to order. If everybody would rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance. [clears throat] >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. [clears throat] Chair moves for approval of the agenda. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carries. Announcements. Facilities committee meeting uh this Wednesday right here in this room at 7:00 a.m. Finance committee meeting October 8th at 7:30. Policy committee meeting October 12th um at 5:00 followed by the regular school board meeting at 6:00. Are there any members of the public that would like to speak? Said no. Then we'll move on to reports and we'll have the student rep report. Uh Valerie and August, come on up. [snorts] >> Welcome you guys. >> Yeah, thank you. >> Um well, I'm Valerie Mogi. I'm a senior this year at the high school. >> I'm August Lang. I'm also a senior this year and we are your new co-presidents of student senate this year. So, we're so excited to be here today. Yeah, you might remember us a couple meetings from last year when we filled in for George and Edie, but yeah, we're back for good. And I'll start off with sports. Um the football season has started. So far, we've lost our first two games, but we're hoping for the best at Providence um this Friday. Boys and girls soccer play Rockford tonight at home and they're both celebrating senior night. You can kind of get a look at the game from here. And then girls tennis plays donut this week. We have all of our roll out of the roll out the red events for the first like sporting events in new spaces. We had the swim team last Thursday have their roll out the red event. It's a roll like a red carpet rolled out with the red ropes. Um kind of just commemorating our first event in space and giving the community the opportunity to come in and get a look. Um we have girls volleyball playing DLE Container tomorrow and that's their first home game. Hopefully all the construction allows for the gym to be open, but we're hoping for the best of that as well. And this will be their roll out their own event. Then we have cross country um is going to the Norio Young America Lions meet tomorrow and has been having a strong season so far from varsity girls and both JB and boy boys and girls. >> For activities, a lot of our clubs and activities are starting back up again and they're holding interest meetings for the year and it's really fun to see a lot of new faces in leadership positions. We had a really good link crew orientation right before school started to welcome all of our new eighth graders to the high school. And then new this year, student center organized our welcome West Tonka week for the first time. And since it was during the first week of school, we included a friendly greeting from the West Tonka welcome crew in the mornings. And then we had fun school culture building activities at lunches such as a cub stacking competition and a poster for students to write uplifting affirmations for the school year. And then planning for homecoming is well underway. We're working on all areas. Our main concerns right now are finding a new location for the homecoming dance and implementing more staff recognition into the pep fest. >> And now for arts, we have auditions and callbacks for the fall musical leaves are are underway. Um our band members are bringing the hype to home games with their pep band music. And then several students were recognized and received visual arts awards at the state fair over the summer. For academics, we're celebrating record-breaking AP achievements with our high school students taking a total of 447 AP tests last spring, which is an all-time high for our school. And we also had an 84.34% pass rate on these tests, which means a lot of these students earned college credit from our AP classes. And then we had 21 students receiving AP Scholar recognition, 21 received AP Scholar with honor recognition, and 32 students receiving AP Scholar with distinction recognition, which is again an all-time high for our school. >> And then lastly, with construction, the new gym is set to open tomorrow. And then students are enjoying and adapting to the new spaces such as the cafeteria, the revamped hallways, and the new parking lot. >> So that's all we have for you. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Wonderful. >> Lot going on. >> Mhm. >> Start. Yeah. [snorts] >> Um, next we'll move on to the construction report here. All right. We'll get uh we'll start with the high school. So, work in August uh grading the the site, doing all the final the final site work. Um just to the better part, the pictures. >> Yeah, we're a visual school board here. Yeah, we're right on. [laughter] We're basically finishing. We're doing all the finishes, right? >> All right. >> We'll start with the drone. So, this was just taken last week, so it's pretty pretty up to date. [music] Wow. [music] >> [music] >> We're just missing a little bit of grass. >> Is this on our website? >> This um >> put up. [music] >> Yeah. And I just sent it on my [music] [clears throat] >> is that asphalt way back where the dark is where the old >> JB that's like where the discus will be. >> Oh, I see. [music] >> See, we're starting to do footings in the in the center area here. Footings and foundation walls. Is that complete? >> Doing the fencing wall or just football? >> Yeah. Twice, doesn't it? >> I know. >> Unbelievable. >> So, that feels >> Yeah. We're gonna pause for a second as we put the fence around it. >> Um, so just again just some other photos of the front. You can see that the new sidewalk is in. Um, like I said, we're just kind of missing the green grass. The gym, these are from last week, so um, the gym is done. I know they were doing some sound checks in there today, trying to max out the speakers with some Metallica. So, it's all ready to go. >> Um, yeah. Yeah. So, the like the um the kids are saying the first volleyball game is tomorrow night. >> So, the gym's actually opening tomorrow. >> Yep. >> Awesome. >> Um just some some photos of finishing what we were finishing up here. Some of the lower bathrooms are done. LRC school store. Again, these were from probably two weeks ago. So TV studio workshop art band choir in the final two weeks. It's really an amazing thing when you see a very active construction zone start getting cleaned up, finished up, and then switched over. And uh just a really incredible effort by all parties of of uh making that happen. But I [clears throat] think for those parents and staff that were at fast start, you know, we tried to clean the areas and they could see more construction, but they had pathways through. And then you got to orientation night and we gave them greater access into the building, but there was still construction. And then on the first day of school, um, you know, it was it was ready for school. And also I appreciate our staff and our students as we continue to work. And so uh we continue to tile the floors right now. And so our tylers are active at night and on weekends trying to make more progress. And as we did turn over our nursing area, the entrance into it, you go from tile to rock concrete back. And so we'll be working on flooring. The cafeteria has on the north wall. it's boarded because that's going to connect to the courtyard and so you're not going to finish off a war wall that's going to gradually be a much wider cafeteria. And our students and staff have been great about embracing the finished areas, but some areas that are still clearly a construction on the other side. And so I our KA team has been very responsive of making sure that we got a safe environment. I think a lot of people, rightfully so, are very excited about what's been turned over, but they've also shown a lot of grace and cooperation of knowing that we still have work to do. And I'm just incredibly thankful for the West Tanka community because if we truly renovate a high school the way we have, we have to learn through the construction. And I think people, staff, students, parents, everyone's been really great about it. What's our timeline on the courtyard part of the project again? >> End of March, I think, is what it's called out for? >> Yep. >> Were you guys able to get all the footings in or >> Yeah, they're they're in the majority of the footings are in now. The foundation walls are coming up. So, we're we're Yep. We're in there. >> We're calling about the end of October for the pre-cast. Is that >> Yeah, end of October pre-cast come. So, that'll you put the shell of the building up or inside there. Um trying to think what else is on the facing like the little theater that that'll be turned over in December. >> December. Okay. So that'll come ahead of the um the storm shelter area. >> One thing with the east entrance here being worked on is our students get off the bus and they walk around the school to the north doors and they've been great about it. Um obviously you run into inclement weather. you want to have a shorter passage, but I think people have shown again great cooperation through it. It's just you just can't wait for that next thing. And there's some of those conveniences that your bus drop off in the entrance of the building, the wider cafeteria, some additional special education spaces, and multi-use field. We I shared we with the rain, we allowed the varsity team on there today. They'll go back to field four tomorrow, but rather than really um you know, with this rain and that team on it, saving that field a little bit because it's got a lot of season ahead of itself, uh tomorrow we're going to do fencing around it. So, we'll take them off of it again for a few days, get that fencing down, but we're about at the point where they're on that field. And so, that'll be fun for our kids to start being able to utilize some of those new spaces. [clears throat] more just of the storage buildings, front entrance scoreboards. Scoreboard is up. Um the bleachers are up. The last the last bit for the bleachers is the press box which gets set with a crane and that that would that's going to happen at the end of this month. Um the track is going to be straight. We're going to temporarily we're going to straighten the track so that they can use it next year and then the final the final track surface is weather dependent. So it's that's going to happen um next June. >> How does a crane get in there with the track? >> They'll put temp pads down and the crane will actually go on the asphalt and they'll set it set it swinging in that way. Um, we see some primary some of the primary of course those are wrapped up. We're in punch list now. Some photos of the primary school. Yeah. So, both media centers are um are turned over and people are really enjoying that. People are enjoying the windows in the cafeteria at Chirley Hills. I think both recess areas having access of better play areas they're really excited about. And then I think it's just the mechanical systems. So we're going to be starting up the boiler at the buildings here pretty soon and that'll be great to get everything operational. There's still a construction fence around um the playground at Shirley Hills. >> We put it around the We put it around the uh the turf uh just to keep some things from coming on the turf or people on the turf, but also as kids kick kick balls, whatnot, and that grass is trying to get seated. And so that was put around as a temp measure until we can come up with a final >> around grass seed. >> Yeah. >> Oh, not the turf. >> Yeah, the grass seat outside of the turf. >> Got it. >> Um, but we might want to look at adding a little additional fencing just to as a way to protect them. >> All right. It's kind of a It's exciting. get get, you know, the gym is play sports in there now, so that's good. Anyway, it was a >> I think we scrambled to get those bleachers in, but >> yeah, uh you did a really nice job of adding adding labor so they could get those in. So, yeah, tomorrow night will be an exciting exciting night about being able to utilize another real good community space. As uh Valerie mentioned, we're doing something called roll out the red. Becca Nougar, communications coordinator along with Jeff Peterson and Jamie Lungren. Uh what we do is we uh really are just trying to encourage people to come in and see the space and do it sport by sport. And so last two uh no last Thursday was swim and we people get in free for that game. So, it's really meant to get family or anybody in the community that wants or knows someone on the swim team. It's a great time to come. They can see the renovations and because everyone has to walk through the north, they got to see the whole school on the walk in. And as I was thanking them for their cooperation of the longer walk, so many people so positive saying this is great to see. This isn't a problem. And so despite the more steps, people were really appreciative of what they're seeing in the school and um they were really happy. And so this is an event that we're going to do for the different sports. Uh we'll do it for both basketball teams because we know that some people are connected to certain groups of kids or different sports and that's their way of coming in to see the facilities. So, uh, a way to encourage people to come in. And tomorrow will be volleyball's time. >> Are there any pictures with the bleachers in or pulled out or anything? >> I don't have any. We don't have any show, but >> they're in and they're working. >> Yep. >> I heard the sound system sounds good. >> I'm going to go up tomorrow and watch watch it. >> Yeah. >> Yep. We're We're excited. So now we as we cross as we cross one finish line now we set the next finish line of pushing for the next things and um we're going to do some asphalt work over MEA and MEA is kind of a time without kids that we'll try to get get after some of those open areas a little bit and do that again over winter break. Otherwise it's trying to find those zones that are more construction zones that we can work in. as you know, as the school year starts and I'm getting getting used to the routines again and it's going well. >> So, you said um the front entrance doesn't have the doesn't have grass sod, >> right? Yep. And that that'll be going in. I think they're just finishing up the irrigation systems now. So, that'll be coming in. >> And then once the sod's in, is the front is the north entrance complete? Complete? >> Yep. Yep. Yep. So, they're um Yeah. Yeah, I think we have we might have a little bit of um asphalt [snorts] work to do out in the parking lot, but overall I we have for example the the north lot we called to be reclaimed and paved and that is um something that we're holding off with the construction. That'll be a next summer process. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Y Ralph treasurer's report. We begin with Blackbod Giving Fund, West Tanka High School, $20. The other family foundation, West Tanka High School, $9,000. The Family Foundation, West Tanka High School Student Senate, $5,000. Westona Lacrosse Boosters, West Tanka High School Girls Lacrosse Club, $4,97912. Taylor Family Foundation, Westa Wings, $5,000. Gina Roberts, Mount Waka, class of 1975 scholarship, $1,000. Lauren Davis, Mount Waka, class of 1975 scholarship, $1,000. And Hilltop Families, Hilltop Family Climate School, Hilltop Primary School, $1,280 and total year-to- date gifts total $49,54245. Mr. [clears throat] chair and fellow board members. I looked at the check ledger and scan the checks and all seems to be in good order. >> Thanks. >> Teacher learning. >> All right. You can see everyone again. I have three updates for you tonight. And adding on to what their student reps had to share. Um we've launched our nursing assistance program and you saw some pictures of of the new facilities. But I want to point out tonight um Caitlyn Pglo, she's our medical careers teacher. And then Elizabeth Sha, she is the registered nurse from Monarch and Monarch Healthcare is our partner. Those two are just a dynamic duo. They just hum and work so well together. And so, you know, we're into our second week and I was just meeting with Caitlyn today and asked her how are the kids doing and and what's happening? They said, "Well, they were really quiet the first two days trying to understand what this is going to be." And then she said by Friday last week, they were just a buzz and excited about things. And um this these are the updated pictures of when you walk in there now, it is done. We have our classroom to the right. We have the nursing assistant lab to the left. And they're they're getting going. And so it's really exciting. And so for those 16 students that are in the program, it's going to be a very special year. >> Did you guys eat up all the grants already? >> Oh, no. Oh, no. We were we're measuring that out. Okay. >> We're measuring that out. And then um you know we also have the EMR um course that has launched and we use the classroom and as you know we're still working on the ambulance lab area and this is the the EMR EMT area lab area and that'll be ready soon and so they're going to get by in the classroom right now. But again there's 19 20 students in that course and >> there's 16 in the nursing one and then another 20 in the >> Yes. Yes. Yes. So it's it's great you know you know two and a half years ago this was on paper and here we are. Um it's being implemented. So it's a really good thing. So I want to give you an update on that and then I wanted to to take a little bit of time tonight and and just give you an update you know where we are with artificial intelligence and we have a formal implementation of AI here in the district and I I'll start here in 2526 as as we've talked there there isn't mandates there isn't guidance there it's really up to each school system to figure out what this is going to me and and how is this going to look and and what I want to point out um tonight with all of you is that first of all AI is not going away and so to me let's define it let's articulate how we're going to approach that and that has been the work uh that we're doing and and as we've started this work in a very formal way last year we always have talked about making sure student learning is centered. That's the center of everything that we do. And we hear a lot about in different places, well, what happens to critical thinking and problem solving and original thought? Those are hallmarks that we're not going to like. So, wherever AI goes or whatever is happening here in this district, it's it's student centered and it's about student learning. And as you think about those things, when we have come into this year, this fall, we ended the last school year with developing guidelines for students and staff. We have procedures and processes in place that our administrative team used. And then as a school board, you passed an AI policy. All of those things are the girders are the supports the foundation that we need to do well in this this ever evolving area. This year, starting this year, we have developed a West Tanka district AI cabinet. very intentional working with Kyle Hugamine who is the chair and then we have representation from the different buildings and their job is to guide us is to lead us to be on top of these changing waves that are coming into the shoreline with AI to make sure that we do things right around safety around instruction around making sure on the right side that we just don't use any AI tool that comes our way. We're becoming very detailed about embedded tools, tools that we're confident that we understand where the student data is going. We understand how data is being used and that we only use vetted tools that has been uh approved through this cabinet that didn't exist last year and so thankful that we have that now for this school year. the the other two things that I'd mentioned for you, the cabinet has developed a just a onepage outline of the different pieces around AI that we're focusing on. But what I want to emphasize for you tonight is on the right side. Everything the cabinet is doing, everything we're doing in our buildings is rest on three pillars. First pillar is safety and security and that really is centered around the student data piece that we feel comfortable. we understand where student data is being used and how these tools and companies are protecting that data. The second pillar is ethical decision making and that's not only for students that is for staff also that how we use AI needs to be done in very strategic ways and again we have turned uh Gemini on for staff it is not turned on for any students here in the district we can't control what happens at home but we can certainly talk with our students and give instruction around use of AI at the high school level for example And then the other pillar is continuous learning. That we're going to have to constantly be aware and be thinking about everything that's coming our way with AI. How does it impact our classrooms? How does it impact our students and their learning? And that's what the cabinet's doing. And then with our training this year with staff, a big focus will be on this H AIH framework. So, and you maybe have seen this, and this is where you're going to have an idea. Many people are going to use an AI tool to help enhance that idea, but in the end, you can't stop there and copy and paste something into a document. We got to talk about in the end, you need to look at what's being created, make sure that is accurate, make sure that is in your voice, make sure that represents exactly what you want it to do. So the bottom line is this um is that we are we are after this. We are on top of what AI is creating and how it impacts our students and our staff. We have a a formal process in place some structure that whatever is going to come our way. We all know six months from now I'm not sure what it's going to be but we have processes in place to address those things. and it's really about keeping our focus on on student learning. So, I'll keep updating you on these fronts because I think it's going to keep changing. It's going to keep changing. [clears throat] First, I appreciate all the time that you've spent over the last two years probably now on on this. So, I think that I'm I'm proud that we're on top of it, that the district is on top of it. we've we've engaged with the right people and professionals um >> experts in this area and so forth. >> It's good to see that the cabinet is now in place. >> Yes. >> Um hopefully that they um understand kind of their role and their responsibility and understand the gravity of and the weight. This is not a a volunteer >> kind of thing. Um, but I was curious if um if you're aware of how other districts are handling this from a like are they establishing their own cabinets uh or working groups that are kind of the spearheading this for their districts? And and if so, are there opportunities where our cabinet can be working with other districts cabinets at other districts to try and because we're all in the same >> we're all we're all in this together, right? So, >> yeah, great question, Brian. I first of all, I'd say this. It runs the gamut from districts that they have a lot going on and I would say we're more in that end >> and there's others where they're just trying to figure it out and I think they're in a very reactive mode. That's not a good place to be. >> There is there has been um it's been developed in the last three years a consortium of school districts that are working on this and and there is a consortium across the state of Minnesota that we're a part of and then there is another that it's just Twin Cities districts, not all, but some of our bigger systems and we're invited to that table also great to really collaborate, share, think about how do we do this work because there's a lot of learning and a lot of collaboration that can be happen. So yes, that is happening great and we are very open >> to collaborating with other places. Have you read any of the stuff about the federal government saying that it should start slowing down with AI? I mean, do do you see them getting involved and trying to override states on on where their AI programs are are going? >> I think I I think the question that you asked here, Gary, there AI can be very humbling. you can say someone that would say um the the balance between uh the conversations right now that are happening in the nation in the state in a local district at the university levels um the thing that I'm really proud of that we have is transparency that this is a conversation in our district and what did we push forward first and foremost is the safety of our kids safety of data safety of our employees. We want to make sure that AI is is a reality here, but if we don't define how to utilize that reality, everyone else is going to define it. And so we're aware that this fast and moving and it could come from the state or it could come from the federal or it could come from other sources. But as that continues to take steps, we really have to engage. And I think we've engaged with a framework of how do we connect our staff? How do we continue to update families? And different people are in different places with this. Some are very excited about the tool and some have concerns about the tool. And we're really trying to make sure that learning and safety that we do that in a coordinated way that we're true to the benchmarks that we measure kids, but we can't ignore it. And so I I think we've had many conversations and I don't care if you're at a a very well thought of university or if you're in a local district, teacher to teacher, professor to professor, if you don't call it out, everyone's going to be in a different place. I can speak from a firsthand account that some classes at the university you need to be using it. Others you can't use it. Same university, same department, two different people. and we just need to be able to come up with certain structures. And so I'm fully prepared in the months to come how fast this is moving. We might hear things like regulation from whether it be federal, state, other places. But I think we have a group now and a foundation that can take that input and start working with it versus not having these mechanisms in place. So, I' I'd uh really compliment Mark and that group of knowing that we got to be humble. We got to keep this conversation going. We got to be attentive and we got to be prepared to pivot when it comes. But I think you definitely can't ignore it. Uh that would be a real costly mistake because then everyone else defines it and we have to make sure that we're coordinated on our key principles and I think that's some of the work that's been established. I have a question mark. Uh early on when when we've been to the seminars and you had given some talks and heard some other things going. >> Yeah. >> We had initially made um reference to claude as being the one tool we will eventually migrate to because of student security and information that kind of thing. They seem to be the best choice. Has that changed at all or is that it we modified that or are we not proceeding? It's Gemini. >> Okay. >> Is for a lot of important reasons, but the most important one, it is a part of our Google suite. And and now we're actually migrating from the free version of Google to a paid education enterprise version of Google. And it comes with a whole bunch of different AI securities and checks and balances, >> but only for the staff. >> Only for the staff. >> Correct. So that will have a group of sweet you know a specialized application sub suites of Gemini that the the school or the district will be using. Is that correct? >> Um I I can't I can't say a a suite or or a separate piece of um like a subcategory of Gemini unique for education. What I can tell you is that there's going to be more security measures put into the actual Gemini tool that school systems can use to track and understand how it's being utilized by by staff. Do you foresee a time or obviously not a date we pin it down to or anything but you see a time that there'll be a migration that we'll actually come and announce that Gemini is the system we have we are going to be using. We are going to enclose now and migrate to that system and then proceed from there. It's it's not going to be as black and white to be very very upfront. Uh Gemini is a part of the Google suite and and what I'm getting at is maybe even two years ago we had we thought these very specific AI tools like clock like chat GPT like Gemini but as we've progressed over the last couple years AI is just being infused into every tech tool. So now we're actually migrating more and more to when we vet tools. It may not just be AI tools, it's all our tech tools because AI is baked in. So to say that Gemini is going to be the well it is it is a tool that is the built into our Google suite. That is the main tool that staff will use. But there's other tools if they are vetted they're allowed to use also. >> How will that affect the student population? I mean as far as you know that obviously they'll be as we migrate more and more to this and we start using the systems >> assignments are going to be made within you or using those systems. >> How are we going to focus the students and kind of direct them to the AI tools that the district wants them to use? Well, we're not going to be recommending tools for them to use. Um, we're not turning on AI tools right now, today, this year for students. Uh, what we will be doing is talking about, for example, in the lower leftand corner, um, I call that an AI scale. So, you take you take, um, a high school student. you know, we're not we're not going to be able to control nor do we want to control what they're using on their phones, personal computers. And that we will talk with them about when it's time to write a paper, we'll be able to quantify and identify to what level do we allow the use of AI. And again, won't be on our district devices, but we will instruct them on that. That is honestly where the training and the learning and the professional development is right now versus not talking about it with our students, not talking to them about what's my expectation as your instructor on the use of AI. We want to we want to articulate with them what level and how do we expect you if you are going to use AI it can be done in an ethical way. That is where the learning is right now. And we and like Kevin was saying, you know, we want to alleviate a situation where it's one teacher over here, they don't talk about it or use anything. And over here, it's it's the full cart use as as you want. We need to get consistent across our staff of how we're going to communicate expectations. And the AI scale as an example is right there is one way of helping not only staff but our students understand how and what's expected of the use of AI. So for this year for student use of AI, right? >> We're it'll be still kind of somewhat open. In other words, a a teacher whatever whatever status they have on AI, whether they're using it a lot or a little, >> they we will kind of focus them on when they do give a homework assignment to provide information on how they want the assignment done from an AI's perspective. Is that >> I again and I don't mean to make it complicated. Um what what I would say is this is that I think staff middle school and high school are aware that AI is available at home on phones and wherever you know you can access that that we already are in discussions with staff and through staff trainings already started this year um structures have begun. Are they finished? No. But structures and communications among grade levels that departments have already started about how we are going to articulate the the use of AI with assignments. That's the best way I could could share. And I guess the most important thing to communicate is that that's an active conversation that we're having and we're not ignoring that and that we're not coming in sort of the school year blind, not talking about it. But everything takes time to build to the level that you want it to build. We've started that building now. So I I feel very confident I can come back to you mid year and talk about and this is what the build is. >> So that's what I mean. So say this 12 month period, this school year, >> next 24 months, next 36 months, >> we will continue to finetune. >> Absolutely. >> You know, as we say in woodworking, we creep up on the dimension because we're not sure exactly how it's going to go with everything else. >> Yes. >> So Mark, do you have a vision or a plan? I guess I'll say plan. >> Yeah. um for when you would activate a tool like Gemini for the students to use. And I just I only ask and I know this is evolving and I know there's >> not crisp answers to all this but you know we talk about >> the human AI human framework you talk about some of the ways where we're acknowledging that this is used in the home but yet I think like what Kevin was referencing at some of the universities there's a disconnect I think just as a parents just by observation. Yeah. >> of children in my school here, >> there's a little bit of a disconnect, I think, from teacher to teacher. >> And just even to some degree what is accepted and what isn't >> and it still feels a little hard even for me to manage and for my spouse who's a who's a teacher here to manage at times. And so I think of it and this is probably an overly simple example, but you know, we have the internet, right? students have access to the internet at home and their own browsers, but we control it here. We have our own means of controlling it. And so at some point it feels like if if we're going to abide by these frameworks and we're going to have AI as part of the classroom, then we need to have the tool that's monitored and approved or filtered or I don't know whatever the proper word is to sort of be able to engage with that tool in the classroom as well. So we sort of escaped this idea that like the use of AI by itself is cheating for example because just like using the internet there are ways to use it productively and there are ways to use it and cheating and so and it's okay this is not meant as a critique this is more as a like >> I think at some point it feels like I I hope the vision is we get to that place in the future I couldn't tell you the appropriate time or time >> frame I think you did a really nice job of beginning the conversation though of now it take 200 staff members and the programs and a lot of curriculum that's coming together and they're trying to process it. There's some deep things to process. One is again safety first and foremost. And so rather than let's try this, >> it's we really take a lot of care and caution to make sure our kids data etc is safe. Uh secondly, it's really trying to have some deep solid conversations of what is core to learning that should utilize tools >> and what is bypassing what's important for these kids to learn if they become so dependent on a tool. >> And so these are conversations whether it's through the cabinet. It's not just oh did anyone see now you can do this. I think there's some really deep conversations of how do we make sure that our kids are progressing the way they should and um you just you really um you challenge yourself for the wisdom of making sure that you're taking those appropriate steps. Sometimes slow and steady wins the race and sometimes you have to be wise enough to say this is a time to really pivot. But I think some of the how this is being built is one, there's transparency, there's communication, there's coordination with your staff as a whole. Then you find some of your leaders in your building to start representing the idea. You network with other school districts of how they're processing this information and you start bringing that information into steps. So your audience isn't a salesperson. you definitely collect that information, but that's not what's guiding your direction as a sale. We offer this tool now, but it's really hovered around some of these deep conversations of the principles that Mark is going. And so I I think some of this conversation gets a little bit um it's a little bit nebulous at times because what I'm thinking this is could be very different than what somebody else is thinking this is. And then there's emotions around it of some of that's exciting and some of that's scary for the different reflections. And I think for a school district there's a real call out for stability and strategic steps. And I I that's our push right now. And so >> I I think it's a it's a it's a great challenge for us, but I think we're going about it the right way. uh trying not to do this in a quiet committee, but trying to involve our staff, communicating with parents where we're at with it, and then continuing to collaborate with others to make sure we're ruering as well as we can. >> Well, right. I think what to me what this full discussion gets back to is that third pillar, which is both on the left and the right sides at the top, the continuous learning, right? I mean and it talks about a culture of what is that iterative growth am I reading that word right >> where best practices evolve and evolving best practices and the challenge is that Kevin said we're looking for some sort of sense of stability >> with a product or you know whatever you want to call AI that's rapidly rapidly changing I mean just look at the news in the last month now you got AI leaders saying hey we got to slow this down you know and and interestingly so I mean I think that's to To me, that's a key part is that it's this is not going to this is not a one-year process. This is an ongoing >> and that's why this is so important. It's like framing a house. A framed house, a stick built house is not a house yet. But without a framework, right? You cannot have a house. And that's exactly why you're you're you're actually putting, you know, exactly the the steps we should be doing are exactly what you're doing here is making the framework first because all the things we have to attach to the framework are still yet to come. >> Right. Exactly right. and and and Brian to your point I I understand your questions and you know this this is an area right now focus that it does feel like you cannot run fast to figure it all out and then you want to do it right and you want to be very we're a district that's very pragmatic with our work so it it u this just takes conversation and discussion >> and I don't I didn't want my comments to be interpreted critique I I'm just more >> sort of trying to I I understand the boil the ocean sort of feeling that this must have. Well, in not too long from now into the future, >> um, colleges are going to expect that students will be able to effectively use AI in their work, especially in certain like business areas of business, certain areas of science and so forth. And so that's in the future. between now and then we have to get from acceptance to embracing this tool, understanding how to use it. But I think that there's an opportunity for our students to differentiate themselves from other students. Yes, >> it there will be a period where we can they can be ahead of other students in learning how to use this these tools especially like I said in certain certain disciplines. >> Yeah, I agree and I think you know so I work in small company and I think two years ago to your point using AI to assist in your job there was this notion it sort of felt off. it felt like I'm doing something wrong. And the company I work for now and I think many corporations have done this but they have leaned into it and almost encouraged the use of it but then as along with that they sort of roll out you know individual guidelines. Just today our CEO had a call about Zoom meetings and the the chat feature or sorry the transcripting feature on Zoom meetings and he basically said hey by the way everybody you don't need we we should not have transcripts of every single call that we do because things can be taken out of context and so let's be mindful check settings like let's really you know and I just thought oh wow you know and so I guess I'm sort of thinking in that way when I'm thinking about our school here but I think the hard part is we haven't gotten to a place yet and I think that's totally appropriate and fine. We haven't gotten to a place yet where we want to activate a tool for the students. But I do think it's a little awkward or it's going to become more awkward maybe is a better way to say this >> to talk about AI but then >> sort of not embrace the students having access to a tool that we think is the right thing for them to be using and then having classes and training and teachings within our sort of way we think AI should be done whether it's Gemini cloud chats whatever or something else we invent I don't know but you know um anyway that's just >> and I I hope that's not meant as a >> go change it tomorrow But but for September 2026, I'm I'm very happy we have a district c AI cabinet. >> We have some structure. We have a framework we're developing and we're going to continue to build on that and we'll adapt as things evolve with all of us in society with AI. Just one last question. Just um >> are computer science classes do do they teach are they getting into how to how to code with AI and how to create bots? >> Not that sort of thing. >> Not yet. Not now. >> That that would be your by coding. Um >> what's it called? V coding. >> It's called voding. We're not we're not there yet. Probably in the future, but >> Okay. So, when do we have to start staffing up for this? >> I know exactly. We're grants to do classes. We'll see. So, I'll continue to keep you um updated and we have our quarterly TL meetings that we can go deeper into things and I just send um you know with with the day-to-day work. Uh October at the October scoreboard meeting I'll have all our state testing results for you, a little bit of analysis and um there's a new reading MCA4 assessment that was done this spring. So, I'll come with all those results. They're being released at the end of September. So, I'll have all the data for you at next next. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for taking on our question. >> Thanks, Mike. Now, we're all real comfortable. >> Nothing. All right. Um, good evening board. I have just a brief um financial report for you tonight. And I'll start off by um touching on the topic of enrollment. Um we've obviously uh completed our first week of school and the uh chart book before you gives a recap. Um the column on the far left is how we finished um last school year. So our actual count was 2452 students. The middle column is where we had anticipated or what we budgeted our student count to be. We knew we had a smaller kindergarten class. we knew we had a bigger senior class exiting. The um column on the far right is our first day of school enrollment. Um 2455. So at the first day count shows that we have gained three students over last year and 26 over our um adopted budget. Um each year, uh schools statewide have to submit a very um detailed October 1st count and I think this the state chooses October 1st because there's a lot of cleansing, a lot of verifying that happens in the month of September. Um for example, if a student moves and they and they don't notify us, we will keep them on our books. Um obviously touch base with the family. Um but we do have the opportunity to leave those on our books. So again, we [cough] see that [clears throat] um some of those students cleanse out. Um and so um more to come, but overall we're very pleased with our um first day of school enrollment. So um and again, just one other note, our kindergarten is a little bit smaller this year at 159. >> What was that last year? >> Uh 190. >> Yeah, we 191. >> We usually plan for 170 every year. So, it's quite a bit smaller. >> Yeah, it is this year. And I'm not 100% sure, but I think that might be some of the co I think our 2026. I don't know. >> I think the big an interesting thing that we ran into this year is we had more families than usual that had the option of sending them or keeping them. And we saw a trend of more families holding him back even though they could have sent them on to kindergarten. And so it'll be interesting next year if that becomes more of a trend or if we have a larger K class next year. We're not talking a lot of families. This could be 10. >> That was more that makes a pretty big shift for us. And so >> you're talking like their birthday kind of. >> Yeah. Their birthday. So they had the option and it used to be that people would kind of encourage them to go if they could early. Yeah. >> And now we're seeing a little bit of a with a small group, but one that we noticed that was above what the we've seen in the past. >> Yeah. And we very carefully track our our age zero to age four. And so we get birth records from the county by zip code and then as um students participate in early childhood family ed or you know preschool um adventure club, we track those. So, it will be interesting that four-year-old group to see if there's a bubble um into next year. So, all right. Um financial data through August 31st. Um as you recall, the summer months are quieter. Um the expenditures will beef up in September now that everyone's back. uh revenue through the end of August is we have um received 2 million 291,000 or 4.9% of our budget expenditures. Um our 1,655 or 3.65 against um usually starting off small and and at this point leaning on our adopted budget um seems to be in line. Um each year school districts need to certify their proposed lovey. So we're end of the lovey cycle. um we need to do that and provide that information to our home county auditor by September 30th. Um and as you recall, historically we um approve the lobby at maximum. And what that does is it allows um if the state department has corrections and approved alignments that can be done without having to have another board meeting. Um we'll um have them um cleanse that information um throughout the end of the month, send that to our home county auditor. We will have our truth and taxation hearing on December 7th. Again, that information will go out um and the counties will send out the proposed tax statements and um this action item to have the levy approved at maximum will be on your agenda later tonight. Um we have the audit still in progress. We have just a couple, you know, two or three items left to finish up. Um we feel like it's went really well. Just wrapping up on a few items. Um and uh again they'll be here next month. We do have the our schoolboard finance committee meeting. Uh three main topics um other than construction that's been an added um topic but um again number one is the audit. Number two we will have much more detailed levy information. And then lastly again much more detailed enrollment information. So we'll um we'll be meeting um early next month. And that's my report. Any questions? I got a couple pictures. And so I um I wanted to uh [clears throat] uh as as this gets booted up, we wanted just to show you a few of the the scenes when you go to the first day of school. I think the the meaning the meaning of what we do through a couple pictures really shows itself. And it's not it's not just the students, it's not just the staff, it's not the parents, but it's the place of schools in our community. And it's really the heart of the community. It's where parents get to know other parents and you get friendships as you raise your kids. It's where kids meet friends and they start becoming the people that they are. You see a lot of people from the community to teachers that have this passion for this joy of raising these kids [clears throat] and there's something so incredibly powerful there that we get because that's our job to get caught in these details. If you broaden it out sometimes you see the p pictures of what school is and school is community. School is really us holding up what we value the most, which is children and their well-being and their growth. And knowing as a parent, we can't do it on our own. We're the key piece of it. But we got to entrust with friends. We got to entrust with other caring adults. And we give them these opportunities. And you see this pride and this confidence. And you see these strides and setbacks and you see this perseverance of moving forward. And it comes in this environment through these different ages that start so innocent, sometimes a little awkward, sometimes we're changing, but we continue to establish and develop as we go in through these grades. and that we live in a community that invests into our buildings to make this be a place where we want that this board supports our staff in really doing our best work. I just come back to these smiles and I showed you one picture of each. It's not you're not going through a ton of slides, but that's really the heart of what this all is. And I just want to thank you as a school board because our school board definitely feels direction. They feel support. They feel challenged. But they feel a lot of pride. They feel a lot of pride to say, "I'm from West Tonka." And our parents feel pride saying they're raising their kids here. And when you go to a football game or you go to these different activities now that have begun and they come in, it's really a special place. And so, um, this is where now I'm encroaching on 30 years of a place. and it it becomes something so much deeper than a job. It's it's really it's a cause. It's a meaning. It's purpose. And I just um very very thankful. Uh our agenda this September usually is pretty light. You'll see there's a position for food service. There's a pair professional. Uh there's the levy. Uh next month we do have our audit. Um very thankful for our finance team, our finance committee. Um [clears throat] we we're going to have a we believe a very good report for you. Uh we talked about construction of coming in these doors and you I just go back you see the girl with the patch that's on the turf at recess and you look at some of the places that kids are just so excited about being on right now and it's it's absolutely fantastic. But when I say the excitement matches the grace, it really is like people have shown West Hanka's [clears throat] best through this whole process and I don't take any of that for granted, but the end result is really going to be spectacular. Uh so construction updates, you're going to continue to see us make progress and the grand opening of all this is going to be next September. can't wait. But we we continue to push and take those steps and they're big positive changes. Mark talked about and we continue to talk about these new programs of nursing and machining and construction trades. We talk about AI and I I think back of some of my my early years here and we had a we had uh in our media center at the time we just opened computer labs when I came here and it really was and I I share this I shared this when we were doing our bond. I came in 97. In the 93 bond, they were talking at the middle school, should we put a telephone on each floor or in each classroom? And now you look at what we're talking about AI. And along the way, people will bring up things of whatever happened to this class, why don't we teach that anymore? And then we keep on talking about new things we're doing. An example is cursive. You know, there's a longing of do we teach kids still how to write, physically write? And we say, well, we do a lot on the keyboard now. And you ask about things like as technology continues to advance, what is the appropriate example of cursive or what's the appropriate thing of bringing nursing in? And those are some really wonderful discussions, but I feel very thankful it's in a constructive place. And the constructive place is it's doing it what whatever we can for the best of them and that's the forefront of it. What can we do that's best for them versus maybe what's easiest or what costs the least or what what's the best that we can do for them. And it's a great rudder. It's an important rudder. It takes a lot of discussion. Sometimes it's very frustrating, but I I'm really thankful for our group. And so we're really excited about the school year. We're in a very stable place. We have some great relationships in our community. We talked about safety.