All right. And then we will do the approval of the agenda. >> So moved. >> Okay. Moved by Livingston, >> second by Natardi. Um any discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> And all oppose say nay. >> Okay. The agenda is approved and then we have right away the achievement awards and thank you to everyone who's here for those and sorry about getting started late. We usually start at six and we got stuck coming from work and things. So >> is it Jed explain what we're doing here? >> Yep. Cherry members of the board. Thank you for the opportunity. It gives me pleasure to introduce Jed Hellwick who's the activities director from North High School. He's going to be talking about uh students from our high school and recognizing them for their accomplishments in athletics and activities. So, welcome. >> Thank you, Mr. Beaton. My name is Jwick. I serve as the activities director at North. And uh we're going to start tonight with uh recognizing some student athletes and some contributors to North High. And so, we're going to start with Adam. Don't see Adam here right now, but we want to congratulate Adam uh on an outstanding season representing North High, the Minnesota State High School League class AAA Boys State Golf Tournament, competing against Minnesota's top golfers. Adam finished 70th out of 90 participants. An impressive accomplishment for a sophomore competing in the state's biggest stage. His dedication, perseverance, and hard work throughout the season earned him an opportunity to compete at state, and the experience will serve as a strong foundation for future success. Congratulations to Adam on a memorable season, great state tournament appearance. We will look forward to the future for >> All right, Adam. Students, as your name is called, if for those who are here, as your name is called, um once Mr. Hellwe calls your name, we're going to have you come stand up at the front and then um we'll wait till all the students are up here and then we'll take a group photo as well. Just so you know, for those who students who are here tonight and parents, we'll make sure you get a copy of that photo. >> Kimaya, >> Tyrese, come on up. Kimaya. Yeah, that's it. Right over here, bud. Come right here. Yeah, this is good. Right here. Uh, we're gonna start with Kimaya. Congratulations to Kimaya Kimaya and Tyrese on qualifying for the Minnesota State High School League track and field state tournament. >> Kimaya earned a trip to the state tournament in the 200 meter dash, showcasing her speed and determination throughout the season. Tyrese qualified in the high jump, demonstrating outstanding athleticism and consistency in one of the track and field's most challenging events. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence have made North High community a better place. Congratulations with this award. It's a big award with you. So once we get done with all parents can take photos as well. Next is our North High Clay target team. Congratulations to our North Clay target team. An outstanding season and earning a class 1A conference one championship. Uh hard work. Through the hard work, dedication, teamwork, our student ath represented North with excellent excellence and achieve this impressive accomplishment. Congratulations to the team coaches in bringing home the conference title of the North High Clay target champions. Come on up, Shmaya. I want to start I want to start out by saying Shmai is um likes to come and say hi to Mr. Helwick throughout the course of the day. She has a big smile and stops and says hi real quick. Anyway, Shmama has has become a strong leader within our BSU or our black student union and is a deserving recipient of BSU's next up recognition. This year, she took the lead in planning our end of year barbecue, demonstrating outstanding organization, initiative, and commitment. She also volunteered her time to support fundraising efforts and will continue her leadership journey next year in BSU's event planner and public relations manager. We are proud of her growth and excited to see her continue the impact on BSU and North High community. Congratulations. >> And I don't know where Tartan is. Are any parents here from tonight? >> I'm thinking maybe it was a six o'clock. >> Oh, >> I don't know. >> That's all right. >> Oh, sure. Yeah. >> Kiara Riley had a fantastic lacrosse season this spring. Kiara led the team in goals, scoring 29 goals in 14 games. Uh she was selected to an all-conference team and was named team MVP. Uh Kira provided outstanding leadership throughout the season helping a lot of the young players improve their game. Congratulations Wy Rutherford. Wy was a three sport star for the Titans this year. He was a starter in football, hockey, and baseball teams. Uh WY earned all conference honorable mention three sports as well as all uh all conference academic award this spring. He batted 344 with a on base percentage of 472 and 12 stolen bases. Congratulations. And Aubrey, Aubrey was is part of our committee. She's a committee member. Yeah. Uh was an integral part of the Tartans activities department this past two years. Aubry was uh the face of the department on social media, organizing, creating, and editing uh the video promoting our programs. She was also one of the leaders of the Tartan super fans this year. On top of this, Aubrey was a three sport student athlete participating in tennis, lacrosse, and flag football. And those are Tartan star students. >> All right, let's together. Jen All right. Thank you to all the guests for coming today and congratulations to the students. >> Uh, next on the agenda, we have public comment. Uh, May, do we have any public comment? May >> No. Okay. Totally not. Great. >> Maybe at 6 PM, >> right? >> All right. And then we have the consent agenda. So the consent agenda includes the minutes of the May 19th business meeting, the minutes of the June 9th study session, routine personnel change orders, dispersements, certification of population increase for community education in Iowa. Um, are there any items that anybody would like to remove from the consent agenda? Uh if not, can I get a motion and a second to approve? So move. >> Moved by Livingston. >> Second. >> Second by swore. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> And all oppose say. >> Okay. Uh next we have the reports and we have our student board reports and they are not here today. >> Not in June. >> Not in June. And they don't. Um then we have reports from the superintendent and recognition of retirees. >> All right. It is my distinct honor, madam chair and directors of the board to recognize those who have retired and are retiring in the 2526 school year. Uh this is always a bittersweet time of the year for us because we're so grateful for the many many gifts and talents that each of these folks have have shared with us over the years. I'm going to read through our list of current retirees. Katherine Anderson, Tartan, LPN. Mary Andrin, Cowan, receptionist. Barbara Burish, JPEG, building ed assistant. Norma Jackson, Beaver Lake, head engineer. Julie Kohler, districtwide student services supervisor. Patrick Loose, bus driver. M Michelle Kmet, North High Nutrition Services. Deborah Lesie, uh, Eagle Point Special Ed PAR. May Sering, Justice Alan Page, building EA. Kenny Wikin, Van Driver. Kathy Ronsberg, DEEC, executive assistant. Barb an Eagle Point first grade teacher. Lynn Brown, Sky View, sixth grade teacher. Karen Callahan, um, Tossa, districtwide. Brady Gruie, John Glenn, teacher. Thomas Hegel, North High social studies teacher. Robin Keane, North Industrial Tech teacher. Sherry Canute, Eagle Point third grade teacher. Daniel Larson, 62 online ELA teacher. Cindy Milich, Sky View math teacher. Melissa Mole, Tartan, art teacher. Ann Peterson, Gladstone, ECF, PAR. Don Seager, Eagle Point teacher. Jessica Talby, North High teacher. Mary Joe, Carver, third grade teacher. Lisa Brunwald, Office of Early Learning Principal. Lorie Larson, Sky View Educational Assistant. Yavon Poek, Tartan High School specialed, PAR. Juanita Ebensburgger, John Glenn, Nutrition Services Assistant. An Nurer, Bus Monitor. Janet Olsen, Richardson, Nutrition Services Assistant. Craig Peterson, John Glenn, teacher, and Mark Steinraber, van driver. And again, we want to congratulate each and every one of these employees who have dedicated uh extensive time and years of service to District 62 and wish them a very joyful retirement. GREAT. All right. Thank you. and thank you to those teachers for their years of service and enjoy your retirement. Um, next we have the action items under finance the acknowledgement of contributions. So, Minnesota state statute 123B.02 permits school boards to receive for their benefit of the district bequest donations or gifts for any proper purpose and apply the same to the purpose designated. In that behalf, the board may act as trustee of any trust created for the benefit of the district and for the benefit of pupils thereof. Therefore, the director of finance recommends the following resolution. Be it resolved by the school board of independent district 622 that the school board accept with appreciation the following contributions and permit their use as designated by the donors. First, we have Scooters Coffee, $849. Oh, sorry. $840.99 to support Beaver Lake Early Childhood. Evans Transportation Services, $5,000 to support BSU club activities at North High School. And Jeff Linham, former science teacher at North, a trumpet and clarinet to enrich the music program. That brings the total fiscal 2025 2026 to moni monetary contributions to $49,289.65. And um with appreciation to those donors, um I'll move that resolution. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by sore. Um any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> And all oppose say nay. Okay. and that is approved. Thank you again to those donors. Then we have the approval of the 27 fiscal year budgets. Okay. Okay. Well, good evening, Chair Yenner, directors of the board, uh, Superintendent Tuccio, and cabinet. So, by law, school boards are required to approve a balanced budget by, uh, June 30th for the upcoming fiscal year. And so, tonight, I am presenting the FY27 budget, which is based on the best information that we have available at this time. It is important to note uh that school districts routinely revise their budgets throughout the school year. And while you be you will be asked to approve this proposed budget, you can anticipate making amendments throughout the next school year. Uh this practice is common and not unique to district 622 as most school districts statewide follow the same approach. So our revenues and expenditures are distributed across nine different funds with fund one, the general fund being by far the largest. One common question that we receive is whether districts can use any funds for any purpose and that answer is no. Funds outside of the general fund are legally restricted by Minnesota school finance laws and they cannot be used to cover general operating costs. The budgets that are being presented for your approval tonight directly support the work of the 2024 through 2029 district 622 strategic plan. And so the budget assumptions that we are presenting here tonight served as the foundation for our proposed general fund budget. Originally reviewed earlier this spring. Uh these consistent benchmarks ensure transparency throughout our planning process. By maintaining these assumptions, we ensure the budget reflects the most accurate data available, enabling informed decisions that align with our district's goals and fiscal responsibilities. And so going through these budget assumptions, uh we do know that we will be receiving a 2.69% increase on our basic formula allowance, which is the inflationary number for next year. We are seeing an increase in compensatory revenue, expecting title revenue to be flat, our enrollment to remain flat, and then we have increases in our property auto and liability insurance, which you uh see on the agenda for later this evening, workers comp insurance, utilities costs, supply cost increases, um food, transportation, uh and our varied contract settlements all played into our budget assumptions for FY27. So enrollment is the primary driver of our budget and we are projecting enrollment to remain steady for this upcoming year. Because most funding formulas utilize the adjusted pupil units, our state funding accounts for grade level waiting. Specifically, students in grades K through six are weighted at a 1.0 and grades 7 through 12 rated are rated or weighted, excuse me, at a 1.2. Because generally speaking, students in secondary programming cost more to educate. We will first start with the general fund budget, which again is by far the largest and makes up just over 70% of our overall budget. We are projecting that our revenues in the general fund will be 23,873,884 broken down between state revenue, local revenue, federal revenue and fees and other. On the expenditure side, we are projecting expenditures to equal revenues at 23 million873,884. By far, mostly made up of salaries and benefits. Nearly 78% of the expenditures are tied to salaries and benefits. After all, we are in the people business of educating young people. And so, the majority of our general fund expenditures are tied to people in our school district. And so the overview for the general fund again revenues at 23,873,884 and expenditures to match the same. You may recall back at the work session, we were anticipating assigning about $330,000 to our next year's budget. We have continued to refine our expenditures and have brought down salaries by $200,000 and purchase services by about $130,000 so we could balance out our expenses and revenue for next year in the general fund. Next, we will move on to fund two, which is nutrition services. Uh, nutrition services overall makes up about 3.6% of our overall budget. The upcoming budget uh accounts in nutrition services um accounts for continued increases in breakfast and lunch participation due to universal free meals and expanded breakfast programming. The resulting increase in reimbursement revenue will be utilized to offset the rising food costs and inflation and higher labor expenditures stemming from the recent contract settlement, keeping the fund structurally balanced. And so you can see SE the breakdown with revenues and expenditures >> 10.2 million in revenue and about 10.3 million in expenditures. There is a significant fund balance in food service. So they are able to weather that difference of about $33,000. >> Uh next we will look at the community education budget. As a reminder, this budget was formally reviewed and approved by the school board back in May. So, we will focus on a quick recap of the approved highlights this evening. Community education makes up about 4.4% of our overall budget. And you can see the breakdown of the proposed revenues and expenditures by program ranging from adult basic ed down to early childhood family education, facility use, youth enrichment, and non-public programming. So overall revenue for community ed. Expenditures at about 13.3 million. Based on this projection, uh, Community Education has a planned spendown of about $471,000 of its fund balance for their strategic investment purposes. Next, we're going to move into fund six, which is construction. The revenue for construction, well, first of all, uh, our overall construction budget is about four.5% of our overall budget. The revenue for construction primarily comes from interest earnings in our accounts and you can see the expenditures of about $7.6 million to fund projects across the district. Next we have fund 7 which is debt service. You can see debt service fund 7 makes up about 9.9% of our overall budget. The projected revenue for the debt service fund is about 28.4 million aligning with the pay 26 property tax levy that was approved and finalized back in December. Uh this revenue includes both the voter approved and nonvoterapproved portions of the levy. Uh with expenditures also projected at 28.4 million. This fund presents a structurally balanced budget for this upcoming year. Uh, next we're going to move into fund 20 and fund 21. We are self-insured for both medical and dental. First, with fund 20, you can see that that makes up about 9% of our overall budget. The school board approved the health insurance rates earlier this spring and based on those approved rates, we are currently projecting revenues and expenditures will balance at approximately $26 million. Moving on to fund 21 for dental. That makes up about8% of our overall budget. And you can see revenues and expenditures are expected to balance at about $2.2 million in our self-insured fund 21 dental account. Next, we're going to move into fund 45, OPED trust, and fund 47, OPED debt. OPED stands for other postemployment benefits and that trust was established to manage the bonds that were issued back in the 2008 2009 fiscal year to fund our postemployment obligations. Assets within this trust are used to offset the district's contractually obligated retirey benefits which include health, dental, and life insurance. Fund 45 makes up about.5% of our overall budget and you can see revenues and expenditures are planned at about 1.4 million. Our fund 47 OPED debt makes up about.7% of our overall budget. The OPED debt service fund covers the annual principal and interest payments on the bonds. This required funding amount is built into our annual property tax levy that was certified by the school board. >> And so that brings us to the overall all budget fund summary. You can see our overall revenue uh at just over $288 million broken down between the nine different funds and the expenditures of about $295.3 million. Again, broken down between those nine different funds. I do want to address and to wrap things up, I want to address a few of the most common questions we receive regarding school finance. This is also a perfect opportunity to plug our new FY27 budget book um which is available in your board materials and will be posted on our website alongside of this budget presentation. I highly encourage our community to review the budget book as it provides a transparent overview of our district's priorities and overall budgeting process. And you can find the answers to these questions and more in the FY27 budget book. But I do very briefly want to address some of the more more common questions. One I addressed earlier about whether or not we could use any funds to fund anything in the district. That answer is no. Uh another common question we get is how public schools are funded in Minnesota. And it's broken down between state aid, local property tax levies, federal funding, and grants and fees. Another common question is because what hap is what happens when enrollment declines? Um, as enrollment fluctuates, um, we do make, um, adjustments with our, um, with our expenses and revenues, as we continually evaluate staffing, program needs, and operational needs to maintain our long-term stability across the district, all in the effort to support students while they're here in district 622. And then finally, why do budgets sometimes differ than the actual results? And as you know, this is a a monthslong process. We have several factors that go into why things change throughout the year and those are enrollment changes, staffing vacancies, unexpected expenditures, changes in state or federal programming, timing of some purchases and projects, and definitely economic conditions with our inflationary practices or our inflationary numbers. And so I wanted to take uh take a moment just to address some of the more common questions that we get when it comes to school finance. And with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions that you all might have. >> Go ahead. >> Well, I was just going to say that I really like the budget book >> and I think it's a really nice resource for the public. It's also a nice resource for me because it lays everything out so clearly. So, I just wanted to appreciate that. >> Thank you. Um I just want to say how pleased I am that uh our most important funding stream which is enrollment is projected to be steady for next year. This is this is key. It I think it reflects confidence in the schools on the basis of our residents and families. So >> thank you. >> I agree. >> Yeah. Yeah, I just want to thank you and your team, Josh, for all the hard work, and I know that numbers change all the time. Um, even I think two weeks ago, right, we had that 330,000 that we were going to have to carry over. Um, I did want to just ask a little bit more specifically, were those 200,000s in salary reductions? I'm guessing it's not your pay cut. Um, did we lose a couple of more positions or are these more like shifting from more experienced to less experienced on the pay scale? >> Yes. Okay. >> The latter part. Absolutely. >> Okay. um that worked out well. So, thank you to the new hires, I suppose. Um and I saw there are plenty of them on the from our consent agenda coming in. So, welcome to 62. >> Just to follow up to what you just asked, Katie, I'm really glad you asked that question because it um in fact um it really is interesting because as we talked about, you know, whenever we build our budget projections for the coming school year, we base it on a set of assumptions. how many students we think we're going to have based on historical trends and there's all these statistical analysis that goes into it. Uh assumptions on where we think costs might go up and down. And then of course as staff, you know, as we just read off this list of retirees, you know, um depending on who comes in to replace these people, sometimes they are less experienced and they're not going to be placed quite as high on the salary schedule. And sometimes some of these cases haven't been hired yet. So we're in the process. So, you never know, you know, until the dust settles exactly down to a a precision level of exactly what cost of salaries will be because the the workforce is evolving and changing over time. People retire and, you know, things like that. And so I'm really glad you asked that question because it's very it's it's it's it's a little confusing, but I think if we think about this as sort of a point in time by June 30th, we put together our our best estimates based on all the statistical data that we use. And then throughout the school year, that's when we do budget revisions because then once the kids show up and the staff show up, we go, okay, how well did our predict predictions play out and do we need to adjust in different directions, up or down? So I'm glad you asked that question. It's really helpful. >> Yeah. Thanks. Um and then Josh, could you just go over briefly again where the initial projections landed and um some of the hard work you and your team and the admins have done to get us to that balanced budget? >> Yeah. some of the projections like the the additional um insurance costs. Sarah and her operations team do a great job of of giving us budget assumptions for utilities and all the things that go up by a lot of money every year, which again you will see later on in the agenda for insurance rates for next year. Um and so it it is it is uh a moving target that changes pretty much daily on some of the things, especially when we're talking about enrollment or staffing, what we're we're thinking about. And so, um, again, this this is the best information that we have available to us at this time. And, um, you will be I I promise you, you will be asked to make budget adjustments, um, as we move into next school year because things things will change between now, um, and end of August and and September. And so, um, we we we have a budget model, um, that uses um, historical numbers. We plug historical numbers in with projections and increases that that give us an idea by object code um like how much teachers are going to cost in object code 140 admin and 110 and things like that. And then we take a look at our current expenses and project out where we think we're going to be at the end of the year and then make make our best guess what we think the number is going to be for next year. And one of the things that you're going to see in the FY26 budget revisions is just that we're lowering some some um salary numbers um and increase in revenue numbers that you that um for those reasons that we're taking a look at um numbers at a point in time and making our best projections to think to see where we think we're going to land um for the year. And ultimately the audit will tell us how we did. um when we get through the audit by the end of November, um we'll have numbers on on how our budget um played out to actuals and we'll go through all that uh in um uh in the winter with with the school board with the audit for this school year. >> Yep. Never ends, right? The the finance cycle, it's there's always something coming. Um, and I just want to uh reiterate again that even though we're we're passing sort of a balanced budget um and taking all these funds into account, there were significant um reductions that needed to be made in order to get to that >> and I believe it was about 4 to5 million off of what we had been able to spend based on previous revenues. And um again, hope the community understands the the hard work um both in having to make those those reductions kind of year after year and and the decisions on what is best for the students of 622 and what aligns best with our strategic plan. So, um thanks again for the hard work. Look forward to approving this. >> Thank you. Uh Josh, could you um share, you know, in terms of the context of maybe the last budget year and the year before that, how does the cuts this year compared to the past years >> just in terms of amounts? >> Um so, uh we a couple years ago had a target deficit of about 10 million. I think we cut about 7 million. Um a couple years ago we cut about 4 million and we are on that same number again for for this year. And so um we uh and that's going to continue into the future. Um we have structural deficits on our budget model um moving into the future and and things can change. You know sudden if we have 200 new kids that show up then we'll have more revenue u but then not enough space uh in in certain areas. And so you know that would be a great thing uh that we'd have to have to work towards. Um we we have made significant reductions um across the entire district um the last couple of years and it would be uh and we have to do that in order to to have a balanced budget. >> Um yes, we do have a fund balance um for one-time money to plug holes when we need it. But we do have to make these these budget adjustments to m to maintain long-term financial stability across the district. We owe that to our taxpayers in order to do that. >> Yeah, absolutely. I think what I'll also add too for everyone at home, you know, the school district, we have to, you know, we have a few levers that we can pull when it comes to our budget. Uh we have, you know, our revenue, uh, which our only revenue sources really are, um, state funding as well as, uh, you know, referendum, property taxes, and enrollment. Um, you know, unfortunately, all those are kind of remaining flat at the moment. um the state h hasn't yet reached uh higher funding amounts than in 2003. So back in 2003, our kids were getting, you know, if you adjust for inflation, more funding per pupil than currently. Um and at the same time, you know, the costs continue to rise just like for every family. Uh you know, water and sewage is up 11%. Uh insurance is up 10%. Natural gas is up 9%. Waste collection is up 9%. Transportation and food is up 5% and the state is only increasing our uh revenue by about 2.6%. Um which creates a really difficult situation for our for our school district. Um and you know we are in the people business. We're educating kids. We have a lot of teachers and staff which make up about 87% if you add you know the medical, the benefits, all the staff positions together. It's about 87% of our budget. So unfortunately like tough cuts have to be made. Um and we've been able to plug some of those holes with utilizing some fund balances especially when it comes to nutrition services and the community services community ed which is good but you know if you look at a sustainable funding model it's not necessarily the best of course. Um, so as we continue to see costs rise, as we see inflation continue to rise, and with our revenue staying flat, it's really important that we increase our revenue in in in some way. Um, ideally, the state would provide more funding for public education. Um, a 2% 2.6% increase um is is too low. Um, and in addition to that, uh, we really do need to pass an operating levy for this district. Uh, we haven't done so in about 11 years. Uh, all of our surrounding school districts that border us receive more funding per pupil dollars. Um, so we really need to do better by our kids, better by our community, by investing in this district. Um, and you know, as an alum of this district, uh, 2017 Tartan graduate who went to Cowan, who went to Mwood Middle, um, you know, I think our community wants to. We just have to get out, um, and do so. And I really urge everyone to think really hard and to make sure we're supporting our our kids so that we don't have to come back here again next year and make more cuts on the back of more cuts. Um, you know, our school district is a really great investment in our in our community. Um, our our audits have been good. We have no fraud. Our graduation rates are up. We're above the state average. Um, so we're a wise investment. I just really hope that uh this November that uh we do pass an operating levy and can ensure that our kids are funded into the future. So, thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. A couple of things that I'd like to um just kind of add on to what you mentioned. So that inflationary gap you mentioned back to 2003. Um had that inflationary gap been closed, our district would be receiving probably between not probably we would be receiving about 14.5 to 15 million additional dollars in revenue had that if had that gap been closed since that point in time. Um and and one specific point about the 2.69% 69% increase to the funding formula. That's just on the basic GED formula. That does not that 2.69% doesn't get added on to all of our revenue streams. So, it does not get added on to our local property taxes. It doesn't get added on to federal revenue or any of the um fees or anything else that we collect. That's just on the one specific funding stream. Um and so uh that that is maybe a question I should add to the budget book about um it is tied just to the basic gender formula not all the revenue streams that we receive. >> Thank you for that. That's helpful context. Um, so they're uh neighboring uh districts, they're having parents uh really advocate for the the funding. What can we do in our school district to get uh parents that excited so much so they want to put it on the ballot? Well, just a reminder, as a school district, we can never advocate for anyone to vote yes on a referendum. All we can do is distribute the facts. So, our job is to make sure that people understand what questions are on the ballot and the reason why it's being asked to be put on the ballot. And so, um, we are working right now on, um, some communication efforts to help everyone in the community just understand what the ask is going to be this fall and and why and for what purpose. In fact, um, right now, if you remember, like our community education catalog that gets mailed out to every home, the fall catalog is just about to go to print. So, you know, we put some information in there and we've got a whole bunch of other communications strategies in the works right now to make sure our best effort are are it's really important as a school district. Um, you can't use taxpayer dollars to advocate for a yes vote, but you can use taxpayer dollars to help people understand what is on the ballot and remind people to go to the polls so that our voices of our voters are heard. And so um there our communications team is working through a whole um plan right now with um through the summer and through welcome back to school outreach to help people really understand um kind of what Sam was getting at too just that that real need for how and why those resources are needed and for what purpose. So, um I'm glad you asked that question because we are uh already working on um as as people it's so hard to believe when school just gets out, but all of our back to school efforts are underway already and lots of planning. In fact, we were in we were in meetings all morning today about our back to school sit plans and whatnot with all the principles and assistant. We were sitting in this very room just today for half a day working on these pieces. And so all the welcome back to work is happening in in communication efforts to try to make sure people really understand what we're asking of our voters. So thank you for asking that. Um Josh, viewers might have caught the story about uh the state's largest uh school district, Noah Henipin, has um a major effort by parents to petition their school district to get an increase in um um referendum dollars on the ballot. You know, um I don't know if you have thoughts about that. Of course, we, you know, are asking this November because we did recognize that we had to make significant cuts and um and our students deserve, you know, the best education. So, um so anyway, your your thoughts about the Inoca Henipin situation? >> I'm not sure I know enough about it to to to comment on that. I I mean I I I have heard that there was a a group that is advocating for the the school board to um add a question to the ballot and that's up to their school board to do that. Um parents can't um parents can't do that for them. It has to be by call of action by the school board to put a question on the ballot. And so I don't I don't know enough about the specifics to to make any other comment other than that. Um I do know that you all as a board have been very supportive every year we've tried to do this to keep going back out again because you see the need. um across the district. And so we um as staff appreciate your support in in attempting to get something to pass. >> I think part of it too might come from when when you have a board that's not unified in that decision. That's where you know parents and others may try to um you know try to encourage the board to move forward by putting that question on the ballot. um our parents didn't need to do that because our board unanimously voted to put that on the ballot again just because of the need that we just walked through all the years of several years in a row of deep budget cuts. So um that hasn't been a need here for board members to be convinced of that need, but I think that that might be the case in some places. But again, I can't speak for another school district, but from a across the metro looking at that, that's what I would guess might be happening. I think that's all we had. Thank you so much. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. And then the next thing on the agenda, um, you know what? Do you want to >> do the resolution for the approval right now before we move on to the budget revisions? >> Yeah, we can do that. >> Okay. >> Um, I will go ahead and read it. Um, so be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 622 that the 2026 2027 preliminary budgets be approved um as listed in the board book and as presented. Could I get a motion and a second? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by second by Livingston. Um any discussion. >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> And all oppose say nay. All right. And so that um motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, next on the agenda is the approval of the June 2026 budget revisions. So, I want to highlight a few of the differences for you. You will see a reduction of about $1.8 million in salaries and wages um driven by what we talked about earlier, some natural recruitment timelines, uh some vacancies that weren't filled, mid-year vacancies. We do conservatively budget for 100% full-time positions for for full years uh for the full year. And so this um this gap is is normal um and is a natural result in that variance. We do have a slight increase in benefits. So this is a minor adjustment to align our benefit fund. Um reminder that fund 20 is well over $20 million. So this is a $200,000 adjust adjustment to our fund 20 benefits. And then we do have some increases in state aid revenues. um reflects updated allocations based on enrollment for basic general education aid and special education aid based on um more finalized state reimbursement formulas for special education. And so with that, I'd ask for your approval for these June 26 budget revisions. >> Thank you. Um, so be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 622 um that we approve the June 2025 2026 budget revisions as presented. Could I get a motion and a second? >> So move. >> All right. Moved by Swarore. >> Second. >> Second by Rosemark. Um, any discussion? >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> And all oppose say nay. >> All right. That motion also carries. Thank Thank you all very much and thank you all for your support and input throughout our entire budgeting process and thank you to our finance team for all their work um in getting this all put together as well. And um thank you again for for the approval. We'll get things posted and we'll uh keep our doors open on July one. That's a good thing, right? >> The next few things on here are resolutions about the election in November. So the first one we have the resolution calling for the general election followed by the resolution establishing um our school district election official and then the third one is establishing dates of filing for candidacy. >> Can I go ahead and read it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. um be resolved by the school school board of independent schools district number 622 um of the state of Minnesota that the general election is hereby called and directed to be held in conjunction with the state general election on Tuesday November 3rd 2026. Do you want me to read anything else? May >> okay. >> All right. Yeah. The rest of the resolution is in board books. So, uh, could I get a motion and a second? >> So, move. >> All right. Moved by Livingston. >> Second. >> Second by Rosemark. Um, any discussion? >> Get out and vote. >> All right. All in favor um say I. >> I. >> And all oppose say nay. >> All right. Um, so this motion also carries. No, the the last two are >> All right. Um so the last um the last two are real call but this one is the resolution establishing clerk um let me go ahead and pull it up um so be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 622 um as follows. The board has called a general election and special election electing three um individuals to the school board and approving and operating and capital project levy. Um this will take place um on November 3rd in conjunction with the state general election. Um let's see. >> I just want to make one point of clarification. It is just the operating levy. >> Just the operating levy. Oh, should we get that changed then? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Let the record show. >> Yes. >> Um, okay. So, the board finds and determines that it's necessary and appropriate to delegate one individual who shall have general day-to-day administrative responsibility to address any um election related requirements pertinent to the special election. Uh, the executive assistant to the school district's director of finance and operations is hereby authorized and directed to serve as election judge for the general and special election. Um, could I get a motion and a second? >> So, I'll just motion to amend to strike the capital project levy from the resolution. >> Thank you. >> I'll second that if I have to second that. >> Sure. Thank you. Yeah. >> Um, do we have to vote on the >> the amendment? >> The amendment. Yeah. >> Second. All in favor? >> Okay. All in favor for the amendment say I. >> I. I. >> And all oppose say nay. All right. So that amendment is um carries. Um and then the motion for the establishing the clerk. Um could I get a motion and a second? >> So moved. >> All right. Moved by Natardi. >> Second. >> Seconded by Swar. Um, any discussion? >> Can I just make one point that you read election judge and >> it says election clerk, so we don't really need to fix it, but just >> Yes, it's the election clerk for the executive assistant to the school district's director of finance and operation. So, it's election clerk. Apologies. >> Okay. Okay. So, this one's roll call. Rosemark. >> I >> Livingston. >> I >> Yenner. >> Hi. >> Natardi. >> Yes. >> Swore. >> Hi. >> Yang. >> I. >> Um, that motion carries. >> Okay. Next up is the resolution establishing um dates of filing aid affidavit of candidacy. This is also a roll call. Um, let me just find it here. Okay. So, be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 622 of the state of Minnesota. Um so the period for filing affidavits of candidacy for the office of school board um member is um oh here at ISD 622 shall begin on July 14th 2026 and shall close on July 28th 2026. Um, an affidavitative affidavit of candidacy must be filed in the office of the school district clerk and the $2 filing fee paid prior to 5:00 p.m. on July 28th, 2026. Um, and then there's the rest of the res resolution also um out there um in board book. Could I get a motion and a second? >> Second. >> All right. Moved by swore, second by Rosemark. Um and then any discussion? >> Yeah, I have a question just for just for curiosity sake. Um so aren't these dates set by the secretary of state? >> So why do we have to approve them? Did you know that? >> I don't know the specific reason why each district is required to do that because you are correct. They are set um not by us but by the state and so um that would be an interesting question to find out. We can we can do some research on that. >> Looks like Sam might have a response to that. >> I my guess is because like we are an independent governance body, you know, like so we still have to set our own elections. It's just that we still do them on the same >> calendar >> like the same calendar, you know, as the as the rest of the state. So the filing period for the rest of municipal schoolboard elections is that same period. So I think we just, you know, keep it simple and go with this statewide version is my guess, but I could be wrong. >> Good question. Um, and so this one is any other discretion. >> Okay. And this is a roll call as well. >> Rosemark >> I. >> Livingston. >> Hi. >> Yenner. >> Hi. >> Nati. >> Yes. >> Sore. >> Hi. >> Yang. >> Hi. >> Um, and so this one also carries. Thank you. Um, next up is for operations. Our um, district insurance renewal. >> Good evening board. Um, tonight I am bringing forward the district's fiscal year 2027 insurance renewal resolution for your consideration. Our insurance broker, Gary Insurance, has completed the annual renewal process and provided updated quotes for the district's property liability, auto, workers compensation, and related insurance coverage. The total estimated premium for fiscal year 27 is $2.385 million, representing an increase of approximately $24,000 or 9.4% over the prior year. While we saw notable increases in liability, umbrella, and auto coverage due to broader market conditions and rising claim costs across the insurance industry, property premiums remain relatively flat and workers compensation increased only modestly. Importantly, the overall increase remains within our budget assumptions as we have planned for up to 10% increase in insurance costs for this next fiscal year. The proposed renewal ensures the district maintains comprehensive coverage to protect our assets, operations, and employees. Administration recommends approval of the fiscal year 2027 insurance renewal as shared in your board book. >> Um, I did have a question, Sarah. Um I think you kind of already answered it that some of these are really high but you said it's because of the market conditions. It's not because of claims that the district have has made. >> It does factor in claims that we have settled also in the past couple years. Yes. >> Okay. And the claim so for example workers compensation might be related to claims that we've made but um have they increased a lot? That one's a small increase, 2.2%. >> Right? So workers compens compensation increases slightly and that's based on what we call our EMOD or modifier. Every couple years it gets reshuffled. Um the biggest increase is really liability insurance. So our exposure to um everything from cyber security, >> okay, >> to uh other liability issues the district has faced. Can you just tell me what pollution environmental terrorism is? >> Yep. So, as we actually have uh three underground gas storage and oil tanks that fuel um boilers and our gas our diesel fleet of buses. So, that is the insurance coverage in case anything happens to those gas tanks whether they leak or otherwise become damaged. So, I don't want to sound like a broken record, but we are seeing more cost increases for this next fiscal year already, which looks like an, you know, an average and 9 point or a total increase in insurance about 9.4%. So, um it's going to make our budget situation harder again. Thank you. Um, all right. So, be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 622 that the insurance premiums for the district's fiscal year 2026 insurance policies be approved as presented. Could I get a motion and a second? >> Second. >> Moved by Yenner, seconded by Rosemark. Um, all in favor say I. >> I. >> And all oppose say nay. All right. And that is approved. Um can I do the last motion and then move to students? Okay. Perfect. Um so the next um one is the fiscal year 27 10-year LTFM plan approval. >> So the next item in correction in the board book is actually fiscal year 28 long-term facilities plan um is for this plan as we presented at the board study session earlier this month. So, under Minnesota statute, school districts are required to annually adopt a 10-year facilities plan and submit it for approval by the department Minnesota Department of Education in order to remain eligible for long-term facilities maintenance funding. This funding is highly restrictive and may be only used for qualifying facility related expenses including health and safety programs and projects, accessibility improvements, and deferred maintenance projects involving the replacement of end to end end of life building and site components on a onetoone basis. As part of the annual update, the district must identify both projected expenditures and anticipated revenue sources, including whether projects will be funded through levy authority or facility maintenance bonds. For fiscal year 28, the anticipated long-term facilities maintenance levy is approximately 5.4 4 million because the district successfully issued $24 million in facility maintenance bonds in earlier this spring and spring 2026. That will support the projects through mid 2028 and there is no need to authorize the sale of additional facility bonds at this time. To meet state requirements for taxes payable in 2027, the district must submit the updated board approved LTM document in your board book to the commissioner of education by July 31st, 2026. So included in your boardbook materials tonight are the 10-year plan expenditure, the 10-year revenue projection, project narratives provided by our district architect, and the required statement of insuranceances signed by the superintendent. And lastly, the debt plan prepared by our financial advis adviserss at Ellers. Administration recommends the approval of the fiscal year 28 long-term facilities maintenance tenure plan. And as a reminder, the state statute requires the voting on this resolution to be a roll call vote. Uh, be it resolved by the School Board of Independent School District number 622 that we approve and adopt the 10-year long-term facilities maintenance plan for fiscal year 28. Um, any discussion or could I I'm sorry. Could I get a motion in a second? >> Second. >> Moved by Livingston, second by Yenner. Um, now I need discussion. Um, thank you so much for your work on this. Um, our kind of our refinancing and all of the amazing work that we've done regarding those 2019 bonding dollars is quite amazing. Um, and it has allowed us to do so much more, touch so many more buildings, provide a lot better spaces for students. Um, I'm a Cowin alum, as I said earlier, so I'm very excited that Cowin is getting a little bit of a refresh this fall or this summer. Um and am excited about the other uh projects happening according to this plan including North Weaver, Gladstone, Beaver Lake, all sorts of places. So super exciting. >> All right. Uh so it's a roll call. >> Rosemark >> I. >> Livingston. >> Hi. >> Yenner. >> Hi. >> Nardi. >> Yes. >> Swore. >> Hi. >> Yang. >> I. So this um carries as well. Thank you so much. Um, that ends our action item section and then we're gonna pivot back to what's that? Oh, there is one more. Oh, the study session. You're right. We have to set the um school loc the location and agenda of the August um 10th, 2026 uh work study session. So, I recommend that the August 10th, 2026 work study session begin at 6 PM in the conference room 202 of um the district 62 education center and contain the following agenda items. Superintendent check-in policy revisions and board check-in. Could I get a motion and a second? >> So, moved. >> Moved by Swarf. >> Second. >> Second by Livingston. Any discussion? >> Yeah. Um, may do we have the uh next academic year dates for the school boards posted on our website? >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> And all oppose say nay. All right. So that is approved. And now we'll pivot uh back to our spring activities recognition. >> All right. Well, chair chair Yang, members of the board, superintendent Tuchio, thanks for the opportunity to bookend our meeting with excellence first from North High School and now with Tartan High School. And I'd like to introduce John Anderson, activities director from Tartan High School to uh introduce some outstanding uh student athletes and those are involved in activities. >> Thank you everybody. All right, we have three outstanding Tartan Titans here tonight are all here. Um, Kira Riley, come on up. Come on up. >> And as after your name is called, we're going to have you stand right here where this arch area is, and then we'll uh do a group photo together once all three names are called up here. Uh Kira had a fantastic lacrosse season this spring. Uh she led the team in goals, scoring 29 goals in 14 games. She was selected to the allconerence team and was named team MVP. She provided outstanding leadership throughout the season, helping a lot of young players improve their game. You know, oftent times I've went to several games this year. She often was there mentoring uh other young athletes, especially her sister who was also on the team. uh and she provided a lot of scoring and valuable leadership to us and we will miss her uh for next year. So you're out. >> We're just going to have you stand right here, right along this wall here. And then as each one's called, then we'll do a group photo when everyone >> WY. >> Wy Rutherford was a three sport star for the Titans this year. He was a starter on the football team, the hockey team, and the baseball team here in all conference honorable mention uh in all three sports as well as an uh allconerence academic awards. Uh this spring with the baseball team, WY batted 344 with a 7 uh 472 on base percentage and had 12 stolen bases. I know a highlight of that I had of Wley's this year was literally our first football game of the season down to Rochester. We were trailing in a game really late into the the fourth quarter and they decided they were going to throw the ball which I don't know why as a former football coach they would do that but they did >> and WY made him pay with a pick six which turned the tide of that game and we ended up scoring again uh soon thereafter and and had a great great ride home after the victory. So >> so Wy was a huge asset to a number of our teams and he's going to be really missed by all those squads. So, THANKS. >> All right, Aubrey. >> Uh, Aubrey Unles Bay has been an integral part of the Tartan activities department for the past two years. Uh she was the face of our department on social media organizing, creating and editing many of the videos promoting our programs. Uh she was also one of the leaders of the super fans this year. On top of that uh she was a three sport athlete. She played tennis and in the spring she played lacrosse and girls flag football. Uh literally she was in our office every single day. um you know when she was at the actual face of our department the last couple years uh we are going to be so hard to replace all the work and leadership she did for us. Uh she's going to be missed by our department and I hope she decides that she wants to get a job in education so I can hire her back at some point in four years. So >> thank you. Is that the rest of the lesson? >> Yeah, that was you said. >> Come on up. We'll do a group photo. And board members, we're going to have you pose with our student athletes. >> Parents, you're welcome to stand and take photos as well. Um, we'll also be happy to share the photo we take with you, but you know, get your own, too. That's okay. >> What's What's everyone graduation, postgraduation? >> University of St. Thomas. >> How are you doing after graduation? I'm just going to say >> not. >> I say don't say just >> hear us. There's no just in there. >> We want to make them go in the front. >> I'm wide. I've got a good I got a wide lens on. >> N you're good. We're good. >> All right. Congratulations to all of you. >> I got one. And thanks and congratulations to families cuz this is your big day, too. I mean, these are It's amazing effort to raise kids. >> Thank you for coming out on this rainy day. So glad to celebrate you all. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, thank you so much. Um, next up we have board communications Sam. >> And you know, I think I just big congrats to everyone who graduated. Um, it was wonderful being at the at the uh graduation ceremonies. Um, you know, being a Tartan alum, it was really cool to be on the stage versus like in the crowds. That was a unique experience. Um, so yeah, congrats to all the students. Congrats to the teachers and the staff. Um, really appreciate everything that everyone does. >> Right. Just echoing what Sam said about graduation. It was um it was wonderful this year and um uh the speeches were great. The students um were very civil and disciplined. It was great. I I enjoyed it. And uh I hope everyone has a great summer. They deserve it. >> Um I don't really have anything, but I'd like to wish my dear friend and longtime board member Nancy a happy birthday. Oh, >> thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> I am going to uh for my birthday uh go for two nights with my Hastings girlfriends. I I graduated from Hastings High School. So, uh five of us are getting together and uh for for two nights in uh Wisconsin. So, it'll be fun. Thanks, Yeah, I don't have much either, but uh just uh congratulations to the graduates and uh hopefully you have a fun and safe summer. >> I'll echo that. Uh congratulations and to all the students um for getting through that academic year and also a shout out to those who are working um this summer. I have u my my son has a lot of friends in summer school. Um I've also heard from other parents they say have have you brought him to uh free breakfast and free lunch and I don't have to plan lunches anymore and he gets to check out his new school for next year. So again, that's a wonderful program and >> um again, thanks to the nutrition services and all of the the teachers and everybody running that. Um and also the American Indian Ed part department is going all summer and we have our next event on Thursday to do Dakota moccasin making which or Dakota style u moccasin making which will be great because my son keeps uh dancing holes in his moccasins. So I'm excited to learn how to fix those myself. So thanks again to to the staff. Um, we already got our back to school school supply list and I can tell that we're now on the uh Richardson email list and getting all of those and I'm most excited. He has to bring a can of Play-Doh for kindergarten. Um, finally, just again a shout out to our arena staff. Um, we had his birthday party at Tartan on Saturday and it was amazing the number of kids. They brought over skates from North um Polar Arena for the kids that didn't have any um and had little chairs for push pushes and um the the blue line room is great um available for rent everyone. Um just a lot of just really great space and a fun time was had by all. So >> that's neat. >> It's really great to see all the spaces that we can use and things. So thanks. Um I don't have much either except um just want to say thank you to teachers, to staff, um to the families. Um it's been it was a was a good but kind of tough year. So um you know and you know to the admin and to our um staff at our buildings. Um like the the planning process for the next year starts you know back in like late winter, early spring. And so while you're in the throws of the current school year and um same thing with um budgets and all those things, it's it's a multi-prong um effort. And so I just want to thank everybody for always keeping those plates up in the air. So um but yeah, um and to have a good summer. So um you know, hopefully everybody has some plans to do something to relax. So but yeah. All right. Um, so we do not have any board meetings in July. Um, so our next board meeting will be August 10th, 2026, um, which is our work study session. And then August 17th is our business meeting here at 6 p.m. um, in the boardroom. So um, could I get a motion and a second to adjurnn? >> Moved by Sore. >> Second by Yenner. Um, all in favor say I. >> And all oppose say nay. >> All right. Meeting adjourned. Thank you. >> Do it.