Jul 24, 2023 Special Board Meeting

[00:00:03]

GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

[I. Call to Order]

WELCOME. AND I HEREBY CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

SEANIECE, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS.

AND I'LL JUST GIVE A NOTICE THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOT PART OF SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PER BOARD POLICY 204.15.

SO WE DO NOT HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT SPECIAL MEETINGS.

BOARD MEMBERS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU AN AGENDA FOR THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING.

[III. Approval of Agenda]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

MOTION CARRIES. AN AGENDA IS APPROVED.

BOARD MEMBERS. TODAY AGAIN, WE'RE FACED WITH A APPOINTMENT OF A BOARD MEMBER, A NEW BOARD MEMBER IN ITEM FOUR OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS OF PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION

[IV. Items of Presentation, Discussion, and/ or Action]

WE'LL INVITE THE APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITION TO SPEAK FOR FIVE MINUTES IN FRONT OF THE BOARD.

WE WILL THEN ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS.

WE ASK THAT THE CANDIDATES HOLD THEIR RESPONSE TO TWO MINUTES, SO YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR YOUR INTRODUCTORY OR OPENING STATEMENT.

AND THEN THE BOARD MEMBERS, IF THEY SO CHOOSE, THEY MAY NOT TO ASK YOU ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE A TWO MINUTE RESPONSE FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S THE PROCESS FOR FOR CANDIDATES AS THEY COME TO SPEAK AND THE BOARD MEMBER INTERACTION WITH THAT.

THEN ONCE THOSE ARE ALL CONCLUDED, THE BOARD WILL RECEIVE A BALLOT WITH ALL 13 NAMES ON IT.

YOU MAY HAVE READ THAT THERE WERE 14 NAMES PREVIOUSLY.

ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, DR.

LEE, WITHDREW HIS NAME FROM CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING.

SO WE'RE NOW DOWN TO 13 CANDIDATES.

THE ORDER OF THOSE CANDIDATES WILL BE SUCH THAT IN ORDER OF APPLICATION OR LETTER OF INTEREST TO RECEIVE.

SO THAT'S THE ORDER THAT WILL GO IN.

AND WE HAVE ALL 13 LISTED.

I DO WANT TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT MR. CHAD KRASTEL EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON HAD A FAMILY MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND HE'S UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE TONIGHT OR SPEAK OR DIAL IN DUE TO THAT MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

HE HAS NOT WITHDRAWN HIS NAME FOR CONSIDERATION.

HE STILL WANTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION, BUT HE WILL NOT BE HERE AND PARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR VIA TELEPHONE OR TEAMS MEETING THIS EVENING.

BUT THAT WAS MR. KRASTEL. OKAY.

ONCE WE ONCE THE CANDIDATES ARE FINISHED, WE WILL HAVE SEANIECE WILL HAVE BALLOTS WITH ALL 13 NAMES ON IT, AND BOARD MEMBERS WILL THEN VOTE ONE VOTE FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATION OR CHOICE FOR APPOINTMENT.

THAT PROCESS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF BOARD MEMBERS APPROVING AN INDIVIDUAL APPLICANT.

SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S FIVE PEOPLE HERE, INCLUDING MR. GOODVIN ON THE TELEPHONE, THAT WOULD NEED THREE VOTES FOR APPROVAL TO APPOINT THAT.

ONCE WE ONCE WE GET TO THAT POINT, WE'RE PREPARED TO STAY ALL NIGHT IF WE HAVE TO, TO GET TO GET THAT.

WHEN MISS SCALERO WAS APPOINTED, WE WENT THROUGH FIVE ROUNDS OF VOTING.

WE'RE PREPARED FOR MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF VOTING, BUT WE WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL AN APPOINTMENT IS SELECTED AND THE MAJORITY OF BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT AND VOTING WILL WILL PARTICIPATE.

THERE MAY BE A BOARD MEMBER COMING IN OR OUT AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME AND THAT BOARD MEMBER WILL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE IF THEY WERE ABSENT FOR A FIRST PART OF THIS MEETING. BUT COMING IN FOR ANY PORTION OF THE MEETING AND VOTING AT ANY TIME.

SO THAT IS THAT IS SORT OF THE PROTOCOL AND THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW TONIGHT.

I WOULD ASK BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PROCESS OR THE PROTOCOL? NO, NO APPLICANTS.

JUST SORRY, JUST A JUST A CLARITY ON MY END.

FOR YOUR GUYS'S KNOWLEDGE AND THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE.

I WILL TAKE A PICTURE OF MY BALLOT AND SEND IT TO SEANIECE WILL GET IT AS PART OF THE NORMAL VOTE.

OKAY. IN CASE ANYBODY DIDN'T HEAR HEAR HIM FOR ONLINE MR. GOODVIN IS IS IN REMOTE PARTICIPATION THIS AFTERNOON.

IN ORDER FOR THESE VOTES WILL BE PUBLIC RECORD.

EACH BOARD MEMBERS VOTE WILL BE READ PUBLICLY AND THEY WILL BE TALLIED AND MR. GOODVIN WILL INDICATE BY SENDING A TEXT MESSAGE TO SHANICE HAMMOND AND MYSELF, SHANICE WILL READ HIS VOTE.

[00:05:01]

OKAY. NOW, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO THE APPLICANTS.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PROCESS FROM THE APPLICANTS? OKAY. I WILL ALSO INDICATE THAT MR. PHIL HAMMOND IS PARTICIPATING REMOTELY TONIGHT.

AND THERE IS HIS PICTURE ON THE SCREEN.

AND MR. HAMMOND, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, I CAN. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. SO MR. HAMMOND WILL BE ALLOWED TO PRESENT FIVE MINUTES JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND THEN IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HAMMOND, THE BOARD MEMBERS WILL WILL POSE THOSE TO HIM AS WELL.

SO LET ME READ YOU THE ORDER OF APPLICANTS RECEIVED, AND THAT WILL BE THE ORDER THAT WE PROCEED WITH TONIGHT.

NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST, THE FIRST APPLICANT WAS MR. CHAD KRASTEL.

AS I INDICATED, MR. KRASTEL WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN PERSON OR VIA PHONE, SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND PERSON, WHICH IS MARIA RUNDQUIST.

MS.. RUNDQUIST, ARE YOU HERE THIS EVENING? OH, THERE YOU ARE. OKAY. IN THE BACK.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO, MISS RUNDQUIST, YOU WILL GO FIRST.

PHIL HAMMOND WILL, MR. PHIL HAMMOND WILL GO SECOND.

MR. SHAWN BROYHILL WILL GO THIRD.

MISS JULIE BEHRENS WILL GO FOURTH.

MR. ERIC BOW WILL GO FIFTH.

MR. HAMMERGAARD GEBREKIDAN WILL GO SIXTH.

TASHA COHEN WILL GO SEVENTH.

RYAN BAKER WILL GO EIGHTH.

JEDEDIAH HIBBS WILL GO NINTH.

MARGUERITE CORTEZ WILL GO 10TH.

JUSTIN RHODES WILL GO 11TH AND JOHN MYERS WILL FINISH OUT AT NUMBER 12.

SO THAT IS THE ORDER THAT WE WILL PARTICIPATE ONCE AGAIN.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE APPLICANTS? ALL RIGHT. JUST ONCE AGAIN, THE APPLICANT AS WE CALL YOUR NAME, ASK YOU TO COME UP, INTRODUCE YOURSELF, MAKE YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.

WE'LL GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN DO LESS.

THEY CAN'T DO MORE. YOU CAN DO LESS.

AND THEN THERE'S A TWO MINUTE, IF BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THERE'S A TWO MINUTE LIMITATION ON THE RESPONSE FROM THE APPLICANT.

AND OUR FIRST APPLICANT IS MISS MARIA RUNDQUIST.

MISS RUNDQUIST.

THANK YOU. MARIA RUNDQUIST 2121.

NORMAN DRIVE, SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

WHY I WANT TO BE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD? BECAUSE I HAVE THE PASSION TO PUBLIC SERVICE, MY EDUCATION DEGREE AND BUSINESS DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION AT BRIARCLIFFE COLLEGE.

I HAVE LEADERSHIP AND LANGUAGE SKILLS TRAINING AND HUMAN RESOURCES, BUSINESS, BUSINESS, LAW AND CONSERVATION COURSES.

THAT'S SCIENCE IS ANOTHER PASSION OF MINE.

CURRENTLY, I'M A REGISTERED FINRA ARBITRATOR.

I HAVE PASSED THE SECURITY CLEARANCE MARRIED TO DR.

REX RUNDQUIST, WHO IS A PEDIATRICIAN AND RETIRED.

I HAVE FOUR GROWN CHILDREN AND EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN.

MY CHILDREN WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL.

I AM A FORMER TUTOR AND IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN I MOVED TO SIOUX CITY IN 1991 AND A SPANISH INSTRUCTOR, I OWN A SMALL BUSINESS.

I RECENTLY RETIRED FROM MY SMALL BUSINESS AND I AM AN AUTHOR ABOUT MY LIFE, HOW I CAME TO AMERICA.

I HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SERVING IN THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD WHEN MR. LARRY WILLIAMS WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT.

I WORKED ON MANY COMMITTEES AND THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES AT THAT TIME WAS TO FIGHT THE GANGS, GRAFFITI, ALCOHOL, DRUGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE MR. LEO MILLER AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND IN THAT TIME I CO-FOUND THE SIOUX CITY NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK TO HAVE A WATCH WATCHDOG FOR THE GANGS AND THE DRUGS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE STILL

[00:10:08]

I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY TO RESOLVE ISSUES AFFECTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SINCE I MOVED TO SIOUX CITY.

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN IN PLACE AND HAVE A GOALS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR GOALS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.

AS YOU SAY IN MY LETTER OF INTEREST, WHY I WANTED TO SERVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I SEND YOU A BRIEF TWO PAGES OF ABOUT MARIA, WHO I AM AND HOW I CAME TO USA.

AND AND THAT'S WHAT IS MY PASSION TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY AND AND ON THAT.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR FOR MISS RUNQUIST.

YEAH. MISS REHNQUIST, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HEAR ME OKAY.

SORRY I CANNOT BE THERE.

UM, THIS QUESTION APPLIES TO YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

UM, SO SOMETHING THAT WILL WEIGH HEAVILY ON MY MIND AS A SINGLE BOARD MEMBER IS YOUR WILLINGNESS AND YOUR ABILITY TO RUN AGAIN HERE IN THIS FALL.

I KNOW FIRSTHAND AND EVERYONE'S UP THERE ON THE BOARD, KNOWS FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH THERE IS TO LEARN AND HOW MUCH THINGS ARE CHANGING EACH DAY. AND I THINK A 3 TO 4 MONTH TIME PERIOD WOULD BE VERY, VERY HARD TO HAVE SOMEONE EVEN REALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

I MEAN, I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE 3 TO 4 MONTH PERIOD.

SO I HAVE MADE IT PRETTY VOCAL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WHOEVER I WOULD VOTE TO NOMINATE TO NOMINATE, TO FILL THIS SEAT WOULD BE WILLING AND ABLE TO RUN AGAIN IN NOVEMBER.

SO I JUST KIND OF WANT TO HEAR YOUR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

SO, MR. MR. GOODVIN, LET ME FOR THOSE WHO ARE ONLINE WHO MAY, MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HEARD YOU, CLEARLY, I WANT TO I WANT TO SUMMARIZE WHAT I THOUGHT YOUR QUESTION WAS AND YOU CORRECT ME IF IT'S NOT CORRECT, BUT YOUR YOUR QUESTION TO TO ALL CANDIDATES IS, DO YOU INTEND TO RUN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD IN THE FALL? IS THAT IS THAT THE SUMMARY OF IT? CORRECT. OKAY.

TWO MINUTES, MISS RUNQUIST.

WELL, AT THIS POINT, I HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION WHETHER OR NOT I WANT TO RUN.

OKAY. SO FOR EVERYBODY, MISS RUNQUIST INDICATED THAT SHE HASN'T MADE A DECISION OR NOT WHETHER SHE'S GOING TO RUN.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MISS RUNQUIST? I'LL BE AS FAIR AS MR. GOODVIN IS, AND I'LL ADDRESS THIS QUESTION TO EACH CANDIDATE AS WELL.

WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY TO SUPPORT THIS CURRENT BOARD? OKAY. SO LET ME.

OKAY, LET ME LET ME JUST SO REPEAT IT.

I'LL REPEAT THEM JUST SO EVERYBODY ONLINE CAN HEAR DIRECTOR SCARLETT ASK, WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY TO SUPPORT THE BOARD DURING THIS SHORT, SHORT APPOINTMENT PERIOD? THE PRIORITIES YOU HAVE, I'LL BE WORKING WITH YOU, WHATEVER YOUR PRIORITIES YOU HAVE.

THAT WILL BE MY PRIORITIES, TOO.

I HAVE NO AGENDA.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. RUNQUIST. WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR INTEREST IN AND PARTICIPATING AS AN APPLICANT.

I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. SO DIRECTOR GOODWIN AND DIRECTOR SCARLETT, LET ME LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT SO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ASK EACH CANDIDATE AND I'LL JUST ASK THEM TO ADDRESS IT BEFORE YOU HAVE TO ASK THEM THAT.

DO YOU INTEND TO RUN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD IN THE FALL? AND THE OTHER ONE IS WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE SELECTED TO BE ON THE BOARD? IS THAT A IS THAT A FAIR.

OKAY. YES. MR. GOODWIN, IS THAT IS THAT A FAIR, FAIR WAY TO PUT IT? CORRECT. YES. THANKS FOR HELPING EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.

THANKS. THANKS SO MUCH.

OKAY. OUR OUR SECOND APPLICANT TONIGHT IS MR. PHIL HAMMOND, AND MR. HAMMOND IS WITH US REMOTELY VIA TEAMS ON THE SCREEN.

SO, MR. HAMMOND, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES, SIR.

HI, BILL HAMMOND. 2519 SOUTH MULBERRY, SIOUX CITY, 511 AND SIX.

[00:15:02]

I SEE THERE'S SOME GOOD CANDIDATES TRYING TO GET ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, BUT LET ME TAKE A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TO SHARE WHY I'M THE BEST CANDIDATE TO BE APPOINTED TO THIS TEMPORARY POSITION.

AND I DO PLAN ON RUNNING FOR A SCHOOL BOARD POSITION THIS FALL.

TO START OUT WITH AT THE END OF MAY THIS YEAR.

I JUST RETIRED AFTER 40 YEARS IN EDUCATION, 37 OF THOSE YEARS WITH THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL CO-TEACHER. SO I'M VERY CURRENT IN THE SYSTEM.

I'M UP ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE HERE AND NOW.

SO FOR ME, I CAN STEP INTO THAT POSITION AND THERE'S BASICALLY VERY LITTLE OF A LEARNING CURVE.

I'M GOING TO BE ON TOP OF A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH.

I CAN STEP IN AND IMMEDIATELY BE A PRODUCTIVE BOARD MEMBER.

EVERY DAY ON MY JOB, I WORK WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, ELL STUDENTS AND GEN ED STUDENTS.

SO I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DELIVERY SYSTEM, HOW WE'RE TRYING TO REACH OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION ELL STUDENTS, WHAT'S VERY GOOD ABOUT IT, AND WHAT WE COULD LOOK TO CHANGE TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.

AND I WILL SAY RIGHT NOW, THAT WILL BE ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES, BECAUSE I THINK THOSE ARE SOMETHING THAT OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT . ALSO FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, ONCE A WEEK AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION CO-TEACHER, I WAS IN MORNING MEETINGS TO BE BROUGHT UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S CURRENT AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE LAWS AND ALL THAT'S GOING ON IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.

SO I'M VERY SCHOOLED IN THAT AREA AS WELL.

SO WITH ALL THIS EXPERIENCE, I HAVE A STRONG UNDERSTANDING FOR THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS, THEIR PARENTS AND OUR TEACHERS.

AND I THINK SOMETIMES IN EDUCATION WE CAN GET SIDEBAR WITH A LOT OF THINGS, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE CLASSROOM, THE STUDENTS, THE TEACHERS.

AND FOR ME, I BELIEVE A REAL BIG FOCUS NEEDS TO BE OUR READING, WRITING AND MATH SCORES.

IT IS SO BIG, IT'S SO HUGE.

THOSE SKILLS ARE GOING TO TRANSFER INTO ALL THE OTHER AREAS OF ACADEMICS FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT READING, WRITING AND MATH, STARTING THE WAY WE DELIVER IT IS GOING TO BE A SUCH A STRONG THING TO HELP THEM REACH THEIR GOALS.

IT'S THE KEY OUT OF POVERTY IF THEY'RE IN THAT SITUATION AND IT'S A FOUNDATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

SO I REALLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO FOCUS ON CONTINUING TO RAISE OUR READING, WRITING AND MATH SCORES.

NOW, I PERSONALLY, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN TRYING TO BRING OUR WRITING SCORES UP IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE DID REMARKABLY WELL AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM THAT WE WERE USING.

I ENDED UP SEEING MORE KIDS ON MY CASELOAD OF SPECIAL ED STUDENTS REACH AND OBTAIN THEIR WRITING GOALS, AND THAT GOAL WAS EXITED FROM THEIR IEP. SO I KNOW THE SYSTEM CAN WORK, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP IT A PRIORITY.

ALSO, OVER THE YEARS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN HELPING DEVELOP CURRICULUM FOR THE SCHOOL, SO I'M WELL SCHOOLED IN THAT AREA.

I ALSO HAVE A DEGREE IN BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES, SO I'VE WORKED HEAVILY TO HELP MANAGE BEHAVIORS IN THE SCHOOLS AND EVEN WORKING WITH YOUNG NEW TEACHERS, GOING INTO THEIR CLASSROOM AND TEACHING THEM THE BEST WAYS TO HELP MANAGE THEIR CLASSROOM.

THAT'S ALSO VITAL FOR OUR GOOD SCHOOLS AND A GOOD CLASSROOMS. AS FAR AS FINANCIAL THINGS GO, FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, I'VE OWNED A SMALL PRIVATE BUSINESS, SO I UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF A TIGHT BUDGET.

I'VE HAD MY EYE ON THE ESSER BUDGET.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING THAT MONEY.

SO WE'VE GOT SOME TOUGH CHOICES COMING UP IN THE FUTURE.

AND SO AS BOARD MEMBERS, WE WOULD REALLY HAVE TO MAKE SOME GOOD CHOICES SO THAT WE SERVE OUR STUDENTS THE BEST THAT WE CAN WHEN WE START LOSING THAT KIND OF MONEY.

ALSO, OVER THE MANY YEARS, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF DIVERSE GROUPS, MULTICULTURAL GROUPS, FRENCH PROGRAMS. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A BELIEVER THAT STUDENTS SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE IN THEIR BACKGROUND.

SO I'VE ALSO SUPPORTED THOSE GROUPS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AS MUCH AS I CAN OVER MANY YEARS.

STARTING TO WIND THIS DOWN.

I'VE HAD MANY PEOPLE ASK ME, WHY DID I STAY TEACHING FOR 40 YEARS WHEN I COULD HAVE RETIRED MANY YEARS EARLIER? WELL, YES, I HAVE RETIRED, BUT NOT REALLY.

I JUST RENEWED MY TEACHING LICENSE BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT A VITAL NEED THERE IS FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I STILL HAVE A LOVE FOR EDUCATION AND I PLAN ON CONTINUING ON AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AND HOPEFULLY BE APPOINTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE I HAVE A STRONG LOVE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO SHARE, I'VE SHARED THIS STORY BEFORE, BUT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAVE SUCH A STRONG PASSION.

I GREW UP IN A FEDERAL HOUSING AREA UNDER EXTREME POVERTY AND A SINGLE MOTHER HOME.

A LOT OF TIMES WE DIDN'T HAVE FOOD IN MY HOUSE.

I WAS BUSSED TO DIFFERENT SCHOOL AFTER DIFFERENT SCHOOL EVERY YEAR.

SO I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE DIVERSE NEEDS THAT OUR STUDENTS NEED AND ALL OF US HAVE DEFINING MOMENTS IN OUR LIFE THAT CHANGE OUR LIVES OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED SHAPE OUR LIFE.

FOR ME, IT WAS SPECIAL TEACHERS AND COACHES.

SEE, I WAS ONE OF THE KIDS COMING OUT OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT BACK IN THOSE DAYS EVERYBODY THOUGHT WE WOULD JUST DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AFTER EIGHTH OR NINTH GRADE AND SURELY NONE OF US WOULD GO ON TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE HOPE AND THE NEW DREAMS THAT I GOT STRUCK BY SOME OF MY GREAT TEACHERS.

[00:20:01]

I HATE TO CUT YOU OFF, MR. HAMMOND, BUT WE'VE.

WE'VE HIT OUR FIVE MINUTE MARK.

AND IN ORDER TO DO IT, WE'VE HIT OUR FIVE MINUTE MARK, SIR.

SO TO BE FAIR TO ALL CANDIDATES, WE'RE LIMITING IT TO BOARD MEMBERS.

THANK YOU. MR.. MR..

HAMMOND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HAMMOND? I BELIEVE YOU ANSWERED THE QUESTION, MR. GOODVIN'S FIRST QUESTION.

DO YOU PLAN TO RUN IN THE FALL, YOU INDICATED? YES. MS..

SCARLETT, WERE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR QUESTION? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO THE TWO QUESTIONS THAT THAT EACH ONE OF THE DIRECTORS ASKED TO BE ANSWERED, YOU'VE ANSWERED BOTH OF THOSE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. HAMMOND? OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. HAMMOND. THANKS FOR THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

MR. BROYHILL, YOU'RE UP NEXT.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU AND BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.

AS ALL OF YOU KNOW QUITE WELL, THE BOARD SERVES AN INVALUABLE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND YOU'RE ALL UNPAID VOLUNTEERS.

YOU SPEND MANY THANKLESS HOURS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST, I ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS APPOINTMENT AS I FEEL I HAVE EXCELLENT QUALIFICATIONS AND WILL SERVE THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY WELL. MY NAME IS DR.

SEAN BROYHILL. I'M A LIFELONG SIOUX LAND RESIDENT SEVENTH GENERATION, GREW UP THROUGH THIS DISTRICT.

MR. MICHAELSON WAS ONE OF MY TEACHERS.

I LOVED BEING WITH HIM.

THERE'S SEVERAL PEOPLE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

I WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU WHY I'M UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO FULFILL THIS OBLIGATION.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'D BE A VALUABLE ASSET TO THE BOARD DUE TO MY EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE, BOTH EDUCATIONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

PROFESSIONALLY, I WORK AS A SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT, AND I DEAL PRIMARILY WITH COMPLEX LEVEL PROJECTS, INCLUDING INSIGHT, GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION TO A VERY LARGE TEAM. MY SPECIALTY IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS, AND I DESIGNED MANY COMPLEX, ARTIFICIALLY INTELLIGENT PROGRAMS FOR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS STARTING TO SEE A CRISIS WITH THIS VERY TOPIC.

CHATGPT AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY ARE BEING DEVELOPED AND IT CAN EITHER BE A VALUABLE TOOL FOR OUR SCHOOLS OR AN EXTREME LEGITIMATE THREAT TO STUDENT SUCCESS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOL BOARDS TO ESTABLISH POLICIES AND WITH MY PERSONAL INSIGHT INTO DEVELOPMENT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY, I THINK I CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS AREA.

SECOND, I HAVE OVER A DECADE OF DEDICATION AND PASSION TOWARDS THE FURTHERANCE OF EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

EVERY CHILD NEEDS THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED, AND I'VE PERSONALLY INVESTED OVER $150,000 OF MY OWN MONEY IN THE LAST TEN YEARS ON THESE PROJECTS, AS WELL AS OVER 4000 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE.

I'VE CONTINUED MY OWN EDUCATION, INCLUDING SEVERAL GRADUATE AND DOCTORAL DEGREES, INCLUDING THAT IN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY.

AND I'VE WRITTEN ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND PRESENTED AT MULTIPLE EDUCATIONAL PROCEEDINGS AND HAVE MANY PEER REVIEWED PAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS.

THROUGH THIS WORK, I'VE WORKED AS AN EDUCATION EDUCATOR AT SECONDARY SCHOOL BOARD, SCHOOL LEVELS, VOLUNTEER TUTORS AND WORKED WITH SEVERAL TEACHERS IN OUR VERY OWN DISTRICT WITH MANY READING PROGRAMS. ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF IS ONE WITH MANY TEACHERS HERE AT UNITY ELEMENTARY HERE IN SIOUX CITY.

I'VE WORKED WITH THESE TEACHERS TO FIND READING BOOKS AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP FULFILL THAT STUDENT'S NEEDS AND DESIRES TO HAVE READING AS A LIFELONG PASSION.

THROUGH THAT, I PERSONALLY PURCHASED BOOKS AND PROVIDED ONE TO EVERY SINGLE STUDENT MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BECAUSE MANY OF THESE STUDENTS DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE BOOKS AT HOME AND TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION AND GET THAT DESIRE FOR READING AT HOME.

AND BY HAVING THEIR OWN PERSONAL COPY, THEY CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE TEACHER, TAKE IT HOME AND HOPEFULLY GET THAT PASSION INSTILLED WITH THEM.

I'VE DONE THAT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND I LOVE THAT PROGRAM.

THIRD IS A PARENT OF A SEVERELY DISABLED CHILD THAT'S CURRENTLY ENROLLED OUR DISTRICT.

I WANT TO INSIST THE BOARD DECISIONS AND DIRECTIONS THAT WILL HELP ALL CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT.

WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CAPABILITY, HAS OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.

AND I HOPE TO HELP THE DISTRICT ACHIEVE THIS BY BALANCING A BALANCE AND RECOGNIZING CHILDREN SUCH AS MY SON MAY NEED ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE IN THOSE AREAS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.

SO THAT WAY WE HAVE A GOOD SOLID BALANCE SO THAT WAY ALL STUDENTS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

FINALLY, I RECOGNIZE THIS IS A SHORT TERM APPOINTMENT OF ONLY A FEW MONTHS.

I'VE SERVED AS A MEMBER ON SEVERAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BOARDS, INCLUDING VERY LARGE SCALE ONES, SOME IN THAT CAPACITY AS CO-CHAIR.

SO THEREFORE I THINK I HAVE THE SOLID EXPERIENCE TO RAMP UP QUITE QUICKLY IN THE BOARD POSITION, SINCE I HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE, THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE RULES AND POLICIES.

AS A BOARD MEMBER, I RECOGNIZE THAT I HAVE AN IMPLICIT BIAS, JUST AS MOST HUMANS DO.

HOWEVER, I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT GIVES ME AN OPEN MIND TO OVERCOME THOSE I SERVE AS A CASA TO HELP CHILDREN.

[00:25:01]

AND ONLY BY DOING THAT AND HAVING AN OPEN MIND AND UNDERSTANDING CAN WE OVERCOME THOSE.

I BELIEVE THAT THAT INSIGHT AND GUIDANCE WILL HELP ME SUCCEED AS A BOARD MEMBER, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF DOING SUCH.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

MR. BROYHILL.

A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I THINK THAT MR. GOODVIN ASKED, DO YOU PLAN TO RUN FOR THE BOARD IN THE FALL? IF I IF YOU SAID THAT I MISSED IT, I DO PLAN TO, YES.

OKAY. AND MISS SCARLET'S QUESTION, IT WAS ANSWERED, DEFINITELY.

YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. BROYHILL? I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS REALLY TAKEN A TURN FOR LOOKING AT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND MAKING CHANGES WITH THE EDUCATION REFORM THAT GOVERNOR REYNOLDS IS PUSHING FORTH.

AND LAST YEAR, TOWARDS THE END, THEY PASSED SENATE FILE 496, WHICH DEALT WITH PARENT CHOICE REGARDING BOOKS, GENDER IDENTITY, NOT TEACHING IT TO SOME OF THE YOUNGER KIDS AND NOT TALKING ABOUT IT.

AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW YOUR OPINION ON BECAUSE WE HAVE PUT FORTH CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS OURSELVES THIS PAST YEAR REGARDING WHAT WAS.

OUT THERE. SO I JUST WANTED TO KNOW.

WHERE YOU LINE UP WITH REGARDS TO SOME OF THESE PUBLIC SCHOOL INITIATIVES THAT ARE OUT THERE? WELL, I THINK EVERY CHILD NEEDS THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY IDENTIFY.

I HAVE AN OLDER CHILD 22 YEARS OF AGE.

SHE IDENTIFIES AS TRANSGENDER.

AND I LOVE HIM. AND I PUSH AND TRY TO HELP HIM SUCCEED IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.

SO I THINK REGARDLESS OF HOW SOMEBODY IDENTIFIES WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND IS, THEY NEED TO HAVE EVERY POSSIBLE TOOL TO HELP THEM SUCCEED.

SO I'M FOR WHATEVER POLICIES WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. BROYHILL? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. BROYHILL. THANK YOU.

NEXT UP IS MISS JULIE BEHRENS.

MISS BEHRENS. SUPERINTENDENT EARLEYWINE.

PRESIDENT GREENWELL, SECRETARY HILEMAN, AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, AND THE AUDIENCE.

I'M JULIE BEHRENS, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SIOUX CITY, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON.

I'M VERY INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE I'M INVESTED IN SIOUX CITY SCHOOLS.

WE HAD TWO OF OUR OWN DAUGHTERS GRADUATE AND HAD VERY SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCES WITH THIS.

I BELIEVE IN THE SUCCESS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I THINK THAT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY'RE LIFELONG CHOICES AND INTERESTS.

ALSO, I LIKE TO STAY INVOLVED.

I AM FIVE YEARS OUT OF RETIREMENT, I WAS A SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST AT WESTERN HILLS NORTHWEST HILLS.

NORTHWEST AREA EDUCATION AGENCY.

WE CHANGED OUR NAME A FEW TIMES UNDER THOSE 40 YEARS I WAS THERE.

AND I WAS A SCHOOL SPEECH PATHOLOGIST, SERVED IN MANY OF THE SCHOOLS.

A FEW OF THEM HAVE CLOSED WITH THE LARGER SCHOOLS BEING BUILT.

LOVED MY WORK.

WHY I STAYED FOR 40 YEARS.

MY SPECIALTY IS WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD, ALSO ENGLISH SECOND LANGUAGE.

I WORKED IN 0 TO 5 POPULATION AND OFTENTIMES WAS THE FIRST PERSON OF FROM THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD THAT VISITED THOSE FAMILIES WITHIN THEIR HOMES.

AND IF THE CHILDREN QUALIFIED FOR SPECIAL SERVICES, I CONTINUE TO BE IN THEIR HOMES UNTIL THE AGE OF THREE AND THEN WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL STAFF THAT WERE ASSIGNED TO THE INTEGRATED EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOMS IN THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS. AND I TESTED THOSE CHILDREN BEFORE.

SO LIKE MR. HAMMOND, VERY PROFICIENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW, THE INS AND OUTS OF THAT, THE CHALLENGES AND HAD TO PROVE THE CHILDREN'S QUALIFICATIONS AND THEN ALSO THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEEDED TO CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK I ALSO HAVE STAYED INVOLVED BY I SUBBED THIS LAST YEAR BECAUSE MY DEGREE ISN'T IN EDUCATION, IT'S IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY.

I TOOK THE CLASS FROM AREA EDUCATION AGENCY FOR SO I COULD SUB IN THE CLASSROOMS AND I WAS IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INTEGRATED CLASSROOMS AND EVERY ELEMENTARY BUILDING EXCEPT FOR MORNINGSIDE ELEMENTARY.

[00:30:03]

I WOULD I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT DURING THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

IT SHOWED ME THE HUGE CLASSROOMS WELL, NOT HUGE, BUT THE HUGE CHALLENGES THAT THE TEACHERS FACE BECAUSE OF THE CLASSROOMS, ALL THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN.

I'M, LIKE I SAID, VERSED IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS.

BUT THE SOCIOECONOMIC JUST CONTINUES TO BE A HUGE PART OF OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THAT UNDER PERCENT.

I HAVE AN ADMIRATION FOR SIOUX CITY SCHOOLS THAT THEY HAVE THE BEHAVIOR COACHES IN THERE.

A LOT OF SUPPORT THAT JUST CONTINUES TO INCREASE SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN HAVE SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.

ONE THING THAT I WOULD BRING TO THE TABLE IS MY PEOPLE SKILLS.

40 YEARS I WAS PART OF A TEAM AS A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST, NOT JUST WITH THE SPECIAL ED TEAM, BUT ALSO WITH THE SCHOOL TEAM, WORKED WITH VARIOUS PRINCIPALS, AND IF I WAS ASSIGNED TO A SCHOOL, MY LATEST ASSIGNMENTS WERE HEAD STARTS IN IRVING PRESCHOOL AND EACH SCHOOL HAS ITS OWN CLIMATE AND YOU HAVE TO ACCLIMATE TO THAT.

AND I WAS I FEEL I WAS A VERY GOOD TEAM MEMBER ALSO.

SOMETIMES WE WERE FACED WITH VERY DIFFICULT INFORMATION TO DELIVER TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES, AND I FELT LIKE I PERFECTED THAT WITH EXPERTISE AND ALSO CONSIDERATION FOR THEIR.

INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

MY PRIORITY WOULD BE TO OOPS, I THINK I DISCUSSED.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION.

SO WHILE YOU'RE IS I THINK IT'S A QUESTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK.

SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO ANSWER DIRECTOR GOODWIN'S AS WELL.

DO YOU INTEND TO RUN IN THE FALL? AND THEN DIRECTOR SCARLETT'S QUESTION.

SO I'M UNDECIDED.

I'M UNDECIDED.

I REALIZE I'VE BEEN ON A LOT OF COMMITTEES.

I WAS CHAIRPERSON FOR TWO YEARS OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

I WAS ON THERE FOR SIX YEARS.

THAT IS A HUGE PASSION OF MINE.

BUT I DO REALIZE, AND I'VE BEEN ON A LOT OF OTHER COMMITTEES, I DO REALIZE THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE, AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M UNDECIDED, BECAUSE I I'M A DEDICATED WORKER.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M A FAST LEARNER, BUT I PUT IN THE EFFORT AND I WOULD CERTAINLY DO THAT.

AND THAT WOULD HELP ME TO DECIDE REGARDING THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

AND MISS SCARLETT'S MISS SCARLETT'S QUESTION, THE PRIORITY WOULD BE THE BETTERMENT OF THE STUDENTS.

AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IN TERMS OF COLOR, GENDER, SEX, WHATEVER, BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUST SOME OF MY PASSIONS, I BELIEVE IN TAKING EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY, SUPPORTING THEIR NEEDS.

AND THEN ALSO, OF COURSE, SUPPORTING THE PARENTS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES, AS MR. HAMMOND BROUGHT UP THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACT.

THAT TO ME IS ALMOST SCARY BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE TALKING THAT IT WILL BE DIVERTED FROM US PER PER STUDENT, I THINK IT'S 7200 AT THIS POINT.

ALSO, SOME OF THE OTHER HOT TOPICS THAT HAVE BECOME POLITICAL IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

I STAY CURRENT WITH THOSE AND I DO FOLLOW MY PASSIONS WITH THAT, BUT I AM ALSO A VERY GOOD TEAM MEMBER. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MISS BARRETT? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION.

OKAY. MR. ERIC BO. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE BOARD, TO OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP BOARD CANDIDATES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE.

MY NAME IS ERIC BO.

3005 18 WALDEN AVENUE, SIOUX CITY.

FIVE 1106 COMING TO YOU THIS EVENING.

MY BACKGROUND. SIOUX CITY NATIVE GRADUATED FROM EAST HIGH.

GRADUATED FROM MORNINGSIDE MATH COMPUTER SCIENCE PHYSICS GRADUATE STUDY AT UCLA.

WENT OUT TO LOS ANGELES FOR 34 YEARS, 33 YEARS AT A COMPANY CALLED RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES AS AN AEROSPACE ENGINEER, HEAVILY INVOLVED FROM 2008 THROUGH 2020 IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WERE REQUIRED FOR THAT 20 PLUS BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY.

[00:35:06]

SO WHAT I SEE, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THAT I'M THE BEST CANDIDATE.

I'M GOING TO PUT SOME SKILL SETS FORWARD.

AND IF THAT FITS YOUR NEED, THEN I'M HOPING I GET YOUR CONSIDERATION.

SIMILARLY, I'M AVAILABLE.

I'M A RETIRED PERSON, GOT THE GOT THE NICE RETIREMENT ACCOUNT, SO I HAVE THE TIME AVAILABLE TO RUN AGAIN.

OKAY. BUT I'D WANT TO TALK TO THE REST OF THE BOARD AND SEE IF MY SKILL SETS ARE APPROPRIATE AT THE TIME.

THE BOARD SHOULD BE A LIVING THING AND BRINGING IN NEW SKILL SETS AS IS APPROPRIATE AT THAT TIME.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE? WELL, MONEY.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO MORE WITH LESS AND WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIC PLANS THAT ARE IN PLACE IN AEROSPACE? WE HAD AN INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE OF IDENTIFYING WHAT ARE THE NEEDS, WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE AND WHAT IS THE FUTURE STATE AND THE ACTIVITIES, THE TASKS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE. WHAT'S THE PRICE OF THOSE TASKS? THEN EXECUTE THOSE TASKS.

WATCHING THE MONEY ALL ALONG THE WAY AND DYNAMICALLY REPLANNING AS CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE.

OKAY, THAT THE LOSS OF ESSER THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT, THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF SCHOOL VOUCHERS, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT.

WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO MORE WITH LESS.

WHAT ARE THREE AREAS THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE ACTION PLANS IF THEY DON'T ALREADY EXIST? OKAY. THE FIRST IS WHERE ARE WE AT FOR THE COVID KNOWLEDGE GAP? HAVE WE CLOSED THAT GAP? DO WE HAVE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES THAT WE CAN SAY, YEAH, WE LOOK ABOUT LIKE WE DID IN 2018 OR 2019, OR MAYBE WE'VE EVEN DONE A LITTLE BETTER? IF NOT, WHAT'S THE ACTION PLAN? WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR AN ACTION PLAN FOR OUR UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS? IF WE HAVE A PARTICULAR GROUP OF STUDENTS, WHATEVER THE DEMOGRAPHIC IS THAT THEY'RE NOT ACHIEVING TO PARITY TO THE SAME LEVEL, WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO GET THEM CAUGHT UP SO THAT THEY'RE EQUALLY PREPARED WHEN THEY LEAVE SIOUX CITY SCHOOLS FOR FURTHER ACADEMIC OR ENTERING THE WORKPLACE? EVERYBODY SHOULD BE EQUALLY PREPARED WHEN THEY WHEN THEY EXIT THIS THIS ACADEMIC INSTITUTION.

OKAY. AND I'LL SAY THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAP INTO SOME OF THE HIDDEN TALENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE STAFF RAN INTO TEACHERS WHO WERE IN ONE PARTICULAR FIELD WHO MIGHT HAVE HAD A DOCTORATE IN ANOTHER FIELD, BUT THEY DON'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THAT FORWARD TO HELP IMPROVE THE OVERALL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

SO I KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE BIT SHORTER THAN THE ALLOCATED TIME.

I'D LIKE TO TALK BRIEFLY TO THE QUESTION THAT MS..

SCALERO BROUGHT FORWARD.

IN THE CLASSROOM.

I GO BY ERIC.

I DON'T USE PRONOUNS AND WHAT I FOUND IS BY ELIMINATING THAT BARRIER, IT MAKES STUDENTS MORE COMFORTABLE AND THEY'RE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR ACADEMIC BEST. IF THEY'RE NOT STRUGGLING WITH LABELS OR STEREOTYPES, THEY'RE ABLE TO DO BETTER.

I SAW IN A CLASSROOM I DID HAVE A LONG TERM SUBSTITUTE ASSIGNMENT FOR EIGHT WEEKS, AND I SAW A GROUP OF STUDENTS PULL THEIR THE NUMBER OF PASSING GOING FROM 20% FAILING IN THE GROUP TO 2% FAILING IN THE GROUP.

AND MRS. HIBBS BEHIND ME HELPED ME A WHOLE LOT WITH THAT AS WELL.

WE HAD HAD SIDE BY SIDE CLASSROOMS. I THINK THE STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE OF PUTTING COVID BEHIND US AND I THINK THEY'RE CAPABLE OF GOING FURTHER THAN BEFORE COVID HAPPENED.

OKAY. WE JUST HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THAT ENVIRONMENT WITH FEWER RESOURCES.

AND I GIVE THE OTHER 44 SECONDS TWO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

WELL, I THINK MR. GOODWIN'S QUESTION, DO YOU INTEND TO RUN IN THE FALL? DID I MISS THAT? I DID COVER IT.

I SAID I'M AVAILABLE, BUT I'D WANT TO TALK TO THE REST OF THE BOARD AND THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TO SEE IF I HAVE THE RIGHT SKILL SETS AT THE TIME, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT ENVISIONED THE SKILLS THAT I HAVE ENVISIONED TO BE THE BEST FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S NEEDS FOR THAT TERM OF EITHER 2 OR 4 YEARS, BECAUSE THERE MAY BE ANOTHER CANDIDATE THAT IS A BETTER FIT FOR THE NEED AT THIS TIME.

IT SHOULD BE A LIVING, BREATHING ORGANIZATION AND NOT STATIC THAT HAS THE SAME NAMES ON IT FOR 20 YEARS IN A ROW.

SO SO AVAILABLE BUT NOT YET COMMITTED.

NOT YET COMMITTED UNTIL I TALK.

UNTIL I TALK TO PEOPLE. MAKE SURE THAT IT'S THAT IT'S THE RIGHT FIT, THAT I'M THE RIGHT FIT.

IS THERE QUESTIONS FOR MR. BOWE? I DO.

I HAVE A QUESTION. YES.

YOU TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY THE CONCERN ABOUT THE ESSER FUNDS GOING AWAY AND THE STATE BUDGET REDUCTIONS.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF ANY IDEAS OF WHAT CUTS YOU WOULD MAKE IF YOU WERE ON THE BOARD AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WHERE WE HAD TO MAKE CUTS? SO I'M NOT GOING TO PRESUME THAT I KNOW WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND WHAT I CAN DO IS I CAN SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT STRATEGIC PLANS BECAUSE I'VE DONE THAT IN AEROSPACE FREQUENTLY, REPEATEDLY, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS IN A ROW, WELL OVER A DECADE.

[00:40:04]

IT'S A PRIORITIZATION.

AND THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AT THE BOTTOM, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE A DELIBERATE OUTCOME.

WE'VE DECIDED THAT THESE ARE THE TOP TEN PRIORITIES OR TOP 20 PRIORITIES AND NUMBERS 21 THROUGH 25.

THEY EITHER HAVE TO BE BACKBURNERED AND THEN IF MONEY BECOMES AVAILABLE AS THE YEAR COMES ALONG, GOES ALONG, YOU CAN REACTIVATE THE TASK OR THEY HAVE TO BE PUT AWAY.

SO I DON'T WANT TO PRESUME THAT I KNOW WHAT YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS.

I HAVEN'T FOUND THAT PUBLISHED PUBLICLY.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. BOWE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING FOR YOUR TIME.

MISS SEMIHA GEBREKIDAN THAT I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECTLY.

OKAY.

OKAY. HELLO EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS SEMHAR GEBREKIDAN.

I'M THE COMMUNITY INCLUSION LIAISON FOR THE CITY OF SIOUX CITY.

I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS POSITION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.

I AM THE STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY TEACHING.

50% OF YOUR STUDENTS ARE FOREIGN LANGUAGE KIDS, RIGHT? THEY SPEAK MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE.

I AM THAT STUDENT.

I GREW UP IN A PLACE WHERE I WAS AN ESL UP UNTIL FIFTH GRADE.

I GREW UP WITH FOOD INSECURITY.

I GREW UP IN A LOW INCOME HOME.

I GREW UP BENEFITING FROM FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING.

IT'S ONLY BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M 29, CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE HIGHEST POSITION AT THE CITY RELATING TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE STUDENTS FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY, HAVING TO GO TO SCHOOL EARLY IN THE MORNING BECAUSE YOUR MOM HAS TO GO TO SHIFT WORK AND THEN LEAVING SCHOOL LATE AT NIGHT BECAUSE YOUR FATHER HAS TO COME BACK FROM SHIFT WORK.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE STUDENTS FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

YOU ARE THE BIGGEST EMPLOYER IN THE CITY OF SIOUX CITY.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL TO ME.

SO I WANT TO HELP RETAIN AND RECRUIT STAFF, QUALIFIED STAFF.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO AT THE CITY OF SIOUX CITY.

AND I HELP FILL THOSE GAPS BY GETTING FOLKS WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

I DON'T ONLY WANT PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THERE.

I WANT THE BEST PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THERE, RIGHT? I WANT THE BEST TEACHERS.

I WANT THE BEST PARAS.

I WANT THE BEST EVERYTHING FOR THE STUDENTS THAT ARE HERE, NOT BECAUSE I HAVE KIDS IN THE SYSTEM, BUT BECAUSE I WAS A KID IN THIS SYSTEM, NOT IN SIOUX CITY.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MODEL.

AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MODEL TO ME IS THE BEST MODEL THERE IS.

IN MY ROLE AT THE CITY, I'M A PREVENTATIVE PERSON.

I HATE FIGURING OUT FIRES AFTER, SO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP PREVENT FIRES THAT COME UP, INCLUDING IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION AREA AND ESL.

AS SOMEONE WHO'S WORKED IN AN ESL PROGRAM AT THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, I'M AN OUTSIDER TO THIS COMMUNITY, SO I DON'T HAVE PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS OF WHAT USED TO BE HERE, WHAT DIDN'T, WHAT WAS HERE BEFORE, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I COME IN HERE BEING FOUR YEARS INTO THIS COMMUNITY, TWO YEARS BEING REALLY, REALLY INVOLVED HEAVILY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I TALK TO STUDENTS EVERY DAY AND STUDENTS ARE VERY OPEN ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW THEY'RE FEELING AND WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL AND WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE CHANGED.

AND I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HELP SEE THROUGH THOSE CHANGES.

AS A PUBLIC FIGURE CURRENTLY AT THE CITY OF SIOUX CITY, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE OFTEN WORK BETWEEN THE GRAY AREAS.

NOTHING'S REALLY BLACK AND WHITE NOWADAYS, IT SEEMS LIKE, ESPECIALLY WHEN LEGISLATION KEEPS CHANGING EVERY DAY.

TRUST ME, I WORK IN DIVERSITY IN IOWA, SO I GET IT.

AND SO I'M KEEPING UP ALL THE TIME ABOUT IT AND I'M USING MY REFERRALS AND MY RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS THAT NOT ONLY WELCOME AND HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND ACHIEVE EQUITY, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING IN TROUBLE IN THE PROCESS AS I'M WORKING ON THINGS.

SO I THINK ALL OF THESE REASONS ARE THE REASONS I'D LIKE TO RUN.

I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE REGARDING SOCIAL SATISFACTION.

THAT WAS MY THESIS TOPIC REGARDING INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ACCLIMATION.

I THINK WE COULD DO THAT HERE.

I THINK IT'S APPLICABLE EVERYWHERE.

IT WAS APPLICABLE WHEN I WORKED IN HEALTH EQUITY OVER AT SIOUXLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.

IT'S APPLICABLE AT THE CITY OF SIOUX CITY.

IT'S ALL ABOUT FINDING WHAT IT IS THAT FOLKS NEED FOR NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE, WHETHER IT'S HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR THIS CLASS OR HOW DO I BEST EXCEL? AND I THINK THERE'S 16,000 STUDENTS HERE WHO ALL ARE INDIVIDUALIZED, HAVE NEEDS, WHETHER IT'S FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, LANGUAGE ACCESS.

I WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO I WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

MY PARENTS DON'T SUPPORT ME.

OR I JUST REALIZED AND I JUST FLUNKED OUT OF SCHOOL AND I NEED TO GET BACK IN.

HOW DO WE DO THAT? I'M SOMEONE WHO'S THINKING OF THAT.

AND I ALSO DIDN'T MENTION I'M A MAXIMIZER.

I UNDERSTAND BUDGET CUTS.

I HAVE HAD NO BUDGET AT THE CITY FOR TWO YEARS SINCE BEING HERE, AND I'VE MANAGED TO DO 78 PROGRAMS IN TWO YEARS.

AND SO HOW DO YOU DO THAT WITH NO BUDGET? BECAUSE YOU'RE A MAXIMIZER, YOU KNOW, MAKE $0.10 A DOLLAR.

ISN'T THAT THE SAYING? THAT'S WHAT I DO.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT OUR STAFF ARE CURRENTLY DOING AND WHAT THEIR WORKLOADS LOOK LIKE, BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY EXACTLY HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK ARE THEY

[00:45:02]

THERE'S A LOT OF GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AREAS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESS.

AND I THINK USING THOSE WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

ALSO UTILIZING OUR RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE DISABILITY IOWA AND IT'S A PARTNER HERE THAT DOES ACCESSIBILITY, AUDITS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE SHOULD BE USING AS MUCH RESOURCES AS POSSIBLE.

I ALWAYS SAY, LET ME TAKE FROM YOUR POCKET BEFORE I USE FROM MINE.

RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO THINK ABOUT THINGS HERE, BEING ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THOSE BUDGETS, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE CUTS.

BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I SEE QUALITY EDUCATION AND QUALITY STUDENTS COMING OUT OF THIS PLACE AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT.

I ALSO AM BILINGUAL.

I SPEAK AMHARIC, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST POPULATIONS COMING IN HERE IS THE ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITIES.

AND I UNDERSTAND TIGRINYA AND I HAVE ACCESS TO A LOT OF FOLKS, THE 30 FOLKS IN MY FAMILY WHO SPEAK TIGRINYA, AMHARIC, OROMO, YOU NAME IT, WE KIND OF SPEAK IT. THANK YOU.

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO YOU INTEND TO RUN FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD IN THE FALL? YES. I AM GLAD TO ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT I WILL BE RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD POSITION IN HONOR OF FORMER PERLA ALARCON FLORY.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE HAVING IMMIGRANT REPRESENTATION IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALSO I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING OUT OF THIS PLACE BECAUSE I SEE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE LEAVING SIOUX CITY AND THEN NOT COMING BACK OR COMING BACK MUCH LATER IN THEIR LIFE.

AND I WANT THIS TO BE THE DESTINATION THAT YOU COME BACK TO.

I WANT IT TO BE THAT YOU GRADUATE FROM SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND THEN YOU COME BACK BECAUSE YOU WANT TO TEACH HERE OR YOU WANT TO WORK HERE.

THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE IT TO BE.

AND MISS SCARLETT, WAS YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED? YES, IT WAS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.

MISS TASHA COHEN, YOU'RE UP NEXT.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TASHA COWAN.

I AM A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER.

I'M A MOTHER OF THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.

I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 11 YEARS.

I LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF SIOUX CITY.

I WENT TO WEST HIGH.

I WENT TO WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND COULD YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE? WE CAN BARELY HEAR YOU.

SORRY. UM, I GRADUATED FROM NORTH HIGH.

I AM A PART OF THE ALL ABILITIES COALITION WITH THE SIOUXLAND DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MEMBER, A BOARD MEMBER OF ABILITY TECH AND THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF SIOUXLAND ADAPTIVE SPORTS AND SIOUXLAND SLED HOCKEY.

MY SON PLAYS SLED HOCKEY WITH THEM.

UM, THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU A SMALL IDEA OF WHO I AM.

I'M VERY PASSIONATE, VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT I DO, ESPECIALLY IF IT INVOLVES MY CHILDREN.

MY CHILDREN ARE MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

EVERYTHING COULD GO OUT.

EVERYTHING ELSE COULD GO OUT THE WINDOW AFTER THAT.

UM, I HAVE.

I HAVE LIKE I SAID, I HAVE THREE CHILDREN.

DAKOTA IS MY OLDEST CHILD AND HE IS GOING TO BE A JUNIOR AT EAST HIGH THIS YEAR.

MY MIDDLE SON IS A SEVENTH GRADE HOMESCHOOLED STUDENT.

MY FIVE YEAR OLD ADELINE WILL START KINDERGARTEN AT AT LOST HILLS THIS YEAR AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THAT.

BUT ALL OF MY CHILDREN IS VERY ALL OF MY CHILDREN ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

THEIR EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

AND THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN IN JOINING THE THE SCHOOL BOARD IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE ABLE THERE TO VOICE HOW I SEE AS A PARENT HOW WE COULD BETTER HOW OTHER CHILDREN ARE LEARNING.

NOT EVERY CHILD LEARNS THE SAME.

AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT CADEN.

CADEN IS A NON ABLE BODIED CHILD.

HE USES A WALKER TO WALK.

HE HAS TYPE ONE DIABETES AND HE HAS EPILEPSY.

THIS YEAR, WE DECIDED THAT CADEN WOULD BE HOMESCHOOLED BECAUSE HIS NEEDS WERE SET SET ASIDE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S NEEDS.

BUT WE'RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT THAT GIVES YOU AN INSIGHT ON WHERE I WANT TO GO WITH BEING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I THINK SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, THE PARAS, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY NEEDS A BIGGER VOICE, A BIGGER VOICE HERE.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HERE THAT CAN DO THE SAME THING THAT I CAN DO.

BUT I'M A PARENT.

I'M NOT SOMEBODY THAT JUST TOOK CLASSES.

I'M NOT THAT JUST WENT TO SCHOOL FOR THAT.

I'M A PARENT THAT HAS TO SIT THROUGH THE IEP MEETINGS, THAT HAS TO SIT THROUGH THE PHONE CALLS, THAT HAS TO SEE A CHILD THAT COMES HOME BECAUSE HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHY HE'S NOT ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT OTHER KIDS ARE DOING.

WE, I FEEL LIKE AND I'M SURE OTHER PARENTS IN HERE THAT HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN CAN SAY AND FEEL THE SAME, THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY UNLESS YOU ARE IN IT, UNLESS YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT

[00:50:08]

THERE ARE NEEDS THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T THINK ARE NEEDS.

THEY REALLY ARE THEY THEY'RE THEY'RE JUST THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO GO ON WITH YOUR DAILY BASIS THERE THERE ARE THINGS THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS ARE NOT GETTING THAT THEY NEED TO HELP THE CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOMS THERE.

AND I'M PROBABLY NOT THE MOST QUALIFIED.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN HERE THAT ARE PROBABLY MORE QUALIFIED, BUT I HAVE THAT THAT TO BRING FORWARD A PARENT THAT'S DEALING WITH THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

DAKOTA'S EDUCATION IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN OTHER THINGS THAN JUST HOW TO TEACH TO TAKE A TEST.

TAKING A TEST IS NOT GOING TO HELP THEM IN COLLEGE WHEN THEY'RE HAVING TO WRITE PAPERS AND THEY'RE HAVING TO MOVE ON INTO A WORK SYSTEM THAT ISN'T ABOUT TAKING TESTS.

WE I, I'M VERY FIRM AND VERY I BELIEVE VERY MUCH THAT ONE SMALL VOICE, LIKE MY OWN, CAN MAKE A SMALL CHANGE THAT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON EVERYBODY.

THE SMALLEST THINGS CAN MAKE HUGE IMPACTS AND WITH THE CONNECTIONS THAT I HAVE IN THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY WITH THE ALL ABILITIES COALITION AND WITH ABILITY TECH AND WITH THE SIOUXLAND ADAPTIVE SPORTS THAT CAN BRING A WHOLE NEW AREA THAT WE CAN HELP KIDS WITH SOCIAL CIRCLES.

THE SPECIAL EDUCATION OR THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY IS ONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A GREAT SOCIAL CIRCLE BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ANY SPORTS IN THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU.

DO YOU INTEND TO RUN? I'M ASKING MR. GOODWIN'S QUESTION. DO YOU INTEND TO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD IN THE FALL? YES, I DO. AND MISS SCARLETT, WAS YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED? YES, IT WAS. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GOODWIN. ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOU, SIR? NO. VERY WELL STATED.

THANKS. THANKS, MISS COWAN.

I APPRECIATE YOU PARTICIPATION.

MR. RYAN BAKER.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS RYAN BAKER.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SIOUX CITY, GRADUATED FROM WEST HIGH IN 2001.

I HAVE TWO KIDS CURRENTLY IN THE DISTRICT, ONE AT WEST HIGH AND ONE AT WEST MIDDLE.

RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

I JOINED THE GUARD. I'VE BEEN WITH THE 105TH FOR OVER 22 YEARS.

THE DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF THERE, MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS ALL OVER THE GLOBE.

TONS OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING.

MY FULL TIME JOB IS HERE IN SIOUX CITY WITH SIOUX CITY FIRE RESCUE.

I'VE BEEN WITH THEM FOR 11 YEARS.

SOME OF THE BIG PROJECTS WITH SIOUX CITY FIRE RESCUE.

I LEAD OUR INTERNAL HR TEAM AND.

SOME OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE FACE THAT I FEEL THAT THE DISTRICT IS FACING RIGHT NOW IS RECRUITING AND RETENTION.

SO WE DEAL QUITE A BIT WITH THAT.

SO THAT WOULD BE ONE OF MY PROBABLY MY TOP PRIORITIES IS JUST HOW DO WE GET TEACHERS HERE, HOW DO WE KEEP TEACHERS HERE AND THEN SUBSTITUTES? WE NEED MORE SUBSTITUTES.

I CONDUCTED OUR NFPA 1500 AUDIT WITH THE CITY, SO LOOKING AT JUST HOW TO BETTER OUR DEPARTMENT, I WOULD BRING THAT SAME STANCE HERE.

ANYWAYS, I DO PLAN ON RUNNING AGAIN IN THE FALL.

I FEEL THAT WITH MY MILITARY EXPERIENCE, MY FIRE BACKGROUND, I CAN BRING THOSE LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES HERE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT ONE OF OUR DEPLOYMENTS, YOU HAVE SIX MONTHS, REALLY, YOU HAVE LIKE A WEEK TO LEARN HOW TO OPERATE IN THAT SIX MONTH ENVIRONMENT.

SO WITH ONLY A FOUR MONTH PERIOD HERE, I DON'T THINK IT'D BE AN ISSUE TO JUMP RIGHT IN.

SO THAT'S ALL I GOT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO YOU ANSWERED MR. GOODWIN'S QUESTION.

MS. SCARLETT IS YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED? NOT REALLY. IF YOU COULD CLARIFY WHAT YOUR RETENTION AND RECRUITING.

SO RECRUITING. KEEPING OUR TEACHERS, BRINGING NEW TEACHERS IN AND GETTING GOOD QUALITY SUBSTITUTES IN OUR DISTRICT.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS? I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

IN YOUR LETTER, YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO HEAR PARENTS HAVE TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT DISTRICT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.

CAN YOU SHARE MAYBE WHAT ONE OF THE STRENGTHS WOULD BE AND THEN ONE OF THE WEAKNESSES THAT THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH YOU.

DEPENDING ON THE AREA OF TOWN THAT I WAS IN, A LOT OF THE STRENGTHS ARE WITHIN THE SPECIAL PROGRAMS THAT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE.

[00:55:06]

SO THOSE SPECIAL ACTIVITIES THAT EACH SCHOOL HAS AND THEN THE WEAKNESSES WOULD BE CLASS SIZES.

AND AGAIN, THAT GOES BACK TO NOT ENOUGH TEACHERS, NOT ENOUGH SUBS.

SO. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. BAKER? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

NEXT ON THE LIST IS MR. JEBEDIAH HIBBS.

MR. HIBBS. GOOD EVENING, JEBEDIAH HIBBS, 2727 SOUTH LEMON STREET HERE IN SIOUX CITY.

I FIRST WANTED TO SAY THANK TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR BEING INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.

I BELIEVE THAT I'D MAKE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE BOARD.

I CURRENTLY HAVE ENROLLED IN THIS DISTRICT WITH ONE STUDENT.

TWO OTHERS HAVE GRADUATED.

THIS WILL GIVE ME THE VIEW NEEDED FROM A PARENT STANDPOINT TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT ARE GETTING ALL THE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND VALUES IN SOCIETY NEEDED TODAY FOR THEM TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

MY SPOUSE IS A CURRENT TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT.

THIS ALLOWS ME TO SEE THINGS FROM THE STAFF'S POINT OF VIEW, AS IN STUDENTS NEEDS STAFF SHORTAGES ALONG WITH PAY, ALONG WITH INSIGHT AS TO HOW THE DECISIONS OF THIS BOARD WILL AFFECT THEM AND THE LIVES OF THE STUDENTS THAT THEY TEACH.

I CURRENTLY LEAD THE PARENT VOLUNTEER GROUP, THE FREIGHTLINERS, AS A SET BUILDING SHOW STOPPING AND EQUIPMENT MOVING GROUP OF PARENTS.

THIS HAS ALLOWED ME THE PRIVILEGE TO GETTING CLOSE TO THESE STUDENTS, PARENTS AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS THAT SHOW PASSION, HEART AND A LOVE FOR THEIR SCHOOL BY PERFORMING IN AND HELPING WITH THREE OF THE SHOW CHOIR GROUPS IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, I'M ALSO A NAVY VETERAN.

WHILE IN THE MILITARY, I LEARNED HOW TO BE ORGANIZED, SET GOALS AND ACHIEVE THEM ALONG WITH FULFILLING A SENSE OF DUTY TO THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY.

THIS HAD MADE ME THE PERSON THAT I AM TODAY, THE PERSON THAT IS STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT LOOKING TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT BY BEING ALLOWED TO SIT ON THIS BOARD AND FULFILL ANOTHER SENSE OF DUTY.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH YOU IN THE HOPES THAT I HAVE REPRESENTED THE VALUES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT AND CHOOSE ME AS THE PERSON TO SERVE ALONG WITH YOU ON THE BOARD.

IN CLOSING, I'M GOING TO BORROW A FEW WORDS FROM A NAVY SEAL, WILLIAM MCRAVEN, AND ASK THAT THE BOARD MAKE THEIR BEDS AND EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE MAKE YOUR BEDS REGARDLESS OF WHO DECIDE TO FILL THE SEAT.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR BED.

IF YOU MAKE YOUR BED EVERY MORNING, YOU WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE FIRST TASK OF THE DAY.

IT WILL GIVE YOU A SMALL SENSE OF PRIDE AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO ANOTHER TASK.

AND ANOTHER, AND ANOTHER.

AND BY THE END OF THE DAY, THAT ONE TASK COMPLETED WILL HAVE TURNED INTO MANY TASKS COMPLETED.

MAKING YOUR BED WILL ALSO REINFORCE THE FACT THAT THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE MATTER.

IF YOU CAN'T DO THE LITTLE THINGS RIGHT, YOU HAVE NO HOPE OF DOING THE BIG THINGS RIGHT.

AND IF BY CHANCE YOU HAVE A MISERABLE DAY, YOU WILL COME HOME TO A BED THAT IS ALREADY MADE.

A BED THAT YOU MADE AND A MADE BED GIVES YOU THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER.

TOMORROW WE'LL ALL BE BETTER IF YOU TRY TO MAKE IT BETTER.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR BED AND TRY TO MAKE TOMORROW BETTER.

I KNOW I WILL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

DO YOU PLAN ON RUNNING IN THE FALL? YES, SIR, I DO. OKAY.

AND, MISS SCARLETT, DID YOU GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED? I JUST WANT YOU TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC ON WHAT YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO SUPPORT THE BOARD'S CURRENT CONCERNS? TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE AND TO WORK WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, STUDENTS AND STAFF TO MAKE THIS THE BEST WE CAN BE IN ALL ASPECTS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. MISTER HIBBS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING.

OKAY. NEXT ON OUR LIST IS MISS MARGUERITE CORTEZ.

MISS CORTEZ.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARGUERITE CORTEZ, 404 MARKET STREET, SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

51103. MY NAME IS MARGUERITE CORTEZ AND I AM STANDING BEFORE YOU TO EXPRESS MY INTEREST IN THE VACANT SCHOOL BOARD SEAT.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT MYSELF.

I RECEIVED MY FIRST MASTER'S IN 2010 FROM WAYNE STATE COLLEGE IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, AND I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON MY SECOND MASTER'S THROUGH UNL IN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION.

I HAVE BEEN.

WELL, LET ME GO BACK.

[01:00:02]

ALL THREE OF MY CHILDREN GRADUATED FROM THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL.

I HAVE BEEN AN EDUCATOR IN NEBRASKA FOR 15 YEARS AT OMAHA NATION PUBLIC SCHOOL IN MACY, NEBRASKA.

I HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT OF MY UNION IN NEBRASKA THROUGH NSCA AND I AM CURRENTLY ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WITHIN MY DISTRICT.

SO I'M NOT A STRANGER TO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING.

SO WE DO OURS AND I'M INVOLVED WITH THAT IN MY DISTRICT.

AND I ALSO SIT ON THE MTSS TEAM IN MY DISTRICT.

I DIDN'T HAVE MR. MICHAELSON.

I WAS NEVER ON THE RIGHT TEAM.

BUT SO THROUGHOUT MY YEARS AS AN EDUCATOR, I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR ALL OF MY STUDENTS IN MY DISTRICT.

I BELIEVE ALL STUDENTS DESERVE THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE, NO MATTER THEIR RACE, GENDER OR RELIGION.

I GREW UP A POVERTY STRICKEN NATIVE AMERICAN CHILD.

I HAVE FACED THE GOOD AND BAD WHEN RECEIVING AN EDUCATION HERE IN SIOUX CITY.

I DIDN'T HAVE A VOICE TO HELP ME WHEN I FELT I WAS WRONGED HERE IN THIS DISTRICT.

BUT I DID HAVE MY MOTHER WHO SUPPORTED AND PUSHED ME ACADEMICALLY.

ONCE I BECAME A MOTHER AND AN AUNT, I BECAME THEIR VOICE.

I NEEDED THEM TO KNOW I WOULD SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF WHENEVER THEY NEEDED ME TO.

NOW, AS AN EDUCATOR, I ADVOCATE FOR ALL OF MY STUDENTS.

I HAVE LEARNED TO LISTEN TO TEACHERS, STAFF, PARENTS AND STUDENTS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

I DO BELIEVE I WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU. DO YOU INTEND TO RUN IN THE FALL? I DO, YES. YOU PLAN TO RUN AND MISS SCARLETT DID YOU GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED? YES, I DID. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

JUST WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO RUN NOW AS FAR AS WHAT WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO OR CHANGE OR IMPROVE RIGHT NOW WITH THIS DISTRICT? THE REASON I'M RUNNING NOW IS BECAUSE WHEN I BECAME A MOM, THAT WAS MY FIRST PRIORITY.

ALL THREE OF MY STUDENTS, ALL THREE OF MY KIDS HAVE GRADUATED.

I'M AN EMPTY NESTER, SO I HAVE SOME TIME ON MY HANDS NOW.

I'M STILL WORKING ON MYSELF ACADEMICALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, BUT BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY OF SIOUX CITY IS I'M NOT A STRANGER TO IT.

I DEDICATED ABOUT A DECADE OF MY LIFE ON THE WEST SIDE COMMUNITY THROUGH WEST SIDE CONNECTION.

AND WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS A SENIOR, I STEPPED BACK TO ENJOY HER LAST YEAR HERE IN THE DISTRICT.

SO I'M NOT AFRAID TO GET IN AND HELP.

AND I'M NOT A STRANGER TO COLLABORATION.

WHEN I DO SOMETHING, I GO 100%.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS..

CORTEZ? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION.

OKAY. NEXT ON OUR LIST IS MR. JUSTIN RHODES.

THANK YOU BOARD FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

MY NAME IS JUSTIN RHODES, ORIGINALLY FROM MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

I CAME TO SIOUX CITY, IOWA, IN 2008 AS A STUDENT AT BRIER CLIFF UNIVERSITY.

GRADUATED FROM BRIER CLIFF WITH A BACHELOR'S IN PSYCHOLOGY.

AND JUST TO RUN THE EDUCATION AFTER THAT, A MASTER'S IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING.

AND I HAVE A MASTER'S CERTIFICATE IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP WITH A FOCUS IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

I CURRENTLY LIVE AT 1012 10TH STREET IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

SO WHAT BRINGS ME HERE TODAY? REALLY MY PASSION FOR MY COMMUNITY.

SO I AM A FATHER AND I HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT THREE, ONE AT NORTH HIGH AND TWO GOING TO NORTH MIDDLE NEXT YEAR.

AND I THINK AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE AND FATHER IN THE COMMUNITY, WE NEED MORE REPRESENTATION AND I WANT TO BE THAT REPRESENTATION FOR US, THAT VOICE, FOR THE MALES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES AND THAT I SEE COACHING THEIR CHILDREN AND BEING THERE EVERY DAY, REALLY DEFYING THAT STATISTIC WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF MY PASSIONS THAT I HAVE FOR BEING WITH YOU TODAY.

I ALSO SERVE HO-CHUNK INC RIGHT NOW AS THE MANAGER FOR EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND CULTURE.

AND I THINK WITHIN THAT AND I'VE BEEN IN THAT ALMOST COMING UP ON A YEAR, BUT WITHIN THAT I'VE GAINED TWO THINGS.

ONE THAT WILL HELP ME HERE TODAY IS JUST GAINING THAT NEW ROLE.

IT'S A NEW ROLE WITHIN THE COMPANY.

I'M THE FIRST TO HOLD THAT ROLE.

SO BEING ABLE TO JUMP INTO A NEW ROLE AND REALLY LEARN AS I GO AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I BRING AS A POSSIBILITY TO THE

[01:05:05]

AND ANOTHER ONE THAT OF THAT ROLE IS JUST IMPROVING ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE.

AND I THINK FROM AN ASPECT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND WORKING WITH THE BOARD AND LOOKING AT EQUITABLE EDUCATION AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE PRIORITIES ON YOUR LIST PERTAINING TO THAT, I'D LOVE TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THOSE AS WELL AS THE OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE AND THAT YOU FACE.

SOME OF WHAT I'VE HEARD TODAY, INCLUDING BUDGET RETENTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH ALL ALIGN WITH MY CURRENT ROLE IN HCI AND THE THINGS THAT WE DO THERE. SO MORE PASSIONS THAT I HAVE AND REALLY AN ALIGNMENT FOR WHY I THINK THAT I'M A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION. PREVIOUSLY, BEFORE HCI, I WORKED AT BRIER CLIFF UNIVERSITY FOR NINE YEARS.

THERE I WAS A PROFESSOR.

I TAUGHT A LOT OF FIRST YEAR AND EQUITY COURSES ALONG WITH ACADEMIC ADVISING, AND I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL PROGRAMING.

SO FROM AN ASPECT OF EDUCATION, FROM PROGRAMING TO CURRICULUM TO STRATEGIC PLANNING, I'VE BEEN A PART OF IT ALL.

BEING THE ADVOCATE FOR THE STUDENTS OF COLOR AND THE BIPOC STUDENTS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.

ONE OF MY GREATEST SUCCESSES THAT I'LL SPEAK OF HERE TODAY IS CREATING THE MEN OF COLOR ORGANIZATION WITHIN BRIER CLIFF THAT REALLY WENT TO ONE OF OUR GOALS OF INCREASING THE THE APPLICATION AND RETENTION OF OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. ONE OF THE MAJOR PROGRAMS THAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF THAT THEY PRODUCE TO GIVE BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE STILL CONTINUE IS OUR YEARLY TOY DRIVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE COLLABORATED WITH LAUNCHPAD MUSEUM.

SO REALLY FROM A STANDPOINT OF PROVIDING TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE AND GRADUATED FROM BRIER CLIFF AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PASSION OF MINE, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PASSION TO GIVE BACK TO EQUITABLE EDUCATION AND PROVIDE THAT EDUCATION TO ORGANIZATIONS AND CONTINUE TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY ON MANY BOARDS.

BEING A COACH WITHIN THE FUTURE STARS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BACK WHEN WE HAD SOME BASKETBALL PROGRAMING THERE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

DO YOU INTEND TO RUN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD IN THE FALL? I DO INTEND TO RUN AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT. AND MISS SCARLETT, WAS YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED? YES, IT WAS. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. RHODES.

APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING.

ALL RIGHT. AND THE LAST ONE ON OUR LIST IS MR. JOHN MYERS. MR. MYERS.

JOHN MYERS 4404 NATALIA WAY, SIOUX CITY.

I AM HERE TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT FIRST OF ALL, YES, I WILL RUN IN THE FALL.

AND SECOND, FISCAL MANAGEMENT IS MY AREA OF GREATEST, GREATEST INTEREST.

AND I REALIZE I USE SOME OF MY FIVE MINUTES ON THAT, SO I'LL TRY TO MOVE ALONG ON THE REST.

YOU HAVE MY RESUME.

YOU HAVE MY LETTER.

I THINK IT DESCRIBES MY QUALIFICATIONS PRETTY WELL.

LET ME DESCRIBE MY PRESENCE IN SIOUX CITY AND HERE IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY.

I CAME TO SIOUX CITY IN 1977 TO BE A BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SIOUX CITY.

TWO YEARS LATER, I WAS APPOINTED INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR.

AFTER THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, MY BOSS LEFT TO BECOME CITY MANAGER OF DUBUQUE.

A LITTLE FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT, I WAS ASKED TO FIND A WAY TO FUND THE CITY'S SHARE OF TARA TOWERS PROJECT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, TARA TOWERS IS THERE.

IT'S NOW KNOWN HO-CHUNK, AND THAT IS JUST THE FIRST OF A LARGE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, A LARGE NUMBER OF BUDGETS WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BOTH I.

WHEN? WHEN I CAME HERE, MY WIFE HAD ASKED ME, CAN YOU STAY AT LEAST TWO YEARS IN SIOUX CITY? I SAID YES.

THOSE ARE THE TIMES.

WHATEVER THEY ASK, YOU JUST SAY YES.

AND WE'VE LASTED RATHER LONGER THAN THAT.

WE STAYED IN SIOUX CITY FOR SEVERAL REASONS THAT BOIL DOWN TO MEETING AND DEALING WITH A LARGE GROUP OF FINE PEOPLE

[01:10:03]

IT'S MY VIEW THAT THOSE ARE MY MY PRIORITIES.

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A WEAK OR INCAPABLE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM CAN PERFORM THAT THAT MISSION.

I DESIGNED AND PRESENTED A METHOD TO FINANCE SCHOOLS WHEN WE HAD A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT WERE ROUGHLY 100 YEARS OLD, OVERCROWDED AND LONG PAST THEIR USEFUL LIFE ARE FULLY DEPRECIATED AS AS I WOULD CALL THAT PLAN.

WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE, IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, IN THE LABOR COMMUNITY, TOGETHER WE GOT THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX AND YOU HAVE THE THE SCHOOLS THAT THAT WE HAVE TODAY IN THE IN THE IN THE FUTURE. SIOUX CITY HAS MANY CHALLENGES.

IT'S NO MYSTERY.

YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT TODAY.

THE FEDERAL COVID MONEY IS RUNNING OUT.

COVID MONEY HAS BEEN USED IN PART TO PAY FOR STAFF, IMPORTANT STAFF.

BUT THE MONEY WON'T BE HERE.

SO WHAT DO WE DO? I BELIEVE MY BUDGETARY EXPERIENCE THIS WOULD HELP IN IN THAT AREA.

THE THE SECOND IS STATE LEGISLATION THAT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, PROVIDES AN INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE THEIR CHILD FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

WHATEVER THE MERITS OF THAT PARENT CHOICE IDEA, THE NET RESULT IS 70 SOME HUNDRED DOLLARS PER STUDENT THAT MOVES COMING OUT OF THE POCKET OF THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOLS.

GENERALLY, YOU'LL BE LOOKING AT PERHAPS 1 OR 2 STUDENTS IN A CLASSROOM.

SO YOU WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH REDUCTIONS TO ELIMINATE VERY MANY EDUCATORS.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BE ANOTHER DIFFICULT THING TO DEAL WITH.

I BELIEVE THAT MY EXPERIENCE IN BUDGETING AND EIGHT YEARS ON THE SCHOOL SIOUX CITY SCHOOL BOARD, A FOUR YEAR ELECTION AND AND 2 TO 2 TERMS WHERE I FILLED IN FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD RESIGNED FOR VARIOUS REASONS MAKE ME A PRETTY GOOD CANDIDATE FOR THIS FOR THIS JOB.

AND I'D APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. MR. MARSH, YOU DID INDICATE YOU'RE PLANNING ON RUNNING IN THE FALL.

MISS SCARLETT, WAS YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED? YES, IT WAS. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. MEYER? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE WE HAVE HEARD FROM MOST ALL THE APPLICANTS EXCEPT THOSE WHO AREN'T PRESENT, MISTER KRASTAL, THIS EVENING. FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE WE START THE VOTING PROCESS, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE APPLICANTS FOR PARTICIPATING.

YOU PUT YOURSELF OUT ON THE LINE.

IT PUTS YOU IN A PUBLIC POSITION.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WILL BE 12 PEOPLE WHO'LL BE DISAPPOINTED.

THERE WILL BE AN AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT WORKS.

SO BUT I DO WANT TO SAY WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL THAT SO MANY OF YOU APPLIED AND SHOWED SUCH A STRONG INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISTRICT.

I THINK IT GOES TO SHOW THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THEY WANT TO HELP. THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE.

THEY WANT TO THEY WANT TO PROVIDE THEIR TALENT, TALENT AND TIME TO HELP IMPROVING THIS DISTRICT.

AND WE CERTAINLY, WE CERTAINLY WELCOME THAT.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PUTTING YOURSELF OUT AND APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION.

AS I EXPLAINED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, THE VOTING PROCESS WILL BE SUCH THAT ALL 13 CANDIDATES NAMES WILL BE ON A BALLOT THAT SEANIECE WILL BE HANDING OUT TO EACH BOARD MEMBER MR. GOODVIN HAS A BALLOT REMOTELY.

AS WE INDICATED.

HE WILL BE MARKING HIS HIS CHOICE.

HE WILL TEXT THAT OR EMAIL IT TO SEANIECE OR MYSELF, AND SHE WILL READ OUT HIS VOICE, HIS VOTE, AND THEN I WILL CONFIRM WITH EVERYONE EACH BOARD MEMBERS VOTE IS A PUBLIC RECORD, SO YOU WILL SEE HOW EACH BOARD MEMBER VOTES WILL GO THROUGH A SERIES OF ROUNDS.

IF WE DON'T GET A MAJORITY OF BOARD MEMBERS ON THE FIRST ROUND.

A MAJORITY MEANS FOR THERE ARE SIX BOARD MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN THIS VOTING AND IT WILL TAKE FOUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR FOR THE

[01:15:05]

SO BOARD MEMBERS, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMMENTS EACH EACH BOARD MEMBER WANTS TO MAKE REGARDING ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, BUT I WOULD OPEN IT UP TO BOARD MEMBERS.

I DO HAVE SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO SAY GOING INTO THIS IS THANK YOU FOR FOR PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE, BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN I MAKE MY VOTE TODAY, I WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC TO IT.

I THINK YOU DESERVE THAT.

AS I WAS LISTENING TODAY, I WAS WRITING DOWN DIFFERENT ADJECTIVES THAT WERE DESCRIBING THE PEOPLE THAT I WAS LISTENING TO, AND I AND I SAW ACCOMPLISHED.

I SAW TALENTED, I SAW COMPELLING, I SAW QUALIFIED.

I SAW POWERFUL, INFORMED, IMPRESSIVE, HEARTFELT AND SELFLESS.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE WORDS THAT CAME TO MY MIND WHEN I WAS LISTENING THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE EVENING.

WITH THIS NEXT ELECTION COMING UP WITH THERE BEING ONE SPOT FOR TWO YEARS AND FOUR SPOTS FOR FOUR YEARS, THIS IS A UNIQUE POSITION WE'RE IN TONIGHT IN THAT THE WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS A POSITION FOR FOUR MONTHS.

SO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU HEAR WHO I VOTE FOR, THAT'S WHAT'S IN MY HEAD.

AND I THINK YOU ALL DESERVE THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR STANDING FOR.

IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE.

AND I'VE BEEN WHERE YOU'RE SITTING.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING OUT THE TIME TO DO THIS, TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY WILLINGLY AND PASSIONATELY.

MY VOTE TONIGHT WILL BE ON BASED ON A PERSON THAT I BELIEVE CAN COME ON THIS BOARD RUNNING, SUPPORTING, ADVOCATING, AND SUPPORTING OUR DISTRICT AS A WHOLE AND HAS THE PICTURE FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

SO AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE WANTING AND WILLING TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. I HAVE BEEN IN THAT POSITION.

I'VE BEEN ON YOUR SIDE LOOKING FOR AN APPOINTMENT.

AND IT'S YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT GOOD CANDIDATES AND I'M EXCITED THAT THERE'S QUITE A FEW OPENINGS COMING UP IN NOVEMBER THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T CHOSEN, THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO GO AHEAD AND RUN FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY GET ONE PERSON ON HERE TONIGHT.

SO AND THERE'S, SO JUST KNOW THAT.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD CANDIDATES AND IT'S TOUGH TO CHOOSE.

BUT AGAIN, SAME THING, I GUESS, AS AS MONIQUE SAID, IT'S TRYING TO LOOK AT WHO'S READY TO AND WILLING TO TO GET ON AND CAN GO FULL STEAM AHEAD.

SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE AND FOR SHARING YOUR PASSION.

FIRST OFF, SORRY, APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE THAT I MISSED IT.

ONE THING I'M LEARNING IS FAMILY COMES FIRST.

SO I HAD TO DEAL WITH SOME SOME STUFF THERE AND TOOK A LITTLE LONGER THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT .

I CONCUR WITH WHAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT EVERY ONE OF THE PEOPLE, THE PAPERS THAT I HAVE READ, THE THE SUBMISSIONS, I'M THINKING, WOW, I MEAN, THAT'S A QUALIFIED, PASSIONATE, WILLING TO SERVE, WILLING TO SERVE FOR ZERO BENEFIT MONEY. SO I THINK THAT'S A THAT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.

TESTAMENT TO YOURSELF, NOT ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT TESTAMENT.

BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO AND THE ELECTIONS COMING.

SO WHOEVER THE 12 THAT ARE NOT CHOSEN GET SIGNED BACK UP AND IT SHOULD BE DECIDED BY THE COMMUNITY.

AND FOR FOUR MONTHS WE HAVE TO GO WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

THANK YOU. JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT MY I GUESS I REALLY CALL IT THREE PRIORITIES.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE ALL VERY GOOD AND OFFER THIS DISTRICT, EVERY CANDIDATE OFFERS THIS DISTRICT SKILLS AND ABILITY THAT CAN HELP US.

SO EVERYBODY HAS CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE MADE.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS PROBABLY A CONTINUATION.

SO ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR THE BOARD, I PLACE THEM IN A TIER ABOVE THOSE WHO ARE NOT RUNNING FOR THE BOARD.

THAT'S THAT'S A SIMPLE, SIMPLE CHOICE.

THE OTHER THING I'M LOOKING FOR IS A BROAD BASED EXPERIENCE LEVEL, NOT A NARROW BASE, A BROAD BASE OF EXPERIENCE.

YOU'RE GOING TO FIND ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS UP HERE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF BROAD ISSUES THAT WE COVERED AND THE MORE EXPERIENCE, BROAD EXPERIENCE AND QUITE FRANKLY, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DO MATTER.

THEY DO MATTER.

AND I GUESS THE REALLY THE DECIDING MY DECIDING ATTRIBUTE IS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE SHORT TERM.

[01:20:07]

BUT WE'RE IN THIS POSITION WHERE WE AS BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE.

THE PUBLIC ISN'T MAKING THE CHOICE, WE ARE.

NOW WE REPRESENT THE PUBLIC.

SO THAT'S SORT OF BY PROXY, BY PROXY, WE'RE VOTING FOR THE PUBLIC.

BUT THOSE ARE REALLY THE THINGS THAT SOMEBODY WHO'S RUNNING FOR THE BOARD, SOMEBODY WHO'S GOT A BROAD BASED EXPERIENCE BOTH IN NUMBER OF YEARS AND EXPERIENCE AND WHAT'S BEST FOR WHAT I BELIEVE MY OWN MY OWN THOUGHTS ON WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE BEST FOR THE BOARD IN THIS VERY SHORT NINE MEETING, NINE REGULAR MEETING SESSION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FROM THE TIME THAT YOU'RE SWORN IN TONIGHT TO THE TIME IN NOVEMBER WHEN THE ELECTION OCCURS.

SO THERE'S THERE'S NINE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS IN THIS PERIOD.

SO WITH THAT BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK IT IS IS TIME TO VOTE.

SEANIECE, JEN, YOU WEREN'T HERE, BUT THE PROCESS IS ALL 13 NAMES WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

YOU SELECT ONE, YOU SELECT ONE FOR YOUR BALLOT.

WE'LL HAND THOSE IN TO SEANIECE.

SHE WILL READ THOSE PUBLICLY.

IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD I WAS WATCHING ONLINE, SO I HEARD MR. GOODVIN. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I DIDN'T. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU SPEAK UP.

AND I. I KIND OF WAITED.

DID WE LOSE YOU? MR. GOODVIN. MR. GOODVIN. YEAH.

DID YOU HEAR ME? SORRY.

NO, WE DIDN'T HEAR YOU AT ALL.

NOW WE'RE HEARING YOU. BUT WE DIDN'T EARLIER.

OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD. I'M SORRY.

I GOT. I GOT DISCONNECTED, BUT I ALSO HAVE IT PULLED UP ONLINE HERE, SO I HEARD EVERYTHING AFTER I WAS TURNED OFF.

SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

OKAY. SO, MISS HALLMAN, WOULD YOU DISTRIBUTE THE BALLOTS? AND MR. GOODWIN, DO YOU HAVE A BALLOT WITH YOU? YES, I'VE ALREADY SENT IT TO JANICE, AND SHE CAN CONFIRM WITH YOU.

OKAY. AND WAS THAT VIA TEXT OR WAS THAT VIA EMAIL? IT IS ON HER TEXT MESSAGES, BUT I, I CAN CERTAINLY SEND IT ON EMAIL IF THAT'S SIMPLER.

NO I DON'T.

I DON'T SEE IT ON ANY TEXT MESSAGE FROM YOU.

I SENT IT TO SEANIECE BUT I WILL SEND IT TO YOU AS WELL.

YEAH. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, BECAUSE I WANT TO CONFIRM, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONFIRM TO THE PUBLIC WHAT WHAT SHE HAS RECEIVED.

SO IF YOU'LL TEXT IT TO ME, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S COMING YOUR WAY RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS, IT'S TIME TO VOTE ON OUR BALLOT.

IT SAYS ROUND ONE AND IT HAS EACH DIRECTOR'S NAME ON THE BALLOT.

SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU MARK YOUR CHOICE FOR FOR SELECTION, AND MISS HALLMAN WILL PICK THOSE UP FROM US.

OKAY? OKAY. AGAIN, I'LL JUST REMIND ALL THE CANDIDATES THAT LAST TIME WE WENT THROUGH FIVE ROUNDS OF VOTING.

SO DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF VOTING THIS TIME.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE UNTIL WE HAVE FOUR OUT OF THE SIX BOARD MEMBERS VOTING FOR THE SAME CANDIDATE.

A MAJORITY OF BOARD MEMBERS.

AND THAT WILL BE THE PROCESS.

AND AS I SAID AFTER AFTER THE BOARD MEMBER VOTES AND WE SELECT ONE, WE'LL IMMEDIATELY ASK TO SWEAR YOU IN TO OFFICE AND YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BOARD MEETING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO START IN FIVE MINUTES.

NOT LIKELY, BUT SUPPOSED TO START IN FIVE MINUTES.

YOU WILL BE SEATED.

A SEATED BOARD MEMBER PARTICIPATING IN THAT MEETING.

SO, MISS HEILMAN, WE'RE AT THE AT THE MOMENT WHERE YOU'RE TALLYING VOTES.

SO WOULD YOU PLEASE READ OFF STARTING WITH MR. GOODVIN SO WE HAVE TIME JUST IN CASE HE GETS DISCONNECTED.

DIRECTOR TAYLOR GOODWIN VOTED FOR PHILIP HAMMOND AND I CONCUR WITH THAT.

THAT IS THE SAME DOCUMENT HE SENT TO ME.

DIRECTOR BOB MICHAELSON VOTED FOR PHILIP HAMMOND.

DIRECTOR MONIQUE SCARLETT VOTED FOR SEMHAR GEBRE KIDAN.

DIRECTOR JAN GEORGE VOTED FOR JULIE BEHRENS.

DIRECTOR DAN GREENWELL VOTED FOR PHILIP HAMMOND.

DIRECTOR BERNIE SCOLARO VOTED FOR SIMHA GEBREKIDAN, WHICH MAKES IT.

[01:25:06]

BEHRENS. TWO VOTES FOR MS..

GEBREKIDAN AND THREE VOTES FOR MR. HAMMOND. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THERE IS NOT FOUR VOTES.

THERE WASN'T A MAJORITY.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ROUND TWO.

AND MR. GOODWIN, IF YOU WOULD SUBMIT YOUR IF YOU WOULD SUBMIT YOUR ROUND TWO VOTE, APPRECIATE THAT.

I HAVE RECEIVED MR. GOODWIN'S. DIRECTOR TAYLOR GOODWIN VOTED FOR PHILIP HAMMOND.

DIRECTOR BOB MICHAELSON VOTED FOR PHILIP HAMMOND.

DIRECTOR MONIQUE SCARLETT VOTED FOR SEMHAR GEBRE KIDAN.

DIRECTOR JAN GEORGE VOTED FOR PHILIP HAMMOND.

DIRECTOR DAN GREENWELL VOTED FOR PHILIP HAMMOND.

DIRECTOR BERNIE SCOLARO VOTED FOR SEMIHA GEBREKIDAN.

OKAY. SO IF I COUNTED THE TALLY RIGHT, MISS GEBREKIDAN RECEIVED TWO VOTES AND MR. PHILIP HAMMOND RECEIVED A MAJORITY OF FOUR VOTES.

THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. HAMMOND. YOU'VE BEEN SELECTED TO BE THE NEXT BOARD MEMBER.

AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH APPLICANTS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS.

WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU TOOK YOUR TIME AND PUT YOURSELF FORWARD FOR THAT FOR THIS POSITION.

THANKS SO MUCH. OKAY.

[V. Oath of Office for Newly Appointed Board Member Newly appointed Board member will take the Oath of Office in substantially the format prescribed in Section 277.28 of the Code of Iowa]

AND MR. HAMMOND, ARE YOU PREPARED TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE? YES. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY.

I'M VERY HUMBLED WITH ALL OF THE GREAT CANDIDATES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, MR. HAMMOND, I'M STANDING.

SO IF YOU WOULD, STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLEASE, TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE.

MR. HAMMOND, DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF IOWA, AND THAT YOU WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF DIRECTOR AND THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE COUNTIES OF WOODBURY AND PLYMOUTH STATE OF IOWA AS NOW OR HEREAFTER REQUIRED BY LAW.

I DO. THANK YOU, MR. HAMMOND. YOU ARE NOW SWORN INTO OFFICE.

CONGRATULATIONS. AND WE WELCOME YOU ON THE BOARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOARD MEMBERS, WE'VE REACHED THE CONCLUSION ON THE AGENDA OF OUR SPECIAL MEETING THIS EVENING. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROCESS.

I NEVER IMAGINED WE'D BE DONE IN AN HOUR AND A HALF.

SO IT WAS QUITE A SURPRISE.

I THOUGHT WE'D BE ORDERING BREAKFAST.

BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE AT THAT TIME WHERE WE'VE CONCLUDED OUR SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA.

AND IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS SPECIAL MEETING.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. AYE. AYE.

OKAY, MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

AND JUST FOR THE PUBLIC NOTE, WE WILL TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK AND WE'LL START AT 6:10 FOR THE REGULAR MEETING THIS EVENING INSTEAD OF 6:00. WE JUST NEED A LITTLE BREAK.

WE'LL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.