1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,720 Welcome to the Eagle County School District Board of Education Meeting Wednesday, September 9th, 2 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:09,580 2026. Please join us in the pledge of allegiance. 3 00:00:30,900 --> 00:00:37,060 Thank you all for being here this evening. We're going to start with the consent agenda, 4 00:00:37,260 --> 00:00:42,060 which includes routine non-controversial items approved by the Board through a single motion 5 00:00:42,060 --> 00:00:52,880 and votes, and this week we just have the standard minutes and personnel list and monitoring 6 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:57,160 reports for the month. Would anyone like to make a motion? 7 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,380 I move to approve the consent agenda. 8 00:01:01,540 --> 00:01:01,740 Second. 9 00:01:02,660 --> 00:01:04,940 Thank you, Lou, and thank you, Rachel. 10 00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:07,280 Oh, I'm sorry. 11 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,680 Thank you, Gretchen. I appreciate it. 12 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:17,180 Natalia, Miss Alter, I'm Miss Conlon, I'm Miss Glowakki. 13 00:01:17,420 --> 00:01:21,400 Hi, Miss Holy, I'm Mr. McQueenie. 14 00:01:21,460 --> 00:01:22,620 Hi. Mr. Pena. 15 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:23,600 Hi. 16 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:24,860 Miss Yvonne. 17 00:01:25,340 --> 00:01:27,220 Hi, thank you so much for visiting Natalia. 18 00:01:27,740 --> 00:01:28,740 Thank you, Natalia. 19 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,420 And we have a report from the Superintendent. 20 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:35,400 Mr. Dr. Summers. 21 00:01:36,460 --> 00:01:38,080 It's just working okay. 22 00:01:38,540 --> 00:01:44,120 All right, good evening everybody, welcome to our September night meeting. 23 00:01:44,740 --> 00:01:52,480 So just if you, I tried to keep the bullets pretty succinct this evening and I put strong 24 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:56,060 start here in parentheses because I know we kind of talked about this at the last meeting, 25 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:02,080 but it really has been such a super strong start and we are getting into the groove, so to 26 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:14,260 So what's that movie like the Emperor has a new groove and not to make it about like any sort of official positional thing, but it's really cool to see just how students are settling into the year. 27 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:19,540 We've got a lot of routines that are already established and our staff are just doing an amazing job. 28 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:25,840 So I wanted to call out our students and our staff as well because they are showing up with excitement, 29 00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:34,020 with, hopefully, energy that we can maintain and continue to build from, and the whole 30 00:02:34,020 --> 00:02:42,060 known and supported and challenged and inspired is I think really on display as we work through 31 00:02:42,060 --> 00:02:48,040 different schools and classrooms and all that great stuff. So I just wanted to echo that appreciation 32 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:54,220 and that acknowledgement. And then I think most, well, many of you had the opportunity to be at the 33 00:02:54,220 --> 00:02:59,220 very first lights, and I put above the peaks in parentheses as well, because when I was having 34 00:02:59,220 --> 00:03:03,120 this conversation with Matt, he was kind of like, not sure that the lights were above the 35 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:07,960 peaks, sorry Matt, I just had to, because you really got me thinking about that, and I'm like, 36 00:03:07,980 --> 00:03:13,700 no, they were below the peaks, but they were on, and our students, and our community was 37 00:03:13,700 --> 00:03:20,960 totally on display, so the very first outdoor, under the lights, volleyball match, and just 38 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:26,920 an incredible example of our community coming together, really appreciated just all of the effort 39 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:34,340 that went into that, so much sponsorship and event organization and then to see our student 40 00:03:34,340 --> 00:03:41,780 athletes as well as the coaches and parents and families and fans, it was just a super cool experience. 41 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:48,860 So, and of course, congratulations to VCHS, although it was a tough, it was a five setter, 42 00:03:48,860 --> 00:03:52,840 So it was so close, but there's always next year, right? 43 00:03:54,340 --> 00:03:55,960 So those are some celebrations. 44 00:03:56,500 --> 00:03:59,560 And then just wanted to share a few updates relative 45 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:00,660 to listening and learning. 46 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,500 Continuing to set up so many different touch points 47 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:08,620 with not only our staff and our families, 48 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,440 but really also trying to extend that to the community as well. 49 00:04:12,860 --> 00:04:15,320 So a big shout out to all of our community partners. 50 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:23,380 just really appreciate the warm welcome, I think, maybe had a chance to see a recent piece 51 00:04:23,380 --> 00:04:28,060 in the Vale Daily and we're going to continue to get information out in so many awesome 52 00:04:28,060 --> 00:04:34,560 ways, so thank you for all your support as well. You guys have been great. I wanted to spend 53 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:39,200 a moment on leadership transition and actually meant to add it as their leadership transition, 54 00:04:39,340 --> 00:04:44,420 so just a update to let you know that just BoChamp, who I think most of you had the opportunity 55 00:04:44,420 --> 00:04:50,440 to meet a couple meetings ago is officially onboarding with us or a very first official start date 56 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:56,460 is actually a Monday and we're just diving right in, hitting the ground running there, but I also want 57 00:04:56,460 --> 00:05:04,660 to take a moment. So those of you that had the chance to see a recent update in our Friday update, 58 00:05:05,660 --> 00:05:12,460 Melissa, ReWald, who want is approaching retirement, which is like super exciting, 59 00:05:13,460 --> 00:05:20,340 But also, I think maybe a little bit bittersweet, and so you've given so much to our district. 60 00:05:21,020 --> 00:05:25,580 Over many, many years, I didn't like Adam all up, but there's several. 61 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,700 And you play just in awesome and such an important role to the organization. 62 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:37,880 And so we're super grateful for your service and your knowledge and the support that you have given and will continue to give. 63 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:45,180 So to make it official, as part of the personnel report, Melissa will be transitioning into 64 00:05:45,180 --> 00:05:51,700 a month of no work whatsoever because those are the pair of rules and that will be 65 00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:57,560 an October and then she will be rejoining us in November and helping us see through all 66 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:04,060 of the work that is still very much in play as she finishes out the year and then we'll 67 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:11,200 looking obviously at some transition in terms of positional structure and some additional support. 68 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:15,220 So there's big shoes obviously to fill and I know that we'll have more of an opportunity. 69 00:06:15,500 --> 00:06:20,680 This is not like an official like farewell but it is a chance for us to at least tip our 70 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:33,580 cap and say thank you and she's she's doing a good job without I don't know if we brought the 71 00:06:40,780 --> 00:06:51,980 And then just one additional update and I think by now everyone hopefully knows that there is an official ballot issue number and that is 5B. 72 00:06:52,640 --> 00:07:05,460 And so we are sharing information with the community and making sure that we of course are abiding by our fair campaign practice act guidelines and sharing that information. 73 00:07:05,460 --> 00:07:09,680 but it is our and my responsibility to make sure that our community has that clear 74 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,760 infactual information about the measure and what it will fund and financial 75 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:20,040 impacts. So we have a great website. There will be additional information that 76 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:24,760 will continue to pass out to the community and I will continue to keep the board 77 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:29,400 of additional opportunities that that has for us. 78 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:36,240 And I think that was the bulk of what I wanted to touch on. So President Conlon, I will turn it back to you. Thank you. 79 00:07:36,900 --> 00:07:45,600 Thank you. That was a lot. That was great. Next we'll have some board reports. I think if anyone has anything they'd like to add. 80 00:07:47,070 --> 00:07:55,390 I actually want to share that last week I attended an amazing fundraising event called 81 00:07:55,390 --> 00:08:03,650 Movement Me Books, put on by our amazing Rachel and I just want to say it was so inspiring 82 00:08:03,650 --> 00:08:07,310 to see you interact and connect with all these kids. 83 00:08:07,490 --> 00:08:08,990 It was wonderful. 84 00:08:10,570 --> 00:08:11,850 So, yeah, you're amazing. 85 00:08:15,460 --> 00:08:19,580 I love reading and playing and moving with kiddos. 86 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:25,060 So speaking of reading, Melissa has done so much with our literacy in our schools. 87 00:08:25,780 --> 00:08:30,360 And I just thinking about you having like a month to have every set and 88 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,540 reprieve and celebrate all the things you've done. 89 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:34,480 Congratulations and say thank you. 90 00:08:35,180 --> 00:08:37,600 And for those who don't get to attend the work sessions, 91 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:42,360 I feel like there's so inspiring, 92 00:08:42,360 --> 00:09:00,440 and we had a really great healthy discussion about technology use and I think it's important for those who maybe are watching or just who get to come to these and don't see the work sessions that we do take it fairly seriously when people come for public comment. 93 00:09:01,300 --> 00:09:08,240 Our teachers, our parents, our students, we are listening and we are working so just want to say that. 94 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:08,740 Well, 95 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:22,600 thank you Lou and thank you Rachel. Next we're on to public participation. 96 00:09:24,860 --> 00:09:26,700 Are there any blue cards? 97 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,280 I did not see any blue cards, anybody have a blue card? 98 00:09:31,780 --> 00:09:32,120 All right. 99 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:32,660 All quiet. 100 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:34,580 Thank you. 101 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:40,920 Then in that case, we will move to new and old business. 102 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:45,120 Our next meeting is September 23rd. 103 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:49,680 And we're going to have continue a discussion 104 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:53,460 on some of our committee work in work session, 105 00:09:54,940 --> 00:09:59,140 board self assessment, and funding allocations. 106 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:05,540 Is there anything else anyone would like to hear about? 107 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,460 We don't have anything scheduled at the moment 108 00:10:07,460 --> 00:10:12,620 for regular session, so if anyone has anything 109 00:10:12,620 --> 00:10:17,260 they always love to hear about or anything they've heard about and are interested in hearing 110 00:10:18,140 --> 00:10:18,660 more? 111 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:24,680 A couple of meetings ago we got a book from one of the teachers from the high school on 112 00:10:24,680 --> 00:10:30,880 a restorative justice and just wondering where we are on that I know we've been looking 113 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:31,780 at. 114 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:37,460 Discipline and changing different policies and things just to make sure everything's in line 115 00:10:37,460 --> 00:10:40,500 if we could get an update on that that would be wonderful. 116 00:10:45,630 --> 00:10:46,390 Thanks, Harry. 117 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:55,760 I think at some point, I don't know if it's for next meeting, but I'm thinking about the 118 00:10:56,740 --> 00:10:57,220 MLO. 119 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:03,380 I think some work that would be good for us to do is meet with ECCA Sport because they have 120 00:11:03,380 --> 00:11:10,720 their own board and maybe just connect with them and inform them I wonder if they, you know, 121 00:11:10,780 --> 00:11:16,460 they're part of the school district and, you know, maybe would be good just to do a little 122 00:11:16,460 --> 00:11:24,800 work session with them, and give them the tools they need to spread the word also in their school. 123 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:26,340 Just a thought. 124 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:36,740 Thinking of the MLO, I don't have my calendar with me, but I know EFFEC is doing two virtual community engagement conversations. 125 00:11:37,100 --> 00:11:40,380 Does anyone know the dates for those? 126 00:11:40,460 --> 00:11:44,980 I don't know where they are. I'm like looking right now to find them, but there are dates for the community. 127 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:46,820 We can maybe put them out somewhere. 128 00:11:46,820 --> 00:11:47,880 Did 129 00:11:50,410 --> 00:11:56,810 you want to have like a discussion around that or are you just were like letting the public know? 130 00:11:57,730 --> 00:11:58,750 Okay, thanks. 131 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,680 All right, thank you all. 132 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,540 That sounds like a lot of great interesting stuff. 133 00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:19,560 We'll move on to some big items here. 134 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:24,520 Our first is a new legal counsel engagement 135 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:29,380 And Dr. Summers is going to present the exciting news. 136 00:12:29,620 --> 00:12:31,560 Thank you, President Conlon, board members. 137 00:12:32,060 --> 00:12:36,480 So what we have in front of you on this item is a engagement 138 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,860 letter that is prepared by Kaplan and Ernest. 139 00:12:40,500 --> 00:12:44,260 And as you all had an opportunity before we got started here tonight, 140 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,780 we do have two representatives from the firm here. 141 00:12:48,620 --> 00:12:50,300 Kristen Edgar and Sam Jones Rogers. 142 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:58,980 So if you're okay, Chris, and I say I'm even feel free to come on up as well, I'm just going to share a little bit of background in rationale. 143 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:04,620 And then if there's any questions from the board, of course, give you an opportunity to say a few words as well. 144 00:13:05,580 --> 00:13:07,100 That would be, that's awesome. 145 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:08,580 Sounds good. 146 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:10,160 Just so we have you on cue. 147 00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:14,160 So let me just share a little bit of background in some rationale. 148 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:20,700 we did recently conduct a request for proposal of legal service and the purpose of that was 149 00:13:20,700 --> 00:13:25,680 to evaluate current legal counsel resources and where appropriate expand them to make sure 150 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:30,580 that the district is well supported as we move through a period of transition and continued work. 151 00:13:31,860 --> 00:13:36,440 So following that RFP process, we did make a recommendation and have selected 152 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:41,800 Kaplanan Ernest to provide general counsel services. So the engagement agreement that is before 153 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:48,480 you establishes the firm as our district's general counsel across a comprehensive range of 154 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:54,540 matters. And as I just alluded to both Christen and Sam would serve as our primary and secondary 155 00:13:54,540 --> 00:13:59,980 points of contact. So thank you for being here with us this evening as well. I do want to 156 00:13:59,980 --> 00:14:09,780 just specify because we do also see value in continuing where needed. We've had obviously a 157 00:14:09,780 --> 00:14:15,180 relationship with Lions and Gattas. So, existing matters that do fall under their purview, 158 00:14:16,140 --> 00:14:20,040 do not necessarily have to be transferred. So, we're going to manage those legal assignments 159 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:26,900 on a case-by-case basis based on the needs of the district. And of course, we do value their 160 00:14:26,900 --> 00:14:32,540 history with the district and their knowledge of our organization. But what I think we were very impressed 161 00:14:32,540 --> 00:14:40,900 by and really looking forward to in this new relationship is Kaplan Ernst is really a pillar 162 00:14:40,900 --> 00:14:48,020 in the legal community in Colorado and provides a level of service that I think really 163 00:14:48,020 --> 00:14:52,640 meets the district's needs. We do have the specific rates in terms that are set out 164 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:56,340 in that engagement and they are all on an as needed basis. 165 00:14:57,560 --> 00:14:59,980 So we do, again, just want to make... 166 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:15,300 I'm sure that the board is aware and informed. Happy to answer any questions that you may have, but our recommended motion is to approve the engagement of Kaplan and Ernest to provide legal counsel services to legal county school district and authorize the superintendent to execute the engagement agreement. 167 00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:21,800 So with that, President Conlon, I can turn it back to you and maybe have Chris Lynch and Sam Sharer a little bit more. 168 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:27,960 Yeah, thank you so much. We would love for you to say something if you have something prepared. 169 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:32,560 Okay, I think this is working. 170 00:15:34,180 --> 00:15:36,080 Good evening, members of the Board and Dr. Summers. 171 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:37,040 I'm Kristen Edgar. 172 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:38,960 I'm an partner at Kaplan and Ernest, 173 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:40,880 and as Dr. Summers have said, we would be, 174 00:15:40,900 --> 00:15:42,700 I would be your primary contact. 175 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:44,740 I'll let Sam share a little bit about her. 176 00:15:44,740 --> 00:15:46,500 I've been working with the firm for 20 years 177 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,140 doing school eduring that time. 178 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:50,880 Working largely as general counsel, 179 00:15:51,420 --> 00:15:52,920 supporting districts across the state, 180 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,200 including rural and non districts that are much like your own. 181 00:15:56,780 --> 00:15:57,600 We're really excited. 182 00:15:57,740 --> 00:15:58,860 We have worked with Dr. Summers. 183 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,200 in the past, really looking forward to working with him again. 184 00:16:02,780 --> 00:16:10,360 Thank you so much for letting us come up and have dinner and meet all of you in person and get to know a little bit your amazing administration. 185 00:16:11,380 --> 00:16:14,000 It's clear that as board members, you all have a very good rapport. 186 00:16:14,700 --> 00:16:18,340 You conduct a very efficient and great meeting which we love to see. 187 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:26,920 As likely that you will not see us not frequently, we will spend a lot of our time working with Dr. Summers and supporting him and his team and the legal work they need. 188 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:29,720 And I know we're new to you. 189 00:16:29,980 --> 00:16:31,760 We care quite a bit about relationships. 190 00:16:32,060 --> 00:16:33,660 We look forward to earning your trust. 191 00:16:34,020 --> 00:16:36,000 We do like to take opportunities to come up 192 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,200 and see our clients in person when we can. 193 00:16:38,340 --> 00:16:40,260 Even if it's outside of a legal relationship. 194 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:42,840 So we really just wanted to be here tonight. 195 00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:44,400 And thank you so much. 196 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:45,900 And I'm happy to entertain questions. 197 00:16:46,180 --> 00:16:47,780 I'm going to let Sam say a little bit about herself 198 00:16:47,780 --> 00:16:49,760 and then we'll answer anything you have. 199 00:16:51,020 --> 00:16:51,700 Thank you. 200 00:16:51,780 --> 00:16:52,740 Good evening board members. 201 00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:53,820 I'm Sam Jones Rogers. 202 00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:55,000 I'm going to associate a couple 203 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:56,760 and earnest in our school law section. 204 00:16:57,340 --> 00:16:59,160 I've been with the firm for four years. 205 00:16:59,900 --> 00:17:03,160 Previous prior to that, I served as director of legal services 206 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,380 at the Colorado Association of School Boards. 207 00:17:06,120 --> 00:17:08,440 And then it seems like many lifetimes to go at this point. 208 00:17:08,460 --> 00:17:10,860 But then before I was working with Kazby, 209 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:14,460 I served as a guardian at Bidam representing children's best interests 210 00:17:14,460 --> 00:17:16,240 in Trinity and neglect. 211 00:17:16,420 --> 00:17:19,500 Dependency and neglect in Trinity cases in Denver County. 212 00:17:19,940 --> 00:17:24,380 I'm one of kind of the rare attorneys at least in the school realm. 213 00:17:24,380 --> 00:17:26,820 I went to law school knowing that I wanted to support, 214 00:17:27,460 --> 00:17:29,740 knowing that I wanted to support schools, 215 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:31,700 specifically K through 12 schools. 216 00:17:31,900 --> 00:17:34,420 And so that was my focus health route law school. 217 00:17:35,220 --> 00:17:38,240 So as Kristen mentioned, we're very pleased to be able 218 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,040 to have the opportunity to support you all 219 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:41,620 in your important work. 220 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,240 And we're we're available in your call. 221 00:17:47,170 --> 00:17:48,010 Thank you so much. 222 00:17:48,050 --> 00:17:50,590 And thank you for driving all the way up here. 223 00:17:50,610 --> 00:17:52,170 We really appreciate it. 224 00:17:52,310 --> 00:17:53,490 Does anyone have any questions? 225 00:17:57,530 --> 00:18:00,210 No questions, but I just want to say thank you. 226 00:18:00,210 --> 00:18:02,630 It was wonderful just hearing a little bit more about you. 227 00:18:02,650 --> 00:18:07,030 It sounds like you're bringing an extensive background to us. 228 00:18:07,430 --> 00:18:11,170 And we're looking forward to, or I'm looking forward to working with you more. 229 00:18:11,430 --> 00:18:11,770 Thank you. 230 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:15,460 Thank you so much. 231 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,340 I know questions now, but they will be coming. 232 00:18:19,780 --> 00:18:20,600 I'm so excited. 233 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:27,560 I was just going to ask if they're building us for coming down here. 234 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:29,980 I'm totally joking. 235 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:32,980 So we joking. 236 00:18:34,420 --> 00:18:38,720 This is an action item with someone like to make a motion. 237 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:44,420 Well, on that, I moved to approved engagement of Kaplan and Ernest LLC to provide legal 238 00:18:44,420 --> 00:18:49,140 council services, legal county school district, and authorized the superintendent to execute 239 00:18:49,140 --> 00:18:51,600 the engagement and agreement. 240 00:18:52,820 --> 00:19:01,140 Second, thank you, Ron and Lou, Natalia, Miss Altar, I, Miss Common, I, Miss 241 00:19:01,140 --> 00:19:05,960 Hi, Miss Hogue. Hi. Mr. McQueenie. Hi. Mr. Pena. Hi. Miss Hogue. 242 00:19:06,300 --> 00:19:08,340 Hi. Thank you. The motion passes unanimously. 243 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:23,500 All right. Next. Our favorite presentation of the year. Mr. Tim, 244 00:19:24,130 --> 00:19:26,320 we welcome you to the podium. 245 00:19:38,250 --> 00:19:42,850 Will the presentation come up here? The slide deck? 246 00:19:51,580 --> 00:19:52,100 Oh, yes. 247 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:59,720 It's the annual swap presentation for, for this year, just to update the administration and to update you at the board. 248 00:20:00,260 --> 00:20:02,300 What's happening with the swap program? 249 00:20:03,020 --> 00:20:09,420 I'm joined tonight by my colleague Kathy McKayhill, who is with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. 250 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,060 She's my partner. She keeps me in my lane. 251 00:20:16,100 --> 00:20:32,640 And so, but a more from Kathy in a moment, and I'm also joined by Jaden Biscano, who is going to help me with a presentation tonight, and he's going to share a little bit about his experience since graduating from Eagle Valley a year ago, or a little over a year ago. 252 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,700 So, Natalia, can I move this slide deck with the buttons? 253 00:20:37,540 --> 00:20:37,560 Okay. 254 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,820 I'm going to cruise through some of this because I definitely want to give Kathy and 255 00:20:42,820 --> 00:20:46,720 Jaden a chance to speak without being rushed. 256 00:20:47,380 --> 00:20:50,620 A lot of you know some of what this program does. 257 00:20:51,100 --> 00:20:58,680 I partner with Kathy at DVR and the swap focuses on working with kids age 15 to 24 258 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:02,340 who have mild to moderate barriers to employment. 259 00:21:04,300 --> 00:21:06,840 And we focus on whatever they need. 260 00:21:06,860 --> 00:21:10,000 I have 21-year-olds who have never had a job before. 261 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:12,580 I have 16-year-olds who've been working for three years. 262 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,420 So it's just kind of what they need to explore in careers. 263 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:18,020 Let's get a resume together. 264 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:20,780 Let's how do you apply for a job. 265 00:21:21,500 --> 00:21:30,700 whatever however that works and I'm old school in that I like face-to-face and I like meeting with kids as much as possible in in in person 266 00:21:31,780 --> 00:21:34,720 So that's that's kind of the overview on the program 267 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:40,060 Kathy I can let you do you want to jump in on this one. Hi, everyone 268 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:45,860 I'm Kathy Mikkel and with the division of our occasional rehabilitation and 269 00:21:46,820 --> 00:21:53,140 And we basically help people gain maintain or regain employment. 270 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:55,920 Tim and I work a lot together. 271 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:57,640 He works more with the kids. 272 00:21:58,340 --> 00:22:01,780 I work more with adults 24 and up. 273 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:09,700 I could give you a whole another presentation on our adult program, but I won't. 274 00:22:10,340 --> 00:22:16,260 But I did bring some brochures, and my cards, so if any of you have any questions at all, 275 00:22:16,540 --> 00:22:23,740 please reach out to Tim or I, and we're more than happy to answer any questions that you might have. 276 00:22:24,580 --> 00:22:29,980 I think it's a great program. I do want to say that I think Tim is doing a... 277 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:37,600 And nominal job with the kids in our schools. Really, probably better than me. 278 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:55,300 But he's just in there. He's doing it. He's with the kids. And I just think it's one of the better things that we could have ever have done was hired to do this job. 279 00:22:55,300 --> 00:23:04,300 So, yes, if you have any more questions about the adult program, please reach out to me and I'll turn it back over. 280 00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:06,600 Okay, thank you. 281 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:08,880 Well, thank you. 282 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:12,320 Let me keep cruising along here. 283 00:23:12,460 --> 00:23:13,480 Come on over here. 284 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:16,840 Let me keep cruising along here. 285 00:23:18,020 --> 00:23:19,320 We've covered this. 286 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:29,260 Kathy, the way it goes is I will get a referral for a student or a young person, if they have an IEP, or a 504, it's kind of the requirement. 287 00:23:29,620 --> 00:23:35,380 Kathy and I go over that and determine their eligibility based on those things, and we sign kids up. 288 00:23:37,020 --> 00:23:38,260 Let's see what else I work. 289 00:23:38,980 --> 00:23:45,260 It's kids who are in and out of school, Jaden is done with school, but we started working together before. 290 00:23:45,980 --> 00:23:49,880 So I work, well, I'll go into it more later. 291 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:51,340 All right, so let's see. 292 00:23:51,540 --> 00:23:54,240 That one didn't show up, that's okay. 293 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:55,520 Oh, here we go. 294 00:23:56,020 --> 00:23:58,040 While kids are in school, of course they need to focus 295 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:01,420 on their coursework, I don't pull, 296 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,000 I'm not allowed to pull kids out of academic classes. 297 00:24:04,260 --> 00:24:07,060 So I pull them out of ACLAB, Home Room, 298 00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:09,760 or advisory, something like that. 299 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:10,960 That's when I commute with them. 300 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:12,320 Pull them, we'll go sit in the conference room 301 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:13,120 and get caught up. 302 00:24:13,120 --> 00:24:21,520 We talk about self-advocacy, career training, work-based learning experience, and I'll talk a little bit more about that. 303 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:28,620 In just sort of general case management, if a kid needs mental health services, I can connect them with those services, 304 00:24:28,900 --> 00:24:31,180 Kathy, Kathy services, and so on. 305 00:24:33,910 --> 00:24:40,510 And after they're out of school, all sorts of things, whether it's career path, the exploring different things, 306 00:24:41,090 --> 00:24:44,930 how to quit a job properly, how to move on to something else. 307 00:24:45,090 --> 00:24:46,530 Just depends on what they need. 308 00:24:47,270 --> 00:24:49,290 I shadow kids a lot. 309 00:24:49,730 --> 00:24:53,910 They hate it because it was a white guy in the corner. 310 00:24:54,450 --> 00:24:55,510 That's me. 311 00:24:56,570 --> 00:24:58,250 And instead, because that's what I do. 312 00:24:58,350 --> 00:24:59,710 I go stand around and observe. 313 00:25:00,430 --> 00:25:01,530 I spent, well, all right. 314 00:25:01,530 --> 00:25:02,170 I'll tell you in a minute. 315 00:25:02,230 --> 00:25:06,750 I spent the morning this morning with a young lady who's just, I'll show you. 316 00:25:06,770 --> 00:25:09,390 I'll show you, but if a lot, on boarding is hard, 317 00:25:09,390 --> 00:25:16,150 You may remember last year, I talked about, can the kid do the job they can? 318 00:25:16,370 --> 00:25:21,690 Can they get through the application, the onboarding, the i9s, the government forms, the 319 00:25:21,690 --> 00:25:24,030 training, the manuals, can they get through all that? 320 00:25:24,070 --> 00:25:25,010 They've never done it before. 321 00:25:25,110 --> 00:25:26,850 I don't care what the kid is. 322 00:25:27,410 --> 00:25:32,830 It was new to all of us at one point, and so I spent the morning this morning with a young 323 00:25:32,830 --> 00:25:33,090 lady. 324 00:25:33,390 --> 00:25:33,930 I'll show you. 325 00:25:33,930 --> 00:25:41,550 but let's talk to Jaden. Jaden has some remarks that he's prepared and I'm delighted to 326 00:25:42,410 --> 00:25:50,210 work with Jaden and he's had an interesting and incredible path, incredible growth, determination, 327 00:25:50,690 --> 00:25:58,380 and heart. Let's talk to another thing and take your time. Everybody wants to hear what you have to say. 328 00:25:58,380 --> 00:26:08,060 Okay, hello everyone, my name is Jaden Viscai No and I've graduated from Eagle Valley High School in Spring of 2025. 329 00:26:08,580 --> 00:26:12,320 I live here in gypsum with my family. 330 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:17,840 I joined the swap program while I was studying high school at EVHS. 331 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:28,040 Through my future pathways, I earned a scholarship to attend CMU Tech welding program with a bunch of other peers interested in the trade. 332 00:26:28,860 --> 00:26:36,180 Working with Mr. Mothit, we build my first resume, explored other jobs in the community, 333 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:41,880 practice in nerve-reeling, and walk through every step it took to get ready for college. 334 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:48,840 After my first semester at CMU Tech, I made a tough decision to come back home. 335 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:54,640 I realized the specific path wasn't right for me just yet. 336 00:26:54,640 --> 00:27:06,080 As the youngest person in my family I had everything taken care of me. I had to take I had to take on new responsibilities very quickly 337 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:17,700 Even though I met a lot of cool people. I didn't have a roommate. So it was very much so I was very much on my own which was both gayed and bad 338 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:26,960 As soon as I got back, Mr. Muffet and I got busy looking at new jobs opportunities, I decided to apply 339 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:37,020 Amazon and I got the job. My experience since then, since graduating this past year, I was working 340 00:27:37,020 --> 00:27:43,440 at Amazon and helped me grow up fast. I've learned how to manage my time and my schedule. 341 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:54,360 I work with a lot of kind of coworkers, managers, and I handle my own baking. 342 00:27:56,560 --> 00:28:02,900 And speaking up for myself, having a steady job allows me to take care of my brother and 343 00:28:02,900 --> 00:28:05,520 help my family, as well as myself. 344 00:28:06,340 --> 00:28:10,940 Most important, these skills have helped me become an independent man. 345 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:20,720 Working with Swap Program has helped me with perspective and learning that there's other 346 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,980 peoples who need help like me. 347 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:30,320 Some kids know exactly what they want to do, but I wasn't sure. 348 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:37,880 I knew I wanted to work with my hands, but I wasn't sure what jobs or path I should take 349 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:38,460 first. 350 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:48,240 programs like Swap, Matter, because life doesn't always go according to Plan A, having a coach 351 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:55,460 in my corner, helped me turn eight tough decisions, decision into a successful career step. 352 00:28:55,860 --> 00:29:01,380 Thank you for supporting this program, so other students can find their path to. 353 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:09,140 Thank you. 354 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:10,320 Of course, of course. 355 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:16,620 So there's a bit of backstory, I hope I may run a little long. Is that okay? 356 00:29:17,060 --> 00:29:19,420 Natalia, is that okay? All right. 357 00:29:22,060 --> 00:29:26,640 There's just a lot. And I would like to see a show of hands 358 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:32,400 from Edmund and from the school ward who had their act together right out of high school. 359 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:39,020 You might have had a plan. I had a plan. Oh, I'm going to go to the University of Minnesota. 360 00:29:39,020 --> 00:29:44,100 well and then I so nobody raised their hand you didn't have your act together out of 361 00:29:44,100 --> 00:29:53,310 high school all of your things everybody in this room everybody in this room has a 362 00:29:53,310 --> 00:29:57,870 college degree most of them have a post graduate degree many letters after their 363 00:29:57,870 --> 00:29:58,290 names. 364 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:13,520 I bet most people in here don't even have an educational degree, but they went into something else and this is where they found their passion. Everybody in this room is here for you guys. Everybody here works for the students in this district. 365 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:15,800 I hope that's a little good. 366 00:30:17,780 --> 00:30:19,280 That's whatever it is here for. 367 00:30:19,460 --> 00:30:21,040 That's the whole reason, okay? 368 00:30:22,140 --> 00:30:25,040 So, tell me the other day when we were talking. 369 00:30:26,460 --> 00:30:30,300 You said that you learned that there were other people like you. 370 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:32,820 Can you talk about that a little bit? 371 00:30:33,140 --> 00:30:38,760 Like, it's good to have other people that support you. 372 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:57,460 I learned that there's like people that need help and guidance, just like me, and with this program, it helps you and it just like, it's a relief to me knowing that I will be helped and it's just a good program. 373 00:30:57,460 --> 00:31:04,500 awesome. Thank you. Thank you. So, getting into college, some of you have kids are in college, 374 00:31:04,780 --> 00:31:13,140 some of you are kids heading to college. Jayden and I last summer, last spring, we met 375 00:31:13,140 --> 00:31:20,680 over it after graduated, we met over the gypsum wreck and he confronted an admissions advisor, 376 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:28,320 a student access advisor, a academic and program advisor, a financial advisor, and a scholarship 377 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:33,200 advisor through my future pathways. That was just a few emails. That's just a few. 378 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:41,520 We sat together over at Jiffson Rack and we had to figure out meal plans at CMU Tech. 379 00:31:42,140 --> 00:31:47,560 He had to pick and he had to send a deposit. We had to figure out dorm selection. He had 380 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:53,060 pick and you have to send it to posit. Now you have to download an app to find your roommate 381 00:31:53,060 --> 00:31:58,740 and connect with potential roommates and do all of that. You have to get your student ID card. 382 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:05,420 And you have to set up your student ID portal with your student ID, your brand new student ID email. 383 00:32:06,780 --> 00:32:13,640 And then they load your food program onto your card so that he can waive it at the 384 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:18,460 And he wants to get somebody, got to figure out parking, got to figure out roommates, 385 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:20,540 got 386 00:32:20,540 --> 00:32:25,860 to get immunization records sent, to where the campus, then there was all the requirements 387 00:32:25,860 --> 00:32:29,920 that my future pathway had for their scholarship cohort. 388 00:32:30,580 --> 00:32:32,040 There's all that. 389 00:32:33,380 --> 00:32:39,480 We had to sit and figure out what tech requirements students were to have on their laptop, 390 00:32:39,740 --> 00:32:42,560 how much horsepower, how much spick, this is what we did. 391 00:32:43,460 --> 00:32:48,980 hours of sitting and doing this and he did it. It's a lot. Wasn't it? 392 00:32:48,980 --> 00:32:57,520 Yeah, it was. It's the time. So, there's Kathy's paper, there's Kathy's paper, 393 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:03,020 okay. I appreciate it. Let me keep cruising through here a little bit. Thank you. 394 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:09,760 We have to add public speaking to your resume now. She just did. This is like a real meeting. All right. 395 00:33:13,700 --> 00:33:18,980 So, this is my whole meeting, this is my whole morning, this young lady. 396 00:33:19,940 --> 00:33:28,300 She did the youth power education program over the two summers ago. 397 00:33:28,620 --> 00:33:33,060 She got hired a red sandstone to help with their early childhood program all year, with 398 00:33:33,060 --> 00:33:38,760 a brutal commute, two buses to get home, and this morning we spent the morning onboarding 399 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:46,020 at the Ville Child Development Center, so she is like full-time at the Ville Child 400 00:33:46,020 --> 00:33:46,440 of the BIP. 401 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:47,200 But she's smart. 402 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:54,660 She built her resume all on early childhood education, so I'm super psyched for her. 403 00:33:54,660 --> 00:33:55,560 This is a good day. 404 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:57,860 We do campus chores. 405 00:33:58,100 --> 00:34:06,540 I am grateful for ever for Shannon Grant, who let me draft off of her program often. 406 00:34:06,540 --> 00:34:10,660 She's extremely generous that way, campus tours at CMU Tech. 407 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:12,960 Jaden did one of those a couple of falls ago. 408 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:17,140 I love this, the young man in this young man, 409 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:19,120 you probably see a Costco regularly. 410 00:34:19,900 --> 00:34:22,300 He has just been promoted to a supervisory position. 411 00:34:22,580 --> 00:34:25,640 He's in the swap program, and he's training another young man 412 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:27,160 who is also in the swap program. 413 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:31,480 I know, he's got supervisor on his red vest over there. 414 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:32,460 I'm like, dude, what's that? 415 00:34:32,460 --> 00:34:34,140 Oh, I got a room promoted. 416 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:36,900 I need you to tell me. 417 00:34:37,580 --> 00:34:39,700 This young man, I think you may remember from last year. 418 00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:41,580 He's a Lance Corporal in the Marines, 419 00:34:41,740 --> 00:34:44,860 and he's doing munitions, and blowing things up. 420 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:48,420 This young man just graduated this spring 421 00:34:48,420 --> 00:34:51,360 and picked up a PSI plumbing internship. 422 00:34:51,940 --> 00:34:54,840 He will be paid to learn, and he's on a path. 423 00:34:55,380 --> 00:34:57,600 He's on a really good path. 424 00:34:58,040 --> 00:34:59,640 I'm just, yeah. 425 00:35:00,420 --> 00:35:16,740 This young man, another one, where I have Shannon Grant to thank, through the career-wise program he finished in May he finished his two-year apprenticeship at Vail Health as an inventory specialist and, according to plan, they offered him a full-time job. 426 00:35:16,740 --> 00:35:21,740 So, he is now a full-time job and all the goodies that come from working at Vail Health. 427 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:28,900 Skye bonuses, or skye their Christmas bonuses, and he's very happy. 428 00:35:30,300 --> 00:35:33,360 Services while kids are in school, I mentioned some of these things. 429 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:38,980 We focus on the stuff getting kids ready, but they need to keep their head in their classroom first. 430 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:46,720 So, I'm hearing good feedback that a lot of what I can cover that sometimes the teachers cannot get to. 431 00:35:48,060 --> 00:35:53,980 We do some work-based learning experiences, I'm often able to pay kids for this and we focus 432 00:35:53,980 --> 00:35:55,040 on following instructions. 433 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:56,480 What do you do when you screw it up? 434 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:57,340 How do we undo this? 435 00:35:57,440 --> 00:35:58,280 We got to redo it. 436 00:35:58,380 --> 00:35:59,400 Well, what did you do wrong? 437 00:35:59,540 --> 00:36:00,480 And let's figure it out. 438 00:36:01,180 --> 00:36:06,840 So dealing with paperwork, nailing, and time management, and strengthening in their adult 439 00:36:06,840 --> 00:36:08,880 communication, which is a big deal. 440 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:14,600 I have monthly workshops that both of the big high schools, these are some of the topics 441 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:21,660 that we cover next week I'll be doing one on being proactive that was a suggestion that came 442 00:36:21,660 --> 00:36:28,040 to me from the Sped team at Battle Mountain. They said kids need to be thinking ahead a little 443 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:33,240 bit more so we're going to, that's a work skill and it's also a school skill. So that will be 444 00:36:33,240 --> 00:36:42,120 next week. This was a thing. I did, I don't have very many young ladies in the program. I don't. 445 00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:50,860 So, I'm leaning on trying to do some work-based learning experiences for the ladies, so we did an acrylic nail thing, and that was a hot mess. 446 00:36:52,140 --> 00:36:59,480 I bought all the stuff. I don't know how to teach. I don't know if I was like, we had a blast. They had a great time, but it was... 447 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:07,760 Yeah, I had help. I did. I had help. We did the same thing with the eyelash workshop with the rubber faces, and you're going to do all this. 448 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:13,900 It was a lot of fun, but it's wow, there's a lot to getting long eyelashes. 449 00:37:16,100 --> 00:37:22,820 Some community volunteering, the animal shelter, I've been volunteering there with a young man this year, 450 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:29,840 and that's been great because you just see how they pick up, and he knows more than I do, and he runs can pay out anyway. 451 00:37:30,050 --> 00:37:55,370 Food pantry, have a chat, of course. Those have been good things. This year, I'm a little tough on numbers, my contractual outcomes. I don't have a lot of information this year because there are some changes at the federal level that are affecting DVR and CDE's ability to get me updated information. There's a lot of changes happening right now that are impacting our what we do. 452 00:37:56,250 --> 00:38:00,450 So, I know 44 kids were served in the program. 453 00:38:01,650 --> 00:38:03,150 I don't have some of this information. 454 00:38:03,390 --> 00:38:05,950 Close rehabilitated is a successful case closure. 455 00:38:06,370 --> 00:38:13,070 I met it by half, but that's also needs to be adjusted once we're working on that. 456 00:38:13,710 --> 00:38:17,870 I'm delighted that 86% of my case load was working this summer. 457 00:38:18,610 --> 00:38:21,670 Almost every kid on my case load in some form or another. 458 00:38:22,630 --> 00:38:28,850 And kids in college or in college programs, I have one young man at Job Corps, and that's going 459 00:38:28,850 --> 00:38:29,090 well. 460 00:38:29,590 --> 00:38:33,930 He's going to come out of it with a flooring certificate after a two-year program of learning 461 00:38:33,930 --> 00:38:36,350 how to install floors, all kinds of floors. 462 00:38:38,620 --> 00:38:44,260 My targets this year are very similar to last year, shooting for delivering services to 50 463 00:38:44,260 --> 00:38:44,980 kids. 464 00:38:45,300 --> 00:38:51,520 My current case load is 31 right now, collaborating with the speed teams is like one of the coolest 465 00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:52,340 parts of the job. 466 00:38:52,340 --> 00:38:57,800 I am seen and included, the sped teams are amazing in both big buildings. 467 00:38:58,700 --> 00:39:02,820 And the ongoing workshop, I'm going to still stay on the state task force. 468 00:39:04,500 --> 00:39:05,740 Partnerships are a big deal. 469 00:39:05,980 --> 00:39:10,400 I could put many more up here, but these are some of the bigies that you all recognize. 470 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:14,900 I could put all these different employers up there as well because they're all partners. 471 00:39:17,100 --> 00:39:19,300 And so that's a few other things. 472 00:39:20,020 --> 00:39:27,500 It's a year-round program, I work all year, community-based, and you see what all of this is, 473 00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:35,660 and cultivating relationships with employers and finding the right employers as a big deal. 474 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:43,360 If kids finish up and they're on a glide path, Cathy and I will close them as a successful case closure, 475 00:39:43,580 --> 00:39:48,440 but if they need to circle back, and we talked about this, if they need to circle back, 476 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:57,340 And we just do that and they re-engage that's it. I'm over time. I know I'm so over time. How long do I should have put my timer on? 477 00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:03,000 Does anyone have any questions for a jaden or Kathy or me? 478 00:40:07,900 --> 00:40:15,940 No, but you're amazing and I'm so proud of you. My son graduated in 2025 and just hearing you up here and be so articulate and clear 479 00:40:16,860 --> 00:40:22,420 I was actually talking to my son today and I had I don't know where I heard this. I don't know the reference 480 00:40:22,420 --> 00:40:28,540 but it was obstacles or detours that you're headed in the right direction because it's hard 481 00:40:28,540 --> 00:40:33,360 and you're doing it. So good for you. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. 482 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:35,880 Yeah, Jayden, 483 00:40:36,100 --> 00:40:40,860 thanks for coming. It was great meeting you. You should be very proud of yourself. You've accomplished 484 00:40:40,860 --> 00:40:47,860 a lot since you've graduated. So good for you. And then team as always, thank you for everything you do. 485 00:40:48,220 --> 00:40:53,360 You're such an asset to all of these strict. We are very fortunate to have you. Thank you for everything. 486 00:40:56,230 --> 00:41:04,330 So, Jason, thanks for coming, and it's awesome to see, I mean, this gets just sitting up 487 00:41:04,330 --> 00:41:09,120 there smiling the whole time I love it, and then you have Tim right next to you, 488 00:41:09,690 --> 00:41:15,550 can't stop smiling either, I just want to say, Tim, I applaud you for everything you've 489 00:41:15,550 --> 00:41:23,750 ever done, because you do it wholeheartedly and fully engaged, and you turn everything into 490 00:41:23,750 --> 00:41:28,850 teaching moment even you didn't know you this is public speaking you know and I 491 00:41:28,850 --> 00:41:36,870 think it's I've seen you with the kids and the interviews and it's I've never seen 492 00:41:36,870 --> 00:41:43,810 anybody able to compete with the intensity that you do and the the love and 493 00:41:43,810 --> 00:41:49,150 emotion that you have for these kids so I applaud you thank you thank you very much 494 00:41:51,140 --> 00:41:55,980 So, following up on that, how do you pick your student that comes and joins you? 495 00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:57,380 That's a tough one. 496 00:41:57,840 --> 00:41:58,980 It's a tough one. 497 00:42:00,300 --> 00:42:05,400 I could pick a student who is, you know, 498 00:42:06,500 --> 00:42:08,180 followed all the steps and did all the things. 499 00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:12,180 He followed all the steps and did all the things and made a big risk 500 00:42:13,260 --> 00:42:15,660 and changed his mind and it was hard. 501 00:42:16,380 --> 00:42:18,020 And I thought that was an interesting story. 502 00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:30,220 And it is a tough one, because I have a number of kids I could pick and I can't get any girls to join me, sorry. 503 00:42:32,180 --> 00:42:34,040 I actually girls are all really shy. 504 00:42:35,580 --> 00:42:45,440 But I think Jaden's story is really, it's an interesting story because we got everything laid out. 505 00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:51,940 And then he's like, and I don't say one of the things I say to kids all the time is I don't say no, I say not yet. 506 00:42:52,980 --> 00:42:54,000 That's a big difference. 507 00:42:54,440 --> 00:42:58,840 That welding program at CMU Tech is not going anywhere and he knows it. 508 00:42:59,100 --> 00:43:04,220 If he wants to go back, welding program at CMU Tech in three years, it will be there. 509 00:43:05,380 --> 00:43:08,520 It will be there and do financial aid and do all the things and just do it again. 510 00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:10,460 You already done it, you've already, you know. 511 00:43:10,460 --> 00:43:13,560 So, but that's a, I just thought it was, 512 00:43:13,600 --> 00:43:14,960 I Jaden has an interesting story. 513 00:43:16,020 --> 00:43:18,000 And he's the first young man in this program 514 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:19,500 who's ever received a full scholarship. 515 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:23,740 And that's a big deal, you know, 516 00:43:24,100 --> 00:43:27,260 and one of the things that you probably won't be happy about this, 517 00:43:28,060 --> 00:43:30,500 Amazon has identified him as somebody 518 00:43:30,500 --> 00:43:33,420 who is a supervisory material. 519 00:43:33,700 --> 00:43:36,700 He's thinking about that, and he enjoys the flexibility 520 00:43:36,700 --> 00:43:38,660 that he has on his schedule right now, 521 00:43:40,240 --> 00:43:43,640 But that's another, that's another really good point. 522 00:43:44,020 --> 00:43:46,980 This leadership, you know, it's all. 523 00:43:47,480 --> 00:43:49,500 Tim, two great questions for Todd Jaden. 524 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:50,840 Thank you so much for coming. 525 00:43:51,740 --> 00:43:53,560 It just brings tears to my eyes. 526 00:43:53,700 --> 00:43:54,620 These stories I love it. 527 00:43:54,620 --> 00:43:55,020 It's amazing. 528 00:43:55,220 --> 00:43:55,980 It's inspiring. 529 00:43:56,580 --> 00:43:57,440 I'm wish brings me to Tim. 530 00:43:57,600 --> 00:44:00,000 I know you said you get better for all of us. 531 00:44:00,100 --> 00:44:01,520 I mean, every time you come up here and speak, 532 00:44:01,820 --> 00:44:03,520 I think, oh my god, every kid needs you. 533 00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:09,540 And there's got to be a million kids, so how is that determined and I know you, obviously, 534 00:44:09,780 --> 00:44:14,440 your bandwidth, funds and also as one person are limited, it seems like when you're 535 00:44:14,440 --> 00:44:18,360 a lot of take it to work with you and have these experiences, I mean, like I said, all kids 536 00:44:18,360 --> 00:44:18,940 need this. 537 00:44:19,160 --> 00:44:24,140 So how does that process work and again, I know your bandwidth is only so much, but. 538 00:44:24,140 --> 00:44:33,840 I would thank you for the question, it's a, you know, I talked with this bed teachers and I have, 539 00:44:34,600 --> 00:44:39,400 I'm flattered and honored that I have the relationship with the bed teams that I have. 540 00:44:40,020 --> 00:44:50,460 And I'm like, you know, who do you see? Who do you guys see? I have the, here, yesterday, the Jenny, Katie Jennings, our audiologist just sent me a kid. 541 00:44:50,460 --> 00:44:52,180 I don't know, reason we're all the Academy. 542 00:44:52,380 --> 00:44:53,900 I've never worked with a kid in World Academy, 543 00:44:54,580 --> 00:44:56,980 but Katie has a young man who must have a hearing deficit, 544 00:44:57,960 --> 00:44:59,740 and she just emailed me yesterday. 545 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:08,160 What about this? I was like great. But I talked to teachers and some teachers were like, this one is not ready for you. 546 00:45:08,960 --> 00:45:15,360 You know, and other teachers are like, oh, I've got two. You need to come to this IEP and this IEP. So that happens a lot. 547 00:45:15,500 --> 00:45:23,300 I will go to IEP meetings and I learn a ton and I can talk to the parents. They can meet me and I can give them materials if they want to sign up. 548 00:45:23,620 --> 00:45:26,160 There we go. That's kind of it. 549 00:45:26,160 --> 00:45:27,900 Awesome. Thank you. Yeah. 550 00:45:34,190 --> 00:45:38,570 Jay, now I'm going to go ahead and speak for Mr. Muffet because I know him well enough, I feel like I can. 551 00:45:38,890 --> 00:45:41,550 I love what you said Tim about. 552 00:45:41,950 --> 00:45:45,010 CMU is going to be there in three years or five years or ten years. 553 00:45:45,510 --> 00:45:47,150 If you decide that's the path you want. 554 00:45:47,610 --> 00:45:51,170 And my bet is that Mr. Muffet will still be around 555 00:45:51,730 --> 00:45:58,090 and whether he's in this district or not, I bet you reach out to him and he will still help support you. 556 00:45:58,090 --> 00:46:02,110 Because I know this guy and he would, so that's always true. 557 00:46:02,170 --> 00:46:09,210 Also, I just read an article today about the science of when you decide to change your path. 558 00:46:09,710 --> 00:46:15,330 And how some people are brains are trained to want to stick with that same path, no matter what. 559 00:46:16,230 --> 00:46:21,090 And we feel ashamed or embarrassed or disappointed in ourselves if we change paths. 560 00:46:21,350 --> 00:46:24,870 But changing that path is the best thing you can possibly do for yourself. 561 00:46:24,910 --> 00:46:27,230 And you may find that you want to go back to that path. 562 00:46:27,230 --> 00:46:33,690 You may find you on something else so I just wanted to say I'm so proud of you for making that tough decision 563 00:46:33,690 --> 00:46:37,130 That's that's a lot. So yeah, thank you 564 00:46:40,520 --> 00:46:44,520 I also want to say thank you to Kathy Kathy is more behind the scenes 565 00:46:44,520 --> 00:46:52,280 I'm more in the buildings Kathy knows policy regulations what I can and cannot do or process and procedure 566 00:46:52,280 --> 00:46:57,460 I am a puppy and I just want to go and Kathy's like well 567 00:46:57,460 --> 00:47:00,000 We ought to think about this first and then. 568 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:01,040 We're on the phone every day. 569 00:47:01,280 --> 00:47:02,280 We're on the phone every year. 570 00:47:02,820 --> 00:47:04,160 For a year question is, 571 00:47:04,280 --> 00:47:07,980 Tim and I spend hours on the phone to discuss. 572 00:47:10,340 --> 00:47:13,280 Potential clients, and if they're good fit for the program, 573 00:47:13,860 --> 00:47:14,480 are they ready? 574 00:47:14,980 --> 00:47:15,720 Are they not? 575 00:47:16,360 --> 00:47:17,220 You know. 576 00:47:18,520 --> 00:47:23,020 And we've even dealt with some serious mental health stuff 577 00:47:23,020 --> 00:47:24,640 that we've had to work through. 578 00:47:24,640 --> 00:47:31,440 So there's other things that we do behind the scenes besides getting kids jobs. 579 00:47:32,220 --> 00:47:33,400 There's all of that other. 580 00:47:34,220 --> 00:47:35,800 Referrals and things like that. 581 00:47:35,940 --> 00:47:36,580 Referrals. 582 00:47:37,060 --> 00:47:42,800 Kathy and I've had two young people struggling with suicidal thinking and so on this year. 583 00:47:43,520 --> 00:47:45,500 And that is as serious as it gets. 584 00:47:47,100 --> 00:47:53,040 So, you know, we start referring to all the resources and we're lucky in Eagle County. 585 00:47:53,040 --> 00:47:57,900 we have them, some of my counterparts in more rural areas of the state, they look at me 586 00:47:57,900 --> 00:48:02,520 and they're like, you guys have free mental health services and like, yeah, we do it from 587 00:48:02,520 --> 00:48:04,340 three different people, three different sources. 588 00:48:05,680 --> 00:48:08,340 So there's a lot of that kind of stuff that happens as well. 589 00:48:08,380 --> 00:48:12,280 I also make it clear to kids and like, dude, I don't have jobs sitting here in my pocket 590 00:48:12,280 --> 00:48:13,200 to hand out to you. 591 00:48:13,320 --> 00:48:14,700 That is not how this works. 592 00:48:15,320 --> 00:48:16,760 If I do that, what have you learned? 593 00:48:18,340 --> 00:48:23,000 So, we'll focus on how do you look, what should you find, how do you explore? 594 00:48:23,660 --> 00:48:24,300 I should stop. 595 00:48:24,460 --> 00:48:25,040 I'm talking. 596 00:48:25,540 --> 00:48:28,680 I'm taking our time too much. 597 00:48:28,820 --> 00:48:29,740 You guys are fine. 598 00:48:30,320 --> 00:48:30,980 Thank you. 599 00:48:31,120 --> 00:48:32,260 Thank you so much. 600 00:48:32,280 --> 00:48:32,880 Thank you. 601 00:48:32,940 --> 00:48:33,900 Really appreciate it. 602 00:48:33,900 --> 00:48:35,740 Appreciate being seen in the support. 603 00:48:36,640 --> 00:48:37,280 Thank you. 604 00:48:37,280 --> 00:48:39,440 Thank you. 605 00:48:40,000 --> 00:48:41,640 Congratulations, Jaden. 606 00:48:44,390 --> 00:48:46,290 Thank you, Tim and Kathy and Jaden. 607 00:48:46,290 --> 00:48:49,170 That was a wonderful presentation, as always. 608 00:48:49,490 --> 00:48:50,950 We appreciate you being here. 609 00:48:53,090 --> 00:48:54,570 Thank you for running on. 610 00:48:54,690 --> 00:48:55,790 It was all wonderful. 611 00:48:57,670 --> 00:49:00,210 All right, well, that brings us to the end of the meeting. 612 00:49:01,050 --> 00:49:02,470 Does anyone have any feedback? 613 00:49:03,610 --> 00:49:05,070 In evaluation of the meeting? 614 00:49:08,570 --> 00:49:09,890 Great job tonight. 615 00:49:10,230 --> 00:49:11,090 Thank you, everyone. 616 00:49:11,410 --> 00:49:12,030 Meeting adjourned.