[0:00] all the meeting to order we do have a quorum tonight this is the October 15th regular meeting of the Dyna School Board [0:05] let me start the same way which is have our superintendent review the agenda in very brief fashion so you'll have [0:11] approval of minutes we'll hear from members of the audience on our consent of some personal recommendations of [0:18] course the expenditures student travel and then in reports you'll have a report which is really the main focus of [0:23] tonight's meeting is the district financial audit in discussion you'll have a discussion on the legislative [0:30] action community bylaws and policy updates for 205 206 209 in an action [0:36] you'll approve the audit medical insurance and improve policies 103 and [0:41] 509 and we have a staff recognition so with that chair all in three minutes [0:47] alright thank you the first is approving the minutes can I get a motion to approve the minutes from [0:53] September 24th work session September 24th regular meeting and the October 10th work session are there any changes [1:02] all those in favor of approving the minutes from September 24th work session September 24th regular meeting and [1:07] October 10th work sessions say aye aye any opposed motion carried [1:12] next we have hearings from members of the audience we do value community input [1:18] we do have two methods for community input we do have a 6:30 meeting which people can take advantage of in which [1:24] they can ask questions provided they they give them to the district one week in advance and then the 6:30 meeting is [1:31] more of an exchange where you can ask a question and get a response the seven o'clock session which is now is a time [1:37] period for people to come up and make comments to the board we typically do not respond to the comments at the time [1:43] they're made there will be follow-up by somebody else we ask that you do not make complaints about individuals if you [1:49] have complaints about individuals they should be brought separately and with [1:54] that we will start with Amanda Kerr or [2:01] perhaps not next is Winnie Martin welcome good to [2:10] see you again thank you for having me I [2:17] wanted to come in tonight and really just talk a little bit about enrollment data in numbers and I had sent an email [2:25] requesting I guess I should say with a couple of questions to administration and due to time constraints I didn't [2:31] hear back on that but I wanted to actually I should give these two guys first usually every October we deliver [2:45] the enrollment in a DM report but obviously this year October this meeting [2:51] came up earlier I guess than in previous years but with that said I wanted to [2:56] compile some information for the board so when we do have the numbers we have [3:01] some historical data specific to that and I think this also would help and answering a lot of the questions a [3:07] community had about enrollment about open enrollment ends out things like [3:12] that and when I pulled this information from it's all of the October board [3:17] released agenda items for all the way back to 2012 and I stopped there because [3:23] data prior to that was only based on a percentage basis so it was helpful to [3:29] have the numbers after that but what I really wanted to point out is that you know previously we've always run right [3:35] around that 8,500 enrollment number and as our Business Administration has told [3:43] us many many years that's an incredibly difficult number to target I know that's what we base our budget off of as well [3:50] but a couple of key points here is that we have always had more students at [3:56] least for the past three years historically leave our district than have come in so you know often people [4:02] say well our open enrollment is much higher than our exit or out and that's [4:07] not always the case as indicated by these numbers there are some extra copies that are up here that anyone in [4:13] the audience if they would like to take happy as well take one but I really just wanted to put this all in aggregated [4:19] format so you can see it by school by grade so when we do get the enrollment numbers it will give everyone I guess [4:26] more of a historical average of where we've been and it was shocking to me to [4:32] find out years ago that on average we have fourteen to fifteen hundred students leave this district and choose [4:38] other schools every year but I think that speaks to the excellent educational [4:43] opportunities that are available within our community but it also speaks to the [4:49] commitment to education that this community has so that's really all I wanted to share with you all tonight and [4:56] some of the questions that I had asked via the email I do hope to get an answer [5:02] on so I know I shared it with lead admin I did Carbon Copy the board chairs are [5:08] on it I can direct that to you all if that's easier I apologize for my numbers [5:15] of thank you all right thank you very much next is Jennifer wood [5:32] welcome I am here to I am here to share [5:55] with the board an incident that occurred a couple of weeks ago I believe this [6:01] incident reflects a systemic and chronic problem that has plagued the district [6:07] for years and that needs to be addressed [6:13] we are all coming off of the very rancorous and polarizing Senate [6:19] Judiciary Committee hearings the incident I'm relating occurred in the [6:24] midst of all that the week following the hearing where Judge Cavanaugh and dr. [6:30] Ford testified when that additional FBI investigation was going on my child was [6:37] met at class by his teacher wearing a button that's sad I believe dr. [6:43] Christine glassy Ford the class was not a current events class it was a stem [6:49] class the teacher wore the button for three days regardless of whether I share [6:57] the teachers opinion I was shocked that the school allowed this or at a minimum [7:03] created an environment or the teacher felt license to do it it was not only [7:08] extremely poor judgment it was unprofessional and unethical to think [7:16] that a teacher was so caught up in expressing his social political views that he risk alienating some of his [7:23] students and distracting them from the subject matter he was teaching viewed [7:29] from the eyes of an adult it was gratuitous and self-indulgent I would never dream of doing that at my [7:36] job viewed from the eyes of a student who may not agree with him it would be [7:42] alienating and intimidating to have the person who has complete authority over you and your [7:47] grade saying essentially I care a lot about this I have a strong opinion about [7:54] it and I want you to share it it is vital to the integrity of the learning [8:01] process and to the credibility of this institution to refrain from allowing [8:08] social political activism to cloud your mission I would be just as disturbed if [8:15] a teacher wore a button that said I believe Brett Kavanaugh I asked myself [8:22] what I wanted to achieve by making this public comment honestly by the time [8:27] parents hear about these kinds of things the damage has already been done so the [8:33] effectiveness of a retroactive remedy is all but lost what I would like to see is [8:40] a concerted effort going forward by the school board and the administration to [8:48] demand a laser focus on academics and to [8:55] train staff that if they cannot refrain from using their position for social and political activism they should find [9:03] another job in another field or at least in another district thank you thank you [9:15] next is Orlando Flores [9:25] welcome thank you good evening I'm [9:30] Orlando Flores it's been a few months can you hear me it's been a few months [9:36] since I'd came here and I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you again at that meeting the board spoke about the [9:42] Loeb book Lexile scores the number of movies being watched in classes and even [9:48] replacing books with comic books so it was a entertaining discussion but with [9:53] that as background I went to speak to you today more broadly about the important board role in setting a [9:58] strategy that ensures that the school is pursuing academic excellence and in that [10:04] it provides a safe learning environment new tests school scores came out recently for the fifth or sixth year in [10:11] a row basically since the all for all program was implemented average math and reading scores for Edina high school [10:17] have decreased falling scores mean that students are less and less prepared to [10:23] be successful workers and professionals results for nearly all races have come [10:28] down including whites blacks and especially Hispanics even as scores for [10:34] white students decreased low-income and minority student scores in many cases are coming down faster the achievement [10:41] gap is getting worse in Edina under all for all this is ironic and frankly [10:48] tragic since according to our own website all for all was implemented to close that gap based on personal [10:55] experience low-income students need to focus on strong academics during the school days they have no fallback [11:01] systems like wealthier students private tutors and in many cases even strong [11:06] parental involvement is really difficult parents are working multiple jobs sometimes they don't speak English and [11:12] they often don't understand the American school system this is why focusing on strong academics during the school day [11:19] is so important across the board in the Dinah school system pursuant to the overall strategy our children are being [11:26] educated less and less how can you change its results I believe that you [11:33] must hold the superintendent accountable for objective improvement in test scores you set his objectives but are you [11:40] holding him accountable for objective results improvements we all for all school strategies is little or nothing [11:46] about pursuing academic excellence for that matter and that needs to change another fundamental responsibility of a [11:53] board is to ensure that students experience a safe learning environment yet last fall a student testified here [12:00] that she was in the class where activists were invited by a teacher to speak and his activists single out white [12:06] students aggressively pointing fingers at them and calling them effing whites the student who gave you that feedback [12:12] was terrified but she found the courage to tell you about it here I understand that similar situations have happened to [12:19] dozens of students in Edina on multiple occasions being racially profiled is [12:25] discouraged is discouraging an unforgettable the year that I arrived in Minnesota I was called the S word that [12:32] is reserved for Hispanics before I even knew what that word meant but at least I [12:38] wasn't called this and other names by someone formally invited into the classroom so I have to ask you in what [12:44] alternative universe do we now live in Edina where our students are verbally assaulted based on race by guests [12:52] formally invited into the classroom I also understand that under the all for all strategy is now standard in Edina to [12:59] hold students of one race responsible for discriminatory practices that other [13:04] people committed on other people so let me rephrase what happened to the student [13:09] who spoke to you under the direction of this administration a classroom school guest verbally assaulted students based [13:16] on their race likely in violation of their civil rights this has happened repeatedly and likely continues to [13:23] happen today and as far as the public is concerned neither the administration or you have [13:28] done anything about it I say that because none of the families have been contacted to inquire as to what happened [13:34] and I know some of these families no questions no knowledge of an investigation no apologies nothing and [13:40] when members of the administration are asked about incidents like this in private they often reply well that's the [13:48] first time I hear about this could you wrap up please it's very been [13:55] five minutes just kept recording my timer yep thank you the community is under the impression that nothing has [14:01] been done I think you have a responsibility to change the lack of focus on improving scores and to provide [14:07] a safe school environment and you have an opportunity here to demonstrate that you can that you live up to these basic [14:12] principles of accountability for the benefit of students and parents thank you thank you [14:22] next is Heather teats [14:32] welcome so tonight I'm here to ask about [14:41] the strategic plan because I when I was reading documents out on the website it said that November would be the first be [14:48] presenting the first draft of the strategic plan I don't know if that schedule still ongoing or not but we [14:54] have we have pushed off a lot of discussion in these board meetings over [15:01] the last probably year saying we're waiting for the strategic plan so I'm asking you about this and specifically [15:09] I'm asking about differentiation and meeting the needs of all of our learners you know we had a member of the [15:15] administration say well we have no need for differentiation because most of our kids go to college I'm really hoping [15:22] board meeting in June the and he said it [15:27] publicly multiple times so I'm really hoping that's not where the board is right when we have one in four students [15:35] who are participating in gifted services when we in 103 students who are in the [15:40] 90th percentile and above on standardized tests when we have two out of three students you know in the upper [15:46] quintile the standardized tests we have to differentiate meeting the standards [15:51] is not what I think Dinah is about if we need to differentiate if we're gonna meet those like academic needs right we [15:58] are not just about getting into college you know go into college and having a high percentage you go into college we [16:04] are about being accepted and excelling in the College of the person's choice or [16:09] in whatever post-secondary and professional life beyond so I'm asking [16:15] you with the strategic plan that we be very clear about whether we expect [16:21] differentiation and what type of differentiation we expect I have heard members of this board [16:27] publicly in these meetings say that they expect to see you know enriched classes [16:32] or separate honors classes but in the implementation phase of the gift in town [16:38] the study I have seen no work by the administration to do that right I'm really hoping the strategic [16:44] it will be very crisp and very clear what those expectations are because that is a boards privilege to come out and [16:52] say what the expectations and policies are yes the administration gets to [16:57] implement but I work in a governing position in corporate and I get to say [17:05] what the policy is and if the implementations not meeting that policy I can say try again so what I'm asking [17:10] is for that strategic plan that we've all been waiting for it to be very crisp and if you do want to support the [17:17] enriched and honors classes that you'd be very explicit and what format that can come thank you thank you [17:27] next is Mary Pat pew see [17:40] okay I survived welcome welcome [17:47] thank you I am here my name's Mary Pat QC I'm here tonight speaking on behalf [17:53] of scouting specifically Cub Scouts for the last three years I have served as [17:59] the activities coordinator for Cub Scout Pack one two three at Highlands elementary and I'm Colin tyre I'm here [18:06] to express some concern about the evolution of our facilities policies in [18:12] terms of access for community groups like scouting it appears or it feels [18:20] like the policies are evolving to serve the bureaucracy of the school district [18:25] rather than to serve the new needs of the community and to kind of explain this the first year as activities [18:33] coordinator from a budget perspective a cost arch our pack 60 dollars to reserve [18:40] space at the elementary school for our PAC meetings and den meetings those [18:47] charges were primarily there was a fifteen dollar charge for each kind of [18:52] reservation you could reserve as many dates in as many rooms as you needed and [18:58] because you know I made the pack calendar and other people made the den meeting calendars each of the den [19:03] leaders we had kind of multiple $15 charges and the second year the school [19:09] implore the district implemented a need for a security monitor and that security [19:15] monitor fee was apparently $20 per hour [19:20] with a minimum charge of $40 and that was initially being charged to each room [19:26] reservation so if our PAC reserved four rooms we were being charged $40 per room that we were reserving we did go back [19:32] and talked with the committee and we were able to negotiate that such that if [19:39] we consolidated all of our meeting reservations to one night we were only charged the security monitor fee for one [19:46] you know one security monitor thief then different depending the number of rooms that we reserved this year we are [19:55] now being charged the security monitor fee plus room rental fees on top of that so what that translates into is roughly [20:04] a need to increase our PAC dues our dues per student by about thirty five percent [20:09] just to cover the facility reservations when I think about you know I think of [20:17] our schools as community assets similar to our public libraries I can go in reserve meeting space at the public [20:24] library for no charge you know it's when [20:29] I think about scouting scouting is really an extension of our school programs we support similar values we [20:37] help build community amongst members in the school community we support you know [20:42] building youth character building service at you know attitudes and community service and these are all [20:50] important to building our community now I understand the need to implement security you know having a security [20:57] monitor there and you know despite the fact that there's never been an issue in [21:03] the building with respect to scouting programs going on but at the same time [21:08] you know by locking down our buildings and making it difficult for community groups to access meeting space what we [21:15] do is actually put more of our security in our community at risk because these [21:22] programs promote building of community and recognition among citizens and a bunch amongst students such that you [21:30] know that is part of addressing security concerns in the community because we all know each other right and when we're not [21:37] able to access those facilities we're going other places where would you rather have your kids going to the [21:42] library for their Scout meeting our being able to go to their school where they participate during the day I guess [21:50] that's kind of my perspective I guess my other concern is the lack of transparency and communication with [21:57] regard to how these policy changes are rolled out in each case I never found out about it until after we got the [22:03] invoice and had to go back and andrey address it it would seem like as we're making and these policy changes that we [22:11] would seek the input from these community groups and at least communicate if the decision has been made to change the policy communicate [22:18] clearly what that policy change is sufficiently in advance of the start of the school year such that we can make [22:24] financial adjustments to our dues in order to cover those increased costs and in each case that hasn't been what's [22:30] happened over the last two years so I'm hoping that the school board can kind of [22:36] take this into consideration and really talk about what how do we establish a [22:42] consistent policy that supports community groups that support the missions of our schools and support the [22:47] building of community in Edina thank you [22:57] that concludes hearing from members of the audience thank you very much again I remind people that we do have a 6:30 [23:03] session available for those who want to ask questions and get responses to the questions at the same time next we have [23:11] the consent agenda are there any items anybody wishes to remove from the consent agenda we'll let Ellen go first [23:21] and then travel so item C items item C [23:27] and Sarah did you have a different one [23:33] okay any other removals oh it's gonna get a motion to approve the consent [23:40] agenda which is now items a and B all [23:47] those in favor approving the consent agenda say aye hi any opposed motion carried [23:54] do you want to since you seemed let's get a motion to approve the first the [23:59] EHS biology to Borneo that's what I'd like to discuss right motion to approve [24:10] now you have questions yeah I I would this trip is going to take place next [24:18] not this coming year but and it is extremely expensive and I I think that I [24:26] would like to wait the policy committee is currently working on a student travel [24:32] plan policy so I would like to put this one on hold until we can have the board [24:40] discuss whether or not this is the type of trip that we would want to support so [24:50] Susan is there a time pressure on this one the time frame would be summer of [24:57] 2020 probably the first two weeks in July so but in terms of it doesn't need [25:04] to get approved at today's meeting for it to go forward is that correct [25:13] that is correct there's additional time for discussion so are there you would so [25:20] yeah well when would they when would we need to be have this decided my so sorry [25:29] in accordance with current policy eighteen months prior to travel so that [25:35] would be I'd have to come back for you so January December January so not for a [25:48] couple more months that's the way it sounds yep yeah are there questions that [25:53] people have today about the program or our Ellen are you just trying to see how [25:59] this might align with was 538 if it's revised and 538 is the travel policy all [26:08] right I guess the reason I was gonna pull it it's the same reason you know [26:13] we're discussing this in policy right now we've talked about concerns about very expensive trips like this we've [26:21] talked about you know are there opportunities like this that are within the continental US where they can get [26:28] these same type of opportunities where more kids can have access to it you know this is a 4,600 dollar plus trip and I [26:37] think with us still discussing this policy to improve it right now [26:43] doesn't seem like like the right time I also you know just generally have [26:49] concerns about details of expense so I know we have the full cost per student [26:54] but we've talked about wanting to better understand the total costs of these trips that the students are having to [27:01] pick up so that their sponsors whether it parents guardians etc understand you [27:06] know what makes up the forty six hundred dollars in terms of fees to cover other [27:12] personnel that need to attend the trip chaperones etc and then you know how are [27:18] the costs broken down and we're still trying to figure out how we want to take about closer look at those types of [27:23] things so until we have more information on the policy and our thoughts behind that I [27:30] find it difficult to approve this at this point when will we have more [27:40] information on the policy [27:51] I've got another comment to make sorry another comment I'm wondering about to [27:58] is given the period of belt-tightening that we're in right now I'm wondering how much staff time costs and takes to [28:06] actually vet the these programs and to look at that just kind of curious about [28:11] how much it costs investigate how much these trips will cost and then make the arrangements and so forth because that [28:21] what I think what he's referring to and what I had kind of mentioned at the last board meeting is the concept of aligning [28:28] to our mission and making sure our dollars follow our mission and so if [28:33] there is a large expense related to coordinating these trips you know is that the best use of our dollars in [28:40] terms of education and where we're putting them [28:48] so I have a question about chaperones and we'll get back to the trip itself [28:54] which is there are four chaperones I think it says they can get their a [29:03] biology teacher and three additional licensed staff up to three additional license staff so who pays for the for [29:13] individuals that are listed as supervision so the travel company that [29:19] we partner with in the vast majority of our student travel experiences calculate [29:25] the entire cost of the experience for the anticipated number of students a [29:30] range of students and then the appropriate number of chaperones most of the companies suggest a ratio of [29:39] one chaperone to every five to six students our policy says one chaperone [29:45] to every twelve students so we often negotiate with the travel agency or the [29:50] partner travel partner we're working with to recalculate their formula but [29:58] ultimately the entire cost is calculated as a group and then divided by the [30:03] number of students who will participate so does that mean the students paid for [30:09] the four chaperones so the cost of all chaperones that are licensed or excuse me assigned to to the experienced by the [30:16] school would be covered by the student additional chaperones who would travel [30:21] as upon request or as partners to perhaps some of the chaperones or [30:28] parents would pay their own costs so in [30:34] this case the up to four is what's listed correct at this point in the [30:41] planning we anticipate twenty students and we are anticipating there would be three chaperones but for the purpose of [30:48] the proposal it was up to four and then the cost of the three would then be [30:53] borne by the twenty students going that is current [31:00] other other questions so the motion is [31:06] whether to approve the particular travel that's what the current motion is so I [31:12] think that and we're going to we're going to stay with that motion for the moment but I think that what your your [31:18] request is more of it to table this we [31:26] make a friendly amendment to table it or do we have to pull the motion that's what I'm working on trying to figure [31:32] that out so I think so I guess then do you want to change what [31:37] your motion is right okay so you want to [31:47] change your motion to approve it to table it until the next meeting or a [31:52] tilt the sit before the before the end of this year okay your mics not on oh I [32:04] moved to table it until next meeting so yes I can hear you but there's a the [32:11] audio doesn't pick up on there on the TV so I I would second that could we move to table it until December though since [32:17] then is that still within the window thank you but I second the motion okay so we're gonna substitute that [32:23] motion for the prior motion that was brought are there any questions discussion all those in favor of tabling [32:29] this until December say aye aye any opposed motion carried [32:37] farther before I get a motion on the next ones are there questions on the next three the Chicago Orlando and DC [32:44] all right so can I get a consolidated motion to approve the trips to Chicago Orlando and DC so moved any questions I [32:54] have to have one question on the DC trip which is each year that that goes is that partly during the school year and [33:01] partly on a weekend yes that's correct they schedule it's typically leaving on a Thursday night or [33:08] Friday morning returning on a day or a Tuesday the students missed two days of school typically and I'm going [33:15] to vote in favor of this but I'm just curious as to why in the future since it's a a week and a half after Spring [33:21] Break why it couldn't just be arranged in the future during spring break and and there may be an answer but just [33:26] something to look at the answer would be that Washington DC is typically very [33:32] crowded over our Spring Break and the week following and so that window really opens up that first weekend in April [33:39] allowing our students access to monuments other other areas of the White [33:48] House that they normally would not be able to see during spring break so it's about access okay that kind of makes [33:54] sense other other questions regarding the three trips okay all those in favor [33:59] of approving the trips to Chicago Orlando and DC say aye aye any opposed motion carried [34:06] we are on to reports Margo and our auditors [34:20] welcome should we be worried that you brought something to drink with you [34:32] good evening chair Wallen Friedman superintendent Shultz and school board I [34:39] have with me here tonight bill Lauer from mmk are the school district audit firm we are at that time [34:46] of year we months worth of work in many many hours of completing our 1718 audit [34:54] I would like to report Bill's team thank them for a great partnership and along [35:02] with the business office under the leadership of Racha a controller did a [35:08] fantastic job working through this year's audit we start communications in [35:14] the beginning of June have auditors here in July and August and September and [35:20] it's an ongoing process for a number number of months happy to also report [35:26] that this is the first full year on our new finance system and now we have [35:33] everything on the system and it's it's good to be reviewing our own historical data on that new finance system we did [35:42] bill and another member of his team were at the finance and Facilities Committee [35:48] meeting last week providing a little bit more detail than you'll receive tonight in terms of audit results what I will do [35:57] just quickly summarize overview in terms of comparing it to projection when I [36:05] last reported to you in June in the estimates we're within 1% of budget on [36:12] revenue I'm trying not to steal too much of your thunder here and when you take [36:17] out carryovers on the expenditure side and some capital costs we're within 1% [36:23] of a budget on expenditures there is one accounting [36:29] and bill will show it how we have to account for what's called not in [36:35] spendable it's prepaid expenses you'll see that went up a little bit and we try [36:43] to keep that as level as possible but we had a higher prepaid expense this year and if we account for that basically in [36:51] July 1 that becomes in the available fun balance if we count for that we're within point one percent and projected [36:58] on a like our unassigned fund balance so that's just a very very quick overview [37:03] just because I know I had questions a finance committee as well on that and [37:09] feel free to email me or give me a call if you have any further questions but [37:15] with that I will let Bill give the report and collectively we can answer [37:22] any questions you have we went over this [37:37] in some detail at a board workshop prior to this meeting so what I intend to do tonight is just briefly go through kind [37:45] of the process the results that were in the opinions that we issued as a result [37:51] of that process and then very briefly just touch on a couple of the very high-level financial numbers that we [37:58] talked about in more detail at that finance committee meeting the first thing that I'm required to do is make [38:06] sure to remind you each year what our role was with regard to the reports that [38:11] you received the primary document you received the district's annual financial [38:17] report and supplemental information all of the information the data and [38:23] disclosures that are in that report are the responsibility of district management we come out and perform our [38:29] audit process provide an opinion as to whether it fairly presents your financial position and results for the [38:36] year under audit on addition because the district earns more than seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars each year [38:43] in federal grants you're subject to a separate which you're each was a single audit of those federal Awards [38:49] expenditures so you will see a separate schedule of those in a separate opinion on that schedule we are required to test [38:58] internal controls and compliance on several levels first of all on that financial reporting level there's a [39:04] separate set of controls and compliance we have to test for that federal single audit and you're also subject to an [39:11] audit of your compliance of Minnesota laws and regulations we audit to a guide that's put out by the Minnesota state [39:18] auditor's office for that and then finally because the district has elect [39:23] as elected as many districts do to maintain your extracurricular Student [39:29] Activity accounts what we refer to as outside of board control they're not reported as part of your general fund [39:36] instead you receive a separate report as far as those accounts are concerned [39:42] showing the cash receipts and disbursements for the year and there's a separate report letter on controls and [39:48] compliance for that as well as Margo [39:56] mentioned from a process standpoint I thought things went very well this year I know that Margo Margo mentioned the [40:05] software conversion being a good thing but usually two accountants that's that's not necessarily the word you want [40:11] to hear it all was especially was you're one of the district living that there are all of some of my bumps that you run [40:18] into and despite the fact that you were going through that everything was well [40:23] prepared for the islands records were in good condition other than getting a few things uploaded to the state and some [40:30] some last minute issues with that everything went very smoothly and I think the results of the audit process [40:36] reflect that as far as our opinion on the basic financial statements we again [40:41] issued what's referred to as a clean opinion or unmodified it's the highest [40:47] opinion that we can give we know issues with that report we do have an explanatory paragraph in that opinion [40:54] again this year come highlighting an accounting change you're gonna see if you look at the [41:00] statements this is kind of the third piece of get along implementation you've [41:05] been seeing over the last several years of changes in accounting for pensions and other post-employment benefits a few [41:12] years back you had a change that made you bring in your proportionate share of [41:19] the statewide PG re and tra a pension plan liabilities into your entity wide statements last year there was an [41:26] accounting change under which you changed how you accounted for a small district pension plan that you have [41:32] outstanding and this is kind of the last piece your other post-employment benefits these or other non pension [41:38] benefits you pay to retirees the accounting for that changed this year [41:44] hopefully this will be the last change in a while but when you implemented this [41:49] standard essentially what it did is take your reporting for these liabilities and [41:55] change it from a something where you were amortized that liability onto your [42:01] entity wide financial statements kind of a year-by-year to the same kind of [42:07] reporting you do for pensions where you're now reporting that full estimated liability on your entity wide statements [42:13] so as a result of that change you'll see on your government-wide financial [42:19] statements about a nine million dollar reduction in your reading that position due to that change in the accounting [42:24] principle it doesn't change how anything runs through your fund based statements [42:30] it doesn't change how the expenses paid for them it's just something that is on your ear entity wide statements and all [42:37] kind of show the the difference between those two as we go forward from a financial reporting standpoint we had no [42:45] issues to report either from an internal control or a compliance standpoint I'm [42:51] from a Minnesota legal compliance standpoint there was one compliance issue we reported this year 3 of 40 [42:59] disbursements were paid outside of the five day limit that you have to pay [43:06] invoices that you receive for goods or services as we talk at the workshop I [43:12] think this is something that can be easily corrected procedurally all three [43:17] of these cases or invoices where when the invoice is received instead of going [43:23] directly to the finance department it went to other departments for approval before coming back we start that 35 day [43:31] clock from the point where that invoice gets stamped is received by the district and the ones that weren't going directly [43:38] to the finance department weren't getting stamped so the only thing we have to go by then is the date that was [43:43] on the vendor invoice so if they're you know running those invoices the first of the month and you might not get them [43:50] till the 10th all we can do is start that clock by the data out of that invoice so we suggested talking to Ron [43:57] and Margo and their staff may be changing procedures to make sure those are all getting stamped them to come in [44:03] the door even before they're there going out for the required approvals as far as [44:11] the federal single audits we did issue a clean opinion again this year saying [44:17] that those federal awards expenditures were fairly stated in relation to your overall financial statements we had no [44:24] weaknesses internal control or compliance findings to report this year in fact one of the things that we do is [44:30] follow up on any findings that were reported in the previous year and in [44:36] 2017 in your audit of your federal special education programs we noted that [44:42] you had some issues with making sure that you had documentation for time and [44:48] effort for each of the salaried or hourly employees that you have that you [44:54] claim for federal reimbursement under those grants you have to have additional documentation as to what programs are [45:00] working in in 2017 some of that was was not that documentation was not provided [45:07] we tested the same program again this we tested that and all of the documentation was as it should be this [45:14] year so I'm happy to report that finding was mitigated and cleaned up in 2018 and [45:24] then finally your Student Activity accounts we issued a clean opinion on the cash receipts and disbursements of [45:31] those accounts this report is on the regulatory basis of accounting that the [45:36] Department of Education requires essentially just showing cash receipts and disbursements we do for all reports [45:45] like this we do qualify our opinion that we're only reporting or opining on the [45:50] recorded receipts because you don't have the controls out over the Student Activity accounts that you do for [45:57] receipts coming through your business office also under internal controls and [46:03] compliance for this we did have one compliance issue to report here each of [46:10] these disbursements is required to have an approval approval documented for both [46:17] the faculty advisor over the count that's spending the dollars and a student treasurer or a student designate [46:25] designee for the particular club approving those expenditures two of the [46:30] dispersants we tested had the appropriate faculty sign-off but lacked [46:36] the student approval so something you should try and make sure you have on [46:41] each of those are there questions on any of this before I move along to some of [46:47] the financial information [46:55] could you give an example of what the two disbursements that they lack to prove what what is that I don't remember [47:03] the details off the top of my head but typically these are student organizations so it could have been like [47:09] a student council you know paying for something and you'd have to have a [47:14] signature approving that that disbursements from both whoever the [47:19] representative student representative is for the student council and whatever faculty person is overseeing that and [47:26] the only one that had signed off on that was the faculty I can get you the detail of Margo Academy that gives me an idea [47:32] thank you okay then I will just briefly [47:40] go through some of the high-level financial information that we discussed again at the at the workshop the [47:49] district's primary fund is as general fund at the end of 2018 you had about [47:58] thirty three million dollars in cash in this fund and a total fund balance of [48:03] about thirteen point seven million dollars cash went down by about four hundred and eighty thousand from the [48:09] year before total fund balance went down by about five million one of the reasons [48:15] that I wanted to put this graph up is to just make sure you're aware of a kind of unusual trend that happened for 2018 [48:23] the main difference you see between your year-end cash balances a new year and fund balances is due to the fact that [48:30] your property tax levies are collected on a calendar year and you're operating [48:36] on a July 1 to June 30 year so the first half tax collections that you get in May [48:42] for your 2018 property taxes you have the cash but they don't hit your fund [48:48] balance and they are taken into revenue until the following fiscal year that's why you see if you look at the trend [48:55] there you typically have higher cash balance than fund balance as I mentioned [49:00] your cash went down about half a million dollars where your fund balance went down [49:05] five million dollars this year the main reason for that difference is because of [49:11] the change in the federal income tax code that happened we saw a lot of [49:16] people pre paying their 2018 real estate taxes opening to capture that deduction [49:25] as it was going away in 2018 so a lot of that got prepaid in December of 2017 you [49:32] received it in May so you just got a more cash kind of inflow in me than you [49:38] typically would a higher percentage of your love it was collected with that first half [49:43] so that actually benefitted the district for this year but it's not something that will continue as it goes forward [49:51] looking at the pieces of that fund balance you report four or five separate [49:59] elements of fund balance in the general fund the first category is that a non [50:05] spendable fund balance so this is primarily your kids Inc entirely prepaid [50:10] expenses the reason this went up from about a hundred and twenty nine thousand [50:16] to seven hundred and fourteen thousand this year was primarily because of one invoice that you paid early for your [50:22] July health insurance it got paid on june 30 instead of July 1 so it's just a [50:28] timing thing as Margo mentioned usually that would be getting paid out of that on the sign fund balance as you go [50:33] forward but just happen to cut the check a little early there the unrestricted [50:39] portion of fund balance is made up of those final three categories committed assigned and unassigned committed and [50:47] assigned are earmarked either by the board itself or by your designee on [50:54] essentially these are internal earmarks and for uses of funds that have been accumulated you spent committed fund [51:02] balances down by about 1.9 million from the year before part of that was some federal funding [51:08] received in prior years that was set aside for particular purposes and part of that also as you you changed your [51:15] policy as far as what you are committing for future cash well that was reduced by about a million [51:20] dollars the assigned fund balances were spent down by about two and a quarter million dollars there were two specific [51:27] assignments you made one for a million and a half for next generation program implementation and about seven hundred [51:34] and fifty thousand dollars for bond operational costs that were budgeted to be spent down in fiscal 18 the [51:41] unassigned portion of fund balance can of that residual went down by about 1.6 million so in total as I mentioned your [51:48] fund balance went down by about five million dollars however your budget had [51:54] had the anticipated spending fund balance down by about eight point seven million so overall he ended up about [52:01] three and a half million dollars better in general fund fund balance than your final budget looking at the revenue side [52:12] of the equation and the general fund one of the things that drives the amount of [52:19] revenue you earn as a district each year as a number of students you serve for general education aid you served an [52:27] average daily membership in 2018 of about eight thousand four hundred and fifty-five students when you apply the [52:34] weighting factors that turned into about nine thousand two hundred and sixty-six pupil units your district has been very [52:41] stable over the last six or seven years as far as the level of students you're [52:47] serving your it's typically varies about a half a percent from year to year but you did see a drop for 2018 of about [52:56] twenty-eight pupil U and that's roughly three tenths of a percent in students served for aid [53:05] clarify for the audience 2018 represents our our school year of 1718 yes [53:18] this graph shows your general fund revenue for the prior year current year [53:24] and current year budget I smite my current year 2018 your general fund [53:29] revenue in fiscal 18 was about 111 million dollars you were over budget by [53:37] a little under 1 percent in total revenues about nine hundred ninety three thousand dollars most of that came in [53:45] what we show here as a final other category you collected some donations [53:52] for your Normandale elementary playground you had some higher rebates [53:57] your investment income was a little better than projected because of the market in 2018 offsetting that your [54:07] state aids we're about six hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars under budget mainly due to that drop in the [54:13] number of students that you served as you can see from the graph there as I mentioned most of your revenue does come [54:19] from the first two sources on there your property tax levy provides about 27 [54:24] percent of your revenue and the general fund your state aides make up about two [54:31] thirds of your general fund revenue so from 2017 to the fiscal 2018 your [54:37] revenues did go up by about two and a half percent most of that increase was [54:42] in that state aid category general education aid saw two percent increase on the formula so you got about one [54:50] point eight million dollars in additional state aid an 18 compared to the prior year and then that other [54:55] category also and up due to those additional donations that you had for [55:01] your playground primarily on the expenditure side you spent just [55:08] under 108 million dollars in the general fund in 2018 you were about 7.9 million [55:16] dollars under your budget but that's really kind of misleading it's how basically due to how you're budgeting [55:22] your long term facilities maintenance levy that revenue comes in to the general fund [55:28] if the projects are smaller you spend it in the general fund if they're larger you make a transfer over to your [55:33] building construction fund this year essentially that whole love he got transferred over and spent in a [55:39] different fund so here your expenditures were under but you had a transfer of seven point eight million dollars to [55:44] another fun that basically offset that as Margo mentioned you kind of take that out and you're pretty much right on [55:49] budget from that standpoint [55:58] and to talk just briefly on some of your other operating funds your food service [56:03] fund you spend a little over three million about 3.2 million dollars annually to provide students with [56:10] breakfasts and lunches for 2018 the end of the year with a fund balance of about [56:16] a million dollars in that food service fund you spent that down about a hundred and forty thousand dollars from the [56:22] prior year but you actually budgeted to spend it down a little over three hundred thousand dollars so your [56:28] year-end fund balance is roughly a hundred and sixty five thousand dollars higher than projected in your final [56:33] budget and that ending fund balance in this fund represents about thirty percent of your annual expenditures and [56:40] that fund so that's in a very healthy ending position your community service fund you spend a little over seven [56:47] million dollars a year to provide community education programs to the public I'm at the end of 2018 you know [56:56] the fund balance of about seven hundred and forty thousand dollars in this bond which represents a little over ten [57:02] percent of your annual costs in this fund your fund balance did go up by [57:07] about two hundred and sixty thousand dollars compared to last year about twenty four thousand higher than you'd [57:12] projected in your budget and you will see from the graph that did kind of make a comeback from the prior year in 2017 [57:20] your revenues were down quite a bit for a couple of reasons you were doing some program reorganization and you also had [57:28] some construction going on that limited the classroom space available so you had less program offerings than you did in a [57:34] typical year in 2018 those revenues rebounded nicely or up almost $700,000 [57:41] in revenues in this fund in 2018 now that you're up and running a full program again not pictured here but but [57:50] worth mentioning the capital projects fund we talked about before is primarily where you spend down your building bonds [57:57] that you've issued and some of these long long term facility maintenance dollars that we talked about during 2018 [58:05] the district completed almost 60 million dollars of [58:10] construction projects you still have at the end of the year just under 20 [58:15] million dollars in that fond of unspent bond proceeds and the long-term facility maintenance levy dollars for future [58:22] projects and wrapping up the loans that you have in process then the last thing [58:31] I wanted to go over just briefly is as I mentioned before the statement of net [58:36] position so you kind of had two levels of reporting in your financial statements the fund based statements [58:42] that we just went through and then the entity wide or government-wide financial [58:47] statements and these take all that fund information put them into a single [58:52] presentation and convert everything to a full accrual basis so some long term [58:58] things like your capital assets and depreciation your outstanding bonds some [59:03] of these pension and old pal liabilities that aren't reported in those fund the financial statements are brought into [59:09] this presentation so it gives you a longer-term look at your financial position so at the end of 2018 you have [59:17] a government-wide net position deficit of about 71 million dollars that deficit [59:23] grew by about thirty million dollars from the year before so you can see the [59:28] top piece of this if you can can if it's big enough to read I kind of walked you [59:33] through how you get from your government fund balances that we just discussed to that in that position and you can see [59:40] that the majority of that deficit that we're talking about all of it really is due to those pension and no peb [59:46] liabilities see about a hundred and fifty seven million dollars and liabilities for all [59:51] those plans a little over 30 million of that relates to district specific plans [59:57] the rest of that roughly a hundred and twenty five million or so relates to [1:00:03] your proportionate share of the statewide pran tra which you really don't have any control [1:00:10] over other than the number of people you hire that are in those plans the change [1:00:16] from the prior year was merely in the unrestricted in that position category [1:00:22] most of that 40 44 or 45 million dollar decrease you see there relates directly [1:00:28] back to increases and those pension liabilities which was about 40 million dollars the other piece of that was your [1:00:35] spending down the general fund balance by about five million dollars was that about thirty million dollars a one-time [1:00:43] change part of that thirty million dollar liability is the nine million [1:00:49] dollar change in a peb that we talked about the thirty million I was talking [1:00:56] about is the pension liability and the OPEC liability and your district specific plans you do have a small [1:01:03] pension plan that is districts owned and operated and then the OPA plan which is [1:01:09] also a district specific plan they're separate from the state Y PE re and tra [1:01:14] plan so as it's differentiating those you actually have control of at the district level whereas you don't really [1:01:22] with the PPR and tra plans okay thank you that was everything I have intended [1:01:29] to discuss from a numbers standpoint questions no questions [1:01:38] well okay thank you I think the thanks goes to Margaux who [1:01:44] managed our business in such a way that we had to clean on it and it takes [1:01:51] everybody to be honest even if it's somebody out in the sites that manages $100 or you the school board so I [1:01:58] appreciate the thank you but it does take a whole team effort to include the auditors as well so I'm just gonna weigh [1:02:05] in really quickly too and to do that in the first year of a whole new operating and finance system is pretty impressive so that that's a lot of change that [1:02:12] really smooth things out in the future so a great job to you and a team and thanks for the full review today thank [1:02:20] you alright next discussion items are [1:02:31] policy updates usually a mere runs us through that as oh sorry discussion item [1:02:45] and these are bylaws that we saw before I think at a work session have there [1:02:51] been any changes to the bylaws since we've seen them weren't you gonna wear there's some little things that we [1:02:57] suggested fixes to at our meeting on Wednesday I do it because I just could [1:03:04] yeah how from the document read lines like Sarah does for Paulo sorry Sarah [1:03:10] didn't do it as in you I did it and I did include those and now I can't [1:03:16] remember what you had asked me to do [1:03:24] [Music] I know one here is one though but I [1:03:31] believe one of them was in the middle of the article to purpose you wanted it to [1:03:38] insert or it wasn't necessarily you Sarah we wanted to insert the word board [1:03:44] for approval so the activities the other lacr subject to board approval the other one was under it was under [1:03:55] other F I believe II know it was which [1:04:04] article are you in we're in article six [1:04:10] [Music] had to do with adding one letter e in [1:04:21] article six once the board has approved the positions and priorities set forth by the LA see each la si member will [1:04:28] agree to have his or her name included as a member of the LIC and any communications pertaining to those [1:04:34] positions and priorities that are set out on behalf of the La si including [1:04:40] letters to the editor when letters to legislators or other elected officials and then we the request was to add all [1:04:49] communications will be approved by the board again that's been added great [1:04:54] thank you those those were the only two changes and they were made is there any [1:05:00] other discussion I just wanted to for the sake of the audience and the board [1:05:05] you worked off of your bylaws through your canoe the committee but also through other boards that have lacs do [1:05:14] you want to just give us a little background on that for the basis of the bylaws that you created right two of the committee members [1:05:22] actually did some research on what other communities were doing there's several [1:05:28] districts in the area that have legislative action committees and they [1:05:33] created these and they have also what's not so apparent to anybody who is not [1:05:39] looking at the board book is that they created an LSE policy on membership and conduct which is a little [1:05:47] bit's going beyond what other some other communities do but I think it adds a [1:05:52] great deal okay thank you before we approve them would you like to for [1:06:00] discussion us money we prove that where we discussed them further which you'd like to give the audience and everyone [1:06:08] out there just an overview of the next steps for your committee and what you're planning right so tomorrow morning I'm expecting [1:06:17] to get a questionnaire back from our candidates for the State House of [1:06:26] Representatives 49 a and 49 B and all four of them have agreed to fill out our [1:06:33] questionnaire and we have talked with our communications department and they [1:06:39] will be putting those into our website their questions that were all developed [1:06:46] through the association of metropolitan school districts and so these questions [1:06:53] were presented by that body to both gubernatorial candidates at one of the [1:06:59] meetings that we attended so they have been vetted through that nonpartisan [1:07:05] organization so that people can look for those on our website and they can also [1:07:11] look for those in the Sun current I'm not sure exactly when that's going to be [1:07:17] published probably sometime next week and the next thing after that is that we [1:07:25] are developing a platform so that we can truly advocate for our schools at the [1:07:30] state level and the board is going to be seeing that platform I believe sometime [1:07:37] mid November I think it's the November 13th meeting will be the first time that [1:07:42] the the board will get to meet the committee and the committee can present [1:07:48] for discussion our platform [1:07:55] all right making very much any other questions or discussions on the LEC [1:08:00] bylaws and now we will move to policy updates and aamir usually does our [1:08:05] policy updates do we have a stand-in for him okay so these are there are three [1:08:23] policies and what we are proposing is [1:08:28] stylistic changes on all three so not [1:08:34] much to discuss the only one that has any substantial change is the one for [1:08:41] open meeting law we have added a section [1:08:46] that will say talks about skyping meetings conducted by interactive [1:08:53] technology and meeting may be conducted by interactive technology Skype or other [1:08:59] similar electronic means in compliance with Minnesota state statute 13 D point [1:09:07] O two so we've added that so that was just simply added because it's following [1:09:13] state law it is following state law okay and all the other two policies seemed [1:09:21] like it was it was just the basic for some reason we've changed ourselves from school board to board I was just gonna [1:09:26] ask that question what do you know okay it's totally fine I just I'm curious as [1:09:33] to why we've removed that word it's consistency that that process of redoing [1:09:39] those started before Iowa's on the war [1:09:46] comes from it's an LS b8c small school [1:09:51] districts had that on 206 I understood [1:09:57] that there was some discussion about and agenda items hmm it's not in this [1:10:05] particular draft but I think that there was some discussion about public request for agenda items was do you have any [1:10:13] information on that okay do you have any what do you I'm not sure what you're [1:10:18] asking so the procedures for agenda [1:10:24] items is a a little bit it could have been put together better let's just say [1:10:30] it that way and I know that it's based upon the statute procedure applies for [1:10:36] both the public as well as the kind of public forum area okay I think that we [1:10:48] may see this again they're not subject yeah this is up for discussion but Mossi [1:10:54] 206 [1:11:02] so it's under agenda item procedures 6a [1:11:09] agenda items number one so I believe [1:11:15] that we made the change or we would be suggesting that we make the change by [1:11:20] saying that it is not community members who wish to have a subject discussed at [1:11:27] a public school board meeting I think we [1:11:32] wanted to insert computer D members who [1:11:37] wish to have a subject I wish to recommend to have us that we were going [1:11:42] to add the word wish to recommend to have a subject discussed at a public school board meeting that was a it's a [1:11:50] nuance but then it it's a little more accurate because the chair and the superintendent are the only ones that [1:11:56] are deciding agenda items so I would [1:12:01] just suggest looking at 2:06 a and C under Roman numeral six and there may be [1:12:08] a way of creating some clarity that the some of the rules under a apply to C but [1:12:16] C just kind of sits out there on its own do you have suggestions that you want to [1:12:21] share with the committee right so I would make the procedures that are [1:12:27] listed about recognizing one at a time et cetera those all would apply both to [1:12:32] a and C so you might look at it and go okay 206 agenda items you could have a [1:12:41] request for us to add something and you can have a public forum and both of them will follow this process in the event it [1:12:47] becomes a discussion item and I didn't go through and try to actually wordsmith [1:12:53] it I would just ask you to take a look at the next time [1:12:59] yeah cuz it's coming back for a vote its meaning and if you're good with it [1:13:05] that's great I just want you to just sort of call it out take a look at it and see anything [1:13:13] new on 209 you know they just changed the word school got rid of those nasty [1:13:19] school references alright any other [1:13:26] questions or discussion on policies to a prior 206 to a nine alright so I did [1:13:36] forget to reference we do have a staff recognition so I'm going to take a short moment to note that we did receive a [1:13:42] commendation of Lisa Masika who's the principal at Cornelia elementary a parent wrote in saying that [1:13:48] she wants to let that parent tell if it's a mailer FEMA wants to say how great of a job the principal does at [1:13:54] Cornelia the person is amazed by the positive energy of every single staff member and that principal Masika does an [1:14:00] amazing job so thank you for the submission by the person our community [1:14:06] and now we can go on to action items the first can I get a motion to accept the [1:14:12] financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30 2018 and the report of the accountants so moved second and [1:14:21] Margo I take it that you have nothing to add beyond what we had in the discussion section you're correct I have nothing to [1:14:28] add and does anybody have any questions all those in favor of accepting all [1:14:36] those in favor of approving the motion to accept the financial statements for the fiscal year ending 2018 and the report from the accountants say hi hi [1:14:43] any opposed motion carried can I get a motion to improve to approve [1:14:49] the various employee insurance contracts that are listed and therefore insurance [1:14:59] so moved so I can second alright Margot [1:15:12] this year every other year every two years were required to call for bid for [1:15:18] medical or health insurance and so the district did that for the district plan [1:15:24] and solicited five bids from five [1:15:31] vendors to responding overall Blue Cross Blue Shield on a fully insured plan was [1:15:37] the best option with a nine point seven percent increase over 2018 and a rate [1:15:42] cap of nine percent we don't know exactly what the percentage increase for 2019 the Insurance Committee and finance [1:15:51] and Facilities Committee reviewed these options also looked at again we looked [1:15:56] at self insurance a combination of things we also looked at some additional [1:16:01] planned choices did some work with Blue Cross Blue Shield and our consultants on [1:16:07] excuse me on that and as a result we are adding an additional limited limited [1:16:13] plan network to our menu of options for district medical plan employees and you [1:16:21] can see the detail in your board resolution below this limited network [1:16:26] does have a listing of medical providers that an employee must go to seven as we [1:16:33] looked at last year's claim seventy seven percent of our participants are already on the list in the limited [1:16:40] network so we think that this quite possibly will be a good option for our employees and in any case it'll be [1:16:47] they'll have some choices around okay if I want to open Network I can choose this [1:16:52] and this is the cross but when a limited network this is the cost along with my [1:16:59] district benefit or whatever there's a lot that goes into it we do understand with it as with any open enrollment we [1:17:05] always want to make sure we clearly communicate in any benefit plan [1:17:11] what is available to employees so they make the best decision they can for [1:17:16] their families and so open enrollment is coming up and we are excited about this [1:17:23] additional option for employees which averages a decrease of 2.2 percent so I [1:17:30] would answer any questions at this time when did you have anything else we worked together on this I was the board rep for this and I [1:17:39] actually was really impressed with the fact that the insurance company came back and brought a plan where employees [1:17:48] could for almost virtually keep their costs the same for next year if they're [1:17:53] willing to go into the high value plan so I thought could kudos to the team that that worked with them and the [1:17:59] employees were the representatives of the various bargaining groups we're really pleased with the with the outcome [1:18:05] so it's it nice to hear that our employees are happy I just had a quick [1:18:12] question about the self insurance option is that something that is not on the [1:18:18] table at all for I think we as a district and we talked about it at [1:18:23] length at finance and facilities and an insurance committee and it tends to be an annual discussion but I think we have [1:18:31] to have a conversation about if that's something we want to do it needs to be a [1:18:37] partnership between employer and employees be under with the rates and we [1:18:44] did look at self insurance and preferred one had a proposal for fully [1:18:50] self-insured we need to set it the district up in a position with premiums [1:18:56] from employees but also with our own reserves to be able to manage that risk [1:19:02] and we can do that but I think that needs to be a cover a longer conversation through financial [1:19:08] facilities as well as how we partner that having it a hundred percent on the employee premium to set up those in [1:19:15] reserves may or may not bring that along you think it has to be a partnership [1:19:21] between both and from what we saw in the committee was that the cost was going to be more [1:19:28] to go with the self insurance plus some risk to the district so with most of our [1:19:34] bargaining groups and correct me if I'm wrong we set I mean they're in their [1:19:39] contracts is agreement of what is contributed towards their health insurance in this case so when when the [1:19:48] changes occur you know generally it's it's not directly affected in the contract until they renegotiate their [1:19:55] next contract and I'll just make one more comment and there there are a few complicating components to going [1:20:02] self-insured when it works it can work really well but you have to take a certain reserve level you have a certain [1:20:08] liability level and then you have to have all groups want to participate in it to get that kind of deferred risk [1:20:16] across the the larger populations so those are three caveats and if any one of those there are three pillars and if [1:20:23] any one of those three is out of whack you don't want to go that route so I think the external group and the Finance [1:20:29] Group did a really good job looking through all those options and weighing them so it was a thorough look through it and we can do that every year but [1:20:35] this year it was extremely higher yes and I don't disagree it just it's a topic that tends to bubble up and then I [1:20:43] thought it was your question that's why I went yeah so it's on record that it was those three things all happily lined [1:20:48] up and at least two out of three weren't this year so it's a good option to keep it I just wanted to make sure we had [1:20:53] that status for everyone to understand yeah we did look into it thoroughly and those are the reasons why we move [1:21:00] forward with this option we've been talking about it cuz I think I've been on this actually since I was on that got [1:21:05] on the board so I know we've talked about it for a long time and he acted that the gentleman who is the rapp would [1:21:11] did a very good job at explaining it and and all the companies that did or did not choose to participate it was it was [1:21:18] well done and at this point - we don't have a hundred percent of our district participating in our district program so [1:21:25] you know there's numbers there's lots of different factors that affect it [1:21:32] all right Margot could you help me understand this so we are our insurance [1:21:37] rates are really not going up much I'm seeing in the background paragraph that [1:21:42] it says the BCBS with an overall increase of nine point seven percent what's the the increase of nine point [1:21:49] seven percent about so on our existing plans we have currently with Blue Cross [1:21:56] Blue Shield but it we have a five hundred dollar deductible plan a fifteen [1:22:01] hundred dollar deductible plan and four thousand dollar deductible plan in a fully open network a participant can go [1:22:09] to any medical facility and get coverage and so those existing plans that we've [1:22:16] always always had will have a premium increase on average of a nine point seven percent industry average is six [1:22:24] and a half to eight and a half I believe we're adding an additional option to him [1:22:30] for employees with a limited network plan for with the five hundred dollar [1:22:37] deductible fifteen thousand or fifteen hundred dollar deductible and four thousand dollar deductible and that [1:22:44] limited network plan is actually a decrease from what employees are currently paying okay thank you for [1:22:51] spelling it out so by the way I do think it's great that we're able to offer the [1:22:57] two different plans the server renewal of last year's as well as the limited [1:23:02] network and I know that you'll do a great job I think it's important on the limited network to make sure the people [1:23:08] that sign up for that understand which carriers which providers are included in which are not so that I mean we can [1:23:15] never get rid of the risk that someone will call six months later and go I didn't know that children's wasn't [1:23:21] included or something wasn't included but I think that's a key provision and insurance and coverage is really [1:23:28] complicated I think we agree and we have been talking about that and how we make [1:23:33] sure that that is clearly communicated to our staff great thank you any other questions [1:23:41] all right all those in favor of approving the employee medical employees [1:23:47] surance insurance contracts listed say aye aye any opposed motion carried [1:23:53] next can I get a motion to approve policies 103 and 509 and have there been [1:24:04] any changes to 103 or 509 since last month we were asked to strike three [1:24:13] items out of 103 and that was to make it consistent consistent with other other [1:24:20] policies and so that's the only you know [1:24:26] with 413 so it is that is the only policy change to 103 and 509 is just [1:24:33] stylistic any questions all those in [1:24:39] favor of approving the revisions to policies 103 and 509 95.9 say aye any opposed motion carried [1:24:48] we are on to announcements are there any announcements tonight great all right we [1:24:57] have completed we've completed our agenda are there any objections to adjourn e mr. chair I know we've talked [1:25:09] about starting to include committee updates I don't know if we're okay well [1:25:17] just for teaching and learning we primarily talked about our agenda for [1:25:23] the year and things that we're working on the committee asked for an update as to next steps on a survey for pre-ap 10 [1:25:32] and the fact that the board had requested an embedded honors program within pre-ap 10 for semester two so the [1:25:41] director of teaching and learning will be getting back to us on that overall I'd say that some of our biggest things [1:25:48] this year you know we just talked about middle school schedule and worksession but otherwise we have you [1:25:56] know the usual things on the agenda the one thing that will be earlier this year per the request I know the full board is [1:26:02] our class recommendations so that we don't feel that pinched in January so the first round of course changes [1:26:09] whether they're deletions or additions or revisions would be in November at [1:26:15] committee and then to you guys as a discussion and then we would approve [1:26:21] those in December's giving the the principals plenty of time to prepare catalogs and kids to register I believe late [1:26:28] January early February do you have anything to add as a fellow member Erica [1:26:36] no you did an excellent job providing an update well maybe you should give a [1:26:42] quick update on communications since we just chatted as a group earlier this [1:26:47] evening so Lenny saronite were in charge of communications ad hoc committee looking [1:26:55] at how the board can provide better communication transparency with the community and we just we had seven [1:27:04] community members that met with us over the summer and we came up with a list of around 40 ideas that we paired down to [1:27:13] maybe 25 and we just brought them back to the board tonight our top 25 ideas that were prioritized and we wanted to [1:27:21] get school board feedback and consistent consensus from all the board as to what [1:27:26] we should prioritize of those ideas so we have a good idea of those items that [1:27:33] they like and anything from I think some ideas that really resonated with us [1:27:38] where things such as live-streaming the meetings on YouTube so people can see [1:27:43] the meetings when they're at home they don't have to come here to creating a sort of school board 101 presentation [1:27:50] and maybe video to explain to people what does the full school board do what's in and out what does the district [1:27:56] do so people can understand different roles but there's a lot of stuff that hopefully you'll see some positive [1:28:02] changes and the communication from the school district and and you can if anyone in the [1:28:10] community has additional ideas feel free to contact me or Sarah or Lenny and we'll be glad to put it into our idea [1:28:19] bin so that look for stuff to roll out well after I talked to John about roll [1:28:24] out resources so that's it thank you and then on a strategic plan I know we had [1:28:31] an audience member asked about that tonight and actually the ad hoc committee for strategic plan will be meeting with our consultant tomorrow [1:28:38] afternoon to get an update and reconnect on our schedule for the plan and jump in [1:28:43] Alan and Matt if you have any comments and John of course and I know that [1:28:49] there's been he's been meeting actually with leadership in the district principals he's met with board members [1:28:56] he's working on some one-on-one with various stakeholders in the community [1:29:02] and then we'll we will be working on focus groups community forums where [1:29:08] parents can come parents community members stakeholders can come and share their thoughts on the strategic plan and [1:29:14] then I believe there's also going to be a district-wide survey that will be available as well we're still working [1:29:20] out the details on those things but there will be lots of places to get input from our community as we work on [1:29:26] this strategic plan and I'm sure that the question that was asked tonight by the community member will be just one of [1:29:32] many things that will be addressed in the strategic plan any other thing that [1:29:38] I'm missing Ellen I guess in relation to [1:29:43] one question asked tonight as well as we're also considering which of those agenda items were discussed earlier in [1:29:49] the year that will be folded into the strategic plan and which will require additional conversation and resourcing [1:29:55] and discussion outside of the strategic plan and trying to delineate those two things as well in the next two months because we definitely have a lot to [1:30:02] address but it's got to be done in kind of a complete roll up fashion so I think that I think it's coming together really [1:30:07] well and I think it'll be very metric heavy which is what I think a lot of people wanted to see and I think to [1:30:13] Ellen's who's been a real great from of making sure that we not only have a [1:30:18] strategic plan but that it has an implementation plan that goes with it and they think some of those things where we're getting those direct [1:30:24] questions from the community will really come up in the implementation of the plan now and I think one of the things [1:30:35] from your communications committee was committee updates at the end of the meeting all right so thank you for thank [1:30:45] you for doing that Sarah all right anything else for tonight any objection [1:30:51] to a journeying hearing none we are adjourned thank you