Good evening. Thank you for joining us for the special session of July 28, 2025 um of ISD622 schoolboard meeting. Um I'd like to call this meeting to order. It's been a while already. I forget. Do I have to? >> Oh, could I get a motion and a second to approve the agenda? >> So, >> second. >> Um, all in favor say Oh, any discussion on it? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say nay. >> All right. And that passes. Do we have to do the um pledge of allegiance? Okay. Um, >> yes. Let's do the pledge of allegiance. Okay, so we have um kind of a short agenda today, but a lot of important things. Um so the first thing on our agenda is the MHSL North and Tartan Girl Swimming and Dive Co-op. >> Okay. >> Our assistant superintendent Andy Beaton will provide a little background on this one before uh you take action on that resolution. Chair Yang, members of the board, Superintendent Tuchio, thanks for letting me share a few words about the co-op proposal that is coming from North and Tartan High School to combine for girls swimming. Um, we have some other co-ops that are in place currently. We'd like to do those co-ops um within the district if possible. We have that for for hockey. We we previously had a successful co-op in boys swimming. Um the activities directors I think were looking for over a period of time to see if we could maintain and hold those numbers at both high schools to maintain their programs and also looking that we had a coaching change at Tartan and seeing um who would be interested in potentially coming in because we had a co- coaching situation for uh the boy squad uh this last year and uh I think the decision was made that it's time um we feel like just the strength of the program and being able to have a competitive program um pushes us to um propose this co- co-op in girl swimming. So, I think both uh our new activities director, John Anderson at Tartan, and uh the activities director at North um are both in agreement with this co-op. And so, we're ready to to go if the board approves. Questions for me? >> Have the parents who sent us emails asking about this, I believe you said you were maybe going to be reaching out to them. what was the uh response from them based on what was being proposed? I think the initial conversations that that happened there was some discussion about the potential for co-oping and I think that since this this went on for a period of time without making that decision again with new AD coming into Tartan High School and also new coach potential new coaching staff in Tartan that's what kind of delayed it and also the high school league understands that sometimes these co-op decisions are made late when you look at numbers um and see if you really can maintain that those programs or not. Uh we did respond back or I I responded back to a number of parents that were concerned. Ultimately they're just families that want to have a great experience for their kids and are concerned about numbers had some ideas that this is going to be happening. When I talked to the ads and knew this was going to the high school league. Um they had said they had already previously spoken to the high school league about this timing timing. So we knew it would be approved by the high school league. Um so they were satisfied with those conversations. At least the ones that I had and I know that Jed Hellwig reached out to some other parents as well. >> Okay. Thank you so much for your work on this. >> Yeah. >> Um, thanks also for your work on this and I'm happy that we could um, respond to those parents in a way that will, I'm guessing, um, be satisfactory for them. I do see on here the numbers of students listed and that's interesting. you know, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and so the numbers are very small. So, it's great that they can combine to have a stronger team. I wonder if the district currently has or is looking towards any kind of, you know, expectation around when these decisions get made related to the size of participation. Um, I specifically had somebody from girls basketball ask me similar questions and I know these kinds of things come up a lot in our district. So do we have any expectations around like guidance or is it just every situation is unique or >> um I would say that each situation is unique and I don't think we put hard and fast caps around when that decision is necessarily triggered but I think each year uh they are evaluating the strength of the program the numbers that were coming in how many seniors uh came off how many incoming freshmen are coming into the team to see if a a team is going to be viable. for the next year. But ultimately, I think both activities directors and both schools want to have their own programs and I would support that. And from a school pride standpoint and wearing your school colors and so on, but we also understand and recognize in some communities where your numbers are not as big, your schools are not as big, um a co-oping is a really a great viable solution to be able to have a competitive program in the conference and have those kids have a really good experience. >> We can help with that. >> Sure, we can do that. >> Yep. Um the superintendent was just talking about our activities oversight committee and that's something that both um when we meet um each trimester can review some of those numbers and where we're at. I know there are some discussions about some programs already uh as potential um future co-ops. So those discussions are ongoing. >> I also like the idea of each school having their own teams. I get that and I do think it's important. And I saw that there's you have to apply at least 30 days before a season starts. But I remember a parent saying something about girls softball as well that they're not going to have the numbers because they graduated so many seniors and it which is also the case with girls basketball I believe at North. And the thing is is um as you go to tryyouts I think they're always like let's take a wait and see and let's see who shows up at tryyouts but then that's too late to co-op. But maybe then it's like a trigger for co-op for considering co-op next year and these kinds of things. I realize you just said we're not we're taking on a case by case basis. But it just seems like um there the questions that the parents have and that I also have as a parent of kids who have been in athletics and I hear in the communities. I'll just add to I think that one of the things that um I think is different now is that we've got our assistant superintendent Andy Beaton here and when he came on board just a year ago, one of the things that um he's now overseeing is our athletics and activities. And so I think the the beginning of our activities and athletics oversight committee that was started last school year is only going to get stronger because the whole point of that committee is really about looking at numbers, participation, identifying how we can maximize opportunities for all of our students, including feeder programs. Because you know, we used to have a lot of the parks and wrecks in the cities, but they've kind of gotten out of that business recently. And so how might we um maximize offerings through our own community education departments and other kinds of you know third party agreements. So, I think I have a lot of hope that that that committee is going to have an opportunity to really um dig into those numbers and keep looking at where we might um find opportunities to improve and how we're spending our resources, you know, because I, you know, co-oping does save on some, you know, coach costs, but also maybe that frees up money to spend on other kinds of opportunities that kids don't currently have to. So, >> and it is important to know that these co-op decisions, we're not making them as a financial decision. No. >> Um, we want to have we'd love to have enough numbers to host um girls swim program at both high schools. But right now, I think co-oping is not a new concept and it's happened around the state of Minnesota when we look to be able to create viable programs for students to be able to have enough members on their team to support coaches and competitiveness within their conference. Um, just one more comment about that that 30-day language that's from the high school league. Um, it's a little bit of an arbitrary rule. I think it's there, I think, as a guideline because you can kind of have people upset if you if you made a decision too early or a decision too late. If you made a decision too early, community say, "What do you mean you're giving up on our on our school program and talking about this co-op?" So um but also you want to have enough planning and available to be able to have the infrastructure you need for your for your team program. So um I think the high school league understands that it is fluid looking at what numbers come come in each year and enrollment each year. So that's why um when it was basically discussed with the high high school league, we knew it would be approved. >> I just want to ask a follow-up question. um based on your athletics committee uh recruitment and awareness of the programs from you know middle school on up is that also something you're looking at in that committee too because I think if we just graduated a bunch of seniors on these sports teams who's coming up through the ranks that could potentially you know kind of future forecast so is that something that I know looking at the numbers currently just in the high school is one set, but looking at who's coming up and where are they participating in um other things if they're not offered in the middle school? Is there some connection and correlation there just to make sure we can you know in a year our numbers will go up because we can see all these kids coming up into the high school. Is that another thing that you guys are looking at as well? Yeah, the the three big buckets we were looking at for the activities committee are participation and finding out why we would ever have students walking our halls that are not participating in something fine arts, a club activity. And if you looked at our numbers, it's interesting that some there's been some decline in traditional athletic programs, but there's been a really big growth in some other areas and activities. So, it's it's data for us to say, you know, what is engaging students right now? what would they because ultimately we want them to make connections in school which feeds their their joy in school, their attendance, their engagement and academic performance. Um so that's one big bucket is participation. The other is feeder programs and both feeder programs that we do internally feeder programs within the city, feeder programs within club programs, you know, and then that that final uh bucket is really about community engagement and having uh community feel a sense of pride in their community and wanting to be out at events. So those are big buckets. The some pieces that we were looking at um and haven't flushed out. We were proposing kind of a more of a field day kind of experience I think at the middle school and something that's been proposed to the ads to get um younger students connected to um high school activities at those transition years. looking at eighth graders in the transition into high school and fifth graders the transition into middle school and being really intentional about kind of having a um little apprentice um experience mini camps and so on but it's something that the the group is talking about and the ads um are talking about that came forward out of the activities committee. >> Yeah. >> All right. I promise this is my last comment on this topic, but but I know from my experience with my own children that ninth grade, you can't cut 9th graders. So like if you try out in seventh and eighth grade, you can get cut. And if you try out 10, 11, 12, you can get cut, but ninth graders can't get cut. At least this has been my experience. And I kind of like this idea because then it protects those kids as they transition from middle school. But I do wish especially with low enrollment sports that maybe we could extend the protection across more grades at least when possible. I mean there's some sports where there is fantastic like boys volleyball for example there was such high interest that you couldn't maybe keep all the kids but maybe in some of the sports that don't have the numbers. Um if we could have some sort of policy where we know that the kids have an opportunity Well, I think in general the more that we can do provide activities where we don't have cut options, the better. And even if it's not in the varsity program and then you have ties to inter murals and things like that, if kids are really interested in basketball and they want to participate, can we find opportunities? Now, some of that is about space and timing and the scheduling of facilities. Um, but I'd love to have as many kids participating in activities as possible. Thank you. I think you're off the hot seat. Okay. So, um I'm going to um do the resolution for um to Could I get a motion and a second to approve the co-op proposal for North and Tartans girls swimming and dive uh teams? >> Second. >> Moved by Swarore. seconded by Martins. Um any discussion. Okay. Um all in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say nay. >> All right. Um so that passes. Thank you so much. Um next up we have um should I just call Iowa or WA? >> Iowa. >> Iowa. Okay. Okay. >> Awesome. Thank you. Okay. So this is just a routine item that we do every year. um the education identity and access management system at MDE um we have lots of different people within the organization that have rights to certain aspects of it right so like um those who are entitled title funds handled the title stuff Trisha of course and special ed and her world and all that so I'm the Iowa which is kind of the person who designates so I can authorize everyone else in the organization but only the board can authorize me so this is just a yearly resolution that we um we just have to pass and so continuing on with um so that we can keep managing all of our systems and making submitting our reports on time and all that business. But we do call to Iowa. >> Any questions? >> Okay. Um since there's no questions, I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Be it resolved by the school board of North St. Hall Maplewood Oakdale School District Independent School District 622 that it recommends Superintendent Christine Tutio Sorio to act as the identified official with authority Iowa for the North St. Paul Midwood Oakdale Public School District 0622 and Vicky Shine to act as an Iowa proxy to add and remove names only for the North St. Paul Maywood Oakdale Public School District 0622. Could I get a motion and a second? >> Moved by Yenner, seconded by Sw. Um, any discussion? >> All right. Um, all in favor say I. >> I. >> And all oppose say nay. >> All right, that looks like it passes. Um, next up we have the resolution designating school district election official. >> Great. Well, good evening, Cherry Yang, directors of the board, superintendent Tuchio Serio and cabinet. Uh, whenever we conduct an election, the school board designates an individual to serve as our election official to oversee all election related duties. Historically in 622, that person has been the executive assistant for the finance and operations department. So, that is our recommendation again for this election cycle. question. >> Any discussion? >> So, this one's a roll call and then I'll read number three. Is that fine, May? Okay. Um, the rest of the resolution is in our documents um online. So, um, the executive assistant to the school district's director of finance and operations is hereby authorized and directed to serve as the election clerk for the special elections. The election clerk is authorized and directed to, as appropriate, consult with members of the administration and the school district's legal council regarding matters related to the special elections and to cooperate with city, township, and county election authorities conducting elections on November 5th, 2025. >> November 4th, 2025. All right. Um, and this is a roll call, right? May. Okay. >> Katie Swart. >> Hi. >> Michelle Yenner. >> Hi. >> Julia Martens. >> Hi. >> Kei. >> Do we have to do a motion? A second. >> Okay. >> Yeah. The date is incorrect. motion to open. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um >> yeah, so the document has um the wrong date. >> So I move to amend the resolution in number three um conducting elections this year will be November 4th, 2025 to match the date in part one of the resolution. >> I second that motion. >> Okay. Uh any discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. Any All right. >> Yeah. >> Do we have to redo it? >> I think that's just >> We just accepted the amendment and now we have to do >> redo the thing again. >> Okay. All right. >> Okay. >> Hi, >> Michelle. >> Hi. >> Julia Mer. >> Hi. He >> I All right. And that passes. Thank you. Uh next up, we have the fiscal year 27 LTFM plan. >> All right. Thank you. So, annually the school district must approve an updated 10-year plan to participate in the long-term facilities maintenance LTFM program. The LTFM program is funded through the pay as you go levy, which is certified each fall by the school board and facilities maintenance general obligation bonds. The following items from the district's FY27 LTFM 10-year plan submitt, which is required to be submitted to MDE by July 31st, includes the 10-year expenditure plan spreadsheet, the 10-year revenue projection spreadsheet, the statement of asurances, the narratives, and the estimated debt service schedule. And this uh information was reviewed in part back in the June study session. And so the recommendation is to approve this plan as presented. >> Any questions? >> Okay. Um so this is also a roll call, but I'll read the resolution. Um, be it resolved that the school board of independent school district number 62 approves and adopts the attached 10-year long-term facilities maintenance plan for fiscal year 27 on the 28th day of July 2025. Could I get a motion and a second? >> So moved. >> Right. Moved by Swore. >> Second by Martins. Um, any discussion? Okay. And this is also a roll call. >> Katie Swart. Hi, >> Michelle Yenner. >> Hi, >> Julia Mertens. >> Hi, >> K Yang. >> Hi. >> And that resolution passes. Um, that's all we have. Okay. >> Um, so that's all we have on our agenda for tonight. Um, could I get a motion and a second to adjurnn? >> Moved by Martins. >> Second. >> Second by Yenner. Um, all in favor say I. All >> oppose say nay. All right. Um, meeting a journ. Thank you.