My son was here. the order at 6:05 p.m. >> This is the board of directors regular school board meeting for Monday, July 28th, 2025. Welcome to all of our visitors, guests, and media. Got a full house tonight. Um, we're going to start tonight with the board and administrative roll calls. Mr. Phelp here, Mr. Burns >> here, >> Miss Danielson here, >> Miss Schultz >> here, >> Miss Gatskco >> here, >> Miss Nathan >> here, >> Mr. Scheler >> here. All right, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> We have had no public comments tonight, so moving right along. Uh is there the first action item is a motion to approve the agenda and >> second? >> All right, moving right along there. Uh motion made by Miss Danielson, seconded by Miss Schultz. Is that right? >> You guys kind of tied. >> Go for it. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. All oppose, nay. Motion carries. Item three, the consent agenda, which includes the school board minutes for the school board meeting on June 23rd, 2025, the personnel consent agenda, and the business consent agenda. >> Approval >> second. >> Mr. Chair, if I could just one, I'm sorry, just to interrupt. Um, just a note, um, we had, um, a change in Taher's food service program. the director of food service, uh, Beth Botenfield, uh, will be kind of reassigned by Taher. Um, she'll be working as kind of a more of a regional, um, employee for Taher, uh, helping out, uh, other schools within their, uh, region. Um, and, uh, so, uh, Tahar, uh, has now hired uh, again, they're looking just that's part of their responsibility is to find the director position. And they did hire Elena Walters. Uh Elena uh had previously been our uh employee at the uh elementary as our food service head cook at the elementary. Uh she will now become the uh director of food service. So just a note on that. Um and we are now uh looking to replace her and that posting is out there. So just want to make sure that was noted. >> Well, thank you. Any further discussion? Because we had a motion made by Mr. and seconded by Miss Nate. Any other discussion on the business consent agenda? >> Just theou is there for um uh Mr. Vio. >> Yeah, Mr. V. We uh raised uh his number of days down 188 and we raised that to 210 uh due to some um increased duties uh with the mentorship program that he's doing, the teacher mentorship program. >> Also, uh in the fact that he's doing um a lot of the uh training now for the read act. um he's done that for the last three years and uh is now one of our only qualified people to do that training in house. So um given those additional duties, we reinstated him back to a 210 contract. >> Perfect. Yeah, just wanted to make sure that was on record. >> All right. Well, thank you. Um anything else? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. All oppose, nay. Motion carries. We do not have any recognitions, presentations, or showcases at this time uh just due to kind of the the quiet month in the summertime. Uh so moving right along. Item five, uh item A, which is the acknowledgement of donations, contributions, and fundraising. Mr. Schuler. >> Absolutely. Uh we have three um donors that would like to recognize this month. Uh our local American Legion Post 121 uh donation to Unified Sports at the high school for $1,500. uh to support their team going to the US games and again in uh summer of 2026 uh that'll be held in uh the Twin Cities at the University of Minnesota. Uh so pretty exciting and I'm sure uh Miss Perez and and her uh unified members will be gearing up for that. So a very nice donation. Uh the Watertown Lions Club donation to robotics uh $2500 uh for robotic parts. And then a merit prize here in Watertown um donation to Watertown Mer football. Uh this was paid forward for the 2526 um uh time frame. Uh just to note that for $500 for the golf tournament um that happened here last weekend, last Friday. >> Um so >> thank you again for all those donors. >> Can I have a discussion question on here? >> Yeah. Um, so when we are approving these, are we approving that they are being as they are designated? >> Correct. >> And so they shouldn't money should not move from one pot to another. If it's on here, this is what we're approving them for, right? Okay. >> Otherwise, everybody would be wanting a robotics money. >> Very true. all the donations that they >> No, I just I'll take that as an offline >> again, but um >> they need to teach us how to function. >> I think the only exception sometimes is that if there's an accounting error um I think >> on where it was coded potentially >> on how it was coded and to whom it was given based on um the coding. But if that is the case, then the finance department should be making that correction so that we can acknowledge that in a in this donations contribution mix. >> Yeah. But I don't know that that's happening with the transition right now that we have. So, but I do know in the past before we started this process, there had been some funds that were given to a department that it wasn't intended for. It was corrected on the back end, right? Does that make sense? >> Yeah. And I'm assuming that again what we're when we're getting this um from to the business office, we're giving explicit directions on where pod that's supposed to be going to. And so, um, yeah, if there's further question, I certainly can. >> We'll take it offline. >> Make a motion to approve the donations, contributions, and fundraising. >> I'll second. >> Motion made by Miss Danielson, seconded by Miss Gets. Any further discussions on the donations, contributions, fundraising? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. All oppose, nay. >> Motion carries. Item B, motion to approve finance director Todd Netsky and finance director assistant Thomas Griffin, which are both uh SMS staff to initiate, transfer, invest, and authorize district funds and transfers on behalf of the school district 111 for fiscal year 26. >> Yeah, this is just a formalization of the transition to SMS um from Miss Raider to them. um a lot of the um transfer pieces, the uh investments, the authorization to have access to district funds, um banking, what have you is in the process of being changed. And again, we just want to make sure this is formalized um in order for us to complete some of those u transitions. Move approval. >> Second. >> Motion made by Mr. Bird, seconded by Miss Nton. Any further discussions, questions? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. All oppose. Nay. Motion carries. Item C, the first and only read of district policies requiring review. Mr. Schuler. >> Uh, yes. The policy committee uh met a couple of weeks ago and u reviewed um our policies. There's a large group this month and again this is the um after effect I guess if you will of the legislative session where MSBA um does their revisions given the changes to legislation in statute. Um so a lot of these had statute changes um minor changes throughout. Um a couple of just to note uh the policy committee did recommend the group that you see in front of you as a first and only read. Um, but there's a few just to to note. Um, specifically I want to note um oh uh 202 if you scroll up to the top uh there uh 202 for whatever reason uh schoolboard officers uh we noticed the vice chair was never added to that policy. So Jim, you want to get make sure you fell part of the team. Uh so we got you on there. Um it was a good note. Um and that's been added. Um also, uh please note on on policy 602, um MSBA and and through legislative changes, uh for the next two years, so 2026 and 27, school year 2829, um districts do have the opportunity to start before Labor Day. You've kind of heard me talk about this previously, but the policy now allows school boards to have that ability to not have to um get special permission from MDE to do that. So um policy does state that now just for those two years only >> due to way that due to when Labor Day falls on. >> Correct. >> Right. >> And it's September 1st or later. So we can't go any earlier than September 1st. >> Good catch. Thank you. Um, and then Oh, that's all I have. I'm sorry. We can get approval of those. Any questions? >> So, I just have one on the um the over for uh Oh, wait. That's maybe in the next one. Never mind. We'll talk about it next. >> I'm jumping ahead. >> Wait, >> I'll make a motion to approve the first and only read of the district policies requiring review. >> Second. >> Motion made by Mr. Phelps, seconded by Mr. Burns. Any further discussion on those hearing? None. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> All oppose. Nay. Motion carries. And thank you, policy committee. Um, that's a heavy lift right there for all of these. >> Yep. >> Um, moving on to item D, the first read of district policies requiring review. Mr. Schuler. >> Uh, yes. Uh, Mr. chair this group um of three policies uh the committee asked to to to pull and uh do a further dive. Um the questions we have are basically administrative um questions. Uh the admin team typically is not inconsistently in July. So we haven't had a chance to share this. Uh we do meet tomorrow. So these will be a topic of conversation. Um policy 503 student attendance um is uh one where uh we're going to take a deeper dive on excused absences and that process just needs updating. So uh the admin team needs to come back together um to have that discussion on what unexcused absences um look like today um compared to previous policy. uh 516 uh.5 uh you probably recognize this was instituted back in the 23 uh 2023 legislature. That's the over uh dose medication using nlloxxone. Um there's a lot of new information in there. Um even to the point of um having a district collaborative team that has to meet um kind of led by our district nurse. Um and so there's just a lot more detail to that that was added. So, we've got to kind of reconvene and have a conversation with our district nurses to make sure we're covered there. And then lastly, um, uh, literacy and the read act. As you probably know, this one has been an ongoing, um, uh, adjustment as we learn more about how this is being rolled out over the last few years. And, um, it just really gives more specific language on how many times you have to screen um, students, three times a year, uh, what that looks like. And then there's also some changes to the literacy aid which we get from the state of Minnesota um specific that now that some of the guidelines have changed on that. Um and then just a really big piece on evidence-based you've heard a lot you know Mr. V is talking through that about um literacy based um instruction that is um is this really a bigger push and some requirements there. So um again principles need to be actively able to understand this uh language before we bring it to you for a final read. So and give input. >> Okay. Go. >> Any other questions? >> So I just have a question on the overdose medication. So, um, one thing that I think is missing and maybe we can you can the policy committee to add something in here, but, um, any referral to, um, uh, treatment for, um, you know, obviously somebody is overdosing, there's probably something going on there. So, uh, to, um, substance use disorder or mental health, um, resources. Um, I'd love to see that as part of the policy that if it's administered that it would be an automatic referral um is made if possible. >> I think we'll have to talk to April about that because there's specific protocols and procedures that district nurses have to abide by and can't do. So, I think that's where April's really kind of need to weigh in. >> Yeah. >> Based on what her parameters of responsibility as a school because there are some things that the school is not allowed to do that only the district nurse can do. I don't know if that is deemed to be a good policy or just an understanding of protocol. >> Right. To make sure it goes on the list to ask her. Yeah. When they go over >> it's on our policy or her process. >> Exactly. >> Makes sense. >> So, but yeah, I definitely the policy committee needs to have Miss Ginger look through this very >> thousand%. Yes. >> I'll make note of it though. >> I would think there'd be some kind of mandated reporting. Yeah, >> there is, isn't there? >> I think so. Yeah, >> that was part of that committee thing, too. Yes. Yeah. Yeah, that new whatever. >> Yes. >> Which is our policy. >> Correct. Right. Yep. >> Because we do have a substance abuse policy already, which Yeah. probably goes more towards for employees, but >> Right. >> We'll follow up on that. Thank you. >> Thank you. That's why we do the first read. >> That was Yep. >> Is there a motion to approve the first read of those three policies? >> Move approval. >> That was insane. >> That was like the warning was a girl and >> you two are honorable. >> So motion made by Lisa, seconded by >> Erica. I love it. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. Nay. Motion carries. Moving right along to item E, the 2526 food service pricing. Mr. Schuler. >> Yes, Mr. Chair. Uh board members, you can see the chart uh on the agenda that lists our breakfast and lunch prices. Um before Miss Rder left, this was one item that uh we did address and we talked about um that second meal again. Um where do you put that? Uh we did propose to raise it as you can see 20 cents. Uh remember the second meal is not free. Uh the second meal is uh the responsibility of the individual uh student or a staff member or adult for that matter. Um and again is not reimbursed by u the state or or the feds. So, um that is one where um in this raider's estimation given food increases the costs um that uh you know a 20 cent increase would be justified at this time and I think it still keeps us in the certainly the uh moderate range if you will for area district schools um for that second meal uh given her research. So um we also do uh run that by Taher just again as a as a piece of of our relationship uh with them and and uh they gave that approval as well. So we are >> and the milk price is for a second milk. Correct. Because there's a milk >> milk is >> additional like if you have a school lunch. >> Yep. >> Or if you have a school lunch you get that for free. Correct. You bring a home lunch you don't get that milk for free. >> Right. >> That is a purchase price like an all cart. >> Got it. >> Or if they wanted a second milk. >> Exactly. >> Got it. Okay. >> And then we still are waiting for the state to weigh in on the adult price. So, as in years past, sometimes we've had to go back and revisit the adult pricing because the state sometimes will set that. That has not yet come out. So, there's a chance that we can be looking at that again. But for now, Topper feels like we're in the safe spot. >> And is that also in the statute that they can't have a milk if they bring their own home lunch that they have to pay for it? >> It's a >> probably in the >> That that's from MD or the the legislation. Yeah, that's I'm just curious. It's just some silly >> period of time. Kindergarteners could get free the kindergarters that program is gone to the wayside. >> Yeah. >> From an MSBA side, there's school districts that the kids will go a meal, throw the whole meal away just for the milk >> and eat their whole lunch. >> So, like >> yeah, >> common sense isn't so common all the time, >> right? >> I know. Do I look crazy? >> Yeah. But yes, that that if you do bring your home lunch, you have to pay for milk. >> But if you have food at school, >> you know, um Chairfeld asked, you know, how many students are eating a second meal? And >> I don't have those numbers. Our infinite campus was down I think last >> three days to get reconditioned. Um and uh we were trying to gather that information for the meeting and I didn't have that. So we can report. >> I mean, do we do we do we feel like it's a lot of students that are having a second meal? >> Really? >> Okay. >> I think that I think there still is quite a few students that are having especially at the middle school and high school. >> That's what I would think. >> Okay. >> Not so much. I think >> how do they have the time to be a second >> I was going to say is there what's the price for the third and the fourth? >> Is there a volume discount? >> And that does happen. Are they allowed to get are they allowed to get two meals at once when they go through the line? They have to go through twice. >> Got it. >> In case they don't finish. >> That makes sense. >> But no, I I think you know from my perspective the 20 cent increase for whether it's the the adult meal or the second meal I think is is reasonable. >> The first one free. It's fine. >> Yeah. So, I'll make a motion to approve the lunch food service pricing for 2526. >> Oh jeez, >> we're all so excited about this. >> So, we have a motion made by Mr. Felt, seconded by Miss Danielson. Uh, any further questions on the food service pricing? >> All those in favor say I. >> All oppose, nay. >> Motion carries. And that ends the action items of the evening. Um the first review and information item, uh board chair updates, uh I wanted to kind of get your guys' thoughts and opinion, a little bit of discussion. Um as we kind of I know it's only July coming into August. Did we find that the legislative priorities was value add? Because we can start I can start thinking about the process to get that put together as we move forward. >> Thousand%. Yes. Okay. >> I just don't want to be doing anything in a vacuum and and you know if we don't find the value ad. >> Let me ask this. The people we met with, do you think they thought it was a value ad? And did we feel like that was so I mean I know I felt that way but let's take it one step further. What did what was the feedback from the folks we met with? >> I I from my perspective I think the feedback was good. They liked hearing of us. Okay. And it's something that as a district we've never done. >> Yep. >> So >> for lack of a better term it's also putting us on the radar. >> Yep. for for them to get to know us better. Uh could we do that next year and bring them all back in, you know, and offer tours again, you know, or or some of those that didn't get the tours this year? I think that would be a great thing. I also think it would be a great thing, too, as as we get closer to day at the capital from an MSBA perspective. You know, I'll try to keep you guys when I know the date specifically. You know, if we can get maybe a couple more of us so we don't have to, you know, Katie Joe goes to one, I go to one, Darren goes to one, we're triple booked, >> you know, maybe we can get more of that >> the unity here, >> but I think I think it it's good. I do. I think did we make a difference? Did anything get written into legislation about we that we asked? I would say probably not. But they hurt us. you know, they're they came out and visited our school. We got great compliments, you know, and and the marketing from that and >> again, it's the it's the knowledge that, hey, we're here. >> How can we help? So, I don't know if you have anything else to add, Mr. Sure. >> No, I would echo that. I think uh what helped in K Joe too when we went down to the capital, I think um just having a document that you can hand to someone and even for our reference point, I think that was wellreceived if they said, "Oh, all right. Watertown mayor." and obviously they filed that away and sometimes their assistant grabbed it, but um at least it was a takeaway and I felt like that was really nice um to have a go-to for us to be able to speak uh to what we were trying to communicate to them um just in another way. Um I think the bigger question, you know, last year was a a budget year, so obviously there was a push for more dollars. That won't be the case this year, but there'll be more language and more other policy pieces that we probably want to include. So, as we look at, you know, preparing another document this year, I think, you know, think real strongly about policy and what areas that we want to really focus in on. And again, I'd let every the whole board to really contribute and weigh in on that piece because that is um that is a a big part of what we try to communicate. >> Yeah, I thought everybody was very receptive. I mean, they really listened to us. Um, it was nice because we could actually get a date on the books like while we were right there because their assistant was able to, you know, see their calendar and like put them on. >> Um, and then there was kind of I mean while you guys were meeting that was kind of more anformational thing. So that was kind of nice just to hear >> kind of how the process works, you know, >> for them too, like just getting bills, >> you know, to the floor and stuff like that. So >> I think um the the piece about how it's impacting us or how a certain legislation might impact us is so important. It's just they don't necessarily get that full real world like >> if you do this that means these three things or whatever. And I think by us doing that, it really kind of brought to light like we understand what you're trying to comp or we might not understand, but you putting this in Yeah. and this is what it does, what the impact is on our students, on our budget, on our whatever. So, I think that's all good stuff. Um, >> so I feel like one of the biggest takeaways was a lot of just local control. I mean, that was kind of one of the biggest things I think a lot of school districts are >> too as we move forward. you know, our the priorities don't have to change, >> right? >> Or, you know, as we mature, they can still be the same. That's the same things are as pain point for us next year. >> Yep. >> But absolutely, I just kind of wanted to make sure that we're all kind of in in alignment as we move forward with that. So, expect something from me as as we get closer to the year end, >> you know, once uh MSBA and MSA kind of put out their >> Yep. >> priorities, too. Those are always good >> yes >> barometers to to check against. >> I think it just levels us up as an organization too. It just, you know, that we are seeing the bigger picture and also understanding how it impacts us that we're not going to just sit silently and let things happen with, you know, unfunded mandates and all that kind of stuff, but that we're going to speak up and and at least >> proactively >> be out there. And I think that's great, >> you know, and then and also too if we're considering and wanting to next year bringing in bringing in our legislators again, you know, having that game plan, I think it's really important to have at least one board member or two board members on that tour with them so we're not leaving >> the administration. >> It's always nice to hear where their head is, too, like they're like, >> but it's but it provides also that that unified front between the the board and administration. We're all kind of in lock step with each other. So >> if that's the path we want to go, I, you know, try to make yourselves available as much as possible. You know, I know we'll try to plan ahead of time, but just to kind of share the wealth on that. Um, the only other thing that I had to bring up is in reading some of the the the feedback that we'll get to a little bit later, one of the items is as a board, how can we get closer to the students, get down to that level, right? We're sitting at this table, we hear from the administration, we hear from Mr. Scheler. How do we get how do we understand where the decisions we make here affect? So, one of the things I was thinking of and tell me if I'm off base or crazy, you know, would it be an opportunity for us maybe to shadow for an hour or two in a classroom, grab a teacher, help help teach, not maybe not teach a lesson, but you know, kind of see how those decisions that we make here, you know, from like literacy, read Act, MTSS, how that affects down at the student level. you know, I'm not thinking anything taking a whole day and and following around, you know, couple hours, couple classes throughout the course of next school year. That was sort of where my head was at. I don't know if >> that was always one of my goals was at least once a quarter, too. And >> best job off best job of that. I mean, I tried to hit up some of the events, >> but yeah, I >> but actually get in. actually, you know, when when we were walking in one of the tours, I don't I think it was just you and me, um, at the elementary school, we actually kind of got to observe sort of a lesson on the science of reading, how they were teaching reading. >> To me, I was like, "Oh, this is completely different than what I learned 25 years ago. How are they doing it now? Oh, that's really cool to learn. How do we get closer so we understand those decisions?" >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think we could phrase it, too. if you were interested like you know the principal going in with you and just more or less sharing with you what's happening >> so you get an idea whether it be a reading lesson or it be the CTE uh space you know more of a guided tour it would be like you're just sitting there in a classroom observing I think that might be a little intimidating but it would be probably more of a just we're going to sit here and explain a little bit about what we're doing so that makes sense um I know like I said we're going to talk about this tomorrow at our our leadership team meeting and just seeing how they can help facilitate it. If you're interested, that certainly fine, too. >> I think there's been interest from the teachers, too, just to see us a little bit more visibly at events or in the school or whatever. >> And I think that's a good step, >> you know, in that process, too. So, it helps everybody out and helps us make more informed decisions here at this table. >> So, something to something to consider as we move forward. Mhm. >> And again, I I was thinking one to two hours type of thing. So it's not like it's >> once a week, once a month, once a quarter type of thing. It's a start. >> Yep. >> So something to consider as we move forward. >> Yep. Especially if the, you know, administration feels that there's things we should be coming in to see. And we've done a lot of different changes over the last three, four, five years, you know, with the MTSS, science of reading, all all of that that, >> you know, those are big decisions, big changes, big lifts in the district, how are they actually implemented. So those were my two kind of updates. I appreciate you guys kind of with the discussion. So more to come on on both of those topics. So, uh, Mr. Scheler, you can talk about the volunteer protocols now. You bet. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just wanted to bring this to your attention because it's a change and maybe a somewhat significant change. Um, we had some really good discussions internally last spring about revising the way we do our volunteer background checks. There were a few red flag things that came through that either got missed uh through the checks or uh enough to kind of jolt us a little bit to say we got to revise this or take another peek at it. Um I I guess basically our whole district office staff um Miss Eton at the time and Miss Huan and Miss Rder and I and Miss Moraka um had a really good conversation about what are our options and um currently you probably know we use Raptor to uh admit people into the building. So uh by using their license and scanning in uh we get a you know an update right live time in front of the admin assistant who's sitting there and checking that individual in. Um we've obviously really ramped up our um entrances at the middle school and the elementary um and really have made some really nice changes over the last few years. Um but back to the volunteer. So again, volunteer versus um um um someone who might be coming in um as a visitor, there's two different things. Um so currently we were using the uh Minnesota um uh the name it now uh Minnesota um criminal background check, criminal history background check. Thank you. Um and again, it's a pretty lowlevel um uh check. Uh checks for sex offenders. Um and it's it's it a very minimal check. It's free and the state provides that for uh entities that are are doing background checks. Um to that end, um Raptor has a product um that we could add on to our um current system for volunteers. And um as you can see, uh the process that u could be used um starting this fall would be that um we would have a level two. Now they have three different levels within Raptor. Uh level one, I believe, is the most highly specific and there's a higher cost to that. Level three is actually >> level three ties. Level one would be the the least and level two is kind of the middle of the road. Um our recommendation is that we move to level two um which is an $18 fee for the check. Uh that would be passed on to the volunteer whoever they might be uh coming into the buildings. But it you can see on this list what it does in comparison to our previous uh background check. So it it does a national criminal database. Uh the current Minnesota one is specific to Minnesota. So when we outstate people moving in, we always get to see where their history has been in terms of law enforcement or any criminal activity. Um this will provide that. Uh the national sex offender search, again, we had that previously. Social Security ID number search. Um address verification, which sometimes can be an issue, too. Um multiple name checks. And again, uh you'd be surprised by how many people have changed their names multiple times, um to get around something or um so this is another way to to verify that. Um terrorist watch list um and again one local county of residence, court checks, and then um all court fees um that above that $25 threshold. So it does give a really good um deeper dive on on that check. Um, the way it currently works is that the individual goes online. I can pop on. Right now, we do have it live. So, if we go to our website on the top, it shows volunteer on that top tab. And it's coming. Um, there we go. Um, so again, it kind of gives the individual an opportunity to understand um, are you a volunteer or are you a visitor? And again, visitors are things like, I'm coming to be the mystery reader in the elementary classroom. Um, they would not have to do the $18 full background check if they chose not to. A lot of times grandparents, for example, are a good one that, you know, they just want to come in maybe have lunch with their son or grandson or granddaughter or read a book. Um, it kind of explains that chaperones that would go on a field trip. Obviously, you're with children. um you know potentially alone in a in a setting where you're taking a group off maybe at the zoo or what have you. Um classroom volunteers are your weekly volunteers that come in and support classroom and and teachers. Um you can kind of see how that's played out as well. And then um assemblies I know the elementary for example has a lot of uh month end uh assemblies where they're recognizing Royal Students of the Month. Um that would not be something. So, it's really specific to those people that are coming in on a regular basis that are in are in front of kids possibly, you know, alone with an eye shot of the teacher typically. Um, and it explains a little bit about our visitor badge process, what you're we're currently doing. Um, so if you're coming in just to um visit with the uh a teacher or uh during the middle of the day, uh Mr. felt coming in to do his presentation. Uh, you know, would do a visitor badge and that again is just placed on their chest. Uh, and we can then see and identify them who they are throughout the building. And then when they come out, they obviously take the badge off, give it back to the admin assistant, and then we can check them out of the system. The system does allow us to keep track in lifetime how many volunteers are in the building or visitors. So, we have a pretty good opportunity to see who's left or if they didn't check out, we better double check to make sure where they are. A lot of times parents do forget like, "Oh, forgot to give my badge back. I have left and now they're still in our system." So, we got to check them out. Um, and then again, it goes back into um a little bit more of the you got to fill out the confidentiality form. There's a lot of words there. Um, but again, uh, signing off and, uh, go with that. And then here's the where they get into the Raptor system to do their their um actual application. And then um you just follow the steps. I think there's eight steps, nine steps till you get done. The payment is done uh through Raptor, not through the district. So just a simple credit card will um get you through that process. Um we don't handle any of that and um that's totally on Raptor. So um again, it is a change. It is a fee. um you know that that is could impact some parents we do understand that um but again in the interest of the safety of students we just felt like this is that next level um uh Delno uses I believe Okoneia is using it currently as well as just that another level and we've asked that question how do parents respond um to that increase you know for $18 and for the most part I they said you know 80 90% of the folks said not a problem you I was telling Mr. Mr. Felt it was two cups of Starbucks uh specialized drinks uh you know at the end of the day. Um so again um I just want you to be aware as a board in case you get questions you know where is this coming from and again it's really based on just a more comprehensive um approach to the background checks in general and how we are screening people coming through our building. So >> is this a once a year thing? So, good question. Yeah, currently it's going to be once a year. Um, we're going to see >> 365 days. >> So, that is a difference. >> 365. Yeah. >> And then do we have So, but let me just start by saying I'm all for this. I think the proactive safety is >> awesome. I hate we charge a volunteer. I'm just going to say that does rub me the wrong way. Okay. 18 bucks isn't much, but I guess my question is, do we have do we have issues getting volunteers? Let me ask that. Or do we generally have no big like if if someone decides not to pay, is that going to be an issue you guys? I don't know. >> Are we going to have chaperones for the field trips? >> Honestly, I mean, that's that's I think a fair question. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. I I I think we've had field trips. That's a no-brainer. You get lots of elementary, especially the elementary for field trips. Um, okay. >> Will it impact maybe the um the the older uh community member that might would not want to come in because they have to pay it? I could possibly see that, you know. Okay. >> But I think most of I know a lot of um we have a lot of retired teachers that come back and volunteer. Uh I think, you know, especially from a teaching standpoint, I think you understand why. >> Yep. >> I No one likes to pay an extra $18, but if you understand the why behind the safety piece of it, I think it's hard to argue. And that's been my stance, I guess, when people have kind of pushed back a little bit, even on our team here. >> And I said, guys, it's it's it's very easy for me to defend student safety at the end of the day. >> And I'm sorry it's a little bit of a hardship. I get that. I do. But um and again, you know, families that are struggling to make ends meet. I think we might have to find some solutions to say, >> "Hey, we're we have some angel funds potentially to help." And our social workers have pretty good, you know, beat on that. And I would even say classroom teachers have a pretty good understanding of, you know, I'd really like this parent to go on a field trip. They never get an opportunity and I know it's a hardship, so let's figure out a way to make it work, you know, and so >> so I like that. Yeah. And I would just say if we could have feedback once this does go live, like I said, I don't disagree. I just volunteer and feed really bothers me. I'm not going to lie. >> So if we could just run with it, but if we could at some point get feedback on what we heard, I think that would be >> I feel like way way back in the day we had to pay. We did >> like when Ava was like just starting up. >> Yeah, >> we did. >> I remember paying in the elementary school, >> but then it was like I thought it was like a three year I think. >> Well, that's my question. I mean, that's what I'm wondering. Yeah, >> a lot of different scenarios. We did kind of prying over that that fee piece of it. And what we found is that if we want to get the information that we need to make sure that our kids are safe, you're going to have to pay for it. >> For sure. So we talked about whose budget does it come out of? I mean we did we had the conversations about does this come out of the activity budget? Does this come out of such and such and I think how we round it down was most families are willing to pay it for the small percentage that maybe can't. We do have those angel funds available and we come and figure out a backend way of getting approvals to happen. >> Yep. >> By doing it that way and that is much much less of an issue that way than taking it out of people's budget. >> Yeah, >> understood. >> The reverse way. >> Yeah. >> How many are we talking? How many people? >> Yeah, >> that's a good question. >> It's going to be an interesting process because this has really streamlined our volunteers quite extensively. Um, the way we had it now is that our HR person was perhaps processing hundreds of volunteer applications, volunteer background checks with maybe a fraction of them actually getting used. >> So, it was a lot of paper and there was a lot of man time to process everything and key everything in and find out that maybe things were mistakenly put on there to try and maybe malicious intent, maybe not malicious intent, right? So, I it's going to be a very interesting process. Um, our admin assistant team has has really gone through this pretty extensively because they're their frontline people um who are helping with teachers and making sure it's getting, you know, they're getting the volunteers that they need. So, it'll be very interesting to see if this really pairs down the work and gets those parents who are really serious about doing A, B, or C versus just the visitors. >> Does that make sense? >> And we can get a report >> like I'm just thinking like I'm thinking donation, right? Because I'm this bothers me, right? So I just at the end of the year if we could get that I mean heck if it's 500 bucks okay well then let's there's some other things you know I just it would be I would like feedback on this once we get going I guess is my >> I think we reevaluate at the end of the year next year come back at this time and kind of give you a report back where we're at. Yeah, it's and again um you know the process is can be a little different too in terms of the individual if there is a red flag will get an email alerting them already that there's been >> a concern and typically now in our former process um that would come to HR um she would red flag it give it to me and then I get to make the decision whether or not to move forward and I review the information and a lot of times it's a phone call to the individual saying hey just want to let you know something came up and they said, "Ah, yeah, I I I guess I probably should have let you know. Yeah, >> I had this back." And so, and so we walk through this and a lot of times I'll just have to say, "I'm sorry. You can't you can't, you know, for the safety of students and >> um and staff." Um, so most of the time it's it's a pretty easy conversation because they don't. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> How I'm sorry. >> I was going to say, how quickly does that come back? Is it >> these now will come back? We're telling people two week turnaround by we're hearing it's it's >> three to four days. >> So it's quick. >> But again, we always advise people don't wait till May 15th to take that May 16th field trip to the zoo because it might not happen. >> It might not happen. >> Um that was my question is how are we getting this information out to families then? >> Um so it is going in the Royal Roundup back to school edition. So, in your in your mailbox, it is part of our notices for our back to school. Um, so it will be in there. We do have this web page and that will be communicated out by the building's newsletters to just say, "Hey, just so you know, our volunteer process has changed. Take a look at the website, read through it, have an understanding, call um Crystal Sunbe. If you have any questions, our HR manager is the only person who is processing these. They have we have to have one person >> and so our HR specialist Crystal Sunbe will be the only person processing these. >> That's great. >> I just assume too like at our open houses and stuff this information will be available then too to families. >> I would imagine >> we're having another admin assistant beforehand. So that'll be probably conversation. >> Sure. >> Take safety seriously. Is there an opportunity for someone say like Lisa that's technology challenged having a hard time filling out the website they come to someone at the school to help >> because we can open up a Chromebook and it's a very good question. It is it's a very good question. >> The example maybe wasn't great. I'm just but um it is user friendly from the phone because it's on our website. So that is helpful. But yes, every building has a Chromebook available for families just like for online registration for families who >> maybe you're savvy >> or have access at home. >> Yep. >> At the open house, you could have it open too for people to get >> No, it's like conversation later. >> Exactly. >> No, sorry. >> Anything else? Good question. >> All right. Well, well, thank you. >> No, I thought thank you for your feedback. That's just really good. It's good to that's why we brought it forth just because I know it can be kind of a touchy subject when you're adding a so-called feed. But again, hopefully people understand the why. >> No, I was just glad to see that it's at the end of the process you do it because I was wondering how how you would collect the money and that's probably the easiest way. So, >> yeah. >> And it's not going into the district, >> right? >> All right. Well, thank you. Well, moving right along, Darren, you might as well keep going on your admin report since you're the only one here. >> All right, this is great. Get right to the front of the line. >> Um, real briefly um on uh strategic plan update. This is um real brief, but again um just really impressed. I know some of you had read at Rails to Trails uh this last weekend, but if you recall in our profile of a graduate talks about involved community member and I kept drawing back to that this weekend is we really kind of stressed that uh to all of our groups to get involved, you know, and we had the Spanish club, the robotics club, you know, FFA, um you go right down the line, you know, we had a trap shoot with our trap shoot kids, um Spanish kids, I think I was working in the Lions. We had three different groups uh supporting uh the Lions uh you know with their in their stand. But it goes back to that just engaged community member and it's such a cool thing. And then also I should mention uh we asked the wrestlers to help out um uh to set up on Thursday night uh downtown and we had 10 wrestlers and parents show up to help set up just to help the Lions Club. And again, Lions give so much back to our students and our programs, but it was just cool to see and I just really wanted to highlight that um it fits so perfectly with what we're really encouraging within our profile of a graduate and and um students and even parents like I said stepping in and helping out uh was really cool. So, just want to highlight that. And then transitioning to my update, um you may have heard today and and my update, I did it on I think Friday afternoon and um shortly thereafter, it must have been good luck that our federal dollars were released. Uh if you were tracking any of that um uh the administration um was holding back some of our federal dollars. So uh how that would have impacted us um our title one budget is about $61,000. uh title one had been released. So that had not been that would not have been in uh impacted. And actually for us, title two is about $10,000 and that's really for teacher improvement type uh activities that you can do. Uh and title four was about $8,000. Um so and title four um and again is for um students who are below grade level as well. Um but again would have had an impact on our budget. Um, but my my update was going to be how it impacted us. Good news this Friday that was now uh released. So, we should be expecting those dollars. So, that's that's good news. Um, staffing update. Uh, just some things there. Um, uh, we are still looking for a CLC um, administrative assistant. Um, these are all some openings that we have. Uh, we've had, I want to say, two or three rounds of interviews. Um, Mr. Delton, our new community director, is now running those, but um we have had people um to the last minute uh we've offered position and they've pulled back or rescended. Um so, uh we're back to the drawing board again. I think this is the third time we've gone through the process. >> Uh the cool thing is we've had over 30 applicants. So, the applicant pool is is wide. Um we just need someone to commit. Um, we also have a middle school social worker position open. Um, that's a big one. Uh, I know they had interviews uh last week and I think they hope to extend an offer to a candidate. We'll see how that goes. Um, and we have a long-term sub position in the middle school, two in the elementary that are um waiting to be filled, and then we have a few custodial positions too that um have been filled. If you recall last year, um we weren't able to fill those. So, we went primarily most of the school year filling with high school students, uh filling those roles. So, um they had two at the elementary school and two at the high school um pretty much all last year. And they work four-hour shifts uh to really do the cleaning part uh which was great. Um but we're looking to go back to our traditional model if we can find some two people um to fill those roles. So, um that will be posted here uh over the next week and see where that goes. But otherwise, um staffing wise, we're in actually really good shape for still last week in July. I think you remember this report probably in previous years. Uh it hasn't been this this, you know, pretty, if you will. So, um nice work by our admin team getting a lot of this done earlier. Um and thank goodness to we have some really good retention here. Um people aren't leaving. Um so that's a good thing too. So um otherwise um SMS too just to note um again uh that transition is ongoing. Um we've got almost our first month down and again it's just a lot of kind of get to know you. What's your role? Uh what's our role? Um but I'm starting to feel like we're getting some traction. I was telling uh Mr. Burns as we walked in today that definitely starting to feel like we're we're we're starting to get in our lanes and where we're at um with Mr. Neski and and Mr. Griffin who is the assistant um and kind of working through a a way to get him up to speed and eventually I I think there'll be a transition u to Mr. Griffin being our full-time uh person to Watertown mayor and Mr. Nesky probably being more on the back side um for assistance. So, uh, again, right now, um, our HR, excuse me, our our accounts payable, accounts receivable person, uh, Cassie Poser's here on Tuesdays. Um, and then Todd Neski is here on Thursdays. And, um, this week on Thursday, he will be doing an onboarding session with about 15 folks uh, across the district. So, he has half an hour slots. And again, it's just them getting to know him. uh Todd being able to kind of communicate some of his processes and what he wants things to be operated. Um and they're they came into and they're assessing obviously Miss Raider had her own ways of of doing things within the the business sector. Um they're assessing that um and listening to folks as they come in to see if it's uh feasible to maybe make some changes in the way we process things for example. Um and um to their credit, they're they're they're really listening and and taking uh in all the information. So um I appreciate that and and it again it's an ongoing it's certainly not we're not at full speed by any means, but um I think overall it's gone really well. So >> good. >> Yeah. Any other questions? >> Thank you. Moving on to board member reports. any committee since last month. >> Southwest met two weeks ago um a while ago. We went over the tenure um facilities uh planning and uh that went pretty well. We did the superintendent valuation and goals. That went well as well. And uh I think that was our first summer meeting in years cuz our former person didn't want to do summer meetings. So we would leave in June and then come back August, September like, oh what happened over. So that that was kind of nice too. Uh but other than that I Oh, and then of course there's negotiations, you know, um that now we have a few more board members doing that. So we're working on the paras and teachers. So it's moving along and um we just want to make sure that Dr. Horton is really transparent and with the former uh administration it wasn't there's a lot of interesting things. So we want to make sure that everything goes well and um you know so far so good. Everyone's pretty receptive. So, >> one of the things just to add to that, I know Dr. Hort and I met last week um after a meeting and explain a little bit more about what they're doing in terms of the changes to their programming and changes in locations. They have a few locations that are um their leases up. So, they're looking at uh repurposing different spaces to um add space, but also a little bit more uh departmentalized with certain disabilities in certain buildings. And um a little bit better fits for kids. And I appreciate the fact that he really puts kids at the forefront and making these decisions. And I I I do appreciate that. So, um a lot of work to be done. I know he brought in Wald as an architect to really take a deep look at I think they have nine different buildings that they're operating under. They hope that to get that down to seven buildings, reduce some costs. Um but uh I think he's doing a nice job of just taking a deep look at that. >> Yes, >> personnel committee. We've got a couple of negotiations coming up >> for a while already >> for Paris, the custodians and >> Yeah, I'll make that official. I'm sorry I didn't get that together in time to get on the agenda, but August 4th um is our first next round, I should say. >> Uh with par professionals and then the 18th we have food service and custodians. >> The 20th we have pair professionals again and I think the 27th we have professionals. >> Yeah, I'm pretty Are you closer with one of the groups than the other or no? >> Is that cuz I know cars you had met with previous. Did you meet with custodians before? >> Okay. >> We're working hard with all of you. >> Yeah. Well, I know you are. I just couldn't remember if you had gotten to the custodial >> Yeah. Yeah. >> negotiations or we uh >> And was there some language issues there? some >> some things completed and some tenant agreements already. So, we're making progress. We unfortunately >> July just didn't come together with vacations of folks there. Both of them are um they have union representation who have multiple districts that they're negotiating with. So, getting them down to a date is not easy. So, we're we're finding this has been trickier, but >> we'll get there. >> Have they always used union representation? Yeah, >> those groups have since I've been here. Yeah, >> there's since I've been here. >> Since I've been Yeah. And I was on beforehand. Yeah. >> Anything else on any other committees? >> No. >> No. It just I Everything looks like the um education foundation had a really good event yesterday with the >> the um >> purse bingo looked like it was sold out. >> They had 109 people. Well, >> I was trying to get back in time. >> I don't get it, too. >> And then thank you again to the policy committee for helping on the policies. >> I know. >> Appreciate it. >> I did you just say we love doing what >> the policies. >> We do. And I guess the only other thing that I have to add is um hopefully tomorrow me and Mr. Scheler are meeting with uh the mayor representation. So the mayor of mayor, the city administrator uh tomorrow just to kind of just to kind of uh kick the tires and see kind of how we can partner together, you know, kind of bringing those communities uh together with the school district. Um, one of the things, and this won't be published by the time we have the meeting. So, um, I'm actually going to see if they'll have a board meeting in Mayor. They have the technology. >> Oh, >> we've never done a school board meeting. >> Sure. >> They're part of our community. They're part of our district. So, >> maybe next year we can get that on there just to >> just to kind of, you know, >> it's that unity piece. So, that that's something that I'm going to try to push for, but obviously won't happen this year, best case scenario. Sure. Great idea. >> Love it. >> Knuckles drive. >> Y'all do. I don't. >> And then marketing and communication. Were we meeting in August? >> Yeah. I don't think we've pinned down a date. >> It's in the teens. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Please hold. >> 13th of August at 5:30 in the evening. >> Would you please invite >> to my calendar. >> Yes, I will. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. >> I'm sure I have it on my like calendar, but >> you need to double check. >> Thank you. >> You got it. >> Anything else? Well, uh, hearing that, now I have to read the right statement, right, Miss Huan? >> Yes. I'm going to declare a recess to enter into closed session per Minnesota statute 135D.05 subdivision 3A to discuss the superintendent evaluations. And when we come out of that closed session, the only thing we're going to do is adjourn. >> So we'll take a 5m minute recess, stretch your legs, and then we'll uh go into that close session for superintendent evaluations.