[0:28] e [0:58] e [1:28] e [1:58] e [2:28] e [2:58] e [3:28] e [3:58] e [4:28] e [4:58] e [5:28] e [5:58] e [6:28] e [6:58] e [7:28] e [7:58] e [8:28] e [8:58] e [9:28] e [9:58] e e [10:26] [Music] [10:51] good evening i' would like to call to order this a Noah upen school board meeting for today February 24th [10:56] 2025 um please join the board in pled our [11:05] Allegiance FL flag [11:22] Unice all right our first order of business is to approve the board agenda is there a motion to approve appr [11:29] the board agenda as presented thank you director Des Shane [11:35] is there a second thank you director adet is there any [11:42] discussion all right hearing none will all in favor say I I I any opposed say [11:48] Nay with six in favor and zero opposed the agenda is [11:53] approved members our next order of business is item four recognitions and item 4 a champ C Brooklyn Park Academy [12:00] 2025 Merit School of Excellence welcome Dr Mary Wolverton associate [12:05] superintendent and Heidi Kuba principal Champlain Brooklyn Park [12:13] Academy good evening co-chairs Arco desan members of the school board and [12:19] superintendent McIntyre this evening I'm very honored to introduce several of our um Elementary Magnet Schools who have [12:26] been who have received some awards um there are two awards that have been [12:32] um honored or um our schools have received um this past year and the two [12:38] awards are the magnet schools of excellence and the magnet school of Distinction award five schools in the [12:46] state of Minnesota were honored with the award of magnet schools of excellent two [12:52] of the five schools in the state of Minnesota that were given this award are Anoka hanapin Elementary [12:59] schools Magnet Schools of Excellence are given to only a select group of magnet [13:05] schools that have demonstrated the highest standards in all facets of the [13:10] merit award criteria Champlain Brooklyn Park Academy mathematics and environmental science and Lincoln [13:18] Elementary School for the Arts were honored with this award the second award is the magnet school of Distinction [13:25] award this award is the second level of awards given to magnet schools that have [13:31] met all of the basic requirements as well outlined in the merit awards criteria two schools in the state of [13:39] Minnesota were honored with this award those two schools are Monroe elementary [13:46] mathematics and science engineering and University Avenue Aerospace and [13:52] Engineering we will start with acknowledging the magnet schools of Excellence I'm honored to introduce [13:58] Heidi principal of champlin Brooklyn Park Academy who will introduce her [14:08] team sorry good evening co-chairs Arco and [14:14] Des Shane superintendent McIntyre and members of the board it is a distinct [14:19] privilege to be here this evening to acknowledge the exceptional work being conducted at Champlin Brooklyn Park Academy for Math and environmental [14:26] science where we aspire to be Innovative World changer I am both proud and honored to announce [14:31] that our school has been designated as a 2025 Merit School of Excellence by magnet schools of America our dedicated [14:38] school team has dedic demonstrated unwavering commitment to our specialty program and this recognition serves as a [14:44] testament to the Daily dedication and tireless efforts of every staff member at cbpa joining me this evening are to [14:51] represent our school Community our curriculum integrator Casey Weedman and parent representative Katie Moss earlier [14:58] this fall our curriculum integrator along with a dedicated group of teachers undertook the significant task of [15:03] preparing and submitting a comprehensive application to the magnet schools of America we extend our sincere gratitude [15:10] to this team for their efforts in preparing this application as well as our entire School Community for their [15:15] ongoing commitment to our specialty Focus chapl Brooklyn Park Academy for [15:20] mathematics and environmental science has been an award winning specialty school since its Creation in 2010 in the [15:26] past 15 years we've been recognized by magnet schools America eight separate times we are extremely proud of our [15:32] program's history and remain hopeful for our future in an Noah hanapin our aim at cbpa is to empower all of our Learners [15:38] to become confident High achieving problem solvers through unique and integrated experiences within our specialty focus at CPA our students [15:45] explore math and environmental science Concepts within the regular classroom context and through several unique Hands-On learning experiences many of [15:52] these experiences are provided through our long-standing Community Partnerships specifically the naturalists at Mississippi Gateway Regional par and the [15:59] Master Gardeners from the University of Minnesota Junior Master Gardener program our teachers integrate the many [16:05] specialty school experiences with core content and daily instruction to deepen our students understanding of The Wider [16:10] world around them from first graders collecting and observing bugs in a nearby grassland to fifth graders [16:15] modeling gardening skills to the younger schoolmates in the greenhouse our goal at cbpa is to empower all of our [16:21] Learners to become confident High achieving problem solvers through unique integrated experiences with the help of [16:26] our entire staff parents and Guardians community members PTO and valued Partners we are well in our way to [16:32] conclude let me State on behalf of our entire cbpa community that we're honored to have our school formerly recognized [16:38] by bang the schools of America and deeply appreciate the district's recognition as well thank you very much [16:44] thank you [Applause] [17:23] thank you [17:30] as I noted previously um there are two awards that um are honored or provided [17:36] for magnet schools and one of them is the magnet schools of Excellence within [17:42] the magnet schools of Excellence there our schools that are selected as being the top Magnet Schools of Excellence in [17:50] the state of Minnesota four schools were provided this award and Hoover [17:56] Elementary is one of those four schools in the state of min Minnesota that have been honored with the top Magnet School [18:03] of Excellence at this time I'm privileged to introduce minus principal of Hoover Elementary [18:09] biomed Health Sciences and engineering [18:20] school good evening members of the school board I'd like to introduce Matt Thompson our curriculum [18:25] integrator um we are excited to announce that Hoover element has earned that prestigious magnet schools of America [18:31] top Magnet School of Excellence award this a remarkable achievement awarded to only 94 schools Nationwide acknowledges [18:38] Hoover's dedication to providing a highquality stem AG focused education [18:44] this recognition highlights the strengths of Hoover's magnet program which features an aligned Vision [18:49] integrated curriculum Innovative teaching strategies and commitment to student Equity reviewers commended the [18:57] Hands-On Real World Learning learning experiences the data-driven approach to successfully closing achievement gaps [19:04] and the focused professional development that we have as a dedicated staff some highlights of our programming [19:11] include our fifth grade Capstone project where students research design and create a prosthetic leg our [19:18] collaborations with the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross including our very first blood drive [19:24] this week on Wednesday we also have opportunities for students to learn from experts in the [19:30] healthcare field as well as integrating those Concepts across various curriculum areas this award validates our [19:36] Collective efforts to create an exceptional learning environment it's a testament to our students teachers staff [19:43] and families we thank the school board for your ongoing support which has been essential to this success we are eager [19:49] to build on this momentum and continue providing an excellent education for all Hoover students thank you thank you [19:58] [Applause] [20:17] that trying [20:41] our next Magnet School of Excellence is Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts [20:46] um and this evening there was a a prior commitment that Michelle Zimmerman the principal of Lincoln elentary hat she is [20:53] not was not able to attend but I'm honored to introduce assistant principal Tara Lawrence who will introduce their [21:10] team good evening co-chairs uh Arco and duchan and superintendent McIntyre and [21:16] board members I'm honored to be here tonight to celebrate another recognition of the great work at Lincoln Elementary [21:21] School for the Arts joining me is our curriculum integrator Andrea witcom and [21:26] a fourth grade teacher and theater production director Rachel Gaspar we're proud to share that Lincoln Elementary [21:32] has been named a 2025 Merit School of Excellence by magnet schools of America this honor followed a rigorous [21:38] application process led by Andrea last fall to earn this title Lincoln demonstrated Innovative arts-based [21:44] instruction staff development and increased student achievement the application also highlighted how [21:50] Partnerships with families Community groups and organizations support our students and arts programming an Noah [21:57] henin's mission is to provide learning opportunities that meet meet each child's individual needs and the Lincoln [22:03] Community embodies that promise staff families Community Partners student services and administration work [22:09] tirelessly to make Lincoln a place where learning takes Center Stage well this award recognizes the [22:15] importance of The Artful work that we do with our students every day at Lincoln the Arts help us deepen student [22:21] understanding and engagement with academic content like reading and math and allows for Hands-On experiences [22:28] increases communication fluency comprehension and self-expression and it also promotes empathy and awareness of [22:35] others we offer unique Elementary programming like fourth and fifth grade band Orchestra and choir as well as our [22:41] flourishing fourth and fifth grade theater program and we have performances this week if anyone would like to come [22:46] it would be very fun if you showed up um we also like to communicate our Community Partnerships with local [22:52] artists like The Rum River Arts Center um The Lyric Arts Theater down in Anoka [22:57] Chico Perez who a lot of students work with in the district he's a local drummer and we also reach out to mpr's [23:03] class notes and work with artists through there as well we ensure that our learning is Meaningful at linkoln and [23:09] that it's accessible to all students and that it's reflective of our student population a Noah henin's mission is to [23:15] meet each child's learning needs and we want to make sure that we do that at Lincoln the Arts are really an integral [23:21] part of who we are and our school song even says it we are the Lincoln Lions brave and strong and true we are the [23:28] Lincoln Lions artists through and through thank you so much for your recognition tonight it's great [24:13] our next two magnet schools that we will be um honoring our um our first our [24:18] schools have received the magnet school of Distinction award I'm honored to introduce Amy Oliver principal of Monroe [24:26] elementary mathematics science and [24:43] engineering all right good evening um co-chairs Arco and Des Shane and superintendent McIntyre um thank you for [24:49] this opportunity to be recognized by the board um this is Christine kons our curriculum integrator and Lisa simser is [24:55] in the back um she wouldn't come to the table um so anyway um all of our magnet [25:01] schools share the philosophy of um executing Innovative programs with a dedication um to diversity and [25:06] unwavering commitment to the academic standards because that is the magnet school standard the magnet schools of uh [25:13] the magnet school of amerit Award of elevates that standard to recognize a member magnet schools that demonstrate [25:19] an exemplary commitment to academic standards curriculum Innovation desegregation and diversity [25:25] efforts specialized training and parent and community invol involvement the teachers at Monroe continue to work on [25:30] Project Lead the Way implementation Collective impact and unique experiences like stem elective day and Buddy [25:35] classrooms with um with stem activities we continue to lead the way and create fresh Innovative magnet [25:41] programming for our students at minroe and we'd love you to come and visit us and see them so thank you thank you [25:49] [Applause] [26:21] our next magnet Magnet School of Distinction award was um given to [26:27] University Avenue Elementary Aerospace and Engineering principal deer blamers [26:33] was unable to join us this evening so I'm pleased to introduce assistant principal Derek [26:39] Williamson and Kate Watson curriculum [26:49] integrator like we're speed walking up [26:56] here thank you Dr Wolverton co-chairs Arco desan superintendent McIntyre and the [27:02] rest of the board uh this is University Avenues U Aerospace children's engineering and Sciences Elementary's [27:09] 10th year being nationally recognized by magnet schools of America we credit this award to our [27:17] strong and supportive School community staff students and their parents and families alignment with the five magnet [27:24] pillars as well as our district Strate strategic plan and achievement in integration Grant goals thank you to the [27:30] board for your time and sharing in these 10 years of recognition a tradition we have is making sure that our students [27:36] get to share with you as well so with that we would like to close with a word from our students thank [27:47] you co-chairs are coin superintendent [27:52] McIntyre members of the school boarding Community guess what we are celebrating a very special [28:01] accomplishment 10 [28:06] [Music] 10 [28:11] 10 wait that's 20 [28:18] 10 years of being nationally recognized by magnet schools of America for distinction and [28:26] Excellence nationally what what na [28:31] me yep that means by an organization that looks at magnet schools across the [28:37] whole country wow [28:44] wo awesome we thank you for celebrating [28:51] with us [Laughter] [28:56] [Music] [29:08] thank [29:15] you co-chairs are Co I could watch it again [29:37] thank [29:50] you next I am very honored and feel very very privileged to introduce Denise [29:56] Schnell principal of Ramsey the [30:07] elementary Denise has been honored with the Minnesota Elementary School principal Association North Suburban [30:15] division leadership award Denise is an exceptional leader she has [30:22] served our elementary schools in in NOA hanapin for many years I can think of [30:28] two different scenarios where her leadership made a significant difference in a change process that our district [30:35] experienced one was when we closed and repurpose Champlain Elementary School [30:41] and Riverview Elementary School and merg those two schools together to be [30:46] Champlain Brooklyn Park Academy Denise was significant in relation to her [30:52] leadership and how it supported that creation of a new school [30:59] another example is when she became principal at Evergreen Park Elementary and created the stem School of [31:06] innovation her work and her leadership there still resonates with the [31:11] phenomenal leadership and the impact on that school um so at this time I'm pleased to introduce Denise and have her [31:19] talk a little bit about her work with the Minnesota Elementary School principal [31:25] Association good evening superintendent McIntyre co-chairs Arco and desan and [31:31] school board thank you so much for this opportunity I'm truly humbled and grateful to have received the 2024 North [31:39] Suburban division leadership award for mespa this recognition is not just a [31:44] reflection of the efforts that I have made but a testament to the hard work and dedication of the leaders of all the [31:50] districts that are supported through mespa we are all supporting each other to problem solve today's unique [31:56] challenges with our students in creative and innovative ways I'm also very [32:01] honored to serve alongside such dedicated Educators within mespa and I [32:06] appreciate the opportunity to contribute our shared Mission my personal mission has always been to reduce the roadblocks [32:13] to make others lives easier this was just another opportunity for me to do this alongside my colleagues thank you [32:20] again so much for this recognition I'm truly honored [Applause] [33:04] all right well congratulations to everybody on all of the awards um members the next item on our agenda is [33:09] item five the consent agenda as normal members can remove items for separate [33:15] consideration and discussion if that's their desire is there a motion to accept the consent agenda as [33:22] presented thank you director to Shane is there a second [33:28] thank you director adet is there any discussion hearing none will all those [33:33] in favor say I I any opposed say Nay with six in favor and zero opposed the [33:40] consent agenda is approved so our next agenda item is item [33:46] six the communications delegations and petition section of our meeting this is time for community [33:52] members to provide input directly to the school board about issues that fall within the school board's Authority we [33:57] plan the agenda item for 15 minutes our policy allows for community members to speak for up to 5 minutes but if there [34:03] are several persons that want to speak the chair has the discretion to reduce the time to comment to hear from all and [34:10] also to keep the meeting on schedule so during times of large community input we have been flexible in [34:16] allowing the meeting to run late tonight we have um seven cards so to keep the meeting on time I will ask individuals [34:22] to keep their comments to 2 minutes um and I will ask co-chair Des Shane to monitor a Time timer and if you run over [34:29] um she will ask you to wrap up your comments quickly we welcome written testimony if you have more to say than time [34:35] allows um and for anybody else please complete a yellow card and provide it to miss kovsky so that we can provide a [34:41] written followup and a couple of procedural reminders our meeting participation procedures are in place to [34:46] assure open and orderly public comments as well as to protect the due process and privacy rights of individuals under [34:52] the law if speakers use specific names of students staff or board members I will [34:57] need to interrupt or stop the speaker please remember to direct your comments to the school board chair members of the [35:04] audience please listen respectfully the board cannot hear speakers I may reset the timer to allow speakers to be heard [35:10] audience members that disrupt this portion may be asked to leave for the remainder of the meeting so all with all [35:15] of that said welcome the first Speaker sorry if I mispronounced your name um [35:21] pan curri G [35:36] hello I'm a parent of two students in the district as well as a taxpayer thank [35:41] you to everyone for the chance to voice my concerns here today all through 2024 [35:47] I attended several sessions where I watched this board work through the [35:52] challenges of the budget cuts that the district was facing this led me to believe that this board was capable of [35:59] keeping their personal ideologies outside and as separate as they could given that the school board member [36:06] position is a nonpartisan elected Ro I was therefore extremely disappointed to [36:12] hear that the board cannot come to a unified decision about accepting an Arts [36:18] award despite knowing that this funding would give the students of Andover High [36:23] School the opportunity to display their art in their own hallways by not [36:28] accepting These funds you as a board are creating inequalities of recognition for [36:33] different fields within education students can see their achievements in sports stem music and other activities [36:41] displayed but not art and you just heard from one of our magnet schools what elevation of Arts [36:47] does additionally there are several schools within the district that accept [36:53] funds from faith-based Partnerships even though there should be a distinct separation of church and state I assume [37:00] that this is on the grounds that it creates positive opportunities for all students in the district even though [37:07] some of our students participate and are members of those faith and not all are [37:12] this same logic should therefore be applicable to that g that grant funding as again it is going to be used to [37:19] benefit and inspire all students and not create any sort of divisional activities in students I encourage you to keep [37:26] these points in mind as as you continue to discuss this issue and come to a conclusion soon thank [37:36] you our next speaker is Angela [37:45] Nelson welcome Angela good [37:52] evening I'm here today as an educator Community member and a parent of two students of V Noah hpan School District [37:59] to express my deep disappointment and concern regarding the removal of the joint Powers agreement related to the [38:04] art education at Andover High School which was discussed at the January 13th Schoolboard meeting I noticed that the [38:11] agenda item has permanently been removed from Schoolboard agendas likely due to adamant disapproval not of the Project's [38:17] Merit but of the use of diversity equity and inclusion terminology On a related [38:22] website since the conversation around the project got distracted by mainstream media rhetoric [38:28] I would like to take this opportunity to share what opportunities the students at Andover High School will now miss out [38:34] on for some reason the word Equity has become a trigger word for people who do not fully understand what it encompasses [38:41] in this case based on the proposal provided in the Schoolboard work packet the teacher found that students in level [38:46] one art often didn't see themselves as artists and were unable to display their artwork um which is which is part of the [38:54] uh State Standards due to the 3D nature of their their work this is an equity issue allowing one group of art students [39:01] to display work and not another group of art students is not Equitable so to level the playing field a grant was [39:08] received to purchase display cases so that students could display their 3D artwork and feel like the proud artist [39:13] that they are Additionally the proposal would have allowed for guest artists as a former High School principal I can [39:19] tell you that this is an amazing career pathway opportunity um they can have students learn um how they can take [39:26] their passion for art and turn it into a lifelong and prosperous career it's my understanding that the first guest [39:32] artist was a white male graduate from Champlin Park High School who Now Designs skateboards he was going to come [39:38] in to share what his journey was through high school and Beyond to get where he is today it's incredibly frustrating to me [39:44] that this opportunity was taken away from students due to a lack of understanding misguided fear and the [39:50] inability to trust Educators for the professionals that they are additionally in a time of EX remarks okay thank you [39:58] in a time of extreme budget cuts most districts would like a program like this to use as a recruitment method um and by [40:04] stripping away opportunities from families they will start to consider other public schools and their funding [40:10] will go with them I respectfully request that in the future the school board does their due diligence in learning about [40:16] programs and talking with Educators before publicly dismissing them due to wording they don't like on a [40:25] website thank you for the comments our next speaker is Paula [40:39] Moore welcome to the [40:47] board good evening thank you for allowing me time to address a topic of deep concern to all of us that is [40:54] reading literacy I know the school board and the state legislature have made efforts to [41:00] address this literary crisis literacy crisis an NOA henpen has developed the [41:05] bridge to read program and state lawmakers recently passed the Minnesota reading to ensure academic development [41:11] act or known as the read act there's another program in the school district that focuses on helping our youngest [41:18] students develop their reading skills I want to draw attention to reading core [41:23] reading Corp is a federal program and free to school who to schools who apply [41:29] reading core tutors work with students in kindergarten through third grade who read just below grade level to improve [41:35] their reading skills an NOA henpen has been a reading Corp partner for more than a decade over this time 172 tutors [41:44] have helped more than 5,000 students to become better readers this school year there are 25 tutors serving in 21 [41:52] elementary schools I am fortunate to be one of those tutors this is is my second year [41:58] working part-time at Brookside Elementary each day I tutor 10 to 15 [42:03] students either in pairs or oneon-one I really enjoy my time with these Young [42:08] Learners the highlight of my day is when they Master a specific reading skill for [42:13] kindergarteners it's hearing them read and correctly pronounce soft vowel and letter sounds for first graders it's [42:20] hearing them sound out words and read simple sentences for second and third graders [42:26] it's hearing them read with expression and at the same Pace at which we talk I [42:31] hear the growing confidence in their voices as they Master this lifechanging [42:36] skill I do my job effectively thanks to the support I receive from Reading Corp [42:42] each school year before we enter the classroom we receive training on research-based reading practices then [42:48] monthly we work then then monthly as we work with students we are evaluated by [42:55] reading cor coaches during our tutoring sessions and give immediate feedback on [43:01] how we can do better I appreciate this effort working with reading Corp um we do have direct [43:07] contact with an internal coach that is working or has been hired by the uh [43:13] School District but I understand unfortunately that a decision was made to elimate eliminate the internal Coach [43:19] position I am concerned about that I hope the school board reconsiders that decision because it's important for all [43:25] of us School leaders teachers parents and reading tutors to continue to collaborate thank thank you for your [43:32] remarks our next generation is depending on us thank you thank [43:38] you our next speaker is Aaron [43:49] Peterson welcome to the board thank you board members uh superintendent [43:56] thank thank you for the chance to speak um funding is a big issue I know the way [44:02] the budget has been and I did send a letter out to all of you uh in the last day so you should have that already and [44:08] I just want to highlight some things from that letter that I sent here tonight as well I wanted to talk about [44:14] the impact of uh president Trump's recent executive orders um one one [44:19] titled defending women from gender ideology extremism and another keeping men out of women's sports and the impact [44:25] on the Noah henpen District these orders mandate the public schools restrict bathroom use and sports [44:31] participation to biological sex and eliminate gender ideology from policies and Communications a reversal of the [44:38] district's current practice if not the federal funding an okah henen receives [44:44] based on the information I saw is for roughly $14 million which I I my math [44:50] might be wrong but I think it's about 2% of a noin budget is at risk uh and with the budget issues the district is [44:56] currently facing in losing even just 2% of your budget is not feasible so you're [45:01] faced with a dilemma here you can comply with the executive orders or create a new budget scenario with $14 million in [45:09] additional Cuts stated another way you can revert to what's been standard right and good for all of human history and [45:16] keep that Federal funding or continue to push radical gender ideology popularize [45:21] in the last 30 seconds and lose it you've got an opportunity to do what's right for our sons and daughter but also [45:27] for the financial position and future of the anah hennipin district the anah hennipin district is [45:33] the biggest District in the state and I urge you to act like it lead the way by your example to other districts and [45:40] organization use the weight of your influence to do the right thing and allow others to follow you thank [45:49] you thank you for the comments our next speaker is [45:54] Angela breelan sorry if I mispronounced the last [46:06] name good evening I come to you as a parent of two students who have had the immense benefit of attending Lincoln [46:14] Elementary School for the Arts we do not currently live in the assigned boundaries of Lincoln and have chosen to [46:19] open enroll since 2016 but have had a student at Lincoln since 2013 we know that the Arts have [46:26] have deeply benefited our children in countless ways our elder child would not have made it through high school band [46:32] without the strong Foundation provided at Lincoln she was in sixth grade when Co hit and would have quit on the spot [46:40] had she started just that year academically she is currently a PSO [46:47] student in college loville calculus and biology this semester as a junior our younger student is in their second year [46:53] of band in choir at Lincoln with the care and guidance of her band teachers she has been able to learn two [46:59] instruments with minimal instruction time as they only get about 30 minutes a week in band the teacher is able to [47:06] offer this form of art to our students because the curriculum integrator position is a full-time position also [47:12] both of my students have had the great privilege of being involved in Lincoln Theater Productions if it is allowed to [47:18] go down to a halftime position the students at Lincoln will undoubtedly suffer so many of the students at [47:25] Lincoln would not have the opport Unity to try any instrument band or [47:32] orchestra without it being offered at no cost at Lincoln first beyond music our [47:38] curriculum integrator has been able to provide countless Arts integration activities for students as a regular [47:43] volunteer I have seen the pure joy and excitement the students experience while using regular skills in new ways excuse [47:50] me I keep losing my SP [47:59] there is no way to measure the way that the Arts have impacted my students and all the students that have had the [48:06] pure joy of being able to attend Lincoln I greatly encourage you to reconsider [48:13] your decision to put this position to a halftime position that's two minutes [48:19] thank you for your time thank you for the comments our next speaker is Elizabeth [48:26] ke [48:34] welcome to the [48:45] board thank you school board members co-chairs to Shane Aro and superintendent McIntyre for this [48:52] opportunity to speak today first I would like to thank you for all the wonderful [48:57] and great news about in NOA hanapin schools I read about in the winter [49:03] Focus from achievements to from from achievements to National [49:10] recognition for excellence in six district schools the Ally and Avenue [49:15] Retail Boutique in anoa leadership awards to peer Connections in middle [49:21] school health class all of these and more that make us all so very very proud [49:27] to live and be a part of this school district as a community member whom had [49:32] children graduate from Rapids High School I am interested in our Public [49:38] Schools I support and share the values as stated in the Anoka henpen mission [49:44] statement bullet point7 of this mission statement is to provide all all of our [49:52] students with a safe and respectful learning environment this is very important because it would [49:58] not be possible to learn if a student did not feel safe at [50:03] school along with this written statement I am attaching and I already gave it [50:10] gave it to her I am attaching a copy of a report from the National Library of [50:17] Medicine October 27th 2023 this review describes the modern L [50:23] landscape of how and why gender is used as criteria for the inclusion and [50:29] exclusion from Sports and Athletics I would ask you to read this study to be [50:34] informed as possible with medical facts in addition to these facts the president [50:40] of the NCAA Charlie Baker testified to a senate [50:46] panel on December 18th 2024 that out of the total [50:52] 500 10,000 athletes there are less than 10 trans transgender athletes who [50:59] currently compete in college sports I think our school districts [51:06] might continue to provide opportunity in all education and sports activities [51:12] thank you for the comments our next speaker is Rod [51:31] welcome to the board thank [51:36] you two minutes is cutting it short I'd like to address this to the liberal members of the board as well as [51:43] superintendent McIntyre I've been highly critical of your refusal to publicly explain and defend your curriculum as it [51:50] relates to racial Reckoning and racial healing my fear was that without transparency and advocacy your public [51:57] support would vanish and political support would collapse your curriculum would be replaced with pseudo patriotism [52:03] Christian nationalism and sanitized history your Outreach efforts are still virtually nailed at least to my [52:09] knowledge the focus uh paper contains nothing I've seen no articles in the local paper superintendent McIntyre's uh [52:16] earlier article treats education like a jobs program at this point the public and at least half the board is hostile [52:23] to critical race Theory and lacks functional knowledge of systemic racism the upshot is that there is now a [52:30] bill in the legislature HF 29 to dismantle everything connected with race [52:35] or gender this happened because you and other liberals sat out the fight you [52:40] failed to model democracy by refusing to be publicly transparent and refusing to advocate for the curriculum you weren't [52:47] alone of course you were joined by most national Democrats Dells and church congregations in this country race and [52:55] cast still are are just about synonymous frankly it appears to me that [53:01] liberals don't understand how critical Your Role is to the nation's future schools and colleges provide the [53:07] nation's memory and our understanding of the nation's intellectual Heritage schools to where student values are [53:13] reality checked against our country's Behavior past and present history is how we understand in the present and how we [53:20] formulate solutions to problems when patriotic history patriotic history [53:26] deletes the details of our of our racial savagery and memorializes the Confederate narrative National History [53:32] is erased and perverted values become upended Solutions become impossible and [53:37] democracy becomes a sham the purpose of the Constitution as stated in the Preamble is to establish [53:45] justice it is not to protect white egos or defend patriotic narratives your [53:50] curriculum is profoundly patriotic and should be defended as such education and racial Justice are the issues on which [53:57] Defenders of democracy and Defenders of the Constitution should fight to The Bitter End unfortunately liberals [54:04] continue to fiddle while Rome Burns pleas please wrap up your closing thoughts yes yes academics are CR [54:10] critical so is the understanding of who we are as a nation thank you thank you for the [54:17] [Applause] comments all right that concludes the [54:22] Public Communication section our next agenda item is item seven Board calendar and District update uh superintendent [54:29] McIntyre thank you co-chair Arco and board members tonight as I typically do is presenting some items of interest for [54:36] the board and our community regarding activities and events that we're proud of in the district we do this to [54:42] celebrate our students staff and community members who are contributing to the accomplishment of our mission [54:48] which is to effectively educate each of our students for Success the Noah hien schools joined [54:53] communities from across the state in appreciation of those who serve our schools as bus drivers the district has [55:00] a large and complex transportation system and our drivers are on the front lines to ensure safety and dependable [55:07] service for our students and families of note the district is served by nearly 300 buses each day that visit [55:15] 8,000 bus stops and transport nearly 32,000 students every [55:21] day so this message really extends all of our appreciation uh from across the district [55:27] for all that they do and the positive impact they have on our schools and our [55:33] communities the district's academic growth award events recognized hundreds of students who demonstrated high growth [55:39] in reading math and language acquisition over the past year approximately 3,000 [55:44] student meet students meet the criteria every year receiving a certificate at the school level the top students from [55:50] each School were recognized in person by many of you board members and other District leaders at the special events [55:57] held at Anoka High School and Blaine High School earlier this month and I know in both cases families and students [56:04] came out kind of in really cold weather and those auditoriums were full and really excited uh to to recognize and [56:11] support their academic achievements so we we thank them for uh doing that with [56:16] us all right February is I love to read month and teams from our middle school students from from throughout the [56:22] district will convene to test their knowledge on the materials they've read through the annual Battle of the books [56:30] competition I have the trophy standing right next to me here this event is set for tomorrow Tuesday February 25th at [56:37] 9:00 a.m. in the earling Johnson rooms at the Educational Services Center and I will tell you it is very competitive and [56:44] this goes back to 2011 I think some some others at the board table here maybe had [56:49] some involvement and getting this off uh started so we're very excited I will be there welcoming students and um the [56:56] defending Champions right now are Roosevelt Middle School and we'll see how they do tomorrow so uh we're excited [57:01] to have the battle of the books continue this is also live streamed on the district website at ahschools.us [57:09] Anoka henin joins districts from across Minnesota in celebrating Public Schools [57:15] week a time for the community to come together and celebrate support and Champion public education and those [57:20] staff members who directly contribute to the future success of our students and our community as a whole through the [57:26] their daily efforts as we all know the world is changing rapidly and our schools share in the responsibility to educate and [57:33] prepare our students for that future our theme this year is the power of purpose it takes all of us and that serves as a [57:40] call to action for individuals to identify their purpose or their why and work together with others in a shared [57:47] purpose to benefit students our schools and our overall Community an NOA [57:52] hennipen continues to work for excellence in all we do but we also take time to celebrate the successes gained [57:58] in our schools during Minnesota Public Schools week and I always like to do an [58:04] activities uh wrap up each season and it is tourn tournament time again for our student athletes as they compete in the [58:10] Minnesota State High School league section and state playoffs uh right now into in well into [58:16] March so some highlights Blaine High School boys Nordic scheme qualified for the state tournament for the third [58:22] straight season Rapids High School senior laan demer earned All State [58:27] honors with an 18th Place finish at the state Nordic meet in the girls Nordic race Ruby Demmer and Bethany law also of [58:35] Rapids High School placed fifth in the team Sprint race in Alpine skiing Blaine High School's Jared Killian play [58:42] sixth overall to earn All State honors the bla High School Jazz team qualified for both Jazz and high kick [58:49] State competitions following a successful run at the section 3A competition in girls hockey and over [58:56] High School made its eighth consecutive and 10th overall state tour state [59:01] tournament appearance so eight in a row 10 overall the Huskies lost to eventual state champion Hill Murray in the [59:07] quarterfinals but ended the season with two straight wins securing the consolation championship for the third [59:13] time since 2014 in gymnastics Blaine High School junior Grace fassel qualified for the [59:20] state meet in bars and floor exercise she placed seventh in the floor exercise and 23rd on the bars [59:26] Anoka High School freshman Kaylee Lauren placed 19th on the Vault we're proud of [59:31] our u local gymnast for their estate meet so moving into March we'll see boys hockey wrestling swim and dive adaptive [59:39] floor hockey and boys and girls basketball tournaments and good luck to all our teams uh we know that both Champlin Park and and over have advanced [59:46] to the section Final in hockey with those games being played later this week so as always community members are [59:52] encouraged to attend the games support their favorite teams and best of luck to all teams as they wind down their winter [59:59] season this concludes my superintendent's report this evening thank you thank you very much [1:00:04] superintendent McIntyre board members are there any questions all [1:00:10] right with that our next agenda item is um item 8A American Indian education [1:00:18] annual update and compliance documents welcome Tom Shaw director of student services Mindy Myers Indian Education [1:00:24] Program Coordinator and [1:00:36] team good evening superintendent McIntyre co-chair Arco co-chair desan [1:00:41] and members of the board I'm Tom Shaw director student services and I'd like to introduce our American Indian program [1:00:47] coordinator Mindy Myers tonight she's going to share with you updates regarding our American Indian education [1:00:53] program and examples of the great work that do to serve our American Indian students in inah [1:01:17] [Music] [1:01:24] hanapin so I'm W pishki kqu my English name is mindi I said that we are very [1:01:30] happy to be here today we're excited to share with you the work that we do to uplift our students to support our [1:01:36] students and I'll turn it over to our parent advisory committee members that are here with me to introduce [1:01:42] themselves Buu Mi choden Anthony Drew is my English name I'm the chair of the [1:01:48] APAC and a member of the jom committee an my name is Kimberly Brendan [1:01:55] and I am the co-chair of the American Indian parod advisory committee all right so to kick us off um [1:02:03] I'll just ground us again this year in what Indian education is our program is [1:02:08] a state and federally funded program that is really rooted in the partnership and the relationship between our [1:02:14] Sovereign native nations and the United States government so if you think back to when treaties were signed between [1:02:21] these two Nations or these many nations in our our us nation um the US government made a commitment to support [1:02:28] our American Indian students education and that has looked different it has [1:02:33] shown up in a variety of forms in our history um but American Indian education really came about when our students [1:02:40] started moving off reservation started um being more present in public schools [1:02:45] and our community saw the need to support their unique cultural needs and [1:02:50] so out of that in the 70s our communities advocated and that is what we see today that was kind of the [1:02:55] birthplace of our state and federal American Indian education programs and so as you can see by our mission [1:03:01] statement that was created in our NOA hennipin Indian education program in collaboration with our APAC we're really [1:03:07] here to support our students holistically so we think about the academic achievement the social emotional development and the cultural [1:03:13] awareness of our American Indian students um if you're interested in [1:03:18] learning more about the policies the legislation that supports American Indian education the reason that we exist those are some of the policies for [1:03:26] um here in Minnesota when we think about who can participate in the American Indian education program in inoka [1:03:32] hennipin through legislation that is any of our students who identify as American [1:03:37] Indian uh State ethnic code one and that happens through their enrollment the [1:03:42] demographic information that they share when they [1:03:47] enroll this is a highlevel overview of our American Indian education program we have one program coordinator I'm super [1:03:54] happy to be in my third year here and I have seven advisers when we're fully staffed that work with me an amazing [1:04:01] team five secondary advisers they're aligned in clust in a cluster model they support our middle schools that feed [1:04:06] into our high schools and we have two Elementary advisers who support our 25 schools across the district overall we [1:04:13] support just over 1,200 American Indian students in an NOA hanapin um we the bulk of our work looks [1:04:21] like direct work in the schools with our students the advisers are there every day at the elementary level they're [1:04:27] doing a lot of cultural engagement and at the secondary level we're doing a lot of individual and group support on top [1:04:33] of our cultural engagement outside of our direct work with students our program creates a sense of community by [1:04:38] providing a variety of evening and weekend family engagement opportunities different culture classes celebrations [1:04:45] to uplift the cultural and academic achievements of our students we also provide a lot of different field trips [1:04:51] and post-secondary college visits and then we put on our partnership hat and [1:04:56] we work really hard to build Partnerships in community to provide additional supports and resources to our students so we have a really strong [1:05:03] partnership with silin learning that allows us to provide scholarships for tutoring and ACT prep classes we partner [1:05:10] with a lot of local organizations in the summer to be able to share out different summer program opportunities that are [1:05:15] available to our families and our students we partner with North henpen Community College to offer a class in [1:05:21] the fall and we also partner with the American Indian Family Center in order to provide um access to indigenous [1:05:28] mental health professionals in some of our schools for our [1:05:35] students I kind of touched on this but um the a lot of the bulk of our work um [1:05:40] that direct work with students but also serving as a liaison between the families and the schools so our staff [1:05:45] often attend IEP meetings discipline meetings we sit on the mtss student support teams um we collaborate with [1:05:51] building staff and students to create a presence and create safe space for our students in the schools at the [1:05:57] elementary level again like I said we focus on culture groups so those advisers are meeting twice a month in [1:06:03] the schools pulling their students for small groups and we really are there to help them build their cultural [1:06:08] connection and help Inspire pride in their identity as an indigenous person at the secondary level it looks a [1:06:16] little bit different um the advisers are in each building a little more frequently and they have the opportunity [1:06:22] to provide more Hands-On one-on-one support with their students doing goal setting talking about post-secondary [1:06:28] planning um able to be that liaison between the students and their teachers and the parents and the school to [1:06:34] provide that different support when we are not wearing our family engagement or [1:06:39] our direct student support hats we are also wearing the Hat as a a staff support a district support so our um [1:06:47] School District per legislation is required to um follow the Implement [1:06:53] American Indian state standards that span variety of uh content areas and for [1:06:59] our team we are often seen and called upon to come in and look at some of that curriculum or refer them to resources or [1:07:06] be a bridge between the district and our parent advisory committee to invite them in to look at some of those things and [1:07:11] refer different resources there um then with that um all of the [1:07:20] work that we do is in partnership with our parents we are a community and we [1:07:26] are here to engage the voices of not only our students but those ones who are raising them and so a lot of our work is [1:07:32] done in collaboration with our two parent advisory committees and I'm going to turn it over to our APAC chair and [1:07:37] vice chair to speak to those roles yes so um the people who are able [1:07:42] to be on our committee are uh parents legal Guardians community members as [1:07:48] well as some student Representatives um so that we can hear all of the voices of the people who are raising or are um [1:07:55] indigenous and then we do work closely with the program along with meeting monthly with District leaders um just to [1:08:03] to try to build those Partnerships and bridges and then through our joom [1:08:10] committee we work in partnership with the district through the program to ensure that our students are getting the [1:08:15] best educational experience [1:08:22] possible annually we have the vote of concurrence and uh this year the [1:08:28] committee voted uh almost unanimously to uh vote in concurrence with the district this year so that was [1:08:37] great um to share some more about our program like I mentioned we are State and federally funded so here are three [1:08:43] different funding streams uh just some data around our [1:08:49] American Indian students you can see that we're we have like proportionally about the same as state Statewide the [1:08:55] number of American Indian students in our [1:09:01] schools here you can see um how our students compare to all an Noah hennipin [1:09:06] students our American Indian students in an Noah hanapin are the red all all an Noah hanapin students are the black bars [1:09:13] here so you can see that our students we show up a little more under the free and reduced um lunch we show up a little bit [1:09:19] more under special education and those kinds of things these first couple of slides when [1:09:26] we look at proficiencies you'll see the black line is all an Noah hanapin students are an Noah hanapin American [1:09:32] Indian education students are in the red and then Statewide American Indian students so you'll see that our on these [1:09:40] next couple of slides you'll see that our Anoka hanapin American Indian students are significantly outperforming [1:09:47] Statewide American Indian students however there's still that gap between American Indian students and all [1:09:53] students in an Noah hopin [1:09:59] reading the Gap is a little bit smaller science is also looking pretty [1:10:08] good these next couple of slides are going to be that same sort of data but how we are comparing to other districts [1:10:15] so our American Indian students compared to other American Indian students in the the surrounding bigger districts so you [1:10:21] can see on these next slides you'll see that Anoka hennipin has historic Ally been outperforming American Indian [1:10:27] students in surrounding districts or similar size [1:10:42] districts and then here we measure tied to some of our grant goals around College participation so these are sort [1:10:49] of our students who are taking advantage of those college credit earning opportunities in in Noah hanapin [1:10:58] and our four-year graduation Trend and then our continuation Trend so again you'll see an NOA hanapin is um [1:11:07] outperforming our graduation rate is higher than state but still there's that gap between all students and American [1:11:12] Indian [1:11:20] students all right and then these are just a few of our goals that are tied to the work that we do so you can see we [1:11:26] have goals around graduation that college credit earning opportunities you can hit the next [1:11:32] slide um focus on that literacy and positive [1:11:40] self-esteem next slide please um the the things that we do I'm [1:11:45] I'm not going to list all these things because I talked to them on the other slides but um just a different visual of [1:11:51] the work that we do to uplift the goals of our program [1:11:56] you can hit the next slide and then I guess to speak more to our family engagement events we just Pro here are [1:12:02] some examples of a variety of opportunities so our trimester celebrations that's when we uplift the [1:12:08] academic attendance and cultural um achievements of our students we have an annual winter event and a spring powow [1:12:15] this will be our third annual powow mark your calendars April 12th um last year [1:12:20] we started a traditional lacrosse team which really took off and our uh traditional archery team has really been [1:12:26] growing as well next slide all right so I since the [1:12:32] last time we were here last February I just have a few slides to highlight I know the data is always really exciting [1:12:38] but I also have sort of that qualitative storytelling pieces coming up so we have [1:12:43] expanded our partnership with the St Paul American Indi and Family Center where they were previously only able to [1:12:48] send up one therapist we now have two therapists in sort of Two and a Half [1:12:54] sites in an NOA hanapin um we've been able to provide scholarships for the [1:12:59] first and second trimester and our parent committee also just approved an increase in funding that will allow us to provide scholarships to All Families [1:13:06] all students that applied during Tri 1 and TR two so we're excited about that next slide [1:13:13] please um our our cultural field trips typically happen in the spring so these [1:13:18] next slides are just highlighting we were able to take our K5 students about 90 Elementary kiddos over to the [1:13:24] wildlife Science Center we took our middle school students to [1:13:30] hoto kti in Shaka where they were they were able to engage in Dakota language they explored the the exhibit and [1:13:37] learned how to play a variety of traditional games and with our high school students [1:13:43] we did a partnership with won TP in Wilderness inquiry where we we were able to bring them out canoeing and do some [1:13:49] water quality testing and a Dakota plant walk [1:13:56] this fall we were able to do a school supply giveaway where over 80 students received backpacks full of school [1:14:02] supplies from our families that was in partnership with the Shaka B won Community um we had over 150 attendees [1:14:09] at our annual fall Gathering and footage was shot there to support an indigenous [1:14:15] people's Day video where we um uplifted the voices of some of our community members we also took a fall paddle down [1:14:22] the Mississippi and as I mentioned before our archery team has hit a record [1:14:29] attendance just highlighting our continued conversations around orange shirt day and boarding [1:14:38] schools and then every every year now um we work collaboratively especially at the secondary level collaboratively with [1:14:44] our middle school and high school students to ask them sort of like what would they like to see in their schools and so each School looks a little bit [1:14:51] different but collaboratively the students and staff work together to create resources the students table and [1:14:57] share information with with their [1:15:03] peers um we took a handful of students to the Native American college fair and our high school students were really [1:15:09] excited to explore the we move we stay exhibit at the science museum this fall which was oju and Dakota [1:15:17] centered and here's just a few more photos of some of our kids in their culture groups with their uh advisers [1:15:26] next slide ow again just some of our upcoming [1:15:34] opportunities I really encourage you all to come to our powow on April 12th and [1:15:39] um we'll be sending an invitation to you all for our senior honoring in [1:15:46] May and as always what guides are programming outside of the our conversations with our parent advisory [1:15:52] committee members we also hold an annual public Hearing in the winter at our trimester 1 celebration where families [1:15:58] have the opportunity to sort of view this similar presentation and give feedback on what they need from our [1:16:03] program we do an annual survey to all of our families and secondary students in the spring where we gather data um we [1:16:11] have our annual title six progress report JM Grant reports and we meet twice a year with the 11 with [1:16:18] representatives from the 11 tribal nations in Minnesota and metro area leaders for our fall and spring [1:16:23] consultations and our APAC meetings are [1:16:29] monthly me S you that's what we have for you [1:16:38] tonight thank you very much for the presentation uh board members are there any questions for our [1:16:44] presenters uh director Des Shan thank you I I just wanted to say thank you so [1:16:49] much for coming today and for sharing the presentation with us I really noted that uh you're outperforming or you're [1:16:56] increasing on all of your goals that was really exciting to see um and it sounds [1:17:01] like uh the investment that you're all making is is making a difference right when you compare to the state averages [1:17:08] so thank you for that work clearly some some work to do to continue to reduce the gap between all the Noah hennipin [1:17:14] students and Indigenous students but I I'm greatly uh appreciative of the work that you're doing uh thank you so much [1:17:21] and I would encourage my fellow board members I know I was able to attend the last year it is a very very good [1:17:26] experience um and if you can make it you should try to get there thank you [1:17:32] much director am [1:17:39] iell go thank you for your presentation as well and again a lot of really [1:17:46] important data for us to consider as we move forward one of the things that always comes to mind when I hear you [1:17:52] speak and I think about the collabor of nature of our program I think it speaks [1:17:58] volumes when you have parents and families engaged in and the schools working together in Partnership um [1:18:06] sharing the value sharing culture Traditions all of those really important areas of life uh that you really are [1:18:13] addressing the needs of children holistically and in doing so they see [1:18:19] the value in in all of the things that you're talking about and engage in so I [1:18:25] think that that's what an NOA hanapin has always strived to do um in this program but I I over the years and even [1:18:33] coming back now and and listening to your presentation after after having been out of the district for some time [1:18:40] it continues to grow and it's the investment of all of us collectively [1:18:46] that will get us the results we need and want for every child being served so thank you for all of that it's a great [1:18:53] presentation I love all pictures and all the exciting things that you're doing in partnership with families and community [1:19:00] so thanks for that thank watch director Simon thanks Zach um thank you so much [1:19:07] for being here and um I I think first of all I want to talk on touch on the well I want to give another plug to the [1:19:13] powwow first so not just to board members but staff and Community it is a [1:19:19] joyous day um go if you can I know mck Casey and I were there last year and sat together watch but um I love it so I [1:19:27] will be there um on the presentation what I really liked and what I think is important and I'm really glad you did [1:19:33] and want to compliment is it's important to talk about our programs and the why [1:19:38] about programs right so you went into that with the requirement from federal and state um legislation on why we do [1:19:45] this and that level sets why we're here why you're here and um what we're doing um and also at this moment in time for [1:19:52] an oapin it's important to talk about the sources too right because we're having many discussions about budget [1:19:58] cuts and things like that and knowing and letting the board know and the community know that there's uh dedicated [1:20:04] specific funds for this program that support the requirement of us to do it and it's not going to uh we're not doing [1:20:12] something that's going to going to add to Cuts or or or be that so I think it's just really important to highlight that [1:20:18] and mention that again and then um the how so this is where I just want to uh I [1:20:24] want to out Mindy first and Anoka hennipin is just very very fortunate to [1:20:31] have Mindy as our program coordinator so Mindy thank you so much for your expertise and dedication on what you do [1:20:40] um and then um uh let's call out our advisers too I and I know throughout my [1:20:46] years on the board many many teachers at schools um have come to me and and told [1:20:52] the entire board at what a resour what a a great resource our program advisers have and then um the dedication of our [1:21:00] parent advisory group um I before my board service I served on those types [1:21:05] and it is a big time commitment um and you need passion and expertise and I just want to thank you for your time and [1:21:12] everything you do for us so I think that's it thank you I would like to say all three of us are products of the [1:21:19] program yeah we were in the program when we were in school here so no kind [1:21:28] a any other um questions or comments or discussion from board [1:21:35] members all right uh board members is there a motion to approve appendix I the [1:21:42] annual compliance documents as presented so moved thank you director Simon is [1:21:47] there a second thank you director langenfeld is there any [1:21:53] discussion all right right hearing none will all those in favor say I I any opposed say Nay with six in favor and [1:22:00] zero opposed the compliance documents are approved thank you guys very much [1:22:06] for the presentation thank you guys our next agenda item is item 8B the [1:22:14] Strategic priorities first read superintendent McIntyre thank you CH co-chair Arco um [1:22:20] and actually board members this is an action item for you tonight if you so choose uh I'm recommending that the board take [1:22:27] action on the 2526 school year priorities these are priorities we briefly reviewed in November this is our [1:22:34] annual time of the year to to set these ahead of uh the following school year so that we have plenty of time to uh plan [1:22:41] ahead and these three priorities really represent a shared Vision by the board for our district and reflect the the [1:22:48] commitment to providing a high quality education for every student in our district so not that far back [1:22:55] uh board members you can recall we've had as many as 12 maybe as many as 15 priorities um and I commend this board [1:23:02] by narrowing the focus to you know get to the Three core priorities that really [1:23:08] give us a clear road map for the district's work not only this year but as we move into next year uh so there's [1:23:14] three key areas that we've always aligned these priorities to effective safe and welcoming environments [1:23:19] increased student achievement and organal organizational support so we have one key priority in each of those [1:23:25] three areas and I'll just briefly touch on those our first priority is to improve student engagement connection [1:23:31] and behavior by working to create a learning environment where every student feels safe welcome and supported so we [1:23:37] have a number of you've actually been spending time here recently at recent meetings U digging into that and working [1:23:42] together on how to continue to build on those uh aspirational efforts that we have uh you've also been spending time [1:23:49] on the next item which is literacy and recently have have been receiving lots of information about our elementary [1:23:56] adoption there's been lots of discussion amongst the board and in the district regarding the re act which um really has [1:24:04] continued to evolve and when we think about the fact that we're trying to get 1700 teachers and staff trained in the [1:24:10] science of reading that is an ambitious effort right at at our elementary and secondary efforts along with that [1:24:17] elementary Reading adaption process that is it happening now and will continue in next year um so we're you know building [1:24:24] that comprehensive literacy framework we're building that teacher preparation we're we're also improving on our [1:24:29] screening and intervention efforts along the way trying to increase family engagement building strong literacy [1:24:35] teams uh all at a time or our resources are are tight so your commitment to this literacy effort has been very [1:24:42] commendable we're still watching the legislative session to see what additional adjustments they're going to [1:24:47] make around the read act um but we've been as you know monitoring that closely [1:24:52] and then lastly the Third uh priority for us is really in that organizational [1:24:57] area of ensuring that we have a strong Workforce so looking at a variety of [1:25:03] things to make sure we can recruit retain and develop high quality staff whether it's through competitive [1:25:09] compensation and benefits whether it's through strong professional development on those priorities um and also doing [1:25:15] everything we can to support employee well-being so that we continue to keep the best with us so those three things [1:25:23] are very ambitious right and I commend the board for saying true to those and knowing that um that work is ongoing and [1:25:30] so we've had those same three initiatives or priorities this year continuing those for next year uh is [1:25:37] important to have that consistency and stability in the focus on those three areas so again just to wrap up that's [1:25:44] know this is our road map for moving starting to look ahead into the 2526 school year and by working together to [1:25:50] achieve these priorities really our goal is to make sure every student can achieve at their highest level so I urge [1:25:57] the board to adopt those priorities and to commit to working together to achieve them with us and I think by doing so it [1:26:04] really sends a clear message to our students our staff and our community that we're United in the commitment uh [1:26:10] to doing everything we can to support all students so thank you for your consideration thank you superintendent [1:26:15] McIntyre um board members are there any questions or comments [1:26:22] discussion uh director langfeld [1:26:27] to learn how to play this thing anyway um thank you for the opportunity to speak on this literacy um is a really [1:26:36] large investment across our district as superintendent McIntyre spoke to one of the things as I've been thinking about [1:26:43] the and I have the privilege sometimes because of my current time in life where [1:26:48] I can see and get out to schools to see what's really happening in that space [1:26:53] and I think about uh bridge to read which is which is now seen as a a very [1:27:00] aligned in fact um very highly aligned to the standards and the science of [1:27:05] reading um to be able to see that in action is a really important part of of [1:27:11] the work and so to that end I know that not everybody can get out to the schools [1:27:16] and I I'm wondering if there would be interest in having as we have these priorities whether it be for Literacy [1:27:23] for me personally that's one area that I'd like to have our entire board see [1:27:28] what I see and so I'm wondering if it would even be possible to have Snippets [1:27:35] of of those lessons actually presented at the board table or through vi video [1:27:40] or whatever for us to be able to really look at I was at um a meeting last week [1:27:47] where Community Partners came in from the business Community uh representing [1:27:52] various areas of Interest who all want to um actually create Collective impact [1:27:59] around literacy and are really investing in schools and uh areas where we're [1:28:06] showing proof of concept and they were able to see A really lovely Lesson by [1:28:12] kindergarteners um they were doing bridge to read they were doing um uword or and so the teacher started out and he [1:28:21] put on the we were he was sharing the word shun and they have like three sound boxes that these kindergarteners are are [1:28:29] looking at and and he put um he said now let's look at this word um and let's put [1:28:36] the three sounds so they did the sh and the uh and the n and then in the boxes [1:28:41] and then he said so what does this word mean in this little one out of [1:28:46] kindergarten mind you said well it's a it's a diagraph it's you know the two [1:28:52] letters S and H create one sound and you think about what our kindergarteners are [1:28:58] looking at and what they're learning and their writing so I'd like you to see that and I'm thinking if we um believe [1:29:05] this is a priority for us it's really important that we have conversations at [1:29:11] our board table regularly whether it be literacy and I'm not talking about large presentations but also seeing what's [1:29:19] happening in our schools understanding that and then looking at what also um [1:29:25] the data is telling us because we need to monitor the data as well and some of [1:29:30] the data I've been looking at is data that you need to see as well um coming out not just in one school at Monroe [1:29:37] Elementary which is a demonstration site for bridge to read and is bringing in a [1:29:43] lot of legislators come others want to see what's happening there but also [1:29:48] bringing in um our other schools and having that conversation so I think we [1:29:53] need to if we identify these areas as our priorities and I believe I am very [1:29:59] supportive of that that we have different conversations over time to really understand the investment of that [1:30:06] we're making in the work so when for example a reading core teacher comes and [1:30:11] talks about the concern and a tutor uh to us that we have clear understanding [1:30:17] of if there's a budget cut what that really means and those are the kinds of things as we look at literacy as a top [1:30:24] priority that we make sure that our investments with limited resources are [1:30:30] leveraged in the best way we know [1:30:37] how any other uh thoughts or comments uh director [1:30:42] hulman yeah I agree with that thank you for sharing that um Dr langfeld for [1:30:48] Behavior literacy and Workforce these are goals that we really should be focusing on so I'm glad to see them here [1:30:54] but also that piece of U being aware so that we're getting data not just for the [1:31:00] board to examine to determine if we're getting closer to achieving these goals [1:31:06] but also sharing that information with the community so that the community is aware that um of the good work of the [1:31:12] good things that we're doing to ensure that our schools are providing great opportunities for our kids so that would [1:31:18] be excellent to see more um data presented in these areas to Target and [1:31:23] move move towards these [1:31:30] goals any other discussion from board [1:31:35] members all right um and this is going to come back for approval at a future meeting is that [1:31:41] correct board members I I think you could take action this evening if you're so inclined I unless you want to bring [1:31:47] it back one more month and put on the consent agenda it's another option so the sooner the board sets it in place [1:31:53] the or we we're gain our commitment to it but is there a motion from any board [1:32:00] member to approve it as it currently is so moved is there a [1:32:07] second thank you all right with a motion in a second um is there any [1:32:14] discussion hearing none will all in favor say I I all oppos say Nay with six [1:32:21] in favor and zero opposed the it passes all right our next agenda item is [1:32:28] item 9 General councel 9A on 5 through 3.5 physical wellness policy first read [1:32:36] welcome Tim puler general counsel and Noah Atlas director of Child [1:32:44] Nutrition thank you co-chair Arco uh school board members and uh superintendent [1:32:50] McIntyre uh we have one policy on for first reading tonight that's policy 53 3.5 physical illness this policy is a [1:32:58] requirement of both state and federal law uh there is a specific requirement in this law and also found in the policy [1:33:06] uh that we need to do a periodic review and update of the local school wellness policy that's right out of Statute um [1:33:13] Noah Atlas our director of Child Nutrition actually went through that process in January this year with uh [1:33:19] volunteers from the district Wellness committee they reviewed the uh policy as part of their three-year review process [1:33:26] as a result of that uh um Gathering uh Mr Atlas came forward to our January [1:33:32] policy or I'm sorry our February 3rd 2025 policy committee meeting uh and shared just a few minor changes um that [1:33:39] were being um suggested to the policy um those were as follows uh first there's a [1:33:46] provision uh in this policy on portion sizes uh found in section 3c4 it's page [1:33:53] three of the policy um this was modified um specifically the reference to age [1:33:58] appropriate portion sizes was clarified to indicate uh that portion sizes are essentially um dictated by USDA [1:34:06] guidelines um I think uh Noah can share with you why clarification was helpful [1:34:11] in that regard but that was certainly the intent here in addition um there's a provision concerning uh food you food [1:34:17] used in school celebrations found in Section 3 C7 it's page three of the [1:34:22] policy again uh this was modified to indicate that uh an ingredient statement for commercial foods will be be made [1:34:29] available um we uh as part of the policy uh required use of commercial foods for [1:34:35] food safety reasons added to that a modification that essentially indicates that uh the ingredient list would [1:34:42] actually be provided obviously this helps uh students who have various food allergies and other food sensitivities [1:34:48] uh helps uh them and their parents understand food is actually being used in that regard and last [1:34:54] um provision uh in section 5f um was modified to more accurately [1:35:01] reflect current state requirements on recess detention we actually made a change to this policy earlier in the [1:35:07] year um what we did not include um was um indicating specifically that uh if [1:35:14] recess detention is used state law requires that we make reasonable efforts to notify parents so again so it's just [1:35:20] a reflection of what current statute requires and so um after discussion of these [1:35:27] particular uh changes and its meeting on February 3rd the policy committee recommended to move this policy forward [1:35:33] for first readings tonight and with that uh uh no one myself will take any [1:35:39] questions thank you very much are there any questions from board [1:35:46] members all right um and this will come back for approval at a future meeting [1:35:52] yep it it'll be on for second read on the consent agenda uh next month perfect well thank you very much for the [1:35:58] presentation thank you all right our next agenda item is item [1:36:03] 10 um Finance 10A the amended budget for fiscal year 25 welcome Michelle Vargas [1:36:09] Chief Financial Officer good evening chair Arco [1:36:16] superintendent M entire members of the board tonight I have our fiscal year 25 [1:36:22] midyear budget amend Amendment um this budget [1:36:27] amendment is um basically due to our adjusted pupil units um we have a [1:36:34] reduction of 449 based on our October 1 enrollment and then looking at prior [1:36:41] year what we retrain throughout the year and then our other programs um we'll [1:36:46] also update our revenues and expenditures based on um prior year actuals contract settlements that we're [1:36:52] recognizing and then current year Trends we are not adjusting the Food Service [1:36:58] fund The Debt Service fund or the trust funds um usually I have in this timeline [1:37:05] that we'll bring it back this is the first read we'll bring it back for approval at the March board [1:37:12] meeting so our overall budget the approved budget um adopted for fiscal [1:37:18] year 25 was a 717 million in revenues and 7 42 million [1:37:24] in expenditures we're increasing revenues by 20 million or 2.8% and expenditures by 15.4 million or [1:37:33] 2.1% the majority of that is $10 million and it'll be on future sides slides is [1:37:41] the recognition of an accounting entry we need to enter into in order to generate the English language learner [1:37:50] cross subsidy that comes in 27 so there is a a requirement for us to [1:37:56] recognize it all in uh a new finance code with a separate reserve and what it [1:38:02] does is it requires us to have a um a transfer in and a transfer out there [1:38:07] other financing uses and sources so they're an in and and out it's it will raise our expenditures and revenues [1:38:13] totals as we see it but it's not seen as a a real revenue and expenditure the other financing sources this $10 million [1:38:21] shows the amount of expenses that we expend in excess of [1:38:27] Revenue the new formula that kicks in for cross subsidy and fiscal year 27 [1:38:34] gives us about 25% of that so that's how we we have to make that entry um and [1:38:40] that recently came out in our uh MD FAQs on how to make sure we account for that [1:38:46] right so that is why that adjustment is in there so really the adjustment is about 10 million on our Revenue side and [1:38:53] 5 million on the expenditure side or 1.4% and 7% once we take that accounting [1:38:59] entry out as we look at the general fund again our pupil units are are down um we [1:39:06] started with our October 1 count so we are adjusting from the 41585 to 41136 our 449 reduction um our [1:39:17] overall Revenue increase on this is 20.2 million or 3.1% expenditures are 15.7 million or [1:39:25] 2.4% the ending general fund balance is projected at 146 million and our [1:39:30] unassigned is projected at 57.5 million or [1:39:38] 10.8% so the detail of the revenue of the 20 point um almost 2 million 20.2 [1:39:44] million state aid increas is 9 million 3.5 million is a reduction in state a [1:39:50] due to that reduced pupil units um 3 million of it is on the basic formula [1:39:55] the remaining 457,000 are all those other formulas that are based on people [1:40:01] units so that includes our operating Capital staff development Learning and Development Talent Development Library [1:40:08] Aid long-term facilities Aid and achievement integration Aid all of them have a pupil unit [1:40:14] calculation um our special aded education reimbursement our um final [1:40:21] Setter dollars are in so our actual revenue is going up 8.7 [1:40:27] million that is recognized in this one our endowment Revenue which is based on [1:40:32] the land trust Aid um that is increasing and that's um based on the the mineral [1:40:39] rights and the revenue that they make off of that and how they spread it out to school districts $928,000 [1:40:45] our compensatory revenue is 810,000 we're separating out the English learner [1:40:51] and compensatory they are all part to basic skills um we also are recognizing [1:40:58] the 710,000 of the between term unemployment Revenue that we'll receive [1:41:04] this year that we're expecting to run out um this summer but that is recognized in this one so we're up to um [1:41:11] 2.1 million in that revenue for this year and then the 634 th000 increased [1:41:17] English learner Revenue that is based on our number of students that are receiving services [1:41:24] they also have 221,000 in the student support Personnel [1:41:31] Revenue additional state aid increase a 600,000 increase in integration [1:41:36] Transportation reimbursement based on prior year that's a reimbursement formula and then 125,000 for our [1:41:43] non-public transportation we also have 188,000 reduction in our literacy [1:41:48] incentive Aid our property taxes are increasing just because we recognize the tax shift [1:41:55] after the fact so you Levy in December there are a couple of the levies that [1:42:01] you take the pre that year that we in December and recognize it the previous year one of them is unemployment so once [1:42:09] that amount is done in December we know that and we can recognize it in the current year um the other one is the [1:42:16] transfers increase of 10 almost 4 million that's what we just talked about in order to recognize the amount for the [1:42:23] cross subsidy on the English language learner we need to create this um accounting entry that shows a transfer [1:42:30] in of 10.4 million in [1:42:36] revenue on the expenditure side we have an increase of 15.7 [1:42:41] million 3 million of this is in our special ed area um it's recognition of [1:42:47] contracted Services we have also added staff the staff that's been added and the amount of staff that we've had to [1:42:53] contract out and looking at last year um the amount is an increase of 3 million [1:42:59] we are recognizing the 710,000 so we recognize the 710,000 for between term [1:43:05] unemployment um this is the expenditure side so that we show the both the 2.1 million on the revenue side and the [1:43:11] expenditure side for this year there's 1.2 million increase in salaries and [1:43:16] benefits for the parent educator contract that was settled late um last [1:43:22] year or this year actually um and the 346,000 increase in salaries and [1:43:27] benefits for office professionals then this is the expenditure side of the transfer out for [1:43:33] the 10.4 million so it's an in and an out it will not hit fund balance at all it doesn't increase or decrease it one [1:43:39] way or another um it just gives us that recognition in order to generate the revenue for the cross [1:43:45] subsidy this next one is just the way that we' like to show kind of the ins and the outs if there's if we're doing a [1:43:53] a grant or something you'll see it on both sides the revenue and the expenditures as you can see all the [1:43:58] adjustments at the top on the revenue side the the decreases are all those pupil unit based there's not an [1:44:04] expenditure side that mirrors it like a grant um as you get further down you'll [1:44:10] see where in special ed Revenue going up 8.7 million we also have expenses going up the $3 million um in that area and [1:44:18] then on the other side in expenditures you're going to see where the the two contra track settlements and then the [1:44:25] English language learner entry at the bottom of the in and the out so overall [1:44:32] um you can see the increase of 20.1 million [1:44:40] 15.67% for fund balance the next slide shows revenues [1:44:47] minus expenditures that also recognizes in the middle area our spending of [1:44:52] strategic IC investment which is the one time dollars and 9.4 million so what you'll notice on this one is our adopted [1:44:59] budget we expected to have an operating deficit of 11.5 million the increase in [1:45:06] some of the revenues particularly the special ed Revenue has dropped that down now to a operating deficit of 7 million [1:45:15] on the next slide we'll see that bu fund balance um to show you how that affects [1:45:21] the unassigned as you can see our unassigned was projected to be at about 52.5 million we're now looking at 57 [1:45:29] million or 10.8% with this amendment so looking at all of our fund [1:45:36] balances so these are all of our assigned are restricted and the unassigned the unassigned is at the top [1:45:42] in the green um you'll also notice we're taking that transfer we have to set aside when we adopt a budget and put in [1:45:49] that subsequent year the 11.6 million so we've put that back up now into the fund [1:45:56] balance overall our operating balance then for our unassigned this year is a $6 million deficit that's what we are [1:46:03] projecting with that change in the revenue that we have um and then recognizing the other [1:46:09] expenses for the most part as you can see we really haven't changed in the other areas um there other you the [1:46:16] Strategic Investments that we are spending down the onetime dollars are unchanged um you can see in basic skills [1:46:23] we're spending down slightly um fund balance um as we're looking into the [1:46:28] next presentation there's um some considerations on comped that with the [1:46:34] new formulas um that we could be short as you can see we have a fund balance of [1:46:40] 14 million projected in our compensatory basic skills that we can ride that one [1:46:45] out so I just wanted to point that out as we're looking at it here because we don't get that detailed in the big [1:46:51] projection for 2627 7 but um and then in [1:46:56] our um long-term facilities maintenance we we are carrying a negative balance we [1:47:02] have time to make that up and there's plans to make that up and it's allowable um Q comp is now a [1:47:08] reserve it was assigned we've always kept it as assigned because even though MD didn't recognize it as separate that [1:47:15] you had to to keep a reserve for it we always have so now it's moved into [1:47:21] restricted versus being in assigned so that's a change from before so overall we're spending down fund balance of 16.4 [1:47:29] million but as you can see the majority of it is in our onetime dollars and we have reduced the operational spend of 6 [1:47:36] million in our unassigned are there any questions on [1:47:41] the general fund before I move on to the community service [1:47:48] fund our community service fund did you have one our community service fund um [1:47:57] it is about a $30 million budget we're making adjustments of 4% on Revenue 118 [1:48:04] million 29 million on the expenditure side um very detailed work done in our [1:48:11] community at department for Budget as we're looking at this they're increasing their School Readiness Revenue due to [1:48:17] some program um implementation and verification changes result in fewer dis counted enrollments 138,000 we're seeing [1:48:25] increase in adult basic Ed of 100,000 um based to some local grants and then [1:48:30] higher than budgeted contract hours that that's a contract hour contact hour [1:48:36] driven budget we're also seeing an increase in our Central Services Revenue due to anticipated investment earnings [1:48:43] the investment earnings that we have on our total cash are then spread out based on cash balances so when we see you know [1:48:50] the the higher interest rates our other funds that have cash balances are also beneficiaries of overall [1:48:57] investment and then 40,000 increase in non-public and home scool Revenue due to increased student accounts in those [1:49:05] areas um additional Revenue there's 120,000 decrease in facilities Revenue [1:49:11] that is part early recognition of the phase two budget cuts so that amount that was retained in the community [1:49:18] department is being recognized and no longer kept in community Community ad for the management of facility rentals [1:49:24] and will be in the general fund uh 140,000 decrease in Adventures Plus due [1:49:30] to lower than budgeted enrollment 38,000 decrease in facility monitor Revenue [1:49:36] again originally over projected a 10,000 decrease in their aquatic lessons [1:49:41] Revenue due to reduced pool availability and a net 13,000 decrease [1:49:47] due to other program Revenue adjustments on the expenditure side [1:49:52] there's a 29,000 increase or 0.1% 210,000 is in School Readiness an ecfm program due to [1:50:00] additional positions wage adjustments and one-time Capital Investments 50,000 increase in parent involvement [1:50:07] expenditures um also due to phase 2 budget realignment 40,000 increased in [1:50:12] enrollment driven homeschool non-public programs again due to the increased enrollment 268,000 in adventure plus [1:50:20] decrease again due to enrollment driven based on payroll non-payroll savings and then a net 3,000 decrease on other [1:50:28] programming expenditure adjustments again just looking at a side by side in the programming we just like [1:50:35] to show um by the areas the the revenues in the expenditures so as you can see um [1:50:42] each ones that we talked about showing side by side generally mirroring similar expenditure and revenue increases and [1:50:48] decreases and overall um fund balance [1:50:54] that looks low fund balance no that's not uh they still have a $9.5 million fund balance if we get to the next page [1:51:02] um on a $30 million budget they're still sitting at 31% as you can see our [1:51:07] community ed program is very consistent um holding on that and the 30% budget is [1:51:12] very standard and a very highly fee driven [1:51:20] program and then our final bu adjustment is the final wrap up of our capital [1:51:25] projects fund so this is the final close out of the [1:51:30] 2017 voter approved Bond Revenue so um how we ended last year didn't exactly [1:51:37] you know but it's a budget so we need to adjust to where we ended last year um to see what was left and and adjust those [1:51:44] expenditures so our Revenue increase is $90,000 due to additional investment Revenue due to the cash that we still [1:51:51] have on hand and then we're increasing or decreasing our expenditures by 277,000 um based on the available funds [1:51:59] after the final close out so our projection is to be at a fund balance at zero we will close out in full can we go [1:52:06] to the next slide please um we'll go so we'll have 110,000 in local Revenue projected and then our [1:52:14] expenditures at 3.89 million so that we will fully [1:52:19] expend that amount and close it out at the end of this year we're very close [1:52:25] to closing it out right now just some final adjustments so the fully amended budget [1:52:31] for 2425 for the mid year again is a 2.8% increase in Revenue 20 million 394 [1:52:39] and a 2.1 increase on expenditures of 15.4 million and again the majority of [1:52:45] that being that 10 million adjustment back and forth between um for the English learner so open it up for any [1:52:51] questions again this will come back at the March regular board meeting for a second read and a [1:52:59] vote thank you for the presentation board members are there any questions on the amended [1:53:07] budget uh Director D Shane thank you uh just just a a quick [1:53:12] note of thanks for the presentation I think it's really important and it's a value of this board to have accurate [1:53:17] books and records and it's um sort of like like housekeeping right we have new information [1:53:23] so we want to make sure that our um accounting records are accurately reflecting the realities of what have [1:53:28] happened uh just one I want to sort of restate back what you were saying about that $10 million English language [1:53:34] learner um this is an accounting operation to use a new finance code in [1:53:41] order to uh recognize what's happening on those dollars it's not actual changes [1:53:47] because they're accounted for in the funding in different ways but doing it this way will allow us us to recoup 25% [1:53:54] of those expenses that are not met by the current revenues that is accurate [1:53:59] okay thank you that's all any other questions from [1:54:05] board members D yeah just related to the same thing so [1:54:12] I get it that there's it's some kind of a way to call it out but as it appears in the general fund [1:54:19] where where is it is it coming from somewhere else or right now it it was part of the basic skills so [1:54:25] compensatory compensatory funding and El were all part of basic skills okay so was in that area so we'll have to move [1:54:33] it out and then we'll have to backfill with something else out of it so that it's more of the shell game to make it [1:54:39] all work out in order to make sure we generate that Revenue if we don't move it out of there we're spending it there [1:54:45] and they're going to say okay you have enough right so we have to move the full expense um so we spend about 14 million [1:54:54] on E right now we're funded for about four so that's where that 10 million that will'll get generate that in fiscal [1:55:00] year 27 so was the change that we were allowed to move it out or that we were [1:55:06] required to we required to we're required to and if we don't make it [1:55:12] well you could still put your expenses in your compensatory basic skills but then we won't generate we would just put [1:55:19] the 4 million and then fund it and then we would generate the revenue the additional 2 million so we'd be given up [1:55:25] that Revenue if we don't make the adjustment in that entry gotcha thank [1:55:31] you then I have a quick question um I think I caught it but what where does the amended budget put our fund balance [1:55:37] like the percent 10.8% 10.8% okay I did catch that right thank [1:55:44] you any other questions or comments from board members all right well thank you very [1:55:52] much for the presentation um and our next agenda item is item 10B [1:55:58] the preliminary fiscal year 2627 general fund budget so Michelle varas chair Arco [1:56:04] superintendent McIntyre members of the board that presentation before basically leads us into those updated numbers [1:56:10] we're starting now with a different projected fund balance um and it feeds into these rollup costs that we're [1:56:16] looking at so at this point in time as we're in the middle of a legislative session which funds the next [1:56:22] years we are looking at the next two years um and it's also been I we've been [1:56:28] looking out for the last year as we've been going through budget reductions and all of that to see where we are so this [1:56:34] is updated and what we've updated in here are the new El Revenue coming in [1:56:41] are are the couple of contracts that we've settled um the transportation that [1:56:48] we've been looking at what's also rolled into here is the unemployment taking the revenue out but [1:56:55] keeping it in we've been kind of holding on like maybe we'll get some funding but at this point in time I have it as in [1:57:02] law what we're required to do and what Revenue we have which right now it's not funded so you have a full layout of that [1:57:11] um that is in law for us to start with the uh Family Leave Act on January 2026 [1:57:19] so it's a half year so we get a half year in 26 and then we the other full year so another half year in 27 so all [1:57:25] of those are in these projections it's no more saying we have a couple of unfunded mandates off of the side that [1:57:31] haven't been put in here yet so all the adjustments have been made um with those assumptions in here at this time um so [1:57:39] as we look at it we're for f superintendent McIntyre had a question just to maybe help clarify how I've [1:57:45] thought of this is if nothing happens legislatively we're just planning ahead [1:57:50] right mhm um we've been testifying on it right but if if they let that those dollars run out we got to be planning [1:57:57] ahead for the impact of it so thanks um so in December you approved [1:58:03] the levy those Levy dollars are set then to fund fiscal year 26 that we're looking at um we have a legislative [1:58:10] session going on that ends on May 19th um the November 24th budget forecast um [1:58:16] 2024 forecast had a $660 million surplus for the 2627 [1:58:22] but a $5.1 billion deficit for the 28 29 so the following um year the February [1:58:29] forecast will be available on March 6th that forecast is basically what sets all [1:58:34] the targets they start setting targets then for committees so that's what we're waiting for to see um if anything [1:58:40] changes what we've been doing is finalizing enrollment projections and those enrollment projections uh we're [1:58:46] looking at another decline next year um so that's what we've been Staffing on [1:58:51] and and doing budgets our school budgets are based on enrollments and that um so [1:58:57] that's what we've been doing um we are working on the department and sight budgets um I'll be back in April then [1:59:05] with preliminary general fund again updated based on any changes in the legislature um in May on the 19th school [1:59:12] board meeting I'll be bringing the pro proposed for all funds for fiscal year 26 and then the approval for all funds [1:59:20] June 23rd prior to June 30th as in statute to approve the fisal year 26 [1:59:26] budget for All funds so preliminary um assumptions [1:59:32] right now is a revenue increase of $6 million the FY 26 Levy it was certified [1:59:39] um we see a $2.8 million decrease in that um Levy due to puple unit decline [1:59:47] um so we that was kind of two years behind at that point the state general education um is going to increase by 3.9 [1:59:55] million so that's net so we we have a 2.6 or 2.33 increase in the CPI so it's [2:00:03] a minimum of two a maximum of 3% that was one of the last increases that the [2:00:08] projections for the year so that's $169 per pupil unit um we're looking at a [2:00:13] 1.1% decline in pupil units of 450 adjusted pupil units so that's how we [2:00:18] get to that net increase of 3.9 million the projected increase for special ed [2:00:23] Revenue was 5.3 million that's basically based on our increased expenditures kind [2:00:29] of the what Transportation has been what our expenses have been and then we've [2:00:35] been each year we've been kind of at as our tuition goes up we pay that tuition [2:00:42] with our federal and it takes a year but it it generates that Revenue so our [2:00:47] federal special ed Revenue all of it almost right now is paying tuition so we [2:00:54] get reimbursement on instead of paying salaries with that and letting them just take the revenue off we get [2:00:59] reimbursement it generates that money for us um so that's what we do with that [2:01:04] that $7.7 million this year is what we'll do with it um our student support [2:01:12] Personnel that jumps up another 1.3 million and that's kind of part of our our budget reductions we're saying we're [2:01:18] going to be shifting staff into that that was part of that will be be able to fund more of our social workers that we [2:01:24] bought up with Esser funds next year when we are close to at $2 million in [2:01:30] the student support Personnel Revenue English learner Revenue goes up 1.8 [2:01:36] million um the revenue goes from $74 to 12228 so including uh the addition to [2:01:45] the Cross subsidy that comes in 27 they're they are putting more money on the formula for our English Learners [2:01:51] it's does go up we also are looking at 2.1 million it's taking out the between terms [2:01:58] unemployment Revenue we know it's going to run out so it takes it out of fiscal year [2:02:04] 26 um and then in fiscal year 26 that 10.3 [2:02:09] million in and out is going to go down by 1.4 million because of the additional [2:02:14] Revenue we're getting now so our cross subies cross subsidy will be lower because the English learner Revenue went [2:02:22] up 1.8 million because of the the higher amount um we're assuming that we'll [2:02:28] maintain our other local and state categorical and federal revenue at the same level um investment income we're [2:02:35] still keeping it at 4.6 million it's holding right now we're [2:02:41] hoping it continues to hold on the expenditure side our assumptions are 14.1 million increase in net [2:02:47] expenditures so we're still using 2 and a half% on salaries for the any [2:02:53] contracts that haven't been settled 5% um on our insurances we have a reduction a net [2:02:59] reduction of 10 FTE so we have our staffing ratios with the loss of pupil units our staffing ratios reduce um by [2:03:06] 26 FTE but we're adding 16 ft in special ed [2:03:12] based on enrollment and needs and I APS we have a 2.2 million increase for the second year [2:03:19] of the par educator and Office Professional contract um adding that amount in and then we [2:03:25] have 7.5 million for Charter transportation and utility increases we have 900,000 this is the [2:03:32] paid leave act so that's a half the half a year so from January on that. [2:03:40] 44% um tax that for the paid leave act for the employer side 325,000 for our [2:03:48] athletic trainer contract recognizing that for next year that went up significantly um for um that that one [2:03:57] that was recently done on a bid and then a $1.4 million the reduction we sat on [2:04:02] the revenue side for the English the other side of the English learner Crest subsidy entry we also are recognizing [2:04:09] the 8.5 million in Phase 2 budget reductions um 700,000 were actually [2:04:14] realized in some of the realignment in the current year um because it was an [2:04:19] approved amount of 9 million but 8 8.5 will be in fiscal year 26 and we [2:04:25] transfer that fourth year of the Strategic investment back into um the [2:04:32] unassigned so those are the 26 and then the 27 I have them side by [2:04:38] side on a table coming up 27 our revenue is a $17 million increase in Revenue so [2:04:44] the formula is 2.61% is what CPI is projected at at this time it'll change [2:04:50] but that's what they have now so that's $194 per student we're assuming will [2:04:55] stay stable at this point that will hold um so that's 7.2 [2:05:01] million the FY 26 Levy amounts are basically just adjusted for inflation on [2:05:07] the referendum again using the 2.61% so that's about $30 on the referendum for inflationary [2:05:14] growth of 1.2 million and then we're assuming we'll maintain our other state categorical funding with the exception [2:05:20] of our special which grows with it's a reimbursement formula and um 2.3 million [2:05:28] the cross subs or the English learner again grows up we get the cross subsidy and then it goes up um to 1775 a student [2:05:37] from 1228 so it jumps up another $500 so the state is jumping up the revenue for [2:05:44] um to come after that that cross subsidy the last item on there is 165,000 [2:05:50] increase in the transfer for the in so it's going to go up and down each year that transfer amount that we do based on [2:05:57] Assumption of how much our expenses are going to go up and what the revenue um is to create that on the expenditure [2:06:04] side all we um are assuming at this point is the 2 and a half on salaries 5% [2:06:10] on our um insurances which is about 16.2 million um inflationary increases in [2:06:16] services and utilities which is transportation and and that 1.5 million [2:06:21] and then the other side of the 165,000 increase transfer so just the basics there's a [2:06:29] lot going on in fiscal year 26 just because we know it you've been making the changes with the budget reductions [2:06:35] um and contracts but we'll have a lot of contracts that are going to be coming up for negotiations um starting in the [2:06:42] summer so how does that all look back one how does it all look so the First [2:06:49] Column is our amended fiscal year 25 um budget assuming that what I just [2:06:55] presented passes so as we're looking at it we're currently at that [2:07:00] 10.8% of operating the revenue and expenditure assumptions that were just displayed and [2:07:06] are on the side there um show an operating deficit of 15.1 million for [2:07:13] fiscal year 26 so that will bring us down to 47.5 million in our unassigned or 88.7% [2:07:23] rolling to fiscal year 27 where with the revenue and the [2:07:28] assumptions and expenditure assumptions were operating at a deficit of 25 [2:07:35] million 9.4 Millions at one time so the net operating is 15.9 million so we [2:07:41] didn't grow that much so that increased e Revenue was helping us that with all [2:07:47] the rollups and the shortage that you can see the difference between 25 and 26 [2:07:52] but we're losing Revenue in 26 and we're adding in we're losing the revenue for [2:07:58] the between terms unemployment and we're adding in half of a year of the Family [2:08:04] Leave Act and we're recognizing the large increase for transportation and [2:08:09] the contracts so in fiscal year 27 we're almost holding at that 15 to 16 million [2:08:16] so as you look at it at this point in time our Target now for budget reductions if you wanted to close that [2:08:24] operating deficit is 16 million at that point you would basically if we make a [2:08:30] $16 million reduction you're going to hold that assigned fund balance from 26 [2:08:36] the 47.5 million if you make that reduction for [2:08:41] 27 and then you're sitting at about 8.4% because now your operating expenditures [2:08:47] have have grown some in the roll up but you're going to be in that 8.4 to 8 .7 [2:08:52] range um and you still have about 9 million to make up to be at [2:08:59] 10% and that was a member a board member at debt was questioning what our our [2:09:05] Target would be how short are we from the 10% um so that's kind of where if [2:09:12] everything land this is a budget it's a what if and there there are a lot of things going on um I think we have most [2:09:20] of it recognized in here as best we can at this point in time and we'll continue to follow the legislative session [2:09:27] advocate for funding those unfunded mandates um as best we can but at this [2:09:32] point in time they're not and that's what this [2:09:40] represents um the last one is just and I always try to keep that out there 1% on the formula for us is about $3 million [2:09:47] 1% increase on our salaries is equal to $4.2 million our 1% on our health benefits [2:09:56] which also might be something we'll be looking at um we're seeing a lot of large increases and whether or not um [2:10:03] any adjustments are made in that negotiations um that's 600,000 our transportation contracts which are it's [2:10:10] over $30 million we spend on Transportation um you're looking at you [2:10:15] know 1% on our contracts about 400,000 um the included just to remind [2:10:22] you Minnesota paid leave in 27 is 1.8 million the first year is 900,000 and then we have the full year the second [2:10:28] year and currently our between terms unemployment has been running about 2.1 [2:10:33] million it could go higher it could go lower that's what it's been at so that's [2:10:39] what's included in these current assumptions that looks at about a $16 million budget Target um reduction to [2:10:46] balance out fiscal year 27 so I'll open that up to any [2:10:52] questions any questions or comments from board [2:11:03] members all right well superintendent Ma just uh board [2:11:08] members I guess I just want to reiterate um what Michelle said about is what we know [2:11:14] today uh We've pushed hard legislatively to you know mitigate those unfunded mandates as [2:11:22] much as possible so I think it's wise like we did to to estimate what we think [2:11:27] those things are if they don't get funded um we also know we're looking at [2:11:33] our literacy adoption we're we're not there yet with transportation and utility so those are some areas that [2:11:38] we're still watching and um there's other things in the governor's proposal that you know we got [2:11:44] to account for too if that were to go through so um I guess it's what we know today and we'll keep you like as we move [2:11:51] through through the session and assuming they get done on time um we'll know what that Target looks like as we move [2:11:57] through so we're trying to do our best to you know with Jim's efforts and ours to keep you informed of what's happening [2:12:03] and what does that mean from a financial standpoint so I guess you're hearing in my voice [2:12:10] there's a little bit we will we're waiting to see what it where it really lands at the in the end [2:12:16] right director adad thank you just to follow up to that because I I know when when you were down there testifying to [2:12:23] the especially the portions related to the I think it was the paid leave and the unemployment there was some [2:12:29] consternation about that um and I I couldn't I didn't quite gather I didn't [2:12:35] quite get why I mean I think the statement if I I watched I looked at it [2:12:40] was well that's currently funded so why would you assume it's not going to be funded right but what you've laid out or [2:12:48] what Miss Vargas laid out in terms of condition of the budget and the state's [2:12:53] budget and the there just isn't a lot of dollars there so in our own District that's [2:12:59] basically $4 million um multiply that by all the other districts that are out [2:13:05] there you know that eats up the what 600 and some million pretty quickly so I [2:13:11] think it's a in my opinion it's a reasonable assumption that that you've made it's a [2:13:17] big number it's a big you know it's a quarter of of what we're looking at at just related to that alone and um it's [2:13:24] I'm glad that you pushed it and uh and I think you're right to stay on it yeah if [2:13:29] nothing changes that's the reality right and I the good news is we're all saying [2:13:35] all the districts are really kind of on the same things right so other were the biggest and some of the smallest it hits [2:13:41] them it impacts them just as severely this a scaling issue right so I [2:13:47] think we've been pretty consistent with the message um I think it's getting through because [2:13:53] I I've gotten some irritation out of it you know so that's what we want um and [2:13:59] really just being able to tell our story like what does this really mean in real numbers if if nothing changes right so [2:14:06] we'll try to St on on message any other comments from board [2:14:16] members all right well thank you very much for the presentation [2:14:22] all right we are nearing our last board agenda item which is item 11 board correspondence and communication members [2:14:29] this is your opportunity to share happenings in your community report on committee assignments or other items of interest does any does anyone have [2:14:36] anything to share director [2:14:42] langenfeld it it Segways nicely into our last conversation and I know that you've [2:14:48] been getting some updates from the MS ba and uh Massa day at the capital on March [2:14:54] 3rd they're in process of setting up those appointments for us um they are [2:14:59] actually looking and asking us which of our legislators I think we have what 17 [2:15:06] we can't see them all that day um but again names of legislators that you would like to speak with um they're [2:15:13] working hard to set those appointments up so I spoke with superintendent McIntyre about that today and I've had [2:15:20] conversation with msba Denise Dietrich who who is now serving as Government relations and um it's just really [2:15:28] important to hear from us I think as a school board I know that our [2:15:33] superintendant often go down and speak there but we represent the community and the people so I know that I'm signed up [2:15:41] to go but it's always really great when you go to your uh legislative um area as [2:15:47] well where you live and you're their constituent so I just put that out there for consideration if there's any [2:15:54] possibility and I think we'll have schedules so that you wouldn't have to come the whole day you know I think that [2:16:01] that's what they're really working on it so that recognizing board members are [2:16:06] working many most and and so spending the whole day isn't always possible so [2:16:12] they're working on that as well so I just want to really give that a a lift up and make sure that people are aware [2:16:19] and again that doesn't include anybody speaking you know um to their legislators separately either but I just [2:16:26] we we have a platform and we just saw our current reality right now at least in you know right here right now so [2:16:33] anyway thanks for that uh director Des Shan thank you just [2:16:39] really quickly um I know we saw the academic growth ceremonies so those those two ceremonies were lovely to [2:16:45] attend I really uh appreciate that our district prioritizes recognizing academic growth because that's what we're here to do right student [2:16:51] achievement I think that's really important I wanted to shout out the theater programs again at our schools I [2:16:56] know Champlin Park just finished their winterplay dragons love tacos that was very exciting and entertaining to attend [2:17:02] I encourage everybody to look at what any schools around them are doing and go to those if you get the chance and [2:17:08] lastly uh I attended Our Community Education advisory meeting that's one of the Committees that we are assigned in [2:17:14] our January packet and we got an update in depth on our early childhood family [2:17:19] education program I know we heard a bit from Michelle Vargas about the community education budget uh we did talk on that [2:17:25] a little bit as well as here from Community Partners so at that advisory meeting we have city council members [2:17:31] from our our cities in our district we have uh jobs program leads Community [2:17:38] College leads um and Youth Organization Representatives so it's a really valuable conversation to talk about what [2:17:44] are all of our communities doing to support the people that live here thank you [2:17:52] any other comments from board members all right um the last agenda [2:18:00] item is item 12 which is to adjourn um do we have a motion to [2:18:05] adjourn thank you director adet do we have a second thank you director langenfeld um [2:18:13] is there any discussion all right hearing none will all in favor say I I any opposed say nay [2:18:21] with six in favor and zero opposed we are adjourned the current time is 8:37 p.m. [2:18:28] [Music] [2:19:16] want to wait till