Westonka Public Schools — Transcript

Tuesday, June 9, 2026Analysis complete

Areas of Interest

  • New EMR EMT and Nursing Assistance programs are launching, aiming to fill workforce gaps with $79K in EMT grants and a no-cost partnership with Monarch Healthcare.
  • A Youth Skills Training grant of $99,000 will support vocational programs, connecting students with career paths in machining and nursing assistance.
  • Significant progress reported on school construction projects, including stadium footings, high school interior work, and elementary school renovations, despite minor surprises.
  • The district's proposed FY 26-27 budget maintains a healthy fund balance of 15.54%, aligning with board policy, amidst stable but slightly decreasing enrollment.
  • The West Tanka school board is considering its first AI policy, 'Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence,' establishing guidelines for the emerging technology.
  • Medical insurance benefits for staff will increase by 14% to keep the internal service fund healthy, while dental and life insurance remain stable.
  • The food service department plans to spend down its fund balance on new equipment and facilities, aligning with updated state guidelines on reserves.
  • Over $430,000 in scholarships were awarded to 87 high school students, with the district managing a quarter of these funds.

31 Topics in This Document

West Tanka School Board Meeting Opening

Pledge of Allegiance

Agenda Approval

Announcements

Public Address to the Board

Cross Anderson Construction Report: Stadium Progress

Cross Anderson Construction Report: Site Logistics & Parking

Cross Anderson Construction Report: Field Development & Landscaping

Cross Anderson Construction Report: High School Building Updates

Cross Anderson Construction Report: Hilltop & Shirley Hills Projects

Cross Anderson Construction Report: Courtyard Structural Work

Treasurer's Report & Financial Contributions

Committee Reports

Teaching & Learning Program Updates

EMR EMT Program Certification & Grant Application

Nursing Assistance Program Development & Partnership

Youth Skills Training Grant for Vocational Programs

First Reading: AI Policy 6250 (Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence)

Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Adopted Budget Review

Monthly Financial Reports (May 31, 2026)

Enrollment Trends & Projections

Budget Assumptions & Revenue Sources (State Aid, Property Tax)

General Fund Expenditures & Classroom Allocation

Fund Balance Analysis (Unassigned & Assigned)

Food Service Fund Management & Equipment Spending

Community Education Program Growth & Fund Balance Rebuilding

Building Construction Fund & Bond Sales

Debt Service Fund & Refinance Bonds

Trust Fund & Scholarship Administration

Internal Service Fund (Medical & Dental Benefits)

Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPED) Fund

Full Extraction
  • New EMR EMT and Nursing Assistance programs are launching, aiming to fill workforce gaps with $79K in EMT grants and a no-cost partnership with Monarch Healthcare.
  • A Youth Skills Training grant of $99,000 will support vocational programs, connecting students with career paths in machining and nursing assistance.
  • Significant progress reported on school construction projects, including stadium footings, high school interior work, and elementary school renovations, despite minor surprises.
  • The district's proposed FY 26-27 budget maintains a healthy fund balance of 15.54%, aligning with board policy, amidst stable but slightly decreasing enrollment.
  • The West Tanka school board is considering its first AI policy, 'Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence,' establishing guidelines for the emerging technology.
  • Medical insurance benefits for staff will increase by 14% to keep the internal service fund healthy, while dental and life insurance remain stable.
  • The food service department plans to spend down its fund balance on new equipment and facilities, aligning with updated state guidelines on reserves.
  • Over $430,000 in scholarships were awarded to 87 high school students, with the district managing a quarter of these funds.
Carries

Um, chair moves for approval of the agenda. Is there a second?

Unnamed ChairAgenda ApprovalInitiating the vote on the meeting agenda.

Second.

Unnamed Board MemberAgenda ApprovalSeconding the motion to approve the agenda.

Motion carries.

Unnamed ChairAgenda ApprovalAnnouncing the successful approval of the agenda.

July 13th is a regular board meeting at 6 o'clock right here.

Unnamed SpeakerAnnouncementsAnnouncing an upcoming meeting.

All right, we'll start with the stadium first. Um, there's a ranger greens. That was that was a productive week.

Cross Anderson RepresentativeConstruction ReportBeginning the construction report with stadium updates.

One of the exciting things, we're going to start the footings for the um for the stadium building tomorrow. So it's a that's a good milestone for us.

Cross Anderson RepresentativeStadium ConstructionHighlighting a key development in stadium construction.

Yep. Yep. Soil condition been positive. Weather's been great and we haven't I don't think we've lost the D yet. Um yeah, so we're just fine tuning the the schedule things, you know, things are a little bit a little bit ahead.

Cross Anderson RepresentativeConstruction ProgressProviding a positive update on site conditions and schedule.

So we're just waiting to move a fiber line this week and then that'll begin. but they've been able to stay busy on the other field and you'll see them starting to draw attention to that after really starting next week.

Cross Anderson RepresentativeField ConstructionExplaining the delay and next steps for Fields 7, 8, 9.

Couple surprises, but we're battling through, you know, just couple things, but um like with everything, you know, something always pops up, but I I think we we've got it we've got it handled.

Cross Anderson RepresentativeHigh School ConstructionAcknowledging challenges but assuring the board that issues are being managed.

Yeah. Hilltop and Shirley Hills. We're we're off and running this week and everything is looking good.

Cross Anderson RepresentativeElementary School ConstructionProviding an update on elementary school projects.

and Mr. Chair business I looked at the check register and checks and all seems to be in good order.

RobTreasurer's ReportConfirming the financial integrity after reviewing the check register.

Yes. Well, how exciting to see all this building going on. And I'm here tonight to give you three updates. Um as the buildings are being built, we are building the programs.

MarkTeaching & Learning UpdatesIntroducing the Teaching and Learning report, linking it to ongoing construction.

And what that's going to do is unlock that EMT grant of $79,000 and we can start spending money.

MarkEMR EMT ProgramExplaining the financial benefit of the EMR EMT program certification.

And I think the most exciting piece, Caitlyn Peglo, she's going to be our medical careers um staff member teacher. She begins work here in West June 15th.

MarkNursing Assistance ProgramAnnouncing a significant new hire for the medical careers program.

I just want to compliment Mark. There was a lot of back and forth uh verifying with our attorneys to make sure that what we're setting up is truly in the best interest of our district.

KevinNursing Assistance ProgramAcknowledging Mark's extensive work on program partnerships and legal compliance.

That's at no cost to the district. No cost. Of course, what they're hoping for is to develop new employees.

MarkMonarch Healthcare PartnershipClarifying the financial terms of the Monarch Healthcare partnership, highlighting mutual benefits.

And the amazing thing about this, once we now sign off on the paperwork, this is going to be about $99,000 in grant money over two years for us.

MarkYouth Skills Training GrantAnnouncing a significant grant for vocational programs.

I just want to add just um there's a last minute um agenda item uh the first reading of our AI policy and that's policy 6250 responsible use of artificial intelligence.

MarkAI PolicyIntroducing a new policy for consideration.

good evening board. Um tonight we will be reviewing the fiscal year 2627 adopted budget.

KathyBudget ReviewOpening the budget presentation.

Our district has benefited from stable enrollment. Um, after considering our projected kindergarten enrollment, our typical migration patterns, and the size of our most recent graduating class, we're projecting just a slight conservative decrease in our enrollment this fall.

KathyEnrollmentSummarizing the district's enrollment trends and future projections.

In the adopted budget, we are projecting um an unassigned assigned fund balance of 7,165,000 or 15.54% of the general fund.

KathyFund BalanceStating the projected fund balance percentage.

Yes, I'm glad you mentioned that. Um there there's um there there used to be a rule of thumb that they wanted you to have um no more than three months um operating.

KathyFood Service FundExplaining state guidelines on food service fund balances.