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Thank you.

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Good evening.

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We are reconvening the special board meeting to take formal action.

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Is there a motion on what was discussed in closed session?

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I'd like to make a motion to amend the contract as written to include the board agrees to complete a formal evaluation by January 31st, 2027, at which time a salary adjustment may be negotiated.

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Is there a second?

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Second.

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Motion by Megan Miller.

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Seconded by Carol Fox.

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Any discussion?

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Hearing none.

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Do we need a roll call vote?

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I don't think we do, but I will request one.

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Mrs. Shope.

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May we get a roll call vote?

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Yes.

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Chair.

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Board Member Miller.

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Can you email me the rest of that?

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Thank you.

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Carol Fox.

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I.

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Tom Hankins.

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I.

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Bill Johnson.

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I.

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Meghan Miller.

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I.

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Joanne Rue.

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I.

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Dan Schuth.

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Aye.

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Antia Johnson.

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Aye.

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Motion carried unanimously.

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Thank you.

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Is there any motion to adjourn the special board meeting?

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So moved.

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Second.

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Motion by Megan Miller.

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Seconded by Joanne Rue.

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All in favor?

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Aye.

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Aye.

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Aye.

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Motion carries unanimously.

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Here is a motion to adjourn the special board meeting.

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And the second.

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Please leave here.

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Please.

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Please.

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Please.

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Please.

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Please.

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Okay.

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Next item.

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Please.

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I.

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I.

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I.

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We have to move on.

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Please move on.

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Please.

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Please.

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Please.

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Please move on.

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And please.

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Please kick it down.

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Please.

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Please.

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Please.

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Please.

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Please.

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Please.

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the board meeting, the board business meeting

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of Tuesday, June 16th.

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It is 604.

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Mrs. Shope, may we get a roll call, please.

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Yes, Meghan Miller?

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Aye.

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Bill Johnson?

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Aye.

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Tom Hankins?

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Here.

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Here.

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Carol Fox?

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Here.

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Joanne Ruhl?

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Here.

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Dan Schuth?

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Here.

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And Tia Johnson?

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Here.

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Mr. President?

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Thank you.

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May I get an approval of the agenda?

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So moved.

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Second.

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Motion by Joanne Ruhl, seconded by Carol Fox.

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Any discussion?

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Mr. Schuth?

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Just as a point of, I don't know what I want to call this,

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but we just want to have a moment to remember a memory

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right who passed away recently.

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There's going to be a memorial service later this summer,

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so stay tuned for dates on that.

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Sometimes the summer in Beloit, but many of you

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know memory and his lovely wife, Freddy, and his family.

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Memory was a friend of a lot of ours up here and in the room.

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He was a board member here in this board from 1983 to 90.

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And again, from 1983 to 1993 to 1995,

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he was a president, the vice president, the clerk.

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He was a true friend to the school district of Beloit,

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and he will be missed.

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He served with lots of other board members

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that we know of their names, like Betty Johnson, Arne Lee,

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Charles O'Kelly, Ida Foy, Gary Seidel, John Winkleman,

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and many more.

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So we just want to have a moment to say

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that memory was a true friend to the school

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district of Beloit, and he will be missed.

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Thank you, Mr. Shoe, for sharing that with us.

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We really appreciate that, and our hearts

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go out to memory rights family.

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And next, we have the Pledge of Allegiance, Dr. Anderson.

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Oh, oh, I'm sorry.

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I'm getting ahead of myself.

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We have a motion and a second.

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Any other comments?

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All in favor?

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Aye.

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Aye.

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Any opposed?

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Motion carries unanimously.

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Now, Dr. Anderson.

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Thank you, Dr. Anderson.

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And I'm going to correct you, and this

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is your last regular board meeting.

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You never know.

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You never know with this board.

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Good evening, and thank you for joining us tonight.

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We appreciate your continued interest in and support

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of the school district of Beloit.

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Since our last regular board meeting,

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we had a beautiful graduation ceremony

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for our 2026 graduates of Beloit Memorial and BLA

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and other programs.

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So congratulations, again, to all of them

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and to all of the families.

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We have also been very busy with a lot of year-end gatherings

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and celebrations.

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Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers

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who have pulled off the events.

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Press star six to unmute.

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And all of the attendees who were able to make it out

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and show their support.

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We continue to listen to our staff, families,

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and community members regarding the difficult budgetary

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decisions we have before us.

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We appreciate the support, understanding, and patience

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needed to navigate these challenging times.

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Dr. Anderson, thank you for stepping up last November

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when the school district of Beloit

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needed somebody with experience and compassion

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to help steady us.

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And thank you, Dr. Liam Malat, for agreeing

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to serve as our next interim superintendent.

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For those of you who are not familiar with Dr. Gordon Malat,

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she has nearly three decades of experience

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with the school district of Beloit

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and understands the gravity and the nuances

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of the multiple issues facing the school district of Beloit.

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We trust her to lead us through these issues

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while making systemic improvements along the way.

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We are very appreciative of both of your leadership

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and your commitment to the school district of Beloit.

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Together, we remain committed to strengthening our district

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and improving our outcomes for every student.

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That concludes my report for tonight.

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Next, we have upcoming events and announcements.

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Board Clerk Miller.

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Thank you very much.

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Glad to see so many people here this evening.

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Good evening, these are the announcements

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for Tuesday, June 16th, 2026.

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The school year ended wonderfully full of celebrations

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like the retirement party on June 2nd

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and graduation for our seniors on June 6th.

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The first edition of the board

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and superintendent newsletter was sent out

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on Sunday, May 31st.

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There will be another edition coming out in about a week.

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So head over to the board of education website

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at beloitschools.net and sign up to receive the newsletter.

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You won't want to miss it.

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Summer school begins next week on June 23rd

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and runs through July 30th of 2026.

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Middle school begins at 7.45 a.m. at the high school

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as well as the high school students who begin at 8 a.m.

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Our elementary school students begin at 8.30 a.m.

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at either Converse or Todd elementary schools.

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There are a few dates in July

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where there will be no summer school.

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For more information, please go to the district,

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the our district tab on the district website

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and click on 2026 summer school.

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Breakfast and lunch will be served daily.

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Will your child be four years old

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on or before September 1st, 2026?

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If the answer is yes, then your child is eligible

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to enroll in the school district of Beloit 4K program.

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Come on into the Colac Education Center

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to enroll your child or enroll your student online

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at bladeschools.net.

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Don't delay enroll today.

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As a reminder to all parents,

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if your student or students are already enrolled,

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you may also go online to register your children

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for next year.

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Should you need any assistance,

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secretaries will be on site for another week or two.

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It's official and it's coming.

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Board docs will be changing to diligent community.

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Same company with a slightly different look.

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It will be a couple of months before the backside work

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is done.

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So until then, continue to look for our board information

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and meetings on board docs and we will keep you up to date

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as progress continues on community.

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Watch for training sessions coming this fall.

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All district buildings will be closed on Friday,

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June 19th and observance of Juneteenth

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and on Friday, July 3rd and observance

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of our country's 250th birthday.

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Meetings coming up and being held

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at the Colac Education Center include Monday, July 6th,

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policy meeting at 3 p.m., Tuesday, June 7th,

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business operations, finance and HR meeting at 5 p.m.,

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and the teaching, learning, equity

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and pupil services committee meeting at 5.30 p.m.,

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or immediately following the 5 p.m. meeting

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whichever is later.

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This concludes the announcements for tonight.

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Thank you, Kirk Miller.

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Next, we have recognition.

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Tonight, we have the recognition of Dr. Tracy Saladar.

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Dr. Anderson?

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First, I'd like to thank both her and her husband

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for being able to be here tonight so we can properly

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honor you for your achievement of being this year's recipient

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of the Beloitte Memorial High School Hall of Fame Award.

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Dr. Saladar grew up in Beloitte attending Todd Elementary,

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Aldrich Jr. High, and was a Beloitte Memorial High School

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graduate in 1992.

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Dr. Saladar returned to Beloitte following her college education

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and began her nursing career at Hackett Elementary in 1996.

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She is a clinical professor in pediatric primary care nurse

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practitioner with a distinguished career

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in pediatric health care, nursing education,

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and global health.

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She is a board certified pediatric nurse practitioner

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and pediatric primary care mental health specialist

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with extensive clinical experience caring for children

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from newborn through young adulthood.

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She currently practices at Genesis Pediatric Medicine in Illinois

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with clinical work in many areas of childhood medicine

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and literacy.

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At UW Madison School of Nursing, she serves as clinical professor

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and pediatric primary care DNP program lead.

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Dr. Saladar has placed a central role in nursing education

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through her commitment and teaching across a wide range of courses.

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She also serves as co-factly leader for an interprofessional

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annual global health immersion experience in Belize.

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She has a focus on roles in immunization,

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national and state nursing organization,

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and is an affiliate member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Additionally, Dr. Saladar is nationally and internationally

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recognized for her presentations at major conferences

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as she contributes to advancing nursing education

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through scholarship focused on teaching innovation,

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interprofessional collaboration,

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and global health program development.

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Her personal and professional journeys reflect a lifelong dedication

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to children, families, education, and community,

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both locally and globally.

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Dr. Saladar has accomplished so much more,

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and this is just a sample of her local, national,

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and global counselors.

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So if we can please give her a round of applause at this time.

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Thank you so much for having me here tonight.

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What an amazing honor, probably the best honor I have ever received

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to be able to come back to Bloitte Memorial.

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And as a pediatric nurse practitioner, a primary care provider

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to be able to speak to that many adolescents in one space

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was probably one of the joys of my life.

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So this community, Daryl and I have been a part of this community.

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We grew up here.

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Daryl taught in the district for 20 years.

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I worked in the district.

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We have four graduates of Bloitte Memorial High School.

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We are huge advocates for public school.

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I'm thankful for all of my partners in the school district

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who allow me to bring my students from UW-Madison.

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Michelle Aniel allows me to come to kindergarten

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where my students learn from her students

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and her students learn from my students.

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So it is a very cool relationship.

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And I look forward to continuing all of these relationships

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that I have built into fighting for public schools

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and to be just immersed in this community,

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learning from all of you and giving back.

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So I thank you so much for this honor

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and look forward to what comes next.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Dr. Salazar.

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Salazar, is there any board members

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who would like to make any comments?

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Joanne?

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So my path has crossed Tracy's path multiple times.

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We graduated around the same time.

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We both worked at Hackett at the same time.

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And she's also a fantastic mom

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and gives great mom advice too.

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And so I was very happy to see your name listed

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and congratulations, you deserve this

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and all the amazing things that.

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And how do you do all this in the same hours of the day

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that I have?

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Because like when they were talking about all that stuff,

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that is incredible.

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So fantastic.

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Congrats, Tracy.

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Megan?

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I just want to say thank you, Tracy and Daryl.

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You know, I moved to Boyd in 2010

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and Daryl, you were my first colleagues

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and just the generosity and kindness

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that you've shown me and have shown our entire community

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or kids, generations of students is just remarkable.

28:24.360 --> 28:27.360
You still, my favorite coffee mug came from you.

28:27.360 --> 28:30.360
I use it on a fairly, fairly regular basis

28:30.360 --> 28:33.360
and just your willingness to pay attention to people

28:33.360 --> 28:35.360
that aren't even in your immediate like orbit

28:35.360 --> 28:38.360
and just show up for people is so inspiring

28:38.360 --> 28:39.360
and so appreciated.

28:39.360 --> 28:41.360
And I'm just couldn't be happier

28:41.360 --> 28:43.360
that you're honored here tonight, Tracy.

28:43.360 --> 28:45.360
And just thank you so much for everything.

28:47.360 --> 28:48.360
I thank you.

28:48.360 --> 28:49.360
Anyone else?

28:49.360 --> 28:51.360
Thank you, Dr. Saladar.

28:51.360 --> 28:53.360
Again, we really appreciate everything you've done

28:53.360 --> 28:55.360
for our district and the leadership,

28:55.360 --> 28:58.360
the role model that you are, both of you,

28:58.360 --> 29:00.360
but tonight's your night.

29:00.360 --> 29:02.360
So thank you everything for everything.

29:04.360 --> 29:06.360
Next, we have public comment.

29:06.360 --> 29:09.360
Mr. Schope, is there any public comment tonight?

29:09.360 --> 29:10.360
Yes, there is.

29:10.360 --> 29:13.360
I have about eight in the room,

29:13.360 --> 29:15.360
and then I have 17 emails.

29:15.360 --> 29:18.360
Okay.

29:18.360 --> 29:21.360
Depending on how long the eight in the room go,

29:21.360 --> 29:24.360
we may need to adjust the 17 emails.

29:24.360 --> 29:27.360
If they are redundant,

29:27.360 --> 29:29.360
according to board policy,

29:29.360 --> 29:32.360
we can just have you email those forward, those to us.

29:32.360 --> 29:35.360
Okay, so let's keep an eye on the time.

29:35.360 --> 29:39.360
Members of the public are welcome to attend all open meetings

29:39.360 --> 29:41.360
of the Board of Education.

29:41.360 --> 29:44.360
Individuals attending board meetings are expected

29:44.360 --> 29:47.360
to conduct themselves in a respectful and courteous manner

29:47.360 --> 29:50.360
that models appropriate behavior for our students.

29:50.360 --> 29:53.360
Individuals wishing to comment are expected to comply

29:53.360 --> 29:56.360
with the norms found on the back of your comment cards

29:56.360 --> 29:58.360
and in board policy 187,

29:58.360 --> 30:00.360
public participation at board meetings.

30:00.360 --> 30:03.360
We ask that each of you contribute to maintaining a respectful

30:03.360 --> 30:06.360
and orderly meeting and prevent discussing confidential matters

30:06.360 --> 30:10.360
in public forum by following these norms for public comments

30:10.360 --> 30:12.360
during your board meetings.

30:12.360 --> 30:15.360
Thank you for your participation and crew to see.

30:15.360 --> 30:17.360
Ms. Schope?

30:17.360 --> 30:20.360
The first person I have is Isabella.

30:20.360 --> 30:36.360
Good evening, members of the Board and the community.

30:36.360 --> 30:38.360
My name is Isabella Flores.

30:38.360 --> 30:42.360
I am a 2023 graduate from Deloitte Learning Academy.

30:42.360 --> 30:47.360
I am here just to tell you why Deloitte Learning Academy

30:47.360 --> 30:52.360
cannot be replaced so my closing date would be a devastating loss.

30:52.360 --> 30:57.360
In 2023, I was a single mom trying to graduate from Deloitte Memorial

30:57.360 --> 30:59.360
instead of getting the flexibility.

30:59.360 --> 31:00.360
I needed to raise my kid.

31:00.360 --> 31:03.360
I was kind of turned the other way and said,

31:03.360 --> 31:06.360
you're not going to be able to graduate with your class.

31:06.360 --> 31:10.360
It was like a door being shut right in my face,

31:10.360 --> 31:13.360
which was very like we just came out of COVID,

31:13.360 --> 31:16.360
going back to school saying I'm not graduating with my class.

31:16.360 --> 31:18.360
It wasn't great.

31:18.360 --> 31:23.360
Then I found Deloitte Learning Academy my sophomore year.

31:23.360 --> 31:26.360
They didn't see me as a scheduling problem.

31:26.360 --> 31:30.360
They seen me as a person and listened to my needs and helped me

31:30.360 --> 31:33.360
rearrange my schedule and my life around that.

31:33.360 --> 31:37.360
And because of their tailored support,

31:37.360 --> 31:38.360
I didn't just catch up.

31:38.360 --> 31:40.360
I graduated early.

31:40.360 --> 31:43.360
They even transformed how I learned in their English programs

31:43.360 --> 31:48.360
instead of forcing books that I had no interest in at all.

31:48.360 --> 31:53.360
They, sorry, they helped me find my own style

31:53.360 --> 31:55.360
and taught me to truly love reading.

31:55.360 --> 31:57.360
And my story goes deeper than academics.

31:57.360 --> 32:01.360
During my time there, I hit my goals vulnerable to point.

32:01.360 --> 32:04.360
I became homeless moving with my small child from house to house

32:04.360 --> 32:08.360
when we were just trying to survive school became the last priority.

32:08.360 --> 32:12.360
But Deloitte Learning Academy didn't let me fall through the cracks

32:12.360 --> 32:17.360
they supported me through the housing crisis wrapped their arms around my little family

32:17.360 --> 32:20.360
and gave us a safe harbor.

32:20.360 --> 32:25.360
Their support didn't stop at a diploma thanks to the resources I took my CNA program

32:25.360 --> 32:30.360
and has been a CNA for almost five years now.

32:30.360 --> 32:34.360
Because of that program, health care has been my career for almost five years

32:34.360 --> 32:37.360
allowing me to provide for my family.

32:37.360 --> 32:39.360
Deloitte Academy is more than a school.

32:39.360 --> 32:41.360
They are a family.

32:41.360 --> 32:45.360
When the rest of the world felt unstable, they were my bad rock.

32:45.360 --> 32:47.360
They don't just hand out diplomas.

32:47.360 --> 32:49.360
They lift people, build careers, and give young mothers

32:49.360 --> 32:52.360
and struggling teens a fighting chance.

32:52.360 --> 32:55.360
If you close this school, you aren't just cutting a budget,

32:55.360 --> 32:58.360
you're cutting off a lifetime of support.

32:58.360 --> 33:01.360
Deloitte Learning Academy saved me but my career,

33:01.360 --> 33:04.360
built my career and secured my child's future.

33:04.360 --> 33:06.360
I urge you to look beyond the paperwork

33:06.360 --> 33:09.360
and see the human's lives attached to this program.

33:09.360 --> 33:11.360
Please keep Deloitte Learning Academy open

33:11.360 --> 33:13.360
and keep them in the building they're currently in.

33:13.360 --> 33:15.360
Thank you.

33:15.360 --> 33:16.360
Thank you.

33:16.360 --> 33:19.360
Lisa Schill, next public comment, please.

33:19.360 --> 33:21.360
I have Devon.

33:21.360 --> 33:22.360
Devon?

33:29.360 --> 33:30.360
Good evening.

33:30.360 --> 33:32.360
My name is Devon Roselle.

33:32.360 --> 33:35.360
I'm a 2019 graduate of BLA.

33:35.360 --> 33:38.360
I graduate with honors from Black Hawk Tech.

33:38.360 --> 33:40.360
I'm here with you today to discuss a matter of importance,

33:40.360 --> 33:44.360
not just for me and you, but for the young kids of Deloitte,

33:44.360 --> 33:47.360
especially those who need a little extra support and guidance

33:47.360 --> 33:50.360
to reach their full potential.

33:50.360 --> 33:52.360
I was one of those kids,

33:52.360 --> 33:55.360
strung with numerous problems with myself in school.

33:55.360 --> 33:58.360
Deloitte Memorial was failing me in my academics.

33:58.360 --> 34:02.360
BLA picked up the pieces for someone as a need as myself,

34:02.360 --> 34:06.360
providing ample amount of time and home my skills

34:06.360 --> 34:09.360
currently for social.

34:09.360 --> 34:10.360
My bad.

34:10.360 --> 34:12.360
Academically and socially.

34:12.360 --> 34:14.360
This was through not only the teachers,

34:14.360 --> 34:16.360
but the entire faculty staff.

34:16.360 --> 34:19.360
I still remember the impact the staff at BLA had in my life.

34:19.360 --> 34:22.360
Teachers sat down with me for hours on end,

34:22.360 --> 34:25.360
ensuring growth in my academics.

34:25.360 --> 34:29.360
The security staff showed me the importance of taking action

34:29.360 --> 34:32.360
and being responsible for my education.

34:32.360 --> 34:34.360
The school counselors taught me patience

34:34.360 --> 34:37.360
and how to help calm people during difficult situations.

34:37.360 --> 34:39.360
These may seem like small lessons,

34:39.360 --> 34:43.360
but they've stayed with me throughout my entire life and career.

34:43.360 --> 34:45.360
As people in leadership roles,

34:45.360 --> 34:49.360
it is important that we understand and consider others

34:49.360 --> 34:51.360
and address them appropriately.

34:51.360 --> 34:54.360
BLA helped me develop those skills as a young adult.

34:54.360 --> 34:57.360
These lessons were learned through dedication,

34:57.360 --> 35:00.360
dedication, support, and guidance of the BLA staff,

35:00.360 --> 35:05.360
who invested their time, energy to help students succeed both inside

35:05.360 --> 35:07.360
and outside the classroom.

35:07.360 --> 35:11.360
I certainly say that they still hold those values today.

35:11.360 --> 35:14.360
Without BLA's involvement, I would not have the successful career

35:14.360 --> 35:18.360
that I do today as a professional chef.

35:18.360 --> 35:21.360
Walking into BLA, my academics were below average.

35:21.360 --> 35:24.360
Through rigorous efforts from teachers and staff,

35:24.360 --> 35:27.360
I was able to overcome my shortcomings and graduate,

35:27.360 --> 35:30.360
putting me on the same level with college academics.

35:30.360 --> 35:34.360
I exceeded those expectations, graduating college with honors.

35:34.360 --> 35:37.360
This achievement would not have been possible without BLA

35:37.360 --> 35:39.360
and the foundation it provided.

35:39.360 --> 35:42.360
Send me up for success long after graduation.

35:42.360 --> 35:44.360
That is why I'm here today.

35:44.360 --> 35:47.360
BLA's much more than the school is a home of education

35:47.360 --> 35:50.360
and is a place of safety.

35:50.360 --> 35:52.360
Even to this day, when I'm down struggling,

35:52.360 --> 35:55.360
the staff do not hesitate to answer the call for help.

35:55.360 --> 35:59.360
It is my obligation to help them in their time of need.

35:59.360 --> 36:02.360
I believe BLA should continue to exist in the future

36:02.360 --> 36:07.360
for the other kids like me to get their second chance at a good future.

36:07.360 --> 36:10.360
This is something only BLA can offer.

36:10.360 --> 36:13.360
So, removing that would be as good as walking out on them

36:13.360 --> 36:15.360
in their time of need.

36:15.360 --> 36:18.360
I hope you find your hearts to allow BLA to keep their doors open

36:18.360 --> 36:21.360
for those kids' opportunities, and thank you for your time.

36:21.360 --> 36:24.360
APPLAUSE

36:24.360 --> 36:26.360
Ms. Rishal.

36:26.360 --> 36:30.360
Next I have Katie with Kabiko Yielding Time.

36:39.360 --> 36:42.360
Right after Katie, we'll have Estavan.

36:48.360 --> 36:50.360
Good evening Board members.

36:50.360 --> 36:52.600
Thank you for giving us the opportunity

36:52.600 --> 36:54.680
to speak here tonight.

36:54.680 --> 36:58.800
I am here to advocate for Beloit Learning Academy

36:58.800 --> 37:02.040
to continue having its own dedicated space.

37:02.040 --> 37:04.760
Whether that's at Cunningham or another location

37:04.760 --> 37:07.720
separate from Beloit Memorial High School.

37:07.720 --> 37:10.320
Many of the students at BLA are thriving

37:10.320 --> 37:13.760
because they are not in a large school environment.

37:13.760 --> 37:17.040
As a parent who has watched many of these students grow up,

37:17.040 --> 37:19.600
I am incredibly proud to see them walk

37:19.600 --> 37:21.960
through those doors every day.

37:21.960 --> 37:24.440
Some of these students had given up on school

37:24.440 --> 37:26.320
before coming to BLA.

37:26.320 --> 37:28.720
And today, I see students who once struggled

37:28.720 --> 37:30.920
with attendance and feeling grades,

37:30.920 --> 37:34.160
now showing up consistently building confidence

37:34.160 --> 37:36.200
and finding success.

37:36.200 --> 37:39.800
There is definitely something special happening at BLA

37:39.800 --> 37:43.320
and it deserves to be protected.

37:43.320 --> 37:48.440
My own son, Esteban, struggles with severe school anxiety.

37:48.440 --> 37:51.080
Do you know what that's like as a parent

37:51.080 --> 37:55.040
to pull into a school parking lot day after day,

37:55.040 --> 37:59.240
getting ready for school, actually trying to go.

37:59.240 --> 38:01.600
And he cannot physically get out of the car.

38:04.120 --> 38:06.520
It is, it's a lot.

38:06.520 --> 38:09.720
To watch them want to succeed but feel completely overwhelmed

38:09.720 --> 38:13.320
by the environment, it's heartbreaking.

38:13.320 --> 38:18.480
I would even call the school counselor in front office

38:18.480 --> 38:22.080
and say, my son is having a panic attack in the bathroom.

38:22.080 --> 38:25.280
Can someone please check on him?

38:25.280 --> 38:30.200
The main concern was for him to be in class on time

38:30.200 --> 38:33.200
and not for his specific well-being.

38:33.200 --> 38:40.200
I had email threads, probably 100 emails long.

38:40.200 --> 38:43.440
For seven months, I advocated for my son.

38:43.440 --> 38:46.480
I wrote emails and called meeting after meeting.

38:46.480 --> 38:49.240
I made phone calls and pushed for support.

38:49.240 --> 38:53.160
Despite documentation, medical diagnoses,

38:53.160 --> 38:57.760
I was often told that he just simply did not want to be there

38:57.760 --> 39:00.640
and did not want to do the work.

39:00.640 --> 39:02.560
As a parent that was devastating to hear

39:02.560 --> 39:04.760
because I knew that wasn't true,

39:04.760 --> 39:06.880
feeling unheard and out of options,

39:06.880 --> 39:08.480
I began opening and rolling him

39:08.520 --> 39:10.840
into schools outside of our district.

39:10.840 --> 39:13.160
I was preparing to send him somewhere else

39:13.160 --> 39:16.840
because I could not find the support he needed at BMHS.

39:16.840 --> 39:20.560
I was honestly heartbroken with how proud I am

39:20.560 --> 39:23.000
to be part of the school district of Beloitte.

39:25.000 --> 39:30.280
I was constantly told he doesn't need to go to BLA,

39:30.280 --> 39:31.840
he's not a problem child.

39:32.960 --> 39:37.520
And my son, he's never been suspended from school.

39:37.520 --> 39:40.040
He's never caused issues at school

39:40.040 --> 39:41.880
and that was always, he doesn't belong there.

39:41.880 --> 39:43.280
He doesn't belong there.

39:44.360 --> 39:49.360
So, he did get into BLA due to me directly advocating to BLA

39:53.320 --> 39:56.160
after calling many meetings at the high school

39:56.160 --> 39:58.360
and just said, well, he'll have to wait

39:58.360 --> 40:00.840
at least two more years, probably till his junior year

40:00.840 --> 40:04.480
before we can even consider to send him over.

40:04.480 --> 40:07.560
So, as a freshman, he was supposed to struggle

40:07.560 --> 40:12.160
for two more years, not getting the support that he needed.

40:12.160 --> 40:15.320
So, he was accepted into BLA this last spring,

40:15.320 --> 40:19.080
the fourth term at spring break time.

40:19.080 --> 40:21.040
He goes to school every day.

40:21.040 --> 40:22.720
He has relationships with staff

40:22.720 --> 40:24.760
who support him when he's struggling.

40:24.760 --> 40:28.040
He feels seen, understood, and accepted.

40:28.040 --> 40:30.560
At BLA, he can use the gym during lunch

40:30.560 --> 40:33.880
to help regulate emotions and manage anxiety,

40:33.880 --> 40:35.560
while not getting overwhelmed

40:35.560 --> 40:38.160
with the other hundreds of students.

40:38.160 --> 40:40.680
That was something that I asked for at the high school.

40:40.680 --> 40:44.040
I'm like, can he just get 10 minutes on lunchtime

40:44.040 --> 40:46.160
to just release some energy?

40:46.160 --> 40:46.960
Absolutely not.

40:46.960 --> 40:48.800
There's no way we can accommodate that

40:48.800 --> 40:51.600
and I understand that we cannot accommodate every child,

40:51.600 --> 40:54.500
but not every child is the same.

40:58.000 --> 40:59.680
So, there's that.

40:59.680 --> 41:02.280
And then, those opportunities do matter.

41:02.280 --> 41:03.960
Those relationships matter.

41:03.960 --> 41:05.680
And for students like my son,

41:05.680 --> 41:06.760
they can make the difference

41:06.760 --> 41:09.000
between showing up and giving up.

41:09.000 --> 41:11.560
If BLA exists because some students struggle

41:11.560 --> 41:14.120
in a traditional high school setting,

41:14.120 --> 41:15.960
then moving into the high school

41:15.960 --> 41:18.360
defeats the very purpose of the program.

41:18.360 --> 41:20.600
Putting students back into the environment

41:20.600 --> 41:23.400
where they were struggling is not a solution.

41:23.400 --> 41:25.320
I understand that the district is facing

41:25.320 --> 41:28.240
difficult financial decisions and budget cuts.

41:28.240 --> 41:29.920
However, I ask that you consider

41:29.920 --> 41:32.680
the long-term cost of this decision.

41:32.680 --> 41:35.800
If students who are currently thriving at BLA

41:35.800 --> 41:39.320
are placed back into the environment

41:39.320 --> 41:41.040
where they struggled before,

41:41.040 --> 41:42.760
some will disengage,

41:42.760 --> 41:43.840
attendance will suffer,

41:43.840 --> 41:46.100
and graduation rates will decline.

41:46.100 --> 41:48.920
We risk losing students who have finally found a place

41:48.920 --> 41:52.200
where they feel supported, connected, and successful.

41:52.200 --> 41:54.960
BLA is more than a building, it's a lifeline.

41:54.960 --> 41:57.560
It is a place where students find hope, support,

41:57.560 --> 41:59.440
and a path towards graduation

41:59.440 --> 42:01.720
when other options have not worked.

42:01.720 --> 42:03.800
Please listen to the students, families,

42:03.800 --> 42:05.600
staff, and community members

42:05.600 --> 42:08.760
who have experienced the positive impact

42:08.760 --> 42:10.600
of this school firsthand.

42:10.600 --> 42:14.160
For many students, BLA is not simply another school,

42:14.160 --> 42:16.720
it is the reason that they are succeeding.

42:16.720 --> 42:18.600
Please do not disrupt the very thing

42:18.600 --> 42:21.160
that is helping these students thrive.

42:21.160 --> 42:22.760
Thank you.

42:22.760 --> 42:23.840
Thank you, Mrs. Schill.

42:23.840 --> 42:27.320
Oh, extra bond is our next speaker,

42:27.320 --> 42:30.880
and then who's up after us, ma'am, Mrs. Schill?

42:30.880 --> 42:31.960
No, Mrs. Schill.

42:31.960 --> 42:32.800
Okay.

42:34.640 --> 42:35.480
Paolo?

42:42.280 --> 42:43.480
All right, whoof.

42:44.840 --> 42:46.480
All right, good afternoon,

42:46.480 --> 42:47.880
Beloit school board members

42:47.880 --> 42:49.800
and members of the Beloit community.

42:49.800 --> 42:51.440
For those of you who may not know me,

42:51.440 --> 42:53.200
my name is Paolo Delgado.

42:53.200 --> 42:54.520
I am one of the many students

42:54.520 --> 42:56.720
who attended Beloit Learning Academy.

42:56.760 --> 42:59.240
I graduated in 2020 during COVID.

43:00.360 --> 43:02.160
To give you a brief background,

43:02.160 --> 43:04.080
I am the oldest of five siblings,

43:04.080 --> 43:06.280
the first Mexican American in my family

43:06.280 --> 43:08.120
to graduate from high school,

43:08.120 --> 43:09.920
the first to graduate from college

43:09.920 --> 43:12.720
and the first police officer in my family.

43:12.720 --> 43:15.720
I was also a resident of Project 1649,

43:15.720 --> 43:18.960
a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting

43:18.960 --> 43:21.920
homeless youth in the Beloit and Janesville area

43:21.920 --> 43:24.080
by providing transitional living housing

43:24.080 --> 43:26.640
and other vital resources.

43:26.640 --> 43:29.880
Now that you know a little bit about my background,

43:29.880 --> 43:31.960
I would like to share a brief story.

43:31.960 --> 43:33.240
During the police academy,

43:33.240 --> 43:36.280
my director handed me a book called

43:36.280 --> 43:39.120
Start with Why by Simon Sinek.

43:39.120 --> 43:43.560
To be honest, reading has never been my favorite activities,

43:44.480 --> 43:47.600
but the academy challenged me in ways

43:47.600 --> 43:50.080
I had never experienced before.

43:50.080 --> 43:51.560
As I worked through those hardships,

43:51.560 --> 43:54.240
I began reading the book and eventually found myself

43:54.280 --> 43:57.200
asking the same question, why?

43:57.200 --> 43:59.800
Why did I begin this journey?

43:59.800 --> 44:02.280
When I looked back, I found my answer.

44:02.280 --> 44:04.120
Part of my why started right here

44:04.120 --> 44:05.760
in the school district of Beloit.

44:06.760 --> 44:08.560
It started at Royce Elementary,

44:08.560 --> 44:12.200
where I learned English, my second language.

44:12.200 --> 44:15.520
I then continued through my years in the district,

44:15.520 --> 44:18.840
which ultimately led me to Beloit Learning Academy,

44:18.840 --> 44:20.600
a school that gave me an opportunity

44:20.600 --> 44:22.680
to graduate as a proud purple knight.

44:23.440 --> 44:27.680
Beloit Learning Academy provided much more than education.

44:27.680 --> 44:30.120
Through its partnership with Project 1649,

44:30.120 --> 44:32.240
I had access to stability, support,

44:32.240 --> 44:36.160
and a place to call home during a difficult chapter of my life.

44:37.360 --> 44:38.920
I was able to work part-time,

44:38.920 --> 44:41.160
continue my education, and build a future

44:41.160 --> 44:42.800
that once seemed out of reach.

44:43.960 --> 44:48.960
On the school district of Beloit's board

44:49.280 --> 44:52.000
of education webpage at states,

44:52.040 --> 44:54.400
we acknowledge the challenges and adversity

44:54.400 --> 44:57.320
that so many of our families are facing.

44:57.320 --> 45:00.400
We are committed to supporting our students,

45:00.400 --> 45:01.480
families, and staff.

45:01.480 --> 45:04.160
We are here for you, and we are stronger together.

45:04.160 --> 45:06.560
Tonight, I invite the board to start with why.

45:07.440 --> 45:09.800
I encourage you to reflect on the message

45:09.800 --> 45:11.840
you want to send this community,

45:11.840 --> 45:14.080
and to remember the purpose behind the programs

45:14.080 --> 45:17.600
and opportunities that have changed so many lives.

45:17.600 --> 45:20.120
One of my favorite quotes from Start With Why says,

45:20.120 --> 45:22.400
all organizations start with why,

45:22.400 --> 45:27.080
but only the great ones keep their why clear year after year.

45:27.960 --> 45:30.040
Because of Beloit Learning Academy,

45:30.040 --> 45:31.480
I became a police officer.

45:31.480 --> 45:34.680
Because of Beloit Learning Academy,

45:34.680 --> 45:36.040
one of my sisters graduated

45:36.040 --> 45:38.520
and now it serves in the Army Reserves.

45:38.520 --> 45:41.040
Because of the opportunities provided through the district,

45:41.040 --> 45:43.520
another sister graduated from Beloit Memorial High School

45:43.520 --> 45:45.200
and now proudly serves our country

45:45.200 --> 45:47.600
in the United States Air Force.

45:47.600 --> 45:52.360
These are not just individual success stories.

45:52.360 --> 45:54.840
They are examples of what can happen

45:54.840 --> 45:57.600
when a school district invests in its students,

45:57.600 --> 46:00.240
especially those facing adversity.

46:00.240 --> 46:02.720
Beloit Learning Academy is much more than a school.

46:02.720 --> 46:04.040
It is a second chance.

46:04.040 --> 46:05.000
It is hope.

46:05.000 --> 46:06.600
It is opportunity.

46:06.600 --> 46:09.920
It is proof that when a community believes in its students,

46:09.920 --> 46:11.680
those students can achieve things

46:11.680 --> 46:13.240
they never thought possible.

46:13.240 --> 46:15.080
Thank you.

46:15.080 --> 46:16.080
I'm sorry, your time is up.

46:16.080 --> 46:17.320
Oh, sorry.

46:17.320 --> 46:18.160
Thank you.

46:18.160 --> 46:19.000
Okay.

46:19.840 --> 46:20.840
Mrs. Scho.

46:20.840 --> 46:23.840
APPLAUSE

46:23.840 --> 46:24.760
Next, I have Kylie.

46:39.920 --> 46:41.120
Hello.

46:41.120 --> 46:42.960
My name is Kylie Cribbs.

46:42.960 --> 46:45.440
I attended BLA.

46:45.440 --> 46:49.960
I want to thank Ms. Mackinte for inviting me here to speak today.

46:49.960 --> 46:52.480
I'm speaking today on behalf of Bulloy Learning Academy

46:52.480 --> 46:54.480
and the vital yet overlooked part of it

46:54.480 --> 46:56.520
that it plays within not just our school district

46:56.520 --> 46:57.920
but our community.

46:57.920 --> 46:59.760
I attended BLA during my senior year

46:59.760 --> 47:02.560
after struggling to feel connected to my education.

47:02.560 --> 47:05.200
Hoping BLA could be the change needed.

47:05.200 --> 47:07.440
While there, I experienced something I never have

47:07.440 --> 47:08.840
from any school prior.

47:08.840 --> 47:11.840
I experienced a school completely filled to the brim.

47:11.840 --> 47:13.760
Sorry, I have anxiety.

47:13.840 --> 47:16.240
Completely filled to the brim with educators

47:16.240 --> 47:19.920
who truly saw us and understood the challenges

47:19.920 --> 47:20.760
that we go through.

47:23.280 --> 47:26.640
The staff that put genuine time and care

47:26.640 --> 47:28.640
into recognizing us not just as students

47:28.640 --> 47:30.560
but as individual people.

47:30.560 --> 47:32.760
I was able to maintain a job and also graduate

47:32.760 --> 47:34.760
five months early, which I could not have done

47:34.760 --> 47:37.040
at the time without my teacher support.

47:37.040 --> 47:39.080
Looking back at some of my peers,

47:39.080 --> 47:42.040
simply needed guidance in academically, sorry,

47:42.040 --> 47:44.480
simply needed guidance academic wise,

47:44.480 --> 47:47.360
while others had harsh and violent home environments

47:47.360 --> 47:50.480
that made education the least of their worries.

47:50.480 --> 47:53.720
The teachers around me both understood and acknowledged this.

47:53.720 --> 47:56.720
If you truly wanted to obtain a high school diploma,

47:56.720 --> 47:58.720
they ensured you would do so.

47:58.720 --> 48:00.680
They gave you the resources to achieve it.

48:00.680 --> 48:02.120
And if you were a troubled student

48:02.120 --> 48:04.800
who was convinced a diploma wasn't necessary,

48:04.800 --> 48:06.600
they found ways to get through to you

48:06.600 --> 48:09.120
by reminding you of your potential.

48:09.120 --> 48:11.160
But that's not where they stopped.

48:11.160 --> 48:13.000
They also pushed for higher education,

48:13.000 --> 48:14.880
which for some students was the first time

48:14.880 --> 48:17.920
an adult made them feel that was even a possibility

48:17.920 --> 48:18.880
or an option.

48:20.400 --> 48:23.520
Minimizing BLA's importance within our school district

48:23.520 --> 48:25.920
is minimizing the importance of the many

48:25.920 --> 48:28.200
at-risk children within our city.

48:28.200 --> 48:30.200
The school is a pillar for our community

48:30.200 --> 48:32.440
and it is one that should not be taken for granted

48:32.440 --> 48:33.760
or forgotten.

48:33.760 --> 48:36.560
I can sincerely say BLA give me an education

48:36.560 --> 48:38.760
that will follow me throughout my life.

48:38.760 --> 48:40.840
It's imperative that the district recognizes

48:40.840 --> 48:42.680
just how vital BLA is to kids

48:42.680 --> 48:44.680
that don't deserve to be left behind,

48:44.680 --> 48:46.800
simply because they didn't have the same access

48:46.800 --> 48:48.520
to the education and educators

48:48.520 --> 48:50.160
I was fortunate enough to have.

48:52.080 --> 48:55.680
I think the first time I stepped into BLA,

48:55.680 --> 48:59.520
it was nerve-wracking because BLA has a reputation

48:59.520 --> 49:03.200
of a lot of their kids being trouble,

49:03.200 --> 49:05.280
a lot of them having anger issues

49:05.280 --> 49:07.120
and that's why they're sent there.

49:07.120 --> 49:10.480
I think the mix was actually quite beautiful.

49:10.480 --> 49:12.760
I was surprised that a lot of the kids

49:12.760 --> 49:16.680
weren't really angry, they just never had an adult hear them

49:16.680 --> 49:19.000
or listen to them and truly see them.

49:20.160 --> 49:25.160
BLA has a unfortunate side to it at times.

49:25.960 --> 49:30.040
There can be violence, there can be anger

49:30.040 --> 49:32.840
and I think that trickles down to the students,

49:32.840 --> 49:34.640
it trickles down to the kids

49:34.640 --> 49:36.880
and I saw firsthand how the teachers

49:36.880 --> 49:39.160
were able to connect with some of these kids

49:39.160 --> 49:41.600
that were angry and they didn't know why.

49:43.160 --> 49:44.800
The educators are truly amazing

49:44.800 --> 49:48.440
and I wanna thank them all for doing what they can

49:48.440 --> 49:52.920
to support these students and support me

49:52.920 --> 49:54.960
and I think that's why we're all here today

49:54.960 --> 49:58.040
and I'd like to say thank you guys for your time.

49:58.040 --> 49:58.880
Thank you.

49:58.880 --> 49:59.880
Yeah.

49:59.880 --> 50:01.960
Mrs. Schill, who do we have next?

50:01.960 --> 50:04.280
The last one I have in the room is Mario.

50:10.160 --> 50:13.160
Give me one second.

50:13.160 --> 50:14.160
Here we go.

50:14.160 --> 50:17.160
Good afternoon everyone.

50:17.160 --> 50:20.160
My name is Mario Flores Kulin.

50:20.160 --> 50:22.160
I am a 2024 BLA graduate.

50:22.160 --> 50:27.160
I graduated with honors at Tricocci University of Beauty Culture.

50:27.160 --> 50:29.160
First and foremost, I want to thank everyone

50:29.160 --> 50:31.160
for being here in this moment

50:31.160 --> 50:34.160
and for all my teachers for being the most supportive

50:34.160 --> 50:36.160
and helping people in my career.

50:37.160 --> 50:40.160
I am living proof of why BLA shouldn't be moved or erased.

50:40.160 --> 50:42.160
I was a student at Beloé Memorial High School.

50:42.160 --> 50:45.160
I was only there for about a year and a half.

50:45.160 --> 50:48.160
That school didn't bring any benefits to me.

50:48.160 --> 50:52.160
The only thing it gave me was anxiety and stress.

50:52.160 --> 50:55.160
Ever since I switched to Beloé Learning Academy,

50:55.160 --> 50:57.160
my career changed for the better.

50:57.160 --> 51:01.160
It's been the only school that has made me feel safe,

51:01.160 --> 51:04.160
cared for, and made me feel safe.

51:04.160 --> 51:08.160
Cared for and made me feel good about myself.

51:08.160 --> 51:10.160
When I was moved to Beloé Learning Academy,

51:10.160 --> 51:14.160
I was greeted with such loving, passionate,

51:14.160 --> 51:17.160
and open-minded people.

51:17.160 --> 51:19.160
The way these teachers take care of the kids,

51:19.160 --> 51:22.160
you would have thought they were all therapists.

51:22.160 --> 51:25.160
To me, these teachers are like second mothers to me.

51:25.160 --> 51:28.160
I came here to tell the board to put importance into the school

51:28.160 --> 51:30.160
why, you may ask,

51:30.160 --> 51:32.160
because this school accepts everyone.

51:32.160 --> 51:36.160
It doesn't matter where you came from, what you want to be,

51:36.160 --> 51:38.160
or what you look like.

51:38.160 --> 51:40.160
Beloé Learning Academy welcomes everyone.

51:40.160 --> 51:44.160
Identity isn't a matter to be worried about for these students.

51:44.160 --> 51:48.160
I please ask you to not touch Beloé Learning Academy.

51:48.160 --> 51:51.160
It's an important school that is helping students

51:51.160 --> 51:55.160
actually graduate and succeed in their life and careers.

51:55.160 --> 51:58.160
As a gay Latino, I want to represent this school

51:58.160 --> 52:01.160
and to speak up for the students and teachers that can't.

52:01.160 --> 52:04.160
I can't be represented on the BMHS field,

52:04.160 --> 52:07.160
but in my heart, I graduated in Beloé Learning Academy.

52:07.160 --> 52:10.160
I can't comprehend how, as a parent,

52:10.160 --> 52:12.160
you can't put yourself in the shoes of these students.

52:12.160 --> 52:15.160
Imagine your child being stripped from the confidence,

52:15.160 --> 52:18.160
joy, and opportunity this school brings.

52:18.160 --> 52:22.160
Why should the students be disvalued over students at BMHS?

52:22.160 --> 52:25.160
These programs have fought so hard to be in one building,

52:25.160 --> 52:28.160
why move them and break them apart?

52:28.160 --> 52:31.160
BLA hasn't brought harm to anyone.

52:31.160 --> 52:35.160
What it has brought is to Beloé as a whole is community,

52:35.160 --> 52:39.160
love, and education that truly does matter.

52:39.160 --> 52:43.160
Here's my proof of what BLA has helped me with.

52:43.160 --> 52:46.160
And I have my certification of my scholarship

52:46.160 --> 52:48.160
that I received through BLA.

52:48.160 --> 52:52.160
It was a $10,000 scholarship through the Herb Cole Foundation

52:52.160 --> 52:56.160
and my graduation certificate of Tricogee.

52:56.160 --> 52:58.160
Thank you very much.

52:58.160 --> 53:00.160
Thank you.

53:00.160 --> 53:02.160
Mrs. Schul.

53:08.160 --> 53:10.160
Now I have emails.

53:13.160 --> 53:16.160
This email is from Dan.

53:16.160 --> 53:19.160
My name is Dan, and I'm a teacher at BLA.

53:20.160 --> 53:24.160
I respectfully ask that the Beloé Learning Academy

53:24.160 --> 53:27.160
remain at the Cunningham Success Center.

53:27.160 --> 53:30.160
The Cunningham Success Center is much more than a building.

53:30.160 --> 53:33.160
It houses Beloé Learning Academy even start.

53:33.160 --> 53:37.160
The Teen Parent Program Office, the BVS Office,

53:37.160 --> 53:41.160
GEDO2, the Bridge Transition Program,

53:41.160 --> 53:44.160
Challenge Academy Mentoring, a Makerspace, a library,

53:44.160 --> 53:46.160
a food pantry, a clothing closet,

53:46.160 --> 53:51.160
and school social work services.

53:51.160 --> 53:53.160
That's not a building.

53:53.160 --> 53:54.160
That's a toolbox.

53:54.160 --> 53:57.160
We also have a courtyard and garden that serve as outdoor

53:57.160 --> 53:59.160
classrooms for our environmental literature

53:59.160 --> 54:01.160
and environmental science students.

54:01.160 --> 54:04.160
The food pantry and clothing closet provide resources

54:04.160 --> 54:07.160
for students while creating opportunities for volunteer

54:07.160 --> 54:10.160
service, work experience, and skill development.

54:10.160 --> 54:12.160
The Bridge Transition Program helps students with

54:12.160 --> 54:15.160
intellectual disabilities develop employment

54:15.160 --> 54:18.160
and independent living skills that prepare them for the life

54:18.160 --> 54:20.160
after high school.

54:20.160 --> 54:23.160
What makes the Cunningham Success Center special is that

54:23.160 --> 54:25.160
these resources work together.

54:25.160 --> 54:28.160
Students can access academic support, basic needs,

54:28.160 --> 54:31.160
resources, social emotional support, work experience,

54:31.160 --> 54:35.160
transitioning programming, and mentoring all in one place.

54:35.160 --> 54:37.160
I've learned something in education.

54:37.160 --> 54:39.160
Success isn't just about programs.

54:39.160 --> 54:42.160
It's about connections between people, resources,

54:42.160 --> 54:44.160
and opportunities.

54:44.160 --> 54:47.160
Many of our students come to us because traditional settings

54:47.160 --> 54:49.160
have not met their needs.

54:49.160 --> 54:52.160
The Cunningham Success Center provides stability,

54:52.160 --> 54:54.160
consistency, and support.

54:54.160 --> 54:57.160
For many students, it is the first place they've experienced

54:57.160 --> 54:58.160
success in school.

54:58.160 --> 55:01.160
As you consider the future of the Lloyd Learning Academy,

55:01.160 --> 55:04.160
I ask that you look beyond square footage and facility maps.

55:04.160 --> 55:05.160
Look at the students.

55:05.160 --> 55:06.160
Look at the programs.

55:06.160 --> 55:08.160
Look at the opportunities.

55:08.160 --> 55:11.160
Because the Cunningham Success Center isn't just a school

55:11.160 --> 55:14.160
but it's a toolbox filled with programs, resources,

55:14.160 --> 55:17.160
opportunities, and people who help students succeed.

55:17.160 --> 55:19.160
And it changes lives every day.

55:19.160 --> 55:22.160
Thank you for your time and consideration.

55:25.160 --> 55:27.160
Next, I have one from Finley.

55:27.160 --> 55:30.160
My name is Finley and I stand in support of the

55:30.160 --> 55:31.160
Lloyd Learning Academy.

55:31.160 --> 55:34.160
First, I would like to apologize for not being able to attend

55:34.160 --> 55:35.160
this meeting in person.

55:35.160 --> 55:36.160
I had to work tonight.

55:36.160 --> 55:40.160
But I hope my words can help show the impact the school has

55:40.160 --> 55:41.160
had on students like me.

55:41.160 --> 55:44.160
As a freshman in high school, I experienced severe bullying

55:44.160 --> 55:46.160
and eventually lost hope that I would graduate.

55:46.160 --> 55:50.160
I felt isolated, unsupported, and ultimately stopped attending

55:50.160 --> 55:52.160
school because I could not see a path forward.

55:52.160 --> 55:55.160
Everything changed when I transferred to the Lloyd Learning

55:55.160 --> 55:58.160
Academy halfway through my junior year.

55:58.160 --> 56:01.160
For the first time, I felt supported by my teachers

56:01.160 --> 56:04.160
and believed that my future mattered.

56:04.160 --> 56:07.160
Because of the opportunities and encouragement I received there,

56:07.160 --> 56:10.160
I not only graduated, but I graduated early.

56:10.160 --> 56:13.160
Without the Lloyd Learning Academy, I honestly do not know

56:13.160 --> 56:15.160
if I would have graduated at all.

56:15.160 --> 56:17.160
This school is more than an alternative option.

56:17.160 --> 56:22.160
It is a lifeline for students who need a different path to success.

56:22.160 --> 56:25.160
I am living proof of the difference it can make.

56:25.160 --> 56:29.160
Please do not take away that opportunity from future students.

56:29.160 --> 56:32.160
Lloyd Learning Academy changed my life and I hope it can

56:32.160 --> 56:34.160
continue changing lives for years to come.

56:34.160 --> 56:37.160
Thank you for your time, consideration, and for listening

56:37.160 --> 56:38.160
to my story.

56:44.160 --> 56:47.160
Next, I have one from Juliana.

56:47.160 --> 56:50.160
My name is Juliana, and I'm writing to express my strong

56:50.160 --> 56:53.160
support for Lloyd Learning Academy and to respectfully ask

56:53.160 --> 56:55.160
that it not be removed.

56:55.160 --> 56:59.160
Lloyd Learning Academy has been more than just a school to me.

56:59.160 --> 57:01.160
It has been my second chance at success.

57:01.160 --> 57:04.160
I began my freshman year at Bulloyt Memorial High School

57:04.160 --> 57:07.160
with hope for my education, but I quickly faced challenges

57:07.160 --> 57:10.160
that made it difficult for me to succeed.

57:10.160 --> 57:13.160
My class schedule was changed in ways that created confusion

57:13.160 --> 57:15.160
and made me feel unsupported.

57:15.160 --> 57:18.160
When my mother and I tried to address the situation,

57:18.160 --> 57:21.160
we did not feel that our concerns were taken seriously.

57:21.160 --> 57:24.160
As a result, I began to lose faith in the school system.

57:24.160 --> 57:27.160
During the middle of my sophomore year, my mother applied

57:27.160 --> 57:29.160
for me to attend Bulloyt Learning Academy.

57:29.160 --> 57:32.160
I was grateful to be accepted because it gave me

57:32.160 --> 57:35.160
another opportunity to continue my education.

57:35.160 --> 57:39.160
While attending BLA, I was able to complete my 10th grade year

57:39.160 --> 57:41.160
and recover all of my missed credits.

57:41.160 --> 57:44.160
Later, I had to step away from school during my junior year

57:44.160 --> 57:47.160
because of difficult personal circumstances.

57:47.160 --> 57:50.160
I needed to help my mother care for my three younger siblings

57:50.160 --> 57:53.160
while also working three jobs to support my family.

57:53.160 --> 57:58.160
Even during that time, the staff at BLA continued to encourage me

57:58.160 --> 58:00.160
and believe in me.

58:00.160 --> 58:04.160
Mrs. Buchanan, Ms. Monroe, Mr. Harrow, Ms. Scoville,

58:04.160 --> 58:07.160
and many others went above and beyond for me.

58:07.160 --> 58:10.160
They stayed after hours to help me, pushed me to do my best,

58:10.160 --> 58:12.160
and never gave up on me.

58:12.160 --> 58:15.160
Their dedication made me believe that I could still succeed

58:15.160 --> 58:17.160
even when I felt overwhelmed.

58:17.160 --> 58:20.160
During my senior year, I also experienced a deeply difficult

58:20.160 --> 58:23.160
and traumatic personal situation that made continuing

58:23.160 --> 58:24.160
school even harder.

58:24.160 --> 58:27.160
In one of the darkest times of my life,

58:27.160 --> 58:30.160
Mr. Buchanan reached out to me and asked how I was doing

58:30.160 --> 58:33.160
and encouraged me to continue my education.

58:33.160 --> 58:35.160
That support meant everything to me.

58:35.160 --> 58:38.160
Today, I can honestly say that I would not be close to completing

58:38.160 --> 58:41.160
my education if it were not for Bloitte Learning Academy.

58:41.160 --> 58:44.160
This school gave me the support, encouragement,

58:44.160 --> 58:47.160
and second chance that I needed when I felt like giving up.

58:47.160 --> 58:51.160
BLA helps students who may be behind struggling or facing

58:51.160 --> 58:54.160
serious life challenges, and it gives them a real opportunity

58:54.160 --> 58:56.160
to graduate and build a better future.

58:56.160 --> 59:00.160
I strongly encourage the board to reconsider any plans to move

59:00.160 --> 59:02.160
BLA into the high school.

59:02.160 --> 59:05.160
BLA's current location has created a supportive environment

59:05.160 --> 59:07.160
that benefits many students and families,

59:07.160 --> 59:10.160
and relocating it could negatively impact the programs

59:10.160 --> 59:13.160
and relationships that have made it so successful.

59:13.160 --> 59:17.160
One of the most valuable aspects of BLA is the connection between

59:17.160 --> 59:20.160
the younger children and the older students they look up to.

59:20.160 --> 59:23.160
These children, including preschool-aged students,

59:23.160 --> 59:26.160
have built trusting relationships with older student mentors

59:26.160 --> 59:29.160
who help them learn, grow, and feel comfortable.

59:29.160 --> 59:32.160
At the same time, the older students take pride in supporting

59:32.160 --> 59:34.160
and encouraging these young learners,

59:34.160 --> 59:37.160
including children who are nonverbal and have additional needs.

59:37.160 --> 59:40.160
Taking away those opportunities would be a loss for both groups.

59:40.160 --> 59:45.160
BLA also provides important support for students facing challenges

59:45.160 --> 59:48.160
in their lives, including teen parents who are working hard

59:48.160 --> 59:52.160
to continue their education, and students who are making positive changes.

59:52.160 --> 59:54.160
We're at three minutes on that one.

59:54.160 --> 59:55.160
Okay.

59:59.160 --> 01:00:01.160
This one is from Noah.

01:00:01.160 --> 01:00:06.160
I am from BLA, and I'm writing about the choice of our school

01:00:06.160 --> 01:00:09.160
either being moved or even canceled altogether.

01:00:09.160 --> 01:00:12.160
In my opinion, I think both moving our school and ending it

01:00:12.160 --> 01:00:15.160
are both horrible decisions for many reasons,

01:00:15.160 --> 01:00:17.160
but I won't talk much about the bad.

01:00:17.160 --> 01:00:20.160
I'll speak on behalf of the good BLA has done for me.

01:00:20.160 --> 01:00:24.160
In BLA, it has allowed me and many others in our own way and pace.

01:00:24.160 --> 01:00:28.160
I personally am very fast in this environment in exchange

01:00:28.160 --> 01:00:30.160
for finishing my work.

01:00:30.160 --> 01:00:32.160
I was given chances to do stuff I liked,

01:00:32.160 --> 01:00:35.160
like making props for costumes in the maker space,

01:00:35.160 --> 01:00:38.160
as well as spending time sewing a costume,

01:00:38.160 --> 01:00:41.160
helping around when things need transporting and all together

01:00:41.160 --> 01:00:43.160
just getting time to be myself.

01:00:43.160 --> 01:00:46.160
BLA is very accepting of students in my opinion

01:00:46.160 --> 01:00:49.160
and doesn't single out a student for the way they think, dress, or act.

01:00:49.160 --> 01:00:53.160
The staff there have always sat and listened about random facts I have

01:00:53.160 --> 01:00:56.160
or even just if I need to get what's on my mind out.

01:00:56.160 --> 01:01:00.160
It has also been very good with helping me follow my accommodations

01:01:00.160 --> 01:01:04.160
and I don't have to second guess if they will be met if I need them.

01:01:04.160 --> 01:01:09.160
I know our school isn't perfect in all means,

01:01:09.160 --> 01:01:13.160
but getting rid of it would affect the lives of me and so many other students.

01:01:13.160 --> 01:01:16.160
Most of us have gotten set into our routine at the school

01:01:16.160 --> 01:01:19.160
and have learned to love the teachers and other staff we have.

01:01:19.160 --> 01:01:23.160
If our school was even just moved we'd lose many of our staff

01:01:23.160 --> 01:01:26.160
who aren't teachers because those staff are at other schools

01:01:26.160 --> 01:01:30.160
and I've personally learned to love coming every day and seeing everyone.

01:01:30.160 --> 01:01:34.160
I hope you can take what I say into account when making the choice for BLA.

01:01:34.160 --> 01:01:36.160
Have a wonderful day.

01:01:42.160 --> 01:01:45.160
I would like to voice my support for the BLA Academy

01:01:45.160 --> 01:01:48.160
it is much needed in the city.

01:01:48.160 --> 01:01:52.160
I did have the privilege to work as a security guard at the right building for eight years.

01:01:52.160 --> 01:01:55.160
I did see many students grow and mature during the years there.

01:01:55.160 --> 01:01:58.160
I also had the opportunity to sponsor three students

01:01:58.160 --> 01:02:01.160
who attended the Challenge Academy at Fort McCoy.

01:02:01.160 --> 01:02:03.160
All three did graduate.

01:02:03.160 --> 01:02:05.160
I believed in BLA and the students.

01:02:05.160 --> 01:02:10.160
We did have a basketball team even though the players were not very good, but they did try.

01:02:10.160 --> 01:02:12.160
I did transport some of the students to the games

01:02:12.160 --> 01:02:17.160
and even one of the players who was a guest at the Juvenile Detention Facility.

01:02:17.160 --> 01:02:20.160
My job was not just a role as a security officer,

01:02:20.160 --> 01:02:25.160
but a person to talk to these youngsters, students as a father role model.

01:02:25.160 --> 01:02:28.160
There is a need for BLA in Beloit.

01:02:28.160 --> 01:02:30.160
I wish I was younger.

01:02:30.160 --> 01:02:35.160
It was a challenge but very enjoyable and I would not have changed it for the world.

01:02:35.160 --> 01:02:41.160
I am thankful that Dan Stoffaker who was in charge of school safety

01:02:41.160 --> 01:02:43.160
placed me at BLA.

01:02:43.160 --> 01:02:45.160
Respectful yours, Robert.

01:02:50.160 --> 01:02:52.160
My name is Daniel.

01:02:52.160 --> 01:02:56.160
I have four children in the school district at Frozen and BMHS.

01:02:56.160 --> 01:03:02.160
I understand that you're under a lot of pressure to figure out solutions given the financial situation we're in.

01:03:02.160 --> 01:03:06.160
However, based on conversation with teachers at BMHS as well as kids,

01:03:06.160 --> 01:03:09.160
I know who have successfully studied at BLA.

01:03:09.160 --> 01:03:14.160
I believe that it would defeat the whole purpose of BLA by moving it back to the high school building.

01:03:14.160 --> 01:03:19.160
The success of BMHS and BLA stems in no small part from their separation.

01:03:19.160 --> 01:03:24.160
The students who are thriving at BLA are doing so because they're in a different environment.

01:03:24.160 --> 01:03:27.160
Putting them back in the place where they struggled is counterproductive.

01:03:27.160 --> 01:03:29.160
Daniel.

01:03:29.160 --> 01:03:42.160
To your members of the board, I am writing as a family member of several Beloit Learning Academy graduates

01:03:42.160 --> 01:03:46.160
and as someone who spent 10 and a half years serving as a data analyst

01:03:46.160 --> 01:03:49.160
in the United States Air Force throughout my career,

01:03:49.160 --> 01:03:52.160
I have learned one simple truth, data does not lie.

01:03:52.160 --> 01:03:57.160
When evaluating the future of BLA, I urge the board to look beyond the surface level numbers

01:03:57.160 --> 01:04:01.160
and consider what this school was created to accomplish.

01:04:01.160 --> 01:04:05.160
BLA serves students who often need a different educational environment to succeed.

01:04:05.160 --> 01:04:09.160
While traditional schools are measured primarily by standardized test scores,

01:04:09.160 --> 01:04:14.160
alternative schools should also be evaluated on graduation rates, student retention,

01:04:14.160 --> 01:04:19.160
attendance, and the number of young people who remain connected to education rather than dropping out.

01:04:19.160 --> 01:04:24.160
According to publicly available data, Beloit Learning Academy serves over 150 students

01:04:24.160 --> 01:04:28.160
and has maintained graduation rates around 77%.

01:04:28.160 --> 01:04:31.160
Reaching as high as 82% in some years.

01:04:31.160 --> 01:04:36.160
Enrollment has grown over recent years demonstrating that families continue to seek the services

01:04:36.160 --> 01:04:38.160
and support the school provides.

01:04:38.160 --> 01:04:41.160
The numbers are important, but they only tell part of the story.

01:04:41.160 --> 01:04:46.160
My cousins attended BLA and I witnessed firsthand the impact it had on their lives.

01:04:46.160 --> 01:04:51.160
The school provided an environment where they could grow, mature, and ultimately succeed.

01:04:51.160 --> 01:04:57.160
Without this opportunity, I generally do not know if they would have experienced the same positive outcomes.

01:04:57.160 --> 01:05:03.160
As a data professional, I understand that every organization must make difficult financial decisions.

01:05:03.160 --> 01:05:07.160
However, good analysis requires asking the right question.

01:05:07.160 --> 01:05:10.160
The question should not simply be, how much does this building cost?

01:05:10.160 --> 01:05:15.160
The question should be, what happens to the students who rely on this program if it disappears?

01:05:15.160 --> 01:05:20.160
If even a portion of these students are able to graduate because Beloit Learning Academy exists,

01:05:20.160 --> 01:05:23.160
then the return on investment extends far beyond test scores.

01:05:23.160 --> 01:05:28.160
It affects employment, future earnings, community engagement, and the lives of entire families.

01:05:28.160 --> 01:05:34.160
Schools like BLA are often the last opportunity for students who have struggled elsewhere.

01:05:34.160 --> 01:05:39.160
Closing or significantly downsizing the school risks removing an educational lifeline

01:05:39.160 --> 01:05:44.160
that has already changed countless lives, including those of my own family members.

01:05:44.160 --> 01:05:49.160
I respectfully ask the Board to carefully consider the long-term impact of this decision.

01:05:49.160 --> 01:05:55.160
Data should guide decisions, but it must be interpreted within the context of the population being served.

01:05:55.160 --> 01:05:59.160
The success of BLA cannot be measured solely by traditional metrics.

01:05:59.160 --> 01:06:04.160
It's true success is measured by the students who graduate, move forward, and build better futures

01:06:04.160 --> 01:06:06.160
because someone believed they deserved another chance.

01:06:06.160 --> 01:06:10.160
Thank you for your time, your service, and your consideration, Amanda.

01:06:15.160 --> 01:06:20.160
To the Beloit School Board, my name is Olivia, and I'm writing in support of keeping BLA open

01:06:20.160 --> 01:06:23.160
and, if possible, allowing it to remain at the Cunningham Building.

01:06:23.160 --> 01:06:30.160
I attended BLA, and I honestly say that the staff and teachers there were so much more than educators.

01:06:30.160 --> 01:06:36.160
They were mentors, advocates, and a support system for students facing challenges both inside and outside of school.

01:06:36.160 --> 01:06:41.160
As a teenager, I experienced domestic violence, teen pregnancy, and struggles at home.

01:06:41.160 --> 01:06:46.160
During some of the most difficult times in my life, the teachers at BLA never gave up on me.

01:06:46.160 --> 01:06:50.160
They saw me as a person, not just a student sitting in a classroom,

01:06:50.160 --> 01:06:55.160
two teachers who made a lasting impact on my life were Mr. Larson and Mrs. Scoville.

01:06:55.160 --> 01:06:59.160
Early in my pregnancy, I would often become very sick during class.

01:06:59.160 --> 01:07:04.160
Mr. Larson made sure I was comfortable and supported instead of making me feel like a burden.

01:07:04.160 --> 01:07:10.160
Mrs. Scoville, along with many other staff members, always made sure students knew someone cared about them.

01:07:10.160 --> 01:07:15.160
They understood that many of us were caring burdens that extended far beyond the classroom.

01:07:15.160 --> 01:07:20.160
The staff at BLA recognized that students cannot focus on learning when they are worried about basic needs.

01:07:20.160 --> 01:07:25.160
There were times when teachers provided snacks because they knew students were coming to school hungry.

01:07:25.160 --> 01:07:29.160
They created an environment where students felt safe, supported, and valued.

01:07:29.160 --> 01:07:31.160
Academically, the teachers went above and beyond.

01:07:31.160 --> 01:07:34.160
They taught in ways that students could understand and relate to.

01:07:34.160 --> 01:07:41.160
They took the time to explain concepts differently, offer extra help, and help students succeed when traditional learning environments had failed them.

01:07:41.160 --> 01:07:44.160
They believed in us even when we didn't believe in ourselves.

01:07:44.160 --> 01:07:52.160
One of the proudest moments of my life was graduating from high school and walking across the stage with my first-born child there to watch me receive my diploma.

01:07:52.160 --> 01:07:59.160
That moment was possible because of Bloitte Learning Academy and the support I received from teachers like Mr. Larson and Mrs. Scoville.

01:07:59.160 --> 01:08:04.160
They helped me see the becoming a young mother did not mean giving up on my education or my future.

01:08:04.160 --> 01:08:11.160
If it were not for BLA, I do not believe I would have graduated, and if I had not graduated, I would not be where I am today.

01:08:11.160 --> 01:08:16.160
The support, encouragement, and compassion I received at BLA changed the trajectory of my life.

01:08:16.160 --> 01:08:20.160
They helped me build a future not only for myself but for my child as well.

01:08:20.160 --> 01:08:24.160
BLA is more than a school. For many students, it's a lifeline.

01:08:24.160 --> 01:08:30.160
It's a place where students who are struggling facing adversity or feeling overlooked are given the support they need to succeed.

01:08:30.160 --> 01:08:37.160
The relationships built there and the individualized attention provided by the staff cannot be replaced.

01:08:37.160 --> 01:08:42.160
I respectfully ask the Board to consider the profound impact BLA has made on students like me.

01:08:42.160 --> 01:08:44.160
My story is just one of many.

01:08:44.160 --> 01:08:50.160
Keeping BLA open means continuing to provide hope, opportunity, and a path forward for students who need it most.

01:08:50.160 --> 01:08:53.160
Thank you for your time and consideration, Olivia.

01:08:54.160 --> 01:09:04.160
Good morning. My name is Chrissy, but everyone knows.

01:09:04.160 --> 01:09:12.160
As I was starting my freshman year, I was scared but excited because it was different,

01:09:12.160 --> 01:09:16.160
but I was dealing with a lot of things outside of school due to my behavior.

01:09:16.160 --> 01:09:22.160
The high school kicked me out every chance they got because of my behavior and not knowing what I was going through

01:09:22.160 --> 01:09:29.160
and dealing with at the time because they don't care about the students just the paycheck it seemed like.

01:09:29.160 --> 01:09:32.160
It was only two teachers and a principal that tried to help me.

01:09:32.160 --> 01:09:36.160
I went to high school from September until March 6th of my ninth grade year.

01:09:36.160 --> 01:09:42.160
I couldn't do it anymore, so I asked, could I go to BLA, not even knowing the teachers or principal there yet.

01:09:42.160 --> 01:09:46.160
As I waited a week to get transferred to BLA, it was the best thing to do.

01:09:46.160 --> 01:09:51.160
At first, it was hard because I was still dealing with things on the outside, but that didn't stop them.

01:09:51.160 --> 01:09:55.160
They helped and helped in any way that they could.

01:09:55.160 --> 01:09:59.160
They reached out to the family if we didn't show up for school.

01:09:59.160 --> 01:10:02.160
They will pick us up if we don't have a ride to school.

01:10:02.160 --> 01:10:05.160
If we didn't have food or clothes, they will provide it.

01:10:05.160 --> 01:10:11.160
If we need extra help on homework, they will sit there and help.

01:10:11.160 --> 01:10:21.160
They will help you also make a big group of people that need the same help and that lack in the same category if it helps everyone.

01:10:21.160 --> 01:10:26.160
Half of the kids in Beloit wouldn't be graduated if it wasn't for BLA or community actions.

01:10:26.160 --> 01:10:31.160
Yes, kids graduated high school, but the kids that do have a good, decent family.

01:10:31.160 --> 01:10:35.160
That's more supportive and involved than some other families.

01:10:35.160 --> 01:10:39.160
I can go on and on, but my story and how I became so successful.

01:10:39.160 --> 01:10:43.160
We needed our own space and we have comfort with the teachers.

01:10:43.160 --> 01:10:47.160
Putting everybody together will not help the next generation.

01:10:53.160 --> 01:10:59.160
Dear Beloit School Board members, my name is Brene and I'm writing to express my support for Beloit Learning Academy

01:10:59.160 --> 01:11:01.160
and ask that you consider keeping the school open.

01:11:01.160 --> 01:11:07.160
I truly believe that I would not have been successful in high school if it were not for BLA and it's incredible teachers.

01:11:07.160 --> 01:11:12.160
Beloit provided me with an environment where I felt supported, encouraged, and motivated to succeed.

01:11:12.160 --> 01:11:18.160
The teachers took the time to understand me, help me through challenges, and make sure I stayed on track academically.

01:11:18.160 --> 01:11:24.160
The teachers at Beloit Learning Academy are some of the most caring, understanding, and loving educators I've ever met.

01:11:24.160 --> 01:11:28.160
They go above and beyond for their students and generally want to see each student succeed.

01:11:28.160 --> 01:11:32.160
They create a welcoming environment where students feel safe, respected, and valued.

01:11:32.160 --> 01:11:38.160
Their dedication makes a difference in the lives of so many students who may struggle in a traditional school setting.

01:11:38.160 --> 01:11:41.160
Beloit Learning Academy is more than just a school.

01:11:41.160 --> 01:11:45.160
It's a place where students are given a second chance, where they are supported through difficult times

01:11:45.160 --> 01:11:48.160
and where they are encouraged to reach their full potential.

01:11:48.160 --> 01:11:52.160
I know firsthand how much of an impact this school has had on my life.

01:11:52.160 --> 01:11:54.160
I know many other students feel the same way.

01:11:54.160 --> 01:11:59.160
Closing Beloit Learning Academy would take away an important opportunity for students who need the unique support

01:11:59.160 --> 01:12:02.160
and learning environment that BLA provides.

01:12:02.160 --> 01:12:09.160
I strongly believe the school should remain open so future students can continue to benefit from the caring staff, positive atmosphere,

01:12:09.160 --> 01:12:12.160
and educational opportunities that help me succeed.

01:12:12.160 --> 01:12:16.160
Thank you for being, taking the time to read my letter and consider my perspective.

01:12:16.160 --> 01:12:20.160
I hope you will keep Beloit Learning Academy open for current and future students.

01:12:20.160 --> 01:12:29.160
Beloit Learning Academy is a great school that my siblings attended.

01:12:29.160 --> 01:12:35.160
I went to Beloit Memorial, but I was on the path to becoming a teen dropout after getting pregnant during my sophomore year.

01:12:35.160 --> 01:12:38.160
I stopped going to school and chose to work instead of attending my classes.

01:12:38.160 --> 01:12:43.160
I met Mrs. Bailey through my brother, and that connection changed everything for me.

01:12:43.160 --> 01:12:47.160
Even though I wasn't a BLA student, the school still opened their doors to me.

01:12:47.160 --> 01:12:53.160
BLA gave me the resources, support, and encouragement I needed to keep going and graduate with my class.

01:12:53.160 --> 01:12:57.160
I truly believe they can help so many other kids the same way.

01:12:57.160 --> 01:13:04.160
When I became a teen parent, BLA helped me get into the Teen Head Start program at a moment when I felt lost and overwhelmed.

01:13:04.160 --> 01:13:11.160
I will always be grateful to BLA and Mrs. Bailey for lifting me up instead of letting me give up on school.

01:13:11.160 --> 01:13:25.160
To the individuals dictating the future and lives of many of our youth just by discussing closing a school,

01:13:25.160 --> 01:13:29.160
I was one of the many students that was lucky enough to attend Beloit Learning Academy.

01:13:29.160 --> 01:13:36.160
BLA gets a bad rap for being the bad kid school, but it is so much more than that.

01:13:36.160 --> 01:13:42.160
I started my freshman year like any other kid and I got by just fine, good grades, friends, etc.

01:13:42.160 --> 01:13:46.160
I had something very traumatic happen to me and I mentally and physically gave up.

01:13:46.160 --> 01:13:49.160
I didn't want to continue with anything let alone school.

01:13:49.160 --> 01:13:55.160
I pretty much dropped out my junior year without any teachers, counselors, or adults really noticing at the high school.

01:13:55.160 --> 01:14:01.160
A few weeks before the end of my junior year, my counselor finally sat me down and told me I wasn't going to graduate.

01:14:01.160 --> 01:14:06.160
This was the first conversation I'd ever had with her since the start of my freshman year.

01:14:06.160 --> 01:14:10.160
How was that supposed to make me feel like she cared about my education?

01:14:10.160 --> 01:14:14.160
She finally told me I could try and talk to the teachers at BLA.

01:14:14.160 --> 01:14:21.160
Reluctantly, I went and the moment I stepped inside BLA, I was greeted with kindness and treated like I was wanted there.

01:14:21.160 --> 01:14:27.160
I sat down with Mrs. Monroe and Mrs. Bailey. They never once judged me by my grades. They asked me why.

01:14:27.160 --> 01:14:30.160
They listened to my tears. They hugged me while I cried.

01:14:30.160 --> 01:14:34.160
They told me it wouldn't be easy and they were there for me and I would succeed.

01:14:34.160 --> 01:14:38.160
I started my senior year with nine credits. That's the amount of a freshman.

01:14:38.160 --> 01:14:42.160
I showed up every day because of the encouragement I got from those ladies.

01:14:42.160 --> 01:14:47.160
They connected us with members of the community to show us if college was not for us.

01:14:47.160 --> 01:14:53.160
There were other careers out there. Not only was I able to graduate, but I graduated early with two extra credits

01:14:53.160 --> 01:14:57.160
and walked the stage with my class because the teachers and staff at BLA cared

01:14:57.160 --> 01:15:01.160
and they supported me just like many of the other students that have gone to BLA.

01:15:01.160 --> 01:15:05.160
BLA is not just an alternative school for bad kids.

01:15:05.160 --> 01:15:10.160
It is for the kids who don't have anybody. It's for the kids who think nobody cares.

01:15:10.160 --> 01:15:15.160
It is for the kids who need somebody to give them one last chance

01:15:15.160 --> 01:15:20.160
and it's for kids who just need someone to notice that they are hurting but do care.

01:15:20.160 --> 01:15:25.160
If you close that school down, who will give these kids that one last chance without BLA?

01:15:25.160 --> 01:15:31.160
I would not be the woman I am today. I am a mother to two beautiful boys and have a fantastic career

01:15:31.160 --> 01:15:35.160
and I am so proud to say I am a BLA graduate. Sam.

01:15:41.160 --> 01:15:47.160
Hello, my name is Logan and I'm emailing you about BLA Academy from what I understand the school is at risk of being closed.

01:15:47.160 --> 01:15:52.160
I don't think this is a good idea. BLA has helped so many people including myself.

01:15:52.160 --> 01:15:55.160
Some kids wouldn't have graduated without this school.

01:15:55.160 --> 01:15:59.160
The teachers here understand special education students more than any other school I've been to.

01:15:59.160 --> 01:16:03.160
I was treated better here as a special ed student than I was at McNeil.

01:16:03.160 --> 01:16:06.160
I was at this school from seventh to twelfth grade.

01:16:06.160 --> 01:16:10.160
A lot of students will struggle if they have to move to a different school.

01:16:10.160 --> 01:16:12.160
Please consider keeping this school open.

01:16:12.160 --> 01:16:14.160
Logan.

01:16:18.160 --> 01:16:26.160
Dear school board members, I am ready to use a former student of BLA to express my deep concern regarding the potential closure of the school.

01:16:26.160 --> 01:16:30.160
BLA played a crucial role in why I was able to finish high school.

01:16:30.160 --> 01:16:36.160
The teachers there helped me through incredibly hard times supporting me as I improve my credits and my attendance.

01:16:36.160 --> 01:16:41.160
They taught me things and provided support that the traditional high school simply did not offer.

01:16:41.160 --> 01:16:47.160
In my opinion, it's the best school in BLA because the teachers truly care and ensure that students are moving in the right direction.

01:16:47.160 --> 01:16:51.160
Closing the school that helps students in this way would be a major mistake.

01:16:51.160 --> 01:16:57.160
By doing so, you are taking away the chance for students to learn and become better versions of themselves.

01:16:57.160 --> 01:17:02.160
I urge the BLA district to do better for students and keep this essential school open.

01:17:02.160 --> 01:17:07.160
Thank you for your time and for considering my perspective, Jasmine.

01:17:11.160 --> 01:17:20.160
My name is Tamara and instead of going to the high school when I moved back to Beloit, I chose to go to BLA and be around less students and have more hands on time with the teachers.

01:17:20.160 --> 01:17:23.160
BLA taught students that they needed to learn at a very slow pace.

01:17:23.160 --> 01:17:30.160
It was better than any high school I went to because sometimes teachers go fast and give you assignments on top of assignments.

01:17:30.160 --> 01:17:33.160
When I transferred to BLA, I didn't have enough credits.

01:17:33.160 --> 01:17:35.160
I needed to graduate with my class.

01:17:35.160 --> 01:17:38.160
They made a plan with me and pushed me to work hard lots of times.

01:17:38.160 --> 01:17:40.160
I was distracted more than I should be.

01:17:40.160 --> 01:17:43.160
But they always encouraged me to get back on track.

01:17:43.160 --> 01:17:48.160
BLA and all of the teachers felt like family and treated all of the students like their own.

01:17:48.160 --> 01:17:53.160
Everyone who went to BLA had at least more than one trusted teacher.

01:17:53.160 --> 01:17:55.160
I looked forward to going to school every day.

01:17:55.160 --> 01:17:57.160
I could feel the love from all of the staff.

01:17:57.160 --> 01:18:06.160
One of the things I love to do is hair and got to turn in my work credits when I was falling short and was able to graduate early March.

01:18:06.160 --> 01:18:10.160
BLA gave me such an unforgettable experience from the staff to the students.

01:18:10.160 --> 01:18:12.160
It was somewhere I wanted to be.

01:18:12.160 --> 01:18:17.160
BLA has changed my life in so many ways and changed my mindset to want to go to college.

01:18:17.160 --> 01:18:22.160
It should not close because they helped so many students graduate.

01:18:22.160 --> 01:18:29.160
They helped so many students graduate with their class and without BLA, a lot of us wouldn't be where we are now.

01:18:30.160 --> 01:18:34.160
And it's from M-E-R-R Milan.

01:18:44.160 --> 01:18:46.160
This one is from Myara.

01:18:46.160 --> 01:18:48.160
Hello, I'm writing this.

01:18:48.160 --> 01:18:55.160
For the reason I heard BLA might not stay open and I just wanted to say I've transferred through almost all the schools in Beloit,

01:18:55.160 --> 01:19:00.160
none of which were anything like the help BLA has offered the children in Wisconsin.

01:19:00.160 --> 01:19:05.160
From day one, I was welcomed, never felt left out, never felt unheard or unseen.

01:19:05.160 --> 01:19:09.160
The principal knew all of the students by name and greeted us herself every morning.

01:19:09.160 --> 01:19:11.160
Schools don't do that anymore.

01:19:11.160 --> 01:19:12.160
They cared about me.

01:19:12.160 --> 01:19:15.160
They cared about making sure I succeeded in any way they can.

01:19:15.160 --> 01:19:19.160
From rides to bus passes to even helping me find somewhere to stay.

01:19:19.160 --> 01:19:24.160
When other schools never even took the time to give me a chance, I bragged about this school religiously.

01:19:24.160 --> 01:19:31.160
Ever since I graduated five months early in 2024, there was no way I would have made it through without this school.

01:19:36.160 --> 01:19:38.160
This one is from Treasure.

01:19:38.160 --> 01:19:45.160
We need to keep BLA due to the fact that it's a safe place to learn for a lot of kids, even my oldest daughter.

01:19:46.160 --> 01:19:50.160
She was a freshman in BMHS and she had so much trouble at the high school.

01:19:50.160 --> 01:19:56.160
But when we got her in BLA, she exceeded and graduated from BLA.

01:19:56.160 --> 01:20:07.160
It is a safe place for the kids and I would recommend to keep BLA and think about putting something similar to BLA for elementary and middle school to all kids who need a safe place to learn.

01:20:07.160 --> 01:20:20.160
You should keep BLA and Merrill if you think about it the way all other schools have a swinger and all but Merrill.

01:20:20.160 --> 01:20:24.160
Merrill Elementary has been left out for so long.

01:20:24.160 --> 01:20:25.160
It needs to be seen.

01:20:25.160 --> 01:20:29.160
Just open your eyes and see what we have and use it.

01:20:30.160 --> 01:20:31.160
Not get rid of it.

01:20:31.160 --> 01:20:32.160
Just use what we have.

01:20:32.160 --> 01:20:35.160
Go back to what we had back in 2013.

01:20:35.160 --> 01:20:36.160
The kids did good.

01:20:41.160 --> 01:20:43.160
And that's all of them.

01:20:43.160 --> 01:20:45.160
Thank you, Mr. Shope.

01:20:45.160 --> 01:20:49.160
We really appreciate your endurance.

01:20:53.160 --> 01:20:57.160
Next, we have the superintendent's report, Dr. Anderson.

01:20:58.160 --> 01:21:11.160
Well, since this is my last regular board meeting and I'd like to say thank you to the board to all the administration, to the staff and the community for letting me come back for the last half of the year.

01:21:11.160 --> 01:21:18.160
The reason I came back was because when I was here the first time I saw that the school district provided so much potential.

01:21:19.160 --> 01:21:26.160
And they, there was the opportunity to succeed and become the school district.

01:21:26.160 --> 01:21:29.160
Everybody wanted to be the school district that they remembered.

01:21:29.160 --> 01:21:37.160
So I was glad when I came back so I could try to do maybe some small part in having that turn around.

01:21:37.160 --> 01:21:41.160
I know that you are in great hands with Dr. Malott.

01:21:41.160 --> 01:21:47.160
I know that in a short period of time she will put me to shame, so I actually applaud and look forward to that.

01:21:47.160 --> 01:21:55.160
But I just want everybody to know how grateful I am, how grateful I am to the community, and that I wish you nothing but the best going forward.

01:21:55.160 --> 01:21:58.160
Thank you, Dr. Anderson.

01:21:58.160 --> 01:22:03.160
Next, we have policy committee report, Chairperson Fox.

01:22:03.160 --> 01:22:09.160
Hi, the policy committee met on June 1st at 3 o'clock.

01:22:10.160 --> 01:22:18.160
There's a lot of policies that are on this agenda that we moved forward for the board's perusal, so we will be discussing those later.

01:22:18.160 --> 01:22:20.160
I won't spend any time on those.

01:22:20.160 --> 01:22:26.160
We are continuing to look at the cell phone policy, particularly for the high school.

01:22:26.160 --> 01:22:32.160
We had a group of teachers and staff that came to talk with us about how their cell phone plan is working,

01:22:32.160 --> 01:22:40.160
and they were going to go back and look at the older policy and the new policy and the one that's currently in place

01:22:40.160 --> 01:22:44.160
and see what kinds of things they might want to have in the cell phone policy.

01:22:44.160 --> 01:22:51.160
We're also working on one about adult student boundaries that's required by the DPI,

01:22:51.160 --> 01:22:55.160
and so we're working on making, we have those policies.

01:22:55.160 --> 01:23:00.160
We just need to coordinate our policies with what the state law says there should be there.

01:23:01.160 --> 01:23:04.160
And so we always have a lot on our agenda these days.

01:23:04.160 --> 01:23:09.160
So we are meeting this coming Monday, I believe, at 3 o'clock.

01:23:09.160 --> 01:23:12.160
So thank you.

01:23:12.160 --> 01:23:14.160
Thank you, Chairperson Fox.

01:23:14.160 --> 01:23:20.160
Next, we have business operations and finance and human resources committee report, Chairperson Hankins.

01:23:20.160 --> 01:23:22.160
Thank you, Board President.

01:23:22.160 --> 01:23:27.160
Yes, we met on Tuesday, June 2nd at 5 o'clock.

01:23:27.160 --> 01:23:35.160
We approved the monthly financial from April, which will be presented later on in tonight's agenda.

01:23:35.160 --> 01:23:40.160
We looked at the potential line of credit, disbursement, requests.

01:23:40.160 --> 01:23:49.160
It's a formality we go through with short-term borrowing, and we approved that.

01:23:50.160 --> 01:23:57.160
And we also had the EHCI grant funding vehicle purchase, which we move forward to the Board

01:23:57.160 --> 01:24:02.160
for everyone to weigh in on this purchase of a new vehicle.

01:24:02.160 --> 01:24:07.160
We had a lot of things to discuss, but I want to take you for time, which will come later in the budget.

01:24:07.160 --> 01:24:08.160
Thank you.

01:24:08.160 --> 01:24:10.160
Thank you, Chairperson Hankins.

01:24:10.160 --> 01:24:15.160
Next, teaching, learning, equity, and pupil services committee report, Chairperson Roo.

01:24:15.160 --> 01:24:16.160
Yes, thank you.

01:24:17.160 --> 01:24:24.160
The first time with the full board being part of our discussions on June 2nd.

01:24:24.160 --> 01:24:30.160
And later on in our meeting, you'll see that we have an consent agenda.

01:24:30.160 --> 01:24:38.160
Renewing the seven mindsets are contracted services, which some of them changed since last year,

01:24:39.160 --> 01:24:46.160
and have actually helped us to lower some costs and improve academic experiences at the same time.

01:24:46.160 --> 01:24:48.160
So that's pretty amazing.

01:24:48.160 --> 01:24:51.160
And then our annual adoption of academic standards.

01:24:51.160 --> 01:24:55.160
And so those will be found in the consent agenda tonight.

01:24:55.160 --> 01:24:59.160
And then our next meeting will be on Tuesday, July 7th.

01:24:59.160 --> 01:25:00.160
Thank you.

01:25:00.160 --> 01:25:04.160
Next, we have the legislative update, legislative liaison.

01:25:04.160 --> 01:25:05.160
Yeah, no update tonight.

01:25:05.160 --> 01:25:06.160
Thank you.

01:25:06.160 --> 01:25:07.160
Thank you so much.

01:25:07.160 --> 01:25:11.160
That brings us to board action and discussion items.

01:25:11.160 --> 01:25:16.160
First up, we have read, talk, play, everyday initiative.

01:25:16.160 --> 01:25:33.160
The purpose of this is to seek a formalized partnership with the school district of Illinois to deepen and expand early childhood efforts birth to age five, specifically within the school district boundaries through read, talk, play, everyday initiative.

01:25:33.160 --> 01:25:36.160
Ms. Austin and Dr. Flanagan.

01:25:36.160 --> 01:25:40.160
Thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight.

01:25:40.160 --> 01:25:46.160
I am Jessica Austin, director of early brain development at the state line community foundations literacy for life.

01:25:46.160 --> 01:25:49.160
I'd like to start with a simple thought.

01:25:49.160 --> 01:25:57.160
By the time a child walks through the doors of a school for the first time, five years of learning and development have already occurred.

01:25:58.160 --> 01:26:06.160
The experiences children have during those first five years shape how they learn, communicate, build relationships and engage with school.

01:26:06.160 --> 01:26:11.160
Read, talk, play, everyday exists to help families make the most of those years.

01:26:11.160 --> 01:26:23.160
Tonight, I'd like to share what we're already doing across Strack County and how a partnership with the school district of Beloit can help us intentionally reach more Beloit families before kindergarten.

01:26:23.160 --> 01:26:28.160
Before I talk about the proposal, I'd like to briefly explain what read talk play every day is.

01:26:28.160 --> 01:26:36.160
Read talk play every day is Rock County's Early Learning Initiative focused on helping families support their children's development birth through age five.

01:26:36.160 --> 01:26:38.160
Our vision is simple.

01:26:38.160 --> 01:26:49.160
A future where every child in Rock County begins kindergarten prepared and equipped to succeed, supported by a community that values early learning and empowers families to make everyday moments count.

01:26:49.160 --> 01:27:04.160
Our mission is to ensure every child in Rock County has a strong foundation built in the first five years by empowering families and activating the community to embrace reading, talking and playing as essential building blocks for lifelong success.

01:27:04.160 --> 01:27:07.160
Everything we do is grounded in a simple belief.

01:27:07.160 --> 01:27:12.160
Parents and caregivers are a child's first and most important teacher.

01:27:12.160 --> 01:27:24.160
The everyday moments families already have with their children reading, talking, playing, singing and exploring are the moments that build, build brains and shape future success.

01:27:24.160 --> 01:27:27.160
The science behind the work is clear.

01:27:27.160 --> 01:27:38.160
90% of brain development occurs before age five, 80% by age three, making the early years one of the most important periods of development in life.

01:27:38.160 --> 01:27:52.160
According to the Harvard Achievement Gap Initiative, disparities in language, development, cognitive skills and socially emotional growth can emerge as early as 18 months and are clearly evident by age two.

01:27:52.160 --> 01:28:04.160
Without early early support, these gaps often persist, impacting children's readiness when they enter kindergarten and continuing through their K-12 educational experience.

01:28:04.160 --> 01:28:11.160
This is why our focus is not simply on preparing children for kindergarten in the year before they enter school.

01:28:11.160 --> 01:28:15.160
By then, many developmental patterns are already well established.

01:28:15.160 --> 01:28:27.160
Our focus is on supporting families during the years when brain development is happening most rapidly, when parents and caregivers have the greatest opportunity to influence their child's learning and development.

01:28:27.160 --> 01:28:38.160
The earlier families have access to information, resources and support, the greater the opportunity to build strong foundations that benefit children for years to come.

01:28:38.160 --> 01:28:47.160
One of the core beliefs behind retail play everyday is that parents and caregivers are the child's first and most important teacher.

01:28:47.160 --> 01:28:52.160
Children spend far more time with their families than with any teacher, school or program.

01:28:52.160 --> 01:28:57.160
Research shows that those positive interactions with caring adults are among the most important factor.

01:28:57.160 --> 01:29:07.160
When parents understand how children grow and learn, they are better equipped to support and develop through those everyday interactions.

01:29:07.160 --> 01:29:11.160
When people hear kindergarten readiness, they often think about letters and numbers.

01:29:11.160 --> 01:29:14.160
Those skills matter, but readiness is much broader.

01:29:14.160 --> 01:29:18.160
Children need development across five key domains.

01:29:18.160 --> 01:29:25.160
They need social and emotional skills, language and communication skills, cognitive development and physical development,

01:29:25.160 --> 01:29:32.160
as well as positive approaches to learning, like curiosity, persistence, attention and confidence.

01:29:32.160 --> 01:29:35.160
Kindergarten readiness is not built in a classroom alone.

01:29:35.160 --> 01:29:45.160
It is built when families, communities, early childhood providers and schools all work together to support a child's development from birth to age five.

01:29:47.160 --> 01:29:52.160
Read Talk Play Already, Everyday is already reaching families across Strack County.

01:29:52.160 --> 01:29:56.160
Families receive resources through our hospital newborn tool kits.

01:29:56.160 --> 01:30:01.160
Parents receive developmental tips and activities through basic sin sites.

01:30:01.160 --> 01:30:06.160
Families encounter learning opportunities through Read Talk Play while you wait locations.

01:30:06.160 --> 01:30:10.160
We distribute books and learning resources throughout the community.

01:30:10.160 --> 01:30:19.160
We provide online resources, videos, activities and public awareness campaigns to help families understand how children learn and develop.

01:30:19.160 --> 01:30:21.160
The work already exists.

01:30:21.160 --> 01:30:25.160
The opportunity is to intentionally expand our reach within Beloit.

01:30:26.160 --> 01:30:32.160
I also want to recognize that many of these efforts have been successful because of strong community partnerships,

01:30:32.160 --> 01:30:37.160
including the partnership already with Beloit School District of Beloit.

01:30:37.160 --> 01:30:44.160
Through the leadership and support of Missy Beavers, we've already been able to collaborate on initiatives such as Read Talk Play at the park

01:30:44.160 --> 01:30:49.160
and several of our Read Talk Play while you wait locations throughout the community.

01:30:50.160 --> 01:30:55.160
The district also partnered with us to enroll all of last year's 4K students into the basic sin sites,

01:30:55.160 --> 01:31:01.160
ensuring families receive developmental tips and activities directly on their phones throughout the year.

01:31:01.160 --> 01:31:04.160
What we're proposing is in a brand new relationship.

01:31:04.160 --> 01:31:10.160
It's an opportunity to build upon the partnership and success that already exists.

01:31:10.160 --> 01:31:15.160
The next step is reaching families even earlier, before children enroll in 4K.

01:31:15.160 --> 01:31:21.160
So parents have access for these resources during the years when development is happening most rapidly.

01:31:21.160 --> 01:31:26.160
When children enter kindergarten ready to learn, everyone benefits.

01:31:26.160 --> 01:31:32.160
Children are better prepared socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively for the expectations of school.

01:31:32.160 --> 01:31:40.160
Families have stronger understanding of child development and the important role they play in supporting learning at home.

01:31:41.160 --> 01:31:49.160
Developmental concerns are more likely to be identified earlier, allowing families to access support and intervention before children enter school,

01:31:49.160 --> 01:31:53.160
rather than after the challenges become more significant.

01:31:53.160 --> 01:32:00.160
Schools spend less time helping children catch up and more time building upon the strengths children are ready to bring into the classroom.

01:32:00.160 --> 01:32:03.160
This work doesn't replace the important role of school.

01:32:03.160 --> 01:32:07.160
It helps strengthen the foundation children bring with them when they arrive.

01:32:08.160 --> 01:32:12.160
As I've shared tonight, many of the building blocks for this work are already in place.

01:32:12.160 --> 01:32:20.160
We talk play every day as already reaching families across Rat County through resources, partnerships and community-based strategies.

01:32:20.160 --> 01:32:26.160
What we're proposing is not a new initiative but a deeper investment in reaching below families before kindergarten.

01:32:26.160 --> 01:32:32.160
To do that, we're requesting a three-year fund 80 partnership of $80,000 annually.

01:32:32.160 --> 01:32:38.160
This investment provides the capacity to intentionally coordinate and expand this work within Beloit,

01:32:38.160 --> 01:32:42.160
building on the strong foundation and partnerships that already exist.

01:32:42.160 --> 01:32:47.160
The next slide highlights what the investment will make possible for Beloit families.

01:32:47.160 --> 01:32:53.160
This investment allows us to take resources that already exist and make them more accessible.

01:32:54.160 --> 01:32:58.160
As a key part of this work is meeting families where they are.

01:32:58.160 --> 01:33:05.160
In neighborhoods, community events, parks, faith-based communities and places families naturally gather.

01:33:05.160 --> 01:33:12.160
Through a parent ambassador model, we can engage trusted community members to help share resources, start conversations,

01:33:12.160 --> 01:33:16.160
and connect families to the opportunities to support their child's development.

01:33:16.160 --> 01:33:21.160
We also plan to host family engagement opportunities at Beloit Elementary School.

01:33:21.160 --> 01:33:26.160
These events would provide families with simple hands-on activities they can do with their children

01:33:26.160 --> 01:33:32.160
while helping them become familiar with their neighborhood schools before kindergarten begins.

01:33:32.160 --> 01:33:37.160
We envision coordinating these opportunities with child-fine, kindergarten transition activities

01:33:37.160 --> 01:33:41.160
and other family engagement opportunities taking place in the district.

01:33:41.160 --> 01:33:47.160
Families would also have access to basic sin sites, a text message resource that delivers practical,

01:33:47.160 --> 01:33:50.160
developmental information directly to the parents and caregivers.

01:33:50.160 --> 01:33:56.160
Each week families receive easy to understand information about child development along with simple activities

01:33:56.160 --> 01:33:59.160
they can do during everyday routines.

01:33:59.160 --> 01:34:09.160
In addition, we would distribute books and family activity kits that encourage reading conversation, play, and family interaction.

01:34:09.160 --> 01:34:17.160
These resources provide practical tools families can use at home while also encouraging alternatives to screen time.

01:34:17.160 --> 01:34:23.160
At its core, this work is about helping parents and caregivers better understand how children learn

01:34:23.160 --> 01:34:28.160
and develop while providing simple, realistic ways to support development in everyday.

01:34:28.160 --> 01:34:35.160
Success begins with parents feeling confident in their role as their child's first teacher.

01:34:35.160 --> 01:34:39.160
Success is children entering kindergarten ready to learn.

01:34:39.160 --> 01:34:45.160
Success is families understanding what children need to thrive and knowing where to turn for support.

01:34:45.160 --> 01:34:52.160
Over time, these strong foundations contribute to stronger literacy, stronger academic outcomes,

01:34:52.160 --> 01:34:56.160
and more opportunities for children to succeed in school and in life.

01:34:56.160 --> 01:35:02.160
The investment we're discussing tonight is about planting seeds and going upstream.

01:35:02.160 --> 01:35:05.160
I'll close with a quote from Desmond Tutu.

01:35:05.160 --> 01:35:08.160
We need to stop pulling people out of the river.

01:35:08.160 --> 01:35:12.160
We need to go upstream and find out why they're falling in.

01:35:12.160 --> 01:35:16.160
Everyday, schools work hard to help children overcome challenges.

01:35:16.160 --> 01:35:25.160
This partnership represents an opportunity to support families during the years before those challenges become barriers.

01:35:25.160 --> 01:35:32.160
By helping families build strong foundations before kindergarten, we can help more children enter school ready to learn,

01:35:32.160 --> 01:35:35.160
ready to succeed, and ready to thrive.

01:35:35.160 --> 01:35:37.160
Thank you for your consideration.

01:35:37.160 --> 01:35:42.160
At this time, I'd like to invite Bill Flanagan, Chair of Literacy for Life at the Stateline Community Foundation,

01:35:42.160 --> 01:35:44.160
to share a few thoughts.

01:35:49.160 --> 01:35:56.160
Thank you, Jessica, and thank you board members and Dr. Anderson for the opportunity to meet with you to share our vision

01:35:56.160 --> 01:36:02.160
for ensuring every child born in Beloit is ready to learn by the time they get to kindergarten.

01:36:02.160 --> 01:36:10.160
Jessica has expertly laid out our request as well as the why for this proposal for Fund 80 Financial Support.

01:36:10.160 --> 01:36:16.160
My job is to reinforce the importance of this proposal for the entire Beloit community.

01:36:16.160 --> 01:36:23.160
Rarely in life are we given an opportunity to do something that is a total win-win for every party involved,

01:36:23.160 --> 01:36:25.160
but such is the case tonight.

01:36:26.160 --> 01:36:32.160
By supporting this proposal for Fund 80 Financial Support, the children who are born here in Beloit

01:36:32.160 --> 01:36:39.160
will be included as part of a highly researched initiative, including the work of Nobel Laureate James Heckman,

01:36:39.160 --> 01:36:44.160
that clearly emphasizes that the return on investment for early childhood brain development

01:36:44.160 --> 01:36:52.160
will return up to $6 to $9 for every dollar invested and could be higher depending on the local educational circumstances.

01:36:53.160 --> 01:37:01.160
In short, it's the best investment any community can make to ensure the children are ready to learn by the time they get to kindergarten.

01:37:01.160 --> 01:37:07.160
Investing in remedial efforts later in the educational process is far less effective.

01:37:07.160 --> 01:37:13.160
But the win-win continues with families being more engaged with their children's learning and success.

01:37:13.160 --> 01:37:21.160
Kindergarten teachers will have a higher percentage of students ready to learn making the classroom a more positive learning experience.

01:37:21.160 --> 01:37:24.160
Students are more likely to be successful in school.

01:37:24.160 --> 01:37:32.160
Lower truancy rates and discipline problems because students will want to learn for the simple reason they can and want to learn.

01:37:32.160 --> 01:37:39.160
And finally, students will be more likely to graduate on time and better prepared for a job, college, career,

01:37:39.160 --> 01:37:44.160
military service, or whatever path they choose post-high school.

01:37:44.160 --> 01:37:51.160
The community, businesses, and employers will win when they have kids ready to be positive and engaged members of our community

01:37:51.160 --> 01:37:55.160
and better prepared for the opportunities they will encounter.

01:37:55.160 --> 01:38:06.160
Closing the achievement gap and rising test scores will result in more families feeling better about the educational systems their children will experience.

01:38:06.160 --> 01:38:13.160
A community with demonstrated academic success for its children will attract and retain economic investment,

01:38:13.160 --> 01:38:18.160
a better quality of life, and a community that will prosper.

01:38:18.160 --> 01:38:27.160
These are the potential outcomes when we invest in our children, especially their first five years of life when 90% of their brain is developed.

01:38:27.160 --> 01:38:37.160
It is for these reasons that we humbly request your financial support from the Fund 80 account in the amount of 80,000 annually for three years.

01:38:37.160 --> 01:38:39.160
Thank you for your time and consideration.

01:38:39.160 --> 01:38:49.160
And I just also want to thank Missy Beavers for her professionalism and support of our efforts here in the community on the foundation and with the subcommittee.

01:38:49.160 --> 01:38:51.160
Thank you, Missy.

01:38:51.160 --> 01:38:52.160
Thank you.

01:38:52.160 --> 01:38:55.160
Thank you, Dr. Flanagan and Miss Austin.

01:38:55.160 --> 01:38:58.160
Are there any board members that have any questions?

01:38:58.160 --> 01:39:00.160
Tom Hankins.

01:39:00.160 --> 01:39:01.160
Well, thank you very much.

01:39:01.160 --> 01:39:09.160
Number one, I'd like to applaud Miss Austin, Dean Flanagan, and Mrs. Tinder, who's in Ireland.

01:39:09.160 --> 01:39:10.160
God bless her.

01:39:10.160 --> 01:39:16.160
On this whole effort, I've learned a lot and you've talked to me, Dean Flanagan, about the zero or five.

01:39:16.160 --> 01:39:22.160
My question goes back to, and I've said before, my wife works for Head Start.

01:39:22.160 --> 01:39:33.160
And the reason she stays there is because they have, they do like three or six, three every half year check-ins with the families.

01:39:33.160 --> 01:39:37.160
They teach the families how to be better parents to this.

01:39:37.160 --> 01:39:47.160
My question to you is, does this program, I mean, it is what's learned in the house before they get two, three, K, four, K, five, K, whatever.

01:39:47.160 --> 01:39:52.160
So, my question is, how do you address that?

01:39:52.160 --> 01:39:54.160
How do you get to the families individually?

01:39:54.160 --> 01:40:01.160
You can hand them a book, but, you know, so Jessica, if you could explain how you individually handle each case.

01:40:01.160 --> 01:40:02.160
Thank you.

01:40:02.160 --> 01:40:04.160
Thank you so much more than handing a book.

01:40:04.160 --> 01:40:07.160
The tools come with what do you do with that book.

01:40:07.160 --> 01:40:12.160
So, having books available and accessible are very important.

01:40:12.160 --> 01:40:16.160
What we do is through partnership, so we are partnered with Head Start.

01:40:16.160 --> 01:40:24.160
We work to share out icons and models so that families, when they see those icons, they see them as learning moments.

01:40:24.160 --> 01:40:27.160
So, we are heavily partnered with Head Start.

01:40:27.160 --> 01:40:36.160
As the resources we use and share are the resources now that Head Start uses and shares, so that we are all speaking the same language.

01:40:36.160 --> 01:40:42.160
So, when parents here maximize love-managed stress, that signals this is a learning moment I need to pay attention.

01:40:42.160 --> 01:40:47.160
These are easy, simple tools that make learning easy for parents.

01:40:47.160 --> 01:40:52.160
So, the resources we hand out are parent tools, not child tools.

01:40:52.160 --> 01:40:57.160
We want to better succeed and fill toolboxes of parents so that they know the job they have,

01:40:57.160 --> 01:41:01.160
and they know the job that they can do with their children when they're young.

01:41:01.160 --> 01:41:07.160
So, partnership is everything and how we get those tools out to our partners is the work we do.

01:41:07.160 --> 01:41:17.160
Not to belabor this, but understand you give out the toolkit at birth to the parents, and then you do a follow-up right away.

01:41:18.160 --> 01:41:22.160
We're working to deburr integrate partnerships with the physicians.

01:41:22.160 --> 01:41:28.160
Right now, our partnership is deeply integrated through the three birthing hospitals in Rock County, so they receive a toolkit.

01:41:28.160 --> 01:41:33.160
Information and that information is delivered through the nursing staff.

01:41:33.160 --> 01:41:37.160
Beloit Health System is heavily partnered SSM and Mercy.

01:41:37.160 --> 01:41:40.160
Excellent. Thank you very much.

01:41:40.160 --> 01:41:43.160
Carol Fox.

01:41:43.160 --> 01:41:50.160
You answered some of my questions. I was just wondering what other funding, I mean, this is obviously just a piece of your total funding,

01:41:50.160 --> 01:41:56.160
and that you have it very nicely laid out. I just was kind of wondering what some of your other funding sources are

01:41:56.160 --> 01:41:59.160
and how this would play into some of those other sources.

01:41:59.160 --> 01:42:04.160
Right. So, we have very wonderful philanthropic donors that have made this work accessible

01:42:04.160 --> 01:42:08.160
and who are continuously donating to see that these efforts succeed.

01:42:08.160 --> 01:42:15.160
There have been other communities with successful models just as ours and seeing the raising test scores.

01:42:15.160 --> 01:42:21.160
Unfortunately, we don't have a kindergarten readiness assessment to see that community temperature,

01:42:21.160 --> 01:42:29.160
but other states that have similar models to what we are sharing out continuously see the kindergarten readiness assessment percentages increase.

01:42:32.160 --> 01:42:34.160
Anything else?

01:42:34.160 --> 01:42:37.160
Megan Miller.

01:42:38.160 --> 01:42:45.160
Thank you so much. So, obviously, huge supporter, and Jessica was my oldest child's very first caregiver.

01:42:45.160 --> 01:42:48.160
So, we remain a huge fan, so thank you for that.

01:42:48.160 --> 01:42:52.160
As a reading teacher, 100%, this is really important.

01:42:52.160 --> 01:42:57.160
And one thing I wanted to, I guess I just wanted to, I'm obviously in support of this 100%.

01:42:57.160 --> 01:43:01.160
Curious if you see, I guess, you talked about partnerships with Head Start.

01:43:01.160 --> 01:43:04.160
To what extent are you already partnering with Even Start?

01:43:04.160 --> 01:43:09.160
Yes. So, Even Start, Cindy, is on the committee that drives my work.

01:43:09.160 --> 01:43:15.160
We have one of our ReadTalk Play While You Wait stations, so they are deeper integrating with the families.

01:43:15.160 --> 01:43:18.160
So, everything, like I said before, is parent support.

01:43:18.160 --> 01:43:21.160
So, how do we give parents those tools to fill their toolbox?

01:43:21.160 --> 01:43:28.160
So, they are now going to be doing parent learning sessions utilizing the basics and the resources so that we all...

01:43:28.160 --> 01:43:30.160
Sorry, I'm making a talker.

01:43:30.160 --> 01:43:33.160
We are all continuously speaking the same language.

01:43:33.160 --> 01:43:39.160
So, all of our resources are in English and Spanish to better accommodate all those in our community.

01:43:39.160 --> 01:43:43.160
That's outstanding. I have two other questions.

01:43:43.160 --> 01:43:48.160
So, like every time we do something as a board, there's like the right away impact and then there's a long-term impact.

01:43:48.160 --> 01:43:55.160
So, I am curious if you had, you know, like, assuming like optimal circumstances,

01:43:55.160 --> 01:44:00.160
what is your ideal vision for where this partnership can go?

01:44:00.160 --> 01:44:04.160
Like, if you had like endless resources, what would your vision be?

01:44:04.160 --> 01:44:09.160
That was actually a big struggle of mine thinking three years because I am...

01:44:09.160 --> 01:44:16.160
I see the long-term vision, so taking those steps back on how do we build this because obviously great things take time.

01:44:16.160 --> 01:44:23.160
So, we, through this partnership, I can see it evolving to bring in the educational supports within child cares.

01:44:23.160 --> 01:44:30.160
Professional development is difficult and you are reaping the benefit of the educational systems in child care.

01:44:30.160 --> 01:44:36.160
So, we have to do a better job at educating those who are educating the children in the systems.

01:44:36.160 --> 01:44:45.160
So, finding a common PD model within 4K and kindergarten would eliminate resources but also better prepare children before they come into school.

01:44:45.160 --> 01:44:57.160
So, that is one of the longer-term models and also bridging the gap into from not school into school, so into that 4K kindergarten.

01:44:57.160 --> 01:45:01.160
We often prepare children long-term for college.

01:45:01.160 --> 01:45:10.160
We do walk-throughs, we do tours, we understand where your dorm is going to be, you know the campus, you get to school, you have all of that.

01:45:10.160 --> 01:45:15.160
But magically 4K, we line them up in a line and give them a kiss on their head and they are there.

01:45:15.160 --> 01:45:21.160
So, going through one of the most stressful times in a child's life, we want them to already know their school.

01:45:21.160 --> 01:45:27.160
We want to understand that they are prepared to enter through that door that parents have full trust,

01:45:27.160 --> 01:45:31.160
and I think that comes when you open the doors before that kindergarten day.

01:45:31.160 --> 01:45:36.160
So, having that understanding that the school is already a safe place for you to be.

01:45:37.160 --> 01:45:43.160
Well, that's beautiful and I think that very much is something that is needed very much so.

01:45:43.160 --> 01:45:49.160
So, later on in our agenda, we're talking about our board's goals that we set for our district.

01:45:49.160 --> 01:45:55.160
And so, I guess a question I would have for you that's going to go to my colleagues later is without in any way,

01:45:55.160 --> 01:46:03.160
like taking away from spotlight on the powerful and important work that you're doing that I hope we continuously support you in doing.

01:46:04.160 --> 01:46:11.160
I think that part of our charge as a school district is to continue working with a variety of community partnerships

01:46:11.160 --> 01:46:19.160
to meet all needs, like for example, I know for quite a long time now we've had the imagination library and things like

01:46:19.160 --> 01:46:25.160
and I think it's part of our job as a district to help resource navigate for families to piece those things together.

01:46:25.160 --> 01:46:30.160
So, to what extent is that something that matches your interest?

01:46:30.160 --> 01:46:32.160
Again, not taking away, right?

01:46:32.160 --> 01:46:39.160
But if the direction of the district is to go continuously toward like more of like a literacy community outreach,

01:46:39.160 --> 01:46:46.160
like because we know our kiddos, the way that they perform and are able to perform academically in school

01:46:46.160 --> 01:46:51.160
is very much determined by outside factors that we can't control.

01:46:51.160 --> 01:46:56.160
So, to the greatest extent that we can, like how do we support our families and students?

01:46:56.160 --> 01:46:59.160
That's something that you're interested in kind of continuing conversation.

01:46:59.160 --> 01:47:01.160
And every family to succeed.

01:47:01.160 --> 01:47:03.160
Our work is driven throughout the county.

01:47:03.160 --> 01:47:05.160
This proposal is specific to Beloit.

01:47:05.160 --> 01:47:10.160
So, ensuring and seeing that children succeed and through that partnership model.

01:47:10.160 --> 01:47:11.160
Yes.

01:47:11.160 --> 01:47:12.160
That's fantastic.

01:47:12.160 --> 01:47:13.160
Thank you so much.

01:47:13.160 --> 01:47:15.160
And, you know, for all the work that you're doing and for bringing this here this evening.

01:47:15.160 --> 01:47:16.160
Thank you.

01:47:16.160 --> 01:47:19.160
Are there any other board member questions or comments?

01:47:19.160 --> 01:47:22.160
Mr. Johnson.

01:47:22.160 --> 01:47:27.160
Thank you for your compassion with the kids and for what you do.

01:47:28.160 --> 01:47:32.160
As far as I'm concerned, reading is a key to success in life.

01:47:32.160 --> 01:47:38.160
If you can read in the earlier the better, it makes everything work.

01:47:38.160 --> 01:47:40.160
Thank you again.

01:47:40.160 --> 01:47:42.160
I would add love.

01:47:42.160 --> 01:47:45.160
Reading and love having support.

01:47:45.160 --> 01:47:46.160
Thank you.

01:47:46.160 --> 01:47:49.160
Anyone else?

01:47:49.160 --> 01:47:52.160
Carol Fox.

01:47:52.160 --> 01:47:59.160
I move approval of providing $80,000 annually for three years for read talk play.

01:47:59.160 --> 01:48:01.160
Utilizing fund 80.

01:48:01.160 --> 01:48:03.160
I think this is a wonderful use of fund 80.

01:48:03.160 --> 01:48:07.160
I'll second that.

01:48:07.160 --> 01:48:12.160
We have a motion by Carol Fox and a second by Joanne Roo.

01:48:12.160 --> 01:48:16.160
Are there any board member questions on the motion?

01:48:16.160 --> 01:48:17.160
Mr. Hankins.

01:48:18.160 --> 01:48:25.160
Yeah, I just want to go back to fund 80 for a second and Miss Elwood.

01:48:25.160 --> 01:48:28.160
I know we carry a balance in there.

01:48:28.160 --> 01:48:38.160
And what I've heard and please explain to me, if we approve something that stays in that, it's an annual levy.

01:48:38.160 --> 01:48:40.160
I mean, they're asking for three years.

01:48:40.160 --> 01:48:42.160
Now, after three years, does that disappear?

01:48:42.160 --> 01:48:44.160
Or do they have to re-up or does it just stay?

01:48:44.160 --> 01:48:46.160
Just explain that to me, please.

01:48:46.160 --> 01:48:50.160
So if the board approves it for three years, yes, you could use that for three years.

01:48:50.160 --> 01:48:55.160
And then, depending on what the fund balance is, we need to look at what the levy would need to be.

01:48:55.160 --> 01:49:01.160
If there's a fund balance in fund 80, we wouldn't need a levy as much to cover the 80,000 a year.

01:49:01.160 --> 01:49:08.160
The other portion of this, though, is that, yes, you can make this request that we put it in fund 80,

01:49:08.160 --> 01:49:15.160
but it first needs to be approved by the Department of Public Instruction and our auditors to be able to be allowed to be in fund 80.

01:49:15.160 --> 01:49:18.160
Excuse me, when we finalize the budget in October.

01:49:18.160 --> 01:49:20.160
Okay, thank you.

01:49:20.160 --> 01:49:24.160
I knew we had to go through that hoop anyways, but I'm just asking after the three years.

01:49:24.160 --> 01:49:34.160
After the three years, if you're only going to approve it for three years, yes, you would need to revisit and approve it for longer, if you wanted to go longer.

01:49:34.160 --> 01:49:35.160
Okay, thank you.

01:49:36.160 --> 01:49:43.160
Do I need to modify the motion to that we are moving it forward to getting approval from DPI?

01:49:43.160 --> 01:49:46.160
Or can we just stick with the motion and see what happened?

01:49:49.160 --> 01:49:57.160
If somebody would like to make that amendment just to keep things germane, that would be appreciated.

01:49:57.160 --> 01:50:00.160
May I ask a clarifying question?

01:50:00.160 --> 01:50:07.160
So, just looking at the motion language, the way it was stated, and it says on here, I just want to double check that.

01:50:07.160 --> 01:50:10.160
Oh, you didn't read, there wasn't a recommended action.

01:50:10.160 --> 01:50:11.160
Okay, I see.

01:50:11.160 --> 01:50:16.160
Didn't you, did you say Ms. Fox, like through funded through fund 80 in your motion language?

01:50:16.160 --> 01:50:17.160
I did.

01:50:17.160 --> 01:50:23.160
Okay, and I think like one of seven, I mean, I feel like that's implied if that's part of the process.

01:50:23.160 --> 01:50:26.160
What would you want to add to make?

01:50:27.160 --> 01:50:36.160
Executive Director Elwood, are you comfortable with this motion the way it's stated and the process that you have to go through now?

01:50:36.160 --> 01:50:40.160
I think we need to add in the language that it needs to approve of DPI.

01:50:40.160 --> 01:50:45.160
Okay, so we can add to it pending DPI approval.

01:50:45.160 --> 01:50:46.160
That would do it.

01:50:46.160 --> 01:50:49.160
Sure, I'll move that amendment.

01:50:51.160 --> 01:50:54.160
Is there a second to the amendment?

01:50:54.160 --> 01:50:55.160
I'll second it.

01:50:56.160 --> 01:51:03.160
So, are there any questions to the amendment at this point?

01:51:03.160 --> 01:51:13.160
Okay, we are voting on the amendment to the original motion, and the amendment is pending approval from the DPI.

01:51:13.160 --> 01:51:15.160
Mrs. Schop, do you have any questions right now?

01:51:15.160 --> 01:51:17.160
Okay, all in favor?

01:51:17.160 --> 01:51:18.160
Aye.

01:51:18.160 --> 01:51:19.160
Aye.

01:51:19.160 --> 01:51:20.160
Aye.

01:51:20.160 --> 01:51:22.160
Any opposed?

01:51:23.160 --> 01:51:25.160
The amendment motion carries unanimously.

01:51:25.160 --> 01:51:32.160
Now we are voting on the original motion by Carol Fox, seconded by Joanne Rheum.

01:51:32.160 --> 01:51:36.160
Any questions before we take this vote on what we're voting on?

01:51:36.160 --> 01:51:38.160
Okay, all in favor?

01:51:38.160 --> 01:51:39.160
Aye.

01:51:39.160 --> 01:51:40.160
Aye.

01:51:40.160 --> 01:51:41.160
Aye.

01:51:41.160 --> 01:51:42.160
Any opposed?

01:51:42.160 --> 01:51:45.160
Motion carries unanimously.

01:51:45.160 --> 01:51:50.160
Thank you, Ms. Austin and Dr. Flanagan.

01:51:51.160 --> 01:52:01.160
Next up, we've got the 2025-2026 report on district goals.

01:52:01.160 --> 01:52:08.160
The purpose of this is to update board members on the status of the district goals from 2025-2026.

01:52:08.160 --> 01:52:16.160
Dr. Anderson.

01:52:17.160 --> 01:52:25.160
Your first goal dealt with student achievement, and you wanted the English language arts and math in grades 3-8

01:52:25.160 --> 01:52:34.160
to increase the percentage of students rated proficient or advanced by 5%, and also wanted the ACT in pre-ACT

01:52:34.160 --> 01:52:41.160
grades 10-12 to boost the percentage of meeting reading and math benchmarks by 5%.

01:52:42.160 --> 01:52:49.160
I cannot give you the answer on the first one because that information is embargoed until October.

01:52:49.160 --> 01:52:54.160
Once the information does not become embargoed, they will make a presentation at that time.

01:52:54.160 --> 01:52:59.160
But I can give you information on ACT.

01:52:59.160 --> 01:53:09.160
So in the ACT, our juniors in the area of reading, 12% met expectations in 24-25.

01:53:09.160 --> 01:53:16.160
This year, in 25-26, we had 20% of our juniors' meeting expectations.

01:53:16.160 --> 01:53:19.160
So we did increase by 8%.

01:53:19.160 --> 01:53:28.160
Now, it still means that even this year, 80% did not meet, but it did increase from 12% to 20% in reading for our juniors.

01:53:29.160 --> 01:53:37.160
Math, however, we had 6% in 24-25 that met the standards.

01:53:37.160 --> 01:53:45.160
In 25-26, we only had 5%, so we actually went down for math for the ACT for juniors.

01:53:45.160 --> 01:53:55.160
In our pre-ACT, which is our freshman and sophomores, in 24-25, we had 14% of our students being on target.

01:53:55.160 --> 01:54:01.160
In 25-26, we actually decreased, and we only have 11% of our students on target.

01:54:01.160 --> 01:54:09.160
In the area of math, in 24-25, we had 7% that were on target.

01:54:09.160 --> 01:54:12.160
This year, we have 9% on target.

01:54:12.160 --> 01:54:22.160
So as far as meeting the goals for pre-ACT and ACT, increasing by 5%, we only did that in one category.

01:54:23.160 --> 01:54:31.160
The second was on student attendance, and it was to improve the district-wide attendance metric from 86 to 92%,

01:54:31.160 --> 01:54:37.160
and to reduce the chronic attendance rate from 46% to 36%.

01:54:37.160 --> 01:54:44.160
Our attendance rate did increase from 86% to 87.6%,

01:54:44.160 --> 01:54:50.160
and our chronic attendance rate did decrease from 46 to 44.6,

01:54:50.160 --> 01:54:56.160
so it didn't reach the levels that we had expected, but they were going in the right direction.

01:54:56.160 --> 01:55:03.160
The next one dealt with student conduct behaviors, safety, and also staff retention compensation,

01:55:03.160 --> 01:55:07.160
well-being, and there were numerous factors.

01:55:07.160 --> 01:55:09.160
One dealt with the pulse checks.

01:55:09.160 --> 01:55:11.160
Dr. Kim Erhart is working on that.

01:55:11.160 --> 01:55:17.160
I know that the staff members took that at the end of the school year in each of the meetings,

01:55:17.160 --> 01:55:22.160
so I know he'll be compiling that and probably bringing that to the board at a later time.

01:55:22.160 --> 01:55:27.160
In other words, climate survey, they usually do a climate survey every year.

01:55:27.160 --> 01:55:35.160
However, the last one was done in 24-25, and that was actually presented to the board in February of 25.

01:55:35.160 --> 01:55:41.160
There was not a survey done this year, so there's no recent data to give you.

01:55:42.160 --> 01:55:49.160
The board usually does an end-of-the-year survey, that at this point I don't think has yet been completed,

01:55:49.160 --> 01:55:52.160
and the other one is staff exit surveys.

01:55:52.160 --> 01:55:59.160
At this point, we have 24 staff members who have left the district who have completed the exit survey.

01:55:59.160 --> 01:56:08.160
However, the HR department would like us to wait until July or August when they had a larger sampling size of those

01:56:08.160 --> 01:56:10.160
who have left to give a report.

01:56:10.160 --> 01:56:15.160
So that is the information I have on the district goals for 25-26.

01:56:15.160 --> 01:56:18.160
Thank you, Dr. Anderson.

01:56:18.160 --> 01:56:21.160
Are there any board member questions or comments?

01:56:24.160 --> 01:56:26.160
Carol?

01:56:26.160 --> 01:56:28.160
I'm sorry.

01:56:28.160 --> 01:56:31.160
I could get to the right screen.

01:56:32.160 --> 01:56:44.160
The goals are just sort of a broad target, and what we really need as a board is much more specific information

01:56:44.160 --> 01:56:49.160
and better information about what kinds of things we're looking at.

01:56:49.160 --> 01:56:54.160
I was at the TLE meeting, and we just approved all of these assessment data things,

01:56:54.160 --> 01:56:59.160
and I know we're assessing the life out of our kids, and our teachers are doing it all the time,

01:56:59.160 --> 01:57:01.160
and yet we don't see any assessment data.

01:57:01.160 --> 01:57:08.160
And I really think that we need to have a much larger report that covers the assessment data.

01:57:08.160 --> 01:57:13.160
We don't have to wait for WKCE, because it's kind of late.

01:57:13.160 --> 01:57:19.160
We have a whole ton of our own assessment data that we should be looking at.

01:57:19.160 --> 01:57:24.160
I think we certainly need to be disaggregating our data,

01:57:24.160 --> 01:57:27.160
and we need to be looking at attendance data that way as well.

01:57:27.160 --> 01:57:29.160
I'd like to see the data by school.

01:57:29.160 --> 01:57:31.160
I'd like to see it by grade level.

01:57:31.160 --> 01:57:33.160
I'd like to see it by ethnicity.

01:57:33.160 --> 01:57:40.160
I think we need to be able to look at this data a lot more thoroughly.

01:57:40.160 --> 01:57:42.160
It should be readily available.

01:57:42.160 --> 01:57:49.160
I'm hoping that all the buildings have been looking at all of their data and studying all of these things,

01:57:49.160 --> 01:57:54.160
and it really kind of needs to go with what strategies that were put in place and how effective we are,

01:57:54.160 --> 01:58:00.160
and then what strategies we think we're going to put in place to improve the dynamics as we move forward.

01:58:00.160 --> 01:58:06.160
And I didn't hear you talk about student conduct.

01:58:06.160 --> 01:58:12.160
I did hear staff, but we do need to be looking at some of that data as well.

01:58:12.160 --> 01:58:21.160
So again, I know the goals themselves are pretty broad, and we got the things for the goals,

01:58:21.160 --> 01:58:27.160
but we need much more information about how our students are doing.

01:58:27.160 --> 01:58:29.160
That's what we're here to find out.

01:58:29.160 --> 01:58:31.160
Thank you, Mrs. Fox.

01:58:31.160 --> 01:58:35.160
Ms. Miller.

01:58:35.160 --> 01:58:38.160
Thank you so much.

01:58:38.160 --> 01:58:44.160
Board Vice President Fox, I was so happy to hear what you said about our reporting,

01:58:44.160 --> 01:58:50.160
because one of the things that's coming up I think later on the agenda has to do with one of the tools that we're looking at

01:58:50.160 --> 01:58:53.160
or that we're going to be using to some extent is next path.

01:58:53.160 --> 01:59:01.160
And it's something that is both the cost savings, but it is going to allow our district to do all of those things that you said,

01:59:01.160 --> 01:59:08.160
and is in the capacity, at least of my day job, I can say that it's going to be powerful for our district,

01:59:08.160 --> 01:59:14.160
which leads me then to the things that I wanted to comment on initially, which are very related.

01:59:14.160 --> 01:59:24.160
This is going to shock all of you to hear me say this, but I really would love it if the board could partner with our administration to look at a needs assessment for our students,

01:59:24.160 --> 01:59:30.160
because I would like similarly like to know, like, where are we seeing growth in what capacity is like?

01:59:30.160 --> 01:59:33.160
What are we doing that is working that we need to sustain?

01:59:33.160 --> 01:59:39.160
Our budget is a document that should act to fund and, you know, fuel, right?

01:59:39.160 --> 01:59:48.160
The way that we carry out the mission of our district, which is to support primarily, you know, academic growth for our students and to meet their needs.

01:59:48.160 --> 01:59:52.160
So in order to do that, we need to know what needs to be sustained.

01:59:52.160 --> 01:59:55.160
We need to know what needs to be changed or discontinued.

01:59:55.160 --> 02:00:04.160
And we need to be able to work with our educators to create that larger vision that supports what we are seeing, right?

02:00:04.160 --> 02:00:06.160
And the needs of our kids and our staff.

02:00:06.160 --> 02:00:14.160
So I don't know exactly what the vision is for what we do next with board goals, but I wholeheartedly agree that we need them to be like smart goals.

02:00:14.160 --> 02:00:17.160
They need to say, you know, this is the vision.

02:00:17.160 --> 02:00:25.160
I'd like that vision to be created in tandem with our administration, because I think we're all going to be on the same page that we want to talk about literacy.

02:00:25.160 --> 02:00:27.160
We want to talk about math, right?

02:00:27.160 --> 02:00:31.160
I don't think anybody's going to disagree about what needs to be prioritized.

02:00:31.160 --> 02:00:40.160
But I think that the way our goals are written should be informed by the current data that we have, which I think really fits what I just heard board member facts discuss.

02:00:40.160 --> 02:00:53.160
Another thing that I would like to put out there is I'm curious, since so many of our goals have to do with things that are both within and outside of the control of the school district,

02:00:53.160 --> 02:00:56.160
and particularly like attendance and transportation issues.

02:00:56.160 --> 02:01:04.160
I'm curious, and I don't know if Board President Johnson can help address this now, or if this is a discussion for later,

02:01:04.160 --> 02:01:21.160
but I'd love to explore the extent to which we can develop these more robust goals that are hopefully based on some needs assessment data in tandem with our stakeholders in the city of Beloit and in other outside agencies

02:01:21.160 --> 02:01:30.160
so that we can not only capitalize on partnerships, but also be very deliberate in working smarter, not harder,

02:01:30.160 --> 02:01:40.160
because I think that we're not the only institution in the community that benefits directly from us achieving the goals that I think for the most part,

02:01:40.160 --> 02:01:42.160
we're all in agreement that we need to achieve.

02:01:42.160 --> 02:01:48.160
I'm just curious to hear more about what those next steps look like, or what they could look like,

02:01:48.160 --> 02:01:56.160
and maybe the degree to which we can bring in outside stakeholders at some point into that discussion.

02:01:56.160 --> 02:02:01.160
Thank you. I will meet with Dr. Milan over the next couple of weeks,

02:02:01.160 --> 02:02:08.160
and we will put our heads together and come up with a time where we can figure something out.

02:02:09.160 --> 02:02:10.160
Joanne Ru.

02:02:11.160 --> 02:02:12.160
Yes, thank you.

02:02:12.160 --> 02:02:35.160
Speaking of Dr. Gordon Milan, I think one of the first steps in this is giving her the ability to hire the person that's taking her position and doing it quickly and making sure that Dr. Gordon Milan is able to work closely with them because she's been in this role for a while now,

02:02:35.160 --> 02:02:44.160
but she has a plan and is ready to implement it, but just needs the people to help her do that.

02:02:44.160 --> 02:02:48.160
Any other board member questions or comments?

02:02:48.160 --> 02:02:50.160
Tom?

02:02:50.160 --> 02:02:52.160
Thank you.

02:02:52.160 --> 02:02:58.160
And thank you to the Hendricks Foundation and Lisa for Seth, who's sitting here in front,

02:02:58.160 --> 02:03:03.160
but the spotlight has been put on literacy and absolutely correctly.

02:03:03.160 --> 02:03:11.160
But as Dr. Anderson just pointed out, our numeracy is going the other direction.

02:03:11.160 --> 02:03:17.160
So they work in tandem, but we need to keep our eye on that ball also.

02:03:17.160 --> 02:03:23.160
I just want to make sure that is well noted that, and I'm sure Dr. Milan is on top of that.

02:03:23.160 --> 02:03:32.160
But as we shift our focus to the younger grades and literacy that numeracy to me is in tandem with that. Thank you.

02:03:32.160 --> 02:03:34.160
Thank you, Mr. Hinkins.

02:03:34.160 --> 02:03:36.160
Ms. Miller, did you have another comment?

02:03:36.160 --> 02:03:43.160
Yeah, I'll just put in a quick plug that in addition to reading core America's program called math core that works the same way.

02:03:43.160 --> 02:03:47.160
So, you know, I think there are a lot of possibilities there, Mr. Hinkins.

02:03:47.160 --> 02:03:48.160
Thank you.

02:03:48.160 --> 02:03:59.160
Our next item tonight is the resolution to authorize an independent hearing officer to determine pupil expulsion.

02:03:59.160 --> 02:04:10.160
The purpose of this is to renew the Board of Education's authorization for the use of an independent hearing officer for the expulsion of pupils for the 2026-2027 school year.

02:04:10.160 --> 02:04:19.160
This resolution is approving the authorization to use an independent hearing officer only.

02:04:19.160 --> 02:04:23.160
Are there any board member questions or comments before I read the resolution?

02:04:23.160 --> 02:04:28.160
Or if somebody would like to move to waive the reading of it, we can do that.

02:04:28.160 --> 02:04:31.160
I'll move to policy 183 rule 1.

02:04:31.160 --> 02:04:34.160
I'll move, wave in the reading.

02:04:34.160 --> 02:04:37.160
I'll second.

02:04:37.160 --> 02:04:42.160
Waving the reading motion by Dan Shuff, seconded by Carol Fox.

02:04:42.160 --> 02:04:46.160
Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor?

02:04:46.160 --> 02:04:47.160
Aye.

02:04:47.160 --> 02:04:48.160
Aye.

02:04:48.160 --> 02:04:50.160
Any opposed?

02:04:50.160 --> 02:04:52.160
Motion carries unanimously.

02:04:52.160 --> 02:05:06.160
Are there any questions regarding questions or comments regarding the independent hearing officer resolution 26-27.01 expulsion of pupils?

02:05:06.160 --> 02:05:08.160
Megan Miller.

02:05:08.160 --> 02:05:10.160
Thank you so much.

02:05:10.160 --> 02:05:21.160
I think given the main event issue that we have later this evening regarding our budget, it's important for us to be mindful of all of our decisions regarding spending.

02:05:21.160 --> 02:05:28.160
And I'd email Dr. Anderson earlier to ask about like legal fees, which I know have been a popular discussion item.

02:05:29.160 --> 02:05:34.160
And the estimation that I received was that we spent about $80,000.

02:05:34.160 --> 02:05:37.160
Was it just this past year, right, doing with the IHO?

02:05:37.160 --> 02:05:50.160
And that if we were to hear expulsions and do the process ourselves, which some of us at least were trained to do already, which, you know, was kind of, you know, kind of just follow a packet, it would cut that in half potentially.

02:05:51.160 --> 02:05:59.160
So I respect that this is more than just a budget issue, but having experienced it both ways as a board member.

02:05:59.160 --> 02:06:11.160
I like my evenings just like all the rest of us, but I am certainly willing to hear expulsions on our own as a way to help reduce that budget burden.

02:06:11.160 --> 02:06:13.160
Thank you, Ms. Miller.

02:06:13.160 --> 02:06:21.160
Ms. Elwood, do you know what our cost for the legal fees for the IHO were?

02:06:21.160 --> 02:06:32.160
And do you know what the legal costs were for the attorneys for the administrative pre expulsion hearings over the last year?

02:06:32.160 --> 02:06:41.160
Yes, actually, since I got that information and it's what I gave from a smaller, your IHO cost this year, about $50,000.

02:06:41.160 --> 02:06:47.160
And then the attorneys that we have with the pre expulsion process is about $30,000.

02:06:47.160 --> 02:06:51.160
So that's about where the $80,000 comes in.

02:06:51.160 --> 02:07:01.160
So $50,000 for the hearing officer and then $30,000 for what I'll call our pre expulsion legal advice.

02:07:02.160 --> 02:07:04.160
Thank you, Dr. Anderson.

02:07:04.160 --> 02:07:07.160
And then another question, follow-up question I have with that.

02:07:07.160 --> 02:07:16.160
And this may not be readily available because I think it predates your time here.

02:07:16.160 --> 02:07:28.160
When the board was doing the expulsions ourselves, we had an attorney sit in on them and that attorney was not doing it for free.

02:07:28.160 --> 02:07:33.160
Do you know how much we were paying that attorney for that time?

02:07:33.160 --> 02:07:38.160
Nobody looking at that debt.

02:07:38.160 --> 02:07:45.160
I actually, when I started here my first time three and a half years ago, the board was actually doing the number of expulsions.

02:07:45.160 --> 02:07:47.160
They were hearing themselves.

02:07:47.160 --> 02:07:52.160
I will tell you that the number of hearings that the board held dramatically decreased.

02:07:52.160 --> 02:07:58.160
So you may find what you were charged per hour.

02:07:58.160 --> 02:08:07.160
But I can tell you the number of expulsion hearings that are currently taking place this past year and how many that took place during the year which the board was hearing.

02:08:07.160 --> 02:08:13.160
There has been a significant increase in the number of expulsion hearings that are being held.

02:08:14.160 --> 02:08:17.160
Also, Ms. Miller asked for my opinion.

02:08:17.160 --> 02:08:35.160
I did remind us that you will, if you hear it yourselves, you are going to have to dedicate several additional evenings each month because you already know going through in closed session some of the, you know, the results.

02:08:35.160 --> 02:08:46.160
If you take each one of those and realize you're going to spend at least two to two and a half hours per, you will get some type of an idea of how many hours you'd have to put in per month to hear the cases.

02:08:46.160 --> 02:08:48.160
Thank you, Dr. Anderson.

02:08:48.160 --> 02:08:50.160
Carol Fox.

02:08:50.160 --> 02:09:03.160
One of the things that the public has clearly made known is that they're very concerned about the safety and the discipline issues that are occurring in our schools.

02:09:03.160 --> 02:09:12.160
We need to make it so that our administrators feel that it is a viable option to send the kids to expulsion hearing if they feel it's necessary.

02:09:12.160 --> 02:09:23.160
I think when administrators have to bring that to the board, they're pretty hesitant about doing that because it would be feeling like it's reflecting on them.

02:09:24.160 --> 02:09:31.160
I also, we spend an awful lot of time doing this and I don't feel the need to spend any more time.

02:09:31.160 --> 02:09:32.160
I'd be glad.

02:09:32.160 --> 02:09:33.160
I mean, it's not much.

02:09:33.160 --> 02:09:46.160
But if you need my $400 a month to pay for the hearing officer, I'd be glad to do that because I don't, I have no desire to do this.

02:09:46.160 --> 02:09:48.160
Thank you.

02:09:48.160 --> 02:09:50.160
Any other board members?

02:09:50.160 --> 02:09:51.160
Dan?

02:09:51.160 --> 02:09:52.160
Just a quick comment.

02:09:52.160 --> 02:09:57.160
I've been through a couple of the closed session and I've been, I just want to compliment my colleagues.

02:09:57.160 --> 02:10:05.160
You know, every meeting we've had, every member has read every word of the packet and when we make the, when we affirm or modify decisions.

02:10:05.160 --> 02:10:13.160
So I've been really impressed with the work that is put in already in this process and I'll support the recommended action whenever the motion comes up.

02:10:13.160 --> 02:10:14.160
Thank you.

02:10:14.160 --> 02:10:16.160
Are there any other board members?

02:10:17.160 --> 02:10:23.160
I want to make certain everybody who hasn't spoken yet has an opportunity before we circle background.

02:10:23.160 --> 02:10:24.160
Ms. Miller?

02:10:24.160 --> 02:10:25.160
Nope, totally.

02:10:25.160 --> 02:10:26.160
And thank you for doing that.

02:10:26.160 --> 02:10:27.160
I appreciate that.

02:10:27.160 --> 02:10:34.160
Yeah, no, I would just say that Ms. Fox, like I appreciate that you brought up, you know, kind of like the concern, right, that admin had expressed.

02:10:34.160 --> 02:10:41.160
We did have a conversation recently and I think a few years ago before because I think it's an important trust building piece.

02:10:41.160 --> 02:10:44.160
And again, like one is seven, having done it both ways.

02:10:44.160 --> 02:10:46.160
It's certainly appreciated.

02:10:46.160 --> 02:10:51.160
I mean, as a parent in the district, I appreciate the administration's diligence and prioritizing safety.

02:10:51.160 --> 02:10:59.160
And regardless of how, whether we have an IHL, it's not like it's heartbreaking.

02:10:59.160 --> 02:11:01.160
Nobody likes that that happens.

02:11:01.160 --> 02:11:04.160
But of course, that happens sometimes.

02:11:04.160 --> 02:11:13.160
So I would just like to take that opportunity since you did bring that up to reassure that it's certainly appreciated when administration follows policy and does its job.

02:11:13.160 --> 02:11:25.160
And whether we are sitting and hearing doing the process, or just simply reviewing the packets, there's no judgment on administration.

02:11:25.160 --> 02:11:28.160
It should, hopefully there's some trust and it should feel safe there.

02:11:28.160 --> 02:11:32.160
Again, I'm still because of the cost savings.

02:11:32.160 --> 02:11:34.160
This is something that isn't a direct classroom piece.

02:11:34.160 --> 02:11:37.160
I'm interested in not supporting an IHL.

02:11:37.160 --> 02:11:40.160
Thank you.

02:11:40.160 --> 02:11:41.160
Is there a motion?

02:11:41.160 --> 02:11:44.160
So moved. I'll move the recommended.

02:11:44.160 --> 02:11:47.160
Do you need me to read it?

02:11:47.160 --> 02:11:49.160
Yes, please.

02:11:49.160 --> 02:11:58.160
I moved to authorize an independent hearing officer to determine people expulsion under Wisconsin statutes one, twenty, thirteen, parent, one.

02:11:58.160 --> 02:12:04.160
Parente one through four effective July one, twenty, twenty six to June 30th, twenty, twenty seven.

02:12:04.160 --> 02:12:07.160
I'll second.

02:12:07.160 --> 02:12:13.160
We have a motion and a second on the table. Any questions or discussions on the motion?

02:12:13.160 --> 02:12:16.160
Hearing none, all in favor?

02:12:16.160 --> 02:12:17.160
Point of order. Yeah.

02:12:17.160 --> 02:12:20.160
It's a resolution. I have to do a roll call.

02:12:20.160 --> 02:12:23.160
Thank you for reminding me.

02:12:23.160 --> 02:12:26.160
Ms. Schop, when you are ready.

02:12:26.160 --> 02:12:31.160
Bill Johnson.

02:12:31.160 --> 02:12:32.160
Aye.

02:12:33.160 --> 02:12:35.160
Meghan Miller.

02:12:35.160 --> 02:12:36.160
Nay.

02:12:36.160 --> 02:12:38.160
Tom Hankins.

02:12:38.160 --> 02:12:39.160
Aye.

02:12:39.160 --> 02:12:42.160
Carol Fox.

02:12:42.160 --> 02:12:43.160
Aye.

02:12:43.160 --> 02:12:45.160
Joanne Roo.

02:12:45.160 --> 02:12:46.160
Aye.

02:12:46.160 --> 02:12:47.160
Dan Schuf.

02:12:47.160 --> 02:12:48.160
Aye.

02:12:48.160 --> 02:12:49.160
And Tia Janssen.

02:12:49.160 --> 02:12:50.160
Aye.

02:12:50.160 --> 02:12:53.160
Motion carried six to one.

02:12:53.160 --> 02:12:54.160
Thank you.

02:12:54.160 --> 02:12:58.160
It is 802 per board policy.

02:12:58.160 --> 02:13:00.160
Is there a motion to extend the meeting?

02:13:00.160 --> 02:13:01.160
So moved.

02:13:01.160 --> 02:13:02.160
Second.

02:13:02.160 --> 02:13:07.160
Motion by Dan Schuf, seconded by Carol Fox. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor?

02:13:07.160 --> 02:13:08.160
Aye.

02:13:08.160 --> 02:13:09.160
Aye.

02:13:09.160 --> 02:13:10.160
Aye.

02:13:10.160 --> 02:13:11.160
Aye.

02:13:11.160 --> 02:13:12.160
Any opposed?

02:13:12.160 --> 02:13:14.160
Motion carries unanimously.

02:13:14.160 --> 02:13:16.160
Could I just get who moved and seconded please?

02:13:16.160 --> 02:13:20.160
Dan Schuf made the motion and Carol Fox seconded.

02:13:20.160 --> 02:13:21.160
Thank you.

02:13:21.160 --> 02:13:28.160
Our next agenda item is the approval of agreement with the Hendrix Family Foundation.

02:13:28.160 --> 02:13:33.160
The purpose of this is to approve the agreement with the Hendrix Family Foundation.

02:13:33.160 --> 02:13:34.160
Dr. Anderson?

02:13:34.160 --> 02:13:41.160
Well, first I'd like to again thank the Hendrix Family Foundation for the generous offer of

02:13:41.160 --> 02:13:49.160
providing two and a half million dollars over three years to help us with the literacy pilot at our elementary schools.

02:13:49.160 --> 02:13:52.160
We are actually able to do two elementary schools.

02:13:52.160 --> 02:13:56.160
We are going to converse elementary and Gaston.

02:13:56.160 --> 02:14:04.160
We are going to fund the 60 slots at one of the two schools and the Hendrix Family Foundation.

02:14:04.160 --> 02:14:06.160
Shouldn't the grant agreement be approved?

02:14:06.160 --> 02:14:14.160
We'll be funding the 60 slots at the other school, plus they'll be funding the skyrocket professional development.

02:14:14.160 --> 02:14:22.160
I'd also like to thank Lisa versus and Liam a lot for all of their help since the board.

02:14:23.160 --> 02:14:36.160
Approved going into creating this agreement to sit down and to go over basically to make sure we have covered the topics that we thought were essential and that we could reach agreement on the language.

02:14:36.160 --> 02:14:41.160
We have brought the modified language to our attorney.

02:14:41.160 --> 02:14:46.160
The attorney actually helped us to draft a couple changes.

02:14:46.160 --> 02:14:59.160
They were accepted by the Hendrix Family Foundation, so the grant agreement that you now have in front of you has been reviewed by your attorney and all of the changes that they thought were applicable have been made.

02:14:59.160 --> 02:15:15.160
So I am encouraging you to pass this because we are actively working to make sure we're up and running for the beginning of the school year planning for skyrockets to start giving some professional development to the staff.

02:15:15.160 --> 02:15:22.160
In August as well as open literacy and arranging our schedules to make this happen.

02:15:22.160 --> 02:15:28.160
And I think we're all very encouraged to see what the results will be.

02:15:28.160 --> 02:15:36.160
So tonight is where you take a motion on the agreement, but I am in full support recommending that you do this.

02:15:36.160 --> 02:15:42.160
And again, I want to give my thanks to Lisa and Leah for all her help in getting us this far.

02:15:43.160 --> 02:15:46.160
Thank you, Dr. Anderson, Megan Miller.

02:15:47.160 --> 02:15:48.160
Thank you so much.

02:15:48.160 --> 02:15:57.160
First, I just want to say just in the spirit of full transparency, I did ask some clarifying questions for anybody who's like playing along at home on the contract language.

02:15:57.160 --> 02:16:04.160
And I feel really confident that it is, you know, fair and will be an asset to, you know, our kids in the district.

02:16:05.160 --> 02:16:11.160
So I did just want to express also my gratitude toward Lisa for Seth.

02:16:11.160 --> 02:16:17.160
I think like in the discussions that we were able to have, it was really, I just want to bring us back to the process.

02:16:17.160 --> 02:16:30.160
It was really helpful that we were able to pause and really unpack like what this means and what this, and you know, we've heard a lot tonight from our students in public comment about how there is not a one size fits all.

02:16:30.160 --> 02:16:35.160
And I think that for many of our kids, I think open literacy is going to be amazing.

02:16:35.160 --> 02:16:43.160
And there are going to be other kids who have different root causes that will need to continue to be creative and work hard to meet those needs.

02:16:43.160 --> 02:16:55.160
And I just wanted to highlight that because like this is, I think, really what good community partnership looks like is rooted in mutual respect, willingness to listen and like deeply understand as we move forward.

02:16:56.160 --> 02:17:02.160
And I hope that this is the boilerplate for how future community partnership opportunities act.

02:17:02.160 --> 02:17:13.160
So thank you so much for your patience and the time that you took to really make this a truly wonderful gift to our children and families in our district.

02:17:13.160 --> 02:17:15.160
Dan Shuf.

02:17:16.160 --> 02:17:17.160
Yes, thank you.

02:17:17.160 --> 02:17:24.160
So one of the things that I'm trying to do is listen carefully to my colleagues and do our homework.

02:17:24.160 --> 02:17:29.160
So as a new board member, I just want to express my appreciation.

02:17:29.160 --> 02:17:40.160
I've been getting up to speed on this agreement and this proposal, which again, thanks to the Hendricks Family Foundation for providing this in two of our schools.

02:17:40.160 --> 02:17:44.160
But I also want to say thank you to my colleagues and to Brian and Amy.

02:17:44.160 --> 02:17:51.160
I had a chance to go back and read the minutes, especially of the workshop you had on, I think, Saturday, February 28.

02:17:51.160 --> 02:17:59.160
So we don't always talk about times where any board does really good work and digs in and does that.

02:17:59.160 --> 02:18:05.160
I want to commend you all for that work you all did and brought us to this point where we can finalize it tonight.

02:18:05.160 --> 02:18:06.160
So thank you.

02:18:06.160 --> 02:18:09.160
Any other board members?

02:18:10.160 --> 02:18:12.160
Here's my thank you.

02:18:12.160 --> 02:18:16.160
I move approval of the agreement with the Hendricks Family Foundation for literacy.

02:18:16.160 --> 02:18:17.160
I second it.

02:18:17.160 --> 02:18:22.160
Motion by Carol Fox, seconded by Bill Johnson.

02:18:22.160 --> 02:18:24.160
Any discussion on the motion?

02:18:24.160 --> 02:18:27.160
Dan, is your hand still up?

02:18:27.160 --> 02:18:28.160
Okay.

02:18:28.160 --> 02:18:29.160
Okay.

02:18:29.160 --> 02:18:30.160
All in favor?

02:18:30.160 --> 02:18:31.160
Aye.

02:18:31.160 --> 02:18:32.160
Aye.

02:18:32.160 --> 02:18:33.160
Aye.

02:18:33.160 --> 02:18:34.160
Any opposed?

02:18:34.160 --> 02:18:36.160
Motion carries unanimously.

02:18:36.160 --> 02:18:38.160
Thank you so much.

02:18:38.160 --> 02:18:52.160
Thank you, Lisa and the Hendricks Family Foundation for this very kind, generous offer, and we are looking forward to it.

02:18:52.160 --> 02:19:02.160
Our next agenda item is policy 470 rule one student fees.

02:19:02.160 --> 02:19:07.160
Student fees, fines, charges, and this is for first reading.

02:19:07.160 --> 02:19:11.160
Dr. Anderson and Executive Director Elwood.

02:19:11.160 --> 02:19:15.160
Well, first I'd like to just remind everybody this is a first reading.

02:19:15.160 --> 02:19:20.160
So what will happen is that these four policies went through the policy committee.

02:19:20.160 --> 02:19:24.160
We made suggested changes to bring them to the board.

02:19:24.160 --> 02:19:27.160
Now the board has a chance to read and comment.

02:19:27.160 --> 02:19:36.160
If there are any changes that you would like on any of these four policies, please contact either myself, Leah, or any one of the policy committee.

02:19:36.160 --> 02:19:47.160
And then what we'll do is we'll take this up at our next meeting, make any additional changes that might be suggested, bring them back to you in another month for your second reading and approval.

02:19:48.160 --> 02:20:00.160
So basically you have a month period now to determine if there's any additional changes you'd have or any questions on any of the changes that you'd like to see made.

02:20:00.160 --> 02:20:01.160
Thank you.

02:20:01.160 --> 02:20:06.160
Do any board members have any questions on policy 470 rule one?

02:20:06.160 --> 02:20:09.160
Hearing none.

02:20:09.160 --> 02:20:10.160
Megan, go ahead.

02:20:10.160 --> 02:20:12.160
I'm not very quick to click the thing tonight.

02:20:12.160 --> 02:20:13.160
I'm sorry.

02:20:14.160 --> 02:20:16.160
This is kind of a tedious clarifying question.

02:20:16.160 --> 02:20:25.160
Is this something that would need to be modified depending on what we end up doing with the budget for middle school athletics because I noticed that.

02:20:25.160 --> 02:20:26.160
I'm sorry.

02:20:26.160 --> 02:20:27.160
I don't have the page number.

02:20:27.160 --> 02:20:30.160
It looks like maybe like the third page down.

02:20:30.160 --> 02:20:31.160
There's a discussion.

02:20:31.160 --> 02:20:33.160
Yeah, there's a highlighted or sorry.

02:20:33.160 --> 02:20:36.160
There's a heading that says co-curricular and extracurricular fees.

02:20:37.160 --> 02:20:52.160
So like, I mean, I have no objection to passing the policy on to second reading, but is that something that we want to wait to do until after we figure out middle school athletics or I guess I'm just, it's just a question of my colleagues in terms of process and efficient use of time.

02:20:52.160 --> 02:20:54.160
But I'm fully the right.

02:20:54.160 --> 02:21:02.160
So the fee for middle school sports, if we choose to put the middle school sports program into fund 80 would follow.

02:21:02.160 --> 02:21:04.160
It would also be in fund.

02:21:05.160 --> 02:21:06.160
Yes, that would be the only change.

02:21:06.160 --> 02:21:10.160
And I have to be honest with you because of the waiver of school fees.

02:21:10.160 --> 02:21:12.160
It's a very small collection anyway.

02:21:12.160 --> 02:21:16.160
No, I figured I just, you know, I just, we want to stay in compliance with policy.

02:21:16.160 --> 02:21:20.160
I just didn't want us to create an inefficiency and then, oh, we got to go back to this.

02:21:20.160 --> 02:21:21.160
So I just wanted to clear that.

02:21:21.160 --> 02:21:22.160
Thank you.

02:21:22.160 --> 02:21:24.160
Any other questions?

02:21:24.160 --> 02:21:27.160
Is there a motion?

02:21:27.160 --> 02:21:30.160
There's be any motions on these of us.

02:21:31.160 --> 02:21:35.160
It says a recommended motion approval.

02:21:35.160 --> 02:21:36.160
Okay.

02:21:36.160 --> 02:21:37.160
Okay.

02:21:37.160 --> 02:21:38.160
Okay.

02:21:38.160 --> 02:21:39.160
Okay.

02:21:39.160 --> 02:21:42.160
So then we are on policy.

02:21:42.160 --> 02:21:44.160
What?

02:21:44.160 --> 02:21:59.160
I'm really, I would just assume that you didn't make, so you gave yourself a month to make, because I know that for fees, we're probably going to have to make a change to that for our next one.

02:21:59.160 --> 02:22:05.160
Because of school, of ticket prices for students and what you charge or don't charge.

02:22:05.160 --> 02:22:12.160
We just had a meeting today and I know that will be something that impacts this particular policy.

02:22:12.160 --> 02:22:21.160
So really, if you use the first reading is simply a time to take a look if there are questions that you can then give us so we can make any changes.

02:22:22.160 --> 02:22:28.160
But it gives you a month to read, digest, and ask questions and then approval of the second reading.

02:22:28.160 --> 02:22:30.160
Okay.

02:22:30.160 --> 02:22:42.160
Are there any questions or comments about policy 671.2 rule one guidelines regulating expense reimbursement?

02:22:42.160 --> 02:22:46.160
Tom Hankins.

02:22:46.160 --> 02:22:48.160
Thank you.

02:22:48.160 --> 02:22:56.160
And listening to Dr. Anderson in that detailed explanation, is that just applying to this one, Dr. Anderson, or are all the ones?

02:22:56.160 --> 02:22:57.160
No.

02:22:57.160 --> 02:22:59.160
They're all.

02:22:59.160 --> 02:23:01.160
All of these are first readings.

02:23:01.160 --> 02:23:02.160
All of the paralysis.

02:23:02.160 --> 02:23:10.160
But I'm asking, do you see any changes that like you just told us might happen?

02:23:11.160 --> 02:23:17.160
I don't know that, you know, it's hard for me to tell you that whether or not there be any changes.

02:23:17.160 --> 02:23:22.160
We tried to cover as many things we thought should be changed before we brought it here.

02:23:22.160 --> 02:23:29.160
But I have found that giving everybody a month to take a look and to read it to make sure that you understand it.

02:23:29.160 --> 02:23:35.160
Because I will tell you the things about policies that I think are extremely important that I've learned over my career.

02:23:35.160 --> 02:23:41.160
One is make sure the policy says what you wanted to say for this district.

02:23:41.160 --> 02:23:44.160
And then you have to make sure we follow it.

02:23:44.160 --> 02:23:50.160
Because what happens is policies are one of those things that get forgotten.

02:23:50.160 --> 02:23:54.160
As you just had experience when we were looking at trips earlier.

02:23:54.160 --> 02:24:00.160
That, you know, things or languages put in there a number of years ago, it gets overlooked, it keeps going through.

02:24:00.160 --> 02:24:05.160
And then all of a sudden you come to an issue and say, well, and you really just said that, or why does it say that?

02:24:05.160 --> 02:24:08.160
So you want to make sure the policy says what you wanted to say.

02:24:08.160 --> 02:24:16.160
And then you want to make certain that that is a policy that you are going to expect to be followed the way that is written.

02:24:16.160 --> 02:24:24.160
So giving yourselves a month to read it to make sure that it does say those things are things important.

02:24:24.160 --> 02:24:30.160
Any questions or comments for policy 671.2 rule one?

02:24:34.160 --> 02:24:35.160
Okay.

02:24:35.160 --> 02:24:53.160
We will move on then to policy 352 field trips excursion student travel and policy 352 rule one walking trips guidelines with new titles 352 field trips and 352 rule one field trips and field trip rules.

02:24:53.160 --> 02:24:55.160
Any Joanne.

02:24:55.160 --> 02:24:57.160
Yes, thank you.

02:24:57.160 --> 02:24:59.160
I'm trying to. Okay.

02:24:59.160 --> 02:25:05.160
So it says all request forms must be completed with enough lead time for thorough review.

02:25:05.160 --> 02:25:09.160
Any request submitted without ample processing time will be denied.

02:25:09.160 --> 02:25:15.160
So is there somewhere where it lists that amount of time?

02:25:15.160 --> 02:25:21.160
Like if they're approved by the building principal, like the walking trips, those are usually.

02:25:21.160 --> 02:25:28.160
Pretty straightforward or local single day local single day trips are pretty straightforward.

02:25:28.160 --> 02:25:35.160
Is there somewhere where it explains to us how much time ahead of time you have to submit these.

02:25:36.160 --> 02:25:48.160
I think we kind of thought that the administrative people could kind of make a rule on that.

02:25:48.160 --> 02:26:03.160
Joanne is your suggestion that we have a designated amount of time in the policy.

02:26:03.160 --> 02:26:16.160
I just as a as a classroom teacher, I would look to see, you know, like if I had an idea, I would probably look to see how many days in advance do I need to know to let my principal know and get all the approval.

02:26:17.160 --> 02:26:19.160
Deadlines just are.

02:26:19.160 --> 02:26:25.160
Make it clear, but different buildings do things a little bit differently too.

02:26:25.160 --> 02:26:28.160
So maybe that just allows for a little bit more.

02:26:28.160 --> 02:26:37.160
Maybe the building principles can be the ones that determine how much time ahead of time they need to fill out the paperwork.

02:26:37.160 --> 02:26:42.160
Dr Anderson or Dr Milant, do you want to weigh in on that?

02:26:42.160 --> 02:26:59.160
That's why we have the first reading so we can take this information and we can take a look and find out, you know, what would be an appropriate amount of days because we do want to make the policies as clear as possible so that people understand them and know what the rules and regulations are of the each policy.

02:26:59.160 --> 02:27:08.160
So we will take a look at and see if we can put in, you know, a specific time period or at least a range.

02:27:08.160 --> 02:27:15.160
I would really like to board members who haven't actually been on the policy to look this, especially our two teachers.

02:27:15.160 --> 02:27:20.160
We kind of combined several different policies together.

02:27:20.160 --> 02:27:24.160
So all field trips were kind of under one umbrella.

02:27:24.160 --> 02:27:27.160
We have things about chaperones.

02:27:27.160 --> 02:27:30.160
We have things, you know, guidelines for the staff.

02:27:30.160 --> 02:27:36.160
So most of it was in the policies we had.

02:27:36.160 --> 02:27:38.160
It's just very much kind of rearranged.

02:27:38.160 --> 02:27:50.160
So I would appreciate it if you'd kind of take a really good read through that and see if you see anything that we missed, especially since you've done field trips too.

02:27:50.160 --> 02:27:54.160
Tom Hinkins?

02:27:55.160 --> 02:27:57.160
Yes, thank you.

02:27:57.160 --> 02:27:59.160
Talking about the timelines, Joanne.

02:27:59.160 --> 02:28:05.160
And as we've learned in the last year, I've learned that transportation kind of rules the day.

02:28:05.160 --> 02:28:13.160
So, you know, with these requests need to get into our transportation people to make sure there's a bus available to take to and fro.

02:28:13.160 --> 02:28:20.160
So that timeline needs to be addressed too with along with the request to the superintendent.

02:28:20.160 --> 02:28:21.160
Thank you.

02:28:22.160 --> 02:28:23.160
Thank you.

02:28:23.160 --> 02:28:27.160
Any other Joanne Reu?

02:28:27.160 --> 02:28:36.160
No, I just, my mind basically was about the walking field trips because I've been a member at a couple of different buildings and at one place.

02:28:36.160 --> 02:28:43.160
If we came up with it on Monday and had it all set and parents were okay with it by Friday, we could go.

02:28:43.160 --> 02:28:46.160
And the other one, it was two month process.

02:28:47.160 --> 02:28:56.160
So, I mean, different strokes for different folks, but I'll tell you how I did a whole lot more walking field trips with my first person.

02:28:56.160 --> 02:28:57.160
Thank you.

02:28:57.160 --> 02:28:58.160
Dr. Malat?

02:28:58.160 --> 02:29:03.160
Yeah, Durham typically requires at least two weeks notice to schedule their busing.

02:29:03.160 --> 02:29:07.160
And you do have strikeout language in your policy from before.

02:29:07.160 --> 02:29:19.160
It did say that executive director of business services needs 150 days before time of travel for international trips and 90 days before time of travel for domestic trips.

02:29:19.160 --> 02:29:23.160
So there is a timeline in there that you do have strikeout.

02:29:23.160 --> 02:29:29.160
So, but typically in the schools, we need at least two weeks time because Durham has to be arranged.

02:29:29.160 --> 02:29:36.160
The nurses have to have time and it is a lot of time for the nurses to check off emergency medical dental and all the things.

02:29:36.160 --> 02:29:39.160
So, two weeks is even pushing that.

02:29:39.160 --> 02:29:40.160
Thank you.

02:29:40.160 --> 02:29:41.160
Thank you.

02:29:41.160 --> 02:29:46.160
Any other questions or comments on the policies?

02:29:46.160 --> 02:29:47.160
Joanne?

02:29:47.160 --> 02:29:48.160
Oh.

02:29:48.160 --> 02:29:49.160
Sorry, my hand was still up.

02:29:49.160 --> 02:29:50.160
Okay.

02:29:50.160 --> 02:29:57.160
Maybe we could say like a minimum of two weeks then just so that it covers the nurse and all of that too.

02:29:57.160 --> 02:29:58.160
I don't know.

02:29:58.160 --> 02:29:59.160
Just for safety sake.

02:30:02.160 --> 02:30:03.160
Okay.

02:30:03.160 --> 02:30:04.160
Thank you.

02:30:05.160 --> 02:30:09.160
Anyone else before we move on to our next agenda item?

02:30:09.160 --> 02:30:10.160
Okay.

02:30:10.160 --> 02:30:15.160
Our next agenda item is the budget proposal.

02:30:15.160 --> 02:30:24.160
The purpose of this is to share with board members the proposed budget reductions that administration has put together for the 2627 school year.

02:30:24.160 --> 02:30:32.160
The administration has brought forward several options and is now presenting its final option based on feedback from the board members.

02:30:32.160 --> 02:30:38.160
At several meetings taking into consideration many factors including staff feedback as well.

02:30:38.160 --> 02:30:53.160
And before I turn it over to Dr. Anderson I do want to point out that oftentimes I have heard criticism against the board and the district as us not having clear goals.

02:30:53.160 --> 02:31:00.160
I'd like to respond to that and that many of our district goals are actually enshrined in our policies.

02:31:00.160 --> 02:31:12.160
For example policy 610 is fiscal management goals policy 210 is administration goals or policy 710 is support services goals.

02:31:12.160 --> 02:31:21.160
The 100 series of our policies are the board policies and our 110 goal policy is our mission statement.

02:31:21.160 --> 02:31:24.160
And I'm going to read that to you now.

02:31:24.160 --> 02:31:34.160
The mission of the school district of Deloitte committed to excellence and strengthened and enriched by diversity is to prepare each student to compete,

02:31:34.160 --> 02:31:48.160
contribute and thrive as an admirable citizen in a rapidly changing world by engaging students in a wide variety of high quality relevant programs in partnership with families,

02:31:48.160 --> 02:31:51.160
schools and the state line community.

02:31:51.160 --> 02:32:03.160
Further the district's vision statement is preparing and inspiring each student to succeed in life and contribute to an ever changing world.

02:32:03.160 --> 02:32:13.160
Last board meeting when we discussed the budget there was some criticism against the board for not being able to come to a consensus.

02:32:13.160 --> 02:32:22.160
I will remind everyone when we are looking at decision making models we start with our problem.

02:32:22.160 --> 02:32:26.160
I think there's no lack of understanding of what our problem is.

02:32:26.160 --> 02:32:28.160
We have a budget deficit this year.

02:32:28.160 --> 02:32:32.160
We have a greater budget deficit next year.

02:32:32.160 --> 02:32:35.160
We face continually dwindling enrollment.

02:32:36.160 --> 02:32:38.160
We have a set of objectives.

02:32:38.160 --> 02:32:46.160
The board has approved the board guidance for the 2627 budget that was given to the administration.

02:32:46.160 --> 02:32:55.160
In this document which was approved in April, it gives the administration direction and priorities.

02:32:55.160 --> 02:33:04.160
These priorities address the question of how do we place students in the instructional spaces that best meet their needs

02:33:04.160 --> 02:33:07.160
with a priority of being student focused.

02:33:07.160 --> 02:33:17.160
The board's guidance document lists these three priorities maintain existing district teacher to pupil ratio guidelines.

02:33:17.160 --> 02:33:23.160
This is laid out in policy 343.2 class size.

02:33:23.160 --> 02:33:33.160
The second priority was preserve the focus on staff retention and recruitment by providing a 2.63% CPI increase

02:33:33.160 --> 02:33:42.160
for the professional staff and upcoming budget for the professional staff in the upcoming budget.

02:33:42.160 --> 02:33:48.160
Prioritize district programs and initiatives that drive student enrollment i.e.

02:33:48.160 --> 02:34:00.160
Academies model at BMHS DLI to minimize the recent enrollment patterns for the district.

02:34:00.160 --> 02:34:05.160
I'm going to encourage us to keep our discussion grounded in facts.

02:34:05.160 --> 02:34:17.160
The other thing this board has done is the board has indicated that it is willing to use OPEB funds to cover the cost of longevity pay for one year.

02:34:17.160 --> 02:34:32.160
This would add about 330,000 to any of the budgets budget costs.

02:34:32.160 --> 02:34:42.160
And finally at the last board meeting we went down the line and asked what we were looking for and many of the members

02:34:42.160 --> 02:34:46.160
and we were looking for a balanced budget.

02:34:46.160 --> 02:34:56.160
Again this goes to policy 610 fiscal management goals and well a balanced budget may not be achievable.

02:34:56.160 --> 02:35:04.160
I think for consensus building it might be a good place to try to start and then work from there.

02:35:04.160 --> 02:35:07.160
How far off from balanced budget?

02:35:07.160 --> 02:35:10.160
How far deficit do we want to go?

02:35:10.160 --> 02:35:17.160
There are a lot of things we have to take into consideration aside from just we are in a bad situation right now.

02:35:17.160 --> 02:35:24.160
We also have to take into consideration not just the voices of all the people who were willing to come out tonight and

02:35:24.160 --> 02:35:34.160
or willing to email and share their thoughts but also the voices of the many polluters that don't come out.

02:35:34.160 --> 02:35:39.160
Those polluters that share their voice at the ballot box.

02:35:39.160 --> 02:35:47.160
The other problem that we have are dealing with is we had three consecutive years of failed referendum.

02:35:47.160 --> 02:35:52.160
We have to figure out why we are having failed referendum.

02:35:52.160 --> 02:35:59.160
If this community loves this school district so much we have been doing something wrong.

02:35:59.160 --> 02:36:08.160
And I think we need to look at our budget, set our budget to align with our priorities and start with a balanced budget

02:36:08.160 --> 02:36:10.160
and work from there.

02:36:10.160 --> 02:36:12.160
Dr. Anderson?

02:36:16.160 --> 02:36:18.160
Well we start again tonight.

02:36:18.160 --> 02:36:23.160
So we will start where we left off at our last meeting.

02:36:23.160 --> 02:36:33.160
Is it I had brought what I at that time called option D which basically had taken the poll of the various like

02:36:33.160 --> 02:36:35.160
did you want elementary deans?

02:36:35.160 --> 02:36:41.160
Did you want the director of curriculum and CTE?

02:36:41.160 --> 02:36:45.160
Career and technical education excuse me for a second.

02:36:45.160 --> 02:36:50.160
I know that I would have been corrected in second if I got it wrong.

02:36:50.160 --> 02:36:53.160
Did you want the director of nursing?

02:36:53.160 --> 02:36:55.160
So we asked certain questions.

02:36:55.160 --> 02:37:01.160
You provided answers and I provided then a budget option that tried to put in.

02:37:01.160 --> 02:37:04.160
If you the majority said we would like something at it I put it in.

02:37:04.160 --> 02:37:09.160
If the majority said they wanted something taken out then I took it out.

02:37:09.160 --> 02:37:16.160
Since the time we have made a couple other revisions to that so what you will see is it says final option.

02:37:16.160 --> 02:37:21.160
The only reason it is final is because it is the last option that I will be able to present to you.

02:37:21.160 --> 02:37:30.160
And what this option did is it took basically option D and we tried to find out could we get a little bit closer

02:37:30.160 --> 02:37:34.160
to using less open up dollars.

02:37:34.160 --> 02:37:43.160
And what we found out is that if we went to the virtual school and right now we offer virtual education to all our students

02:37:43.160 --> 02:37:46.160
you know all our grades.

02:37:46.160 --> 02:37:53.160
If we were to cut that down and just do it for the high school and for those students that are under an expulsion order

02:37:53.160 --> 02:37:56.160
we can save 100,000 dollars.

02:37:56.160 --> 02:38:01.160
So we thought we would make the recommendation to limit our virtual education to high school

02:38:01.160 --> 02:38:09.160
and those students who may be expelled from the district so they have an educational option so that would reduce it by 100,000.

02:38:09.160 --> 02:38:15.160
We also then looked at the various budgets in teaching and learning.

02:38:15.160 --> 02:38:22.160
We found that we could make some changes in our purchases that were being made and could save 125,000

02:38:22.160 --> 02:38:26.160
so that basically dropped it to 225,000.

02:38:26.160 --> 02:38:31.160
Now that does not get you to a balanced budget.

02:38:31.160 --> 02:38:36.160
That gives you to the option that's in front of you right now which is closer.

02:38:36.160 --> 02:38:42.160
We did look at other options that could get you closer.

02:38:42.160 --> 02:38:51.160
One of those options was we could take BLA and we could move that to Merrill Elementary.

02:38:51.160 --> 02:38:57.160
We could have the students that currently are in Merrill Elementary be on the first floor.

02:38:57.160 --> 02:39:01.160
BLA couldn't have it the second floor.

02:39:01.160 --> 02:39:06.160
They do have an entrance that could be basically private.

02:39:06.160 --> 02:39:09.160
There are still some places that would have to be used.

02:39:09.160 --> 02:39:16.160
But that would allow for some additional savings if you did that because we could save on the principal.

02:39:16.160 --> 02:39:21.160
In the secretary right now Merrill doesn't have a principal or a secretary for next year.

02:39:21.160 --> 02:39:29.160
If we moved BLA the principal could take over that job to the secretary and there may be some additional cost savings.

02:39:29.160 --> 02:39:35.160
So we could probably save a couple hundred thousand dollars more if that option was used.

02:39:35.160 --> 02:39:40.160
We did look at the option what if we closed the Merrill School?

02:39:40.160 --> 02:39:46.160
What if we took the students that since Merrill's are still at the lowest enrollment?

02:39:46.160 --> 02:39:53.160
What if we closed Merrill and we divided the students and moved them to Robinson and Todd.

02:39:53.160 --> 02:40:00.160
We would then have also some savings and we wouldn't because those buildings already have principals and support staff.

02:40:00.160 --> 02:40:09.160
We would have to bring some teachers over because of the number of students so that there would be some savings also in staffing.

02:40:09.160 --> 02:40:11.160
So that was an option.

02:40:11.160 --> 02:40:21.160
Neither of those two options are going to get you to using no OPEB funds but they were both you know there were potentials.

02:40:21.160 --> 02:40:38.160
If you did not even hate to say this but if you eliminated BLA as a program and you did not offer it at all you would probably save enough to have a balanced budget.

02:40:38.160 --> 02:40:54.160
Now I would vehemently fight and tell you why that would be the total wrong decision because it does serve a segment of our population of our student population that has been very worthwhile.

02:40:54.160 --> 02:40:56.160
You've had this for a long time.

02:40:56.160 --> 02:41:07.160
It does provide an option to help students in graduation that if you did not have it it takes a last chance opportunity

02:41:07.160 --> 02:41:20.160
away from some that it seems to be very successful but if you did not have it would the elimination of all those staff bring you closer to a balanced budget the answer is yes.

02:41:20.160 --> 02:41:36.160
I will tell you that tonight whether you make a decision or not you will make a decision and what I mean by that is if at the end of the night we haven't found a solution that is acceptable

02:41:36.160 --> 02:41:49.160
and you go into July you will have made the decision of not being able to close any buildings because you won't have enough time there just will not be the time to make that happen.

02:41:49.160 --> 02:42:02.160
So the discussion tonight will be is that if you do want to move students we would have to know that tonight in order for us to have the time to do that before the beginning of the next year.

02:42:02.160 --> 02:42:04.160
Now I'm not advocating that.

02:42:04.160 --> 02:42:12.160
What I am advocating is what I went back a couple times ago I was asking what I call enhanced C.

02:42:12.160 --> 02:42:20.160
Enhanced C basically says that the employees that currently are working for the district stay working for the district.

02:42:20.160 --> 02:42:30.160
They may be in a different position they may be in a different building but the cuts would be made through the vacancies attrition of course some of the things that we did tonight.

02:42:30.160 --> 02:42:39.160
I call it enhanced C because in C we had taken the library media professionals and introduced in the halftime in the elementary schools.

02:42:39.160 --> 02:42:45.160
There was a lot of discussion even at the board level about potentially making them back.

02:42:45.160 --> 02:42:59.160
So I would put those back which means you're going to have to use more open funds but it does give you the time that you need to make sure that when you are going to make changes because you are going to make building changes

02:42:59.160 --> 02:43:03.160
in twenty seven twenty eight there is no way around it.

02:43:03.160 --> 02:43:12.160
You are simply going to have to make those changes because your student bodies will decrease and you won't need to use all of them.

02:43:12.160 --> 02:43:21.160
I have been a firm proponent that I think what the board should do right away is that the board should start having a discussion.

02:43:21.160 --> 02:43:25.160
How what do you want your facilities?

02:43:25.160 --> 02:43:27.160
How do you want to use them?

02:43:27.160 --> 02:43:29.160
Now we've had discussions.

02:43:29.160 --> 02:43:31.160
Could you keep them all open?

02:43:31.160 --> 02:43:37.160
If you had student enrollment that was you know tending back up the answers then I would say yes.

02:43:37.160 --> 02:43:49.160
At this point we have not been able to solve that problem so enrollment is still declining so realistically I don't think that's going to be an option for you in twenty seven twenty eight.

02:43:49.160 --> 02:43:55.160
But I think when you start making building changes you're going to want to make those one time.

02:43:55.160 --> 02:44:01.160
In other words I don't think you want to make a change this year and then make a different change the following year.

02:44:01.160 --> 02:44:03.160
I'll give an example.

02:44:03.160 --> 02:44:17.160
It had been discussed it might be politically wise if you took like frozen middle school and you moved that over into Cunningham and had a middle school on both sides.

02:44:17.160 --> 02:44:21.160
That then both sides of town have middle school.

02:44:21.160 --> 02:44:28.160
That might be a good idea if you were going to maintain two middle schools but I think you're probably going to go to one.

02:44:28.160 --> 02:44:37.160
So you certainly want to move the students from frozen to Cunningham and then in a year from now say well we're only going to have one.

02:44:37.160 --> 02:44:41.160
I don't think people would look at that with much foresight.

02:44:41.160 --> 02:44:52.160
Now I think if you start having those discussions on what do you want your buildings to look like and you can let people know well in advance.

02:44:52.160 --> 02:45:09.160
So I have been a proponent in my board bulletin of saying that if the board can have its discussion with among itselfs with among its constituents and come out in January and say we believe for the twenty seven twenty eight school year our facilities will use as follows.

02:45:09.160 --> 02:45:11.160
I'll just use an example.

02:45:11.160 --> 02:45:13.160
This is not what it would be.

02:45:13.160 --> 02:45:17.160
But you know that Memorial High School is going to stay at Memorial High School.

02:45:17.160 --> 02:45:19.160
That's not going to change.

02:45:19.160 --> 02:45:22.160
You may decide you're going to go to one middle school.

02:45:22.160 --> 02:45:24.160
Let's say that's Aldrich.

02:45:24.160 --> 02:45:34.160
You may decide that you want to either sell frozen or use that as an elementary school and close to elementary school so you have two elementary schools both sides.

02:45:34.160 --> 02:45:44.160
Maybe frozen becomes the elementary school for Todd and Merrill so you have frozen elementary in Robinson.

02:45:44.160 --> 02:45:47.160
Maybe do the same thing on the other side of town.

02:45:47.160 --> 02:45:57.160
Maybe Cunningham becomes the elementary school for Gaston and Hackett so you have Converse and then Cunningham.

02:45:58.160 --> 02:46:13.160
Whatever the situation will be is if you give people enough time so they can make those changes and if you do that maybe Merrill Elementary School becomes where BLA would be and some of its auxiliary programs.

02:46:14.160 --> 02:46:26.160
But my point is the decision that you make if you can then tell the public in January what everybody can expect then you're giving everybody eight months for the planning.

02:46:26.160 --> 02:46:32.160
You're giving administration and staff eight months to determine how this is going to work.

02:46:32.160 --> 02:46:38.160
You give the public eight months to know what it is that you're going to do in the decision that you make.

02:46:39.160 --> 02:46:47.160
Now if you decide that you want to move students for this next year we'll move students just this next year.

02:46:47.160 --> 02:46:55.160
It's just that I think you'd be better off if you did all your moves in one particular year letting people know what they're at.

02:46:55.160 --> 02:47:05.160
But the motion that or the not the motion the option we have up there basically takes the option we left with at the end of the last meeting.

02:47:05.160 --> 02:47:08.160
And it has some additional savings.

02:47:08.160 --> 02:47:22.160
Now I do want to bring one other question up is that one of the things this option does not have an option D did not have was the director of nursing because we cut nursing staff and we cut the director.

02:47:22.160 --> 02:47:31.160
I will just tell you that you may want to take a look we have not determined how those additional services are going to be covered.

02:47:31.160 --> 02:47:44.160
All right I'm not saying that they shouldn't be caught I'm saying that you know but we might want to take a look at how are those services are going to be covered or what services you no longer want people to perform.

02:47:44.160 --> 02:47:53.160
Because when you have less staff there are going to be less things that can be done and I know the questions have come to me.

02:47:53.160 --> 02:47:59.160
Well Wayne who's going to do you know who's going to check out for all the field trips if we don't have that.

02:47:59.160 --> 02:48:04.160
Who's going to do the Medicare and the answer is I don't know.

02:48:04.160 --> 02:48:10.160
Which is not a very good answer but it's the answer that I can give you at this point.

02:48:10.160 --> 02:48:22.160
So I'm simply that's why I'm advocating for what I call enhanced C because that gives a lot more time determine how you're going to make these changes in the future.

02:48:22.160 --> 02:48:37.160
So I guess that's my opening mark for clarification are you enhanced is option enhanced C the same as option final.

02:48:37.160 --> 02:48:49.160
No the option final is option D which we covered last time with some additional savings that we were able to find about $275,000.

02:48:49.160 --> 02:48:54.160
So basically decreases option D by 275.

02:48:54.160 --> 02:49:01.160
It does contain the things that you wanted in the budget in other words it does contain the elementary deans are put back in.

02:49:01.160 --> 02:49:07.160
It does contain the director of career technical education.

02:49:07.160 --> 02:49:13.160
It does not contain the director of medical services the director of health.

02:49:14.160 --> 02:49:25.160
So but it does get you closer that is what the final option that we have and like I said that was based on polling the board members on things that they wanted to see in the budget.

02:49:25.160 --> 02:49:28.160
But we were able to find some additional savings.

02:49:28.160 --> 02:49:32.160
Thank you. I'm sorry.

02:49:33.160 --> 02:49:35.160
No I don't.

02:49:35.160 --> 02:49:41.160
So we board members do not have option C enhanced in front of us to view.

02:49:43.160 --> 02:49:44.160
That is correct.

02:49:44.160 --> 02:49:53.160
You have option C the only difference when I call option C enhanced is that option C we had the library media specialist that half time in the elementary school.

02:49:53.160 --> 02:49:55.160
It would simply move them to full time.

02:49:55.160 --> 02:49:57.160
That's the only difference.

02:49:58.160 --> 02:50:02.160
Okay.

02:50:02.160 --> 02:50:06.160
Board member Miller your hand is up.

02:50:06.160 --> 02:50:08.160
It is. Thank you.

02:50:08.160 --> 02:50:10.160
I just had a clarifying question.

02:50:10.160 --> 02:50:17.160
We heard through public comment this evening some thoughts about sort of.

02:50:17.160 --> 02:50:20.160
I'm characterizing it as like a community.

02:50:21.160 --> 02:50:27.160
It's more than a community schools model like a pretty comprehensive community space that's been currently housed in Cunningham.

02:50:27.160 --> 02:50:34.160
So I guess my clarifying question before we kind of get into the larger board discussion would be.

02:50:34.160 --> 02:50:47.160
You know, I know that there was something put forward about, you know, consolidating things in the mayoral like what what happens to those other services like was there any like I don't I'm not saying there should have been I'm just kind of curious.

02:50:48.160 --> 02:50:52.160
Where are those other services or programming pieces would be housed?

02:50:52.160 --> 02:50:59.160
Well, first of all, if BLA goes out of Cunningham, it doesn't mean we won't have any programs there.

02:50:59.160 --> 02:51:03.160
I mean, it makes sense to keep some there.

02:51:03.160 --> 02:51:06.160
We zone our heating and cooling and all that.

02:51:06.160 --> 02:51:13.160
So we've had numerous discussions and Stephanie is reminded us is that there is a benefit to keep, you know,

02:51:13.160 --> 02:51:28.160
to keep some programs in each of our buildings that just makes sense in its because we can't totally shut off it, but we can zone it so we can lower the heating in that cost.

02:51:28.160 --> 02:51:30.160
So we would keep some programs there.

02:51:30.160 --> 02:51:34.160
Some programs can be moved like the GEDO program that can be moved to the high school.

02:51:34.160 --> 02:51:37.160
We could do that.

02:51:38.160 --> 02:51:40.160
Fresh their even start.

02:51:40.160 --> 02:51:48.160
If we if we move BLA to Merrill, then it doesn't make sense to move that there because then we run shortage of rooms.

02:51:48.160 --> 02:51:52.160
If BLA stays where it is, but you wanted to move that over.

02:51:52.160 --> 02:51:54.160
There is rooms in in Merrill.

02:51:54.160 --> 02:52:05.160
So there is movement that can take place and we can move some programs to the high school because some are more compatible than others that are currently in Cunningham.

02:52:05.160 --> 02:52:13.160
But I don't think we'd look at totally closing down any of our buildings as Stephanie is reminding us it doesn't make fiscal sense.

02:52:13.160 --> 02:52:14.160
Got it.

02:52:14.160 --> 02:52:16.160
No, I appreciate that clarification.

02:52:16.160 --> 02:52:22.160
So I'll just say like going back to the board guidance priorities question.

02:52:22.160 --> 02:52:30.160
How do we play students in the instructional spaces that best meet their needs with the priority of being student focused.

02:52:30.160 --> 02:52:36.160
One of seven like I have like zero interest right now and I think it sounds like Cunningham works really well the way it is.

02:52:36.160 --> 02:52:42.160
Like you said, like if there's like little stuff that we can move around that isn't going to have like a major impact on student.

02:52:42.160 --> 02:52:44.160
I'm going to back to our question language.

02:52:44.160 --> 02:52:48.160
Student focused and meeting student needs like moving the GED.

02:52:48.160 --> 02:52:52.160
It's a little GEDO program through BDC like cool.

02:52:52.160 --> 02:52:59.160
But yeah, I just wanted to clarify that because I'm just trying to wrap my mind around like what all the options are.

02:52:59.160 --> 02:53:02.160
But again, like one of seven like I really am.

02:53:02.160 --> 02:53:07.160
I'm really liking what I'm seeing in both enhanced C as well as option D.

02:53:07.160 --> 02:53:09.160
You know, willing to hear from my colleagues as well.

02:53:09.160 --> 02:53:10.160
So thank you for clarifying.

02:53:10.160 --> 02:53:11.160
I appreciate it.

02:53:11.160 --> 02:53:14.160
And remember, we will look for additional savings.

02:53:14.160 --> 02:53:17.160
This is a draft budget.

02:53:17.160 --> 02:53:19.160
Your finalism in October.

02:53:19.160 --> 02:53:23.160
Whatever decision the board makes, we are not going to.

02:53:23.160 --> 02:53:25.160
I shouldn't say we.

02:53:25.160 --> 02:53:36.160
We for the next two weeks after that will be a different we will continue to look for options on where we can potentially save dollars.

02:53:36.160 --> 02:53:38.160
Because we all want to do that.

02:53:38.160 --> 02:53:45.160
I think we just have different views on, you know, maybe the rate in which we need to make certain changes.

02:53:45.160 --> 02:53:49.160
But we are going to continue to look.

02:53:49.160 --> 02:54:02.160
I mean, one of the examples is that when you passed the budget last time, you said, well, you would allow for the expenditures of what was a 1.7 million of OPEB funds if we needed it.

02:54:02.160 --> 02:54:04.160
And we're not going to need that.

02:54:04.160 --> 02:54:07.160
Now we did sell a building, which I helped a great deal.

02:54:07.160 --> 02:54:18.160
But what we look at is that when we're telling you that we think we need so many OPEB funds, if we are saying, hopefully we'll be able to use less than that.

02:54:18.160 --> 02:54:28.160
But we want to give at least an estimate of where we are right now as we continue to look for additional ways we might be able to save money.

02:54:28.160 --> 02:54:33.160
Thank you, Carol Fox.

02:54:33.160 --> 02:54:38.160
I must say I'm very disappointed in all of this.

02:54:38.160 --> 02:54:47.160
There was an option B on the table that had suggestions for changing some of the buildings and closing things around.

02:54:47.160 --> 02:54:51.160
And that was presented in a timely manner.

02:54:51.160 --> 02:54:56.160
And here we are now because it got totally backed away from.

02:54:56.160 --> 02:54:59.160
And now it's too late, right?

02:54:59.160 --> 02:55:03.160
It's like, oh, gosh, if you can't make the decision tonight, then we can't do anything about it.

02:55:03.160 --> 02:55:12.160
So to me, we've had this method of doing things before where we just drag our feet until it's too late.

02:55:12.160 --> 02:55:16.160
And then we get stuck with not the decisions that we really want to make.

02:55:16.160 --> 02:55:24.160
And I'm also disappointed in the fact that somebody who was saying, you know, what, two and a half months ago,

02:55:24.160 --> 02:55:30.160
they highly recommend that we don't use OPEB money, and we're still not anywhere close to a balanced budget.

02:55:30.160 --> 02:55:36.160
We had several board members who asked for a balanced budget.

02:55:36.160 --> 02:55:43.160
I asked for a budget to get below a million dollars, and we're not there.

02:55:43.160 --> 02:55:45.160
We're just not there.

02:55:45.160 --> 02:55:48.160
And it's pretty disappointing.

02:55:48.160 --> 02:55:51.160
I just don't really know where to go with this at this point.

02:55:51.160 --> 02:55:54.160
I just really don't.

02:55:54.160 --> 02:56:03.160
Once again, let's kick the can down the road.

02:56:03.160 --> 02:56:09.160
And yeah, we can do it next year and move everybody around all at once.

02:56:09.160 --> 02:56:13.160
But it's just really disappointing.

02:56:13.160 --> 02:56:17.160
And there's lots of things in here that still need to be looked at.

02:56:17.160 --> 02:56:22.160
I mean, I was, you know, we still put deans into all of our elementary schools.

02:56:22.160 --> 02:56:26.160
We're looking at a Merrill School is going to have 174 students.

02:56:26.160 --> 02:56:29.160
That's two administrators for 174 students.

02:56:29.160 --> 02:56:31.160
That's 87 students per administrator.

02:56:31.160 --> 02:56:33.160
Are we really going to do that?

02:56:33.160 --> 02:56:37.160
I mean, why are we not looking at the realities of things?

02:56:37.160 --> 02:56:41.160
And the other thing that I asked for was a plan of what we're going to do

02:56:41.160 --> 02:56:46.160
and where we're going to use the Title I money and the AGR money.

02:56:46.160 --> 02:56:48.160
Now it looks all different.

02:56:48.160 --> 02:56:53.160
And I don't see a plan for what you're really planning thinking of doing

02:56:53.160 --> 02:56:55.160
and how this money is going to be spent.

02:56:55.160 --> 02:57:00.160
And so, yeah, we've delayed again.

02:57:00.160 --> 02:57:05.160
And here we are.

02:57:05.160 --> 02:57:08.160
Joanne Roo.

02:57:08.160 --> 02:57:09.160
Yes, thank you.

02:57:10.160 --> 02:57:13.160
Since we are at the end of June.

02:57:13.160 --> 02:57:16.160
I did visit Cunningham the other day.

02:57:16.160 --> 02:57:19.160
It's a beautiful building.

02:57:19.160 --> 02:57:26.160
I have a lot of concerns about moving people this late in the summer.

02:57:26.160 --> 02:57:29.160
We combined buildings a long time ago.

02:57:29.160 --> 02:57:37.160
I remember when Royce and Hackett were combined and we met as a team in the spring.

02:57:37.160 --> 02:57:42.160
We came up with a plan to make us one community.

02:57:42.160 --> 02:57:46.160
The students had time to have closure in their buildings,

02:57:46.160 --> 02:57:51.160
to say goodbye to what they've always known there.

02:57:51.160 --> 02:57:55.160
Our schools, they're not as much neighborhood schools as they used to be,

02:57:55.160 --> 02:57:57.160
but they still are neighborhood schools.

02:57:57.160 --> 02:58:01.160
And I think that there's more than just packing up buildings

02:58:01.160 --> 02:58:04.160
and moving them across town or to another place.

02:58:04.160 --> 02:58:08.160
I think we need to allow our students and teachers to have time

02:58:08.160 --> 02:58:12.160
to bring closure to relationships

02:58:12.160 --> 02:58:15.160
and celebrate the accomplishments that they have.

02:58:15.160 --> 02:58:18.160
Cunningham itself, when I walked through the building,

02:58:18.160 --> 02:58:23.160
I was actually surprised at how much of the building is actively used.

02:58:23.160 --> 02:58:31.160
After hearing how it wasn't, there are many programs housed under one roof.

02:58:31.160 --> 02:58:34.160
And each of those programs require special things.

02:58:34.160 --> 02:58:37.160
The transition program has a kitchen.

02:58:37.160 --> 02:58:41.160
They have a living area where the children can practice making beds

02:58:41.160 --> 02:58:44.160
and doing all of the things that you do at home.

02:58:44.160 --> 02:58:48.160
They learn how to sort laundry and do laundry.

02:58:48.160 --> 02:58:51.160
They have the food pantry there.

02:58:51.160 --> 02:58:54.160
Even Start takes up a large section of the building.

02:58:54.160 --> 02:58:56.160
They have a gorgeous library there.

02:58:56.160 --> 02:58:58.160
If we move them over to Merrill right now,

02:58:58.160 --> 02:59:01.160
we're talking about two separate libraries.

02:59:01.160 --> 02:59:04.160
We don't have a place for all these other programs.

02:59:04.160 --> 02:59:08.160
They're going to still be at Cunningham or shoved somewhere else.

02:59:08.160 --> 02:59:12.160
I think we need to do what's best for our students at this point

02:59:12.160 --> 02:59:18.160
and our staff members and respect that this is their summer

02:59:18.160 --> 02:59:23.160
and they should be able to take this time to restore and rejuvenate

02:59:23.160 --> 02:59:25.160
so they're ready to come back in the fall.

02:59:25.160 --> 02:59:29.160
And then I think us as a board in July, we need to sit down

02:59:29.160 --> 02:59:33.160
and look at things really hard and come up with a plan

02:59:33.160 --> 02:59:37.160
that we can move forward with so that we can move things the next year

02:59:37.160 --> 02:59:40.160
because absolutely we do need to close buildings.

02:59:40.160 --> 02:59:42.160
We do need to put more buildings up for sale.

02:59:42.160 --> 02:59:46.160
I think we need to do it in a way that's very thoughtful

02:59:46.160 --> 02:59:49.160
and considerate of our students and staff.

02:59:49.160 --> 02:59:54.160
Thank you.

02:59:54.160 --> 03:00:02.160
So according to the proposed budget reductions 26-27 presentation,

03:00:02.160 --> 03:00:11.160
May 12th, and this has been on just about every agenda since then.

03:00:11.160 --> 03:00:16.160
On slide seven, it has the historical enrollment context.

03:00:16.160 --> 03:00:23.160
Our alternative programs from 2024 had an enrollment

03:00:23.160 --> 03:00:29.160
of 2005 as of May 6th of this year,

03:00:29.160 --> 03:00:37.160
and 205 as of May 6th this year, it had 118.

03:00:37.160 --> 03:00:45.160
That's a reduction of 42% enrollment in our alternative programs.

03:00:45.160 --> 03:00:49.160
Can any of the administrators tell me,

03:00:49.160 --> 03:00:54.160
have the staff been reduced to follow that reduction,

03:00:54.160 --> 03:00:58.160
and do we know what the projected enrollment will be

03:00:58.160 --> 03:01:05.160
for our alternative programs for fall?

03:01:05.160 --> 03:01:07.160
Well, if you're asking what it was prior to this,

03:01:07.160 --> 03:01:11.160
I honestly don't know that because I don't know what the enrollment,

03:01:11.160 --> 03:01:13.160
or what your staffing was the last year,

03:01:13.160 --> 03:01:18.160
and if you decreased what your staffing decreases were last year.

03:01:19.160 --> 03:01:25.160
My point being, folks, we don't have any money.

03:01:25.160 --> 03:01:29.160
We just don't have money,

03:01:29.160 --> 03:01:35.160
and nobody is coming up here with any good recommendations.

03:01:35.160 --> 03:01:37.160
We have to do something.

03:01:37.160 --> 03:01:41.160
We as board members have to prioritize the solvency

03:01:41.160 --> 03:01:44.160
of the school district of Illinois, not this program,

03:01:44.160 --> 03:01:47.160
not that school, not this, not that.

03:01:47.160 --> 03:01:51.160
We are hearing a lot of, we can't, don't do this, don't do that.

03:01:51.160 --> 03:01:57.160
We are hearing zero recommendations.

03:01:57.160 --> 03:02:00.160
Moving the BLA program,

03:02:00.160 --> 03:02:05.160
shuttering Cunningham for a year, what that would do

03:02:05.160 --> 03:02:10.160
is we could reduce services, costs, and services.

03:02:10.160 --> 03:02:15.160
The high school, I will actually pull this out

03:02:15.160 --> 03:02:18.160
because I was taking notes.

03:02:18.160 --> 03:02:21.160
Who was the student?

03:02:21.160 --> 03:02:25.160
BLA teachers are the most caring, dedicated teachers

03:02:25.160 --> 03:02:27.160
who give their all.

03:02:27.160 --> 03:02:29.160
Amen to that, aren't they?

03:02:29.160 --> 03:02:30.160
Guess what?

03:02:30.160 --> 03:02:33.160
Every single teacher in the school district deployed is.

03:02:33.160 --> 03:02:35.160
Every single one.

03:02:35.160 --> 03:02:38.160
And I don't know if those students had stayed at the high school

03:02:38.160 --> 03:02:40.160
if they would have had a different experience,

03:02:40.160 --> 03:02:44.160
because there are kind, loving teachers everywhere in this district.

03:02:45.160 --> 03:02:51.160
BLA, to my knowledge, has not made efforts to right size

03:02:51.160 --> 03:02:56.160
as the enrollment has drastically reduced.

03:02:56.160 --> 03:02:59.160
I don't know that we can continue doing this

03:02:59.160 --> 03:03:03.160
and go to our taxpayers and say please give us money.

03:03:03.160 --> 03:03:08.160
I personally would love to live in a mansion, have lots of room,

03:03:08.160 --> 03:03:13.160
but my financial situation says no, you get paid $400 a month

03:03:13.160 --> 03:03:16.160
and that's what you need to live in.

03:03:16.160 --> 03:03:23.160
I would suggest that we do a better job looking at how we are spending money.

03:03:23.160 --> 03:03:27.160
I was told by the previous superintendent that when we changed

03:03:27.160 --> 03:03:29.160
the intermediate schools back to middle schools,

03:03:29.160 --> 03:03:33.160
that it would have an effect by increasing our DPI report cards

03:03:33.160 --> 03:03:36.160
because it would have the alignment of the grades.

03:03:36.160 --> 03:03:39.160
This result has not come to fruition.

03:03:40.160 --> 03:03:45.160
We cannot make decisions based on hopes.

03:03:45.160 --> 03:03:49.160
We have to base our decisions on the data

03:03:49.160 --> 03:03:52.160
and the reality that we have.

03:03:52.160 --> 03:03:56.160
And looking at this enrollment,

03:03:56.160 --> 03:04:00.160
I'm concerned what our fall enrollment will be

03:04:00.160 --> 03:04:05.160
for our alternative programs and the incredible costs.

03:04:05.160 --> 03:04:08.160
And if you cost it out, cost per student,

03:04:08.160 --> 03:04:12.160
it gets unfair to the students at the high school.

03:04:12.160 --> 03:04:18.160
Again, going to this capacity, this presentation, slide 13,

03:04:18.160 --> 03:04:23.160
the high school has less than 50% capacity.

03:04:23.160 --> 03:04:27.160
Now, do they have the academies and whatnot?

03:04:27.160 --> 03:04:29.160
How are they laid out?

03:04:29.160 --> 03:04:32.160
I don't know, that's not my job, but it says to me

03:04:32.160 --> 03:04:37.160
if we have a functional capacity of 2472 students

03:04:37.160 --> 03:04:43.160
and we only have 1,131 students, that's less than 50% full.

03:04:43.160 --> 03:04:48.160
I honestly believe we can get creative and find a wing,

03:04:48.160 --> 03:04:52.160
a floor, some space in the high school

03:04:52.160 --> 03:04:56.160
and put the BLA program and all of these other programs

03:04:56.160 --> 03:04:59.160
at the high school, would it cost to move?

03:04:59.160 --> 03:05:01.160
Yeah, is it short notice? Yeah.

03:05:01.160 --> 03:05:05.160
But hey, you know, look at Janesville, they just had a flood

03:05:05.160 --> 03:05:08.160
and they moved an entire building in a week.

03:05:08.160 --> 03:05:13.160
It's not, it's not, it's not undoable.

03:05:13.160 --> 03:05:18.160
A few years ago, we closed two Westside schools,

03:05:18.160 --> 03:05:20.160
got them moved over the summer.

03:05:20.160 --> 03:05:24.160
We're talking about 118 students moving.

03:05:24.160 --> 03:05:31.160
That has, in my opinion, the least impact on the number of students.

03:05:32.160 --> 03:05:36.160
And the next group up would be Merrill.

03:05:36.160 --> 03:05:39.160
Merrill has more than cutting him.

03:05:39.160 --> 03:05:44.160
You know, give us some other options.

03:05:44.160 --> 03:05:47.160
One thing I'd like to suggest that the board does,

03:05:47.160 --> 03:05:52.160
especially when you talk about capacity, is to actually take tours

03:05:52.160 --> 03:05:56.160
of the buildings so you can see what the rooms are.

03:05:56.160 --> 03:05:58.160
Can you increase capacity?

03:05:58.160 --> 03:06:00.160
The answer is yes, you can.

03:06:00.160 --> 03:06:03.160
So part of that capacity means you're going to increase the number of students

03:06:03.160 --> 03:06:08.160
in each of the classrooms because capacity is built on how many rooms,

03:06:08.160 --> 03:06:11.160
how many students can a room hold, you know,

03:06:11.160 --> 03:06:15.160
and that's going to mean you're going to have to look at different changes also

03:06:15.160 --> 03:06:19.160
and basically what are your class size limits.

03:06:19.160 --> 03:06:23.160
So I'm not saying that the high school doesn't have a lot of space.

03:06:23.160 --> 03:06:27.160
I'm simply saying that I think if you want to move BLA over to the high school

03:06:27.160 --> 03:06:31.160
and you want it to maintain separation, which what it has,

03:06:31.160 --> 03:06:36.160
I don't believe that that's possible without spending a fair amount of money

03:06:36.160 --> 03:06:39.160
to basically make it two separate.

03:06:39.160 --> 03:06:43.160
And I think the, for me to tell you that is one thing,

03:06:43.160 --> 03:06:47.160
but I think if you actually walk over, because we did,

03:06:47.160 --> 03:06:51.160
before we did that, we walk through to determine how that could happen

03:06:51.160 --> 03:06:55.160
and the bottom line is we could not figure out how that could happen

03:06:55.160 --> 03:06:58.160
without spending a fair amount of money.

03:06:58.160 --> 03:07:04.160
So I would just recommend the board, please walk through the buildings,

03:07:04.160 --> 03:07:08.160
make that, let the building principal walk you through,

03:07:08.160 --> 03:07:13.160
so you can see, so we talk about capacity, we truly,

03:07:13.160 --> 03:07:19.160
we can see what capacity truly is because what capacity says on a piece of paper

03:07:19.160 --> 03:07:24.160
and what capacity looks like in a building may not be exactly the same.

03:07:25.160 --> 03:07:27.160
Thank you for that, Dr. Anderson.

03:07:27.160 --> 03:07:31.160
I believe all board members have been to the high school

03:07:31.160 --> 03:07:34.160
and have at one point or another toured the high school.

03:07:34.160 --> 03:07:40.160
I think part of our question here is when we're talking about capacity,

03:07:40.160 --> 03:07:48.160
if we have 1100 students for a building that's supposed to comfortably fit 2500,

03:07:48.160 --> 03:07:52.160
what's the real size of our classes?

03:07:52.160 --> 03:07:57.160
And I think that might be some data that might be beneficial as well.

03:07:57.160 --> 03:08:03.160
And why, through this process, even after the fact that we all,

03:08:03.160 --> 03:08:10.160
myself as well, when after approving the board guidance

03:08:10.160 --> 03:08:16.160
and our number one priority, meaning maintain existing district teacher pupil ratio

03:08:16.160 --> 03:08:21.160
guidelines, it's maintaining the guidelines, not the actual classes.

03:08:21.160 --> 03:08:26.160
I have heard that there are classes with as few as four or five, six students,

03:08:26.160 --> 03:08:29.160
which is actually outside of board policy.

03:08:29.160 --> 03:08:35.160
I think we really need to take a deep look at all of our systems

03:08:35.160 --> 03:08:41.160
because all of it comes back to we're spending a lot of money.

03:08:41.160 --> 03:08:47.160
We're spending, and looking at the effectiveness and the efficiency,

03:08:47.160 --> 03:08:50.160
it doesn't seem to equate.

03:08:51.160 --> 03:08:54.160
When we did do the staffing, with each of the buildings,

03:08:54.160 --> 03:08:58.160
we did use the staffing guidelines that are in your policy to determine

03:08:58.160 --> 03:09:04.160
that's why there are a number of high school staff members on the list,

03:09:04.160 --> 03:09:09.160
because when you take a look at how many students per class a week cut out,

03:09:09.160 --> 03:09:14.160
when I say week, with Emily Pells and that take a look at all of the students

03:09:14.160 --> 03:09:19.160
enrolled in various classes to cut the lowest enrollment classes.

03:09:19.160 --> 03:09:23.160
Dr. Anderson, can I have some more questions?

03:09:31.160 --> 03:09:33.160
So answers a couple of your questions.

03:09:33.160 --> 03:09:38.160
We have reduced enrollment, but in the BLE entity before,

03:09:38.160 --> 03:09:44.160
some of the previous numbers included our early graduates and expelled students

03:09:44.160 --> 03:09:46.160
and also our fresh start program.

03:09:46.160 --> 03:09:49.160
So it's a fresh start program, we lost 40 students,

03:09:49.160 --> 03:09:54.160
but that also then saved us, we were putting out $240 a year in cash,

03:09:54.160 --> 03:09:57.160
$6,000 per student to community action.

03:09:57.160 --> 03:10:02.160
With that, we have also reduced a teacher, a library of media,

03:10:02.160 --> 03:10:06.160
we did not have a coach and a behavior peace room,

03:10:06.160 --> 03:10:08.160
so that we have reduced staff along the way.

03:10:08.160 --> 03:10:12.160
In BLE proper, we still have six teachers for 100 students.

03:10:12.160 --> 03:10:14.160
We have maintained where that has been,

03:10:14.160 --> 03:10:17.160
even when we moved from the right building had smaller numbers.

03:10:17.160 --> 03:10:19.160
So there has been a reduction in enrollment,

03:10:19.160 --> 03:10:21.160
but it's been through some of these programs that we used to count,

03:10:21.160 --> 03:10:25.160
or we no longer have, and they're also, you know,

03:10:25.160 --> 03:10:28.160
the cost savings from what we put out for a fresh start.

03:10:31.160 --> 03:10:32.160
Thank you, Mr. Skenvers.

03:10:32.160 --> 03:10:37.160
I will double check my notes that I have from the fresh start program.

03:10:37.160 --> 03:10:39.160
I appreciate your input.

03:10:39.160 --> 03:10:41.160
Okay, thank you.

03:10:42.160 --> 03:10:44.160
Megan Miller, and then Carol Fox.

03:10:47.160 --> 03:10:48.160
Thank you so much.

03:10:48.160 --> 03:10:51.160
Board President Johnson, you raised a number of really good questions.

03:10:51.160 --> 03:10:56.160
I really appreciate kind of the, I think the lens of match,

03:10:56.160 --> 03:10:58.160
like you started with like a lens of matching needs,

03:10:58.160 --> 03:11:02.160
which I can always get behind, and that makes a lot of sense.

03:11:02.160 --> 03:11:06.160
A couple of things, I want to add some context to,

03:11:06.160 --> 03:11:10.160
you had mentioned the situation with West Side Schools.

03:11:10.160 --> 03:11:13.160
The least favorite vote by far I've ever had to take.

03:11:13.160 --> 03:11:16.160
We had to approve that in April.

03:11:16.160 --> 03:11:18.160
It was really criticized.

03:11:18.160 --> 03:11:21.160
The timing was really criticized, and the reason for that timing

03:11:21.160 --> 03:11:23.160
is exactly what we're seeing here right now.

03:11:23.160 --> 03:11:25.160
It wasn't just a whiplash decision.

03:11:25.160 --> 03:11:27.160
Moved some schools over the summer.

03:11:27.160 --> 03:11:29.160
It was like, if we were going to do something and it had to be done

03:11:29.160 --> 03:11:31.160
in that amount of time, which again,

03:11:31.160 --> 03:11:34.160
a lot of circumstances were not ideal about that.

03:11:34.160 --> 03:11:39.160
However, I just wanted to make sure it was clear that that's like

03:11:39.160 --> 03:11:41.160
an apples to oranges kind of situation.

03:11:41.160 --> 03:11:45.160
Also, our state report card has gone up every year since 2021

03:11:45.160 --> 03:11:46.160
school year.

03:11:46.160 --> 03:11:52.160
We were at 46.9 and 48.7, then 50.6, then 53.1 last year,

03:11:52.160 --> 03:11:55.160
so 55.8, the 24.25 school year.

03:11:55.160 --> 03:11:59.160
So there were increases that we saw because of that.

03:11:59.160 --> 03:12:02.160
So I just want to make sure we could clarify those pieces.

03:12:02.160 --> 03:12:06.160
You asked for, okay, so what's the solution?

03:12:06.160 --> 03:12:11.160
You are 100% right, that any time we talk about any kind of

03:12:11.160 --> 03:12:14.160
budget thing, including things that I personally care about,

03:12:14.160 --> 03:12:17.160
there's going to be stuff that we're like, yeah, we shouldn't,

03:12:17.160 --> 03:12:18.160
but we have to.

03:12:18.160 --> 03:12:21.160
And I think that's a really important point to make because

03:12:21.160 --> 03:12:24.160
I think Dr. Anderson also has done a great job of articulating

03:12:24.160 --> 03:12:26.160
throughout this entire process.

03:12:26.160 --> 03:12:30.160
There's going to be, there's no way to do this without hurting

03:12:30.160 --> 03:12:35.160
kids, and that's our main goal is to support and grow our children.

03:12:35.160 --> 03:12:37.160
So you are absolutely right to point that out.

03:12:37.160 --> 03:12:39.160
And I just want to validate that.

03:12:39.160 --> 03:12:42.160
So you did also though say no one is brought forward a plan.

03:12:42.160 --> 03:12:44.160
So I would just, I'm going to throw this out here.

03:12:44.160 --> 03:12:47.160
So for me, what I believe would be constructive,

03:12:47.160 --> 03:12:50.160
given the limitations that we have with total, you know,

03:12:50.160 --> 03:12:53.160
with Wiggle Room, you know, we haven't really gotten into the

03:12:53.160 --> 03:12:54.160
details, right?

03:12:54.160 --> 03:12:57.160
And option D and like the new and improved option C or any of

03:12:57.160 --> 03:13:03.160
the other pieces, you know, coming from a curriculum standpoint,

03:13:03.160 --> 03:13:07.160
we know where we're going to be in 2728.

03:13:07.160 --> 03:13:09.160
We know what that cliff looks like.

03:13:09.160 --> 03:13:14.160
It would be my belief that we backwards plan from that number.

03:13:14.160 --> 03:13:17.160
Like we're going to start with this place, a draft budget,

03:13:17.160 --> 03:13:20.160
and that's going to take us to the next step.

03:13:20.160 --> 03:13:23.160
Then our next step, like I 100% agree with what Joanne said,

03:13:23.160 --> 03:13:26.160
we're going to need to be here a bunch in July.

03:13:26.160 --> 03:13:29.160
And we're not really just going to be preparing to pass our

03:13:29.160 --> 03:13:31.160
October budget for this year.

03:13:31.160 --> 03:13:35.160
We have to have embedded in the thinking and planning for our

03:13:35.160 --> 03:13:37.160
budget this year, what next year's looks like.

03:13:37.160 --> 03:13:42.160
And so for me, I think the solution would be what can we do

03:13:42.160 --> 03:13:46.160
this year that is feasible, that's like respectful to the

03:13:46.160 --> 03:13:49.160
capacity of our staff and, you know, families, of course,

03:13:49.160 --> 03:13:53.160
with the understanding that we're going to have at least a draft

03:13:53.160 --> 03:13:57.160
plan prior to January with what those facility changes will look

03:13:57.160 --> 03:14:00.160
like, because from what I've heard, and I don't want to put

03:14:00.160 --> 03:14:03.160
words, anybody's mouth, but what I'm not hearing really any

03:14:03.160 --> 03:14:06.160
disagreement from any of my colleagues up here about the

03:14:06.160 --> 03:14:11.160
reductions and the re-imagining of like how we use

03:14:11.160 --> 03:14:13.160
facilities that's going to have to happen.

03:14:13.160 --> 03:14:16.160
I'm actually, this is going to sound terrible, but I'm kind of

03:14:16.160 --> 03:14:19.160
like excited to have those conversations because it's painful,

03:14:19.160 --> 03:14:22.160
but it also comes with like this sort of hopeful visioning for

03:14:22.160 --> 03:14:25.160
like, how are we going to set ourselves up and to thrive in

03:14:25.160 --> 03:14:26.160
this new reality.

03:14:26.160 --> 03:14:28.160
So I want to be very careful about how I'm communicating

03:14:28.160 --> 03:14:31.160
because Board President Johnson, like I definitely appreciate

03:14:31.160 --> 03:14:32.160
where you're coming from.

03:14:32.160 --> 03:14:35.160
And we disagreeing on a few pieces, but I think we are,

03:14:35.160 --> 03:14:39.160
I am overhaul hearing a lot of consensus and a lot of

03:14:39.160 --> 03:14:41.160
agreement between all of us on the board.

03:14:41.160 --> 03:14:45.160
So while I know that some of us and Carol made it really

03:14:45.160 --> 03:14:47.160
clearly feeling disappointed, I respect that.

03:14:47.160 --> 03:14:52.160
I think where we are now, I would love to see us say,

03:14:52.160 --> 03:14:55.160
what is our budget going to need to be by October 15th when we

03:14:55.160 --> 03:14:58.160
got our stuff from the state in 2728.

03:14:58.160 --> 03:15:02.160
And how are we going to backwards plan considering that next

03:15:02.160 --> 03:15:08.160
year and this year, create a facilities draft to figure out

03:15:08.160 --> 03:15:11.160
how we get as close as we can to a balanced budget.

03:15:11.160 --> 03:15:14.160
And I fully, I'm on board with that.

03:15:14.160 --> 03:15:17.160
I just, I think given the time that we have now,

03:15:17.160 --> 03:15:19.160
realistically what that's going to mean for our students,

03:15:19.160 --> 03:15:22.160
like that's the solution or a solution that I would offer.

03:15:22.160 --> 03:15:25.160
Because to me, I feel like that accommodates what I'm hearing

03:15:25.160 --> 03:15:26.160
from everybody.

03:15:26.160 --> 03:15:28.160
But those are my thoughts.

03:15:28.160 --> 03:15:30.160
Jo-Ann Ru.

03:15:30.160 --> 03:15:32.160
Yes, thank you.

03:15:32.160 --> 03:15:37.160
So talking about combining the buildings back to kindergarten

03:15:37.160 --> 03:15:41.160
through fifth grade, I think overwhelmingly the community has

03:15:41.160 --> 03:15:43.160
been happy with that.

03:15:43.160 --> 03:15:47.160
I don't think that is the reason why our test scores are going

03:15:47.160 --> 03:15:50.160
down, like we've heard.

03:15:50.160 --> 03:15:53.160
I think it's collective teacher efficacy.

03:15:53.160 --> 03:15:56.160
And the reason for it isn't because of the teachers that we've

03:15:56.160 --> 03:16:02.160
had in place, it is because we are using temporary employees

03:16:02.160 --> 03:16:05.160
that are not actually district employees.

03:16:05.160 --> 03:16:08.160
We're having to go through agencies to help fill positions.

03:16:08.160 --> 03:16:13.160
And when we have that problem, it makes things bigger.

03:16:14.160 --> 03:16:18.160
And if we don't show respect to our teachers

03:16:18.160 --> 03:16:21.160
and move them right now, we're going to lose more teachers.

03:16:21.160 --> 03:16:26.160
And because moving right now would make for major headlines,

03:16:26.160 --> 03:16:30.160
we would not be able to attract the kind of quality teachers we want

03:16:30.160 --> 03:16:31.160
to attract.

03:16:31.160 --> 03:16:35.160
And I think when we are coming up with this new plan,

03:16:35.160 --> 03:16:38.160
I think we need to have a lot of decision-makers at the table.

03:16:38.160 --> 03:16:42.160
I think we need our principals at the table, the cabinet at the table,

03:16:42.160 --> 03:16:46.160
so we can all work together to have some thinking outside of the

03:16:46.160 --> 03:16:47.160
box ideas.

03:16:47.160 --> 03:16:53.160
And I think the budget is just, this is just step one.

03:16:53.160 --> 03:16:56.160
And then we like tease it apart, right?

03:16:56.160 --> 03:16:59.160
And like find some more things.

03:16:59.160 --> 03:17:02.160
And didn't we, we said that we could use OPEB this year,

03:17:02.160 --> 03:17:05.160
and then we ended up not using it, right?

03:17:05.160 --> 03:17:07.160
That is correct.

03:17:07.160 --> 03:17:09.160
Yeah.

03:17:10.160 --> 03:17:14.160
That's, I'm concerned for our students.

03:17:14.160 --> 03:17:19.160
I envision, as much as I don't want to say that we're going to be a

03:17:19.160 --> 03:17:22.160
smaller district, I envision a smaller but better district.

03:17:22.160 --> 03:17:30.160
If we are able to focus and really do some great planning ahead of our

03:17:30.160 --> 03:17:34.160
changes, I think we could make things really amazing for our community.

03:17:35.160 --> 03:17:38.160
Carol Parks.

03:17:38.160 --> 03:17:43.160
You know, we have asked a lot of people for a lot of input and a lot of

03:17:43.160 --> 03:17:45.160
the out of the box ideas.

03:17:45.160 --> 03:17:52.160
And every time we come up with an out of the box idea, people don't like it.

03:17:52.160 --> 03:17:57.160
So we spend a lot of time, time to deal with that.

03:17:57.160 --> 03:18:01.160
I would actually like to hear from Dr. Molot.

03:18:01.160 --> 03:18:04.160
I hate to put you on the spot.

03:18:04.160 --> 03:18:13.160
But, you know, it's, it's, what is your opinion about things like closing

03:18:13.160 --> 03:18:15.160
some of these buildings?

03:18:15.160 --> 03:18:20.160
I, I just very uncomfortable having yet another year where we have

03:18:20.160 --> 03:18:23.160
totally underutilized buildings.

03:18:23.160 --> 03:18:28.160
But maybe what we do is we sell colac and move everybody over to the

03:18:28.160 --> 03:18:29.160
high school.

03:18:29.160 --> 03:18:32.160
And maybe that'll satisfy some folks.

03:18:32.160 --> 03:18:36.160
If you, we don't think we can shut down Cunningham and we don't think

03:18:36.160 --> 03:18:44.160
we can move programs and, and, but, you know, I, whether we move BLA this

03:18:44.160 --> 03:18:47.160
year or not, BLA is going to be moved.

03:18:47.160 --> 03:18:48.160
It's just it.

03:18:48.160 --> 03:18:51.160
And I don't know that we can afford to have a separate spot.

03:18:51.160 --> 03:18:54.160
I just don't.

03:18:55.160 --> 03:18:58.160
Because we're going to be pretty small.

03:18:58.160 --> 03:19:01.160
And, and we've got to come to some, some grips with some stuff.

03:19:01.160 --> 03:19:06.160
But if we aren't going to be closing Cunningham or moving BLA or doing

03:19:06.160 --> 03:19:09.160
any of those kinds of things, you need to go back to the drawing board

03:19:09.160 --> 03:19:12.160
and, and, and find more.

03:19:12.160 --> 03:19:14.160
You got to find more.

03:19:14.160 --> 03:19:18.160
Dr. Molot, I would, if you don't mind, I would appreciate your input.

03:19:18.160 --> 03:19:21.160
And I hope the other board members would too as well.

03:19:21.160 --> 03:19:24.160
And yes, we have been having different conversations.

03:19:24.160 --> 03:19:29.160
I talked to a board member recently who had one viewpoint because of what

03:19:29.160 --> 03:19:33.160
they had spoken to, the, the, their constituents they had spoken to,

03:19:33.160 --> 03:19:36.160
completely different from the constituents I had spoken to.

03:19:36.160 --> 03:19:38.160
And that's fine.

03:19:38.160 --> 03:19:40.160
We understand we come from a very diverse community.

03:19:40.160 --> 03:19:43.160
That's going to have a lot of different opinions.

03:19:43.160 --> 03:19:48.160
But we have to decide on a budget.

03:19:48.160 --> 03:19:52.160
Many of us have also taken time to have meetings with BEA members,

03:19:52.160 --> 03:19:56.160
with staff members, with families.

03:19:56.160 --> 03:20:01.160
I will say one of the things I have heard over and over is their

03:20:01.160 --> 03:20:07.160
concern about BLA going to the high school is not because the students

03:20:07.160 --> 03:20:09.160
don't want to go there.

03:20:09.160 --> 03:20:14.160
It's because of the behaviors and quote one of our administrators.

03:20:14.160 --> 03:20:17.160
They don't want to go there because they don't want to have to see

03:20:17.160 --> 03:20:18.160
their enemies.

03:20:18.160 --> 03:20:23.160
This is why I read our mission statement from the start because if we

03:20:23.160 --> 03:20:29.160
are having a separate building for a school because we are preventing

03:20:29.160 --> 03:20:33.160
students from having to see their enemies, we are doing a disservice

03:20:33.160 --> 03:20:35.160
to our mission statement.

03:20:35.160 --> 03:20:36.160
Dr. Molot.

03:20:40.160 --> 03:20:42.160
So we have a lot going on here.

03:20:42.160 --> 03:20:44.160
A lot.

03:20:44.160 --> 03:20:48.160
I have many, many thoughts about what we could do, what we should do,

03:20:48.160 --> 03:20:50.160
or what we should have already done.

03:20:50.160 --> 03:20:52.160
Just give us the hard truth.

03:20:52.160 --> 03:20:54.160
That's what we need to hear.

03:20:54.160 --> 03:20:57.160
Well, the hard truth is we should have done this in March or April.

03:20:57.160 --> 03:20:58.160
Very definitely.

03:20:58.160 --> 03:21:02.160
This is getting to the point where it's ridiculously late.

03:21:02.160 --> 03:21:07.160
And I say that not to offend anyone, but it is ridiculously late.

03:21:08.160 --> 03:21:11.160
I agree with everything everybody is saying because everybody is putting

03:21:11.160 --> 03:21:15.160
their thought and their heart into their comments, right?

03:21:15.160 --> 03:21:17.160
We want to keep our staff here.

03:21:17.160 --> 03:21:20.160
We want to keep our students here.

03:21:20.160 --> 03:21:25.160
It is disheartening to know that we have lost so many students.

03:21:25.160 --> 03:21:29.160
We have staff that we have lost, but we also can't give staff an answer

03:21:29.160 --> 03:21:30.160
right now.

03:21:30.160 --> 03:21:35.160
So, to be very honest with you, if I were a new young teacher and I

03:21:35.160 --> 03:21:40.160
didn't know what my future looked like, I would probably look somewhere,

03:21:40.160 --> 03:21:43.160
you know, maybe a little bit more stable.

03:21:43.160 --> 03:21:45.160
And that's the hard unfortunate truth.

03:21:45.160 --> 03:21:51.160
So, our job right now is to prepare our school for our school year.

03:21:51.160 --> 03:21:55.160
We have to prepare for our school year and we have to make a decision,

03:21:55.160 --> 03:21:57.160
whatever that might be.

03:21:57.160 --> 03:22:01.160
Just looking at the figures that you have, I think,

03:22:01.160 --> 03:22:03.160
I don't even know where it went.

03:22:03.160 --> 03:22:09.160
But there was some figures up on the board with the budget that Dr.

03:22:09.160 --> 03:22:14.160
Anderson was talking about in the blue areas.

03:22:14.160 --> 03:22:21.160
If you look at the early literacy paraprofessionals that are added on there,

03:22:21.160 --> 03:22:24.160
that is actually factored into Title I.

03:22:24.160 --> 03:22:30.160
So, board member Fox, I do have Title I and AGR plans for you.

03:22:31.160 --> 03:22:34.160
We worked on them very extensively.

03:22:34.160 --> 03:22:39.160
But those positions would be put into Title I.

03:22:39.160 --> 03:22:40.160
Okay.

03:22:40.160 --> 03:22:47.160
So, with those six positions, you're gaining an additional $252,000 that you would cut out of that budget

03:22:47.160 --> 03:22:51.160
that Dr. Anderson proposed there, just putting that out on the table.

03:22:51.160 --> 03:22:56.160
So, that brings you $252,000 closer to where you want to be,

03:22:56.160 --> 03:22:59.160
just making a side note there.

03:22:59.160 --> 03:23:05.160
There are a couple of other things there that could also be looked at.

03:23:05.160 --> 03:23:10.160
The early literacy coach, the .5, that is under Gaston.

03:23:10.160 --> 03:23:18.160
There's a literacy coach that is under, let's see, Robinson, it's a .5.

03:23:18.160 --> 03:23:25.160
And then the early literacy coach that's under Todd, those remember are also grant funded.

03:23:25.160 --> 03:23:29.160
Those were grant funds that we received just recently from the state,

03:23:29.160 --> 03:23:32.160
that we do have postings up on weekend four.

03:23:32.160 --> 03:23:38.160
So, those will be additional pieces that would be taken out of Title I.

03:23:38.160 --> 03:23:41.160
I did not add those up because that's what I was doing over there real quick.

03:23:41.160 --> 03:23:45.160
So, that would be additional funds that you would take off that total balance on the bottom

03:23:45.160 --> 03:23:50.160
to get you closer to your balance that you want to be at.

03:23:50.160 --> 03:23:52.160
Dr. Anderson, time for my drink there, please.

03:23:52.160 --> 03:23:53.160
Sorry.

03:23:54.160 --> 03:23:56.160
Thank you.

03:23:56.160 --> 03:23:59.160
Additionally, thank you.

03:23:59.160 --> 03:24:07.160
Additionally, I do want to mention that Mr. Stenders has been working on kind of another option

03:24:07.160 --> 03:24:09.160
that would close Merrill.

03:24:09.160 --> 03:24:14.160
Again, we don't want to close anything, but we have to look at all the options.

03:24:14.160 --> 03:24:18.160
So, you know, we can talk about that in just a minute.

03:24:18.160 --> 03:24:23.160
I do think a statement would be made if we did put a for sale sign in our Colac yard.

03:24:23.160 --> 03:24:28.160
I know Colac is big and beautiful and everyone loves it, but it is underutilized.

03:24:28.160 --> 03:24:29.160
It's empty.

03:24:29.160 --> 03:24:32.160
A big chunk of the building is empty.

03:24:32.160 --> 03:24:35.160
We could all fit on one floor of the building.

03:24:35.160 --> 03:24:39.160
So, something could be done utilizing the rest of the building.

03:24:39.160 --> 03:24:42.160
If we all move to one floor, we could try to sell it.

03:24:42.160 --> 03:24:47.160
I also think it's a good optic to have our staff, the administrative staff in schools.

03:24:47.160 --> 03:24:49.160
So, it's kind of a win-win.

03:24:49.160 --> 03:24:54.160
So, that would be a big powerful move, I believe, in getting some of the community on board

03:24:54.160 --> 03:24:57.160
with a possible referendum.

03:24:57.160 --> 03:25:03.160
They've asked for that to be a possibility for a number of years is close, Colac, close,

03:25:03.160 --> 03:25:04.160
Colac.

03:25:04.160 --> 03:25:09.160
Additionally, I do want to make a comment that, you know, we do have a vulnerable population

03:25:09.160 --> 03:25:11.160
that does go to BLA.

03:25:11.160 --> 03:25:16.160
And it's a very, very difficult decision to have to make about what you're going to do

03:25:16.160 --> 03:25:17.160
with that school.

03:25:17.160 --> 03:25:24.160
As a parent who had a student, a child that was a student that did graduate from an alternative

03:25:24.160 --> 03:25:29.160
program, she was not able to finish her time in the regular high school because of her

03:25:29.160 --> 03:25:30.160
anxiety.

03:25:30.160 --> 03:25:36.160
I have a very, very deep concern for where we place some of our students.

03:25:36.160 --> 03:25:40.160
I think we need to be very careful about how we do that.

03:25:40.160 --> 03:25:45.160
If we do agree to send them to the high school, I would want to make sure that we are operating

03:25:45.160 --> 03:25:53.160
in that school within a school model where they are completely protected from whatever

03:25:53.160 --> 03:25:59.160
may be the source of their reason for wanting to be there, whether it is anxiety from kids

03:25:59.160 --> 03:26:01.160
or school or whatever.

03:26:01.160 --> 03:26:05.160
We don't know what some of our triggers are for our kids.

03:26:05.160 --> 03:26:10.160
And the misconception that BLA kids are bad is not true.

03:26:10.160 --> 03:26:11.160
It's not true.

03:26:12.160 --> 03:26:15.160
There's always kids that are handful in every place, right?

03:26:15.160 --> 03:26:20.160
So we have to kind of get away from that mentality and protect our kids.

03:26:20.160 --> 03:26:25.160
So wherever we decide that program should land, we need to keep the integrity of our kids

03:26:25.160 --> 03:26:26.160
at hand.

03:26:26.160 --> 03:26:33.160
If we send them to Merrill, you know, we were, Joanne was mentioning, I think it was Joanne

03:26:33.160 --> 03:26:38.160
about the kitchens and, you know, things like that for our 18 to 21 year old program.

03:26:38.160 --> 03:26:43.160
Those pieces are essential for our 18 to 21 year old transition program.

03:26:43.160 --> 03:26:49.160
So we do want to make sure we remain or we keep the integrity of all of our programs as it is.

03:26:49.160 --> 03:26:54.160
So, you know, again, careful planning is going to need to be in order.

03:26:54.160 --> 03:27:01.160
So whether or not we can complete that timeline between now and September 1st is a big question.

03:27:01.160 --> 03:27:03.160
I do question that.

03:27:03.160 --> 03:27:09.160
I also am concerned about, you know, how that looks as a community of school community,

03:27:09.160 --> 03:27:12.160
but how we're going to communicate that to our families.

03:27:12.160 --> 03:27:14.160
That's a concern I have.

03:27:14.160 --> 03:27:18.160
I do absolutely know we have to close buildings.

03:27:18.160 --> 03:27:20.160
We have to do that.

03:27:20.160 --> 03:27:26.160
Next year will be a big year for closures and redistributing our students and staff.

03:27:26.160 --> 03:27:33.160
And how and how we go about that needs to be decided starting in October or earlier.

03:27:33.160 --> 03:27:35.160
We need to start those discussions.

03:27:35.160 --> 03:27:42.160
So we need to get this year taken care of now in the best possible way and decide exactly

03:27:42.160 --> 03:27:50.160
what that number is going to look like for longevity pay so that we can hit that mark and then just move forward.

03:27:50.160 --> 03:27:52.160
So wherever we land with that.

03:27:53.160 --> 03:28:00.160
Director L, would you have that number for what the longevity pay would be from the opab?

03:28:00.160 --> 03:28:02.160
330,000. Thank you.

03:28:02.160 --> 03:28:04.160
And I'm sure you said that about a hundred times.

03:28:04.160 --> 03:28:05.160
I'm sorry.

03:28:05.160 --> 03:28:06.160
330,000.

03:28:06.160 --> 03:28:11.160
So if we can get somewhere close to that, that would be fantastic.

03:28:11.160 --> 03:28:18.160
Again, cutting a few of these things out and putting them in the title positions is going to help.

03:28:19.160 --> 03:28:23.160
You know, we're we're trying to cut as much as we can.

03:28:23.160 --> 03:28:25.160
Are there other things that can be cut?

03:28:25.160 --> 03:28:26.160
Yep, absolutely.

03:28:26.160 --> 03:28:32.160
We can look at, you know, there's there's things that we haven't done asking buildings to reduce budgets.

03:28:32.160 --> 03:28:36.160
We did re-reduced by 10% in the 24, 25, 20.

03:28:36.160 --> 03:28:42.160
We reduced budgets by 10% for this past school year and you could ask buildings to reduce again.

03:28:43.160 --> 03:28:53.160
You know, a member Miller had asked, you know, previously about could families help and the community help with school supplies and things like that for the school.

03:28:53.160 --> 03:29:00.160
There's ways to help supplement that if we do ask for another cut from our our buildings.

03:29:00.160 --> 03:29:06.160
If we did a cut if we did ask our administrators to cut about 10% from their budgets.

03:29:07.160 --> 03:29:09.160
I think I figured it out to be about four, eight thousand dollars.

03:29:09.160 --> 03:29:13.160
If it's just a 10%, you could you could ask for more than that.

03:29:13.160 --> 03:29:19.160
So I don't have an absolute zero here, but I do have, you know, the recommendations that I gave you.

03:29:19.160 --> 03:29:25.160
You know, it but as far as we just have to we have to decide, we have to decide.

03:29:25.160 --> 03:29:28.160
Are we going to actually close a building this year?

03:29:28.160 --> 03:29:35.160
If we are going to actually close something, I would recommend it be this because there are no students that are going to be impacted here.

03:29:37.160 --> 03:29:41.160
Shuffling around adults is much easier and we can do that in slow steps.

03:29:41.160 --> 03:29:47.160
You know, if we if we posted this for sale and it did sell, we have a deadline to get out.

03:29:47.160 --> 03:29:52.160
We can meet that deadline, right? We can kind of do things softly instead of quickly.

03:29:52.160 --> 03:29:54.160
Slowing instead of quickly.

03:29:54.160 --> 03:30:00.160
So that would be my immediate recommendation if we decide that we do have to close a school building.

03:30:01.160 --> 03:30:19.160
My recommendation, I guess, would be to relocate our BLA friends to Merrill and make sure that we maintain the integrity of the programs, but then also do the zoning of our of what might be remaining at Cunningham.

03:30:19.160 --> 03:30:29.160
And then I'm going to have Jeff come up and talk real quickly about the plan that he was kind of brainstorming through as well because that was kind of a quick coming to fruition.

03:30:30.160 --> 03:30:38.160
I appreciate you sharing the information about your daughter. Likewise, I have an IEP student with anxiety and dyslexia.

03:30:38.160 --> 03:30:45.160
And I want to remind everyone, if we move BLA, we are not getting rid of BLA, we are just moving it.

03:30:45.160 --> 03:30:49.160
We do have the option to eliminate it because it's not legally required.

03:30:49.160 --> 03:30:56.160
Right now, we are in a very different position than we were 13, 14, 15, when did BLA start?

03:30:56.160 --> 03:31:00.160
It's more so many times over the years.

03:31:00.160 --> 03:31:06.160
We no longer have a monopoly in education.

03:31:06.160 --> 03:31:18.160
There are different choices and to close that program, students may choose to, if we move it to BLA in a partition section, they may choose to do that.

03:31:18.160 --> 03:31:21.160
They may choose to do virtual learning.

03:31:21.160 --> 03:31:23.160
They may choose to open and roll elsewhere.

03:31:23.160 --> 03:31:25.160
They may choose to homeschool.

03:31:25.160 --> 03:31:29.160
There are so many other options now for students.

03:31:29.160 --> 03:31:36.160
And it's an unfortunate reality with the market, the way it is.

03:31:36.160 --> 03:31:38.160
But we have to adjust.

03:31:38.160 --> 03:31:42.160
Otherwise, we're not going to be a school district employee anymore.

03:31:42.160 --> 03:31:45.160
It's just the way it is.

03:31:45.160 --> 03:31:46.160
Mr. Stenrose.

03:31:46.160 --> 03:31:47.160
Thank you.

03:31:48.160 --> 03:31:51.160
Thank you.

03:31:51.160 --> 03:31:57.160
So a couple of weeks ago when I was here, I heard a couple of things that stood out to me.

03:31:57.160 --> 03:32:05.160
I heard balanced budget was one of them, not wanting to use OPEB or bring that down as much as possible.

03:32:05.160 --> 03:32:13.160
And I also heard making some bold, aggressive moves, knowing we have something for the following year that's going to be needing even something more.

03:32:14.160 --> 03:32:18.120
I'm going to be the first to say, I don't want to move programs, I don't want to close schools.

03:32:18.120 --> 03:32:26.600
But hearing what those pieces were, I went back and I looked at what it would do to move BLA to Merrill and put them in there.

03:32:26.600 --> 03:32:31.920
And understanding in conversation we had that duplication of services is where we save money.

03:32:31.920 --> 03:32:34.560
That we can reduce positions that are duplicated.

03:32:34.560 --> 03:32:40.120
Moving BLA to Merrill only saved us approximately five positions.

03:32:40.120 --> 03:32:46.840
Because the teachers in the BLA program cannot teach the littles, and the little teachers cannot teach the BLA students.

03:32:46.840 --> 03:32:54.800
So it is a counselor, principal, dean of students, secretary, social worker is essentially when we get our savings.

03:32:54.800 --> 03:32:56.280
So there is a savings there.

03:32:56.280 --> 03:33:01.760
And my numbers using information from the previous board positions was about 384,000.

03:33:02.760 --> 03:33:09.760
So I looked at closing Merrill and moving Merrill to Robinson or Todd, so we're moving like programs to like programs.

03:33:09.760 --> 03:33:12.760
So there you do have duplication of services.

03:33:12.760 --> 03:33:15.760
We looked at class enrollments for each of the grades.

03:33:15.760 --> 03:33:22.760
And three of the grades can move students to one of the other schools and absorb them almost entirely, not quite.

03:33:22.760 --> 03:33:24.760
We get a little bit larger class size there.

03:33:24.760 --> 03:33:28.760
Three of the grades are going to require a teacher to move with them.

03:33:28.760 --> 03:33:34.760
So out of the pre-K through five, three teachers would have to move someplace to a lot for those numbers.

03:33:34.760 --> 03:33:36.760
So that means we could reduce three there.

03:33:36.760 --> 03:33:44.760
We wouldn't have a principal, a dean of students, a secretary, a social worker, a counselor, a PE teacher, a literacy coach, an art teacher,

03:33:44.760 --> 03:33:48.760
a media library, a steam coach, an early literacy parent, and a music teacher.

03:33:48.760 --> 03:33:52.760
Which came out to be about $985,000 in cuts by that.

03:33:52.760 --> 03:33:55.760
And again, I'm not in favor of cutting any buildings or moving.

03:33:55.760 --> 03:34:00.760
But when you did this, we also looked at what our current staffing is.

03:34:00.760 --> 03:34:07.760
Currently, Merrill only has about 40% of their staff that are hired and actually employed by our district.

03:34:07.760 --> 03:34:12.760
So 60% are already not real people, and these 40% are.

03:34:12.760 --> 03:34:17.760
And we went through and we looked at as our, with all of our TLE, people services teams,

03:34:17.760 --> 03:34:24.760
those staff members could all be moved to other buildings and we have positions so it doesn't look like we're cutting any real bodies out of this.

03:34:24.760 --> 03:34:31.760
So the savings for those things, again, about almost close to a million dollars with those, again, using the numbers.

03:34:31.760 --> 03:34:37.760
And so I had put together a plan E using the same ABCD format that was there.

03:34:37.760 --> 03:34:43.760
I put in a couple of other cuts that were a little aggressive and it involved raises.

03:34:43.760 --> 03:34:48.760
Freezing administrative raises for next year that put somebody out there.

03:34:48.760 --> 03:34:55.760
I put an option out there about reducing the teacher increase from 2.63 down to 2%.

03:34:55.760 --> 03:34:58.760
It's an increase, but it does save us some money.

03:34:58.760 --> 03:35:05.760
All of those numbers in putting on there brought me to an opab number of 99,000.

03:35:08.760 --> 03:35:13.760
99,000, a deficit budget of 99,000.

03:35:14.760 --> 03:35:18.760
Well, I would have appreciated seeing this before now.

03:35:18.760 --> 03:35:23.760
I mean seriously, you got it.

03:35:23.760 --> 03:35:25.760
Tom.

03:35:25.760 --> 03:35:27.760
Madam chair, I had my hand up.

03:35:27.760 --> 03:35:28.760
Yeah.

03:35:28.760 --> 03:35:30.760
And I did not take an account longevity pay.

03:35:30.760 --> 03:35:32.760
That was not a part of that.

03:35:32.760 --> 03:35:35.760
So it's 99,000 on this if longevity pay was in there.

03:35:35.760 --> 03:35:37.760
Yeah, or it's already in the budget.

03:35:37.760 --> 03:35:38.760
Okay.

03:35:38.760 --> 03:35:45.760
But I did, according to what I saw for the plans, ABCD, and I used the same as that format, same numbers, and it came under 100,000.

03:35:45.760 --> 03:35:46.760
Okay.

03:35:46.760 --> 03:35:50.760
I think you need to repeat though that you're not giving the complete raise to the teacher.

03:35:50.760 --> 03:35:51.760
Correct.

03:35:51.760 --> 03:35:52.760
Correct.

03:35:52.760 --> 03:35:54.760
In that format was not the complete raise for the teachers.

03:35:54.760 --> 03:35:55.760
Right.

03:35:55.760 --> 03:35:59.760
So if you took that off, then it's approximately $400,000.

03:35:59.760 --> 03:36:01.760
If the teachers got the complete raise.

03:36:01.760 --> 03:36:02.760
Okay.

03:36:02.760 --> 03:36:15.760
So a question I have for that is then for the closing, Merrill, are you keeping the 4K and 3K programs in the other buildings and moving Merrill into those buildings?

03:36:15.760 --> 03:36:16.760
In tomorrow?

03:36:16.760 --> 03:36:17.760
No.

03:36:17.760 --> 03:36:18.760
No.

03:36:18.760 --> 03:36:21.760
It sounds like you want to close Merrill and move.

03:36:21.760 --> 03:36:22.760
Yeah.

03:36:22.760 --> 03:36:23.760
Right.

03:36:23.760 --> 03:36:24.760
Yeah.

03:36:24.760 --> 03:36:25.760
Those would be vacant.

03:36:25.760 --> 03:36:28.760
We looked at anything else that was in there moving to different buildings that we had.

03:36:29.760 --> 03:36:31.760
Mr. Schuf.

03:36:31.760 --> 03:36:32.760
Thank you.

03:36:32.760 --> 03:36:34.760
No offense, Jeff.

03:36:34.760 --> 03:36:39.760
I'd like to talk to Dr. Gordon Malott.

03:36:39.760 --> 03:36:48.760
So I want to go back to your comments because I think in the, I mean, tonight's a turning point for the district.

03:36:48.760 --> 03:36:52.760
We, you know, approved a contract to have you be our leader for the next two years.

03:36:52.760 --> 03:36:53.760
So thank you.

03:36:53.760 --> 03:36:54.760
Congratulations.

03:36:54.760 --> 03:36:55.760
Thanks.

03:36:56.760 --> 03:37:01.760
So I really liked your comments.

03:37:01.760 --> 03:37:09.760
I was listening with an eye to hear if our colleagues on the board here, if you were addressing some of their concerns.

03:37:09.760 --> 03:37:22.760
So what I was jotting down sort of in the Dr. Leah Gordon Malott plan was you'd already been doing some work to with the Title 1 transfer and some other things.

03:37:23.760 --> 03:37:31.760
You're getting closer to a planned backstop of Opep of only a million dollars draw.

03:37:31.760 --> 03:37:33.760
So getting down under that million dollars.

03:37:33.760 --> 03:37:34.760
You're almost there already.

03:37:34.760 --> 03:37:38.760
We don't have that in front of you, but we heard you're getting close.

03:37:38.760 --> 03:37:48.760
We heard that we had also then list this building, you know, hire the right commercial building consultant and so on to list Colac.

03:37:48.760 --> 03:37:51.760
We put that, put that on the market.

03:37:51.760 --> 03:37:55.760
We would work to sell that during this year.

03:37:55.760 --> 03:38:03.760
That of course, just like McNeil did for us this year, that would reduce our Opep draw and leave it in for the future conversations.

03:38:03.760 --> 03:38:08.760
And then we would immediately, I know we already have a referendum meeting scheduled for this board.

03:38:08.760 --> 03:38:17.760
We need to immediately go into that planning for the things like the overall building plan that we think we all agree on that we have to get to.

03:38:17.760 --> 03:38:31.760
For me, that's the sort of thing that on, you know, whatever we are here today on July, June 16th that we could, you know, get to an approved draft budget.

03:38:31.760 --> 03:38:33.760
So we can move on to those things.

03:38:33.760 --> 03:38:35.760
We can do that.

03:38:35.760 --> 03:38:37.760
No one here has a head in the sand.

03:38:37.760 --> 03:38:40.760
We understand that we're going to have to close buildings.

03:38:40.760 --> 03:38:49.760
We understand we have to be, keep teacher ratios were, you know, appropriately where they need to be in buildings.

03:38:49.760 --> 03:39:01.760
We're doing our best to seek this board before I got here is in on the lawsuit where we'll push our state leaders for more funding.

03:39:02.760 --> 03:39:16.760
And then we'll have a discussion about, you know, what sort of resources the community here would support in a referendum that, of course, is ultimately mostly paid for by the state taxpayers if that's successful.

03:39:16.760 --> 03:39:18.760
So I really liked where you were going on that.

03:39:18.760 --> 03:39:27.760
I liked that the homework that the, you had already made progress on the title one dollars and other things.

03:39:27.760 --> 03:39:34.760
So, I mean, I think we're getting closer to, you know, something where we can get that passed on, you know, today.

03:39:34.760 --> 03:39:35.760
Thank you.

03:39:35.760 --> 03:39:36.760
Thank you.

03:39:36.760 --> 03:39:40.760
There, you know, there's a lot of other, you know, smaller things to take into consideration.

03:39:40.760 --> 03:39:44.760
Jeff did mention, you know, freezing administrator salaries for a year.

03:39:44.760 --> 03:39:48.760
I did not that anybody wants that, but I think it does speak volumes, right?

03:39:48.760 --> 03:39:52.760
This, the, the community is asking for fewer administrators.

03:39:52.760 --> 03:39:55.760
We're, we're going fewer, right?

03:39:55.760 --> 03:40:04.760
And it just freezing for a year and reevaluating, you know, however you want to look at that, but that would be another cut.

03:40:04.760 --> 03:40:10.760
Stephanie, I'm sure has that dollar amount somewhere, right?

03:40:10.760 --> 03:40:15.760
Not off the top right, but it would be a reduction, you know, so there's other ways to do that.

03:40:15.760 --> 03:40:27.760
Some of our contracts for our services, school vendors that we use, we don't have those yet, but everything we're looking at is cheaper.

03:40:27.760 --> 03:40:34.760
So, the things that we presented to you at TLE that will be approving later, all of those are a reduction.

03:40:34.760 --> 03:40:41.760
The one that is the biggest dollar amount is actually, it looks like a big dollar amount, but it's actually cheaper than what the other thing we could have gone with.

03:40:42.760 --> 03:40:48.760
So, everything that we're doing is taking budget into consideration, obviously.

03:40:48.760 --> 03:40:58.760
I mean, it's, it's not easy to cut funds from school districts and keep the integrity of the programming going and keep the best interest of kids at hand.

03:40:58.760 --> 03:41:08.760
So, you know, and just, just looking at ways we can ease things using some title funds to replace Chromebooks.

03:41:08.760 --> 03:41:13.760
And if they're used for only literacy, you know, doing things like that, class sets.

03:41:13.760 --> 03:41:23.760
So, really kind of reframing how we are purchasing and how our funds are used is going to help us out a lot.

03:41:23.760 --> 03:41:24.760
Thank you.

03:41:24.760 --> 03:41:26.760
Tom Hankins.

03:41:26.760 --> 03:41:29.760
Thank you.

03:41:29.760 --> 03:41:32.760
I want to go back to Mr. Stenros.

03:41:32.760 --> 03:41:36.760
If I could, please.

03:41:36.760 --> 03:41:47.760
You know, you talked about moving BLA into the scenario, moving them into Merrill and likes not being liked, so there's not a big redundancy.

03:41:47.760 --> 03:41:50.760
There's, you talked about duplication of services.

03:41:50.760 --> 03:41:55.760
Did you do that same study and moving them into high school?

03:41:55.760 --> 03:41:56.760
No, it did not.

03:41:56.760 --> 03:41:57.760
Where is likes to likes?

03:41:57.760 --> 03:41:59.760
No, I did not.

03:41:59.760 --> 03:42:01.760
Would you roll that around in your head?

03:42:01.760 --> 03:42:05.760
I mean, to me that makes, if we're looking at cost reductions,

03:42:05.760 --> 03:42:11.760
moving same age group and the same age group, we'd have some efficiency there.

03:42:11.760 --> 03:42:13.760
We could.

03:42:13.760 --> 03:42:16.760
Well, if you're looking at like teaching staff.

03:42:16.760 --> 03:42:25.760
You made, you know, you told us that moving them into a grade school doesn't make, won't be that efficient.

03:42:25.760 --> 03:42:26.760
Right.

03:42:26.760 --> 03:42:31.760
But I'm asking, moving them into the high school, would there be a savings?

03:42:31.760 --> 03:42:32.760
Just a question.

03:42:32.760 --> 03:42:33.760
There would be a savings.

03:42:33.760 --> 03:42:36.760
You would have some of the same, some of the same duplication of services.

03:42:36.760 --> 03:42:42.760
I mean, if you were to take a look at it, you could say, you know, we're not going to move a principal over.

03:42:42.760 --> 03:42:45.760
We're going to assume the administrative staff does that.

03:42:45.760 --> 03:42:46.760
There's not a dean of students.

03:42:46.760 --> 03:42:49.760
You would need a cert, a secretary, social worker, counselor.

03:42:49.760 --> 03:42:50.760
But I'm the same.

03:42:50.760 --> 03:42:56.760
That again would probably be about where your duplication of services would end because you still need the teachers for the BLA.

03:42:56.760 --> 03:42:57.760
I understand that.

03:42:57.760 --> 03:42:59.760
So yeah, so it would, I mean, it would roughly be about the same.

03:42:59.760 --> 03:43:00.760
Okay.

03:43:00.760 --> 03:43:01.760
All right.

03:43:01.760 --> 03:43:06.760
So another point I wanted to make, and thank you, Jeff.

03:43:06.760 --> 03:43:12.760
I appreciate that for the idea of selling Colac.

03:43:12.760 --> 03:43:15.760
Remember everyone that we're upside down in this building.

03:43:15.760 --> 03:43:19.760
And if we do sell this building, we owe approximately 4.5 on it.

03:43:19.760 --> 03:43:25.760
The best guest estimate I have received is we could, at the max, we get 2 million.

03:43:25.760 --> 03:43:30.760
So we're still upside down 2.5, which we would have to pay off our bonds on that.

03:43:30.760 --> 03:43:32.760
Yes.

03:43:32.760 --> 03:43:35.760
When we sell, yes, we still owe.

03:43:35.760 --> 03:43:40.760
If we got to, if we, if we owe 4.5 and we sell for two, we owe 2.5.

03:43:40.760 --> 03:43:42.760
So that money is not going to win the coffers.

03:43:42.760 --> 03:43:43.760
Correct.

03:43:43.760 --> 03:43:46.760
But we don't have to pay all those bonds off when we sell the building as well.

03:43:46.760 --> 03:43:47.760
Is what I meant.

03:43:47.760 --> 03:43:52.760
Well, I'm just saying it's not going to be, we're not going to receive any money into our coffers by selling this building.

03:43:52.760 --> 03:43:54.760
I'm not saying we don't vacate it.

03:43:54.760 --> 03:43:58.760
I'm just saying to sell it is kind of, and it is a nice look.

03:43:58.760 --> 03:44:03.760
But we're not going to be 2.5 million in the plus at the end of the day.

03:44:03.760 --> 03:44:08.760
We still owe money on this, on this building, unless somebody gave us 4.5 for it.

03:44:08.760 --> 03:44:17.760
I think the important question I asked is that if you decide to move a lot of the stock, which is going to be the easiest transition,

03:44:17.760 --> 03:44:22.760
it doesn't reduce, I mean, moving us from this building to.

03:44:22.760 --> 03:44:25.760
Correct.

03:44:25.760 --> 03:44:38.760
Moving individuals from this building to the high school or the op center, that's not going to save you a lot of money.

03:44:38.760 --> 03:44:47.760
I mean, so as far as bringing it down, the amount of savings that you're looking for isn't going to be there.

03:44:47.760 --> 03:44:50.760
Now, I'd mention before that it's a good optic.

03:44:50.760 --> 03:44:52.760
I think this is the easiest move to do.

03:44:52.760 --> 03:45:01.760
But I don't want anybody to think that if you make that move, there's going to be a lot of money that you're going to save because you're not.

03:45:01.760 --> 03:45:05.760
I agree, but, you know, we're pension pennies here and we're looking for things.

03:45:05.760 --> 03:45:10.760
And, you know, to say that we need to keep people in the building, I disagree.

03:45:10.760 --> 03:45:17.760
I think that lowering our thermostats to, in our lights down to 50 degrees as we would to keep everything nice,

03:45:17.760 --> 03:45:20.760
I don't think we need to have people in the building.

03:45:20.760 --> 03:45:21.760
We shudder a building.

03:45:21.760 --> 03:45:26.760
It means our line costs, if it's well seen, are spectacular.

03:45:26.760 --> 03:45:31.760
And if we moved everybody out of Colac, at least we'd see a big reduction in the line cost.

03:45:31.760 --> 03:45:34.760
And you'd be a share cost on somewhere else that it's at.

03:45:34.760 --> 03:45:37.760
And the same thing with Wright and the same thing with Merrill.

03:45:37.760 --> 03:45:40.760
So, I'm just saying, the line costs are a lot.

03:45:40.760 --> 03:45:43.760
And, you know, every little bit helps.

03:45:43.760 --> 03:45:46.760
And we talk about the optics of selling this.

03:45:46.760 --> 03:45:47.760
I agree with you.

03:45:47.760 --> 03:45:54.760
I'm just like, it's not going to be the major windfall that could be perceived as it being because it's simply not true.

03:45:54.760 --> 03:45:56.760
And that's just the point I wanted to make.

03:45:56.760 --> 03:46:03.760
Yeah, the point I was trying to make is that moving the, if we all move to a different building,

03:46:03.760 --> 03:46:10.760
the amount of money that is really going to show for a decrease in the budget isn't going to be that large.

03:46:10.760 --> 03:46:14.760
Okay, but 40,000 is 40,000.

03:46:14.760 --> 03:46:21.760
Madam Chair, I have a point of clarification that's pretty important for the point that board member Hankins was making.

03:46:21.760 --> 03:46:24.760
I just didn't hear the answer that Stephanie said.

03:46:24.760 --> 03:46:27.760
So, I heard Tom's question, I'm on the same page as Tom.

03:46:27.760 --> 03:46:32.760
So, the district owes money that was used to pay this building.

03:46:32.760 --> 03:46:36.760
That's district debt that won't change.

03:46:36.760 --> 03:46:42.760
But if we sold the building and got a $2 million check at closing, that could be put back into our reserves.

03:46:42.760 --> 03:46:45.760
Because there's no lien on this building.

03:46:45.760 --> 03:46:49.760
It wasn't a specific bond issue tied to this building.

03:46:49.760 --> 03:46:50.760
Is that correct?

03:46:50.760 --> 03:46:52.760
That is correct.

03:46:52.760 --> 03:46:56.760
But you also have to remember that that's a one-time revenue.

03:46:56.760 --> 03:47:04.760
So, when you're looking at cutting costs for years forward, if you sell a building, that's one time.

03:47:04.760 --> 03:47:06.760
You're not selling that building again the next year or the next year?

03:47:06.760 --> 03:47:07.760
No, I understand.

03:47:07.760 --> 03:47:08.760
I understand.

03:47:08.760 --> 03:47:11.760
I heard Dr. Malott, Gordon Malott, recommend it.

03:47:11.760 --> 03:47:17.760
And I just want to make sure I understood that we don't, at closing, we would get the money we could put it in our reserves.

03:47:17.760 --> 03:47:18.760
And we would still.

03:47:18.760 --> 03:47:20.760
We still have the debt, but we have the debt today.

03:47:20.760 --> 03:47:21.760
Correct.

03:47:21.760 --> 03:47:22.760
Thank you.

03:47:22.760 --> 03:47:29.760
Dan, just to be clarifying, we are an ascending payment schedule on that said debt.

03:47:29.760 --> 03:47:31.760
Yeah, no, but it's not.

03:47:31.760 --> 03:47:32.760
I understand what you're saying.

03:47:32.760 --> 03:47:34.760
Yeah, it's not like we have to close it out when we sell it.

03:47:34.760 --> 03:47:35.760
No, no, no.

03:47:35.760 --> 03:47:36.760
Thank you.

03:47:36.760 --> 03:47:39.760
Thank you, Madam Chair, for letting me clarify that.

03:47:39.760 --> 03:47:40.760
Sure thing.

03:47:40.760 --> 03:47:43.760
Meghan Miller and then Carol Fox.

03:47:43.760 --> 03:47:46.760
I just want to check, Bill, did you want to jump in?

03:47:46.760 --> 03:47:47.760
Sometimes.

03:47:47.760 --> 03:47:52.760
It can, Bill, you have not had a, you have not spoken yet to this, so you have priority.

03:47:52.760 --> 03:47:55.760
I just had a question as.

03:47:55.760 --> 03:48:02.760
No, no, I, for clarification, who has the floor is the prerogative of the chair?

03:48:02.760 --> 03:48:05.760
It doesn't matter the order of the hands or anything.

03:48:05.760 --> 03:48:08.760
Please consult your Robert's Rules of Orders.

03:48:08.760 --> 03:48:10.760
It is the prerogative of the chair.

03:48:10.760 --> 03:48:13.760
I am giving the floor to Mr. Johnson.

03:48:14.760 --> 03:48:20.760
I only have a question is how much savings would it be if we moved VLA back to where they came from?

03:48:20.760 --> 03:48:27.760
Does anybody know?

03:48:27.760 --> 03:48:29.760
By that, I assume you're talking about right.

03:48:29.760 --> 03:48:30.760
Yes.

03:48:35.760 --> 03:48:39.760
Mr. Johnson, would you please repeat the question, please?

03:48:39.760 --> 03:48:47.760
Does anybody know how much we would, would be any savings in moving them from cutting hand back to right?

03:48:47.760 --> 03:48:50.760
There probably isn't going to be any savings.

03:48:50.760 --> 03:49:00.760
In fact, you're probably going to have an increased cost in moving them back, but if you have the same number of staff going, you really are going to have any savings.

03:49:04.760 --> 03:49:06.760
Was that all, Mr. Johnson?

03:49:06.760 --> 03:49:08.760
Yes, thank you.

03:49:09.760 --> 03:49:10.760
Megan Miller.

03:49:10.760 --> 03:49:11.760
Thank you so much.

03:49:11.760 --> 03:49:15.760
So, I just, a clarifying question for Dr. Gordon Millet.

03:49:15.760 --> 03:49:16.760
Am I saying your last name right?

03:49:16.760 --> 03:49:17.760
Is it Millet?

03:49:21.760 --> 03:49:22.760
Gordon is fine.

03:49:22.760 --> 03:49:24.760
Millet's going to be off there in a little while.

03:49:24.760 --> 03:49:25.760
Right on.

03:49:25.760 --> 03:49:26.760
Thanks.

03:49:26.760 --> 03:49:27.760
Dr. Gordon.

03:49:27.760 --> 03:49:28.760
That's fine.

03:49:28.760 --> 03:49:29.760
Thanks.

03:49:29.760 --> 03:49:30.760
Thank you.

03:49:30.760 --> 03:49:31.760
Dr. G.

03:49:31.760 --> 03:49:32.760
Thanks.

03:49:32.760 --> 03:49:33.760
More power to you.

03:49:33.760 --> 03:49:35.760
I say that with pride.

03:49:35.760 --> 03:49:36.760
Love it.

03:49:37.760 --> 03:49:40.760
So, that's amazing.

03:49:40.760 --> 03:49:44.760
And I'm wondering then, so I really appreciate it.

03:49:44.760 --> 03:49:45.760
Well, and I appreciate it.

03:49:45.760 --> 03:49:46.760
Mr. Stenders as well.

03:49:46.760 --> 03:49:49.760
A lot of what both of you had to share as well.

03:49:49.760 --> 03:49:51.760
Really great creative thinking from everybody.

03:49:51.760 --> 03:49:52.760
Everybody's great.

03:49:52.760 --> 03:49:56.760
I'm curious in your, in your thinking, Dr. Gordon.

03:49:56.760 --> 03:49:57.760
Thanks.

03:49:57.760 --> 03:49:59.760
Were you looking?

03:49:59.760 --> 03:50:00.760
Okay.

03:50:00.760 --> 03:50:06.760
So, like, if hypothetically our board were able to move forward this evening with your

03:50:06.760 --> 03:50:10.760
recommendation and please interject when I say something wrong as I wrote as fast as I could,

03:50:10.760 --> 03:50:12.760
but I probably missed some things.

03:50:12.760 --> 03:50:20.760
To move option, I have question mark with the possibility of selling Colac, freezing,

03:50:20.760 --> 03:50:24.760
and potentially, because I don't think anybody wants to do that either, but, you know,

03:50:24.760 --> 03:50:31.760
freezing Evan's salary and then, you know, going forward with continuing to look at contracts,

03:50:31.760 --> 03:50:35.760
reducing use of Chromebooks, et cetera, what would be your ideal?

03:50:35.760 --> 03:50:36.760
So, two-part question.

03:50:36.760 --> 03:50:39.760
First part, what would be your ideal option?

03:50:39.760 --> 03:50:43.760
Like, is there an option that's listed or is there, like, option, like, G for Gordon?

03:50:43.760 --> 03:50:46.760
Like, that's, like, help me understand what that would look like.

03:50:46.760 --> 03:50:48.760
Oh, we have so many options.

03:50:48.760 --> 03:50:51.760
I can't keep them all straight anymore, to be very honest with you.

03:50:51.760 --> 03:50:59.760
So, whatever we can do to get closest to what the board has decided to agree on.

03:50:59.760 --> 03:51:03.760
So, in my understanding, we all want zero, right?

03:51:03.760 --> 03:51:08.760
But we want, we agreed to do longevity pay, correct?

03:51:08.760 --> 03:51:13.760
So, if we can get as close as we can to that, that would be my suggestion.

03:51:13.760 --> 03:51:17.760
So, you've heard a lot of different ideas today.

03:51:17.760 --> 03:51:18.760
Sorry.

03:51:18.760 --> 03:51:21.760
And, you know, pick things that get you closest, right?

03:51:21.760 --> 03:51:24.760
It could be a combination of those things.

03:51:24.760 --> 03:51:32.760
As far as moving kids, it's very, very hard for me to decide that on my own.

03:51:32.760 --> 03:51:34.760
We have two options.

03:51:34.760 --> 03:51:36.760
You know, we have two buildings that we're talking about.

03:51:36.760 --> 03:51:37.760
One is Merrill.

03:51:37.760 --> 03:51:39.760
One is BLA.

03:51:39.760 --> 03:51:45.760
So, if we're going to do that, we need to decide today so we can get communications out.

03:51:45.760 --> 03:51:46.760
I don't want to do it.

03:51:46.760 --> 03:51:49.760
We're going to have to do it at some point.

03:51:49.760 --> 03:51:52.760
But we have to make that decision today.

03:51:52.760 --> 03:51:54.760
So, I appreciate that so much.

03:51:54.760 --> 03:51:56.760
And so, here's what I'm wondering.

03:51:56.760 --> 03:52:00.760
So, like, I am in the spirit of compromising.

03:52:00.760 --> 03:52:03.760
You know, Mr. Hinkins just walked out for a moment.

03:52:03.760 --> 03:52:08.760
But, you know, Tom and I often talk about, like, you know, we have to be, you know, that's part of the work, right?

03:52:08.760 --> 03:52:14.760
We all have to be willing to give and build consensus because that's what our, literally what our district is telling us that

03:52:14.760 --> 03:52:16.760
it needs to best serve our kids.

03:52:16.760 --> 03:52:20.760
So, you know, I am in a place where I am totally comfortable.

03:52:20.760 --> 03:52:29.760
I'm not closing any buildings and spending OPEB because I have total faith in our administration and the creativity and resources of our community

03:52:29.760 --> 03:52:32.760
that we can get to where we need to be by 2728.

03:52:32.760 --> 03:52:38.760
However, in the spirit of compromise, because I totally respect and appreciate where all of my colleagues are coming from.

03:52:38.760 --> 03:52:43.760
Like, I really, I see the logic and the reasoning where we are.

03:52:43.760 --> 03:52:53.760
I am curious if there is, if it's, if people are finding it palatable to move forward an option that matches to some extent.

03:52:53.760 --> 03:52:59.760
And again, I'm looking to our administration for, you know, what you think is most feasible.

03:52:59.760 --> 03:53:01.760
And, of course, to the board.

03:53:01.760 --> 03:53:11.760
One of the options presented this evening with the possibility of selling Colac with the understanding that we would be passing a draft budget.

03:53:12.760 --> 03:53:16.760
I really applaud all of our administrators, but also Mr. Stenrus.

03:53:16.760 --> 03:53:23.760
I think brought forward a lot of creative, really innovative thinking that, that really gives us a jumpstart, right?

03:53:23.760 --> 03:53:26.760
On that planning that we're going to have to do.

03:53:26.760 --> 03:53:35.760
And it, and given the numbers that are pretty hopeful and optimistic that he shared, if we're only looking at it from a budget standpoint,

03:53:35.760 --> 03:53:40.760
I'm feeling very encouraged that there is absolutely clarity to a path forward.

03:53:40.760 --> 03:53:48.760
So while I understand that it is not ideal for any, and it's not ideal for me either, you know, we're all giving here.

03:53:48.760 --> 03:53:53.760
I have one of seven would be interested in moving forward a budget option.

03:53:53.760 --> 03:53:59.760
And again, I just need a little bit more clarity on whichever number, you know, letter or however it's labeled.

03:53:59.760 --> 03:54:08.760
Just to get us to that draft budget stage with the understanding and, you know, I'm willing to, you know, put on the table like a recommendation to sell Colac.

03:54:09.760 --> 03:54:14.760
Because Carol, I think you've made excellent points throughout like the boldness needs to occur.

03:54:14.760 --> 03:54:19.760
People need to see that this is real. This feels like the best possible compromise there from what I'm hearing.

03:54:19.760 --> 03:54:28.760
And then with the understanding that we're going to work very hard the next several weeks to consider like a lot of Mr. Stenrus's recommendations

03:54:28.760 --> 03:54:36.760
and the recommendations of our other administrators as well to really start to depict and begin to communicate what those that reshaping

03:54:36.760 --> 03:54:44.760
facility rearrangement will look like. So that's where I'm at. And I guess, I guess that's all I got.

03:54:44.760 --> 03:54:48.760
Thank you. Carol Fox.

03:54:48.760 --> 03:54:55.760
I'm in a little bit different place, but not too far. I don't think.

03:54:56.760 --> 03:55:08.760
I could move forward, I think, with if Dr. Gordon can work to come up with some more options and add some more to it.

03:55:08.760 --> 03:55:14.760
I think you've got some ideas. I think you've got some things you're going to do. And I would really like to see those.

03:55:14.760 --> 03:55:23.760
I'm concerned about Merrill because I think I just heard that we're not being able to staff it.

03:55:23.760 --> 03:55:36.760
And maybe if we can't staff it, maybe we ought to jump on closing it and moving the kids because what are we going to do if we're going to leave the building open and we have no staff for it.

03:55:36.760 --> 03:55:46.760
So that kind of resonated with me. And so I'm kind of concerned about that, that we're not really got the staff to cover that building.

03:55:47.760 --> 03:55:59.760
So maybe now is the time to take those 150, 70 kids and move them someplace else and save that money in while we're doing it.

03:55:59.760 --> 03:56:11.760
So, but if you don't want to close any buildings at all, you'll have to convince me a little harder, but I think what I heard you say got me closer.

03:56:12.760 --> 03:56:21.760
I agree. My concern is blessing. So we would have to look at how we would address transportation with that if that were to move forward.

03:56:21.760 --> 03:56:28.760
So we would have to work with Director Alwood a little bit to figure out what our cost model would be for that.

03:56:28.760 --> 03:56:40.760
Thank you, Dr. Garden. One of my concerns with moving with vacating Merrill into the other two east side elementary schools is

03:56:40.760 --> 03:56:45.760
the stability of those buildings.

03:56:45.760 --> 03:56:55.760
They've had a lot of turnover in leadership the last few years and we have experienced a lot of behavioral issues in those buildings.

03:56:55.760 --> 03:57:04.760
My concern is, again, comparing looking at the capacity and the square footage versus the number of students.

03:57:04.760 --> 03:57:12.760
My concern is the class sizes and the extra burden that we will be putting on all of those staff members.

03:57:12.760 --> 03:57:18.760
I don't know that right now that that in my humble opinion, I don't know that that's our best option.

03:57:18.760 --> 03:57:23.760
I mean, I understand if we don't have the staff, we need to do what we need to do.

03:57:24.760 --> 03:57:33.760
But yeah, that's going to be a tough sell and I'm going to remind everybody.

03:57:33.760 --> 03:57:40.760
Next Tuesday, we have a meeting plan to discuss a referendum.

03:57:40.760 --> 03:57:52.760
But if we have a budget that has a large deficit, I don't even know why we would even bother going to referendum because

03:57:52.760 --> 03:57:55.760
every time we've done that, it's failed.

03:57:55.760 --> 03:58:09.760
And I think we need to show our constituents that we are being good stewards of their tax dollars and as close to a balanced budget as possible.

03:58:09.760 --> 03:58:13.760
With that, Carol Fox, did you have one more comment?

03:58:14.760 --> 03:58:23.760
Okay, we did hear that there are other options out there as board members.

03:58:23.760 --> 03:58:28.760
I'm a little disappointed because we didn't get a chance to see those before they were discussed.

03:58:28.760 --> 03:58:40.760
And I think it would be fair to us board members for us to have an opportunity to see them and do a side by side comparison and have time to mull them over.

03:58:40.760 --> 03:58:52.760
I don't want to delay this process any further, but I would be comfortable having next Tuesday's meeting rather than it be for referendum discussion.

03:58:52.760 --> 03:59:04.760
We have us have time to look at all Mr. Stenroos option, Dr. Gordon's options and anybody enhanced C option.

03:59:04.760 --> 03:59:11.760
And if anybody else has an option or recommendation, bring them now.

03:59:11.760 --> 03:59:20.760
Not at next meeting, but now so that we have time to think them over.

03:59:20.760 --> 03:59:25.760
How do the board members feel about that suggestion, Mr. Johnson?

03:59:25.760 --> 03:59:29.760
I agree. I would take a look at that.

03:59:29.760 --> 03:59:33.760
And I also think there's a little bit of savings and some extra coaches.

03:59:33.760 --> 03:59:38.760
Some of the sports have not a lot, but maybe 20, 30,000.

03:59:38.760 --> 03:59:44.760
Without cutting extra coaches or not.

03:59:44.760 --> 03:59:46.760
Oh, okay.

03:59:46.760 --> 03:59:47.760
All right, thanks.

03:59:48.760 --> 03:59:51.760
Was that in the budget?

03:59:51.760 --> 03:59:52.760
Okay.

03:59:52.760 --> 03:59:53.760
Did you remember Miller?

03:59:53.760 --> 03:59:55.760
Oh, thank you.

03:59:55.760 --> 04:00:01.760
It is because you were going 100,000 over 380.

04:00:01.760 --> 04:00:03.760
The budget amount was 280.

04:00:03.760 --> 04:00:05.760
That's why it doesn't show.

04:00:05.760 --> 04:00:11.760
We'll just bring you back to what the budget amount was because you'd overspent by 100,000 last two years.

04:00:12.760 --> 04:00:17.760
The district overspent the last two years.

04:00:17.760 --> 04:00:22.760
Good clarification, board member facts.

04:00:22.760 --> 04:00:23.760
Okay.

04:00:23.760 --> 04:00:30.760
So I understand where we're coming from and generally I agree and I'm not strongly against.

04:00:30.760 --> 04:00:40.760
My only concern would be could we narrow the scope of the budget options because it sounds like we're just about at that point of no return on some of what some of those options include.

04:00:41.760 --> 04:00:45.760
So before I weigh in strongly one or the other, could we just clarify one more time?

04:00:45.760 --> 04:00:48.760
I know it gets a bit confusing because it's named differently.

04:00:48.760 --> 04:00:55.760
But what of the options that have been presented are actually realistic at this point?

04:00:55.760 --> 04:01:07.760
Because I'm hearing you say, I think I've heard all of our administration say, but correct me if I'm wrong, that's the ones that include drastic movement of students are not terribly realistic.

04:01:08.760 --> 04:01:15.760
So like how many budget options does that leave us with before I can commit to like let's wait till Tuesday?

04:01:15.760 --> 04:01:31.760
Well, and I guess what would be considered drastic moving of students because I just heard that we need to close Merrill and that's a larger movement of students than BLA.

04:01:32.760 --> 04:01:44.760
I would argue it's a number of students, but because they would move into like schools, the majority of the equipment supplies, books, those things would already be in place.

04:01:44.760 --> 04:01:53.760
So it's not as far as taking everything from Merrill and having it to move to other locations with that and go back to your class size pieces.

04:01:54.760 --> 04:02:04.760
When we did this number, we looked at what the recommended class sizes were and tried to find do schools have the schools have spots available within that class limit number.

04:02:04.760 --> 04:02:07.760
And they did for three of them, but not three of the others.

04:02:07.760 --> 04:02:09.760
And that's why we said three teachers would have to follow.

04:02:09.760 --> 04:02:19.760
So we were at that recommended 22 possibly going up to 23 and some of them, but not like just everybody gets dumped in and we're just enlarging every class.

04:02:19.760 --> 04:02:20.760
So I just want to make that clear.

04:02:20.760 --> 04:02:22.760
So then just like clarifying question then.

04:02:22.760 --> 04:02:24.760
So like here's where I'm at.

04:02:24.760 --> 04:02:31.760
Like I would prefer like I'm on the same page with Tia, like I would like to see things in front of me.

04:02:31.760 --> 04:02:39.760
Are these things like documented well enough or like if we took like a 10 minute recess, like we could go like prints and stuff out, take a look or like.

04:02:39.760 --> 04:02:45.760
Like is there that much difference between the two and if not, then sure I'm fine with Tuesday.

04:02:46.760 --> 04:02:52.760
It is almost 10 o'clock and we still have another more agenda items that we need to get to.

04:02:56.760 --> 04:03:02.760
So like are these documented like in a way that we could just take a quick look kind of thing or I don't think 10 minutes.

04:03:02.760 --> 04:03:08.760
I don't need to clarify because I know there's a lot of urgency to get this across the line here.

04:03:08.760 --> 04:03:19.760
I guess my only other question to my colleagues is like if we is there like a chunk of what's been proposed where like we could agree on a critical mass of and then come back Tuesday and like do the rest.

04:03:19.760 --> 04:03:21.760
Just because like there's a lot of uncertainty.

04:03:21.760 --> 04:03:26.760
Like yeah, unfortunately that's the world of being a board member.

04:03:26.760 --> 04:03:33.760
No, no, no, no, not for us, but like first I'm just thinking like for staff members, but yeah.

04:03:34.760 --> 04:03:45.760
If you meeting in next Tuesday, what I'm just trying to look at is, you know, now, Jeff had talked about we could close Meryl.

04:03:45.760 --> 04:03:50.760
You know, so we can give you what that would look like.

04:03:50.760 --> 04:03:53.760
You know, there's been transportation costs.

04:03:53.760 --> 04:03:56.760
We probably wouldn't have that in a week to be realized.

04:03:56.760 --> 04:03:59.760
We could give you what closing Meryl would look like.

04:03:59.760 --> 04:04:01.760
Now you have to ask.

04:04:01.760 --> 04:04:03.760
Would you rather have BLA?

04:04:03.760 --> 04:04:10.760
If you close Meryl, would you rather have BLA at Meryl rather than Cunningham or saying it?

04:04:10.760 --> 04:04:14.760
I just want to be a going record again.

04:04:14.760 --> 04:04:20.760
I do not think that you can realistically move BLA to the high school.

04:04:20.760 --> 04:04:22.760
You can move BLA to Meryl.

04:04:22.760 --> 04:04:24.760
You could close Meryl.

04:04:25.760 --> 04:04:31.760
I don't think it's realistic to be able to keep it the type of school that it's currently designed to be.

04:04:31.760 --> 04:04:36.760
If you want to change the design and make it different, that's different, but that's going to be another larger discussion.

04:04:36.760 --> 04:04:48.760
So I just want, if we meet next Tuesday, what it is that you'd really like to see so that we don't waste your time or anybody else's.

04:04:48.760 --> 04:04:50.760
So Meryl was one that Jeff brought up.

04:04:51.760 --> 04:04:53.760
We could give you what that would look like.

04:04:56.760 --> 04:05:03.760
I already said if you did away with the program, you're probably at a balanced budget.

04:05:03.760 --> 04:05:08.760
But then what are you going to do with those students?

04:05:08.760 --> 04:05:10.760
I think that's a huge question.

04:05:10.760 --> 04:05:18.760
But if you're looking budgetarily, if you wipe out a program,

04:05:18.760 --> 04:05:20.760
I mean, there's going to be significant savings.

04:05:20.760 --> 04:05:27.760
We just want to bring you back what it is that you want to see with a little more specificity.

04:05:27.760 --> 04:05:28.760
That is a plan.

04:05:28.760 --> 04:05:31.760
We've already talked about, we could do that.

04:05:31.760 --> 04:05:38.760
I just want to make sure that if you meet next Tuesday, what's going to be the most productive for the meeting?

04:05:38.760 --> 04:05:39.760
Thank you, Dr. Anderson.

04:05:39.760 --> 04:05:46.760
And I'm going to remind everyone, we can move BLA over the summer.

04:05:46.760 --> 04:05:49.760
But if we have to move it again next year, that's another cost.

04:05:49.760 --> 04:05:56.760
So we need to be thinking of whatever we're moving, move once and be done with it.

04:05:56.760 --> 04:06:01.760
Tom, I was going down the line and I'd like to get board members input.

04:06:01.760 --> 04:06:09.760
Do you support continuing this discussion next Tuesday with the other options before us?

04:06:10.760 --> 04:06:12.760
Yes, absolutely.

04:06:12.760 --> 04:06:15.760
This is such a turning point.

04:06:15.760 --> 04:06:20.760
And as we all know in this district right now, we have to start making some decisions and not wait.

04:06:20.760 --> 04:06:30.760
I want to remind, you know, maybe on Tuesday that Scott Ladd is with us because moving people entails those people that have to move them and the equipment.

04:06:30.760 --> 04:06:36.760
And I've had conversations with them about how much he could get done this summer and what he couldn't get done.

04:06:36.760 --> 04:06:46.760
You know, so if we're going to put it all on for 27th, you know, in January, he's got to be part of that conversation for next Tuesday.

04:06:46.760 --> 04:06:47.760
Yes, I'm in support of that.

04:06:47.760 --> 04:06:48.760
Thank you.

04:06:48.760 --> 04:06:49.760
Carol Fox?

04:06:49.760 --> 04:06:51.760
Yeah, I'm in support of that.

04:06:51.760 --> 04:07:03.760
I would like to see Dr. Molot's recommendations fleshed up a little more thoroughly and, you know, really determine whether we need to be closing Merrill at this point.

04:07:04.760 --> 04:07:11.760
If I don't think we need to close more than one school that we would have enough money, I think if we did that.

04:07:11.760 --> 04:07:15.760
But my concern is that we might have to if we're not getting a staff.

04:07:15.760 --> 04:07:17.760
So that's a concern.

04:07:17.760 --> 04:07:19.760
Joanne Roo.

04:07:19.760 --> 04:07:29.760
So I think we have Dr. Anderson and Dr. Gordon in here that both are superintendents.

04:07:29.760 --> 04:07:35.760
They both understand the balance balancing the budget problem.

04:07:35.760 --> 04:07:39.760
They both are their recommendations are very similar.

04:07:39.760 --> 04:07:47.760
I'm ready to vote tonight to support Dr. Gordon and move forward with what her recommendation is.

04:07:47.760 --> 04:07:51.760
But if we need to wait till next Tuesday, I can wait till next Tuesday.

04:07:51.760 --> 04:07:53.760
Dan Schuch.

04:07:53.760 --> 04:07:57.760
Yeah.

04:07:58.760 --> 04:08:10.760
So I also believe that we should move forward with our recommendations for our new superintendent who's going to serve us here for the next couple of years, at least.

04:08:10.760 --> 04:08:13.760
So I'm ready to go on that.

04:08:13.760 --> 04:08:29.760
I want to go on record saying that I would be supportive of a resolution that bound us to a real process to figure out our building needs.

04:08:29.760 --> 04:08:35.760
I would, I do not have my head in the sand about those issues.

04:08:36.760 --> 04:08:50.760
I kind of get my head around what I've been hearing all of you and stakeholders talk about a district that's founded on, you know, three pillars of student achievement behavior.

04:08:50.760 --> 04:08:58.760
And then if you know more of a classical education getting rid of computers and going back, I'm all for that.

04:08:58.760 --> 04:09:13.760
Practically, I think the idea of closing Merrill for this fall is a worse decision if you made it in June than this board made to close to Westside elementary schools in April.

04:09:13.760 --> 04:09:15.760
Doesn't mean that that's not where we have to get.

04:09:15.760 --> 04:09:20.760
I don't have my head in the sand, but there's an incredible amount of community input we all need.

04:09:20.760 --> 04:09:21.760
You've all been talking about that.

04:09:21.760 --> 04:09:23.760
We need to move into that.

04:09:23.760 --> 04:09:40.760
I think we should, on Tuesday, we should move towards a conversation that includes most of Dr. Gordon's recommendations and then bind us to a process in that we can communicate with about referendums and building utilization. Thank you.

04:09:40.760 --> 04:09:41.760
Thank you.

04:09:41.760 --> 04:09:47.760
Dr. Anderson, Dr. Gordon, you understand your marching orders?

04:09:48.760 --> 04:10:00.760
Next Tuesday, thank you, and as soon as you can get those to us, that would be greatly appreciated.

04:10:00.760 --> 04:10:10.760
And board members make certain that you reach out to Dr. Gordon and Dr. Anderson and cabinet members with your questions.

04:10:11.760 --> 04:10:15.760
Our next agenda item is the consent agenda.

04:10:15.760 --> 04:10:28.760
Typically, there is no separate discussion of the items unless a board member still requests in which event the item or items will be removed from the general order of business and considered in their normal sequence on the agenda.

04:10:28.760 --> 04:10:37.760
Is there a motion to do any board members with any board members like any of the items removed from the consent agenda?

04:10:41.760 --> 04:10:45.760
Hearing none, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

04:10:45.760 --> 04:10:46.760
So moved.

04:10:46.760 --> 04:10:47.760
Second.

04:10:47.760 --> 04:10:51.760
Motion by Joanne Ru, seconded by Megan Miller.

04:10:51.760 --> 04:10:53.760
Any discussion?

04:10:53.760 --> 04:10:54.760
Hearing none.

04:10:54.760 --> 04:10:55.760
All in favor?

04:10:55.760 --> 04:10:56.760
Aye.

04:10:56.760 --> 04:10:58.760
Any opposed?

04:10:58.760 --> 04:11:01.760
Motion carries unanimously.

04:11:01.760 --> 04:11:07.760
I do have a comment.

04:11:08.760 --> 04:11:14.760
I think that's the first time that we've had a consent agenda with nothing pulled off.

04:11:14.760 --> 04:11:20.760
And I think part of the reason why is because we all sat at the committee meeting, so Carol Fox, high five.

04:11:20.760 --> 04:11:25.760
Way to go, thank you so much.

04:11:25.760 --> 04:11:27.760
Is there a motion to adjourn?

04:11:27.760 --> 04:11:28.760
So moved.

04:11:28.760 --> 04:11:29.760
Second.

04:11:29.760 --> 04:11:34.760
Motion by Joanne Ru, seconded by Carol Fox.

04:11:34.760 --> 04:11:35.760
Any discussion?

04:11:35.760 --> 04:11:36.760
Any none?

04:11:36.760 --> 04:11:37.760
All in favor?

04:11:37.760 --> 04:11:38.760
Aye.

04:11:38.760 --> 04:11:39.760
Aye.

04:11:39.760 --> 04:11:40.760
Any opposed?

04:11:40.760 --> 04:11:42.760
We are adjourned at 10-0-1.

04:11:42.760 --> 04:11:49.760
Have a good night.

04:11:50.760 --> 04:11:56.760
All in favor?

04:11:56.760 --> 04:11:57.760
Aye.

04:11:57.760 --> 04:11:58.760
Aye.

04:11:58.760 --> 04:11:59.760
Aye.

04:11:59.760 --> 04:12:00.760
Aye.

04:12:00.760 --> 04:12:01.760
Aye.

04:12:01.760 --> 04:12:02.760
Aye.

04:12:02.760 --> 04:12:03.760
Aye.

04:12:03.760 --> 04:12:04.760
Aye.

04:12:04.760 --> 04:12:05.760
Aye.

04:12:05.760 --> 04:12:06.760
Aye.