Good evening everyone. Um tonight um we were slated to have community members questions and comments. Nobody signed up so we'll move into calling to order. Next is the pledge of allegiance. And Laura, would you mind leading us please? Thank you. Um, next is the consideration of the agenda. Are there any changes to the agenda? Hearing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. The consent agenda contains routine matters that typically do not require board discussion. Individual board members may remove an item from the consent agenda for discussion, separate action, or separate action. Tonight, the consent to agenda items are as follows. Approve the minutes from the regular board meeting held on November 10th, 2025. Approve personnel recommendations. Accept donations totaling $10,916.98. Approve the treasurer's reports for September 2025 and October 2025. The approve the electronic fund transfers for September and October 2025. And finally, approve vouchers and payments, bill vouchers, EP register items, EFT vouchers, and Capital One items. Do I have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. Any discussion? >> Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Terrific. Next is the superintendent's report on excellence. Dr. Flesher. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to begin my report tonight with the heartfelt thank you to our staff and families for investing time and care in conferences ahead of Thanksgiving break. These connections shared our our connections strengthen our shared commitment to each other to every student's growth and we're grateful for the partnership between home and school. We have many upcoming concerts. Um December is filled with student performances including the Orno High School band concert tonight beginning at 700 p.m. in the Orno High School. Um the community is welcome also to attend the fifth and sixth grade band concerts this Thursday in the is gym beginning at 5:30. It's always fun to see our be beginning instrumentation. Our fifth grade and middle school choir concerts will be performing December 18th at the high school Fenhalt auditorium beginning at 6 pm as well. Um just an update on debate. The Orno High School debate turned in an outstanding performances this fall with 13 debaters on the team. It's an impressive jump from six participants last year. The debate team competed at all the novice, junior varsity, and varsity levels. um our two varsity teams who were only on not on varsity for six months before jumping into really um steep competition. Keegan Claire's and Ethan Weiss, Simon Forbes and Owen Marks went 22 at the November 15 Stillwater Classic Debate in Invitational, which was amazing. And at the November 22nd Mounds Park Panther Invitational, first year Orno debaters won the novice division with a 40 record. Congratulations to Haley Aeline, Hannah Ferber, and Will Carter on this great achievement. Um, special thanks to coach John Malone for helping Orno rebuild its debate team over the last two years. Um, much for athletics. Um, I think everyone knows, but I'll just say it again. Since we last met on November 10th, the entire community was thrilled to watch our football team defeat Marshall in the state semi-final and then take on Cassen Manville to win the Class 4A state tournament. Like, pause. Great round of applause. This is the first football state title in school history. Our Spartans knocked off higher seeds in three consecutive games in route to claiming the championship. Um, I want to note that the team also earned the MSHSL academic all-state gold award for earning a team GPA above 3.75. This really is an amazing honor for a team that works so hard in the classroom and on the field. The team also earned numerous other awards. So, I'll just mention a few. Academic all-state Adrienne Lersie. Honorable mention all district players Dan Canwisher, Hudson Hurt, Rory Kvern, Lucas Label, Grant Esinger, Harrison Schlleer, Sam Haltman, and Tate Cratch. All district players Griffin Mau, Simon Vinton, Adrien Lersie, Bennett Halverson, Lincoln Steiner, and Wes McClean. Skyway Green District Awards most valuable why we play. Ethan Tolki. Most valuable defensive lineman of the year, Simon Venton. Most valuable linebacker of the year, Adrien Lersie. Most valuable offensive lineman of the year, Wes Mlan. And most valuable quarterback of the year, Griffin Mau. Vikers Vikings senior All-Star game, Simon Venton. Stribb 2025 prep bowl all tournament team, Adrien Lersie. Um, congratulations to Coach McFersonson, to every single player, all the coaches and managers on their great season, and to the families and fans. Thank you for your tremendous support. We look forward to honoring the team before next month's board meeting with our swim team as well. Um, dance. On to winter sports now. Um, dance has competed in two conference meets so far and earned runner-up finishes in both jazz and kick at each event. A consistent, impressive start for the Spartans. Boys swim and dive has been working hard in preparation for their first meet of the season hosting hosting new prag this Thursday 6 pm at the Orno pool. Nordic Ski and Alpine both teams are excited to finally have snow and are preparing for upcoming competitions. Nordics Ski will race in a conference meet this Thursday at Highland Park. Alpine will open conference competition one week from today at Buck Hill. Boys basketball has opened the season 2 with victories um over Minihaha Academy and Breck. Congratulations. Girls basketball is off to an incredible start. Currently ranked number one in the state. The Spartans earned a dramatic 8180 win over Weisetta on Friday night with Mayamura knocking down the gamewinner with 3 seconds 6 seconds left. If you haven't seen it on YouTube, pretty amazing. Um, boys hockey also earned its first win of the season on Friday with a 7-1 victory over Little Falls. Spartan looked to carry on that momentum into tomorrow's home game versus Breck. Girls hockey um picked up a a really signature and incredible 2-1 win over number one ranked and defending state champion Dodge County in an incredible military appreciation outdoor game at the United Heroes Link League rink in Hastings. Even better than the result on ICE, more than $4,500 was raised for the United Heroes Leagues to support military families in keeping their kids healthy, active, and involved in sports. Congratulations to our girls hockey team. And wrestling has competed in two meets so far, inclusing including a hosting a quad last Wednesday. Congrats to all participants on strong starts to the season. Special shout out to our growing girls wrestling team, which is now up to three athletes. So, and that concludes my report for this evening. >> Thank you, Dr. Flusher. Next are board members questions and comments. Um Todd, would you mind doing the policy update? >> Yeah, I'll keep it brief. Uh we had our first uh meet on uh the 500 series for 512, 514, and 515. This is uh school sponsored student publications, student uh bullying prohibition prohibition. Yes. and [laughter] protection and privacy of pupil records. Um we're going to hear a first read on these tonight, but these are um uh heavily mandated and so you're going to see we're going to have a lot of alignment to just MSBA to uh keep it simple that way. >> Perfect. Thank you. And Gavin, [clears throat] would you mind doing the facilities and finance update, please? >> Absolutely. Um it was a good quick short meeting that we will hear more about uh in just a moment. So that's all I'm going to say about that. You don't want to steal Nick's thunder. >> I really don't. >> Okay. >> Leave it. >> Thank you. Um so, uh let's just do general updates. Laura, would you like to go first, please? >> I don't have anything to report tonight. Todd, >> uh just a meeting with the PTO. Um two things. Fantastic job on the bookf fair. Um really well done. Exceptional performance as always from the community and from the people who volunteer. It takes a lot of volunteer work. So, just a big shout out and recognition for the efforts that they put in. Um and then the other is that they are um now uh focused on getting the runathon put together. So you'll start hearing about that uh coming up in the near future. Um and that's another big fundraiser for the community. So >> perfect. Thank you Wendy. Um so I attended the um early learning pack the parent advisory council meeting at um discovery center and for the past year or couple of years we've had maybe one or two parents um we had seven which is really exciting and everybody um left with a task and I'm excited to see what they do. So I love that engagement. Um they've really been working on it. So, I think that's going to be great. Um, they have an event coming up at the end of January, the super Saturday. I'll talk more about that um as we get closer. Um, you heard the report from Dr. Flesher about AMSD meeting on Friday. Um, the legislative platform was approved by the board and so we will be meeting with Oro action to um kind of use that as a starting point and then figure out um our priorities. Um and finally over the weekend I was at the delegate assembly for MSBA and it was so much fun. It was just really um it was wonderful meeting so many schoolboard members from across the state um all there to support public education um fight for student outcomes and just supporting each other. And it was um there was some surprises when looking through some of the um resolutions that districts had put forth that didn't pass that you think, wow, that's a no-brainer for us, but maybe for out, you know, out um out of the metro, it's an issue or not, you know, vice versa. So, some interesting um discussions that happened. um can't wait to talk more about it individually because it was so great. So that concludes our report. >> Is are those all the the uh proposed? >> Yes, there were um 116 plus delegates there from around the state. Uh 36 proposed resolutions and 23 passed. Um the big one that you're actually going to be probably hearing about through the news is um it was a resolution put forth by MSBA. Um it is for a constitutional amendment to the permanent school fund. Um right now the way the trust was set up was that schools are funded from that through um dividends not the principal interest. And um many states who have trust funds that uh trust lands that um fund public education have um changed their structure, modernized it to run like an any endowment fund. Um and giving four to 5% of the interest to schools um so that you're using some it becomes more predictable funding. you're using some of the endowment, but you're not dragging it down. You're still raising u building money on it. The fund is about$2 billion dollars right now. Um so you will be hearing a lot about that in the news and I would say that it would be something that we would advocate for. Um it there was no discussion. Everybody um everybody uh recommended it passed unanimously. So >> thank you. That's it, >> Gavin. I'm nothing more. >> Um my only update is that I uh attended the special education parent partnership committee um on Friday. It was fantastic. It was the first one of the year. Um the um we had, you know, welcomes and then um Ally Chley came to give an update of how things are going. She spent the first I'll pass this this way. if you guys want to take a look. You're familiar with the the um positive childhood experiences. And so they're really trying to push this idea out into the community, the Orino district community now um after a long period of listening and taking in information. Um, one of the things that she highlighted was that they actually did a training with uh, school bus drivers to talk about those positive childhood experiences and being trusted adults and how you can um, encounter difficult uh, um, experiences with a more positive with those sort of positive things in mind and it seems like it would went really well per Ally. The other thing we talked about and I um I have the deck and I will forward it on for your information um is executive functioning skills and social skills training that all of the folks who work in special education have come together um to talk about basically best practices and they had a two-day training this summer and they found it was really um fantastic and so I again I will send you the deck. They're really trying to standardize how they um approach their their their work much like we're hearing it from from um previous meetings where you want the kids to know what they can expect in how you're going to interact with them between grades. Um and make sure that as fifth graders are about to go off to middle school that they've that the the fifth grade educa educators know how to prepare them best for the sixth grade. Um it was it sounds like it was a really great training and um kudos to them for doing the work. So it was a fab fabulous meeting and I just want to give a quick plug which is um they also would love to have more parents. The parents that they have on it right now predominantly are for high school students and they'd love to see par parents from all grades. Um, so if if you're welcome to reach out to me, um, you're welcome to reach out to a staff me person that you know in special education if you um know of somebody or think you would like to introduce somebody to something. It's very low commitment. And that concludes my report. >> Just add one thing. I met with Ally last week and she's been meeting with all of our parent organizations as well as community education and a number of others and she's going to map out the positive childhood experiences that we already have in place and then make recommendations as well back to the whole community. So really excited to see that work this year. >> Thank you. Next is old business which the first is policy review. Dr. Flesher, take it away. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um uh for um old business, there were not any further additions or recommendations to these policies. So policy 509, enrollment of non-resident students and policy 510, school activities are ready for action tonight. >> Thank you very much. Sorry, I'm um uh so um do I forget. Do we approve them separately or >> um I think we approve them all at the same time. at the same time since there were no changes. >> Correct. >> Um do I have a motion to approve policy 509 and policy 510? >> So moved. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any uh against or abstaining? Terrific. Thank you. Um any other old business? Okay. On to new business. Back to more policy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I welcome Dr. Dr. Aaron Ruland, executive director of learning accountability to the board table for discussion and brief remarks regarding the three board policies in the 500 series for your review that Mr. Madson described. Um, these include policy 512, school sponsored student publications and activities, policy 514, bullying prohibition, and policy 515, protection and privacy of um, let's see, I didn't of publications, no of people records, sorry. Um my gratitude to our schoolboard policy again for their work on and I turn it over to review for Dr. Ruland. >> Thank you Dr. Flesher, Madam Chair, and board members. Um as Dr. Flesher alluded to, this is um a continuation of our work on the 500 series which is focused on students. Uh tonight's policies um each involve a comp complex and unique set of laws and regulations as Mr. Matson alluded to. Um given that um and given that there were statutory changes in all three policies, we did reach out to Trevor Helmer, our school district attorney. So um what you have before you tonight um also includes um his recommendations um for these policy changes. Um there's also some minor um language and grammatical changes in each policy, but I'll focus on the the big pieces that were changes in the in the draft policies. So, um the first policy up for review is policy 512, school sponsored student publications and activities. Um this policy provides guidance in balancing first amendment rights um for student journalists with the district's role in educating, supervising, and setting expectations for those same journalists um as they're publishing on school sponsored media. The policy committee is recommending um changes that align with recent statutory shifts and MSBA model policy. These shifts highlight additional protections for those student journalists and their first amendment rights. Um be assured that administration is wellversed in responding to first amendment questions. Um the recommended changes provide solid guidance for us uh as we navigate any issues that may arise. The next policy is uh 514 bullying prohibition. Um there's no policy or statute that we take more seriously um for its substance and alignment with our core values than the bullying prohibition policy. Um it's been a long-standing goal to ensure that all students are feeling safe, cared about, and connected as an integral part of their experience in the Orno schools. Um our character program connectedness work and bullying prevention and education efforts are all part of this initiative and we're fully committed to that. Um there are minor language and grammatical changes recommended to this policy in related in relation to the bullying statute. Um the recommended changes to this policy are primarily related to a new statutory requirement um for school boards to have policy language prohibiting malicious and sadistic conduct. The MSBA model policy for bullying prohibition now includes this language um and is reflected in the recommended changes before you tonight. Um we did consult with Mr. Helmer's on this policy as well. Um he advised us that embedding the language made sense uh in lie of a separate policy and there's currently no MSBA model policy for for the language around around that statutory change. So so we are recommending embedding it into the bullying policy even though it's not a perfect fit. It it does align and um is recommended to be part of this policy moving forward. And then the final policy up for review tonight is policy 515, protection and privacy of people records. Um this is one of the most extensive policies we have under review. Um it it reflects the fura and and Minnesota government data practices act guidance um for the privacy and protection of student data. The most substantial recommended changes to this policies policy also reflects a significant statutory change and practices around directory information. And so um directory information is defined as data that's available to the public upon written request and recent statutory changes limit that definition quite extensively. Um it can no longer include contact information for parents and students that including address, phone number or email address. And while the school district values and supports um efforts to protect privacy, there are also community partners like our PTOs, the Oro Foundation, youth sports organizations who were previously able to access that data through directory information for the betterment of children. So that's no longer possible under state statute. Um, we are very thankful to those organizations for finding alternative ways to partner in parent communications and to continue to provide those opportunities for our children for enrichment and belonging. So, that concludes the policies that are up for review tonight. As always, the board policy committee welcomes any feedback from board members and they'll be advanced for a second reading at the next meeting in January. >> Thank you so much. Wonderful. Next is uh a facilities update. Dr. Flesher. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I invite Mr. Nick Tainter, director of business services to the board table for a presentation on our recent work in facilities and our near-term planned future work for the summer of 2026. Our facilities and finance team takes very seriously the responsibility of stewardship of our campus. As a result, we've studied buildings and grounds extensively over the last five years, replacing and actually previous to that for many, replacing aging HVAC systems, upgrading security and secure entrances, the auditorium infrastructure, as well as improving our ball fields and outdoor facilities. As a reminder, last spring the board sold bonds for abatement or parking lot projects, as well as both operating capital and facilities maintenance bonds. We did so to keep up with maintenance needs while keeping any tax increase impact minimal for our community. The operating capital funds plus very generous private dollars funded the new high school science lab, the new college career center as well as auditorium improvements. U Mr. Tainter is here to update the board on all of this work as well as to present the next round of projects, the parking lots, tuck pointing and windows in addition to tennis courts. I want to thank our partners at W Architects, Mr. Tainter and Mr. Chad Is our facilities coordinator who worked very hard throughout this last year in planning of all these projects in addition to all of their daily work. So thank you and I turn it over to Mr. Tainter. >> Thank you Dr. Flesher uh board chair Borchers and the members of the board. Uh thank you for having me tonight. Give you an all a great update on what's all the fun stuff going on um around campus uh as far as what we've completed and then what we've what we're looking forward ahead ahead to. Um, so with that, I will dive right in. See if this works. All right. So, yes, I want to just kind of recap what we have done and want to thank the community um because most of these projects were levy supported. So appreciate um the the great improvements we've done um with the investments that the community has made in our facilities which include indoor air quality projects in our Discovery Center uh middle school and our elementary schools. um those those over the last few years have really kind of helped maintain and update um current in air indoor air quality requirements and certainly were an opportunity for us to further uh our efficiency and air quality in our buildings. Um we also had a um middle school entry redesign uh which made it a lot more safe and secure um where uh we had actually moved the offices from across the hall from the front entry where area to right closer to the front entryway. Um so I I for all the public to uh check that out and and see what um major difference that made um in in that building and making it more safe and secure as well. um totally you know those projects alone cost over $8 million um so it was a very significant investment and uh and really well um really well maintained as far as those projects are concerned and then finally like uh Dr. Flesher had mentioned um receiving uh private funding as well as some operating capital dollars this last uh June to uh renovate our high school to include a college and career center. And I would uh I would uh uh invite the public to come and and enjoy it. We have an open house on December 15th at 2:45 p.m. Please come check it out. And it's a really great space uh and already fully utilized by students and staff um and to ensure that they get those resources and have those resources in a great space to h uh to receive those um those that help. Um we have a busy summer ahead of us. Um so as you can see on the future projects, uh we have three main um areas that we're we're looking into is parking lot improvements across the whole district. That'll happen over the next two summers. We are constructing uh new tennis courts just to south of the middle school and then followed up by a lot of just maintenance uh facilities maintenance to protect our most coveted assets as our buildings and facilities to ensure that we can maintain those for a lot longer for health, safety, and long-term savings. Um so we move on to then the the details of those. So start with the parking lot projects. As you can see, the project scope is really to reclaim most most of those uh which means basically digging up a few inches of of the ground, reclaiming what we have, and then putting a nice flat uh flat spot in there. This will help address deterioration and drainage, the alligator [laughter] uh and then enhancing the safety and accessibility of of of our um of our lots as well as in reducing maintenance costs. U this will really tremendously help us um for the next 15 years um looking out as long as they're properly maintained. Um we should be able to to uh secure that investment for a long quite a long time. And like Dr. Flesher had mentioned, we rece uh we did have abatement bonds that were issued in June to help us p uh to purchase for help us fund those projects. And then those will be phased over two summers. and I'll kind I'll walk you through kind of which parking lots we will be um looking at doing this summer and and the following summer as well. >> Nick, quick question. Is that just a stock photo or is that a rendering? It's a >> stock photo. [laughter] >> But but our expectations it's going to look that it's going to look that nice, right? [laughter] >> Yeah. U so here's a campus map. Uh very colorful campus map. And as you notice in the orange bubbles, those are the the lots we will be focusing in on. So there'll be the lot B, which is just south of the arena. It's not the arena um not the exact arena parking lot that that'll be posed for next summer, but it does include there are two walking paths from that lot that those will be done this summer along with B. Uh and then C as well. So we're really kind of encompassing along the high school as you can see. That's that's probably our greatest need. I do want to make a couple points and mention that um that it it uh will you will have access the public will have access to the activity center. So, as you can see, we're not going to do all of D uh more east of or I'm sorry, west right near the stadium. Um had already been done previously. It's in it's in good repair, so we don't have to touch that. And there'll be a drive that um the construction uh company will allow cars to uh to navigate towards that activity center. But you see we'll be busy kind of on the north end of our campus with lots of m lots of middle school surrounding the high school and then that nice little drive behind Schuman. Um there's actually a road right there um that's not accessible because it's near playgrounds and whatnot, but it will really help um make that a lot more safer um and and whatnot as as we know it's right near the the playground area. And then the following summer um we will be doing the north lot at middle school, the arena lot, which we have we currently um lease the we have we own the ground. We lease that to the arena board or the nonprofit board. Um and but we do we're responsible for the parking and and those and the grounds and landscaping around that. This will also include the south end of the campus. Uh although I will make a mention that um F and G which G is just to the west of this the the link and then F which is just south of the district offices. Those are well those are still well within their useful life and we'll be doing more seal coating and and restriping and of that nature in those lots too. And then also um E which is just um east of Schuman that will be redone. Um we don't quite yet have the the roundabout included but there'll be updated striping and and painting of that nature. Yeah, that'll be in 26 actually. Yes. >> Yep. >> Uh the overall timeline though then uh just wanted to walk through this with you all uh as well as the public just to give them some indication of what um what our our official plans are and we currently have them set for all of our projects. So, I'll walk through with each of these um projects, but for this coming summer in the parking lots, we've done a lot of the development and the design already this summer fall that's been completed. Um our phase we're kind of phase two right now with the bidding and approval. So, right now bids are out. Um we're receiving bids through this uh this month, I believe, here shortly. we should be um get getting everything kind of finalized so that um our key milestone is to have the board approve a bid on the January 12th uh uh board meeting. Um all that is on pro in progress and all that's on time. Uh so therefore we we are looking forward to having those bids um solidified by then. Then it's moving on to um the contracts and all the shop designs and everything else of that nature. just the finetuning of of the contract itself um over the next several months um through Mayish and then um May into the summer we'll be working on um improving those lots. So it'll be a busy summer out there um be safe and and look for and look for signs and whatnot um as you navigate through the campus. But these are really important projects that we want we'd like to complete and our and our goal is to complete that by uh the first day of school next year. Do you mind if I just mention we also we were cognizant of you know we have a pot of money with the abatement dollars that um summer 2026 will be just cheaper than summer 2027 uh for the entire community. Um so we did push more into 26 as possible just for the cost savings. Um and while there might be some you know short-term pain with that um it the long-term benefit is significant. Yeah, the long Yeah, we were think, you know, we were estimating anywhere between 40 to $50,000 of savings just to to put those projects in here. So, that's that's that's significant. All right. Uh, next is the tennis court project. And again, these are not real renderings. This is a stock photo as well, but I'm hopeful that it'll look just like that. Uh, there are four uh four courts that we are looking at um constructing in the south end of the middle school. And I I'll just quickly go back up to this map. So you'll notice just south of the middle school where M is located. We did remove the student center um back in October to clear the area for for this project. We could fit up to 11 or 12 courts uh um and in that area, but we wanted to phase this in be appropriate as far as just understanding that we would like to get there eventually. Um but we want to start with these four courts and see how those go. Um, so we will be adding four courts to that area this coming summer. Uh, this will help support, you know, not only athletics and the community, but also our physical education program at the middle school. A lot closer of a walk for those kids in the middle school to do some of that programming um there during the day as well. Um this will again improve safety, provide community access and a really great opportunity for for us to have uh in that area of of the property to have these courts um situated. Um we will be using uh a combination between lease lobby funding um which which uh by state statute we are we're able to receive a certain amount per pupil unit and we have enough funds to help us uh uh finance a project like this. Um but we will also be um heavily dependent or dependent on also community ed funds which community ed um area has has has shown their great support in this uh knowing that the community really would like u courts of of this nature and so they'll be kicking in a little bit of that financing as well and again the construction timelines for summer of 2026. So on just looking at the details of the timeline with this project we are looking at uh you know design and and documentation have all kind of taken care were taken care of this fall summer fall. We will look to uh now we're in that bidding and and approval phase. This one's a little bit delayed and and and rightfully so. I think there's a lot going on on January's board meeting. So, we did kick this to February because this had a little bit more of a um you know, we wanted to get the parking lots and the tuck pointing and and the facility stuff. We really wanted to make sure we got ahead of the ball and a lot of these contractors are already starting to work on summer pro or plan for summer projects um this nature. We have a little bit more flexibility with those and and our partners of W have have advised us this this whole way. Um, so February 9th will be the key milestone, the board approval for phase two. And then continuing with contracts and shop design and making sure we can get all the processing and and of those natures done before end of May. And then again, construction should start around May um May, June of the summer. With that said, yeah. And then um as a side note, we'll be uh then um considering uh removing the four courts, which is just the south of the uh south of the district office um and making that a green space um for the foreseeable future. Uh we that will ensure it's it it'll look a little better from uh the the the road and as well as uh have give a little extra green space, which everybody's clamoring for green space these days. So, Mr. Tater, would you mind if I also mention that we've been in contact with those um the community members who originally um owned the land uh for where the um the childcare center was and um proposed potentially having a dedication of that space and and maybe a some kind of memorial there just to remember um that that that their intention was always for that space to be used as a community. Um, and it was originally a church um, probably 35 30 years ago. And so I reached out talked to the pastor and they're they're very interested in that. So we'll we want to do something as we as we create this space to just for I was interviewed by the Spartan speaks for it and it was just fun to go back in history and I think it's important people remember um the history of that space. So that will be ongoing while we're doing this as well. >> Good point. Thank you, Dr. Flesher. Yeah. Um on to then >> Can I ask one question? >> So, we'll be down uh for tennis courts during the summer of 26. Is that correct? While we build the other >> We can still use these this summer. >> Oh, okay. >> We will remove those when these are built. These should be ready though for fall season for middle school. >> Yes. Unless Yeah. Unless there's some >> something that goes wrong. But >> Right. Can >> Yeah. Right. I'm not. >> Can I also just ask the uh the parking lot there where the new tennis courts will go, is that part of the project or is that >> looped into the parking lot rehab elsewhere? >> That'll be 27 most likely, but yes, we are kind of redesigning that whole area, but there still will be ample parking in that area. All right, last and not least, um the facilities maintenance project. Uh so we will be doing um not only exterior windows and doors um but we will also be doing some tuck pointing and and that includes uh you know brick replacement and just kind of efficiencies that are around the buildings that we're seeing some deterioration of. Um this will be uh mainly centered around the discovery center middle school and the elementary buildings which are in need of the most repair. Um we're hopeful that over the next couple summers we'll make this impro um uh these improvements to um you know again our significant most significant asset which is our facilities. Um we will uh let's see um we'll be using long-term facility maintenance bonds. That's what the LTFM stands for. Um the these were issued back in June as well along with the bayment bonds and capital bonds that were mentioned earlier. And again, we'll be doing them mostly over the next two summers. Um, but the bulk of it should be done um and completed this this this summer. Um, with some maybe some odds and ends towards the summer after that. Um, no really no disruption to programming or that nature that we're anticipating this summer. Um, and again, this is just to really ensure that our buildings are working as efficient and wellmaintained as as uh as they need to be. Um, so we can save on energy costs and improve improve comfort overall of of the buildings. The timeline on those uh I've got two we've got uh two of the similar timelines. Exterior windows and doors timeline. Again, worked on a lot of that project and documentation between in phase one between summer and this fall. Uh now we're moving into the building bidding and approval stage again. um and have been in that process currently with a key milestone of having the board approve that on January 12th as well. Um so you'll be uh approving the exterior windows and doors um parking lots and then also this uh the tuck pointing which I'll get to and um but very similar time time frame. Then we'll be reviewing the contracts and shops between now um you know January and May with with then summer construction happening over between June and and August. And like I said, same very same same similar situation with the tuck pointing. Um, we're hoping to create some efficiencies with contractors and those kinds of things, but although this is two different projects, we're we're hopeful that we can make it as efficient as possible and get the big biggest bang for our buck. Um, but essentially what we're doing is that timeline's very similar. January 12th, you'll have uh uh the approval process will occur and again we'll be looking over con construction documents and those kinds of things as we kind of near May and then again hopefully completion um with most if not all of it by the end of August as well. >> This is maybe a question you can't answer yet and that's okay. But when you're saying we're hoping to make as many efficiencies as possible of these of this last project, the tuck pointing in the windows and the doors, are there construction companies that do oop, sorry, do all of that? >> Yeah, that's what we're still kind of navigating. I'm not 100% sure. We would hope that there would be and then that we could work with one partner on it all and and then it could, like I said, gain those efficiencies. >> Sure. >> But you may have to go separate ones if if you want >> if if that is what how it pans out. Exactly. >> So, we don't know yet, >> right? >> Okay. I just want to compliment the district for um doing this this last project because the other projects are noticeable and um felt and um these are the things that aren't as much, but they're so important for us to maintain the value of our district and our building. So, um thank you very much for being so um forwardlooking in this and and keeping us effic efficient and and safe. >> Yeah, they're definitely not flashy projects at all, but they are important and and just again u our our uh partners at Wool uh really do a great job of just helping us keep that visibility to the future and in those buildings we every so often will we'll do a review a detailed review. Um, and that's where uh Chad Aish, our coordinator building grounds, does a great job as well as managing that and spending the time to to just walk through a building. Um, you know, it's hours upon hours of time just to kind of look at these details and they really help us navigate that process and ensure that we're still looking that far ahead of ourselves so that we're ensuring that we're protecting our greatest assets and and and also not having any significant surprises that have come up. the bid people, they've been they're called pre-bid walks or something. They're all out here taking pictures of all throughout the campus all the last few weeks. >> Very busy. Yes, >> it takes a lot of time. >> Yeah. With that, that that uh concludes my uh district update report. Are there any other questions, comments? >> Is it possible to get a copy of this? >> Yeah, for sure. Yes. I started I was >> just just so I >> keep it straight in my head. Yeah. Like I started writing it down. I thought I'll just ask if I can get copy. >> Thank you. It was very informative. >> Good. >> There'll be a lot coming forward in January. >> Which is why I'm like if I can have this >> So the next item on the agenda is actually something we cannot do until 7 PM because it's the truth in taxation. And so um after a very brief discussion earlier today uh we're going to adjourn this meeting and then open up the truth and taxation meeting um and during that time we will divvy up so that not all schoolboard members are in here um because that would be quorum and so um uh we'll invite you back up. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. We need you up here. So um do I have a motion to adjurnn this portion of the business meeting? >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. Uh any discussion? >> Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? Okay. We are adjourned for now. Okay, we are calling uh to order the um truth and taxation hearing. It is just after 7 o'clock. Um and I would ask Dr. Flesher to introduce our speaker. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I welcome Mr. Nick Tainter, director of SP business services to the board for presentation and for our formal truth and taxation hearing. Mr. Tinter will start with um the hearing followed by an action regarding the certification of the levy. In Minnesota, all school boards are required to hold an annual truth and taxation hearing before adopting the final property tax levy for the coming year. The purpose of this hearing tonight is to provide our community members a transparent look at how local property property taxes are used to support our schools and to provide an opportunity for public input. You will hear tonight from Mr. Tang about our current budget, the proposed property tax levy payable in next year, the factors that are increasing or decreasing the levy for us. Yay. and to share um how levy dollars are allocated across operating capital and dedicated funds. After the presentation and a public comment period, the school board will take action on the final levy, which cannot exceed the preliminary levy that was certified in September. Um and I turn it over to Mr. Tainter right now. Thank you. >> Well, thank you, Lord. Thank you, Dr. Flesher, board chair, and board members of Orno. Thank you for having me tonight. uh to uh update you all as well as the public on the uh the final prop the final property tax levy for 2026. As always, we start it looks a lot better out out this door than it does right now here in Minnesota, that's for sure. So, don't get too lost in that picture. But um as as we always want to remind um ourselves as well as um the public you know our mission and vision is truly inspiring those empower every student. Um so therefore you know everything that goes into what we put in forth in the mission and vision drives from uh drives us towards that uh towards that aspect and ensuring that we have um good financial stewardship is one of the key values of how we get to that mission and vision. Uh and certainly this is a very important step in that process as we as we know that tax lobbies impact our district um as well as other districts but mainly ours because we do rely heavily on the community to ensure that we can put forth the effort and drive towards that mission vision. Tonight I have several uh items that we are required to go through. Um but they're also good ways of showing um and providing uh you all as well as the public with information that um goes into the whole tax levby process. Um we'll start off with just a little bit of background, work through our way in the budget, uh and then talk more importantly about the proposed tax levby certification payable in 2026. Uh and then follow up with public comments and questions. um as a as as state law requires there's several items that we need to required to go through as uh before we can you know certify a levy. Um and that that then we'll cover all these through the presentation this evening ultimately leading to the approval of that final levy. Uh as as you can see this is a very busy slide. It's because uh for one unlike cities and county school districts are highly regulated. Uh, as you can see, we are governed by the state legislature on how um how much we can um approve ourselves and and those kinds of things and and we're really restricted in a lot of those areas. Um unlike cities and counties, um again, we're regulated uh but we are also capped in certain a lot of aspects before we have to go to the voters and whatnot. Um we um we can uh and I do want to mention as Dr. Flesh mentioned that uh we can always levy less than what we had proposed um but no more than the amount certified in in the proposed levy at the end of September. Um this is an important um aspect of just making um people really aware of of how much we receive from the state. We'll we'll go through some uh there's a slide that's really good information on how much we receive in the states. It's just over 60% of our funding is state uh state funding based on enrollment. And for the last 20 plus years, our uh the amount that we've received from the state has even gotten further and further away from inflationary standards. So really kind of understanding is that we you know we're trying to play catchup in a lot of respects um to ensure that we are meeting the needs of of of not only our students and families but also our staff. Um and there or we are still um that gap is still there and like I said it's it's it's continuing to increase. Um this is really important um and I'll and I'll share a really good example. So change in levy does not necessarily mean there's a change in budget. Um and and a great example of this is just when we completed our indoor indoor air quality projects. Some of those were ones that we levied specifically for um which were board approved um to ensure that we could uh have good efficient maintained systems. Um those projects were specific to that purpose and not essentially just something we would normally do on an annual basis. Uh so that's why you'll see sometimes where uh levies will fluctuate a little bit. It's mainly due to the fact that we have uh certain projects that we need to need to get done sooner than later. and can't really and and don't want to borrow maybe against those as well. Um so we we you know we try to do a little balance of between the two different methods. Um but that's where sometimes you'll see some of that um some of those movements in the tax levby amounts and as you'll notice tonight we've got a decrease in that d mainly due to the fact that those indoor air quality projects were completed. Um we're working on a three-year budget cycle. So I I'll I'll uh try to best explain this as much as I can because it is really confusing. Um cities and counties are on the calendar year end. So they follow the the fiscal year with along with the taxes payable. Whereas school districts um we uh have a July 1st beginning year and end end of the year is June 30th. So it's six months into that year. Therefore, it does complicate a little few things. So we're kind of in three different cycles. We just ended fiscal year 25 at the end of June. Um we are currently in FY26, but we are working towards a tax levy that's going to be paying us in 26, but that those revenues won't now be recognized until FY27. Does that make sense? Is that clear? [laughter] Um so yes, working within really kind of three budget cycles is is the is the summary of that. If you have any questions or anything, don't hesitate to to just light your uh mic up and I'll and I'll pause for a second as well. Um on to the budget. Now, as we transition to the budget, um we are required to uh to report and to review um the our current year budget. We don't yet have our 2627 budget completed. that will be presented in June as normally uh normal um as that is required by state statute to have those that budget approved by June 30th of 2026. I do want to mention that you uh that you can review uh the public and board or forever uh who are interested can review our budget book which is p published on our website and that's you can follow that um that URL um and and in the budget uh budget report there for more details. Um I will also mention that there's a lot of uh there's number of number of funds here um that are that are listed. Each fund has its own purpose. The ones that are tax levy uh related would be the general fund, the community service fund and the debt service and the OPED debt service. The OPED is our other post-employment benefits which helps us maintain and ensure that we have uh uh assets available to those that um gain or still are on our plans even after their post-employment or they retire. This is a very busy slide. I won't go through this in detail but I will do I will say that this is reports all those different funds the actual activity from the previous fiscal year and along with our budget for this current year which was approved back in June um uh by the board um nothing's changed on the budget side the actual obviously those might have changed since you've last seen this report um and you can re you can review this district revenue and expenditure report online as well as that's posted um with these with these same amounts. All right. Now, diving more into uh the the overall budget. Um wanted to highlight a few areas of the budget that I feel are important to sure to kind of connect connect the dots with the tax levy. So, as as I mentioned earlier, the general fund um along with the community service fund and debt service funds, those are the supported by the levy. You can see our general fund makes up 77% of our total revenues overall for the district. Um all other funds have a specific purpose and and and even though they might be a little less minuscule um very important but again food service fund and the other funds have a specific purpose for what they are intended to be used for very highly restricted um and ensure that that that we can still meet those needs of those different funds. But again, general fund is 77% of our overall picture. I'll dive into now the general fund since that is a majority and significant portion of our budget. Um, I'll I'll I'll the next few slides we'll talk about more or less the general fund in in more specifics. Um, starting with revenues. So, as you can see here, we have third uh 30% of our revenues come from property taxes. Now, there is a portion of property taxes that are state aid uh that are paid via state aid. So it's not all coming from the taxpayers. Um those but that's a smaller amount but I just wanted to make that a mention there. Otherwise 64% of our total budgets made up of state aids which is really um enrollment dived um heavily enrollment derived. Uh so therefore you majority of our districts and then and that those support and that we want those to support our students. Right. So that's where a lot of those those funds and you'll see in the next couple slides where expenditures are going towards. um we're ensuring that we're driving most of those revenues to the to this to the to the classroom with that. Um, as you can see here, um, I want to make a mention. There's a lot of different, uh, numbers on this, but essentially really what it means is that elementary, if you, if you couple elementary and secondary regular regular instruction, vocational, special education, instructional support, and pupil support make up the bulk of ours uh, of our total budget. 80% of our expenditures are directly used for the instruction of our students. whereas administration and district support services make up just about 8% of our total budget. And then followed by um which I feel is really important is is to say that 79% of our total general fund expenditures are used for salaries and benefits to staff in the district. Schools are very heavily driven by people. And it's really important to understand that that we have a community-based um public school with a lot of individuals that contribute to this community. And it's important to make sure that we're focusing on that piece of it overall. Next, I'll I'll walk through the different steps of the levy process as well and then and then finalizing with the overall levy um levy before prior to the o the public comments and then and then you all um having the opportunity to approve that levy. Um uh let's see. All right. Yeah. Uh just a little bit of tax property tax background. School districts levies are the only one part of the total property tax levy equation. So you you'll notice that when you look at your tax statement, you'll see a lot of different municipalities, city, county, um watershed, whatever it may be. Um uh other special districts uh that are located on there. So I wanted to mention that. And then fi, you know, with that, this is just an example just to kind of show you what you'll see on your property tax statement. This may not look exactly like the one you have that you received in the mail. Um, but those notice notification or I'm sorry, those notices were sent out, the proposed notices were sent out between November 12th and the 25th. Um, if you haven't received it, you should reach out to your county and and and they should be able to uh furnish a copy. Um, the contents of those really kind of make sure you can see the comparison between the previous years. as a lot of a lot of the constituents in this community will notice that um the property taxes for school actually went down and we'll talk further more about that as well. Um I want to remind the board and the public that this is highly regulated like I mentioned earlier. So therefore you know emphasize the key the key moments are what affects the school district's property tax levy. So, if you look down below that that uh second to last bullet point, you'll see student enrollment, property values, voter approved items, and long-term facility maintenance approved by MDE are all the most significant components of how that will affect our levies. Uh again, student enrollment is very it's very strong on the student enrollment aspect. um ensuring that we can um continue as long as we have stable enrollments, we'll continue to uh receive support from the from the community on that piece as well. And then on to uh there's four of these steps prior to when we came here in September. So there's a number of steps that happen prior to when the school board and the school get gets involved. That's step five. Um we're at you know we'll be right before um then after this meeting I'll be reporting certifying to the county as well as MDE um and the Minnesota Department of Revenue um our reports as well. And then more importantly, you know, more more in in the weeds on the process of where when it gets to our step in the process where beginning of September is when we have an opportunity to start um you know drafting and and looking at the levy limit and those kinds of things. Um by on September 22nd, the school board had certified a proposed levy uh that was sent in to the uh to the county. And then by mid November, like I mentioned, the reporting um will the proposed property tax statements are sent out to the public. Um here we're at today, December 8th, on public hearing on the proposed levy at this regular meeting. And then following this, we'll be certifying those those levy amounts. All right. So now the good stuff, right? Um now we get into the actual uh overall levy. So, as you can see on this slide, um, as proposed in September, where the board took action to approve, uh, the maximum levy, um, here's the final levy amount resulting in an overall decrease, um, to the levy from the previous year. And I'll walk through some of the changes there as well. So overall at 22 million just over 22 just shy of $23 million and a negative 2.5% decrease or 2.5 2.59% decrease from 2025's payables and then breaking those out in the different uh the different funds. The general fund as you can see had the largest change and I'll cover some of those uh the rationale for that. Um but you'll notice there's some um just some smaller adjustments on the other side, but the majority is in that general fund area. And the other approved categories and that's mainly to do with um what we had uh accomplished uh was were those in indoor air quality um projects. So that was the greatest um adjustments that we saw um from this LA this for this period's tax lobby. And that's mainly due to the fact that we were receiving levy funds throughout that process and just kind of reconciling and all that um at the at the tail end which is very typical um of of a situation in that nature. Um the other more significant adjustments were that general fund operating referendum increased a little bit. That's mainly due to the inflationary factors as well as enroll and stable enrollments. And then last was the debt service fund and debt access. Um, I'll I'll try my best to explain this, but essentially what we have to do is levy 105% of any um bond financing that we do um that's required by Minnesota, I'm sorry, required by the state um so that so that we can ensure that we're paying off that principle and interest in case we were ever in a situation where we didn't collect all um of our of our uh of our levies um from the public. uh it's just kind of a little bit of an insurance uh package. But those funds do uh stay in that fund and they and they will build over time and and after a while formulas in the state law will determine that we need an adjustment. We can use those excess funds then to lower our levies. So that's what happened in 2025. Um we don't have that access to this year uh because that they did that one kind of cut. Now, we'll build it back up and then, you know, if as long as we're collecting everything from the public on time and and to the to the degree of how much we've uh set, um we should have another act, uh possibility where an access would be able to be able to limit the amount of levy for that year. Um just a few uh areas where uh tax refund and deferral uh could potentially be an option for property owners. Mainly in the homestead credit refund, special property tax refund, and a senior citizen property tax deferral. [clears throat] I want to highlight some of our points of pride as it mentioned this in our September report. Um, it's really important to really share the accomplishments of the school because without those tax levy dollars, none of this would be possible. Um, as you can see, we've we've been able to uh we're putting our funds to good use and supporting our mission um and and and ensuring that we're overall supporting our students and also having exemplary financial oversight. um as you as you see here, number of accomplishments by the students um in in our in our area which is really great um great job by everyone and like I said thank you to the public for supporting all our efforts in this area uh along with the financial um oversight and having an A3 um Moody's rating which is really helpful to reflect several uh strengths including a fluent e economic base, the growing enrollment, solid debt profile and sound financial management. Um and and kudos to our our finance team. Um especially uh Rachel McQuiston, our controller, who oversees the audit. Um we've received now se for several years or several years is the ASBO, which is the um uh uh um oh my gosh, I drawing blank school board officials, the uh the school board officials um association of school board officials international. um they had they certify uh based on excellent in reporting and so we've been able to achieve that um award for the last number of several years since we started and then also uh from last month just to recoup uh regroup on that that we did have a clean audit opinion with no findings this year from our auditors at LB Carlson. Um just wanted to really quickly just do a snapshot. I know I mentioned this earlier in my report to the district on the updates, but I just really wanted to share our appreciation for the community, ensure our buildings are safe, healthy, and help mitigate emergency situations, which can very costly if buildings are not maintained timely. So that includes our indoor air quality projects that we completed uh throughout the Discovery Center, elementary schools, and middle school as well as the middle school re-entry design. Um we have current you know currently in the motion we have projects um looking forward to parking lot improvements, new tennis courts and the maintenance on the buildings um including uh to really ensure that we're we're following and and really ensuring that we have our greatest assets covered um and that you can see um again in more detail in my previous report to the board earlier tonight. Last but not least, we will accept public comments on the proposed levy and then the board will certify the 2026 property tax levy. Yes, we now have it open for public comment and questions. And there's no one here. There's one person in the audience and she is a staff member and forced to be here. Um, and we appreciate it because it's nicer to look out at least with one person. So, I'm going to wait a couple heartbeats and then we will move on. Okay, we're are moving on to uh 9D, which is a roll call vote. Um, Dr. Flesher, do you want to key it up or do you want me to just read the recommendation? Okay. So the recommendation is that the board of education approve the final 2025 payable 2026 property tax levy of 22,921,281 as presented and direct the clerk to certify to the Henipin County Auditor in that amount. Do I have a motion to approve that recommendation? >> So moved. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? Okay, we this will be a roll call vote. >> I >> I >> I >> I >> Well, that covers everybody. It passes unanimously. Congratulations. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Um and then >> Okay. Um I do I just officially say we have now closed the truth and taxation hearing. Um, the next is any other new businesses necessary. Terrific. Uh, I'd like to point out the uhformational items including the December enrollment and then the next regular meeting will be held on Monday, January 12th, 2026 at 7 PM here in the district office. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Excellent. Um we are adjourned.