[0:01] Okay.
[0:03] 5:15. Please stand and join us for the
[0:05] pledge of
[0:06] >> allegiance.
[0:10] I aliance to the flag of the United
[0:13] States of America and to the republic
[0:16] for which it stands. One nation under
[0:19] God, indivisible, with liberty and
[0:21] justice for all.
[0:26] » Thank you. I'll now call this regular
[0:29] school board meeting of Independent
[0:30] School District 544 to order. With that,
[0:34] I will turn to the clerk to establish
[0:36] our quorum. Kirby Anderson
[0:38] >> here.
[0:38] >> Kelly Graph.
[0:40] >> Jenny Christensen,
[0:41] >> present.
[0:42] >> Missy Hermes here. Melanie Cole
[0:44] >> here.
[0:45] >> Steven Bigosa
[0:46] >> here.
[0:46] >> We have a quorum.
[0:48] >> Thank you.
[0:49] Is there a motion to approve the agenda?
[0:52] >> So moved.
[0:52] >> And a second.
[0:53] >> Second. Any discussion on the agenda?
[0:58] All in favor of approving say I. I.
[1:01] >> Oppose say nay.
[1:03] That is approved. And we have uh one
[1:06] resolution on acknowledgements which is
[1:08] a thank you to Matthew Lumpkkey for his
[1:11] donation of items to Otter Pride night
[1:13] for Fergus Falls Public Schools. And so
[1:16] with that, I will offer that resolution
[1:18] and move for its adoption. Is there a
[1:20] second?
[1:21] >> Second it.
[1:22] >> Okay. Discussion.
[1:26] Hearing none. Um, clerk, will you please
[1:28] take role?
[1:29] >> Yes. Kelly Graph,
[1:30] >> yes.
[1:31] >> Jenny Christensen,
[1:32] >> yes.
[1:32] >> Missy Hermes, yes. Melanie Cole,
[1:34] >> yes.
[1:35] >> Steven Bigosa,
[1:36] >> yes.
[1:36] >> Kirby Anderson,
[1:37] >> yes.
[1:38] >> The resolution is adopted. Thank you.
[1:41] >> We have reports tonight and welcome the
[1:44] princip principles back after a hiatus.
[1:47] So, we'll start with John Steinbrer,
[1:49] elementary principal at Lincoln. Good
[1:51] evening, John.
[1:52] >> Hi. Good evening.
[1:54] um a light report tonight, but just some
[1:57] highlights that I wanted to offer as we um as we start off the school
[2:04] year. So, um so far a great start
[2:06] between ECF, preschool, kindergarten,
[2:09] and first grade. We've had four separate
[2:11] first days, and each of them has kind of
[2:13] felt like a first day, but um it's been
[2:16] it it actually kind of stretches out the
[2:18] fun. though. Um, with those four
[2:20] separate first days, um, it was really
[2:22] nice to have our first graders again
[2:24] there to help us lead the way. Um, when
[2:26] we had our kindergarteners stop in the
[2:28] next day, those first graders really
[2:30] helped to, um, show and help lead in
[2:33] those transitions and routines. This
[2:35] year at Lincoln, we have 15 sections
[2:38] again in preK through grade 1. We're a
[2:40] 15 section school. Um, and that is
[2:43] that's the same as last year. The one
[2:45] big difference is just in the balance.
[2:47] This year we have one less section of
[2:50] first grade, but one more section of
[2:52] kindergarten. And we'll talk a little
[2:53] bit more about that as as I go through
[2:56] these bulleted items. Um, at Otter
[2:58] Preschool, our enrollment remains pretty
[3:01] strong in our full day offering. So we
[3:04] have three Monday through Thursday
[3:06] classes and then one Tuesday, Thursday
[3:08] kind of every other day, two time per
[3:10] week class. And out of those offerings,
[3:12] we have 74 of 80 spots filled. Um, and
[3:15] so I'm I'm feeling really good about
[3:16] that. Each classroom has um has about
[3:19] one or two spots for one more students,
[3:21] but we've continued to see enrollment
[3:24] even over the past few weeks, which has
[3:25] been really nice. Um, we also have a
[3:29] number of new to us three-year-olds um
[3:31] who are experiencing um formalized
[3:34] school for the first time, and that's
[3:35] always an adjustment for everybody, but
[3:38] they they seem to be just doing a nice
[3:40] job and handling it just fine. So, we're
[3:42] excited to welcome those new
[3:44] three-year-olds into Lincoln School. Um,
[3:47] just a highlight here, tuition
[3:48] statements were sent out to preschool
[3:50] families last week, and because of
[3:53] Pathway 2 scholarships and voluntary
[3:55] prek funding, gosh, we're we're able to
[3:58] keep those tuition prices down really, low in some cases. Um it's a 60%
[4:05] reduction for families who are who have
[4:08] completed the application and who are
[4:10] eligible for free or reduced lunch. Um
[4:14] they they sometimes see a tuition rate
[4:16] of $0 um for preschool. So, um the the
[4:22] big the big thing there is um everyone
[4:24] has just been so so helpful in getting
[4:27] those applications processed, but then
[4:29] more so um the help of just uh having
[4:32] access to those revenue streams is
[4:34] really nice and and pays off. Um we've
[4:37] worked really hard to make preschool
[4:38] accessible and affordable for the
[4:40] families within our community. We're
[4:41] really proud of that. Switching over to
[4:43] Lincoln Elementary. Um, at grades
[4:46] kindergarten through first grade, we
[4:47] presently have 185 students across 10
[4:50] sections. Kindergarten, we rebounded
[4:52] this year. We're up to 147. Um, last
[4:56] year we were sitting at about 126. So,
[4:58] we've gained back um 20 students. Um,
[5:03] you know, we do have some students who
[5:05] because of age or development, they they
[5:07] do a second year of kindergarten and
[5:09] that's just fine. Um, but that's true
[5:10] every year. So, I think really what
[5:12] we're looking at is we're looking at
[5:13] about a a plus 20 from the year before,
[5:16] which is really great. Um, one of the strategies that we talked
[5:20] about last year um toward the end of the
[5:22] year at at enrollment time was starting
[5:24] with our youngest learner section which
[5:27] is up and running. Um, so all of those
[5:29] children turned five during June, July,
[5:32] and August of this summer. And so the nice thing is we're able to meet
[5:37] their needs in one classroom and that
[5:39] classroom is going just great. kids are
[5:41] having a good time and they're learning
[5:42] just like their grade level peers. It's
[5:44] just unique to them and their
[5:45] chronological age. So, I feel like
[5:47] that's that's going really well. Um I've
[5:50] mentioned before it's kind of a bummer
[5:52] though because there aren't any
[5:53] birthdays during the middle of the
[5:54] school year. So, we're just going to
[5:55] have one big birthday celebration for
[5:58] that.
[5:58] >> Yeah. Um
[6:01] we last week completed our bus safety.
[6:05] Um practice our emergency procedures for
[6:08] fire drills. All of which went really well. Um just takes a little bit
[6:11] more time at Lincoln School to get
[6:13] everyone out of the building, but um
[6:14] that that went well. Uh communication
[6:16] systems were were checked out. Um and we're in good shape there. We hosted
[6:22] our first book fair also last week.
[6:24] Really nice turnout for families. Um
[6:26] hosted a bit of a carnival in that STEM
[6:28] area which has proven to be just such a
[6:30] nice multi-purpose use space. Um a lot
[6:32] of folks stopped in. Um it was just a
[6:34] nice family event. Um and so altogether
[6:37] just a really really nice nice start to
[6:39] the school year.
[6:42] >> Great. At this point I would entertain
[6:44] any questions if anyone has any
[6:45] prepared.
[6:46] >> I don't have a question per se but I do
[6:48] want to say that my daughter does take
[6:49] the bus from Lincoln and um for anybody
[6:53] who out there who may be concerned about
[6:55] their littles taking the bus. Um it has
[6:57] been wonderful. They're actually she has
[7:00] been adopted by a couple high school
[7:01] kids on the bus who walk her across the
[7:04] street when she gets to her stop and
[7:06] also she has suckered them into letting
[7:09] her watch Spidey and friends on their
[7:10] phones on the way home.
[7:12] >> Adopted or hired.
[7:14] >> Yeah, I think yeah, I did ask her how
[7:15] many cults she started on the bus, but
[7:17] yeah. So anyway, I just want to say it's been really wonderful a wonderful
[7:21] experience having a preschooler on a bus
[7:24] with so many different ages. We they've
[7:26] done a really great job with that.
[7:27] >> Great. So,
[7:27] >> thanks for sharing that.
[7:30] >> Okay.
[7:30] >> All right.
[7:31] >> Thank you.
[7:33] >> Next, we'll hear from elementary
[7:35] principal at Adams and McKinley, Scott
[7:37] Colbeck.
[7:38] >> Good evening, Scott.
[7:41] >> Good evening. Good to see all of you
[7:42] again. Uh, four weeks ago, we welcomed
[7:46] 178 students to Adam School and split
[7:50] those kids into nine classrooms and we
[7:52] welcomed 201 McKinley across 10
[7:56] classrooms. It's been a really good
[7:58] start to the school year. I would I
[8:00] would describe our class sizes as
[8:03] refreshing and very comfortable. Um, our
[8:08] four sections of first grade between
[8:11] McKinley and Adams, we range in class
[8:14] size from 18 to 19 kids.
[8:18] In second grade between our eight
[8:20] sections, we range in size from 18 to
[8:23] 21. And in third grade, between our
[8:27] seven sections, we range in size from 20
[8:30] to 22.
[8:33] I really think that in all of my years
[8:35] as elementary principal, I cannot recall
[8:40] class sizes like that across the board.
[8:43] So, it's just been really, really nice.
[8:45] Uh, for what it's worth, thank you. Um,
[8:48] our teachers would say it feels lighter.
[8:52] Uh, so it's just been great. uh that
[8:54] way. We are very much enjoying uh some
[8:58] improvements to Adam School. Uh let me
[9:02] tell you about all of them. Starting
[9:04] back to last spring, we have a new roof.
[9:08] And this summer, we received new
[9:11] asphalt. Not just a new layer, but they
[9:16] dug it all out and put all new asphalt
[9:18] in. that includes the parking lot and
[9:21] the playground and the curb appeal of
[9:23] Adam School now is just off the charts.
[9:26] Um, we have new carpeting in many of our
[9:29] spaces. Uh, any room that received new
[9:32] carpeting also is freshly painted. Um,
[9:38] the two restrooms in the first grade
[9:40] wing are entirely remodeled. You talk
[9:43] about just gutted down to nothing and
[9:45] starting over. They're beautiful. check
[9:47] them out the next time you're at atom
[9:49] school. And then in the restrooms
[9:51] nearest the main office, we have some
[9:53] new uh new floors and some new sinks. Uh
[9:58] pretty great. Our entire building was
[10:01] rewired this summer. We have new
[10:04] wireless access points in every
[10:06] classroom along with new audio
[10:07] enhancement systems in each classroom.
[10:10] So, um our 1939 building that's 87 years
[10:14] old. In 13 years, we'll be celebrating
[10:16] 100 years. Building's looking pretty
[10:19] sharp, and I'm looking forward to future
[10:22] uh improvements um to that building. I
[10:25] got to tell you something interesting.
[10:27] This summer, there was an electrician
[10:29] working in the basement of Adam School
[10:31] up above the hung ceiling and he found a
[10:34] time capsule.
[10:36] 1992. And who do you think was behind
[10:40] the time capsule? Was fourth grade
[10:42] teacher Dave Ellis. And in the time
[10:44] capsule were letters written by fourth
[10:46] grade students. So that was brought to
[10:49] my attention this past week. I saw him
[10:51] this weekend and now that time capsule
[10:53] is waiting for him to pick pick it up at
[10:55] Adam school. But kind of neat stuff. Um
[10:58] our students, they were very excited. I
[11:00] know I talk about this a lot, but I it's
[11:02] a big deal. Our students were really
[11:04] excited for Jaws to start last week and
[11:06] we thank our many volunteers uh for
[11:09] without them we would not have that
[11:10] program. And uh this week we will
[11:13] recognize our first all-star students in
[11:16] both of our buildings, one from every
[11:18] classroom. Uh our students and staff are
[11:21] looking forward to walking to the
[11:23] homecoming parade on Friday and busing
[11:26] back just in time to catch the buses
[11:28] home. Attendance through our first 19
[11:31] days of school. I'm happy to report that
[11:33] we see no concerning patterns yet.
[11:36] Therefore, we do not need to send any
[11:38] letters home as of right now. It was
[11:41] great to see so many of our young
[11:42] students at Otter Pride Night just 8
[11:45] days into the school year, two weeks in.
[11:48] Uh we're excited to have local artist
[11:50] Sarah Ranovik back working with our kids
[11:52] again this year. She is scheduled for
[11:55] Adams and McKinley, all 19 classrooms in
[11:58] October.
[12:00] And then thank you to our skilled and
[12:02] dedicated reading interventionists who
[12:04] are screening all of our students this
[12:06] week. and our classroom teachers are
[12:08] eagerly awaiting the results which will
[12:10] help them fine-tune their small groupoup
[12:12] instruction. And lastly, I want to thank
[12:14] our PTO. We recently had a PTO meeting
[12:17] and they continue to provide wonderful
[12:20] opportunities for our students and uh
[12:23] they had some new signage at our open
[12:25] houses uh and they also had treats for
[12:28] our staff on the first day of school.
[12:29] So, uh, they just continued to knock it
[12:32] out of the park, our PTO, and it was it
[12:35] was a well attended, uh, first first
[12:38] meeting of the school year last week.
[12:40] So, with that, I I could entertain
[12:42] questions.
[12:46] » Are there any questions for Mr. Colbeck?
[12:49] >> Guess not. Thank you very much.
[12:51] >> Next, we will hear from elementary
[12:54] principal Tindy Run from Cleveland. Good
[12:56] evening, Tindy.
[12:56] >> Good evening, everybody. Um I too just
[13:00] want to uh begin our report tonight with
[13:03] just an overview of our enrollment at
[13:05] Cleveland. Um we've had continued
[13:07] changes as up to today. Um so we could
[13:10] continue to adjust but we have a total
[13:12] of um 185 fourth graders at Cleveland
[13:15] this year. We've uh have went from seven
[13:17] sections to eight sections this school
[13:19] year. And then in fifth grade we have
[13:21] 173 students. So there's a total of 358
[13:25] um kids at Cleveland. Um, and each
[13:28] September, uh, one important aspect we
[13:30] focus on is safety. And we just keep
[13:32] talking that's our number one priority
[13:33] and the fun comes after that. Um, so
[13:36] we've conducted several of safety drills
[13:38] at Cleveland and also prairie science
[13:39] class. So students learn where we need
[13:42] to e where we exit to and gather um, if
[13:45] there's a fire drill or we need to leave
[13:46] the building for um, some purpose. So we
[13:49] practice that and we go slow so they
[13:52] learn that and they learn the safety
[13:53] aspects of that and then um we will just
[13:56] uh continue to do that as the year goes
[13:57] on. Um our FIAD teachers have provided
[14:00] education on bus safety as well as
[14:02] pedestrian and bike safety and um as you
[14:05] know students in fourth and fifth grade
[14:07] become a little more independent with
[14:09] walking and biking to and from school
[14:10] each day. Um, all the while, uh, we are
[14:13] encouraging students to take the shuttle
[14:16] buses after school to get from Cleveland
[14:18] to the bus transfer site, um, if they're
[14:20] taking their route bus home. Um, that
[14:22] way they avoid the three busy
[14:24] intersections between Cleveland and
[14:26] Kennedy. So, we ask parents to review
[14:28] their child's afterchool plan um, with
[14:31] their child so that that's reinforced
[14:33] with the kids. Um, if once they leave
[14:36] the Cleveland grounds, they're they're
[14:38] walking independently. So, uh, just one
[14:41] more thing for parents to review and
[14:43] consider with their with their kids as
[14:45] to what what plan's going to work best
[14:46] for them. Um, at this time, students are
[14:49] also working on their fire safety poster
[14:51] contest. And this is a big deal um for
[14:54] kids. They're the posters that are
[14:57] selected to be prize winners get to go
[14:59] out for lunch with the firemen on the
[15:00] fire truck. Um, so they're that is
[15:03] motivating in and of itself. But this
[15:05] year's theme is charge into fire safety.
[15:07] Um, they're focusing on safe charging
[15:10] devices safely. And so kids are coming
[15:13] up with um lots of great pictures and
[15:15] ideas to include in their their fire
[15:17] safety posters.
[15:19] We too at Cleveland are conducting the
[15:21] universal screening at this time. We
[15:23] started last week and then um at the
[15:25] conclusion of that this week we have a
[15:28] date scheduled to review student data
[15:30] and identify students who may uh benefit
[15:32] from a boost in reading, math and also
[15:35] behavior.
[15:37] Uh last week orchestra lessons and
[15:39] rehearsals began for our fifth and
[15:41] fourth grade students. Um and in fifth
[15:43] grade there are 101 students
[15:45] participating in orchestra. And in
[15:47] fourth grade there are 121 participants.
[15:50] So um when you do the math that's 62% of
[15:53] the Cleveland population is
[15:55] participating in this opportunity. So
[15:57] that's pretty awesome. Pretty awesome.
[15:59] And then um credit to our district. We
[16:02] are the only district in our area that
[16:04] um provides this opportunity for these
[16:06] young younger students. So, lots to
[16:08] celebrate there.
[16:10] Uh last Thursday we had we were able to
[16:14] participate in a science and nature
[16:16] conference that was held at Prairie
[16:17] Wetlands Learning Center. Lakes Country
[16:20] Service Cooperative pursued a grant that
[16:22] supported all of it. Um so a big thank
[16:25] you to Monica Thompson who is the
[16:27] quarter of coordinator of technology and
[16:30] student um academic challenges at Lakes
[16:32] Country Service Co-op. She um pursued
[16:35] the grant, coordinated it all, planned
[16:38] it all, um just saw it all through. So a
[16:40] great big thank you to them. Um there
[16:43] were seven different sessions that
[16:45] students were able to um identify their
[16:49] top three or four I believe it was and
[16:51] so they were guaranteed their top um
[16:55] their top choices. Everybody attended a
[16:57] presentation that was presented by the
[16:59] Minnesota Science Museum um on
[17:02] engineering. Um some of our fourth
[17:04] graders have seen participated in that
[17:06] in previous years. So, they were here
[17:08] doing that awesome presentation and then
[17:10] they had another session after that and
[17:13] I think the only way um despite the
[17:15] weather, everybody did a great job of um
[17:17] adjusting with the weather conditions
[17:19] last Thursday, but I think the only
[17:21] thing that would have made the day
[17:22] better is if we could have stayed longer
[17:24] and attended one or two more sessions.
[17:26] Um it was really very very well done. Um
[17:29] the presenters did a phenomenal job um
[17:32] working with the kids and providing some
[17:34] hands-on experiences and just topics
[17:37] that were kind of out of the ordinary.
[17:40] And then lastly um just want to
[17:42] recognize that um Upstream Minnesota uh
[17:46] is awarding the 2026 Unsung Caretaker
[17:49] Award to the um collective team that
[17:52] works with the Prairie Science class
[17:55] programming. And so they're recognizing
[17:57] the efforts that um are put into uh um
[18:01] educating kids with environmental
[18:02] education aspects and u bringing things
[18:05] to their attention. So this award
[18:07] belongs to each person who brings this
[18:09] work to life every day at Prairie
[18:11] Wetlands Learning Center. Um, along with
[18:13] the $250 honorarium for the program,
[18:16] Upstream Upstream Minnesota is also
[18:18] hosting an award dinner and a pan panel
[18:21] discussion to celebrate the prairie
[18:23] science class partnership along with
[18:25] five other awardees that will be
[18:27] recognized that same evening. So, great
[18:29] thing to celebrate there. And that
[18:31] concludes my Oh, I what I wanted to show
[18:33] you. Um, as part of the science and
[18:35] nature conference, each student got a
[18:37] little ziplockc baggie that includes a a
[18:41] small little journal, a pencil, and a
[18:42] magnifying glass. So, some of the
[18:44] sessions utilized these that day and
[18:46] others got it got to take it home as
[18:48] kind of a remembrance of that day. So,
[18:51] fun stuff.
[18:52] >> Great. Any questions for Gendy Run?
[18:56] Thank you.
[18:56] >> All right. Thank you. We'll hear from
[18:59] Ivan Hurst, middle school principal.
[19:01] Good evening, Ivan.
[19:02] >> Good evening. Uh we've really enjoyed a
[19:04] fantastic start to the school year. It's
[19:06] always good to get back with my people
[19:08] and uh so I'm really excited about that.
[19:10] Um uh we we've had a good start. Um it's
[19:13] great to have the halls and classrooms
[19:14] filled with students and all that
[19:16] energy. Um
[19:18] uh we're plus 36 kids in the middle
[19:20] school. Uh that's cohort to cohort. So
[19:23] fifth to sixth we added um 13 kids. A
[19:26] number of those were from OV but not all
[19:28] of them. And then seventh grade that
[19:30] cohort added 11 kids. and the eighth
[19:32] grade cohort added um 12 kids. We're
[19:34] plus 36. Um we're we're full. We're
[19:37] doing well. Um we actually didn't lose
[19:40] much enrollment year over uh
[19:42] year-over-year with with all those
[19:43] additional students. Um last week we had
[19:46] a great opportunity as uh we
[19:48] collaborated with staff development to
[19:49] have Joe Beckman join us um in our and
[19:52] what an uplifting experience. Um Joe
[19:55] focused on being a difference maker make
[19:59] someone's day or a difference taker take
[20:02] someone's day and that's pretty easy to
[20:04] remember. Um um we could use that some
[20:07] principles might even used it right
[20:09] during the presentation. Um uh but easy
[20:13] to use like right away. Um so it was a
[20:15] really uplifting story. He told a he
[20:17] told an engaging story about himself. I
[20:19] don't know if it was true or not, but
[20:20] himself as a young person and how he
[20:23] wasn't um he had a student in his group
[20:25] that wasn't the most popular and then he
[20:28] went to a different group and then he
[20:30] wasn't the most popular went back made
[20:32] that kid made a difference for that kid.
[20:34] So, um he told the differencemaker,
[20:36] difference taker. Um some of the other
[20:38] things that he talked about was um
[20:40] what's your legacy? How do you want
[20:42] people to remember you? That's pretty deep. That's pretty deep
[20:47] um for young people, but that's
[20:48] something we can use certainly. And then the best one was we got some
[20:52] mileage out of this, but I thought it
[20:53] would be more but I love your face. Um
[20:55] and and I love your face really revolved
[20:58] around getting off your phone and being
[21:00] engaged with others. Um but I think you
[21:03] just use it as it's nice to see you. I
[21:06] love your face. And so we had kids
[21:08] saying that which could have been
[21:10] awkward just a few hours before that,
[21:11] but after wasn't awkward anymore. It was
[21:14] fine. Yeah. Uh really great, super
[21:17] positive experience for the staff and
[21:18] for uh kids. Um and and we've used the
[21:22] difference make taker phrase a number of
[21:24] times uh in a in a short few days. Uh
[21:26] this week's homecoming. I'm sure Mr.
[21:28] Anderson will talk a great deal about
[21:29] that. Today is jersey day and since we
[21:32] won, I won. Um tomorrow is country or
[21:36] country club. So uh we'll probably seek
[21:39] out some flannel for tomorrow. Uh the
[21:41] days are selected by the student council
[21:43] uh as advised by Mr. uh Johnson. So um
[21:46] that's really the entirety plus the
[21:48] parade of course, but that's the
[21:49] entirety of middle school homecoming
[21:51] week is dress up phase and parade.
[21:54] Um some of the other principles talked
[21:57] about bus and pedestrian safety. We
[21:58] completed that. We checked that box. Uh
[22:00] bike safety, that's part of our FIAD uh
[22:02] curriculum. So that that box um will be
[22:05] checked here shortly. Um attendance is a
[22:08] really big deal. you can't do anything
[22:10] until they're there. And so, um, last
[22:13] year our attendance, including medical
[22:15] absences, so even if you either you were
[22:18] there or not, um, uh, quarter 1 was by
[22:21] far our best quarter, which kind of
[22:22] makes sense. Everyone's excited. Um, um,
[22:26] peer-to-peer conflict isn't as as um out
[22:30] there. Um, no one's sick.
[22:34] Um,
[22:36] I have a couple others, but I'll just
[22:38] leave those for after the meeting. But
[22:39] that that's where we're about mid64s.
[22:42] Uh, sixth grade had attendance last
[22:44] year, even with medical absences of just
[22:46] under 70% attended school 70 uh 95% of
[22:50] the time. Um, so we are continuing to
[22:54] address attendance in a variety of ways.
[22:56] You've heard me say them. I'm not going
[22:57] to read them all, but if you want to see
[22:58] our action plan for that, I'm happy to
[23:00] share that. Um, but we're going to we're
[23:01] going to keep using the bar program.
[23:03] That's my segue into bar um um next. So,
[23:06] we have a nice action plan addressing
[23:08] attendance. Um, and the one the one step
[23:11] that I I've committed to is that I'm
[23:14] adding is to reach out to anyone that's
[23:16] planning to go to a set meeting who who
[23:18] Miss Johnson, Miss Lynn has um invited
[23:21] to a set meeting. You you need to talk
[23:23] to me, probably the parents really first
[23:26] at the middle school level, but it could
[23:27] be kids. but trying to just that can be
[23:30] a big job.
[23:32] >> So, we'll we'll do it as long as we can
[23:34] certainly, but that's part of that's
[23:35] part of the action plan. Um how can I
[23:37] make a difference myself? Uh bar, we had
[23:39] two full days of bar training uh during
[23:41] fall inservice. Um the first session was
[23:43] effective team meetings. Uh um so we did
[23:46] one full day on how to have effective
[23:48] team meetings. That was really
[23:49] wellreceived because at the end of last
[23:52] year, our biggest frustration was
[23:53] effective team meetings. How did they
[23:55] know? Um, so we we some of some of the
[23:58] things that helped us, how do we we know
[24:00] so we get to reset. The beauty of school
[24:02] is we get to start over and the start
[24:04] over means we get to kind of correct our
[24:06] mistakes from last year. Oddly enough,
[24:08] it's hard to do that midstream. It's
[24:09] just hard to we're going to do it. And
[24:12] there's that internal battle kind of no
[24:13] matter what team you're on. Uh, but we
[24:15] got we're starting fresh. I've attended
[24:17] a few uh small uh small and a big block
[24:20] meeting. Like oh yeah, it's noticeable
[24:23] different. Uh it feels really good.
[24:25] Shout out to the seventh grade team.
[24:26] They are they are really killing it and
[24:29] it's really it's really fantastic. Uh
[24:31] effective team meetings. I got off on a
[24:32] little tangent there. Uh we use academic
[24:34] and holistic data to determine the needs
[24:36] of each kid. Uh some kids have no needs,
[24:38] so they're a level zero. We need no
[24:40] adult intervention um as they work
[24:42] through the system. That could be up to
[24:43] a level three, which means we need all
[24:45] the adults. Um so we're at the beginning
[24:49] of the year and we're working through
[24:50] that process. The second day was
[24:51] trauma-informed practices. How do we
[24:53] work with students? Um, a lot of
[24:55] students have trauma and how do we how
[24:58] do we work through that? So, um, the the
[25:00] two overarching messages that I want to
[25:02] share with you is emphasizing clear and
[25:04] predictable classroom structure, school
[25:06] structure, so they know what to expect.
[25:08] We're not surprised. Um, and then, uh,
[25:12] transparent expectations. We all know, that if this, then that. And
[25:17] that can really help kids with trauma.
[25:19] Okay, I knew that was going to happen.
[25:21] Um and then the other part is uh um as
[25:25] adults in our team meetings reframing
[25:26] student behavior going from what's wrong
[25:29] with you to why do you do that and and
[25:33] try to be more curious with our students
[25:35] with trauma rather than um just uh
[25:38] giving them a consequence. Uh
[25:42] we believe in the middle school that
[25:44] students they need to be taught what to
[25:45] do. We think they know but this is a
[25:47] really hard time. there's more hormones
[25:50] and all these things are going on and
[25:52] there's all these peer groups and more
[25:54] freedom than they've ever had. So, we
[25:56] have to work through that. Um, but
[25:58] again, we're going to hold them account
[25:59] accountable as well. So, I'm wrapping
[26:02] that back up into instead of asking
[26:04] what's wrong with you? Why did you do
[26:06] that? Is there any exterior stimuli
[26:10] that's causing the student to do that?
[26:12] Really try to get to the root of the
[26:13] problem. Okay. I have a whole bunch more
[26:15] on bar. Um, but that was our two-day
[26:17] training. Um, we've seen some good
[26:19] growth this year. I'm summarizing what
[26:20] I'm what I'm looking at. Um, we have bar
[26:22] support. Every Tuesday morning we have a
[26:24] 45minute call with our with our bar
[26:26] coach. Um, I believe she's out of
[26:28] Florida this year and and that's that's
[26:31] fine. Um,
[26:33] and uh we have we have her cell phone.
[26:35] We can email or call anytime, but we
[26:36] have them weekly meeting. Um, and we'll
[26:40] have four site visits by her as well.
[26:42] she'll come and observe uh some of our
[26:44] eye time lessons that we deliver as far
[26:46] as some of our team meetings and
[26:48] hopefully our community community
[26:49] connect meeting which is middle school
[26:51] staff uh student assistance team. Okay,
[26:54] last page um pair teacher communication
[26:57] has gone out that's right around the
[26:58] corner about 3 weeks away. A reminder
[27:00] that our seventh and eighth grade do
[27:02] studentled conferences for that so they
[27:03] get the experience of talking about
[27:05] themselves. uh our adviserss in seventh
[27:07] and eighth grade facilitate those
[27:09] conversations. Um so that that's a good
[27:12] experience um for our young people. How
[27:14] do you talk about yourself? And our
[27:16] teachers are are really good about that.
[27:18] Um and our monthly class meetings, we
[27:20] have a we had a class meeting. We call
[27:21] them class meetings. It's really Ivan
[27:23] talking about stuff, right? But the
[27:25] class meeting at the beginning of the
[27:26] year, student expectations. Um one thing
[27:28] that we attacked this year was we did
[27:30] energy drinks a couple years ago. Like
[27:32] we're done. And that was good. Now, we
[27:34] the staff just said we should really do
[27:36] it before school, too. So, we haven't
[27:39] seen we've only seen a couple of cans,
[27:41] usually bubblers, but you can't have
[27:43] that before school. We're not we're not
[27:45] permitting that before school. And
[27:46] that's what um that's been wellreceived.
[27:49] Maybe parents don't have to stop at
[27:51] perks. Okay. Um so, our monthly class
[27:54] meeting is next week. The focus of the
[27:55] meeting, we always do this in our
[27:56] October one. Um but we emphasize, but we
[27:59] talk about harassment. What does
[28:02] harassment look like? How do we treat
[28:05] others? And then I have a squash story
[28:07] which I'm not going to tell you. You get
[28:08] that privately if you like. But how how
[28:10] do we think about things? We think about
[28:13] things differently when we get older. Do
[28:14] I like this or not?
[28:17] We focus as humans on things we don't
[28:19] like. And that's not really that
[28:21] helpful. We should focus on things we
[28:24] like. And so that's the swash story. Um
[28:27] part of that is harassment. If you don't
[28:29] like it, don't spend time and energy on
[28:31] it. That would be silly. Um, and then
[28:33] just general otter are work which is
[28:36] treating each other with kindness.
[28:39] Any questions?
[28:44] » Any troubles with cell phones at all
[28:46] this year?
[28:46] >> No. A good question. Uh, so we
[28:48] implemented our away for the day with
[28:51] additional support. advertised that
[28:52] really well not only in class meetings
[28:54] but parent communication the parents
[28:55] s'more you know kind of everyone knows
[28:58] and we have um last check nine students
[29:00] that have been caught this year with
[29:02] their cell phone. A part of our process
[29:04] is uh you get caught you lose it for the
[29:07] rest of the school day which is what we
[29:08] were doing last year. Um we also call
[29:11] your parent now and say the next time
[29:14] they get caught you have to come in and
[29:16] get it. And we have one student that
[29:18] made it there on the second day of
[29:19] school but that's it. So only one
[29:21] student on step two and uh nine nine
[29:25] other students on step one.
[29:27] >> So just that extra phone call, you know,
[29:29] I'm not going to get it kind of thing.
[29:31] >> All right.
[29:32] >> It'll it'll take
[29:33] >> it's a marathon, not a sprint,
[29:35] >> but it's going well.
[29:37] >> We're we're 19 days in, so I don't think
[29:39] 10's bad.
[29:41] >> Oh, not bad. All right. Any other
[29:44] questions?
[29:45] >> Thanks for your report.
[29:48] And we'll hear from Mark Anderson, high
[29:50] school principal, ALC and IQ.
[29:52] >> Good evening. How's everybody doing?
[29:53] >> Good.
[29:54] >> I blew it up to 150. It's still not big
[29:56] enough without my cheaters getting old.
[29:59] >> Um IQ Academy. Uh Ryan and the crew went
[30:02] down to Koma Zoo last week. They were
[30:03] supposed to go the prior week, but it
[30:04] was pouring rain the whole day. So had
[30:06] about 30 families or 30 students with
[30:08] their families attend, which was nice.
[30:10] Um the IQ Academy group, Language Arts,
[30:13] and and Ryan are participating in the
[30:15] Strive ReadAct training. So, they've got
[30:17] that out and going. Uh, the IQ Academy
[30:19] is also working on the secondary
[30:21] students being tested in CAPI, which is
[30:23] dyslexia screening. So, they're going to
[30:25] work through that with Amelia and how
[30:26] many they're going to have assessed. And
[30:28] enrollment of as of Monday, which is
[30:30] today, is 563 students and they're still
[30:33] onboarding students as we speak. So,
[30:34] >> say the number again.
[30:35] >> 563.
[30:37] >> Thank you.
[30:39] >> The ALC Carrie would like to thank
[30:40] everybody, uh, the staff members and
[30:42] maintenance crew for the excellent start
[30:43] to the school year. uh new Ajiway course
[30:46] that was added to the schedule for
[30:47] Native Americans um has is a uh awesome
[30:50] opportunity for them. All of our Native
[30:52] American students are taking the Ajiway
[30:54] course. Uh it was funded through a grant
[30:56] that Berkeley was a able to write
[30:58] through the American Native grant funds
[31:00] and uh not only are they learning
[31:02] Ajiway, uh Miss Desbart is teaching it
[31:04] with some she's done a lot of work
[31:06] during the summer and uh was also
[31:08] teaching some of the things culturally
[31:10] that uh you would see in the Native
[31:11] American culture, not just Ojiway. uh
[31:14] Berkeley is another resource for her.
[31:15] So, she's working hard getting into that
[31:17] space. Uh teachers at the ALC um had
[31:20] fall training the first session of World
[31:21] Savvy and World Savvy is working with
[31:24] the staff and they're going to work on
[31:25] uh project based learning. It's a focus
[31:27] for uh World Savvy and then uh their
[31:29] comprehensive needs assessment which
[31:31] because they qualified through MDE,
[31:33] they'll connect that piece of their data
[31:35] with project-based learning to move
[31:37] forward with the students with a little
[31:38] more hands-on opportunities.
[31:40] One of the main goals uh for them is to
[31:42] make sure that uh they're really focused
[31:44] on the world savvy. It's a great
[31:45] opportunity. They did a training this
[31:47] summer. Staff is on board. They were
[31:49] really excited about it and they're
[31:50] really challenging some of the things
[31:52] and processes they do at this at the
[31:54] school as they move forward from day to
[31:56] day. And their current enrollment is 71.
[31:59] So, uh they've I know we've added a
[32:01] couple from the high school. Um it's
[32:03] probably the location for those
[32:04] students. Um little smaller space. So
[32:06] Carrie usually starts the year out about
[32:09] 65 and then we end up around 95 to 100
[32:12] and usually by the end of the year a
[32:13] senior or two is going down because it's
[32:15] the only way they can make graduation
[32:17] with some of the flexibility they have
[32:18] down there with classes at the high
[32:21] school. I would like to thank
[32:22] maintenance. They did an amazing job
[32:23] this summer getting the the building
[32:25] ready, especially since we started a
[32:27] week u early with pictures. They had the
[32:29] place just spotless. And then I'd like
[32:32] to thank our staff uh for the work
[32:33] they've done for the first month of
[32:34] school. It's been really an awesome
[32:36] first 17- 18 days of school. Uh we have
[32:39] 750 plus students. We've started at 3
[32:42] 765. Some moved to the ALC. There's been
[32:45] fluctuation in and out. So that's more
[32:46] than we had planned on last year. So um
[32:49] we're excited about that and hope we
[32:51] keep growing with number there. Uh we do
[32:53] have homecoming this week. Um
[32:55] coordination is night at 7 o'clock. So
[32:57] when I'm done here, I'm just going to
[32:58] head on over to help chain. Uh royalty
[33:01] will be out all day Tuesday going out
[33:03] and seeing the community and meeting and
[33:05] having a meal. It's usually a great
[33:07] connection. Um we always get phone
[33:09] calls, are you still coming? Um so it's
[33:10] nice that our community appreciates that
[33:12] and we're able to go out and connect
[33:14] with our some of our retired um
[33:16] community members. U the importance of
[33:18] what we do in our building. Uh the field
[33:20] trip will be Wednesday, Thursday pending
[33:22] weather. So depending on the weather, uh
[33:24] they'll be out practicing that part. And
[33:26] Friday is Iron Man volleyball and
[33:28] powderpuff football. And then the parade
[33:29] is at two o'clock. Our grand marshall
[33:32] this year is retired teacher Roy
[33:34] Anderson. And our dance is over here at
[33:36] the wreck again. So uh Mr. Cedberg, our
[33:40] SRO, is working with um the law
[33:43] enforcement to make sure we have people
[33:45] out in uh over in the area just to make
[33:47] sure kids are getting across the
[33:48] crosswalk and things are safe.
[33:50] >> A lot of the kids usually hang out at
[33:52] the football game until 9:30 quarter to
[33:55] 10. And then we also have some kids who
[33:56] don't go to the game, so the door will
[33:58] be open. Um, I've talked my wife into
[34:00] supervising to start with until I get
[34:01] down there. So, um, she'll open the door
[34:04] around 9:00. If weather is bad, she'll
[34:06] let them stand inside the building so we
[34:07] don't get wet. So, we're looking forward
[34:09] to that. The high school teachers and
[34:11] Shane and myself have completed our
[34:13] first live session in Redact training.
[34:14] So, we're about 40% through that. And
[34:17] that was uh some things that we kind of
[34:19] talked about getting to that point. The
[34:21] live training was a couple weeks ago. It
[34:23] was uh interesting. a lot of best
[34:24] practices and things that I already are
[34:26] seeing happening in the classroom before
[34:28] we had the training. So, it's nice to
[34:30] see that our teachers were already
[34:31] involved in some of those things. Uh we
[34:33] have f uh we are finalizing our cappy
[34:35] training at the high school. All our
[34:37] special ed students will be assessed. Um
[34:39] and then we have about another eight or
[34:41] 10 students from last year and then some
[34:43] from the middle school that we'll
[34:44] continue to um assess just to make sure
[34:46] we're working through the growth and
[34:48] development of that um assessment. Uh,
[34:51] another exciting thing we have going on
[34:52] is our philanthropy and youth, our pay
[34:54] program. Miss Christensen kicked that
[34:57] off a couple weeks ago. Our enrollment
[34:59] is up 65% from last year. Um, I think
[35:01] when you start seeing the great things
[35:03] our kids do outside the building, um,
[35:05] and participating in those things and
[35:07] giving back $6,000 to our community
[35:10] along with the opportunity our kids have
[35:11] with the time and effort they put into
[35:13] it with the amount of money they get in
[35:15] scholarships is just absolutely amazing.
[35:17] In the last two summers, we've had two
[35:19] students do summer internships that have
[35:21] made5 to $6,000. And it's all about um
[35:24] threat uh working with our community and
[35:27] supporting them. Um and they've been
[35:28] recognized really well in the August um
[35:31] meeting uh into the school year,
[35:33] beginning of the school year
[35:34] presentation.
[35:36] Um uh a couple things about our online
[35:38] courses. Our online children's lits
[35:40] course is doing really well. Uh they
[35:42] actually have visited the public library
[35:44] even though they're on an online class.
[35:46] uh and the students have decided that
[35:48] their weekly book club will meet in the
[35:50] building and participate in the
[35:52] classroom. So, and kids are stopping in
[35:54] asking questions and finding space. The
[35:57] same thing can be true about our online
[35:58] Western Civilization, American
[36:00] Government, and our sports and
[36:01] nutrition. Uh walk around the building
[36:03] and see groups of three or four kids
[36:04] sitting around. I stop and ask what
[36:06] they're doing and they're like, "Are we
[36:07] in trouble?" I'm like, "No, just what
[36:08] are you doing?" Um we're studying for
[36:10] class. We're getting our work done. It's
[36:12] exactly what we want. They want kids
[36:13] practicing things they're going to do
[36:15] when they go to college. Um, and their biggest thing they say is it's
[36:18] just nice because I can go right to my
[36:20] teacher and ask questions if I have it
[36:22] and I can go back to go where I need to
[36:23] go get my work completed. Uh, a couple
[36:27] other things. Uh, we are also working on
[36:29] um, attendance. Lind has done a really
[36:31] nice job connecting parents or parents
[36:33] and students uh, who are not attending
[36:35] school, setting meetings up with
[36:37] counselors, trying to figure out if
[36:38] there's anything going on, what are the
[36:40] barriers. She's asked a few of us to
[36:42] call, made a few call phone calls
[36:44] myself. And then Lynn also is uh putting
[36:47] a lot of time and effort into that and
[36:48] meets with us in our SAP meeting and
[36:50] talks about some of the things that she
[36:52] needs support in if there's a student
[36:54] that is having a struggle getting to
[36:55] school. Thursday, September 24th, which
[36:59] was last week, we were able to host
[37:00] Jamestown Public Schools and Northern
[37:03] Cass. They're both looking to move to a
[37:04] 5:30 period day. Uh they came in to
[37:06] visit us. They met with Shane and I
[37:08] first, then they had the opportunity to
[37:10] meet with eight student council
[37:11] representatives. Wow, were they amazing.
[37:14] The the staff from the other schools
[37:16] came back and said they were lights out.
[37:17] Everything we wanted to know, they gave
[37:19] us the information. Um, they were very
[37:21] open about the good things and the
[37:22] things that they still want would like
[37:24] to see us maybe change. And then they uh
[37:26] staff uh from our leadership team was
[37:28] able to meet with them last and have a
[37:31] conversation on how it's going for the
[37:32] teaching staff. Um, and then Shane and I
[37:34] went in and answered any final questions
[37:36] they have. Um, they are coming back. I
[37:39] guess they want to come back and bring
[37:40] another group of uh staff members from
[37:42] both buildings to visit again. Um, our
[37:45] staff was excited to see them. Um, show
[37:47] off our school and what we're doing.
[37:49] Maybe the cookies that we made that day
[37:50] were good. They wanted to come back and
[37:52] have a couple, but uh, it was a great
[37:54] opportunity to kind of showcase what
[37:55] we're doing. Our cell phone policy,
[37:58] we've had a few more than nine kids have
[37:59] their phones turned in. We actually had
[38:01] a kid turned two in twice in like three
[38:03] days. What fell out of his pocket day
[38:05] two. So Shane and I have been making
[38:08] phone calls to all the parents on all
[38:09] violations. Um we have about four kids
[38:11] who are on violation three. Mom and dad
[38:14] are not thrilled. Um and just the
[38:16] conversation of where the the phone
[38:18] should be. It was either backpack or
[38:19] pouch. Kids kind of tend to leave it in
[38:22] their pocket and then when they walk out
[38:23] of class, they're on camera and then
[38:24] next thing you know, we know that
[38:26] they're using their phone and they
[38:27] shouldn't have it. So now all students
[38:29] put their pouches, their phones in the
[38:31] pouches when they walk in the class.
[38:32] Guess how many violations we've had the
[38:34] last couple days? Zero.
[38:37] >> So solved that problem really quick. And
[38:39] we told them that if they couldn't take
[38:40] care of the first one, the next one
[38:42] would be this. And then they don't want
[38:44] to have the next conversation. So they
[38:46] stepped up a lot in the last three days.
[38:48] Um the parents have been amazing. Um
[38:50] have not had a complaint from a parent
[38:51] at any conversation we had. Just
[38:54] unfortunately, like Shane said,
[38:56] someone's going to be in Fargo and guess
[38:57] where they were the first time a phone
[38:58] was taken and it was violation three.
[39:01] They were in Fargo and it had to stay at
[39:02] school for the weekend and mom and dad
[39:04] didn't feel too bad about it. So,
[39:07] um we do have a great opportunity that
[39:10] we have a couple students are doing what
[39:12] we call influencing for us at the high
[39:14] school. Dileia Viggasa and Brooklyn
[39:16] Busher are um taking information and
[39:18] meeting with me at uh couple every
[39:20] couple weeks. This last week they came
[39:22] and visited with Mr. Toki, got all the
[39:24] pictures and then put out questionnaires
[39:26] to all the candidates for uh king and
[39:28] queen along with uh the 9th through 11th
[39:31] graders of the royalty and just ask good
[39:33] questions, silly questions. We monitored
[39:36] them and then I sent out the um pictures
[39:39] to Hannah, Brenda, and Jesse to put on
[39:41] the website and social media just
[39:43] showing off some of the things that
[39:44] we're doing and then they also create
[39:46] created some nth and 11th grade ones
[39:48] that we'll share out after starting
[39:50] tomorrow. Um they did really good work.
[39:52] Um it's uh opportunity. They're
[39:54] interested in that area. Uh the next
[39:56] couple of things they'll be working on
[39:57] is career and technical education,
[39:59] college in the schools, uh our career
[40:01] day and veterans day. So um they're
[40:04] looking forward to it. They would like
[40:05] us to have a class on it so they can get
[40:07] credit. So um we're working towards that
[40:09] as a possibility moving forward. Um like
[40:12] I said, our career and technical
[40:13] education, uh right now we have 134
[40:16] classes that we offer this year in our
[40:18] CTE program. 62 of them are in
[40:20] specialized. What I what I mean is there
[40:22] 62 courses that we offer at least once.
[40:25] Some of them are offered multiple times.
[40:27] Uh and then our CIS, our college in the
[40:29] schools, we are offering 165 credits to
[40:32] our high school students this year.
[40:33] Thank you so much for that. Um it is we
[40:36] have a lot of kids staying in our
[40:37] building offer taking those
[40:38] opportunities and financially for them
[40:40] in the future. That's a really big deal.
[40:43] Uh the career fair is October 7th. If
[40:46] you're interested, come on in. will be
[40:47] busy that day, the gold gym and all the
[40:50] other things that are going on. Ninth
[40:51] graders get to tour the gym and then
[40:53] they get to see come see me to complete
[40:54] a Google form for some of their uh
[40:56] things they saw in the uh gold gym. 10th
[40:59] graders will have two sessions with
[41:01] local businessmen curated around the
[41:02] career and technical education wheel um
[41:04] and areas they maybe want to get
[41:06] involved in uh later in the high school
[41:08] and into college or career opportunity.
[41:10] They go to the gold gym and then they go
[41:12] back and complete their form with their
[41:14] second session. 11th graders are going
[41:16] on a college visit. So they choose um
[41:19] either uh Concordia, MSUM, NDSU, NDSCS
[41:24] or Morehead State. Um so we take them up
[41:26] there on buses. Um I always tell the
[41:29] kids I don't I don't believe college is
[41:31] for everybody, but I believe an
[41:32] opportunity to go see a college campus
[41:34] and hear the opportunities that might be
[41:36] available is something they all should
[41:38] hear. So they'll make their decisions as
[41:39] they become seniors if they move on in
[41:41] that area. Our seniors have a guest
[41:44] speaker. Jenny's coming that day to
[41:46] speak to our seniors and to the
[41:48] surrounding schools at 12 o'clock. We
[41:50] have two sessions for them. A lot of it,
[41:52] some of it's around career and co uh
[41:54] college FAA scholarships. Some is around
[41:57] mental health. One is on teaching
[41:58] profession. Last year we had 40 kids
[42:00] attend. So we have those opportunities.
[42:02] And then we have finance, which is a big
[42:04] deal for kids when they're seniors of
[42:06] where you're putting your money and are
[42:08] you putting it away and being smart with
[42:10] it and what should you be thinking about
[42:11] when it comes to debt.
[42:13] >> And then our counselors have put out had
[42:16] their first senior meeting with the
[42:17] senior uh class uh talking about all the
[42:19] things they should be preparing for
[42:21] signing up for their senior senior
[42:23] meeting with the counselor. uh we put
[42:25] that on our on our weekly update so the
[42:27] parents knew about the meeting, the
[42:28] presentation, and then also all the
[42:31] things parents need to know about senior
[42:32] year um went out also in that same
[42:34] presentation. So the parents have those
[42:37] and have that opportunity. Um I'd like
[42:39] to finish with this is always a great
[42:40] day to be an otter. And the one thing I would ask Jenny, if your daughter
[42:44] knows the name of those high school
[42:46] students, I would love to get them
[42:47] because I would love to thank them.
[42:48] >> I want to thank them, too, because it it
[42:50] was I watched her on the ring camera one
[42:52] I was like, "How is she getting across
[42:54] the the road?" And I saw these two girls
[42:57] just holding her hand walking across the
[42:59] road. And then as soon as they get on
[43:00] the boulevard, she bolts to the door and
[43:02] they just walk off. So I'll I'll
[43:04] >> I'll I'll see.
[43:05] >> Yep.
[43:05] >> She's four.
[43:06] >> Yep. I totally get it. Whether she drops
[43:08] a name or something, I'll take first or
[43:10] last. And um I'd love to thank them.
[43:13] >> Um I I done mentioned it. Others are
[43:15] always think it's always great that our
[43:17] older students take care of our younger
[43:19] kids. though.
[43:20] >> Mhm.
[43:20] >> Even when they're suffering better than
[43:21] watching.
[43:22] >> Yes, 100%.
[43:23] >> Good for your daughter, though.
[43:25] >> Any questions?
[43:27] >> I have a question. Um, you mentioned
[43:28] that um teachers at the high school were
[43:31] um following up on some read act
[43:33] training and I wondered if any of the
[43:35] teachers in the music department are
[43:36] doing that.
[43:37] >> Nope. This one is only for the English
[43:38] staff per statute right now. So, we're
[43:41] following what the expectation from the
[43:42] state statute is. So, our English
[43:44] teachers, our ELA teachers at the high
[43:46] school,
[43:47] >> um were the ones that had to go to the
[43:49] next step of training and um so, uh they
[43:51] actually are having a lot of it's stuff
[43:53] they've already seen and heard, but
[43:55] there's always new stuff and our first
[43:57] live one was really nice, but no, not no
[43:59] one else has been required by the state
[44:01] to do that yet.
[44:02] >> Why would you want the music teachers to
[44:03] follow up?
[44:04] >> Every teacher has students reading in
[44:06] their class. Every class,
[44:09] >> but there isn't a part on music, right?
[44:11] I mean, are you talking about like the
[44:13] elevation
[44:13] >> any reading is happening in science
[44:16] class, social studies class, music
[44:18] class?
[44:20] >> Yeah.
[44:21] >> Okay.
[44:22] >> But it has to be part of a curriculum or
[44:23] something like we're teaching you how to
[44:25] read.
[44:25] >> She is she is correct. Every every
[44:27] content does read. So
[44:29] >> it's not just teaching how to read.
[44:30] >> In this in the Strive program that we
[44:32] have, which would be similar to what I
[44:33] know my my wife trained with some of the
[44:35] elementary staff is a science of
[44:37] reading. So they don't talk about
[44:38] English. They purposely talked about
[44:40] science, social studies. They did talk
[44:43] about music about how do you use reading
[44:44] in your content area. It wouldn't be the
[44:46] same as you read in a English classroom
[44:49] in a novel per se, but there are tips
[44:51] and tricks like focused note-taking, um
[44:53] annotating notes and all those type of
[44:55] things that uh go along with that.
[44:59] » Just uh I want to put a plug in for us
[45:02] on um this coming Thursday is going to
[45:04] be pretty nice out. So, we are hosting
[45:06] the John Hermes Invitational and cross
[45:07] country and we'll probably have 18 to 20
[45:10] schools here and each school will have a
[45:12] couple dozen runners um grade school,
[45:14] middle school, junior varsity and
[45:16] varsity boys and girls. So, um if you
[45:19] get a chance to go out to the golf
[45:20] course on Thursday, it's quite a deal to
[45:22] watch the cross country. It's it's a really good deal for us to host
[45:25] that too as as a host school. So, just a
[45:28] plug for that.
[45:31] >> Any other questions for Principal
[45:33] Anderson?
[45:35] Thanks for the report. I'm
[45:36] >> gonna head up to the hill and take a
[45:40] >> now we'll hear from Superintendent Jeff
[45:41] Drake.
[45:45] » Well, good evening.
[45:46] >> Good evening.
[45:48] >> A few thank yous again uh reiterate the
[45:51] wonderful start we've had. Uh really the
[45:53] only glitch uh was the heavy rains that
[45:56] came over Labor Day weekend and then we
[45:57] had the water issue in Otter outlet in
[46:00] the adjoining classroom. uh but
[46:02] appreciate uh the time and leadership of
[46:04] our uh building principles and getting
[46:06] their um uh schools ready to go and all
[46:10] the work that the staff has done to make
[46:12] it a marvelous roll out of our new
[46:14] school year.
[46:16] Uh want to just recognize our uh police
[46:19] department. Uh I reached out to uh Chief
[46:22] Paul last week. Um we do a lot of
[46:24] discussion uh as an admin group about um
[46:29] safety and reunification in the event
[46:31] that we would need to relocate students.
[46:34] And so uh today as part of the building
[46:37] principles meeting that we have monthly
[46:39] uh Connor, Lieutenant Connor West uh was
[46:42] there and we were talking about
[46:43] processes and procedures on the in the
[46:46] event that we would have to evacuate a
[46:48] building and uh move kids to a different
[46:50] location. Uh they also are very uh
[46:53] active in providing safety training to
[46:55] our staff. Uh they do that uh annually
[46:57] in the fall. Uh typically that's
[47:00] coordinated around the time of our first
[47:02] uh big staff development exercise. And
[47:05] again just appreciate the partnership
[47:06] and cooperation.
[47:09] Uh also this is kind of a combination
[47:11] congratulations and thank you uh to the
[47:14] student council members. Uh one of the
[47:16] first big things that they do each
[47:18] school year is uh in coordination with
[47:21] uh their adviser Mr. Tilki uh they uh
[47:25] organized homecoming week and uh the
[47:27] events etc that take place. So
[47:29] appreciate their hard work there.
[47:33] A few congratulatory notes. Uh so
[47:35] congratulations to the king and queen uh
[47:38] candidates. The king and queen will be
[47:40] crowned shortly here up at KSS in the
[47:42] auditorium. Uh that event starts at 7
[47:45] o'clock tonight.
[47:47] And uh congratulations to our uh eighth
[47:51] grade band. Uh they have been chosen and
[47:53] this is very prestigious. Uh you have to
[47:55] send in audition tapes. Uh but they have
[47:58] been chosen to play at the 2027
[48:01] Minnesota Music Educators Association
[48:03] Midwinter Convention. uh that is the big
[48:06] professional development convention for
[48:09] our uh music staff each year and well
[48:12] recognized across the state. Uh and then
[48:14] they are going to debut uh traffic jam
[48:18] and so if you'll recall uh each year
[48:21] there's a relationship with a composer
[48:24] and they compose an original score of
[48:27] music um that our students perform
[48:29] typically in the spring. uh but this
[48:31] will be a great opportunity to uh
[48:33] perform that new piece. And then finally
[48:36] just some recognition uh from m for Mr.
[48:38] Cumro uh he is the vice president of
[48:42] that uh convention right now working
[48:44] with his colleagues. So that's a nice
[48:46] honor uh bestowed upon him from his
[48:48] peers.
[48:50] Uh I know this may seem a little
[48:52] repetitive uh but this is an important
[48:55] uh piece in front of our community. So,
[48:57] I am going to do shortened versions of
[48:58] this leading up to the November 3rd
[49:00] election, but this again is the
[49:02] Minnesota Permanent School Fund. Um, the
[49:05] reason that there is a constitutional
[49:07] amendment on the ballot is that the fund
[49:10] balance has grown significantly since
[49:13] 2010, went from $675 million to 2.3
[49:18] billion. And so the question, the
[49:20] constitutional amendment
[49:23] would ask Minnesota voters if they would
[49:26] approve uh taking a greater uh
[49:28] percentage of the uh money being
[49:31] generated through the investments and uh
[49:34] contribute that to Minnesota public
[49:36] schools.
[49:38] For us, uh if passed, that would result
[49:41] in nearly $100,000 of additional revenue
[49:44] and uh we would be able to use that to
[49:46] meet uh district needs. Uh so it's very
[49:49] flexible. Uh but for folks um
[49:53] questioning it, uh this would not result
[49:55] in the increase in any current taxes. It
[49:58] would not result in any new taxes. Uh
[50:02] the fund remains and again every public
[50:05] school in Minnesota would benefit from
[50:07] the additional revenue.
[50:10] Finally, and this is really important as
[50:11] well, uh when voters come to this
[50:14] question on the ballot, um if they leave
[50:17] the question blank, it will count as a
[50:20] no vote. Uh so whether you are for it or
[50:23] against it, uh please check check a box
[50:25] according to your uh conscience and um
[50:29] allow the the citizens to give a full
[50:32] measure on uh whether to move that
[50:35] amendment forward.
[50:37] I just had a comment on that before we
[50:38] move on with with this money that's in
[50:41] this trust. Um I can see a commodly
[50:44] commodger going up and voting and saying
[50:46] no because it's well I want to use this
[50:50] money to fix the potholes and whatever
[50:53] in my it it it can't be used for
[50:55] anything but education cuz it's in a
[50:57] trust. So, it's either do we just take
[51:00] more out of it because we we can or does
[51:03] the money just sit there just doing
[51:06] hibernating in in this in this trust.
[51:09] So, honestly, unless you're a kudger,
[51:11] there really is no reason to vote no on
[51:13] this or to skip that vote.
[51:15] >> But do not take that as a push to vote
[51:19] yes.
[51:19] >> Correct. because we can't add
[51:21] >> Oh, I can't I can't say where to go, but
[51:23] I'm just saying if if uh if you think
[51:25] the money could be used for something
[51:27] else, it cannot.
[51:28] >> That is true.
[51:29] >> Thanks, Melanie.
[51:30] >> Yeah.
[51:30] >> Yes.
[51:30] >> Damage control there.
[51:31] >> Our role is to educate uh not to
[51:33] advocate. And so, we are simply laying
[51:35] out the facts.
[51:38] Uh honor staff spotlight uh was on
[51:41] Jackie Svenaler, a member of the high
[51:43] school science department. and uh just a
[51:45] shout out to her and uh her she's been
[51:48] with the district uh a long time and uh
[51:51] sets high expectations for kids, has a
[51:53] deep care and concern for kids and uh
[51:56] certainly we're very blessed to have her
[51:57] on staff. So uh thank you Jackie for all
[52:00] that you do.
[52:02] And then I mentioned the one fly in the
[52:05] ointment that we've had this year and
[52:06] that was the water issue at KSS. So
[52:09] typically um Otter Pride Night is the
[52:12] single busiest or biggest point of sale
[52:16] that Otter Outlet has during the year
[52:17] and that was cancelled this year because
[52:20] uh of the water vent. However, um this
[52:23] evening from 5:45 to 7 and then again
[52:26] Friday from 8 to 3:30 they will be in
[52:29] the foyer at KSS um for people
[52:32] interested in picking up some Otter
[52:34] gear.
[52:36] I won't repeat this. Uh Mr. Anderson
[52:38] already did a nice job going through the
[52:41] itinerary for homecoming week. Uh but
[52:43] looking forward to a great week. It
[52:45] looks like for the most part we'll have
[52:46] favorable weather. Uh so that's always
[52:48] very nice. And with that I will turn it
[52:50] over to questions.
[52:53] >> Are there any questions for the
[52:54] superintendent?
[52:57] >> Thank you for the report.
[52:58] >> Do Oh, I have a question. Do you have a
[53:00] community connection? Um,
[53:02] >> I do have one coming up in October and
[53:05] I'm drawing a blanket the date right
[53:07] now,
[53:08] >> but I will
[53:10] >> I will we get it advertised. We do it on
[53:13] social media for sure.
[53:14] >> Okay.
[53:15] >> Thank you.
[53:16] >> So, to recap, there will be community
[53:18] correction with the superintendent
[53:20] coming up in October. Stay tuned if
[53:22] you're interested to attend that
[53:23] meeting.
[53:25] All right, we'll move on to our general
[53:27] consent items, which include uh minutes
[53:30] from our September 4th, 2026 regular
[53:32] board meeting and consideration for
[53:35] approval of paying the bills. So, I'll
[53:37] turn to you, Steve.
[53:38] >> Okay. So, this month we had about
[53:41] 961,000
[53:43] in bills to pay. Um payroll was about
[53:47] 70% of that. um utilities. Uh we had
[53:51] some workman's comp about 41,000 14,000
[53:55] for curriculum um which is an excellent
[53:58] um math curriculum. Um the let's see and
[54:02] then we had um well yeah just some
[54:05] really another uh another uh big
[54:08] expenditure on children's health market
[54:10] which is a curriculum as well. Um but
[54:12] not a ton of out of the ordinary bills
[54:15] to note. So I just recommend we pay the
[54:18] bills.
[54:18] >> All right. Thank you. Under personnel,
[54:21] the last item for consideration on that
[54:24] motion would be uh personnel. So we have
[54:26] two certified staff hires, Drew Smith
[54:28] and Carrie Terson. Support staff hires
[54:31] of Lisa von Lawrence, Olivia Lee, and
[54:34] Amanda Eastston.
[54:36] And then uh two support staff
[54:38] separations, Destiny Ericson and Shaylee
[54:40] Brown. and the additional details about
[54:43] their positions are going to be in our
[54:45] minutes. So with that, is there a motion
[54:47] to approve the general consent item?
[54:49] >> So in a second.
[54:53] >> Any discussion on this?
[54:57] All in favor of approving the general
[54:59] consent item say I.
[55:01] >> I. Oppose say nay.
[55:04] All right, that is approved. We have uh
[55:06] new business that begins with uh the
[55:09] potential to approve the 2627 employee
[55:13] handbook. We had a first reading on that
[55:15] last meeting. Is there a motion to
[55:17] approve it?
[55:18] >> So moved
[55:19] >> and a second.
[55:20] >> Seconded. All right. Any discussion?
[55:25] All in favor of approving the uh updated
[55:28] handbook say I.
[55:29] >> I.
[55:30] >> Opposed say nay.
[55:33] That is approved. Uh we received a slate
[55:36] of fundraiser
[55:38] requests and I would seek a motion to
[55:41] approve um the fundraisers.
[55:45] >> So move and is there a second?
[55:48] >> I'll second that.
[55:50] >> All right. Any discussion on that?
[55:56] Hearing nothing. I will um say that
[56:00] everyone who's in favor of accepting all
[56:03] the fundraiser requests say I.
[56:05] >> I.
[56:05] >> Opposed say nay.
[56:08] >> All right, we are um on the way. The
[56:12] packet also included the um Fergus Falls
[56:16] community user agreement and that's from
[56:18] October 1st of this year to March 31st
[56:21] of next year. Is there a motion to
[56:23] approve that?
[56:28] I'll I'll make that motion.
[56:30] >> Thanks, Kirby. Is there a second?
[56:33] I'll second it. All right. Any
[56:36] discussion on the arena?
[56:38] >> Just a quick question that um I don't
[56:40] know if Jeff or Rene want to touch on
[56:42] this. It's like we got a 16% increase
[56:44] over last year. And just do we
[56:46] anticipate more increases like that in
[56:48] the future or is this kind of a catch-up
[56:50] thing? Any idea? So the um increases as
[56:55] I understand it are being driven by
[56:57] employee or staffing costs and uh
[57:00] utility increases that are projected
[57:02] right
[57:05] no reconcile expenditures at the end of
[57:07] the year and so if expenditures come in
[57:09] less than budgeted then we would get a a
[57:12] refund.
[57:16] » All right
[57:18] any other questions?
[57:21] All in favor of approving that agreement
[57:23] say I.
[57:24] >> I.
[57:25] >> Opposed say nay.
[57:28] We have a resolution and this is for
[57:30] proposed tax prop a proposed levy for
[57:34] taxes payable in 2027 and in parenthesis
[57:38] it is noted we we intend to set at the
[57:41] maximum amount be it resolved by the
[57:44] school board of independent school
[57:45] district number 544 state of Minnesota
[57:48] as follows. The board shall certify its
[57:52] proposed property tax levy information
[57:54] to the county auditor on or before
[57:56] September 30th each year unless an
[57:59] extension is granted by the home county
[58:01] auditor. Pursuant to Minnesota statute
[58:04] 275.065,
[58:06] the school board is authorized to
[58:07] certify the maximum levy limitation as
[58:10] certified by the commissioner of
[58:12] education for property taxes payable in
[58:15] 2027.
[58:17] The public information meeting, which
[58:19] used to be called truth and taxation
[58:21] hearing,
[58:22] um regarding the pro proposed property
[58:25] taxes and budget, is scheduled for 6
[58:28] p.m. on Monday, December 14th, 2026 in
[58:32] the community ed room at the Roosevelt
[58:34] Education Center. That's going to be
[58:36] right here during our school board
[58:38] meeting. And and so um the public is
[58:41] invited to that.
[58:43] Um, with that, uh, is there someone who
[58:46] will offer the resolution and move for
[58:48] its adoption?
[58:50] >> I'll offer the resolution and move for
[58:51] its adoption.
[58:53] >> And a second.
[58:56] » I'll second. All right. Thanks, Jenny.
[58:59] Okay. Any discussion on that?
[59:02] Just to make a note that uh the finance
[59:04] committee did review this with uh with
[59:06] superintendent and business manager back
[59:08] on uh September 22nd last week and uh
[59:12] even at the maximum levy um I think the
[59:15] total increase is like is like 1% or
[59:18] 1.3%. So so uh pretty flat.
[59:23] >> Okay. Very well. Thank you for that. Any
[59:27] other discussion or comments?
[59:30] With that, I'll turn to you, Madame
[59:32] Clerk.
[59:33] >> Okay.
[59:33] >> Jenny Christensen,
[59:34] >> yes.
[59:35] >> Missy Hermes, yes. Melanie Cole,
[59:37] >> yes.
[59:37] >> Steven Vigasa,
[59:38] >> yes.
[59:39] >> Kirby Anderson, yes.
[59:40] >> Kelly Graph,
[59:41] >> yes.
[59:42] >> The resolution is adopted. All right.
[59:45] Very good. That concludes our agenda for
[59:47] this evening and we will the board will
[59:49] stick around for work session. Is there
[59:52] um a motion to adjurnn?
[59:54] >> So moved.
[59:55] >> All right. Second.
[59:57] >> Second.
[59:58] >> Okay. Thank you.