I'd like to call the December uh board meeting to order. If everybody would please 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. Um chair moves for approval of the agenda. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carries. Announcements. Uh facility committee meeting uh next week, Monday the 15th, 7 o'clock right here in this room. And then our next uh regular board meeting is January 5th, 6 pm right here in this room also. And now um I would like to move into the truth and taxation presentation and Kathy. Thank you. >> Great. Um good evening everyone and thank you for joining us tonight. Um we're here this evening to conduct our annual truth and taxation hearing. Um it's our goal to ensure transparency um and accountability in the school's taxation process. Um the taxes we'll be discussing this evening are for taxes payable um 2026 and that will be the local property taxes that we that we will receive for next year's um budget. Okay. Um before we jump into the levy figures, I'd like to take just a moment to review the levy process. Um, in August of each year, the state sets the funding levels and the Minnesota Department of Education um opens up the summer lobby system and then um uh we get our our Fidela entered our student counts and then by September 30th of each year, school districts are required to certify a proposed levy and we set our levy at maximum um each fall. We then turn that information over to Henipin County. um they go ahead and calculate the proposed taxes and then in mid November the county uh will send all property tax owners a notice of proposed tax statement that you get in the mail. The statutes the statute requires that all local governments hold a hearing and then finally uh the uh school district needs to certify the final levy and that will happen at our regular meeting following this hearing. The statute requires that all taxing jurisdictions have a hearing. On your tax statements, you will see that there are information from your county, city, and school district. And our hearing tonight is to discuss the the school district's hearing uh and property taxes. There are four requirements of the truth and taxation hearing. Um we will be discussing the levy as I mentioned for next school uh for p payable 26 next year's revenue. Um we will also discuss our current school year budget u the percent we are proposing and the reason for that uh percent increase and then lastly we will give the uh public any time uh for questions or comments. Displayed on the screen is our final 2425 revenue and expenditures from last school year as well as our current year budget for the 2526 school year. This document was published in our local newspaper this fall and that was following the presentation of our audited financial statements by Bert and KDB our independent auditor. Copies of this document as well as our complete financial documents are on our district website. If any of the board members or anybody in the public for that matter would like a copy, um please let us know. >> Okay. Um before we get into the details by fund, I'd like to uh give you just first an overall look at the total levy that we are proposing this evening. Um again it's our goal to have our residents have a clear understanding of their uh property tax pay um dollars proposed. This chart um and the following charts will give a comparison of the proposed lobby as compared to the prior school year. We have three funds that we'll be discussing tonight. General fund, community education, and debt service. The overall proposed levy is 22,682,000 or 4.52% over the prior school year. And we'll review all of these uh funds in detail. Um starting with general fund. Um highlights of the general fund are listed here. Um the proposed general fund levy is 13,552,000. Um and this covers um obviously the majority of the programs to operate our school district. The local operating referendum is in general fund listed there in the top that provides um the classroom instruction support, instructional supplies, equipment and other activities um for education of our students. The capital projects levy is um technology support, infrastructure, one-on-one computers, textbooks, and digital curriculum. And the general fund also includes our long-term facility maintenance levy, lease levy, operating capital, and safe schools just to name a few. But um the largest change and is the voter approved um referendum um which is tied to our student enrollment and inflation. Okay, we'll turn our attention now to the community education fund. Our proposed community education levy is $985,700. Um community education levy includes our basic community education funding, our early childhood family education programs, afterchool enrichment, adults with disability programming and adventure club. A lot of the loveies are based off of our adult population in our community um which is 2,331 citizens and the early childhood program levy is based off of our um population of children in our community under the age of five which is 1,65 um children. And again, community education um provides enrichment programs at any age level um that are not part of our uh daytime K12 uh programming. The largest change in this fund is our school age child care, which in the prior year they had a larger um adjustment. Okay. The uh last and final fund that we'll examine more closely is debt service. Our debt service levy is proposed at 8,144,000. Um, our debt service levy includes our principal and interest payments of our bonds. And this is based off of our debt schedules for the district's outstanding bonds. That includes our 2012 bonds, 2016 and 2024 building bonds, and our 2018 abatement bonds. This chart um displays the uh West Tonka certified proposed levies over the last five years. And as you can see, the 24, 25, and 26 loveies are at a a little higher level than um the pay 22 and pay 23. And that is due to three voter approved items. The renewal of the capital projects levy, the approval of the two-step operating referendum, and the approved 2024 building bonds. Uh this chart displays the Henipin County uh tax comparison and this chart um represents all counties based in and again in Henipin County and how their taxes compare on an average $600,000 home. The orange bar at the very bottom represents West Tonka. As you can see, West Tonka clearly has the lowest school property taxes in the county. We take our residents property taxes very seriously and we're very proud of what we've accomplished for our students. Again, accountability, good stewardship are of utmost importance and for the local tax uh funding uh support, we are most grateful. At this time, I'd like to invite any public board members uh any comments or superintendent or if you'd like to make any comments, please feel free. I was just curious on the the second one, the community education funds. It seemed like there were a lot of things were a lot lower in each category. So based on issues that is >> um it could either be for adjustments or oftent times there's a different um mix of state aid and property taxes. So our budget might look the same but um it's different funding levels that are available. um either they might have some years we have more property tax responsibility and some years less. >> So it doesn't really reflect a much different budget. It's just where the funds are coming in. Correct. >> Okay. Yeah, good question. Any others? Okay. Um, before I turn it over to our next guest, I'm going to, as long as I'm up here, I'm going to take just a quick moment to go through my um, standard uh, financial report. Um, enrollment. Um, you can see, uh, we, as of our December 1st count, we have 24,447 students, and that's an addition of, uh, two students over the prior month. And again, we're experiencing um incredible uh incredibly stable enrollment this school year. And um revenue and expenses through November 30th, uh we have uh collected 11,568,000 of our budget or 26.1% and we have expended 16,162,000 or [clears throat] 37.7% of our budget. Again, both the revenue and expenditures are uh trending appropriately compared to the prior years. And uh that is my report for tonight. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um and at this time, I would like to introduce Matt Hammer of Ellers. He will be facilitating the public hearing for our property tax abatement for our parking parking lot construction and improvement projects. >> [snorts] >> Great. Thank you, Matt. >> Perfect. Well, good evening. Good evening, everybody. Matthew Hammer, um district's financial advisor representing here tonight. Um we're here tonight to have the public hearing in regards to the proposed park and lot projects and the abatement that the school board um uh called for the public hearing at their November meeting. So we're having the hearing portion of that uh that portion of the meeting tonight. Um really uh districts are authorized and municipalities for that matter um are authorized to issue tax abatement bonds that are um 469 of Minnesota state statute. Um for school districts, the Department of Education limits this just to parking lot improvements, renovations, and building new parking lots. Um that's the position the Department has taken. The district has issued um tax abatement bonds in the past as Cathy talked about back in 2018. Um and the district is looking to issue some additional tax payment mods for some proposed parking work that's going to happen. Um as as part of the construction projects moving forward, there is some limitations. Um municipalities are limited to 10% of their over net overall net tax capacity which were well within those limitations. Um this gives you a kind of a picture of the process in bold. We're at the hearing. Um the district's uh called for the or we've identified the parcels um that were put forward in the notice that went out to property owners. Um the we're at that hearing portion. The school board's going to have another resolution later tonight that would uh propose granting the abatement and then there's also an intent resolution to move forward with the issuance of tax abatement bonds that would be included over in in the overall issuance of the remaining voter approved authority. Uh what we're looking at is a maximum abatement amount authorized by the board of 2.6 million. Um we're not planning to use that full par amount um because we're likely going to receive a reoffering premium, but this is the max authorized amount that the board will be authorizing as part granting tax abatement. And then we're looking at a 10-year term or t 10 tax abayments. Um, I didn't get this chart up there, but uh, it didn't come through. Those darn max. But, uh, what this really is representing, um, is a is an illustration of kind of where we sit overall. Um, as, uh, as Kathy pointed out, the school district's taxes are the lowest in the in the Henipin County area for all school districts. This is a snapshot of kind of an update of where we're uh what Kathy's chart represented. The taxes paid N25 numbers um based on preliminary proposed tax rates that have been provided by Henipin County now um that are published as part of the TNT statements that property owners received. Um Hene County uh within Heneck County the school district still looking to have the lowest taxes and in fact um tax rates are expected to go down slightly for Texas payable 26 even incorporating all the remaining order approved bonds and the proposed issuance at the top here >> including >> including bonds. So, um, right now that estimate based on the preliminary data that we have is that overall value on a $600,000 home would be around $1,754 is what a $600,000 value property would pay compared to $1,776, which is what Jackie had up in the last slide. So, this has been part of the plan um that's been talked about with the board is that um we wanted to keep taxes and tax rates at levels um consistent all the way along with what was communicated when the um uh property owners and voters in the district proposed and approved the plan um that was authorized by the board back in November 2023. So in November 23, Matthew, uh what was communicated is we estimated taxes to be 1776. >> Yeah. Around that level, we had to step up that >> right now with the Bakeman bond and what the second sale where we are today at 1754. >> That's correct. So tax rates have remained at consistent levels or or even slightly less than where they were last year. So, here's where we're at. Uh, the board will have uh a resolution for granting the proposed abatement later on the meeting. There'll be an intent resolution that will incorporate that authorized and onoff up to 2.6 million. Right now, we're scheduled to sell the bonds on January 5th, the morning of January 5th, and the board then will authorize that those bonds with tax payment with the remaining order of approve authority later that evening at their regular meeting on January 5th. And then closing on the bonds, it right now is scheduled for January 29th. And that's at the time when the district will have those funds available to um um use for uh construction projects, but also put them to work from an investment perspective until those funds are needed uh for construction. >> So that concludes the public hear portion of the abate. I just have a question with the baby bonds in general 469. Is that what >> Yeah. >> Okay. Is it always been limited to to uh parking lots or >> for school districts? It's always been limited to parking and parking lot structures for other municipalities. They issue tax payment laws for all kinds of purpose that meet public purpose. So, but the department um Minnesota Department of Education has limited school districts to just fund parking and parking related structures. >> We our uh our next board meeting, you're going to have an action item. We're changing that to January 5th. And so, board members, that'll be the date. Matthew will be at that board meeting as well as he will be coming with the bod sale results. And so we u expect that at that meeting both funds will be >> sold everything be sold together. >> Y it'll all be it will help us too. >> All right. >> Thank you. At this time do we have any members of the public that wish to address the board? >> None. Then we'll move on to the student rep report. No. Okay, I just saw my side. I jumped against you. [clears throat] >> August and Valerie, you guys are up for the student rep report. >> Welcome. >> Okay, so my name is Valerogi and I'm a junior at >> I'm August and I'm also a junior at >> and unfortunately Edie and George could not could not make it tonight. >> Unfortunate for you, right? Yeah, we apologize to absence. Just to kick it off and talk about sports, the dance team competed this past Saturday at the Chim Cassin in by placing fourth and varsity jazz and fourth and varsity kick and they are currently competing in conference tonight at Delano. Um, Alpine Ski was officially able to begin practicing at Highland on Mil Snow this past Wednesday. Boys basketball is also off to a great start with a 1 and2 record so far this season. And girls basketball is also off to a solid start with a current record of one and three. Girls hockey is currently 41 and two this season and their next game is tomorrow in South South St. Paul. Then boys hockey currently has a 2 and2 season record. Their last game was against Blake on Friday where they where they face an unfortunate 7-2 loss. >> In activities, our math league team has now won both of their first two meets which both times they have beat Orino which is a big achievement for us. DECA is continuing their work on districts prep and our first competition is January 18th at Wakonia High School. DECA also recently sent a small group of senior officers to Washington DC where they went to the DECA power trip and got to learn more about some different policies and got to network. And then NHS had their most successful oneta sale ever which which gave us a lot of funds for future scholarships. And then the speech team has also started practicing over this past few weeks. In arts, the fall musical Chicago showed from November 20th to 23rd. It was very successful and a lot of tickets were sold. The band's concert is actually tonight and the choir concert is next week on Monday the 15th. And then the one act play is also starting up this week with auditions on Wednesday. For economics, student nominations for both the Excel and AAA awards were due this past Friday, and we should be hearing about who the winners are soon here before break. And then quarter 2 is well underway at this point, and students are locked in. You only have nine days school left until break. [laughter] >> And then construction for construction, more classrooms are opening up. Almost all the science teachers have now officially opened their own classroom. That's all we have for you. >> You think we think by after Christmas break all of the learning area will be >> Yeah. >> is the goal. >> Thank you so much. >> I'm wrestled here in 747. I didn't hear anything. Wrestling report was there. I'm teasing. [laughter] I haven't read so much. >> Thanks much. >> Thank you very much. >> Now we'll move on to construction. Poor Gary. >> All right. Um Gary Zipco, project exec at Cross Anderson. um have to come back and give you guys a quick update as to what's going on out there. Um let me get this one. All right. So, for for the month of November, u phase one, the lower that was the lower level uh math and science as we said like they're they're moved into those spaces now. So, we finished we finished that up. Um there's a little bit of some flooring to do over Christmas. Um phase three that would that's the administration building. So that's we're coming out of the ground. The steel's going up. This is where the iron workers earn their money because the weather's >> pretty miserable, but they're out there. So, um, and that's that's we build that structure up and then in the springtime that that's we turn that over and then we move into the the courtyard space. Um phase four is that's the what we'll be finishing up here over Christmas break and they'll be moving in to the the remaining of the learning spaces. So English classrooms um so we're putting the finishing touches on that coordinating um with the school staff on on moveins and then fa phase five was some interior work. >> So we thinking that after Christmas break all the plastic will be down >> y stuff is that hope for the goal? >> Yeah. Well, not on the outside, but like inside. >> Okay. So, you'll be working on the outside. >> Yep. Yep. So, you know, this area here, that's that's the area, the um science rooms that were handed over over um Thanksgiving. And then this is the the next area that'll be handed over over Christmas break. And then the light uh blank green, that's the administrative spaces that we're coming out of the ground with. >> Yeah. >> The exterior will still be going on. Yeah. Yeah. Odds and ends of it. Y >> it'll still be it'll be weather tight. >> Yeah. >> I'm just excited to see it once they get the plastic off and we have all the glass and that will be that will be a big day. >> Yeah. Um Yeah. Then our next big move is obviously finishing uh the admin space and then moved into the the courtyard. They're going to be starting the media center area. So, right after winter break, we'll have that cleared out. And so, from the media center, you see the light green there, to the admin. That'll all be worked on for basically third quarter. Then, when we get to fourth quarter, you're going to see the gym will become then that'll be a project that we're turning over, as will some of the lower area uh or the whole theater will start turning over some more spots for the fourth quarter. >> The gym is sort of getting gutted, right? A new u floor, new bleachers, new lighting. Is that >> okay? >> Yeah. Uh curtains and um and when they did that floor, they built the wood floor over the existing floor. So, not only is the curb, but the original floor is also also going. One part of our project that we're excited about is that we're reclaiming some of those boards and we're going to reuse it in spots of our building. And so we've worked with uh Fame and they're going to uh we're going to be accenting some of the athletic concourse with the old gym boards. So >> can I get one of the lights [clears throat] that I used to look up at when I was getting pinned? Can you [laughter] >> I know that's not true. And here's just a couple of photos of of the science rooms. >> Right. >> Oh, that's great. >> I think one thing that we're really excited for uh the space in the science rooms is going from uh going from instruction to lab and having our students have their own lab stations versus having too many students around that you're sharing. It allows us to do labs more frequently and it allows kids to get involved in their labs at a higher level. Uh that being equipped as a welldesigned lab as we sit today. So really really thankful for the size and how those are outfitted. >> I don't know about the rest of you. I would love after Christmas break sometime right away while the tour again just >> absolutely >> when all the spaces are are completed. >> Yep. >> Do that for us. >> Um that's kind of the the the wrap up on what's going on out there. The last time we were we were here. Um you know, we bid out the stadium. So that's kind of in the process of now they're working on our shop drawings and their product data and submitting that to the designers. uh with uh with that project breaking ground, see as spring shows up. So, we're we're currently in conversations with uh Peterson Company, who was the winning uh bid for moving a lot of the earth there. And a couple things that we're trying to navigate is when do they need access at one at what stages for continuous work. and that'll really dictate uh how that impacts some of our outdoor activities, but we're trying to limit that as best we can and also assure that it's done by fall. And so we're really just trying to work with them of how are you planning on approaching this? And if there's a way that we can use our track for a couple weeks, a month, however long, great. But if that's going to put us at risk of not being done the fall, no, we don't want want that either. Yeah, like next next summer obviously with the site there will be a lot of work going on on the site between the parking lots for the high school and then the stadium work and the practice field. And one one question that I heard out in the community was the parking lots and we're doing an abatement bond and there's a question about was that already in our bond and we did have parking on bond but our scope of our parking lot improved and with the school board of having the authority to be able to do this, this is the timing to engage on that project. And so we're able to add parking on the opposite side of the tennis courts. And so that's going to just not function for the stadium, but it's also going to support parking for pickle ball or tennis across the road. We're able to create a safer drive lane that's going to drop off by Theor, the stadium, but then also our school campus. And so a lot of thought went into that. And then we moved our admin area from the original design. It was going to be up on top here by the pack. Now it's on the north end. And so we redid how we did bus drop off here. So this abatement bond dollars go directly towards some of that change of scope which we're really excited excited for. Uh but all that work is next summer work along with doing fields all around. So uh really uh compliments to our students, compliments to our coaches, compliments to our staff as they've shuffled construction. Uh hope my I couldn't be more complimentary of how our students and staff have led this effort of adjusting and also I just want to share with the board they're they're so excited about their new spaces. I mean, that's the fuel that fuels this is as you're dealing with construction. Anyone that's dealt with it, it does does require some patience and uh grace. Uh but they've uh I think are so excited when they get these new spaces turned over. So, thank you, >> Kevin. Was there any u things decided on yet on how the construction that goes on this summer or starts will affect community education? Do you know that what's what's going on there at all? >> Yeah. So, when we do work on the parking lots, that's going to impact how people have accessibility to the wack. So, that part of the pool and the whack, there's going to be a time period that we say that's going to be shut down. Uh that being said, a lot of uh adventure club that's offered over the summer, a targeted service for our primary, we're going to be using Graan View and Our Lady for classrooms. Uh a lot of our wreck activities still continue as they have been on other fields and so we've just put them in different places. When we look at our strength and conditioning, we're looking at a spot off district uh to be able to complete that. And so we've had conversations with some different districts and Crown College and really trying to get that finalized. And so a lot of thought for a long time has been gone how we can phase uh and keep as many opportunities for kids. >> This is going to be the busiest summer for >> by far. >> By far. >> Yeah. And I think it's just important that we u make sure that we get that information out to the community with theirs, >> you know, this we've we worked a lot with this phasing schedule here for the high school. >> Will there be a phasing schedule like that for fields? >> Yep. Yep. We'll give um Kevin and and his staff like a phasing logistics plan that just showed the whole site and what's going on and and what what area and >> so we can communicate out to the staff and and community what's what's happening and >> you know Brian a lot of that's going to really depend how much snow how they why make it as said the initial phasing thing will probably be different than what we have you know that'll probably change >> a number of times so we're hoping spring shows up I hope Kim. So your remark >> move on to the treasur board. >> They begin with an honors staff by prime therapeutics west $500. WMS PTO Wisconsin Middle School $3,1340. Ohio file West Popup Athletics $24.50 West Tanka Nordic Ski Boosters No West Tank Nordic Ski Doom $4,700. West Tanka Basketball Boosters West Tanka boys basketball team $4,200. West Tonka basketball boosters. West Tonka girls basketball team $4,200. West Chunka Hockey Boosters West Cona boys hockey team $6,48384 Mighty Cause West Conquer Community Theater $1,230 and Gina Soul Trust J Soul Memorial Scholarship $5,000 Judson Mount Westa class of 1975 scholarship $1,000 Lauren Davis Mount West class of 1975 scholarship $1,000 Michael and Kathleen Mccclure, Mount Westka class of 1975 scholarship, $250. Steve How's Mount Westka class of 1975 1975 scholarship $1,000. Uh D Method LLC, West Tanka Hopkins Dance Team, $150. Amy and Robert Leoski, National Honor Society, $150. and West Tanka Band boosters, West Tanka Band Club, $1,300 year to date through November donations, $119,9842. And Mr. Chair and school board members, I did look at the check roster, combined checks and check roster for October and November, and everything seems to be in order. >> Thank you, Ralph. Are there any committed reports? None. Then we'll move on to teaching and learning. >> It's good to see everybody again. And I would just add my And Laura, I think you could ask about love to get into those classrooms and see it. And and you know what I can tell you when you're walking around when school is in session now, we could come over there. There's such a different energy and engagement when you walk around because the glass you see all this learning going on these classrooms and it's so bright in there. It's it's a very special thing right now to see that. So I hope you get the chance to do that. Well, I am here tonight. This is uh December is when we have our annual update on the 2425 right script here comprehensive achievement and civic readiness report formerly world's best workforce I'm not sure if I can remember that title I I got world's best workforce in that this is the annual report that we submit to the state uh five specific goals that we've been focusing on since 2013 but before we get into that I think it's a great opportunity just to remind ourselves of the success that we're having and in the last couple months the US world and news report has come out has ranked our our schools and it is quite stellar and I think it's important that we start there with some great views both Hilltop Primary School and Shirley Hills Primary School they are literally the top 2% of the all elementary schools in the state of Minnesota uh Hilltop ranked number 19 and [clears throat] Shirley goes rate under 31. And to think that in our district, both elementary schools are in that top tier is really quite an accomplishment. So, congratulations to them. And then Gravia Middle School, ranked number eight middle school uh in the state of Minnesota. And these are outside measurements. And I I think about middle school just in itself, how challenging that can be at times when you're working with these young adolescents and just wonderful things going on at Wester Middle School. So I wanted to point that out to you. And then Malawasaka High School, uh we were ranked uh the number 10 additional public high school in Minnesota's number 18 overall for US News and World Reports. I start there because that's great things to celebrate and along with that the new uh startup came out about a month ago and they had an analysis there was an article you can look it up it's called beating the odds and what they do they have an algorithm they look at the poverty rate of a school system and they predict what they expect the proficiency rate on the math and reading MCA should be and they had a scatter plot and the goal here is to make sure your district is above this line. So, Hilltop, they had a predictive uh predicted reading proficiency rate of 62%, it was 83%. The MAC proficiency rate was calculated 57%, we hit 92. So, we are way up in this area here. Same thing with Shirley Hills. Predicted proficiency rate of reading was 59%. We hit 81%. And the predicted math proficiency rate 54% was 91%. Again, incredible news. And that is just um I always look at that as the icing on the cake of the work that we're doing, showing our community, showing our parents, our families that there's some wonderful things going on in our district. I just wanted to start this report with with that. So when we get into the uh CACR report, there are five goals, the same goals that we've had. And um the only change in these five goals, there was a literacy goal by the end of third grade, you have to be all third graders are reading proficiently. Then it's changed to all students now need to read proficiency K12. and that's the readap and so they replaced that goal with number five is all students are prepared to be lifelong learners. So that is a new goal for the street foot. So I'm just going to take you through the results and then we get open for any questions. So the first goal that we have would be all students are ready for school. And this is focusing on kindergarten readiness that we would want to hit 90% or higher of all our students that are entering kindergarten are ready for school. So we go through our early childhood screening process. We screened 181 students. 159 were determined ready for kindergarten 88%. So, I would say we're at the ballpark. We are just fine with that because we also um identify 22 students so that there's [clears throat] something to address. And I would say let's address whatever those needs are, excuse [clears throat] me, before they start school versus waiting [clears throat] um till they get into kindergarten to first grade. The the second [clears throat] the second goal is close the achievement gap between student groups. When we look at this particular goal, the the naming of groups that's defined by the department of ad. And so in this in this measurement, we're looking at uh achievement profic proficiency rates between our highest performing group, which is the white group, and our two largest groups, which is fruit to use lunch and special ed. So we look at in 2024 the highest performing group you have proficiency rate of 76.5 special education the proficiency rate is 44.5. So the gap the difference is 32 points. We measure that same two groups the next year 2025 the gap is 31.9 points. So we want to see a decrease in that gap from one year to the next. So the gap was 32 points in 2024. The gap in 2025 was 31.9. So it was a decrease of just 0.1. So it stayed the same. The same thing happens with pre-reduced launch in that group. We measure the highest performing group 76.5% pre- reduced lunch meal group 58.5 there's a gap of 18 points at 2024 in 2025 that gap slightly went up to 20.1 so again the goal is decrease by two percentage points it stayed about the same in that area and that's the math results >> in the area of reading Yes. >> Why why is I don't know how to ask this question but just why is free and reduced lunch group set aside as a subgroup. What what is the dynamic that makes that a special subgroup? Is it just low income? Is it >> it's low income? >> Okay. >> It's it's your poverty group. >> Okay. >> And so we are looking at our two largest subgroups would be special education and then free reduce. And that's just how they turn. >> Yeah. >> They they they identify the groups. And that's where I want to point that out because some people wonder like how do they come up with that name >> and then that's how they measure these >> our free and uh based on this our free and regroup reduced lunch group is about what 20%. >> It's about 17. >> I was looking at 232 1097 and 246 104. >> Yep. 17 18%. >> Okay. >> So that's been where you That's been stable, right? Pretty stable. Yeah. >> The people I mean you did is anything changed in how people qualify or apply for it or do they need to apply for? >> Yeah, it's it's a good question. It's all volunteer >> because there is there's no really I mean the state is providing meals, right? >> Correct. >> So there's really not a free and reduced lunch program right now. Is there is that >> Yes, that's that's what I thought. >> Yeah. >> They do have to account for it though. That's why a lot of people were not reporting early on when they went over it. But absolutely free lunch. >> Right. >> And then they stay said no, you have to keep up with that reporting because there's certain dynamics they use for planning. >> Yeah. We and we certainly I think our food service does a very fine job of communicating out to our families that this is something that's important. You know, also realize that there's other benefits if a family chooses if they're in that situation with other scholarships and reduce fees and it's not just about that lunch cost. So I I think we do a good job, but you're right, it is voluntary. We we do not force families to identify that. in the area of reading. What I would just summarize here, you'll notice with the free reduced launch group, there was achievement gap that it went up uh 6.3 points. But here's something to realize. When you look at the highest performing group, that went up from 76.2% to 78.8%. It went up a little bit and then the free reduced lunch group went down a little bit. And this is a data point. These are just one way of looking at achievement. I would say there's many other ways that we look at how our kids are performing, but this is [snorts] how the data comes out. This is what we look at. We know every child at this in our schools of who's performing well, who's struggling. We have the intervention programs built in. This is this is data that we take. It affirms what we already know about what's happening with our students. So there's no surprises here. >> But but even in spite of that and some might critical of these numbers, but as you pointed out before based on what the state was projecting. >> Yes. >> I mean we came out very very >> we did >> overall. So I mean it's not like these kids were failing. It's just that you're looking at the top ones, you know. >> Yes. >> And so you got to kind of take it in perspective. >> Correct. Overall, they're not doing badly. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> And there's always room for improvement. There's always room to look at this data point and say, "What can we do differently? What are the other approaches?" But that's why you never want to focus just on one data point. You want to have at least three when you're making decisions with these things. The next the the next goal is all students career and college career ready by graduation. And we use our preac and our ACT results to look at that. And what we look for is from the sophomore year when they take the preac to the junior year when they take the ACT, we want to see an increase or I'm sorry, the graduated class by their 12th grade year. So 10th grade to 12th grade, you want to see an increase of 1.5 points on on that that ACT score. So when we compared 2324 to uh 2425 the change in point value was 1.75 points. So we made that goal. Is that 1.5 a number we come up with? >> We team up with that one. We team up with that. And anything over a one point increase is usually a very good >> there's really no state standard no. One of the things I wanted to point out to you though that the way we are really addressing ACT is that just this um every year the ACT prep campaign gets better and better and better. And this year the goal was try to reach even more students than they ever have. And so what they did we had our four wonderful teachers here that are leading the charge in the different discipline areas. You probably know these names of of the individuals. And then what they did this year, they they really made a big advertising blitz with our student body say, "Hey, and this is really your juniors that this is something that you really want to invest in." And the carrot with us is that they built in some of the sessions during their win time, during the day versus in the and then some are in the evenings. But it used to be it was all in the evenings. And we know how busy our kids are that sometimes they just can't do it. So they built in uh part of this prep during the wind time and then also in the evening. So really the content of learning the ins and outs of the testing during wind time. Practice tests are in the evenings. So then they they they built out a whole calendar of of sessions and we're right in the middle of it as we speak and that'll all lead to uh March 12th where they'll take the this district sponsored ACT exam here at the high school. So I'm really I'm really encouraged just to see this new revelation of how we're doing ACT prep. Are >> you seeing more kids signed up, more students are down? I want to say we have about seven. Okay. >> Is that all self-directed or are they or are they kind of really um directed by staff and teachers and others? It kind of led into it. >> No, they're they're they're directed by staff. It's it's both. >> They they're they're provided the ACT online prep exam or suite a practice test, but then it's during the win times where they are directed. It's like direct instruction. >> Okay. >> With with the teachers. >> They were able to offer it for 14 bucks. Is is is it optional for them? It's about it's voluntary. It is >> how many how many students you say are active? >> About seven. >> Do you have to split those into subgroups just for I mean having practice sessions with a group of seven? >> Yeah. Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They can break those up into smaller groups. You have the four teachers and they have I don't have all those details here tonight, but they they plan for for that. But it's not like you have 70 kids coming in and showing off. >> No, >> these are juniors or seniors. >> Those are these are juniors. I probably could have a couple sophomores, but it's primarily your juniors that it's kind of the big year when you take your ACT. Your senior year is when you're going to do retakes. So then the the last couple goals here um there's always a graduation goal and our goal is always that we are hitting at least 95% graduation rates. Um and we usually most people focus on the fouryear but we also focus on five year sixyear sevenyear. So um for the graduating class of 2024 the graduation rate was 97.4% and that's great. And if you notice that the fiveyear, six year, sevenyear, they're a little bit different. That is because we have special education students in the extended year program and they will graduate at different times and that will impact the the graduation rate. >> Does it still include those numbers for people that move away? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes, it does. So again, we've talked about that in the past. Sometimes you have kids that move out of the district that they don't inform you where they got that counts against us. There's some other nuances with that. But again, what this has done for us, this focus is that we know exactly like I could predict tomorrow what the graduation rate is going to be this spring. So you got it that tight. So all good news that we should be at 95% and higher this year. And then the last uh the last goal I want to share with you tonight, it's a new goal uh for this this report and the state said we want districts to focus on all students are prepared to be lifelong learners. That's kind of nebulous of how you measure. So, so we decided that the high school decided because we have Robert Bevers who's our high school reading interventionist specialist and Julian the they're focusing on reading. Reading covers many different things. So, they're focusing on measuring um the MCA results in grade 8 and grade 10 and then the reading college readiness benchmark on the ACT. So in 8th grade um they're measuring from 24 to 25. Uh the the rate had it dropped in 8th grade from 24 to 25. But I also put in parentheses so it's 8th grade was still number six in the state. So it's relative a little bit but still we're not satisfied with that but that is where they ended. 10th grade again is different cohorts of students will be measured from 10th grade 2024 2025 and 9.4% increase and the high schools had a very intentional focus on literacy reading across the curriculum emphasis with Robert and the staff. So I'm going to say that 10th grade result in particular is part of the result of that effort with the professional development. And then with ACT reading college readiness benchmark that that's a constant that is another area. What that means is that if you hit that benchmark the ACT would predict you're going to get at least a B in your freshman literature English class is what that so there's some very intentional work going on in all these areas. And the I think the most important thing is is that we look at our data. We don't rest on all our accomplishments, but we get after the areas that we can have some focus on. And again, I'll come back each year with these results with you. This now will be submitted to the state. Uh we update our district website this week with these results. We go from there. So, just so I'm understanding this, the they have these five things that they say have to happen, but it's up to each district to develop how they're going to go after that. And this is ours. This represents ours. And this will this will stay that way or maybe get tweaked. >> Yes. Until until we decide we're going to make changes. And we and we do I am having some conversations with principles about things that we might want to change and look at differently. For example, we have pre Chanel vocational programming coming in. I think that could be a way of measuring if kids are ready for postsecary prepared to be lifelong learners. So as new things come about we will always look at these schools and adapt your advice. So we set our standards for this which will be totally different from what uh talk or anybody else. I mean everybody steps their everyone says they're awake. >> Can you go go back a slide about the I was trying to just understand it. I think you start with Phil top the predicted read proficiency one that was back away number. >> Yeah. >> Um >> yeah that one go back home border hilltop I think was the first one. >> But it's >> there you go. So they they're pretty based on is that based on our again on our uh number of of uh you know >> based on yes it's based on our poverty rate >> poverty rate okay >> and and they look across the state they look at all the data >> and they have a pretty sound algorithm that they can predict how a district should perform. Now, I think there's a lot of other variables involved other than just your poverty rates. It's what you're doing with your program. It's what you're doing with interventions. It's how you're approaching learning in classroom that that makes the difference. and and Star Tribune was simply trying to make a point that there's a number of districts above the line and below the line and they're trying to unlock what is it that's going on in those districts that have higher poverty rates but they have also high proficiency rates on state tests. What's the difference? >> And >> did they dig into it with you as part of their analysis? No. as has seen the development like you get rake you red old you know golf courses are closed you have these gorgeous homes you see that's happening out of Kings Point do we see a big shift in our poverty rate or just >> really >> we have >> really okay we've uh as this conversation has reflected this how people sign up for free and reduced and how we engage uh that's changed over the years but we've been In my time here, we've been really steady between 15 to 22% of uh free and reduced lunch count. And I would say somewhere in that is where we are. >> Is that it's interesting >> high the area? I would imagine. >> Yes. Yeah. >> So when we go to our neighbors to the east, they're half that. And so sometimes I think we get lumped in that you're on Lake Manito and yet our uh our free and reduced numbers uh reflect something different than other sides of the the lake. that I also think that just just from living in different areas of the city that parental involvement here I think really is I have no hard data on it but I would expect that a lot of kinds parental involvement in this area is so strong that there's probably a fairly substantial percentage shift just uplifting on percent you know parents involvement in their students academic life >> I think a big thing at uh you take uh each building and there's a culture that exists and how you go about school and there's a lot of complimentary factors but but one of the factors is over time that establishes and so you just can't have a dynamic teacher a dynamic it takes time and years after years to be able to establish but you definitely walk into the school And one of the factors is the culture about how you go about learning and people's hope and confidence of their opportunities. And so when you look at the high school, just being a parent of two that have gone through, the conversations that they have with friends of how to be competitive for your opportunities after high school is a huge motivating factor that they really push themselves. And it's a wonderful thing. It's a wonderful part of the culture of your peer groups having these conversations and the expectations that you place on yourself. >> Last last [clears throat] Thursday I was played Santa Claus for the shoreline child care which is at good shepherd. I've done that for a few years and many families came in the kids have whitehawk apparel on and so I would ask and there were older siblings what school you go to Shirley Hills or Hilltop. I had three sets of parents tell me that they moved out here because of the school district which was really nice. I did confess to them to the kids that went to Shirley Hills that when Santa was a little boy he went to Shirley Hills. So they sort of went like I didn't know Santa had to go to school but he went to Shirley Hills. >> The narrative the narrative swaying the world. >> Why does the elves went to [laughter] >> All right. that this >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thanks, Mark. >> Uh we as we've gone through the agenda, several things were were addressed, but I would um I would start that one just a reminder again in your actions today, our board meeting in January, it's going to be January 5th. Want to thank Emily for that change, Kathy for that change as you're working with um the bond sale and that agenda with with um our upcoming meetings. You're going to see two uh two things on that January agenda. We're going to try to set a February retreat for board members where we're going to talk about vision, mission, and board goals. And then in March, we have our meeting with administration about goals that we're recommending to go under our new strategic priorities. And we'll have that opportunity with you. In that meeting with in March, we're going to have different members scheduled at different time slots. So, they'll be presenting what they will be proposing to you for uh goals. And so that ranges from different departments, different schools, etc. And so I'm really looking forward to um that process, but that conversation with you of what our areas of focus will be um with our strategic priorities. Again, these aren't replacing what our current strategic goals are. Uh currently we have uh four strategic goals. our new strategic priorities. Comprehensive student success will be one of them. Safety and well-being will be another one of them. Empowered and intentional innovation, school and community engagement. And our last one is really working off our logo, investing in small school advantages, big school opportunities, where we're really talking about our systems, whether it be our facilities, our finances, how we go about HR. And so those are going to be kind of the buckets and underneath there we have some areas of focus that push us. Um, one thing that's interesting, we had uh we had our uh prospective parent night and for two years in a row, it's really come up uh not by the majority but enough people bringing up the same point that it gets you to listen to this point because the parent perspective is how are you balancing technology and technology initiatives in the classroom with nont non techchnological initiatives. So if it's device related or how you're using that as a tool and I think as that perspective might be different based on different individuals it's really trying to make sure you have balance with it. Uh, one thing that we know that's coming up is the incorporation of AI, not just in our own productivity as a district and how we manage our work, but also how people utilize that in their learning. And so as we as a country have made uh huge policy decisions around AI and huge investments into infrastructure, we know that those steps are going to be starting to push different agendas and opportunities or fears depending on how people look at this. And it's really important that we as a school district establish policy guidelines, but really call out what we're prioritizing both in learning and our own work. Uh that is an example of an idea that will be talked about at the march and not calling that out above or beneath anything else. But it's really important as a school district that we really own the narrative of what's the place for these technological or other innovative advances in our school district and with learning and with work versus be silent on it. And so I think the main goal of these strategic priorities is the intention being intentional about what's our focus going to be and being coordinated and then communicated well where we're headed and this really gives us that framework to be able to do it. So I'm excited about the work coming up and it's going to be a very fluid document because what should be our main focus that should always be an active conversation. Uh we I wanted to call out that very very thankful for the partnership that we have with the Orno uh police department, the Minotrista Police Department, with Ridge View, with Mount Fire. And I can just give you different examples. Uh example of how we do our training. Uh we talked had everybody in uh Emily did a really wonderful job of organizing a great meeting around reunification. So, if we had to evacuate one of our school sites and we had to connect parents with their kids offsite, how do you go about that? It's very complicated. It's easy to say, it's very hard to deliver. And there's roles not just by the school, but our police department, our fire department, by Ridgefield. How do you do these type of things? And so we've taken steps about how have we I want to thank Our Lady of the Lake because they've been a great partner uh with working with us on this Becky Kennedy and her team uh just it's just it's the West Tanka community. It's just how we work together. Today I was driving down the road and I felt my back part of my truck just slide a little bit and I when I got to school quickly send a text and you we talk directly with everybody. So, the two plow crews, Minatrista and Mound. Hey, notice that it's icing up and just great coordination where people receive your messages and want to make sure that we have safe roads. You talked to Mount Fire and it I can go on and on, but these are text message quick communications or involved meetings, but it's really the West Hanka community of how you assure safety and something I feel very blessed. talked about construction. I'm not going to go over that more. The only thing I wanted to state is huge investments of time and coordination and exciting work on the vocational uh programming. This isn't a light switch where you're saying now we're offering it. Let's see who shows up into the room. I mean everything from the equipment to the curriculum to how you staff it to grants that we wrote to making sure that licensing has worked out that you maximize how you get reimbursed for funding. Uh your partnerships in the community and how they work, how your kids can have opportunities outside of school. There's layer after layer after layer after layer and it wouldn't have to be that way. It's really compliments to Mark femight. It's compliments to Jolene Hurful and the people that they work with. They've done a really really good job of coordinating a lot of effort there. But, uh, this isn't about, you know, we talked about the education classrooms and Mark's right. Have right-sized classrooms, have natural light, have breakout space, have it be a place that they're proud of. All those enhance learning. Absolutely. the technology of the how the display boards are working and how kids can see and how they can hear. I mean all those things so important but it's also the new programs that are coming in these spaces and it's just beyond thrilling. So um wanted to just give a little bit of voice in your action items today. You'll take action on uh what Matt and Kathy talked about. You're going to see that again we recycle some of our equipment a custodian float position we're noticing with construction but also with some leaves that people are on. We need to staff up and we can't afford to be a person down. So you're going to see uh added position there that we can fill in with some of the people that are on leave and some of the demands we have due to construction and a Matt Maddox overload position. we just have some higher numbers in a class that we want to reduce the class size and it's a it's an affordable good solution of doing it. So it's a point 0.1.1. So a 0.1 is how that's calculated. That's a semester class and that comes out at a 0.1. That's what it is. on discussion items B and C, the approving of the uh general obligation bond and the approving of the abatement tax. Do we need a roll call on those or just a voice? >> Just a voice. >> Okay. Yeah. Thank you. >> Chair moves for approval of the consent agenda. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Move on to discussion items. Discussion item 9A. The chair moves for approval um of the resolution to adopt the 20 25 payable 2026 levy. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Chair moves for approval of action item 9B, approval of the resolution stating the intention of the school board to issue general obligation school building facilities maintenance tax abatement refunding bond series uh 2026A. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carries. Chair moves for approval of action item 9C, approval of resolution relating to the property tax abatement for parking lots granting the abatement. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Chair moves for approval of action item 9D, approval of obsolete equipment to be sold or recycled. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion carries. Chair moves for approval of action item 9E, approval of a 1.0 FTE custodial float position. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Chair moves for approval of action item 9F, approval of a 0.1 FTE mathematics overload position. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Um before we move on to the um Does anybody else have any further business? Okay. Um I will be sending out a list um to everybody here. I'll work with Emily and on committees. Um if everybody's happy with the committees they're on and stuff, we'll leave it as is. if somebody looking at something different, then we'll have to juggle some things around. Um, I think we have a really good thing going there, but I'll send it out because I also love to get people at that and I'd like to hear back uh by the end of the week if I could so I can turn that over and then we'll have that uh that we can finalize. Um, beyond that, you guys, we had a great year. We had a really good year. Um, we got a lot of great stuff coming down the road. Again, I want to thank everybody for their hard work. It was a lot of extra time and effort. Um uh and you know, beyond that, everybody enjoy their Christmas with their uh their families in the holiday season. So, um thanks again. With that, if there is no further um business to come before the board, I would move for adjournment. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Meetings.