[10:28] eight and we do have a quorum so I will call this meeting to order um I wanted to recognize that we have two new board [10:36] members tonight it's their first board meeting so welcome to elegant man and welcome to Cheryl Barry who are just [10:42] starting their terms tonight we have another new board member that um is out of the country and she will be at our [10:48] next board meeting Jen hu huie um so welcome um to the DA School Board we [10:54] appreciate you your service here um our first order of agenda agenda tonight is [10:59] approving our agenda unfortunately we are going to have to reschedule our presentation from intermediate District [11:05] 287 um due to illness so that presentation will no longer be part of our agenda do I have a motion to approve [11:12] the agenda for tonight's meeting with the presentation removal so moved do I have a second [11:17] second all those in favor of approving tonight's agenda say I I anyone opposed [11:24] the agenda is approved Dr Stanley will you please review tonight's agenda for us absolutely so we are going to move [11:31] into hearing from members of the public as you said um unfortunately Marc D is not able to be here due to illness and [11:38] we have consent agenda we have discussion items for our uh legislative action committee platform we have [11:45] information about social studies we have new St uh curriculum standards that are coming through and we're looking at courses we have international travel [11:53] recommendations um we will hear about our fiscal year 2025 cost [11:59] containment um recommendation um for Action we are getting we are having [12:05] legislative action platform approval um we have secondary courses that are coming through that we will have for [12:11] approval and then we have several policies that we have and then we will have um committee and um leadership [12:19] updates thank you Dr Stanley and before we get to community comments we have our excellence and action section and [12:26] tonight we're excited to formally recognize our three outgoing board members or they actually are no longer [12:33] part of the board um Julie green Janie sha Regina Neville who are in the audience tonight um we have a um item [12:41] that went through consent last month that we would like to read about each of you and then we have a plaque that we would like to give each of you so what [12:48] I'm going to do is read um your recognition and then if you could come [12:53] up we would like to formally present your plaque to you um and so we will go [12:59] in alphabetical order so I would like to start with Julie green um this is this is your [13:05] Commendation Julie um be it resolved that the school board commends and recognizes Julie green for her service [13:12] on the ad school board from January 2012 through 2020 through December [13:18] 2023 the board hereby expresses its sincere appreciation and that of the staff and residents of the school [13:24] district for Julie Green's four years of devoted service to the public schools in [13:30] its Affairs During the period 2020 through 2023 Julie green has served the district [13:36] in many different cap capacities both on the board and off throughout her T Year [13:42] Julie demonstrated strong leadership notably as the head of the legislative action committee where she championed [13:47] our District's interest at the state level her commitment to staying informed on legislative matters and advocating [13:53] for policies that benefit our students and Educators has been invaluable Julie green served served as board Vice chair [13:59] for the past year and a half and as a member of the governance committee for the past two years she Al she also [14:05] served as the chair of the district's policy committee showcasing her keen understanding of the details that govern [14:11] our educational system she also served as board leaon to many organizations [14:16] these have included the Student Activities advisory committee the din education fund and the parent leadership [14:22] Council additionally she has been the board liaison to several of our schools during her tenure on the board Beyond [14:28] her formal responsibilities Vice chair green has consistently demonstrated a passion for education and a genuine [14:34] concern for the well-being of our students Julie was involved in many critical decisions for Ed Public Schools [14:41] including hiring superintendent Stanley developing the district's most recent strategic plan and navigating the [14:48] district's covid-19 pandemic response her advocacy for educational Excellence [14:53] equity and incl inclusivity has left a lasting impact on our community the board members congratulate Julie green [15:00] and extend a collective and individual thank you for a job well done [15:06] Julie oh hi you're right [Applause] [15:27] there thank you very much Julie it has just been an honor to serve the community alongside of you um you came [15:33] in in a really tough time just before the pandemic started and you have worked [15:38] tirelessly for the community around advocacy for funding around advocacy [15:43] around policies that better serve our district so we are just um very proud very sad to lose you but we're very [15:49] proud of you and um just thank you for stepping up and serving the community thank you thank you thank [15:57] you [16:08] and I'm going to read the Commendation for Regina Neville be it resolved that the school [16:14] board commend and recognize Regina Neville for her service on the udina school board from November 2022 through [16:21] December 2023 it is with great pleasure and deep gratitude that we extend this [16:27] Commendation to Reg Neville on behalf of the board staff students and residents [16:33] of the school district Regina stepped forward to run in a special election filling a one-year vacancy on the school [16:39] board and has served the udina public schools Community with exceptional dedication and commitment while Regina's [16:46] service to this board was to fulfill a one-year vacancy Regina deserves to be recognized for her 13 years of [16:53] consecutive service to our school district serving on our school board from 2010 10 to [17:00] 2017 as well as representing our school district as a din's board representative for intermediate District 287 from the [17:07] years of 2013 to 2022 where she also served as board [17:13] chair for two years Regina Neville is a community-minded individual who [17:18] consistently brings a genuine passion for the well-being of our students and the betterment of our schools to her [17:25] work her commitment to equity and a student center approach in decision making has left an indelible mark on the [17:32] board's initiatives one of Regina's standout qualities is his her historical [17:37] knowledge about the district which has proven to be an invaluable asset in shaping informed and thoughtful board [17:43] decisions her pragmatic welcoming and collaborative Spirit have contributed [17:49] significantly to the positive dynamics of our board as Regina Neville concludes [17:54] her term on the Edina School Board we extend our heartfelt thanks than S for her exemplary service on the board and [18:01] throughout the district and wished her continued success in her future endeavors her Legacy of dedication and [18:09] impact will endure serving as an inspiration for Future Leaders within [18:15] our district the board members congratulate Regina Neville and extend a collective and individual thank you for [18:22] a job well done [18:30] thank you Regina um Karen shared I mean you [18:38] not just one time but you twice stepped up to serve your community we are so [18:43] grateful for that because of your leadership we have integrated um the workaround equity into our policies at a [18:50] level that has never been integrated before we are just grateful for all of your work on 287 to really recognize our [18:57] students who are served in 287 and that you continue to do that even when you weren't serving on the board so thank [19:03] you very much it's been an honor to serve alongside of you thank you thank [19:14] you thank you and last but not least uh we would [19:21] like to commend Janie Shaw um be it resolved that the school board commend [19:26] and recognize Janie Shaw for her service on the ad school board from January 2020 [19:31] through December 2023 the board hereby expresses its sincere appreciation and that of the [19:37] staff and residents of the school board for Janie Shaw's four years of devoted service to the din public schools and [19:43] its Affairs During the period 2020 through 2023 Janie Shaw has served the [19:49] district in many different C capacities through her tenure on the board Janie has exemplified unwavering commitment in [19:55] various crucial roles her contribution as board Treasurer and board clerk have enriched the board's operations and [20:02] positively impact the entire School Community Janie also served on many different board committees during her [20:08] tenure on the board finance and Facilities teaching and learning legislative action committee and [20:13] governance This truly showcases her willingness to serve where needed and lend her leadership to a broad array of [20:20] positions she has also served as board liaison to many organizations these [20:25] include but are not limited to the talent development committee the city of Edina Edina Public Schools partnership [20:32] committee and the special services advisory committee additionally she has been the board liaison to several of our [20:38] schools during her tenure on the board be Beyond her official responsibilities [20:43] board member Shaw has consistently demonstrated a passion for making sure each and every student is able to [20:49] discover their possibilities and Thrive during her time on the board Janie was involved in many critical decisions for [20:56] Edina Public Schools including highing ing superintendent Stanley developing the district's most recent strategic [21:02] plan and navigating the district's covid-19 pandemic response her exceptional service unwavering [21:09] dedication and Lasting contributions have led to the betterment of Edina Public Schools the board members [21:14] congratulate Jamie Shaw and extend a collective and individual thank you for a job well done thank [21:27] you Janie you too started at the onset of [21:35] the pandemic and I just appreciate you truly striving for excellence for each [21:41] and every student and pushing us to think differently really pushing us on strategy a with academics to make sure [21:48] that we are meeting the needs of all students it has been such an honor to [21:54] just learn from you quite honestly and stand alongside of you and we can't thank you enough for all of your [22:00] contributions to all of the students in our community thank [22:05] [Applause] [22:14] you thank you very much um and thank you again for your service we really [22:20] appreciate all three of you and thank you for coming tonight uh we are going to move on to our hearing from members [22:27] of the public um good evening and thank you all for being here tonight um everyone here on [22:33] the board and our district leadership team value input from the public and we appreciate those who have taken the time [22:39] out of their busy lives to come and speak to us tonight in order for our community comment agenda item to serve [22:45] all including the public that is here to speak it is important that individuals understand the process tonight and our [22:52] expectations of those at the podium and in the audience when you signed in and asked to speak you acknowledge and [22:58] understanding and adherence to board policy 206 which are Community comment guidelines pursuant to this policy each [23:05] speaker has a maximum of three minutes to speak when those three minutes are up you must conclude your remarks if you do [23:12] not wrap up quickly I will ask you to stop if you continue to speak you will be ruled out of order and potentially [23:18] asked to leave the boardroom this time is not designated to address items concerning specific staff or students [23:26] and personal attacks by anyone the podium are unacceptable if this happens you will be warned and if you persist [23:32] you will no longer be able to continue your remarks any feedback about District employees need to go in their respective [23:40] go to their respective site level leader the superintendent or be submitted to the board in writing we ask that all [23:47] audience members listen attentively but do not interrupt applaud or disrupt the meeting in any way it is important to us [23:55] that the space continues to be one of order including inclusion and respect and we are responsible for doing our [24:00] part to maintain that environment while the public comment period during our board meeting as an [24:06] important function and serves as a vehicle for our board and Community to hear stakeholder concerns our board is [24:12] also here to accomplish the important work of the District board policy 203 provides guidance for how our board [24:19] meetings will operate and states that our regular board meetings Must In by 10 [24:24] p.m. as such if there are an excessive number of of community comments that can potentially prohibit board work from [24:31] getting done in a timely manner there's a chance a board member will make a mo motion to limit the time the time [24:37] Community comments will be the amount of time Community comments will be all efforts will be made to ensure all [24:43] viewpoints are expressed multiple individuals expressing the same Viewpoint or multiple people from the [24:49] same organization should consider consolidating their remarks finally during the public comment period our [24:55] role as a board is to listen but this is not a place for the board to resolve any concerns and as such no comments will be [25:02] made from the board issues will be potentially referred to the superintendent for appropriate followup [25:08] thank you for your cooperation um our first Speaker tonight is Sarah [25:25] Quail it should be green when [25:32] works I wonder if the battery is not in a little bit sometimes at the Bas [25:38] sometimes that's our battery might be out [25:49] no Michael is that or does that [25:56] have [26:02] you go Dan thanks [26:12] Michael all right that's working first I really appreciate the [26:17] opportunity to come and speak today I first want to introduce myself I then want to give some recognition to the [26:23] board the board members today and the board members have pasted and then I I also want to recall my experience at our [26:29] last board meeting and uh ask for uh maybe some changes moving forward so [26:35] first my name is Sarah Quail I am a resident of Adina I have three children [26:40] I have had the honor of putting them through four Adina schools so I've got the whole range Elementary to high [26:45] school and I have to say what a tremendous experience it's been we like many other people in the Adina residents [26:52] in this room moved here for the schools and for the opportunities that you provide our students every single day [26:59] and I have watched each of my kids th flourish and Thrive through the [27:05] experience um I uh I also am so as you might know I'm also I'm also the [27:11] administrator for the Adina moms group and so that is kind of my third job um and uh with that um there are many [27:19] voices that I'm also here to represent and um and so I want to make sure that that that's noted as [27:25] well so recognition you guys are amazing you have uh been [27:32] able to take us through a pandemic and social unrest and I just want to say how [27:38] much I appreciate all of the efforts that you have taken um to make sure that [27:43] our kids are safe they are loved they are educated they Thrive and I just want [27:49] to really recognize each of you I want to recognize the board members um that were in the past as well um I know what [27:57] a tough job job this is that you guys do and I want to make sure that you know that you have a community that supports [28:02] you completely and thoroughly so I was here during the last [28:08] board meeting um and I will say I completely support free speech I think [28:14] that everyone has a right to speak their mind um I know that there is a lot of passion in the room um and I know there [28:21] was a lot of passion in the room there however things were out of hand um we [28:28] were not able to continue the meeting you as board members weren't able to do the important work that you do the [28:35] distraction and the chaos that ensued at this meeting hurts my children and it [28:40] hurts all of our children and so I am glad that I'm able to speak first because I implore everyone in this room [28:47] to be kind to be collaborative to be respectful to this board they do [28:53] tremendous hard work for our community and we should honor that and we should [28:59] honor the ability that we have to speak here it is not a given that they come [29:04] and they let us all come here and speak today this is an honor and a privilege that we're able to do so so I truly hope [29:11] that everyone that comes after me takes a deep breath and that makes sure that [29:18] we do not get into the spot that we were last time because last time we weren't able to continue can you wrap up please [29:23] oh yes of course thank you so with that I want to say thank you you again um and [29:29] uh just appreciate each of you and thank you for letting me speak thank you um Aaron [29:45] Gable we have to have a form if you want to speak [29:51] you're only the only thing I'll say before she speaks for me is is that the [29:58] only thing I'll say before she speaks for me is that I see here on the agenda you have social studies guiding change [30:04] given that it's not specific as to what you are [30:09] addressing I also expect that the comments made tonight from people who we [30:17] all know who we are all are here are respected because if we're going to talk about it this does have everything to do [30:24] with education especially Western education and it's how it's deeply flawed ask yourselves why we learn [30:30] extensively about the Holocaust as we should but we don't learn anything about the knocka 1948 or anything preceding [30:36] that preceding that or succeeding that so I just ask that you all also have the [30:41] same respect for my friends and family here to listen to [30:48] them thank you Miss Gable Terry [30:56] crib [31:03] thank you for allowing me to speak my name is Terry crib as you said and while [31:08] I was not here at the last meeting I felt compelled that I needed to be here because of everything that Sarah had [31:16] expressed and one I did want to express my gratitude because the job you all [31:23] have volunteered to do is extremely difficult um as a Jewish woman and [31:28] mother of two Jewish students in the school in din the schools um before [31:34] October 7th occurred I mean more of my son who's the older one he anti-Semitism [31:42] is the never ending it's never ending it's existed from time IM Memorial and [31:50] um it's just part of the fabric of some people's lives and how they're raised [31:56] and it comes up in little ways little um but big enough to be felt and so [32:07] um I am appreciative and I believe also in the freedom of speech of everyone but [32:14] um oftentimes Dei policies don't Embrace that of Jews they're they Embrace every [32:23] other religion Creed um but often times it's that are somehow left out so I just [32:30] want to thank Edina the board [32:36] for acknowledging maybe the I'm not saying the board has specifically done [32:43] acknowledge something so please uh bear with me but just having a community uh [32:50] Dr Stanley and a statement that is embracing of Jews as well as those who [32:58] are not because it's often times not um ex it's not part of the [33:07] communication and it's just something communication well beyond Idina just [33:13] worldwide so um with that I don't have anything left to say other than thank [33:19] you for your work and um let's hope it's a calm [33:24] meeting thank you Miss crib Isaac [33:40] STS my name is Isaac STS I'm a member of the Minnesota immigrant rights action committee but more importantly I'm [33:46] addressing you today as a Minneapolis high school student I'm here to express mine and my fellow MPS students full and [33:53] unwavering solidarity with the three Edina or four Edina students were recently suspended over the chant from [33:59] The River To The Sea we also condemn in the strongest terms this act of outright [34:04] censorship it is disturbing that this District chose to take punitive action against students who are protesting a [34:09] genocide as of now over 22,000 Palestinians have been murdered in the Gaza Strip alone the majority of which [34:15] are children you can see the images and videos for yourself on nearly every [34:21] social media site as neighborhoods with Homes apartments mosques bakeries Church [34:27] churches hospitals are leveled neighborhoods with people still inside there is no excuse for censoring [34:34] opposition as something so horrific there is no excuse for the precedent that sets for the political repression [34:40] of students I'm coming to you as a minneapol student to tell you that this doesn't end at the temporary suspension [34:46] of three students it indeed sets a precedent for censoring the political speech of students everywhere it creates [34:52] an atmosphere in which students are scared to speak out against the war crimes that are being committed with the AC of military and economic support of [34:59] our government because the severity of consequences eliminates countless future opportunities for them we've also faced [35:06] censorship in Minneapolis but the predent this sets suspension for a chant is a punch in the face to any [35:12] lesson about not being a bystander or stepping in when you see Injustice that our schools have pretended to teach us [35:19] history goes on and you all need to consider which side you are on those who Stamp Out opposition to active genocide [35:26] or those who fight to end such genocide thank [35:33] you Mar Maria [35:47] Els hello um I'd like to Echo many of the same things Sarah said earlier I [35:54] really appreciate all of your service I know you work countless hours here and uh it cannot be easy um my name is Maria [36:01] LS um I've lived 20 years in ad I have uh three children in ad schools and I've [36:08] uh volunteered uh many many hours inside of AD schools I've also uh been at quite [36:15] a few Schoolboard meetings I I've seen the public comment I I've definitely [36:20] seen people who were um maybe unhappy with something of the schools and how they've tried to express that [36:27] I will say I was at the school board meeting um in December uh I was it was something I [36:33] have never experienced before um the room here was taken over by Pro [36:39] Palestine protesters um and for a while the meeting was at [36:45] recess uh in which point I would say that the environment was both chaotic and frightening we had speakers uh [36:52] slamming their hands on the table people were chanting um running up and down [36:58] here um I honestly was wondering if I should just leave if I was in danger [37:03] given how people were acting um please be respectful to our [37:09] speaker uh I will when the meeting was adjourned uh I exited with a handful of [37:16] other people I said I never said anything to anyone at this meeting um we had a child with us uh people yelled [37:24] shame into our faces uh and we were followed in the hallway by uh one lady [37:30] who kept uh yelling at us and accusing us of Killing Children um and I will say similar to [37:38] today a lot of the protesters are covering their faces with masks um I will say I didn't like I said [37:46] I've been in this community for 20 years I know many of you and I know many parents in this my area my neighbors I [37:54] did not recognize a single person at that meeting meeting not a single adult um I do think uh that the majority [38:01] of these people are from outside of our community and have chosen this as a forum to air their grievances um for [38:09] political issues that are not the purview of a d of public schools uh after I returned home I [38:16] thought about what the protesters were trying to accomplish um I will say that even when [38:21] the protesters controlled the room uh they never talked about the specific issues involving Adina and I credit the [38:28] gentleman before me who actually was discussing something having to do with the students that were suspended that [38:34] was never discussed um I will say you know I I do support the suspension of [38:41] students because I have been told that those students were told multiple times [38:46] three times that that was an offensive thing to say and they chose to say it anyways Miss L Please wrap up yep um [38:58] I will say that uh let's see here it pains me that some of the media uh have [39:05] claimed that the protesters were not allowed to be heard because the reality is they never allowed the public comment [39:11] to occur and they disrupted the meeting and I please ask you to not be intimidated by the tactics of the [39:17] protesters thank you thank you I'm going to ask again to people not [39:22] speak out we're really trying to be respectful of Divergent viewpoints and if you speak [39:30] out and interrupt our board meeting we're going to have to recess [39:35] again so I'd appreciate it if people could just listen to what speakers have to say even if it might be a different [39:41] opinion than yours I think someone may have hit a button over there because it made the [39:47] screen go down and block some of the people that are trying to [39:54] watch's over thank you thank you thank [40:00] you uh Sab [40:08] wasw sit behind the podium sorry Hi um I want to begin by first [40:16] starting off by reminding you of a famous poet that's taught throughout English all throughout America America [40:23] uh named Henry David throw and he said just because it's a man-made law it [40:29] doesn't mean it's moral you cannot suspend students because you think a [40:37] chant means something without finding out what it really means from The River [40:42] To The Sea Palestine will be free simply means that all people in that land [40:49] that's Jews Christians Muslims deserve equal rights that's what that chant [40:55] means that means after two of the greatest genocides committed in this country by people from [41:03] this country by racist white people that means after what they did to the natives and after what they did to [41:10] African-Americans if right now they were not given equal rights we would be on [41:16] the streets chanting from the Atlantic to the Pacific Natives and Africans will be [41:24] free that chance simply means everybody deserves equal rights you have to [41:30] understand those students were not only suspended it goes further than that I repeatedly asked them are you sure and [41:38] they told me when they came back two of the teachers told them because one of [41:43] them had a Palestinian flag draped on their coats and that teacher told them [41:49] you can't even do that or you'll be expelled and two of their teachers just to spite them the next day came back [41:56] with the Israeli flag draped on their coats teachers staff members those [42:02] students also told the principal and staff that metal water bottles were [42:08] thrown at them during the protest you guys have cameras you have security footage they repeatedly begged you to [42:15] watch the cameras and they you guys wouldn't watch the cameras to see racist students throw metal metal water bottles [42:22] at them that's disgusting what kind of board member what kind of board member staff does not protect their students [42:29] who's the one that was violent those who simply said a chant that everybody deserves equal rights or those that had [42:36] metal water bottles thrown at them that's disgusting and I'd like to say [42:42] something to my sister here who's Jewish because we're first cousins Jews and [42:48] Arabs are first cousins I'm going to go off what she said and let you know it's because of [42:55] what Jews are saying across the globe we need you to understand of how serious and dire is in Palestine tens of [43:02] thousands of Jews are organizing events the LA Bridge the LA Highway one of [43:08] America's busiest highways that was Jews that organized a shutdown that was Jews that organized the take over the Israeli [43:15] Consulate in Chicago that was Jewish voice peace you need to wrap up please that was Jews that are being beaten [43:21] rabbis on a daily basis in Israel because they're simply saying not in our name never again if people [43:29] Mr if people always stayed silent because they wanted to agree with what [43:35] the overwhelming majority of a racist government is doing that means people would have stayed silent during [43:41] segregation and that's why segregation took forever to stop that means people would have took forever to stay silent [43:47] during slavery and that's why slavery took forever to stop speaking thank [43:55] you Bridget Chiron Bridget [44:03] Chiron hi there my name is Bridget Sharon and I am a sorry I'm a resident [44:10] of Minneapolis um just to put it out there not a Jew not a Muslim not a [44:16] Palestinian not an Israeli I'm just some Midwestern girl born and raised by a [44:21] handful of lutherans and one well-intended Catholic okay so I'm just putting that there I have no personal [44:26] negative interactions with anyone in this room but what I also am in addition to a resident of Minneapolis is a parent [44:32] of a publicly enrolled Edina middle schooler um she loves Edina Middle [44:38] School loves loves loves it so I want to thank the school board for establishing [44:43] the groundwork for an education system where she's able to come and Thrive and grow and really be her true self um my [44:50] daughter is Jewish um she's being raised Jewish um anti-Semitism is new to me um [44:56] didn't experience a lot of anti-Semitism in Fargo North Dakota as a Lutheran Swede so the things I'm seeing are um a [45:04] learning curve for me as well and I'm trying to come at it from a very neutral perspective because my daughter also has [45:10] a handful of Muslim friends quite a few actually in South Minneapolis so my question to you and Dr [45:15] s I do want to put out there that um I did send you a letter you sent me a a cand response but I got the most wonderful call back from an KAS is that [45:24] I'm not sure if that's how you say her name she was delightful she was very receptive she listened she was kind and [45:30] she was encouraging and I appreciate that and she um proceeded to try to work out a schedule where we connect um and [45:37] discuss but I'm here so I just thought I'd ask you face to face and ask the school board my question which was this [45:42] so um as someone who has a middle schooler in um Southfield Middle School [45:47] my my question is there are policies out there against some of the hatred we've seen um whether it's you know derogatory [45:55] signs toward towards Jews or seeing a swason school property um things like [46:00] that things of that nature um if you could continue to express your policies and how you will keep our children all [46:06] of our children Jews Muslims and otherwise safe from that sort of [46:12] negativity um and equally important how us parents of Edina school children can [46:19] reinforce that what we can do on our end to double down and help you guys do your job in keeping all of our children safe [46:25] um there's a lot of individuals who are you know radicalized or well- intended and I I hear what everyone in this room [46:30] is saying um but the meanings of things change at one point the swaso was a symbol of peace and that was greatly [46:37] understood by the world due to events it no longer is so we have to come together [46:43] realize how things are interpreted how they impact our students and do what we can to make sure that they feel not just [46:49] physically safe but emotionally safe and are um able to flourish um within Edina Public Schools thank you so much for [46:55] your time greatly appreciate all of you thank you um Doria and I [47:04] did is there someone here named [47:10] Doria Z [47:24] Kaplan hello can can you hear me my name is z and I'm a queer Jew [47:30] growing up I attended synagogue and in mainstream Jewish institutions I was fed the narrative that what they call Israel [47:38] which is actually Palestine is my ancestral Homeland they told stories of empty uninhabited lands and deserts so [47:45] dry only Jews establishment there only Jews colonization could make the Desert Bloom I watched people in my life fall [47:52] victim to these narratives taking their Birthright trip and falling in love with propaganda since October 7th Israel has [47:59] invested almost $10 million in a vast propaganda campaign aimed at the United [48:05] States and other Western Nations the United States stake in Israel's success [48:11] alone is enough to shape major news Outlet coverage enough to convince us [48:16] that this is a war that began on October 7th and not a genocide of Palestinians that began long before that the United [48:23] States stake in Israel is not bred of love for Jews but of Love of power and [48:29] hunger for access to the Middle East and its resources nobody in my Jewish communities growing up spoke of what [48:35] came before Israel nobody shared that the language of the founders of Israel was that of colonization nobody [48:41] mentioned that leading up to Israel's birth in 1948 more than 750,000 Palestinians were ethnically cleansed [48:48] from their homes by Zionist militias this was the nakba the catastrophe [48:54] 300,000 displaced by The Six Day War in 1967 and on and on and on forc [49:00] displacement is genocide and now when the world cannot turn away we have become so embedded in our Narrative of [49:08] Jewish victimhood that calls for Palestinian Liberation for Palestinian resistance for restoration of Life [49:16] pre-colonization pre- destruction Prem militarization becomes equated with Jewish [49:22] Annihilation propaganda campaigns have convinced us that that resisting Israel [49:27] is resisting Jews the conflation of anti-zionism and anti-Semitism is so [49:34] dangerous this conflation is exactly what happened to the legacy of from The River To The Sea Palestine will be free [49:41] the slogan has roots in a Palestinian call for a secular Democratic State a state in which Palestinians Jewish [49:48] Israelis and all citizens would live in political equality from the Jordan River [49:53] to the Mediterranean Sea captures the entire physical space in which Palestinian rights have been denied and [49:59] violated for decades the saying is anti-colonial not anti-jew can't you see [50:05] that fights over slogans are a distraction ad dinina schools shame on [50:10] you the suspension is not only wrong but reveals a fatal flaw in our education system the only victims here are those [50:18] who are conflating Palestinian Liberation with Jewish Annihilation as a Jew I stand for Palestinian Liberation [50:26] from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea Please wrap up your comments May Palestinians never have to [50:32] live in a reality where they fear being shot by settlers between their homes and their Olive grows thank [50:41] you Emily Beerman Emily is there Emily [50:54] Beerman hi uh my name is Emily Beerman I live in [51:01] Edina uh my daughter is in kindergarten this year um and I have two younger [51:06] children that I plan to send to udina Public Schools uh we moved here from uh [51:13] Connecticut about two years ago um and we've been thrilled with our experience [51:19] in with the dino school so far uh I want to say thank you to all of you for your [51:25] a hard work um and it's a volunteer job and it it's um something that we should [51:33] all really appreciate um I was not at the meeting [51:38] in December but I did watch videos of it um and I found it very upsetting uh for [51:46] a variety of reasons um the anti-Semitism on display and also just [51:51] the inability of you all uh to be able to do your jobs uh which affects all of [51:57] our children those of us who have children in the school district um and [52:02] so I think that's something important to consider moving forward I don't I don't [52:08] know the legal policies but it does seem to me that if you have children in the [52:13] district you should have the opportunity to speak at a school board meeting and if you do not have children in the [52:20] district I am not sure that I see it as a necessity uh to be able to speak um I [52:27] do also want to say that I'm a for former Civics and history teacher and I [52:34] fully Embrace Free Speech everybody has the right to express their opinion uh we [52:40] have the right to freedom of assembly but we do not have the right to threaten [52:46] harass um and so I do support the school's decision to Su Bend those [52:53] students uh the the the phrase uh from The River To The Sea I view as very [52:59] anti-semitic and a call for the uh annihilation of the Jewish people um and [53:07] that is something that should not take place on school grounds and so I do appreciate that decision thank [53:16] you thank you s [53:24] wasw [53:32] all right so um I'm going to begin my comments first of all I just want to say that there's been a lot of uh discourse [53:37] and uh suggestions that we and I'm not going to comment so much on the last meeting but there's been a lot of [53:43] suggestions that why couldn't why can't the prop Palestine or anti-zionist activists be peaceful Etc as if we [53:48] weren't peaceful well the answer to that is students did and that's why they got suspended that's why we're here we [53:54] wouldn't be here talking about this if people were not suspended had water bottles thrown at and were filmed [53:59] without consent for doing something peaceful so that's something I just want to say the other thing is I'm hearing a [54:04] lot of I support Free Speech but not when it offends me well that's literally not free speech I was double majoring in [54:11] pre-law for a while if you know anything about the Constitution you know that something you can only suppress [54:16] someone's speech if it's a direct incitement if if there's a clear and present danger not if you find something [54:23] offensive not if you find something hateful there's no legal precedent to the idea that you can stifle something [54:30] just because you don't like it case in point I'm going to go into all of my comments I actually want to come to you and say that I'm not coming as a [54:36] Palestine activist forget about what you think about Palestine you know what think Hamas is the first the worst thing [54:41] in the world think Palestine is the worst thing in the world think whatever you want I don't care I'm going to say [54:47] for the first time in my life I don't care and the the example I'm going to give is in 2016 during the rise of [54:53] Donald Trump there was an empirical statistical rise and hate crimes against Muslims that were associated with his [54:59] rhetoric with rhetoric like make America great again there were kids in school that were wearing Maga hats i f felt [55:05] extremely disgusted uncomfortable horrified by these slogans but what did [55:10] I do I protested I spoke out I debated I put up signs but the one thing I did not [55:17] do despite the fact that these slogans were directly and statistically related to incendiary and uh uh provoc actions [55:25] being taken against my people what did I what did I not do I did not call for students to throw water bottles at kids [55:32] wearing Maga hats I did not call for anyone to suspend students to to stifle their speech and to tell them to take [55:38] off their hats I did not do any of that because I will defend the right for a student to hold up an Israel flag I will [55:45] I will hate it I will I will protest against it right I will argue with such a student but I will not tell them not [55:52] to do so I will not tell the school to to to suspend students for doing so I'm [55:57] consistent I wish that Aina board would also be consistent as well I wish that when you put up statements last excuse [56:03] me last month that said we value multiple perspectives that you would be consistent I wish that the folks behind me that were just talking about Free [56:09] Speech but would be consistent that's not free speech that is not freedom of speech so a couple of things Edina [56:16] cannot must apologize to the suspended students and allow them to the right to express their political views because [56:21] first the first amendment we open the Pandora's Box as soon as we decide that the condition to stifle speech is when [56:27] we're offended by it why can't someone stifle stifle black lives matter because they think it's anti-white because [56:33] that's ridiculous and that's stupid miss you need to wrap up your speech please yes I will I will just the last thing [56:38] you know I heard some people say that uh it's about student safety people are feeling unsafe two things one we have to [56:44] distinguish between someone feeling uncomfortable and challenged versus them being unsafe and the second thing is let [56:50] me tell you what's unsafe it is a vice principal recording students without their con that's unsafe thank [56:59] you Liz Ross Li Liz Ross Liz [57:12] Ross Alysa M muin I apologize if I didn't pronounce the name [57:23] correctly hi um I'm here as a parent um of Ed School [57:28] of two edus school students and I'm just here to say thank you for keeping my students safe because that is what your [57:36] job is and your job is to educate them and that's what all of this is taking [57:42] away from and so I hope I'm going to um [57:48] Echo what Sarah had said is that we're able to get the work that we need to get done that is vitally important to our [57:54] students here in this District not in Minneapolis not in Eden Prairie not [57:59] wherever else people are coming from but for here in in Edina to get the work [58:04] that they need to get done so hopefully the can the people that [58:12] continue to come up here can state if they are a parent of students that are here in udina or if they live in Edina [58:20] but if you're not it's just noise and so please please please everybody here keep [58:26] your comments to talking about here in Idina the students that you want them to [58:32] serve that are your children or your neighbors because anything else is [58:38] preventing them from getting their work done that's all I'll have to [58:44] say Osman [58:52] Ahmed Osman Amed please please don't be disrespectful to [58:57] each other in the audience is Osman Ahmed [59:07] here uh is it oh I'm [59:19] sorry Osman Ahmed yeah [59:27] uh hi my name is asman Ahmed I am from uh K Minesota a civil rights organization that fights and defends uh [59:35] families of uh Muslims and all families of facing uh civil rights and issues and [59:41] actually I have a prepared speech but everything I went to say have been [59:47] either say or I don't want to repeat it so I'm just going to say a couple words uh one is I'm hearing a lot about people [59:55] com in from other places so I have to say that the children that have been [1:00:00] here are from this families called us and told us they need help and there are [1:00:07] students there are families that go here and they are the families that we put when we have school statements we build [1:00:14] the DI and all you know their first city on their pictures on the front pages of our schools system in our education [1:00:20] system so I want to make sure if you go to any school uh page right now you have a Somali student you have a [1:00:29] Muslim student and you call our first city and those families call us asking for help and when you say that you don't [1:00:37] have or you don't live here or you don't have families here we do have families here so I just want to make sure that [1:00:44] this is I really want to say that we are very disappointed and one of the things [1:00:49] that first time happened was the families that were communicated were [1:00:55] told one-sided so how do you feel all the students students who are Muslim who [1:01:01] are um different religions when you tell them one-sided one narrative and your [1:01:07] statement as Schoolboard members that we trust our children with and our education of our [1:01:13] children that is not unacceptable and I just want to say the students and the community members please speak up we get [1:01:21] your back we're not going to let you down and we want to protect free speech [1:01:26] for all students because that is what we teach in our schools and that which we should teach for civil rights and also [1:01:33] Civic and leadership development thank you so much Owen [1:01:41] Michaelson Owen [1:01:53] Michaelson first off congratulations to our new board members and for the rest [1:01:58] of you um happy New Year I'm Owen Michaelson a former board member and I'm [1:02:05] here basically for one reason because of last month's disrupted school board meeting and my statement for all seven [1:02:13] of you and eight in absence is that you have a right to be here you have a right [1:02:18] to gather you have a right to deliberate you have a right to decide in peace [1:02:25] do not succumb to the mob's mentality from last month do not be intimidated by [1:02:31] it make your decisions for or against them apart from Mob [1:02:41] intimidation I've had many of my disagreements with decisions made here at the board over the years and I speak [1:02:47] for many members of the community whether we agree with you or not you have the blessing of [1:02:54] Idina to make the decisions for this school district and there's something [1:03:00] almost sacred about this place that does not permit the kind of disruption that [1:03:07] happened last month so thank you for your work and [1:03:13] remember that many of us support what you're doing Mayon [1:03:23] wasw [1:03:28] um everything that could have possibly been said has been phenomenally covered by senap and my uncle sub but I do want [1:03:34] to cover some a few points the first and foremost to that last comment saying that we've had disagreements but I've [1:03:40] never done what I've done well you know to be frank disagreeing about the price of lunge is not the same thing as about [1:03:46] disagreeing on your right to express your First Amendment right of freedom of speech and speak out on a genocide but [1:03:52] as senette has mentioned we're not here to convince you to be prop Palestinian you don't even have to agree with me but [1:03:57] as we said before the chant from the river to the sea is one calling for Liberation it is no different than if a [1:04:03] native person had said I want freedom from the Pacific to the Atlantic it is no different than a black person saying [1:04:09] we want an end to segregation and again but let's say you say no I think it's it has these racist connotations I question [1:04:16] I genuinely wonder and I was on the phone with a person from Ida I forgot who it was from the school board I was [1:04:22] going to ask before he shut the phone on me I was going to ask if he would have done the same if someone was in support [1:04:28] of Netanyahu a man who was he's very famous in Israel for being anti- Palestinian for inciting genocidal [1:04:34] rhetoric I wonder if a person was looking up to the founders of Israel if the din School Board would have acted [1:04:40] and said no we have to suspend you you are making students feel unsafe that is [1:04:45] what I question so as mentioned you can disagree you can protest students will [1:04:51] have these conversations but unless you give actual evidence that this statement is directly linked to genocidal [1:04:58] connotations this is something that symbolizes explicitly genocide then there is no way you can stifle um [1:05:05] students freedom of speech I was on the phone and I was trying to express this and unfortunately all of you in the [1:05:10] crowd are saying you know why don't they just peacefully talk we did we had people were calling we emailed we said [1:05:15] just give us one call people were telling me they had rude responses people like me had the phone shut on [1:05:22] them this is not you know this is just hiding just call it for what it is you don't want to address elephant in the [1:05:28] room you don't want to address the fact that students were not allowed to speak on a genocide and can I just say frankly I know I said that the conversation [1:05:35] isn't about Palestine to convince you but I want to say that I find it horrible that people in this audience [1:05:40] are more concerned about feelings of lack of safety rather than thinking [1:05:45] about the people in Palestine and trying to support those who are speaking out is is it really is it really making you [1:05:51] feel unsafe or as s mention are you just uncomfortable what is the problem here [1:05:57] you know this is the equivalent of a white student that I just you know this talk about lack you know abolishing [1:06:03] segregation that's cute and all but my children I don't care about anyone's child if another child is being killed [1:06:10] and people are trying to speak out for them that is that's all I have to [1:06:17] say all right um thank you everyone that [1:06:22] concludes our community comments and I just want to say personally I appreciate people adhering to our three minutes and [1:06:28] being respectful of um Divergent viewpoints um we're now going to move on [1:06:33] with our consent agenda um is there anything anyone would like to remove from the consent [1:06:39] agenda do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda so moved is there a second second we will now vote to [1:06:46] approve the consent agenda all those in favor say I I anyone opposed the consent [1:06:52] agenda has been approved um we are now going to move on to our first discussion item which is our [1:06:58] legislative action committee platform and action item and I believe our legislative [1:07:05] action committee chair is presenting this [1:07:10] item thank you welcome Dan arum did you want to go present from there uh sure [1:07:22] okay [1:07:43] uh so the 2024 legislative action committee um is formed of a group of [1:07:48] students and community members as well as staff um we have a platform that we [1:07:53] are talking about as well as a a plan of action um the advocacy efforts and the goals are kind of consistent with the [1:07:59] years past where we're talking about advocacy efforts related to the priorities um regarding the legislative [1:08:04] session um building relationships with the legislative representation and then advocacy efforts of the student voice to [1:08:11] be Amplified um we do a couple of activities related to uh hosting a [1:08:18] breakfast for um legislators and that's coming up in the end of the month here in January we have a day of capital [1:08:25] later on in March as well and then we will also uh try to solicit Community Support of our activities as well um we [1:08:32] have worked with the Metropolitan um or sorry Association of metropolitan school districts and the Minnesota Schoolboard [1:08:39] Association as well as other uh neighboring districts um to come up with a legislative platform for you um there [1:08:45] are five components or six components I'm sorry of that um first one being increasing mental health support for [1:08:51] staff and students uh second one one would be strengthen and support uh special education programs third is [1:08:57] stabilizing education funding four is ensuring safe and modern school facilities five is increase in [1:09:03] diversifying the workforce and six is prioritizing student centered learning throughout enhanced local decision [1:09:09] making um more details about these uh platform pieces is available on um on [1:09:15] the information we'll be presenting to the groups as well as um on our platform that we'll be presenting so we're presenting this later on this evening [1:09:20] for approval as a platform any questions question do board members have [1:09:31] questions uh thanks Dan and thanks for your team for putting together this um platform I was wondering under number [1:09:39] three stabilize education funding um are you able to speak or someone able to [1:09:44] speak to when you say increase local optional [1:09:49] Revenue what that I just am not familiar with that um I wouldn't do that justice [1:09:55] as much as M would do uh so can I ask M sorry no I'm [1:10:09] sorry good evening Madam chair director gabler um thanks for the question uh the local optional Revenue refers to the [1:10:15] $724 per pupil unit that each Public School District in the state of Minnesota that has a tax base um has the [1:10:22] board can approve that um without any voter approval that $724 has been fixed [1:10:27] at 724 since Inception and like the basic education formula has lost ground [1:10:32] to inflation in the ensuing years um were that to be adjusted to inflation it'd be upwards of $850 per per adjusted [1:10:40] pupil unit so that is not necessarily I don't want anyone in the public to see that [1:10:45] that is not an additional tax on our on our taxpayers that is coming from State [1:10:50] funding uh no in this school district um since we we have no Equalization our tax base would bear the full burden of that [1:10:57] increase okay all right thank you are there any other questions from board [1:11:03] members I had a quick question um Dan under um strengthen and support special [1:11:09] education programming I noticed that there wasn't um there was an absence of [1:11:14] advocating the state for more spe special education funding specifically um I was just wondering why [1:11:23] that was if there was because they gave us so much money for special education funding last year that you wanted to [1:11:30] prioritize other items I just that's correct okay yeah we wanted to focus on [1:11:35] um the federal side of it got it okay thank you but on that point I guess just want [1:11:42] to make sure it's clear that the amount of funding that was provided to the from special education did not fully fund the [1:11:47] cross subsidy that we've been suffering under for God knows how long um it did improve it by what 40% 40 2% something [1:11:54] to that effect and has has a slight increase that was is built in over the next one or two years if I'm not [1:12:01] mistaken yeah so the component of special education funding that was increased was the cross subsidy Aid itself once a school district's cross [1:12:08] subsid is calculated in years's past we received 6.43% of that cross subsidy we will now receive 44% of that on an [1:12:15] ongoing basis so um roughly three and a half million of extra funding for the school district gotcha thank you [1:12:22] it's put it off be fair to say this is second part of BM and this is typically [1:12:28] a non um funding year and so um many of the platform items are not focused on [1:12:35] Financial Funding but they're focused on policy and things like that correct thank you thank you Dr St that's very [1:12:41] helpful thank you for your work on this um next um discussion item we have the social studies guiding change document [1:12:47] with director of teaching and learning um Jody D St Hubert here to present [1:13:06] hey good evening chair allenburg Dr Stanley board directors um community members and colleagues um Bethany van [1:13:13] ozel our assistant director of teaching and learning is here to review our social studies guiding change document [1:13:19] it was last discussed at a board um Workshop in December and we are ready to [1:13:26] um have a discussion here at our meeting I'll let you introduce it and then we'll just turn it over for questions and [1:13:32] feedback thank you so our social studies standards are set to be released here right now they're commissioner approved [1:13:37] and we're waiting for them to be finalized and as we look ahead to the steps that we want to take to get ready for the release of those standards in [1:13:44] 2026 27 we are um starting the process with our guiding change so that we can [1:13:51] move forward with our committee in a way that that supports our um values mission and vision and Edina so I trust that [1:13:57] you've read the report and I will open for questions I was wondering if you could [1:14:04] explain the well I take that back because it's a better question for our courses when we [1:14:10] get Target courses for Action items so fantastic I apologize I will take my question back um board members do you [1:14:16] have questions or comments about the social studies guiding change um document [1:14:24] Madam chair I do have one quick qualifying question just because of the ethnic studies element that then has [1:14:29] been added into uh statute and so on so forth does that have any either current impact or future [1:14:37] impact related to the work that you've done here in in updating our social studies [1:14:43] guidelines um really it does not have cause any changes to it so it won't have [1:14:48] an impact and we've been discussing where that will land in terms of what content Department um social studies [1:14:55] would be a great fit and we're prepared to put it there in alignment with what we have with the guiding change um [1:15:00] proposals here great thank you I just had a comment I think I made [1:15:08] this before but I want to reiterate thank you for the work on this document we did get a chance to see it in teaching and learning I really [1:15:13] appreciate the um addition and the real focus on the literacy making sure that [1:15:19] we're dovetailing our literacy work with our social studies work and um that [1:15:25] important aspect of of being an informed consumer of information because [1:15:31] I think that's a really important um uh skill that our students need as as we move in to as they move on so thank [1:15:39] you for this work could you explain the um timeline as far as implementation when the board [1:15:46] will see doc just a overarching timeline yeah so we really are following the [1:15:52] stand standards closely right so the timeline for the release of the standards is 2627 and so we started our um committee [1:16:00] meetings this is our first committee meeting and so we look to um move down the implementation science process and [1:16:07] so really making sure that we're understanding our current reality that was another piece of the process um and [1:16:12] so what we would hope to have is a full understanding of where we currently are in terms of resources and instruction [1:16:18] and course alignment um by the end of this year so that we can then look to what changes we want to be made made as [1:16:23] we move forward and it's just a process that we'll follow um in terms of just uh the curric review process but we should [1:16:30] have things ready to be implemented by 26 27 for those new standards anything else from board [1:16:38] members great thank you for your work on this so far um next we're going to move on to international travel [1:16:51] recommendations okay so extended travel um has been a long-standing component of Excellence of Education in Nina Public [1:16:58] Schools the last couple of years this has been interrupted um due [1:17:04] to the variables with covid and challenges that we are fa that we have been facing around the world with travel [1:17:10] and yet um as J uh principal assistant principal Carter mentioned in our Workshop today um this is the first year [1:17:17] we're back kind of into normal routine of that international travel and so at the same time that we're having [1:17:23] conversations just around purpose and equity and access we want to make sure that we keep the process going for our [1:17:29] students to experience the current opportunities that are in place so what is in front of you um today for this [1:17:36] discussion is several um proposals by staff members that are staff sponsors of [1:17:42] these international travel experiences there are six from Idina high school and [1:17:48] then there is one from Normandale Elementary School um I did want to point [1:17:53] out about two of the unique situations with um the udina high school ones one [1:17:58] of them is specifically an experience that has been um cancelled twice now [1:18:05] already so the group of students that were prepared and ready to go on this experience which is the Portugal [1:18:10] experience have had to have that um cancelled and told that we would try to find another alternative for them so [1:18:17] that does um that that's why you see two science experiences that are inter International um Coming forward to at [1:18:23] this time and then the other one that I think is a unique um experience to to to share is the one that is in conjunction [1:18:30] with our rotary um and that is also presented by Lindsay smoka and it is an [1:18:37] experience that they um will be it was asked at our board Workshop if the [1:18:42] rotary exchange or the rotary people that will be going with our team would be chaperon they won't um we'll have [1:18:49] Edina chapon on that experience but we're doing the work and the experience and collaboration there's been some [1:18:55] service learning projects um specifically in Zimbabwe that our rotary's been working on so there would [1:19:01] be a component of that experience where they're traveling and seeing that service learning piece and just having a [1:19:06] more um Broad and authentic and intentional experience and connection um [1:19:11] but rotary is not going to be chaperoning or sponsoring specifically we're just going to be partnering with [1:19:17] them um and then the elementary experience is for our Normandale Emer [1:19:23] students and again has been part of that programming um for many years so at at [1:19:28] that um at this point I'll turn over to see if there's any questions about individual experiences or any feedback [1:19:35] or input in as in general um board members questions or [1:19:48] input thank you very much um next we're going to move on to our fiscal year Cost [1:19:54] Containment um director [1:20:13] Woodard good evening Madam chair members of the school board uh superent intendant Stanley those still remaining [1:20:18] with us tonight um at the December 22nd special meeting the administration made public for the first time um its [1:20:25] analysis of the fiscal year 2025 through 2029 general fund operations um and also [1:20:31] made a revision to its expectations for the current year fiscal year 2024 um that revision was mainly due to the [1:20:39] actual results of collective bargaining rather than the anticipated results when the budget was first developed in the [1:20:44] spring of 2023 after using the best known information at the time regarding [1:20:50] Appropriations from the state of Minnesota our own property tax revenues our current Staffing structure and how [1:20:55] we expect salaries and benefits to increase um both in the current year next year and Beyond the school district [1:21:01] believes that it will end fiscal year 2024 with an unassigned fund balance of about 5.7% or a decline of [1:21:09] $789,000 um that is a deviation from the more than $5 million that we plan to add [1:21:15] um in this fiscal year in fiscal year 25 we expect a further deficit spending in [1:21:20] the unassigned portion of fund balance to the tune of 2 million and a further decline to the unassigned fund balance [1:21:25] to 3.9% um the 5.7% figure at the end of 24 is below the board minimum policy of [1:21:32] 6% uh meaning that we will immediately engage the budget reduction reallocation and revenue generation process otherwise [1:21:39] known as the Berg um that process will involve senior leadership um Community stakeholders um our finance and [1:21:44] Facilities committee and a number of other parties um ultimately collaborating to bring forward a recommendation for the school board to [1:21:50] consider for Cost Containment before we get to that point however it's important for the school board to [1:21:56] formally um recommend a Cost Containment Target um at this time the District administration is going to recommend a [1:22:02] $3.6 million reduction uh that would bring the fund balance at the end of fiscal year 25 to 6.9% which is where we [1:22:10] ended fiscal year 23 um were we to use an alternative option of say 2.56 [1:22:17] million that would bring us exactly to 6% at the end of fiscal year 25 however in the immediate subsequent fiscal year [1:22:23] fiscal year 26 we would need a significant Burg process um so that we would be back up in fiscal year 27 um [1:22:30] the final option that was considered by the administration was a $4.4 million reduction which would leave the district [1:22:37] with an unassigned fund balance of 7.45% at the end of fiscal year 25 and [1:22:42] give the district two full years of stability um at this time we have not considered that option for [1:22:47] recommendation due to the severity of it and believe that the $3.6 million option [1:22:52] as a nice Middle Ground to provide the district with some short-term stability and allow us to um reconvene in a year [1:22:58] and a half or so and see um if the state gives us additional funds that we weren't expecting or if the results of [1:23:03] our actual financial performance are better than anticipated with that I'll turn it over [1:23:09] to the school board for discussion thank you director Woodard um board members what questions or comments do you have [1:23:15] about this um discussion [1:23:21] item go I don't have an additional question I [1:23:27] just wanted to point out that we had a chance to see this in our work session and ask some questions of director Woodard and um it was stated at that [1:23:36] point um thank you for putting this together I think it's really well done it lays out uh the different revenue streams that we have and um the role [1:23:43] that enrollment plays in that so um could you also highlight uh the [1:23:50] timeline because I know that was a question asked during the work session can you kind of outline what [1:23:55] stakeholders can anticipate with the timeline on this yep so I guess the the administration now is formerly [1:24:01] recommending that we um contain our budget to the tune of 3.62 million for fiscal year 25 at the February regular [1:24:08] meeting we'll have an agenda item that asks you to formally approve that recommendation um and at that time we'll [1:24:14] also provide a preliminary list of items that we will reduce from our operations [1:24:19] um to equal that 3.62 million um you'll consider that um over the next month um [1:24:26] and we'll bring that back to the March regular meeting for Action um from that point HR and other departments will um [1:24:34] actually engage in making those reductions and then we'll provide the full budget to you for first viewing in May and then ultimately approval in [1:24:41] June great thank you and am I correct in um remembering that we're definitely [1:24:48] soliciting feedback from stakeholders and so they can anticipate if anyone's watching in and interested in this process the opportunity to attend a what [1:24:55] we call a Berg budget reduction meeting and kind of um provide input on on items [1:25:03] of this process absolutely so we have four community members that sit on our finance and Facilities committee meeting [1:25:08] so they've been engaged in the process since um November and December um The [1:25:13] Wider Community will be invited to um participate in Berg meetings starting with a virtual session on January 25th [1:25:20] and after that we'll have a number of um quote unquote Town Hall type meetings at a number of our school facilities I'm [1:25:26] sure we'll also have um electronic surveys available for folks to um let us know what their priorities are what [1:25:31] their ideas are and all that will be considered as part of our decision-making [1:25:38] process thank you very much Mt I would um really recommend anyone in the community that is [1:25:45] wondering um if you're have paid any attention to news headlines over the [1:25:51] last six 68 months have heard of the windfall that school districts have gotten from the state and are wondering [1:25:58] how could it be that we have to cut our budget again I would highly recommend looking in detail at the document M put [1:26:04] together which does a great job of explaining um exceptionally grateful for [1:26:10] the money that we did get from our state it still does not cover the cost of [1:26:15] doing business um as it was alluded to earlier still covering only 50% of our [1:26:21] special educ vacation costs um the document goes over the price of things [1:26:27] like energy and salaries um none of these things are commiserate with the amount of money that we're getting from [1:26:33] the state so um I just really appreciate the detail um that you did put into that [1:26:38] document um it does help explain um how we are still cutting and why it is uh [1:26:44] the fiscally responsible thing to do to saave off um more enormous cuts and us [1:26:52] um not having money in our reserves in the future um so even though it's painful um it's unfortunately necessary [1:26:59] so thank you for that and a year ago what was that number [1:27:06] as far as a reduction that we were looking at before uh the state finance picture [1:27:12] changed yeah thank you for the question um director man uh last fiscal year around this time we had presented an [1:27:18] anticipated shortfall of about $4 million um which the district um assumed at that time that there would be no [1:27:24] additional funding from the state um so we fixed our problem locally uh without uh relying on state to come through with [1:27:29] funding um and then in may we became aware that the state did follow through with a lot of the rhetoric that was [1:27:34] going around at the time and we did receive additional funding at that time um we weren't sure what to sure what to [1:27:40] do with it so we were we made the decision to allow it to fall to the fund balance um subsequent to that um other [1:27:46] things have happened um within the school district and we've made strategic choices uh and now we are going to have to engage the process again end to the [1:27:52] tune of $3.6 [1:27:57] million anything else thank you director Woodard we're going to move on to our [1:28:03] policy review um and we have quite a few different policies and I would like to introduce our new policy [1:28:10] chair um director Gaper to walk us through the [1:28:17] policies yes thank you chair allenberg um all [1:28:23] right so we are tonight we are looking at um several different policies that [1:28:29] have gone through the policy committee and um for just general background for [1:28:35] anyone that's watching or or interested in this process um the district has [1:28:40] multiple policies that we many policies that we use to guide our work and we are [1:28:46] as a policy committee and as a board are committed to making sure that our policies align with our strategic plan [1:28:53] and um different hundred series aligned to different uh categories and you can [1:28:58] see all this on our district uh web page and kind of understand that so the policies before you tonight for [1:29:04] discussion have gone through the policy committee usually um an administrator is [1:29:10] assigned the polic one of the policies that's uh aligns with their work and um [1:29:16] has had an opportunity to run it through the lens of Minnesota Schoolboard Association [1:29:22] um sometimes we engage our legal council if there's um legal ramifications that a [1:29:28] policy might have and then um different stakeholders depending on what the policy is so that's a little bit of a [1:29:35] background on how these policies will come to the board and then as you see we [1:29:40] have a series of policies here that are up for discussion tonight where the board will have a chance to weigh in on [1:29:45] an ask questions and then you'll notice under our action items that we also have [1:29:51] a series of different different policies and those policies have already come before the board as discussion items had [1:29:58] questions asked of them um and then have gone back to the administrator assigned [1:30:03] to them to answer the questions clear up any questions and now are on the agenda item for Action tonight so that's a [1:30:09] little bit of um background on how we run policy so I'm going to start with [1:30:15] policy 406 which is public and private Personnel data and we have our Director [1:30:23] of Human Resources Human Resources all of a sudden I couldn't remember your [1:30:28] official title um Sonia sa are here to walk us through the changes that you see [1:30:33] before you and anything that is in blue are changes that have been made to this policy since um since its previous [1:30:44] revision thank you director gaer chair elenburg Dr sanley um and members of the [1:30:49] adenis school board so policy 406 governs public and private Personnel [1:30:55] data most specifically for employees however it also um covers volunteers [1:31:01] independent contractors and applicant applicants for employment um [1:31:07] this this policy informs employees and others of what type of information is [1:31:14] public about them if they're hired as a Public Employee um and of course also [1:31:20] what information could be public about them if they apply for employment um [1:31:25] with a public entity as well most the vast majority of recommendations for [1:31:32] changes in policy 406 come from the Minnesota school board policy um 406 as [1:31:40] well the a couple of things that we talked um [1:31:47] at length in our in the Pol board's policy committee is there just are some [1:31:53] some areas that can come as a surprise to um new members to the public or uh [1:32:00] applicants for employment for example um a finalist in a public school setting a [1:32:08] finalist for a position in a public school setting their name only becomes [1:32:13] public um if they are being interviewed or recommended to the [1:32:20] appointing authority with in a school district well the appointing authority is the school board therefore the only [1:32:27] names of finalists that become public in a school district are superintendents [1:32:34] because that is the only position that a school board actually um does all of the [1:32:40] interviewing for and determines the finalist so so that's kind of one example of information that's good for [1:32:48] us to provide in a board policy to ensure that people understand it it another one you know just the [1:32:55] information um if you are in public employment for the first time you [1:33:01] sometimes can be surprised about some of the information that is public about you um as a public employees you know such [1:33:08] as your uh salary and your terms and conditions of employment your benefits [1:33:15] um your work experience your training your education all of those things are a [1:33:21] little different than what many people have found in the private sector as well [1:33:27] uh so with that I will ask if you have any [1:33:34] questions correct me if I'm wrong and I don't know if it applies of this policy as well as other policies that are going to come there were new legislative [1:33:41] things that came out that we needed to adhere to in our policies because they became effective in July 1 of 2023 I [1:33:49] don't know if anything specific to the public and personal data is a component of the changes that are being [1:33:55] proposed um the the one that you may be thinking of [1:34:02] is will come up in 5:15 um in regards to student data there the only other piece [1:34:09] that I can think of off the top of my head with employee data is we um school [1:34:16] districts are now required to provide some what was formerly private data to [1:34:24] um to employee unions upon hire within a [1:34:29] school district as well within a certain number of days and so that's one piece and that change is reflected in here [1:34:35] great thank you I was confused about the verbiage used in section 4 d and it states data [1:34:46] about applicants for appointment to a public body collected by the District as [1:34:52] a results of the applicants application for appointment so who would be a person [1:35:00] that gets appointed to a public body like who what individuals are we [1:35:06] talking about that already applied for employment a school board a member I was [1:35:12] wondering if that was the school board I was like are these people that apply to committees I mean kind of an interesting [1:35:18] way that comes directly from statute of course but it's interesting way of saying they've applied to run for school [1:35:25] board right and so yes so that um that area does apply to um school board [1:35:34] members is there any way to CLA even put in parentheses or I read that and I [1:35:41] literally I was like I think that's school board members but since we have like our special education committee [1:35:48] that is could be consider it was just honestly really confusing to me and I [1:35:54] don't know if someone reading this would have any clue what we're talking about so interest oh I'm sorry I was going to [1:36:00] say Cher Ellenberg we actually went through this in policy committee um we've been trying to have a definition [1:36:06] section at the top and sometimes when our policies get to be 15 pages long um [1:36:12] it can get lost in the like oh yeah 20 minutes ago I read about what the public body was so we can take that feedback [1:36:20] back just to kind of know um if there's a more because ultimately we want these to read clearly and so if [1:36:27] um you know it is up in the definition that public body means the school board but you have to scroll all the way back [1:36:33] I think that'd be great any any way that your committee could maybe provide a little Clarity around that specific [1:36:41] section section 4D sure that's my only feedback so thank you and to be clear [1:36:46] the only public element that we're talking about is the school board there is no other definable function that this would apply [1:36:54] to corre correct in this context and um so we so the in the first section in the [1:37:02] defin or excuse me in section three under definitions um f is and Frank that [1:37:08] actually did not come from msba that definition was recommended by the policy [1:37:14] committee that that be added um to assist exactly with what chair allenberg [1:37:19] you just um pointed out so good feedback thank you so yeah [1:37:25] we can we can talk Sonia maybe you and I can talk and just see if there's a if we want to make a change to that and make [1:37:31] it sound a little bit clearer so thank you a question for sure yep why and this [1:37:37] might be something for Legal Eagles why use public body instead of school board I guess why use why why even use the [1:37:45] public body if it only means School Board because it comes directly from the Minnesota data practices act um so that [1:37:53] it's statutory [1:37:58] language questions all right we're going to move on and talk about policy 506 student [1:38:07] conduct and discipline um for those of you following along at home this has come before us a couple times [1:38:14] um as we've kind of adapted and and um tonight we have a new change that uh are [1:38:21] assistant superintendent uh Randy smle is going to talk to us about good [1:38:26] evening uh chair allenberg superintendent Stanley school board members and Community uh we have previously reviewed [1:38:34] policy 506 extensively as a a policy committee and previously that came to [1:38:41] the board and previously that went through action however we did have two [1:38:46] very small changes since then one was some clarity that was added [1:38:52] from uh Minnesota school boards Association around some change language due to new statutory [1:38:59] clarification and that is in section 3H in the definition of suspension and so [1:39:05] there was this little element of clarity that that term suspension does not apply [1:39:12] when it is less than a day so we wanted to make that change to make that more [1:39:17] clear and make sure that that's in line with the uh statute and then further clarification in number [1:39:23] 12 of the appendix and it is basically just a more clear description of that [1:39:30] particular infraction and those are the two very small changes to [1:39:38] 506 can you explain the rationale behind the driving infraction updated [1:39:48] language it says that basically the driving the careless driving infractions [1:39:56] apply to the entire Carole and not just the driver right you what I'm sorry that [1:40:02] is in the appendix it is Page 6 506 policy 506 page [1:40:11] six so the infraction applies to that particular permit which applies to the [1:40:17] car poool um it's always difficult to know exactly who is driving in those [1:40:23] situations we expect students to uh be responsible for the particular permit as [1:40:30] a carpool group of students and so they have a responsibility to each other to be um to be responsible for that [1:40:38] particular permit for that car so a piece of feedback that I would just like to offer to consider [1:40:45] is to I can understand it applying to individuals in in the car at the time [1:40:53] but there's so many instances at the high school [1:40:58] that the chances of the entire carpool being in the car every single time that [1:41:03] car leaves um and I could see quite often students not even being in a car [1:41:10] if something Reckless happens and just because they happen to be part of a carpool I would hate for students um to [1:41:19] get punished um for not even if they weren't even in a car [1:41:26] so I don't know it's just some feedback I have to consider um if students are [1:41:32] even present at the time of the offense yeah and we can certainly um get [1:41:38] some clarity from our administrative team at the high school about how they've handled those situations in the [1:41:43] past and how that applies in this scenario that you're describing and if this if this does past [1:41:51] then I think there needs to be a lot of education for student drivers and their families because I think this will be a [1:41:58] surprise to many people I think I I would only add and I don't need an explanation now [1:42:03] but like what's the actual intent of this particular provision as written and [1:42:09] executed um I appreciate the fact that there might not be Clarity on exactly the exact circumstances that took place [1:42:17] but I'm curious as to what corrective action we're trying to get from this particular element and I might ask Dr [1:42:24] Stanley or Dr smle to talk a little bit about that because we did talk about this in policy committee this exact [1:42:30] conversation and this change is coming before us tonight because our administrators said this is not working [1:42:37] and how it's Britten and so Dr Stanley or Dr SM could you kind of talk a little [1:42:43] bit and and how we feel this would work better yeah absolutely our um High [1:42:49] School administrators came came to us and and they did share that [1:42:55] um often times there is push back most times it's really when kids are in the car all of the kids have been in the car [1:43:01] so I appreciate Randy saying that excuse me that he is um going to seek out [1:43:07] additional information and there is that sense of accountability that students have to [1:43:12] have for one another um especially in the high school context um you know as [1:43:18] they as they move to the post High School context they will be held accountable in different ways for for [1:43:26] you know those that they are hanging around with for activities that they do and so um ultimately the ultimate goal [1:43:35] is to keep our parking lot safe is to make certain that um students aren't [1:43:40] getting hurt we know that we have a lot of students who are driving and we know that often times they are in such a [1:43:46] hurry to get out of the parking lot and we want um responsible drivers ship and [1:43:51] when you're partnering you know when you're you're choosing your partners for that that [1:43:56] carpool it is important to make sure um that we're holding that kids are holding [1:44:02] one another accountable But ultimately it really is about the safety of of students in our parking [1:44:11] lot so chair elenberg would it be helpful if uh Dr smle like he indicated [1:44:17] kind of goes back gets a little bit of clarity see if there's any changes or any clearing up um before it comes for [1:44:26] Action yeah I would appreciate that and again my main question was if around [1:44:31] students not even being in the car less my I'm not as concerned about the permit [1:44:37] itself but feeling that students should actually be present if they're going to [1:44:42] be penalized yep okay I will [1:44:48] do any other questions on 506 one one last question 506 remind me [1:44:56] of the frequency of 506 as it comes before us because I think it's important because this is one of the key ones that [1:45:02] we have what is the frequency of review of this one thank you for that great question um so I did not mention before [1:45:08] we've tried to get a Cadence where each of our policies is reviewed about every three years there [1:45:15] are certain policies that have to be reviewed yearly annually and this is one of those policies so [1:45:21] um we've also worked really hard or the Administration has to make sure that families are aware um if you have I know [1:45:27] that if you have a high schooler they've had this they've had this discussed with them at the high school and you sign um [1:45:35] a form if you're a parent so I look forward to knowing that answer myself now that I'll be on the policy committee [1:45:43] yes all right any other questions on 506 okay thank you Dr smle All Right [1:45:50] Moving On on down the row um we are going to look at 514 which is bullying [1:45:57] prohibition and so uh Dr smle is going to take us through the changes on that policy thank you uh policy 514 provides [1:46:05] the framework to assist the district in its goal of preventing and responding to acts of bullying intimidation violence [1:46:12] reprisal retaliation and other disruptive behavior not only applies to [1:46:18] students but also independ dep contractors teachers administrators and [1:46:24] other school district Personnel so with that in mind uh as we [1:46:29] have reviewed the policy what you'll notice is that the purpose section was reduced to be more clear and the [1:46:36] language was moved to the general statement of policy that language from the purpose [1:46:42] statement uh in this section a reference to malicious and sadistic conduct was [1:46:48] added which is in model policy and now and statute very specific language and statute was added around that we also [1:46:55] added information regarding consequences for students who committed acts of bullying uh the definition section [1:47:02] includes information on malicious and sadistic conduct uh inclusion of Acts of [1:47:07] bullying while on personal devices cyber bullying as an example and a definition [1:47:13] of the building report taker uh we did add references to app pendencies in the [1:47:18] policy so that readers know where to find additional specific information in the notice section of policy uh Roman [1:47:26] numeral number 8 we added Clarity regarding the posting of the bullying [1:47:31] policy and Reporting forms at the district sites and on the district website uh legal references we're [1:47:38] updating the bullly bullying and hazing reporting form in appendix one is consistent with that found in policy 526 [1:47:46] trying to keep those two forms the same so as we update one it's it's also updated in the other [1:47:52] policy um appendix 2 was eliminated due to our discussion about the redundancy [1:47:58] of the language in the in the um in the appendix and then some of that language [1:48:04] was moved into the policy uh appendix 3 uh will be the new appendix 2 and four [1:48:11] will be the new appendix three in our proposal as we've eliminated that [1:48:16] original appendex too in the reporting procedure and section four we reference [1:48:21] the online reporting form or in appendix 4 which is now the new three uh we [1:48:27] reference that online reporting form this will be linked from district and building Pages under the families tab [1:48:34] for families and students to easily be able to find that and it will be posted in numerous places in buildings where [1:48:41] students um Can regularly travel so that they have access to that um there is [1:48:47] currently an online form available um and we will be updating that to match and make sure that's in alignment with [1:48:54] our reporting form um to make multiple um Pathways for uh families staff [1:49:02] members other District pel uh Personnel or students to be able to report uh [1:49:07] issues of bullying so with that I will turn back to the board board members do you have any [1:49:13] questions about policy 514 bullying prohibition I think the only question I [1:49:19] have was I I was kind of interested in the training and education component which is in section s and this is more [1:49:26] just a a general question not so much the train education of our team or personnel [1:49:32] with the district but have we ever thought about or is it ever a practice to where we try to train and educate [1:49:39] students on bullying and appropriateness and so on so forth and what it looks like and what happens and so and so [1:49:45] forth I don't I don't have a child at the high school at the moment I mean I don't know anything at the middle school that's happening is that ever a practice [1:49:52] that districts um apply and if so are we doing that and would that fall into this [1:49:57] policy or something else yeah that is practice that we definitely do with students uh typically [1:50:04] through advisory at the elementary level it happens in Home Room classrooms with teachers so there are definitely [1:50:10] opportunities that we do that and of course uh unfortunately when incidences [1:50:16] happen that is also another great opportunity to educate to help families understand that we have this policy to [1:50:22] help kids understand here's what bullying is here's what it looks like now how do we repair harm and restore [1:50:29] that relationship that was damaged so there are there are different types of opportunities there's opportunities that [1:50:36] are more broad across the system and then there are those definitely those opportunities that are more of a [1:50:41] one-onone basis as infractions to [1:50:47] occur any other questions on this policy okay that will come to action then at [1:50:54] the February meeting um Dr smuzzle is now going to talk to us about the next [1:51:00] policy which is 526 student hazing prohibition so hazing means committing [1:51:07] an act against a student or cursing a student into committing an act that creates a substantial risk of harm to a [1:51:14] person in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with a [1:51:20] student organization or for any other school related purpose so just kind of a [1:51:25] statement of what this is about uh We've made some updates to the policy including a streamline purpose section [1:51:32] the addition of language around restorative practices which typically [1:51:37] unpack the incident try to help students understand the impact that was had so [1:51:45] that that harm can be restored and relationships can be restored the harm can be address and relationships can be [1:51:51] uh restored as a tool to resolve conflicts between individuals and the building report definition was added to [1:51:58] the definition section similar to the previous policy 514 that we talked about [1:52:04] language was incorporated into the reporting section to reference the reporting form at the back of the policy [1:52:09] in appendix and online cross references to policy 506 were updated a penex one [1:52:15] was revised so that the re reporting form again in policies 514 526 are [1:52:21] identical and consistent uh the electronic form will then mirror what is available in the [1:52:27] reporting form within um policy 526 so with that I'll turn it back for [1:52:34] questions thank you board members any questions on policy 526 student [1:52:42] hazing okay thank you thank you very much thank you Dr smle all right and [1:52:48] next our next um policy is uh policy [1:52:54] 66.5 Library materials and so I'm going to invite director monos sty to come up [1:53:00] this is and I'm sure she will speak about this um this is a new [1:53:08] policy good evening chair allenburg Dr Stanley members of the board new and old [1:53:14] um policy 66.5 is a new policy as uh [1:53:19] Karen said um and we currently have policy 606 which is in regards to [1:53:25] instructional materials and how those are selected and how those um may be challenged or questioned that policy um [1:53:32] falls under jod D St Hubert and the teaching and learning Department um last summer our media Specialists realized [1:53:39] that we don't really have a policy around our media spaces and the materials that are in there be the [1:53:44] electronic uh text or not textbooks regular books um magazines any sort of [1:53:49] subscription that we have um and given the climate of the country over the past [1:53:55] uh year or so um they took some time to develop a 66.5 which would speak to the [1:54:01] language of um instruction or the materials in our library spaces um after [1:54:06] spending a lot of time um with the Minnesota Library Association the American Library Association as well as [1:54:14] some of the work that our surrounding districts are doing um regarding this policy they actually presented to me a [1:54:21] uh amended version of policy 606 and then shortly thereafter this year um the [1:54:26] Minnesota Schoolboard associations actually came out with their own version of policy 606 which is 66.5 and so what [1:54:33] we did is we took a look at policy 66.5 um from msba and the work that our [1:54:38] media specialist did over the summer and we merge those two documents together and so that's what you see before you and really as it says on there the [1:54:45] purpose of this and the intent of this is to provide Direction um for the responsibility and the selection of um [1:54:50] Library materials and as I won't read over all of this to you but I'll definitely take questions but um our [1:54:57] main goal is that to make sure that we are enriching our curriculum that we're supporting our curriculum that we're enhancing our curriculum um and [1:55:04] advancing our strategic directive by the materials that are in our library spaces and this policy really provides the [1:55:10] guidelines for how we select those materials and how we remove those materials and how we challenge those [1:55:16] materials should a challenge need to arise so that's the the the overview of this policy um I welcome any questions [1:55:23] that you might have or concerns or suggestions Dr Burman since we don't [1:55:30] have this current policy in place if someone had an objection to [1:55:37] something what exactly takes place today so typically um it would still go to the [1:55:43] media specialist That's generally been what's happening is that a person that had an objection would go to the media specialist and say you know I don't like [1:55:50] this book or I don't want this book in the media space and the media Specialists have generally been handling it with their building principles but [1:55:56] creating consistent policy is really key to that so that we're handling it the same in every single building in every [1:56:02] single type of circumstance and not doing oneoff things so this is really an important policy to adct that excellent [1:56:08] and then the second question would be um whether we've tracked this up to this point or not how often are we getting [1:56:14] requests for people to say they find something objectionable in the library space and wish for something to happen [1:56:19] with uh we are very fortunate that it's pretty minimal I don't have an exact number but [1:56:24] it is in my in the time that I've been here it is actually pretty minimal great and then the ultimate decision once we [1:56:30] put this consistent policy into place to determine whether something should or should not be deemed appropriate or not [1:56:37] where does the ultimate decision lie well so at the end of the day everything rests with the Schoolboard so that is [1:56:43] still the ultimate decision but there's a process that's put into place and so essentially what would happen is that a [1:56:48] a person that would like to object or um request reconsideration of Library materials would first speak with the [1:56:53] media specialist who would then be able to talk through the selection criteria and how it was put into place and why um [1:57:00] and that's what we call an informal um kind of review if that doesn't work for them then they would the next step would [1:57:06] be and that's all outlined in here but the next step with them for them would be to work with the building principal um to determine if we need to go to a [1:57:13] more formal process and in an informal process we actually put together a committee um the indiv would have to [1:57:19] fill out this very lengthy appendix that is here this form um about why they want [1:57:25] this material reconsidered and then that goes to a committee who would review and discuss that and bring that decision [1:57:31] back to well ultimately it would go back to Dr Stanley so she was aware of it um and then at the end of day the [1:57:36] individual can still appeal finally to the board that's the the process thank you for mapping that out for us there [1:57:43] you um a comment I had was I would like [1:57:49] um um this would I would like the policy committee But ultimately it would be Administration to consider putting in [1:57:56] the appendic how the committee will be formed um [1:58:04] because when you say how as opposed to who because you have who right um but [1:58:10] I'm concerned that if something like this does happen and gets to the point [1:58:15] that it does have to come to a committee it's obviously going to be a contentious issue and I would hate for [1:58:23] at that point to not there're already have been in place very clear [1:58:30] understanding of the process for example like how will members of the community be chosen for this committee sure [1:58:36] because we don't want to be con we don't want to be accused then [1:58:41] of creating a process so it's an un it's a biased committee and so I think it' be [1:58:47] a good idea to have whatever the process is I have no recommendation for a [1:58:52] process to maybe State like that will be chosen by an application or or whatever [1:58:59] that process might be I I would recommend that it's very clearly articulated and that that process is [1:59:05] followed so there's like I said there's can be no appearance of impropriety if [1:59:11] this ever happens make sense that was all I had but I appre I [1:59:18] really really really appreciate you putting the work into this [1:59:23] so any additional questions about this policy okay I Echo thank you for the [1:59:29] work that you and our media Specialists have done on this policy um it's very [1:59:35] well done so thank you thank you okay um moving on we are going to [1:59:42] look at policy 7 hold on let me get to the right page here [1:59:47] 7:15 which is food and nutrition services program and I believe we have director Woodard [1:59:54] coming up to speak to us about this [2:00:04] policy good evening Madam chair U members of the school board um policy 715 actually did not um go through many [2:00:12] changes except for the addition of one section um that one section was added to bring us into compliance with state and [2:00:18] federal law unfortunately we have neglected to do so over the um previous years um state and federal law requires [2:00:25] our school policy or procedure um should we choose to leave it at that level um to Define how we deem um bad meal debts [2:00:34] uncollectible um what we would do once they are deemed uncollectible um we must have language in our policy ensuring [2:00:40] that all students who qualify for free or reduced lunches receive at least one free breakfast and one free lunch per [2:00:46] school day and we must also ensure that once a student student or participant in our school service um school lunch [2:00:52] service program places a meal on their tray that that tray cannot be forcibly removed by a member of the school [2:00:58] district um in regard to the section of the policy that states all students who receive um educational benefits must [2:01:05] receive a one free meal per day um that's no longer relevant at this time because all students in the state of [2:01:11] Minnesota will receive one free breakfast and one free lunch however that program is subject to change in the [2:01:16] future and it's I think important for for the school district to memorialize its um I guess its standing morally in [2:01:23] terms of providing a nutritious meal for all of our students and so that's why that is present in our policy as [2:01:30] well great thank you board members do you have any questions about this [2:01:36] policy okay then it will come before us in February thank you director Woodard [2:01:42] um I think okay the next policy is 807 closing of facilities due to hazardous [2:01:48] weather or other emergency conditions I cannot recall who's speaking to us about [2:01:54] this Dr [2:02:01] Stanley did this so long ago that I forgot that it is me sorry about that um [2:02:08] it is absolutely me and there are very minimal changes um really many of them [2:02:13] were just related to updating wording to just make the policy provide Clarity in [2:02:18] the policy um in the in the appendix um we added [2:02:26] additional information to make certain that we were including Community Education programs and that they were [2:02:31] represented um and some clarity on the protocols um members of my team that are [2:02:39] involved in the process um protocols that we've put in place in the past [2:02:44] couple of years and we just wanted those to be um represented within the policy [2:02:51] excellent thank you and board members do you have any questions about this [2:02:58] policy no okay fabulous that will come before us then in February next up is [2:03:05] policy 810 Safety and Security of students employees visitors and [2:03:11] buildings and grounds so uh this [2:03:17] one yeah Natasha stepped out this is um [2:03:23] Natasha's policy and you know actually she I believe that she can hear me can [2:03:28] we go on to the next one and then come back to this one yes absolutely okay so the uh the last one but we're going to [2:03:36] come back to it uh 902 use of school district facilities and [2:03:42] equipment and so this one um as you'll [2:03:47] notice um is this oh this is an Marie okay [2:03:54] um let me see oh this was a big one too I feel [2:04:00] like I don't have I'm gonna go out and get them okay great [2:04:08] um is this right we're just going to wait for a moment I don't have any jokes an [2:04:14] unofficial an unofficial recess for a minute [2:04:47] that's [2:05:17] I [2:05:47] part [2:06:17] kind scario [2:06:47] cont [2:07:17] yes hello [2:07:25] were you halfway down the interstate not I was I was resuming my inent command duties [2:07:31] so okay thank you uh director Mont Staley [2:07:37] is back she's going to talk to us about policy um 810 Safety and Security of [2:07:45] students employees visitors um in our buildings and grounds all right good evening once again um [2:07:51] policy 810 is not a new policy it's one that we've had before um there were [2:07:56] actually really just a few minor updates to this policy overall um the biggest change that you'll notice in this policy [2:08:02] is that um what used to be the director of buildings and grounds that kind of oversaw this policy has just transferred [2:08:08] to the director of media and Technology as um I oversee all the Safety and Security so largely that was one of the [2:08:14] biggest language changes in here um you will also see that we added section B [2:08:20] under uh or on section three program oversight um B we added um some language [2:08:27] about policy 806 our Emergency Management policy and that was just to create some consistent language um with [2:08:33] 806 which we passed earlier this year went through to the board around our Bert meetings and who um is on those [2:08:40] Bert teams at each building as well as our district Emergency Response Team so we felt that that language was important [2:08:46] to put in there we did remove the language around the Safety and Security committee because we did feel like that [2:08:52] was covered through our Bert um groups as well as our dirt team and so that's the reason that you see the [2:08:57] strikethroughs in that and other than that I think those were the biggest [2:09:02] changes to the policy but I welcome any questions if you have them and for those [2:09:07] following along at home Bert is building thank you Emergency Response Team dirt [2:09:12] is District Emergency Response Team yes it's a nice name yeah which is an excellent seg way into my comment is [2:09:20] that I would recommend that we put spell it out because we don't necessarily know [2:09:27] if someone's looking at in conjunction with policy 806 and I also wanted to recommend I do [2:09:33] I don't know if this is actually part of our checklist for policies but that maybe we add to our [2:09:39] checklist that to make sure that the first time any acronym is in a policy [2:09:45] that we have spelled out what it is I I think we do have that in our um is it in our yes and I think it was my fault cuz [2:09:52] I just copied the language from policy 806 to toally totally fine I just that [2:09:57] was my only comment it's it is it's [2:10:05] there any any other questions on this policy okay thank you for coming back [2:10:11] does anyone know if I have any more to present no you're done I think thank you we no no you're done I think [2:10:20] okay and I did see Dr Leland walk by oh there she is she's over there okay and [2:10:26] our last policy for discussion this evening uh is 902 use of school district [2:10:33] facilities and equipment so I'm going to invite up Dr anarie Leland to walk us [2:10:39] through some of the changes in this policy welcome thank you so much uh okay [2:10:46] so a as this policy I'm going to just pull this up um some of the changes [2:10:52] there were very few changes to this policy and um some of them were around [2:10:58] the scheduling and cancellation um changes we updated some language uh per some direction from some [2:11:07] policy committee members and then we also as um as approved by sorry I'm just a [2:11:15] little tired approved by last month board meeting um there's a 3 and a half% [2:11:21] overall fee increase so some of the fees were a little higher some of the fees [2:11:26] were a little lower it just depended upon what it was that um if it was renting out at something or whatever [2:11:33] room it was so those are just some very small changes um yeah I think that's [2:11:41] it and Dr Leland do I remember correctly a lot of the changes came from the users [2:11:47] of this policy say that they needed a little bit more um Clarity around [2:11:52] certain topics or just to clear up the process so great yeah board members do [2:11:58] you have any questions about this policy I have a quick question I was wondering if um I appreciate the rate increases I [2:12:07] was wondering if since we're entering into our Berg process if there's any chance that these rates will be [2:12:14] reconsidered again as part of the burd process now that we know the um amount [2:12:19] that we are dealing with from a deficit perspective and if so if the approval of [2:12:26] this policy should be delayed until the end of that Pol until the end of that [2:12:31] policy I'm sorry the end of that process uh as we consider some of the [2:12:41] the changes and information received um in terms of uh the Berg process [2:12:48] I would think that we would consider everything in terms of um fees or Revenue um coming in but at this time um [2:12:57] we wanted to move this proposal forward with the three and a half [2:13:02] percent um and these rates are related and correctly if I'm wrong you don't [2:13:08] even have to come over to say it related to fund four yes as opposed to our [2:13:15] general fund okay no we have these are fund one in this yep go [2:13:30] ahead so is the recommendation that these get approved since the budget that [2:13:36] these would be approved next month so it's a recommendation that we go ahead and approve these even though this could [2:13:43] potentially I mean and I have no idea I just when we're looking at Revenue this is a revenue Source I think there's an [2:13:49] opportunity if I may I think there's an opportunity that as we go through the burg process and get feedback and so on so forth there's no question that there [2:13:56] could be a situation where if we came back in February to say hey we did find that there was a prioritization of maybe [2:14:03] altering these fees instead of this number um the finance committee certainly would have an opportunity to provide its feedback to that process um [2:14:09] to where that could be done would we need to actually have that done in a work session first to then be here or [2:14:16] does it have to be presented as non-actionable item first before it could then be approved if we were going to make [2:14:23] changes other than what the rates are that are listed here I believe if changes came through [2:14:29] the Berg process so there was a recommendation that was brought as part of the list of recommendations to the [2:14:35] board um the policy would be updated pursuant any of those changes that the [2:14:41] board ended up approving based on a recommendation got it thank you is is it [2:14:48] is it normally a I've not excuse me I'm not normally seen in policy we actually put our rate structure in it so I I [2:14:55] don't think I paid attention to that if that's been the case is that the same the case when we talk about early [2:15:01] childhood education and so on so forth because that's a different sort of bucket so you're saying so for a general [2:15:07] one fun bucket it then needs okay anyway we get too complicated but I got you I [2:15:13] like the thing about being pursuant to the process doctor's daily that if we updated it it could then still roll and so to I [2:15:19] think chair's alen Berg's concern that if we were to go ahead and proove this [2:15:25] even we're say we are appr it as it states today sure the burg process would allow us to update that without us [2:15:31] having to completely come back and readdress the policy is that what I'm hearing it would yes we could yeah okay [2:15:42] and what oh sorry um would if we approve next month does the rate change become immediately effective as soon as it gets [2:15:49] approved or is there a start date it would immediately become effective fiscal year so this would start fisal [2:15:57] year never mind you can ignore what I just said July I thought it was immediate July 1 I'm glad we just [2:16:03] clarified that for everyone including me yep that's okay one of the things I just [2:16:08] wanted to say as I'm finally getting my words back um one of the things I wanted [2:16:13] to say is there's was is always as we always do for any proposal and policy um [2:16:20] we do research our contiguous districts um and the rates are really competitive [2:16:26] with uh what we thought we could move forward but we will always consider [2:16:31] anything um that the board uh [2:16:37] recommends great are there any more questions on this policy thank [2:16:43] you Dr l oh you're welcome appreciate it all right so as we've been speaking about these uh they will come to action [2:16:49] in our February meeting um thank you for the questions the thoughtful questions and the um recommendations appreciate [2:16:56] that great uh thank you director gaer we're going to move to our action items [2:17:01] do I have a motion to approve the legislative action committee platform so moved is there a [2:17:07] second second um is there anything you'd like to State about the legislative action [2:17:13] committee platform director arum uh nothing that I didn't cover earlier are there any questions or comments on [2:17:19] the legislative action committee platform we're now going to vote to approve the legisl legis legislative [2:17:26] action committee platform all those in favor of approving the legislative action committee platform say I I is [2:17:34] anyone opposed the legislative action committee platform is approved do I have [2:17:39] a motion to approve the 2024 2025 secondary course General change recommendations so moved is there a [2:17:46] second second was there a second second yes [2:17:52] sorry I'm sorry sorry too no no no I will now um invite up director of [2:17:58] teaching and learning do jod D Hubert and assistant director of teaching and learning Bethy van osel to present this [2:18:05] to [2:18:14] us okay good evening Dr Stanley Stepped Out Chair Ellenburg board directors um [2:18:21] in front of us tonight for our action item we have three sections to the new [2:18:26] course proposals for the 2425 school year um for Action right now we were [2:18:32] presenting these three proposals and three separate um reports because we [2:18:38] believe the English language arts and the social studies um need a little bit of extra attention simply because [2:18:44] they're in a curriculum review cycle um each department is a different phase at [2:18:49] at a different phase in this implementation review cycle I will start with the I will start by just talking [2:18:54] quickly about the general recommendations and then I will turn it over to assistant director Bethy van [2:19:00] ozell to talk about both the social studies in the ELA so to begin with the general um course recommendations we are [2:19:08] titling at this because the report for the general courses um follows the process that we have followed from year [2:19:15] to year working in collaboration with a secondary staff we ask them to um work [2:19:22] with their Administration get approval on anything that is a new course that they would like to add or a description [2:19:28] that they would like to change in the course registration book or a title that needs a little bit of adjusting after [2:19:33] they've worked with their Administration and gotten approval and collaboration and partnership from Administration then [2:19:39] they submit those recommendations or those proposals to us to organize and bring to the board you'll see that all [2:19:45] of the general um course recommendations are at the high school um several are in the area of Arina virtual pathway and [2:19:53] then there's just a couple of tweaks to course descriptions and titles um so at [2:19:58] this time are there any questions just about the general recommendations are there questions for [2:20:04] board members no okay I'll turn it over to Bethany to talk quickly or briefly about [2:20:10] Ela and social studies yep that's great thank you um I am here on behalf of some [2:20:16] amazing teachers who have been leading this process I'm going to start with Ela and then I'll move into uh Ela and break [2:20:21] for questions and then I'll do social studies if that works for you all um so uh I just want to say right up front [2:20:27] that Tess bman has been the content lead in this project and she's been working alongside Heidi dner and Sarah Bridges [2:20:33] for the last three years I've been meeting with them regularly have they've been working through this process to really instill change in the ELA [2:20:39] Department um we have always defined Excellence Ina and I want to say that their goals and their um commitment to [2:20:46] opening doors for students students has been nothing short of astounding and they've worked tirelessly to create the [2:20:51] plan that you guys have had a chance to review um they really and truly have been so committed to the equity um [2:20:57] ensuring that each student has options and has um on-ramps and scaffolds and [2:21:02] acceleration and enrichment and um even outside of of um the ability to [2:21:09] potentially get a college transcript is in this um proposal so I um won't go [2:21:14] further into it because I trust that you've read the report and you've seen in their um presentation which they worked really hard on um and you can um [2:21:21] kind of see all of the different phases were really specifically just to to kind of confine it to phase one because we're [2:21:29] really looking right now to uh get the courses approved for phase one and phase two and three is just kind of visionary [2:21:35] at this point where we're looking ahead to just kind of get a scope of um where we're headed with that but if we just [2:21:40] focus on that phase one piece so with that again um I just want to honor the teachers work they've been absolutely [2:21:46] amazing and so dedicated to students in this process so I will pause there for questions about specifically about the [2:21:53] English language arts do board members have questions or comments about the English language arts [2:22:00] recommendations director gabler um just so that the public is aware we had an [2:22:06] opportunity to see this in a work session yeah in December and the board had an opportunity to ask questions at [2:22:11] that time and um provide some feedback it also has come through teaching and learning and I think it's safe to say [2:22:17] the board was really excited about the work that these the English language arts department had done um and the [2:22:26] intentionality the choice um and really making sure that we're living out our strategic plan of each and every student [2:22:31] seeing themsel in this plan and so I too as a board member want to Echo um what you said about the people who have put [2:22:38] together this plan and um there's a lot of gratitude for that so thank you thank [2:22:44] you and I would only add even though I actually wasn't at that meeting um that I have never heard more positive [2:22:50] things spoken about amongst board members than that presentation in my time on the board that people were blown [2:22:56] away by what was presented how it was done and what the effect or the anticipated effect of the changes and [2:23:01] the and the improvements that we're talking about making from that standpoint so even though we don't have three of those colleagues who are here tonight I think it's important to say [2:23:08] that that's the impression I was left with um and my own analysis would concur with that that's awesome thank you I [2:23:14] will pass that along to them too um I wanted to point out a couple of [2:23:19] things one is that year one of this starts next year correct um and I wanted [2:23:27] to point out to the community that one of the things that the board had asked for was more options for students in [2:23:33] ninth and 10th grade without um losing sight of making sure [2:23:41] all students are able to succeed and be challenged and I absolutely [2:23:47] appreciate what you have come up with I think it's easy to come up with two [2:23:53] classes that are just labeled honors and not honors and I think it's can be easy [2:24:01] to give harder books or more homework and call it an honors [2:24:07] class that really isn't actually meeting the needs and meeting what students need at any level [2:24:16] and the fact that you guys are offering multiple classes not just two but three [2:24:22] classes at 9th grade to meet the needs of those that need more support and also [2:24:30] accelerate students that um can work more independently um each student should be [2:24:37] able to find themselves there I really appreciate that um I also wanted to [2:24:44] point out that I appreciate the intentional work that your team has added into this to identify [2:24:51] students that can work at a higher level because it takes I it takes work to [2:24:58] identify kids to pull them up and I really appreciate that that's pulled out so thank you thank your colleagues that [2:25:05] worked on this um it's outstanding work and I think it's really going to um make [2:25:12] a market difference in our students and our language arts program at the school [2:25:17] so thank you that's great thank you so much I will pass that on can I can I ask a question um when [2:25:25] because this is a multi-year um rollout is this something that we at the board can expect like a [2:25:31] year from now after they've implemented this kind of a recap of like these are the things we've learned this is what [2:25:37] we're seeing and now as we move on to the next year this is how this because year two and three obviously is a shell [2:25:44] at this point and we'll be filled in as we go but but is that something that we at the board can anticipate getting kind [2:25:50] of an update along the way I would offer under the umbrella of the comprehensive literacy plan yes great I mean I think [2:25:56] that's regularly built in but I would just check with you yes and I would say under the process of course registration [2:26:03] because there will be new courses that need to go through the approval process um or 25 26 right and that continuation [2:26:11] for the three-year plan and absolutely agree with ethy on the comprehensive literacy plan updates we'll continue [2:26:16] those great thank [2:26:22] you I think we're ready for social okay we'll move into social studies again I have to give honor and credit to the [2:26:28] folks who um really poured their hearts into this plan so um we had Eric [2:26:34] Anderson and um Claude Sigman and Courtney major who were all part of this [2:26:40] plan um where this came from um Minnesota legislation put forth some changes um this past SU summer and so we [2:26:47] were looking at some mandated changes from the state where we needed to realign some of our courses and Shuffle some things around and so as you read in [2:26:54] the in the report that Domino has some impact and the team is those of you who [2:26:59] were at the board Workshop um were able to hear their passion and excitement around the changes that they've put forth in in terms of their Vision they [2:27:05] spent a really they really took a um intense look and they used the irod [2:27:11] process and they went through many different options with their team and this was The Proposal that they really [2:27:17] feel resonates the most and when they um we presenting again for those of you at the board Workshop you heard really and [2:27:22] truly this is about the students and what they believe that the students can benefit the most from when we look at this the scope and sequence of the [2:27:28] social studies classes so um I would just offer again that I will open for questions and um take any feedback back [2:27:35] to the team do board members have questions or comments about the social studies course [2:27:45] recommendations sorry director gaer um can you remind me because we had this [2:27:52] discussion during the work session um with the the reason that some of this is [2:27:57] changing is because of uh State Legislature yes um guidelines and that the current or [2:28:06] what we've got proposed here would actually change the number of credits um can you speak a little bit to [2:28:15] the process or how those are going to come dovetail next to each other with the approval of this but also we need to [2:28:21] come back as a board and kind of look at that do you want to speak to that yeah I can speak to that yes um we have had a [2:28:26] preliminary conversation around um leaning into what that would mean if we [2:28:31] increase the graduation credits in um our social studies offerings um we also [2:28:37] have to consider other requirements that are coming from legislation what would add so um we had a great initial [2:28:44] conversation and we will absolutely be having that conv Sation um and updating the board over the next couple of months [2:28:51] um yeah so there will be um an impact to that ad but we feel very strongly that [2:28:56] we had a good preliminary conversations around Solutions and ways to uh go through the irad process with that and [2:29:03] make sure we include all stakeholders and keep you updated as a [2:29:08] board um just a quick comment we talked about the leg what the legislature [2:29:14] approved and for people that are watching um that are just going to look [2:29:20] at our social studies pathway um the legislature approved um the requiring [2:29:26] government to be um in the 11th or 12th grade year um as opposed to 9th grade [2:29:33] where it is now in our district um and so that is why you're seeing um a [2:29:38] re-engineering of the social studies pathway um I think people might see this [2:29:45] and maybe have a reaction similar to mine which was could have been perceived [2:29:51] as negative um because we like how things are I wanted [2:29:57] to reinforce to the public that my one question for social studies teachers was [2:30:03] what is in the best interest of our students and they said to us that [2:30:08] actually what they came up with was in the best interest of our students because students will be getting the [2:30:17] government and Civics um curriculum still it will just be across [2:30:24] both nth grade year and 12th grade year and that as a district we've been short [2:30:30] changing students on geography and that now actually they'll be getting a more [2:30:35] robust um Civic social studies experience and so I just want to um let [2:30:43] the community know that how much much time and effort and thoughtfulness was put in this and that [2:30:50] students are not getting short changed out of anything we're actually providing a more robust social studies experience [2:30:56] hence why there is a half a year more social studies um graduation requirement [2:31:02] being asked so um I just wanted to point that out [2:31:08] so anything else we will now vote to approve the um [2:31:15] 2024 2025 secondary course um I apologize I wrote down the [2:31:23] wrong thing here um General change recommendations all those in favor say I [2:31:28] I anyone opposed the 2024 2025 secondary course General change recommendations [2:31:34] are approved thank you thank you um our last action item um do I have [2:31:40] a motion to approve policies 425 429 507 532 and 62 [2:31:47] so moved is there a second second um director [2:31:53] graer all right we're back um so I [2:31:58] can can I just ask for a vote on all of these at once as a slate or do we need to have just ask if people have [2:32:04] questions about any of them did any board members have any questions from last meeting when we discussed these [2:32:13] um i' only comment that we have gone through for our new board members who were not on the board at that time they [2:32:18] were discussed there was opportunities for discussion changes recommendations so on so forth and this is what the [2:32:24] final thing was from from our standpoint so moving forward this is as advertised from last month right thank you for that [2:32:32] any additional comments okay great okay thank you all those in favor of [2:32:37] approving policies 425 429 507 532 and 629 say I I I 621 I think is what it is [2:32:47] not 62 625 29 I think is what you said would you mind saying it one more time [2:32:53] Let's do let's do a redo we will now vote to approve all those in favor of [2:32:58] approving policies 425 429 507 532 and [2:33:04] 621 say I anyone opposed policies 425 429 507 532 and 621 [2:33:14] are approved um we that concludes our action items do we have any board [2:33:19] leadership or committee updates any superintendent [2:33:26] updates uh the only update that I will have is uh those uh Berg meetings that [2:33:32] uh Mart was talking about a little bit earlier the communication on those will be coming out shortly so the community [2:33:37] is well aware of the meetings and when they can attend um and there are several of them that they'll be able to [2:33:44] attend thank you Dr St Stanley um that concludes our meeting do I have a motion to [2:33:51] adjourn so moved is there a second second all those in favor say I I [2:33:59] anyone opposed the motion carries and we are adjourned thank [2:34:15] you