. >> Got to leave again, I think. [clears throat] >> Director Basset. >> Yes. >> Okay. If it's not quiet, we will be leaving. >> Okay. The next question. >> I do have a question. I hope this disruption is you know listen sh so we don't get lose our train of thought we have you know we're trying to talk to each other and it's important um so um you know uh oh I know what it is so um the the closure of uh one of these proposals includes a fair crystal >> right that's the program change >> exactly >> so Okay. >> So given that um and given [snorts] that we are wanting to move toward an arts and innovation program and uh our strongest kind of um the facility actually for middle school that really lends itself to really boosting that that idea. Um, I would have a a problem with it being just I think that it should be something that's open to all of the similar to some of the lotteryies we have now. So, I have talked about and I have I think sent to the superintendent I believe I said and others maybe and that is um I've usually sent you everything unless I've overlooked it and forgot it. Um the whole idea about Fair Crystal and the facility that it is, the availability to of that facility for middle school students across this district has high value to relegate it to one particular community. Now, I'm thinking there's some merit to having it be uh maybe a hybrid where you have a neighborhood boundary uh kind of a bifurcated thing. baby is trigated because if you have students coming from C, if you have a percentage of students that are able to open enroll there uh because they live in our school district of Robbinsdale and they are arts focused and a middle school boundary that's three opportunities for kids in our community to participate in that building. And that building as far as middle schools go is the best suited for what we say we want to do and where we're going in my opinion. [applause] You know, and and please please everybody, you know, you've always been you've all been so great. You know, the over these last few months and so really I think it's important that us directors have an opportunity to talk to each other. We haven't had it and we need it. And if we don't have order, then the chair is going to correctly end the meeting. And so, um, we need to do that. We also need to be good examples for our young people who are over here, you know. So, um, so that's kind of what I have been thinking about. And, um, I I really have a problem with the building only being dedicated to a one group of students. >> I do because it is the facility and somebody mentioned it earlier. It was built by the state as a world-class facility supporting arts and our reimagined group and the community I think all of us said that sounds great arts and innovation. So it it's the perfect setting for us to really provide for our middle school young people. And I just think we have to be innovative and creative to talk about what's the mix of kids in that building and and how can we make it be most successful to the greatest number of kids. That's what I think about. And so that's what and I guess I don't know that maybe that's a statement or something but I would be asking for us to be creative and try to figure out how can we do that. We do it for other things. For example, when we talk about um preference for some of our other magnet programs, we have um teacher preference. If my if I'm a teacher there, my child gets to go. We have talked about sibling preference. I mean, so the the point I'm making is that we have made accommodations different times for different programs, for different reasons. That's all I'm saying. and some accommodation that we can make for Fair Crystal. So that the spirit of why it was built, it was built as an integration magnet in the first place. And in in my mind, I'm not so much harping on that uh as I am the opportunity which almost is synonymous quite frankly, but the opportunity across the district. Now uh I am not in the camp of let's stop all madness. I'm not I'm not in that camp. But uh if if do we need to try to work toward getting there in 3 to 5 years or two to three years because of the transportation transportation challenges maybe. But we've also in the past been very creative when we talked about transportation. We've come up with opt in opt out in out whatever which way where we op opting. But we have the opt out program. I do think there are districts who have instituted um some kind of a feebased structure [clears throat] and if we have to put some money in it we have to put some money in it you know I mean so uh you get what you pay for so uh and do we need to try to we is 1.7 prohibitive well it is do we need to do some additional things yes are there folks who would say I think this program is so important that I'm willing to bring my children I don't know the answers to those questions but I'm saying those questions are the questions that rise up in my mind. Those are the kind of questions that that I think are important because I I think it's important to stay at it as it is. We could not if we wanted to build a facility like that now, where could we get it? It would cost us a whole bunch of money. It's got a blackbox in it. It's got it's got a theater in it. It's got all those things. It's got a stage. It's got everything we say we want. I I I don't understand, you know, and so uh and it's middle school ready. And if we're going to be putting and I I I don't know. I've heard people say that we can we we're going to take RMS. We're gonna have RMS and Samberg. So, you know, Plymouth Middle, Samberg, the two if we close Crystal and then move those kids into that. I really do worry about uh so many students in those facilities because it's not really ideal middle school. There are numbers and I'm a little rusty on that. We've had at least three middle school studies in this district since I've been here and I'm I'm a little I don't really know where it landed and maybe you know the answer to that Bob as to what the ideal number is. Uh assistant superend McDow, excuse me, but c can you tell us what that is? >> I can tell you that there's one there's no ideal number. Well, >> I can tell you that uh we aim for around like most districts do around 80% capacity of a building because that especially at the secondary level that gives you flexibility. Um and that's right around where we would be um because we also have to take into account our centerbased programs. We've had this discussion at the elementary level. So, as we look at all that, I mean, we do have to be careful about what kids go into what building if this is an option that gets decided on because we we're going to be right at that 80% capacity, which is where you want to be um in terms of an efficiency place. So, remember now we're shifting into buildings and efficiencies and we're talking numbers of kids and and that piece. So, the answer to that question is yes. And in for the for the foreseeable future, we will hover right around 70 to 80% in our efficiencies of those two middle schools based on the enrollment projections that we have uh for the next uh five years. >> So when you say yes, that's the answer. Yes, that there is what what is the yes for you answering? >> Yep. The yes is that if we were to so to your question >> in this scenario, right? So you take you take basically you're taking all your middle school kids and you're putting them into two buildings. And the question right is for Plymouth Middle School and for Samberg if you did that what I heard your question was basically will they fit or will we be busting at the seams right the >> kind of sort of I mean I I I was expressing a concern about the census being very high and I asked the question about is there an ideal because I I I'm given an understanding there is an ideal number for a middle school for a middle school building. I I'm you know that's information I've heard >> that >> there is a >> range >> range of sizes of buildings >> and how many kids should be in a building. Um it really comes down to um how efficient do you actually need to be. Uh in some cases it comes down to how many some districts make decisions based on how many sections do you want to be running of each grade level to create efficiencies and effectiveness based on the programming you've got going on. Um, so the answer is really around depends, but regardless of how you do it, ideally if you can stay around the 75 to 80ish% efficiency, that's really good. Uh, some districts push that up into the 90s uh with their secondary buildings. Um, but it does depend of all the individual nuances that come into play and and really what you're trying to pull off. >> Okay. Well, thank you for asking for answering that question and and so just to kind of put a pin on for the moment for others on my fair crystal questions. I think that the superintendent understands my core question which is can we have a mix for that building um that accommodates across our district children being able to participate in that facility. That's the question. So, just to clarify, so what you're suggesting is that it isn't just the C and Pilgrim Lane students that are a part of it. >> That's right. >> Okay. >> And uh and because I think neighborhood kids, you know, just like we have a walk zone for C. I mean, I think you can there you can do those things, you know, they're not impossible. >> I think chair, if it's okay, just the other thing I'd like to add to Dr. McDow's comments about um what's the ideal size of a school? um 444 students is pretty amazing. 250 students at an elementary, 230 students at an elementary is pretty amazing. Again, >> that just isn't responsible fiscally. Um and so that's a hard one, right? To say what's ideal. >> It's it's this is a hard conversation about what's ideal. What's ideal is to ensure we have excellent opportunities and programming for our students. And what's ideal is to get us into a fiscally healthier place so we can continue um to support all of our students in the ways that the students here are feeling supported. >> Thank you. I I just want to >> clarify the this screen about the action options because I just want to make sure what B means. I'm pretty sure well I know what it means but I just want to make sure that we're all on the same page here uh before people vote. So the idea here behind B is primarily in response to the idea that it, you know, closing Pilgrim Lane doesn't have a large financial benefit to move them from Pilgrim Lane to Fair. So instead, the idea would be why why in the world would you move them? Because there's not a great financial reason unless someone tells me there is. Um, so instead, leave them alone. stop talking about closing Pilgrim Lane instead. Right. Yes. There's that vote question about discontinuing program for Fair Crystal, but then just reusing the building for other things. Is that is that kind of how we got there from a history perspective? >> It is right. It's options that get put on the table. And what does this look like? and and the rationale for the fair crystal piece is no different than what director Basset just said from a from a building standpoint. I I don't know why you would clo close the build, right? So there's two different things and that's what gets confusing. One is actually closing a site. The other is finding ways to repurpose it so it can stay open as an instructional site, right? because there are things uh particularly in Fair Crystal with the theater with the black box. What do you use those for? Why? Right. It's that conversation. So, um yeah, that's another option. Okay. Or the rationale behind how might we do it. I'd like to look closer at B. Um, if H High View had the opportunity to be at the Fair Crystal Building, what an opportunity for our marginalized students to have and also the auditorium, the theater there could be used by both of our middle schools for their productions. I see a lot of positives with going B. Uh >> we'll have sidebars going on over here. >> I'm on the wrong side. We're either all listening together over now. >> Okay. Uh >> I'll wait till we're all back paying attention. >> I'm listening. We're listening. We're just trying to get make sure we get to these options. Okay. >> I just want to get to the right spot discussion until the sidebars. Well, this PowerPoint wasn't in our packet that you know we got on Thursday. So, it was just voted now. So, people are trying to figure it out and and and just a response to that that that is that is how we have we talked to the board about doing that differently during this process because we wanted to be sure that the board had a chance to see the information and talk about the information at the same time. and adults couldn't be trusted having the information in advance. >> Stop. Stop. >> All right, we're back. [snorts] Um, is there another question, >> Director Hillbrand? >> Yeah. When you say at the same time, by the way, you mean as the same time as the public, >> correct? >> Yes. So, there's transparency with the public. Um, yeah. I one of my things was was a question Yeah. of [clears throat] that. Could the theaters then be a resource? cuz I know that was a big concern with PMS and SMS with their um theater programs and their productions and um so that would be great that it could be actually a resource for the entire um Robinsdale area schools um community to use those theaters. So that is a nice um um side um benefit. But um the other thing curious with be is you know you know we talked and I think you you mentioned it too but you know can we be bringing the idea of bringing stages or if stages doesn't have capacity another theater company to our other middle to both middle schools just the way that we're bringing the Spanish to both middle schools bringing that programming then and the um the uh sorry I got distracted by somebody's head shaking over the the uh the um what do you call it? The arts residencies to both are are now would be the two middle schools would be an amazing opportunity then for all of our students. Not concentrating these great um opportunities for 500 students or 550 students, but actually investing in every Robinsdale Area School student is a pretty neat um opportunity. So, I just I just wanted to comment that those are interesting ideas. um as I'm considering these options. So that's all. Thank you. >> Um Director Long. Okay. Then >> director we appointing it >> Basset. >> Okay. First director Long. >> Okay. >> And director Bowman after that. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> I am not understanding this. So when we go to vote, we're going to do a vote of I vote for A or I vote vote for B. Is that what we're doing? >> I can help with that. What we would have to do first is um to do the re to uh take an action to approve or disapprove the discontinuation of the middle school magnet programming at fair school crystal. After that vote, if the vote is to discontinue the programming, then we can decide, do we want to take Fair Pilgrim Lane off the table and put and do we want to have High View and RVA and some ESC offices there and uh do it that way. So first could we still have the option of say we say yeah we want to continue with programming at Crystal Fair and yeah we want to continue to have Pilgrim Lane open. >> Okay. So that would be if there is a motion to discontinue the programming and it gets defeated then the programming at Pilgrim at Fair Crystal continues >> because this doesn't say that to me. This says one or the other. It doesn't say there's STILL INFINITE ALL >> [applause] >> RIGHT, PLEASE let us have a discussion so that we can figure out exactly what people want to vote on. All right, so the the school could they could take action could take action to approve the discontinuation of the middle school magnet programming. If that is the motion, it can be defeated. It can be approved. If it's defeated, the programming stays. If it depends on the wording of the motion, too. So, but first the first part of it is um do the discontinuation vote because that what we generated back in in December. That would be the motion that would be made. And if it's defeated or passed, then we go on to decide what are we going to do with this building. That's the second one. Okay. Director Bass, >> can I just have a clarifying to director Long, are you I just want to be sure I heard you right. So you're saying what if we don't discontinue programming at Fair Crystal and what if we don't vote to close Pilgrim Lane. >> So if we don't do either of those, we've got that $1.7 million um deficit and a statutory operating debt uh plan that is due in two weeks. So I just wanted that's kind of the what would happen. >> Yeah. And aren't we going to talk about adding a day anyways to >> our calendar? >> Yes. >> I mean, we might as well add all the Mondays we have so far. We could do all the Mondays in February, too. >> But it's due at the end of January. >> It's due January. >> Well, I think we can ask for an extension or something. And I don't know THAT [applause] I think we should I think I think you mentioned in your presentation that we could not get an extension. Will you clarify that please? >> That is correct. Per Minnesota state statute. Um you have to have a plan submitted to the Department of Education by January 31st. >> No extensions allowed. Thank you. All right. The next person up. We we need to we need to get we need to figure this out. >> We have to be able to discuss this please. Um Director Basset. >> Well uh under B now um so assuming that we did not uh close repurpose whichever way we call it Plymouth uh Lane Elementary or uh Crystal. Um now uh I don't know this is an assumption that's written here by the administration B because the board is not approved the vote action assumes that high view programming and the other would go to fair. I know that among us we've talked about a couple of different possibilities and scenarios for where H high view well you know what I mean could go I want to say and we've we've talked about other options for them and for the ESC we've talked about that so and we are going to have other facilities that will be closed I mean and so there so this assumption is not an assumption that I recall us saying was tied to this option at the time that we discussed it. I see three hands. I see two hands. >> Okay. Uh which are you two first? >> So yes and right. So back to building closure versus program discontinuing a program. If if the board would decide to discontinue the middle school programming, the board ha the the board and district needs to keep a significant instructional program going on in that building or the board would need to put up for notification the potential closure of that site. The reason we put that in there as B was because that allows for it's one way of putting a significant program in that building and not closing the site. [clears throat] >> I got it. >> However, there are other options for locating those programs and the ESC. >> Absolutely. So I mean that's my absolutely is that so if I vote for this I'm not you know so I mean and I think it's important because >> if you look at it you're like what am I voting for you know I didn't this is not my assumption >> you know you know I mean my assumption is that we have other options that we can use to place these programs and to place EFC we've talked about a few different things so I don't like that on there you know I mean we already know because I think you've made an I get it you've made the point that we need to have instructional programs colllocated with wherever we have ESC. We understand that we can figure that out. It's not the world's biggest problem. I mean, and I don't mean to be tried. >> No, no, no, you're not. And and again, I just want to remind the board that we're here tonight because we were asked for additional options for the 1.7. So, and as we that that's why we're here and we wouldn't if the board chose to uh discontinue the middle school programming and not close Pilgrim Leane. We're not going to have Crystal sit empty. So, I think that's where that came and and to to DJ's point, you know, part of all of this was was how do we can we come up with the financial solution without disrupting the 400 plus students at Pilgrim Lane? That that's that's where this came from. >> Uh well, let me just say that we're going to be disrupting a lot of students all across this district. Now, I mean, let's just get real here. I mean, whatever we do, we're going to move students. >> Yeah, that's true. >> I understand. I understand. I understand totally, but I I don't like that. I want to make it clear that all of these students matter. >> Agreed. >> I'm not saying that nobody says that they don't, >> but so I I I'm saying 400 more students. No, we're moving a lot of students. So moving them so that they're moving to a better situation longer term with the fewest moves with the most substantive programming. That's what I'm trying to understand. And so when I see this stuff thrown in there like well you know I mean the EFC we can figure that out you know I mean we can and and because everybody's committed to doing that. >> Yeah. And again, I I think I think we're not understanding each other because again, the reason this is in front of you is because we're trying to solve for the $1.7 million when the board did not want to entertain the magnet transportation. Again, none of these are great options when you're in statutory operating debt when we've already reduced 16 million last year without touching schools. But >> superintendent, here's the thing. you know, the $1.7 million that, you know, was the cost for transportation and we we took that, you know, and and I think no, none of us really wanted to remove, you know, to transportation from families and so I think that's why people were kind of like, yeah, we don't really want to do that. >> I'm very serious about we need to find some other way because we're, you know, we need to because that also can be a step down. >> You know, that means we have to find something else. We haven't talked at all about contracts. We're not talking about vendors. There are a lot of things we have not talked about at all. And and and and I'm just saying it's the truth of it. That's the truth of it. It doesn't I'm this is not for applause. The truth [snorts] of it is that we have not and I think if we we haven't even set a target for if we want to step down transportation so that in two to three years if not sooner we have 50% of our costs for transportation are cut. That's a goal. That's something we can shoot toward. That's something we [snorts] can look at and say, "Okay, well let's this this and the other will get us there." What we've been talking about so far are gross numbers. We close a building, we get this. We close the building, we get that. So, it was easy to say if we couldn't close one more building, will we get more money? You know, you know, I mean, sounds like we can do that because we do have a couple more we could close, you know. So, that's not a hard place to get to, you know, and so I think we got there, but then when we start getting back here is what you give up. That was a whole new ball game. A whole new ball game in a relatively short period of time, you know. And uh maybe there's some others here, some educators, but I'm not one of them, >> you know. So I need time to digest and figure it out. And so I I just feel like that I I've talked about what I feel about Crystal School and I've talked again about this transportation issue. I think we need to hit a target. I think we need to look at some time frame and if there's some trade-offs, just like we had trade-offs for everything else, I think we need to try to figure it out, you know, because I I I just cringe when I think we're going to cut out these programs for for transportation. I try to stay away from the transportation discussion because I think we wouldn't be in this place right now if we' kept our buses. But that's a whole another story. But >> yeah, let's not go there. Okay. >> So, Director Benson, are you finished? >> I'm for a moment. Yes. >> Thank you, Director Bowman. Um I just want to make sure that I clearly understand also um sort of the parts of the discussion all the way along has been uh that there's sort of like nothing set in concrete even though we make moves at this point because the one thing that has not been discussed uh at length has been [clears throat] uh programming curriculum that kind of things because one of the things that we were first told about was that we needed to get to the savings of closing the buildings and and that's the information as I have read it as I have digested it as as I um have sort of molded over. So, I think one of the important things for us to also remember is that um and maybe I'm wrong, but I think there's we maintain a great deal of flexibility over the next few years regardless of what we do because we've not painted oursel into a corner. And the other thing I know that's really important to me is that I really believe that the uh fair uh crystal building needs to be kept in circulation and needs to be utilized for its um staging its its uh various amenities that lend to the arts. Uh um I'm I you know I have some concerns but that is the one building that we need to by doing this option that we have in front of us tonight it keeps that building viable for the future uh programming that uh we may want to take because right now as I'm listening to all of this that there's a mixture of magnet versus neighborhood schools versus all these various entities and the reality of it is is we're in statutory operating deficit. We have till January 20th to make a decision. We're $1.7 million away from the our targeted goal that we have to be to by that point so that we're not approving budgets that are um causing deficit spending. So I I I just think it's important to remind ourselves at this point that um we are ma we maintain our flexibility. We maintain our building. Um uh that's really vitally important to the school. That building came about when I was on this board the first time. Uh I'm concerned that if we take the transportation of the magnet schools, one of the things I understand right now from the the reading and the sort of research that I've done is that it is the transportation program that we have in this district that creates the equity to our magnet schools. And if we remove that transportation program, we remove the one thing that we say these are equitybased buildings because now that transportation is gone. And so it's, you know, to me it's really layered, but what's important to me is that we keep that school in rotation so that we have the asset of that building. Uh it's an important asset to the entire school district because we've always been an arts district. We've always been a district that has embraced the arts. I was a student here myself from 1959 on. Arts has always been important. So um we need that building kept in place. And the other thing I just want to reiterate is that we're not painting oursel into the corner because we're not making program decisions at this point. And what's important to me is keeping that building. Uh uh so that uh it can be put back into service however we may deem it fit. But to me, the important thing right now is coming to that 1.7 million and getting ourselves set to be uh in compliance with the state. Uh because in the long run when we look if we're not in compliance in the state, one of the things we've not even asked for is what are we looking at in the future for what our bonds are going to cost? You know, does it impact our bonding rates and those sort of things? I mean, I if we don't come into statutory operating deficit compliance and so I I just want to remind us we're not painting ourselves into the corner. Uh we're writing the things that need to be writed because you know we are in this horrible situation and uh uh our next steps once we save those buildings being shut because we're so under capacity in our enrollment in those buildings then we get to start to reassign and redo and rebuild and expand throughout this district. And that's just going to be the dream I am going to hang on to. One of the things I found earlier at tonight's listening time to be really interesting was that there was this discussion that um uh it had already been put together and and and uh where was the plan for the future? Where was the plan for the future? And there was this part of me that said, "But wait, if it's already been put together, what do you mean we can't replicate it?" So there wasn't a plan the first time. Is it written down? you know, I mean, so, uh, uh, I have faith that this school district will do it because we're doing it already, but we need to rightsize these buildings. So, um, and I know we don't have to get rowdy here. You don't have to agree with me here. This is my opinion for the evening, and I haven't said anything. So, um, keep the building. I, you know, I myself am going to vote. I myself support the dis uh the discontinuation of the middle school magnet program at fair and to leave Plymouth uh uh elementary school alone as it is and then we then go into our next phases of planning with this board because we're not done. That was just the buildings. We're not done. >> That's true. >> And we're at the later we're at the later point. >> Okay. Okay. We're not going to interact. >> Okay. >> We're not going to interact. >> Okay. Next person to speak is Director Long. >> Okay. So, when we talked about magnet transportation, one of the things that I was always confused about because it seemed like RSI was on its own island. So, if you took rid of the magnet transportation, does that mean that then RSI students then would also lose their magnet transportation? Okay. And then, you know, so then I never heard of what impact that would have on RSI and and those students in that program, you know, and we are we are talking about programming. If we're talking about getting rid of the programming because that's what that is. That's programming that we have at Crystal Fair. It's not clubs. It's not elective classes. It's programming. So, it's different than going to a middle school and doing a club or taking an elective class. programming is a a lot more all-encompassing than that. Um my my thing is so fellow board members because we're the board uh we get to give direction to the administration. Um, so I would like to know where you guys all stand on giving direction to the administration to uh reach out to MDE and ask for an extension. So I would like to make a motion that we direct the administration to reach out to MD and ask for an extension in our SOP. >> Can I get a second? >> A SECOND. EVEN HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON. >> We can't we can't even hear ourselves. Please control yourself. So even so with this the only reason I second that because I'm curious I want to ask a question and so that is so um I would >> sorry it's like my daughter called me in the middle of the >> a few minutes ago >> uh so uh director long are you so what to a date certain what are you saying I mean I I I'm I'm nervous about and I don't don't feel good about asking the administration to ask for just an extension if there's a purpose if there's like a week or the other thing is I'm really paying attention what they said about the longer we don't dig out the [snorts] big digger it gets so if it's like a week or two and what can we what would be the purpose of it in the so you made the motion so I'm asking >> so what is your suggestion because I know we're going to talk about meeting next Monday too >> we could throw a Friday meeting in there maybe Thursday just to ask them, you know, they can always say no, but I would be I would not want to ask for more than two weeks, quite frankly. Uh, and I don't even know if that's enough time if we're going to ask for an extension. That's why I asked her, you know, hear the question. Um, so that would be uh if you're if you're asking if the board wants to direct the administration, I'm saying I'm willing to listen to what you said. I'm not willing to go past two weeks from the date we from you know from the so that would be like two weeks in February you know um and so because I think we I believe him we we got to dig out so >> I'm before I call I mean the next on the list is Phil and Brandon then Brenden but first the legal counsel >> yeah the the January 31st date is a statutory deadline um and because it is set in statute the MDE wouldn't have legal authority to extend that >> I still don't see the Harmon asking and seeing what their response is back to us and then we would know for certain. >> Well, I think >> we would know for certain that that's what I'm [clears throat] asking for because then we would know for certain. So, >> I still want to be on the list for the other topic we were talking about, but also my concern is students are registering for school right now. This is not really fair to teachers, to students, to families to keep drawing this out. That is my huge concern on this that the more we draw this out, the more this just causes pain, anxiety, and and it just doesn't seem fair to the community. That that's my my concern with your proposal, even if if it was allowable under the law. >> We can all vote no. And >> right, I'm just pointing that out there in the space for other people to consider. So, >> Director Bronson, did you want to say something before we vote on this? >> Uh, yeah. I'm just so obviously there is open enrollment happening and delaying this is potentially bad for parents and I get that part. What I don't quite let let's say we go to MDE it's they're not going to tell us tomorrow. It might take time, right? Like what ends up happening if we get to January 20th and we've made no decision and we're >> towards this fiscal cliff. Does admin just start finding stuff to cut 1.7 million? Like did did we just give up our responsibility at the board level to make that decision and we just threw it completely into your lab? Like I I think that's a an important question to understand what happens. And we may not know the answer, but I >> we can't be the only board that didn't say yes to cutting something that flung it back at admin. >> Okay. I don't see any more hands up. We have a motion on the floor to ask administration to a to ask administration to ask MDE for an extension which our attorney has said is statute. All in favor of asking the administration to do this, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose say nay. >> Nay. >> All right, let's move on. Um, director Hillbrand, you wanted to speak about something else and then Director Brennes. Yeah, I mean just back back to what we were actually talking about. I I just want to say that I think that I understand people not wanting to make decision. I understand that it's really hard or not wanting to make this decision. Um but look, I I'm just going to I don't know if anybody knows Yiddish, but I'm going to put tukantish here. Okay, I'm putting the cards on the table. It's not a literal translation. You can look it up yourself. Um, but you know, I ran to help my community. This is not about me. This is not about my ego. I don't care if I get re-elected or not. I ran because I saw our community needed the board was in turmoil. We needed to be to go through this really difficult process. Um, and I wanted to I thought I could be help to get us to a better future. Um, and so these decisions are not easy. It's not what I want to be doing tonight. I know you don't want to be here tonight. I understand that 100%. Um, we're here because the board members who were here before me kept pushing this decision down the road. This has been something that we have been facing and let CO dollars help pull us through for a while, but this is something that we have been facing for probably a decade. This is not new. This is not unique also to our school district. We just got there a little faster, but Metro School Districts are all facing this. Um, and this has been pushed down the road, pushed down the road until we've hit the crisis and through other boards in action and other administrations in action. The the error in accounting just made us hit it faster. Okay? So, we would have been here no matter what. Unfortunately, we're here today. Um, [clears throat] and so we have to we have to address it. We don't have a choice. Okay? And so we have to make these decisions. Nobody here loves our options. Administration doesn't love the options. None of us love the options, but something has to give. The other schools that were closed didn't love their schools being closed either. And so I nobody wants to do any of these things, but something has to give in order for all the kids who live in this district to be educated. Nobody wants to see their schools close. Okay? And if it came down to it, the schools that my kids, the school my kids go to might be closed. And if that happened, I'd have to deal with that, too. And I feel for all of you, and I just want to put it out there. I wouldn't want my kids school to be closed. I get it, >> right? >> And I'm sorry for the emotional toll that it's taking on everyone. So, I just wanted to put out there that this is not something anybody takes lightly, but tough decisions have to be made. This is where we are today. And so because of that, when I think about closing one school for 500 kids, ending transportation for hundreds and hundreds of kids, I have to make the choice that affects fewer kids. So that is why I'll be voting the way that I'm voting. That is the choice that I am making and why I'm making it. >> Thank you. >> And are we ready for a motion or I think there's a few >> two more people who want to talk and then I will >> just fine. Director, >> I I was going to say it it my first thing was and I think the board has spoken. There's no appetite to talk about the transportation at this point in time. It feels like everyone has >> I would me too. >> I would talk about other options too. >> So, um I'm just looking I I've seen a lot of I've seen three heads yes, including myself and others no. So, I >> I would have that conversation. I wasn't here for it before. Yeah, >> I was not here before obviously. So, >> okay. >> But um I mean I my my question before wasn't typ I mean completely hypothetical if we don't take an action today. Do we know what happens? >> CFO. Well, I won't speak to uh an action today because again I I'm basing everything all of my work is based off of January 31st and the SOD plan. What I know is if a plan is not submitted with a balanced budget bare minimum have to have a balanced budget. If we do not do that, we run the risk of losing state aid, which means now we've just exacerbated what we're currently trying to work through right now. >> Thank you. Uh, Director Basset, you are next on the list. >> Oh, good. Well, I want to make a motion uh that we do not approve for I'm talking about number eight. Uh, I move that we do not close Pilgrim Lane Elementary. >> I'll second. >> Oh, wait, wait. We can't do that until after the public hearing. >> Correct. >> We can't do that. >> Until we >> um, but I will make >> Wait, >> if you are voting not to close, you can take that action without a hearing. The hearing is only required to close this. >> Thank you. Okay. So, we have a motion. >> I My motion was not to close Pilgrim Lane Elementary. >> Thank you. >> And I second it. >> I don't have a second. >> Second. She >> And you guys want to do this before we deal with the >> below? Sure. >> Okay. >> We have a move and a second not to close. >> Is this a roll call? >> Wait, wait, wait. Uh, council, I just want to check. We can do this right now. We We don't have We can wait >> this way. You want? No, we can do it. No, we can't. It's on the floor. It's >> not on the floor. Pardon me. It's not >> She said, then we can do it now. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. All right. >> Yep. >> Fair pum off the table. >> There's no um legal requirements for what order you would take the questions in. >> Okay. So, we have a motion on the floor. Can we do roll call voting? It has to be It has to be um We have a motion on the floor with a second, right, Director Bowman? Okay. To not close Pilgrim Lane, Fair Pilgrim Lane. >> Okay. This is And I don't see any hands up. Okay. Uh will you take the roll call vote, please, Director Bowen? >> My pleasure. Uh uh Chair Evans Becker. >> Yes. Uh, director um Brenson, >> uh, yes to not close. [snorts] >> Director Bowman votes yes to not close. Um, Director Bassid, >> yes to not close. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. Got to have a double negative. >> I know. Excuse all the English teachers, right? Um, [clears throat] Director Long, >> yes. >> And Director W. >> Yes. We all agree it's unanimous the vote to not close Pilgrim Lane Elementary. Now I have a motion to I Dr. McDonald >> just want to make sure to clarify what that means is you've effectively you won't have the hearing. >> That is correct. We do not need the hearing. >> It is no longer on the >> It is no longer on the table. We do not need the hearing. I hope the people in the other rooms hear this. >> All right. I have a motion I would like to make now. >> We don't need a hearing on piling. The hearing is delay because the hearing was for the closure of Pilgrim Lake. >> So the hearing is a moot point. I have a motion I want to make. >> I move that the board approve the discontinuation of middle school magnet programming at Fair School Crystal at the conclusion of the 2526 school year and repurpose it with academic programming. >> So second. >> Do I have a second? >> Yes. >> Seconded by director. >> Okay. Clear the room. >> We will have to clear the room or have another recess if we just give us order here. >> All right. We have a motion on the floor and a second. I am looking for hands. I do not see hands. >> We're going to do a roll call vote. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> So, all right. Um, the motion on the floor with a second is to approve the discontinuation of middle school magnet programming at Fair School Crystal at the continuation of the 2025 school year and repurpose it with academic programming. Please take a roll call vote. >> Great. Uh, Director Bowman votes [clears throat] yes. Director Brenson, >> I abstain. Okay. >> Uh, Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. Director Long, >> no. >> No. >> Yep. Got that. Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Uh, Director Bass, >> no. >> Director Bassid, >> no. >> Okay, >> we have four. >> Four. Yes. >> Two. No. And one extension. [cheering] You I was probably >> It's nice weather out there today. I had the dog out for a good long As soon as the picture comes back up online, we'll be live again. [clears throat] Hold the drapery off. Very bad. There we are. Okay, we're back in order. It is 10:11, still January 5th. Moving on the agenda. Uh the next item number 10 is new business. The action item is a proposed change to the schoolboard calendar for 2025. And that change is an additional study session next Monday at 6:00. In order to do that, we need a motion and a second and a vote. >> Say what the study session is about. >> Uh to clarify it uh for additional special study session. Um it is on >> see what is what's the topic >> the we'll have to be looking at the draft of the statutory operating debt plan. That'll be part of it. >> Okay. But we'll probably >> will we officially be moving. >> We have to just get the statuto operating. >> Okay. So I'm just >> we'll we just working through that >> question. >> I just before we ran off do we need to vote half of that the IU RVA programming? >> Would you like to move that? >> I I just Do we need to do that? >> I think that would be just fine. >> Do we I would do that just to make sure. I think if you move it >> okay I I so move uh as listed that High View RVA programming would been moved to Fair Crystal along with some ESC departments. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> It's been seconded. Moved and seconded. >> I don't see any hands up. Let's do a roll call vote on that. >> Oh, okay. Hang on. I'm not ready. Um I've run out of forms, but I'll make one up. All right. >> [snorts] >> All right. >> Can I can I ask [clears throat] a clarifying question? >> Yes. >> Will that leave the flexibility for other students to be able to use the facility? >> Yes, it would. >> Okay. Great. All right. Director Bowman votes votes yes. Director Brenson, >> yes. >> Uh, Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> no. >> Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Director Basset, >> no. >> Okay. >> Motion prevails. >> Motion prevails. All right. Meanwhile, back at the calendar change. Um, we did have a which a lot of people were like nodding for the motion. Was that Bowman Bowman and Helenbrand? I >> think so. >> For the meeting next Monday. >> Uh, the the proposed addition to our calendar. >> Yes. >> Is it a voice vote or a roll? >> It's going to be a voice vote >> because it's not a resolution and it doesn't involve money. >> Let's go. >> Okay. All in favor of having that extra meeting on Monday night at six o'clock, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose, say nay. >> No. >> Okay, we'll see everybody on Monday night at six o'clock. But wait, there's more. >> Okay, next item up is the resolution accepting donations. We have $5,679 in donations. Um, is there a move? >> Moved by Director Basset. >> Second. >> Second by Director W. This is a roll call vote because it involves money. Let's do it. >> All right. Uh, Director Basset, >> yes. >> Director Bowman votes yes. Director Bernson, >> yes. >> Uh, Chair Evans Becker, >> yes. >> Director Hillbrand, >> yes. >> Director Long, >> yes. >> Director Wuto, >> yes. >> Motion prevails. >> Thank you for the donations, everyone who donated. Okay, next item on our agenda 10 C um is the level three custodial grievances. Director O'Harn. >> Good evening, Chair Evans Becker, board directors, Superintendent Salo. Um in front of you tonight, you have two level three custodial grievances. Um I want to address the first one is a grievance that we are coming forward with to um proceed to arbitration. We are recommending moving to arbitration. the um same employee has already gone through one grievance that has moved through arbitration and the district um was able to state and came out um in winning arbitration in that claim. So moving this second grievance on the same employee to arbitration, we have consistent documentation to be able to support in the arbitration claim and we would recommend moving to arbitration versus having a hearing on this claim. The second grievance in front of you is for a different custodian. this grievance. We are also recommending moving to a hearing. Sorry, moving to arbitration and not holding a school board hearing on this claim. This employee, it's is their first grievance step three, but we are recommending moving this one on to arbitration as well. The district has similar documentation to be able to support this grievance in arbitration. >> Quick question. >> Questions. Um, do these need to be acted on in separate motions or separate motions? >> Thank you. >> Okay, Director Long. >> So, my question is just as last time, what are the details to the grievance? What is this grievance and what is the documentation we have? So, the documentation and the specifics to the grievance cannot publicly be shared, which is why the grievance letter you have in front of you does not have any specifics to the grievances stated on that letter. That would be private data. That would not be stated in a public setting. >> So, I can't make an informed decision on this because I don't have the details. Okay. Okay. Do I have a motion to move the first level three grievance BSC to arbitration? >> So moved. >> It's been moved. >> Seconded. >> Seconded by Brenson. Moved by Hillenbrand. Seconded by Brenson. And this is a voice vote. >> Could we talk though about for newer board members what the other option would be if we didn't move to this? >> Can you explain why we don't want to do a board hearing at this time? If you had a board hearing, you would have the district administration with their legal counsel presenting the district side. The custodial unit would come with their council to present their side. You then would hear both sides at a public hearing. If you decided not to re a decision at the public hearing and it moved on to arbitration anyway, you then have aired all of our side of documentation publicly. And therefore, it is very hard to go to arbitration and continue to fight the arbit in in arbitration when all of the information that we have is now out publicly stated. Can >> I just ask one clarificate? Is is it standard practice then to do the arbitration first? >> Yes. >> Is that the recommendation? >> I'm going to tell you that the custodial contract is the only contract left that step three grievance has board hearing in it. And so as we are moving through these c through these contracts, other unions have come forward and removed the schoolboard level because it is typical that we move right from updating the school board but moving right to arbitration. >> And in the past when this these have come up to us it has we have moved them to arbitration >> but then it doesn't come back to us later. I would assume arbitration is resolving this at that point in time. >> I just want to make sure you know all >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Dr. Henbrand. >> Well, I I believe that our legal team has has also advised that we send it on to arbitration. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, we have we had the motion on the floor and a second to move the first one, level three, the BSC1 to arbitration. All in favor, please say I. >> I. Say no. No. >> Okay. Can I have a motion? That one carried. Can I have a motion to move the second custodial grievance CE on to arbitration? >> So moved. >> Moved by Director Muto, seconded by Director Brinsson. >> All in favor, please say I. >> I. Say no. >> No. >> Okay, it is moving on to arbitration. Thank you very much, Director O'Harn. >> Okay, we're moving to administrative reports. Superintendent Stalo, >> there are none this evening. Well, that was fast. Um, board reports, Director Woman, you had listening time tonight. >> I sure did, and we had a houseful. So, just uh we were able to listen to 17 people speak to the uh issue of the closures of uh Pilgrim Lane Elementary School or Fair Crystal Middle School. Uh we were able in the 50 minutes that we had to listen to uh 17 people in opposition to uh taking any action on closing any of those schools. And we did not have any other topics that were touched upon in those 17 people. And that concludes my listening time report. >> Thank you. Um Director Hillbrand. >> Uh no report. >> You director Long >> pass. Uh, Director Brennenson, I'm guessing you probably don't have one. >> I mean, I could spin you a tail, but no, I have no report. >> Thank you. Uh, Director Wuto. >> Yes. So, on December 2nd, the community education, uh, we had a meeting and staff shared program overviews highlighting their 2025 2026 goals and strategies to redefine systems, increase community engagement, and refine program structures. Uh the senior advisory committee uh representing adults age 55 plus held its first meeting and continues to add members. Both the adult academic program and early learning are working on aligning staff and systems for state standards including the early childhood implementation of the early childhood latest program. Uh members had updates from the Robbinsdale Park and Recreation, the New Hope Police Department, uh multicultural advis advisory committee, and Hannipin Technical College uh representatives that were there. Executive Director Anthony Williams shared the 2026 legislative platform draft, updated members on the re-imagine process, including the potential moving the community ed office to the Crystal Learning Center. Uh the next meeting will be February 10th and we'll focus on the media data. >> Thank you, >> Director Basset. >> I'll just note [clears throat] it because it's coming up this week. Uh the redesign board meeting is Wednesday of next week before we meet again. Um anyway, [snorts] uh and uh but but MSBA is having their event that night, so I'll miss redesign. I wanted to let the Miss know. >> Okay. Is that it? Okay. Um I was the facilitator for the listening time on December 22nd. We had 51 people speaking and they either spoke on Fair Crystal or Fair Pilgrim, all of them. Um, also we received hundreds of emails from parents who love their children's teachers, programs, and schools. And it warmed my heart to read how much they did care about their schools. The parents have been fearful. They've been angry, sad. Uh, sometimes emails had threats. In four days, I answered 200 emails as the official responder for the board. I want everyone to know I have great confidence in our superintendent and I believe in her and the work that she and her cabinet and the administrators are doing to rightsize our schools. We have had to navigate decisions that none of us ever imagined that we would need to and had to make decisions that none of us wanted to make but we had to make. I hope >> voted on cost savings. >> I hope now that these difficult decisions have been made, we can move forward past the anger and vitriol and threats. I hope the community can loosen their grip on fear and choose to trust that the next steps will start us on the road to building a leaner, stronger, and better school district. That concludes my report. >> Public hearing. [sighs] >> Okay. Next thing on the agenda is to adjourn. >> So moved to ajourn. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. Motion carries. >> Thank you everyone. Okay, now for this week. So