school district meeting in board of education Monday January 26 at 7 p.m. Please join me in the We're going I'm looking for a motion to approve the agenda, but I'm looking to approve the motion with flexibility in the agenda tonight. I director Stout by Director Peterson. >> Those in favor say I. I motion carries. Next, we're going to move to the looking for a motion to move the approval of the consent agenda. Looking for a motion. So, move by director Peterson, second by director Dolman. Any discussion? Those in favor say I. Opposed. Motion carries. Next up, we have So we don't have any presentative >> I'd like to start with uh we had history day recently at the high school. So this is a ninth grader project I did when I was in nth grade in world history class. You do poster boards, websites, documentaries for different world events. They have to be at least 20 years old. So get you post the event so you know what you're studying. Um social studies classes like I was in my economics class and we visited and we listen to presentations. Well, um there was also a intro to business and culinary collaboration and what they do is they sell desserts and snacks during lunch and it's a competition between a bunch of mini businesses that sell the culinary classes food. See who can sell out quickest. So it's kind of entertaining to watch and you get um there's we had finals week at Mont High School. Um so we started a new semester today. It's a big day, new classes, new lunches, everything. We started snowcoming week which means there's a medallion hunt that started today and you win a prize and this prize is worth think $550 in their headphones. Pretty big deal. Um there's a formal dance St. Paul on Friday and uh also on Friday we have it might be on Saturday but anyway on Friday we have a spirit day and pep there's all conference band it's actually it started at seven the performance but there's talented players kind of chosen from band directors across the conference um they all show up to St. after school and they've been practicing for four hours together today. I think they just get to see the music practice together today and they perform tonight start um we're kind of in the thick of winter sports still. U conference section competitions are still coming up. One thing that I thought was well it stood out to me I go to basketball games I score deep. go to hockey games and there's other skiing kind of struggles but I was at wrestling and I've never seen a student section at wrestling but we actually had and as well the coaches really excited first time either um other thing I wanted to cover um was the superintendent cabinet that we have during flex on Wednesdays at the high school and several other kids with all different exper high school connection. We talk about there was a college and career readiness and we talked to people involved in that are involved in those areas so they can understand they're talking about and we also did the inclusion athletics people like forite the director. Um but the one that kind of sto inclusion for new students was a subject we discussed and because I showed up to in nth grade I enjoyed seeing us being able to talk about that because it was something that directly I saw it and I hope we can positive change that comes from so I love history day. You might not know that about me but I do. So I well first of all I'm curious about what your project was about. >> I did the 19th amendment >> because it was like the hund it was just after the hundred year anniversary so it was kind of >> it was something I was interested in because it just popped up. I wrote a paper. >> Okay. >> Not very entertaining people that showed up. >> Okay. Then when you were um judging were there any of those uh that you judged that really stood out you were you enjoyed? >> There's a lot. This was a couple weeks ago. Sorry. >> That's Oh, sorry. I put you on the spot. I should have told you ahead of time. >> I remember um there was one about golf clubs that was actually a lot more interesting than it would be. Um I actually did history day twice, too. Um because back in my K through eight school that I attended in Roseville, we did history day, seventh or eighth grade, I don't remember. So, I got to do it twice. >> Thanks, The one that I said was the most interesting to me was the So, we're talking about how can we kind of make the process for new students can be any grade, but probably nth grade is the biggest population of how can we get them integrated in the high school they feel comfortable right away. Um, we talked about that just this not this last Wednesday, but the Wednesday before. I think we had people um counselors were there and some other people that are specifically counselors for me were kind of my outlet to get into. I knew one person when I showed up high school and the counselor was the person who connected me to sports, connected me to clubs and help me figure out my schedule. students know all the opportunities that are there for them so they can find >> you got to ask a follow question about the medallion hunt. >> Yes. >> So my family gets pretty excited about the winter carnival medallion hunt and hearing about this piqu my interest. So where are the clues posted and who's eligible to search for the medallion? I think it's limited to students. You might want to say I mean, but if you have a connection here or there, I won it last year and my friend Aiden won it the year before. Um, and it was actually a Gary child that won it the year before that. I I was looking my freshman year. Um, but in the clue today, which I released on Instagram at like 7 a.m. or something before school starts, um, Mr. Lane writes the clues. I remember him from a couple weeks ago. And, um, he does a really good job and he works with to put it on, but they're releasing. >> Don't need to break any rules. >> No, you don't need to trespass. You don't need This is all in the rules. You don't need to trespass. You don't need to climb any fences. You don't need to Mr. Lane hides it several weeks before she hits. So, it could be stuck in ice or covered in snow. Um, moving on to item Nintend. Thank you. Okay, I'll try. Yeah, there we go. Okay. Um, some things around the district, awards, and noteworthy news and upcoming events. Um, I got to attend the spelling be and you can see the top three winners right there. And the winning word was it took I can't even remember how many rounds that was. like it was a long time but these three were going going at it for a long time. Um okay so uh facility just a brief really brief facilities update. We are just getting started convening task forces to work on our facilities. Um we have a number of different groups that are are working together and um it's really just been an introduction to our architects are learn are leading that and we have different groups of um staff some students. So I'll give you more soon because only just begun. Recently at at OA we had a screening of screenagers and we want to thank May for the funding for the grant to be able to license that. um families and students learned about the latest research. Um expert insights and advice helped them engage. And as you can see, it was a very good turnout. And then there was a short um uh conversation afterwards facilitated by a number of our O staff. Here's a little more about history day, which you just heard about. Again, there's and there's a little video on social media where you can see some of some of the displays. But as you can see from just that picture, there are all the there are a lot of um a lot of projects to go and day. And I recommend that you get to one next year, get to it next year because it is really fun to hear students talk about an area that they had that they found interesting and then they went deep in in study. So I I always love history if I have not mentioned that before. Future Cities is an um that is an elective that we offer at the middle school now and one of the options through this elective is to be able to go and uh participate in the future competition. So this is our third year um participating and we did have I think two groups that went just this past week. I do this past weekend. I do not know how they did but they competed in the future city competition and um basically they um have to design a city and there's a different kind of theme to it a city of the future and there's a different theme each time this one had a farm to table theme and one of the one of the neat features of this is in order for um for them to participate a team to participate in the future cities competition they need to have a mentor and um uh as Hugo City um engineer has been our mentor for so he's done a great job in in helping uh students some community education news um take note of the Midi outdoor skate party that was cancelled and rescheduled due to the weather so I'll just point that out and also the sweetheart Once again, the high school earned um gold for advance for the advanced placement um award. So the gold distinction um so platinum is the highest distinction. We received platinum in the percentage of the class of 2025 that scored three or higher on the AP exam and then gold in the other two. 74% of our class uh took an AP exam and 13% took five um took five AP exams during high school with at least one. So um that is an increase. All of those numbers are and it is it is an honor to to have received this gold. If you're paying attention, you'd know that uh Georgia Berkeland is back in the Olympics. She qualified once again. So, that's pretty exciting to have one of our graduates um heading to the Olympics again. That's been in the news as well. You may have also heard seen this story um about Aiden Hastings on social media. again he was accepted into film north studio 13 future filmmakers lab and that he's only one of 13 Minnesota students that program so um so it's a nice story just some upcoming events again um here including the community baby shower which I actually didn't ask you ahead of time what Community baby shower is Yeah. Come on up. Sorry, I'm putting you on the spot. Okay. Um, Early Childhood invites all new parents that have had a baby within the last eight months to come in. And we have a resource fair with um a variety of different businesses um handouts for families and freebies and things. And then we usually bring in um someone to do in the past we've done baby massage or um make your own baby food, you know, things like that. Um all of our families take a tour of our early childhood um rooms down the hall, talk about what we have to offer here and um and everybody goes home with a free gift about one day. >> Thank you. Coming up on February 13th and that's all I have. >> All right, thank you. Uh next moving on to item 10 discussion information item 10 is the board member calendar the boardwalks um I just don't have them on the public calendar but you all have. Yep. Yeah. So, it's it's Yeah, you have boardwalks coming up. Um the first one I think um director Don Director Donna will make it to >> they're in my notes. other board members can attend if you are interested. Yeah. Highlight that a little bit. >> Sure. So February 6 very well attended make it It's also a hybrid. >> Um, I don't know. I'm not sure if it's tape, but um, next up we have item 10B, which is our midyear financial report. Good afternoon or good evening. Evening already, right? >> If it's afternoon, this is a long day. >> I wish it were afternoon. I think to gain a few more hours. So, uh this is our our midyear update that we normally give to the board. And uh just to probably get you oriented to this again. Um, so we've got revenue categories and we've got expenditure categories on the report. And so if we look uh from from left to right on those columns, we've got our actual numbers for 2024 and 2025. And then what's showing up is the fiscal year 26 budget that we're in right now. And that's the budget that you approved in June. And then we've got uh what has been either received or expended year to date through so through December. and then the budget remaining. And then off in that next section all the way to the right hand side, we got the percentage of budget received or expended and then the actuals received when we look at the same same time period in December 31st of 2024. So it gives a lot of comparative information. So I can I can tell you right now you're going to see some ups and downs in this, but overall we're tracking right where we should be. So I kind of take the drama out of it now, right? Part of the suspense rather. But uh so we're looking under those revenue categories, the uh the dollars that we're you know tracking right in line really with the state aid dollars. Those are really metered payments. So they don't vary a lot from year to year. So we track pretty well in line with the budgets there. And I'm I'm looking what I'm doing is looking at that percent those percentage columns all the way on the right hand side. So 27% versus 26.99% previous year. And then if we look at federal, so if I'm looking at federal, you can see um when you when you're looking under those actual columns for the previous two years, we dropped down from 1.8 million down to 800,000. And that is that that's signifying end of the esser money, the COVID dollars that we received. So we received our last chunk of that or spent the last chunk of that in 2024. So we no longer have that as part of the funding cliffs that everybody experienced. So we're getting $86,000. Majority of that is federal special ed revenue that comes through the district. And in that special ed revenue that is a spend it first and then get reimbursed for it. So, we go through a claim process to get those dollars back. And you can see we're we're ahead this year. We're ahead, but we collected about 21% 20%. Last year at the same time, we collected just about 8% just under eight. So, we're ahead of that a little bit, which is good. We like to always try to get our monies in as as fast as we can. Then it helps uh helps us in our interest earnings. property taxes. Um, we're tracking there's a little bit of a difference there. We're tracking 84% versus 91. Again, that can be timings timing of payments. It can be delinquent taxes. There's a lot of things that can influence that number, but we're tracking just about where we should be. That also includes the step up in revenue from the existing referendum, but it does not include these numbers do not include the new referendum. So, we'll come to you in February with an updated and revised budget which will include those numbers. When get down to the local local dollars, what what are termed local dollars, those are fees that we would charge students for activities, uh concessions fees, gate receipts, a big a big one is interest revenue. And so, that one is uh we're we're different there. And a and a big part of that difference we We're at 91% right now and last year we're at 115%. We had some large donations. As far as the timing of some large donations come in last year, which really pushed us over, but donations are actually running very strong this year as well. We're about three compared to budget this year. We're about 377,000 ahead in that area. So, so that's good news. So when you look at the revenues overall, 42.73% versus 43.92%. So we're we're right in line overall with our Then jumping down to expenditures. When we look at our salaries and wages column, we're at 38.84% versus 39.75. Part of that reason is we uh we settled the uh teachers contract. uh the retro pay is going out this month. So, so that'll kind that percentage will kind of go up and it'll catch up to get to a normal point and uh then we look at employee benefits. That one we're tracking tracking a little lower with our health and dental which is good but that also tends to catch up as we go through. So, but we're we're in good shape there. purchase services. That one we're where that one is a little high but kind of an artificially high piece because there's something that we do we have chargebacks that happen to other funds and that is not included in this. So that would be an offset. So when you do that do the offset in that we're about 39%. Just about 38% last year. Again tracking tracking really in line. Um I'm going to jump back to the employee benefit side. So, I do want to mention this is our second year with the unemployment benefits for our summer uh or over the summer for our part-time staff that aren't employed year round except for teachers. Um that is tracking higher and uh the good news is the state did shore up the funding for that. So, but we won't be able to collect it until next year. will be a year delayed for us but we do expect to to fully get reimbursed for that whole amount but that is that is one that is tracked here. Um so going back to the going back to supplies that that one varies depending on any large purchases or smaller purchases and the timing of that. So, so really in line there and then equipment and the same thing that varies depending on what we're purchasing and what what time how the timing is with this report. So when we get down to the bottom line on the expenditures we're at 41.47% versus 42.16 just so just a just a about.7% difference. So really really tracking well in the budget and uh I think that is all I've got. Substitute teachers can fall under they out when we when we're using our staff they're under the salaries and wages but then we also contract out with teachers on call Kelly services and that would fall under purchase services. So how how we're seeing financial hit is starting J start sorry start sorry start sorry start sorry start sorry start sorry start sorry start sorry start sorry start sorry January 1 right and it is a point 88% tax and we split that. So when we bargain the teachers contract, we split that with with the union. So they pick up 044 which comes out of their paycheck and we pick up the district picks up 44. So that is that's our impact. But when people go on these leads then that all works through with the department of economic development I believe have the unemployment arm and they figure all of that out and they and the Folks will actually get paid from the stage for that when they go, >> right? Yes, we are. Yeah, you're correct. Yeah, absolutely. >> No, because the subs are only going to come into play as people take it. I we couldn't predict exactly when people are going to take that type of leap. That would be really difficult. Now, once we get maybe if we get a couple of years into it, we may be able to see a pattern there, but yeah, being it's the first year, it' be pretty tough. >> Did you want to say George, you feel you were moving like you really wanted to say something? >> You have to stand by the mic. >> We'll start to see those numbers towards the summer. I'll track where and that's kind of how we'll see it. Tim will see it at the end of the year, but I'll start to get a better idea of what our flex is going to look like because you're right, there will be a flex with this. We haven't had like this overwhelming number of no more than we would normally see right now taking LA. They're just taking paid family leave. So, it's very possible they kind of consistent with that. The benefit to this is now just really the teachers are going to be able to get paid for more of their state tax whereas before they might not have been getting paid at all or they are exhausting their balances which were a lot are just choosing to take really it's all kind of we will have a better idea if those sub numbers probably like said when I look at that report so we can forecast requires ahead of time. But costwise, the state carries a lot of it with that tax. until the tax rate should it change. That's what we are required to pay 10 different total budget revenues to expend that difference there. That's what we plan to to essentially address with our fund balance, right? >> Yes. Yeah. The 1.1 1 million130. Yeah, exactly. Um, next we'll be moving on to item 10 C, which is our second reading of policy. Um, well, uh, Dire Kate Anderson is here if you need her, but I have received no questions. the last reading of this policy. So have anything for her? Just wanted there on the agenda and at the next regular meeting you would hear none. Let's uh move on to item 11 our action items. Item A is the approval of donations and grants. for December 2025 totaling $88,275. I'm looking for a motion to approve by direct donations and grants are greatly appreciated. The use of these funds will be to further the mission of the school district and are used towards the wishes of the children. Say I >> is item 11B which come from another presentation. So if we could go to see move to 11 approval of the charge state. So you have that the charge statement. Um I shared it with you at our last meeting and the purpose of this um of this charge this steering committee charge is to make sure that we are communicating um expectation correction. So you are communicating your expectation of the steering committee which is the committee that's kind of overseeing all of the facilities improvements. We are also um sharing with you how it is we are going to communicate with you so that you know to what to expect. Um and so so it's not it's it's a little bit paired down from the process we used with the guiding change document we first started this whole process way back when. So um this is something that we often do um or excuse me our our um architects will often do with school districts just to make sure that we're all on the same page in terms of expectation. So I shared this with you at the last meeting and I for approval looking for a motion to approve the chart move by director looking for a second by director. any discussion. One thing I'll just remind everyone is that um our communications plan is really to go through the facilities committee each month with the updates and then we'll have um reports to the board after the task force committees are done and then again at the end of design development. Make sure those are the first two that would be coming up. We'll have other ones the board a reminder that that's just add the way the charge statement is written that it seems as though it's going to make process and communication back and forth between like that. Great. Those favor say I >> going to move then continue to move ahead to item 12 which is school committee reports um January 9th uh there was a presentation uh by Ed who gave the presentation but it was about the student survey um that student student survey is administered I think every three years um and I think to sum it up um I mean there's questions all kinds of different questions around education engagement mental health activities etc. But I think the good news is compared to 20.2 the last time the survey was given there was a lot of positive trends um within the categories and I'll just highlight a couple categories um that students reported on um an increase in overall this is statewide and then you like there's there's also an interactive link where you can look at modi's results and compare them as well. Um an increase in overall education engagement. Um certainly was a was an increase compared to 22 an increase in improved just general health, an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption during the lunch hour which is part of the overall um I think effort for healthier foods. Um an increase in high school students feeling safe at school, a decrease in cyber bullying. Um, a increase um or an an interesting but not surprising statistic was I would think it'd be higher than this, but about 90% of high school students reported using social media every day. I think that could be even higher than that. Um, and yeah, so overall was a good positive type trends that the survey saw and I'll have >> entire district. No, I didn't hear that question. Sure. Yeah, I'm guessing I would guess that there's a stat that might identify that some question for director. >> Thanks for sending that. I would like to look at that. Um I'm not sure if Director Witson provided a report for I was at the main meeting so I can I can just give a few highlights and um just to mark on your calendar Zephr gala is April 10th. A lot of our conversation was preparation that's going there's there's a lot of work in that Zephr gala and April 10th is the date. Uh early bird tickets I believe will go on sale February. Um we also talked about the fund to need um this year it will be to um right word to address address the angel fund. We um are seeing increased needs and um wanting our kids to continue to be able to stay connected and engaged and so the The idea was to the angel fund. We did this back in uh 2020 also was the funding need was the angel fund. So there was a little bit of discussion about periodically having fun going forward make sure that we're all of our opportunities. So um that sure is not only let's say for example so many different >> Yeah. And one of the things that will come through in that video, I'm sure, is how our social worker social workers and um counselors are so good at what they talked about was braiding the funding and how they talk about it because we have a number of different ways that we can support kids. Some, you know, associations have scholarships, the state high school league has scholarships, community ed. So, there are a lot of different ways that we can support kids and families and mate is one part of that grade. And so, um I I just I got a chance to hear Julie Hannah um talk about it. Julie Hannah's been with us for a really long time and knows our community really well. And so, she she used she talks about how she used to ask for money for coats and and uh now she coats and winter gear and now she has other places that she can go to. get donations. Um, and she has her her basement is full of different size winter gear. And so instead of asking for funds, she's been getting donations from various people. And so she's going to different routes. She can use that money she used to ask for for other things. So she does a really good job of talking about all the different ways she helps work with families to kind of talk them through the decisions and how she can help them and where they can piece it together. So, um, but MAFE has been a really huge part of of how it is we're able to support our families with that with that angel fund. And so, that'll be the focus. >> Oh, I think that's moving on to Nintend attended last Thursday. So keep in mind, March 9th is MSBA. Um but this year they're switching from capital to at the capital. Um, we are in the sixth district of the state. We did not have a vote this year. I found this very interesting in 2014. Um they tried last year that'll launch February. Tuesday morning. It's like Well, I'll ask all of you. There's also an AMS. So, um we can pick one of those also. Um and whoever would like to go, I need to know and then I'll from that I'll I'll set things up. Um, that one I'll have to I don't recall you remember. So, um, I bet before the end of this meeting, find out. >> Yeah. >> March 9th, spring break. So I will not be I won't >> All right. So here I come. April April 13th is AMSD. I'm sorry. >> Let's try MS. So we can't go on March 9th, but um April 13th is >> so the reason we do these two different ones um so typically our um super our superintendent will have a day at the capital also and we said well we have MSBA, we have AMSD, why don't we just kind of use either or and so Um, so there'll be some there'll be some school districts that'll use the March 9th MS um MSBA in some No, we just kind of join you. Yeah, we come along. So, um, April 13th then let's aim for April 13th. So, it's March. We have some time. when I say I'm going to check. Okay, we know what that means. All right, thank you. Um, let's see here. Next, we have attend the Minnesota State High School League regional meeting. And I wish Have we heard from our auditor? Yeah, we can recess and then recent calls. And with that, I'm looking for a motion to move. >> I direct you. You need to officially before you before you do this, you need to officially table that item. Okay. Before you do that, >> make a motion to table item >> 11. >> 11B future. >> Okay. A motion to table um item 11B by Director Domen. Is there a second >> by Director Peterson? Any discussion? >> I Right. Uh, next looking for a motion to >> move director Donna. Second by director Peterson. All those in favor say I. Thank you for a good job.