1 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:14,789 All 2 00:00:14,799 --> 00:00:17,039 right. Good evening. We are going to 3 00:00:17,039 --> 00:00:20,480 call this meeting of September 3rd, 2026 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,720 of the Topeka Public School Board to 5 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:25,519 order. The first item on our agenda this 6 00:00:25,519 --> 00:00:31,990 evening is a roll call. 7 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,430 » Present. 8 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:36,800 » Mrs. Schmidt, 9 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:38,800 >> present. 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,600 >> Dr. Schumacher. 11 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,920 >> Mr. Tatum stated he will be a touch late 12 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,760 so I will count him present. And Dr. Bon 13 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:51,520 >> present. 14 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,160 Thank you. All right. Next item on the 15 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:56,239 agenda is item two, executive session. 16 00:00:56,239 --> 00:00:58,800 I'm looking for a motion. 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,760 I move the board of education of USD501 18 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,000 recess into executive session for 15 19 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,680 minutes to discuss confidential 20 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:07,600 personnel matters to protect the privacy 21 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,600 of the individuals being discussed 22 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,360 pursuant to the personnel exception of 23 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,080 the Kansas open meetings act. The board 24 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,159 will return to open session in the 25 00:01:16,159 --> 00:01:19,920 boardroom at 5:47 p.m. Superintendent 26 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:21,759 and executive staff are invited into 27 00:01:21,759 --> 00:01:24,320 executive session 28 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:27,280 >> and a second. Thank you, Dr. Schumacher. 29 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,680 Any discussion? All right, we're ready 30 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:45,030 for a vote. And the vote is open. 31 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,119 All votes are in and the motion carries. 32 00:01:49,119 --> 00:01:51,040 >> All right, we are recess into executive 33 00:01:51,040 --> 00:17:15,510 session. 34 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,480 I move the board of education of USD501 35 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,480 Topeka public schools recess into 36 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:22,720 executive session for 12 minutes to 37 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:24,240 consult with the board's attorney on 38 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:26,079 matters protected by the attorney client 39 00:17:26,079 --> 00:17:27,520 privilege to protect the board's 40 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,840 position and potential litigation. The 41 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:31,520 board will return to open session in the 42 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:33,360 boardroom at 6:00 pm. The 43 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:35,120 superintendent, executive staff, and 44 00:17:35,120 --> 00:17:38,150 board 45 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,520 oh at 46 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:43,600 will return to open session and board in 47 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,679 the boardroom at 5:58 p.m. The 48 00:17:45,679 --> 00:17:47,200 superintendent, executive staff, and 49 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:48,720 board attorney are invited into 50 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:50,160 executive session. 51 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:51,200 >> Second. 52 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,440 >> Thank you, Dr. Schumacher. All in favor? 53 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:58,710 >> I motion carries unanimous. 54 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:25,750 I found it. 55 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:27,360 Got it. Yeah, I got it. I'm sending it 56 00:18:27,360 --> 00:18:29,360 right now. 57 00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:32,559 email or email or 58 00:18:32,559 --> 00:18:57,029 you'll be able 59 00:18:57,039 --> 00:18:58,400 and 60 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:15,423 Okay, I just sent it. 61 00:19:15,433 --> 00:20:02,390 [music] 62 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:10,549 came through. 63 00:20:10,559 --> 00:20:26,870 That's beautiful. All 64 00:20:26,880 --> 00:21:25,350 right. 65 00:21:25,360 --> 00:22:02,710 Oh yeah. 66 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:28,630 Why did you say every 67 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:33,750 It's only one sign of public comment. 68 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:35,760 public. I know 69 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:36,640 >> one 70 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:38,159 >> and then I know from separate I know 71 00:22:38,159 --> 00:22:59,590 separate for the other thing 72 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:01,679 children. 73 00:23:01,679 --> 00:23:07,590 >> That's why 74 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:30,710 I 75 00:23:30,720 --> 00:24:06,310 Actually, 76 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:35,350 Okay. 77 00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:43,269 Yeah. 78 00:24:43,279 --> 00:24:53,510 and 79 00:24:53,520 --> 00:25:05,029 I can 80 00:25:05,039 --> 00:25:10,710 hold maybe over so I can go. 81 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,200 » No, I'm working on the 82 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:17,110 videos. 83 00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:25,830 Let's see what happens. 84 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:47,990 » I'm not thinking 85 00:25:48,000 --> 00:26:05,750 Hello. 86 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:21,830 Thank you, 87 00:26:21,840 --> 00:28:42,310 That would be the uh 88 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,120 All right, it is 5:58. We are back from 89 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,520 executive session. Next item on the 90 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:49,200 agenda is item three, the pledge of 91 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,159 allegiance. 92 00:28:52,159 --> 00:28:53,840 >> All right. And let's see, do we have any 93 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:55,840 students? And no, we do not have 94 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:58,480 students. We do have Kansas secure title 95 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:00,240 for those that are listening. And they 96 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:01,840 are here. Uh you'll learn a little bit 97 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:03,279 later why they're here, but I'm going to 98 00:29:03,279 --> 00:29:05,760 do the pledge of allegiance with them. 99 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:07,919 >> Start us on off. 100 00:29:07,919 --> 00:29:11,440 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the 101 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:14,320 United States of America and to the 102 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:17,760 republic for which it stands, one nation 103 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:19,360 under God, 104 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:22,320 >> indivisible with liberty and justice for 105 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:23,120 all. 106 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,120 >> Thank you, Kansas. Secure title friends, 107 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:26,640 and you'll hear why they're here a 108 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:29,279 little bit later. 109 00:29:29,279 --> 00:29:31,039 >> All right, the next item on the agenda 110 00:29:31,039 --> 00:29:33,360 is item four, adoption of the agenda. 111 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:36,720 I'm looking for a motion. 112 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:40,080 So moved and a second. Dr. Schumacher. 113 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:43,360 Thank you. Any discussion? 114 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:50,070 All right, we're ready for a vote. 115 00:29:50,080 --> 00:30:05,590 Is open. 116 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:07,679 Dr. Brake. Do you want to vote by hand? 117 00:30:07,679 --> 00:30:12,480 Yay. Nay. Okay. Thank you. 118 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:14,640 All votes are in and the motion carries 119 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:16,559 unanimously. 120 00:30:16,559 --> 00:30:18,720 >> Thank you. Next item on the agenda is 121 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,919 item five, public hearings. 5.1, the 122 00:30:21,919 --> 00:30:23,600 public hearing for exceeding the revenue 123 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,080 neutral rate for the fiscal year 27 124 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:34,310 budget. 125 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:36,799 Good evening. On tonight's agenda, there 126 00:30:36,799 --> 00:30:38,960 are two public hearings which are 127 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:41,600 required by Kansas law and school 128 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:45,279 districts uh must abide by it. Item uh 129 00:30:45,279 --> 00:30:49,440 5.1 is the public hearing uh on uh 130 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,320 exceeding the revenue neutral rate uh 131 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:56,880 for USD 501 for fiscal year 2027. 132 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:00,640 Um, it requires the school board to hold 133 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,039 the public hearing when exceeding the 134 00:31:03,039 --> 00:31:06,799 revenue neutral rate and USD501 has 135 00:31:06,799 --> 00:31:09,039 published the required notice and the 136 00:31:09,039 --> 00:31:12,960 public hearing on the uh USD501 137 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:15,760 exceeding the revenue neutral rate uh is 138 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:18,559 now open. At this time, if there are any 139 00:31:18,559 --> 00:31:20,559 members of the public who wish to 140 00:31:20,559 --> 00:31:23,279 comment uh make comments, provide 141 00:31:23,279 --> 00:31:26,000 comments to the board uh on the 142 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,559 exceeding the revenue neutral rate, I 143 00:31:28,559 --> 00:31:34,159 would ask them to come forward uh and uh they can speak to the board and 144 00:31:34,159 --> 00:31:37,200 express their concerns um in the in the 145 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:39,120 minutes allow. 146 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:43,279 Anyone wishing to come forward? 147 00:31:43,279 --> 00:31:46,399 Okay. Uh if you will just one at a time 148 00:31:46,399 --> 00:31:49,039 uh please approach the podium, state 149 00:31:49,039 --> 00:31:51,600 your name and address uh and proceed 150 00:31:51,600 --> 00:32:03,350 with your comments. 151 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:06,640 » Hello, I am Justin Gilbert. 152 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:10,000 um live at 2777 153 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:14,159 Southwest Pl Avenue in Topeka, Kansas. 154 00:32:14,159 --> 00:32:16,080 Um 155 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:21,919 so we spoke last year and last year the 156 00:32:21,919 --> 00:32:25,279 board um raised 157 00:32:25,279 --> 00:32:30,070 taxes by roughly 158 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:36,549 to $4.3 million. Is that right? 159 00:32:36,559 --> 00:32:39,200 This is the time to make comments and 160 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:41,760 not necessarily question the board. 161 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:43,279 >> Okay. Well, then I'll just then I'll 162 00:32:43,279 --> 00:32:47,519 just say so $4.3 million last year, $6.7 163 00:32:47,519 --> 00:32:50,159 million this year. You guys have a 164 00:32:50,159 --> 00:32:54,559 budget of $330 million. 165 00:32:54,559 --> 00:32:56,960 Um, with the increase this year, that's 166 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:00,480 $6.7 million. That should put you very 167 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:04,080 close to $350 million. That's over 168 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:08,720 $20,000 per student. Now, inherently, 169 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:12,480 um, when you say school funding, 170 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:14,640 people get upset and think there's not 171 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:19,120 enough money. However, $350 million 172 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:23,200 means each student costs to um take to 173 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:28,399 public school $2 about $58,000. 174 00:33:28,399 --> 00:33:30,640 So, if we're going to talk about 175 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:35,600 housing, roughly $555 176 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:38,480 per year per $100,000 of county 177 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:41,519 appraised value, not purchase price, 178 00:33:41,519 --> 00:33:46,080 goes to Topeka 501 schools. Okay. If you 179 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:48,320 raise if you put that into a rent, 180 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:52,320 that's roughly $55 per month per rental 181 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:56,559 property per house. It is a ton of 182 00:33:56,559 --> 00:34:00,000 money. So, does that mean school is 183 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,320 public school is positive or negative? 184 00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:03,760 It doesn't mean any of that. But at the 185 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:07,519 same time, if I'm buying a car that has 186 00:34:07,519 --> 00:34:10,480 a market value of $40,000, why would I 187 00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:13,200 spend $100,000 for it if it's just the 188 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:16,399 intention of it is good? So, what you're 189 00:34:16,399 --> 00:34:18,240 asking the public here to do is to 190 00:34:18,240 --> 00:34:20,320 continue to pay for something at a rate 191 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:23,440 that is far above what it should be. I 192 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:26,639 think um as a whole I would give an 193 00:34:26,639 --> 00:34:28,159 opportunity to say that the other 194 00:34:28,159 --> 00:34:31,040 districts are fairly comparable to this. 195 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:33,440 Shauny Heights is roughly 17,000 per 196 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:36,800 student. Um Rash Maru, I'm not sure. 197 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:40,879 Seaman's about $18,000 per student. 501 198 00:34:40,879 --> 00:34:44,560 last year had a special education budget 199 00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:47,119 nearing $50 million. 200 00:34:47,119 --> 00:34:48,720 And then you would divide that into the 201 00:34:48,720 --> 00:34:51,280 students. Also, if you add all these 202 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:52,720 school districts together, you're 203 00:34:52,720 --> 00:34:56,159 spending by my estimates roughly a half 204 00:34:56,159 --> 00:34:58,560 billion dollars for public education in 205 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:00,480 this county. 206 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:04,320 Okay? Which is a it's not it's not even 207 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:06,480 reasonable. And we're going to have 208 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:09,280 three of us speak against it. 209 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:11,200 And we know we can get a 100 people to 210 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:14,160 be upset about a data center, which may 211 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:17,520 help lower these taxes, which who knows 212 00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:19,680 if that's good or bad. I have no idea. 213 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:22,240 But if you want to continue to spend 214 00:35:22,240 --> 00:35:26,240 $350 million per year, 215 00:35:26,240 --> 00:35:27,920 um 216 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:29,040 you're going to have to figure out how 217 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,280 to get that money or it's continue to 218 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:33,839 raise the cost of living for your 219 00:35:33,839 --> 00:35:36,800 parents and your students. I'd like to 220 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:39,359 give you one closing example that would 221 00:35:39,359 --> 00:35:42,079 be possibly be helpful, and this is a 222 00:35:42,079 --> 00:35:43,359 little bit more positive, think outside 223 00:35:43,359 --> 00:35:48,870 the box thing. Um, 224 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,440 if you took the last two years, which is 225 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:54,400 $11 million, and you figured out how to 226 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:57,599 save that much money, and let's say you 227 00:35:57,599 --> 00:35:59,440 divided it between the students, which I 228 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:02,880 think was 13,000 students roughly, um, 229 00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:04,880 that's like $775 230 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:07,839 per student per year. And let's say you 231 00:36:07,839 --> 00:36:10,720 figure out a way through what everybody 232 00:36:10,720 --> 00:36:13,280 here could be good at at networking and 233 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:15,280 doing things in the public and give that 234 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:17,200 to the student each year. Maybe not give 235 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:19,200 it to him, but put it into a savings 236 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:22,320 account or mutual fund that gets 5 to 237 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,760 10% interest. By the time that person is 238 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:30,560 40, that product would be worth 150, 239 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:33,920 let's say 90 on the low end to $300,000. 240 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:35,119 and that's if they don't put another 241 00:36:35,119 --> 00:36:38,720 dime in it after they're 18. 242 00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:42,480 So, we have to figure out a way to lower 243 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:44,240 the costs. And I know the big schools 244 00:36:44,240 --> 00:36:47,359 have been a pushover push for a while, 245 00:36:47,359 --> 00:36:49,040 but I think the funding would be a lot 246 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:50,640 easier to control. My mom was a 247 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:52,640 principal at a Hudson when it was open, 248 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:55,359 and she had a staff of only 18 for that 249 00:36:55,359 --> 00:36:59,165 school, which is a total different um 250 00:36:59,165 --> 00:37:00,160 [snorts] 251 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:02,079 total different setup from how we're 252 00:37:02,079 --> 00:37:04,960 doing school now. So this is nothing 253 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:07,440 necessarily against 501 in particular. 254 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:09,520 It's just the uh in general school, 255 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:11,839 public school, public education is 256 00:37:11,839 --> 00:37:15,440 extremely high priced for what it is. I 257 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:19,200 paid for 5 years my daughter left and 258 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:21,040 went to speak collegiate and it was only 259 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:22,880 $13,500 260 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:24,320 per year which I thought was too much 261 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:27,040 money but whatever. So and then she came 262 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:29,119 back and graduated from Topeka West last 263 00:37:29,119 --> 00:37:32,480 year. A last comment about money. When 264 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:34,480 she graduated, 265 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:36,880 it was pushed very hard at Spa West that 266 00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:40,320 the students received $1.7 million in 267 00:37:40,320 --> 00:37:43,520 scholarships, which is which is good. 268 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:46,480 However, by my math, and dig into it if 269 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:49,520 you want, that graduating class cost the 270 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:51,200 district 271 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:53,760 $3.1 million to graduate that senior 272 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:55,280 class. Just the senior class, not the 273 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:57,920 entire TPA West. So, I move you to 274 00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:00,720 figure out a way this year, 275 00:38:00,720 --> 00:38:02,160 which should be a big test in the next 276 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:04,160 30 minutes, to lower that budget and not 277 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:06,960 raise the taxes and for sure next year 278 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:08,880 to get on that horse and lower this 279 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:10,960 price so it's not costing your students 280 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:13,119 and your students parents and their 281 00:38:13,119 --> 00:38:31,990 families money. Thank you. 282 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:34,400 Good evening, Madame Chair Schmidt and 283 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:36,720 the board members 501 district. My name 284 00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:39,839 is Katie Scarlet O'Hara Calcat. I live 285 00:38:39,839 --> 00:38:42,560 at 600 Northwest Valencia Road. Now, I 286 00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:45,680 don't currently live and vote in the 501 287 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:48,079 school district, but my husband Jack and 288 00:38:48,079 --> 00:38:50,640 I own property here and therefore pay 289 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:53,200 meaningful taxation without 290 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:56,000 representation, except of course for 291 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:59,760 tonight. So, I'm here to speak against 292 00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:02,320 increasing our taxes above the revenue 293 00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:06,000 neutral rate for tax year 2027. So, 294 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:09,599 though I cannot vote, I am invested. I 295 00:39:09,599 --> 00:39:12,480 was born in Topeka. Dr. Bonereak, you 296 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:15,599 signed my birth certificate. Thanks a 297 00:39:15,599 --> 00:39:17,200 lot for that. It's really good to see 298 00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:21,280 you again. [laughter] I'm also a proud 299 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:24,480 graduate of 501 Quinton Heights just 300 00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:28,000 down the hill, Jardine Middle School. Go 301 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:31,440 Trojans's Chapeka High 2003. I had a 302 00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:34,320 fantastic experience in 501. It helped 303 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:37,839 me realize a dream that I had had since 304 00:39:37,839 --> 00:39:40,160 I was a 5-year-old girl of getting into 305 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:43,280 the University of Notre Dame. 501 306 00:39:43,280 --> 00:39:48,160 prepared me for that. And I want 501 to 307 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:51,920 help all the students here realize their 308 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:54,560 dreams. I'm invested in the success of 309 00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:57,599 our public school students. I also was a 310 00:39:57,599 --> 00:40:00,160 public school teacher in inner city 311 00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:02,400 Baltimore and I have a master's degree 312 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:05,280 in teaching from John's Hopkins. What I 313 00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:08,480 learned in Baltimore was that a dollar 314 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:11,280 spent on administration and a dollar 315 00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:15,839 spent on teaching do not buy the same 316 00:40:15,839 --> 00:40:17,359 thing. 317 00:40:17,359 --> 00:40:20,000 Layers of administration absorb 318 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:23,520 resources and honestly can slow things 319 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:26,400 down. investment in teachers. However, 320 00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:28,960 their pay, their training, their time, 321 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:32,560 their classroom size is the one thing 322 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:36,240 with a real chance of moving success for 323 00:40:36,240 --> 00:40:38,400 our students. So, let's look at the 324 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:40,720 20-year record. I've left copies with 325 00:40:40,720 --> 00:40:43,520 the clerk. Adjusted for inflation, 326 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:48,160 enrollment down 6%. Classroom teacher 327 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:52,320 count down 11%. 328 00:40:52,320 --> 00:40:54,560 spending per pupil on instruction. So, 329 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:57,200 the things that happen in the classroom 330 00:40:57,200 --> 00:41:01,760 down almost 4%. And yet, total spending 331 00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:06,800 per pupil is up 10%. And carryover cash 332 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:11,280 is up by nearly half, $50 million. 333 00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:14,640 Fewer students, fewer teachers, less 334 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:17,520 money in the classroom, more money in 335 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:20,400 the bank. And the results, what is that 336 00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:21,760 getting us? 337 00:41:21,760 --> 00:41:23,920 On last year's state assessment, among 338 00:41:23,920 --> 00:41:25,440 low-income students in the district, 339 00:41:25,440 --> 00:41:28,079 which is most of our kids, only 26% of 340 00:41:28,079 --> 00:41:30,240 fourth graders are on track in reading 341 00:41:30,240 --> 00:41:32,960 and 10% of 10th grade graders are on 342 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:37,280 track in math. 10%. 343 00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:40,960 That is what the current allocation is 344 00:41:40,960 --> 00:41:42,720 buying. 345 00:41:42,720 --> 00:41:47,119 More of the same at a higher mill rate. 346 00:41:47,119 --> 00:41:49,040 Ladies and gentlemen, that is not a 347 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:51,200 plan. 348 00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:53,119 My own children are not in public 349 00:41:53,119 --> 00:41:55,760 schools. Some I teach at home, others 350 00:41:55,760 --> 00:41:58,480 attend career. That decision was not 351 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:01,200 easy and it is not cheap and it was not 352 00:42:01,200 --> 00:42:04,240 made in hostility. It was a lack of 353 00:42:04,240 --> 00:42:07,200 confidence in what we are paying for. I 354 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:09,359 pay taxes for the public schools full 355 00:42:09,359 --> 00:42:11,599 freight and then I pay for my children's 356 00:42:11,599 --> 00:42:14,800 education a second time. Believe me, I 357 00:42:14,800 --> 00:42:17,920 would like nothing better than to be won 358 00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:22,560 back by the system that I grew up in. 359 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:24,240 That could start today if you 360 00:42:24,240 --> 00:42:26,400 acknowledge that more funding does not 361 00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:30,240 fix the problems here. have the courage 362 00:42:30,240 --> 00:42:32,480 to adopt a budget below last year's 363 00:42:32,480 --> 00:42:34,560 revenue and launch an effort to clean 364 00:42:34,560 --> 00:42:38,000 out administrative excess and invest in 365 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:40,560 great teachers like Kristen Sigler, 366 00:42:40,560 --> 00:42:42,880 Sharon Frost, Dwayne Pomeroy, Janice 367 00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:45,200 Waldo, Steve Eubank, Brad Snyder, Debbie 368 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:48,160 Martin. I could go on. These are the 369 00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:51,599 people who set me up for life success. 370 00:42:51,599 --> 00:42:54,400 and those and that is where you should 371 00:42:54,400 --> 00:42:57,760 be putting the many tax resources that 372 00:42:57,760 --> 00:43:00,960 are at your disposal if you want to earn 373 00:43:00,960 --> 00:43:04,880 back my trust and that of many others. 374 00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:21,670 Thank you for your time. 375 00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:23,280 Good evening, Madam Chair, members of 376 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:25,839 the board. Uh, my name is Eric Adell. My 377 00:43:25,839 --> 00:43:29,040 address is 800 Southwest Grand Court. 378 00:43:29,040 --> 00:43:30,800 I'm a resident of the district and a 379 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:32,400 homeowner. 380 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:35,200 Um, I will admit I'm here tonight 381 00:43:35,200 --> 00:43:38,160 because of the sticker shock from the uh 382 00:43:38,160 --> 00:43:41,680 tax notice. Um, but I actually sat down 383 00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:43,359 and spent some time looking at what you 384 00:43:43,359 --> 00:43:47,520 all have done and I have to say um I was 385 00:43:47,520 --> 00:43:49,839 pleasantly surprised at uh the job that 386 00:43:49,839 --> 00:43:52,400 you've all done maintaining reasonable 387 00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:55,680 fiscal responsibility given uh you know 388 00:43:55,680 --> 00:43:57,040 all things considered over the past 389 00:43:57,040 --> 00:44:00,319 several years. Um but I am here tonight 390 00:44:00,319 --> 00:44:02,720 to oppose the revenue neutral rate uh 391 00:44:02,720 --> 00:44:04,480 but hopefully to do so in a 392 00:44:04,480 --> 00:44:06,960 collaborative spirit. Uh I hope these 393 00:44:06,960 --> 00:44:10,319 comments are constructive. Um, what I 394 00:44:10,319 --> 00:44:13,280 mean is that if as a taxpayer my only 395 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:15,599 choices are accepting another major tax 396 00:44:15,599 --> 00:44:22,240 hike in 2027 and limiting revenue growth to zero, uh, I would 397 00:44:22,240 --> 00:44:26,319 choose revenue neutral. Um, so I'm here 398 00:44:26,319 --> 00:44:28,319 today to advocate for a balanced 399 00:44:28,319 --> 00:44:30,640 solution, one that fully supports 400 00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:32,240 schools while honoring our 401 00:44:32,240 --> 00:44:34,720 responsibility to local taxpayers. Uh 402 00:44:34,720 --> 00:44:36,640 you do have a bud a budget that you're 403 00:44:36,640 --> 00:44:38,319 going to consider, but the law provides 404 00:44:38,319 --> 00:44:40,160 you opportunity to make amendments to 405 00:44:40,160 --> 00:44:43,920 that budget. Um that budget asks our 406 00:44:43,920 --> 00:44:46,960 community to shoulder a $6.6 million 407 00:44:46,960 --> 00:44:48,560 increase in taxes levied for the 408 00:44:48,560 --> 00:44:50,880 district that include nearly 1 million 409 00:44:50,880 --> 00:44:54,400 more for capital outlay and 4.8 million 410 00:44:54,400 --> 00:44:57,280 more for the local option budget. 411 00:44:57,280 --> 00:45:00,640 We recognize that these costs are due to 412 00:45:00,640 --> 00:45:02,480 losses in revenue that have been used 413 00:45:02,480 --> 00:45:05,680 from other sources. um federal uh COVID 414 00:45:05,680 --> 00:45:07,839 relief funds for example and other 415 00:45:07,839 --> 00:45:09,839 sources uh from the state for example 416 00:45:09,839 --> 00:45:12,640 with the um the or the funding from the 417 00:45:12,640 --> 00:45:15,280 city for SRO officers 418 00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:19,680 um but a 28% increase in local option 419 00:45:19,680 --> 00:45:23,200 budget spending um is aggressive and at 420 00:45:23,200 --> 00:45:24,640 a time when household budgets are 421 00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:26,800 stretched to the limit may be too heavy 422 00:45:26,800 --> 00:45:29,760 of a lift. Like many of your taxpayers, 423 00:45:29,760 --> 00:45:32,560 I'm not opposed to reasonable growth. 424 00:45:32,560 --> 00:45:34,400 uh assessed valuations in the district 425 00:45:34,400 --> 00:45:37,760 grew by 4.9% this year. 426 00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:39,599 I believe tax increases should align 427 00:45:39,599 --> 00:45:41,680 with that growth rather than spiking 428 00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:45,440 local option spending. And fortunately, 429 00:45:45,440 --> 00:45:47,440 uh the district is in a strong financial 430 00:45:47,440 --> 00:45:50,000 position. According to financial 431 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:52,400 statements, net cash investments, net 432 00:45:52,400 --> 00:45:55,119 cash and investments have grown 42% 433 00:45:55,119 --> 00:45:57,040 since 2021. 434 00:45:57,040 --> 00:45:58,880 Um 435 00:45:58,880 --> 00:46:00,960 this robust cushion gives you a unique 436 00:46:00,960 --> 00:46:02,960 opportunity. You don't have to choose 437 00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:04,800 between fully funding classrooms and 438 00:46:04,800 --> 00:46:07,359 protecting taxpayers. 439 00:46:07,359 --> 00:46:09,280 Instead of a tax hike, I would urge the 440 00:46:09,280 --> 00:46:11,119 board to cap revenue growth to match the 441 00:46:11,119 --> 00:46:13,599 growth in valuations and use a portion 442 00:46:13,599 --> 00:46:17,200 of our savings to bridge the gap. 443 00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:19,040 By utilizing these reserves, you can 444 00:46:19,040 --> 00:46:21,440 fully fund Topeka's schools while giving 445 00:46:21,440 --> 00:46:23,440 inflationweary families a muchneeded 446 00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:25,680 break on their tax bills. 447 00:46:25,680 --> 00:46:27,920 For a relatively small investment, you 448 00:46:27,920 --> 00:46:29,440 can provide a solution that hopefully 449 00:46:29,440 --> 00:46:30,800 everyone in this room can walk away 450 00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:52,069 feeling good about. Thank you. 451 00:46:52,079 --> 00:46:53,440 » Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My 452 00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:56,480 name is Alan Kegy. I live at 1501 453 00:46:56,480 --> 00:46:59,520 Southwest Pemroke Lane. I relocated here 454 00:46:59,520 --> 00:47:01,680 last summer from Southern California. 455 00:47:01,680 --> 00:47:03,680 So, all my five adult kids are still out 456 00:47:03,680 --> 00:47:05,680 there and my grandkids since I'm out 457 00:47:05,680 --> 00:47:08,160 there a lot, but I wanted a small 458 00:47:08,160 --> 00:47:11,440 Midwestern town to retire in. And I 459 00:47:11,440 --> 00:47:15,200 picked Topeka. I chose to live here. So, 460 00:47:15,200 --> 00:47:16,560 I don't know all the politics and I 461 00:47:16,560 --> 00:47:18,000 could care less about the politics. I 462 00:47:18,000 --> 00:47:20,319 care about our children's education, 463 00:47:20,319 --> 00:47:23,680 bottom line. And all of us as parents 464 00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:25,920 should brag about our kids. I will brag 465 00:47:25,920 --> 00:47:30,000 about my kids just for a second here. 466 00:47:30,000 --> 00:47:33,280 They all were homeschooled 467 00:47:33,280 --> 00:47:36,240 through 9th or 10th grade and then they 468 00:47:36,240 --> 00:47:38,240 went into the uh local high school in 469 00:47:38,240 --> 00:47:40,640 Southern California. We lived in a town 470 00:47:40,640 --> 00:47:43,040 called Rancho Cukamonga. 471 00:47:43,040 --> 00:47:46,640 And now they all either have a master's, 472 00:47:46,640 --> 00:47:50,640 a PhD or a JD. They're well educated. 473 00:47:50,640 --> 00:47:51,760 And I'm thinking, you know, there's a 474 00:47:51,760 --> 00:47:54,720 lot of well- educated people here. 475 00:47:54,720 --> 00:47:57,440 So, I'm thinking, why can't we find a 476 00:47:57,440 --> 00:47:59,359 solution that would make the public 477 00:47:59,359 --> 00:48:02,079 employees, the unions, and the residents 478 00:48:02,079 --> 00:48:05,359 happy? The district has a lot of 479 00:48:05,359 --> 00:48:07,520 resources financially as I'm hearing. I 480 00:48:07,520 --> 00:48:08,960 didn't know any of this information. I 481 00:48:08,960 --> 00:48:10,319 again, I don't know. I'm doing a little 482 00:48:10,319 --> 00:48:12,160 research. I'm getting to the bottom of 483 00:48:12,160 --> 00:48:13,839 some of these things and the way the the 484 00:48:13,839 --> 00:48:15,839 methodology of property taxes, that's 485 00:48:15,839 --> 00:48:17,520 broken. But that's another story that 486 00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:20,000 I'm researching on. 487 00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:23,040 Um, but the bottom line is you have 488 00:48:23,040 --> 00:48:25,040 valuable real estate and some of it's 489 00:48:25,040 --> 00:48:26,559 very underutilized from what I 490 00:48:26,559 --> 00:48:29,599 understand. Again, I'm at 37,000 foot 491 00:48:29,599 --> 00:48:31,200 level. I'm not digging down into 492 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:32,720 individual schools and things like that. 493 00:48:32,720 --> 00:48:34,720 I know what they've done in I have a son 494 00:48:34,720 --> 00:48:36,559 who's a high school math teacher, got a 495 00:48:36,559 --> 00:48:39,599 masters in mathematics and um IT 496 00:48:39,599 --> 00:48:41,680 technology in the classroom and I know 497 00:48:41,680 --> 00:48:43,280 what his particular district does. They 498 00:48:43,280 --> 00:48:45,359 have some empty schools next to empty 499 00:48:45,359 --> 00:48:47,599 schools and they're coming up with all 500 00:48:47,599 --> 00:48:50,000 kinds of creative solutions 501 00:48:50,000 --> 00:48:54,800 to make everybody happy. We have three at least three entities. You know, 502 00:48:54,800 --> 00:48:55,920 we have there has to be some kind of a 503 00:48:55,920 --> 00:49:00,720 compromise is all I'm saying. Um, 504 00:49:00,720 --> 00:49:02,720 and with that I I I I think I'll just 505 00:49:02,720 --> 00:49:04,480 end. I'm I'm learning the community. I'm 506 00:49:04,480 --> 00:49:06,960 getting to know people here. I like 507 00:49:06,960 --> 00:49:10,000 living in Topeka. I don't think I can 508 00:49:10,000 --> 00:49:11,920 get any of my kids to move here, but at 509 00:49:11,920 --> 00:49:16,000 least dad's trying, right? Um, so with 510 00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:18,400 that, I want to thank everybody. 511 00:49:18,400 --> 00:49:21,359 Time's very valuable and um I appreciate 512 00:49:21,359 --> 00:49:26,069 everybody listening. 513 00:49:26,079 --> 00:49:30,069 » One hour to speak. 514 00:49:30,079 --> 00:49:35,670 » Going once, going twice. 515 00:49:35,680 --> 00:49:38,880 I officially close this public hearing 516 00:49:38,880 --> 00:49:42,160 on uh exceeding the revenue neutral rate 517 00:49:42,160 --> 00:49:44,960 for fiscal year 2027. 518 00:49:44,960 --> 00:49:49,440 Uh the the board will act on the revenue 519 00:49:49,440 --> 00:49:52,559 neutral rate later in the meeting uh at 520 00:49:52,559 --> 00:49:56,319 board agenda item 23.2. 521 00:49:56,319 --> 00:49:59,359 Having closed the revenue neutral rate 522 00:49:59,359 --> 00:50:04,240 hearing, I now open the hearing uh on 523 00:50:04,240 --> 00:50:06,960 the USD501 524 00:50:06,960 --> 00:50:12,000 uh budget uh for fiscal year 2027. 525 00:50:12,000 --> 00:50:14,079 The law requires the board of education 526 00:50:14,079 --> 00:50:16,720 to publish notice of the budget hearing 527 00:50:16,720 --> 00:50:20,319 prior to adopting the district's 2027 528 00:50:20,319 --> 00:50:22,960 fiscal year budget. Uh the statutory 529 00:50:22,960 --> 00:50:26,720 10-day notice uh publication occurred on 530 00:50:26,720 --> 00:50:29,680 August 24th, 2026. 531 00:50:29,680 --> 00:50:32,640 Public hearing is now open and anyone 532 00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:36,160 wishing to make comments uh on the 533 00:50:36,160 --> 00:50:38,000 USD501's 534 00:50:38,000 --> 00:50:41,119 uh 2027 uh school district budget may 535 00:50:41,119 --> 00:50:44,950 now come forward. 536 00:50:44,960 --> 00:50:49,750 Anybody wanting to make comments? 537 00:50:49,760 --> 00:50:55,349 Going once. going twice. 538 00:50:55,359 --> 00:50:58,480 Seeing no one interested in making a 539 00:50:58,480 --> 00:51:01,920 comment, I officially close this public 540 00:51:01,920 --> 00:51:05,200 hearing uh on the USD501 541 00:51:05,200 --> 00:51:08,640 uh 2027 budget. Uh the board will 542 00:51:08,640 --> 00:51:11,599 consider action on the D district's 543 00:51:11,599 --> 00:51:14,720 budget later on uh under agenda item 544 00:51:14,720 --> 00:51:17,200 23.4. 545 00:51:17,200 --> 00:51:22,630 Thank you all for your attention. 546 00:51:22,640 --> 00:51:25,040 All right, the next item on our agenda 547 00:51:25,040 --> 00:51:31,990 is item seven, school highlights. 548 00:51:32,000 --> 00:51:34,079 At this time, those individuals that 549 00:51:34,079 --> 00:51:36,559 were starting us off with the pledge, 550 00:51:36,559 --> 00:51:38,880 they will all come up. This long line of 551 00:51:38,880 --> 00:51:41,040 secure, we invite them to come up at 552 00:51:41,040 --> 00:51:42,960 this time. Every year we have the 553 00:51:42,960 --> 00:51:45,520 opportunity to uh celebrate the 554 00:51:45,520 --> 00:51:47,599 beginning of the school year and Kansas 555 00:51:47,599 --> 00:51:50,000 Secure Title had an amazing idea. 556 00:51:50,000 --> 00:51:51,359 They'll share a little bit about that, 557 00:51:51,359 --> 00:51:53,200 but as a result of their idea, you can't 558 00:51:53,200 --> 00:51:55,280 see it through with the cameras, but we 559 00:51:55,280 --> 00:51:57,200 have some of the backpacks and supplies, 560 00:51:57,200 --> 00:52:00,720 but they um uh collected backpacks and 561 00:52:00,720 --> 00:52:04,720 supplies um in a manner that it ensured 562 00:52:04,720 --> 00:52:06,960 every student that needed supplies or a 563 00:52:06,960 --> 00:52:09,520 backpack received them. So, our uh 564 00:52:09,520 --> 00:52:11,760 acknowledgement is this certificate that 565 00:52:11,760 --> 00:52:13,440 says Topeka Public Schools District 566 00:52:13,440 --> 00:52:16,160 recognizes Kansas Secure Title for your 567 00:52:16,160 --> 00:52:18,559 outstanding support and contribution to 568 00:52:18,559 --> 00:52:20,720 TPS school and students. Thank you so 569 00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:22,640 much for your 570 00:52:22,640 --> 00:52:24,079 >> Thank you. 571 00:52:24,079 --> 00:52:26,400 >> And we uh will turn it over to them to 572 00:52:26,400 --> 00:52:28,000 talk a little bit about the collection, 573 00:52:28,000 --> 00:52:30,400 what they did, how much they collected, 574 00:52:30,400 --> 00:52:32,880 but let's uh give them a warm thank you 575 00:52:32,880 --> 00:52:40,950 for their uh generosity. 576 00:52:40,960 --> 00:52:42,960 Good evening and thank you for having 577 00:52:42,960 --> 00:52:46,319 us. Um I first would like to introduce 578 00:52:46,319 --> 00:52:49,200 uh myself, Marcy Lindsay and Lori Ni 579 00:52:49,200 --> 00:52:52,559 House um with Kansas Secured Title and I 580 00:52:52,559 --> 00:52:54,240 will announce these other wonderful 581 00:52:54,240 --> 00:52:57,119 special guests in just a moment. Um I 582 00:52:57,119 --> 00:53:00,720 would like to first thank um Dr. 583 00:53:00,720 --> 00:53:04,800 Anderson and Dr. gray for um making sure 584 00:53:04,800 --> 00:53:08,160 that all of the students in 501 have the 585 00:53:08,160 --> 00:53:12,000 supplies that they need. Um this year is 586 00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:14,880 our seventh year for the school drive 587 00:53:14,880 --> 00:53:20,400 and we came together and collected 2447 588 00:53:20,400 --> 00:53:25,280 school items for the students. Um 589 00:53:25,280 --> 00:53:28,000 when I look at that number um I think 590 00:53:28,000 --> 00:53:30,720 about all the students 591 00:53:30,720 --> 00:53:32,640 walking into their school for their 592 00:53:32,640 --> 00:53:37,119 first day and having sorry 593 00:53:37,119 --> 00:53:40,880 um having the confidence being prepared 594 00:53:40,880 --> 00:53:44,079 and being able to learn without having 595 00:53:44,079 --> 00:53:46,400 to worry about not having the supplies 596 00:53:46,400 --> 00:53:48,960 that they need. Um, and it's also the 597 00:53:48,960 --> 00:53:52,079 parents that don't have to come up with 598 00:53:52,079 --> 00:53:55,599 those extra funds um, and be able for 599 00:53:55,599 --> 00:53:58,960 their children to learn and grow and um, 600 00:53:58,960 --> 00:54:01,920 be successful. Um, we're incredibly 601 00:54:01,920 --> 00:54:04,319 grateful to the real estate brokerages 602 00:54:04,319 --> 00:54:06,880 and lenders who supported the drive year 603 00:54:06,880 --> 00:54:09,599 after year. Um, it's become a team 604 00:54:09,599 --> 00:54:11,440 effort and we couldn't do it without 605 00:54:11,440 --> 00:54:15,040 them. Um each year we have a contest um 606 00:54:15,040 --> 00:54:18,240 between brokerages um and the brokerage 607 00:54:18,240 --> 00:54:21,200 with the f the most items um wins a g 608 00:54:21,200 --> 00:54:23,839 great little reward. Um this year we 609 00:54:23,839 --> 00:54:26,240 also um invited our mortgage lender 610 00:54:26,240 --> 00:54:30,640 teams um to join in that contest um 611 00:54:30,640 --> 00:54:33,599 which was a fun neat thing that we were 612 00:54:33,599 --> 00:54:37,760 doing. Um so I wanted to say let you 613 00:54:37,760 --> 00:54:40,319 know of all the brokerages that joined 614 00:54:40,319 --> 00:54:43,280 us this year. Colb Banker American Home, 615 00:54:43,280 --> 00:54:45,680 Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Stone 616 00:54:45,680 --> 00:54:47,680 and Story Real Estate Group, Genesis 617 00:54:47,680 --> 00:54:50,720 Realtors, Open Door Realy, Investor 618 00:54:50,720 --> 00:54:53,599 Credit Union, Community National Bank, 619 00:54:53,599 --> 00:54:55,440 Flat Branch Mortgage, and Fairway 620 00:54:55,440 --> 00:54:57,359 Mortgage. 621 00:54:57,359 --> 00:54:58,880 Um, so I'd like to give them a little 622 00:54:58,880 --> 00:55:05,829 round of applause, please. 623 00:55:05,839 --> 00:55:08,160 And then um this year it was very 624 00:55:08,160 --> 00:55:10,880 excited to um have the winners of those 625 00:55:10,880 --> 00:55:14,559 contests here today. Um, so Melanie 626 00:55:14,559 --> 00:55:18,880 Gordon with Stone and Story, 627 00:55:18,880 --> 00:55:21,599 Monica Glenn with Cobalt Maker American 628 00:55:21,599 --> 00:55:24,319 Home, 629 00:55:24,319 --> 00:55:28,480 Molly Meyer with Genesis Realy, 630 00:55:28,480 --> 00:55:30,960 and with uh our mortgage lenders this 631 00:55:30,960 --> 00:55:33,680 year, this is Terry Wright with Invista 632 00:55:33,680 --> 00:55:37,510 Credit Union. 633 00:55:37,520 --> 00:55:40,960 Um let me tell you [laughter] 634 00:55:40,960 --> 00:55:42,800 um 635 00:55:42,800 --> 00:55:46,480 these people most I will say um 90% of 636 00:55:46,480 --> 00:55:50,240 the supplies um that were received um 637 00:55:50,240 --> 00:55:52,559 were because of these fantastic people 638 00:55:52,559 --> 00:55:57,440 here. Um they headed up the um the 639 00:55:57,440 --> 00:55:59,839 contest. They made sure um getting money 640 00:55:59,839 --> 00:56:01,359 from people, making sure that those 641 00:56:01,359 --> 00:56:04,400 things happened and so the 501 community 642 00:56:04,400 --> 00:56:08,880 could um be able to have their supplies. 643 00:56:08,880 --> 00:56:13,680 Um I end um 644 00:56:13,680 --> 00:56:16,160 my favorite part of this whole program 645 00:56:16,160 --> 00:56:18,880 um was be able when the transportation 646 00:56:18,880 --> 00:56:22,079 department came to pick up the bus um 647 00:56:22,079 --> 00:56:25,119 and they were able to see it entirely 648 00:56:25,119 --> 00:56:27,359 filled. Um, and then that little phone 649 00:56:27,359 --> 00:56:32,400 call I got um from Dr. Gray um that he 650 00:56:32,400 --> 00:56:34,400 was just ecstatic um when they dropped 651 00:56:34,400 --> 00:56:37,920 it off. Um it's it's those things that 652 00:56:37,920 --> 00:56:40,480 just kind of make it all worth it. Um I 653 00:56:40,480 --> 00:56:43,599 want to thank you again for inviting us 654 00:56:43,599 --> 00:56:46,559 here and please give these lovely people 655 00:56:46,559 --> 00:56:53,589 another round of applause for helping. 656 00:56:53,599 --> 00:56:56,960 board may well have questions for you. 657 00:56:56,960 --> 00:56:58,960 >> Do we have questions and comments for 658 00:56:58,960 --> 00:57:05,430 our amazing team up there? Miss Bolley, 659 00:57:05,440 --> 00:57:08,319 » it just touched my heart to see your 660 00:57:08,319 --> 00:57:10,880 heart so touched and realizing the 661 00:57:10,880 --> 00:57:13,760 struggle for some of our students that 662 00:57:13,760 --> 00:57:15,520 can show up on the first day when 663 00:57:15,520 --> 00:57:17,280 everybody's emptying out their new 664 00:57:17,280 --> 00:57:19,920 supplies and they don't have any. and 665 00:57:19,920 --> 00:57:21,520 just 666 00:57:21,520 --> 00:57:24,640 your heart just really touched me. They 667 00:57:24,640 --> 00:57:26,640 said this year with inflation that it 668 00:57:26,640 --> 00:57:29,280 costs about $300 for a student to buy 669 00:57:29,280 --> 00:57:32,960 supplies and now I have three students I 670 00:57:32,960 --> 00:57:35,760 need to buy supplies for. You guys have 671 00:57:35,760 --> 00:57:40,640 just, you know, created such a huge 672 00:57:40,640 --> 00:57:43,040 ability for families to be able to spend 673 00:57:43,040 --> 00:57:45,119 that money in probably really more 674 00:57:45,119 --> 00:57:48,319 important areas than the supplies. And I 675 00:57:48,319 --> 00:57:50,400 just really want to thank all of you for 676 00:57:50,400 --> 00:57:51,920 being 677 00:57:51,920 --> 00:57:55,280 so touched by the need and reaching out 678 00:57:55,280 --> 00:57:58,160 and and making sure those kids showed up 679 00:57:58,160 --> 00:58:00,640 with those brand new crayons and those 680 00:58:00,640 --> 00:58:03,440 brand new markers. [laughter] We all 681 00:58:03,440 --> 00:58:05,359 remember those days when you got all of 682 00:58:05,359 --> 00:58:07,359 your stuff out and put in your desk and 683 00:58:07,359 --> 00:58:10,720 you created that gift for so many 684 00:58:10,720 --> 00:58:13,040 students this year in 501 and we just 685 00:58:13,040 --> 00:58:16,640 really really appreciate your dedication 686 00:58:16,640 --> 00:58:19,920 to the need of students in the Topeka 687 00:58:19,920 --> 00:58:22,000 area. Thank you so much. 688 00:58:22,000 --> 00:58:25,200 >> Thank you Sue. We appreciate you. 689 00:58:25,200 --> 00:58:28,240 >> Any other comments? 690 00:58:28,240 --> 00:58:29,920 All right. 691 00:58:29,920 --> 00:58:33,280 It is hard to follow that. I would I I I 692 00:58:33,280 --> 00:58:35,119 want to echo a lot of what Miss Bullley 693 00:58:35,119 --> 00:58:37,440 said um in another life. I was a 694 00:58:37,440 --> 00:58:39,920 communities and school site coordinator 695 00:58:39,920 --> 00:58:43,119 um at Ross Elementary and we do have a 696 00:58:43,119 --> 00:58:45,119 lot of our kids in our district that do 697 00:58:45,119 --> 00:58:47,839 have a great need and on the heels of a 698 00:58:47,839 --> 00:58:49,680 conversation, you know, where we're 699 00:58:49,680 --> 00:58:53,520 talking about tax increases and families 700 00:58:53,520 --> 00:58:55,599 feel that, you know, there's less money 701 00:58:55,599 --> 00:58:58,640 to have to stretch further and that is a 702 00:58:58,640 --> 00:59:03,280 huge um burden off of families knowing 703 00:59:03,280 --> 00:59:06,799 that that is there to help them And it 704 00:59:06,799 --> 00:59:10,319 is a big deal for kids as being the 705 00:59:10,319 --> 00:59:12,160 person in the room that the the kids 706 00:59:12,160 --> 00:59:13,839 would the principles would walk them up 707 00:59:13,839 --> 00:59:15,359 to me first thing and we'd let them pick 708 00:59:15,359 --> 00:59:17,280 out bags and and fill them up with 709 00:59:17,280 --> 00:59:19,200 everything they needed so that when they 710 00:59:19,200 --> 00:59:20,720 walked into the classroom they were like 711 00:59:20,720 --> 00:59:23,040 every other kid. And you know when 712 00:59:23,040 --> 00:59:24,880 you're that age that that's just what 713 00:59:24,880 --> 00:59:26,160 you want to be. You want to be like 714 00:59:26,160 --> 00:59:28,640 everybody else. And so your guys's hard 715 00:59:28,640 --> 00:59:30,559 work ensured that that happened for a 716 00:59:30,559 --> 00:59:33,440 lot of families. So thank you so so very 717 00:59:33,440 --> 00:59:34,160 much. 718 00:59:34,160 --> 00:59:36,480 >> Thank thank you. Thank these fantastic 719 00:59:36,480 --> 00:59:42,950 people. 720 00:59:42,960 --> 00:59:44,559 » Hang on for about five minutes. They're 721 00:59:44,559 --> 00:59:45,920 going to want to take a photo with the 722 00:59:45,920 --> 00:59:48,319 group if that's okay. So, thank you 723 00:59:48,319 --> 00:59:48,799 again. 724 00:59:48,799 --> 00:59:54,870 >> Thank you very much. 725 00:59:54,880 --> 00:59:56,720 » We also want to acknowledge Dylan. 726 00:59:56,720 --> 00:59:58,480 They're not here tonight. Uh but we will 727 00:59:58,480 --> 01:00:00,559 be delivering them their certificate. Uh 728 01:00:00,559 --> 01:00:03,760 they gave gift cards. Uh they had a new 729 01:00:03,760 --> 01:00:06,799 uh renovation. at the Dillan's on Gage. 730 01:00:06,799 --> 01:00:09,920 Uh and in that new renovation at the uh 731 01:00:09,920 --> 01:00:12,079 time of their event, they also gave food 732 01:00:12,079 --> 01:00:15,520 gift cards uh worth $150 for about two 733 01:00:15,520 --> 01:00:17,839 or three of those cards and then a a 734 01:00:17,839 --> 01:00:20,559 final card that was a $500 card, which 735 01:00:20,559 --> 01:00:22,799 we'll break that into smaller ones. Uh 736 01:00:22,799 --> 01:00:25,920 it's already allowed for us to deliver 737 01:00:25,920 --> 01:00:28,640 uh resources to individuals uh in need. 738 01:00:28,640 --> 01:00:30,960 Uh individuals planning um memorial 739 01:00:30,960 --> 01:00:32,960 services unexpectedly at this time of 740 01:00:32,960 --> 01:00:35,359 the year. and and just to help in some 741 01:00:35,359 --> 01:00:37,440 very unique ways. So, we just thank 742 01:00:37,440 --> 01:00:39,280 Dillan's for that and we will be 743 01:00:39,280 --> 01:00:42,720 delivering their certificate as well. Uh 744 01:00:42,720 --> 01:00:44,240 at this time, additionally, and I 745 01:00:44,240 --> 01:00:46,079 believe Dr. Gray, we have a proclamation 746 01:00:46,079 --> 01:00:49,599 this evening. Am I the proclamation is 747 01:00:49,599 --> 01:00:51,440 not this evening. I know you all looked 748 01:00:51,440 --> 01:00:53,280 at each other. I think that's seeing if 749 01:00:53,280 --> 01:00:55,119 you we're all listening. So, not a 750 01:00:55,119 --> 01:00:57,280 proclamation. I saw it in here. I 751 01:00:57,280 --> 01:00:58,720 believe those are all of our highlights 752 01:00:58,720 --> 01:01:00,559 unless Dr. Gray, did I miss anything 753 01:01:00,559 --> 01:01:02,720 else? All right. And then we'd love to 754 01:01:02,720 --> 01:01:05,440 take uh just a brief break to uh have an 755 01:01:05,440 --> 01:01:06,960 opportunity to have a picture with 756 01:01:06,960 --> 01:01:09,520 Kansas Secure Title. We'll be right 757 01:01:09,520 --> 01:01:32,390 back. 758 01:01:32,400 --> 01:01:35,920 I'm Teresa's husband. 759 01:01:35,920 --> 01:01:37,920 Nice. 760 01:01:37,920 --> 01:01:39,040 Are you Lori? 761 01:01:39,040 --> 01:02:03,990 >> I am. 762 01:02:04,000 --> 01:02:14,150 » Do you have everything? 763 01:02:14,160 --> 01:02:17,440 Thank you guys. 764 01:02:17,440 --> 01:02:20,319 >> I will do that. 765 01:02:20,319 --> 01:02:25,978 >> You're welcome. 766 01:02:25,988 --> 01:02:55,270 [laughter] 767 01:02:55,280 --> 01:02:57,200 All right. The next item we have on our 768 01:02:57,200 --> 01:03:00,000 agenda is public communications. I just 769 01:03:00,000 --> 01:03:02,079 wanted to clarify. 770 01:03:02,079 --> 01:03:06,319 Um Katie Scarlet, you had signed up to 771 01:03:06,319 --> 01:03:08,400 speak on public uh during public 772 01:03:08,400 --> 01:03:09,920 comment, but was it really revenue 773 01:03:09,920 --> 01:03:10,720 neutral? 774 01:03:10,720 --> 01:03:13,440 >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure. So the 775 01:03:13,440 --> 01:03:15,599 next item on our agenda then will be 776 01:03:15,599 --> 01:03:17,839 item nine, disposition of business by 777 01:03:17,839 --> 01:03:21,599 consent. And I am looking for a motion. 778 01:03:21,599 --> 01:03:23,920 I move the board approve the items of 779 01:03:23,920 --> 01:03:25,920 business by consent as presented and 780 01:03:25,920 --> 01:03:27,520 authorize the board president or 781 01:03:27,520 --> 01:03:29,200 superintendent to sign the special 782 01:03:29,200 --> 01:03:31,440 project and purchasing contracts for and 783 01:03:31,440 --> 01:03:33,920 on behalf of the board. 784 01:03:33,920 --> 01:03:36,720 Thank you. And a second, Dr. Bonere. 785 01:03:36,720 --> 01:03:40,950 Thank you. Any discussion? 786 01:03:40,960 --> 01:03:42,480 All right, seeing none, we're ready for 787 01:03:42,480 --> 01:03:54,470 a vote. 788 01:03:54,480 --> 01:03:56,640 All votes are in and the motion carries 789 01:03:56,640 --> 01:03:59,039 unanimously. 790 01:03:59,039 --> 01:04:01,039 >> All right. Next item on the agenda is 791 01:04:01,039 --> 01:04:04,960 item 21, superintendent report. 792 01:04:04,960 --> 01:04:06,640 >> All right. This evening, uh, we really 793 01:04:06,640 --> 01:04:08,880 are reserving much of our time for the, 794 01:04:08,880 --> 01:04:11,280 uh, TIFF conversation, facilities 795 01:04:11,280 --> 01:04:12,960 conversation, and all the other things 796 01:04:12,960 --> 01:04:15,599 that you need to get to, but we did talk 797 01:04:15,599 --> 01:04:18,240 about the Sherm Conference, the Society 798 01:04:18,240 --> 01:04:20,240 for Human Resource Management. We're 799 01:04:20,240 --> 01:04:22,160 going to pull up very briefly uh, a 800 01:04:22,160 --> 01:04:24,400 PowerPoint and Mr. will share a little 801 01:04:24,400 --> 01:04:26,640 bit about what Sherm is and later in the 802 01:04:26,640 --> 01:04:28,480 presentation, he has a bit to share 803 01:04:28,480 --> 01:04:30,799 about what he brought back. Miss Wallace 804 01:04:30,799 --> 01:04:32,559 does the same. Mr. Dick is not here 805 01:04:32,559 --> 01:04:36,319 because uh the Trojans and the Scots are 806 01:04:36,319 --> 01:04:39,839 uh both in um competition this evening. 807 01:04:39,839 --> 01:04:42,480 So uh but as we think about being 808 01:04:42,480 --> 01:04:44,240 custodians of culture, we're going to go 809 01:04:44,240 --> 01:04:47,119 to the very next slide. And at the Sherm 810 01:04:47,119 --> 01:04:49,280 conference, they had Simon's neck and 811 01:04:49,280 --> 01:04:52,640 Maxwell and HR professionals, uh 812 01:04:52,640 --> 01:04:54,880 business professionals, CEOs, a variety 813 01:04:54,880 --> 01:04:57,920 of individuals, but the focus was on 814 01:04:57,920 --> 01:05:01,920 building uh a culture of trust. Uh and 815 01:05:01,920 --> 01:05:04,640 with that trust and accountability, uh 816 01:05:04,640 --> 01:05:06,640 we want to remind our board of the goals 817 01:05:06,640 --> 01:05:09,359 that you set forth as those top three 818 01:05:09,359 --> 01:05:11,920 goals. So we went with those three goals 819 01:05:11,920 --> 01:05:14,160 in mind. Uh the individuals that uh 820 01:05:14,160 --> 01:05:16,799 attended included a representative from 821 01:05:16,799 --> 01:05:18,799 communications, that would be Dr. Gray, 822 01:05:18,799 --> 01:05:20,079 someone from teaching and learning, 823 01:05:20,079 --> 01:05:22,720 which was Miss Wallace, uh an individual 824 01:05:22,720 --> 01:05:24,240 from the school level to really 825 01:05:24,240 --> 01:05:26,880 represent uh buildings and uh we visited 826 01:05:26,880 --> 01:05:28,799 a school district as well and schools 827 01:05:28,799 --> 01:05:30,720 there. and then of course finance and 828 01:05:30,720 --> 01:05:32,799 operations and then a focus on district 829 01:05:32,799 --> 01:05:35,200 outcomes. Uh with those board goals 830 01:05:35,200 --> 01:05:37,119 being academic, mental health and 831 01:05:37,119 --> 01:05:39,039 assessment and demographics. The very 832 01:05:39,039 --> 01:05:42,960 next slide um that um we want to talk 833 01:05:42,960 --> 01:05:44,799 about are some of the changes after the 834 01:05:44,799 --> 01:05:47,280 conference. With those changes, I'll 835 01:05:47,280 --> 01:05:49,520 leave it to the individuals to talk a 836 01:05:49,520 --> 01:05:51,359 little bit about uh their areas, 837 01:05:51,359 --> 01:05:53,359 respective areas, but servant leadership 838 01:05:53,359 --> 01:05:56,000 and building trust uh led to a 839 01:05:56,000 --> 01:05:58,079 leadership retreat um this year. And 840 01:05:58,079 --> 01:05:59,760 that leadership retreat was also 841 01:05:59,760 --> 01:06:02,400 followed by a retreat with all of our 842 01:06:02,400 --> 01:06:04,079 administrators. In that leadership 843 01:06:04,079 --> 01:06:07,680 retreat, Mr. uh Tatum attended that. Uh 844 01:06:07,680 --> 01:06:10,480 we really focused on uh some of the data 845 01:06:10,480 --> 01:06:13,280 that we have around our school district. 846 01:06:13,280 --> 01:06:14,960 As a reminder, this year we have 847 01:06:14,960 --> 01:06:18,319 approximately 80% of our student 848 01:06:18,319 --> 01:06:21,520 families uh that are coming to us that 849 01:06:21,520 --> 01:06:24,319 uh could qualify for atrisisk services. 850 01:06:24,319 --> 01:06:26,559 And so that takes a lot of services to 851 01:06:26,559 --> 01:06:28,880 support students um social workers and 852 01:06:28,880 --> 01:06:31,280 counselors, teachers, and a variety of 853 01:06:31,280 --> 01:06:32,799 other services. So we're going to turn 854 01:06:32,799 --> 01:06:34,640 to that very next slide as we think 855 01:06:34,640 --> 01:06:37,680 about uh being custodians of culture and 856 01:06:37,680 --> 01:06:40,079 how to create a culture, a safe culture 857 01:06:40,079 --> 01:06:42,319 that provides the many wraparound 858 01:06:42,319 --> 01:06:44,559 services. Dr. Greg, I'll turn it over to 859 01:06:44,559 --> 01:06:45,200 you. 860 01:06:45,200 --> 01:06:47,760 >> Thank you so much, Dr. Anderson. Uh 861 01:06:47,760 --> 01:06:53,589 >> yes 862 01:06:53,599 --> 01:06:55,680 » again thank you so much Dr. Anderson 863 01:06:55,680 --> 01:06:57,680 first of all uh board of education I 864 01:06:57,680 --> 01:06:59,680 really enjoyed uh having an opportunity 865 01:06:59,680 --> 01:07:02,480 to go to the sherm conference uh much of 866 01:07:02,480 --> 01:07:05,520 the conference it was focused on AI but 867 01:07:05,520 --> 01:07:08,319 uh even as we uh speak tonight uh we all 868 01:07:08,319 --> 01:07:10,559 know that uh our theme here in Typical 869 01:07:10,559 --> 01:07:13,200 public schools is student first uh but 870 01:07:13,200 --> 01:07:15,599 also uh as we present tonight uh one of 871 01:07:15,599 --> 01:07:17,359 the things that uh one of the speakers 872 01:07:17,359 --> 01:07:19,599 and multiple speakers uh focused on was 873 01:07:19,599 --> 01:07:21,839 putting people first uh there's a quote 874 01:07:21,839 --> 01:07:23,760 here by Opel Winfrey here it says the 875 01:07:23,760 --> 01:07:25,760 chief people officer officers in these 876 01:07:25,760 --> 01:07:27,839 companies are the ones who actually get 877 01:07:27,839 --> 01:07:29,760 to determine what the human experience 878 01:07:29,760 --> 01:07:32,079 is going to be like. So, one of the 879 01:07:32,079 --> 01:07:33,440 things that they focused on in the 880 01:07:33,440 --> 01:07:34,960 conference, they talked about as we 881 01:07:34,960 --> 01:07:37,039 think about the future of our work and 882 01:07:37,039 --> 01:07:40,400 especially as we go into uh the the 883 01:07:40,400 --> 01:07:42,720 future of AI, one of the things that we 884 01:07:42,720 --> 01:07:45,280 cannot lose sight of is human resources. 885 01:07:45,280 --> 01:07:47,359 We know that in any school district, 886 01:07:47,359 --> 01:07:49,839 roughly about 80% of a budget is spent 887 01:07:49,839 --> 01:07:52,960 on human capital. So again it said that 888 01:07:52,960 --> 01:07:55,119 technology can make us faster. Data can 889 01:07:55,119 --> 01:07:57,680 help us make better decision. AI can 890 01:07:57,680 --> 01:08:00,000 make us more efficient. But none of this 891 01:08:00,000 --> 01:08:02,559 can uh none of this can replace the 892 01:08:02,559 --> 01:08:04,160 human experience because people still 893 01:08:04,160 --> 01:08:07,920 want to know do I matter? Um is my work 894 01:08:07,920 --> 01:08:10,319 valued? Does someone see what I'm what I 895 01:08:10,319 --> 01:08:12,720 bring to organization? And do I have an 896 01:08:12,720 --> 01:08:15,839 opportunity to grow? So again that was 897 01:08:15,839 --> 01:08:18,560 uh part of the focus as we uh were at 898 01:08:18,560 --> 01:08:20,319 the conference. But even as they went on 899 01:08:20,319 --> 01:08:21,839 when they talked about people being 900 01:08:21,839 --> 01:08:23,359 first, they said putting people first 901 01:08:23,359 --> 01:08:25,279 means creating a culture where people 902 01:08:25,279 --> 01:08:28,719 feel seen, heard, valued, supported and 903 01:08:28,719 --> 01:08:30,159 challenged to become better. Because 904 01:08:30,159 --> 01:08:32,560 when we invest in our people, our people 905 01:08:32,560 --> 01:08:34,560 are better positioned to invest in our 906 01:08:34,560 --> 01:08:36,719 students. So the question that they left 907 01:08:36,719 --> 01:08:39,199 us with was uh it says in today's 908 01:08:39,199 --> 01:08:42,239 leaders uh we should not just focus on 909 01:08:42,239 --> 01:08:44,159 the question how do we get the work done 910 01:08:44,159 --> 01:08:46,319 but the question which is a better 911 01:08:46,319 --> 01:08:48,560 question is what kind of experiences are 912 01:08:48,560 --> 01:08:50,400 we creating for the people that are 913 01:08:50,400 --> 01:08:52,960 actually doing the work. So with that um 914 01:08:52,960 --> 01:08:55,040 communication again we were very 915 01:08:55,040 --> 01:08:56,319 fortunate to be able to go to this 916 01:08:56,319 --> 01:08:57,759 conference. We did bring back some 917 01:08:57,759 --> 01:08:59,279 things. One of the things that you may 918 01:08:59,279 --> 01:09:01,120 have seen, I think some of you were at 919 01:09:01,120 --> 01:09:04,480 the new uh teacher orientation, uh we 920 01:09:04,480 --> 01:09:07,199 had um this thing called wall IO where 921 01:09:07,199 --> 01:09:08,880 people were able to take photos and 922 01:09:08,880 --> 01:09:11,279 capture in real time and be able to just 923 01:09:11,279 --> 01:09:12,719 celebrate the many things that were 924 01:09:12,719 --> 01:09:15,359 going on within that space. Uh also is 925 01:09:15,359 --> 01:09:17,920 that uh convocation uh people were able 926 01:09:17,920 --> 01:09:19,199 to come in, they were able to take 927 01:09:19,199 --> 01:09:21,920 photos and we were able to just uh rally 928 01:09:21,920 --> 01:09:23,440 around our staff and the great things 929 01:09:23,440 --> 01:09:25,679 that they're doing. Also, as you entered 930 01:09:25,679 --> 01:09:27,679 Bernett, you saw the Bernett wall of 931 01:09:27,679 --> 01:09:29,520 photos here where you were able to come 932 01:09:29,520 --> 01:09:32,159 in and see uh the various photos and 933 01:09:32,159 --> 01:09:34,560 identify who is actually on our staff. 934 01:09:34,560 --> 01:09:37,199 So, again, that's helpful. Um and then 935 01:09:37,199 --> 01:09:39,120 one other thing that I want to mention 936 01:09:39,120 --> 01:09:42,640 is that um that uh also at Bernett, one 937 01:09:42,640 --> 01:09:44,080 of the things that we do is that we 938 01:09:44,080 --> 01:09:46,080 ensure that new staff receive a proper 939 01:09:46,080 --> 01:09:48,000 orientation. So, whenever someone is new 940 01:09:48,000 --> 01:09:51,120 to new to uh Bernett, um we take the 941 01:09:51,120 --> 01:09:52,480 time to give them a tour of the 942 01:09:52,480 --> 01:09:54,800 building. again you got the wall that 943 01:09:54,800 --> 01:09:57,440 allows them to see who is actually in uh 944 01:09:57,440 --> 01:09:59,840 Bernett and again just sit down and just 945 01:09:59,840 --> 01:10:01,679 tell them you know about Topeka public 946 01:10:01,679 --> 01:10:03,679 schools. So again those were just some 947 01:10:03,679 --> 01:10:06,159 of the many things that uh we took from 948 01:10:06,159 --> 01:10:08,480 um our conference. Thank you. 949 01:10:08,480 --> 01:10:10,880 >> Dr. Gray focused on AI for the purpose 950 01:10:10,880 --> 01:10:13,600 of all of the folks from technology and 951 01:10:13,600 --> 01:10:17,120 uh data demographics the classrooms um 952 01:10:17,120 --> 01:10:20,080 as we have our own way of protecting our 953 01:10:20,080 --> 01:10:21,760 young people who are using AI. So he 954 01:10:21,760 --> 01:10:24,480 went to a lot of AI in addition to 955 01:10:24,480 --> 01:10:26,960 marketing communications. Um as your 956 01:10:26,960 --> 01:10:29,120 reminder, parent square has launched and 957 01:10:29,120 --> 01:10:32,400 next week will be our uh workshops and 958 01:10:32,400 --> 01:10:34,000 so that's also a piece from the 959 01:10:34,000 --> 01:10:35,920 conference when we talk about how do you 960 01:10:35,920 --> 01:10:38,239 help people navigate something and so 961 01:10:38,239 --> 01:10:40,400 they will be giving uh workshops 962 01:10:40,400 --> 01:10:42,080 throughout next week and throughout this 963 01:10:42,080 --> 01:10:44,400 month. Uh really tailoring the 964 01:10:44,400 --> 01:10:46,800 experience when you're using technology. 965 01:10:46,800 --> 01:10:48,560 Even the fact we picked parent square 966 01:10:48,560 --> 01:10:51,120 had a lot to do with thinking about how 967 01:10:51,120 --> 01:10:53,280 do we how do we serve people well in a 968 01:10:53,280 --> 01:10:56,080 way that provides transparency, builds 969 01:10:56,080 --> 01:11:00,480 trust, and creates a very um uh special 970 01:11:00,480 --> 01:11:02,480 experience uh for our families and 971 01:11:02,480 --> 01:11:04,880 students. Uh Miss Wallace, I will turn 972 01:11:04,880 --> 01:11:05,760 it over to you. 973 01:11:05,760 --> 01:11:08,159 >> Yes, thank you. So, one of the things we 974 01:11:08,159 --> 01:11:10,480 did when we were there was to visit a 975 01:11:10,480 --> 01:11:13,040 high school, a CTE high school. And I 976 01:11:13,040 --> 01:11:14,880 think one of the things that um struck 977 01:11:14,880 --> 01:11:17,760 us most about culture was that um when 978 01:11:17,760 --> 01:11:19,760 you walked in that building it told 979 01:11:19,760 --> 01:11:22,800 their story. So one of the things that 980 01:11:22,800 --> 01:11:25,040 we've brought back is how do we tell our 981 01:11:25,040 --> 01:11:27,679 story in Topeka public schools and how 982 01:11:27,679 --> 01:11:29,760 does each school tell their story when 983 01:11:29,760 --> 01:11:31,920 you walk in their building. So that's 984 01:11:31,920 --> 01:11:33,440 one of the things that we're working 985 01:11:33,440 --> 01:11:36,640 towards. Um also one was about that 986 01:11:36,640 --> 01:11:39,520 human capital piece and how we improve 987 01:11:39,520 --> 01:11:42,080 performance and accountability and how 988 01:11:42,080 --> 01:11:45,360 we focus and um create higher 989 01:11:45,360 --> 01:11:46,960 productivity and teamwork and 990 01:11:46,960 --> 01:11:50,239 collaboration. And so following that we 991 01:11:50,239 --> 01:11:52,480 had our principal retreat. It was 992 01:11:52,480 --> 01:11:55,120 actually a leadership retreat because we 993 01:11:55,120 --> 01:11:58,000 had a hundred leaders from our district, 994 01:11:58,000 --> 01:12:02,560 80 um building leaders and then 20 uh 995 01:12:02,560 --> 01:12:04,320 leaders from the district office all 996 01:12:04,320 --> 01:12:06,880 participated in crucial conversations 997 01:12:06,880 --> 01:12:10,480 training um which really is about how we 998 01:12:10,480 --> 01:12:13,120 communicate with our staff to ensure 999 01:12:13,120 --> 01:12:15,679 accountability and efficiency and 1000 01:12:15,679 --> 01:12:19,679 improve our leadership. Um and then to 1001 01:12:19,679 --> 01:12:22,159 go along with that, our schools as our 1002 01:12:22,159 --> 01:12:25,440 next uh focus for accreditation is on 1003 01:12:25,440 --> 01:12:27,520 feedback which is connected and related 1004 01:12:27,520 --> 01:12:29,920 to those crucial conversations and how 1005 01:12:29,920 --> 01:12:32,560 staff are giving feedback or how our 1006 01:12:32,560 --> 01:12:34,400 leaders are giving feedback to their 1007 01:12:34,400 --> 01:12:37,199 staff and in turn we will shift and move 1008 01:12:37,199 --> 01:12:39,440 to how uh teachers are giving feedback 1009 01:12:39,440 --> 01:12:42,560 to students and their families. Um and 1010 01:12:42,560 --> 01:12:47,120 so we we've done a lot of uh also cross 1011 01:12:47,120 --> 01:12:51,199 department meetings. Um so finance and 1012 01:12:51,199 --> 01:12:53,440 uh teaching and learning. We had some 1013 01:12:53,440 --> 01:12:55,760 meetings and had worked out some um 1014 01:12:55,760 --> 01:12:57,840 maybe hiccups that we've had around 1015 01:12:57,840 --> 01:12:59,520 travel and different things in the past. 1016 01:12:59,520 --> 01:13:02,960 And so really looking at how we um 1017 01:13:02,960 --> 01:13:05,040 collaborate not just within our own 1018 01:13:05,040 --> 01:13:10,149 departments but among our departments. 1019 01:13:10,159 --> 01:13:12,719 central office norms. Uh you'll see 1020 01:13:12,719 --> 01:13:15,679 posters around this building. Um we then 1021 01:13:15,679 --> 01:13:18,000 held a central office retreat. So 1022 01:13:18,000 --> 01:13:20,880 everyone in central office from all the 1023 01:13:20,880 --> 01:13:22,800 departments came together at Quinton 1024 01:13:22,800 --> 01:13:26,640 Heights and uh focused on um 1025 01:13:26,640 --> 01:13:28,080 conversations within their own 1026 01:13:28,080 --> 01:13:30,880 departments and then across departments 1027 01:13:30,880 --> 01:13:33,440 uh to really identify the norms that we 1028 01:13:33,440 --> 01:13:36,080 need to spend more time on in terms of 1029 01:13:36,080 --> 01:13:38,719 working seamlessly uh in support of 1030 01:13:38,719 --> 01:13:40,960 schools and students. So accountability 1031 01:13:40,960 --> 01:13:42,800 the one that's highlighted and show 1032 01:13:42,800 --> 01:13:45,920 respect to everyone. those are the areas 1033 01:13:45,920 --> 01:13:48,000 they would like to have as our focus 1034 01:13:48,000 --> 01:13:50,000 amongst all the norms. And when you 1035 01:13:50,000 --> 01:13:52,080 wonder what does accountability mean to 1036 01:13:52,080 --> 01:13:54,239 the folks that were in that space, uh 1037 01:13:54,239 --> 01:13:57,840 the bulleted list below uh describes 1038 01:13:57,840 --> 01:14:00,080 like the first one, honest, candid, and 1039 01:14:00,080 --> 01:14:02,800 caring conversations um in in other 1040 01:14:02,800 --> 01:14:05,120 areas. And so when you walked in today, 1041 01:14:05,120 --> 01:14:08,800 you would have seen um uh a little u QR 1042 01:14:08,800 --> 01:14:10,320 code that says, "What was your 1043 01:14:10,320 --> 01:14:12,000 experience in this building like?" 1044 01:14:12,000 --> 01:14:14,159 That's one of those examples of how do 1045 01:14:14,159 --> 01:14:17,199 we um show respect to everyone and get 1046 01:14:17,199 --> 01:14:19,280 feedback from other people. So the 1047 01:14:19,280 --> 01:14:21,280 entire central office has been engaged 1048 01:14:21,280 --> 01:14:22,960 in a way that we haven't done in the 1049 01:14:22,960 --> 01:14:24,800 past. Even the cross departmental 1050 01:14:24,800 --> 01:14:26,880 conversation between finance and 1051 01:14:26,880 --> 01:14:28,159 teaching and learning that's a new 1052 01:14:28,159 --> 01:14:30,960 piece. Um, the telling our story piece 1053 01:14:30,960 --> 01:14:33,520 has been helpful in sharing how our 1054 01:14:33,520 --> 01:14:36,000 decline in chronic absenteeism, how our 1055 01:14:36,000 --> 01:14:38,080 MAP scores have increased, the awards 1056 01:14:38,080 --> 01:14:40,080 that we received from the state, finding 1057 01:14:40,080 --> 01:14:42,320 ways to tell that story um so that 1058 01:14:42,320 --> 01:14:45,280 people know uh what those gains are as 1059 01:14:45,280 --> 01:14:47,520 well as what the uh new things are that 1060 01:14:47,520 --> 01:14:49,679 we're doing in Topeka. And we'll turn it 1061 01:14:49,679 --> 01:14:52,800 over to Mr. Nerd. [clears throat] 1062 01:14:52,800 --> 01:14:56,159 >> All right, see Simon Senkick up there. 1063 01:14:56,159 --> 01:14:59,120 He was one of our keynote speakers and 1064 01:14:59,120 --> 01:15:01,040 wonderful presentation from him. If 1065 01:15:01,040 --> 01:15:02,560 you're not familiar with him or his 1066 01:15:02,560 --> 01:15:05,600 books, really worth a read. U so getting 1067 01:15:05,600 --> 01:15:07,520 to hear directly from him was really a 1068 01:15:07,520 --> 01:15:10,239 highlight of the trip. Um Sherm or the 1069 01:15:10,239 --> 01:15:12,400 Society for Human Resources Management 1070 01:15:12,400 --> 01:15:15,280 is an organization that I have been 1071 01:15:15,280 --> 01:15:17,920 attending events for on and off over the 1072 01:15:17,920 --> 01:15:21,120 last 15 years uh before uh even stepping 1073 01:15:21,120 --> 01:15:24,239 into my first role in education 1074 01:15:24,239 --> 01:15:28,880 leadership. Um I attended events for um 1075 01:15:28,880 --> 01:15:30,400 operations, 1076 01:15:30,400 --> 01:15:32,880 payroll and human resources management 1077 01:15:32,880 --> 01:15:35,920 before that. Um I hold a certification, 1078 01:15:35,920 --> 01:15:38,480 the senior certified professional uh 1079 01:15:38,480 --> 01:15:40,400 certification with Sherm which is their 1080 01:15:40,400 --> 01:15:42,480 highest certification and attending the 1081 01:15:42,480 --> 01:15:44,480 trip for me personally I was able to 1082 01:15:44,480 --> 01:15:46,480 with a very busy schedule attending as 1083 01:15:46,480 --> 01:15:49,120 much as I could uh contribute 34 1084 01:15:49,120 --> 01:15:51,040 professional development points to my 1085 01:15:51,040 --> 01:15:53,280 renewal um that I have to do every 3 1086 01:15:53,280 --> 01:15:54,960 years. So that was really valuable for 1087 01:15:54,960 --> 01:15:57,440 me personally. Um and though although 1088 01:15:57,440 --> 01:16:00,239 SHERM is commonly viewed as a human 1089 01:16:00,239 --> 01:16:03,600 resources conference, the 2026 program 1090 01:16:03,600 --> 01:16:05,520 addressed many of the most significant 1091 01:16:05,520 --> 01:16:08,880 challenges facing school districts. Uh 1092 01:16:08,880 --> 01:16:10,640 facilities, finance, information 1093 01:16:10,640 --> 01:16:13,360 technology, nutritional services are all 1094 01:16:13,360 --> 01:16:16,320 workforce intensive functions uh whose 1095 01:16:16,320 --> 01:16:18,480 effectiveness depends on strong 1096 01:16:18,480 --> 01:16:21,280 supervision, employee accountability, 1097 01:16:21,280 --> 01:16:23,440 succession planning, cross functional 1098 01:16:23,440 --> 01:16:26,000 coordination, legal compliance, 1099 01:16:26,000 --> 01:16:29,360 technology, and organizational culture. 1100 01:16:29,360 --> 01:16:32,159 Uh Sherm 26 provided concentrated 1101 01:16:32,159 --> 01:16:34,000 professional development in those areas 1102 01:16:34,000 --> 01:16:36,480 that you really can't get anywhere else. 1103 01:16:36,480 --> 01:16:38,560 um that many sessions in that quick of 1104 01:16:38,560 --> 01:16:42,560 succession. So uh including uh frontline 1105 01:16:42,560 --> 01:16:44,320 manager development, performance 1106 01:16:44,320 --> 01:16:47,360 management, uh workplace investigations, 1107 01:16:47,360 --> 01:16:49,920 safety and threat readiness, AI and 1108 01:16:49,920 --> 01:16:51,520 cyber security worried about there were 1109 01:16:51,520 --> 01:16:55,360 a lot of sessions on that topic. Uh 1110 01:16:55,360 --> 01:16:58,159 workplace analytics, benefits and excuse 1111 01:16:58,159 --> 01:17:00,000 me, benefits cost management was a 1112 01:17:00,000 --> 01:17:01,600 really big one. Um I know that's 1113 01:17:01,600 --> 01:17:03,520 something that we are getting hit with 1114 01:17:03,520 --> 01:17:06,480 hard benefits increases. Um, and that 1115 01:17:06,480 --> 01:17:08,560 was uh something I learned is it's not 1116 01:17:08,560 --> 01:17:10,400 just affecting Kansas. It's not just 1117 01:17:10,400 --> 01:17:11,760 affecting school districts. It's a 1118 01:17:11,760 --> 01:17:14,560 nationwide issue, but there are groups 1119 01:17:14,560 --> 01:17:17,520 that are working on ways to combat those 1120 01:17:17,520 --> 01:17:20,480 uh with different u just tactics that we 1121 01:17:20,480 --> 01:17:23,520 can use um and employ. So came back with 1122 01:17:23,520 --> 01:17:25,760 some ideas around that. [clears throat] 1123 01:17:25,760 --> 01:17:27,679 Uh so for operations leadership, the 1124 01:17:27,679 --> 01:17:30,159 value was not limited to just HR 1125 01:17:30,159 --> 01:17:32,719 procedures. Uh it really was gaining 1126 01:17:32,719 --> 01:17:34,960 practical approaches for improving 1127 01:17:34,960 --> 01:17:36,719 service delivery, reducing 1128 01:17:36,719 --> 01:17:39,199 organizational and legal risk, 1129 01:17:39,199 --> 01:17:42,000 strengthening leadership capacity, and 1130 01:17:42,000 --> 01:17:44,000 connecting workforce decisions to 1131 01:17:44,000 --> 01:17:46,640 financial and board priorities. So 1132 01:17:46,640 --> 01:17:49,360 appreciate the opportunity to attend. 1133 01:17:49,360 --> 01:17:51,040 >> It really concludes our presentation. 1134 01:17:51,040 --> 01:17:53,600 That QR code takes you to our um mental 1135 01:17:53,600 --> 01:17:55,040 health website, which we're adding 1136 01:17:55,040 --> 01:17:56,719 pieces to from things that we gained 1137 01:17:56,719 --> 01:17:59,280 from the SHM conference, that QR code. 1138 01:17:59,280 --> 01:18:01,120 Um, but an investment in the well-being 1139 01:18:01,120 --> 01:18:03,440 of others is an investment in the 1140 01:18:03,440 --> 01:18:06,320 well-being um for others. And that's 1141 01:18:06,320 --> 01:18:08,880 really what we left that with. How do we 1142 01:18:08,880 --> 01:18:12,080 invest in people in a way that allows 1143 01:18:12,080 --> 01:18:15,920 for us to continue to have um positive 1144 01:18:15,920 --> 01:18:19,440 outcomes and um and for them to know 1145 01:18:19,440 --> 01:18:21,440 that uh when they're selecting a 1146 01:18:21,440 --> 01:18:23,760 district uh our retention our 1147 01:18:23,760 --> 01:18:25,840 recruitment but our retention rates 1148 01:18:25,840 --> 01:18:28,960 continue to increase as a result of the 1149 01:18:28,960 --> 01:18:30,719 services that we provide not only our 1150 01:18:30,719 --> 01:18:32,480 students but our staff. We're going to 1151 01:18:32,480 --> 01:18:34,320 conclude with that, but open this up if 1152 01:18:34,320 --> 01:18:37,360 the board has any burning questions um 1153 01:18:37,360 --> 01:18:40,239 for us regarding Sherm. Uh again, we 1154 01:18:40,239 --> 01:18:42,800 know you have other items on here, but 1155 01:18:42,800 --> 01:18:45,440 we wanted to make sure that you got a 1156 01:18:45,440 --> 01:18:47,840 feel of of our entire experience. Any 1157 01:18:47,840 --> 01:18:49,040 questions for us? 1158 01:18:49,040 --> 01:18:50,560 >> Any questions for the leadership team 1159 01:18:50,560 --> 01:18:54,310 that attended SHERM? 1160 01:18:54,320 --> 01:18:56,159 » Thank you. 1161 01:18:56,159 --> 01:18:58,960 All right. Then moving on, we will move 1162 01:18:58,960 --> 01:19:01,760 to agenda item 22, which is discussion 1163 01:19:01,760 --> 01:19:05,840 items. The first of two items is 22.1 1164 01:19:05,840 --> 01:19:08,000 tax incremental financing and the effect 1165 01:19:08,000 --> 01:19:16,149 on the district's financials. 1166 01:19:16,159 --> 01:19:19,120 » Good evening, board. Uh I'm going to 1167 01:19:19,120 --> 01:19:22,719 have Mr. Buucy join me as well. Uh this 1168 01:19:22,719 --> 01:19:24,320 topic has been of particular to the 1169 01:19:24,320 --> 01:19:25,600 board for some time. Since I've been 1170 01:19:25,600 --> 01:19:26,800 with district, it's been conversation 1171 01:19:26,800 --> 01:19:28,239 about how's it affecting the district's 1172 01:19:28,239 --> 01:19:30,480 budget. What does the notification 1173 01:19:30,480 --> 01:19:32,239 process look like when the city or 1174 01:19:32,239 --> 01:19:35,520 county is proposing one of these uh 1175 01:19:35,520 --> 01:19:39,520 types of financing or uh rebates in 1176 01:19:39,520 --> 01:19:43,520 property tax for a developer? And 1177 01:19:43,520 --> 01:19:44,880 ultimately, what should the board's 1178 01:19:44,880 --> 01:19:46,719 position be or what are your options 1179 01:19:46,719 --> 01:19:49,040 available to the board when those come 1180 01:19:49,040 --> 01:19:52,320 across the desk? Uh so Mr. Buucy in 1181 01:19:52,320 --> 01:19:54,000 conversation with him, he's addressed 1182 01:19:54,000 --> 01:19:56,159 this before with the finance committee. 1183 01:19:56,159 --> 01:19:58,560 So there is a handout on the table up 1184 01:19:58,560 --> 01:20:00,640 there for you. Just says tax increment 1185 01:20:00,640 --> 01:20:02,239 financing right at the top. If you want 1186 01:20:02,239 --> 01:20:03,840 to find that one and follow along with 1187 01:20:03,840 --> 01:20:06,719 him, he'll discuss that. Uh this is the 1188 01:20:06,719 --> 01:20:08,960 same handout that was uh again discussed 1189 01:20:08,960 --> 01:20:10,800 with the finance committee it looks like 1190 01:20:10,800 --> 01:20:14,080 back in January. Um so he's got a few 1191 01:20:14,080 --> 01:20:16,239 points on there. And then I learned that 1192 01:20:16,239 --> 01:20:19,600 Mr. Buucy is also uh when he was in his 1193 01:20:19,600 --> 01:20:23,520 graduate program did a a full study and 1194 01:20:23,520 --> 01:20:25,920 paper on tax increment financing 1195 01:20:25,920 --> 01:20:28,640 districts. So he knows this topic really 1196 01:20:28,640 --> 01:20:30,960 well and will help walk us through um 1197 01:20:30,960 --> 01:20:34,400 these items. Thank you, Mr. Pusy. 1198 01:20:34,400 --> 01:20:36,400 >> Yeah, thank you. Um had a professor 1199 01:20:36,400 --> 01:20:38,000 that's was trying to help me pick a 1200 01:20:38,000 --> 01:20:39,199 topic and she said, "Why don't you write 1201 01:20:39,199 --> 01:20:40,560 about TIFFs?" And I said, "I don't know 1202 01:20:40,560 --> 01:20:41,840 what a TIFF is." And she said, "You 1203 01:20:41,840 --> 01:20:43,920 will." 1204 01:20:43,920 --> 01:20:48,719 And I do. Um, no. I'm here. Um, we can walk through anything. I can 1205 01:20:48,719 --> 01:20:50,800 explain the basics of a TIFF. You tell 1206 01:20:50,800 --> 01:20:53,440 me uh where you'd like to go with this. 1207 01:20:53,440 --> 01:20:58,320 is your discussion topic. So, I'm happy I'm happy to explain it at a 1208 01:20:58,320 --> 01:21:00,880 high level. Um, 1209 01:21:00,880 --> 01:21:05,280 >> okay. So, um, tiffs and and as we talk 1210 01:21:05,280 --> 01:21:09,440 about um um abated or rebaited property 1211 01:21:09,440 --> 01:21:11,280 taxes, so these are taxes that are 1212 01:21:11,280 --> 01:21:13,199 levied by the district. they show up in 1213 01:21:13,199 --> 01:21:15,600 our budget um but we do not collect 1214 01:21:15,600 --> 01:21:18,719 them. They are diverted to um economic 1215 01:21:18,719 --> 01:21:21,199 development projects. Right? So um I 1216 01:21:21,199 --> 01:21:22,719 know we've talked about TIFFs a lot but 1217 01:21:22,719 --> 01:21:24,320 I do want to make it clear that TIFFs is 1218 01:21:24,320 --> 01:21:26,800 just one component. Um and they make it 1219 01:21:26,800 --> 01:21:29,040 really simple. So there's TIFFs, IRBs, 1220 01:21:29,040 --> 01:21:32,560 NAS, EDXs, there there's uh industrial 1221 01:21:32,560 --> 01:21:35,440 revenue bonds, those are IRBs. Um 1222 01:21:35,440 --> 01:21:37,679 there's neighborhood revitalization act 1223 01:21:37,679 --> 01:21:38,080 rebates. 1224 01:21:38,080 --> 01:21:40,480 >> Excuse me, Mr. Buucy. Would you be able 1225 01:21:40,480 --> 01:21:42,800 to put words to those acronyms? 1226 01:21:42,800 --> 01:21:44,239 >> Yeah, that's what I'm doing. I I was 1227 01:21:44,239 --> 01:21:46,640 being sarcastic. I'm sorry. Like, um, 1228 01:21:46,640 --> 01:21:48,560 there they don't make it they don't make 1229 01:21:48,560 --> 01:21:50,880 it easy. They're Yeah. So, so tax 1230 01:21:50,880 --> 01:21:53,600 increment financing is your tiffs. Um, 1231 01:21:53,600 --> 01:21:56,639 there's IRBs, Industrial Revenue Bonds, 1232 01:21:56,639 --> 01:21:58,320 uh, neighborhood revitalization act 1233 01:21:58,320 --> 01:22:00,480 rebates, and then there's just economic 1234 01:22:00,480 --> 01:22:02,159 development exemptions. They call those 1235 01:22:02,159 --> 01:22:06,400 EDXs. These all make up um the the 1236 01:22:06,400 --> 01:22:08,719 amount that is either abated or rebated 1237 01:22:08,719 --> 01:22:11,280 that we do not receive. Um I've got a 1238 01:22:11,280 --> 01:22:13,600 figure here from our last audit. Um that 1239 01:22:13,600 --> 01:22:16,400 amount was in excess of $1.4 million. So 1240 01:22:16,400 --> 01:22:18,239 it's not you know it's not a small sunk 1241 01:22:18,239 --> 01:22:20,639 chunk of change. Um but because your 1242 01:22:20,639 --> 01:22:24,080 topic here was tiffs directly. So, um, a 1243 01:22:24,080 --> 01:22:26,800 tiff in in the most basic form, we all 1244 01:22:26,800 --> 01:22:29,440 know that that, um, property taxes are 1245 01:22:29,440 --> 01:22:32,000 going up, you know, about 3% every year, 1246 01:22:32,000 --> 01:22:34,800 right, on average. Um, what a tiff does 1247 01:22:34,800 --> 01:22:37,600 is they go into a blighted area. Um, and 1248 01:22:37,600 --> 01:22:39,520 they say, you know, but they they 1249 01:22:39,520 --> 01:22:43,280 there's the the but for test. So, uh, or 1250 01:22:43,280 --> 01:22:45,600 but not. So, but not if if we don't 1251 01:22:45,600 --> 01:22:47,920 enact this tiff, then we're not going to 1252 01:22:47,920 --> 01:22:49,840 be able to rebuild this blighted area. 1253 01:22:49,840 --> 01:22:52,320 Okay. So they take the property taxes 1254 01:22:52,320 --> 01:22:54,719 and they freeze them for the purpose of 1255 01:22:54,719 --> 01:22:57,440 calculating property tax. So even though 1256 01:22:57,440 --> 01:22:59,280 we know in the real world as they're 1257 01:22:59,280 --> 01:23:01,040 developing these properties, it's still 1258 01:23:01,040 --> 01:23:02,480 going up, right? Even if they didn't 1259 01:23:02,480 --> 01:23:04,960 develop it, um normal property appraisal 1260 01:23:04,960 --> 01:23:06,880 values are going to go up, they take 1261 01:23:06,880 --> 01:23:09,120 that they take that sliver off the top 1262 01:23:09,120 --> 01:23:10,960 from where that staircase is climbing 1263 01:23:10,960 --> 01:23:13,760 and that's what's used to fund the the 1264 01:23:13,760 --> 01:23:15,520 debt that they that they take out for 1265 01:23:15,520 --> 01:23:17,600 the project. So they are funding it with 1266 01:23:17,600 --> 01:23:19,920 the excess property taxes. We still 1267 01:23:19,920 --> 01:23:22,960 receive property taxes on that frozen 1268 01:23:22,960 --> 01:23:26,960 value, but it does it does lock that in 1269 01:23:26,960 --> 01:23:29,760 and we do not get the the incremental, 1270 01:23:29,760 --> 01:23:33,760 you know, because they're they're incrementally financing this um 1271 01:23:33,760 --> 01:23:35,600 with with with tax dollars that would 1272 01:23:35,600 --> 01:23:38,400 normally go to places like us. And and 1273 01:23:38,400 --> 01:23:39,760 you know, if you look at your property 1274 01:23:39,760 --> 01:23:42,480 tax statement, you've got the the MTAA, 1275 01:23:42,480 --> 01:23:44,080 um you've got Shaunie County, the state 1276 01:23:44,080 --> 01:23:45,760 of Kansas, you know, anybody that that's 1277 01:23:45,760 --> 01:23:48,719 got a levy out there is is um going to 1278 01:23:48,719 --> 01:23:50,320 see the same thing. We just happen to 1279 01:23:50,320 --> 01:23:53,760 have a lot of um we've [clears throat] 1280 01:23:53,760 --> 01:23:58,159 got a lot of properties. Um I know our Neighborhood Revitalization Act 1281 01:23:58,159 --> 01:24:01,600 properties, there's 167 um parcels that 1282 01:24:01,600 --> 01:24:03,920 make up that. So, anytime um one of 1283 01:24:03,920 --> 01:24:08,639 those is handed out um that's just less dollars that make it into our 1284 01:24:08,639 --> 01:24:11,520 schools um I know we've talked openly. 1285 01:24:11,520 --> 01:24:14,480 It is unfortunate that that we have to 1286 01:24:14,480 --> 01:24:16,639 show that in our mill levy. Um I know 1287 01:24:16,639 --> 01:24:18,960 we've discussed that it it seems as 1288 01:24:18,960 --> 01:24:20,400 though and you know we've discussed you 1289 01:24:20,400 --> 01:24:22,400 know the legislative aspect. I know Mr. 1290 01:24:22,400 --> 01:24:25,520 Edwards is here but um it just doesn't 1291 01:24:25,520 --> 01:24:27,520 seem fair in that aspect. you know, it'd 1292 01:24:27,520 --> 01:24:29,199 be nice if these places had to show, you 1293 01:24:29,199 --> 01:24:30,639 know, even if it was a half a mill or 1294 01:24:30,639 --> 01:24:31,920 something, whatever it's truly going to 1295 01:24:31,920 --> 01:24:35,199 take to fund their districts. So, that's 1296 01:24:35,199 --> 01:24:37,840 really what a tiff is at the base. And 1297 01:24:37,840 --> 01:24:39,440 then, you know, they're using this the 1298 01:24:39,440 --> 01:24:41,520 these funds as they grow. They're taking 1299 01:24:41,520 --> 01:24:43,280 that that they're skimming the top 1300 01:24:43,280 --> 01:24:44,719 basically and they're going to they're 1301 01:24:44,719 --> 01:24:46,400 going to rebuild the area and it's going 1302 01:24:46,400 --> 01:24:48,560 to be done within 10 years, right? Then 1303 01:24:48,560 --> 01:24:50,639 it's done. No, that that uh 1304 01:24:50,639 --> 01:24:54,159 unfortunately doesn't happen. and they often come back and we'll just keep 1305 01:24:54,159 --> 01:24:57,120 extending those um and that seems to be 1306 01:24:57,120 --> 01:25:00,239 less of a hurdle to to cross too. So I 1307 01:25:00,239 --> 01:25:01,600 think a lot of those and then they 1308 01:25:01,600 --> 01:25:04,880 really they do drag out for a while. So 1309 01:25:04,880 --> 01:25:07,120 I will leave it with you all for 1310 01:25:07,120 --> 01:25:08,560 questions 1311 01:25:08,560 --> 01:25:11,440 >> and madame president in light of uh any 1312 01:25:11,440 --> 01:25:13,199 comments this evening uh that were made 1313 01:25:13,199 --> 01:25:15,360 prior to Mr. Buucy uh if there's 1314 01:25:15,360 --> 01:25:16,960 anything that you may want him to 1315 01:25:16,960 --> 01:25:18,960 elaborate on after as you all have this 1316 01:25:18,960 --> 01:25:21,440 conversation related to budget and what 1317 01:25:21,440 --> 01:25:23,840 reality is in typical public schools for 1318 01:25:23,840 --> 01:25:26,080 the purpose of education. Uh I'll turn 1319 01:25:26,080 --> 01:25:28,000 that back over to you if you uh direct 1320 01:25:28,000 --> 01:25:29,760 him to do that even as it relates to 1321 01:25:29,760 --> 01:25:32,480 TIFF or the budget related matters. 1322 01:25:32,480 --> 01:25:35,280 Okay. Um, you know, I remember when the 1323 01:25:35,280 --> 01:25:37,360 first time one of these landed on our 1324 01:25:37,360 --> 01:25:40,000 agenda and Sue was very passionate about 1325 01:25:40,000 --> 01:25:42,400 it and, you know, I just kind of 1326 01:25:42,400 --> 01:25:45,760 understood a sliver of what it was about 1327 01:25:45,760 --> 01:25:47,600 and then I landed a role in the clerk's 1328 01:25:47,600 --> 01:25:49,280 office and these things come across my 1329 01:25:49,280 --> 01:25:51,840 desk all the time sitting at the county 1330 01:25:51,840 --> 01:25:56,400 and um, you really start as we have to 1331 01:25:56,400 --> 01:25:58,800 um, handle those applications and look 1332 01:25:58,800 --> 01:26:01,679 at that every day. Then I'm looking at 1333 01:26:01,679 --> 01:26:04,639 it with a different lens. Um I'll use an 1334 01:26:04,639 --> 01:26:08,719 example of um some properties that went 1335 01:26:08,719 --> 01:26:11,520 to the tax sale recently. Um they were 1336 01:26:11,520 --> 01:26:14,159 purchased 52 lots were purchased by a 1337 01:26:14,159 --> 01:26:16,480 developer in town. This is not our 1338 01:26:16,480 --> 01:26:18,159 school district, but I did call their 1339 01:26:18,159 --> 01:26:20,080 board president and say, "Hey, I don't 1340 01:26:20,080 --> 01:26:22,880 know if you're paying attention, but um 1341 01:26:22,880 --> 01:26:25,679 the 52 properties are houses that they 1342 01:26:25,679 --> 01:26:27,840 want to build $350,000 1343 01:26:27,840 --> 01:26:31,040 plus homes on, and they want to be 1344 01:26:31,040 --> 01:26:34,800 granted an exemption for 20 years, I 1345 01:26:34,800 --> 01:26:37,040 believe." So, I called that district 1346 01:26:37,040 --> 01:26:39,440 that would be affected and said, "Hey, 1347 01:26:39,440 --> 01:26:41,360 this is something you guys need to be 1348 01:26:41,360 --> 01:26:43,840 looking at." I know when I first sat on 1349 01:26:43,840 --> 01:26:46,400 the board, we had one and then as we 1350 01:26:46,400 --> 01:26:48,639 started getting others, Sue and some 1351 01:26:48,639 --> 01:26:50,400 others started what what's our process 1352 01:26:50,400 --> 01:26:52,960 for this? You know, because the the 1353 01:26:52,960 --> 01:26:54,800 thing is we have the ability to pull a 1354 01:26:54,800 --> 01:26:57,199 veto card and say, "Nope, we're not 1355 01:26:57,199 --> 01:26:59,120 going to do it because it impacts our 1356 01:26:59,120 --> 01:27:01,199 budget too much." A lot of times on 1357 01:27:01,199 --> 01:27:02,880 vacant properties, there's not a lot of 1358 01:27:02,880 --> 01:27:05,360 impact. But in that example that I just 1359 01:27:05,360 --> 01:27:08,880 gave, $350,000 homes at the rate of 1360 01:27:08,880 --> 01:27:12,239 inflation over 20 years, that's a lot of 1361 01:27:12,239 --> 01:27:13,920 money that that school district is going 1362 01:27:13,920 --> 01:27:16,800 to lose out on. Yeah. They will not get 1363 01:27:16,800 --> 01:27:20,239 for 20 years if you know. So I I I just 1364 01:27:20,239 --> 01:27:22,400 called that board president said, you 1365 01:27:22,400 --> 01:27:24,000 know, we're trying to create kind of a 1366 01:27:24,000 --> 01:27:26,159 process that when we get these that our 1367 01:27:26,159 --> 01:27:27,679 leadership team will look through and 1368 01:27:27,679 --> 01:27:29,679 present them and make recommendations. 1369 01:27:29,679 --> 01:27:31,199 So I don't know if you guys have that or 1370 01:27:31,199 --> 01:27:32,800 not. and they they weren't aware of 1371 01:27:32,800 --> 01:27:35,360 anything yet. So, that's kind of where 1372 01:27:35,360 --> 01:27:38,320 this conversation started. Um Sue had 1373 01:27:38,320 --> 01:27:40,639 more knowledge than I did and you know, 1374 01:27:40,639 --> 01:27:43,199 I've gained more in the last few years 1375 01:27:43,199 --> 01:27:45,280 and but but you brought it up again and 1376 01:27:45,280 --> 01:27:47,040 said, "Hey, you know, it's something we 1377 01:27:47,040 --> 01:27:48,480 need to talk about. We were really 1378 01:27:48,480 --> 01:27:50,960 trying to kind of identify a process. We 1379 01:27:50,960 --> 01:27:52,639 know that when we get them, they're 1380 01:27:52,639 --> 01:27:54,239 immediately shared out to us by our 1381 01:27:54,239 --> 01:27:56,560 board clerk." And so I think we're just 1382 01:27:56,560 --> 01:27:58,719 kind of trying to figure out what do we 1383 01:27:58,719 --> 01:28:01,360 want our process to be going forward. 1384 01:28:01,360 --> 01:28:02,480 And I know that there were some 1385 01:28:02,480 --> 01:28:05,040 conversations we originally had uh with 1386 01:28:05,040 --> 01:28:07,920 Mr. Edwards um when LR was still here. 1387 01:28:07,920 --> 01:28:09,600 He was involved in those. I think Chief 1388 01:28:09,600 --> 01:28:11,920 Cochran was in there trying to get the 1389 01:28:11,920 --> 01:28:14,639 city and maybe some of those people who 1390 01:28:14,639 --> 01:28:16,960 are encouraging these applications to 1391 01:28:16,960 --> 01:28:19,600 involve us earlier on because here's the 1392 01:28:19,600 --> 01:28:21,360 thing, the developers are still going to 1393 01:28:21,360 --> 01:28:24,000 develop. Just because we pull the veto 1394 01:28:24,000 --> 01:28:26,480 card does it that just means we're not 1395 01:28:26,480 --> 01:28:28,800 going to let them do it that way. Yeah. 1396 01:28:28,800 --> 01:28:30,880 And I mean there are opportunities for 1397 01:28:30,880 --> 01:28:33,520 them to make arrangements and say hey 1398 01:28:33,520 --> 01:28:35,679 we'll pay this in lie of taxes for this 1399 01:28:35,679 --> 01:28:38,159 many years or we'll pay this percentage. 1400 01:28:38,159 --> 01:28:40,159 And so I think we've really just been 1401 01:28:40,159 --> 01:28:42,960 trying to create a process so that when 1402 01:28:42,960 --> 01:28:44,800 one of those comes in that we feel like 1403 01:28:44,800 --> 01:28:47,040 might negatively affect our district 1404 01:28:47,040 --> 01:28:49,760 that we can walk through those steps. 1405 01:28:49,760 --> 01:28:52,320 And so that that's kind of the long and 1406 01:28:52,320 --> 01:28:54,480 short of how we got here and got this 1407 01:28:54,480 --> 01:28:57,280 back on the agenda. Um is because we had 1408 01:28:57,280 --> 01:28:58,800 some of those initial conversations and 1409 01:28:58,800 --> 01:29:00,639 then Miss Bullley's just like, "Hey, I 1410 01:29:00,639 --> 01:29:02,800 want to bubble this back up because we 1411 01:29:02,800 --> 01:29:04,639 met a few times and then it it feels 1412 01:29:04,639 --> 01:29:06,719 like it kind of died down a little bit." 1413 01:29:06,719 --> 01:29:08,400 So Miss Bolie, do you have any more you 1414 01:29:08,400 --> 01:29:11,040 want to add? I'm wondering how far have 1415 01:29:11,040 --> 01:29:16,800 we uh gotten to sit on any of the early 1416 01:29:16,800 --> 01:29:20,400 panels with the city. 1417 01:29:20,400 --> 01:29:22,080 >> So, a little history on that. So, 1418 01:29:22,080 --> 01:29:24,880 shortly after I began with the district, 1419 01:29:24,880 --> 01:29:28,320 I met with the city manager and mayor on 1420 01:29:28,320 --> 01:29:30,719 this topic. Um that kind of kicked off 1421 01:29:30,719 --> 01:29:33,360 some further discussion. Um since that 1422 01:29:33,360 --> 01:29:35,199 time, we had another Zoom meeting that 1423 01:29:35,199 --> 01:29:37,199 included, I believe, two board members 1424 01:29:37,199 --> 01:29:40,560 on that. uh maybe three, okay, with uh 1425 01:29:40,560 --> 01:29:44,000 the deputy city manager and some of the 1426 01:29:44,000 --> 01:29:46,880 economic development department staff. 1427 01:29:46,880 --> 01:29:49,360 Uh so it took us a little bit of time to 1428 01:29:49,360 --> 01:29:51,760 learn more about their process. What we 1429 01:29:51,760 --> 01:29:55,760 learned is that it it's a very long one 1430 01:29:55,760 --> 01:29:57,760 and it's also that they're getting hit 1431 01:29:57,760 --> 01:30:00,480 with requests just constantly now. So 1432 01:30:00,480 --> 01:30:02,960 once this kind of got started, um then 1433 01:30:02,960 --> 01:30:04,880 you get to where every developer that 1434 01:30:04,880 --> 01:30:07,040 comes wants their share, right? because 1435 01:30:07,040 --> 01:30:09,440 they're seeing so many others approved. 1436 01:30:09,440 --> 01:30:13,760 Uh what we've been able to uh they took 1437 01:30:13,760 --> 01:30:15,520 us through a very long flowchart. I 1438 01:30:15,520 --> 01:30:17,040 won't show you that today, but I can 1439 01:30:17,040 --> 01:30:19,360 certainly send it out to you of what the 1440 01:30:19,360 --> 01:30:20,719 process looks like from the initial 1441 01:30:20,719 --> 01:30:23,360 application through to approval by the 1442 01:30:23,360 --> 01:30:26,320 other taxing entities like us. Uh which 1443 01:30:26,320 --> 01:30:28,239 is pretty far towards the end of that 1444 01:30:28,239 --> 01:30:31,760 process. What we've asked them is please 1445 01:30:31,760 --> 01:30:34,159 include us earlier on so that we know 1446 01:30:34,159 --> 01:30:35,920 that it's coming so that we can have 1447 01:30:35,920 --> 01:30:38,719 some input into 1448 01:30:38,719 --> 01:30:40,400 whether or not this is something that we 1449 01:30:40,400 --> 01:30:42,159 would our board would approve. It's not 1450 01:30:42,159 --> 01:30:45,360 my decision. It is the seven of you um 1451 01:30:45,360 --> 01:30:48,000 and better understand what the effect is 1452 01:30:48,000 --> 01:30:50,159 on our financials. So, the truth is that 1453 01:30:50,159 --> 01:30:51,679 with some of these districts, we 1454 01:30:51,679 --> 01:30:55,600 benefit. We may benefit by having more 1455 01:30:55,600 --> 01:30:57,840 families and therefore more students uh 1456 01:30:57,840 --> 01:30:59,760 come in and increase enrollment. And 1457 01:30:59,760 --> 01:31:01,440 we're funded primarily based on 1458 01:31:01,440 --> 01:31:03,520 enrollment. 1459 01:31:03,520 --> 01:31:06,320 In some cases, these will hurt our 1460 01:31:06,320 --> 01:31:08,239 finances because they don't increase 1461 01:31:08,239 --> 01:31:10,960 enrollment and would lower property tax 1462 01:31:10,960 --> 01:31:12,960 collection. So, you really have to look 1463 01:31:12,960 --> 01:31:14,800 at the unique circumstances of the 1464 01:31:14,800 --> 01:31:17,600 individual item that's coming before us. 1465 01:31:17,600 --> 01:31:20,320 Um what they committed to after that 1466 01:31:20,320 --> 01:31:22,320 last meeting that we had with the large 1467 01:31:22,320 --> 01:31:24,880 group was that they were going to create 1468 01:31:24,880 --> 01:31:27,440 a spot for us early on in their very 1469 01:31:27,440 --> 01:31:30,320 long flowchart where they sent notice to 1470 01:31:30,320 --> 01:31:32,900 us as ones hit that step. Now, 1471 01:31:32,900 --> 01:31:35,120 [clears throat] I know that they told us 1472 01:31:35,120 --> 01:31:37,199 at that time that there were a few that 1473 01:31:37,199 --> 01:31:39,199 were already beyond that step that were 1474 01:31:39,199 --> 01:31:43,360 in the hopper they referred to um that I 1475 01:31:43,360 --> 01:31:44,960 believe are the ones that we've seen 1476 01:31:44,960 --> 01:31:47,600 come through just most recently now. Um, 1477 01:31:47,600 --> 01:31:50,080 so I did not expect to get that early 1478 01:31:50,080 --> 01:31:52,239 notice necessarily on those because they 1479 01:31:52,239 --> 01:31:54,320 told us that they were already past that 1480 01:31:54,320 --> 01:31:57,120 review stage, but I do expect that 1481 01:31:57,120 --> 01:31:58,400 they'll make good on that commitment 1482 01:31:58,400 --> 01:32:00,560 going forward that new applications that 1483 01:32:00,560 --> 01:32:04,080 they get will be um discussed with us in 1484 01:32:04,080 --> 01:32:07,040 advance um sent to us by the economic 1485 01:32:07,040 --> 01:32:08,719 development director from the city 1486 01:32:08,719 --> 01:32:11,520 first. Um so I'm trusting that that's 1487 01:32:11,520 --> 01:32:13,760 happening. Now I cannot verify that 1488 01:32:13,760 --> 01:32:15,600 there's not one that's missed that step 1489 01:32:15,600 --> 01:32:17,440 right now. We're going to find out if we 1490 01:32:17,440 --> 01:32:19,360 get another one that wasn't already in 1491 01:32:19,360 --> 01:32:20,960 the hopper. Right. So, 1492 01:32:20,960 --> 01:32:23,120 >> quick question. Do you know is that 1493 01:32:23,120 --> 01:32:25,360 notification before I would assume it's 1494 01:32:25,360 --> 01:32:27,360 after they send it to the state to get 1495 01:32:27,360 --> 01:32:28,880 approval? 1496 01:32:28,880 --> 01:32:30,639 >> I'm not clear on that, but I can find 1497 01:32:30,639 --> 01:32:30,880 out. 1498 01:32:30,880 --> 01:32:32,400 >> Okay. Yeah, I asked you to share the 1499 01:32:32,400 --> 01:32:35,199 flowchart with me and via email, but um 1500 01:32:35,199 --> 01:32:37,360 cuz that that developer Well, we won't 1501 01:32:37,360 --> 01:32:38,560 get notification on that one because 1502 01:32:38,560 --> 01:32:40,719 that's not our district. So, I was just 1503 01:32:40,719 --> 01:32:42,159 trying to figure I'm trying to think of 1504 01:32:42,159 --> 01:32:44,960 what I've seen on my desk. I don't think 1505 01:32:44,960 --> 01:32:47,199 I've seen anything that affects us up 1506 01:32:47,199 --> 01:32:48,960 and coming yet because I just kind of 1507 01:32:48,960 --> 01:32:50,960 want to make sure they loop us in. 1508 01:32:50,960 --> 01:32:54,000 >> Yeah, I I do get the gist after several 1509 01:32:54,000 --> 01:32:55,920 of those conversations that it's just 1510 01:32:55,920 --> 01:32:58,239 become kind of common business practice. 1511 01:32:58,239 --> 01:33:00,639 It just sort of slipped people's minds 1512 01:33:00,639 --> 01:33:03,360 that there is an effect downstream on 1513 01:33:03,360 --> 01:33:06,320 these other taxing entities and their 1514 01:33:06,320 --> 01:33:10,960 response was I believe um very um open 1515 01:33:10,960 --> 01:33:14,400 to being more collaborative about it. So 1516 01:33:14,400 --> 01:33:18,080 um ultimately the law allows them to go 1517 01:33:18,080 --> 01:33:19,600 through this process and for them to 1518 01:33:19,600 --> 01:33:21,760 approve it. They don't have to include 1519 01:33:21,760 --> 01:33:25,600 us but we also or the board does have 1520 01:33:25,600 --> 01:33:28,800 the ability to veto. So that's um that 1521 01:33:28,800 --> 01:33:31,040 collaboration is implied because of 1522 01:33:31,040 --> 01:33:34,870 that. 1523 01:33:34,880 --> 01:33:36,800 So, 1524 01:33:36,800 --> 01:33:38,800 since I've gotten concerned about the 1525 01:33:38,800 --> 01:33:41,120 TIFF, we've gone through two city 1526 01:33:41,120 --> 01:33:42,960 managers, 1527 01:33:42,960 --> 01:33:45,920 two city planners. 1528 01:33:45,920 --> 01:33:48,719 And so we really need to have an 1529 01:33:48,719 --> 01:33:52,400 absolute seat at that, as far as I'm 1530 01:33:52,400 --> 01:33:54,400 concerned, a seat at that decision 1531 01:33:54,400 --> 01:33:57,679 making because leadership changes so 1532 01:33:57,679 --> 01:34:00,639 much and we just get buried again and 1533 01:34:00,639 --> 01:34:02,880 then they start moving forward again 1534 01:34:02,880 --> 01:34:06,719 without any of our knowledge. 1535 01:34:06,719 --> 01:34:09,760 And so I really think that somehow we 1536 01:34:09,760 --> 01:34:12,800 need to say we want a seat or we're 1537 01:34:12,800 --> 01:34:16,560 going to start veto v vetoing these 1538 01:34:16,560 --> 01:34:18,719 because it's affecting our budget so 1539 01:34:18,719 --> 01:34:23,040 much. I mean, we're talking about t uh 1540 01:34:23,040 --> 01:34:26,000 property t taxes to keep us moving 1541 01:34:26,000 --> 01:34:29,600 forward when we are losing money like 1542 01:34:29,600 --> 01:34:34,000 crazy to these developers that 1543 01:34:34,000 --> 01:34:36,320 I'm sure can afford to do it without our 1544 01:34:36,320 --> 01:34:38,400 tiffs. 1545 01:34:38,400 --> 01:34:40,880 I just think we really need to press the 1546 01:34:40,880 --> 01:34:43,600 city and say we want to be a part of 1547 01:34:43,600 --> 01:34:45,440 this 1548 01:34:45,440 --> 01:34:49,040 an official seat at the table because it 1549 01:34:49,040 --> 01:34:51,600 changes so much. Leadership changes so 1550 01:34:51,600 --> 01:34:55,199 much we get cast aside again and we are 1551 01:34:55,199 --> 01:34:58,080 at a point where there are so many in 1552 01:34:58,080 --> 01:35:00,560 the city of Topeka and more coming all 1553 01:35:00,560 --> 01:35:03,120 the time whether they're approved or 1554 01:35:03,120 --> 01:35:05,120 not. We need to have a seat there 1555 01:35:05,120 --> 01:35:09,760 because they are affecting our district 1556 01:35:09,760 --> 01:35:12,480 more so than the county for sure. 1557 01:35:12,480 --> 01:35:15,280 They're affecting our district strongly. 1558 01:35:15,280 --> 01:35:17,199 I just think we really need to be 1559 01:35:17,199 --> 01:35:21,280 pressing forward with them to do that. 1560 01:35:21,280 --> 01:35:24,310 Remember 1561 01:35:24,320 --> 01:35:28,000 when the neighborhood revitalization 1562 01:35:28,000 --> 01:35:30,560 financed the Meninger clock tower to a 1563 01:35:30,560 --> 01:35:32,239 half a million dollars and it came out 1564 01:35:32,239 --> 01:35:34,239 of our budget, 1565 01:35:34,239 --> 01:35:37,040 but we didn't get a chance to deny or 1566 01:35:37,040 --> 01:35:40,080 anything. So a seat at the table does it 1567 01:35:40,080 --> 01:35:44,080 really mean anything? I just we don't 1568 01:35:44,080 --> 01:35:47,920 seem to get a say. money is allocated to 1569 01:35:47,920 --> 01:35:50,000 us, gets credited to us, but it doesn't 1570 01:35:50,000 --> 01:35:52,960 get distributed. 1571 01:35:52,960 --> 01:35:56,950 That ain't right. 1572 01:35:56,960 --> 01:35:58,880 » We don't mean to be leaning so hard on 1573 01:35:58,880 --> 01:36:00,639 you. We just [laughter] 1574 01:36:00,639 --> 01:36:02,800 >> No, I there's no way. just we just need 1575 01:36:02,800 --> 01:36:05,760 to have a seat at the table or in my 1576 01:36:05,760 --> 01:36:09,199 opinion we just start ve vetoing these 1577 01:36:09,199 --> 01:36:11,840 until we get their attention 1578 01:36:11,840 --> 01:36:14,080 and that's not going to create really 1579 01:36:14,080 --> 01:36:17,360 good relationships with our city but if 1580 01:36:17,360 --> 01:36:19,600 they don't take us seriously and give us 1581 01:36:19,600 --> 01:36:21,520 an opportunity to say why is this going 1582 01:36:21,520 --> 01:36:24,320 to benefit us we're going to move 1583 01:36:24,320 --> 01:36:27,280 forward with it with you but if it's not 1584 01:36:27,280 --> 01:36:30,400 going to benefit us we got to start 1585 01:36:30,400 --> 01:36:32,080 drawing the line as far as I'm 1586 01:36:32,080 --> 01:36:32,480 concerned. 1587 01:36:32,480 --> 01:36:34,560 >> And I think that's what you know the the 1588 01:36:34,560 --> 01:36:37,440 idea of getting the group together and 1589 01:36:37,440 --> 01:36:39,440 discussing and outlining what we want 1590 01:36:39,440 --> 01:36:41,840 that process to look like because we 1591 01:36:41,840 --> 01:36:44,320 know that we only have 30 days once 1592 01:36:44,320 --> 01:36:46,719 we're issued that. And with so many of 1593 01:36:46,719 --> 01:36:48,960 us being new, you know, in the last term 1594 01:36:48,960 --> 01:36:51,119 or two, we we weren't really familiar 1595 01:36:51,119 --> 01:36:54,239 with what that process was. And so, you 1596 01:36:54,239 --> 01:36:56,960 know, like I said, now um the clerk does 1597 01:36:56,960 --> 01:36:59,119 email those out right away and then 1598 01:36:59,119 --> 01:37:00,880 notice is placed on the next board 1599 01:37:00,880 --> 01:37:03,440 agenda. I think we do have to be 1600 01:37:03,440 --> 01:37:06,800 strategic though about what we choose to 1601 01:37:06,800 --> 01:37:09,920 red card and what we don't because we do 1602 01:37:09,920 --> 01:37:11,600 need to have a collaborative working 1603 01:37:11,600 --> 01:37:14,159 relationship with these groups. 1604 01:37:14,159 --> 01:37:15,760 >> But they need to have it with us as 1605 01:37:15,760 --> 01:37:16,159 well. 1606 01:37:16,159 --> 01:37:17,840 >> Correct. Correct. But we'll lead by 1607 01:37:17,840 --> 01:37:21,679 example, right? and um 1608 01:37:21,679 --> 01:37:24,159 this process of of reaching out to them 1609 01:37:24,159 --> 01:37:26,000 with an olive branch and saying, "Hey, 1610 01:37:26,000 --> 01:37:27,679 we think you're kind of for forgetting 1611 01:37:27,679 --> 01:37:30,000 us down here." Um you know, there will 1612 01:37:30,000 --> 01:37:32,159 be some that just don't affect us. 1613 01:37:32,159 --> 01:37:33,760 Property that's vacant that's not going 1614 01:37:33,760 --> 01:37:35,280 to bring, you know, that's that's not 1615 01:37:35,280 --> 01:37:37,199 going to be anything. But like the the 1616 01:37:37,199 --> 01:37:38,719 watert 1617 01:37:38,719 --> 01:37:40,960 um the multifamily housing there um 1618 01:37:40,960 --> 01:37:44,000 right down the street from Williams, 1619 01:37:44,000 --> 01:37:45,679 um you know, that's bringing a lot of 1620 01:37:45,679 --> 01:37:48,480 families to our district. And so so 1621 01:37:48,480 --> 01:37:51,760 we've got to look and see and and this 1622 01:37:51,760 --> 01:37:53,760 is just the first steps of that. 1623 01:37:53,760 --> 01:37:56,400 Correct. Mr. Buucy. 1624 01:37:56,400 --> 01:37:57,360 >> Yeah. 1625 01:37:57,360 --> 01:37:58,400 >> Mr. Tatum, 1626 01:37:58,400 --> 01:38:00,880 >> this was your Oh, I'm so sorry. 1627 01:38:00,880 --> 01:38:02,320 >> Please finish. M 1628 01:38:02,320 --> 01:38:05,199 >> this was your 1629 01:38:05,199 --> 01:38:07,199 study in school. What are your 1630 01:38:07,199 --> 01:38:09,920 suggestions that we should do? 1631 01:38:09,920 --> 01:38:12,800 All I can say is that I didn't find any 1632 01:38:12,800 --> 01:38:16,560 correlation with um with tiff districts 1633 01:38:16,560 --> 01:38:19,679 and um the end results which was to 1634 01:38:19,679 --> 01:38:22,239 ultimately you know increase taxity for 1635 01:38:22,239 --> 01:38:24,960 everyone. But um it's hard to hold 1636 01:38:24,960 --> 01:38:26,800 everything else steady because in in the 1637 01:38:26,800 --> 01:38:28,400 real world that doesn't happen. You know 1638 01:38:28,400 --> 01:38:31,520 they they might um revitalize a district 1639 01:38:31,520 --> 01:38:35,119 and then yes uh property taxes do go up 1640 01:38:35,119 --> 01:38:36,960 in that area but then it's all because 1641 01:38:36,960 --> 01:38:38,800 they move from the next street over. I 1642 01:38:38,800 --> 01:38:42,239 mean, that happens, too. So, um, but I I 1643 01:38:42,239 --> 01:38:47,600 mean, I'm happy to Yeah, we're happy to to uh sit in on anything that we can. 1644 01:38:47,600 --> 01:38:49,440 I know we all went to the the group of 1645 01:38:49,440 --> 01:38:51,600 us went to the Jedo meeting. Um, and I 1646 01:38:51,600 --> 01:38:53,760 think that was good um for them to see 1647 01:38:53,760 --> 01:38:56,560 our faces. And so, 1648 01:38:56,560 --> 01:39:02,239 >> so I uh I think Mrs. Boly is absolutely 1649 01:39:02,239 --> 01:39:05,199 spot on when she expresses the concern 1650 01:39:05,199 --> 01:39:09,119 about um leadership turning over at the 1651 01:39:09,119 --> 01:39:13,440 city at the city level. Um 1652 01:39:13,440 --> 01:39:18,320 what we don't what what we want to do is ensure that there's some sort of a 1653 01:39:18,320 --> 01:39:21,440 continuity that when 1654 01:39:21,440 --> 01:39:23,600 people are leaving the processes are 1655 01:39:23,600 --> 01:39:26,239 already in place so that whoever 1656 01:39:26,239 --> 01:39:29,040 stepping into those roles realizes oh we 1657 01:39:29,040 --> 01:39:31,199 have a responsibility to reach out to 1658 01:39:31,199 --> 01:39:33,600 USD501 and let them know because this 1659 01:39:33,600 --> 01:39:36,960 could potentially impact them. Um, I'm 1660 01:39:36,960 --> 01:39:39,840 just thinking about ways of of how we 1661 01:39:39,840 --> 01:39:43,840 can help to to facilitate that process. 1662 01:39:43,840 --> 01:39:48,000 And I think one of the ways, one of the the strongest connections, we've 1663 01:39:48,000 --> 01:39:49,760 already started doing it in in in the 1664 01:39:49,760 --> 01:39:52,159 meeting that Mr. Isert is is referring 1665 01:39:52,159 --> 01:39:53,920 to in which there were several of us 1666 01:39:53,920 --> 01:39:57,760 that met with um the uh uh deputy city 1667 01:39:57,760 --> 01:40:00,080 manager and the economic development 1668 01:40:00,080 --> 01:40:03,520 director. Um, I think those kinds of 1669 01:40:03,520 --> 01:40:05,040 relationship building effort, 1670 01:40:05,040 --> 01:40:07,440 particularly with other elected 1671 01:40:07,440 --> 01:40:09,360 officials on the city council, and I I 1672 01:40:09,360 --> 01:40:11,119 have a good relationship with the the 1673 01:40:11,119 --> 01:40:14,480 mayor and the the city manager also, but 1674 01:40:14,480 --> 01:40:18,159 I I think um one of the ways th this is 1675 01:40:18,159 --> 01:40:20,400 a new process. It feels like this is 1676 01:40:20,400 --> 01:40:22,000 fairly new. We're trying to wrap our 1677 01:40:22,000 --> 01:40:24,400 arms around what's the best way that we 1678 01:40:24,400 --> 01:40:30,159 can kind of navigate through this and create some solid uh uh expectations 1679 01:40:30,159 --> 01:40:33,520 and parameters um not just for for us 1680 01:40:33,520 --> 01:40:36,880 but for them in how this should occur. 1681 01:40:36,880 --> 01:40:41,520 Um I think I think one of the ways that we might be able to make some 1682 01:40:41,520 --> 01:40:44,960 forward progress here is through um 1683 01:40:44,960 --> 01:40:46,639 relationship building with with the 1684 01:40:46,639 --> 01:40:48,800 other elected officials at the city 1685 01:40:48,800 --> 01:40:52,800 level. Um, that's just my my suggestion 1686 01:40:52,800 --> 01:40:55,119 that just comes to mind right away, but 1687 01:40:55,119 --> 01:40:56,639 I think it's it's something that the 1688 01:40:56,639 --> 01:40:58,719 seven of us really should should think 1689 01:40:58,719 --> 01:41:01,199 about, 1690 01:41:01,199 --> 01:41:02,320 you know, and you know, the other thing 1691 01:41:02,320 --> 01:41:04,320 that we always talk about here are is 1692 01:41:04,320 --> 01:41:06,080 the data to show that what we're doing 1693 01:41:06,080 --> 01:41:08,480 is is effective, right? And so pressing 1694 01:41:08,480 --> 01:41:10,320 beyond making sure that we work on 1695 01:41:10,320 --> 01:41:13,840 relationships, asking these tiffs, I 1696 01:41:13,840 --> 01:41:17,360 imagine we're told will help us in XYZ, 1697 01:41:17,360 --> 01:41:19,280 right? here's what we we're we're hoping 1698 01:41:19,280 --> 01:41:21,119 to get out of it, but what is the data 1699 01:41:21,119 --> 01:41:23,520 that go uh is there to be able to sort 1700 01:41:23,520 --> 01:41:25,440 of demonstrate the effectiveness of some 1701 01:41:25,440 --> 01:41:27,360 of these tools? And so asking for that, 1702 01:41:27,360 --> 01:41:28,800 I think, would be another great way to 1703 01:41:28,800 --> 01:41:31,520 be able to help us lend some data to to 1704 01:41:31,520 --> 01:41:32,960 decisions that we're making as we 1705 01:41:32,960 --> 01:41:34,960 consider some of these these in the 1706 01:41:34,960 --> 01:41:37,920 future. 1707 01:41:37,920 --> 01:41:39,520 Yeah, I think that was one of the things 1708 01:41:39,520 --> 01:41:42,159 we talked about when we first met. you 1709 01:41:42,159 --> 01:41:44,000 know, if there was a way that we could 1710 01:41:44,000 --> 01:41:46,320 identify or create a formula that says, 1711 01:41:46,320 --> 01:41:47,920 you know, if it's if it's not going to 1712 01:41:47,920 --> 01:41:49,840 negatively impact us, if it, you know, 1713 01:41:49,840 --> 01:41:52,960 falls below this line, then, you know, 1714 01:41:52,960 --> 01:41:54,560 we can be given that information from 1715 01:41:54,560 --> 01:41:56,320 the leadership team as they evaluate 1716 01:41:56,320 --> 01:41:58,239 these as they come through and that'll 1717 01:41:58,239 --> 01:42:01,600 help inform our decision. And then in 1718 01:42:01,600 --> 01:42:03,920 turn, they can say, oh, you know, this 1719 01:42:03,920 --> 01:42:06,080 is might be how this impact. And then 1720 01:42:06,080 --> 01:42:08,159 that would be maybe a bigger or larger 1721 01:42:08,159 --> 01:42:10,159 conversation that we have at a meeting 1722 01:42:10,159 --> 01:42:13,199 so that we know and decide you know to 1723 01:42:13,199 --> 01:42:15,520 take action or not take action. 1724 01:42:15,520 --> 01:42:19,440 >> Is that a conversation that would 1725 01:42:19,440 --> 01:42:23,199 be had initially in finance committee do 1726 01:42:23,199 --> 01:42:25,119 you think or is there another committee? 1727 01:42:25,119 --> 01:42:28,400 Well the the the setting up the 1728 01:42:28,400 --> 01:42:30,800 guidelines might be policy maybe I don't 1729 01:42:30,800 --> 01:42:31,199 know 1730 01:42:31,199 --> 01:42:32,960 >> I you know I don't know this this is 1731 01:42:32,960 --> 01:42:35,360 nothing we've had in place. We're just 1732 01:42:35,360 --> 01:42:37,199 trying to put some structure, some 1733 01:42:37,199 --> 01:42:39,280 framework around it so as we get them 1734 01:42:39,280 --> 01:42:40,960 that we have kind of a process to 1735 01:42:40,960 --> 01:42:42,639 follow. 1736 01:42:42,639 --> 01:42:45,360 >> And and and I'll I'll jump in if I may. 1737 01:42:45,360 --> 01:42:47,040 I know we did talk about doing that in 1738 01:42:47,040 --> 01:42:49,119 finance, Miss Bullley being passionate 1739 01:42:49,119 --> 01:42:51,840 about it, but um she's she's rolled to 1740 01:42:51,840 --> 01:42:54,719 some different committees. So um um you 1741 01:42:54,719 --> 01:42:56,560 know that that presented a challenge as 1742 01:42:56,560 --> 01:42:58,159 well. So [snorts] 1743 01:42:58,159 --> 01:43:00,320 um we're happy to take it up in finance. 1744 01:43:00,320 --> 01:43:01,199 Uh 1745 01:43:01,199 --> 01:43:02,560 >> yeah, it's it's definitely something 1746 01:43:02,560 --> 01:43:04,960 that we had planned the next time we get 1747 01:43:04,960 --> 01:43:07,679 one from that early stage. Then we get 1748 01:43:07,679 --> 01:43:09,600 to go through the whole process start to 1749 01:43:09,600 --> 01:43:12,880 finish one time. Then we get to see what 1750 01:43:12,880 --> 01:43:14,719 do we really want to improve from that. 1751 01:43:14,719 --> 01:43:16,400 Once we've had the chance to have input 1752 01:43:16,400 --> 01:43:18,639 earlier, what else do we need um to have 1753 01:43:18,639 --> 01:43:21,040 some effect on earlier? Um so that once 1754 01:43:21,040 --> 01:43:22,560 we get that first one, I really would 1755 01:43:22,560 --> 01:43:24,000 like to work really closely with the 1756 01:43:24,000 --> 01:43:27,199 finance committee on that process um and 1757 01:43:27,199 --> 01:43:30,639 see how that goes. get board feedback on 1758 01:43:30,639 --> 01:43:32,719 that at that point. Maybe that's the 1759 01:43:32,719 --> 01:43:34,560 first one that you really feel strongly 1760 01:43:34,560 --> 01:43:37,040 is not right for us and we want to 1761 01:43:37,040 --> 01:43:38,960 challenge that. It might be, it might 1762 01:43:38,960 --> 01:43:41,199 not, but at least we we will make sure 1763 01:43:41,199 --> 01:43:43,760 that we're handling that differently. U 1764 01:43:43,760 --> 01:43:45,360 Miss Bowley, thank you so much for your 1765 01:43:45,360 --> 01:43:46,960 passion on this issue and don't worry 1766 01:43:46,960 --> 01:43:49,679 about um you know, putting this on me. 1767 01:43:49,679 --> 01:43:51,440 We're happy to do this on the board's 1768 01:43:51,440 --> 01:43:54,080 behalf. Uh we know that you're not uh 1769 01:43:54,080 --> 01:43:56,639 putting in um every day here like we 1770 01:43:56,639 --> 01:43:58,960 are. We're happy to take this on. Um, 1771 01:43:58,960 --> 01:44:01,040 but to your points about the the 1772 01:44:01,040 --> 01:44:03,440 turnover of the city and staying on top 1773 01:44:03,440 --> 01:44:05,840 of that, we are watching that very 1774 01:44:05,840 --> 01:44:09,040 closely as well. Um, you may have heard 1775 01:44:09,040 --> 01:44:12,159 or may not in the news that uh, Mr. 1776 01:44:12,159 --> 01:44:14,719 Copley Braxton Copley, deputy city 1777 01:44:14,719 --> 01:44:16,080 manager, announced his retirement 1778 01:44:16,080 --> 01:44:18,239 yesterday. So, that was the first 1779 01:44:18,239 --> 01:44:20,159 thought when I saw that in my mind that 1780 01:44:20,159 --> 01:44:22,159 he was one that I was working closely 1781 01:44:22,159 --> 01:44:25,520 with on this issue. So, um, Leah 1782 01:44:25,520 --> 01:44:29,679 Bowling, um, is the, uh, 1783 01:44:29,679 --> 01:44:32,400 economic development manager or director 1784 01:44:32,400 --> 01:44:34,320 for the city. She is the second person 1785 01:44:34,320 --> 01:44:35,600 that we were working really closely 1786 01:44:35,600 --> 01:44:37,119 with. So, at least I know that I've 1787 01:44:37,119 --> 01:44:39,280 still got her um, who was really taking 1788 01:44:39,280 --> 01:44:41,600 the lead on that and making sure where 1789 01:44:41,600 --> 01:44:43,600 we fit in that flowchart. So, I don't 1790 01:44:43,600 --> 01:44:45,119 think we've got a disruption at this 1791 01:44:45,119 --> 01:44:46,719 point, but just know that we are really 1792 01:44:46,719 --> 01:44:48,560 staying on top of that for you. 1793 01:44:48,560 --> 01:44:49,199 >> So, ma'am, 1794 01:44:49,199 --> 01:44:51,119 >> and we're getting more than just the 30 1795 01:44:51,119 --> 01:44:53,520 days, correct? you are talking about 1796 01:44:53,520 --> 01:44:56,080 we're getting in there earlier. They're 1797 01:44:56,080 --> 01:44:58,400 planning on getting us in there earlier 1798 01:44:58,400 --> 01:44:59,840 on the decision making. 1799 01:44:59,840 --> 01:45:02,560 >> Right. The 30 days is what we're allowed 1800 01:45:02,560 --> 01:45:05,760 by law just once they send it to us to 1801 01:45:05,760 --> 01:45:08,320 respond and say no, we we don't we would 1802 01:45:08,320 --> 01:45:11,920 like to veto. Um, so that is completely 1803 01:45:11,920 --> 01:45:13,679 separate from what we're asking for 1804 01:45:13,679 --> 01:45:15,520 because in this long process of 1805 01:45:15,520 --> 01:45:17,440 approvals and studies and all of the 1806 01:45:17,440 --> 01:45:19,440 work that goes into deciding if even the 1807 01:45:19,440 --> 01:45:22,239 city or the county wants to do this. Um, 1808 01:45:22,239 --> 01:45:24,080 we'd like to know before all of that 1809 01:45:24,080 --> 01:45:26,000 work happens so that we can say, "Hold 1810 01:45:26,000 --> 01:45:28,159 up, we're not comfortable. Maybe don't 1811 01:45:28,159 --> 01:45:30,800 waste all the time on that." Um, or 1812 01:45:30,800 --> 01:45:32,880 let's have some more discussion before 1813 01:45:32,880 --> 01:45:34,960 we proceed. Uh, and that's what we've 1814 01:45:34,960 --> 01:45:36,239 gotten commitment on. 1815 01:45:36,239 --> 01:45:38,239 >> So, Madam President, we take it to the 1816 01:45:38,239 --> 01:45:39,920 finance committee. it sounds like as our 1817 01:45:39,920 --> 01:45:42,480 next step and then you all always report 1818 01:45:42,480 --> 01:45:44,400 out. Finance committee comes back to the 1819 01:45:44,400 --> 01:45:47,199 board. You may report out that this is 1820 01:45:47,199 --> 01:45:49,199 something that you want to vote against 1821 01:45:49,199 --> 01:45:51,119 and then at least for now that's the 1822 01:45:51,119 --> 01:45:52,960 beginning of our process and you've 1823 01:45:52,960 --> 01:45:54,960 already set up the process with the 1824 01:45:54,960 --> 01:45:57,199 clerk sending you those as they come in. 1825 01:45:57,199 --> 01:45:59,440 We're we're excited about this new 1826 01:45:59,440 --> 01:46:04,400 opportunity to uh bring voice to this. 1827 01:46:04,400 --> 01:46:05,920 >> So go ahead. 1828 01:46:05,920 --> 01:46:08,400 >> I'm sorry. I I just to clarify, Mr. 1829 01:46:08,400 --> 01:46:10,239 prisoner, you're you're telling us that 1830 01:46:10,239 --> 01:46:13,280 the 30-day countdown does not begin 1831 01:46:13,280 --> 01:46:16,480 until they notify us. Correct? It's not 1832 01:46:16,480 --> 01:46:21,440 30 days from when the city finds out or when the city receives 1833 01:46:21,440 --> 01:46:23,520 >> you're you're we're sent notification 1834 01:46:23,520 --> 01:46:25,840 from the city. So, when it's gone 1835 01:46:25,840 --> 01:46:28,000 through all its steps, one of the last 1836 01:46:28,000 --> 01:46:31,040 things they do is notify the all the 1837 01:46:31,040 --> 01:46:33,280 county, the affected school district. 1838 01:46:33,280 --> 01:46:38,159 And once you are served that once that date on there that 30-day 1839 01:46:38,159 --> 01:46:38,639 begins 1840 01:46:38,639 --> 01:46:40,239 >> and that and part of the reason we want 1841 01:46:40,239 --> 01:46:42,800 to get our arms around the process is 1842 01:46:42,800 --> 01:46:44,800 because we only meet every two weeks. 1843 01:46:44,800 --> 01:46:45,600 >> Yeah, that's right. 1844 01:46:45,600 --> 01:46:48,239 >> So depending on the timing of that by 1845 01:46:48,239 --> 01:46:50,960 Mr. Narder working to get us aware of 1846 01:46:50,960 --> 01:46:54,400 these earlier on, we can we can begin 1847 01:46:54,400 --> 01:46:57,040 looking to see how that might affect us 1848 01:46:57,040 --> 01:46:59,600 so we don't get served a notice and have 1849 01:46:59,600 --> 01:47:01,440 to figure out within a short period of 1850 01:47:01,440 --> 01:47:03,360 time. We're we're we're trying to get 1851 01:47:03,360 --> 01:47:06,480 involved, you know, earlier earlier down 1852 01:47:06,480 --> 01:47:07,040 there. 1853 01:47:07,040 --> 01:47:08,159 >> We did Thank you. 1854 01:47:08,159 --> 01:47:09,760 >> We did have some extensive discussion 1855 01:47:09,760 --> 01:47:12,080 about that timeline as well because that 1856 01:47:12,080 --> 01:47:14,159 30 days starts when they sign the form 1857 01:47:14,159 --> 01:47:16,719 and stamp it to go off to the mail, but 1858 01:47:16,719 --> 01:47:18,800 if it sits on somebody's desk for a few 1859 01:47:18,800 --> 01:47:19,440 days, 1860 01:47:19,440 --> 01:47:20,960 >> and that's and that's been the case at 1861 01:47:20,960 --> 01:47:23,360 the county. There have been times um but 1862 01:47:23,360 --> 01:47:25,040 I've had some conversations with our 1863 01:47:25,040 --> 01:47:28,320 counselor about whether that really cuz 1864 01:47:28,320 --> 01:47:30,560 we've been served notices at the county 1865 01:47:30,560 --> 01:47:33,040 after the 30-day expiration technically 1866 01:47:33,040 --> 01:47:36,080 would have expired and um I was told by 1867 01:47:36,080 --> 01:47:37,760 our county counselor no that's not the 1868 01:47:37,760 --> 01:47:40,000 case they have to actually so we might 1869 01:47:40,000 --> 01:47:41,600 want to clarify that Miss Whiteitman 1870 01:47:41,600 --> 01:47:43,679 that might be a note for you to take. 1871 01:47:43,679 --> 01:47:44,080 >> Okay 1872 01:47:44,080 --> 01:47:45,280 >> Dr. 1873 01:47:45,280 --> 01:47:48,719 I'm just wondering if the IC is the 1874 01:47:48,719 --> 01:47:52,080 opportunity, maybe not necessarily to 1875 01:47:52,080 --> 01:47:56,080 push the city, but it is a most month 1876 01:47:56,080 --> 01:47:59,600 meeting that we are able to sit on that 1877 01:47:59,600 --> 01:48:02,480 has some sort of city representation and 1878 01:48:02,480 --> 01:48:05,040 knowing that there's an agenda, that 1879 01:48:05,040 --> 01:48:06,880 kind of stuff. But just as a way for us 1880 01:48:06,880 --> 01:48:09,760 to let them know, hey, this is something 1881 01:48:09,760 --> 01:48:11,840 that we want to continue to be involved 1882 01:48:11,840 --> 01:48:15,119 with with no matter who's sitting in 1883 01:48:15,119 --> 01:48:16,639 that spot. 1884 01:48:16,639 --> 01:48:18,480 >> All the taxing authorities are there, 1885 01:48:18,480 --> 01:48:20,159 that at least those that are represented 1886 01:48:20,159 --> 01:48:21,840 are there. And I believe the chair this 1887 01:48:21,840 --> 01:48:23,920 year is the mayor. So that certainly be 1888 01:48:23,920 --> 01:48:25,840 a space in which to share that we'd like 1889 01:48:25,840 --> 01:48:27,840 to see this as an agenda topic on behalf 1890 01:48:27,840 --> 01:48:29,840 of everyone at the ICC. 1891 01:48:29,840 --> 01:48:32,560 >> And it's just a standing meeting that we 1892 01:48:32,560 --> 01:48:34,480 have a seat at. And so if we're not 1893 01:48:34,480 --> 01:48:37,280 seeing the movement that we want, we can 1894 01:48:37,280 --> 01:48:39,440 bring it back, you know, a couple months 1895 01:48:39,440 --> 01:48:41,520 later and say, "Hey, we still are paying 1896 01:48:41,520 --> 01:48:43,280 attention to this." 1897 01:48:43,280 --> 01:48:45,440 >> That's a great idea. 1898 01:48:45,440 --> 01:48:47,040 All right. Any other questions on this 1899 01:48:47,040 --> 01:48:49,280 item? 1900 01:48:49,280 --> 01:48:53,679 Dr. for Bon. This is Tiff Ch tangential 1901 01:48:53,679 --> 01:48:56,159 here, but considering all the budget 1902 01:48:56,159 --> 01:48:58,000 conversation tonight, I wondered if you 1903 01:48:58,000 --> 01:48:59,920 could speak 1904 01:48:59,920 --> 01:49:02,639 um to sort of the unique budget 1905 01:49:02,639 --> 01:49:05,840 challenges that 501 1906 01:49:05,840 --> 01:49:09,360 faces, encounters um as compared to 1907 01:49:09,360 --> 01:49:10,880 surrounding districts. I'm thinking 1908 01:49:10,880 --> 01:49:15,199 about our tax base, property values, um, 1909 01:49:15,199 --> 01:49:20,880 stateowned buildings, things like that our surrounding districts maybe, 1910 01:49:20,880 --> 01:49:22,320 uh, don't have to factor in. And then 1911 01:49:22,320 --> 01:49:25,040 also, you touched on this earlier that 1912 01:49:25,040 --> 01:49:27,600 there's sort of the projected revenue, 1913 01:49:27,600 --> 01:49:29,520 but that we do not see all of that 1914 01:49:29,520 --> 01:49:31,679 money. And so I would I would like for 1915 01:49:31,679 --> 01:49:33,280 you to maybe explain some of that as 1916 01:49:33,280 --> 01:49:34,400 well, if you don't mind. 1917 01:49:34,400 --> 01:49:38,800 >> Sure. Sure. Happy to. Yeah, we got some interesting challenges for sure as 1918 01:49:38,800 --> 01:49:40,480 compared to surrounding districts. You 1919 01:49:40,480 --> 01:49:43,280 know, um there's there's many times 1920 01:49:43,280 --> 01:49:44,639 we're going to conference with other 1921 01:49:44,639 --> 01:49:46,000 Kansas school districts and they're 1922 01:49:46,000 --> 01:49:47,360 talking about all the new residential 1923 01:49:47,360 --> 01:49:50,080 neighborhoods being built. Um not not a 1924 01:49:50,080 --> 01:49:51,760 whole lot of places, you know, that we 1925 01:49:51,760 --> 01:49:53,280 can build residential neighborhoods here 1926 01:49:53,280 --> 01:49:55,760 in our district. Um we own, you know, 1927 01:49:55,760 --> 01:49:57,360 just by the fact of being such a big 1928 01:49:57,360 --> 01:49:59,440 district, we own a lot of the land and 1929 01:49:59,440 --> 01:50:01,199 the the buildings in this district and 1930 01:50:01,199 --> 01:50:02,960 we're not we're not getting any property 1931 01:50:02,960 --> 01:50:05,360 tax revenue from that. Um and then 1932 01:50:05,360 --> 01:50:08,159 related to your question, yeah, um so 1933 01:50:08,159 --> 01:50:11,600 with these with these uh um economic 1934 01:50:11,600 --> 01:50:14,000 development abated and rebaited uh 1935 01:50:14,000 --> 01:50:17,840 property tax, so so those are um those 1936 01:50:17,840 --> 01:50:19,760 are assessed and they're just not 1937 01:50:19,760 --> 01:50:25,360 collected. So those will show up in our budget as you know as like we're 1938 01:50:25,360 --> 01:50:27,679 assessing them and which we are, but 1939 01:50:27,679 --> 01:50:29,760 it's just sent it's diverted somewhere 1940 01:50:29,760 --> 01:50:31,760 else. So it's really baked into our 1941 01:50:31,760 --> 01:50:33,679 budget. Um, and that's where I was 1942 01:50:33,679 --> 01:50:35,040 talking about it's really unfortunate 1943 01:50:35,040 --> 01:50:37,920 for transparency uh because we really 1944 01:50:37,920 --> 01:50:40,239 carry the burden of of like the that 1945 01:50:40,239 --> 01:50:42,000 money's coming to us and it's really 1946 01:50:42,000 --> 01:50:45,760 not. But no, we we are um we are trying 1947 01:50:45,760 --> 01:50:57,830 to you know be as lean as we can um to you know combat things like this. 1948 01:50:57,840 --> 01:50:59,040 » Sure. 1949 01:50:59,040 --> 01:51:03,199 Sure. Yep. Yep. and and and I and 1950 01:51:03,199 --> 01:51:04,960 I appreciate that, Dr. Anderson. I would 1951 01:51:04,960 --> 01:51:06,639 be remiss if I didn't thank the the 1952 01:51:06,639 --> 01:51:09,119 taxpayers that came in here. Um that 1953 01:51:09,119 --> 01:51:10,960 that's one of the great things about our 1954 01:51:10,960 --> 01:51:12,239 government, and I'm glad that we have 1955 01:51:12,239 --> 01:51:18,400 taxpayers um to keep us in line. Um but yes, and and I know there was there 1956 01:51:18,400 --> 01:51:21,520 was some um talks around um the amount 1957 01:51:21,520 --> 01:51:23,119 of the budget. Now, now there is 1958 01:51:23,119 --> 01:51:24,960 transfers that are built in there, too. 1959 01:51:24,960 --> 01:51:27,520 So, we back those out. That's um that's 1960 01:51:27,520 --> 01:51:30,080 just the format of the the state budget. 1961 01:51:30,080 --> 01:51:32,159 So there's there's quite a little bit 1962 01:51:32,159 --> 01:51:35,119 that's that's built in in transfers. Um 1963 01:51:35,119 --> 01:51:36,480 and there was there was some mention 1964 01:51:36,480 --> 01:51:39,679 about cash balance um and and the 1965 01:51:39,679 --> 01:51:41,440 increase in cash balance. And that's 1966 01:51:41,440 --> 01:51:44,159 intentional and it's not to it's not to 1967 01:51:44,159 --> 01:51:46,320 hoard cash. Any any starting cash 1968 01:51:46,320 --> 01:51:48,880 balance we have in a fund. Um what what 1969 01:51:48,880 --> 01:51:50,480 we're doing, you know, in in a fund that 1970 01:51:50,480 --> 01:51:53,520 levies taxes, we're uh you know, at a 1971 01:51:53,520 --> 01:51:54,719 high level, we're basically saying 1972 01:51:54,719 --> 01:51:56,239 here's here's the amount we need to 1973 01:51:56,239 --> 01:51:58,000 function. Here's what we've we've 1974 01:51:58,000 --> 01:52:00,320 started with. what do we need to get to 1975 01:52:00,320 --> 01:52:02,239 that number? So, any starting cash that 1976 01:52:02,239 --> 01:52:04,480 we have will will actually help us to 1977 01:52:04,480 --> 01:52:07,199 lower those mill rates, but we're also 1978 01:52:07,199 --> 01:52:08,960 um you know, we're we're self-funding 1979 01:52:08,960 --> 01:52:11,040 with uh workers compensation. We're 1980 01:52:11,040 --> 01:52:13,520 self-unding with our dental. Um and that 1981 01:52:13,520 --> 01:52:17,760 is in an effort to to lower costs um for 1982 01:52:17,760 --> 01:52:20,800 taxpayers. You know, we're um there 1983 01:52:20,800 --> 01:52:23,280 there's been um several folks from from 1984 01:52:23,280 --> 01:52:25,280 the community and and fellow staff 1985 01:52:25,280 --> 01:52:27,440 members inquire about, you know, our 1986 01:52:27,440 --> 01:52:30,400 health insurance reserve. Well, we're we would really like to go 1987 01:52:30,400 --> 01:52:32,719 self-funded. Um, that's the way we feel 1988 01:52:32,719 --> 01:52:34,239 that we're going to have to go to be 1989 01:52:34,239 --> 01:52:37,119 able to combat these rise in healthcare 1990 01:52:37,119 --> 01:52:40,080 uh premiums. So, in order to do that, we 1991 01:52:40,080 --> 01:52:42,080 have to have you know, we have to have 1992 01:52:42,080 --> 01:52:45,040 some reserves and and that $50 million 1993 01:52:45,040 --> 01:52:48,800 is brought up a lot. Um, but but you 1994 01:52:48,800 --> 01:52:51,360 know, the the $50 million is made up of 1995 01:52:51,360 --> 01:52:53,040 things that we can't spend on operating 1996 01:52:53,040 --> 01:52:55,280 expenses. You know, we've got our bond 1997 01:52:55,280 --> 01:52:58,080 uh principal and interest. Um and and we 1998 01:52:58,080 --> 01:52:59,760 need we need to be able to operate, 1999 01:52:59,760 --> 01:53:02,800 right? We we unfortunately to to operate 2000 01:53:02,800 --> 01:53:04,239 the district have to spend about a 2001 01:53:04,239 --> 01:53:06,960 million dollars every working day. Um 2002 01:53:06,960 --> 01:53:08,480 so, you know, you think if you were if 2003 01:53:08,480 --> 01:53:10,080 you were starting a business, you know, 2004 01:53:10,080 --> 01:53:12,960 and you think you had 50 50 days worth 2005 01:53:12,960 --> 01:53:14,960 of of operating reserves, that'd be 2006 01:53:14,960 --> 01:53:17,040 pretty scary. Um but that's that's the 2007 01:53:17,040 --> 01:53:19,679 lean budget um that we work on and and 2008 01:53:19,679 --> 01:53:22,800 we we take that very seriously. 2009 01:53:22,800 --> 01:53:25,199 And I'll just one more comment on that 2010 01:53:25,199 --> 01:53:26,719 because I' I've had the opportunity to 2011 01:53:26,719 --> 01:53:29,599 answer this question about the the 2012 01:53:29,599 --> 01:53:32,080 last year's budget document showing an 2013 01:53:32,080 --> 01:53:35,280 ending balance $52 million. 2014 01:53:35,280 --> 01:53:37,280 Um other things that are included in 2015 01:53:37,280 --> 01:53:38,880 that besides the health insurance 2016 01:53:38,880 --> 01:53:40,880 reserve that we talked about also 2017 01:53:40,880 --> 01:53:42,719 property and casualty liability 2018 01:53:42,719 --> 01:53:45,040 insurance reserves. So we have 62 2019 01:53:45,040 --> 01:53:46,960 buildings that were responsible for in 2020 01:53:46,960 --> 01:53:50,639 the district. That's 62 roofs with 62 2021 01:53:50,639 --> 01:53:52,320 $250,000 2022 01:53:52,320 --> 01:53:55,599 deductibles for wind and hail damage. 2023 01:53:55,599 --> 01:53:57,840 And we've had a pretty stormy year this 2024 01:53:57,840 --> 01:54:00,000 year. Thankfully, we've been lucky and 2025 01:54:00,000 --> 01:54:02,239 not needed to replace any. But we had a 2026 01:54:02,239 --> 01:54:04,400 year, I believe it was 2010 or 2011, 2027 01:54:04,400 --> 01:54:07,280 where we had to replace 22 in one year. 2028 01:54:07,280 --> 01:54:10,080 So, you have to have an amount that is 2029 01:54:10,080 --> 01:54:13,840 held to the side for that. Um, capital 2030 01:54:13,840 --> 01:54:16,400 outlay expenses, uh, you do keep a 2031 01:54:16,400 --> 01:54:19,679 balance in there because you need to 2032 01:54:19,679 --> 01:54:22,080 slowly save up before you make a big 2033 01:54:22,080 --> 01:54:24,159 purchase. Buildings and capital 2034 01:54:24,159 --> 01:54:26,880 improvements cost a lot these days. So, 2035 01:54:26,880 --> 01:54:28,480 you do build that up and then you have 2036 01:54:28,480 --> 01:54:31,040 one large expense that takes it down. 2037 01:54:31,040 --> 01:54:34,560 Um, so there there are just things in 2038 01:54:34,560 --> 01:54:37,360 that balance that we can't immediately 2039 01:54:37,360 --> 01:54:40,320 put towards other needs. The only thing 2040 01:54:40,320 --> 01:54:42,800 in that 52 million that could really be 2041 01:54:42,800 --> 01:54:47,360 considered as open for any use is our 2042 01:54:47,360 --> 01:54:49,760 contingency reserve fund. A separate 2043 01:54:49,760 --> 01:54:51,679 special reserve fund that is really just 2044 01:54:51,679 --> 01:54:54,880 for the rainy day. The when something 2045 01:54:54,880 --> 01:54:56,880 happens unexpected, that's what we've 2046 01:54:56,880 --> 01:55:00,159 got as really our last line of defense. 2047 01:55:00,159 --> 01:55:03,119 That is about $4 million in it. Now, out 2048 01:55:03,119 --> 01:55:06,159 of a 260 or so million dollar budget per 2049 01:55:06,159 --> 01:55:09,679 year with those transfers taken out, um 2050 01:55:09,679 --> 01:55:11,440 that's about a million dollars a day 2051 01:55:11,440 --> 01:55:14,000 that goes through the business office. 2052 01:55:14,000 --> 01:55:17,760 So, your contingency reserve has 4 days 2053 01:55:17,760 --> 01:55:20,239 then of true reserve. If our state 2054 01:55:20,239 --> 01:55:23,040 funding or something was cut off, that's 2055 01:55:23,040 --> 01:55:25,440 not excessive. Um in fact, it's below 2056 01:55:25,440 --> 01:55:27,119 the percentage that the state would 2057 01:55:27,119 --> 01:55:30,320 really encourage us to have. Um, so 2058 01:55:30,320 --> 01:55:33,440 building that is important and um, I 2059 01:55:33,440 --> 01:55:37,440 think it's just, you know, the public is right to ask questions about the 2060 01:55:37,440 --> 01:55:39,599 balance. Um, other groups are right to 2061 01:55:39,599 --> 01:55:41,280 ask questions about the balance and we 2062 01:55:41,280 --> 01:55:42,880 just have to do the best that we can to 2063 01:55:42,880 --> 01:55:45,760 educate about what um, what those funds 2064 01:55:45,760 --> 01:55:47,440 are there for, what their intended 2065 01:55:47,440 --> 01:55:49,840 purpose is, and what we're limited on 2066 01:55:49,840 --> 01:55:52,080 what we can do with them. And I think 2067 01:55:52,080 --> 01:55:54,719 that highlights um your team coming 2068 01:55:54,719 --> 01:55:57,119 quarterly and talking about where we are 2069 01:55:57,119 --> 01:56:00,639 with the budget just in um in a step to 2070 01:56:00,639 --> 01:56:03,199 being more transparent and having that 2071 01:56:03,199 --> 01:56:05,280 conversation throughout the year and not 2072 01:56:05,280 --> 01:56:07,040 just one time a year when we're talking 2073 01:56:07,040 --> 01:56:10,400 about budgets or RNR hearings. um and 2074 01:56:10,400 --> 01:56:11,920 just to to make it more of a 2075 01:56:11,920 --> 01:56:13,920 conversation and and bring it out in the 2076 01:56:13,920 --> 01:56:16,480 open to discuss those things so that 2077 01:56:16,480 --> 01:56:18,320 people are aware and maybe don't have to 2078 01:56:18,320 --> 01:56:20,400 ask as many questions because they've 2079 01:56:20,400 --> 01:56:23,040 heard the conversations. Mr. Moz, did 2080 01:56:23,040 --> 01:56:23,679 you have 2081 01:56:23,679 --> 01:56:25,440 >> a comment and a question? So the comment 2082 01:56:25,440 --> 01:56:28,080 is just to sort of reiterate what you 2083 01:56:28,080 --> 01:56:29,840 talk about. You know, family budgets, 2084 01:56:29,840 --> 01:56:31,360 we're often told that we want to have 2085 01:56:31,360 --> 01:56:34,000 between three and six months worth of 2086 01:56:34,000 --> 01:56:35,679 expenses just in case anything happens, 2087 01:56:35,679 --> 01:56:37,280 right? And and what you're saying is 2088 01:56:37,280 --> 01:56:39,360 that our school budgets the way it's set 2089 01:56:39,360 --> 01:56:40,880 up and stretched out there that we have 2090 01:56:40,880 --> 01:56:44,639 four days. Is that [clears throat] 2091 01:56:44,639 --> 01:56:50,239 >> that isn't an analogy way to look at our funding. So that's uh you 2092 01:56:50,239 --> 01:56:52,159 know the million dollars a day analogy 2093 01:56:52,159 --> 01:56:55,040 is is one that um I know Mr. Minky has 2094 01:56:55,040 --> 01:56:57,199 shared with you for years before um I 2095 01:56:57,199 --> 01:56:58,719 joined the district. I thought it was 2096 01:56:58,719 --> 01:57:00,320 really effective the first time I heard 2097 01:57:00,320 --> 01:57:02,639 it. Um it's a good way for the public to 2098 01:57:02,639 --> 01:57:05,520 understand. Um really you're stretching 2099 01:57:05,520 --> 01:57:09,440 about 260 270 million um in the the true 2100 01:57:09,440 --> 01:57:12,320 budget over that 260 working days or a 2101 01:57:12,320 --> 01:57:16,320 full year. Um so it is a it is an easy 2102 01:57:16,320 --> 01:57:19,440 way to look at it. Um 4 days sounds 2103 01:57:19,440 --> 01:57:22,480 alarming but uh keep in mind that we do 2104 01:57:22,480 --> 01:57:25,199 have the revenues that we get on a very 2105 01:57:25,199 --> 01:57:27,840 regular schedule. We get our state aid 2106 01:57:27,840 --> 01:57:29,440 monthly 2107 01:57:29,440 --> 01:57:31,599 every month like clockwork those the 2108 01:57:31,599 --> 01:57:35,119 first couple days of the month. Um so 2109 01:57:35,119 --> 01:57:37,199 there's no reason to believe that we 2110 01:57:37,199 --> 01:57:39,840 should be alarmed. um those of you who 2111 01:57:39,840 --> 01:57:42,400 were around school districts or school 2112 01:57:42,400 --> 01:57:47,760 finance in 2016 through 2018ish 2113 01:57:47,760 --> 01:57:50,480 uh where every July or every June we 2114 01:57:50,480 --> 01:57:51,920 were worried about are we going to be 2115 01:57:51,920 --> 01:57:54,560 open July 1 or not uh because of things 2116 01:57:54,560 --> 01:57:57,440 going on at the capital um that was a 2117 01:57:57,440 --> 01:58:00,639 much different concern that's when KSD 2118 01:58:00,639 --> 01:58:03,360 began u giving us guidelines of really 2119 01:58:03,360 --> 01:58:05,679 trying to get that contingency reserve 2120 01:58:05,679 --> 01:58:08,719 up more so hope that helps 2121 01:58:08,719 --> 01:58:10,239 Thank you. And you know the question I 2122 01:58:10,239 --> 01:58:12,000 had Mr. Buusy was that you know we 2123 01:58:12,000 --> 01:58:15,119 talked about uh the constraints on our 2124 01:58:15,119 --> 01:58:17,040 budgets and and our ability to be able 2125 01:58:17,040 --> 01:58:19,920 to raise funds necessary. Um we talked 2126 01:58:19,920 --> 01:58:21,520 about how we're not really growing. You 2127 01:58:21,520 --> 01:58:23,760 know one I'm born and raised here. So 2128 01:58:23,760 --> 01:58:26,239 one place I have seen that has grown is 2129 01:58:26,239 --> 01:58:27,920 Waker right I remember when it used to 2130 01:58:27,920 --> 01:58:30,239 be Kmart and Food Fles and Hyperart 2131 01:58:30,239 --> 01:58:32,000 right back back then and it's grown a 2132 01:58:32,000 --> 01:58:35,199 lot since then. Um, but that district as 2133 01:58:35,199 --> 01:58:37,040 vibrant as it is, you know, anytime my 2134 01:58:37,040 --> 01:58:38,880 daughter needs a dress, we go out to to 2135 01:58:38,880 --> 01:58:41,520 the mall or the stores there or my my 2136 01:58:41,520 --> 01:58:43,679 kids need shoes or or I need something 2137 01:58:43,679 --> 01:58:46,880 for the office, we go out to Waker. But 2138 01:58:46,880 --> 01:58:49,840 am I wrong that vibrant district doesn't 2139 01:58:49,840 --> 01:58:52,320 fall within our boundaries of 501? 2140 01:58:52,320 --> 01:58:53,360 >> That's that's correct. 2141 01:58:53,360 --> 01:58:55,920 >> Okay. All right. That's unfortunate, but 2142 01:58:55,920 --> 01:58:57,760 >> just another constraint, another thing 2143 01:58:57,760 --> 01:58:59,280 that that adds to that. 2144 01:58:59,280 --> 01:59:00,400 >> Yeah. and the higher you're paying a 2145 01:59:00,400 --> 01:59:02,400 higher higher sales tax and and we and 2146 01:59:02,400 --> 01:59:05,040 we operate on a on a lower mill rate 2147 01:59:05,040 --> 01:59:06,639 than any other district in the county. 2148 01:59:06,639 --> 01:59:09,360 So, 2149 01:59:09,360 --> 01:59:12,719 >> I was wondering if uh Mr. Edwards could 2150 01:59:12,719 --> 01:59:23,669 come to the podium. 2151 01:59:23,679 --> 01:59:28,950 » He's regretting showing up. 2152 01:59:28,960 --> 01:59:29,599 Yes. 2153 01:59:29,599 --> 01:59:32,000 >> So, one other 2154 01:59:32,000 --> 01:59:35,760 thought that I have in removing us from 2155 01:59:35,760 --> 01:59:38,400 this tiff situation or some of the 2156 01:59:38,400 --> 01:59:41,679 others is through the legislate the 2157 01:59:41,679 --> 01:59:45,360 legislative process of exempting us from 2158 01:59:45,360 --> 01:59:49,760 such things. Is that a possibility? 2159 01:59:49,760 --> 01:59:52,080 >> Well, I think anything is possibility. 2160 01:59:52,080 --> 01:59:52,639 Um, 2161 01:59:52,639 --> 01:59:55,760 >> particularly now, right? 2162 01:59:55,760 --> 01:59:57,440 I think there's different approaches you 2163 01:59:57,440 --> 02:00:00,960 could take. You could uh you could have 2164 02:00:00,960 --> 02:00:05,119 every governmental entity be allowed to 2165 02:00:05,119 --> 02:00:08,080 remove themselves from the TIFF where 2166 02:00:08,080 --> 02:00:10,800 you don't kill a TIFF. Essentially, 2167 02:00:10,800 --> 02:00:13,440 you're just removing your you from it. 2168 02:00:13,440 --> 02:00:15,119 Um, while I was sitting back here, I was 2169 02:00:15,119 --> 02:00:17,440 thinking, um, have any of you ever been 2170 02:00:17,440 --> 02:00:21,280 contacted by developers? 2171 02:00:21,280 --> 02:00:23,280 Says something 2172 02:00:23,280 --> 02:00:25,280 says that they they don't really see you 2173 02:00:25,280 --> 02:00:26,239 as an obstacle, 2174 02:00:26,239 --> 02:00:28,239 >> right? 2175 02:00:28,239 --> 02:00:32,560 >> Um, couple things. If if if there are 2176 02:00:32,560 --> 02:00:36,159 changes, I think you will start seeing 2177 02:00:36,159 --> 02:00:39,360 people at your door, which isn't bad. Um 2178 02:00:39,360 --> 02:00:44,800 but right now even with the threat of a 2179 02:00:44,800 --> 02:00:46,320 veto I don't think most of them 2180 02:00:46,320 --> 02:00:48,800 understand that most developers don't 2181 02:00:48,800 --> 02:00:51,360 understand it. Uh or otherwise they 2182 02:00:51,360 --> 02:00:53,440 would be they would be visiting with 2183 02:00:53,440 --> 02:00:55,920 you. 2184 02:00:55,920 --> 02:01:00,800 So direct answer I think there's several approaches you 2185 02:01:00,800 --> 02:01:04,800 could take um to just blanketly or to 2186 02:01:04,800 --> 02:01:08,800 have a blanket policy saying schools uh 2187 02:01:08,800 --> 02:01:11,199 are out from underneath tiffs 2188 02:01:11,199 --> 02:01:12,800 altogether. 2189 02:01:12,800 --> 02:01:15,199 Um 2190 02:01:15,199 --> 02:01:16,480 I think it would be tough getting 2191 02:01:16,480 --> 02:01:21,910 through the legislature. 2192 02:01:21,920 --> 02:01:24,000 » Thank you. I just wondered, you know, to 2193 02:01:24,000 --> 02:01:29,679 be able to look at all options, what we should be looking at 2194 02:01:29,679 --> 02:01:33,040 to help help our budget. What I think 2195 02:01:33,040 --> 02:01:34,960 has already been described, you've got 2196 02:01:34,960 --> 02:01:38,000 some people's uh attention at the city 2197 02:01:38,000 --> 02:01:41,040 level, which is is the first step that 2198 02:01:41,040 --> 02:01:44,400 really needs to be taken. Um, it would 2199 02:01:44,400 --> 02:01:46,239 be good if they would also let 2200 02:01:46,239 --> 02:01:53,669 developers know that that you do have a whole card 2201 02:01:53,679 --> 02:01:56,719 But you can't really 2202 02:01:56,719 --> 02:02:01,280 uh the city would have to do that. 2203 02:02:01,280 --> 02:02:02,000 >> Thank you. 2204 02:02:02,000 --> 02:02:08,390 >> Yes. 2205 02:02:08,400 --> 02:02:10,880 All right. From that topic, we're going 2206 02:02:10,880 --> 02:02:13,440 to roll right into the light topic of 2207 02:02:13,440 --> 02:02:17,589 the facility study. 2208 02:02:17,599 --> 02:02:19,119 » And I believe at this time you all are 2209 02:02:19,119 --> 02:02:20,400 going to be talking about priorities. 2210 02:02:20,400 --> 02:02:22,560 So, Mr. Ishner, we'll give just a minute 2211 02:02:22,560 --> 02:02:24,560 of uh kind of an update about facility 2212 02:02:24,560 --> 02:02:26,080 studies and really turn it over to you 2213 02:02:26,080 --> 02:02:28,159 for your discussion of what you'd like 2214 02:02:28,159 --> 02:02:29,920 to discuss. So, 2215 02:02:29,920 --> 02:02:32,239 >> all right, that is tonight's goal. Um, 2216 02:02:32,239 --> 02:02:33,760 in front of you, there are some more 2217 02:02:33,760 --> 02:02:35,760 handouts. There should be four pages. 2218 02:02:35,760 --> 02:02:38,159 Um, starting with uh the first page that 2219 02:02:38,159 --> 02:02:39,760 I'm going to be looking at is the short 2220 02:02:39,760 --> 02:02:42,719 list of 10. Uh these are drafts right 2221 02:02:42,719 --> 02:02:45,760 now. So please uh there will be changes 2222 02:02:45,760 --> 02:02:48,480 to these. But the short list of 10 is a 2223 02:02:48,480 --> 02:02:51,040 consolidation of the survey results from 2224 02:02:51,040 --> 02:02:53,679 board members that uh we sent out asking 2225 02:02:53,679 --> 02:02:56,080 you for your short list of three to five 2226 02:02:56,080 --> 02:02:58,639 priorities. Um so we have ranked those 2227 02:02:58,639 --> 02:03:00,320 based on the number of times that 2228 02:03:00,320 --> 02:03:03,119 different members u mentioned them. So 2229 02:03:03,119 --> 02:03:05,840 the first one being a lot of items kind 2230 02:03:05,840 --> 02:03:08,719 of bundled together. uh urgent deferred 2231 02:03:08,719 --> 02:03:10,800 maintenance and core building systems. 2232 02:03:10,800 --> 02:03:13,280 So that's things like roofs, HVAC. Oh, 2233 02:03:13,280 --> 02:03:14,800 thank you Mr. Heinick for pulling it up 2234 02:03:14,800 --> 02:03:17,119 there. Uh plumbing, electrical, those 2235 02:03:17,119 --> 02:03:20,080 types of vital um items. Those are very 2236 02:03:20,080 --> 02:03:21,920 well represented in the dashboard and 2237 02:03:21,920 --> 02:03:24,000 the facility study that we looked at at 2238 02:03:24,000 --> 02:03:26,560 the last meeting. Um so we know that 2239 02:03:26,560 --> 02:03:29,119 those are mustdos and I think the 2240 02:03:29,119 --> 02:03:31,760 board's comments uh in their submissions 2241 02:03:31,760 --> 02:03:34,239 represent that as well. Um item number 2242 02:03:34,239 --> 02:03:36,000 two, Robinson Middle School. three 2243 02:03:36,000 --> 02:03:37,679 members mentioned that the overall 2244 02:03:37,679 --> 02:03:39,599 condition but then also the dedicated 2245 02:03:39,599 --> 02:03:42,639 gym that we know is an issue. Uh and 2246 02:03:42,639 --> 02:03:45,040 then three was educational adequacy. So 2247 02:03:45,040 --> 02:03:47,199 that score uh that's available in the 2248 02:03:47,199 --> 02:03:49,599 dashboard for each building which really 2249 02:03:49,599 --> 02:03:52,800 looks at the usefulness of the space uh 2250 02:03:52,800 --> 02:03:56,400 for students in a modern classroom 2026. 2251 02:03:56,400 --> 02:03:59,840 How do we rank? Um so there were some 2252 02:03:59,840 --> 02:04:01,360 buildings better than others in that. 2253 02:04:01,360 --> 02:04:02,639 is something that came up 2254 02:04:02,639 --> 02:04:05,119 consistently um in at least half of the 2255 02:04:05,119 --> 02:04:07,520 six responses that I've received so far 2256 02:04:07,520 --> 02:04:09,440 and we'll continue to update that as we 2257 02:04:09,440 --> 02:04:12,480 get more. Um also in your packet there 2258 02:04:12,480 --> 02:04:15,040 uh three more pages. These are just a 2259 02:04:15,040 --> 02:04:17,119 look at again a draft of some of the 2260 02:04:17,119 --> 02:04:18,719 information that we've gotten from the 2261 02:04:18,719 --> 02:04:20,560 three levels of our school buildings 2262 02:04:20,560 --> 02:04:22,239 that we sent these out to. So elementary 2263 02:04:22,239 --> 02:04:25,040 and early childhood, middle schools, and 2264 02:04:25,040 --> 02:04:26,639 then high schools. Those are available 2265 02:04:26,639 --> 02:04:28,080 for your review. We're not going to go 2266 02:04:28,080 --> 02:04:30,880 through all of those tonight. Once we 2267 02:04:30,880 --> 02:04:32,880 have kind of gotten through this intro, 2268 02:04:32,880 --> 02:04:34,800 we really just want to hear um some 2269 02:04:34,800 --> 02:04:37,840 board discussion about your priorities, 2270 02:04:37,840 --> 02:04:39,760 give us some direction on where you 2271 02:04:39,760 --> 02:04:42,880 would like us to um continue to work 2272 02:04:42,880 --> 02:04:45,280 forward as we go through this process. 2273 02:04:45,280 --> 02:04:47,280 Um from the facility study, now we're 2274 02:04:47,280 --> 02:04:49,040 getting the board's input. Then we move 2275 02:04:49,040 --> 02:04:50,960 on to other stakeholders and really 2276 02:04:50,960 --> 02:04:52,960 starting to build a facilities master 2277 02:04:52,960 --> 02:04:54,960 plan of where we're going over the next 2278 02:04:54,960 --> 02:04:56,400 10 years. So with that, I'll turn it 2279 02:04:56,400 --> 02:04:58,400 back over to President Schmidt. 2280 02:04:58,400 --> 02:05:00,080 >> All right. Who would like to start some 2281 02:05:00,080 --> 02:05:03,910 input? 2282 02:05:03,920 --> 02:05:04,960 » Dr. Bombre, 2283 02:05:04,960 --> 02:05:06,880 >> is this an appropriate time to bring up 2284 02:05:06,880 --> 02:05:10,550 Bolt? 2285 02:05:10,560 --> 02:05:13,520 » For 15 years, people have contributed 2286 02:05:13,520 --> 02:05:15,840 and there's over a quarter million 2287 02:05:15,840 --> 02:05:17,040 dollars. 2288 02:05:17,040 --> 02:05:17,520 >> It's on 2289 02:05:17,520 --> 02:05:20,400 >> and it's on. I'm just not near it. 2290 02:05:20,400 --> 02:05:24,080 There's over for 15 years there's been 2291 02:05:24,080 --> 02:05:27,669 input into 2292 02:05:27,679 --> 02:05:29,280 a 2293 02:05:29,280 --> 02:05:31,599 an effective way to build a little 2294 02:05:31,599 --> 02:05:34,960 theater. Originally they wanted a bond 2295 02:05:34,960 --> 02:05:38,239 issue to put a theater on the east end 2296 02:05:38,239 --> 02:05:40,639 of Topeka High, but because it's a 2297 02:05:40,639 --> 02:05:44,400 National Historical Society building, 2298 02:05:44,400 --> 02:05:47,679 it can't be done. There is a space 2299 02:05:47,679 --> 02:05:49,280 inside 2300 02:05:49,280 --> 02:05:50,960 and again there's a quarter of a million 2301 02:05:50,960 --> 02:05:54,080 dollars already donated but to make a 2302 02:05:54,080 --> 02:05:56,880 good 2303 02:05:56,880 --> 02:06:00,320 something to be proud of facility it's 2304 02:06:00,320 --> 02:06:05,520 the estimate is more like 560 million 2305 02:06:05,520 --> 02:06:10,880 560,000 I'm sorry now 2306 02:06:10,880 --> 02:06:13,280 there yeah 2307 02:06:13,280 --> 02:06:16,800 I could have swallowed that but there is 2308 02:06:16,800 --> 02:06:20,880 a foundation that is willing to provide 2309 02:06:20,880 --> 02:06:23,599 the remaining quarter of a million if 2310 02:06:23,599 --> 02:06:26,400 we'll provide 10% of that quarter of a 2311 02:06:26,400 --> 02:06:28,400 million. 2312 02:06:28,400 --> 02:06:31,520 501 has not contributed 2313 02:06:31,520 --> 02:06:34,719 to this process yet and they would like 2314 02:06:34,719 --> 02:06:36,800 to see 2315 02:06:36,800 --> 02:06:40,400 that we have an interest 2316 02:06:40,400 --> 02:06:43,840 to proceed with it so that the money 2317 02:06:43,840 --> 02:06:48,480 they have provided is actually used 2318 02:06:48,480 --> 02:06:50,880 and brought to fruition. 2319 02:06:50,880 --> 02:06:53,040 There's you've got a handout. There's 2320 02:06:53,040 --> 02:06:55,920 all sort there's dozens of uses for this 2321 02:06:55,920 --> 02:06:58,079 little theater. 2322 02:06:58,079 --> 02:07:01,360 Uh the auditorium 2323 02:07:01,360 --> 02:07:06,709 is used a lot but sometimes 2324 02:07:06,719 --> 02:07:10,320 people have to go to outside buildings 2325 02:07:10,320 --> 02:07:14,000 and resources for practice or even 2326 02:07:14,000 --> 02:07:16,320 presentation 2327 02:07:16,320 --> 02:07:21,040 uh to do their production. 2328 02:07:21,040 --> 02:07:24,800 So you've got that handout. But, you 2329 02:07:24,800 --> 02:07:27,599 know, for dimes on the dollar, you know, 2330 02:07:27,599 --> 02:07:30,880 if we 26,000 2331 02:07:30,880 --> 02:07:34,159 to get a quarter of a million isn't a 2332 02:07:34,159 --> 02:07:35,920 bad deal. 2333 02:07:35,920 --> 02:07:39,040 And to provide a facility 2334 02:07:39,040 --> 02:07:40,560 that 2335 02:07:40,560 --> 02:07:43,679 most high schools to peek a high size 2336 02:07:43,679 --> 02:07:46,800 have at least two or even three of these 2337 02:07:46,800 --> 02:07:49,040 facilities. 2338 02:07:49,040 --> 02:07:51,440 Uh the actors can't even don't even have 2339 02:07:51,440 --> 02:07:55,679 a dressing room at Topeka High 2340 02:07:55,679 --> 02:07:57,440 and 2341 02:07:57,440 --> 02:07:59,360 some productions take place in the 2342 02:07:59,360 --> 02:08:02,079 library and it takes 2343 02:08:02,079 --> 02:08:06,000 custodians days to prepare the library 2344 02:08:06,000 --> 02:08:09,199 for these productions 2345 02:08:09,199 --> 02:08:11,599 and 2346 02:08:11,599 --> 02:08:14,880 the auditorium at Topeka High is large 2347 02:08:14,880 --> 02:08:18,000 and to Get 2348 02:08:18,000 --> 02:08:22,719 a song approved or paid for in a huge 2349 02:08:22,719 --> 02:08:27,360 facility is much more expensive than in 2350 02:08:27,360 --> 02:08:31,199 a smaller 100 to 200 capacity 2351 02:08:31,199 --> 02:08:34,960 stadium or facility. 2352 02:08:34,960 --> 02:08:38,079 So there's places things can be saved 2353 02:08:38,079 --> 02:08:41,040 and extreme conveniences. 2354 02:08:41,040 --> 02:08:43,840 Uh there's listed in there that you know 2355 02:08:43,840 --> 02:08:46,480 the students wind up 2356 02:08:46,480 --> 02:08:50,000 you know changing in not so private 2357 02:08:50,000 --> 02:08:53,440 places for their costumes. 2358 02:08:53,440 --> 02:08:58,320 It really it has been an issue, but the 2359 02:08:58,320 --> 02:09:00,639 Dawson Foundation 2360 02:09:00,639 --> 02:09:03,520 is willing to 2361 02:09:03,520 --> 02:09:06,320 provide this remaining quarter of a 2362 02:09:06,320 --> 02:09:11,119 million if we'll show some input. 2363 02:09:11,119 --> 02:09:14,400 >> If I may, Madame President, u Mr. Nerd 2364 02:09:14,400 --> 02:09:16,560 and M. Dr. Bombre, you all met yesterday 2365 02:09:16,560 --> 02:09:18,639 and upon getting that amazing 2366 02:09:18,639 --> 02:09:20,320 information uh that you helped 2367 02:09:20,320 --> 02:09:24,079 facilitate, uh the district does believe 2368 02:09:24,079 --> 02:09:26,800 that if someone is willing to donate all 2369 02:09:26,800 --> 02:09:28,960 the dollars for something of what you've 2370 02:09:28,960 --> 02:09:32,880 described with a 10% uh um support from 2371 02:09:32,880 --> 02:09:35,599 the district, that is uh certainly 2372 02:09:35,599 --> 02:09:38,960 feasible and uh agreeable and and works 2373 02:09:38,960 --> 02:09:41,679 within the realm. And we believe that 2374 02:09:41,679 --> 02:09:43,599 the remaining funds they're donating is 2375 02:09:43,599 --> 02:09:46,079 uh tremendous, the 90% to allow for 2376 02:09:46,079 --> 02:09:47,760 something like that. So, you all have 2377 02:09:47,760 --> 02:09:49,280 had that conversation. I just want to 2378 02:09:49,280 --> 02:09:51,199 make sure the board knows that and uh 2379 02:09:51,199 --> 02:09:52,719 they're excited about taking the next 2380 02:09:52,719 --> 02:09:55,280 step unless the board in this discussion 2381 02:09:55,280 --> 02:09:58,719 uh would prefer that we not do that. 2382 02:09:58,719 --> 02:10:01,679 >> Has there been any work on the blackbox 2383 02:10:01,679 --> 02:10:04,000 theater to this point? 2384 02:10:04,000 --> 02:10:06,800 >> They clean junk out. 2385 02:10:06,800 --> 02:10:08,400 >> They have done some work on clearing out 2386 02:10:08,400 --> 02:10:10,800 the space. Uh we also received some 2387 02:10:10,800 --> 02:10:14,159 money from the Bolt uh group already. Uh 2388 02:10:14,159 --> 02:10:15,760 before I started with the district, 2389 02:10:15,760 --> 02:10:18,239 there were plans done by an architect um 2390 02:10:18,239 --> 02:10:21,199 and an estimate prepared of the various 2391 02:10:21,199 --> 02:10:23,199 lighting systems, sound systems, all the 2392 02:10:23,199 --> 02:10:24,480 work that would need to be done to put 2393 02:10:24,480 --> 02:10:27,840 costs together. Um that did have um some 2394 02:10:27,840 --> 02:10:30,159 expense. I think around 7,000 or so so 2395 02:10:30,159 --> 02:10:31,920 far has been spent of those funds. 2396 02:10:31,920 --> 02:10:34,400 Otherwise, the rest is available. Um, so 2397 02:10:34,400 --> 02:10:36,800 far we were just at about 40% of the 2398 02:10:36,800 --> 02:10:38,880 total project cost that had been 2399 02:10:38,880 --> 02:10:40,960 fundraised. So, we just weren't close 2400 02:10:40,960 --> 02:10:42,560 enough to where we could start 2401 02:10:42,560 --> 02:10:44,480 construction without fear of getting 2402 02:10:44,480 --> 02:10:46,639 halfway through the project 2403 02:10:46,639 --> 02:10:48,719 >> and not collect the rest. Uh, but this 2404 02:10:48,719 --> 02:10:51,520 is amazing news that a group may be uh 2405 02:10:51,520 --> 02:10:53,599 stepping up with that remaining funding. 2406 02:10:53,599 --> 02:10:54,480 I have already reached [clears throat] 2407 02:10:54,480 --> 02:10:56,320 out today via email to set up some 2408 02:10:56,320 --> 02:10:57,920 meetings to discuss what that looks 2409 02:10:57,920 --> 02:11:00,320 like, get something in writing that we 2410 02:11:00,320 --> 02:11:02,400 can move forward with. We'd love to hit 2411 02:11:02,400 --> 02:11:04,880 the ground running with this as soon as 2412 02:11:04,880 --> 02:11:06,079 they're ready. 2413 02:11:06,079 --> 02:11:11,360 >> I was talking with my former thespian uh 2414 02:11:11,360 --> 02:11:14,239 while he was away at college and my 2415 02:11:14,239 --> 02:11:17,040 daughters in the underassman play which 2416 02:11:17,040 --> 02:11:19,840 is generally a smaller and they have it 2417 02:11:19,840 --> 02:11:21,599 in one of the classrooms. They have a 2418 02:11:21,599 --> 02:11:24,880 little stage in the theater classroom. 2419 02:11:24,880 --> 02:11:28,000 And my college student mentioned he said 2420 02:11:28,000 --> 02:11:30,079 well unless they have the little theater 2421 02:11:30,079 --> 02:11:32,400 done 2422 02:11:32,400 --> 02:11:34,159 and I didn't say anything but I was like 2423 02:11:34,159 --> 02:11:36,560 is there is there a process that started 2424 02:11:36,560 --> 02:11:38,880 that I don't know about or so that's 2425 02:11:38,880 --> 02:11:42,159 where I was confused on the process. I I 2426 02:11:42,159 --> 02:11:44,320 will say I think it's a a great thing 2427 02:11:44,320 --> 02:11:46,320 for Topeka High. I do think Dr. Bone 2428 02:11:46,320 --> 02:11:48,639 break. Most high schools that have two 2429 02:11:48,639 --> 02:11:50,400 or three of these are not on the 2430 02:11:50,400 --> 02:11:53,920 National Historic Register of places. 2431 02:11:53,920 --> 02:11:56,400 And as a parent of a thespian who was in 2432 02:11:56,400 --> 02:11:58,960 a lot of productions, I never heard 2433 02:11:58,960 --> 02:12:01,280 about them complaining about dressing 2434 02:12:01,280 --> 02:12:03,520 rooms or that kind of stuff. So, I I do 2435 02:12:03,520 --> 02:12:05,920 question some of the issues, but I do 2436 02:12:05,920 --> 02:12:09,920 think it's still um a great uh tool for 2437 02:12:09,920 --> 02:12:12,480 them. And I do think Mrs. Burr and Mr. 2438 02:12:12,480 --> 02:12:15,040 Jensen are doing great things and 2439 02:12:15,040 --> 02:12:16,960 there's great things happening at Tobago 2440 02:12:16,960 --> 02:12:18,800 West and Highland Park doing some of 2441 02:12:18,800 --> 02:12:22,000 their productions um uh in theater. 2442 02:12:22,000 --> 02:12:23,840 We're always very excited with theaters 2443 02:12:23,840 --> 02:12:26,079 in our school month and so I think it's 2444 02:12:26,079 --> 02:12:28,000 something that we're very excited about. 2445 02:12:28,000 --> 02:12:30,880 Um but but I was a little bit confused 2446 02:12:30,880 --> 02:12:38,629 from my 18-year-old. 2447 02:12:38,639 --> 02:12:42,000 All right. Other input or feelings you 2448 02:12:42,000 --> 02:12:44,320 guys have about the facilities 2449 02:12:44,320 --> 02:12:45,920 information 2450 02:12:45,920 --> 02:12:49,119 you've received, Mr. Minos? 2451 02:12:49,119 --> 02:12:51,520 >> You know, I thought about, you know, 2452 02:12:51,520 --> 02:12:53,360 what I listed and some of mines are are 2453 02:12:53,360 --> 02:12:55,920 on that that short list, right? But as I 2454 02:12:55,920 --> 02:12:58,480 look at some of the the input from from 2455 02:12:58,480 --> 02:13:01,920 staff and I think about what do I hear 2456 02:13:01,920 --> 02:13:04,480 most often as as issues and I I think 2457 02:13:04,480 --> 02:13:07,040 some of these I think resonate more um 2458 02:13:07,040 --> 02:13:10,320 for instance on on the the Dustin Dick 2459 02:13:10,320 --> 02:13:13,920 and his his list. We often hear about 2460 02:13:13,920 --> 02:13:15,840 the number one issue that he's he's 2461 02:13:15,840 --> 02:13:17,360 listed. So there are some things I think 2462 02:13:17,360 --> 02:13:19,760 that uh I didn't list and I didn't think 2463 02:13:19,760 --> 02:13:23,280 about but I think if we think about what 2464 02:13:23,280 --> 02:13:24,960 comes up what are issues that we the 2465 02:13:24,960 --> 02:13:26,400 most need addressing some of these 2466 02:13:26,400 --> 02:13:28,800 things I think are there's a lot of good 2467 02:13:28,800 --> 02:13:30,800 information here for us to take into and 2468 02:13:30,800 --> 02:13:33,760 build into what what we we what we think 2469 02:13:33,760 --> 02:13:36,159 might need addressing. So 2470 02:13:36,159 --> 02:13:39,520 >> I agree and when um Dr. Anderson shared 2471 02:13:39,520 --> 02:13:41,520 that those lists from those different 2472 02:13:41,520 --> 02:13:43,440 groups existed and we asked her to share 2473 02:13:43,440 --> 02:13:44,480 them out. I said, "Wouldn't it be 2474 02:13:44,480 --> 02:13:45,840 interesting if we could put all those 2475 02:13:45,840 --> 02:13:47,599 people that put information down on that 2476 02:13:47,599 --> 02:13:50,320 list, give them some monopoly money and 2477 02:13:50,320 --> 02:13:52,239 tell them to figure out amongst 2478 02:13:52,239 --> 02:13:53,920 themselves, collaboratively work 2479 02:13:53,920 --> 02:13:56,000 together to figure out, you know, what 2480 02:13:56,000 --> 02:13:58,400 they would fund first." So, I think 2481 02:13:58,400 --> 02:14:00,159 there's something to be said for what 2482 02:14:00,159 --> 02:14:02,079 Mr. Moz brings up. I don't I don't know 2483 02:14:02,079 --> 02:14:04,800 if we're the best lenses to be making 2484 02:14:04,800 --> 02:14:06,719 these decisions. And while we have 2485 02:14:06,719 --> 02:14:09,040 passions about certain things and we do 2486 02:14:09,040 --> 02:14:14,560 hear certain things from groups that we meet often with or or in our 2487 02:14:14,560 --> 02:14:17,040 districts or you know that we spend time 2488 02:14:17,040 --> 02:14:21,920 with um I know I I will kind of defer to 2489 02:14:21,920 --> 02:14:24,400 you guys. I mean you're the expert. Um 2490 02:14:24,400 --> 02:14:26,560 that that's kind of my two cents. I you 2491 02:14:26,560 --> 02:14:28,719 know I'm very passionate about uh 2492 02:14:28,719 --> 02:14:31,280 Highland Park High School and I've 2493 02:14:31,280 --> 02:14:33,440 listened to parent upon parent say they 2494 02:14:33,440 --> 02:14:38,560 want to have that stadium but that's a set of parents looking at one 2495 02:14:38,560 --> 02:14:41,040 school and it is our responsibility to 2496 02:14:41,040 --> 02:14:44,159 list look at how many 60 how many 2497 02:14:44,159 --> 02:14:46,320 facilities did you say we have 2498 02:14:46,320 --> 02:14:47,760 >> 62 total buildings 2499 02:14:47,760 --> 02:14:51,280 >> okay 62 62 buildings we you know we have 2500 02:14:51,280 --> 02:14:54,000 to look at 62 buildings and there's a 2501 02:14:54,000 --> 02:14:56,800 lot of work that needs to be done to 2502 02:14:56,800 --> 02:15:00,960 balance impact versus dollar versus 2503 02:15:00,960 --> 02:15:03,760 making sure the rooms are where they 2504 02:15:03,760 --> 02:15:06,079 need to be to provide education versus 2505 02:15:06,079 --> 02:15:08,880 making sure they're warm, safe, and dry. 2506 02:15:08,880 --> 02:15:12,320 Um, so I I'll only speak for myself why 2507 02:15:12,320 --> 02:15:14,400 I do have passions about certain things. 2508 02:15:14,400 --> 02:15:17,440 I I don't know that my lens is the best 2509 02:15:17,440 --> 02:15:20,079 lens to use to make this decision. Um, 2510 02:15:20,079 --> 02:15:22,480 Miss Miss Bowley, 2511 02:15:22,480 --> 02:15:24,159 >> one of the things that came out in this 2512 02:15:24,159 --> 02:15:27,599 study is that we have some buildings 2513 02:15:27,599 --> 02:15:31,040 that aren't in 2514 02:15:31,040 --> 02:15:33,119 the best 2515 02:15:33,119 --> 02:15:35,360 aren't I see I can't remember how the 2516 02:15:35,360 --> 02:15:39,280 facility plan had it, but are not 2517 02:15:39,280 --> 02:15:42,639 adequate for student learning. 2518 02:15:42,639 --> 02:15:46,639 Uh, Randolph Elementary was one of those 2519 02:15:46,639 --> 02:15:50,880 um that comes to mind in my area. 2520 02:15:50,880 --> 02:15:53,280 To me, I think we should be looking as 2521 02:15:53,280 --> 02:15:56,960 we look at this facility is also with 2522 02:15:56,960 --> 02:15:58,560 equity 2523 02:15:58,560 --> 02:16:02,719 for our students are is every student 2524 02:16:02,719 --> 02:16:05,920 receiving an equitable education 2525 02:16:05,920 --> 02:16:09,280 in whatever building they're in. 2526 02:16:09,280 --> 02:16:11,920 And so those few buildings that we had 2527 02:16:11,920 --> 02:16:14,719 that were labeled I think are some that 2528 02:16:14,719 --> 02:16:18,320 we should be creating a long-term plan 2529 02:16:18,320 --> 02:16:21,119 around for sure. How do we bring that 2530 02:16:21,119 --> 02:16:24,159 equity to those students that are the 2531 02:16:24,159 --> 02:16:27,119 same in our other buildings? And of 2532 02:16:27,119 --> 02:16:30,159 course the safety I think we you know 2533 02:16:30,159 --> 02:16:34,000 that very number one are urgent. We need 2534 02:16:34,000 --> 02:16:38,479 to be moving forward on um what creates 2535 02:16:38,479 --> 02:16:41,679 our buildings to be safe and warm and 2536 02:16:41,679 --> 02:16:48,479 cool and um a roof. To me, 2537 02:16:48,479 --> 02:16:50,800 roofing is the most important because if 2538 02:16:50,800 --> 02:16:53,760 the roof is bad or roof, whichever you 2539 02:16:53,760 --> 02:16:56,960 want to choose in Kansas, if it's bad, 2540 02:16:56,960 --> 02:16:59,760 the whole building starts going bad. And 2541 02:16:59,760 --> 02:17:01,679 so those are just really high on my 2542 02:17:01,679 --> 02:17:03,519 list. But I'm just really thinking 2543 02:17:03,519 --> 02:17:07,120 equity. And I hear from students all the 2544 02:17:07,120 --> 02:17:09,679 time and I know because I've been in a 2545 02:17:09,679 --> 02:17:11,920 lot of these restrooms. They're not 2546 02:17:11,920 --> 02:17:13,439 great. 2547 02:17:13,439 --> 02:17:17,120 And so is there a safety issue there? Is 2548 02:17:17,120 --> 02:17:20,639 there a privacy issue there? Is there a 2549 02:17:20,639 --> 02:17:23,280 cleanliness issue there? I think those 2550 02:17:23,280 --> 02:17:25,280 are some of the things that I, you know, 2551 02:17:25,280 --> 02:17:27,760 rise to the top for me. 2552 02:17:27,760 --> 02:17:30,880 So, I will just make the comment as we 2553 02:17:30,880 --> 02:17:32,559 talk about restrooms, those are some of 2554 02:17:32,559 --> 02:17:34,800 the most expensive things as you get 2555 02:17:34,800 --> 02:17:36,960 into renovation and update, you know, in 2556 02:17:36,960 --> 02:17:38,479 your home, they talk about kitchens and 2557 02:17:38,479 --> 02:17:39,840 bathrooms. 2558 02:17:39,840 --> 02:17:44,639 >> And so, I mean, I think um I don't think 2559 02:17:44,639 --> 02:17:46,800 you're wrong, but you know, that's going 2560 02:17:46,800 --> 02:17:48,479 to be an example of one of those things 2561 02:17:48,479 --> 02:17:49,840 kind of like with your roof or your 2562 02:17:49,840 --> 02:17:50,479 roof. 2563 02:17:50,479 --> 02:17:50,880 >> Yeah. 2564 02:17:50,880 --> 02:17:52,880 >> Um that, you know, the money might not 2565 02:17:52,880 --> 02:17:54,880 go as far as we wish it would. you know, 2566 02:17:54,880 --> 02:17:56,479 as we're sitting here in the theme of 2567 02:17:56,479 --> 02:17:59,040 talking about budgets and and you know, 2568 02:17:59,040 --> 02:17:59,840 raising. 2569 02:17:59,840 --> 02:18:00,960 >> Yeah. 2570 02:18:00,960 --> 02:18:04,160 >> So, just another thing to consider 2571 02:18:04,160 --> 02:18:06,160 >> at least that lock. 2572 02:18:06,160 --> 02:18:07,120 >> Yeah. Amen. 2573 02:18:07,120 --> 02:18:07,840 >> Be awesome, 2574 02:18:07,840 --> 02:18:11,359 >> Dr. Schumacher. Um, I would agree with 2575 02:18:11,359 --> 02:18:13,840 kind of what you and Mr. Munoz had said 2576 02:18:13,840 --> 02:18:15,599 that some of the stuff off the list, but 2577 02:18:15,599 --> 02:18:18,000 I do appreciate calling back to Mr. Is 2578 02:18:18,000 --> 02:18:20,080 nard when he started that we're just 2579 02:18:20,080 --> 02:18:22,479 kind of one of the stakeholders so we 2580 02:18:22,479 --> 02:18:25,439 aren't necessarily making the final 2581 02:18:25,439 --> 02:18:27,760 decision right now on the facil's master 2582 02:18:27,760 --> 02:18:30,800 plan but being able to provide our input 2583 02:18:30,800 --> 02:18:33,679 and and I do agree you know the most of 2584 02:18:33,679 --> 02:18:37,920 us had that kind of warm safe and dry as 2585 02:18:37,920 --> 02:18:39,760 a priority 2586 02:18:39,760 --> 02:18:43,040 uh which some of the input like from our 2587 02:18:43,040 --> 02:18:45,599 middle schools some of that is warm safe 2588 02:18:45,599 --> 02:18:47,920 and dry stuff some of the Robin and 2589 02:18:47,920 --> 02:18:50,639 stuff I do think falls under that. I I 2590 02:18:50,639 --> 02:18:54,000 do also think um 2591 02:18:54,000 --> 02:18:57,280 as we have discussed previously like 2592 02:18:57,280 --> 02:18:59,200 what does Randy Schumacher want a 2593 02:18:59,200 --> 02:19:02,399 dedicated gym for Robinson 2594 02:19:02,399 --> 02:19:05,760 10 years from now or 15 you know if we 2595 02:19:05,760 --> 02:19:07,840 look at a 10-year master plan that's not 2596 02:19:07,840 --> 02:19:10,080 a now that's not even a five year from 2597 02:19:10,080 --> 02:19:12,240 now but having that on the high horizon 2598 02:19:12,240 --> 02:19:14,960 I think um so that we're not dependent 2599 02:19:14,960 --> 02:19:18,399 on an old Central Park um community 2600 02:19:18,399 --> 02:19:21,519 center building that does affect the 2601 02:19:21,519 --> 02:19:24,160 security every day of our uh students at 2602 02:19:24,160 --> 02:19:28,479 Robinson. That's that I think um 2603 02:19:28,479 --> 02:19:30,479 deferring to the experts, but being able 2604 02:19:30,479 --> 02:19:32,960 to share um our input. I think that's 2605 02:19:32,960 --> 02:19:35,679 one thing that I wanted to say. 2606 02:19:35,679 --> 02:19:38,080 >> I agree. I appreciate the opportunity to 2607 02:19:38,080 --> 02:19:42,719 express the input. Um I think the um 2608 02:19:42,719 --> 02:19:46,160 lists put together by the people in the 2609 02:19:46,160 --> 02:19:47,760 buildings that are dealing with the 2610 02:19:47,760 --> 02:19:50,720 issues in the buildings dayto-day 2611 02:19:50,720 --> 02:19:53,120 for me I feel like that that carries a 2612 02:19:53,120 --> 02:19:54,720 little bit more weight. So I thank you 2613 02:19:54,720 --> 02:19:56,319 for thinking about bringing that 2614 02:19:56,319 --> 02:19:58,800 perspective and voice in as you guys 2615 02:19:58,800 --> 02:20:01,359 work on putting this together. Does 2616 02:20:01,359 --> 02:20:03,680 anybody Mr. Tatum? 2617 02:20:03,680 --> 02:20:05,520 >> So I 2618 02:20:05,520 --> 02:20:08,080 to to that to that point Mrs. Schmidt. I 2619 02:20:08,080 --> 02:20:11,359 think that uh when I think about 2620 02:20:11,359 --> 02:20:14,319 these projects and and what are the 2621 02:20:14,319 --> 02:20:16,319 priorities 2622 02:20:16,319 --> 02:20:19,760 um and and how are we the seven of us I 2623 02:20:19,760 --> 02:20:26,240 don't think any of us are experts um in uh these these matters 2624 02:20:26,240 --> 02:20:29,680 um h how how do we make decisions that 2625 02:20:29,680 --> 02:20:32,560 are going to u be the most beneficial? 2626 02:20:32,560 --> 02:20:34,319 Uh because I think our intentions are 2627 02:20:34,319 --> 02:20:36,000 good. I think we we need to make sure 2628 02:20:36,000 --> 02:20:39,760 that we're actually making practical 2629 02:20:39,760 --> 02:20:43,600 choices that are um 2630 02:20:43,600 --> 02:20:48,399 in line with what is needed and and what 2631 02:20:48,399 --> 02:20:50,479 uh those who are looking at us for for 2632 02:20:50,479 --> 02:20:52,399 guidance and direction are expecting for 2633 02:20:52,399 --> 02:20:58,720 us to do. I I would say uh Mr. Isard 2634 02:20:58,720 --> 02:21:01,680 let us know if if if 2635 02:21:01,680 --> 02:21:04,640 these are not good decision. If if you 2636 02:21:04,640 --> 02:21:06,319 look at the short list you say number 2637 02:21:06,319 --> 02:21:07,680 four I'm just pulling something out of 2638 02:21:07,680 --> 02:21:11,359 my head. Number four is really a stupid 2639 02:21:11,359 --> 02:21:15,040 idea. You don't want to do that. You you 2640 02:21:15,040 --> 02:21:17,040 want to bump that one down and and and 2641 02:21:17,040 --> 02:21:19,120 move one of these other ones up. I I 2642 02:21:19,120 --> 02:21:24,000 think I think that would help us. Um if 2643 02:21:24,000 --> 02:21:28,240 to to Mrs. Schmidt's point um 2644 02:21:28,240 --> 02:21:31,280 helped to give us you as the experts 2645 02:21:31,280 --> 02:21:34,080 some some direction and and and and 2646 02:21:34,080 --> 02:21:38,479 guidance um and counsel on uh what what 2647 02:21:38,479 --> 02:21:41,280 are the things that that you all believe 2648 02:21:41,280 --> 02:21:44,160 are the the priorities from from 2649 02:21:44,160 --> 02:21:46,880 administration's perspective. 2650 02:21:46,880 --> 02:21:50,000 You know, one of as I look at this, I I 2651 02:21:50,000 --> 02:21:52,640 wonder if one way to look at it is our 2652 02:21:52,640 --> 02:21:54,479 immediate goals, what we think need 2653 02:21:54,479 --> 02:21:56,720 attention and our sort of long-term 2654 02:21:56,720 --> 02:21:58,880 goals, right? Some of these seem aren't 2655 02:21:58,880 --> 02:22:00,720 going to be even done next year, right? 2656 02:22:00,720 --> 02:22:02,880 But some of them are. So maybe we could 2657 02:22:02,880 --> 02:22:04,720 help for the administration create a 2658 02:22:04,720 --> 02:22:10,000 couple of based on a lot of input from everybody. Um, is it, am I correct 2659 02:22:10,000 --> 02:22:11,680 that there are some individuals who 2660 02:22:11,680 --> 02:22:13,840 didn't get a chance to respond or is it 2661 02:22:13,840 --> 02:22:15,760 that everything is great in their 2662 02:22:15,760 --> 02:22:16,640 buildings and 2663 02:22:16,640 --> 02:22:18,880 >> they all received a chance to respond? 2664 02:22:18,880 --> 02:22:20,399 Mrs. Sharp sent out her list, 2665 02:22:20,399 --> 02:22:22,880 elementary, middle was from Hoffman. Mr. 2666 02:22:22,880 --> 02:22:24,800 Dick sent out the high school, I assume, 2667 02:22:24,800 --> 02:22:26,399 >> and that's their list that they've 2668 02:22:26,399 --> 02:22:27,120 returned. 2669 02:22:27,120 --> 02:22:30,640 >> Okay. So, uh, so I don't know. I I look 2670 02:22:30,640 --> 02:22:33,359 to you all to sort of give some feedback 2671 02:22:33,359 --> 02:22:35,359 on that's one way to start, but there I 2672 02:22:35,359 --> 02:22:36,560 mean, what are other ways we might be 2673 02:22:36,560 --> 02:22:43,110 able to think about this? 2674 02:22:43,120 --> 02:22:46,479 Well, in some of those buildings, 2675 02:22:46,479 --> 02:22:48,080 is there anything there that's keeping 2676 02:22:48,080 --> 02:22:50,720 the kid warm, safe? That's 2677 02:22:50,720 --> 02:22:51,680 >> right. 2678 02:22:51,680 --> 02:22:54,640 >> You know, I think all of us have said 2679 02:22:54,640 --> 02:22:56,960 that. So, that would reduce the list on 2680 02:22:56,960 --> 02:23:00,000 some of those building requests. 2681 02:23:00,000 --> 02:23:01,920 Um, 2682 02:23:01,920 --> 02:23:03,600 >> well, I think warm, safe, and dry would 2683 02:23:03,600 --> 02:23:05,840 bubble to the top, right? because those 2684 02:23:05,840 --> 02:23:06,399 are those are 2685 02:23:06,399 --> 02:23:08,399 >> that's definitely what we're I think our 2686 02:23:08,399 --> 02:23:09,520 board is saying 2687 02:23:09,520 --> 02:23:13,439 >> fundamental priorities and then um you 2688 02:23:13,439 --> 02:23:14,720 know with the feedback that they've 2689 02:23:14,720 --> 02:23:16,479 received from everybody they can kind of 2690 02:23:16,479 --> 02:23:19,359 put together a first iteration of what 2691 02:23:19,359 --> 02:23:21,680 they think you know that one year three 2692 02:23:21,680 --> 02:23:24,399 year 5 year 10 year you know however 2693 02:23:24,399 --> 02:23:26,319 incrementally they want to look at it 2694 02:23:26,319 --> 02:23:30,080 they can um we can let them pour their 2695 02:23:30,080 --> 02:23:31,680 expertise into that and give that back 2696 02:23:31,680 --> 02:23:33,280 to us and then we can give them feedback 2697 02:23:33,280 --> 02:23:35,600 based on that I I just don't want to 2698 02:23:35,600 --> 02:23:38,479 hold them up. 2699 02:23:38,479 --> 02:23:40,160 >> Thank you for that direction. That's 2700 02:23:40,160 --> 02:23:41,920 helpful. Principal's meeting is in about 2701 02:23:41,920 --> 02:23:43,600 a week or two and so we'll meet with 2702 02:23:43,600 --> 02:23:46,720 them on this conversation on their list 2703 02:23:46,720 --> 02:23:49,120 and Mr. Ner will follow back up with you 2704 02:23:49,120 --> 02:23:52,240 all in regards to uh the plan that's 2705 02:23:52,240 --> 02:23:54,080 already been laid out for us in the 2706 02:23:54,080 --> 02:23:56,560 facility study and the other things we 2707 02:23:56,560 --> 02:23:58,960 think we should uh tackle. So, thank 2708 02:23:58,960 --> 02:24:02,640 you. This has been helpful. 2709 02:24:02,640 --> 02:24:03,840 >> All right. So with that, we're going to 2710 02:24:03,840 --> 02:24:06,800 move to action items, which is item 23 2711 02:24:06,800 --> 02:24:09,840 on the agenda. Uh 23.1 is the approval 2712 02:24:09,840 --> 02:24:12,880 of the district's 2026 through 2020 30, 2713 02:24:12,880 --> 02:24:16,399 excuse me, 2031 strategic plan. And I 2714 02:24:16,399 --> 02:24:18,080 need a motion. 2715 02:24:18,080 --> 02:24:21,120 >> I move to approve the 2026 2716 02:24:21,120 --> 02:24:24,560 to 2031 strategic plan as presented. And 2717 02:24:24,560 --> 02:24:27,520 a second, Dr. Bonreg. Thank you. Any 2718 02:24:27,520 --> 02:24:30,240 discussion on this? 2719 02:24:30,240 --> 02:24:31,439 All right, I think we're ready for a 2720 02:24:31,439 --> 02:24:47,030 vote. 2721 02:24:47,040 --> 02:24:49,280 All votes are in and the motion carries 2722 02:24:49,280 --> 02:24:51,680 unanimously. 2723 02:24:51,680 --> 02:24:54,000 All right. The next item on our agenda 2724 02:24:54,000 --> 02:24:55,840 is 23.2 2725 02:24:55,840 --> 02:25:00,080 and that is to approve resolution 27-006 2726 02:25:00,080 --> 02:25:02,080 to adopt exceeding the revenue neutral 2727 02:25:02,080 --> 02:25:05,439 rate for fiscal year 27 budget. I 2728 02:25:05,439 --> 02:25:08,000 believe um the clerk will be doing a 2729 02:25:08,000 --> 02:25:10,479 roll call vote on this. Am I correct? 2730 02:25:10,479 --> 02:25:11,040 >> Correct. 2731 02:25:11,040 --> 02:25:12,160 >> All right. Right. So, we'll start with a 2732 02:25:12,160 --> 02:25:12,800 motion. C 2733 02:25:12,800 --> 02:25:14,800 >> can I ask a question of our our finance 2734 02:25:14,800 --> 02:25:16,319 team? Yeah. You know, I wonder if 2735 02:25:16,319 --> 02:25:17,680 someone with finance team might be able 2736 02:25:17,680 --> 02:25:20,560 to sort of stop and and talk about as 2737 02:25:20,560 --> 02:25:23,120 we're looking at our budget. What have 2738 02:25:23,120 --> 02:25:24,640 we done? What have we done? Are we 2739 02:25:24,640 --> 02:25:27,520 currently doing uh to look at look for 2740 02:25:27,520 --> 02:25:29,200 efficiencies 2741 02:25:29,200 --> 02:25:31,840 uh look at reducing expenditures in 2742 02:25:31,840 --> 02:25:33,520 areas where it makes sense. Can you 2743 02:25:33,520 --> 02:25:35,520 speak to that in terms of working to 2744 02:25:35,520 --> 02:25:36,720 control costs? 2745 02:25:36,720 --> 02:25:40,880 >> Sure. um every uh proposed expenditure 2746 02:25:40,880 --> 02:25:42,399 and I call them proposed expenditures 2747 02:25:42,399 --> 02:25:44,319 because they all are right until it goes 2748 02:25:44,319 --> 02:25:46,000 through all the approvals. Every one of 2749 02:25:46,000 --> 02:25:47,439 them that comes across my desk is 2750 02:25:47,439 --> 02:25:49,040 scrutinized, you know, is this a want or 2751 02:25:49,040 --> 02:25:52,319 is this a need? Um you know, just today 2752 02:25:52,319 --> 02:25:54,160 um this might be just a basic example, 2753 02:25:54,160 --> 02:25:56,800 but um ice m one of the ice makers at 2754 02:25:56,800 --> 02:26:00,000 Topeka West went out um my director of 2755 02:26:00,000 --> 02:26:02,000 purchasing, Mr. Jesse Wilson, he took a 2756 02:26:02,000 --> 02:26:03,359 look at it and said, you know, this is 2757 02:26:03,359 --> 02:26:05,120 really being underutilized. the cost to 2758 02:26:05,120 --> 02:26:07,520 repair it. Um it it would would not 2759 02:26:07,520 --> 02:26:09,680 really make sense based on the cost of 2760 02:26:09,680 --> 02:26:11,600 one of these items and talked to child 2761 02:26:11,600 --> 02:26:13,200 nutrition services. They don't use it 2762 02:26:13,200 --> 02:26:15,600 for the kitchen anymore. Um so he just 2763 02:26:15,600 --> 02:26:18,720 asked Mr. Buckandorf um if if there was 2764 02:26:18,720 --> 02:26:20,720 you know any objection to go ahead and 2765 02:26:20,720 --> 02:26:23,120 removing that and if not he was he was 2766 02:26:23,120 --> 02:26:24,800 planning to put in a service request to 2767 02:26:24,800 --> 02:26:26,880 have that done. Uh Mr. Buckorf said 2768 02:26:26,880 --> 02:26:28,479 thank you for letting me know. So, uh, 2769 02:26:28,479 --> 02:26:30,240 we appreciate that support, too, as we 2770 02:26:30,240 --> 02:26:32,080 look, you know, everybody everybody's 2771 02:26:32,080 --> 02:26:33,280 got to pitch in, right, when we're 2772 02:26:33,280 --> 02:26:36,720 looking for efficiencies. Um, and and 2773 02:26:36,720 --> 02:26:39,040 you know, and that's I mean, I'd be 2774 02:26:39,040 --> 02:26:40,720 remiss if I if I didn't mention on the 2775 02:26:40,720 --> 02:26:42,720 personnel side, you know, about 70% of 2776 02:26:42,720 --> 02:26:45,439 our budget is people. Um, so we we do 2777 02:26:45,439 --> 02:26:48,000 look when vacancies come open. Um we've 2778 02:26:48,000 --> 02:26:49,520 got one right now in in the business 2779 02:26:49,520 --> 02:26:50,800 office that we're we're looking at 2780 02:26:50,800 --> 02:26:52,960 possibly eliminating a position. Um 2781 02:26:52,960 --> 02:26:55,280 consolidating some things down um trying 2782 02:26:55,280 --> 02:26:57,840 to be as lean as we can. Uh because you 2783 02:26:57,840 --> 02:26:59,840 know it is really a balancing act with 2784 02:26:59,840 --> 02:27:01,040 you've heard me say it a million times 2785 02:27:01,040 --> 02:27:04,240 but it's a balancing act between um um 2786 02:27:04,240 --> 02:27:05,840 doing what's right for the taxpayers and 2787 02:27:05,840 --> 02:27:07,840 then adequately funding our schools. 2788 02:27:07,840 --> 02:27:10,479 >> Mr. Munoz, as you may recall, I know 2789 02:27:10,479 --> 02:27:12,640 special education is in the room and 2790 02:27:12,640 --> 02:27:15,359 they uh have moved their consulting 2791 02:27:15,359 --> 02:27:16,800 teachers from being at the district 2792 02:27:16,800 --> 02:27:19,520 level to the classroom level. Uh every 2793 02:27:19,520 --> 02:27:23,200 school uh has a very uh controlled uh 2794 02:27:23,200 --> 02:27:27,040 class size. Um and we've uh been able to 2795 02:27:27,040 --> 02:27:30,160 do that by adjusting uh the positions 2796 02:27:30,160 --> 02:27:32,560 that we fill and and having consulting 2797 02:27:32,560 --> 02:27:35,280 teachers that teach half day. As you 2798 02:27:35,280 --> 02:27:37,600 know, just as just another example or 2799 02:27:37,600 --> 02:27:41,040 two, uh many of our administrators, uh 2800 02:27:41,040 --> 02:27:43,439 such as Mr. Dick, who right now is at 2801 02:27:43,439 --> 02:27:45,439 the game, is also the athletic director, 2802 02:27:45,439 --> 02:27:47,680 the CTE director, the principal of Tika 2803 02:27:47,680 --> 02:27:50,720 High, and TCA. Uh and Dr. Grimes 2804 02:27:50,720 --> 02:27:53,439 likewise is the principal of her 2805 02:27:53,439 --> 02:27:57,520 building, JDC, uh Florence Krit. Uh she 2806 02:27:57,520 --> 02:28:00,240 also oversees three other areas. Those 2807 02:28:00,240 --> 02:28:01,680 are just examples of how we're 2808 02:28:01,680 --> 02:28:04,319 stretching staff, administrative staff 2809 02:28:04,319 --> 02:28:07,359 to cover many areas where many districts 2810 02:28:07,359 --> 02:28:09,280 would have four or five or six 2811 02:28:09,280 --> 02:28:10,960 administrators. Of course, in Topeka 2812 02:28:10,960 --> 02:28:12,880 public schools, we only have two 2813 02:28:12,880 --> 02:28:14,720 assistant superintendents. One is an 2814 02:28:14,720 --> 02:28:16,720 assistant, one's an associate, whereas 2815 02:28:16,720 --> 02:28:18,960 district our sizes normally have far 2816 02:28:18,960 --> 02:28:21,040 more than that. Those are just a few 2817 02:28:21,040 --> 02:28:24,960 examples. If there's something really burning that you want to add to 2818 02:28:24,960 --> 02:28:26,880 that, I encourage that. But those are 2819 02:28:26,880 --> 02:28:30,080 just ways we're um you know creating 2820 02:28:30,080 --> 02:28:36,790 efficiencies and decreasing costs. 2821 02:28:36,800 --> 02:28:38,640 » Miss Bolley 2822 02:28:38,640 --> 02:28:42,240 >> and to exceed revenue neutral means we 2823 02:28:42,240 --> 02:28:45,439 may not exceed correct 2824 02:28:45,439 --> 02:28:49,280 >> but it gives us permission to exceed our neutral. 2825 02:28:49,280 --> 02:28:50,800 >> No. And I know where you're going with 2826 02:28:50,800 --> 02:28:53,120 this. So, so we always say when we're 2827 02:28:53,120 --> 02:28:54,880 when we start the budgeting process that 2828 02:28:54,880 --> 02:28:56,479 we we want to go through those steps 2829 02:28:56,479 --> 02:28:59,680 because we um even if we don't end up 2830 02:28:59,680 --> 02:29:01,680 exceeding revenue neutral, we can't go 2831 02:29:01,680 --> 02:29:04,160 backwards. Um but with our budget, we 2832 02:29:04,160 --> 02:29:06,479 are proposing to exceed revenue neutral. 2833 02:29:06,479 --> 02:29:09,600 So, that would be the first step is to 2834 02:29:09,600 --> 02:29:12,479 um adopt that by the roll call vote. Um 2835 02:29:12,479 --> 02:29:14,080 but no, I know I know what you're what 2836 02:29:14,080 --> 02:29:15,920 you're thinking. Yeah, we we always we 2837 02:29:15,920 --> 02:29:20,000 always are are going to go through those steps no matter what just in case. 2838 02:29:20,000 --> 02:29:22,800 So, 2839 02:29:22,800 --> 02:29:24,399 one more question. Sorry. You know, you 2840 02:29:24,399 --> 02:29:26,240 know, we're all are looking at our 2841 02:29:26,240 --> 02:29:28,640 budgets and you know, my I have growing 2842 02:29:28,640 --> 02:29:30,399 teenagers, so we're we're probably 2843 02:29:30,399 --> 02:29:32,080 spending as much food as we've ever 2844 02:29:32,080 --> 02:29:33,600 spent before just kind of with the and 2845 02:29:33,600 --> 02:29:35,760 we're just sticker shock uh this past 2846 02:29:35,760 --> 02:29:38,240 summer, but what are some of the uh the 2847 02:29:38,240 --> 02:29:40,560 growing sort of costs that that we're 2848 02:29:40,560 --> 02:29:43,040 seeing as a uh as a district that maybe 2849 02:29:43,040 --> 02:29:44,800 might be out of our control? Right. I I 2850 02:29:44,800 --> 02:29:46,720 can't control the prices at Dylan's 2851 02:29:46,720 --> 02:29:47,760 bucket. What are some of the things that 2852 02:29:47,760 --> 02:29:48,640 we're seeing? 2853 02:29:48,640 --> 02:29:50,160 >> Okay. How long you want to stay here? 2854 02:29:50,160 --> 02:29:53,920 No, I mean um no diesel fuel um diesel 2855 02:29:53,920 --> 02:29:56,160 fuel has gone through the roof. Um you 2856 02:29:56,160 --> 02:29:59,520 know getting our buses around um our 2857 02:29:59,520 --> 02:30:02,880 utilities, so electricity, water, gas, 2858 02:30:02,880 --> 02:30:05,200 those those have gone up and those were 2859 02:30:05,200 --> 02:30:08,080 uh those were more of of uh more than 2860 02:30:08,080 --> 02:30:10,720 our you know 3% inflationary projection 2861 02:30:10,720 --> 02:30:14,160 for our budget. Um we've got our our 2862 02:30:14,160 --> 02:30:16,240 transportation contract although it is 2863 02:30:16,240 --> 02:30:18,800 competitive. um there's built-in 2864 02:30:18,800 --> 02:30:20,720 increases in that and just because of 2865 02:30:20,720 --> 02:30:22,560 the size of the contract, we've got an 2866 02:30:22,560 --> 02:30:25,280 increase there. But but look, uh every 2867 02:30:25,280 --> 02:30:27,680 is not revenue neutral as we all know. 2868 02:30:27,680 --> 02:30:31,359 Um so so you know, we're we're we're 2869 02:30:31,359 --> 02:30:33,600 still proposing, you know, and have done 2870 02:30:33,600 --> 02:30:36,560 increases, you know, for for staff um 2871 02:30:36,560 --> 02:30:38,880 all while trying to trying to be lean on 2872 02:30:38,880 --> 02:30:41,520 that that 30% that's really our other 2873 02:30:41,520 --> 02:30:43,439 operating expenditures. 2874 02:30:43,439 --> 02:30:45,359 >> Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Great, great 2875 02:30:45,359 --> 02:30:47,280 point. Health insurance. um about a 2876 02:30:47,280 --> 02:30:48,640 million and a half dollars this year. 2877 02:30:48,640 --> 02:30:51,359 That's a big one. Um and you know, I 2878 02:30:51,359 --> 02:30:52,880 kind of talked a little bit about that, 2879 02:30:52,880 --> 02:30:54,479 so I won't go too far into it, but you 2880 02:30:54,479 --> 02:30:55,680 know, that's that's one of the reasons 2881 02:30:55,680 --> 02:30:57,200 we're we're trying to really explore 2882 02:30:57,200 --> 02:30:59,200 going self-funded. 2883 02:30:59,200 --> 02:31:00,720 >> All right. Well, thank you very much for 2884 02:31:00,720 --> 02:31:02,399 all of your team's work on on making 2885 02:31:02,399 --> 02:31:04,960 sure that we're we're being uh smart 2886 02:31:04,960 --> 02:31:07,280 about how we use these dollars and that 2887 02:31:07,280 --> 02:31:10,000 we're we're holding ourselves to the 2888 02:31:10,000 --> 02:31:11,359 highest standards when it comes to use 2889 02:31:11,359 --> 02:31:14,720 of public funds. Thank you. 2890 02:31:14,720 --> 02:31:16,880 >> All right. So I am back to looking for a 2891 02:31:16,880 --> 02:31:20,319 motion to approve resolution 27-006 2892 02:31:20,319 --> 02:31:22,399 to adopt exceeding the revenue neutral 2893 02:31:22,399 --> 02:31:24,880 rate for fiscal year 27 budget. 2894 02:31:24,880 --> 02:31:25,680 >> So moved. 2895 02:31:25,680 --> 02:31:27,520 >> Thank you. And a second, Dr. Schumacher. 2896 02:31:27,520 --> 02:31:30,960 Thank you. Any other discussion? 2897 02:31:30,960 --> 02:31:33,359 >> All right, we're ready for a vote. 2898 02:31:33,359 --> 02:31:37,040 >> All right. U Mrs. Schmidt, 2899 02:31:37,040 --> 02:31:38,479 >> yes. 2900 02:31:38,479 --> 02:31:39,920 >> Dr. Bon, 2901 02:31:39,920 --> 02:31:41,600 >> yes. 2902 02:31:41,600 --> 02:31:43,040 >> Mr. Munoz, 2903 02:31:43,040 --> 02:31:44,880 >> yes. 2904 02:31:44,880 --> 02:31:46,160 Mr. Tatum, 2905 02:31:46,160 --> 02:31:48,160 >> yes. 2906 02:31:48,160 --> 02:31:49,439 >> Mrs. Bolley, 2907 02:31:49,439 --> 02:31:51,120 >> yes. 2908 02:31:51,120 --> 02:31:52,479 >> Dr. Schumacher, 2909 02:31:52,479 --> 02:31:53,760 >> yes. 2910 02:31:53,760 --> 02:31:56,720 >> And Dr. Bone break. 2911 02:31:56,720 --> 02:31:58,319 Thank you. The motion carries 2912 02:31:58,319 --> 02:32:00,399 unanimously. 2913 02:32:00,399 --> 02:32:02,240 >> All right. Next under our action items 2914 02:32:02,240 --> 02:32:05,840 is 23.3 to approve resolution 2915 02:32:05,840 --> 02:32:08,000 27-007 2916 02:32:08,000 --> 02:32:10,800 to adopt supplemental general fund lob 2917 02:32:10,800 --> 02:32:14,640 percentage of 33.0%. 0%. 2918 02:32:14,640 --> 02:32:17,040 So moved and I need a second. Dr. 2919 02:32:17,040 --> 02:32:21,280 Schumacher, thank you. Any discussion? 2920 02:32:21,280 --> 02:32:29,190 All right, we're ready for a vote 2921 02:32:29,200 --> 02:32:47,030 and we're open. 2922 02:32:47,040 --> 02:32:49,280 All votes are in and the motion carries 2923 02:32:49,280 --> 02:32:51,600 unanimously. 2924 02:32:51,600 --> 02:32:53,439 And the final item under our action 2925 02:32:53,439 --> 02:32:56,479 items is 23.4 to approve and adopt the 2926 02:32:56,479 --> 02:32:59,200 fiscal year 2027 budget. I need a 2927 02:32:59,200 --> 02:33:02,080 motion. 2928 02:33:02,080 --> 02:33:04,000 I move to approve and adopt the fiscal 2929 02:33:04,000 --> 02:33:06,399 year 2027 budget per legislative 2930 02:33:06,399 --> 02:33:07,920 requirements. The building needs 2931 02:33:07,920 --> 02:33:09,600 assessment and state assessment reviews 2932 02:33:09,600 --> 02:33:10,960 were provided to the board and were 2933 02:33:10,960 --> 02:33:13,520 considered during the budgeting process. 2934 02:33:13,520 --> 02:33:15,840 Thank you. And a second, Mr. Tatum. 2935 02:33:15,840 --> 02:33:18,880 Thank you. Any discussion? 2936 02:33:18,880 --> 02:33:20,399 All right. Seeing none, we're ready for 2937 02:33:20,399 --> 02:33:21,040 a vote. 2938 02:33:21,040 --> 02:33:32,550 >> And the vote is open 2939 02:33:32,560 --> 02:33:35,600 and the motion carries unanimously. 2940 02:33:35,600 --> 02:33:38,319 >> All right, next item is 24 board member 2941 02:33:38,319 --> 02:33:43,190 comments. We'll start with Dr. Bonereak. 2942 02:33:43,200 --> 02:33:46,479 » None of my committees met, but what is 2943 02:33:46,479 --> 02:33:49,200 the next step for the 2944 02:33:49,200 --> 02:33:52,160 little theater. 2945 02:33:52,160 --> 02:33:54,640 >> Dr. Bombre, uh Mr. is going to call you 2946 02:33:54,640 --> 02:33:57,520 in the morning and uh he's excited at 2947 02:33:57,520 --> 02:34:01,040 this new donor and we will take the next 2948 02:34:01,040 --> 02:34:03,760 step in supporting what you've just uh 2949 02:34:03,760 --> 02:34:06,720 shared is before you unless the board 2950 02:34:06,720 --> 02:34:09,120 has any other direction given the 2951 02:34:09,120 --> 02:34:12,800 tremendous donation. Um thank you again 2952 02:34:12,800 --> 02:34:16,399 Dr. Mrech for your work in this regard. 2953 02:34:16,399 --> 02:34:20,496 I have no further comments. 2954 02:34:20,496 --> 02:34:21,760 [laughter] 2955 02:34:21,760 --> 02:34:26,399 >> Um I I wanted to echo Mr. Buucy and just 2956 02:34:26,399 --> 02:34:29,920 thank the uh taxpayers that came and 2957 02:34:29,920 --> 02:34:32,960 spoke tonight. I also would be remiss if 2958 02:34:32,960 --> 02:34:36,000 I didn't thank the team that uh our 2959 02:34:36,000 --> 02:34:38,640 team, the finance team and everybody 2960 02:34:38,640 --> 02:34:41,040 that puts together the budget and puts a 2961 02:34:41,040 --> 02:34:44,240 lot of thoughtful dedication into it. 2962 02:34:44,240 --> 02:34:47,840 Um, we did have a committee 2963 02:34:47,840 --> 02:34:50,240 last week, I think, a technology 2964 02:34:50,240 --> 02:34:54,399 committee. Uh, and I, um, 2965 02:34:54,399 --> 02:34:56,160 print it out. I use Stormmont Veil's 2966 02:34:56,160 --> 02:34:59,600 printer and paper to tell them to print 2967 02:34:59,600 --> 02:35:02,560 out the agenda. Um, so you guys have 2968 02:35:02,560 --> 02:35:05,200 that. Um, but I will run through really 2969 02:35:05,200 --> 02:35:06,720 quickly. So, we talked about parent 2970 02:35:06,720 --> 02:35:11,600 square. Um, which it seems like 2971 02:35:11,600 --> 02:35:13,920 maybe I it'd probably be a conflict, but 2972 02:35:13,920 --> 02:35:15,520 it seems like a lot of districts are 2973 02:35:15,520 --> 02:35:17,040 using Parent Square now. I should have 2974 02:35:17,040 --> 02:35:20,160 gotten stock in Parent Square after they 2975 02:35:20,160 --> 02:35:22,479 passed that bill because I talk to kids 2976 02:35:22,479 --> 02:35:24,560 every day from lots of different 2977 02:35:24,560 --> 02:35:26,240 districts and they talk about parent 2978 02:35:26,240 --> 02:35:30,080 square and I'm like, gosh dang it. Um 2979 02:35:30,080 --> 02:35:34,560 but it is um on and we talked about um 2980 02:35:34,560 --> 02:35:37,439 that now parents should be getting 2981 02:35:37,439 --> 02:35:41,920 emails at least um if there's post um 2982 02:35:41,920 --> 02:35:44,560 about their students on parent square um 2983 02:35:44,560 --> 02:35:46,160 and they're rolling out more features. 2984 02:35:46,160 --> 02:35:48,479 We talked a little bit about trying to 2985 02:35:48,479 --> 02:35:51,680 do some simple um uh education for 2986 02:35:51,680 --> 02:35:54,560 parents cuz I I was able to get the app 2987 02:35:54,560 --> 02:35:56,080 and turn it on and there's a lot of 2988 02:35:56,080 --> 02:35:58,880 features and maybe not all parents need 2989 02:35:58,880 --> 02:36:01,040 all the features but just a very kind of 2990 02:36:01,040 --> 02:36:02,640 rudimentary 2991 02:36:02,640 --> 02:36:05,920 uh run through on that. Um 2992 02:36:05,920 --> 02:36:08,160 there's going to be a new assessment 2993 02:36:08,160 --> 02:36:10,640 module that replaces Mastery Connect 2994 02:36:10,640 --> 02:36:13,680 that'll help save us money. Uh right now 2995 02:36:13,680 --> 02:36:15,520 a lot of effort is being put forward 2996 02:36:15,520 --> 02:36:17,359 with parent square because we do need to 2997 02:36:17,359 --> 02:36:19,680 move forward with that as quick as we 2998 02:36:19,680 --> 02:36:23,280 can to allow like our football teams um 2999 02:36:23,280 --> 02:36:27,120 our band or theater uh things that there 3000 02:36:27,120 --> 02:36:28,560 needs to be some sort of communication 3001 02:36:28,560 --> 02:36:32,080 about practices or games or you know 3002 02:36:32,080 --> 02:36:35,040 pizza or whatever. Um and and all that 3003 02:36:35,040 --> 02:36:36,560 has to happen through parent square now. 3004 02:36:36,560 --> 02:36:39,040 So, a lot of efforts are there, but uh 3005 02:36:39,040 --> 02:36:41,920 we're still working on replacing this 3006 02:36:41,920 --> 02:36:43,600 new module that'll integrate into 3007 02:36:43,600 --> 02:36:47,120 Synergy or u using this module that'll 3008 02:36:47,120 --> 02:36:49,520 integrate into Synergy that'll uh 3009 02:36:49,520 --> 02:36:52,319 replace Mastery Connect. Um we're 3010 02:36:52,319 --> 02:36:55,680 looking at distributing the new um 3011 02:36:55,680 --> 02:36:57,920 devices for staff. You can see there are 3012 02:36:57,920 --> 02:37:01,040 1,800 staff or 1,800 devices that we p 3013 02:37:01,040 --> 02:37:03,439 purchase that they are working on 3014 02:37:03,439 --> 02:37:06,319 rolling out. Um, and then we talked 3015 02:37:06,319 --> 02:37:09,600 about some of the holdup with -ate and 3016 02:37:09,600 --> 02:37:13,280 our -ate funding. So, we replaced our 3017 02:37:13,280 --> 02:37:15,520 um, elementary school wireless access 3018 02:37:15,520 --> 02:37:18,399 points with -ate funding maybe like 18 3019 02:37:18,399 --> 02:37:20,000 months ago. 3020 02:37:20,000 --> 02:37:23,520 >> Um, and the plan was to also I don't 3021 02:37:23,520 --> 02:37:26,800 know if you try to use Wi-Fi in 3022 02:37:26,800 --> 02:37:29,520 middle school, it is rough. But the um 3023 02:37:29,520 --> 02:37:32,000 so the goal is to replace the wireless 3024 02:37:32,000 --> 02:37:34,000 access points uh for all those 3025 02:37:34,000 --> 02:37:37,280 Chromebooks. Um but it is currently on 3026 02:37:37,280 --> 02:37:39,359 hold and we're not sure if we're going 3027 02:37:39,359 --> 02:37:41,280 to get that funding and so we'll have to 3028 02:37:41,280 --> 02:37:45,040 look at maybe um other avenues while we 3029 02:37:45,040 --> 02:37:47,920 continue to try to keep the old devices 3030 02:37:47,920 --> 02:37:51,840 working. Um kind of the same with our um 3031 02:37:51,840 --> 02:37:54,000 internet services for the district that 3032 02:37:54,000 --> 02:37:56,240 was be funding that was being funding 3033 02:37:56,240 --> 02:37:58,080 through. 3034 02:37:58,080 --> 02:38:02,240 Um and as a um FYI, the no before 3035 02:38:02,240 --> 02:38:05,200 training is now available. We should all 3036 02:38:05,200 --> 02:38:07,359 have an email 3037 02:38:07,359 --> 02:38:11,040 um from August 10th that you can 3038 02:38:11,040 --> 02:38:13,680 complete your no before training and it 3039 02:38:13,680 --> 02:38:17,040 is due uh by January. And that's all I 3040 02:38:17,040 --> 02:38:21,429 have I think. 3041 02:38:21,439 --> 02:38:24,720 Uh, Ditto, you did such a nice job. 3042 02:38:24,720 --> 02:38:27,520 Thank you. So, I'm just down to some 3043 02:38:27,520 --> 02:38:31,680 comments. Um, I was invited to go to the 3044 02:38:31,680 --> 02:38:36,319 parents as teachers uh ice cream social 3045 02:38:36,319 --> 02:38:38,960 down at Quinton Heights. And oh my 3046 02:38:38,960 --> 02:38:41,120 goodness, the number of parents that 3047 02:38:41,120 --> 02:38:43,600 showed up with their little ones and to 3048 02:38:43,600 --> 02:38:45,680 get to experience 3049 02:38:45,680 --> 02:38:48,560 children on that particular special 3050 02:38:48,560 --> 02:38:51,920 playground that is built for parents and 3051 02:38:51,920 --> 02:38:54,560 students to work together and swing 3052 02:38:54,560 --> 02:38:57,680 together and just be together. It was 3053 02:38:57,680 --> 02:39:01,120 just really a great uh experience to see 3054 02:39:01,120 --> 02:39:04,000 that. I got to talk to a couple parents 3055 02:39:04,000 --> 02:39:06,319 that are concerned about screen time in 3056 02:39:06,319 --> 02:39:08,720 schools and I told them we're looking at 3057 02:39:08,720 --> 02:39:12,080 that and creating some plans around that 3058 02:39:12,080 --> 02:39:15,359 and and uh she was pretty adamant if we 3059 02:39:15,359 --> 02:39:17,120 didn't get control of our screen time 3060 02:39:17,120 --> 02:39:18,640 she wasn't going to let her child come 3061 02:39:18,640 --> 02:39:21,600 to school. So 3062 02:39:21,600 --> 02:39:25,200 it's a it's a passionate uh point for um 3063 02:39:25,200 --> 02:39:28,720 many parents. Um, when I went to that, I 3064 02:39:28,720 --> 02:39:30,800 was parking in the back parking lot of 3065 02:39:30,800 --> 02:39:34,240 Quinton Heights and lo and behold, I 3066 02:39:34,240 --> 02:39:38,640 came across that adult gym partnership 3067 02:39:38,640 --> 02:39:41,760 with Blue Cross Blue Shield. There's 3068 02:39:41,760 --> 02:39:43,760 construction down there to put that 3069 02:39:43,760 --> 02:39:47,600 together. Isn't that what that is 3070 02:39:47,600 --> 02:39:48,080 behind? 3071 02:39:48,080 --> 02:39:49,680 >> Yes, ma'am. That's the fitness court. 3072 02:39:49,680 --> 02:39:51,200 and we look forward to having a 3073 02:39:51,200 --> 02:39:52,960 celebration here in the near future with 3074 02:39:52,960 --> 02:39:54,880 those groups that helped contribute to 3075 02:39:54,880 --> 02:39:58,160 that project uh to kick off the official 3076 02:39:58,160 --> 02:40:00,479 uh opening of that. It is finished uh 3077 02:40:00,479 --> 02:40:03,200 completed um construction. Um but with 3078 02:40:03,200 --> 02:40:04,560 the start of school, it just wasn't the 3079 02:40:04,560 --> 02:40:06,160 right timing to do that yet. 3080 02:40:06,160 --> 02:40:08,319 >> So, it's right down here, right down the 3081 02:40:08,319 --> 02:40:10,960 hill. So, it looked complicated to me. 3082 02:40:10,960 --> 02:40:13,040 I'm sure it probably isn't, but I'll be 3083 02:40:13,040 --> 02:40:16,800 glad for that ribbon cutting. um our 3084 02:40:16,800 --> 02:40:20,720 Kansas Association of School Boards. Uh 3085 02:40:20,720 --> 02:40:23,520 we met as a legislative group and we 3086 02:40:23,520 --> 02:40:25,760 came up with items that we want our 3087 02:40:25,760 --> 02:40:28,640 lobbyists to lobby for. There were 3088 02:40:28,640 --> 02:40:30,720 members from all across the state of 3089 02:40:30,720 --> 02:40:34,960 Kansas. Um once that was completed, we 3090 02:40:34,960 --> 02:40:37,600 started our tours across Kansas. I 3091 02:40:37,600 --> 02:40:39,280 should 3092 02:40:39,280 --> 02:40:43,120 uh KSB started the tours. I went to our 3093 02:40:43,120 --> 02:40:47,280 region tour. They have I don't know 10 3094 02:40:47,280 --> 02:40:49,600 11 tours that they go to across the 3095 02:40:49,600 --> 02:40:52,399 state of Kansas to get more feedback on 3096 02:40:52,399 --> 02:40:56,240 the document as a legislative group and 3097 02:40:56,240 --> 02:40:59,680 add and tweak whatever the feedback gave 3098 02:40:59,680 --> 02:41:02,319 to us and then that'll be approved at 3099 02:41:02,319 --> 02:41:05,600 the uh conference in November. But it's 3100 02:41:05,600 --> 02:41:07,600 just a really 3101 02:41:07,600 --> 02:41:10,000 remarkable time to sit down with other 3102 02:41:10,000 --> 02:41:13,520 districts in our Kansas that are 3103 02:41:13,520 --> 02:41:15,439 struggling in so many ways that we don't 3104 02:41:15,439 --> 02:41:17,680 even think about just because of their 3105 02:41:17,680 --> 02:41:23,920 student numbers, their enrollment, their connections for internet, etc. So, 3106 02:41:23,920 --> 02:41:26,479 it's it's uh really interesting get that 3107 02:41:26,479 --> 02:41:28,960 broader viewpoint. And then I just want 3108 02:41:28,960 --> 02:41:32,640 to make some comments about football and 3109 02:41:32,640 --> 02:41:36,000 soccer in our heat. And I'm hoping that 3110 02:41:36,000 --> 02:41:39,280 our coaches, our parents are really 3111 02:41:39,280 --> 02:41:41,920 keeping an eye on our students in this 3112 02:41:41,920 --> 02:41:44,000 horrible heat we're having right now. 3113 02:41:44,000 --> 02:41:47,840 And that that strenuous uh sports that 3114 02:41:47,840 --> 02:41:50,720 they I really like I'm hoping that we 3115 02:41:50,720 --> 02:41:52,640 are doing a later start on our 3116 02:41:52,640 --> 02:41:55,359 footballs. I heard that on to you that 3117 02:41:55,359 --> 02:41:57,680 some districts are I'm hoping that we 3118 02:41:57,680 --> 02:41:59,760 take all those precautions and keep our 3119 02:41:59,760 --> 02:42:02,399 students safe in this really uh 3120 02:42:02,399 --> 02:42:05,040 difficult time and weather. 3121 02:42:05,040 --> 02:42:08,479 Just a comment and observation there. 3122 02:42:08,479 --> 02:42:13,910 Thank you. [laughter] 3123 02:42:13,920 --> 02:42:18,319 So, I also want to uh uh 3124 02:42:18,319 --> 02:42:21,359 say kudos for those involved in rolling 3125 02:42:21,359 --> 02:42:23,892 out Parent Square. Excuse 3126 02:42:23,892 --> 02:42:26,560 [clears throat] me. I uh I I I was 3127 02:42:26,560 --> 02:42:28,720 pleased when the district decided to to 3128 02:42:28,720 --> 02:42:33,280 start using that feature. Um both of my 3129 02:42:33,280 --> 02:42:36,160 kids, my 17-year-olds who were in in the 3130 02:42:36,160 --> 02:42:38,479 Kansas City area, their school has been 3131 02:42:38,479 --> 02:42:40,560 using it for several years. So I was 3132 02:42:40,560 --> 02:42:42,160 already very familiar with it, very 3133 02:42:42,160 --> 02:42:45,680 comfortable with it and um I have found 3134 02:42:45,680 --> 02:42:48,240 that uh it is it seems to be working 3135 02:42:48,240 --> 02:42:52,080 very smoothly for our district as well. 3136 02:42:52,080 --> 02:42:53,600 And in fact, there's a feature on there 3137 02:42:53,600 --> 02:42:56,560 that lets me integrate communications 3138 02:42:56,560 --> 02:43:00,479 from 501 and for my my kids' uh uh 3139 02:43:00,479 --> 02:43:02,800 school district, my other kids and and 3140 02:43:02,800 --> 02:43:05,920 uh so I can get it all at one time. So, 3141 02:43:05,920 --> 02:43:09,200 it it really is a a really good system 3142 02:43:09,200 --> 02:43:12,319 and um very pleased that it seems to be 3143 02:43:12,319 --> 02:43:15,359 um getting off to a great start. Uh I 3144 02:43:15,359 --> 02:43:18,640 also want to um thank those members of 3145 02:43:18,640 --> 02:43:26,000 the public that came to share uh their uh perspectives and and thoughts 3146 02:43:26,000 --> 02:43:33,280 and and uh uh reactions to um the uh 3147 02:43:33,280 --> 02:43:37,040 budgetary and the fiscal issues that we 3148 02:43:37,040 --> 02:43:42,160 discussed uh tonight. Um, I I I in 3149 02:43:42,160 --> 02:43:44,240 thinking about it, I I I wish I wish 3150 02:43:44,240 --> 02:43:46,960 there was a a a 3151 02:43:46,960 --> 02:43:49,600 more effective method that we could use 3152 02:43:49,600 --> 02:43:53,120 to keep the public informed about a lot 3153 02:43:53,120 --> 02:43:55,920 of the things that are occurring that 3154 02:43:55,920 --> 02:43:58,960 drive up costs. So, so that the the 3155 02:43:58,960 --> 02:44:01,040 public has a clear understanding as to 3156 02:44:01,040 --> 02:44:05,439 why we are um going back and revising 3157 02:44:05,439 --> 02:44:08,399 our budget and and making changes to our 3158 02:44:08,399 --> 02:44:12,960 re revenue neutral rate so that they understand for all the reasons 3159 02:44:12,960 --> 02:44:15,120 we've talked about whether it's you know 3160 02:44:15,120 --> 02:44:19,120 physical infrastructure or the cost of 3161 02:44:19,120 --> 02:44:23,520 diesel fuel or uh the the cost of 3162 02:44:23,520 --> 02:44:26,240 supporting special education when the 3163 02:44:26,240 --> 02:44:27,279 legislature 3164 02:44:27,279 --> 02:44:30,640 does not uh all these things and more 3165 02:44:30,640 --> 02:44:33,359 are are what go into our planning 3166 02:44:33,359 --> 02:44:36,240 process and and and we've been taking a 3167 02:44:36,240 --> 02:44:39,040 hard look at our budgetary issues for 3168 02:44:39,040 --> 02:44:43,120 quite a while now. Um but I I 3169 02:44:43,120 --> 02:44:46,000 hope that that the the the public will 3170 02:44:46,000 --> 02:44:49,200 understand we're trying to run a a lean 3171 02:44:49,200 --> 02:44:53,200 mean education machine. Um, and uh, 3172 02:44:53,200 --> 02:44:55,120 sometimes that means that that we have 3173 02:44:55,120 --> 02:44:58,960 to uh, make some tough choices. Um, and 3174 02:44:58,960 --> 02:45:01,600 we're not happy about it. Um, I'm I'm a 3175 02:45:01,600 --> 02:45:06,479 homeowner, too. Um, so, uh, but I what I 3176 02:45:06,479 --> 02:45:08,240 think is important is that we're we're 3177 02:45:08,240 --> 02:45:12,080 committed to, um, making sure that, um, 3178 02:45:12,080 --> 02:45:14,479 the the students and and the 3179 02:45:14,479 --> 02:45:17,520 professionals in our district are, uh, 3180 02:45:17,520 --> 02:45:18,880 getting the things that they need in 3181 02:45:18,880 --> 02:45:21,120 order to to do the work of of public 3182 02:45:21,120 --> 02:45:23,760 education here at uh, Topeka Public 3183 02:45:23,760 --> 02:45:29,920 Schools. Um, we had two I I had two 3184 02:45:29,920 --> 02:45:32,640 meetings that I was at over the course 3185 02:45:32,640 --> 02:45:35,840 of the past week or so. Um, so we had 3186 02:45:35,840 --> 02:45:42,000 policy council meeting on Monday and um, 3187 02:45:42,000 --> 02:45:45,279 uh, Mrs. Wallace joined us for that and 3188 02:45:45,279 --> 02:45:47,200 talked to us about the the parent and 3189 02:45:47,200 --> 02:45:51,040 family engagement policy um, that we'll 3190 02:45:51,040 --> 02:45:54,960 see uh, occurring. um that'll come out 3191 02:45:54,960 --> 02:45:58,479 pretty soon. Um that's a that's a policy 3192 02:45:58,479 --> 02:46:01,680 that will kind of uh 3193 02:46:01,680 --> 02:46:03,920 address student achievement and school 3194 02:46:03,920 --> 02:46:08,000 success and how we can um continue to 3195 02:46:08,000 --> 02:46:13,120 involve parents in that process and and to make sure that that their voices 3196 02:46:13,120 --> 02:46:18,000 are being um a part of of uh of uh those 3197 02:46:18,000 --> 02:46:21,439 processes as they move move forward. Um, 3198 02:46:21,439 --> 02:46:26,000 also, um, since, um, Mrs. Schmidt wasn't 3199 02:46:26,000 --> 02:46:29,120 able to attend the DCAC meeting on 3200 02:46:29,120 --> 02:46:31,680 Tuesday, I swapped with her and and so I 3201 02:46:31,680 --> 02:46:34,720 was I was the the board representative 3202 02:46:34,720 --> 02:46:39,840 on Tuesday at DCAC. Dr. Anderson said 3203 02:46:39,840 --> 02:46:42,960 they have never asked any other board 3204 02:46:42,960 --> 02:46:45,680 member these many questions. [laughter] 3205 02:46:45,680 --> 02:46:47,359 So, they they asked a lot of questions. 3206 02:46:47,359 --> 02:46:49,920 They were very inquisitive about um some 3207 02:46:49,920 --> 02:46:53,520 of the things that um uh I talked with 3208 02:46:53,520 --> 02:46:56,319 them about um all of which we have 3209 02:46:56,319 --> 02:46:59,600 discussed uh and and made decisions on 3210 02:46:59,600 --> 02:47:01,520 in in the meeting tonight. But that was 3211 02:47:01,520 --> 02:47:05,520 another venue to kind of help um a a 3212 02:47:05,520 --> 02:47:08,640 group of of uh our constituents and 3213 02:47:08,640 --> 02:47:11,439 members of the public understand um some 3214 02:47:11,439 --> 02:47:14,720 of the the the things going on and and 3215 02:47:14,720 --> 02:47:18,319 what we are um uh really kind of faced 3216 02:47:18,319 --> 02:47:21,439 with as far as the challenges of funding 3217 02:47:21,439 --> 02:47:24,319 in particular. Um 3218 02:47:24,319 --> 02:47:26,080 there there was a couple of things that 3219 02:47:26,080 --> 02:47:30,640 I thought were really important from DCAC to pass on. one was the fact 3220 02:47:30,640 --> 02:47:32,720 that they they've kind of set they've 3221 02:47:32,720 --> 02:47:34,160 decided what their priorities are going 3222 02:47:34,160 --> 02:47:36,479 to be for this year. Um so we'll 3223 02:47:36,479 --> 02:47:38,800 probably see more about that as the year 3224 02:47:38,800 --> 02:47:43,279 goes on because they'll do they'll report back to us what they 3225 02:47:43,279 --> 02:47:45,359 chose for the topics of their study. The 3226 02:47:45,359 --> 02:47:47,680 first was transportation. They want to 3227 02:47:47,680 --> 02:47:50,240 look at at transportation issues. And 3228 02:47:50,240 --> 02:47:52,240 then they also want to look at creating 3229 02:47:52,240 --> 02:47:55,040 a benevolence fund. And that that seems 3230 02:47:55,040 --> 02:47:58,560 to be kind of a a safety net financially 3231 02:47:58,560 --> 02:48:01,439 to help folks who are struggling or or 3232 02:48:01,439 --> 02:48:05,200 are facing a unexpected crisis. And um 3233 02:48:05,200 --> 02:48:07,200 that could be a fund that they would be 3234 02:48:07,200 --> 02:48:13,359 able to to to use to to help people who need it. Um I think they're also 3235 02:48:13,359 --> 02:48:15,200 looking for a vice president if I 3236 02:48:15,200 --> 02:48:17,359 remember correctly. So hopefully they 3237 02:48:17,359 --> 02:48:19,680 can they can find one and kind of build 3238 02:48:19,680 --> 02:48:24,640 to the ranks. Um and um good luck to 3239 02:48:24,640 --> 02:48:25,760 them. Looking forward to seeing what 3240 02:48:25,760 --> 02:48:30,710 they come up with. That's all I have. 3241 02:48:30,720 --> 02:48:32,960 Um I was also a member of the policy 3242 02:48:32,960 --> 02:48:34,560 committee and we did talk about family 3243 02:48:34,560 --> 02:48:37,279 engagement with Miss Wallace. Um we also 3244 02:48:37,279 --> 02:48:39,520 have on our agenda as well bullying as 3245 02:48:39,520 --> 02:48:41,439 well as a purchasing policy. and the 3246 02:48:41,439 --> 02:48:43,040 bullying policy as we're reviewing this 3247 02:48:43,040 --> 02:48:44,399 I think is really important in light of 3248 02:48:44,399 --> 02:48:45,920 all of a lot of changes that are going 3249 02:48:45,920 --> 02:48:48,880 on we still want to make sure uh that 3250 02:48:48,880 --> 02:48:51,600 our students are safe and that everybody 3251 02:48:51,600 --> 02:48:53,600 feels welcome and so I think that's 3252 02:48:53,600 --> 02:48:54,880 something that's particularly important 3253 02:48:54,880 --> 02:48:56,800 is to understand that the culture that 3254 02:48:56,800 --> 02:48:59,920 we create here is still um is still 3255 02:48:59,920 --> 02:49:01,840 focused on making sure that that uh we 3256 02:49:01,840 --> 02:49:03,359 are engaging students and that they're 3257 02:49:03,359 --> 02:49:06,000 prepared to be successful um in the 3258 02:49:06,000 --> 02:49:09,120 future and purchasing policy again 3259 02:49:09,120 --> 02:49:11,120 talking about the idea of making sure 3260 02:49:11,120 --> 02:49:12,720 that we are efficient, that we're 3261 02:49:12,720 --> 02:49:15,439 looking for ways to to save dollars. Uh 3262 02:49:15,439 --> 02:49:17,680 reviewing uh we talked about it a couple 3263 02:49:17,680 --> 02:49:19,359 of meetings ago, but we'll it'll be 3264 02:49:19,359 --> 02:49:21,840 coming up here soon a an update on our 3265 02:49:21,840 --> 02:49:23,279 purchasing policy to make sure that 3266 02:49:23,279 --> 02:49:25,680 we're doing uh the best we can to take 3267 02:49:25,680 --> 02:49:28,399 care of uh our public dollars. So, uh 3268 02:49:28,399 --> 02:49:30,240 last thing I uh you know, I'm curious 3269 02:49:30,240 --> 02:49:33,520 about how our cell phone uh policy has 3270 02:49:33,520 --> 02:49:34,960 been sort of received and what are we 3271 02:49:34,960 --> 02:49:36,560 seeing in our schools and our high 3272 02:49:36,560 --> 02:49:38,720 schools in particular. So, it might be a 3273 02:49:38,720 --> 02:49:40,240 great idea for us in in the future just 3274 02:49:40,240 --> 02:49:41,920 to get a quick update from some of our 3275 02:49:41,920 --> 02:49:43,439 high school principles to see what uh 3276 02:49:43,439 --> 02:49:45,359 what they're seeing on the ground level. 3277 02:49:45,359 --> 02:49:48,319 So, 3278 02:49:48,319 --> 02:49:50,800 >> my only committee was policy and it has 3279 02:49:50,800 --> 02:49:53,200 been covered and it's getting late. So, 3280 02:49:53,200 --> 02:49:56,160 I would just like to say thank you to um 3281 02:49:56,160 --> 02:49:59,600 everyone that has contributed to budget 3282 02:49:59,600 --> 02:50:02,240 uh stuff and everyone who came to speak 3283 02:50:02,240 --> 02:50:06,720 tonight and um have a good evening. 3284 02:50:06,720 --> 02:50:09,439 Um, I too want to echo uh thank you to 3285 02:50:09,439 --> 02:50:11,120 the leadership team. We had a lot of 3286 02:50:11,120 --> 02:50:14,080 meaty topics tonight that I know 3287 02:50:14,080 --> 02:50:15,840 required a lot of background work from 3288 02:50:15,840 --> 02:50:17,520 you guys. So, thank you so much for 3289 02:50:17,520 --> 02:50:20,399 putting that together. Um, we hope to 3290 02:50:20,399 --> 02:50:22,399 have more of these conversations during 3291 02:50:22,399 --> 02:50:25,040 board meetings just to keep these topics 3292 02:50:25,040 --> 02:50:26,960 and everything else out in the open and 3293 02:50:26,960 --> 02:50:28,720 being as transparent as possible with 3294 02:50:28,720 --> 02:50:30,800 our taxpayers and how we're utilizing 3295 02:50:30,800 --> 02:50:35,520 their tax dollars. um that I I want to 3296 02:50:35,520 --> 02:50:37,439 echo thanking everybody for coming and 3297 02:50:37,439 --> 02:50:39,279 speaking. I know it's very intimidating 3298 02:50:39,279 --> 02:50:41,600 for a lot of people to come up there and 3299 02:50:41,600 --> 02:50:43,040 stand and they worry that they don't 3300 02:50:43,040 --> 02:50:44,399 know enough or aren't going to say the 3301 02:50:44,399 --> 02:50:46,479 right thing. Um but I very much 3302 02:50:46,479 --> 02:50:48,160 appreciate people giving up their 3303 02:50:48,160 --> 02:50:52,399 personal time um to come lend a voice uh 3304 02:50:52,399 --> 02:50:54,240 to their tax dollars and how they're 3305 02:50:54,240 --> 02:50:58,240 being spent. And I want to thank um the 3306 02:50:58,240 --> 02:51:01,040 district for our activity passes. Those 3307 02:51:01,040 --> 02:51:03,600 are always exciting and um to receive 3308 02:51:03,600 --> 02:51:05,359 and means a school year is starting and 3309 02:51:05,359 --> 02:51:07,359 we have lots of things to attend. Thank 3310 02:51:07,359 --> 02:51:09,439 you Keith for switching out on me on the 3311 02:51:09,439 --> 02:51:11,359 meeting. When Dr. Gray sent me the date 3312 02:51:11,359 --> 02:51:13,200 I was sad to say I already had a concert 3313 02:51:13,200 --> 02:51:16,640 on the calendar so I was like so I very 3314 02:51:16,640 --> 02:51:19,680 much appreciate um your flexibility. Uh 3315 02:51:19,680 --> 02:51:23,279 with that I am looking to item number 25 3316 02:51:23,279 --> 02:51:24,800 which is adjournment and I need a 3317 02:51:24,800 --> 02:51:25,600 motion. 3318 02:51:25,600 --> 02:51:29,040 >> I move we adjourn and a second. 3319 02:51:29,040 --> 02:51:30,880 Dr. Dr. Bonereak, anybody want to talk 3320 02:51:30,880 --> 02:51:33,680 about it or do we just want to vote? All 3321 02:51:33,680 --> 02:51:36,560 right, raise your right hand. 3322 02:51:36,560 --> 02:51:37,680 >> It's unanimous. 3323 02:51:37,680 --> 02:51:40,920 >> We are adjourned.