[0:28] e [0:58] e [1:28] e [1:58] e [2:28] e [2:58] e [3:28] e [3:58] e [4:28] e [4:58] e e [5:36] [Music] [6:06] we're NE [Music] [6:12] for good evening it is Thursday January 16th 2025 at 6 p.m. we are at the [6:18] district service center in cotage Grove Min Minnesota we would like to acknowledge that the land in which We Gather is the land of the mawakan Dakota [6:25] people mawakan means dwellers of the Spirit Lake our first item on the agenda those roll call Dana Ryan Clark here [6:32] Sharon Van here Eric Tesmer here Pat Driscoll here Melinda dolles here Sim [6:38] Patak is absent Katy Schwarz here may feran here [6:43] Delena Manning here Lydia sabuka here uh 2.0 Pledge of Allegiance please [6:52] stand I pledge algi to the flag of the United States of America and to the [6:58] Republic for stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for [7:08] all 3.0 is the approval of our agenda can I get a motion to approve the agenda [7:14] move I'd like to have a motion to amend the agenda please it has already been motioned and [7:20] seconded maybe perhaps we can give some time then okay so that was moved [7:27] by Sharon and seconded by Melinda any [7:34] comments okay hearing none all those in favor all right opposed all right one [7:41] opposed motion passes okay 4.0 is comments to the board at this time [7:49] individuals may speak to the school board on any item relating to South Washington County Schools the board will [7:54] not respond to or discuss your comments character abuse or specific complaints ident in students staffs staff students [8:02] or task force members will not be permitted the superintendent may be asked to prepare a response to your [8:07] concerns the comments to the board period will be held open for up to 30 minutes in total each speaker is [8:13] permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes in total the school board will allow up to three speakers per Topic at three [8:20] minutes the microphone will be turned off and we will move on to the next speaker or agenda item we do have one [8:28] person [8:58] e e [9:39] sorry on to 5.0 and that is our student District ambassadors and that will be introduced by superintendent Julie [9:45] nilson good evening um it is always that exciting night when our students get to join us here and I know they're very [9:51] excited they got to take selfies with them themselves on the video camera already we kind of go through um what it [9:57] looks like to be up at the board uh so this evening we have three students with us and I'm going to start um with May [10:03] feran um May do you want to go ahead and start by introducing yourself my name is May I am a fifth [10:10] grader and I go to Liberty Ridge Elementary and may what do you enjoy most about being a student leader I like [10:17] the opportunity to connect with other student leaders on what happens in their schools and may shared with me something [10:25] interesting that they're doing at Liberty Ridge and so may do you want to share that with our board with the people in the audience this year at [10:32] Liberty Ridge we have started a program called Striker Squad it is a group of kids from fifth grade that go around the [10:39] school and do jobs like helping at recess and lunch and with kindergarten [10:44] classes and at assemblies and what's your favorite part about that what is a one recent thing [10:50] that you have done with students um well I get to organize assemblies specifically and I get to [10:58] speak at the assemblies which which is really fun fabulous so lots of opportunities to lead um when you think [11:04] about being in the classroom and what motivates you to learn what would you say about that may my teacher Miss Weber [11:10] is really good at motivating me and my class to learn um but I'm also motiv [11:16] motivated by um what my future holds like going to college and getting a good [11:22] job and you have been to I believe three meetings down here at District service center so when the space isn't set up [11:28] like this we have tables out with students what have you learned as part of your representation um and being a [11:34] student ambassador I have really come to understand what the student voice really [11:40] means to this District Y and can you just share with our board just some of the different things like today what did [11:47] we talk about today um well we talked about we talked a lot about like how [11:54] it's important for our um students to have healthy meals specifically typically at lunch and breakfast and we [12:01] got to um try lots of new foods which was really fun and may your favorite today they had so many different samples [12:08] coming in because remember their voice of French toast stick a or french toast stick B really matters and so may do you [12:15] want to share what your favorite was well I really like trying the sauces but I also really hope we can do tater tot [12:22] hot dish in the school lunches and her followup to the tater tot hot dish not [12:27] to embarrass her dad that's in the audience she said today during ambassadors I sure wish they could make [12:33] tater tot hot dish like my dad Eric be careful there all right let's go ahead and move [12:40] on to our Middle School student um Delena do you want to go ahead and introduce yourself hi my name is Delena [12:46] I'm in eighth grade and I attend ultman Middle School the best thing about being a student leader would be including my [12:52] voice and being heard I feel most motivated to learn when I think about my future my parents and I want people to [12:59] Remember My Name some positive experiences I've had in school would be receiving support from my friends and [13:06] staff members like Zach a few things I've learned about the district are how much is actually being done and how much [13:12] things like student board truly matter lastly if I could make any program I would call it Pioneers where kids can [13:19] come after school and make new friends and just have fun in general and Delena uh we did a lot of [13:25] different Trivia today so I'm putting you on the spot a little bit but do do you remember we did nutrition services [13:31] today so they got to learn a lot about the meal planning and everything that goes behind but we talked about ovens we [13:36] don't have microw microwaves remember no microwaves maybe to melt a little margin or butter um but do you remember how [13:42] much the cost of one of those ovens was and we have four or five in our high schools what did they cost 30,000 to [13:50] 35,000 30 to 35,000 we had students guessing a couple thousand you know a [13:55] couple hundred and then when we said 30 to 35,000 they thought oh my goodness that's a lot for an oven but they are [14:01] big industrial ovens thank you um Lydia my name is Lydia soboka and I'm a [14:07] junior attending Easter ID high school first I want to thank Miss neelsen and the rest of the board for having me here [14:12] tonight although there are always lots of things going on at Easter idge being a member of student cabinet is very [14:18] interesting to me because we get to be a pair of eyes and ears from a students perspective for our school while also [14:24] getting Insight on the upcoming changes to our school and give out opinions on how we feel about them for example the [14:29] construction going on for the extension to our building or how we feel about relearning and retaking time on Tuesdays [14:35] and Thursdays another interesting thing that is happening at our school pretty soon is our Black History Month event in [14:41] February our black student union looks forward to it every year and it's so special and exciting to participate in [14:47] and also see the amazing outcome of people at our events if you couldn't tell yet I'm very involved in school [14:52] activities and extracurriculars and what keeps me motivated to learn new things and always always try my best in school [14:58] are my parents growing up as a first generational student has changed my view on school and how important it is to [15:04] succeed in school I think of school as a privilege not a right which is exactly what it is many times when you ask an [15:10] immigrant what made them want to come to America they will say it's for their children's education and I'll always be grateful to my mom and dad for that one [15:16] of my favorite things overall about the school district and being a student ambassador is seeing just how many people put effort into students from [15:23] kindergarten all the way to high school whether it's about the school lunch we eat the cultural events happening at our [15:28] school or finding more ways to educate students about Native American Heritage this group of people are always put [15:33] putting PE the students as their number one priority and I'm very proud to be a part of this thank [15:39] you and as Leaders the assistant superintendant and myself we feel so lucky to have the students come down and [15:45] it's amazing from that first time down of being quiet as they enter now they're all interacting some of you may remember [15:52] Charlotte from our last meeting um and Charlotte helped Elena she came up to her and said you're going to be fine [15:58] this isn't so hard look at yourself in the in the TV up here right you're kind of glancing up there like oh that's me [16:04] um and so we just really have a great time um and I think the students have the opportunity to not only share their [16:10] voices but to meet other students across the district so thank you to our three students tonight for representing their [16:16] schools thank you on to 6.0 and that is our consent items all consent items are [16:22] considered routine and non-controversial by the school board and will be approved by a single motion there will be no [16:28] separate discussion of these items prior to the meeting board members have had the opportunity to review each of these [16:33] items and may request that any item be moved to an action item for individual consideration that did not happen this [16:40] evening so can I get a motion to approve so move second moved by Pat second by [16:46] Sharon all those in favor I any opposed motion [16:52] passes okay 7.0 was information items we do not have any this evening on to 8.0 [16:57] we do have some action items 8.1 is sale of certificate of participation series [17:04] 2025a and that will be presented by Chris Blackburn Director of Business [17:10] services so I have kenics in my pocket cough drops and some water so thanks this evening um good evening chair [17:17] Schwarz members of the board superintendent neelson and student ambassadors it's wonderful to have you here it's always fun to hear your stories tonight I'm pleased to have jod [17:24] zba of Ellers Associates and Associates to present the results of the sale of cerificates of participation series [17:31] 2025a the lease purchase financing was recommended to fund the transition program project the pre-sale and [17:37] resolution were presented at the August 22nd 2024 meeting the sale was delayed [17:42] until after the District closed on the purchase of the property which occurred in December following Jody's presentation [17:48] the board will be asked to adopt the resolution ratifying the award of sale of certificates of participation series [17:55] 2025a jod will now review the results of the sale [18:01] thank you Chris good evening everyone so I think we've been talking about this for probably close to a year now so [18:07] we'll just give the final results now that we got this morning which turned out great so if you look at the first [18:13] page of your s Day Report um we're mentioning that we're financing the acquisition and remodeling of the [18:19] existing building to provide instructional services for students in the special education transition program and consolidating that program so that's [18:26] going to gain some efficiencies there which is great uh the rating that was assigned is a A2 the uh Moody also [18:34] affirmed the district's underlying A1 rating but they generally for certificates of par participation or [18:41] annual appropriation debt generally assign a rating that's one category [18:46] lower than your general obligation debt since it's a little less secure and a little more risky so that is uh from an [18:53] investor perspective so that is uh the rating that was assigned we received five bids which is was great to see we [18:59] generally only get two to three bids on certificates of participation so as of yesterday we had two biders signed up [19:06] this morning there were three and then when the results came in there were five so really great to see that level of [19:11] Interest Key Bank Capital markets Incorporated out of Cleveland Ohio as the low bidder at a [19:17] 4.03% rate they also gave a little higher uh premium on the bids so we were [19:24] able to issue a lower debt amount and still Finance the amount that you need for your project costs so you'll see [19:30] that we are issuing 8, 980,000 and the board I believe had authorized up to 9, [19:36] 445,000 so we're under that amount um in the notes at the bottom of this first [19:42] page you'll see that the true interest cost of 4.03% is lower than the 4.33 which we [19:49] were estimating about a month ago so we were glad to see the interest rate come in lower than that estimate and as a [19:56] result of that the principal and interest pay pays are almost $300,000 less than we were estimating a year ago [20:03] I'm sorry uh a month ago about uh $600,000 more than when we first put the [20:09] schedules together so we've been kind of refining that rate as we've been getting closer to the sale date but if you look [20:14] back at the schedules that were included in your review and comment we are well below those um estimated amounts so um [20:22] we will have a call date on the certificate similar do we similar to when we sell bonds for you and we've [20:28] taken advantage of those call dates a number of times over the years in order to save money for your taxpayers so we [20:35] refund or refinance the debt similar to refinancing or re uh refinancing a home [20:41] mortgage and the savings then doesn't um go back to the district's budget but [20:47] instead must be ta uh passed on your taxpayers in terms of uh lower lower Debt Service rate so we will certainly [20:53] keep monitoring this issue just like we do all of your other outstanding debt issues for uh refunding or refinancing [21:00] opportunities and um savings to your taxpayers um we did already have sign [21:06] off on the proposal form you did have a parameters resolution in place so as long as the true interest cost rate was [21:13] less than 5% and it was 4.03 then um there were authorized individuals to [21:19] sign off on the proposal form so that part has already been taken care of you do have the resolution before you [21:25] tonight now just to ratify the award of the sale so I'll go through the attachments quickly um the first one is [21:31] the bid tab with the five different biders so the low bidder Key Bank out of Cleveland Ohio at 4.02 64 closely behind [21:40] by FHN Financial Capital markets out of Memphis Tennessee at a 4.03 69 and then [21:46] you got a bid from beard out of Milwaukee Wisconsin Hilltop Securities out of Dallas and the high bidder was [21:52] Northland Securities out of Minneapolis at a 4548 so all pretty close biders all um [21:59] within the parameter that was established by the board and nice to see some interest from throughout the [22:05] country so next we have updated schedules and these again were initially [22:11] included as part of the review and comment that you were required to submit to mde to get approval to move forward [22:17] with the project we provided some updated schedules in August and then again uh a month ago so uh the updated [22:24] sources and uses schedule the most important uh number on this schedule schule really is the deposit to the [22:30] construction fund you've been working with kuss Anderson on this project and their estimates of the project cost are [22:35] 9 mil1 190,000 so we'll be depositing 9,1 [22:41] 192,25 so you'll have sufficient funds to cover the estimated project costs and [22:47] then the payment schedule is on attachments page four and again this is [22:53] about $300,000 less than what we were estimating about a month ago but almost $600,000 less than when we first put the [22:59] schedules together for that review and comment submission next you have uh two [23:05] rating reports so when you issue debt Moody's um has us go through the process of taking a look at your all of the [23:12] different components that they consider important as part of assigning the rating to the district and uh uh both [23:19] Julie and Chris participated in that process again did a very excellent job [23:25] of representing the district answered lots of questions provided a lot of information so really helpful to the [23:31] process the results of that um were that they affirmed the district's A1 [23:37] underlying rating and then assign the A2 to this particular issue so they provide [23:43] rating rationel as part of the press release the press release does continue on until through attachments [23:51] page 10 and then um 11 and then starting on [23:57] attachments page 12 is the detailed credit opinion so you'll see what they [24:02] point out as the credit strengths of the districts the strong local economy with above average resident income and full [24:09] value per capita growing enrollment they see as a strength strong local support for Education through voter approved [24:15] debt and operating levies and then credit challenges they still are um watching that fund balance and saying [24:22] that it's improved but remains and I think it's slightly below we think we're right on the edge but um slightly below [24:29] the a medians capacity challenges of course giving um growing enrollment which you're addressing um now and then [24:37] uh long-term liabilities ratio they say is in line but will grow as you issue the remainder of your voter approved [24:43] debt so your rating Outlook is stable because they think the district's economic and financial performance will [24:49] continue to support a strong credit profile and then um they provide key [24:55] indicators which you've seen before on attachments page 13 and then importantly [25:00] I'll also draw your attention to their uh scorecard which is on attachs page 18 [25:08] and you'll see that the scorecard indicated outcome is actually within the double a category so we think that gives [25:14] us some great hope that hopefully um we'll move into that ablea category [25:19] again sometime in the near future but they did at this point in time decide to assign that single a one again [25:28] questions on any of the information included in the report or the results that we received [25:36] today okay seeing none can I get a motion to approve [25:42] move second seconded by Ryan any [25:49] comments okay Dana roll call Ryan excuse me Ryan Clark approved Sharon Van [25:56] approved Eric tesner yes Pat Driscoll yes Melinda dols yes Katie Schwarz yes [26:02] motion passes great thank you very much we appreciate the opportunity to be service to you once again and are very [26:08] pleased with the results so glad everything turned out so well perfect thank you thank you you we move on to [26:14] 8.2 and that is fiscal year 2023 24 audit results and that will also be [26:19] presented by Chris Blackburn Director of Business Services I just want to thank Jody again for she and her team and all [26:25] the work that they do with us and guiding my first time through some of those things and so it was really lovely to work with her again good evening [26:31] again um information I'm going to kind of summarize the report but information relating to the annual audit of the [26:37] district financial statements for the fiscal year 2324 was presented by Aon neelsen principal at mmkr at the January 2nd [26:45] Workshop meeting the district again received a clean opinion at this time Administration recommends acceptance of [26:51] the fiscal year 2324 annual comprehensive financial report special purpose audit reports and management [26:58] report report can I get a motion to approve no move second move by Pat seconded by [27:06] Eric any comments okay seeing none all those in [27:11] favor any opposed motion passes thankk you on to 8.3 and that's board [27:18] committees for 2025 that will be presented by myself um board members Shar their preference [27:24] for committees in December of 2024 I review the preferences and the 2025 committee assignments were shared with [27:30] board members via email on December 27th 2024 I have not received any questions [27:35] about assignments from board members at this time so can I get a motion to approve the 2025 board committees moved [27:42] second motion by Sharon seconded by Melinda any [27:48] comments okay seeing none all those in favor any oppos motion [27:55] passes okay on to 8.4 and that is proposed policy changes and that will be [28:00] presented by Julie neelon superintendent thank you uh this evening uh we are bringing forth for the second reading [28:07] for policies um as a reminder these policies were reviewed uh January 2nd during our Workshop meeting excuse me [28:14] the policies 101 uh legal status of the school board 101.1 name of the School [28:19] District 102 equal opportunity education and 103 complaints um students employees [28:25] parents and other persons and so those have been reviewed red um and I am asking for approval this evening can I [28:32] get a motion to approve so moved second motion by Melinda seconded by [28:40] Sharon any comments yeah Cher Schwarz I have a comment um regards to all the [28:45] policies except 102 I I'm prepared to approve those uh 102 [28:51] however uh I must uh give my opinion on that [28:58] it is my understanding that the language um used in in policy [29:04] 102 um is written in conjunction with msba standards uh and msba standards are [29:11] written in conjunction with uh Minnesota statute 12103 uh which which is in regards to [29:18] athletic programs and sex discrimination and I understand the [29:23] necessity of the school board to go along uh with or or conformed to [29:29] Minnesota state law however I [29:34] would strongly urge the board to vote no on 102 [29:41] specifically um send it back to the administration to see uh what if anything can be done to [29:47] delay uh potentially the approval of this of this policy uh and the reason [29:55] why is that this policy uh in no uncertain terms opens a door to uh [30:02] persons with male genes and male anatomy uh into women's sports in the school [30:08] district as well as women's locker rooms and um although [30:14] I uh have sympathy for individuals students and families that are struggling with gender issues um and I [30:21] do I truly do uh I cannot in good conscience vote uh to to approve this [30:29] policy uh because I place at a higher priority uh the feelings of safety that [30:36] our female students are required and uh need to [30:42] have uh in not just their private areas uh but [30:47] also um in the benefits that they receive with their [30:53] Sports thanks um I would like to Second Eric's comments I feel the same way um I think [30:59] it's prudent for us as a district to maybe pull this back and and fully understand what this means and what type [31:05] of risk this brings to our district H what this what risk this brings to our female student athletes um given some of [31:14] the comments that we heard even today the the policy by itself at face [31:20] value no issue but is this a trojan horse or is there is there ulterior [31:27] motives with this perhaps and if that's true then it's incumbent upon us as a [31:32] board to understand what this really means how what that means in relation to the law uh the Minnesota state law what [31:39] that means to the federal law which is likely to change very soon and I think it is it's important for us to to think [31:48] that through before we vote on this so I was going to put a motion forward to table this for now so we could have a [31:54] discussion about this as a board and really understand what this actually means what are the risks involved for [32:00] for for everybody ultimately and to Eric's point I feel I feel for folks who [32:06] have these gender issues but there is an element of Truth at play here and I [32:11] think that our role as Schoolboard members is to bring that so um we did bring this forward at [32:19] our last board meeting and we did at that time ask if anybody had any concerns comments questions regarding [32:26] that um because we do have to have two readings of this policy at that time neither of you mentioned any issues with [32:33] this policy um superintendent neelon also spoke to you that meeting prior to [32:38] the meeting and you also did not mention having any issues prior to that board meeting um these policies were also [32:45] emailed out one week prior to the January 2nd meeting um the policy [32:51] committee did not hear any comments or questions from either of you regarding that either um so at this time I am [32:59] going to um ask for all those in favor all those in favor of approving [33:05] these policies say I I I any opposed oos opposed motion passes thank [33:14] you okay we will move on to 9.0 superintendent report uh this will be just very brief [33:21] um it may seem like a slower time as it relates to events um however uh it's [33:26] probably one of the busiest times s when we talk about student registration Staffing and U laying out the groundwork [33:32] for next year um in addition our construction projects continue um as I look in the back row our assistant [33:37] superintendents are in many different meetings as we begin um breaking ground on some of those projects and then [33:44] finally for students there is no school on Monday as we recognize and celebrate Martin Luther King as well as an [33:50] opportunity to view the 60th presidential inauguration and so um a [33:55] wonderful opportunity for our students to take a a little rest and then come back for a 4- day week but thank you again to our students for being here [34:02] they are they are truly amazing and they give um the adults and the leaders just great energy so thank you students thank [34:09] you 10.0 is future meeting dates February 6 2025 is a Schoolboard [34:14] Workshop meeting here at the district service center at 6 PM February 20th 2025 is our Schoolboard business meeting [34:21] it's also here at the district service center at 6 PM with that 11.0 and we are adjourned okay you [34:37] [Music] [35:21] m [35:27] m [Music] [35:57] m [36:05] [Music] [36:56] n [Music] [37:27] for