Good evening. I would like to call to order our NOCA Hennepen school board meeting for today June 26, 2023. Please join the board
and pledging our allegiance.
Members, our first item.
Our item is approving our board agenda, is our motion to approve the agenda as presented.
Thank you, Ms. Hades, sir. Second. Thank you, Mr. Simon, is there any discussion?
Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye, aye, any opposed say no? With six in favor and zero opposed the agenda is approved.
Our next item is recognitions and it looks like we have some destination imagination friends with us.
Thank you.
Good evening.
Thank you. Superintendent McGuire and members of the school board. I am absolutely delighted to be here tonight
to recognize the NOCA Hennepen teams that were representing Minnesota at the recent global finals.
This, they were the top placing teams in all of Minnesota and consequently earned the honor to be at the global finals with teams that also were the top placing the top 1% in the world.
It teams from India, South Korea, China, Australia, England, Cayman Islands, Brazil, Canada, the list goes on and on plus all of the states.
Every team came with their best solution to their challenge and these teams are no exception.
And so one of the things that I like to tell them is when you are already the best.
Of course, you are a winner regardless, but on top this, if you place in the top 50, this is truly amazing.
Absolutely amazing because not only do they bring their challenge that they bring their solution to their performance,
then they also do an instant challenge, which is they only find out about it there and they have a minute to three minutes to plan and three minutes to implement whatever.
And that is a third of their score and so the pressure to be able to do that is absolutely amazing.
So I'm very excited about this.
And if you would advance a little one of the things I'm going to show you.
So we were here in Kansas City and if you'll advance again, we have something called the opening ceremonies, which is an opportunity for states to choose representatives.
And this year in Copenhagen with chosen to be the representatives of Minnesota.
So each team had a student in the parade and their picture here is they carried in our state flag and our information with one of the international board of trustees.
So we're really excited about that as well.
So let me get to the teams because I am so anxious to introduce them.
Our very first team is brand new team this year from Rember of Elementary.
They are in the Crystal Crunchy Bim Rads who did an improvisational challenge called Showdown.
They placed 30 first in the world so they did extremely well and the team members and they will come up now.
Millie Semenski. So Megan Christianson.
Regent Kusman and Island Nelson and and Island is on a trip and not able to be with us.
So but the rest will come up and the team managers are Crystal Whiteville thing and Julie Walgott, who are teachers at Rember.
And Rember has just a long tradition of engineering and improv teams.
And so the other person I'd like to bring up is their principal, Jeff Clasio.
Because Jeff has been instrumental in providing support for that as well. So I'd like Jeff to be recognized with with Crystal or with Crystal.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Okay, so we're going to do a district photo and then we're going to invite families up to get a photo before we move forward.
Okay.
You want to work your own partner too, just so we don't have a screen in the background.
Yeah.
And with that with the net.
Good idea.
That looks really nice on that.
Yeah.
Thank you.
All right.
Okay.
So hold on.
So family.
If you want to hold on for one second.
Family.
If you guys want to step forward and get a photo, please feel welcome to do that.
We will take time for it.
And as some of the families come up.
The families are so very important to this process.
They help with making sure the kids get their kids make all the decisions.
What they need.
What they're going to do.
But families are just instrumental in doing that.
It all of them accompanied us as well so that they could participate with us in.
Wow.
So it's really great.
Yeah.
Congratulations again.
Our next team is from Madison Elementary.
They are in engineering team.
And this year's engineering challenge was called Real Ride.
They are the roller coaster disasters.
And what they did is they had to create their own roller coaster that would
provide an interesting thrill ride for a golf ball.
And they had to assemble it on site.
And then create.
So you'll see a lot of it was quite that quite a task.
They placed 28 in the world.
And so team members, please come up to be recognized.
So here they come already.
Police, burrows.
Gen.
Heidi.
Patent Huntington.
Olivia Moore's.
Riley Manien.
Audrey Nutter.
And Nicole Thompson.
And their team manager is one that has been with us.
A parent at a community number.
Kelly Burrows.
And he's just been an amazing job working with engineering and technical teams.
And so I want to thank him for his effort.
So yes.
Congratulations.
And we are sorry a few of our members are at camps or sporting events.
But they were all so excited to come.
And the fact that you take the time to make this right.
And we are sorry.
A few of our members are at camps or sporting events.
But they were also excited to come.
And the fact that you take the time to make this recognition is amazing for them.
Absolutely.
Families feel free to step forward.
We want everybody to get a photo.
Well done.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Our next team is also from Ram River.
They are also an engineering team.
They are.
I'd love to do one more.
If you will for me.
Oh, there they are.
Okay.
They are the ever-clining crystals.
And they placed 19 in the world with their.
John's.
They also created this giant 15 foot high piece of of scenery.
Which was quite amazing as well.
But they did a lot of work on on extending their their rollercoasters.
While they didn't very well.
I'd like the team members to come up and be recognized.
Blake Chesternae.
A Mia Chittenton.
Nora Hendrickson.
Adeline Rubie.
Lincoln Peterson.
Josephine Peterson.
And Lila Peterson.
Team manager is Christopher Wyville.
Thank you.
Who has done engineering teams there at.
Ram River for a good number of years.
And so.
Please also.
Yeah.
Come on up and be recognized.
Just you come.
You come up and join the picture.
Because I really like that.
That'd be fabulous.
I want to spin around and look at me.
I think we'll try to get you all in a row.
Okay.
Families.
If you want to step forward.
I'm sorry.
Well done.
Thank you.
We have another.
Improvisational team.
Um.
One of the really exciting things in and it all kind of is that we have a very long tradition of being very,
very strong in the science and engineering challenges.
And the technical ones.
But our work in improvisation.
Took every award at the state this year.
So I mean, they just did amazing.
So here comes from Ram River.
The magic fireball tornadoes.
And they placed 13 in the world.
And so team members.
If you'll come and be recognized.
Grin Bartzias.
Haley Demsey.
Dylan Olsen.
Maddie Olsen.
And Mason Olsen.
Which are all.
Uh.
Triplets in the family.
We're not able to be with this.
And Isaiah Whitney.
Who also is at a camp right now.
And then their team managers are Julie Wildeck.
And Chris.
So we are a little short on magic fireball.
But.
These are great.
They're representing.
So they can congratulations.
Should we do that.
Yeah, do the photo by the wall.
Yeah.
That'd be great.
Yeah.
We wanted to go.
Oh, do you want to go on?
Parents.
You want to go.
Yeah.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
And now.
A Northdale middle school team.
This team struck high creativity.
They started in third grade at Eisenhower Elementary.
And they have they've added members.
And they've changed a little as they moved on to middle school.
But they continue to have a real passion for the community service challenge.
Which is to identify and need in our community.
It can be within the local, the school, the town, the state, even the country, if you
But to find a way that they can make a difference in the world.
And then present what they have done in a certain style for whatever this year's
challenges.
And this one was called high stakes.
This team from Northdale placed third in the world.
Which is absolutely amazing.
Wow.
They also.
Which was just absolutely just blew his way.
That I see part that I talked about that instant challenge where you have only a few minutes to think.
It is so incredibly challenging to work as a team and figure that out and make it work.
They had the top score, not only up of all middle school teams.
So they were just basing.
So here they go.
Team members.
Gerrit Bauer.
Weston Finkel.
Gracia Fax.
Gabriella Fornier.
And Aden LaPage.
And their team manager is Janay Bauer, who is a parent and community member.
Amazing.
Thank you.
Yes.
I don't know.
I'm going to do a little bit more information here and then we're good.
And then parents, if you want to come.
Yep.
Families feel free to step forward.
And then while they're doing that, if you would advance for me real quick, just to the city.
And again, I just want to thank you for all of your incredible support.
We had an absolutely great year.
And it just happens to be one of the pictures.
And this is only approximately a third of who is with us.
But we just had brothers and sisters and family.
And it was an extremely great year.
So thank you.
Everyone for their support.
All right.
Are we doing?
Yes.
On behalf of the board, we would also like to thank you.
For the year years of service.
Your dedication to the families and the students this program.
It's outstanding.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
All right.
Well done.
Okay.
So those are some pretty spectacular recognitions.
What?
Hold on. Did parents get a picture of that last group? Okay. Okay. Thank you. No, no, no, that's okay. It's okay.
Family pictures are very important. Okay, so we have one more recognition. It is our interim superintendent, requires last four meetings.
And I know she's like kind of a no fuss, no mess, tenth person, but you're just going to have to survive through this.
So Kate's on behalf of the board. Thank you. Thank you for being willing to come out of retirement.
Thank you for being able to, you know, withstand the spotlight of an okay hand event.
Thank you for your courage, for your leadership, for your knowledge, for, you know, getting us through this year. We know it hasn't been easy.
I'm hoping that whatever you were hoping to get out of this experience you did.
And from the bottom of our heart, we thank you. And we have a couple little souvenirs.
One that is the official and okay hand.
Medallion. So, and this one is, is personal from your board.
And you can open that a little bit later.
And I would like to open it up just for board members if they have anything additional to add.
And then we will let you have the mic. So board members, if there's comments or this is.
Sure. Thank you, Chair Anderson. I didn't know we'd have this opportunity. So thank you for that.
I am just struck. I will remember back to when we decided to postpone the superintendent search and do an interim search instead.
And I had met you briefly on and off when you were with us, but I didn't really get to know you very well.
And then from a distance you have this, this spark and this energy and this drive to support and lead others to do their very, very best.
And as we sat in this room with you at that table, I will just never forget the excitement, the passion and the enthusiasm that you displayed that night.
And I'm just so grateful that you have shared that with us.
Last year. And thank you. And I hope you do better at retirement this time.
Thanks, Kate.
Thank you, Chair Anderson. And Kate, yeah, I will second that your energy in the interview was amazing.
And I remember even before I think the applicants were in, I was my wish list of I hope some people apply.
And I remember I spoke to our previous superintendent. And I told you this tonight.
And I said, I sure, I hope she applies. And he said, you can't go wrong and we couldn't go wrong.
So we are, we as a board, our district and our community is very fortunate that you stepped up to take that leadership role.
And it was heavy lifting. It wasn't easy lifting. So thank you so much. You did an absolute wonderful job.
Thank you. Kate, you're really exceptional at the work that you do. And it's very evident.
Every time that you sit at this table and you share information so that the community can understand what's being talked about.
Some concepts that are new or difficult or that everyone is talking maybe around. You're able to cut right to the middle of what they are and what they mean.
And I really am grateful for that. It's a very impressive skill. Thank you.
Thank you.
Well, admittedly, I only had experience with David Law as a superintendent.
But that was a really good experience. And when you came in, I was just thinking, how do you top that?
And I don't necessarily think that one person tops another, but you definitely met the challenge.
And now I'm like, gosh, to have two people that I've had the experience with on the board as superintendents who are both so amazing in different ways.
I didn't think anybody could match him and you did.
And I am so grateful to have had somebody with such positive outlook and who made me want to work even harder.
And just has a way of like they were saying cutting to the taste and just getting through it all and getting the job done. So thank you very much.
Well, Dr. McGuire, we knew we were getting an experience professional when when you came aboard and it was pretty evident.
I think I can remember from just the absolutely seamless transition that you made into the role, which was phenomenal given the amount of turn over that.
Just changed that that drives. Other things that I will remember and certainly can learn from and appreciate is your willingness to listen.
And to make time to whatever amount of time that it took and I certainly appreciated that.
And then lastly, I do remember.
I don't know if you do, but when you introduce yourself to all of us in the circle and then we took the picture there tonight, so you kind of ended right where you started, which was kind of cool.
So thank you.
And Kate, if you would like, I mean, I know you wanted to have a minute or two, so.
I would thank the four of yours. Thank you.
Board members first, I just want to thank you for your kind words.
I appreciate them very, very much. You've had outstanding leadership in this school district for a very lot both on the board and in superintendents for a very long period of time.
So to be in that company right with former superintendents here whom I knew as in my world as a superintendent next to our.
Is fine praise.
So I don't take that lightly, so thank you, because you've had some excellent leadership here.
But you're interested in board members. I want to say that it has been an honor for me to serve as your interim superintendent for this school year.
I want to express my gratitude for all of you for your support and your encouragement during the school year.
I can tell you that it is energizing to work for a school board who brings such deep knowledge and expertise from all of your domains to this board table.
And to work for board members whose aim is to ensure continuous improvement and who support the work of staff.
That's energizing, right? And I knew that about your school district, which is one of the reasons, one of the things that interested me and intrigued me.
You have patiently, patiently answered my questions all year long.
You have worked to ensure that I had sufficient context and history to help us make good decisions together.
I still want to express my appreciation for the cabinet executive team whom despite their gift to me today.
I hold in high regard.
High regard.
And I want to thank Biannoka Hennepin staff, students and families who have demonstrated incredible resilience and such care for each other.
That's one of the things I've shared broadly that I have observed and experienced this year the care that staff members have for each other and the long and deep relationships.
I hope that I have contributed in some small way to the tradition of success that exists here.
I'm leaving, in addition to leaving with the coveted medallion, which is one of the things I wanted out of the game.
In addition to leaving with the coveted medallion, I'm leaving with new professional learning for myself and with new friendships.
I wish you all the best as you work to accomplish your mission, our mission, which is to effectively educate each student for success.
Thank you. All of you. Thank you so much. I appreciate you. Thanks. Thank you.
It's just hard to move forward after this kind of stuff.
Okay.
Chair Anderson.
Mr. Simon.
I just wanted to make you aware.
I think there may be an issue with the video, so I'm not sure if you want to continue.
I don't believe it's being broadcast to the public right now.
Okay.
So.
Okay.
It is okay, so it's being broadcast on okay, so.
Okay, so just in case people didn't hear that, so whoever's watching this, we are having a little trouble with our live streaming.
It is being recorded. It will be available a little bit later.
Our people are working on it, but it is being played on local cable channels.
So if the board is okay, we will continue. I'd like to kind of see you nod.
Are we good?
Okay.
All right. So we will continue with our agenda.
The next item is our consent agenda and members are welcome to remove items for separate consideration or discussion.
Otherwise, I would entertain a motion to accept it as presented.
Mr. Simon.
I would like to move the consent agenda as presented.
Thank you, Mr. Simon, is there a second?
Thank you, Mr. Shane, is there any discussion?
Hearing none.
All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Aye.
Any opposed say no?
With six in favor and zero post.
The consent agenda is approved.
Our next item is communications, delegation, and petitions.
And this is the section of our meeting for community members to provide input directly to the board about issues that fall within our authority.
If anybody's interested, complete a yellow card that's over at the secretary and hand those to Miss Kowski.
Do we have any yellow cards?
Any yellow cards?
Okay. Hearing none, we will continue with our agenda items.
The board calendar and district update, Dr. McWyer.
All right, thank you.
Chair Anderson, I have just a couple of things that I'll share in my last report tonight.
The first is to let folks know that we're doing some work with our ash trees, along with maintaining over 50 buildings.
And no kind of been school sites are surrounded by green areas in forest.
And the district is doing its part by managing these areas and controlling the spread of the Emerald Ashbore through multi year removal and reforestation project.
A total of 800 trees, in fact, will be removed and replaced over the next two years.
We may alone, 145 new trees have been planted at sites including Dayton Eisenhower, Hamilton, Mississippi, McKinley, Ramsey, University Avenue and Wilson Elementary Schools,
Koon Rapids High School in River Trail Learning Center at L.O. Jacob.
I also want to recognize our PR comms department.
Anoka Hennepin earned five national awards from N-Spr.
The National School Public Relations Association, a professional organization for public and private school districts across the country.
Anoka Hennepin was named a Golden and Human Award winner for its communication plan and execution of the superintendent transition this year.
So that would have been last fall superintendent transition in, along with a newsletter across the district that's been successful.
The Golden Achievement Award recognizes exemplary work and all aspects of school public relations, communication, marketing and engagement.
Anoka Hennepin also earned three publications and digital media excellence awards and two merit awards for various digital campaigns.
N-Spr. recognized the districts join our team employee recruitment campaign and strategic priorities booklet for excellence and also provided a merit designation in the video category for the superintendent transition.
Honorable mentioned awards were presented to videos produced for school boundary changes and the back to school press conference video that was produced last year.
Also, I want to let you know about the Coon Rapids High School all class reunion, which is set for Sunday July 2 from 5 to 10 p.m. as part of the city's Fourth of July celebration.
The event will be in the large tent near the music stage at the city of Coon Rapids Fourth of July celebration.
I have to tell you at one point today there were about four people in my office all of whom were graduates of Coon Rapids High School.
So, I feel like I should attend the Coon Rapids High School graduation. This year's event marks the second all-class reunion for Coon Rapids High School last year around 300 graduates gathered.
From the first graduating class of 1966 to the most recent graduates in 2023 all are welcome to attend this family friendly event.
And lastly, I want to take the opportunity just to encourage community members to consider making a difference in their community by joining the Anoka Hennepin School's team next year.
Many different positions are available from working with students as a parent educator deserving meals working in student transportation and many more.
And community members can just find those accessible on our website. Thank you.
Members, are there any questions for Superintendent McGuire?
I would just like to echo Kudos's communication team. I mean, we know that they are second to none, but well done guys, so congratulations on that.
Okay, we will move on to our, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, what?
We're going to come back in the meeting.
Okay, you're going to be recognized in another. Okay, that's awesome. Yes.
Okay, board members are getting a little unruly on these short meetings. We want to keep them short. Okay, we are going to move on. Employee services.
Dr. Jennifer Cherry.
I'll do my best. Thank you chair Anderson, the superintendent McGuire and board directors. This evening, I have four items for you. Three of them require action. The first is item L in your packet and this is the resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of teaching contracts of probationary teachers.
Okay, members, before us is the resolution is mentioned by Dr. Cherry, is there any questions or comments?
Otherwise, the clerk will call the roll please.
Here's my card.
Hi.
Simon Boat's aye.
Audette?
Aye.
Deshain?
Aye.
Hays?
Aye.
Chair Anderson.
Aye.
Thank you chair Anderson.
The second item I have for you is item M in your packet and this is the resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of special education supervisor contracts of a probationary special education supervisor.
You know, at some point if we could shorten these down, that'd be great.
But members of the other questions are the resolution.
If not, the clerk will call the roll please.
Here's my card.
Aye.
Simon Boat's aye. Audette? Aye.
Deshain?
Aye.
Hays? Aye.
Anderson.
Aye.
Was six in favor and zero post that resolution is adopted?
Thank you.
The next item I have for you is item N in your packet.
And this is a resolution to rescind the inclusion of certain teachers names in resolution terminating probationary teachers.
Okay.
Again, members of there are any questions for Dr. Chair.
Hearing none, then, before us is that resolution relating to rescinding the inclusion of certain teachers names in the resolution terminating probationary teachers as presented in appendix and and I don't know if I need to resale that.
So it would be nice if we could clarify that at some point.
But anyway, hearing no request for further discussion, the clerk will call the roll please.
Here's my card.
Aye.
Simon Boat's aye. Audette? Aye.
Deshain? Aye.
Hays? Aye.
Chair Anderson.
Aye.
Was six in favor and zero post that resolution is adopted?
Thank you, Board.
The fourth item is item O and this is four year information only regarding to one teachers.
Okay.
Excellent.
Thank you very much.
We will move on to community and government relations.
This trust it.
Looks like we are going to talk about a 2023 population certification resolution.
This is a nice short one.
Welcome.
Good evening, Chair Anderson.
Members of the board and superintendent for a few more hours.
We are.
In your packet of the 2023 resolution of population certification.
Each year we work with the state demographers office to get an updated estimate for the district's population.
We do that in community, especially because a lot of our funding is tied to revenue.
The revenue that we get is tied to the population.
So our population this year has increased by 5,940 since last year making our new population.
And at this time, I would just like to request Board approval for this new estimate to be certified for the state demographer to use in our revenue calculations.
Okay.
Members, are there any questions for Ms. Charleston?
Otherwise, before us as a resolution related to the 2023 population certification as presented in appendix P.
The critical.
Please.
Here's my card.
Hi.
Simon Boats.
I.
Audet.
I.
Dishain.
I. Hayes.
Anderson.
I.
With six in favor.
Enter a post that resolution is adopted.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Moving right along.
It looks like we have long term facilities or LTFM tenure plan.
Mr. Cole, Ms. Vargas and Mr. Martinson.
Good evening.
Chair Anderson.
Superintendent McGuire.
And members of the school board.
I'm joined this evening by Ben Martinson.
Director of Billings and Grounds and Michelle Vargas or Chief by the HL officer.
And this is a follow-up to our presentation at the school board work session at UM-12.
With regard to seeking your approval for our 10 year long term facilities maintenance plan.
I'll refer to that as the LTFM plan here moving forward.
So this is just a kind of an overview of how LTFM supports students.
As a reminder, the mission of the district.
It's a primary mission that you don't have in school district to effectively educate each of our students for success.
And these are guiding principles that help drive our decision making as we review and prioritize projects.
And to fulfill this mission, the Billings and Grounds Department specifically is accountable for providing safe and respectful learning environments for our students using all of our resources efficiently and effectively.
LTFM is a revenue program supported by the Minnesota Department of Education.
The reason for that is to allow school districts to address deferred capital expenditures and maintenance projects necessary to prevent further erosion of our facilities.
That's specifically what these funds are for.
And it is funded statewide on a $380 per pupil allocation generated by levy at general fund aid.
In order for us to qualify for our LTFM revenue, a school district must develop a 10 year facilities plan and submit that plan to the Commissioner of Education.
And it must be updated and approved by the school board annually.
An LTFM may only be used for deferred maintenance projects for increasing facility accessibility and for health and safety purposes.
And they may not be used on our lease spaces.
I think the simplest way to really think about it is we can use LTFM funds to replace existing infrastructure that is failing or beyond its useful life.
So, you know, I will tell you that the projects we're presenting to you tonight are not a comprehensive list of all the projects that we're doing.
These are specific to projects that qualify for LTFM.
How do we determine projects school board priorities?
Buildings and grounds department collaborative processes.
We also collaborate extensively with our school sites and our administration around the district to help us make decisions.
Because they're the people living in the facilities and oftentimes what our facilities condition index is, which is another metric that we use tells us that something is failing.
But maybe our administration says that there's something else in there building that is more important to them or greater need.
Those are all things that we take into account before determining our LTFM plan.
At this time, I'm going to turn it over to Ben Martinson, who will go over some of the projects outlined in the fiscal year 2025 LTFM plan.
Thank you, Greg, and thank you, Chair Anderson.
Members of the board.
So some of the highlighted projects.
We went into fiscal year 2025.
We'll be phase two of a three year summer.
Do you want to get the project?
I know how I'm a keenly.
We'll also be entering the fourth and final phase of dehumidification at Hamilton.
We will be doing phase three of a four summer.
Do you want to get the project at Sand Creek?
We will all, you know, tethered to be about 8.8 million apiece.
And hopefully encompass 14 classrooms.
We will also be entering phase two of the champ and park high school hydrogens piping project.
And last but not least, we will be adding a replacement generator and operating IT server when cooling at the ESC building.
As you can tell, the bulk of our expenditures are relating to heating ventilation and air conditioning systems across the school district.
Those mechanical systems are of high value to us because they control the environment that our students are learning in whether it's during the cold or hot seasons.
Just kind of a breakdown of the remaining expenditures that we see.
We will need in fiscal year 2025.
As I mentioned before of the 15.9 million dollars that we're seeking here for approval and LTFM expenditures.
8.7 of that are the mechanical systems that we just reviewed with you.
Health and safety is about 3.3 million sites and grounds projects.
675,000 interior surfaces of our facilities 875,000 hardware and equipment 365,000 professional services and salaries 680,000.
Plumbing 355 and remaining expenditures about 970,000 which consists of smaller projects which are detailed in the LTFM.
10 year LTFM packet that was given to you during the June 12th work session.
This total is a fiscal year 2025 LTFM budget at 15,919,885 dollars.
So based on the priorities identified in the project scheduling process reviewed.
The next step is this evening we are seeking your approval of our fiscal year 2025 LTFM.
10 year LTFM plan.
And what that we take any comments or questions from board members.
Okay members are there questions for our presenters.
Did I hear it? Okay.
I'm surprised by no question.
So that's great.
So then the floor is open for a motion to approve the LTFM 10 year plan as presented.
I will make a motion to approve it as our second.
Thank you, Ms. Hayes. Any discussion?
Hearing none.
All those of favor signify by saying aye.
Aye.
Any pose?
I know.
With six in favor and zero pose.
The motion is approved.
Thank you.
Your welcome.
Okay, we will move into our next business item.
Finance, Ms. Vargas, sir.
This clear 24 proposed budgets of funds.
Good evening, Chair.
I just want to thank Superintendent McGuire.
Members of the board tonight.
I have before you are final presentation on the fiscal year 2324 budget.
Tonight I will be seeking approval, which is required by statute to be approved by June 30.
So just again, starting with our budget timeline.
Budget, although we're always talking budget.
It really starts in December when you certify the lobby.
Those, that is based.
That lobby was, is the revenue will receive next year with that.
We are now here at our final budget.
My night to approve all budgets tonight here June 26.
All the different check-ins that we do with enrollment and staffing projections and our department budget sites.
All of that has been worked into this budget as we build the budget based on all the assumptions coming from.
Everyone of those bulleted items.
So Michelle, can I interrupt you for a second?
So on our agenda, it says fiscal year 24 proposed budget.
All funds.
I'm just wondering if, and maybe that's how we've done it before, but if we're final approving it, does that make sense?
It's approval.
I mean, it's still proposed budget.
Okay.
And once you approve it, it'll be the approved budget.
Okay.
All right, maybe it's some antics, but then that clarifies it.
Thank you.
So our starting with our general fund revenue assumptions.
The budget presentation that I have tonight is the same budget presentation we did last time.
We didn't make any changes, so just so we'll go through it.
More of an overview than DSD tell this before, but we'll still be open to any questions that you have.
But there are not, there aren't any changes from the last one.
Our revenue projection is 45.2 million.
Increaser 7.9 percent.
We know a lot of that.
There's new money from the legislature.
We are projected to increase by about 168 people units, not a huge increase.
So kind of flat.
The majority of it is in our state revenue of 42.8 million.
And 25.6 million of that is in the general education aid bucket of which 12.6 million is based on the basic formula with that 4% which is 275 dollars per
million and then with the other 168 increase.
The next large one, the 13.9 million in this general aid is compensatory.
Our compensatory with the new direct certification has grown by 13.9 million.
Our free and reduced, which is dropped during the pandemic, quite significantly due to free lunches and all of that, is now up to 42%.
We are at 34% pre-pandemic, down to 29%, but this last one falls now at 42%.
And a lot of that had to do with the direct certification and what they're using now for it to identify.
Pension revenue adjustment, this is the final year from the legislation that was increasing by 0.21%
of the TRA contribution for employer side.
That is 736,000.
We have a decrease in some referendum, equity and transitioning.
That just has to deal with the shift from aid to levy and the percentages that's part of the levy.
We had 920,000 decrease in miscellaneous general aid and that has again a shift from levy to aid.
The next large area of state revenues, our special education revenues.
So that cross subsidy, the 44% that came out of the legislature,
will generate us about $17.5 million in additional revenue to help shore up our shortage on our special ed cost compared to the revenue.
And then we have a $300,000 decrease in miscellaneous categorical aid.
Continuing on with our revenue assumptions, the property tax revenue. Again, in December, we went through this very detail. When you approved the lobby, it was an $8 million increase in the general fund of which $7.1 million had to do with our referendum equity and transition lobby.
1.6 million is that inflationary increase that we have annually and a slight pupil unit increase. There was a shift from aid to levy in the equalization of $492,000.
And then we had that $5 million prior year adjustment. And that was the inflationary increase that we get from one year and lose after that because of timing.
But that is a one-time jump-up to gross us up, but then we go back to the amount that we have renewed that since we're new to a year early prior to that inflationary increase.
We also have a technology lobby that grew by 591,000. That's based straight on your net tax capacity. So if the net tax capacity goes up, it's a percentage. The levy goes up.
We started at $3 million and now we're closer to $5 million. That's the growth that we've seen our tax space since over 10 years ago when we first started that levy.
We have 1 million increase in categorical levy which is due to pupil unit adjustments and then some aids also shift to levy because of the lower equalization aid on those items due to the increased tax space.
County endorsement increase. That's just a bunch. The county collects a bunch of fees and other items and they allocated out to us in county endorsement.
The amount that we get is reduced on our general aid. It's a net zero gain for us, but it just is fees that come to us from the county for miscellaneous items they collect.
And then prior year adjustments, the other prior year adjustments on all the other categorical was an increase of $864,000.
In the area of federal revenue, we have a decrease of $5.3 million. Some of our one-time ester funds are, we've planned very well to kind of balance it out as we move along with some of the items.
The grants that was the COVID grants and the enrichment and some of the summer enrichment and the virtual academy are some of these items that go away with that revenue going away.
And our local revenue decrease of $233,000 was just looking at prior year rentals and those type of miscellaneous local revenue that we're making that based on what we're actually receiving.
So our general fund is the $45 million increase, which is a very large, we haven't seen an increase like that in my time.
It was a significant investment from the legislature. We recognize that 7.9% of what we're looking at in the majority of in state revenue.
On the expenditure side, we're seeing a $25.9 million increase of $4.4 per cent.
The largest area obviously is in our salary and benefits were 80% of our expenditures for the general funder.
We get that. It's based on our increases that we have already negotiated on our contract settlements.
And then using a 2.5% roll-up cost on open contracts with just the what we're using in the budget.
5% increase on insurance for open contracts.
Our adding 64 FTE full-time teacher equivalents in special ad based on our enrollment projections.
And that's based on workload model and statute based on our center-based program and what we're required to staff at.
We're seeing significant increases in needs and recognizing that and having the teachers there to provide that services.
Along with the teachers generally compare professionals so when you see that large increase we're also adding 32 pair of professionals in special ad.
1.3 million dollars.
We have 5.2 million in strategic investments and support staff.
That was approved back in January when we looked at strategic investments and using some of the one-time money in our fund balance and also using our compensatory increase.
So we know we have the compensatory increase we talked about in the revenue of over 13 million.
Some of that will buy some of the stuff we've been doing in usher in future years and next the following year.
But that one year increase we decided to use that to influx as part of that strategic investment.
So the usher will carry over most of those funds this year and then next year the company.
And when I'm saying next term saying fiscal year 25 as 23 is finishing up.
So that is about half of their allocation of the money that's left over will be compared that the four years that we planned out for them that was approved back on January 23.
For the associates to look at their support staff and interventions in those type of items.
On the expenditure side again looking at the TRA pension adjustment we have the expenditure side of increased employer portion for that 0.21%.
We see a decrease in our usher so the revenue is going away and we're seeing about two and a half million dollars decrease in the summer enrichment in virtual academy positions.
You don't see the full five million because some of that was back fill that we were doing and saving in budget.
Those positions still stay there just there within the budget we didn't cut them so you're only seeing a reduction expenditures for half the revenue loss.
The one million dollar decrease for the math action plan so elementary had those 10 FTE that they had added with their math action plan dollars that was put away.
I want to say six years ago and it was finally exhausted this year and then strategic investment for secondary math coaches that expired were six FTE that is also a decrease.
In the area of our purchase services the $1.000 million increase or 3.3% utilities generally are going up.
We have about a 3% or 250,000 dollar estimate.
Our transportation contract is the fourth year of our negotiated contract at 2.54% so that's about 750,000.
Our transportation is about a 30 million dollar expense annually.
Our cyber insurance and liability and property insurance had a double decision increase and that's about 339,000.
And then we saw a change in how we can charge back our general fund expenses so it's some of the utilities and the custodial work that's done for the Child Nutrition Program.
And audit that was done by MDE reduced basically the amount that we've been charging back that's about 2 million they reduced it by 500,000 when they came through and audited us.
So that is part of the reduction in that area.
In our supplies area we're up 1.2 million or 4.9% part of that is textbook adoptions which is out of a strategic investment.
We've put money aside for those large secondary ones that are going over the next five years they kind of back to back to back with all the changes and standards.
So there's a 500,000 increase in textbook textbook adoptions compared to the current year.
Technology purchases so that's the technology level.
We knew the technology level was going up because of net tax capacity so we'll have additional purchases.
Expending that.
And then we put out a supply increase to our sites that are per pupil unit.
I believe it was 2% and 115,000.
They haven't seen any increase in a long time during COVID they've been to money because of the supplies that weren't bought.
And then now we've seen significant inflation so it'll be helpful to their budgets.
Besides those changes when we build the budget we did not put any additional increases within the budgets.
All of our instructional staffing ratios which is the majority of our staff and besides the special ed staffing which we talked about remain unchanged.
Just to take your attention to you what is still out there for the usher funds that we have.
That will expire at the end of that fiscal year 24 we should be fully exhausted with all of them.
We have $12 million out there we're still funding those literacy positions 30 of them.
We have secondary interventions 23.
We still have class size of 25 and then we have the 20 socially emotional majority or social workers but there's some counselors in there too that by us.
And then the underserved populations that one is primarily English language teachers to serve those.
As we look at it this 12 million the majority of it will be retained then by that increase in combat next year.
So that's how when we say we have a plan to backfill this where if you've seen in the paper there are other districts that have a huge that funding you know the gap because there it didn't work out as well for them.
For us we we are going to make it through it and be able to continue quite a bit of our federal funding with that so we're not seeing the ledge as much as some other districts.
We also have some one-time money being spent on our strategic investment plan so the others items that are out there that 9.4 million that are coming on out of our signed strategic investments.
We have literacy coaches for another year at the middle school.
3.85 million so that increase of the $500,000 in textbooks is that 3.85 million we have for secondary textbooks.
For fiscal year 24 building remodel that has the Blaine Education Center so we're still working on that building getting it ready for to open in the fall with the new programming in it.
The addition on the Franklin facility getting that ready for pathways and transition program and then we also have.
225,000 we always have 225,000 set aside for project lead the way for training and the equipment just because the equipment has to be updated more quickly with the software that's on it.
So as we look at our expenditure side 25.9 million our 4.4% increase again the majority of that is the majority of our money spent salaries and benefits.
Our roll-up costs that we are projecting are just budgeting is what if 2.5% in the 5% but we did add that we had those teacher FTEs the 64 were posted and put out there as we're the pair of professionals so those are items that are within the budget so.
Overall when we look at it our revenues to expenditures is a 6.9 million operating surplus once you take off that one time spend the strategic investment of 9.4 million which is set aside not part of our operating we have a 16.2 million dollar surplus.
Part of that surplus is going to be in our content because we're spending half of it on one time money this year and then the other half next year that will put aside then for the associates.
There's strategic investment so our unassigned fund balances growing by 10 million with this budget which is a what if this isn't this is not all seven stone we have contracts to negotiate and items but this is just again this is a budget but we're looking at 12.2% so of the operating expenditures that is the fund balance that we look at so if we go to the next page where we have all our fund balances.
The one that we look at that green one the unassigned is what your fund balance policy is based on so that percentage of the 60 million is the percentage of that 494 million and expenditures which is our operating expenditures.
And that is the 12.2% as we go further down our sign those are the items that we talked about that are coming out of our one time money in our signed accounts showing the different items of the 9.4 million that we're spending there.
Geodron a little further what says restricted for basic skills compensatory the component of basic spells with the EL funding and compensatory make up basic skills and that's the 5.7 million so of that amount that is part of the money that is then in the associate strategic investment the second year of their four year plan.
So overall as you look at it we're 6.8 million the majority is in our unsigned at that 10.5 million.
Any questions on the general fund.
Members any questions? Okay.
So our food service fund our talent nutrition program we know that the legislature passed meals lunches again so this recognizes that change after a year of having paid for lunches where you see a large increase in our state revenue and a decrease in our local sales.
Overall we're showing 27.1% increase in our total revenues are 5.7 million and similar not quite as high expense increase a 14.8% or 3.1 million as you can see we show a slight growth in that fund balance a 12.1 million.
There are a lot of probably equipment plans that will be going because they it is restricted on how much money they can keep in that budget and they've.
They've lifted those restrictions for a bit of time just because of the change that no no free lunch lunch free lunch they recognize that there's been changes in the system but they're really only supposed to carry about three months of revenue in that ongoing in that fund balance.
Within the revenue then what makes up that 5.7 million increase the state revenue so 9.1 million is the state providing the meal reimbursement.
Find it up from what the feds are going to cover and then they're covering the rest of it so that we're held whole on that portion.
We talked about it at the last meeting that the way that it's written in law it will adjust to make sure that there isn't a gap it's not the set.
But a percentage or the gap that is supposed to cover we still will see a federal increase just because the feds have raised their meal reimbursement.
And there are commodities and then on the local side we're not going to see families paying for their meals will still have all the cart sales and adult sales so that's what's left in our local sales.
As we look at the expenditure side for the child nutrition or food service fund.
With 3.1 million increase our 14.8% predicts project.
795,000 has to do with their projected compensation, their salaries and benefits for the staff.
And there's some market adjustments, potential on open contracts.
314,000 increase in our purchase services, and that has to do with the charge back again.
Increased charge back for services based on the cafeteria supervision.
What they had budgeted versus what they were seeing, so they were making their changes.
There's an increase in supplies of 1.3 million.
And part of that is just expected inflation on milk costs and food costs that we've been seeing and continue to see.
And then an increase in the area of equipment.
So they are upgrading some coolers, freezers and other equipment.
This other plan is to jump up from 360,000 in the current year to 1.1 million.
And those are items that will happen over the summer.
Any questions on our food service fund?
Our next fund is the community service fund.
Our after school programing, our after school daycare program, adult basic ed.
So this program of similar sizes that our fund does our child nutrition program.
As you can see, we're looking at marginal increases 2.1% in our revenue side.
576,000 and 2.5% on the expenditure side.
As you'll note, their fund balance that they keep is very static, which is very good.
It shows a very well managed program that, you know, you're keeping up about that 32%.
Which is really hard with a primarily fee based program and with all the changes we've had.
And what we've been doing with market adjustments and employees and hiring and all of that.
So recognition to their to the community service program for managing that.
On the revenue side, we're looking at 576,000 or 2.1%.
The majority of that.
Well, there's an increase of 28,000 and 8,000 and adventurous plus, which is a decrease in federal premium.
We had a federal premium pace.
So all of the employees within our employees within the adventurous plus program, we had a premium pay that.
We were paying all through last year and that goes the way this year.
It's offset by our increase in our fees that are coming in that have increased and then just the increased.
The level for our disabled school age care we get a level for that portion.
That's equal to the actual expenditures that we spent for service in our special needs kids in our adventurous plus program.
The adult basis again is growing by 197,000 and that's an increase in contact hours in the course bond and aid.
In our other community, our programs we see an increase of 60, 667,000, the majority of that being in our school readiness in early childhood programming.
We're seeing a growth in our zero to four, and then we're also opening new programming
at that plane education center.
We're seeing increases in other areas of miscellaneous community, add just due to modest program
growth.
On the expenditure side, well, I'm sorry, revenues.
Just to look what the majority of our revenue increases in local revenue, which would mean
fee-based.
We're primarily within the adventurous plus program and then within our school readiness and child
care programming.
Some state revenue increases, we're seeing 585,000 contact dollars, early childhood, does
have a growth factor within and so that's some of the state aid.
You can see that federal revenue decrease of 1.3 million was that premium pay that
goes away.
That offset, some of the local revenue increases.
Coming to the expenditure side for the community service fund, similar increase to our 2.5%
or 681,000, we're also seeing a decrease in some of the adventures plus programming.
So besides seeing the wages going down the net adjustment for that COVID pay, we're seeing market adjustments
and staffing and additions in that.
So even though we are dropping that amount, the large amount, we've still only a net decrease
of 176,000 in that area because of the increased pay that we're doing with the COVID money
dropping off.
We're also seeing some decrease in supplies due to state funding of meals.
So what will happen is because the meals are free, we'll get free meals for adventures plus
also.
So the expenses that they had for meals is a reduction of 359,000 of what they were paying
for.
They're going to see 340,000 increase in services and that's the field trips that they're
seeing additional costs, which we know transportation and just inflation in general as
increased the cost of most items.
And the areas of our other community education programs to make up that net increase 840,000 in
that in other areas, 530,000 is in that school readiness and early childhood.
Again, we have new programs that are being added at the Blaine site, which means we're buying,
we're buying furniture, we're buying all the games, we're buying all the supplies to run
those programs to get them started because these are new expanded programs.
They're not just programs that are some move, but for the majority of it, it's new programming
new spots, which we've wanted in Blaine for a really long time.
So we're excited about it, we'll have some started money and that's what that is.
Dal-based again programming, market wage adjustments and addition to more contact hours means
more wages because we're going to have more teaching time.
251,000 increase for other programs, which is again, wage increases and positions that are added
planning and then increase supplies proportionate to some of the revenue service back to
the comment.
So within the community, as you can see, the majority of the increases are within our salaries and
benefits and purchase services, we're purchase a lot of services in the community, I'm department
with the different field trips and those type of items and the contracted services that
we have come in, supplies again, the majority of that going down is that foods in the adventurous
plus.
So overall, 680,000 increase, that's the end of the community added budget and questions on that one.
So our capital projects fund, this is where when we sell our bonds, where we track the
actual construction.
So we are winding down our 2017 bond projects.
This year, our revenue budget is projected at 19,000, our increase to 20,000, it's just interest
on what's left.
We're winding down at the end of the year, there's not going to be much left and we'll just
have some science rooms and those things to finish out.
Benatures are decreasing by 6.2 million to 8.85 million.
What we have left to work on right now is the completion of the Sunrise Elementary Edition,
which is schedule for Falla 2023, ready for the kids to come back, the completion on River
Trello.
I'll also fall of 2023.
This is Summer 3, I believe, of the Media Center 2, 3, I think Summer 2, maybe Summer 2,
of the Media Center sites.
So those are all of our Media Center sites that are being worked on this summer.
So June was on last year, July and August, will be on fiscal year 24.
And then next year, next summer, June will also be on this budget and then it'll be July and
August, fiscal year 25.
So that fund balance that's left is the 2.4 million is going to finish up those Summer projects,
the 2024 and those Summer projects include any Media Center's that are done at the middle
of the schools, and then all the signs from Zetter being done.
And that's what's left for our 2017 fund issue.
So as we look at it within our table of our revenue and expenditures, you can see our budget is $20,000
in revenue because it's just interest that we earn on our funds that's sitting in basements.
And then our total expenses of 8.85 million for those projects that we just spoke about.
And again, 2.4 million left over, which will finish up the last of our projects,
which are primarily those Media Centers and the sign streams that have been identified.
Our debt service fund is where, when we issue the bonds for that construction, we track and
pay off the debt.
Our revenues increase in by 92,000, our debt access went down, so our revenue goes up.
As we love you, the expenditures are only increasing by 1800.
When we planned the result, we planned to have flat debt payments.
And that was the entire point we didn't want.
We weren't pushing anything out and trying to make it an unlevel debt.
So it's not, our tax is flat for that, the fund balance, 3.2 million.
Again, it's pretty much a static amount as we look at our revenues and expenditures.
So as you can see, our local revenues that's rated about 15 million annually.
Again, that was planned as we issued the debt and our expenditures are at 15.4 million.
20% is about your fund balance that you keep that gets adjusted every year, based on the 105%
that we love you of total expenditures.
If it gets too high, that's the excess that we talked about, that goes up and down.
As part of the requirement for your debt service fund, you need to talk about what you have
for outstanding debt.
So the original principle of our current outstanding debt was 263 million.
The current principle is 238 million, starting out fiscal year 24, after our principal payments
of 7.1 million will be at 231 million.
Part of the other requirement is talking about your legal debt limit.
Your legal debt limit is 15% of your market value.
So our market value of 4.1 billion, less our debt that's subject to the limit, which is 219 million.
The OPEB debt is not part of it.
Our legal debt margin is 3.9 billion.
So we could issue if approved by our taxpayers in the additional 3.9 billion, which we all know
we're not going to do, but what it does is we are a very low debt district though.
If you were to look and compare to us and you look at our levy at 15 million for a district
our size, we are very low debt with it.
The next is there.
And our final is our trust fund.
Within our trust fund, all we have in there is our other post-employment benefit, the trust.
So we issued bonds back in 2009, which was to fund the ongoing implicit liability for our retire
salaries by statute to remain at the same premium as our active employees, that difference
between what they cost because we're self-insured, their actual cost versus their actual
premiums is what that implicit amount is.
And that amount we're allowed to draw from the trust annually to offset our operating expenditures
for our healthcare premiums the cost.
So the revenue, 750,000, it's our investments, they go up, they go down with the stock market
because we're allowed to invest in different items.
So 750,000 is our budget, we expect that, again, our premiums are implicit rate is when up and
down, it depends on the retirees and their claims.
So that's kind of where our fund balance has been stable at around $36 million.
It started at $26 million.
We issued bonds for $26 million, so even though we've been drawing on that for, since we didn't
draw the first couple of years, but we've been drawing on it for over 10 years, they thought
we would run out of the money within 10 years.
We are now $10 million more than where we started and continue to offset those expenses with
those investments, and basically we've covered all of our implicit rate with the earnings
on that.
So as we look at where we're at, we go to the next slide, please.
You can see that we stayed at that $36 million.
We were up a little bit higher than $40 million, but the stock market the past year did see a hit
and we lost some of our revenue earnings within that.
But even with all of that, where we are and where we're funded, you get that annual update
about our actual area of value, and we know we're over 100% funded for our liability, and we
done quite well with that.
And at the point of time when we did it, we were in budget cuts, and this was a way that we were
able to help sustain positions by issuing these bonds and funding that implicit rate with
the sun going investment.
So the total budget that I've presented tonight for you is a $688 million revenue budget,
and a $688 million expenditure budget, on the revenue side, 8.1% increase, 51 million.
The majority of that being in our general fund, that we've seen in the majority of that being
in state aid, our expenditures 23.6 million increase over our current amended budget
are 3.6%.
So at this time, I'm looking for your approval of our fiscal year 2324 budget, and open it up
for any additional questions you might have.
Workmembers, any questions for Michelle?
Oh, Mr. Audit, I don't really have any questions, but I have some comments.
As I've said previously, I find the budget as presented to be in fine form with respect
to what I believe to be required by state or federal law.
Ms. Vargas is a highly skilled CFO, and the complexity of the system of accounting is significant.
She operates under the direction of the superintendent and one can assume the information.
Meeting regulatory requirements to be the minimum standard to accomplish one thing which is compliance with the law.
It's clear that board oversight of the district's budget requires substantially more than what is required to be disclosed by law.
And incidentally, this is not unlike any other regulatory program I've encountered in my 26 year career where the requirements to comply with the law,
leaving an organization well-short of what it takes to actually manage its business.
Having said all that, I will vote no-to-night on the budget on the following basis.
The budget includes funding for social-emotional learning in all district elementary and middle schools.
I will not vote for a budget that funds SEL programs that adhere to castle standards.
As I've indicated many times in public meetings I oppose this programming because it's intended by its creators to be used as a delivery mechanism.
To drive one-sided social and political ideologies and activism among our children beginning at kindergarten.
This budget includes $7.3 million in spending tied to state provided achievement and integration funding, for which the district administration proposed a goal of 110th of 1% annual improvement in academic achievement in reading and math.
I do not agree with many of the programs being funded by the A&I money and I believe the academic achievement goals are unacceptable.
The budget includes at least $5.7 million in spending for staff development for which we do not have any details on what exactly will be programmed,
despite the fact that district administration is yet to demonstrate that staff development topics can be managed consistently in a manner that follows our policies that govern it.
All too often focused on social justice or equity rather than teaching or professional practice.
And the budget includes an undefined level of spending on the district's equity achievement plan, which includes highly controversial programming and objectives, including concepts rooted in CRT.
With respect to evaluating the actual numbers, I made a substantial effort to review the budget in detail during this round of budgeting.
During the discussion of last year's budget I requested line item detail related to spending on the equity achievement plan and social emotional learning.
District administration could not provide this information, citing concerns with workload and lack of interest on the part of other board members.
So this year, in preparation for tonight's meeting, I requested and I received full detail in raw data format for the district budget.
As you might expect for a $680 million budget, the file was massive nearly 19 megabytes in size and included nearly 36,000 lines.
Nevertheless, I spent an excess of 10 hours reviewing the information over the past weeks, and I would provide the following summary of my findings to the benefit of the public.
Based on my assessments impossible for a board member to put this information into a format that is usable to evaluate the impact or the effectiveness of how the district spends money.
It can be broken down into categories such as salaries for classroom teachers, cell phones, stipends, and dental insurance.
It can be split up to see the sources of funding, such as ester funds, stator federal programs and grants, general funds, etc.
It can be split up by school building or site or by major activities such as the superintendent or the general council's office.
However, it's not possible to see any name program or expenditure.
You cannot see how much money is budgeted for social emotional learning, for example. You cannot see how much we allocate for letters training.
You cannot see how much we budget for a particular professional development session, or what the program is, nor who will present it.
You cannot see how many licensed teachers feel administrative functions, which are positions that don't have classroom teaching responsibilities.
At a district office or in schools, despite knowing there are dozens of these positions, and the associated expenses sum to millions of dollars.
Anything with any degree of specificity, which is what I refer to when I speak of line item detail, is not possible to decipher from among the 35,000 lines.
It's a problem because we operate the $680 million machine for the purpose of providing a quality education to the communities children.
Looking at the even the most basic measures of success, which is reading math and science proficiency rates, it's clear we're struggling.
Essentially half of our students cannot perform at grade level in these areas.
It's the job of the superintendent and the district administration to create a program that ensures every child reaches their full academic potential.
It is the job of the school board to make sure they do it. But how do we do this?
When we lack any ability to evaluate our investments in staff, curriculum, buildings and programs with any specificity.
To do so, requires us to know how much we're spending on any given program, along with a clearly defined set of objectives and measurements to determine whether the investment is adding value.
No one on this board has the kind of information that would be required to do such an evaluation.
The proof is in the kinds of goals that are developed by the administration improved by this board, and I'll give you a few notable examples.
The first is the $7.3 million achievement and integration plan, which included the goals for improving academic achievement and math and reading of one tenth of one percent annually.
Next, the district schools for math, reading and college readiness, which are as reported in the most recent updated the equity achievement plan included attainment of the following proficiency levels.
For math, a goal of 55 percent, we actually achieved 52.5.
For reading a goal of 55.2 percent, we actually achieved 52.7.
For achievement gap improvement for math, the goal was to drive it down from 24.7 to 23.9 percent.
We actually achieved 23.5 percent, and for achievement gap improvement for reading, it was to drive it down from 18.3 to 17.7.
The actual achieved was an increase to 18.8.
Next, the superintendent's performance pay plan is split 50-50 on two parts.
One of those parts is student achievement. The goals for student achievement in the superintendent's bonus did not even match the district schools.
Rather, they include the following requirements. Increase by any amount, the percent proficient in MCA reading and math.
For this school year, this goal wasn't met as our reading proficiency fell.
Increase by any amount MCA reading proficiency for third grade students. This goal was actually met with an increase in proficiency from 50.7 to 50.9 percent.
Increase by any amount MCA math proficiency for 11th grade students. This goal was not met this year.
As the array of 11th graders proficient in math actually declined from 43.3 percent to 36.7.
And then reduced by any amount, the achievement gap for MCA reading and math proficiency for all students.
This goal was not met as the reading gap grew from 18.3 to 18.8 percent.
And finally, the district strategic priorities which are heavy on scorecard indicators as measurements accounted 28 of them.
It fails to identify targets for any of them.
We talked this repeatedly that we're a data-driven organization focused on continuous improvement.
However, you won't find a single specific goal in the document.
As I reviewed these goals, the results in the budgeted spending I could not help but ask myself that this is the kind of performance or community expects.
It is the kind of oversight and accountability this board provides for the $680 million investment that we're making in public education in line with even the most basic principles of organizational and physical management.
And the answer is unquestionably no.
Thank you.
Any other questions or comments from board members?
Mr. Simon.
Thank you chair Anderson.
So that was a lot.
So I won't be able to comment specific on all of it.
Doing it kind of off the cuff here.
But one thing that I'll say is, I'm not sure of the file that was received with the budgets and the detail level.
And I'm sure a budget finance file looks different than other information that you can get that and get details.
But one thing that I've seen over my time and certainly over the last year or two is that presentations come to the board with very specific detail.
So they come with detail of what the program or the investment is, what the costs are.
It details the goals of that plan and then it details kind of what are the measurements, right?
So I know that in every committee that I serve in myself and really every other board member that serves in it talks about what are the measurables, right?
So what are we going to get from this so we can measure our investment?
So it may not be in a specific file on finance.
But I've seen it on every presentation that's come to us that the board has either approved or not.
So I just wanted to make that comment.
So the public, at least in my view, the public doesn't feel that the board doesn't have, or at least I don't have enough information to make those determinations.
And the only thing other thing I'll say is I certainly agree that achievement numbers at a no-canapin and statewide certainly we need to improve, right?
We're still, we're still definitely searching for ways to improve those achievement numbers.
But citing a specific like integration and achievement where it shows a one to three percent increase.
When you talk about reading, that's not the only investment we're doing, right?
So we are making multiple investments in reading.
So if this part increases at this much, we hope that letters and all these other things research based best practices that we're implementing.
It gives us great jumps and achievement in math and reading.
So I personally don't look at it as, and I'll just choose the achievement and integration budget, which is a very specific one, as that is all we're trying to strive for for achievement.
There are many programs in reading and math at every level where we are trying to jump achievement to a hundred percent if we can.
And we've talked about that as a board.
So I just wanted to give maybe that a little bit different perspective on those points. Thank you.
Thank you Mr. Simon. Is there anybody else that has any questions or comments?
Mr. Shane.
Thank you chair Anderson.
I won't go into all the elements either and Jeff covered the achievement piece nicely.
I think we'd all agree with with the points that Jeff made there. So thank you.
The only thing I'll just add here is our role on this board is to set policy, perform governance level, decision making, and to hire a superintendent who then can manage and lead this team of highly qualified.
Well regarded and awarded staff to help run the business of this district.
So far as I'm aware none of us sitting up at this table are certified public accountants certified forensic auditors and most of us aren't even finance professionals.
So I would say that while we can ask questions and we should and we can review information and we should.
The information that we get and the presentations that are made to us with all of the backup detail that comes to us in our huge budget folders.
It means far beyond the level of information that is needed to make a decision on the appropriateness and the reasonableness of the budget for this size in my view.
Thank you.
Thank you Mr. Shane.
Anyone else have any other comments or questions?
Okay.
And so, Ms. Vargas, what are you looking for a motion to approve?
Yes.
Okay. So members, the floor is open for a motion to approve the fiscal year 24 proposed budget all funds.
Is there someone that will move that?
Thank you, Ms. Hase. Is there a second?
Second.
And thank you for that. Second is there any discussion?
Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye.
Aye. Any opposed say no?
With five in favor and one opposed, that motion is approved.
Thank you.
Be next item on our agenda is board correspondence and communication.
Members this year opportunity to share happenings in your particular community or report on community assignments or other items of interest.
Ms. Hase.
Thank you, Chair Anderson. Just wanted to share information from the Anoka Hennepin Education Foundation tonight.
So I shared with each of you a little business card that has information about the foundation and the website address on the front and on the back.
I do want to draw your attention to their first kickoff event of the school year, which is the Gulf Tournament on Saturday, September 9th at Green Haven Gulf Course.
And it's it's a funny event.
I know Mr. Simon has participated over the years.
I have volunteered over the years, but would encourage you to consider supporting that event.
As well as marking your calendar for Saturday, February 10th, the Northern Stars Celebration, which again will be.
Health at the Bunker Hills events center. And then just additional two other additional items regarding the foundation.
Some of you may remember Tony Druze. He was Indian Ed advisor with a nocahanopin for about five years. Currently is a member of the foundation board.
And there's a really neat article on Saturdays, start tribune, and I'm happy to share it with you electronically. If you wish, he has started
a nonprofit company to part of the work and the focus of this article was on preserving native languages and development of parlor games.
And in this case, a card game to teach and promote and preserve the Ojibwe language, neat article.
And then finally, at our last foundation meeting, we thank Dr. Jill overdone for his leadership as chair of the foundation.
And we are welcoming into that board foundation board chair seat, a name that will also be familiar to you, which is Kim Allen.
So it's, it's just, you know, my, my years serving on the foundation board. It's been just a joy to watch staff who choose to serve on on the foundation board.
Because of some alignment that they have had. And then even in many cases where staff have retired or moved to another job.
They have chosen to remain on the foundation board and continue to be supportive. So just wanted to share the incumbents and the outcomes.
Thank you.
That's amazing. Thank you. Anyone else have anything to share?
Thank you, Chair Anderson. So this past two weeks ago, Nicole and I were honored to attend the groundbreaking ceremony at Mississippi Gateweight Park in Brooklyn Park.
It's the park across the the Koon Rapids Dam.
We were there with students and teachers from CBPA and students from CBPA were able to work with the design architects to create the playground structure concepts and influence the structures that they use as part of their
classroom extension with that magnet program. So just wanted to share that. Good news.
Fun. Fun. Okay. Anything else?
Okay. Our next item. Her business item is an executive session and that will be taking place on the Michael Sullivan room and it's related to an attorney client privilege and
reference to D who is inga versus independent school district 11 to conduct that business.
I will propose under Minnesota State statute 13 D 0 3 subdivision one that we move into the closed session to review this matter is their second.
Thank you. Mr Simon is there any discussion hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying aye aye any opposed say no.
Then that motion is approved. When we're finished with that executive session will return out and open session and adjourn the meeting.
And I recommend we take just like a quick break if we could make me make it reconvene at seven 10 and was it eight to wait hold on eight 10 yes eight 10 thank you.
And we will finish that. Thank you.
Thank you.