I'd like to call the August meeting of the Westona School Board to order. If everybody rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance 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. Chair moves approval of the agenda. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Announcements. August 13th is Wednesday, our facilities committee meeting, 7 a.m. right here. September 4th, finance committee meeting. September 8th, policy committee meeting 5:00 pm um in the conference room A. And then the regular board meeting to follow. Are there any members of the public that wish to address the board? Said not, then we'll move on to the uh construction report. Jason, >> that's right. I'm excited to be back. So, um looking forward to it. I think I met everybody in here. >> We've not met Bill. He was here as part of the pack and the whack. >> Yeah. >> What happened to our other guy? >> So, um I was doing the pack in the whack. Um different kind of career path took made some changes within KA. Dustin Kemp was the senior PM here through this project till now. Um he recently left KA to pursue different opportunities I guess with a different firm. Um so the last week or so, two weeks maybe, I've got to spend a little time with him and try to get my head wrapped around where everything is at. And so, um, today we're going to during the update, we're going to talk a bit about the phasing plan. I know there's been some modifications maybe to that. We feel like we've done some work over the course of the last week and a half to present to you a phasing plan that we're comfortable with kind of moving forward through the rest of the phases and then do the update. And Eric's here because, like I said, I've been here a week and a half. So, if I'm a question comes up that um I maybe don't know, um, we'll we'll make sure we get the answers to you. So, So, this phasing plan, um, we'll talk just a bit about that. I know there's been a few renditions of this, um, the phase one area. Um, the classroom additions. Um, we're looking at turning over uh, November of this year. Um, so we're working through a lot of those pieces now. If you're out, you can see the slab on grade was recently poured. They're starting to frame some of the exterior walls, which it's a footing to parapit uh single stud framing. So, that'll allow us to get the roofing and those components put together. So, it's nice to see some of that stuff go in, get us off of the dirt, and start to enclose that area. Um phase two, um right now it's our critical path. It's the areas that we're turning over here the end of the summer for classrooms. Um, work still to be done here over the next few weeks, but we're confident that we're going to get it in and ready for the kids to come back at the end of this end of this summer. Um, a couple of areas, maybe back to that phase one, a couple things that we've talked about with Kevin and others is trying to turn over or potentially turning over the stairwells sooner if we can. Um, my understanding is that shop drawings were just recently approved, so we'll work that into the schedule. we would didn't want to show it or call out that we would turn those over sooner, but we think there's opportunities to improve on some of those dates in those specific areas. Um, doing so would take some relief off of that uh phase 8 purple corridor that we're looking at that we'll talk to here in a minute as well. Um, with that being said, when we get into phase three in that administration area, um, we're showing that working through February. Um, another area is that main entry. That's an area we think we can likely turn over sooner. Um it's just as it falls in into all the components. Um we're showing it to that February date. But um we're confident that that's going to be something that we'll try to improve on as we move forward. >> If we um when he speaks about the north entrance, that's what he's talking about trying to get that before February. And right now everyone will enter through the cafeteria or through the courtyard. It will be the entrance. So that'll be the main exit. an entrance for events and for students. Uh when we can get that north entry, we want it. Especially when you think about winter, uh inclement weather, you think of different sporting events, people having to navigate down to the gyms, more people. And so, um we appreciate that being prioritized. Um then we move into phase four as we're getting ready to start that that work here in September. Um and that looks to go through December of 25. Um again, those areas as we as we look at those, we understand the objective is to try to turn classroom space over as quick as we can. So if there's an area that maybe we turn over a couple, three, whatever it might be, um we'll work to get that and stay in communication and coordination with the the district and um make that happen as we can. The phase five fa phase five um the media center is January to August um project. Um and some of that will tie into how we coordinate that phase eight that corridor work just as how the constructibility happens in the corridor and maintaining access and whatnot. Um the phase 5.5 is the um ent area that's um February to August. Um, again, we were just trying to look at as we get into um the the phases there of next summer, the phase seven, how do we how do we take some of the pieces to reduce some of that stress on next summer's work. Um, phase six, we looked at doing that spring break to August 15th. um mainly because that incorporates the gym area and with some of the abatement that has to happen through that space. Um there was some concerns that going after graduation and being ready for fall sports to start there wouldn't be enough time to do that. So kind of in conversations with Kevin um we worked out a plan where we think if we get in there over spring break um that we'd be ready for fall of course to start August 15th. um phase 6 point or I'm sorry say phase six the other part of that is the um that storm shelter and that courtyard work. Uh so that'll be kind of staggered out over first floor or the lower level and the main level um going into 6.5. uh that is from March through October. Uh with areas of entrance and um egress and access um working through again any of those areas that we can try to improve on some of those dates, we're working forward through that. Phase seven is the big area. Um that's kind of the next summer slam, if you will, next year. Um, and so we've met with Eric and his team to just to try to go and ensure that as we're grabbing these areas and phases, we're sequencing in a way one that I think you guys have talked about this, but it works with the mechanical systems and the electrical. So mechanically and electrically when we turn areas over, they're functional in spaces, but then again, just trying to live with the square footage um that we're trying to grab in a summer to make sure that we can be successful with that. the little theater um that also will extend out to October, but that'll be just in that will be we'll be confined to that space. Um and then uh phase eight, there was some discussion about how that corridor would be constructed and if that should happen during the summer. Um do we try to do it early late? And I think what we've talked about in on here is to try to expand it over the course of the school year, but knowing that we're going to take it in phases and sections as we coordinate with with the district. Um, with the space that it has, the width that it has, there's opportunities that we might be able to demo it out and take a portion of it or half of it and still utilize half as traffic. So, as we put the new tile back in in in one half, then we would just flip people over and put them back on the on the new tile. all while keeping access to the classrooms um and the different spaces. So, there's a lot of coordination that's going to have to happen for that piece, but we felt that was a big enough chunk to take off of the next summer work um to try to make sure that we could get all those pieces. >> So, you're saying like the left you do the left side of the whole corridor, one do the right side. >> Yes. Yep. Right now, I believe Kevin, we're about 16 feet or so wide. So, we would take that out and just make sure that we have enough tra enough for traffic flow. Um, and that goes back to a bit of the getting those stairwells open so we could try to limit some of the traffic in that corridor too by diverting them through the stairwells and into the upper level. >> So, in a perfect world, we'll celebrate next October 26, right? >> Yeah. >> In a perfect little celebrations along the way. So, our phases are in essence our priorities, right? >> Because I'm I'm strugg Well, I'm not struggling. I understand that we're kind of doing this in sections, but there's a little bit of like even phase two, phase one that those are obviously our top priority, but I think the corridor is a top priority, too. And it sounds like it's going to get folded in, but when we show it as phase eight, it makes it seem like it's going to get just pushed to the end kind of thing. And the only to be honest with you, the only reason it was fave phase eight is because we we redid it from the last phasing and numerically it was colorcoded in here as eight. >> Yeah. >> The dates on it I think are kind of set us up so that when fall starts or once we get these other areas turned over, the focus will be on working that into the process. some of it because of the constructibility of that corridor or the wall of the media center. Some of those are going to have to happen in conjunction with that, but there's other areas within that corridor that we'll be able to do and get done sooner and just try to break it up along the school year. >> Yeah. one one thing that we asked uh Jason and team to look at is to analyze the whole phasing system because we know now with staff and parents coming back they want to know what's coming up and what's the steps and so we really push that they they study this hard have confidence in the plan and then we work the plan so people understand this is how we're going to be experiencing the work around us and so I Um, I appreciate having that plan now so we can give that to staff and families as they come back this fall and we feel like we can work with them. Uh, I'm going to be excited about getting this classroom space back. I mean, that's that's central and core for us. And when you look at that being in your north north uh west corner there, uh by the time we get to uh winter break, we're going to on the main level and the lower level have those classrooms, which is going to be really really exciting. And that's a big chunk of this school. It's obviously an important chunk. And then you start looking at some of the other pieces and you start picking those off. The entry into the high school. One thing that we've been fortunate as of as June didn't start this way, end of July has become this way that our rain, if we have been getting rain, it's usually at night or it hasn't been such that it's really shut us shut us down in the same ways that we're experiencing in June. And so it's been good that we've been able to make some of that progress on the on the north end. Now, >> there are no corridor issues on the second floor then. Correct. See what I'm saying? There's no dark blue on the second floor. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I went to school here, so I know where the corridors are around the around the little theater and stuff, but there's not the same issues there that there was on the ground floor, >> right? because the stuff on second floor would would would kind of be encompassed into that next summer work where there would be students and stuff on on site. >> I all plans present challenges. One of the challenges with this plan is you're going to be taking out one staircase, putting in a new staircase and then you look at the amount of tile that has to go down and that's a lot of tile. And so we appreciate that they've taken time to look and see what is what can we do. We said we absolutely need a cafeteria. You know, you can't start without a a cafeteria. But it's um when we look at half a hallway, that's currently what we're walking down because we had lockers that took up half. So, we know that can work because that was our experience all along. >> Any other questions on the phasing? I'll get to the pictures and we'll talk through this stuff. I think that's g strict directions on how he does it. So, I'll try to follow I'll follow along the best I can. Um, so phase one, just referring back to that phasing plan. Um, a lot of what you see here in these pictures were from last week. So, there's even if you were walk out there today, there's progress from what you're seeing on these pictures. But the underground plumbing has gone in. Um you can see some of the roughens in the pictures there. Um exterior and interior framing. Um like I said earlier, they're starting to put the exterior framing up on the building which will create that parapit so that we can get the roof installed. Um and I with that with this addition just I want every keep in mind we're working from the south to the north and then and then around. So if you if you're driving by on Sunnyfield and you don't see exterior framing, it's because it's around >> working. >> Um and then mechanical electrical um rough endings continue to happen in that space. Um the slab is poured. So if you're over there, you'll see that the first floor slab is has been installed and then the roofing will follow behind the the parapit framing. stop if there's any stop me if there's any questions or anything along the way. So, as we get into phase two, um this is some of the classroom areas um again that we're working through. So, the a lot of the finishes, painting, uh the flooring, um the tile, Wayne's coat, glass and glazing, all of those things we have going in um this these next couple weeks. Um we have doors deliver delivery scheduled for later this week uh with confirmation from the installer they're going to be on site to receive and start installing. Um case work has gone in. So just today or yesterday maybe the signs case work is starting to get installed. Um and then yeah then it'll just be a push at the end to kind of work away out of these spaces and final clean and get ready for furniture. As uh Jason mentioned, we're going to have a bunch of openings and so it will be fun to welcome students into this first phase and as it's not complete as a school, they're going to get a sense of okay, this is the way these classrooms are going to work and it's going to gradually build from there. So I think as this year unfolds, he was talking about the stairwells, those will be glass and closed. So natural light, one thing they're going to experience right now, they can't see it because we're all around is boarded up yet. So that's going to feel very similar to where they are when they left. But when that phase opens all a sudden then the natural light's going to be coming in. And that's one of the design elements that we worked hard on is how we could bring that in. And so it's even a space that they're been in for a few months, it's going to change here coming up. >> Yeah. So that'll be exciting. And then as we get into phase three, um the admin and student services area, um just recently there's been a lot of work out there with demolition of that existing retaining wall. Um shoring has been installed um kind of in that same area or place. So it allows us access to digings and get that started. So this this month going into September, we'll see a lot of progress moving forward now on footings, foundation, steel erection, all those things will be happening here um shortly. >> That's that big retaining wall by the north entrance that we had there we had to fix not long ago. Um, >> yeah, the main level. So, again, as we work through these areas, this is one that was um scheduled to turn over in December. So, there's a lot of framing going on inside, mechanical, electrical roughins. Um, and as it kind of staggers and follows, they're getting to start putting some of the finishes, ceiling grid, and things like that in some of these areas as well. So, all of it's moving forward. >> So, Jason, like in that middle picture on the bottom row, there's that extended, but there's like a wall. Is that just like temporary thing? Will that get knocked out? >> Yep. There's a temporary wall there right now that's constructed and weatherproof because there's finished spaces on the other side of that of that wall. what students and staff are going to experience. When we tore down that side of the building last spring, we put up that false wall. Similar concept. So, it's going to be weatherproof until they can open up that side. Then that'll come down. But when you go in there, the students are going to see the front of that classroom. It's just the door is instead of a door, you're going to probably have sheetrock or a board across it. It's you're not going to be able to go in that classroom until it's I suppose not. >> And then you can see the plank and as they start to grout the plank, uh they'll be topping sport on that to get the the floor elevations and stuff on that on that pre-cast for the second level. the water main work. Um, right now from my understanding and the communications that we've had with um with the contractors on site, they'll be wrapping that up the end of this week. I know the Hilltop uh playground's been offline for a bit. Um that should be um wrapped up. Is that still what the plan is is to be wrapped up by the end of this week for that. So when when we look when we look at um how as far as patching that up, is that something that we'll put a temporary patch on? >> Yep. Yeah, we had the asphalt contractor out last week. Um and him and Nathan walked the areas that we're going to need to uh temp up here before >> near the end of the project. Will they all be redone or >> this this parking lot out here or? >> Yeah, some of these lots are going to see work uh in the spring, but I don't know if that falls in scope or out of scope on that lane. That might be out of scope >> right in front of this building here. I don't know if when we redo the front by the school >> if it extends to this or if this is >> any other questions on the high school. >> So now obviously big crunch for the next couple weeks, right? So once school starts and the kids are actually in the classrooms, are you able to to go as hard like the interior work? Are you are you kind of have to throttle that back during school hours or >> bring the phasing plan back up? I I I I see where you're where you're getting that. I'll I'll kind of try to dictate here on the phasing plan. So, right now, um, we have a temporary wall that goes all the way to the deck, right? You know, coming across this corridor here. Um, it's sheetrock, it's painted. Um, there's a doorway in there, right? So, we'll be contained behind that wall. Um, and we'll be taking deliveries in and out of, you know, areas up here. So, you know, we won't be walking through the school next to students with, you know, bundles of material. Um, so we're we're pretty confident that we're going to be able to contain construction. Um, for the most part, right, we might need to be, you know, have an electrician or somebody working in an area that's not, you know, that's occupied with students, right? >> Yeah. >> Um, >> but for the most part, >> uh, we've we've we've created these zones where where contractors will be able to stay. The focus this fall is really on that north end, isn't it? >> Yes. >> Well, the addition and then that north end >> and then we're aware I mean there's going to be some of the tasks that happen are louder, make more noise and more disruption than others. Those things will all just be coordinated around classroom time. So, we've had projects before where if they're going to put metal studs in, there's that whole process of shooting the track down either to the floor or the ceiling. it's probably not the sound you want in a building. So, we try to shoot all the track down mornings or nights when kids aren't in and then they're standing studs or whatever. So, try to minimize it. It's still a construction zone, but try to minimize the disruption best that we can. >> Brian, the other thing that I know Kevin and Jolene have done is the temporary classrooms, they tried to put as far away from that north end as possible. So, you've got like the lobby of the performing arts center. >> Yeah. will have a classroom right in the green room will have one. The backstage will have one. So they're trying to use areas more to the south so that the noise is farther away. >> Y one it's that's a benefit of the noise that truthfully is where we have the best capability of a portable class or a temporary classroom was looking at those spaces. Any other questions? So this area, yeah, we get into the administration areas. Um, again, just if we're getting to this point specifically on this project where it's just a lot of finishes, right? We're getting case work in, ceilings are going in. >> This is Grand >> Grand View. Sorry. >> West Middle School. Put that as you know. Kevin is the one that picked up. >> I've been buying a brand new for 50 years. Come on. >> 68 years. >> WMS, if you will. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So, a lot of finishes are kind of happening throughout this space. Um, we're getting ready to finish up and wrap up the flooring. Final cleaning will start. Uh, the fixtures and the furniture and stuff will start getting put back in over the next few days and week. Um, but yeah, it just gets to that point where it it sometimes looks like a lot, but it it cleans up quick and finishes go in. We're able to get areas turned over and cleaned relatively quick. I know a lot of the spaces have been punched out, so a lot of those punch list items are getting taken care of and wrapped up here before before this area as well. It's going to look phenomenal. We did a little tour. >> I ran into I ran into Christy Mau at Jubilee. She had her kids with her and the kids have been helping her at the school. They had just seen the bathroom by the cafeteria and they thought it was awesome. So awesome at the middle school. >> New bathroom. >> Yeah. >> New style style bathrooms. Yeah. So again, through the classrooms in the gym, just more finishes um taking place, media center. Um as we get to the front, um some work on the canopy. Um I think we're probably close to the same spot there. I know they got metal. They're getting ready to start doing the underside of the canopy here shortly. Um, and I think this this stoop area or this ramp is going in. Um, again, this picture was probably a week, week and a half ago. The back fills in. Um, the slabs, I think the slabs are in on that. Um, we're just working through the details of the handrail stuff right now, but >> in talking to them on Friday, it seems like the one thing that might be for the start of school is a temp handrail going in, but they feel confident that the rest of the project is >> unmarked and it it is really nice. It's um one that the building I mean there's some simple things like the building was painted and it's with the windows and the new LED lights that part was done by our maintenance custodial team part by this project. Uh it's really bright and then you look at the change that was made in the media center in the office and the new lockers and it it feels it definitely feels different in a very positive way. So it's it's not like there's this one little place that they did work. >> That being said, with these kind of remodels, old does meet new and so paint is going to go to this point and then paint doesn't continue because we didn't paint the outside of the whole school or we didn't I mean so you are going to run into parts of that where uh new meets old. But overall that front office uh and then some of the hallways uh the new water system throughout the whole building was a big thing for us that we improved. Uh the safety security measures are going to be wonderful for our students. And so we're um we're right now and we'll send out an email, but we're looking at having uh grand opening for this homecoming week on that Wednesday from 3:30 to 5 and then we're going to do the tennis courts at 5:00. So we're going to put those both on that day. um putting on homecoming week one. We know that we've gone through some of the punch list items and we gave that a little bit of time and also um it seems like a good week to do it on home. >> No, sounds great. Any questions on >> So, um we we have uh plenty plenty to do in the next couple of weeks, but >> yeah. >> Um you feel like the pathway is there and we'll be excited to have staff and students in. Obviously, at the high school, we're going to be in the throws of construction for a little bit, but the exciting thing is like this these students are going to constantly see a new segment opening up and so it'll continue to to expand. Um, appreciate your efforts of getting us in the building. >> Yeah, looks great. So, thank you and happy to be back. >> Thank you. Okay, we're going to move on to the consent agenda. Chair moves for approval of consent agenda. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion carries. >> Discussion items. Uh chair move to approve action item 7A, approval of agreement with the city of Orno for the school resource officer. Is there a second? >> Second. All in favor? All >> oppose. Motion carries. Chair moves for approval of action item 7B, approval of agreement with the city of Minista for school resource officer. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Carries. Chair moves for approval of action item 7C, approval of the language access plan for ISD 277. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carries. Chair moves for approval of action item 7D, approval of addition of a 1.0 FTE kindergarten teacher position at Shirley Hills Primary School. Is there a second? Second. >> All in favor? >> All oppose. Motion carries. Chair moves for approval of action item 7E, approval of the includation of the 0.53 FT kitchen assistant position and the addition of a 0.53 FT kitchen assistant position 2 position. Um, is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Chair moves for approval of action item 7F, approval of addition of a point 2 FTE um technology education specialist position for the overload at Shirley Hills Primary School. Is there um a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. Now we'll move on to the treasures report. Thank you. >> Cash donations for July 2025. Lake Minnetonka Excelsier Rotary for West Tonka Wings, $300. Charities Aid Foundation for West Tonka High School, $87.32. Sharon Baylor for West Tanka High School, $13,000. Westaka lacrosse boosters for Westera boys lacrosse $2,29120 Nick and Melissa Pickert for Wester community theater $250 which Hbert for Larry XL memorial scholarship $100 West Taco lacrosse boosters for boys lacrosse $8,786.72 yeartoate total $24,81524. >> Thank you for stepping. Now we'll move on to the teaching. So I have a few updates for you tonight and topics. Now last spring we were told by a student there wasn't much teaching and learning going on. Is that going to change? >> I don't remember that. I don't remember that. >> Who was that? >> In the midst of all the construction, we have plenty plenty of teaching. Lots of things to talk about. >> It is that time of the year in August that I come report on results and really excited tonight to share with you some great stellar results. Um in 2025 we had over on the right side of the graph 337 exams uh over 205 students taking those exams. And what's really exciting over on the right hand side we had an all-time record of 83.9% 84% of our students taking AP exams earned three or higher. So you can see the progression over the fiveyear trend from 47% up to 83. We're coming out of the pandemic. I can't give you specifics as to uh you know how much the pandemic impacted that, but I can tell you this is that there's been just some very intentional focus of the high school and analysis of of the student performance that I know pays off in results like this. >> Has the prep work changed in getting kids ready for these >> exams? So that that's the analysis piece and determine what is it that we can do differently in classroom instruction and this is some of your results right >> that's awesome >> yeah also we talk about scholar designation and we have 50 academic AP scholars uh 19 AP scholars 11 AP scholars with honors you can see how that is defined and then here again alltime high 20 AP scholars with distinction. That means those are students at our high school. By the time they graduate, they take five or more AP courses. They have a 3.5 average minimum on all exams. And they scored a three and more three or more on at least five of these. >> That's not that's not five courses in one year. >> No, over there their freshman their high school career. >> So, kudos to the high school and those who are accomplishing the challenge. Also, just some call outs tonight. We always look at passing rates. We look at average scores. And these are our standouts this year. AP biology, you can see the passing rate 85%. AP English literature 94% passing rate, which is defined by earning a three or higher. That's an alltime school record. AP stats 100% passing rate. AP US government 93% passing rate alltime high. AP US history 75% passing rate. And AP world history 97 passing rate. All those last three alltime high records at high school. Wow. >> So really some some really nice work. And it's not just one cohort or grade level because we take these courses at different times in the high school career. So, the alltime record is that passing rate or the score? >> The passing >> the passing rate. >> Also, just uh as you'll hear a little bit more uh coming up this year, we're we're going to be launching a new AP course. It's called AP Seminar and it'll be offered through the English department and the focus on research and problem solving and uh teacher our teacher Kel Kelsey Walsh and high school English department will be teaching that. I'm really excited that we'll be offering that that course that it's going to be a great preparatory course when it comes to analysis, research, putting thoughts together at a college level. I think it'll serve our students really well. So, more to come as that that comes along. Um, other updates, as you know, we have the read act. We had accomplished a huge amount of professional development last year and now it's time to apply that. that uh that work will continue in 2526. We have uh we have a number of elementary staff that are taking letters. Letters is a two-year professional involvement program. So, they're starting their second year, 1220 hours of training. And then the new focus this year is our par professionals and they also are required to um uh participate in eight hours of training and we've split them into an elementary cohort, a secondary cohort and that'll be led by Natalie Bulo at the elementary level, Mike Mock and then Robert Bevers will be leading the secondary training and we have a we have the schedule all laid out. It'll start in August. It'll go throughout the year, but eight hours. And I am pleased that we're not forgetting our private professionals when it comes to literacy training best practices because those many times are individuals that are working with kids that are getting interventions in literacy. So that training will be happening this year. And then a new requirement from the state that'll be implemented this year is a grade 4 through 12 screening for dyslexia. And we can't diagnose this dyslexia, but we can certainly identify students that are not at grade level. The state has certified a very specific assessment to use at grades 4 through 12. Our job will be to identify the students that are not at grade level with their reading skills. And those are the kids that will be assessed. The state has been a little bit behind with their roll out of this. Typically, we'd want to do this assessment in the fall. This year will be in January, but forthcoming years, we'll always do this in the fall with our fall standing. So, we are learning as we speak with the state as they roll this out, but that'll be a new assessment that all Minnesota districts have to administer. And this is again grades four through 12. >> Mark, in the past, how would you have to refer somebody um to an outside agency to get a diagnosis or some sort of assistance? >> Well, what we would Well, what we would do is we would work with families with students that we've identified we see gaps in your reading skills. We see that they're not performing at the level we want. We apply interventions. We work with identifying and then working on that gap. And if we do not see progress over, let's say, a semester, then we can have a conversation about, you know, you might want to have a conversation with your medical doctor. There could be other things going on. We don't understand after all this identification of the gap in intervention support. we're not seeing progress. That is a time for others outside of our realm because it is a medical diagnosis with that. So that's how we handle that. That's is how >> and this is just kind of getting a you said this isn't a diagnosis. This is this is mostly just a screening. >> A screen. >> Okay. Okay. >> It's a screening that the state wants consistency on. They want every school system to use the same screening methods. So that's what's happening. It's all part of the reap. The uh last two uh last two updates I have. We continue with our multi-ter systems of support implementation and really excited about this next step. We're going to be implementing a a tool called educ. It's a data warehouse but it's also an analysis tool that we can take academic data. We can take behavior discipline data. We can take social emotional learning data, put it all together in this tool and get a holistic picture of how a child's performing. As simple as melding together attendance data with academic data and what's the correlation. We just had a big training last week uh right here in this room with uh teacher leaders, our admin staff just getting the basics, the foundation implementation set to go for this year. Uh it's a really >> so this is a new program. Never heard that name before. >> It it is becoming the I would say like the premier program. >> Okay. >> Districts that are doing MTSS well are using. So, it'll take probably probably about three years to fully use this very robust program, but we're going to go in this year with this. So, it is a great enhancement for MTSS, but you'll hear more about that as we get going. And then lastly, as we talk about career tech programming, uh the focus currently now, uh focusing on our medical programs that are coming up, working on staffing, and then we're right in the middle of all the program applications. Once the staffing is secure, then we can finalize the program applications. and we're we're at a point where um everything's coming together and everything goes in the registration manual, you know, in January for these courses. >> And so it's exciting time and there's there's some I'll just say maybe some healthy pressure that that is going on, but it is coming together. And one thing that I've learned in all the networking that I've done, Jolene has done with other school systems and professionals, everybody in this field wants you to succeed. Everyone works with you. You keep saying, "What can we do to help you? Where do you need assistance? Where do you need funding?" And it it's just been great building this from the ground up. And again, it's all for our students. It's all for our students. And again, outside the medical field, we are starting construction one this fall with Daryl Kimble. And that'll be our first, you know, fall into career tech program for kids that want to go into the construction trades. And again, it's a lot happening in this area. Is >> that your only new program started this fall? This fall >> is the construction machining. And this will be fall 26. >> Yes. >> Okay. after remodeling is done. I I look from the aspect of trying to understand the program so you know how to design the space and what kind of equipment do you procure to looking at what grants are there to starting talking about licensing of how you can find staffing where there isn't a lot of staff in these categories to then building a curriculum out and the work that Mark and Jolene has have done you know a lot of work is where should this all go, how many outlets do we need, etc. At the same time, all the things that I described, building the program, uh they have done nothing short of a fabulous job of creating something that's going to be very impactful for our kids. I'm our community is going to be really proud of this program. Uh the nursing program, the machining program, the construction trades. Uh there's a lot more than words there. There's a lot of actions and doorways for kids to get involved which will be really exciting. >> So Lauren, yes teaching on >> Thank you for that goal doing the construction. I appreciate that. >> Financial report, you're on. >> Okay. >> And you're figuring out how we're going to pay for it all, >> right? These guys are good keeping me busy. Um uh tonight I will be uh presenting an updated um snapshot of the general fund as of June 30th um 2025. I mentioned that last month that we always report this again since we're not quite finished with the audit and then next month we'll begin reporting for the 2526 fiscal year. Um the majority of our audit entries are complete. The heavy hitters are the property taxes, um state aid, federal receivables, those are all recorded. Um and so at this midpoint um we are showing um that we have received revenue of 42,488 uh or 42,488 um,000 or 101.3% of the budget yellow budget reported there um in the yellow column and expenditures are 41,142,000 or 99.8%. Um again we are probably 34 of the way done. Um there's outstanding items yet to complete and so any adjustments that we make on aids or expenses obviously will be um adjusted on these figures but um we are um happy with the way things are are coming together and um there'll be more to report um next month um two weeks from today the audit starts with Bourbon KDV um again we'll be doing another remote audit and the um firm will be here on October October um 6 board meeting to present. Um and outside of that of wrapping up with the audit um we are also into levy season and the u Minnesota Department of Education opened up the summer levy system and we will be uh working on that over the next couple weeks. We need to have everything loaded by um August 28th. Um from that point then the state will generate the proposed tax um report for us and we'll bring that to the um September meeting. And just a reminder for that meeting each year we um have you authorize that at that maximum and that will allow for any adjustments that the counties or state have um and not have to come back for another meeting. And then lastly we have um our schoolboard finance committee meeting. Um that's always a busy meeting. We have our uh levy numbers at that time. We have our first day of school enrollment which is always exciting. And um of course a construction update um is always on our agenda these days. Um yep. And so that's that's all I have for my report tonight. Any questions or comments? >> How's the audit going right now? >> Well, the audit hasn't started. So right now we're just doing all the work to get ready. >> Got a couple questionnaires and stuff. >> Yes. Yeah. They like to do a few things. They do um internal controls, um standard fra fraud, questionnaires, um anything they can do ahead of time. They used to come out and do field work um on site and um they are doing a lot of that um work ahead of time if they can um just remotely. So that's nice to to do that while they're waiting for other reports to to arrive. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh yeah, I would say right now it's always uh an intense time for school start. Uh we had fall sports start today. Uh next week we have new teachers that come in and I believe we're going to have seven new teachers. Uh we um look at as the week goes on, all staff comes back a week from this Thursday. And then you know we start our web training, our link crew trainings and we have open houses and uh you know already not too far we have school start and so in between there a lot of different games and events that normally is u more than enough and then you throw active construction on it that changes almost on the daily sometimes of you have access here. No, you don't have that access and trying to have communication uh well thought out and also trying to ensure that we have safe uh pathways for everyone as well as just really great learning and playing spaces for kids. And so I really feel uh it's important to have a great partnership with Krauss Anderson, a lot of communication and that's what the theme of this year is. We're going to have a lot of new opportunities, but along the way, there's going to be a lot of communication, coordination that we're just going to work work together and start opening up these new spaces. A little bit of grace, a little bit of patience, but not saying that we shouldn't have high expectations uh through that whole process. I I got to do a shout out for our team because they are they're um putting in a lot of hours, a lot of thought. They're very talented and I just am very thankful for our team that cares deeply about just having a great experience for our kids. So, we feel blessed that we have this opportunity. It's going to be amazing. It will be transformational. There's there's really um I believe that with everything that will be uh so as we're doing that, we're also getting ready to kick off another bid set for uh the stadium and also the primaries. And so that goes out in September. And we're just looking at uh some estimating again and making sure scope and estimating is on. uh we're trying to make that as we have with each phase along this project just to be really special for our kids in this community. And so we're in some of those detail uh components, but it's exciting. And we talked a little bit about um the machining and the nursing construction trades, but you know, when you look at the north end of the high school and we have a brand new student service area where our counseling is going to have a space that was designed for that purpose. And you look at each one of these spaces are very impactful. And uh the stadium's going to be one of those impactful spaces. I mean, right now our we're going to have bleaches around our track and we're going to be able to use that in ways that we haven't been able to just with our current layout. And so we're we're really really excited about it. Uh same thing with our primaries. A lot of it's maintenance, but we're going to do some work in the media center. We're planning on too making that a great uh breakout for our kids. And so excited to see those bids come in. You took action a little bit earlier on our SRO agreements. Just a shout out to uh our our police departments with Minatrista and Orno. Uh they've been incredible partners. And I say this about Mount Fire. I say this about them, too. Uh if their kids don't go here, they a lot of them do have kids in this community and they work as if they're parents and they're first responders. And I I love that about our community and it um just makes me so proud that I get to work amongst so many different people in our community of how can we do best for our kids in this community. And so with the SRO agreements, it's an agreement that we can have an SRO between the high school and Hilltop and then Grand View and Shirley Hills and it gives us access and I think it's >> what West Middle School. >> Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Judge not that you be not judged there, big man. >> One, one in one. >> You giving a sermon or what? >> All fair. Uh, but with that, really excited about um that going on and continuing. Uh, you took action on a new kindergarten teacher and also uh a little bit of extra time in media. That's in direct correlation to enrollment exceeding our projections right now. So, um I want to say thank you to this board. Um more enrollment in itself isn't about additional dollars for the district. There's a responsibility that we continue to educate them in a way that's consistent. And so I I really feel blessed that when those action items come, you understand the importance of our commitment of trying to maintain uh balanced classes. >> What is our kindergarten enrollment? Well, right right now, August is a funny month because you you have people that they took three tours and they probably put their papers in in May. And some others will get them in two weeks. And so, you don't really know what your number is yet, but we do know our numbers well enough in our trend to know that um we needed an additional section at Shirley Hills. And so our our real um ways of handling this would be to close off certain enrollments or we could add a teacher and what we did is we looked through the facility of Shirley Hills if we could fit another classroom and make sure we could do that well and the answer was yes and then it's to staffing and we feel uh for primary staff there's still a strong pool of teachers out there and so um now with this action we'll be doing interviews and having them start on Monday. That'll be a a fun fun turnaround. Uh and then lastly, you approve the language access plan and that really coordinates with our statute of families that enroll or engage with our school district that have kids here and how we communicate with them that don't speak English. And so, uh there's um uh different processes that are in place and that policy really outlines what that is. Um want to thank Emily for her work in coordinating that for us. Uh in the consent agenda were the student handbooks and really um the language access plan was something that was updated in there. Otherwise, pretty minor updates to to our handbooks overall. Uh and those are now with your approval going to be up for families so they can see it. Uh really um really excited though. There's um there's a a lot a lot that'll go into these next weeks, but what makes it all worth it is that excitement of the first week of school. And if you want to see one of the best things ever, you you go at all levels. They just show it different. The primaries are running off the bus excited to see those teachers and you see hugs. At the high school it looks different, but but they are so excited to be with friends again and they're so excited to have those connections with teachers and teams and you just see the importance that school really plays in our community. And after all this work, that's what you're really thirsty for seeing. And so I um really thank you for your leadership and allowing this kind of place to be for our kids. >> Thanks. Go. Is there any further business anybody has at this point? >> If not, the chair moves for adjournment. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Have a good one, you guys.