Good evening. I'd like to call this meeting to order. This is Independent School District 8:32. It is a regular meeting for the uh Madameai School Board. It is Monday, September 22nd, 2025, 7 o'clock p.m. Uh we'll start with the pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call of attendance please. >> Done. Okay. Approval of the agenda. I would like to have a motion to amend the agenda the agenda and table the following items. Item 11 C and D. Uh and we'll move that to the next regular school board meeting. And I'd like to add 10B, which is the superintendent evaluation summary. So could I get a motion? Well, first I think it's a motion to approve the agenda and then Get a motion to approve >> by Director Rean. >> Second. >> Seconded by Director Witson. >> Any discussion? I'd like to make a motion to amend the agenda. So, I'll make that motion to the items I read off. So, I'm We don't vote on it until it's amended. >> So, I'll make the motion. Can I get a second? Seconded by Director Peterson. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Now we'll vote on the underlying motion of Director Peterson. Uh any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you. Okay. Now approval of the consent agenda. Move >> moved by director Peterson. >> Second. >> Seconded by director Dolman. Any discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion carries. Okay. Presentations and recognition. So tonight, uh I don't know if you can really tell from home, we have a full house tonight because we are we have the opportunity to recognize two community members who have a long history of commitment to our school district. We're going to be talking first about Suzanne Anderson. Um and then secondly, we'll be talking uh about John Balile and uh we're excited to have you both here and for uh the people that you've brought with you to or we've or who have come out to celebrate. So, I'm going to walk over I think there to talk a little bit about Suzanne. You can come with me. Suzanne, do you mind going to the pictures in the background? So, this is Suzanne Anderson who is a longtime uh MAF member. Suzanne first started as a volunteer and then she was a board of on the board of trustees for 10 years and most recently our executive director. She just retired. Suzanne uh volunteered to come back as the executive director for six months and she ended up staying for three years because no one would let her go. So she's finally she's finally retired. And so um the pictures that you're seeing here are a number of our recent initiatives that MAFE has funded for the district. And I'll just let me just share a little bit about MAFE um for everyone so you know understand the impact of both MAFE and then also Suzanne as part of that. So, Madameai Area Education Foundation, MAFE, has invested more than $3 million into Madameidi public schools through teacher grants, district-wide funded need initiatives, and student scholarships. MAFE empowers innovation and fosters engagement in support of exceptional personalized outcomes for students. MAFE is also also has a long-standing commitment to supporting students and families experiencing economic hardship through the Angel Fund. So again, MAFE is an very important part of our district. Those of us who come from other districts are just um overwhelmed by the amount of support our school districts uh our school district receives from the Manmid Area Education Foundation. And so it's and Suzanne has been such a big part of this um just always the person who is stepping up to take the lead. even when she was on the board of trustees when I first started. Just really um an exceptional volunteer, an exceptional leader for our community, just a very grounded um just really wants to do the best thing she possibly can for our district. And she's been a big support to me as I've been here and um a big support to our students as well. So, know that. Um, oh, and and we're not the only ones that notice Suzanne's great work. She is also as honored as a lifetime trustee of MAFE in 2021. So, we have some great pictures scrolling through here of Suzanne and the um of the many different projects, but we also have here in the audience, whether you realize it or not, this row of administrators here um who have experienced your hard work and um partnership on behalf of the staff and students of MMI public schools. And so, as you retire, we really want to acknowledge your commitment and dedication. and we all know from working with you um how much time you've put in to this to both the executive director position but then also into just serving our community and our students. So we want to make sure we honor you and thank you very much for your work. So >> thank you. >> So I'm sure our board has a couple thing they want to say to you as well. Okay, Suzanne, thank you so much for your time and dedication over the years serving me and public school community. From my very first MAFE meeting as the school board liaison, you made me feel welcome and included. Because of your passion and dedication, you ended up serving probably longer than you desired. But it is evident you did so because you always wanted to do things in a way that made them go well and to see our teachers and students thrive. Your presence will be missed, but your legacy will live on and we have learned many things from you that will be carried forward. Thank you for all your years years of service. >> There's other board members. If I could just make one comment, Suzanne, um to Kelly's point, you probably were on longer than you anticipated, but I personally appreciate the the time and effort that you put in and the leadership that you gave Ma. I think we can all uh at least on the school board, we see it week in week out, the value that MA has, you know, brought the the district the last couple years, but even looking back, you know, decades at this point, it really has been the organization that has helped Mona separate itself from a lot of our peer schools. Um, so I really appreciate you leading that and continuing to develop a community of um, support and giving back to our district because it really is a differentiator here in Madame. So, thank you very much. >> I think everything's been said, but just want to echo the thank you and just how important Math has been and and you were a big part of that. So, thank you. >> And I couldn't have done it with all all the board members that we've had and with our generous community. So, it's really thanks to our community and our board members that really made my job so easy. But I've really enjoyed having the privilege to serve in this role for so many years and I appreciate the recognition. So, thank you so much. [Applause] Thank you. [Applause] >> So on to our next >> So our next recognition is uh for John Balile. John was a school board member from 2004 to 2010 if I have my records correct. And um we are excited to honor John for his ongoing commitment and some specific ways he has supported our district recently. And so we have Tony Pierce and Tim Ericson to lead that recognition. >> Good evening everybody. I uh you know we we talk a lot about uh or we hear a lot about once a Zephyr always a Zephyr and I think that that certainly applies to the case here with John Balile. Um last year at about this time uh I was contacted by uh Superintendent Duffren and our finance director Tim Ericson here about an opportunity we had to move passages from its current location which is in a strip mall to what was the uh 916 ALC. So basically a school separate school facility which is right across the street. Distance-wise not very far but in terms of environment just leaps and bounds. Uh so with this opportunity just kind of as a formality I brought it to the staff even though I knew that it would be a resounding yes and the u it's been nothing but positives ever since. Uh just this uh this new facility I we have some uh slides I want to show you and it almost looks like geez that was that was made for us. It looks like you know it's we should be there and I want to say it was made for us. This this was an environment although it was a school facility, it was not set up the way that we would utilize this facility as passages. So all through last year, all through the summer, John and his right-hand man, Rick, what's Rick's last name? >> Rousson Rousson. Um, diligently worked to create an environment that would be suitable for our kids. uh they worked handinhand with our staff members and we were able to repurpose a lot of things but really set up this environment so that it was exactly what we needed at Passages. And if any of you ever have the opportunity if you haven't been in there yet you you walk through the doors and it just it feels like home. You know, we've only been there a couple weeks now, but it is our new home and I think it will be for quite some time. So, I'll let uh do you want to say something before I show the slides? So, uh, I I've had an opportunity over the years to work with a lot of individuals and businesses, uh, in the districts I've worked with, and, you know, I have my my favorite list of people, and John quickly re rose to the top. Uh, he is, uh, he's he's a unique individual and that I can I can tell he really cares about the district and the kids and and the staff. um you know we've had we had a lot of a lot of requests a lot of asks of John and normally his answer was yeah we can do that and that doesn't happen all the time but John was very very good to work with and extremely patient you know we have a little bit longer process than an ordinary business does if we go to lease the building um I asked a lot of things of John and he was very agreeable and staff too I I think they'll say the same thing you know John really worked with them like Tony Tony mentioned to to really put a very nice building together for the passages program. So, um we're just very very uh thankful for that and it's been a pleasure working with you, John. So, thank you. [Applause] So, I have a couple uh slides here. This first one is uh or videos. This first one is just kind of take you through a little tour. You can kind of see the facility as it is. This is when you walk in. This is Miss Strong's classroom. We have a kind of saw. We had a kitchen put in over there. This is Miss Triplet's classroom. And Miss Venus, you can tell we are getting ready for homecoming with all the Zephyr gear everywhere. That is the sensory space that uh the facility has. It uh yeah, it's really I mean I John, I don't think we could asked for a better facility. If we even were going after what do we want, I think we would say we want what we have right now. I mean it's just it's incredible. Um and then this this next video is uh directly from the students. Thank you, John and Rick. >> We are extremely grateful for John and Rick for all they have done to help us get set up in our new passages location. We appreciate you installing our cabinets, building our kitchen, and creating a safe, spacious area to safely learn kitchen skills. You have gone above and beyond with your kindness and generosity in preparing for our new passages. We look forward to coming in to our school each day. >> Thank you for all the hard work that you put in to create such a warm wing space for us to use. >> Thank you for taking the time and to listen to our vision and help us create it. Thanks for your flexibility in letting us build your our sensory space. >> Thank you for having a clean and maintained outdoor space for us to use. >> It is nice to have our own safe parking lot for our students to come and go safely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So on behalf of passages and Mameidi schools, uh we're just very grateful, John. And uh thank you. You're making an impact on the students that are there and for students to come. So thank you very much. And we have some uh a little token of our appreciation. [Applause] So, and and I'll just kind of jump into with my Thanks. Um, John, I you know, I met you a few years ago and I've just I've always felt like you though you were on the board a while ago, you still are really committed to our district and I felt that um when I met you and we talked they were there were other reasons that we uh met, but they but the school district um was clearly close to your heart as we um talked. So, I want to thank you for that. I also want to point out that sensory room um that you that is part of passages was funded by MAF. So, um that's a nice connection there as well. So, John, I know you're I know you're humble and you probably don't know what to do with this recognition, but um we are h I know you told me in fact you weren't sure what to do with this recognition, but but um we are really thankful and grateful for your partnership. So, um yeah, I'm glad we got a chance to recognize you and I know we want to take a picture with you too as well. So, I hope that's okay. >> Thank you for all the kind words and a warning to you other board members that this is where you'll be 15 years from now. >> Once you're once you're sucked in, you can never get out. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] You have to win. We'll start with that. is not that's going to start in October. Okay. All right. I think so. Yeah. >> Okay. So, I'll go ahead. We're going to skip over 8A since um the schedule changed and we will move on to number nine, superintendent report. >> I don't know that Dennis could hear that. We're going to go we're going to go to the superintendent report. Okay. Do I have a I have a clicker? No, I don't. Okay. Is it over there? I'm sorry. It's okay. >> Thank you. Okay. Um Okay. So, oops. There we go. Okay. So, just a few things around the district. Um, some noteworthy news and upcoming events. Um, so we had the first day of school. It seems like a while ago, but it really was very recently. We've welcomed our students back to school and we have some great pictures up online and on our Facebook and our social media pages, Instagram and um I'll just encourage you to take a look at those. We also have a tour of the new playground at O. Anderson Elementary. we um may fund a need last year was to fund our um our playgrounds to at OA and at Wildwood, mostly at OA to to bring that up to a little bit a little bit more age appropriate level and the students love it. So, we're really thankful for that. So, it's it's a great video. I encourage you to watch that. As you know, we had homecoming week last week and up until the the football game, we had a fabulous week of celebration, including a parade that we made it in right before the RA right before the rain. So, um that we did not get stopped for for the rain there. So, it was a great week, lots of great traditions and um just a lot of fun. So, we will be finishing up our celebrating on October 3rd at that at that football game. You should have uh found the referendum guide in your mailboxes recently and it gives a lot of information about our upcoming referendum. And so, I'll just encourage people to review that. Take note, early voting is available. So, it is now open as of Friday, September 19th. And so we do have information on our website about how you can vote early and um we have some right here as well, but um all of our information on our website. We have a lot of information about the referendum on our website and I'll direct you there. Community education, we have a number of events coming up including the community lunch. Punkin mania moderi is coming up as well. And so I haven't gotten the book yet, but um yeah, but you will too, right? I can see that. So that's coming up in November. >> Okay, good. >> One of the things that I love about our our homecoming celebration is when we do the pepfest, we we have a lot of fun activities, class versus classic competitions. We recognize various um we recognize sports teams in various ways throughout the week. But the other thing we do is recognize our ME merit scholars. And so you see here in this picture our semi- finalist and our commended scholar as part of our of part of our pepfest. Some upcoming events. Take note we have a number of referendum learning sessions still left. We have three of them. September 23rd, October 7th, and October 29th. Um um community ed is also offering free child care for early voting on October 3rd. So I'll uh encourage people to from 3 to 5:00 p.m. So before you can do that before you go to the the football game. So look at that. So many things to do on October 3rd. And um so that's a very brief a brief uh update for this week. Next is our October November calendar. Does anyone have anything they want to point out? A number of items were just pointed out on what shared. I um continue to be unavailable on Wednesday mornings for the every other Midi PTO meeting. I I don't think we were able to find anyone to take my place for this Wednesday. Um but I did give them a heads up. I might not be there. So they know that I I may not be there may not be representation there from our board. >> That's this Wednesday. >> It's this Wednesday. We I think I brought up at the last meeting and we weren't able to have anyone. So, the 24th uh at 9:30 in the morning and then again at October 8th I can make on that Wednesday night, >> November 5th. >> I might be able to do it this Wednesday. I might have missed that part of >> remote. Yeah, you were remote. Yeah. Okay, >> that'd be great. Thank you. >> And that at that meeting, I will be doing the referendum information. So, I'll be there as well. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I I will be at the community lunch, but I'm there as my grandma's date. >> Um, so I'm there as a community member. >> Okay, good. And then we've got our second um addition on under discussion items. This is our superintendent evaluation summary which I'm going to read. Uh this is we do uh following statute. We we do a year re year-end review of the superintendent and then we share the summary uh verbally and um at the next board meeting which is tonight. So I'm just going to read it. At the August 25th, 2025 school board meeting, the board discussed the superintendent and year review survey results. The board shared in conversation and in the board survey that Superintendent Duffren has successfully implemented the 24 2024 2025 goals with respect to student agency, long-term budget planning, and academic excellence. Superintendent Duffren is recognized for her strong leadership and dedication, especially in advancing foundation literacy, broadening academic opportunities, and ensuring efficient financial management through long-term planning and difficult budget adjustments. Agency for students, including the development of systems supporting a strong academic foundation with an emphasis on literacy, math, and science was a 2024 2025 goal. Superintendent Duffren and the team have built a strong foundation in literacy through initiatives like letters and the district improvement plan while also broadening student choice in secondary courses. The next step is extending this progress to math and science, especially at the middle and high school levels and positioning the district as a model for serving all learners with integration across the district. In the goal area of budget planning, Superintendent Duffren and her team have demonstrated strong financial leadership by creating a long-term budget plan, adhering to board fund balance policies, and implementing significant budget adjustments while navigating challenging economic times. They have also advanced planning for operating levies and building bonds, ensuring efficient use of funds and alignment with student needs. In the goal area of academic excellence, Superintendent Duffren has laid the groundwork for the portrait of a graduate initiative and aligned success metrics with the district's strategic plan. While progress has been limited due to competing priorities, there is confidence in her ability to move it forward with clear actionable steps this year. Superintendent Duffren has met the goals for the 2024 2025 school year and the board has confidence in her continued leadership to enhance student opportunities and academic growth. The board appreciates her strong leadership, dedication and thoughtful approach, which has supported district stability and progress. She's valued for being open to ideas and providing candid feedback. Her leadership is highly valued and appreciated. Okay. So, with that, we'll move on to action items. Approval of donations and grants for August 2025 totaling $4,313. Moved by Director Domen. >> Second. >> Second by Director Witson. Any discussion? All 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 donor. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. >> Okay. Approval of the 2025 pay 2026 preliminary levy. >> Oh, you need this. Sorry. Okay. So this will be a familiar document to most of you as we go through this uh levy process. So the first uh first thing is looking at the preliminary levy and this is for taxes as it says taxes payable in 2026 and it funds the 2627 school year fiscal year. So, uh, we get, it gets confusing because sometimes we're working with three years at once. You're going to get information on the previous year, um, then the current year, and then we're talking about taxes payable another year out for another fiscal year. So, okay. And when we look at the, uh, there there's a number of different deadlines that uh, we have to meet. And the first one is September 30th. And that's the deadline for the board to certify this preliminary levy. And it's just preliminary. That's I think I need to stress that quite a bit as we go through. Um so that is uh submitted to uh the county auditor and we just have to get that in by September 30th. Uh we must notify MDE of any general election referendum results. So that's us this year. uh within 15 days after those results have been certified. So uh after that election is done, we'll go back and and uh submit our information to the state and then uh November 20 after November 20 24th um before adoption of the final levy u the district uh has the the truth and taxation and the public hearing on the on the levy. So I'll be going through that. Um and then the deadline for school boards to adopt that final levy uh and get that to the the county auditor and also um the department of revenue. Uh so December 20 December 20 is 5 days after December 20th and then a certificate for truth and taxation compliance is due to the department of revenue on December 30th. So we have a lot of different things we have to submit um as we go through the the levy process and get to that final levy. Uh there are two really it it comprises when we look at the levy it comprises of two uh different types of levies. One is a voter approved levies uh which you're familiar with the operating referendum uh capital projects techn capital projects and in this case capital projects levy is for technology that was for technology items and then uh building improvement uh so any anything having to do with an addition or improve large improvements to buildings and that's normally when we're going out and doing the bonded debt. So then the next type of levy are the disc discretionary levies and those are leveies in specific categories and they may come with aid attached to them or they may just be levied. So um we look at those levies things like uh you're familiar with the long-term facility ma facility maintenance bond or long-term facility maintenance program. So that one is an aid and levy mix and that uh that's for projects that are for existing buildings to really repair and maintain existing buildings. Anything attached to a building we can we can work on uh under that program. There's also safe schools levy that play pays for a school resource officer and any types of uh positions that help with security around our buildings. And then we have the lease levy and that would be something like the passages program, any short-term leases that we do for ice rental, um, anything through the YMCA for a swimming pool, that type of thing. So, and that and the lease levies are purely levy. There's no aid attached to that. some of the some of the levies. Um some districts may get aid attached to those, but um for us we have you know higher property values. So a lot of times that knocks us out of the aid category on some of those levies. Some of the different uh changes or drivers of of the levy uh you know of course enrollment is the big one that funds our basic general education aid. And so when we when we put the preliminary levy together, we have early numbers on enrollment and then when we when you go to approve that final levy in December, we'll have more solid enrollment numbers. So all all these numbers start to firm up as we go along on the state side of things as well as at the district level. Uh actual revenues and expenditures as compared to budgeted. Um and so we f once we get the fiscal year closed out completely and the audit is substantially complete uh then we submit our numbers to MDE and they do more runs. We do a lot of runs of this 39page levy document and it just is kind of a constant thing between now and the time that the levy is is approved. Uh that so and the preliminary levy does not include uh the tax impacts for the operating or the building bond levy. So that's important to remember. That's that's uh those are the an aside from that. Um if the operating referendum passes, the board will reduce levies uh in different areas to uh get to that point of on that, for example, on that $500,000 home, uh reduction of levies was $97. So just under $100 of reduction. So we'll look at different levies. Um the big thing is we want to look at levies to reduce levies that are purely levy and don't have aid attached to them because if we reduce a levy that's an aid and levy mix most of the time we don't get the state aid either. So it's kind of a kind of a uh finessing that happens to get to that point. So we look at this preliminary levy and these are real rough estimates. I'm going to talk about one of the differences already that that is that's occurred. Um, but when we look at the general, we've got the general fund, community service, and debt service. Uh, that that are the three funds that are um that are levy affected here. And so the final pay 25, that's how it wound up 17,215,000. Uh, that was approved back in December by the board. And then if we look at the proposed pay 26, uh that levy is a general fund is uh when you look at the change overall is about $300,000 up. Community service is about 44,000 decrease. Uh that's that's really due to um when we have a levy and we have expenses attached, estimated expenses attached. In the case of community service, sometimes those numbers don't come to fruition in the end. So, uh, you know, the state says, "Well, you know, you didn't meet the numbers. You can't keep all the extra levy dollars. We're going to take an adjustment back." So, so we have a lot of those adjustments that occur. Um, our goal is to keep those adjustments to a minimum. So, um, but, uh, and then we have debt service is down slightly. So, when you compare those total numbers, um, we're up 251,000 in this case, and that's a 1.46% increase. Um, I'm going to touch on this um idea or kind of a kind of a mis a little bit of a misnomer. Uh, but districts normally will levy what's called the maximum or at the maximum for this preliminary levy. The reason we want to do that is if there's an error in state information, there's an error in district information and that doesn't get get exposed until later be you know in you know let's say we get through November and we notice there's an error. Um the board cannot go back and levy an increased amount. And a perfect perfect example of this is we found out uh that uh 916 they have a they have a levy that gets passed through and every member school district levies for their buildings. Uh and for us that's about a two it's over 200,000. I don't know exactly what the number is but that number um 916 was a little late in getting that in uh these first levy runs. So um they're working on that. I I reached out to them and they're going to have they're going to have a number for us, but it won't be until tomorrow is what it sounds like. Um, so in that case, had you passed the levy at a number at a specific dollar amount today, um, and we didn't find out about that error later, it's too late. We can't do anything. You can't raise the levy after. So it's really important that you know I think on the surface and publicity wise to the general public it's kind of a negative to say we're going to levy at the maximum but it at this early point in the process it's very important because you don't have any you don't have any recourse um if there's a mistake and it doesn't get it isn't uh um done it it isn't discovered before you do the do a levy amount for a certain dollar amount. So that's uh really what we're kind of getting at trying to protect. >> So thanks for explaining all of that because this is this happens in every school district. Every school district does this and we do this annually but annually we go through explaining why that is so that people understand that phrase. >> We we levy a rates but not a dollar amount. Is that what you're saying? >> So when you approve the levy tonight, you're going to you're going to approve uh the levy at the maximum. It's not really even though I have a number here. Some districts don't even present a number, but I try to present numbers side by side so you can kind of get an idea of what what the levy looks like in its kind of in its infancy. There's a lot of numbers. These will change as we go through the process. >> So the direct answer though is no. It's not a rate. You're you're you're saying nope, it's not a number either. You are um approving uh the levy at the maximum allowable by law or something along those lines. Um maximum >> maximum. That's correct. >> Right. >> What was that? >> The maximum of what is allowed by law? Maximum. >> So there's there's not because these numbers are are so soft at at the state level. Our numbers are probably a little little firmer. But um because the numbers are so soft right now, um you levby what you'll do tonight is you'll approve at the maximum because we don't this number here. Sure. I can tell you right now it's already off, right? >> Maximum amount. >> Yeah. You'll you'll approve a MAC. You'll just approve the maximum amount. >> But is that So, we've got a total there and it says proposed pay 26, but we're not voting on that number. >> Correct. This is this is just to give you an idea of what what it's looking like at this point in time. And we won't know what the maximum number is until we hear back from MDE, >> right? Well, we'll get Yeah, we'll get closer. When we get closer to December, that's when everything gets finalized. There's a lot of things that will change as we go. Some things will go up, some things will go down. >> And then in December, you actually approve an actual amount, >> right? You'll do a dollar amount. Yeah. >> This is just the preliminary, >> right? a number of years. But >> well, a levy to the maximum that maximum amount has >> ability to to vote on a levy without >> No, we do this every year. So, it's been happening a long time. I think we probably explain it more than maybe we used to talk about it before um because the phrase >> Yeah. >> Yeah. No, this is this is an annual this is something that's required annually to do the preliminary approval. >> Okay. December >> that's also existed for a long >> Yeah. The maximum levies been in that's that's been in play. This process has been in place for I I would say well over 20 years 25 or more even more than that. I just remember back to my first school district when I was in Minnesota that this is what we did. Same thing. It hasn't really changed. The levy document was 39 pages then. It is still 39 pages now and printed on a very very old type of system. That's a state system. But anyway, okay. Okay. So to to get again to get an idea of what what tax impacts would be under this scenario, um the Washington County has a tax calculator that uh school districts and other taxing entities can go in and plug in numbers. So, what I've done here is just presented a a look at um what it looks like from the the current levy in place, the pay 25 uh which was passed and then what this what this new levy might look like. Again, the numbers on the new levy will change because you know we've got to get we have to get all the finalized numbers. But if you look at col column H, which is a taxing district portion of tax, um, and I'll take that that $531,500 home. Uh, that's our median valued home in the district right now. And at the very top there, there's a note. It assumes a 1.4% increase in market value. And that's our district's median increase right now. And that's those are and those are estimates by the county. Those are not final. Those are not final either. So, we have a lot of estimates here. Um, but you know, this is this is the best information we got available right now. So, if I plug that in, uh, our our taxing, um, portion of the tax for the district on that $531,000 home is 258 under this this li preliminary levy. Um, or >> $27 more than what's left. >> Correct. Yeah, exactly. Director, >> I have a question for you, Tim. Um, so can you answer as to why the amount is more this year than last? Is that due to the amount of the maximum amount being higher or the or I see like in the general fund um what was in K25 versus proposed K26 being $300,000 higher. I'm just trying to understand what's the reason for the increase. That's a great question and I could take that 39page document out and so when I look through there if I look at different things that may be pushing pushing that amount um it's going to be you know that we'll have we have formula increases that happen on some of those formulas. And so if I looked at like the lease levy uh we've got we've got costs that go up. So, we've got uh you know, from the district side, I know what our leases are going to be for this this coming year. They're pretty much locked in, but those have gone up. You know, anybody anywhere from the YMCA to other places that we lease, we have costs go up. So, that levy goes up. Um most of these leveies, uh it it depends on if you've underleved or overlevied in previous years as well. So, there's all sorts of adjustments that that happen. So sometimes they net out to be a little less and sometimes they net out to be a little more. Um it's a it's a really it's a tough question to answer in summary, but um I can go back through that document and you know you'll see some of the some of the bigger things some of the bigger pushes on it are the referendum uh the voter approved referendum amounts those have gone up uh you know 80 to $100,000 uh for the general fund. Those would be one of the other bigger pieces that would that would have gone up. >> And when when I look at this chart though, um you said you have um or the previous chart was about was it uh 1.4 something% tax increase, >> right? >> And this also includes the market value increase, >> right? >> Yes. Yep. >> So, is it the case that those two things together are contributing to the increase, the actual dollar amount? >> Is that $27 in some ways a part of the increase in home value as well? >> They're they're interrelated for sure. But when I when I did the 1.46%, that's just taking the levy compared to last year. Um, and so that's purely a percentage increase on the levy amount, but that's part of the pressure um that raises that up. And then we have to go through this calculation and I I won't get into it because there's a lot of lot of pieces to it. Um but we have to go in and apply uh two different mark two different rates. We have the referendum market rate and then we also have the general let's call it general local rate. Um and they both they both have an impact. Classes of property have an impact. So there's different classes. So there's residential, industrial, commercial properties uh that are taxed at different rates and it depends on what formula it's funding. You know, referendum is taxed at a referendum market value and that's different from a net tax capacity. Um so you have a lot of there just a tremendous number of formulas that uh that are that come into play that affect that. But anyway, when you, you know, if you look at a $600,000 home, uh, it's going up $29 and that's on an annual basis. So, that's a lot to look at and a lot of formulas. I know. Any other questions on that? >> Why do the 300 and the $400,000 houses have a number and the others are zero? Oh, when you're looking at the column E, the homestead market value exclusion. Yeah. So, so the homestead market value exclusion is for um properties uh under $517,000 in value. And what what you had um back I think 2012 was when that changed had a homestead market they had a homestead credit and that went away and the state replaced it with a um a homestead market value exclusion. So what that number for example in that $300,000 home there's 19,600 under that first column E. So that just that that is that is excluded from the tax rate from the classified tax rate on the property. So um you have that but then you can see when you get into when you get into the uh you get above 517,000 in market value it that goes to zero. Uh but you'll have everybody will have a different um market value exclusion based on the value of their home. they either get it, they may get it, they may get some of it or may they could get the maximum amount. Um so that comes off the top. They don't get taxed on that. The other thing is even even if you look at um the referendum if you look at the operating referendum that is taxed differently than uh building bonds and that's uh you know if you look at um for example referendum market value um that for the operating referendum the seasonal property is not taxed on that that's t they have there's a general state tax that is that applies the egg property um It's the It's one acre of land, the house and uh the garage. That's what it's taxed on. Uh they don't there's no tax additional tax for that operating referendum on existing other farm buildings or existing acreage. It's just that so it's it's figured so many different ways. Um but that's a that's an example. Any questions? So I'm just presenting that preliminary budget here. Uh you've already approved that but it's just it's part of the requirement that we present the current budget along with the uh with the tax information approving tax information. So there haven't been any changes here. That's the that's the same one you approved back in June. And then we get to required board action. Um so board approval of the preliminary levy at the maximum. Uh again, it's just the wording. It's at the maximum uh for the preliminary and then you'll get to approve a dollar amount when you get to the final levy approval. And uh again, the state works through the numbers. We work through the numbers. Um 916 will get in their information and then we'll all be we'll have solid numbers when we come back. Um and then uh board approval is on December 15th. So final board approval. Any any other questions? >> I get a motion to approve the preliminary levy at the maximum for pay 2026. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. Hi. >> Hi. >> Okay. Now, we'll move on to school board. >> Okay. And I'll do AMSD. But before I do that, I want to um say happy school board appreciation month. The school, this is the month we recognize our school board for um your commitments to our district. We know this is a lot of time, especially this year with all the um the events that you've been going to to make sure everyone understands what is being asked in the levy. So, um so thank you for your leadership, for your commitment, for your service. We know that this can be a pretty thankless job. And so, um I hope you you got some I hope you heard it from um our administrators in the hallway. And you'll see in your folders, you also have some thank yous from from a number of uh students as well. We do recognize that that this is uh this is a big ask and it's a big it's um it's a lot to carry and it's a big comm biggest community service there is out there. I think for your so thank you to all of you. Um, okay. I will give the AMSD report and I actually think that you received it from um, Director Donna after he attended. Um, we heard from, uh, Peter Leman. He gave a, you know, we appreciate a Peter Leatherman report and he did one, he always does one every year uh, for state and he presents it to AMSD and to the schoolboards association. So, I recommend looking at it. It's even better if you can listen to it. There is a I think there's a recording so because he gives so much context for the slides as well. Um so that was one report we had and we also heard from uh the executive director of the um perpage uh center for the arts. Um the perpage center is a state agency and it uh provides an arts high school and also a library and um some um professional development. Most districts do call and perpet for some assistance with professional development, particularly when there's a curriculum review for the arts and they're a great resource to us. So um the executive director um was there to give a presentation about what was available to schools that was at AMSD that last on Monday September 16th. Couple of highlights from the May meeting. If there are any teachers listening the fall window for teacher grants is open. Um, so go ahead and submit those grants for your classroom needs. Um, I believe a MAC representative will also be attending every all four of the schools to talk more about the teacher grant if you have any questions. So, anybody who is a teacher who is listening, um, they'll be coming your way. Couple of dates for all of us to get on your calendars. Um, Thursday, October 2nd is the Zephr get together at Pine Tree Apple Orchard. So, would love to see everybody there. Um, if by chance we have inclement weather on Thursday, October 2nd, the rain date or backup date is Thursday, October 9th. And you probably have seen Mace out at a lot of back to school and fall events. And at homecoming, they had their own float at the parade. They talked at length about the organization of their parade attendants and how they would bowl the candy, how they would attend and have a preserve the candy so there was candy for this is just fits with the mission of mate. So they made sure to have candy at the end of the parade and not just the beginning. Very concerned about that. So, um, they spend a lot of time in their meetings talking about how to make it so that it impacts all of the students, not just some, >> not just the ones at the front. >> Yes. So, that is the update for Oh, they're also looking for two more board members. So, um, if you know anybody who might be interested in the community or you are listening and are interested, um, you can reach out to me to find out more. So that's the meeting for Monday, September 16th. Couple things. The dates are out for the state conference in January. I always go on Thursday, the only day I can go, but I go for the day if anyone wants to join me. Um, and then >> January 16th. >> Yeah. Thanks. Then uh they are trying like PTO is doing with Drew, they are trying to now do a lunch meeting for the statewide Zoom instead of just mornings 8:00 when you're getting your kids on the bus or trying to get to work. They're now going to do the first meeting of the month is at 8 on Zoom and the second meeting of the month is now at noon if you want to try over your lunch hour. and it's only been one of them, but um attendance was way down at the noon over the 8:00, but maybe it'll catch on. Uh I will be sure to send out the summary, but I we did have a retreat which I found really valuable and getting it was really I have an even more appreciation for being that are there any other reports? >> I have one for the PTO meeting which I was actually able to attend. >> Uh we met on September 10th that Wednesday evening. Um they reported that they had a very successful year financially um and they expect to end in a good financial position for this coming year. Uh they were looking forward to the fund run that was coming up. Um there's a lot of anticipation around that. Um the they had a funding request that came through. It came from Judy Livingston who's the lit literacy coach at Wildwood. Uh and it was a subscription. They were asking them to fund the project reads UFI portal. It is a tool that helps teachers quickly score reading assessments uh and use it information to support students who need extra practice with phonics and spelling skills. Um really I think the there's a lot of information here, but um it was a minimal cost. It's only $3.50 per student for the whole year. Um and M the PTO did approve this. They're very excited about the amount of time that it will save the teachers. There's a lot of things to track. So, it allows them to very quickly automate um their input on the data. And this tool quickly can it'll monitor and assess um each students progress and can quickly break students into groups in order to evaluate what's the next critical thing uh for their reading skills. So, um they did approve it. It's a subscription, but they said, "Let's try it for one year." uh and they they were quite excited about how much um time the teacher will be saved and the consistency and the accuracy of having a tool like this to help track some of those indicators. >> Um we had a September meeting for the Minnesota State High School Le sub subcommittee. Um, and uh, I guess the only thing to report back is I did put a request in to Secretary Whistler for an update from the state of Minnesota regarding uh, the Minnesota Minnesota State High School League transgender athlete participation policy. Um, there is a regional MSHSL meeting happening this week where they're anticipating some updates. Um our next meeting as a subcommittee is not until second week in November. So I don't anticipate much feedback before then. Um but I did ask to understand kind of the status of any legal challenges. What lawsuits are they waiting for results on status of those lawsuits and um general direct direction from the Minnesota State High School League? The only update I was given this point is that there's no update and don't anticipate any update anytime soon. That's all I got. >> Thank you. Thanks for um being engaged there. Okay. Any other reports? With that, I get a motion for a move. All right.