Uh member clerk, will you please take the roll call of attendance? >> Hi folks. Is this on? Can people hear me? >> It is not on. >> Is your light on? >> I can't >> Oh, it light was on a second ago. There it is. >> One light. >> I have to kind of hold it down. Is it on? >> No. I'm trying to turn it on and turn it off. >> Press and hold. Now you're telling me to press and hold? >> No, it's >> Press and hold. >> There. Press and hold. >> Oh boy. >> She's got the magic >> touch. >> Yeah, magic touch. >> Uh member Christiansen. >> Here. >> Member Rebelaine. >> Here. >> Member Corcoran. >> Here. >> Member Antonsen is here. Member Castle. >> Here. >> And member Tyson. >> Here. >> Everybody's here. >> All right. Thank you. And with that, I would entertain a motion to approve the meeting agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Those opposed? Motion carries and the agenda is adopted. That brings us immediately to green cards. We'll start with that. I welcome Mrs. Jill Newbold. Good evening. >> Hi. Um I'm not a huge public speaker. I love talking in like meetings and committees, but this is really not my sort of thing and I've done it once before about the groups and I'm doing it once more to acknowledge Dr. Massey. Um I wrote you a card months ago, and I was going to give it to you, and I never did. So, I thought I'd open it and see what I wrote. This should be good. And I know it's not bad. Um but I met you on a bus when Drew was in kindergarten, and so I've I've known you probably one of the the longest time. Maybe not of everybody, but I appreciate you more than you could know. And I'm just going to read what I have wrote, cuz I don't want to double say. This should be good. If you see me pause, it's you know it's cuz I can't say it all out. Thank you so much. Um Dr. Massey, I wanted to write you a note of thanks. It has been a privilege to get to know you and work with you over the last 20-plus years. You are a phenomenal leader. You have challenged me professionally and encouraged me personally. You are such an asset to this district, and I can't wait to see what the next 9 months bring. So, it must have been 9 months ago. So, I just wanted to tell you publicly how much you have touched my life, and >> [snorts] >> I'm so excited to follow you and see what you do in the future. You deserve all of the best. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Jayla. And that's that's actually a really good opportunity for me to to mention that we do have the the green card rules. You have to tie things back to the agenda, but we've got a couple of unique situations coming up over the next couple of meetings. Um so, too much to uh Dr. Massey and Mr. Jacobson's chagrin, I think we're going to uh dispose of that directive uh for comments such as yours tonight. So, thank you for speaking this evening and as humble as Dr. Massey is, I'm sure he appreciates it. All right, with that we will pivot to our first presentation here, a presentation that we've been trying to get going here for about a year, maybe a little bit longer. Uh Principal Caldwell. >> Chair Rebuline, Dr. Massey, and the rest of the school board, thanks for having us up today. As as Chair Rebuline said, we've been trying to do this for a couple years and we've had a email, we were talking actually at graduation coming out and and Kurt sent an email and these guys have been working with Molly and they have a short presentation. Um we have our Army and National Guard recruiters led by Sergeant Stanton with the Army um here tonight to share really one leg of our our process at the high school. We're employed, we're engage or we're employed, we are enrolled, and we're enlisted, or we're we're going to training. I mean, those are the things that we do at Forest Lake Area High School. The enlisted piece is really important. It's a piece that um with through Dr. Massey's leader- Massey's leadership when he was the principal as well, we have always welcomed our military into our building. I don't see it as anything stopping. They are respectful as all of our visitors are. We do have parameters um where they're up behind tables. Um lots of visitors are welcome, but the military is there on a weekly basis. I'm not going to steal any of their show. I'm going to invite them up. They can introduce themselves. Um and with that, I'm going to hand it off to Sergeant Stanton. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, Caldwell. >> Superintendent Massey, uh members of the board, thank you for having us here today. Um and thank you, Principal Caldwell, for also giving us that a wonderful introduction. Uh it's been a great opportunity to be um in partnership with uh Forest Lake School District and the opportunities that we've been able to create for your students. Um We're up here today with our uh counterparts uh with the National Guard. I'm Sergeant Stanton with the Army Duty Active and Reserve. I have a Sergeant Kyle Michael who uh works with me as well out of our office in Roseville. Um Sergeant Quickly uh is the National Guard representative that also that covers this part of the school. Um Private Brown, you are a graduate of uh Forest Lake High School. Uh so we we wanted to come here today and highlight how how much success uh and how much value added that Forest Lake students have added to our Army particularly um and the military in general. Uh with that being said, I was uh I had the opportunity to meet with uh Ms. Molly Bonnett, the college and career counselor, today to kind of discuss our uh end of the year um little hot wash, little uh after action review that we do just to say, "Hey, what what were what what went What was good? What was bad? Um what do you need more of? How can we be more supportive to the community? How can we be more supportive to the school?" Um and it being able to highlight the national assets that we are able to bring. I don't know if the Yeah, the presentation that I had some wonderful pictures of uh us being able to bring our semi-truck trailers and some of our uh previous uh uh future soldiers who've gone off and are are in their enlisted careers. Their uh little headshots of just like them doing off doing great things. Um Speaking a little bit more uh specific to just some of the opportunities that we've done this year, I know that uh Sergeant Quickly will be able to speak on here in just a second a little bit about the classroom presentations and kind of give you like what that entails. On my end, I can tell you a little bit about how we were able to bring our national assets, semi truck trailers with a whole bunch of different uh virtual simulators that uh the students got to get in and engage with. Uh so much so that I hear that their uh health and welfare teacher was uh speaking a little bit specifically that the students are still talking about it. Um Sergeant Michael, I know that he can add to as someone who's been up to the school with me during these table setups and engaging with the students during lunchtime and the career exploration day. And then uh finally, I'd like to give it over to uh to Private Brown to kind of speak of his experience as a Forest Lake graduate and someone in the National Guard uh right now currently. Uh Sergeant Whitley, do you have anything you want to talk about when it comes to just specifically those those statements? >> Yeah, being in the school, it's a you know, I love it. I've been around for 6 years and this is my first time in front of you guys, which I am I I talk to students all the time uh in classrooms and I'm nervous. I told him, I was like, "Dude, I'm nervous for this." So, I'll do my best here, but yeah, I've been around for 6 years in and out of Forest Lake. Forest Lake is probably one of the best schools um that I attend to. Um otherwise, I'm in Stillwater um and Monticello, um but usually, I love just coming to Forest Lake, the students and the staff. Mr. Caldwell, he's been amazing in these last 6 years I've known him. Um all the deans um >> [clears throat] >> and all the teachers are really inviting for us to come in. We've brought in vehicles. We've done medical classes. Uh we've done uh MRE classes. Just getting in front of these students and engage with these students, showing them a different side of things where uh hey, you can go to college, but also, hey, we have the National Guard. Um you can stay in Minnesota. You get We're We're all friends and family here um as you walk around the streets. Um I live up in Chisago, so uh it's very close to home for me, but >> [clears throat] >> um I love the opportunity of of uh being in the schools and I thank you. Uh if you guys are a part of that decision, uh thank you. >> Uh yeah, just to add on to that, uh >> is my first year recruiting, right? So, this is my first time actually in high school, first high school year I had. Just coming into Forest Lake and all that. Just talking to the students, manning the tables and stuff like that. Just being able to talk to them about their careers, not even just military, but hey, what do you plan on doing when you grow up or outside of high school? And seeing how the military can tie into that and then just kind of opening their eyes a little bit, right? The army's not just shooting guns and kicking doors down. Like, I do HR for the army, right? My bachelor's degree is in business administration. So, like, the things that I do for the army is really setting me up for my career. Being able to pass off my own experiences and my passion for what I do to them and being able to just be that extra year for them and another set of hands to help them out throughout their lives. It's been really awesome for me. >> Just to tie into that really quick, too. We We play a massive role in these different What you We play like different backgrounds. We play therapists and we play with teachers. There's a lot of titles to us other than recruiters and our recruiters in the past have gotten like a bad rep, >> [clears throat] >> but we are I've known him for 2 years now. Usually we're enemies in recruiting, but >> [laughter] >> but we like to keep it professional, but we have all these different titles and it's nice to have a little someone outside looking in and communicating with these teachers and kind of giving them an insight of these students that won't talk during class or misbehaving. It kind of puts them back on track. So. >> Yeah, to to kind of put point out the professionalism within the recruiters out here, there was an instance where a young lady was working with Sergeant Quigley and then she decided that she wanted to work with me and then she decided once everything was was approved, all right, right over to Sergeant Quigley. And though it was one of those things where things could have gotten petty, it was we put the the welfare of the student first and her career first and shot you over all the all the information that you needed to make sure that she was able to become a combat medic in the National Guard. So, we're we're we're doing these things, um, again, to the benefit of the students. Um, and before, uh, before I move on any further, I just wanted to point out that when it comes to the school systems and the schools that we're in, uh, I always always always put Forest Lake at the top of what's being done correctly and what's being done right. So, if anybody is ever wanting to challenge the school systems in Minnesota, I would say what Forest Lake has going for them, um, after speaking to the teachers and meeting the students, uh, on that weekly basis, is that the students that are coming out of Forest Lake are the most prepared, most professional, and, uh, most ready to take on that next chapter of life than any of the other students that I've I've had the, uh, opportunity to encounter. So, I think that is a great reflection of the school, the great reflection of the school board, uh, and the district itself is just being able to, uh, in my book, that number one place where, to be honest, I'm staying here in the in, uh, Minnesota after I leave the, uh, active duty Army. My wife, she's from here, uh, so much so that I'm starting to look at properties up here so that I can have my kids in the school district. Um, so, thank you guys for for setting the standard. Um, I don't have anything else. >> Um, yeah, so I'll let, uh, PFC Brown here kind of speak to his experience, um, so, feel free to introduce yourself as as a grad and who you are and what you >> Uh, so, I'm a grad from Forest Lake. I graduated last year of 2025. Military really wasn't in my cards until my senior year. Um, Sergeant Quickley came into my class, uh, um, repper, uh, doing a presentation, um, and unlike most recruiters, he wasn't really pushy about it. He was like, you know, just listen to the presentation, hear me out, this could be a good career opportunity. You know, maybe it's not something you're looking at, but just just listen. Um I listened to Sergeant Quigley. He um gave me gave me my class some good information about it. Um he was really good with his resources. And that I mean he really the biggest thing I think that helped me understand was how personable Sergeant Quigley was. Um and he was truthful, very truthful. Um he he doesn't he doesn't say anything BS, he doesn't lie, he doesn't do any of that. He tells you what it is straight up. And I'm sure uh Sergeant Santana's the same way. Um and I think the the Guard is actually you'd be surprised how many opportunities and doors it tends to open. You don't really hear about it much, but um the military it it may you have to be smart. Definitely if you want to go to the college. Um for me right now going I'm going to go to college and to use the benefits I have to get a B or above. I can't get anything less or else I have to pay out of pocket. And so the military really is about making sure you can go where you want to be. Um right now I'm actually going to go to college to get my bachelor's degree in criminal justice to become a police officer while I'm not the drilling on the weekends or doing my annual training uh during the summer. Um and that's just one of the doors that the Army is actually the actual Guard has opened up just for me. Um and they're always informative um about the careers you can go. It's never oh hey, there's just this one career, you fit right here. With the ASVAB it truly gives you an understanding of where you could go and where you could belong. I definitely think um for some people where home situation isn't the best, especially as a high school student, and you want to go somewhere, the Army and the National Guard gives you a family that you didn't know you had. And they they truthfully they've helped me out a lot. I'll leave it there. >> A lot. A lot. >> [laughter] >> Uh I'm actually military police right now. So, I'm 31 Bravo. >> And you are a qualified or qualified federal police officer or how far how far how much do you have? >> Um so, I already have So, for the bachelor's degree, I technically don't have to do the skills program cuz I'm military police, so that takes off a whole year. I have already got some college credits done through Forest Lake actually being able to do PSEO and giving the time. They're really really good with that. They're only given time to uh high school students by getting PSEO done. Um I I'll say this, I I used to be about 300 lb and the military they shaped me up. They shaped me up good. >> [laughter] >> I used Trust me, I used to look like a circle. >> Dedication from this guy. >> So, well, you can tell in the front. >> Oh, thank you. >> So, you graduated 12 months ago and you're working on your bachelor's program for criminal justice to be a in law enforcement and you're already working as an MP. >> Yes, sir. >> That's That is very impressive. 19, you know? >> Yes. >> 19, yeah. >> Wow. >> And then I'll highlight that some of these other paths and that's just specifically a law enforcement path that's possible. We have medical pathways. We have uh trades pathways is a real huge one. Um obviously, we do have the the combat kind of stuff, right? I myself, I like to describe myself as a typical substandard infantryman. I am your kicking doors and jump out of planes kind of guy. However, right now I'm working on my aeronautics degree, Uh uh working my way into the aerospace industry. I know that we have a huge push for more uh students coming into the workforce to enter through the military in highly skilled trade jobs, and the Army is recognizing that we want to continue to help with the transition. So, setting up with apprenticeship programs and other pays uh we have a programs called pays and pre uh programs called P3 where we're actually setting people up with job interviews at companies of their choosing as they're exiting the military. So, uh I I love to tell everyone the military doesn't have to be plan A, plan B, uh plan B, or plan C. We are here to help supplement plan A, plan uh plan B, and plan C. Um >> Yeah, it really can be a platform to do really whatever you want to do afterwards. Uh and especially working with us, specifically about us in the National Guard, you get to pick your job coming into it, right? So, you want to be a an MP, and that's all you want to do, and you work with one of us, you just sit there and wait till MP pops up, and you sign for that exact job, right? There's no tricking you that oh oh got you in infantry or anything like that. Uh we can't do that if we wanted to, right? That MOS, that job you have is tied to that contract. All of those bonuses are tied ahead of time. Uh applicants really have a hand on the wheel when they kind of work with us, and they know exactly what they're getting into ahead of time. And we have a bunch of experience just in the military in general, right? Our office alone has over 100 years of experience in the Army. Uh so, we definitely have some insight we can guide guide which way everyone needs to. >> Yeah, just one last thing. Uh I don't know if you guys talked to other school board members or if we're different districts. Um it'd be really nice for someone to see how, you know, it works for us coming into schools because, like I said earlier, Forest Lake is probably one of the best. Mr. Caldwell, the one of the best principals I've seen. Uh Molly Bennett, they're just very inviting. Um and it's, you know, there there is that little thing that everyone's like, "Oh, I don't want to join because, you know, I don't want to die." Um and it's the military. Um so, I think uh little misconceptions here and there. Um but, if we get more access to schools, Forest Lake is just one of the best schools. So, uh but, if we can voice that to any other school boards, uh like I said, I don't know how it works. Uh so, that would be amazing though if it does work like that. >> Um is uh uh is it an opportunity? Can I uh can I open up to to questions or anything like that? >> Absolutely. >> Yeah, do we have anybody has questions? We'd love to answer [clears throat] them. >> Yeah. Remember Antonsson. >> Well, it's actually for PFC Brown because [clears throat] you just recently graduated. When I was looking through the links that you sent us in the email, the um March to Success, I thought that was really amazing. Um I didn't get very far in there cuz I was like, oh, my son needs to be home. I wanted him to take a look at that. Um did you utilize that at all when you were in high school? That online learning platform for any of their >> So, >> education? I mean, you were obviously in PSCO classes, maybe you didn't feel you necessarily needed it. >> Yeah. Um for National Guard uh reasons, um they do offer that, but where I was at, I was already through about about my half of the school year. So, I wasn't able to use it, but it's it's always available to anybody [clears throat] who wants to. >> Okay. >> And I right now, I can use those I have >> Okay. >> Um the unit I'm with right now, they actually are they try to push heavy on getting your educational benefits and using them and going to college. Um they just this last uh drill weekend, we actually had a presentation on how to get your educational benefits, um like state tuition reimbursement or uh state tuition assistance. >> Okay. >> And one of the one of the requirements to join the military is you have to pass the ASVAB. So, the ASVAB is just kind of a standardized test. It's mostly algebra, a lot of different fundamental reading and writing, things like that. Um it's also one of the biggest like hurdles that applicants have to get over, right? It's kind of the biggest problem that we have as recruiters is we'll find someone who's interested enough and they really want to do it, but they just can't pass that ASVAB. And there really isn't like a big correlation. Like we've had high school grads, recent high school grads come in and they can't pass it. We've had kids that are currently enrolled in college and they still can't pass it. Um March to Success is one of the programs that we use to teach them specifically what the ASVAB is about and what is on it, right? >> That's great. >> Just people in our office just walk-ins alone, I think I pulled up the numbers the other day, it was like out of 703 practice tests that we've done, it was like 40% pass rate. So it really has been just the biggest problem with us and then that's why like talking to schools and school boards and things like that this is really important for us because that's something that we can fix in the future. Um kids come out of high school and they know how to do some algebra, they know how to actually pass that ASVAB. Um >> To to give kind of a um a representation that of what the ASVAB would translate to um the passing score of 31 is considered below average on an SAT. So 60% of the students that were 60% of the uh people that walk into our our office to and take the test uh are failing it. So to kind of put that into perspective. Um >> But keep going. I don't want to interrupt you. >> Oh no no no. So I was uh that's I was just trying to lay the lay the paint the picture of of of what's uh one of our hurdles. March to Success is the first tool that we use that um directly addresses SATs, ACTs, uh and ASVABs. >> And is this So well okay. So one of my other questions was is how like like it said high school math and um verbal skills, okay? So that's just I just picked that one to look at. Do they have like a timeline? I mean I get it that it's individualized for each student based on their entry >> It's so yes, it's very similar to module learning when we establish timelines with our students or the the applicants that come in to work with us. The first thing that I tell them is I am not here to tell you if you pass or fail. I'm here to see if theoretically you could take the actual ASVAB and pass right now or do I need to send you home with study material and we try again in 2 weeks, which we've seen a vast amount of success there. We don't give up on anybody that wants to make this a profession. Um one of the reasons why I'm so uh big uh I'm trying to get the word out there about March to Success as much as I am because it's not just for the ASVAB, it's also for the SATs, it's for the ACTs and it's a free tool that everyone can use. >> Right. >> Right? >> it was just amazing, so I wanted to talk about it tonight and make sure people know. >> Wonderful. >> Well, I I'd like to add on to that question before I move on to others. Um I know of a specific student who had aspirations very similar to Private Brown's. Uh he wanted to come in, work as an MP, later in life uh uh join private law enforcement. Essentially that exact same path. Um not a Force Lake graduate, I'll preface that, was unable to pass the ASVAB. And from what I understand now um has moved on and that's just no longer a career path that he's thinking of taking. If he were to connect with you, is that something you'd be able to help him with? Even though he graduated It's probably the same year as Private Brown. He graduated a year or two ago. >> Absolutely. >> Is that still an opportunity for him? >> Absolutely. Yeah, if that's the only hurdle is just passing the ASVAB. Yeah, I know you can join the Army. >> As far as I understand, yeah. >> Yeah. No, absolutely. And then we like that practice test in our office, you can take that you can take 100 of them, like it doesn't There's no limit to it, right? We have multiple people that will show up every week and take that test and we're just looking for improvement. Uh we work with a lot of applicants for long periods of time if they can't get over that hurdle and we I have different ASVAB ASVAB books too that I've did some print outs for and a little different reading and writing. We'll sit there and talk to them. We don't We're not teachers, so we can't sit there and tutor. >> By technically by regulation we're not allowed to tutor. >> So, [laughter] there is We are not allowed to tutor. >> Encouragement. >> We do a lot of We do a lot of encouragement. >> Yeah. >> Yes, so first of all, thank you for being here. I was really excited to meet you guys and see you tonight. I wanted to personally say hello to everybody, but it sounds so good to me for you to validate what we know about our district, right? That we have been on this upward trajectory, that the vision of our Superintendent Massey and the work of our principal, Mr. Caldwell, have brought to our students is you guys, and I love how you talk about the relationships. You know how important that is, and it sounds like you guys bring a lot of work to that relationship. Piece, you know them, you talked about how you switched off somebody that wanted to switch off, and you know, it's it's all of that, making the students comfortable and understanding what the program is and what it's all about. And how valuable is that? I've had two nephews that have been in the National Guard to get your undergrad. And to be able to go on to that higher ed piece, I mean, that's that's really a huge benefit and a huge factor. So, one thing I wanted to ask was, when you first start going into classrooms, how do you gauge who's interested and who's maybe on the fence, and how do you get them through that process of being comfortable to make that final decision? >> Yeah, I mean, I can speak on it. I do a lot of classroom visits. And that's where majority of students I know with this year that graduated, we had 11 sign up for the National Guard, and I think for the ASVAB piece, I think only one of them failed. So, it's on the up and up for the ASVAB, which is good. Engaging kind of the interest, we go through the class itself. Most of them we do is like a guard 101 class where they can actually ask questions and it's it's a lot of mine not to push it on them, but say hey, this is an option. Just like active duty is an option. There's millions of options out there. Don't don't stay at your parents house in the basement. Hey, like >> [laughter] >> there's options that you have. That's all. I'm just here to tell you all [clears throat] about it. If you don't want to do it, that's totally fine. If you do want to do it, ask questions. And a lot of them when they when I do that approach approach, the soft approach, they're like Hey Sergeant Quigley, what do you pay for college? So at the end of it, we usually hand out like a piece of paper and I say like hey, if you mark yes on this, just realize that one of us is going to shoot you a text of hey, come into the office. Let's see if you qualify because there's a lot that goes into qualifying to be in the military alone, no matter what branch. So that's kind of how I gauge their interest. >> Wow, well thank you for being here tonight. That test does sound very rigorous. And talk about algebra, just kind of like brings back. But anyway, thanks for all you do and thanks for coming tonight. >> Appreciate it. >> Remember Castle? >> Uh so besides the ASVAB, there is a portion where you have an aptitude. And then it would be recommended hey, these are some career paths in the military for you. Uh this didn't happen until after I enlisted, so I don't know if if that's happening before enlistment to give people an idea of where they can go. >> So it's more I'm sorry to interrupt. Sorry. Uh it's more of a you get you get an X amount of score on the ASVAB and these are the jobs that are available based off the score that you did. So you get to see all of the openings, right? If I get an 80 on the ASVAB, then all of the openings are going to be open for me. Every job that that the army has, I can qualify for. If I get like a 35, might have little limited options there, right? It just depends on that each job is tied to a certain line score, which is tied to the ASVAB. So, however high you score in the ASVAB, the more options that you have. >> This is a probably a good opportunity to to note some key differences amongst the branches. Obviously, I cannot speak on behalf of the Air Force, the Navy, or the Marine Corps. I can, however, provide contact information for them because the military in general is is like is what I'm passionate about and making sure that everybody, no matter the route, has that connection. But, specifically between us, obviously the National Guard, their mission is is focused here in the state of Minnesota. Their resources are a little bit more tied here to the state comparative to me where if we're looking for jobs, you're looking for jobs within the state. I'm looking nationally. And when I'm looking at these national-level jobs tied to an individual's social security number and tied to them directly based off of their qualifications, those jobs, it's it's a live system. We have seen it before where, you know, me infantry, there's 300 classroom seats available. And then um one of our a student, class of 2026, Lucy Dunaway, who graduated from here, um she wanted a very unicorn job. You can ask anyone in her family. They call her unicorn. Uh she [clears throat] wanted to be a military working dog handler. And that's very hard to get. But, we were able to get it for her. And there was about five classroom seats. And I've seen it before where there was one classroom seat, and we click on the job to reserve it for somebody, and it's gone. Um so, I can only ever guarantee the Army. I can never guarantee the job. So, I don't I always try to be I err on over-transparency and keeping it up front that no matter what benefits or no matter what job you want, the benefits across the board are going to be the same. Um so, the reason like a guy like me is going to school and getting my degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical or in aeronautics and continuing on that pathway. I hope that kind of makes sense. >> Okay, so also when you're in the National Guard, there are career opportunities as a civilian but you have to be in the guard. My son works at at the camp and moved up to by Ripley so he could obtain a job there as a civilian even though you have to wear your uniform. Um but I don't know if that's part of what you talk with the students about as as those opportunities that are there basically which I didn't know about when I enlisted. But at my last duty station, there were four civilians working at Fort Benning because we supported the infantry officer training. And it's like, "Well, why do we have these civilians?" Well, we might go on maneuvers or have to qualify and they have to still maintain these vehicles. >> Yeah, that's that's definitely a good opportunity and to be blunt, the act or the National Guard has a program that's called Active Guard Reserve. So you're wearing that uniform but you're you're getting paid like you are active duty. So I Monday through Friday, sometimes Saturday, Sunday, like I'll put this uniform on and I'll go to the schools and that's my main priority is recruiting. Your son, I mean I'm sure he does something at Camp Ripley. Okay, mechanic, yep. Full-time so we offer that program. And then there's also techs so like mechanics, air traffic controllers, supply, I mean there's a lot of full-time positions so that's what I tell all these kids too. I'm like, "Hey, go use those benefits for college degree because it's very important for any job that you you to get. Otherwise, like you'll probably be at McDonald's or, you know, some lower end job, which is still fine, too, if that's what you want to do. But those benefits are there for the grasp of you just taking them. Same thing with active duty. They're They're there, so go get that college degree. If anything, you can fall back on the guard. That's what I did. When COVID and all that happened, I was just like, "Okay, well, let me I was going to be a police officer." And then I was like, "Okay, let me see what the guard has to offer." And that's how I've been here for 6 years and live up in society. I'll probably continue to do that cuz I love this job. So. >> Nice. >> We don't usually lead with the AGR opportunities because they are a little bit more competitive, especially to our entry-level soldiers. So, again, airing on over-transparency and trying to keep paying a realistic picture to to the kids that want to come into the military is just being if you want to go full-time Army, we usually recommend go full-time Army. >> Present. >> Yeah. No, no question. >> Well, we recommend go full-time Army. If you are looking at a school out of state and you want to go part-time, go Reserves. If you're looking at going to an in-state school, go National Guard. That's where things make more sense. And we try to guide people in the best direction possible. >> I have a question for Private Rome. Were you in some of the medical classes, Tracy Johnson? Yeah. >> Yes, I was. >> Yeah, he looks He looks familiar. So, maybe talk about that a little bit, like how was your classes being taught, you know, with our medical classes right here in the high school? Like, how did that help you? Do you already have some certifications coming out of that class? Maybe so. >> yeah, so I actually have my EMT certification. And that actually would help for the field medic position. I believe for both active and guard. It actually cuts down, so when you go through the our military training, you go through basic and you go through AIT, which is just more training on your actual job. So, for uh if you want to go the field medic route, that that um college class um for EMT would actually cut down, I [clears throat] believe, 8 >> 7 7 weeks >> 7 weeks of your >> Cuts down on Yeah, cuts down on Tracy's students. >> Yeah, that's what we >> Yeah, I mean, I've enlisted both of her sons. >> Oh, good. >> Uh and uh yeah, I mean, she loves us. She loves us, you know, coming in. And I think have you been >> Yeah, and then uh we had one of Miss I think Miss uh Jodie Foster. >> Yeah. >> Uh we one of her sons she he went the uh active duty route. So, >> Mm. >> and then he was doing really good. I think he just went He went to a couple of advanced schools and uh was just you know, top of the class and everything he was doing for us. >> Oh, that's wonderful. That's a great connection. Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> Well, great. I I got a couple of questions here, but first I want to thank all of you for your service. I I should have started with that, but but thank you for everything that you do for our communities, for our country, and um for our students. It's It's really commendable, and I'm super glad we got you in here. We've been talking about it for a while. So, um one thing that I'd love to hear a little bit more about, and you've talked about this a little bit, but uh the various leadership paths this opens for our students. Uh I mean, if you graduate from high school, you're kind of low man on the totem pole. How How does How do the supports from the military help you gain those skills? >> Uh yeah, absolutely, sir. I I born and raised in a real small town in Iowa. Uh didn't really want to go to college. Uh didn't really want to stay in that town, either. So, I decided to join the army. Um didn't like it right away, right? It was kind of tough. It was a challenge being away from mom and dad and things like that. I was getting ready to get out, and then uh the army said, "You want to go to Germany?" And I was like, "Yeah, I'll go to Germany. That sounds okay." Uh and then I went to Germany, and that my second duty assignment was when I really started getting good at it, right? Something kind of clicked in my head, and I really started to pay attention to what I was doing. Uh but what really drew my passion to it more wasn't about what I was doing anymore. It was about what my soldiers were doing at that point, right? Um I've taught people how to drive cars, how to do their taxes, just how to just really been a major part of their lives, right? And most of my soldiers to this day I still talk to. Uh that leadership aspect, that's literally why I keep doing this today. Um it's kind of like a I've always loved sports, I just never was any good at them. Uh but that player-coach mentality and that teamwork that we've already talked about, that brotherhood that is the army is is very much real, right? And it's it's very much starts from that leadership position and it goes all the way down to the bottom. Um so being that person, I joined as an E1, I'm an E7 now. Uh it only goes E9, so I'm working my way up, we'll get there. And uh just starting from the all the the bottom of that and then just continuing going on and I'm you know, from 18 to I'm 31 now, that's just been my life, right? This has been my career. Uh the army, the military has made me the kind of a man I am today. I've done most of my growing up and most of my adult lives doing it and I've been to 20 different countries in my life. I've lived on each corner of the US, I've traveled the world, I've met so many people from different areas and just having that experience and you know, the passion that I have for it, it's it's super fun. I love putting this uniform on every day and I love going in there and doing stuff like that. >> And also that leadership role, uh it's why I love the National Guard, no shade on the active duty. >> [laughter] >> When when they're these students are 17, 18 years old in in high school, um they are So if they join the National Guard, they're a part of what's called the RSP program, the Recruit Sustainment Program. They come to me one week in a month, they get paid for it um and they're kind of forced into these little leadership roles of our platoon and people that I have enlisted from Forest Lake, Stillwater and Mahtomedi, um just preparing themselves for basic training. So when they go to basic training, some juniors actually get to go over the summer. Um that's what I did when I was 17. It's a crazy experience um and then you come back for your senior year and they'll they um then I take them, I'm like, "Hey, you guys have been to basic training. These are these other people I'm enlisting, like you are going to be in that leadership role." So at 17, 18 years old, uh mentoring these other kids that are now juniors and as their seniors, um it's crazy to see, it's crazy to see the difference. This guy, believe it or not, was super quiet uh when he joined um and now, you know, he won't stop talking. >> [laughter] >> You know, I can definitely say that, you know, on both of our ends, we we take we go on future soldier development very seriously. It's not a congratulations join the army and then the next time you talk to me is the day you leave for basic training. Especially with our seniors and juniors that enlist early within whether that be the summer before their junior or the summer before their their senior year. That's an entire year that we're in checking up on them, training them, ensuring that they are we're another ear, we're another voice in their ear saying pass your classes, stay in shape, stay involved, stay out of trouble cuz and we're just that second form of accountability for for the students. >> We thank you for that as well. I I had a feeling that was going to be a softball and this is probably going to be a softball for you guys, too, but you said that Forest Lake is one of the best school districts to work with and the way we remain the best is by recognizing what we can do better. So, the other question I have for you is what can we do better? What can the board do to better support the efforts that you are >> [clears throat] >> putting into our students and our schools? >> So, I know that you got anything starting with you cuz I might have You you have like most longevity here. >> Yeah, I mean, over the six years I would say the only thing really is like being more a part of I know there's two career days but maybe like a military day would be really really neat with all recruiters and maybe we can set that up too with Molly but that's just out of the six years of that's the only thing I would say. >> Yeah, that's that's probably a a good one. Personally, I'd love to meet a little bit more of the faculty and staff just to be able to say, "Hey, I'm happy to come present in your class. Let me figure out what I can bring and and and come in and talk and kind of make sure that everybody has the opportunity to hear about the the opportunities for you. And then like Sergeant Quickly was saying earlier, it's here's the information. You can talk to me about it if you want to. If you don't want to, then you don't want to. Point is you got a plan. Even if you come in and sit down with me and you've decided that this is not the route. You've good, you've left more knowledgeable. Um on our end, we're always trying to figure out what what are more ways that we can support the community. So if there's anything that the school board, the district, um or or or the school would say, "Hey, can you guys do this for us?" Um maybe not, but I'm going to try. So >> Well, yeah, please reach out to us if you think of any of those things. And I'll actually add a little bit of my own my personal story here. Just those discussions like you were saying with with students. Even if they don't end up enlisting, it's going to help them build their future path. I spent a lot of time talking to recruiters when I was in high school. I actually uh I scored extremely well on the ASVAB, so I got lots of phone calls. I got lots of opportunities. I had off officer opportunities. And just working with I worked with primarily the Army and the Air Force. But just working with those recruiters and having those discussions about what do I want to do when I grow up? It really helped me kind of answer some of those questions when I was young and and still trying to put that together. Um one of the other things that I would add too is a a great deal of respect for the the kind of the kind of characters that you guys build. Um especially with our students and when I'm looking at staffing or hiring, I always look at former military because they come highly trained. They come with a great work work ethic. They uh they know how to learn on the fly. They're not intimidated by uh um stress and uh just you know, kind of the minutia. They they understand how to work through minutia. Um and I I work in cybersecurity, so it's a pretty competitive field to get into uh right now. And I had a job opening uh for 3 days, I got 380 applicants. And one of my first screening processes is, okay, which one of these are uh either uh in National Guard now or you know, retired soldiers that are looking for their next effort, you know, if they've had that military training. So, that's that's one of the things that I look for um as well cuz I I know how good of a job you do with uh being kind of you know, building that that person and and preparing them for the next stage in their lives. So, >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um we all remember Tyson. Sorry. >> this is just a data stat- statistical question. If you don't know, that's fine. You've been standing for a long time. I want to pull up a chair for you. >> [laughter] >> We are very used to standing. That's all right. >> It fits. So, how many students from Forest Lake have you integrated into your program like in the last year? >> This last Uh this last year, I can speak specifically that the Army Active Duty and Reserves has enlisted uh five class uh five soldiers into the uh class of uh from the class of 2026. Um year prior to that, I want to say at least five and the year before that, at least four or five. So, there's about five students a year on the Army Active Duty side or Reserves that are that are enlisting. We have a few more in the process right now. >> Okay. >> Um and then this year >> Okay. >> He's got his smirk on. >> Yeah. >> I'm surprised he showed up to graduation, honestly. >> [laughter] >> Um but yeah, I mean, usually the National Guard does really well. Um but uh yeah, this year we got 11. I would say over uh I was doing uh some of the math. I was trying to see who was from Forest Lake. Um over the 6 years I've been here, uh we have over 55 students. >> Wow. That's great that you have that in >> Yeah. >> in your >> I did it earlier this morning to prepare for it, but yes. >> I'm glad I am. That's me. >> Yeah, yeah. Our our active duty side we're usually on a 3-year assignment and [laughter] then it's off to the next thing for us. So, that's why we don't have the opportunity to build the rapport. However, I'm staying here so and after I'm out of recruiting um >> I stay somewhere for 6 years it'd be pretty good, too. >> Listen, these guys won't be here. They're kind of wasting their time. >> [clears throat and laughter] >> I'll be here for another 7 years, 8 years, 9 years, who knows? >> Now, in fairness though >> That's very impressive and I have one more question. I want to ask Superintendent Massie, do you remember or recall what year it was started because I know my daughter graduated in 2012. And I think it was 2010 or 2009 that we started. >> Well, we've always had >> Mr. Knowles, Mr. Caldwell >> We've always had recruiters. Um when I got to the high school they were largely in the career office. >> That's what I remember. >> in the cafeteria. We had college recruiters in the cafeteria. And it was clear to me that this is a viable option for our kids. We need to present them equally with the college one-year, two-year, four-year options. So, we now and continue to have our um service recruiters in the cafeteria once a week, however frequent that is. Uh we ask all of our recruiters to stay behind the table so they're not interfering with kids' lunch time. >> Um and we need kids to approach them versus going to interfere with their social or lunch time. Uh that's why being in the classroom I think it's important getting information in front of them. Um I I love the the transparency, the being really up front with kids, being approachable, kids coming to you with questions versus any sense that we're forcing this. We wouldn't force college, we wouldn't force one-year, two-year, four-year or the military. It's got to be a fit. And you present that present in a way that where where kids can see themselves in these services, and then you hold them by the hand and you get them get them involved. So, yeah, access to our kids in the cafeteria, I think it's really important. >> And thank you. Another piece of legacy you're leaving behind as you go, and I so appreciate all your work in this area with the military. >> I was going to say something. >> No, I was just I haven't said anything yet. But thank you for being here. I'm the quiet I guess I'm the quiet one tonight. I just want to thank you for your service. You can see how much you guys have really you've embraced this role, and I I'm just so appreciative you're serving our country and serving our students and doing what's best for kids and giving them that opportunity to grow to future leaders. That's exciting. Um, that's I guess that's what I was going to say. And I do like the idea of having the recruit like having all of the military come. Um, as instead in intermingled with the college recruit, I think that it that would be a great idea. And also I want to talk about graduation, how the kids that are going in the military have it on their stoles when they walk up with these huge smiles, and they're always just so excited, and it's just it's great to see they're so proud to be going into the into the military. So, that is a great thing I think we've added over the years. I don't know when that started, but that is always really powerful for me to see. So, but thank you again for being here. And yeah, I mean I think you guys have just the passion that you have and >> [clears throat] >> excitement, I think it's it's it's very infectious, and I think we're really lucky to have you helping our kids. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And thank you, Sergeant Stanton, for inviting Sergeant Quigley despite the the friendly competition. >> We had a long talk about it beforehand, but we figured it was a nice collaborative effort. It was We had a long talk about it. >> [applause] >> It was a good idea. >> Thank you all FOR HAVING US. >> ALL RIGHT, THAT WILL BE A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW, BUT I have a I have a 916 report for everybody and it's relatively light as the meetings at 916 over the summer are. We did some staff recognition for teachers that had a combined 80 almost 80 years of service. Approved a couple of school board policies moving into the summer. We did approve our FY27 budget being at the next time we meet won't be until July, so that needed to get done. Also set intermediate district tuition, membership, and access fees. And then we had a great deal of 26-27 contract approvals. And I will leave it at that. If anybody has any questions on that, please reach out. >> Do you have a question about my place? >> Yeah, well I can I can ask my questions on 7.4. I'll do it then. >> 7.4 >> I can ask my question. >> Oh, LTFM 4. Yes. That was actually something that we handled at the board a couple of months ago and it's now trickled down to us. >> But yes. >> Sounds good. Thank you. >> All right, with that I would entertain Well, I would first ask if anybody has anything that they would like to pull from the consent agenda this evening. All right, seeing none I'd entertain a motion to approve as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion and second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Those opposed? Okay, that motion carries. Bringing us to action item certify the school district population, Dr. Messing. >> Thank you very much. This is an annual process required for for us that ties into community education levy certification or um um What am I looking for, Courtney? >> Levy funding. Thank you very much for that. So, obviously [snorts] the the levy through the community that is tied to this number. We get the number from the state demographer. That's corroborated by our own census folks. Ultimately, we get the number from the state demographer and the state demographer sets it. Yet, the board needs to approve that number that you see in your packet. So, with that administration would recommend your approval. >> So, I'll move move to approve. >> Second. >> I have motion and second. Is there any discussion on this item? All right. Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Those opposed? Okay, that motion carries. Bringing us back to the fund balance policy 1714. Um, this was a policy that was recommended to us by our auditor. We I believe this is now the third meeting we had a first reading, we had a second meeting where we had action. In the last meeting, we had a motion to strike section 10 uh, postponed until this evening. So, unless we'd like to move into some general discussion before that, we can bring that motion before the board. All right. Seeing no desire to have general discussion, we'll bring the motion to strike section 10 back to the board. Or back to the table this evening. >> Oh, so I should have said yes. >> Oh, do you have general >> I Well, I wanted to say a few things. >> Oh, well then let's let's roll back and uh, we'll we'll allow some for some general discussion first. Uh, member Corcoran. >> Okay. Um, so I just wanted to say um, I actually wrote some things down this time. Um, as an accountant, I believe in the fund balance policy. It's important. Our auditors want it and I do agree with most of the policy. Um, and the part that I have trouble with, of course, is that the um, remediation piece. And that's why I'm willing I'm hoping to strike it. Like I said, we're willing to possibly move it. Um I feel like our roles as board members are more than just fiscal responsibility. We're in charge of education and our whole role as school board members or it's a part of our role, but we're also in charge of students achievement and things like that. So, to just to not It's like you're trying to put in parts and I believe it should probably be in another policy. Whether I agree with it, I don't I don't agree with the whole thing, but I'm willing to possibly move it to another policy as our duties and roles as school board members. I don't believe it belongs in this policy. It's just like I said, it's cutting up our whole role. We have more than just the fiscal piece. So, um and also I believe the whole idea of it all is going to impact Dr. Renberg IDs staff. And I said it if she's basing all this on estimates and estimates are incorrect, I'll say special ed funding. It's it's an influx. We can have between half a million to a million dollar flux of special ed money. We have no control when it comes in. And and she's building all this on estimates and we are going to be So, let's say the estimates are low. And then when it comes to the audit and the audit all flows through and the audit says, "You guys are great." So, all this time it wasn't even you know, we're being penalized for things that aren't even accurate at the time. It's all just an estimate. It's not real until the audit is done. So, it's kind of putting And also the public, you're going to say, "Oh, you guys are not doing a good job." Pretty much. You're you're you guys should be in reading remediation because you guys aren't getting the 6% and in reality it's just a timing issue. So, I feel like that's why I don't believe it belongs in here. I believe we could have accountability in other policy a different way. So, that's that's what I would like to say. And like I say, I know we as an account I know it's accountability and we and for our auditors we need to have this policy in place, but I do would like I would like to strike that last piece and you know what? I I will work with whoever Cherwell line to kind of work and pull it and kind of maybe massage a little bit and change a little bit and move it to one of the other 100 policies, but I just don't believe it belongs here. >> Okay, do do we want to bring that motion back to the table? >> Go ahead, >> [clears throat] >> member Castle. >> So, did you find another policy that it would >> I have not yet. No, I've had a kind of a crazy couple weeks, but I it's but on my mind. So, I haven't totally decided cuz we have to talk more through it, but like I say it's not our whole job. So, it's I believe we should be accountable for more than just the fiscal responsibility. So, I believe in accountability, but not right here. So, we I'm willing to look at other options and move it to somewhere else. >> Um, would you consider that if at the end of the year everything was all hunky-dory and we can reinstate those um in arrears or >> Well, that's another thing that we have to be then let's say she's we're doing the remediation and we're like, oh, you guys shouldn't you know, it's it's kind of it's it's it's reprimanding or or penalizing things that aren't even really true. Like I said, we have no control of the money coming in. We have control of our budget. We have control of the way we spend our money, but you have no idea you have no control of the timing of the government. We've had times when the state has held back our money. We we've had things I mean special at money, but also other things that hold back. We have no control of that. So, that is really hard for me to be accountable for things that I am not in control of. So, that's where I have a trouble. So, I don't know. I don't know what else do you guys want to say, but >> Member Tyson. >> So, for my part, we have already had robust discussion about this. Member Carlgren is repeating points that she's already made. >> Yeah. >> I've had the community reach out that have listened to the discussion and agree that that does not belong here. Have you, Member Castle, had a chance to look at other policies that you would like it placed in? >> I think it's fine in this policy. >> Okay. >> [clears throat] >> Excuse me. Um you know, and just a little aside here, today I was filling out the MSBA >> Mhm. >> Um board survey, and you know, several of the questions about financial responsibility as a board member, and um and one of them was to what extent does our board provide guidelines for budget development, including clearly defined expectation for a reasonable fund balance. And I mean, obviously this is the first time I think as a board we're putting it in policy. Um so and the other and another one was in adopting a fiscally responsible yearly budget aligned with our strategic plan. So, it just got me thinking about this too, here on our agenda. And I I am not opposed to moving it somewhere else, but I don't think I mean, I'd be curious to hear more about what that would sound like in writing. And I think if we [clears throat] are ultimately very responsible for being fiscally prudent in the district, that it is fitting um that if we have some major problem, I don't know the best way to figure it out either. I don't want to create more work for uh Chrissy, Member her Director Renberg, I beg your excuse me. I see you right there. Um >> [clears throat] >> but I also don't want to just say, "Oh, let's strike it here and we'll move on and we're not going to deal with this until after the election because we can't seem to agree upon anything across the table here." >> Member Christiansen? >> Well, I um you know, a lot of things have already been said. I guess I have a couple of questions. So, we had a really robust discussion at the last meeting and I'm looking at it now and it looks like if I'm that only two things were changed where it's bolded there, is that correct? So, after a lot of robust discussion, there wasn't a lot of changes, is that what I'm >> We we did not make any changes to the um to the policy that was before us. Those were changes that were recommended uh uh through the finance [snorts] committee, I believe. >> Mhm. So, the excuse me, these were the changes that were at last time? >> Yes. >> Okay, sorry then. >> Correct. >> But uh Um anyway, what also what I wanted to say is again, I would like to just go back to the fact that you know, we set um budget and parameters and then we hire people who are professionals to do the work and I just feel like Director Remer ID was here last time and um was you know, um in you know, saying that it could be difficult or different points of view and I just you know, defer to the professionals. I mean, that's what we hired the director of finance for and um and also to Member Corcoran's point. I mean, if if we really need to have this, we could have it in some other policy and says if you know, our student achievement dips to XYZ, we also give up our paycheck or if our you know, whatever whatever dips to whatever, we give up our paycheck. You know, I just don't think I think that is a really good point that you didn't bring up last time. >> Yeah. >> That there's a lot of things that we are responsible for as school board members and to just kind of single out sort of one thing here that number one and then number two to kind of go um against or not against but like go against the recommendation that the professional staff is making to us. I just I just I don't feel like it um belongs in here either and I feel like we should just be able to have a discussion about it. Maybe we could just say again, you know, let's pass it as is, take out 10 and then we'll agree you know, in the next month or whenever to find somewhere else to put it. I think that would be a good compromise. >> Yeah, I agree. >> [clears throat] >> Member Tyson. >> So, I just want to add that you know, member Corcoran and we've talked about this almost like I feel like it's just so repetitious right now that the budget abs and flows, which we have no control over. So, this is just a not appropriate in this fund balance policy to be there. It could be under our 100 section, but this is not an appropriate place for it. The other thing I think and what I'm hearing from the community is here's a policy that we need, right? Cuz it's been mandated to have it and we have it. They've worked on it for months and months. It's come before us three times now. People are not wanting the policies having stuff inserted by a select few on the board. They're tired of it. We went through a number of policies where things were inserted, inserted, put in, put in. Can you bold it? Can you resend it? So, we know what's been put in. It's another example. People the community is tired of it. And here we're wasting our breath after we've had robust discussions going on and on about this, compromising. A countant, a controller It's like >> [clears throat] >> It I'm I'm done. So >> Mhm. >> I call for the vote. >> Well, we don't have a motion on the table at the moment. >> a motion to call for the vote for 7.2. >> So we can bring back the the motion that is currently on the table about uh >> of striking it. >> um striking. >> Yeah. >> um >> Let's just >> section 10. >> Call the vote. We've talked about it enough. >> Mhm. >> Okay, we'll bring that motion back to the table uh without objection. >> The motion Well >> The the motion to strike section 10. >> Mhm. Are you sure we've talked about this three times? >> Uh this is the third time the policy's been presented to the board. The first time it was a first reading. >> Okay. >> The second time we had open for discussion and that's where we got I don't recall exactly who made the motion or the second. >> Did you make the motion? I thought somebody made a motion. >> No, I did it by a unanimous consent. Uh there was no objection to bringing the motion back to the table. So the motion that's on the table right now is to strike section 10 in its entirety. Um does that capture the >> Yes. >> Okay. So strike section 10 in its entirety. Is there any discussion on that amendment? I don't see any. So I I'd like to add some comments to that. Um I agree with member Castle that this is a fine place to put it. I think we could put remediation efforts in some of our student achievement policies in those likely locations. Uh but I also agree with member Corcoran that it could be consolidated in some of the 1200 policies that we've done before. In fact, there is a legacy 200 policy I or 100 policy. I I can't remember exactly which number that was that addresses uh board member pay that is still out there because it needed to be redone. It could be in that as that gets upgraded into the 1200 policy. I'm open to all of those ideas. My hesitation on striking it from here on the I guess the premonition that we'll add it somewhere else later is that later will never come. We've had decades to have a fund balance policy and it hasn't happened. We've also had decades to put accountability into the board member policies and it's never been done. So, seeing it in here now um I would vote against this amendment at this moment without knowing for certain that it's already included somewhere else. However, I would be for removing it from this policy once it is already inserted into another policy. That's my personal feeling on it right now. >> I agree with the chair on that. I just I think [clears throat] we need to I think it's important to have accountability, be transparent about the accountability as a board to the public. Um and so I don't feel comfortable taking it out of here completely just without knowing where it's going to go or how we're going to reword it and redo this somewhere else. And you brought it up last time that you would be willing to do that, but we you know said the same thing tonight without providing any kind of plan for it. So, I I was kind of hoping you would come with some ideas. >> should she come with it? This is your wording. You guys come with it. >> didn't write it. >> I didn't write it. >> Don't accuse me either. >> Don't accuse me of things >> Who wrote it? across the table. I didn't do it. Mark and Karen are assuming. I'm a >> I didn't write it. >> No. >> Oh, Kurt must be >> Where did it come from? It just appeared. >> I believe the board >> It was there and it wrote it. >> I proposed the the idea to the policy or to the finance committee and this is what came out of finance committee. >> We did not have this. We did not want this on there. That was added after. >> Mhm. >> That was definitely added after. This This was an addition after the after the finance committee. >> Do we have any additional discussion on the amendment that's on the table? >> Well, I just want to say that we it's been decades since we've had this policy and you're holding it up because you inserted your own personal language. So, I'm ready for the vote. Let's do it. >> Let's get it done. >> Okay, so the the vote that is before us is on the motion to amend the policy to strike section 10. Is that well understood? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> This This vote does not vote on the whole policy. >> Correct. This is just on the amendment. >> To strike. >> An a vote in favor of this is to strike that uh section 10. A vote in the negative is to retain section 10. If that's clear, we can move forward. >> Mhm. >> All right, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> All those opposed, no. Okay, the motion to amend fails. Um we do have a motion and a second on the table to approve of Joy. Does that Does that carry over with the motion to postpone or should we just do that again? >> You got to do it again. >> Pardon me, does what carry over? >> The motion to approve the policy was since we postponed the amendment. >> That would be >> Postponement was laid on the table. >> Yeah, so I >> You would bring it back. You don't You don't need to restate the motion. It's important to clarify the motion. >> Okay, that's what I thought. So, um without objection, we'll bring the table to approve the policy as presented or we'll bring the motion to approve the policy as presented from the table. Seeing no objection, that's the motion that's on the table. Or were you objecting to that? >> I'm not objecting. >> Okay. >> I was going to make a a motion to amend. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. >> approve it as it is now with the plan to work together to come up with a different place to put this or, you know, and come up with a plan to do it and a timeframe. >> Another option that we have is we have one week and one more meeting before July. Director Renberry already might lose some sleep if we don't get this done tonight, but we could postpone this motion to bring back other options. Um for input from the director? >> Jean, when do you need it done by? Um just a note just wondering um as we look at this um with that in there and if it does get approved, what are you looking at for a timeline of um implementation would be important for our department to understand. That also might play into the motion that's on the table um of how much time you have to make that. Um I would ask that potentially you implement it starting in the 26-27 school year. So with that >> Um So it would start in September >> Yeah, September would be the first opportunity which gives some time for the board because one week is probably not enough for any of us to to do all of that. So um again um the other thing is just the annualness of the audit. Um just again, you know, that idea that it is a projection um you know, until it's final and so this quarterly is there any wording that could go along with that. Gives us a little more time just to talk about it. Um but that's just just a question. >> well, I'm glad you you brought that up and and if you wouldn't mind staying there cuz I I might have some questions here. Um I I heard some great ideas around this being that this is a projection. From what I understand in the accounting per lance and I I'm not in accounting, but my understanding is say the uh uh the payments that are made to board members if there's a projected shortfall, you could instead of making those payments, you could flag them in the accounting software to say that this money is set aside or in reserve for board members should the projections be incorrect and the audit show that everything was fine and that those payments could be made, everything could be normalized and balanced at the end of the year. The language that's in here right now doesn't really allow for that. >> Right. >> I'd be very open to making mo- uh making uh modifications to this language to allow for that to a to allow you guys to to do the work that needs to be done. That way we're not guessing, that way it doesn't put you in the position where you feel like you're taking like just for me. You don't feel like you're taking something away from me. >> Yeah. It's It's a very big liability on one person to say that's that's it when we have fluctuations that are significant in tuition billing and special education that can come through. We have proration right now at 97%. Is it going to be 97% for special education revenue or not? And I can't tell you that for this year and we're in June and that's just a difficult position to be in and you know, we be conservative so that we can you know, have the fund balance that we're all looking for in this policy. >> So the reason I kept I asked you to stay up here cuz my my question is well what if the projection goes the other way? So say you say your projections at 6.1 and you keep making the payments and then it falls short. Is that just the the accepted risk that the board is taking that once the payments are made, the payments are final? And if that's the case, we would want to add language in the policy here just to give everybody the assurances including the public that this is just the way it's going to work. If there's a projected shortfall, we're going to kind of defer our payment until we know for sure whether or not that was a shortfall. >> Is there the ability genuinely to get back to why I raised my hand and come up is, you know, can we make it effective the 26th, you know, the the punitive part of it the 26th, you know, 27th and the rest goes in effect now. We we shore up these items, um, you know, to make the final policy before September. >> And then the more we talk about this at least personally is I feel that it would be in order to postpone action on this at least until next week so we can talk about some of these ideas, maybe insert some of this language, um, have some of these direct discussions with Director Emberton and and plan for these contingencies and these timings so that all of this can land at the right in in in the right timing and the right place and we can still meet the intent. >> I'm not sure what you're talking about. Can you explain timelines and things landing in the right place? What what do you mean? Board of Trustees >> If we move forward on this this policy tonight >> Right. And you heard what she asked. >> as >> As we approve the fund balance policy and work on 10 after. >> But she needs clarity. Like if we approved this now as it's written it would not provide Director Emberton with the clarity to move forward other than it's enforced tomorrow morning. >> I was going off Tess's thing of approving it with the caveat that we would work on it in the next month. Like yes. That that was an important part of that. >> Yeah. >> recommendation. But again, if we make it not effective until that time the the punitive part not effective till that time that does give us the time. >> Which we could do. We could amend the motion that's currently on the table to just add an effective date September 1st. >> That effective, yeah. >> Or, um, alternatively we could postpone action on this >> Either one. >> motion tonight to next week >> Mhm. so we can add some of the language in there and we could still have it effective on a certain date as well to help you out. >> Tomorrow we'll work through the packet and everything. Tomorrow is the holiday and then we'll be in back in the office on Monday. So we'll have to I just think about the timing >> on a fast timeline. >> how long people will have to digest it and other things. >> It it will be quick. >> It's a short week. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> Or to your point we could make it effective on September 1st and that would give us time to amend it between now and then. >> Correct. That that's what I was The amendment has a great, you know, suggestion and conversation. That was what I was going for. >> Can I just make a point? I don't know that we need to put this off again until next week. I mean the finance committee has looked at it, we've looked at it. So I think either we I would like to defer to the professional experience. We could approve this and put in whatever language that this will be effective later or that we will figure this out later. I don't I mean like you said tomorrow is a holiday and then we already meet again Thursday. I just don't I don't I mean I just feel like we've already had plenty of discussions. >> Yeah. >> I don't think we need to do >> Remember I just wanted to clarify what member Christiansen just said. Is that your ask? Was that what your intention was when you started? >> My my intention is that that there could be some language to put in an effective date of the you know, 2026 school year which effectively makes it at the end of the first quarter which brings us into September which gives us time to amend. So >> So what would the exact date of the uh first day of the second quarter for the school district's fiscal year be? >> It's the same I mean it'll be the >> The date in November. >> Yeah. So cuz we'll be >> Second quarter. >> July July August September. >> July August September so it would technically be October 1st. >> Yep. >> Would be the start of the second quarter. Okay, so what why don't why don't I do this? I'll I'll I'll a motion to amend the approval to add an effective date of October 1st for this policy of 2026. >> For the section 10 >> for section 10 >> for section 10 >> for section 10 of this policy, yes. >> And the rest of it would be immediately implemented. >> Correct. >> That is my motion. >> Okay, so the motion on the table now is essentially to defer section 10 until the second quarter of the fiscal year, which is October 1st. Is that understood? >> Nothing else in the policy changes except your where are you inserting >> Is that an amendment to the original motion? >> Um it's it's an amendment to the motion to approve as presented. So motions 1 through 9 would become effective tomorrow morning. And section 10 would become effective on October [clears throat and cough] 1st. >> Or however we change the language >> Or if yeah, if >> Or however we decide we're going to put it elsewhere. >> Yep, yep, we could we could uh we could massage or change this before then. We could change the effective date before then. So we would have meetings between now and October 1st to >> I would like that written in the amendment or whatever you're saying. So not only is it effective October 1st the we need to say in there something about >> could be >> you know, we you know, discussion or there will be um >> possibility to change it. >> Yeah, we're not just going to say October 1st because then then we'll say oh, we approved it October 1st. What we'll say like we will have further discussions, we will look into putting this in a different pot. Like what are what are we saying? I want to say something. >> So I can give you assurances from the chair that I will add it to the agendas. If that does not satisfy your requirement, you can make an amendment to my amendment, to direct that the board does that work. >> I would like to add an amendment to the amendment to direct the board to look for a more appropriate policy or a different policy to put section 10 in. And I would like to direct the board to do that by um October 1st. >> And I'd like to second your motion. >> My motion was seconded, member Christensen's motion fails [clears throat] due to lack of a second. >> Second on >> I'll second that motion. >> Yeah. >> Oh, you'll second that motion? >> Yeah. >> Member Christensen >> Okay. >> Christensen's motion >> Okay, so then we have an amendment to the amendment that basically says the board will be compelled to address this. Do we have any discussion on that or can we dispose of that quickly? Okay, all those in favor signify by saying I. Those opposed. Okay, now the amendment is that um sections 1 through 9 will become effective immediately. Section 10 will become effective on October 1st. >> That's a motion, not an amendment. >> That that means the motion. Well, that's the amendment that we're voting on right now. We're not back to the main motion yet cuz we just had an amendment to the amendment. >> Okay. We've voted yes for >> for Jill's amendment. >> and >> Yep, correct. >> [cough] >> And now the amendment that's on the table is that um the policy will be approved, sections 1 through 9 effective immediately. Section [clears throat] 10 effective on October 1st. That's the amendment that's on the table right now. Member Dyson >> would think you made a prior motion and I seconded it. >> That's the one we're That's the one we're voting on now. >> Okay. >> Yep, that's the amendment we're voting on now with member Christensen's addition to my motion. >> Got it. >> Okay, any questions on that? >> So, if we don't get to this work but on October 1st, it's going to this will be the entire policy. >> With member we will be doing that. >> With member Christensen's motion, we are now required to at least address this between now and October 1st. >> But then again, we need four votes to get that changed. So, just addressing that is a >> an issue for me. >> [laughter] >> We can address >> We can address them too, whether we get that passed or not. That's the reason. >> But that's >> I think the overall working thing is that we need to pass the SunBelt policy tonight. So, that's >> But I would like But I would like to I like to I mean, I think we need an amendment to pull cuz I I am not still not going to support this the way it is. So, I don't believe that we're going to have that discussion. So, I would like to just do one through nine and I would approve that. >> That amendment's already failed. >> Okay. Well, >> So, that has been settled. >> Okay. >> So, this motion is essentially defer section nine with the a board directive that we will address it between now and October. Do we have questions on that or can we dispose of that amendment? >> I'm not going to do it. >> Member Christensen added parameters such as looking at other policies. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Yes, that that is the amendment to the amendment. >> The minutes >> [cough and clears throat] >> Okay, so all those in favor of the amendment including member Christensen's amendment to the amendment signify by saying I. I. Those opposed? Okay, that motion carries. We are now back to the main motion which is essentially identical to the amendment in that uh the policy as presented will be enacted sections 1 through 9 effective immediately. Section 10 effective on October 1st of 2026. And the stipulation that the board address section 10 prior to October 1st. Did I capture that motion in its entirety, Joyce? >> I believe so. >> Thank you so much. Is there any other discussion on this motion as it stands before us? >> No. >> Okay. Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Those opposed? >> Nay. >> I believe motion carries. Which brings us to um 7.3 the budget adjustment, Director Emmerling. >> Thank you very much. The nail will get me going. So, throughout the spring we have been working on the uh FY '26 budget. So, it is the standard for Lake Area Schools [clears throat] to bring a revision in the spring. Um most of the work was done early spring. There's a little break in time and then we came back. Um we did get this out to the finance committee um not on May 21st. We had a shortened committee meeting that night, so it was sent out um later in June to the finance committee, but I did just want to review it for the public and the board. Um I believe that you all got this uh a couple weeks ago here. So, uh we'll go ahead and just go through the budget adjustment and then I am just going to run through the slides that we went through at our finance committee meeting Um each month and review our budget status based on the new adjustments. So again, the budget revision for FY 26, Jackie Eagle, our auditor, came into our March finance meeting and talked to us about the revenue that we were seeing. We did see an increase in the revenue and also that increase in expenditures that we had been talking about. So I'm just going to outline each one of those areas. We start with the general fund. So the general fund in the revenue area, overall, when we looked at the revenue, we were able to adjust up that revenue based on the initial projections by about $818,000. That was a true up from FY 25. So ADM is kids in seats every single day. So if they're in that seat for 73 days, we get paid for the 73 days. And so at the end of the year, we figure out how did we end up? Were we, you know, more kids there at the beginning of the year? And then as we know, we go through the school year and lose kids. So we start above the projection and below the projection. And how did that all go with timing even within the month? So that was a great true up for us this year. So that was a really good one. We did have a reduction federal grant wise. A couple of our high school grants through the Department of Education expired out. And so we were able to spend those out last fiscal year at the end of the year. So we didn't carry them over into this year. So we reduced that revenue down. We added summer unemployment revenue. Again, the legislature came through and funded that third year like they had said that they were going to. So we added that to the revenue. Special education revenue, that was a big deal that we talked a lot about in the finance committee. We talked about that tuition adjustment. And so when the tuition adjustment came through, we had less kids that were going to schools outside the Forest Lake area schools and getting those special education services that we owed money to then we had the year before. That is rare. So we did give a phone call as part of that process to the Department of Education. Paul Barron is the expert in special ed there that we always call up and we said, "Okay, like 95% of the time your tuition is never going to go down. It's usually going to go up. But ours went down is you know like this is we see these kids went out Director Wilson and I sat down and we looked at every single place that our kids go out in tuition out and we identified which kids ended up coming back to Forest Lake or moving out of the Forest Lake district so we no longer paid tuition on. So we did all of that work and it was justifiable that our tuition actually went down what we owed people which meant we got more revenue in for special education. It's an anomaly again doesn't happen often but it was a big number so it was about a million dollars in that. When you do that you have to look forward. So I was using a number from the year before. So I'm going to say it's going to go up because we always know tuition goes up. Well if I say it's going to go up by three four hundred thousand dollars but it actually went down by that your spread is 68 68 million hundred thousand dollars excuse me. So we want to make sure that we're getting that spread. What's our starting number for what we're looking at for FY 26. So that's where the additional 500,000 came in is saying nope those kids are really gone. They're not going to be back at those schools. So North Lakes Academy Lions Gate were the two that were the major ones that were different and so again we were able to push that revenue up and have that new base. Medical assistance funding three years ago now we hired an amazing staff member and sometimes you know it takes a little bit to get everything rolling but she has more than paid for her position in the fact that we have medical assistance funds finally coming through that we were anticipating. This includes adding our bus aids on our buses to get reimbursement for that. It includes a lot of other areas that Angela Beckham and Director Wilson have worked incredibly hard to get. So, again, that is a lot of work that went into getting those funds through medical assistance that the district is able to put into the budget. And then interest revenue, again, you kind of don't know where it's going to end up, so you be conservative, but we're able to add that revenue. On the expenditure side, we knew and we've talked about all year that we had some expenses that just didn't come to fruition in the FY 25. We would have loved that Columbus well to be done, trust me, but it wasn't. So, that came into the school year. We did We knew when we moved sixth grade to the middle school we were going to need another science lab. We were going to need the A classroom down a little bit. There were the few things to come through. So, those middle school renovations, lockers, we needed more lockers for the sixth graders. So, again, minimal cost for a huge move of moving all those students to the middle school, but we did have to do a little renovation to the building to make that happen. So, that moved over into FY 26. We had some bus lease purchases that moved in when buses weren't ready in time. So, usually we get them in June, we didn't get them till August. And in fact didn't get the hitch buses until December. So, again, just moving those those items in. And then grounds equipment is another one that again, we're just working through. You place the order, you think you're going to get it in time and you don't. Then salary and benefits, we adjusted up. We had parameters set by the school board for all of our groups. We also adjusted severance which includes teacher and superintendent for this year. We did increase in property and liability insurance. They did an evaluation, so every 3 years they go through our buildings and they give evaluation. Just like your home in the last 3 years probably has gone up on your taxes in the value, our property has gone up in what they're valuing that, which means our premium is going to go up. So, we saw that go up in our property and liability. And then our increase to contracted services, that's a big area that we do spend a lot of time talking about when we can't hire staff, especially in special education is the main area for that. We have to go and contract it out. And so, that's just shifting from salary and benefits into that area. We do shift it back in the projected budget. And so, we went ahead and needed to adjust that down. Overall, the general fund budget did however, we were anticipating all year we've been talking about a million-dollar shortfall that we would we would go into. We're thinking it's around 500,000. So, that would be a good thing to happen. In our I thought that All right. I can go ahead and go through since we're still in the general fund. This is what we present at our budget meetings, finance committee meetings each month. So, what it is is just an overall where we are at with spending. So, when we talk about you had a great comments on your survey for the school board association, remember Anson's and and that was this is kind of our way to kind of gauge that, right? With our budget and everything. So, again just looking at what we're able to do with our budget status. We always start with three school years back. So, the 22-23, I'll give you a hint and I tell the committee every month, the numbers are on the last line, so you don't have to memorize them. But again, we just look at what percent spent are we at the certain times. This was for the main meeting, finance meeting. So, we did it through April 30th. And so, we just went ahead and in 22-23, um, salary and benefits again make up that huge part of the pie, the blue and the purple, and so that's where we look the most. So, 72% spent in each one of those areas. We did see in 22-23, we were, uh, highly, um, over already in our purchased services, supplies, and capital, um, and then the last category around 66% overall 80% spent. In 23-24, again, looking at 73%, uh, for those salary and wages, 76 for, uh, the benefits. Overall, the other areas, purchased services was only at 63%, supplies and materials at 80, our capital expenditures were at that 100% mark. And again, I'll just note that in these years, when you see two to three million dollars, that's when our LTFM adjustment was happening. So, we couldn't spend any money out of the general fund on our long-term facility maintenance. We could only use bond dollars, um, and so that's why you're going to see that number jump significantly, um, for those that don't hear about it in the finance committee all the time. Overall, 73% spent that year. Last year, uh, again, we see that come into play with the capital expenditures, and so we were able to go ahead, the 70%, uh, in employee benefits, 74% in employee, excuse me, 70% in wages, um, 75% in benefits, overall 71.4% spent, um, and then when we look at this year, uh, overall 72, so again, right in line with that salary and wages, um, based on the revised budget numbers. Employee benefits, 72, 72, 76, 75, and then 76% spent, uh, overall purchased services and right in line with where it's been, 80% 83% in supplies and materials. Capital expenditures that 98% again we're still working to just solidify the exact number we get for long-term facility maintenance so little bit still goes between construction and the other. And then the interest as I said 66% which is similar to the previous the 23 school year. Overall 75.38% spent. So overall right in the ballpark of where you want to be. We've gotten our three payrolls in which does we work within the committee and everything but overall with the revised budget we feel good about being on track with where we are at for our expenditures. Enrollment we always talk about because as we said that is really 60% of the revenue that we get in is based on enrollment. So I mentioned earlier when we talk about starting so we start with the yellow category is where we ended the previous school year. So we were at 5545. We saw a very strong summer into September October being above that number and then we started to dip down as we reached February to get closer to that 5505 is the number that we ended up being in the budget for what we have for enrollment and then we saw that as the year went on March April May June we get below that number. So again we get credit for the kids that were here at the beginning and then we're taking them away down here and so it meets in the middle and 5505 is the number that is in our number for estimates for K-12. So again we do have early childhood numbers that add to that and also some volunteer some early yeah, early childhood and some VPK. It's a voluntary >> And I would add that there's been years where enrollment's been down 200, 150, 100. So when we say enrollment is stabilizing, we're not gaining necessarily, but we're stabilizing enrollment. >> Yep. >> Awesome. All right, so that was the budget revision. And then I will let questions come in on the revision and then we'll move on to the next year's budget when we get to the new business. >> And we're looking for action on >> We are looking for action on the adjustment. >> I was just going to ask do we have questions before we move to a motion? >> No. >> I have a quick question. So what are the revenue ready >> Director. >> With the medical assistant funds >> Yep. >> We have a position that takes care of that number, right? >> Yep, that position. >> And we had gone for many years of trying to difficulties trying to capture all that money. So we closed the loop on that. We think we're like capturing everything >> We did. You know what? >> Cuz [laughter] that's that was a lot that was out there that we >> Yes, it is. Yes, so overall nearly half a million. So we're adding to that number. So it ends up being about half a million dollars worth of revenue, which is really great. And so yes, we we feel like we're there. Just when you get there they start to change the rules. So we've heard a lot about that coming. So that's something that we're starting to factor into future years budgets that although we have it today, just just when you got it you you kind of have to re revamp it. So yeah, we do feel they do lag in that fund. So we do feel we have a couple more years good because they true up just like I talked about earlier. They do true up those funds, which is why we saw the leg in the position, you know, kind of really paying for itself and and escalating. So, there were a couple years there that, you know, we were not as well as we thought we were going to do, but now it's all coming to be. So, sometimes the patience is a virtue. >> It is. And this position is full time? >> Yes. Yes, it's 6 hours, which is considered yeah, considered full time for them. Yep. >> That's good news. >> It is. Yep. As I said, Director Wilson played huge role in that and just working through that. >> That's good news. >> Mhm. >> All right. Any additional questions? If not, I entertain a motion to approve as presented. >> Move to. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to approve. Are there any discussion? >> Okay, I have I just want to make sure I'm looking at this right. This what it says here on the agenda, budget adjustment for 25-26. >> Yep. >> Um I don't So, and I was I just don't remember. Probably Thank you for putting it up there. Yeah, because I So, are we a million under I mean over? >> Expenditures, yes. >> Yes. So, >> So, we've talked yep. This year, I think in all the finance committees, we have talked about the fact that we had expenditures that just didn't come in in FY25 like we thought. >> Because So, >> So, when we presented the audit, we said, "This is the fund balance, but it's high because we're we already spent this money and we need to make sure." And that's actually why I'm so excited that the fund balance policy did pass because there's in there, there's the ability to assign a fund balance. And that creates transparency for the public. And this is the perfect example of how that could have been really helpful in this process to your question directly. >> Well, and so I guess one of the things I'm questioning is and it's not personal. I'm just curious. I want to make sure I'm understanding when things are happening that I'm understanding it. So when you say that we wish the well would have happened at Columbus. So did was it not like paid for? I mean it was paid for, right? But it just how but how did the not it not happening affect the budget so deeply if it >> I did a budget adjustment in FY25, right? And so I put the middle school reserva- the middle school renovations and the well in there hoping we could get it done and paid for. >> Okay. >> Okay. That didn't happen. >> Oh. >> So I was under expenditures, right? In what I was doing. And I carried more money over into this fiscal year. >> Okay. >> And so that money though was >> spent. >> because Right. >> Right. Well, okay. So that's what I'm saying. So it looks like we have the money when we don't really because we need it for this thing back here, but it's just not gone yet because they couldn't do it yet. So that is Yes. That's >> And that's where reserve fund balance is held. >> Right. Okay. >> So >> So in simple terms, if I were to put a new roof on my house and I did that in December, but the guys couldn't come out and work for until January, but I had that money sitting in the account, it doesn't count I don't get the credit for that on my taxes for 2025. I got to I got to roll that into 2026 and wait a full year before I get credit. >> Yeah. The work has to be completed. >> Thank you. >> If you can't prepay it. >> Yeah. So if I'm following this correctly, we we carried spending into 2026 that >> Yeah. >> we'd already done. So even though it looks like we deficit spent it by 500,000, if we if we >> change the calculations and correct for that spending we carried forward, we actually came out ahead this year if I'm if I'm comprehending this. >> So, we were we were planning to deficit spend by a million and we're only deficit spending by 500,000. >> So, so we we came out $500,000 >> in in the black >> Right. >> versus well, based on projection based on our projections or based on our expectations at the beginning of the the year. >> And again, that special ed tuition adjustment was a huge part of that. >> Okay. >> Perfect. >> That's not even to recognize the interest on the money sitting there for that much time. >> And that's why we did the adjustment. Yeah, I mean, yes, we gained additional interest on that. Yep. >> Okay. >> Can I just say that's also an example of why fun you know, the influx of money. It's you can have expenses that are meant for 1 year that roll over to the next. Same thing with money coming in that's meant for 1 year that might go. So, I'm just saying that is the exact situation of why I was against that re remediation in our policy just because of this exact thing. So, >> To that point though, that's why that's that's why we based our calculations off of projections. >> I I I think that can be made public. >> Yeah, just saying just saying that was [laughter] yeah. I appreciate you >> Yeah. >> you know, >> giving me the >> And we want that and as I said, that's why you know, as I said, when we work towards this and the excitement of the fund balance policy is a little bit more transparency because I would love to stand up here with the audit book and and say, here is the million dollars that I'm talking about. You know, um in writing and and that's really great. >> No, the the presentation was extremely helpful. I I feel that I understand it better than when I went through it myself. Now, so thank you. >> Thank you so much. 100%. >> You're very good at explaining and laying it all out. >> Any Any discussion on the motion to approve? If not, uh member clerk, will you please take roll call? >> Motion to approve the budget adjustment for 25-26. Member Antonsen votes I. Member Castle? >> I. >> Member Corcoran? >> I. >> Member Reveline? >> I. >> Member Christensen? >> I. >> And member Tyson? >> I. >> And the eyes have it. >> Awesome. We will bring Director Remberg ID right back to talk the LTFM plan for 916. >> Yeah. And you might have even better information than I do, but >> [laughter] >> this is um so as a member of the 916 uh district, they have the ability to do their long-term facility maintenance just like we do as a district. Uh they are capped uh at the per pupil, unlike us as a 1A district that can go above that. Um so once they set their LTFM um budget, they divide out um based on enrollment what the um amount is. Our amount for this year is $38,271. And so with that, I would recommend approval of their plan. I don't know if there's any more I don't get a ton of detail on exactly their projects, but >> No. Member Tyson? >> Yeah. So given that segue, >> Yeah. >> um member chair, you're serving on 916, which uh did you know what they're uh working on now? >> Um it it has to do mainly with like renovations and improvements to the buildings. I know I brought uh I I I think I have a specific example. I brought like a million dollars to the board about changing doors. Uh just because that was such an anomaly for me. I I sat there and how can how can doors cost a million dollars? But it's projects like that, and they also got a new space that required a lot of renovations so they can move into that space. And I believe they're going to use some LTFM dollars for that. But it's not at least not if I'm remembering correctly, it wasn't we're building a new facility or we're doing this. It was all >> Their funding is very limited. Like it is difficult. >> Their levy ability is >> Correct. They can't. >> It's not nothing Nothing exciting if I can use that term. It's nothing exciting. It's all just kind of keep the lights on kind of work and minor improvements that will help with student flow, some student safety projects. >> ask. I thought I thought I remembered you saying something about safe like doors and safety. >> Yep, and the badge access into the into the doors. >> you explain the six like 6%? I mean, is it a >> on >> On membership like our students that attend there. >> Yes. No, 12. >> No. No. No. Yeah, district population. Each district is based Nope, not on the students that attend there. >> So that that skews it quite a bit. >> Well, but it's ability to levy. So again, when you look at our levy calculation, the 40 pages fun, that's the levy. They in there is is a limit and it is based on what your population is. And so that is the way that they have to do it because again, you can't charge a district that doesn't have the levy ability, you know, double what they're supposed to levy because then it would come out of their general fund. So it has to be one-to-one ratio of being able to what you're able to levy and then what they're asking for. >> And to that point, this is a pass-through levy. This doesn't hit our general fund. This this gets passed through to our residents. It's a And it is part of the the 916 bylaws that were created >> when we're a member >> 50 years ago, or 46 years ago or whatever when when 916 originated. >> Um that population includes the member districts population. >> So again, the South Washes of the world are going to have a much higher rate than we do. So, I get I think yeah, the sheet is available if you want to see what other other member districts >> It's in there. >> It's in there. Yeah, that's what I think. So, yeah. Yeah, but again, it is based on our size. >> Okay. >> Yep, and our ability to levy. >> That would be a Director Wilson question. >> Yeah, that would be. >> I'm just curious. >> Yeah, I don't have that number in front of me. Yeah, I haven't looked at it recently. >> Like it's it's >> Not a lot. >> I don't have the No, it's >> Like 10? >> Less than Less than 200. I want to say it's closer to 100. >> It They offer a lot of They Yeah, they offer a lot of different programming. As our pathways have expanded, we have used less and less of that and we're focused on special education services. Now, they're invaluable though, because I'm going to say when we don't have programming and a student, you know, moves into the district or is in need in our district, we want to make sure that that student has the best educational opportunities possible. So again, huge asset to the district, but we don't utilize. They also don't always have space and I think that's something the board talks a lot about at 916 is um you know, we we do have to send to Rum River, we do have to send to a couple other places cuz they don't um still, however, we need the placements. So, this is >> And I'll add to that the >> They have Yes, they're they >> And part of the LTFM funding is for expanding um space, physical space. >> Yeah. >> uh to to offer more space. >> I think they have all Yeah. >> Yeah, and uh the last report that we got on the waiting list, I'm trying to remember if it was May, but uh it's pretty small. And it's moving pretty quick now. It's not uh a lot of times uh former or other board members will talk about the the bad old days when there was 150 or 200 students on their list. It's not quite to that level anymore, so I'll get the enrollment numbers, put that in my weekend update. >> I'd like to know that. >> Yeah. Yeah, they're very expensive services that we do get. We have very few kids in our in the career tech ed program because of our expansive career tech ed program here, but they're very specialized special education services that we just can't provide here. >> We do also we have contract with them, so they have staff that maybe they only need 0.5 and we only need 0.5, so that's another area that in the past we've, you know, had that partnership and that does benefit us, too. >> Yeah. >> All right, any other questions? If not, I'll make a motion to approve. >> Oh. >> Second. >> Yes. >> We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, uh member clerk. >> All right. Um member Castle. >> Aye. >> Member Antonsson. Most aye. Member Revelant. >> Aye. >> Member Christensen. >> Aye. >> Member Corcoran. >> Aye. >> Member Tyson. >> Aye. >> Thank you. >> All right, brings us to new business 8.1 first reading adopt 2026-2027 budget. Director Lombardi, welcome. >> Thank you so much. So good to be here. All right, so going into the uh sorry, I just just close your eyes for a >> forward. >> Yeah. I went backwards. Get that. Okay, FY '27 budget. Uh so here we will go through all the funds. That's the slide that I was looking for earlier, but uh so uh all of our funds, we uh see that revenue coming down, so we're going to go through that significantly uh and expenditures and then uh we'll go through each of one of the other categories uh and we'll get back to this slide at the end, so we'll have it right up on the screen. So revenue-wise, uh we did see uh 2.6 uh 8% increase in our per pupil allocation, which is great. We did um also adjust that we have a loss of 67 students Um um in the re from the revised FY26 enrollment number. So, 5438 is the number that we're going to be dreaming about all next school year uh to get to. And so, overall that's about a $600,000 increase um in that revenue reduction in compensatory. So, we've had a lot of talk about that the hold harmless went away. And so, we were affected a little bit more than I was anticipating. So, um we did have the ability to appeal that and look for additional funds, and we were about 1% under what we could appeal. So, we were very very close to appealing, but we were not able to do that. Um so, I was sad about that. Uh we had to remove the summer unemployment uh revenue. So, again, we said that they made us whole for that third year, but then it's done. And so, that's on us. We do see our staff um we work really hard to get them employed um throughout the summer as best we can, so we're not kind of cuz then we get to pay them, and then they just get the partial unemployment. So, we get the services. Um and so, we're we work on that a lot um with Director Free- um Freeman. And so, LTFM adjustment uh interest revenue. So, that LTFM adjustment is what we've been waiting for. So, I know this sounds bad, but I always said that FY27 was finally going to be my year. Uh had to wait a while, but um this LTFM adjustment that we have been working on for 3 years with Aulers. Again, we became a 1A school district, which meant that we could get above the per pupil allocation for long-term facility maintenance. At the same time, our long-term facility maintenance was negative. You would think any reasonable person would have just let us use our revenue to pay it off, but they wouldn't. So, we had to not spend any LTFM revenue for a couple of years, and then it took 2 years for the adjustment to come through. So, again, not something that we signed up for, something that we advocated to not have to go through, but this is the rules for the statutes for MDE. And so, we will see 2. That reduction, so to your point, you're going to see a very big deficit stand. We were anticipating it. We've been holding that money. We have said we're not spending that money. So, it's there, and we're going to see our fund balance go down, and we've talked a lot about that. Uh interest revenue, I just always, you know, bring it back to a more central zone. Um you know, looking forward, I don't think we're going to see high. >> And Chrissy, just to point out on your first bullet there, the 2.68% of per pupil funding increase is based on CPI. So, that was the 2023 legislature that indexed per pupil funding to the CPI, so that's straight off of that calculation that we receive in February. >> Yes. That is great. On the expenditure side, so again, we're going to uh take out those things that went through uh that I had to put in from FY25 and FY26. We're going to increase those salary and benefits up with the packages. In the same bullet, I did put um right-sizing. So, they do kind of counteract with each other. So, again, in an average year, we go through about 1.5 million in right-sizing. We did that this year um to be able to balance the budget. And so, we ended up with about $800,000 in the salary and benefits area, reduction in um the severance expense. We have uh our last teacher with full severance retiring. So, that is um a way that we can um go down. Teachers still have an unused sick leave bank that they do. It is significantly different than a full severance package. So, uh that's going down and then reduction in the RED Act training. Again, we trained all of our elementary staff. Now, we're just going to some secondary staff. So, again, having those reductions. And then, equipment purchased. Again, we did a couple purchases in our grounds department. So, I think you can see that the grounds are looking a lot better this this graduation. It was a lot easier to get through with some new equipment that we needed. Um And so, I think those on the buildings and grounds committee got to take a tour of the maintenance building and see some of the antiques that we were going with. So, exciting in that realm. So, overall in the food service fund, the revenue the revenue is based on the this year's reimbursement rate. We do anticipate that going up a little bit. So, you'll see that deficit spending, but not to worry too much. It will increase when that rate increases and we'll do a budget adjustment on that. Stable staffing um in the department. And then again, we'll do the revision based on the final placements of staff and then also settlement information. So, they'll be up when the classified staff comes up. So, we'll have to adjust for that. In the community education area, again, increase in revenue and expenditures tied to additional programs program offerings. We see our community ed department and they are just bringing new and innovative and great things all the time. And so, again, they'll have the revenue to do that, but expenditures that's tracked down from that a little. Minor spend down of fund balance. They have grown significantly in their fund balance. So, we're starting to say you kind of got to, you know, get it get it spent a little bit in that area. So, a little bit of spend down there. We keep trying to spend it down, but their programming is so good that we end up ahead. >> It's a good problem to have. >> It's a great problem to have. Construction-wise, I did put in here I did not put in the planned bond sale for FY27. So because we're a 1A district, we typically every 2 years sell the bonds. We've been doing really good on our projects. We've been doing good interest. We've been doing good on the bids. So we're not sure it was going to be a minor sale of bonds. So we're kind of waiting till the summer ends to see if we're going to need to sell those or if we just wait until 29. So we're excited about that. doing great work on our buildings and feel like we might be okay financially. So I did not put the sale in there yet. That will be to come. And then expenses this summer Wyoming maintenance building. And then as we look into that next summer the June portion only will be starting at Forest View Elementary. And again that's HVAC, windows, flooring at Forest View. So very exciting for that building. Revenue expenditures for debt service again when we get those debt service payments in the levy amount payments come in at 105%. As that grows your fund balances, there's years where you take advantage of that money that's been sitting there and you need to kind of pay it down within your levy. So we did a little bit of that this year. So you'll see that the revenue is a little bit less than expenditures but the fund balance has been building. So in our levy we balance that out. So we'll see that. And then same thing with the OPEB is the last one. Same thing in that debt excess it's called. So again we just went through that process. So this is the FY2026-27. There's no action tonight. We would just ask that genuinely if you have any questions, concerns, anything that you don't ask tonight that comes to you in the next 5 days, please reach out and let me know so that we can approve it. It does need to be approved by June 30th. So our next meeting is the meeting to do that. >> You have one shot. >> Yeah. >> Um my my first question is that with that $2.4 million adjustment that we were anticipating here, it looks like it's a relatively balanced budget other than that. >> Mhm. >> What impact does that have on our unrestricted general fund balance? >> Yeah, so overall um it will likely be um in that seven-ish million-dollar mark. So, when we get to the end of the year >> So, which as a percentage >> 7 to 8, yeah. >> The the quick math is roughly that 7 and 1/2%. >> Yeah. >> percentage >> Yep. >> It'll be close. >> All right, are there any other questions? Remember to ask >> I have a couple of questions and thank you for all your work and your expertise in this area. You do tremendous job. So, with the summer unemployment, are we operating in a deficit with that? Did the money run out? >> So, we were covered for '26 and now, yes, we need to cover it with general fund dollars. >> So, now it's over and out. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> we talk a lot about the unfunded mandates of the legislature. So, although they funded it for 3 years, that was great. Now, it is affecting so when we look at that, you know, when we think about usually [clears throat] $70,000 for a teacher or whatever, that's that's real money that that is now being put towards something else. >> So, we know that that unfunded mandate ran out. >> Yep. >> My other question is um the um READ Act funding training, did that money run out? >> No, we still have some in reserve. Yeah, we're just not having as many expenses, so we will still be spending some of those dollars, too. Um again, we're still going to be training. Also, we offered lane change credit. Um so, as we see those lane changes come through, the local lane change credit for the training that was done, which is very beneficial to our teachers, um we'll see that expenditures come through in the coming years. >> Okay, one last question quickly. Um so, you mentioned Forest View Elementary and I'm thinking in my head but 2018 was 10 years ago now almost. So each back in fluorine, they got touched with new age back, right? >> Yep, they did for part of the building. So that's what a lot of our buildings went through. Why we're at Wyoming this summer is because all the external got done with that bond dollar. Didn't have enough to do the the internal rooms. So they're getting done this summer. Forestview, very similar situation. Part of the wing that is the new fourth and fifth grade wing now at Forestview, that's all done, all good to go. It's the primary wing that we need to get done there. >> Got it. Do we have that in all buildings? I assume that most of the interior internal age back was done then. >> Right, most of it was done. After this, this is we talked you'll be getting the LTFM plan next time for Forest Lake schools and in that plan you'll see that we do start to dwindle down on the age back work. So most of it is getting done and after Forestview, we're kind of going through another process to say, "Okay, we had these six projects lined up that was high school phase one, phase two, Ed Center, the maintenance building, Wyoming, Forestview." And [clears throat] so now we're saying, "Okay, we need the next next ones lined up." So >> Okay. >> that's where we'll go back to our Kraus-Anderson and ISG and really hone in on what those next six projects are. >> All right. Well great, thank you for the clarification on Forestview. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> Second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Those opposed? We are adjourned.