I now call the March 5th regular school board meeting for Forest Lake Area Schools to order. Please join us while we recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, member clerk, will you please take the roll call of attendance? Okay. Member Castle >> here. >> Member Tyson >> here. >> Member Antonson is here. Member Reveline >> here. >> Member Christensen >> here. >> Member Corkran >> here. >> Everybody's here. >> All right. Thank you. Member Antonson. Um I would entertain a motion to approve the meeting agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Have a motion in a second. Is there any discussion? >> Parker. >> I would like to make a motion to amend the agenda. I would like to add um additional legal representation um as something to discuss um at our board table tonight. I'll second that. >> Okay. We have a motion and a second. Just for clarification, did you have an uh idea of where on the agenda you'd like to add that item? >> Um that's a good question. Um probably under action items. >> How about 910? Sure. >> Okay. If it pleases the board, we'll amend the amendment to make that item 9.10. >> Do >> All right. Seeing no objection, is there any discussion on the amendment? >> Well, I have a question. >> Do you have names? >> Yeah, I do. >> Should I >> Can you tell us what that is? That'll help. I mean, I don't know. >> Um, >> I was just going to add it as a talking item. >> Oh. >> Oh, just as a discussion. a discussion item, but also an action if we choose to move forward with it. Yes. >> Oh. >> Do you want me to >> do that now? >> Oh, I get if that's not proper. I'm >> No. What? Whatever your preference is, Member Pork, if you'd like to include that in the amendment. >> It just then Joy has to write it all in, right? >> No, >> it's going to have to go in there. >> Yeah, it's got to go anyway. All right. Go ahead. >> Okay. So, um I can what I'm asking for is that I really feel like we um do not have enough legal representation for our district. And the ones that I would like to add, so I could just hand these to Joy. Would that be helpful? Okay, I'll hand these but I'll read them quick. Um Marke Skele Margaret Margaret Skelton at Ratwick, Rosac and Maloney, Peter Martin and Greg Madson at Kennedy and Graven and Pertton Law. Those are the four um legal firms I'd like to add. >> Okay. Just for clarification, member Corkran, are these those the same law firms that were on the agenda approximately a month ago? >> They were, but I don't feel like we had proper voting on that. That was bundled with a grouping. We did not call them out directly and vote in on each of them independently. So, I feel like we haven't discussed them separately. And I feel like we need to make sure that we have done that to make sure that our district is not in any way vulnerable to future lawsuits. So I just feel like we are not adequ adequate with their law representation right now. And I think as a district we need to be more um we're stewards of our district and I feel like we're kind of at fault right now not having proper legal representation. So um yeah. So, I'd like to add it for discussion point later on and the interaction items. >> Does anybody else have any uh discussion on that amendment item? >> I would just like to say I um I agree with member Corkran. uh these these lawyers um from our February 12th meeting were not discussed um at all because of the way you know things were brought up and when we voted down the policies the what was it 425 and um 1211 I think uh you know we as you said before they were bundled together and so when those policies went down then we didn't discuss uh the lawyers and these lawyers um have been recommended by administration um that we need them for our legal representation. So I do not believe that they were properly discussed um at the February 12th meeting. Can I >> remember? >> Did this just come up today? Because I do remember an email from you about a week and a half ago asking if there was any interest in wanting to talk about this or anything to bring up put on the board. I think you know this the accusations about adding things on last minute and having surprises is now happening when there's been a week and a half with the question out there. Do you have any questions? And >> but I but I did try and he said that member chair said it was settled. In my mind it is not settled. I did try to I did tell him I think we needed to add it and talk about it this at this meeting. He said he thought it was settled, but I don't believe that in my my heart, in my mind, it's settled >> because it wasn't on the agenda the way you guys wanted it on the last time because we've had them on the agenda before and everybody voted no. >> Well, it was bundled in a bundle. So, we didn't really have it broken out for us to just vote on the pieces. It was all together in one >> because all of the law representation matters, I think, is probably why it was bundled. It all matters. >> I don't think Excuse me. Sorry. I don't know that we have to read Tyson, I think it's member Tyson's floor and then I'll come back to you, member Christensson. >> Thank you. So to address what member Antonson is bringing up, I had an email with member chair asking some of these same questions and kind of feeling the same way that we hadn't properly vetted them that it was bundled kind of at the last minute, which we have to agree that it was. And so member chair, if you could explain, you brought back one lawyer that you wanted on the agenda last time. >> Yes. >> Correct. So, I think it's only fair that we've continue to vet the ones that have been recommended by administration by putting them on there tonight. >> I'd like to address that inquiry. I I did bring back one lawyer um in our last meeting two weeks ago and I did that um because if you recall the approval of the entire uh the bundle failed because uh members indicated that they wanted a legal opinion on the policies. So, I brought back the lawyer that would have been relevant to review those policies so we could provide that information to the board. That that was how that evolution occurred. And as member Anton mentioned, I did email the board and asked if there were any concerns. Um that it was settled business. We voted on this multiple times now. It's been voted against and that uh if anybody had any other law firms to bring forward that would satisfy the comprehensive list that we were looking for. Um there were no suggestions. Member Tyson did me uh um suggest Peton Peton had been voted against. Uh member Corkran did suggest the law firm she brought forward this evening. >> Again, they were voted on. And I would like to point out that >> when an item is brought to the agenda in a bundled fashion, it is an order to um make a motion to divide the question. There was no motion to divide the question. Um therefore, that is what settled my opinion as um in settled business. So I just want to follow up on that member chair that I think that I did research Peton and I brought information forward to the full board that I had learned when I talked with them at the min MSBA's leadership conference. So when you bundled and you had Beck Law Firm, someone that you worked with personally, I had to go searching for information. There wasn't any attachments. There wasn't any info on him. I'd never heard of that of him. So, I feel like to be transparent, we need to give the rest of the law firms more vetting and more discussion because administration is recommending them and we want that comprehensive um coverage for our district as stated in the minutes that a community member pointed out to me that it is on record and in the minutes that I stated. For the record, I want it to be a law firm that has comprehensive coverage because a lot of those at our organizational meeting were stripped and were gone. So now that's what we're looking for. >> And the list we're looking at tonight, just for clarity, is not comprehensive because it does not include that uh elected official uh representation that the board was interested in. >> I'm interested in Peton Law Firm. They're comprehensive. They're one of the oldest firms in the state of Minnesota. They work with a lot of municipalities. >> I I understand that that's to whether or not we add it to the the agenda. I think we're drifting a little off of topic here, but so let's get back to that. Um, >> member Christensen, did you still have something to add? >> I did. Yeah. I mean, I I think that this issue of making sure that we have the right law firms. You're asking us to individually say an a law firm that we might choose. I mean, that's not my area of expertise. The administration is recommending these law firms. I'm not going to, you know, comb whatever to try to find a lawyer. I'm going to take the administration's recommendation of who they want for the lawyer, and this is who they want for the lawyer. And I think it was a procedural um motion to bundle these things together. and they were bundled in a way that would not be acceptable um to the majority of the board. And so therefore now it's being said that that was settled business that that was voted down. Um and I you know I don't agree with that. I think that this isn't so what I was going to say is this isn't about revisiting the vote. We don't need to sort of relitigate what happened at the prior meeting. This is about fulfilling the board's responsibility to ensure the district has the appropriate legal representation. That is our job as a board to do that. And I think if we can take administration's recommendation, I don't know why we wouldn't take administration recommendation on who our legal counsel should be. We've that would be a a recommendation. That's what we hired the administration for to offer up their, you know, interpretation for us or their best suggestions. I mean, I'm I'm not going to suggest someone. I don't that's not my expertise. So, I think that we need to revisit um revisit the list that we had before for various reasons that we can get into, but I think it's at least worth a discussion. I think it's at least worth adding it on the agenda. Not, you know, not voting it down right away that we can't even add it to the agenda. We can't even have the discussion. We need to have further discussion to fulfill our obligations. >> Okay. Any other discussion on this? >> I just Okay, >> member. >> I just don't understand why the discussion hasn't been happening in the last week and a half since the email went out and why it's happening right now. >> It has between the chair. I haven't been emailing you. >> Okay. Sorry. >> I mean, >> yeah, I have had discussions with the member Tyson and with member Porran um that I disclosed earlier. Another thing that I would disclose to the board since it's pertinent to whether or not we go on with this discussion this evening would be that uh >> um I have been working with Dr. Massie and administration has recommended five additional law firms to get vetted out. That would make this a comprehensive list. >> Um assuming that occurs that would be on the agenda in the next meeting because uh it would be a new topic, a new discussion item and it would not be settled business as this is. >> So can we have the superintendent speak to >> yes >> who that is then or or what? Um, I I would only ask him to do that if he feels it's appropriate because a lot of times if it's not a selected law firm that we're presenting to the board, I don't know if that would would cause any problem. >> I guess I'm asking what I would offer is um in conversation with the chair, I provided suggestions of where the board might seek legal representation that can represent elected officials. I pointed the chair to different cities that have legal representation to reach out to attorneys that represent cities and sit at city council meetings as a way to provide that element. I would offer to the board from my perspective that um we can we can reach a comprehensive settled legal council in steps and stages. Um I I would certainly recommend that we proceed given the I think urgent nature of having legal representation for the district with the list as we have provided here. >> Yes, it's >> it's a list that I've provided for the board. >> That doesn't mean we can't u once the other city city attorneys are vetted and um there's a possibility of adding those folks to the list, we can certainly do that as well. I don't think there's a um any guidelines or rules that say we can't have 30 people on that list. Um the idea is to get good representation in the event that the district needs legal counsel. Um and I think that's a really prudent move of the board. >> Okay. >> Member Castle >> will be receiving that list shortly. >> I've shared that with the chair and the chair is that list. >> Yep. I have that. If any board member would like it, uh, I'm happy to share that and if anybody has opinions, I'm happy to hear them. >> And that'll be on the next board meeting agenda. >> Um, that is my hope. Yes. >> Your hope. Okay. >> Yeah. It does take time to to to vet legal counsel as you well know. >> Yes. So, that's all of our job then. So, I would like the list. >> I will share that list with the board this evening. >> Great. Thank you. Is there any other discussion on the amendment? Member Christensen? >> Um, you've mentioned a couple times that this matter is considered um settled business or permanently settled. Um, can you clarify what under what rule? You would say this matter is considered permanently settled. >> We held a vote on it. The vote failed. There was no motion to amend the question or divide to divide the question. Therefore, it is settled business. I I disagree with that that it that that if the board has a desire to bring something back for further consideration, it can be done that. I don't think >> that the board as a body can do that. Yes. An individual board member cannot >> but I motion on the table. >> I the chair. So, just for clarification here, the board can add anything they want to the the agenda at any time, but it would be inappropriate for me as the chair, this is what I uh shared in the email as well, to continually put something that I want on the agenda simply because it's something that I want if the board continuously says no. So, for example, if I have topic A and I want topic A to pass and the board says no, which is what happened in this case, it would be inappropriate for me to continually put it on the agenda until I get what I want. That would be inappropriate. But if the board as a body selects at a later date that they made the wrong choice on a matter, they can always bring it back through the amendment process that we're doing now, add it back to the agenda, and change their mind at any point in time. But for a board chair when they're preparing a an an agenda to propose to the board, it is inappropriate for me to use my personal feelings to continually inject the same question back. Does that make sense? Well, I think that's an interesting comment because you in this same group that we voted down was the Beck Law Firm, Beck Law Group, and then you as the chair went back again at the next meeting and put Alex Beck, >> correct? >> On the agenda, >> and I explained that already as well. Um I added um the Beck Law Group to the agenda what would have been two weeks ago because the reason or at least the the reason that the members shared that evening for voting against that um bundled agenda item was that they wanted the policies vetted and reviewed by legal counsel. We did not have legal counsel um approved that could do that vetting. So, I brought that law firm back to the board two weeks ago for consideration so we could get those um policies vetted and reviewed per the members requests that the members that that voted against the overall motion in the first place. So, that is the that is the reason that the Beck Law Group was brought back two weeks later. It was a completely different question and it was trying to satiate the board's desire to have the policies reviewed. >> I would I would disagree that it was a completely different um reason. >> That is fine. Member Tyson. >> So I just have a quick clarification. Board chair, your answer was a little convoluted about, you know, if you keep putting something on as the chair and it keeps getting voted down, you know, you're not going to bring it back. So I just want to be clear that the agenda which you work with with the superintendent is for us. It's for our meeting and we can add things as well. Correct. >> To a point. Yes. As I explained to you in the email, the proposed agenda, what what I prepare for approval, what we're actually discussing right now, that is the board chair's prerogative. That's my responsibility to put that together. Once the agenda is adopted and approved by the board, it becomes property of the board so to speak and my responsibility then shifts from presenting and preparing an agenda and proposing one to making sure that we adhere to it. And like I explained to you in email, that is where the consternation on the uh um December 4th special order of business came from was I was enforcing the agenda as approved by the board that evening and it was no longer my agenda. It was our agenda. It was now my job to enforce it. >> Okay. That that's not completely clear and not how I see it. But um I feel like the Beck Law Group was brought back because you had worked with this lawyer. >> No, the Beck Law Group was brought back because multiple members I believe yourself and member Corkran indicated. >> So don't include me in that. >> Okay. I I Okay. Multiple board members had expressed interest in having those policies reviewed by legal and indicated that they would not vote to support those changes without having legal counsel review it. That was the most relevant legal council individual that we had identified that would review those policies. That is why it was brought back a couple of weeks later. Um that point is not gerine to whether or not we should be adding this to the agenda. We are getting way off topic here. So, >> and I believe I asked for it to go back to the policy committee, not >> the policy committee um refused to hear. >> Um we did present that option to the policy committee. The policy committee >> declined. >> Okay. I we are off topic so I agree. We should move forward. >> Okay. Is there any other discussion on member Corkran's amendment to the agenda? >> I'm just going to quick say one thing. Yes, that's okay. Um, the only thing I'm I'm truly am worried that right now if something happened, we don't have if something bad and a law something came up and we didn't have the right representation, we are really putting the district at risk. I don't see why this is such a a hard thing to have happen for us. I mean, if it's what's what the administration wants, we're supposed to be listening to what they what they need and what they want. I don't know why we're battling this. It just seems kind of It seems like we're putting a lot of energy towards something that should be really simple just to do. So I I guess I'm just trying to figure out why. But >> I believe I shared that sentiment a month ago when I voted in favor. Member Anderson. >> No, I I guess I don't have I don't think I'm >> okay. I think there's a big point of relevance that people some people on the board are choosing to ignore about why we have come to this position where we're asking some of us putting on having on the agenda school district representation and then specifically schoolboard representation in case it is needed. Not so we can go spend a bunch of money wildly and I just think it deserves to be noted that I >> I don't I don't understand about the what you're talking about money. This is just having >> I understand what you're asking for. I'm saying >> it's just available to us if needed. It's not like we're spending money. >> No, no, no. I I'm talking about school district specific representation is what you're talking about. General legal counsel for the school district. I think equally as important to that is figuring out the other piece, how we came with having Alec Beck on there in the first place. >> And we I think what's happening here with your proposal to amend the agenda is ignoring that very important piece. Two separate items. It's a two separate it's it's what's best for our district. We're not looking for the other P. I mean, this is just administration's recommendation. We're just trying to adhere to what we as good governance for what our jobs are to protect our district. That's what we're that's why we're on the school board >> to do what's best for our students and for our community and for our district. So that's what I'm fighting for. >> So I think that's why everybody comes to this position. >> Yeah. Yeah. Member Castle, >> I would request that uh whatever apparent uh deficiencies that we have in our representation and the recommendations that are forthcoming and and the list of folks that we will be talking later where they fall into those categories. So we know where to look and what and what to look up once we get these names and and be able to compare. Okay, >> I can take that back. >> Is there any other discussion on the amendment? >> All right, seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Those opposed? No. >> No. >> Okay. The amendment fails. Brings us back to the main motion on approving the meeting agenda. Is there any other discussion? >> All right. Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Those opposed. Okay, that motion carries. That brings us to the superintendent search update. And I am very happy to welcome uh Dr. Dan Bitman from Ray and Associates. Uh welcome, Dr. Bitman. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Chair, members of the board, Superintendent Massie. Pleasure to be here in person. It's been it's been a wonderful partnership thus far. So, my intent tonight is to provide a little update on where we're at, as well as to gain some understanding and feedback from you as we progress throughout the search. First and foremost, uh the audience as well as the public have a copy of the presentation online, so they can certainly look at look at it and that's provided for you as well as them. Up to date, we have done a lot of good work together. And so, as you might remember, because Forest Lake had done some initial work, we adjusted some of the timelines and processes to meet your needs and the community needs. As to date, we have been able to do a number of things. One, the position is posted on MSBA, AASA, as well as MASA. It's posted on your website, and it has been distributed to every candidate that previously expressed interest, and I have been in contact with each of them as well. In addition to that, because it is posted on our website on Ray and Associates, we get approximately 28,000 hits a month. And so, you can imagine the number of people who have had visibility with that. We also sent that out to our entire database of superintendents throughout the country who are looking for positions. Um, to date, as of this morning, 11 people have filled out an application. Those applications come from Minnesota, North Dakota, Idaho, and Iowa. A number of those individuals, even from out of state, have uh experience in this particular area or some type of ties. In addition, I've had conversation with at least seven additional superintendents uh or people who are interested in becoming the superintendent, several of them who have either graduated from Forest Lake or already live in the Forest Lake area. And so I've been really pleased to some of the conversations that are happening. We have a very engaged community here in Forest Lake. You know that we distributed for our community, our public, our students and staff a survey in both Spanish and English. As of this morning, we have 527 people who have completed that survey. That is significantly higher than most school districts get in total. In addition to that, as I talked about 11 or 12 applicants already applying, um, to give you an idea, there's a number of school districts who have positions posted now and are just concluding their search that have got less than 20 applicants total and we are very early on in our process. And so, people are excited about Forest Lake. They're thinking about Forest Lake, and I'm appreciative of that. I also have had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with each of the board members. The final interview was set for tomorrow with the last board member. We're just working on schedules. Um, a lot of similarities and a lot of great feedback. So, we're using your feedback as a board. We're using the surveys from our students, our staff, families, and community. We're using listening sessions, which I'll talk about with you and get some feedback from you about tonight. and we'll use all of that feedback to develop criteria about what we're using to screen the applications that we come through. And so that's the that's the process that we do in mid-process. And we'll talk about dates in a minute. I will bring those back to you. I will provide access for each of you to have access to all of the materials that are submitted. I will ask that prior to that time, each board member uh signs a confidentiality agreement because that information is not public and cannot be public throughout the process. But we allow that and we appreciate that because we want you to have an opportunity to do everything you can to learn about the candidates. I will then select a candidate, select a number of candidates, typically around 10 candidates to bring to the April 2nd board meeting. You will have the information ahead of time, but I will say based on the criteria that you and others in your community said, these are the candidates that best match what you are what you have said you are looking for. We will then have conversations about them. I will then facilitate a conversation with the board allowing each one of you individually to rank the candidates against each other. I will then collect all those individual things back and be able to identify with you the data that shows based on the entire board's feedback. Here are the top six candidates that you might want to consider. Four to six candidates and might want to consider to bring back for a semi- finalist interview. We will then facilitate a semi- finalist interview with those four to six candidates. The numbers you choose and of course you can choose however many you want to but that's typical four to six. I will then go through the same exercise with you providing opportunities for discussion, individual opportunities for you to rank the candidates. Have you've had a chance to look at the materials, get the feedback, interview them in the semi-finalists, and encourage the board to identify one to three candidates that they would like to bring back for finalist interviews. Those finalist interviews will then be conducted here, as you know, at the district. Um and then ultimately after those three when we do our exercise you'll be able to see as a board who your top candidates are with the data and then we'll facilitate a conversation about the candidates and ultimately the board will then hopefully select one of those three candidates based on the conversation and data and then uh we are happy to assist with any type of negotiations that happens uh across the board. So, in general, that's a little bit of some of the things that we're going to be thinking about. You know who we are. I'm hoping tonight to get some feedback and to approve and a a timeline that we will do. We talked already about the the online survey that's out there. Of the 527, only two of them are students. So, I'll be working with Joy and others. I'm hopeful that we can do some things within the district to get more student voice just to make sure that we have that as well. Um, oftentimes, for example, at a high school, they might do that at a in a home room or an advisory type experience. But again, you as a district get to decide that, but my hope is that we'll get a little bit more feedback. And then again, we'll talk a little bit more about the semi- finalists. You have this document. We talked about that in the proposal, just the different stages that come along. So, the school board obviously has a lot of opportunity and feedback throughout the process. This is your search. you get to decide to do that and we facilitate that along the way. We're meeting with the board tonight. Some of the activities or the other dates we've done. So, our online application has been distributed. It's available. We've notified all associates. We've contacted all our constituents and stakeholders or will be contacting all our constituents and stakeholders for input meetings. So, in the listening session, I I'm suggesting that we do that March 13th, that we have a combination of both virtual and in-person for the public as well, but have an opportunity for listening sessions, for example, with staff or students, leadership, etc. So, one of the things I'll be asking for tonight is uh an agreement on that particular date, and then I would work with the board as well as the administration to have someone come up and conduct those listening sessions. We then will bring all the feedback back and again share that feedback with you. In listening sessions, we recommend that board members not be involved in that because we want people to have an opportunity to freely speak what they're thinking about, what they're excited about, and then again, we will bring all that feedback back to you so that you have that in a summary. We've done the online link that is out there that's going to close later in March the 16th. And then we have it uh excuse me the 19th and that's the deadline. So we will be then putting a report together with all of that feedback. You'll get to see every single comment and every single purpose. Many boards and school districts decide to put that on their website so they can say this is these are what your your stakeholders have said, what they're looking for, what their hopes and dreams are, etc. And so I'll continue to work with those that you've asked me to work with in the school district. The flyer is already out and you see the deadline on March 19th. My hope is that on the on April 4th, if you were to approve this timeline, that on April 2nd rather, that we will be able to present those candidates to you based on the criteria. Again, that's what we talked about earlier about bringing 10 candidates, however many qualify um to you for conversation and consideration as semi finalists and then finalists. I know I'm speaking fast, so I'll give you an opportunity to to ask questions as well. If you support the timeline, we would then conduct interviews for the top candidates that you chose for semi- finalist interviews the evenings or late afternoons of April 14th and 15th. And then uh after the meeting on the 15th, the semi- finalist interviews, I again would work with the board to identify the candidates that the board is interested in bringing back as finalists. A week later, we would interview the finalists. Typically, as I said, there's two or three, but again, there are times when unique situations come up when a board is able to say, "This is our candidate. This is who we want to work with." So, again, you would have an opportunity to select. We typically don't encourage boards to have only two candidates because if one person decides to drop out, it's really difficult for the board if they choose not to go with that candidate. And so again, typically for semi- finalists, we would encourage the board to identify four to six and then for the finalists, typically three. After the final interview on the 24th, I will facilitate that conversation. Hopefully, you select one of those candidates that you've worked so hard to get and then you would make an approval or approve to enter into negotiations with that particular candidate. uh up until that time, I also will be able to provide the board information about similar school districts and contracts and all of the things so that you have an idea where you stand and in neighboring school districts and others that are your size. I'll break that down for you so you have an opportunity to see not only base salary but some of the other things that are in there again for consideration. This board has already set the range of the salary and again that's something that I would work with the board at if you are interested in having me negotiate or service that person in between. Often times board will do that uh because it's it's easier for both sides. You're able to share what you're interested and what your limitations are. They're able to share what their needs and things that they're thinking about and I can kind of go back and forth ultimately bringing it to the board for final approval. So tonight we've talked a little bit about the timeline. The first thing I'm really interested in learning from you is how you are feeling about us conducting listening sessions and then if so what are some of the groups you would like us to meet with? So first and foremost do you feel like listening sessions would be an important part of this process for Forest Lakes and the community? I yeah definitely that's how we conduct any anything we do >> perfect >> boundary changes all of the above >> perfect I assume that you would say that and it's been clear from the beginning you want a robust engagement from all stakeholders so that everybody is committed and has an opportunity to provide feedback with that being said are there particular groups you would like us to hold obviously hold one for the public groups that you think might be helpful for us to meet with >> businesses. The businesses, local businesses. >> Yeah, I was going to say >> the chamber. >> The chamber. Rotary. >> I think the ad admin group too and directors >> staffing. Yeah, >> teacher. Yeah. >> Let me halt everybody here for a minute. Um Dr. Bman, what do you recommend? >> Yeah. So I definitely I think for this particular group based on the feedback from the interviews and some of the things we we had definitely one for the public so people have an opportunity to come in person. It would be typical and a recommendation for them to be able to spend time with the administration. Um often times districts will say we also want an opportunity for staff. often times that's a virtual so that anybody who wants to be a part of that can do that virtually and at the convenience of their home or as they're not interrupting the day. And then we also often times in districts recommend that there's an opportunity to meet with a student group. >> Yes. >> Um typically the district gets to decide that in terms of in collaboration with the superintendent if there are certain groups that are already established or are there others that they want to meet. I think it's always um relevant and important to get student voice if that's something that's important for you. >> Yeah, I think that's great. And we could incorporate the businesses in the public meeting, right? >> We could just kind of tell them that that's available for them to come to >> and we could should you decide as a board feel that is appropriate. Um >> asking the rotaries, the chambers, typically the mayor, some of some business leaders, that would be a typical session that we would hold. uh and we provide an opportunity for feedback and their their information remains confidential. But what we do is we provide summaries for the board to say, "Okay, here are all the different listening sessions. Here's the feedback where where things were common, where things were different, things they would like the board to think about as they hire the the next superintendent." >> That's good. >> Okay. Are we comfortable with the proposal that Dr. Bitman just laid out? >> Yes. >> Did you have >> those business? Well, yeah. I mean and and everybody the business owners to business owners sorry guys leadership all of that mayors because we've got six communities within >> Forest Lake you know Columbus and Wyoming I mean all of those people >> also can do this survey correct >> it can >> yeah and okay >> yeah and the survey in particular is a really good um way for everyone to provide feedback so I would really encourage you to do another blast and I can certainly work with Joy and others as As we think about that, that is a major >> touch point for community be able to share everything that's on their heart and mind. And again, we're going to provide access to you of all of that feedback. And you can consider and talk about as a board at some point whether you want that to be on your website. Even again, Forest Lake School District is doing a really nice job of getting voice and engagement from all of its different stakeholders. And it's going to be really clear. You're going to have so much information from our students, our staff, our families, our community, our business leaders, etc. for you to consider. And this is arguably the most important job that you have in hiring that. In addition to that, >> when we do um when we do the finalist interviews, we could talk about that along the way, all the opportunities people have had an opportunity to engage in that process and how the board has reviewed all of that information to make their decision. And so again, just a reminder to our public that not only is it a priority for you, but you have used that feedback along the way to inform your decisions. >> I just want to say I really appreciate the ability on that um survey to free form, right? I mean, yeah, I just appreciate that and it just gives everybody their own individual voice. I mean, the questions and quality, you know, the pre-written things are great, too, but I appreciated that. uh please expound on the non-public aspect of any of the interviews or listening sessions. >> Can you repeat one more time? >> You were saying that there was some private information that would be gathered later and shared. So if the board is listening, that's a quorum and it has to be public unless we have a closed session and then publish it later. >> Yeah. So, let me let me uh reiterate, and maybe it's not the question you're asking me, so I might need some help from you. What's what's private is all of the application type materials and and what they submit. >> The only time that that becomes public is once you as a board have voted and identified semi- finalists publicly. M >> so I will have I will request to have a confidential confidentiality agreement in ahead of time from you so that before we get into a board meeting to talk about those candidates you've had an opportunity each of you to review all of those materials ahead of time just be more well informed when we have the conversation at the board table. The listening session part um is we ask board members not to be part of that. It is considered a public meeting but the reason we ask board members not to be involved in that is because we want people whether it's students admin families community we want them to just speak to speak from their heart and to really identify the things that are on their heart and mind that they want the board to talk about what we have found uh often times I I think Dr. Massie might say when he walks into the room because he's a superintendent it changes the flavor of the meeting even if he's wellliked and people care about him because he is there people will not feel as comfortable. Similar in this situation we board members who are in that meeting might create pause for some people who really want to share what's on their heart and mind. So once we get that information I'll put that together uh in a summary and share that with the full board. That document could be public. >> Does that answer your question? >> Yes. Will you be recording it then so then you can gather? >> Nope. We will have jotting down notes. >> Yep. We will have people there taking notes and facilitating. Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, I have a question, Dr. Bman, about the process and specifically about the survey that you mentioned. So, I've talked about with you how geographically we're the third largest district in the state and we have our community school, elementary schools. Do you see where the survey results come from so that we know that maybe out in Lynwood we need to push it out because only 10% of surveys came from there? >> We don't and I wish I would have talked with you ahead of time and figure out a way to possibly do that. We do we are able to identify who they are. you know, if they're a parent, if they're a staff member, if they're a student, if they're But we don't have the specific location. We would have We've never done that before. And maybe that's something we need to bring back to other searches to ask about because that might be relevant in communities that have that widespread geographic distance, >> right? And we don't just work with Forest Lakes mayor municipalities. We have Columbus, we have Lino Lakes, we have them all that our superintendent engages with. and we will work with the staff and administration to identify those folks especially for listening sessions. So it's not uncommon for districts to not necessarily put them out as a public anyone who wants to come to do that but to generate lists as you're indicating like we want every mayor, we want every chamber, we want the Rotary to identify groups because those are those are groups that you interact with as a district more frequently. The one that is public typically is the one that's just open to everybody in person where anybody from anywhere in the area can come and speak their mind on what their hopes and dreams are. >> Okay. And then one last question quick. When you um synthesize the data down, do you give it to us like incrementally? This portion is done. Here's the data. Or how does all that synthesized data come to us? >> It's a good question. It will come to you as an executive summary. >> Okay. And so it will be a document that everything is in. >> One big one at the end. >> Well, particularly for the listening sessions. Okay. So, in terms of the survey, for example, you're going to get a copy of a really extensive report that has all of the information, all of the comments, the the percentages, everything that you have. Again, just to inform what you're doing. The last thing I didn't talk about was you're going to have one additional touch point that separates I think or differentiates our firm from others. And when we finish up the criteria together, the listening sessions, the feedback you've provided, your community's provided, we will identify the themes or questions that you want to know more about from the people you choose as semi- finalists. some of those that I'm hearing from you and others is just an important to really be engaged with our community. There might be some characteristics that you and your community want around fiscal management. There might be some around student achievement and we have such amazing programming. So glad that you're all here tonight and then I get to go first. I want to follow you um to have that. And so what we'll do is I'll work with you to identify three or four questions. Part of this part of the information that you're going to see is a spontaneous completion of those four questions on the spot where they have two minutes of a video not knowing the question that they're going to have to just talk about it. And so you're going to have that's another touch point for you to see how they react under pressure to topics that you are interested in and that will also be part of your application materials for consideration. >> Yeah. >> Member chair I just have one last question I promise. So the very conclusion is a presentation though by the top candidates that we select. Correct. >> Say that differently. >> So when we come down to that finalist um selection on the 20th with the top candidates they present to the board. Correct. Well, they we can do we have a number of things we can talk about that would be unusual for most school districts because they've had so many different touch points in terms of video and survey and semi- finalists and finalists, but a presentation can certainly be part of that. That really is you as a board >> interviewing them. >> And so in this situation, it might be that person here. You finalize questions that are really important. oftentimes uh it's with a number of people in the community or others who are interested in that process in the audience, but that's really the engagement of you asking specific questions to that person. >> So, when I did this the last time we hired Superintendent Massie, we had the presentations and it's not really so much a Q&A, but it's them coming in and presenting on our district. We're hearing how they synthesize and come across with information that they know. I just found that really valuable. >> Perfect. So that is absolutely something we can do. So my recommendation if you're open to it would be when we identify the semi- finalists and we go through those interviews and we identify those three finalists or however many they are, there's probably some topics that you really want to know a lot about from those candidates. So at that meeting we could certainly talk about that and then I could prepare the finalist to say you're going to have this amount of time to give a presentation on this particular topic. >> So that's something that the board can decide and we can do that at that after we do the semi- finalist interviews. >> Yeah. I mean I love I mean everything that you're talking about but that to us I mean when when we had those presentations that's where we really truly got to know our candidate. I feel like that was >> Say that one more time. We had those in when they came and presented because they were kind of even like we were kind of like in that they were all really strong in a lot of ways but that really was made you know Dr. Massie shine above the other candidates because it was the presentation skills and what he talked about and how he talked that was that's really important >> and it was the crowning moment. It really was cuz they were really we were very torn and I think because everybody had really you know on paper and and and everybody seemed really you know all the criteria we had and they were real similar but that was really a key thing for us. We like to keep >> this really as I said this is your search. So if that's something the board is interested in as a whole that they're interested in identifying a topic having them present we will absolutely be able to integrate that. So, we can definitely have more conversation about that when we talk about the finalist interviews and what we would like that to look like, but we're very open to that. >> Great. >> So, I'm looking for approval for the timeline that we talked about. >> Can Can we go back to the timeline because we have a we have a couple of conflicts in the timeline. I I noticed March 13th was on there. >> Um Dr. Massie pointed out we're still on spring break. >> Oh, yeah. >> On which date? >> Uh March 13th. >> Okay. Yeah. And then I'd like members here to check their schedule um to see if they have any commitments cuz I have a prior commitment on April 23rd and 24th. So, >> okay, let's start with the listening session. Um if we can if if that is our spring break, might you be open the 16th or 17th of March? >> That would be the the week following it. >> Mhm. >> I believe >> that would be good. The 16th is committee night. Well, and that's not for us. That's that's listing session. >> The 16th is a Monday. >> That's a Monday and the 17th is a Tuesday. So that that would not be for the board. That would be for the general public. >> And I was looking at April. So >> yeah. Okay. Um I do think it would be wise that uh we don't do that during spring break. So if we could do that on the 16th or the 17th, I think that would me. >> Can I just make a comment? I'm just I mean our spring break for elementary starts tomorrow, Friday. So I just I >> Is that enough time for people to know if people are going out of town? I feel like the 16th, 17th, hey, it's listening session. I mean, if people are out of town, they're just coming back into town. I would push that at least, you know, a few days out, maybe even the next week. I think that's a little too >> too soon. >> Yeah. And I think that Yeah. People aren't going to be checking their emails during spring break and stuff. >> And then when they come back, it's, you know, it's it's going to be >> they're catching up. >> Yeah. I I have a question then, Dr. equipment. If we end up moving that listening session that this specific public one >> and we end up bumping it a week or two, what does that do to our over all timeline? >> Yeah, that's that's kind of what I was looking at as we look at our timelines. >> Well, I'd be okay with that. >> Drop dead. >> So, we're going to review as a board. >> Yeah. >> The 14th of April. And so, going back, the deadline for the search itself for the application is the 19th. So ideally when our team starts screening applicants after the deadline on the 19th, we will want to have heard from all the people in the listening sessions because we use that feedback as one of the criteria or some of the criteria for evaluating the process. >> So really that the listening session ideally would happen before the 19th. I'm appreciating March 19th. >> Yes. So I'm appreciating your comment about spring break and the importance of notice. It is >> a lot of times what um folks will do is as I said they'll identify or we'll we can work with the administration if it's something that's of interest to you where we would identify certain parents that could be part of the that would be representative of of the area. >> But if you are if you are if you are thinking you want to do that differently, I would I'd love to hear any any possibilities or thoughts that you have. >> Well, how would pushing it back a week? I mean, how would it I mean, is there a drop dead date that we have to have the candidate in place? >> No. >> Okay. So, we can push it into May if we needed to. >> Yeah. I And I think >> I think we have to >> I I wonder because like I said, I have a prior commitment on April 23rd or 24th. If we bump the >> Do you have that the >> How about the 30th >> the timeline kind of on one slide all? >> I don't. Okay. If we bumped it one week, I I wonder how that would not be a problem to adjust the the 414 and 415 date or the or the next one week >> the 23rd and 24th a week to the last week if that's what you're suggesting. >> Yeah, I'm kind of I'm thinking maybe with with spring break maybe we push everything one week back from kind of what we have proposed. I agree. >> And I would I would suggest the board kind of >> we approve this with a with a soft approval. >> Um Dr. Bitman and I will work together and I'll work with all board members to make sure we don't have any conflicts because uh >> this is something we want all six of us there for the interviews for every meeting. >> So we might have to pivot some things here. But >> I feel like I'm I'm suggesting to Dr. Biffman, let's let's punt this one week on pretty much every point. Yeah, >> we'll see how that aligns and maybe you can bring that schedule back to me. I'll share it with the board and then we'll share it back with you and say these are our duck. >> I think that'll be great. >> Can you push the Can I see the earlier >> there? Okay. So, it'd be like the >> interview the top candidate >> as do as do I. >> Yeah. 14th and 15th. So, it would be the 26th. >> The 20. Yeah. I just think it we just it's really hard for spring break. You know, you really got to give them time. >> Well, this is why we have the discussion. >> I think a week, give it at least a week. >> So, if I'm hearing you, >> um, what we'll do is we'll look to pushing that out a week. I'll work with you. Maybe we can connect even as early as tomorrow, start talking about those dates. I can send that back. We don't need an official approval, you know, tonight. So, really, this feedback is exactly what we need. I do I think I'm hearing so this is me checking in. >> We really are appreciating and looking forward to the listening sessions for our our different groups. >> You're supportive of having you know four to six candidates for semi- finalists. Depending on that we'll identify how many finalists that we have and then I will typically be bring back about 10 for you to choose from based on the criteria that we have from all of the different groups and listening sessions. >> Perfect. and then uh let's let's you and I plan to connect again tomorrow >> and then I will share >> the outcome of that discussion with the rest of the board, gather feedback. Member Christensen, >> I would just like to request um Dr. Vitma, when you're emailing back and forth and talking, I would I would I would like it I would request to include the chair and the vice chair. >> Oh, perfect. >> Please, please do that. You don't have to include all of us, >> but I think the vice chair that was the original Yep. >> motion or the original intent that to work with the chair and the vice chair. So, if you could please do that, that would >> that'd be great. Is anyone have concerns about that? You just want to be thoughtful to the whole board and making sure folks >> That would be great. >> Okay, that's great. I'll be happy to do that. >> Yeah. >> Other questions, other feedback, other things you're thinking about. Again, this is your search, so we want to make sure we're meeting your needs. >> Okay. So, if there was something on the uh 19th, we don't want to push it to the 26th. That's the FFA banquet. So, we want to have it. >> So, the 19th is just the application deadline. >> So, we're probably okay from a meeting standpoint there, but I'm appreciating the the date because we'll want to be thinking about that for other meetings. >> So, you might if you could check with Joy of any of the major event things that folks are going to be wanting to go to. >> That'd be great. >> Especially with uh parents and students uh listening session type things. That would be great. >> And and staff. >> Good idea. >> All right. >> Other questions or things you're thinking about? I know, Mr. Chair, we've had lots of conversations um about information that would be helpful for the board. So, I hope that this presentation and the information opportunity to dialogue is has been a good use of your time. >> Yeah, >> definitely. >> And with that, I I would encourage all members to reach out to Dr. Bitman anytime a question or a concern pops up. Um, you've been really receptive to my phone calls, my texts. Uh, probably some of them in irritating times the morning and night. Um, this is really our process as a board and I don't want anybody to feel that they're excluded from it in any way, shape, or form. >> There is one request I have. Um, there is a link for the board to complete a very brief survey about the characteristics you're looking for. I would ask that you do that. The reason I do is because that's also aligned with the one everyone else is filling out. And that really will give you an opportunity to say are the board's ideas on what we believe is important aligned with what our community. Sometimes it is, sometimes it's not, and that's okay. But it is a good discussion as we're thinking about our candidates. >> Would you prefer, let's say we go home, everybody looks their calendars, spring break's coming up. I'm not leaving, but things whatever are busy. Do you want us to call the board chair or email him with dates or just give them directly to you? Like if it's something we realize when we get home the next 24 hours a date doesn't work. >> Yeah, it's a good question. >> It is going to be really important that everybody's there. But I think it would be difficult to work with each one of you individually. So I think if I could work with >> me and Kurt us and then we'll work together to make sure the dates all align right and then we'll let you know. >> Great. Yeah, that'd be great. >> Yeah, thank you. That sounds good. >> And I'm very excited and appreciative of the engagement from the board. And I would just say for our communities as well. Appreciate you taking this process so seriously and really engaging lots of voice and engagement from folks in our community. It will be this this is speaking from the cheap seats. It will be impossible for you not to find the right candidate by doing all of the engagement and and having conversations. So, we're going to bring you some good candidates to consider and I'm already seeing them apply. So, thank you for that. >> Wonderful. Yeah. >> Did you tell us and I didn't hear at what point we will start to be able to review these >> review? Oh, it's going to be after you bring the 10. That's what it is. Yeah. >> Yeah. After we're able to complete the listening sessions and the applications close, we typically take a week to use the criteria to and we do that amongst the team. So, it's not just one person doing that. And then we will uh prior to typically it's the week before or three or four days before the semi- finalist interviews where you'll have time to do that and be ready for the discussion at the table. >> Okay. Okay. >> I also want to just reiterate you can reach out to me anytime. You all have my cell phone numbers. I this is really important to me uh just in my role as well as for our communities and school districts. So don't ever hesitate. >> Would you share this slide with the group too? >> Yes. And it's actually online with the board materials. >> Oh, so we'll look at that. >> Wonderful. >> And then that'll be updated when the new dates come in. >> Correct. Yeah. >> Okay. Well, we'll look for that. >> I'm very visual. So, when we get an updated timeline, we'll get that from the chair and the vice chair. >> Yeah. And we will put that on one page >> so that you have it. So, this is more aligned with the different phases of the search, but we will we will have a one-page document that identifies every single thing. >> Perfect. Perfect. and I'll I'll share that with the rest of the board as soon as I I get it back from Dr. Bitman and then we'll adjust it if necessary um so we can accommodate all six of us. >> Okay, sounds great. >> Any other questions? >> No. No, thank you. >> Thank you for trusting in me and Ray and Associates. We're glad to support. >> I'd like to thank you for coming in here this evening and speaking with us, addressing all our questions, concerns, and uh for all of your time that you've put in thus far and >> your continued commitment to the district. Thank you so much. >> Love all your positivity. Yeah, >> this is a fun part. So, thank you so much. >> Well, thank you. >> All right. Thank you for being here. Um, that brings us to scheduled and unscheduled visitors. Um, I do have one green card, so we can start with that this evening. Um, it's uh former board member Morehead. Do >> do I need my preamble this evening? Me Morehead, are you good? >> I'm I'm good. And I'm so happy to be able. Well, I had to be very creative to get a reason why I could speak. And member Anton is part of my my reason because I'm sure in your report, you're going to share some of the fun things from the FFA advisory group that she and I both were on and both found outstanding students as you're going to hear again behind me, I'm sure, because that seems to be all we have here. But I was so appreciative of Brandonson's um questions because we were both newbies on that inter interview process. And I think it went pretty well and like I say, she had some very interesting questions and I think we have some good candidates for them and they seem to agree. So it's kind of a positive happening but I didn't know how to sneak it into to that. So um just an hats off to the FFA group and being on the advisory and Mark is on there too. Um they're just doing such good work. So >> thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Are you going to plug the banquet? the bank. Well, I'm sure that they can plug it because it they got their tickets, too. And it's I'll plug it for the community at large because um it's pretty fascinating how the students put it together and pick their leaders and yeah, it's it's like everything else around here. It's pretty pretty impressive. So, >> I went to my first one with you, member Morhead. >> Oh gosh, how many years ago? >> I don't know. But you told me the cake was going to be good and it was. >> She makes the best punch. Also, don't forget to ask for the recipe. Yes. And just a reminder, it is a formal event. >> Thank you. >> Why not talk? >> All right, that brings us to the listening session. I have member Christensen and member Corkran. >> Well, we had a very small group and uh we discussed the school board application for the open seat. Uh talked a little bit about that and opportunities for that. And then also we talked about talked about our legal council, how uh they were worried about um not having enough legal representation. So those were our two topics of conversation. >> Anything to add, Christensen? >> No, nothing to add. >> Thank you. That will bring us to student achievement. Finally, in the student report, we have Lake Area High School Medical Careers and Health Occupation Students of America. And we have Miss Johnson here this evening. Welcome. >> Thank you. >> You guys are so patient. Thank you. Thank you for being patient. >> You're welcome. >> You're welcome. They listen to >> You're starting to look at all of that. They listen. >> They listen to me ramble once in a while. So, um, first of all, thanks for having us. I'm Tracy Johnson. I've got some awesome students with me here. Um, I have the absolute privilege of teaching both at the community school and at the high school. Um, I teach EMR and EMT at the high school. My colleague Jodie Ryan teaches many of the nursing classes, CNA, medical terminology, >> med dosages, help me out. >> Pharmacology. Thank you. Exploring medical careers. I do teach that one as well. Um, so we have fascinating things happen. Karen Morehead says it, everybody says it. We, these guys say it, we have far and away uh, we we just have such awesome, awesome opportunities here at Force Lake. >> Um, I have said it before, I've said it to you, I will say it again. I have hands down the greatest job in this entire district, maybe in any teaching position anywhere, because I get to take high school kids. I I get to spend my time with high school kids that are super excited about what they're learning and then they go out into the world and they make an impact. You know, they do absolutely change lives or affect them for sure. >> So, um this isn't about me though. This is about these guys. Um go ahead. You introduce yourself and just you talk. It's not me. >> Okay. Um thank you again for listening to the impact that these classes and this club that um has had on our lives and everyone in our community. Um, my name is Eva Preagard and my name is Maline Bonnet. And Eva and I are seniors here at the high school who have been taking advantage of these medical career courses since our freshman year. Here at Forest Lake, we currently offer seven healthc care career classes. These include exploring medical careers, medical terminology, medical dosages, pharmarmacology, emergency medical responder, certified nursing assistant, and emergency medical technician. Between these classes, there are nearly 300 students who are also taking advantage of these health career courses, and the demand is only increasing. In addition, Forest Lake also puts on two med a two-day medical careers camp for student for 50 students in the fall as well as multiple health career field trips throughout the year. These valuable experiences and classes students can take to gain crucial knowledge and skills that will better prepare them for a future in healthcare. Also, thanks to these courses and experiences, Eva and I have found careers that we are both extremely passionate about pursuing. Not only is knowledge obtained, but students can also earn real college credit from these courses and state recognized certifications. In fact, even I have both worked as nursing assistants in local nursing homes, all because of the opportunities provided here at Forest Lake. In addition to becoming a certified nursing assistant, students can also get certified as an emergency medical technician, choose to work in the field, and even save lives. Hi, my name is Maybe Hoffall. I am one of the students currently in our EMT class. I have also completed CNA and in many of our medical career classes. >> Um, I'm Felix Jefferson. I've also taken a bunch of medical classes and I'm an EMT. Um, I've taken uh >> CNA. >> I've taken CNA, exploring medical careers, EMR, and I'm currently in medical terminology at AMT. >> Through these opportunities, we have also gotten the opportunity to get our BS BLS BLS certifications. So, that's pretty fun. Basic life support certifications. Um, that helped me get a raise at my job. So, I thought that was important. Um, no, but just having all these all these opportunities to learn about careers that you want through exploring medical careers or pursue like college courses such as med dosages and pharmarmacology to further help your career in what a lot of times is nursing, but also just the medical field I feel is so important. And as an EMT student myself, it definitely shows me how much hard work has to be put into these courses. and it definitely helps me set up for my future. >> Um, I can also agree to that. Um, when I first took EMR, I'm actually pretty sure I just picked it cuz it looked cool. Like I don't think I had any other reason, but taking that really gave me like a more like purpose in life. Like I really know what I want to do now and I feel pretty passionate about it cuz before I kind of had no idea. I think I was originally looking into computer science which I think I would have hated. Um so besides the courses here um and field trips and such things in recent years um we have a HOSA chapter which stands for Health Occupation Students of America. Um me and Meline started our local HOSA chapter in the fall of 2024. Um after connecting on our shared passion in our pharmarmacology class together um within that time we've grown HOSA to nearly 50 active members that represent that have this club that represents what they're actually interested in. Um in HOSA we do a variety of things um that bring valuable knowledge and opportunities um such as competitions, conferences, um volunteering in the community, um fundraising and fundraising and raising awareness for health causes and then even teaching specific medical skills. Um just this year we've had multiple people and groups place um on the leaderboard um in our competitions. Um we volunteered several times at nursing homes um sweet living. Um we are currently planning an entire host aa week at the high school in which we're making chemo baskets for Minnesota oncology. Um we're or organizing a drive for a local women and children's shelter and raising awareness for multiple other causes. Um, our members are exposed to like real world experience and connections that really further their learning and their qualifications for the future. Um, and HOSA has truly changed our lives for the better. Um, I can definitely say our leadership responsibility, our empathy um, and knowledge have grown in many ways. They never would have if not for the opportunities that were provided through HOSA and the classes here. Um Maline and I have both been accepted and will be attending some of the best nursing programs um in the country because of the experience and background provided right here at Forest Lake High School. >> Um the things provided here don't just teach healthcare. >> They build leaders, strengthen our community and carry and prepare students for the real world. Our time in these classes and being a part of HOSO will carry meaningful memories and education through every step of our lives. setting us apart from others. We will forever appreciate that Forest Lake has provided us with the tools to succeed and opportunities that most students are not fortunate enough to have. Thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you. >> That was amazing. >> I feel like I should go to nurse Anton first. >> Thank you. Um, so when the gentleman you said you signed up for EMR >> and it stands for >> emergency medical responders. >> Okay. So >> historically referred to as first responders. >> Yeah. >> EMR is the same level that every police and firefighter are trained. >> They are okay. And you give them if they go through they get >> they pass they decide. >> Right. Okay. They have something they want to pursue. They want EMT. You know, I'm I'm just I just love I mean, like Karen got up here and talked about the FFA and you know, I know we have a lot of amazing programs and >> Yeah. And I I think as mixing that medical thing with being a teacher, you do probably have the best job in the whole world. >> Miss Johnson, can you speak to the or maybe you guys can as well. How many college credits are you walking out of Force Lake High School went through this? >> I think I currently have seven. And by the end of this year, I think I'll have at least nines just from the medical classes alone. >> That's awesome. >> Nearly a full save >> a lot of money. >> Between EMR and EMT. >> Yeah, I think I would have 12. >> Um, the EMT students are preparing uh the week the two weeks following spring break, they will be doing ride alongs. The ones that are 18, >> be doing ride alongs with M Health across the street. Um, so they, this is where my job gets really cool because they are riding on ambulances. I am on Wyoming fire, so I respond to emergencies. They respond to emergencies. >> And often times we find ourselves on the same scene. >> And um, that's really fun for me because >> I get to just kind of step back and go, >> you know, here it is. This is real world. >> Now you're working with your students. >> I do. I have I have one student who's currently on the fire department with me, which is that's the first time it's happened. I've had students who following graduation have joined the fire department before, but I have a current student that's on the department with me. So, it's >> very cool. Go ahead. >> Well, you are very inspiring for your students because I hear that from their parents >> in the past and I think it's just so uh amazing. This is a very proud moment for me because we started by just having CNA >> and then it went to EMT. But I would have moms and parents I know go, "Gail, Gail, guess what? My daughter got into a very competitive nursing program because she had the CNA at high school at Forsick High School." And I was like, you know, it was really hard to get into nursing programs many years ago. It probably still is super competitive. And you get the credits and you get in and you have that prior knowledge that just gives you that leg up. Well, and it's it gives them the experience, the confidence, the >> the medical terminology. It's just the anything you can do yourself. >> And then I don't know who had the light bulb that all of a sudden the EMTs were students were helping at like home games and football games and getting to use their skills. Do you guys still do that? >> We did the freeze. We did Yeah, we did the freeze tournament in January. probably like what 10 of us sitting there for 15 hours in case anybody need anything. >> And Tracy was funny. I tripped walking with member Corkran to a football game and scun my knee through my jeans. >> But anyway, have never done it then. But Tracy's like, I can get you an ice pack, gal. I can get you an EMT. What do you did you hit your head? No, I'm fine. But thank you for presenting and I'm so curious about the pharmarmacology class. Is that hard? Um it's definitely a class that we have to study for um and pay attention in class just like any other of the medical classes. >> Yes. Um so it definitely does take some work work and dedication. Um but it's really worth it. Um >> pharmarmacology, med all of them. Um currently I'm in um I think um three of us are in anatomy and physiology and I know all four of us. Oh, different hours. Perfect. Um, I'd say about half of it I already know from the classes. They totally just build off each other, which is super nice. >> We had a test today and I aced it because of EMT. >> Well, so one last question for you, sir. You took the medical terminology. How >> I'm in that right now. >> You are. You're in that right now. How is that going? What is that course like? >> Um, I say it's going pretty good. I know a lot of stuff from EMR and EMT already, I feel cuz like like likeap everything overlaps and like you really like get a better understanding of things and other classes build off of each other. >> Wow. Well, I see why they're the chosen health programs at Forsake High School. >> We could have picked >> any examples or whatever. >> Oh, did you? >> No, go ahead. Go ahead. I think I might have said this last year when you were here about your medical terminology because obvious ninth grader currently I'm like you are taking that class. You don't ever have to go into the medical field but you will be able to read through articles of any kind that have even just the slightest smidge of medical anything in it and understand >> well exactly and not a lot of people do if they're not in the field. And I think it's such an important thing to be able to do is to understand what you're reading without having to look up every third word or whatever. So, and and do any of you um did any of you take medical terminology like first or is that in your process of classes? Does that kind of come a little later? So, you actually as a freshman, the only medical course you can take is exploring medical careers, which is generally kind of a good one to start on when you're first exploring like possibilities and whatnot. >> And then as soon as you're a sophomore, >> the medical dosages, medical terminology, and pharmarmacology class open up as opportunities to take. And then >> junior year, you can take EMT or EMR. and then senior year EMT and CNA both as a junior and senior. So, I took um medical terminology as a sophomore and I thought that was like great timing. It was super nice to do it kind of ahead of some of the other medical classes I took because >> it just made it all that easy. >> Excuse me. Yeah, for sure. a number of students and I'm sure Jody would say the same thing that um >> when they take medical terminology just reading the 1600 pages of the EMT textbook >> they yeah they're like I can remember one kid from last year specifically he's like this is so much easier because I took medical terminology >> Oh yeah for sure right >> yes >> so absolutely wherever it falls uh like these guys said everything builds on top of the other you know they all >> they all come together they'll make a one heck of education >> that anyone can benefit from medical terminology. For sure. >> Yeah. >> Well, and I tell these guys, you know, you taken by I I know about them. I know more about them than they think just simply when they walk into that EMR room or for sure when they walk in to take EMT and absolutely CNA that everything they're learning is for the benefit of someone else, >> right? So, I know a lot about you. you know, kind of a character >> um before I even know them. And I think that speaks volumes. We have a lot of really caring, compassionate kiddos. >> And we have awesome kids here for us. So, remember >> Oh, I was just going to say you guys, this is I mean, it's so great to hear what an amazing program and how it's grown >> over the years. I remember Well, Joe Graph, right? He was Mr. EMT, you know, he's on the board with me. He sat next to me for many years. >> Are you Joe? I mean, he really was. >> He cut it. He had it. He started it. He did things like I I don't know that I would have the nerve >> to be like, you know what? We're going to make high school kids. >> I know. I mean, he was he was a forward thinker. He He was a He's a great guy. >> He's the reason that I'm standing here now. >> Yeah. A great guy. But I mean, I just was wondering how much APC is it say AP or CIS classes? I mean, is there a lot of like there a lot of do they run parallel with like just a regular class and then an option to be higher level? I mean, I don't know how the program works >> if you want to just just a little >> Well, it's it's it's teched. >> Mhm. >> So, >> so it's all C like CIS then classes, >> right? Career tech. So, um it's concurrent enrollment with Pine Techch. >> Okay. So I I >> So most of the classes then that they're taking are really college level. >> Isn't college credit is exploring medical careers? >> So as you're in the program, you're learning you're getting the credits as you go. That's amazing. >> This other one is >> I don't think I fully understood that. So yeah, that really is clear what a great other related courses right in math from pre-al calculus, AP bio, AP chemistry, AP physics >> that round out some of those. I'm in medical dosages right now and um I I find it pretty easy because I've taken AP pre-calc and I'm in AP stats right now. Um I think a lot of it can go hand in hand like um when we learned about diabetes I knew that from AP bio and so um it it's really cool to see how the science and math and even like English classes can relate to them as well. So just a quick question. I know like when you were in nth grade and you took that first, you know, introductory class. I mean, do were you even sure that you were you were just kind of trying it out, right? Or were you interested before? I mean, I just think it's great that you have an opportunity to try it. Yes. >> That I know a lot of people um those classes completely like they weren't even going to go medical. Kind of like Felix has talked about, I kind of knew I wanted medical, but >> I didn't know what. And I did take exploring medical careers my freshman year and I decided I wanted that hands-on. I wanted to be with patients and I wanted to be making like um a direct impact and I said I wanted to be a nurse and then um kept taking more classes and then when we started HOSA for a competition we created a display board about a health career and we did nurse anesthetist >> and after learning about it that's now what I want to do >> and so yeah I'm majoring in nursing and well hopefully apply for a doctorate program in a few short years. >> Wow. Best of luck. I mean, I just think it's great. It's just just is amazing what Force Lake offers all the students because you don't know the path until you find it, right? What your passions are going to lead you to. So, congratulations. >> You don't know. Like, >> you don't know. That's exactly what I say. >> Yeah. >> I've had a number of kids that are like, I didn't know what I was getting into and this is awesome, you know, >> so this is what I want to do. I'm like, >> well, thank you for sharing your passion with the students and >> doing such a great job. Thank you. >> Yeah. member Christian. >> Well, I just wanted to say one more thing about how you're talking about how you're all kind of in a lot of the same classes and you really feel like a family. The last two years I've had the privilege to go to your um you have kind of a separate little graduation party. Um it's it's so great. I mean, if you want to go and just have a really positive >> feeling, feel good. You can see how close you guys are, how much time you spend together. And there's been some great speakers. is the student um the female student that was there last year. She's in the military or something and she had I mean so to hear some of the previous graduates and I mean it's just that that's a really um >> it's a busy time of year but that's a good a really feelood awesome thing to go. We'll let you let us know let us know. Yeah. >> Is that at early in the morning right? >> No, we do it after school. We just do a potluck in the cafeteria. But you can just see how you guys bond and how important you guys are to each other and what a what a real family it feels like. >> Well, they definitely did. When they first start, I say take a look around this room. You might not know >> somebody sitting here, but these will be your best friends. >> Wonderful. >> Halfway through. So, >> yeah. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to >> I got a couple of questions here as well. Um, you mentioned that you were accepted into different colleges. I'm looking at the two on the end. Where too? >> Um, uh, I applied a lot of places and I just recently decided that I'll be attending the University of Wisconsin Madison for nursing. >> Okay. >> I'm going to I'm committed to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities for nursing. >> Wow. >> Okay. Then I think I'm going to single out is it Eva? >> Yes. >> Okay. Eva, uh, University of Wisconsin Madison happens to be my son's transplant center. >> Um, they just came home from there yesterday. spent a full day there. We deal with nurse nestists there all the time. Um, not the University of Minnesota is an excellent but excellent choice there. And uh, >> who knows, maybe one day you'll walk into my son's uh, medical room. >> You need to need to brag a little bit because you it hasn't been done for quite some time. Really acceptance or whatever. I don't know. >> Yes. Even though I will not be um attending the University of Minnesota, both of us were accepted to the um direct admissions, which what was it like an 8% acceptance rate? >> Yeah. And then uh we're some of the first or first students at Force Lake to ever be accepted into that program. >> They're either the first or >> Oh, excellent job. >> Yeah, that's worth celebration. Thank you for CALLING THAT OUT. WOW. >> WELL, THE other thing I was going to add is that uh perhaps Miss Johnson and I should connect later because my son's got an extensive cardiac history, extensive transplant history here. >> Some of these classes sound like they might just benefit him. >> Yeah. >> He's going to be the kid that walks into the class and says, "I want nothing to do with this." Because he's lived medical his entire life, >> right? >> But I can see the massive benefit as we start to hand off his care to him. >> And that's going to happen. uh he's 16 now so it's going to happen very soon >> and he's going to be in charge of making these decisions. a little bit of background. >> Precisely. And uh you know, he's making such a good pace in school, he's running out of electives, so this could be a good opportunity >> to bring some of the knowledge, you know. >> Well, he's I I always tell um nurses especially and doctors that uh I'm envious of how they got to learn the medical profession because they got to learn it from a book. They got to learn it in school. Everything that I learned, everything that my son learned, I learned in OS, in ICUs, in um, you know, massive traumatic events where I I was forced to learn very quickly, >> right? You know, all about it and you didn't choose to. >> Yeah. And and I didn't understand like the cumulative effect it had. Like you guys said, everything ties together and that's true in the body, too. I mean, you think about a kidney transplant, you think, oh, it's just kidney. Well, all that ties in lever, it ties into your heart. >> Cardiac, it ties in. Yeah. Everything is together. Mhm. >> I mean, even a hay can just the interconnectedness of it all. So, I could see that being beneficial. So, it's the two of us connect at some point here. And congratulations to the two of you and I'm sure the other two. Yes. >> You're going to have something equally awesome in your future and >> hopefully you'll be telling us about it next year. >> We're seniors. >> We're seniors, too. >> Well, then what's what's where are you going then next? >> Um, I haven't decided. So currently probably my top choice is St. Thomas. That is if I can get tuition down. But I would say that's my top choice for nursing as well. >> Perfect. >> Yeah. >> Uh I'm planning on going straight to work. >> Okay. >> I would like to work as an EMT for a year, maybe a couple, and then >> kind of decide what I want to go do after that. I'm considering paramedic, maybe in firefighting. >> Mhm. >> All right. Cool. That's excellent. Yeah. >> I I made the assumption that we only had two seniors cuz >> Yes. The two of you didn't discuss that, but thank you. >> Well, congratulations and I want to Good luck everybody. >> We're very proud. >> So is Tracy. >> Just a little. >> Thank you for coming in. >> Thank you, guys. Good job. >> All right. I feel like we just had positive happenings, but does anybody else have anything else for positive happenings? >> Christian. Um, yeah, I attended the um on February 26th, the international club hosted uh uh the Black History Month event, which was really great. It was kind of a um I don't know, sort of a variety show type of thing. There was singing, there was poetry, >> uh there was some fashion, there was music. It was really great. Um and then tonight, some of us already mentioned the girls basketball team is playing right here >> for a chance to go to state. They started at 7:00. I don't know. Wow. >> No update yet. update is watching this phone. And then um finally, uh Flams, the middle school is doing the play Frozen >> um March 20th and 21st, both at 7:00 p.m. >> and March 22nd at 2 p.m. And that's at the high school auditorium. Um but that'll be um >> and that's not on their webs their um Facebook page yet cuz a few parents have reached out and said, "Do you know?" And I'm like, "Well, look on their Facebook." >> I'm not sure. I So that's where I >> So March 20th and 21st. >> March 20th and 21st at 7:00 p.m. March 22nd at 2 p.m. >> People are very excited. That concludes my report. Great. >> Member Christensen. Does anybody else have anything to add? Member Tyson. >> Well, I'm glad Jill mentioned the Black History event cuz I was out of town and I missed that. It's one of my very favorites. I go every year. That is as well as the API program is always just the best. Entertainment, history. It's just a wonderful celebration. I went to some hockey um as things were winding down for the U12 and then the boys Ranger game was in the other side and it's so fun to see the bubble is now an official sheet of ice and it's got heaters and people just love that side. It used to be a drippy slippery slope but it's done now and it's we're just so proud and then the other side is so nice and every time I'm over there people are like we just love the Forest Lake Hockey Arena. It's it's one of our favorite arenas to come to. So that's my positive happenings. >> Well, I will expand on what Karen Morehead came up here and spoke about because it was a very fun, unique opportunity yesterday to go join with the FFA leadership and um Karen herself and I cannot remember that gentleman's name is Dan. Anyway, a couple people from the FFA or agriculture advisory committee to help them interview their young students who are applying to be officer or have officer positions. And it was impressive to see just the just like we saw here tonight, the level of enthusiasm because when they find something they really connect with, it drives their um want and and their education. Yeah. Their whole purpose. Yes. Thank you. So, it was just a really fun experiment experience to uh to do that and I'm looking forward to the banquet to see who >> who gets those positions and how that all turns out. And I I saw you just for a second. I was there the other night too with the Black History Month and uh the the dancing I think is probably my favorite. And then the three girls that got up and sang a capella was absolutely beautiful. Yeah, it was it was just just such a simple message, but you know, when you do ac capella and then you start staggering everything and they did a great job with that. So, anyway, I think that's about it. >> Member Castle. Um, well, to piggyback on the uh hockey uh situation, the Forest Forest Lake hockey association is looking to have some outdoor ice >> and with the donated property that is supposed to be used for athletics. Um, they were looking to put some some outdoor ice um I believe north of the arena. And if I remember correctly, uh they were saying that they could actually pay for some parking lot. So that's something that uh perhaps each member could perhaps uh contact the that outfit and and see where they are with that and we can come together as a board and perhaps offer some of that donated property for that purpose. buildings buildings and grounds would be a good venue for that conversation. >> So, who's on the committee would be able to talk about that and perhaps invite >> uh I forget the guy's name but he called me and uh asked about that and they're expanding really big so they need more ice. >> Yeah, I have a >> So, this is LHA >> the for hockey association. >> Okay. M >> I have a message uh on my phone to call him back actually and I'm on buildings and grounds and I believe member Christensen is as well. >> Um so I can >> I I'll try to contact him >> and bring it to the committee and see where things sit. >> So make a note about that. Okay. Does anybody else have anything for uh positive happenings? And seeing none, that'll bring us to uh reports. We'll start with workshops and conferences. I believe member Corkran had something for us. >> Yeah. Well, I I just wanted to um talk a little bit about the self-evaluation that I sent out to everybody. I know I just sent it today um from Gail Gilman from MSBA. Um I know I did talk to her and I said I don't really have a timeline or anything, but I just wanted kind of information on it, the different options and pricing points. Um so she did send two different scenarios. one that was pretty much were just self we just do it ourselves which I said we kind of want to moderate we want someone to be running the um self-evaluation and the second option there's a virtual part or her in person right >> um 2 to three hours the prices seem very reasonable um that's just a one-time thing so just um read it when you have time um I did say we would reach back out with the timeline when when we're ready because normally you invite you involve a superintendent but u member chair was talking about maybe with Dr. Bitman maybe having that kind of correlate with what we're doing for the superintendent. I don't know. Um there's just different ways we can look at things. So, um I think just read it and u we could talk about it later in another time. But I just wanted to make sure we got the information to you guys so you could kind of read it and ask questions later. >> But yeah, I'm excited. I think working with Gail, she's really a great uh she's really good um media, you know, she brings a lot of good questions. She's got a lot of great experience and um I've been through it before. It's been years been a long time, but I think she would do a great job. So, >> yeah. And then do you do we want to uh talk a little bit about the um open board position? Are you going to discuss that or? >> Um all all I know about that at the moment is that the applications are still open. >> Okay. >> Um were we I believe we were targeting 319. >> Oh, he's so Dr. Massie do that then. >> Okay. Yeah, I thought we were targeting 319 for that. >> Okay. >> And I'll put I I'll make a note here to put uh additional strategic plan >> uh discussion for our next meeting on the 19th. >> Okay, great. >> Then we'll have a chance to review those documents. >> Okay. >> All right. Do we have anything else for workshops and conferences right now? >> All right. If not, that'll bring us to the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee. U Dr. Massie. >> Uh thank you. We have uh Miss Wyberg and Mr. Ward, Dr. Ward here tonight to present on their work and leadership with our American Indian Advisory Group. So, thank you for being here and I'll turn it over. >> Good evening, Dr. Massie and members of the school board. My name is Brad Ward and I'm in the teaching and learning department. >> And I'm Heidi Weberg and I'm the chair um of APAC last year. >> Great. And what we would like to do is just to give you our annual um update on the program and highlight some of the successes and um events that we have had throughout the year and will continue to have um until the end of the the school year. So as we look at it, um the program goal is to provide equitable, intentional and targeted educational opportunities to every American Indian student while fostering cultural identity and pride. The purpose is focusing on academic achievement. Um, as someone who's worked with the program for the past 10 years, I can tell you that that has really been an emphasis of growth from um, MDE and that's something that is filtering into our program. Uh, it's to increase graduation rate, improve the school climate for American Indian students in a culturally appropriate manner. All children are ready for school. All racial and economic achievement gaps between students are closed. and that all students are college and career ready. Um we hope to emphasize programs like the one that just presented prior to our presentation. Um you'll see the program services and goals. These come directly from the state plan and I will speak more to those in a moment. When talking about American Indian education, it's uh important to note that this is a two uh bucket system. The original one was from the federal government um as part of the elementary and secondary education act. Specifically, it's in title six. More recently, um through the American Indian Education Act of 1988, Minnesota has had one as well. um two differences in terms of how the programs identify and fund is based on self-identification for Minnesota versus um tribal affiliation for the federal programs and each of them have their own separate yet complimentary plans. When looking at the state plan, um really what they want us to do is to scale up and enhance American Indian education, build these sustainable programs that are culturally and academically um tailored, and to assist uh and target educational experiences that affirm and value American Indian unique cultural identities. the federal program. Um again, this has grown out of the special trust relationship between the US government and American tribal uh Indian tribes. Um there are 11 tribal nations inside of Minnesota. And these goals meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of American Indian students. uh American Indian students gain knowledge and understanding of native communities, languages, tribal histories, traditions and cultures and then finally have the ability to provide culturally appropriate and effective instruction and supports for each of the American Indian students. Um, this has to then translate down to the district and we have a partnership with the American Indian parent advisory committee. These this committee is required by both the federal and the state plan. And what we work collaboratively on is the title six program plan and budget, the state American Indian education plan and budget, the district achievement and integration plan, and then voting on district compliance for native programs and goals. As mentioned, there are five goal areas in the state plan. The first one is to support postsecary preparation for American Indian pupils. In this one, we initially focused only on graduation rate, but we've added to it now to include a postsecary plan, noting that that's as important as graduating from high school. Um you can see our goal rate or our goal there. Of course, this is one that um is measured at the end of the year. Uh goal area two to support the academic achievement of American Indian pupils. As I mentioned earlier, this is one that's really important to um MDE. And so we are um in the second year of having these transition meetings for our fifth grade and eighth grade students as they go from elementary and middle school to the next levels up. And then um like other plans, we are focused on literacy with MCA reading and on math with MCA math testing. Goal area three is to make curriculum relevant to the needs and interests cultural heritage of American Indian pupils. And so this year we are really in a baseline year. Teaching and learning has been working to make certain that we are meeting the academic standards in a culturally appropriate way. Minnesota has them um written into statute and are a part of the standards that we are meeting. Um and then creating the professional development specific to the needs of American Indian students. Goal area four is to provide positive reinforcement of the self-image of American Indian pupils. So we have had the really successful K12 honoring ceremony. Um we are really looking to have more participation from families and students. We also and uh Miss uh Heidi will be speaking to our family fun nights and then um looking at getting more comments from staff members as a part of some of the family or the excuse me the honoring ceremony um that takes place for students. Finally, goal area five is to develop intercultural awareness among pupils, parents, and staff. Again, this is looking at making certain that our staff members are meeting the needs of the students that are inside of their classroom. And so, we'll be looking at some specific professional development this spring. And um at the time that we had written this plan last May, looking at a particular learning opportunity, our first one didn't quite work out um due to uh circumstances beyond our committee's um control, but we do have some more that are on the horizon. >> Okay. So, um we support our students academically and culturally and we do that by integrating um indigenous culture, language and community both inside of our classroom walls and buildings and then also through our family events and we've started to branch out outside of our forest lake walls. Um, so this summer, one one of the ways we actually did our first ever summer wrap program where we took academic and culture and we had students participate in a program and everyone who participated in that program either maintained or increased their math and literacy skills on our district assessments. Um, so that was in collaboration with Theo and myself over the course of the summer and we did a culminating activity at Tamarack which was really cool. Um, so as Minnesota Department of Education continues to develop their Indigenous Education for All or EFA lesson plans, internally we really hope to support um our curriculum and teaching and learning partners um with our Native American standards work. So you can see one of our ninth grade ELA units um braiding sweetgrass and the image above is um Marina Miles who's a native um artist and she's a digital artist and some of her artwork you'll hear um we tied to Indigenous People's Day but she brings her artwork to life literally um like Pokémon Go and it ties ties in so brilliantly with braiding sweetgrass that when my son who's a ninth grader came home and said, "Mom, I'm reading this book." I said, "Oh my gosh, they we could put this 2-minute video clip into that braiding sweetgrass and it would just bring that novel to life for um the students who were reading that that book. So it that's how we helped to use our learning and cultural knowledge to just you know interweave with the things that our teaching and learning department is doing. So, speaking of Indigenous People's Day, um Indigenous People's Day are lessons that occur across all of our grade levels, early childhood all the way through 12th grade. So, you can see our early childhood um kiddos there interacting with authentic materials um doing wild racing activities. And then this year, these are two of the not um two of the books that we chose at the elementary level, where we come from and this land. And again, we tied in Marina Miles, who's a native um Minnesota artist. And we try to use authentic Minnesota authors whenever possible to just get that authentic voice, authentic materials, and pull in um as local as possible to our materials. Um, this is a building process at the elementary level. So, we've introduced text the last couple of years and the hope is that eventually every grade level will have its own unique text that they've already taught, but then these books will land at a specific grade level. And they also tie to standards. So as our um AP pack we have intentionally this year been very very um focused on the events that we have brought to our families. So some of some of our main events have been drum making and then coming up soon is the sugar bush or uh maple syrup making. So, our drum making event, and I I brought one of my children's here, was a 4-hour immersive event in winter that we offered, and we built drums um from hyde to end product. Um, and it was an intense process, but it was everyone ended up with their own unique drum, their own unique sound. um where they literally cut the hide, dyed it, and then um tied it everything. Um it was a very cool experience. And then we will be using these drums um at our honor ceremony and be playing along with our drummers. And then sugar bush um maple syrup making is very important. these two drums and maple syrup is very important to indigenous culture. And so that's one of the reasons why we chose to have intentionality around those two things. This year we also we were going to have an um offsite activity down at Walker Art, but um in January there were some things that made it unsafe for us to go down there, so we were not able to do that. >> And then on May 13th, you all found invitations. Um, we will be having our honor ceremony and we'll talk more about that one at the end. Um, you of course have heard a lot about our beating nights in the past and we have made some small shifts this year with our beating night and we aren't uh keeping it as just a beating night any longer. We have expanded it to becoming um an indigenous community gathering night. And this is important because it really better reflects the heart of and meaning of that night. It's really a time for everybody to come together, whether you want to bead or just sit and talk, have a slice of pizza, um have a a cup of tea or a water and just sit in community with others. It's a welcoming spot. It's a place where you can feel valued and seen with others. Um if you want to be, you can certainly be. feeding is still there, but we have also grown our skills and the things that we are offering. So, you can see that we have just begun um to do some ribbon skirt making and so we're we're growing and we're expanding in what we're offering. and we really value learning and growing and consider ourselves representatives of the district and the community. And so this is the first time that we have had representatives at NIA, which is the National Indian Education Association conference. And so Rebecca and myself went to Washington in October um to attend that conference. And then in a couple of weeks, there'll be a group of us that are going to the Minnesota Indian Education Association conference down in Shakape again. Um, and this is really important for us because we we truly value um, taking on that role of carrying back and sharing knowledge. And we learn a tremendous amount at these conferences. And it really allows us to be able to at the top of our head say, "This would be an amazing book that ties into the standards that you're talking about." Um, or this would be an amazing activity for our families to to do. Um and and without being able to go to those opportunities, we wouldn't be able to to do that as well as we can. Um so this benefits not only our internal APAC committee, but all of our students within the Forest Lake community. Um and then also sharing that with teaching and learning and the instructional coaches. >> So you've met Theo before. Theo is our American Indian liaison and um MDE calls the position director of American Indian education. He's a very gregarious fellow. Um but that's downplaying the amount of cultural knowledge and just sheer creativity, enthusiasm that he brings to the program. two years ago, he was part of our district-wide keynote um which is where the top um photo comes from. Theo's uh primary focus as um suggested by the parent committee is to work with our students. And so we've been building the program over the last couple of years. Um this most recent year he is having uh groups for native students at each of the elementary sites twice a month as he is for the secondary sites again twice a month. And this year we added the step transition program as another place for him to make contact with an American Indian student who is there. Um the focus this year is um primarily on water in both Ajiway and Dakota cultures. So he teaches the culture as well as teaches language at the same time. >> So our honoring ceremony is occurring on May 13th. And this year we're taking a little bit of a different twist to it because we thought why invite a keynote speaker in when we can showcase the learning that has occurred in our students over the course of the year and we can tie in the amazing um drum experience. So this year that's what you're going to see when you come and um come to the honor ceremony. The honoring ceremony is a time for us to acknowledge the academic successes of our students and also to celebrate our graduates with um traditional blankets and wrap them and give them their souls. Um and then they also receive other additional traditional indigenous gifts from us. So it is a very important time and we also really really believe that it's important to give literature and books where they can see themselves as main characters and promote that culture. So um those are some things that occur at our honor ceremony. So we hope that you can attend. Thank you. >> Thank you. Does anybody have any questions? >> Member Castle. So, um, when the sugar bush was up there, you mentioned maple syrup. >> Yep. >> So, I know there's a lot of foods that weren't discovered until the new world was discovered, potatoes, tomatoes, these things. So, is maple syrup one of these items? So, was was the indigenous people making maple syrup before the settlers >> Yep. They were >> started making flapjacks and stuff. >> Yep. >> Wow. Very interesting. >> I looked it up once because we do maple syrup and I I don't know if it was some folk tale or what, but it said the Native American Indians something about the woman saw the tree crying cuz somebody had stuck something in it and that's sort of how I don't know. >> I don't know that whatever. But anyways, it's delicious. That's actually Theo has been working on that story a variation of that story with the student groups this month >> and will be doing it at Tamar >> coming. Yeah. So we're going to partner with Tamarak. Theo is going to share the cultural aspect and Tamarack is going to share like the science aspect. So that's one of the great things and when we were there in the summer that Tamarak worked with us as well and um they've been fantastic with >> yes >> allowing us to bring in the cultural pieces and they bring in the science pieces and it's been fantastic. So >> that's awesome. I can't wait to get more in depth on that story what it is. >> Well that was a great report. Oh, thank you for that. And I love the AP pack logo and I'm so appreciative of the bag that I was given when it was brand new. And when I use it and take it places, people always ask me what what that is. It's very >> beautiful. >> But I really like how we still I mean they're tied to the standards, but we still have the books available for students because it is so important that they see themselves in the materials and the literature that they read. Correct. >> Correct. Yes. So, we have those available at all levels. >> Y >> districtwide. Okay. And then, um I was curious about Theo because he's been he's so valuable to our district and what he can offer and how many years has he been here now? >> This is his third. >> It's his third. Okay. Well, I was so glad to hear that he's still here and sounds like he's broadening his role and reaching out to everybody kind of districtwide, right? And he's also at the high school, >> correct? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Awesome. And then you brought up beating and I was like, you can't get rid of beating. >> It's It hasn't gone anywhere. We're just including other >> In fact, it's happening right now. right now. It's so fun and I love going to that um honoring ceremony and just seeing the families and meeting the parents and the siblings and everybody. And I did see pictures of the of the um drum making. It looked very fun but challenging as well, stretching and yes, >> it took some strength. >> Well, thank you for that great report. >> Member Christensen. >> Well, I just wanted to mention you should also mention the other hat that you wear. This is you're you're also a a district staff member. >> Yeah. I'm an instructional coach. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Um which is important, too. And I just wanted to say to member Tyson's point, too, I' I've been able to go to the honoring ceremony, and it's it's really um powerful with the blankets >> um being presented. And I love that you give out books and call up the younger students. So, it's it's really kind of for for everyone. The whole family is involved. and the little kids like they really get dressed up and that's a big deal and they go up on the stage too to get their book and it's it's really wonderful. >> Mhm. >> All right. >> Well, I was just curious how many like I know it's it's an amazing program and I think it's so valuable for those students to keep with their culture and and their and just to connect with people like them, you know, to have that opportunity. So, how many I mean I know things are pretty well attended. How I mean how many students in our district and like is I mean I'm just I don't really know the numbers. >> By the state definition we have 153. >> 153. And so a lot of these events are they're very well attended. All different age groups normally or how do these >> Yeah. It just depends on the event and um the timing of the event and >> yeah who who can make it and Yep. >> Wonderful. But a lot of families are very involved in it. Sounds like >> Yeah. It's just one I mean I'm just so thankful we have this option to have these wonderful programs for our students. So, but thank you. Thanks for all your time and energy that goes into it. It's really appreciated. >> All right. Yeah. Um I want to kind of piggy back a little bit on the mentioning of Theo. I think Theo's been incredible. I think we could all agree here that uh >> gosh, he's touched a lot of lives in this district and and he's been really instrumental in the success of a lot of our students. So >> super happy to hear that he's still with us. >> I was looking at the room this evening going. >> Yeah. Is he here? >> Somebody's missing. Like where where might he be? So I was very excited to hear that he's still here. But uh >> um I was in another board meeting in our intermediate school district last night. And they actually met the state threshold this year um to have the the requirement for an AIPAC and they were unable to get one established. Um, so if you're interested in kind of extending that reach a little bit, maybe reaching out to 916 would be a bad idea. But, uh, I was disappointed to hear that at the board meeting that they were unable to get it going. But, um, 916 is kind of an interesting district because it's a hodgepodge of, you know, 13 member districts. So, >> what they experienced was that, uh, um, the groups, they wanted to stay local to their >> their home district or their member district. um which is part of the reason they were unable to get one established. But uh as I was hearing the um the report, I was thinking, gosh, at Forest Lake, we've got the best one in the state. The events that you guys put on and the how well they're attended. I mean, the the value that our students get um it just seemed like kind of such a loss to 916 that they were unable to get that established because of the value I think this group brings the district here. So, I guess that's my roundabout way of saying a great job. Um, keep it up. Incredibly valuable service and really glad you guys could come here and present again. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. It's really great. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys. Thanks for waiting, too. >> Yeah. >> All right. That brings us to the city of Forest Lake. Member Christensen Center, member Tyson. >> Um, just Oh, go ahead. >> That's one thing to add. Um I uh at the latest meeting on February 23rd, um just a few kind of highlights, they um have uh hired five or offer offered conditional offers to five new police officers, which is really exciting. And they're hoping that they're all on board um by the 4th of July. They're being staggered um staggered starts for training. Um the city of Forest Lake and the um um city administrator um Mark Stats have part of ways uh amicably. So there so the uh Jolene um I'm blanking on her last name is taking over um in the interim. And then um our own um Luke Hanigraph who graduated from Forest Lake is going to be the new um police chief uh taking over from Chief Peterson who's retiring in April. So that's super exciting. He will take over in April as I said. Um and they also mentioned uh again which uh Chrissy Remberg ID talked to us about I think at the last meeting the land and facility study which we're doing jointly with the city of uh Forest Lake. So they talked about that a little bit and um I think that concludes my report. >> All right, member Tyson. >> So the only thing I want to add is last week they had their parks and trails open house so people could come in and see the renderings and put sticky notes up with their ideas. Um they had a great response um pre prior to that with their um survey they had around 450 um responses. So that's all I was going to add that you know a lot of people come our families come to Forest Lake for the parks and trails. So it's glad to hear that the city is getting input in that. That's concludes my report. >> Sure. Thank you. Um we'll go right back to Member Christensen for community education. >> Yeah. Um they uh we met uh just last Monday, I think February 23rd, and we had um a presentation um about the youth and adult programs um by Lori Jolson, and she talked about a lot of really awesome stuff and um the main things I guess I kind of want to highlight is uh the fishing program is over there now with the changes to the clubs and super excited. Um they're going to have to max it out at 100 kids this year because PE I mean people are just really super excited about it. Um there's a new part-time position which I thought was really interesting for uh planning sort of senior boomer type events. Um so that's exciting. Some new opportunities there. Uh there's some touring partnerships with community ed or over at Centennial. There's a bus tour to Nashville and Dor Do County and some of those other things. Um, oh, also, uh, there's a new disc golf, uh, >> course, >> course. Disc golf course. Thank you. And it's around over there over um over by the Ed Center. There's nine permanent baskets installed. And apparently disc golf is huge. It's a big deal. There's like a app on your phone and you can find these disc golf courses. So, that's super exciting. marching band is um really strong again. Largest numbers ever, 144 kids between the band and the flag core. Um and then also a special shout out to Mr. Matasen, our tuba teacher. He is um was um um recognized, thank you, from Yamaha Music for He's 40 under 40 outstanding music teachers. So that is >> pretty awesome. >> Super exciting. >> Yeah. and um so many other things, but those are kind of the highlights. So, >> thank you, Member Christian. >> That's awesome. Yeah, >> bounce right back to member Tyson from SBA or unless you have a question. >> I just had one question, Member Christensen. What was limited to 100? >> The fishing team. >> Oh, >> yep. It's super popular. They had 54 kids registered already, returning. Okay. >> 54 kids returning. And so, they were going to max it out at 100 cuz that's 7 through 12. >> Okay, that's exciting. Um, what is the limiting factor? >> Must be just the boat. >> Well, probably the boats and chapels and because it's fast. >> So, so they they could use some more equipment and some more personnel. >> Uh, I'd mean I'd imagine I don't know that for sure, but >> yeah. Do you know? >> I don't. >> We could check with AJ Hansen on how to expand along with the community education staff. >> Yeah, it's a great opportunity for kids to get out in the boats and fish. >> Yeah, that would be good. Having an incoming ed gives us a lot of growth potential to because >> we can actually drive investment into that group. >> No, through >> Yeah, that's excellent. >> We do have a lot of plenty of space. >> The water is not the limiting factor. >> Oh, did you want to pivot to MSBA? >> Sure. So, we have our meeting on Sunday which pre precedes the MSBA MASA day at the capital. So, we know that it's our day to advocate for our students and their education down and talk directly with legislators. The morning starts out with a panel discussion. New this year, we start at the science history center and instead of being at the hotel, it's just going to be bigger. And then there's buses that'll take you over in the afternoon to have your visits, which are scheduled by a company now. And there's a lot of instructions. There was a no before you go. I know that our board is all on spring break and I know that member Antinson was trying to go. So I think there there are other districts that'll be on spring break, but there's still legislators to see. Um I know Superintendent Massie was down there last week with SAF and was AMSD there as well. >> Uh a couple of the member districts were. Yes. >> Were they? Okay. So anyway, it's so important to advocate for our students and for our legislators to hear our stories because we know that school districts, there's 336 in the state of Minnesota and they're all so different and have different needs. And so top of mind always for us is our transportation um dollars and getting that whittleled down. It's still kind of a high number. So, we will at our meeting be reviewing the executive director's uh performance review and then having a financial update as well as a bunch of other things on there. But I wanted to bring the platform like I said I would and I'm sure the superintendent he gave us a very robust and thorough report in his day. He'll probably touch on that. But this the 2026 MSBA legislative P platform. Some of the top priorities I just want to highlight a few. One is a special education cost subsidy which we know we have to pay out of pocket and we have been and it had ballooned and ballooned. So we want to protect the existing special education funding and ensure the blue ribbon education task force 200 million reduction target does not reverse. So we want to avoid um having that reversed. Also stable and predictable funding. We want to protect the basic education formula inflationary index. That's really important because that's going to give us a little bit more and we know that over the years it's gotten so behind on addressing inflation that um that's really critical to hold that inflationary index index and then also hold districts harmless in the compensatory revenue changes while improving how students in need are identified and served. and then also allow school boards by board resolution to transfer balance surpluses of non-federal funds between district operating accounts to meet financial needs without the additional aid of a levy authority. So there's several other things on here PSO and concurrent enrollment reform instruction assessment transition from MCAs to the nationally recognized um assessment act like the ACT. So, I'm going to pass this around and you can just pass it back to me when you're done. And that's the work that kind of comes together with the delegate assembly and all the board members that are on that that come together and make these decisions um in the platform. So, I'm sure it superintendent has a report on the legislation as well. So, that concludes my report >> and we can get this on their website. >> Yes. And on the website, correct? All right. Thank you, Member Tyson. That will bring us to the superintendent report. Dr. Messy, >> thank you. I would like to begin with just a recognition and tying back to the presentation we had on the health occupation group that our students presented on. Joe Gra and Paul Kendrick deserve just a ton of credit for the initiation of that program. We wouldn't have it without the two of them. And on the healthc care side, our partnership with Fairview Medical, Betty Hasten in the early days, again, we wouldn't have the program without those folks and their visionary leadership. So, we're indebted to them for the program that we have. Um, member Christensen and member Anthony touched on the International Club Black History Month celebration that we had last week. um along with uh the American Indian presentation that we had tonight, the Asian M present program that we'll have later this spring. You think about the cultural opportunities we have through the international activity that we have, the opportunity to create these connections for students at the Black History Month celebration. And I won't repeat all the different events, but it concluded with the group of close to 35 or 40 kids honoring the seniors who were graduating with a very touching um letter that they had written to the graduates and it just speaks to the affinity that those kids develop through those connections. Um and that happens in many of our different clubs and the international club is now the umbrella through which these programs are able to continue. So, a super exciting night and it just speaks to the power of connection, the sense of belonging those things create. And when you couple that with the academic richness that we have and the opportunities we have for kids, we spoke earlier tonight about when kids find their connection and their purpose, you have an engaged kid. Mhm. >> And we talk about the things we do to address attendance, graduation rates. Nothing drives attendance and graduation rates more than kids who have purpose, kids who have a reason to come to school. And these clubs, these experiences, uh, the academic programs that we saw with the students here tonight, you you don't have to get those kids out of bed in the morning to come to school. they they spring out of bed and they come to school because they they find meaning in what they do. Circling to the legislative work, I was down at the capital last week. I'll continue to make visits down there and interact with our legislators and others. Um in addition to the items member Tyson spoke to, I would highlight the work around compensatory aid. Uh the hold harmless provision on comped expires this year. we stand to lose close to half a million dollars in comped dollars if they don't extend the hold harmless. Uh essentially what that means is we are generating compensatory aid education based on free reduced price lunch or Medicaid eligible direct certification. So it's a combination of families who fill out the form or the direct certification and it should be the combination of those. Uh we're not double counting kids. We're simply capturing all eligible kids and the state is looking to um take away the whole harmless provision thereby having districts um create eligibility by either direct certification or paper application. It's just simply unfair. >> Uh summer school, uh I don't think it's too early to be speaking to and promoting summer school. Uh we'll be using Forest View Elementary and grades 5 through 12 at the community school. Uh we will uh begin on Monday, June 15th and running all the way through July 24th with taking with taking the week of 4th July 4th of July off allowing families to get a break and travel if that's what they want to do. Uh with respect to the board vacancy that we spoke about earlier, application materials are available on the district website. Applications must be received in the district office by 4 p.m. on March 16th. Any application received after 4 p.m. on the 16th will not be accepted. Application review by the school board will take place um tenatively on March 19th. And currently we have no applicants. It's early, but hopefully this is a nudge to uh folks in the community who are contemplating this as an opportunity to get their application in for the board. And lastly, the Lakes Area Expo is scheduled for the 21st of March at um Marinata Church. So that begins at 9:00 a.m. and extends through 1:30 p.m. And that concludes my report. Can I ask a question about the summer school thing just for clarification here? >> Um, you said grades 5 through 12 will be at the community school. When it's summer school, does grade five mean >> still elementary? >> No. No. But like is it is it when they're going to they're going to be grade five next year? That's the five the grade five through 12. >> Uh, Nope. It would be current fifth graders rising to sixth grade. >> Okay. So, just wanted to clarify. >> Yes. Good question. All right. >> All right. Member Tyson, >> I have a one quick question for the superintendent. Going back to the legislative um information you gave. Now, I forgot to mention that there is a surplus. >> There is a surplus and the >> what did you hear? >> February forecast increase by another 150 million or so. It's at >> close to $400 million surplus that they're working with. >> But in the out years, they're still projecting the deficit. So, >> okay, >> this is not creating a a surplus that they can expend into the future. >> I think it would be um unwise to expect a supplemental budget bill this year allocating more um ongoing expenditures to the budget. So, I just don't think that's realistic. we continue to lobby for and advocate for transportation scars, >> but again that would be new ongoing monies and I'm just not optimistic that we're going to see that this year. >> Right. And I did hear that some of that surplus money perhaps will go to gun control given the annunciation church >> school safety measures >> school safety measures and then also towards the impacts of the ICE um on the economic businesses >> small businesses and so >> okay thank you yeah interesting >> all right thank you that brings us to approval of the consent agenda does any member have anything they'd I'd like to pull from the consent agenda. If not, I'd entertain a motion to approve 81 through 8.5. So move. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Those opposed. >> Okay, that motion carries. That brings us to action items, but I would like to propose a 10-minute recess if there's no objection. >> Thank you. >> Five. >> Five minute recess. >> Sure. >> I'd be good with five. Five. Okay, we are in recess for 5 minutes. >> Going to be long night. I now call the Thursday, March 5th, regular school board meeting force Lake Area Schools back to order. Member clerk, will you please take the roll call of attendance? >> Sure. Member Rebeline >> here. >> Member Christensen >> here. >> Member Anton is here. Member Corkran >> here. >> Member Tyson >> here. >> And member Castle >> here. >> Everybody's here. >> All right. That brings us immediately back to item 9.1, donations. Member Castle. Okay, there is a $4,245 from the Forest Lake Theater Arts Booster Club. Uh designated purpose is a Forest Lake Area High School fall 2025 theater production of Anastasia. Mhm. >> Uh $3,4471 to Foresight Gymnast from Foresight Gymnastics booster club to the FL 25 to 26 gymnastics coach Casey Nelson. $300 from Hugo American Legion Post 620 to the FFA chapter student organization account. $25 from Anonymous to the Rangers Helping Rangers. $200 from Kramer Mechanical to the ice skating show. $30 from Amber Caspouse Caspit, >> pardon me if I mispronounced your name, >> to the Lolakes Elementary general use. uh six dozen bagels from big apple bagels to the transportation department December inservice meeting at $220 value. Metal supplies from Honor Coffee Minneapolis Forest Lake Area High School general use 10 formal dresses from Anonymous to the Step Community Closet Prom dresses. $2,500 from Halberg Family Foundation for the Ranger Space Camp. And the rest of these are all for the Ranger Space Camp. $1,000 from Morris Forest Lake Chevrolet, $500 from Brad Peterson Construction, $500 from Kimmy Beauty, $500 from Columbus Lions Club, $500 from Ice Smile Orthodontics, $300 from Ster Insurance Agency, $300 from Bowden Seir PLLC, $250 from Mary McGra, $100 from Roberta Anderson, $100 from Lisa Kaine, and $25 from Sharon Peller totaling five $15,21 >> and vote of adoption of the resol. Uh I would recommend that we accept this and with great appreciation. And we have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. We have a motion to second. Any discussion? so grateful that Ranger Spains camp is still being fun. It's so wonderful for those kids because it's such a I mean such an amazing opportunity for those students, isn't it? >> I'm so proud of that. >> I'm so glad we have our community closet cuz I hear so many good things that that is really being utilized. >> It's true. >> Very generous community. >> All right. Any additional discussion? >> All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Those opposed. Okay, that motion carries. That does bring us to Forest Lake area school staff retirement notices. Mimic. >> Okay, submitted retirements. Uh Lana Crawford, special education teacher at Forest View Elementary, effective 6526 following 31 years of service. >> Wow. >> Mary Davis, Cook, manager at Lynwood Elementary, effective 313 26 following 23 years of service. Carla Deetsz lawn >> long hour >> long hour. >> Oh, long hour cook. >> Oh, long hour helper helper at Scandi Elementary 6426 following 31 years of service. >> Wow. >> Uh, Katherine Kathy Lamberta, long hour cook helper at Lynwood Elementary, effective 313 following 10 years of service. administration recommends the approval of the staff retirements with great appreciation. >> Yeah. Second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. I did a little quick math here. It was nearly 100 years of service here. I think it came to 95. Just a quick glance. >> Um, incredible. Very thankful on behalf of the district to all those staff members and >> wow, >> they will be missed. >> Those are not easy jobs either. >> They're not. Don't. >> That is an incredible dedication to our system and the jobs that they did. I hope they have a wonderful retirement. >> 95 years from just four folks. >> Isn't that crazy? >> It just makes you realize how important each position at our schools are. From our bus drivers all the way through the cooks. Every position is critical to run a a great school district like we have. So to have them be there that many years, that's incredible. That's a long time. But yeah, I hope they have a great retirement. They've earned it >> for sure. >> Yes. >> And we've got some >> well experienced, deeply experienced people leaving those >> uh you know cook kitchen positions. So anyway, >> yeah, the students know the cooktopers well. >> Yes, >> they do. So >> that brings up a question. Do we have a good a passing on the >> passing on the knowledge? >> Let's hope so >> to the newbies. >> Transitional services. Yeah. >> All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Those opposed. >> Okay. That motion carries as well. That will bring us to action item 9.3 approve the 2026 2027 schoolboard meeting calendar. Dr. Massie. >> Yeah. You see the dates there in front of you. I highlighted on my notes here a few dates that are different than our typical first >> Thursday and third Thursday of the month. That would be the first one on the list there. June 25th. That meeting moves uh is the July 4th first meeting in July moved into >> June there uh to not conflict with the 4th of July. October 22nd accommodates MEA and June 24th uh same at the end of the 26 27th school year moving that meeting to not conflict with the 4th of July. With those administration would recommend your approval. >> Move to approve. >> Yeah. >> Second. Okay. There a motion and a second. Discussion. Member Christensen. >> Sorry, I just had a question. November 13th is a Friday. >> Yeah, I think it's a typo, >> but it says canvas between what is that? Is it for the election then? Yeah, I'm wondering if >> that would be >> should be the 12th. >> Should be the July. >> Should be the 12th. >> It should be the 12th. >> Okay. I was looking at that same thing. I was looking that didn't make sense. >> Excellent catch member Christensen. So without objection, we will amend this list to move the November 13th meeting to November 12th. >> All right, seeing no objection, that amendment will pass. Brings us back to the main motion. Any additional discussion on the proposed dates. All right, seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Those opposed? Okay, that motion carries. Brings us to uh 9 to4 accept the 2024 2025 federal single audit. Dr. Massie. >> Yeah, the board approved the uh main audit um previously. So, this is the supplemental audit uh required uh regarding the federal funds. The district auditing firm LB Carlson has concluded work on the 2425 federal single audit. The auditors reviewed the schedule of expenditures for federal awards and completed the single audit on nutrition services. The auditors issued an unmodified opinion uh which is the obviously the desired opinion and the and there were no findings in the financial reports or internal controls. Jackie, the lead auditor, addressed the federal audit in her presentation to the school board in December and director Renberg Idi presented the audit to the finance committee in February and reported on the audit during the committee report at the board meeting the same evening. With that, administration would recommend your approval of the federal audit. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Do we have a motion in a second? Any discussion? >> Yeah. No, just I know that it was a it was a timing issue, right? With the timing of I mean why it was separate. I remember >> it's a matter of getting all of the different um >> reports together and the expenditures. >> Um >> so it's just due to a time but in the future it's probably not going to happen again where it's going to be a separate audit. >> It shouldn't. It depends on the lineup of closing out those accounts and >> Okay. But then we had a clean audit again and Jackie came and explained that again at the finance committee. >> She's just an amazing uh resource for us and she's um very knowledgeable and with our district, our account for many years and I feel like we have a really good working relationship with this firm and I think it's really good that she continues to come in person and really walk us through the audit. So I really do appreciate her time and another clean audit. So >> finance team should be very proud as always. >> Sure. >> Yeah. I thought the delay had to do with the state or something. >> Yeah. Something beyond our control. >> State reporting um revenues that pass through the feds through the state and >> Yeah. >> All right. Any other discussion on this? >> All right. Seeing none, member clerk, will you please take a roll call? >> Sure. Okay. accepting the federal audit. U member Christensen >> I. >> Member Reveline >> I. >> Member Antonson votes I. Member Tyson >> I. >> Member Castle >> I. >> And member Corkran >> I. >> And the eyes have it. >> All right. Brings us to 9.5 to ratify the 2025 to 2027 Forestlake Education Association employment agreement. Dr. Mask. Uh I'm very pleased to present to you tonight the 2025 2027 Foresight Education Association employment agree employment agreement. I would like to thank the flea negotiations team two of whom are in the room tonight. Salanne Reynolds and Rich Elliot along with Mary Edgar Bratton Shellena Wland uh AJ Hansen and Andy Story and the district team including Donna Freriedman, Chrissy Rembergiti and Corey McKinnon. Throughout the process, we had amicable and productive discussions around language items and wages. Through a mediation session, we were able to work through final items and financial items and come to a tentative agreement on February 11th. I'm proud of the work that we were able to do on this contract. Uh throughout my time negotiating contracts with Flee, we've largely kept pace with comparable districts. And with this contract, we're able to make some, albeit small, some progress in closing the gap with the same comparable districts. Before I talk through the significant updates and changes to the contract, I would like to personally thank every single teacher and educator in our district for their commitment to their work and the passion they bring to this district. We are truly blessed to have such a talented group of educators serving our students, families, and the community. So, what I will do is just kind of talk through a couple of um most noteworthy changes uh to the contract. Um and and I'll highlight um just a couple of the more significant items that were approved in the contract. Um most notably would be um the wage increases you'll see on the wage sk uh tables. Um and you'll see that um with those wage increases, those fit within the parameters provided by the school board and those are uh equally uh fairly balanced across the schedules in each of the two years. You'll see also similar wage increases on the ECF and the um step schedules that are provided there. Um, we also were able to add another longevity step at the 30th year. >> We talk about longevity in the retirements that you see here. So, this recognizes the longevity and commitment over time to the district and $1,000 on that step. Uh we increased the stipen for deans at the high school tying that to 15% of the first step on the wage scale and a 5% increase or tying the in the added statement for middle school counselors at five 5% again to the first step on the salary schedule. So you'll see the other changes that I've highlighted previously u but those are clearly the most significant changes. We also added $150 in the second year to the med the family the district contribution to family medical um trying to keep pace with the increasing cost to to family medical. So with those changes and just a a enormous amount of gratitude for the work that our educators do, administration would recommend your approval. >> And I will move to approve. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? >> Corker. >> I know I just want to echo what Dr. Massie said. Amazing working with our staff and that we finally can kind of make a little headway with a little bit of an increase. Um, Kobos wish we could do more as a as our district, but we do appreciate every single staff member and I'm really glad that this I know media, you know, it takes a long time. It's a lot of dedicated time to go through everything and and I'm glad we came to a consensus and that we move forward and everybody seems really happy with it. So, thank you for all the time and effort you guys put into negotiating and and working on behalf of the rest of the staff. And we really appreciate you guys and uh so happy that you're all on board and moving forward. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Member Corker. >> Member Tyson. >> Well, and just to echo echo echo, our teachers are so deserving, every last one of them. They work hard. Um, I noticed little things that are still in the contract that were made that are still in there and I'm so thankful like the sick the payback for the sick days for them being compensated for any hours outside their day when they have to attend meetings and you know to talk about that sick day back pay. It's like we know that teachers feel crummy and they come to work because they want to be with their students. They want to be there. They're committed. They're dedicated. It's just I'm just so glad they can do that because it's it's just they deserve to have that be paid back. And I also like that we have the matching 403b component. And you know, I noticed that that there's anou for letters and then that goes away when everyone has kind of completed their letters. >> Yeah, there is a a time stamp on the >> Okay. Um, it actually I was just talking to director Freriedman earlier today that that actually in theou is set to expire, but we'll certainly be continuing uh with the same concept as we have new educators we hire and they're going to be required to go through the same training. >> So, we'll continue with the same compensation concept for that additional professional development. >> Yeah. And that just shows the dedication that there's always new things coming out. the read act, science of reading. You know, teachers just have so much thrown at them and put on their plates and they're already juggling plates. And >> so, we're just so fortunate that we have the longevity in our district that we have and that we kind of are catching up even though we could do better if we we had a bigger pot of money to work with, but thank you guys for committing to doing the hard work of the negotiations. >> Yeah. >> So, >> Mhm. Yep. >> That's it for me. >> Anybody else? >> I' I'd like to jump in. I I got a couple of statements I want to make here. First of all, I'd like to thank Mr. Elliott and his team. >> Um I heard that the the vote for approval was overwhelming this year. >> And I think that uh really speaks to both the dedication that the district has to staff and the the job that your team has done in negotiating that contract. We came to a a place that I think we're all happy with. Um, obviously it's easy to say we wish we could do more, but we do have limited resources. We need to work within them. Um, and I feel that we can do to a really, really fair proposal. Um, another thing I'd like to thank um, the union leadership for especially is theou at the end of this contract of um, starting the collective bargaining process earlier. Um, this is one of those I feel like it's kind of a small detail, but it's a it's one of those details that's often overlooked in the public of why are our teachers working on a, you know, an expired contract. You hear that a lot or you hear um discussions of a potential strike? And that's the last thing any of us wants, the last thing our teachers want to do. It's the last thing our our board wants to endure. It's the last thing any of our staff want to go through. and it's definitely the last thing we want to have our students experience. So to have thisou that we're going to start negotiations um actually on September no later than September 30th of 2026 which is right around the corner and I'm sure that was a um a point of contention and the discussions was u just when we got done we we're going to take a deep breath and uh we're going to get started before we can even exhale. So, um I appreciate the commitment in turning that over so quickly. Um and hopefully it's a onetime thing and we'll get the contract approved even earlier um next time around and um then that that cycle will break. I I did share that at uh my 916 with um other member districts that it was something that I'd asked for our union to do and the other member districts really liked that idea. So, I could see it coming forward in in maybe some of our other area contracts. So, I appreciate the leadership on thatou and thank the union for that. Um, another thing that I I kind of dug into and this was more for um an education of the the community is that a lot of the community members don't understand how this process works and how teacher compensation works. And when we start talking about the salary schedule and steps and lanes and stuff, it gets confusing. Um, so I did want to um break down and and highlight some of the progress that we've made and just how hard we're working to to compensate our teachers as fairly as we possibly can. Um, so when I started on the board, I I went back to that last contract to see if I had started as a teacher instead of a board member, how would have my compensation changed? I looked across the schedule because it's a very complex question to answer, but uh in my time here on the board through these first two contracts that I've been part of, um we have an average compensation um for our teacher, an average increase of approximately 5 a.5% by the time you figure in each step that they've taken and the contracts that we've um the increases to the schedule. And again, that goes to uh Mr. Elliots uh and his team's excellent job of negotiating fair contracts for our teachers and I think when I look across the at least the uh cohort districts in 916 um we're on the top of that bell curve um so we're quickly c catching up to other area schools and I think that's really important that we keep our high quality staff here um and then another thought exercise I ran through is that um we don't we don't lock our staff into a lane on that salary schedule, we allow them to move through the salary schedule. Um, if they go and they they seek higher education or additional credits, and I know our administration staff is very supportive of that. So, in my personal situation, just in the time I've been on the board, I I've earned a a bachelor's degree, several master's degrees, and I was kind of curious, how would have my compensation changed as a uh as a teacher? And I found that just over the the past three years, I would have seen approximately a 44% increase to my personal salary because of the the professional development I've done. And and that's not a direct correlation um onetoone, but uh it just shows an example of if our teachers are willing to continue to go out and and enrich their skills and drive their own personal development that there are other ways to move on that salary structure and that brings a tremendous value to the district as well by having higher educated educators working with our students. uh it drives a lot of value and um I'm really beginning to understand how important and how special that salary schedule is and that disclosure to the the teachers so they can understand not only how do they move through that structure but I'm excited that that structure actually helps them become better educators as well. So um we're getting a lot more uh value um not only for the district and our students but for the teachers as well. And then the last comparison that I ran was uh how does our average increase of roughly 5 and a half% how does that comp compare with the demographics in our community? And that's a really hard answer to to to gather because you're you're basing it off of like reported data. So it actually comes out to somewhere between 7% and 3.3% across the community. And um whether you look in the low end or the high end of that um it shows that uh again our bargaining team is doing an excellent job in making sure that our teachers are fairly compensated for the work and that they're keeping up with the community around us. So, um, again, I want to give credit to them. And, >> um, then at the at the same time, it's it's what I think surprised me the most is when I first came in, uh, to the school board, our unrestricted general fund balance was just over $300,000 at the end of that fiscal year. And we were really uh we were really working hard on how do we continue to drive compensation for our staff members while risking kind of a bankruptcy situation because uh at that time our our medical uh that that balance was negative negative a few a million if I'm remembering correctly. I don't have that number on me right now. But now we've taken that general fund balance and we've moved it almost up to $8 million. And we've done that through driving efficiencies and um really streamlining some of the uh the processes and the programs. We haven't done that through cutting programs. So, we've been able to um outpace the average uh median income or income increase for our staff members as compared to the community while still growing our general fund. and um that better protects our educators even more should there be a some sort of a funding gap. Um we'll have the funds to make make payroll and take care of our people. So I'm super excited about that. I'm super proud of that and um the the more I read into the actual details and the red line on this contract that the happier I am with it. So I I can't thank the bargaining team enough. I can't thank administration's uh work for this enough. I know it was a a difficult road to get there as it always is and uh I thank both teams for going right back to the table just in a few months and and starting it all over. >> So, um that was why I I made such an enthusiastic motion to support it. And if nobody else has any comments or member >> I have a couple based on what your comments just were. I mean I I think going back to like member Corkran's days, we were broke. took us 12 years to pass a levy and a bond and we were broke and our teachers worked and worked and we were like, okay, you know, what can the percent be? What can we do? So those were the stressful years and that was when our transportation funding wasn't even shifted or looked at. And so now we've got that extra money because we've gotten our transportation sparity down to 500,000 instead of a million because that comes out of our general fund that we can use to pay our teachers and our staff. So we have to look at all of those things over the years. And I mean I think some of the points you made were valid, but I think there's so much more history that goes into how we got to where we can be now. And we just have to keep up that good work >> for sure. so that we can pay our teachers what they deserve. >> Does that make sense? >> Member Castle, I would propose that it's not extra money. It's money we should be getting all along. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Keep pushing that pushing that at the legislature >> and it'll be extra when they pay more than what our transportation needs are. >> Yes. you should hold your breath driving your kids to school, your students to school like Patty Anderson said on the >> on the floor, >> right? So, >> and then the cross subsidy is is expensive for our district to paying that out. So, but anyway, >> any other discussion? >> I digress >> on the contract. >> If not, member clerk, will you please take the roll call? >> Sure. >> Okay. Member Anne Tonson votes I. Member Rebeline. >> I. >> Member Corkran. >> I. Member Castle >> I. >> Member Tyson. >> I. >> Member Christensen. >> Hi. >> And the eyes have it. >> All right. That brings us to 9.6 the 2027 2029 Force Lake Area School Achievement and Integration Plan. Dr. Massie. >> Thank you. Uh tonight I will not review all of the specific elements of the plan as we provided a detailed presentation during the February board meeting. You've had the full plan >> and the budget to review and the plan has been available for the public during this past month. >> To begin, I would like to highlight several key points pertaining to the plan. The plan uh provides a focus on integrating all students into the school district and programs. It builds bridges with families who have not traditionally connected with us. Um it provides a practice of curiosity regarding our data trends and attempt to erode predictable um discrepancies in achievement in our schools. Uh and it welcomes all students into what our plan provides in providing new opportunities and growth. Since the first plan in 2018, the plan has been driven by several key goals and strategies. These include to build relationships and systems that facilitate all families ability to increase their students school engagement and academic success. to break through demographic trends associated with participation in rigorous courses and co-curricular activities to increase the number of fifth grade students trained in leadership skills to ensure all forest lake area students uh school students have access to effective educators trained in connecting with and teaching any student to close achievement gaps that exist and to increase student feedback that their school environment reflects who they are. There are three defined required goals. First, to reduce disparities in academic achievement. Second, to increase access to effective and diverse teachers. And third, to increase racial and economic integration under which we have six goals, spec um six specific goals that are defined in the plan. Um, and those goals, um, are have been highlighted and detailed. Um, and I would just they're they're long goals, so I'm not going to read them. Um, they're again have been available to the public. Uh, they've been in your hand, board members, for um, the better part of a month. Um but there are six plans with very detailed strategies um key indicators of progress that will track our performance over time. We might pause and ask since the last plan was modified last year at this time, what success have we had with the plan? And I would stress that the goals that we put in place this time last year were for this current year. We're in just beginning the month of March. >> We don't have the full year data in front of us. >> So, we don't have those metrics that we can reshape and modify um the plan. But I will tell you that we're seeing very positive success with respect to student achievement across the board with our various um in in district measures. FastBridge in particular. Uh when we look at graduation rates, particularly with the group defined in this plan, uh first of all, we see an an increase in graduation rates since 2025 of over 6%. We're at some of our record level of graduation rates as a whole as a district exceeding 93%. The focus area of this plan focusing on students who come from lower income families, kids who qualify for educational benefits or free and reduced price lunch. We have seen almost a 20% increase in their graduation rate since 2025. When we look at other subsets of students, we have a 16% increase in graduation rates for kids on an IEP. We have close to a a 16% 17% increase for students of color in the district. This plan focuses on uh students closing achievement gaps and opportunities for students receiving economic benefits and who qualify for free and reduced price lunch. But we pay attention to achievement gaps and learning needs for students across the district. Those in identifiable groups and those not in identifiable groups. And this is one measure uh through this plan provide an additional $850,000 of services and resources to the district to focus not just on students who qualify for educational benefits, but I argue that provides services for all kids in our district. So enthusi with great enthusiasm um administration would recommend your approval of this plan. >> I get a motion 96 second. All right, that was easy. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? >> Member Castle. >> So, do these percentages only include the 12 year people or does it go to the folks that are 20 just before their 22nd birthday? >> This would be four-year graduation. When you're thinking is it graduation rate you're asking about? The rates I just included are pertaining to students who graduate within their >> with the four years >> their yeah by the age of 18 or their their 12th year. >> Do we have a metric for adding the other students that have completed in the >> I don't have those in front of me but member castle I my memory tells me we are approaching 95 98.5 99%. >> Yep. That's where you add the five year and sixyear graduation. Correct. That's what I had supposed. >> Yes. >> Excellent. Member Tyson. >> Well, this is an excellent plan and I think we there's so much good that comes out of the funding that we receive and I like that we partner with other districts. Um >> I also think that, you know, I checked into how the busing what the ridership is and that sounds like that's going well and 12 to 15 students and it's roughly 35,000. I think that's a good thing to keep going and I'm glad it's still in the plan. Um, but yeah, just so much good comes out of this funding that I'm so glad that we continue this. We've done it for I think is this our 10th year >> since 2018. >> Yeah. Wow. >> And I would point out that, you know, we'll continue to monitor the investment in activity buses. It is $35,000 for the two additional days. Mhm. >> Um >> ridership is, as you pointed out, between 12 and 15 students on those three different days, two of which are funded through this plan. >> Mhm. >> We'd like to see that rate be even or the number of riders be even more. >> And we'll continue to push for that by providing academic enrichment and >> academic support after school at the middle school and high school. But if at some point we conclude that we're not getting the bang for the buck with that investment, we could pull it back if we if we decided to. We could shift those funds in the plan through a modification to the plan >> at any time. >> Very good. >> Y >> and just for clarification, that could be a simple budgetary modification. It would require a a full plan amendment. And >> that's correct. Yeah, that would be a submission to the state for their approval. >> Remember, >> you may have talked about this before and I just don't remember, but goal number three mentioned um high school achievement specialist working with students to develop good study habits and routines. H is this a one is this one person or is that the deans? I I don't what's the >> that would be the academic specialist that we have at the high school. >> Is there just one? >> There's one person and they're they're but they are working with our deans. They're working with educators. >> Yeah. >> How do they decide which students they're working with? Like do do people have to ask for them to work with them or are they you know if how do they decide who they're working with or who decides who they're working with? First and foremost, through this plan, they're focusing on students who qualify for educational benefits. >> Yes. >> Uh but they're also working in combination with teachers and deans as well. >> Part of that is to get students engaged in rigorous coursework and being successful in rigorous coursework. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's it's >> if I understand the question and and where where you're going with the question, I think there's an ongoing need to identify kids who are struggling or kids who might fall through the cracks. >> Yeah, >> this is one way in which we can do that. Um, >> we need to >> take advantage of every opportunity we can through teacher awareness, teachers looking at student data, um, counselors and deans having conversations with kids and tracking data, following up on kids who struggle. >> All those pieces work in tandem. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you, >> Member Corker. >> Oh, I just want to thank thank everyone for all the time and effort it takes to make up a plan like this. It's it's very comprehensive and timeconuming I'm sure but I'm excited to hear the results once the year is done kind of you know get a little more clarity but uh I'm just thankful we have these funds available to us because without them >> I don't know we would have to pay the general fund 800 and was 850 or whatever it is 800 plus,000 that we would have to come up with that would impact our fund balance or somewhere we'd have to take it away from somewhere else. So certain things are >> yeah certain things would not be happening and you know we work so hard to uh for all the things that we have for our students and give them every opportunity to be successful and this is this is a huge part of it. So I'm just thankful that we have it and thank everyone for their hard work to keep this program going. >> Chief among them is Dr. Brad. >> Thank you so much Brad for all your work. >> Probably 99% of what you see in front of you. he deserves a ton of the credit, >> but thank you. Yeah, it's a great program and and our students are very lucky to have this opportunity and that we as a district can offer it to our students. So, thank you. >> Yes, we're all set. >> Yeah. Thank you, Dr. Ward. >> Any other discussion here? >> All right. All right. I guess I'll jump in and it's been no secret. I've been skeptical of this plan and that was one of the uh reasons we took the opportunity with the uh um the adjustment to the ele elementary school model and the the moving the sixth graders to the uh middle school. It felt appropriate to make some adjustments to the plan last year with with that in mind. But uh I've been super encouraged with the changes and just the the performance that we've seen over the last year. And I I'm already seeing academic benefit when I look at the the metrics and stuff and >> and I know that um having studied statistics a lot that causation does not necessarily mean correlation but uh I'm excited with the short-term uh benefit that I've seen for our students and therefore I I definitely feel that this plan deserves an opportunity uh to run a full course and see how it uh performs and like what other benefits we can bring to students over the next three years here with that. So, >> I will be supporting this plan again this evening. >> Good. >> And I'd encourage encourage the rest of the board to do so as well. >> And if there's no other discussion, member clerk, please take a roll call. >> All right. On the ANI plan, member Rebeline, >> I. >> Member Christensen, >> I. >> Member Corkran, >> I. >> Member Castle, >> I. >> Member Tyson, >> I. >> And member Anton votes I. the eyes have it. >> All right, that brings us right to 9.7 on bus leasing documents. >> This is a a fairly annual um activity for the board. Um an important one nonetheless. Uh the Minnesota Department of Education allows school bus leasing and limited funding has four school districts to examine alternative ways to replace older school buses. Forest Lake Area Schools has been leasing regular and special education buses for several years. The school district's finance committee has reviewed the school bus leasing program to replace some of the district's aging buses. So, the transportation department is requesting permission to lease 9 2027 77 passenger school buses on a 5-year lease to replace units on the current expiring two-year lease and to lease seven 2020 uh 25 buses uh 77 passenger school buses for an additional two years. So in total uh we would be looking to extend leases for 16 buses, 2027 buses and 2025 buses. And with that administration would recommend your approval. >> Move to approve. Second. >> I have a motion and a second. I have a quick question. Do we know what the total cost of the uh the leases are here? >> You know, I don't have that number in front of me. I can certainly get that for the board. >> Okay. Um, it is certainly to our financial benefit to enter a leasing program than it is to do an out purchase. >> And the cost of the lease is in line with what we've been paying over the past few years. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Any other questions, member Castle? >> So, and this is nine for nine and seven for seven. >> Correct. >> All right. Anything else? >> Member Tyson, >> I guess I'm just going to add this quickly that this has been an excellent program for our district. I believe it was started by um member by the previous business director Larry Martini. Um you know we're responsible we're kind of an anomaly in terms of we bus the two charter schools and the private Catholic school. So we have a lot of students to bus. We have a lot of geographic area to bus. And I remember years and years and years ago, you could hear our buses coming cuz they literally sounded like they were falling apart, >> all rust buckets. >> So, we don't have that worry. And I just think this has worked out excellent for our district. So, >> that's it for me. >> Yeah. Bob Dwer is our supervisor of transportation. He's done a marvelous job. We have a a very reliable fleet. The leasing program enables us to >> have a current fleet that is wellmaintained and provides a a safe ride to and from school for kids. >> Yeah. >> Castle, >> do we have a ballpark of the mileage when they get to the point where they need to be placed? >> Uh that that's all part of the lease program. >> Uh we have eliminated a number of routes in order to bring our cost >> under control a little bit. Um, so our buses drive more miles every single day. We fill buses more to capacity given the longer bus rides. So the the downside of driving um of of trying to fill the buses being more cost efficient is it's a longer bus ride for kids. >> Prior to some of those efficiency measures, we were driving the equivalent of Key West to Anchorage >> every day. >> Yeah. in this district. >> So, we're not quite driving that, but still a lot of miles every day. >> Okay. My question was more along the lines of, "So, my car, I think the timing belt jumped, but it has 205,000 miles on it. >> So, where what are what are the miles on these items when we want to replace them?" >> Yeah. Again, that's part of the lease program. Member Castle, I don't have that number in front of me. if director Ran Bghidi was here, she or certainly um our supervisor Bob Dwire, but I can get that number for you. >> Okay, so hopefully we can get more miles, you know, if we have better equipment. >> I could jump in here a little bit. I do know that I believe these engines have the ISB Cumins in them >> and they're usually good to a half a million to 3/4 of a million before a rebuild. So, >> wow. Um I don't know what we put on daily, but uh >> that's a sizable number. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> All right. If I don't I don't see any other discussion here. So I ask member clerk please take a roll call. >> All right. On the uh bus lease and member Castle I. >> Member Rebeline. >> Hi. >> Member Tyson. Hi. >> Member Christensen. >> Hi. >> Member Anton votes I. And member Corkran I. The eyes have it. >> All right. Uh 9 to8 award bid for technology needs. Dr. Massie, >> what are the benefits of being a superintendent is you learn a lot of things. You learn a lot about a lot of things. >> You do. >> Um and the technicality around u networks and switches is is a learning curve um in the midst of other things. Uh to comply with the bid laws and to obtain the best possible pricing, the district requests permission to bid technology needs within the category 2 rates funds. Category 2 - funds are available on a three-year cycle and cover 60% of the projected cost. The and uh the 40% district coverage will be part of our current technology budgets. A bid announcement was published in the Pioneer Press on January 29th and February 5th. The bid opening took place on February 23rd and the district received two bids for the project. Attached is the scoring matrix for awarding the bid and the lowest bidder that met the bid requirements was tech check in the amount of $481,631.70. the administration would recommend your approval of this um update. And I would highlight that with this update, we will now um have kind of a uniform network system across the district. Last year, we updated um parts of our district with this approval tonight. We'll be up upgrading the middle school, the education center, step building, Lakes Elementary, and the bus garage, >> creating a uniform backbone to our network uh and switches that run all of the technology throughout the district. >> And with that, administration would recommend your approval. And I'll be shocked if member chair doesn't have more to add. >> I'm going to move to approve. And with I'm also going to add that I'm I'm proud of Dr. Massie for using the correct terminology there. >> Go. >> All right. We have a motion to second. Any other any discussion on this? >> Member Castle. >> Um so what is a switch cloud? >> Uh that would be um internetbased and um the network fabric that's embedded in this system allows the various switches to um connect across multiple switches. So we're not independently dependent, a switch is not independently dependent or or independent to itself on the network. So there's redundancy throughout the system through the fan. >> So if a switch fails in the building, it'll go out and and then come back in. >> Yeah. We should have the ability to pick that up. >> Yep. >> To a to a point. The uh I'll add a little clarification. I'm an IT geek. So >> So the end devices that are connected to that actual switch would would obviously fail for the uh um the access layer switches, but for the network layer switches that the backbone that Dr. Massie mentioned earlier, they're configured in a redundant fashion. So if uh one of those main backbone fabric switches went down, it would have redundant path routing and everything would route around that. So none of the users would would notice that an outage occurred. But the IT team would notice it really quickly and then go and recover that uh uh failed device in the stack. And the other thing is Dr. M. Massie alluded to it provides for the first time uh Force Lake area schools will have a central management >> um opportunity where they can manage the entire um networking fabric from a single location where before um they were actually having to access well right now today they have to access a lot of these switches for maintenance work or for um troubleshooting or upgrades by physically walking to the device and plugging a cable into it locally. So it's it's a major upgrade. I I remember um joking with director Jacobson that I had a more sophisticated network in my backyard uh than what we're currently running our schools on. And >> yeah, we're updating 20-year-old equipment. >> Yeah, it it just shows the >> um the incredible job that uh Director Jacobson's team has done to just keep us running. >> 20 years old. >> So, as opposed to the standard use of the technology, this is all internal. >> Yeah, this is this is all a hardware purchase. The cloud is more of a management terminology >> trying to read it. >> It's not the >> that that's what's through me. It's like cloud. Yeah. Because there's >> folks are hosting stuff on the cloud and you lose your connection and can't do anything. >> No, not in this case. >> Some of the Yeah, it's amazing some of the disparities in the pricing on this. >> Anyway, >> yeah. >> Any additional discussion on this? When it says five-year software license, I'm that's a supported one. It's not like some obviously thing you're going to get and when they quit making some component where they're so they're going to this is a kind of like a warranty that this software will be >> legit. Do you want to cover that, Dr. Massie? Do you want me to take >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Okay. Um, so all of the uh these network devices, they run um a firmware similar to your phone. And what that is saying is that we'll have a license to get updates on that for the next 5 years with that contracted price. Once that 5 years expires, either we can get a new contract to continue supporting it or we have the option of just leaving them at their current state. That's what we've chosen to do with the uh equipment that we currently have that's approximately 20 years old. It's no longer supported. it's referred to as end of life or end of support. >> Um, so those devices run essentially the latest operating system that was on them >> um at the time we acquired them. >> Yeah. >> Um, so they they don't stop functioning after that 5 years, >> but you don't get any updates and >> correct. If there was some sort of a security exploit on the device or something, you wouldn't get a patch for that or if there were added functionalities or features, you you wouldn't be able to realize that. So >> that's what that piece is. >> All right. Thank you. >> Any additional discussion? >> All right, seeing none, we'll do our last roll call here for the night hopefully. Um, member clerk. >> All righty. Uh, member Corkran >> I. >> I member and votes I. Member Castle >> I. >> Member Christensen >> I. >> Member Tyson >> I. >> Member Rebeline >> I. >> And the eyes have it. >> Okay. That brings us to 9. Permission to request proposals for dental insurance. >> Document. The district is required by law to go out for proposals on group insurance every 5 years. The last set of proposals was in 2021. So, the district is required to request proposals this year. National Insurance Services will coordinate the dental request for proposals. The RFPs will be advertised in the Pioneer Press and the RFPs are due would be due on to the district on March 30th. administration would recommend your approval for the district to go out for dental bids. Do we have a motion to approve? >> So move to approve. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion to second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Those opposed. >> Okay, motion carries. Uh brings us to 10.1 first reading uh use of student records policy 505. Dr. Mass, >> you can thank the policy committee administration for giving you some light reading here. >> These are extensive policy updates. Um, I would point out that as you read through this policy, what you see in black print is our existing policy that's also in alignment with MSBA. >> Um, there the red lines or the red type would be recommended updates to this policy from MSBA model policy. The green only is what we have in policy that is not currently with MSBA. and that that grid and that code is um included in your information. So, first reading, no action tonight and we will bring it back in a month. >> Okay. >> All right. 10.2 first reading of student transportation safety policy number 531. Dr. Massie. >> Yeah. We review this policy um um annually um as it's important to make sure we're staying current with transportation safety. Um, we're including language here to include type three vehicles. Um, and equipping type three vehicles with child passenger restraints. So, a nice update and an important one there. Um, language on page 15 related to escorting students across the road and providing safe movement of kids as they're getting on and off buses. Um, and then you'll see a large set of strikeouts towards the end of the policy >> with uh respect to pre-trip inspections. All of those are prescribed in federal stat in federal law that our transportation supervisor and his team monitor on a regular basis. The policy committee believes it's wise or prudent to remove those from policy because the changes come fairly consistently >> frequently >> and it's easy frequently. It's easier for the transportation department to keep up with those rather than the policy committee. >> So with those changes, we'll bring those back in a month and be seeking your approval. >> All right, that brings us to item 11, review upcoming calendar dates. The big one that I have on there is March 19th is our next schoolboard meeting. And with that, I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> So moved. Second. Okay, we have a motion second. Any discussion? >> All right, seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. Those opposed, we are adjourned.