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[I. Call to Order]

[00:00:05]

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS JANUARY 22ND, 2024 AT 6 P.M..

I NOW CALL THE REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

SEANIECE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. EHMCKE.

PRESENT.

MR. GEORGE. PRESENT.

MR. GREENWELL. HERE.

MISS LEE. PRESENT.

MR. MEYERS. HERE.

MR. MICHAELSON. HERE.

MR. MILLER. HERE.

BOARD MEMBERS IT IS TIME TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING.

[IV. Approval of Agenda]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? SO MOVED. SECOND.

WE HAVE A FIRST, AND WE HAVE A SECOND.

BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

AGENDA IS APPROVED SEVEN ZERO.

[V. Citizen Input]

IT'S TIME FOR CITIZEN INPUT.

AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INVITES INDIVIDUALS OR DELEGATIONS TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON ANY ISSUE RELATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ON TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.

CITIZEN INPUT ON ACTION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE TIME OF THE DISCUSSION OF EACH AGENDA ITEM.

SEANIECE IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? YES. MALI SECK.

MALI, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.

YES. STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS MALI SEK.

MY FORMAL NAME IS SOMALI SECK.

I AM A 12TH GRADER AT NORTH HIGH, AND I LIVE ON 3824 OSAGE TERRACE.

SO, AS I SAID, I AM CURRENTLY A SENIOR HERE AT NORTH HIGH.

I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE WOMEN'S WRESTLING TEAM FOR AN EXPANSION ON THE NORTH HIGH WRESTLING FACILITIES, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL COACHING STIPENDS IN ORDER TO GIVE OUR GIRLS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO FIND SUCCESS WITHIN THE COUPLE OF YEARS.

CURRENTLY, GIRLS AND BOYS SHARE A WRESTLING ROOM FIVE DAYS A WEEK FROM 3:15 TO 5 P.M.

WITH THREE COACHES IN THE ROOM.

I HAVE BEEN ON THE WRESTLING TEAM ALL FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL, AND JUST WITHIN THE LAST YEAR DID IOWA ATHLETICS SANCTION GIRLS WRESTLING.

SINCE THIS ACTION, OUR NUMBER IN OUR WRESTLING ROOMS HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED AND WE ANTICIPATE FOR THEM TO CONTINUOUSLY RISE, LEADING TO AN ISSUE WITH THE SPACE IN OUR ROOM.

AS OF NOW, OUR ROOM IS EXPECTED TO ACCOMMODATE FOUR TEAMS, MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS, MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS, HIGH SCHOOL BOYS, AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS.

THIS SEASON, THERE WERE CONSISTENTLY 45 MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IN THE ROOM, WITH ABOUT 30 BOYS AND 15 GIRLS.

JUST TWO WEEKS LATER, THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SEASON STARTED, LEADING TO AN ADDITIONAL 15 ATHLETES BEING IN THE ROOM, TOTALING 60 WRESTLERS IN THE ROOM AT ONCE.

TWO WEEKS AFTER THE GIRLS START, BOYS WRESTLING BEGINS, LEADING TO AN ADDITIONAL 25 WRESTLERS IN THE ROOM.

THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS OVER 100 ATHLETES IN THE ROOM AT A TIME THAT WAS MADE TO ONLY FIT ONE TEAM.

ADDITIONALLY, ASIDE FROM THE NUMBER OF ATHLETES OCCUPYING THE FACILITIES, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH STAFFING SUPPORT TO SUPPORT THE INFLUX OF PARTICIPANTS.

BETWEEN OUR HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING PROGRAMS TOTALING OVER 40 ATHLETES, WE HAVE JUST THREE CONTRACTED COACHES.

THIS IS AN INEQUITY COMPARED TO OTHER SPORTS.

BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL, WHOSE NUMBERS OF PARTICIPANTS ARE NEARLY IDENTICAL TO WRESTLING, RECEIVE EIGHT CONTRACT COACHING STIPENDS.

TO GIVE A FULL VIEW OF DISCREPANCY OF ALLOCATED FUNDS TO WRESTLING, IT'S BEST TO LET THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

PER THE SCCS TEAM MASTERS CONTRACT, BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL HAS 42,000 $968,000 IN COACHING STIPENDS.

WHY, THEN, SHOULD BOYS AND GIRLS WRESTLING RECEIVE ONLY $16,258? BY GIVING WRESTLING AN INEQUITABLE NUMBER OF COACHING CONTRACTS, IT WOULD EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR ATHLETES TO BE FULLY SUPPORTED.

DURING OUR SEASON, WE COMPETE AT TOURNAMENTS WITH UP TO EIGHT MATS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PARTICIPANTS.

WE HAVE BEEN IN TOURNAMENTS MUCH LIKE THE TOURNAMENT WE HAD AT SERGEANT BLUFF THIS PAST WEEKEND, WHERE WE HAD FOUR GIRLS WRESTLING AT THE SAME TIME, AND OUR COACHES COULDN'T EVEN GIVE EQUAL AMOUNTS OF SUPPORT TO EVERYBODY.

THIS FRIDAY, GIRLS WILL BE WRESTLING AT GIRLS REGIONALS WITH OVER 30 TEAMS, AND THE SAD REALITY IS THAT OUR COACHES LIKELY WON'T BE AT EVERY MATCH DUE TO THE LACK OF STIPENDS AVAILABLE FOR THE GIRLS.

THIS LEADS ME TO MY LAST POINT, WHICH IS SAFETY AND THE SUPPORT OF OUR WRESTLERS.

WRESTLING IS A SPORT WHERE ATHLETES TOE THE LINE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER IN HOPES TO PHYSICALLY DOMINATE THEIR OPPONENT.

HOW DO YOU THINK OUR BEGINNER WRESTLERS WILL FEEL WHEN THEY HAVE TO TAKE THEM OUT ALONE, WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE OF THEIR COACH? BECAUSE OUR COACHES ARE PULLED IN MANY OTHER DIRECTIONS, THINK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL INJURIES THAT CAN OCCUR WHEN WE HAVE 75 WRESTLERS IN ONE ROOM FROM THE AGES OF 13 TO 18,

[00:05:08]

ALL PRACTICING MOVES THAT REQUIRE LIFTING, SLAMMING AND RUNNING THAT TWO MATS CANNOT ACCOMMODATE FOR ALL OF THIS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER ONE LAST THING BEFORE I DEPART.

ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN ON THE TEAM FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND SADLY WON'T BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE CHANGES AND ACCOMMODATIONS TAKEN TO BETTER SUIT WOMEN'S WRESTLING, I FIND IT HIGHLY IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE FACILITIES AND PROVIDE MORE COACHING STIPENDS.

AS A SENIOR PIONEER THAT IS GETTING READY TO LEAVE A TEAM I PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO CREATING, I CAN ONLY HOPE TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO CULTIVATE, OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO GROW WOMEN'S WRESTLING.

THANK YOU BOARD. THANK YOU.

MALI. ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS FOR MALI? AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M SORRY. I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

CAN YOU SPOUT OFF THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN? YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE, 16,000 SOMETHING? COACHING STIPENDS.

YEAH. SO, IN A LOT OF OUR RESEARCH THAT WE'VE DONE WITH ME AND MY COACHES AS WELL, WE LOOKED AT SOME BASKETBALL.

AND, WHAT I'M COMPARING IS BASKETBALL AND WRESTLING.

THOSE ARE THE TWO FUNDS THAT I'M, COMPARING.

AND AS WE'VE SEEN, BASKETBALL ROUGHLY GETS $42,968 IN COACHING STIPENDS WHILE WRESTLING FOR BOYS AND GIRLS RECEIVES ONLY $16,258. OKAY.

THANK YOU. YES. OF COURSE.

MALI, DO YOU HAVE SOME OF YOUR TEAMMATES HERE TONIGHT? YES, I HAVE ALMOST MY WHOLE TEAM HERE TONIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL ARE HERE BECAUSE WE ALL BELIEVE IN THE SAME THING.

WE THINK THAT WOMEN'S WRESTLING IS IT'S REALLY GROWING IN IOWA.

I MEAN, JUST BOYS WRESTLING IN ITSELF.

IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL. AND I THINK THAT JUST THIS NUMBER, IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE NEXT FOLLOWING YEARS.

I THINK WITHIN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ABOUT 30 GIRLS SITTING.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

AND GIRLS, GOOD LUCK ON FRIDAY.

I'LL BE DOWN THERE WATCHING YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, WRESTLING COACH.

YEAH, WRESTLING IS THE BEST.

SUPERINTENDENT WAS A TWO TIME STATE CHAMPION.

JUST SAYING. [LAUGHTER] OKAY.

ANY OTHER CITIZEN INPUT? NO. OKAY.

WE'RE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS CONSENT ACTION ITEMS.

[VI. Consent Action Item(s)]

THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED.

BOARD MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 8TH, 2024 DOCTOR ROD EARLYWINE.

HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT DOCTOR JEN GOMEZ.

C, FINANCE REPORT PATTY BLANKENSHIP.

D, AMPLIFIED DIGITAL LESLIE HEYING.

E, SIOUX CITY TRANSIT SYSTEM LESLIE HEYING.

F, HIGH SCHOOL TRADES CLASSROOM FURNITURE PURCHASE JIM VANDERLOO.

G CONTRACTS FOR BOARD APPROVAL JIM VANDERLOO, JARED MOZER.

H, FACILITY RENTAL CONTRACTS JIM VANDERLOO, JARED MOZER.

AND I TITLE ONE THIRD PARTY VENDOR JARED MOZER.

BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT ACTION ITEM.

MOVE TO APPROVE.

WE HAVE A FIRST AND WE HAVE A SECOND.

BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THERE'S NONE. IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? NO. BOARD MEMBERS ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

CONSENT ACTION ITEM IS APPROVED SEVEN ZERO.

[VII. Board Member Reports / Future Meetings]

WE'RE NOW AT THAT TIME.

ITEM SEVEN.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS AND FUTURE MEETINGS.

IT'S NOW TIME FOR BOARD MEMBER REPORTS.

LANCE, YOU ARE UP IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK.

WELL DURING THE TIME WE HAD SOME BLIZZARDS AND SOME WEATHER ISSUES.

BUT WHAT WE ALSO HAD AT THE CAREER ACADEMY IS THE STUD FINDER EVENT THAT WENT VERY, VERY WELL.

I WAS PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND VERY, VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT WE ARE TEACHING THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE CONSTRUCTION, TRACK OF THE CAREER ACADEMY.

I MEAN, THE ADVANTAGE OF THIS EVENT WAS THAT YOU COULD GO OUT AND SEE THE DETAIL THAT WAS BEING DONE BEFORE IT WAS DRYWALLED OVER, AND YOU LOOK AT HOW WELL THE JOINTS WERE CUT AND PUT TOGETHER AND HOW WELL ALL OF THE PIPING AND THE LIKE WAS, WAS MADE SO THAT THE STRENGTH STRUCTURES WERE COMPROMISED THE LEAST.

AND THOSE KIND OF FEATURES OF THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOUSE THAT WAS BEING BUILT WERE VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE.

AND THEY SPEAK TO HOW EXCELLENT THE PROGRAM IS, THE EXCELLENCE THAT THE PROGRAM DEMANDS AND THE PERFORMANCE BY THE STUDENTS.

SO IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR, THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AND JUST REALLY A GREAT PROGRAM.

[00:10:09]

THANK YOU. LANCE. AND DAN GREENWELL, DIRECTOR GREENWELL.

NO REPORT. DIRECTOR MILLER.

I THINK THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS FOR ME WAS THE MARTIN LUTHER KING EVENT JUST LAST EVENING AT FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN SIOUX CITY, TO WHICH, VICE PRESIDENT LEE WAS ABLE TO BE ONE OF THE GUEST SPEAKERS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DIRECTOR MICHAELSON.

NO REPORT. DIRECTOR MEYERS.

NO REPORT.

DIRECTOR LEE. NO REPORT.

DIRECTOR GEORGE.

OH. THAT'S ME.

I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, GIRL REGIONAL TYSON I THINK IT STARTS AT NINE, ON FRIDAY.

TEN STARTS AT TEN.

I WANT TO WISH ALL THE SIOUX CITY GIRLS, WELL, GO OUT AND TAKE THE MAT AND DO WELL.

OKAY. FROM THAT POINT ON, FUTURE MEETINGS.

EDUCATIONAL LEGISLATIVE FORUM, 8:30 A.M.

JANUARY 27TH, 2024.

RIGHT HERE IN THE ESC ROOM.

THAT'S THIS SATURDAY, PEOPLE.

IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK UP, NOW'S THE TIME.

BOARD, FINANCE, AND FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 3 P.M.

ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2024 IN THIS ROOM.

BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 12 P.M.

ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2024 IN THIS ROOM.

EDUCATIONAL EQUITY COMMITTEE, 12 P.M.

FEBRUARY 9TH, 2024.

IN THE ESC ROOM SPECIAL BOARD MEETING, ON 5 P.M.

FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024 ESC ROOM.

I BELIEVE THAT'S OUR WORKSHOP.

OKAY. REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 6 P.M.

FRIDAY, 12 P.M.

2024 FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024 ESC ROOM SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING 5:15 FEBRUARY 15TH IN THE ESC ROOM, BOARD, FINANCE AND FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 3:00 PM FEBRUARY 19TH ESC BOARD ROOM BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING 3:30 FEBRUARY 20TH ESC BOARD ROOM BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE ON AT 12 P.M.

ON FEBRUARY 21ST ESC BOARD ROOM 2024 CSSBA ANNUAL CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 21ST TO THE 26TH, 2024 IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

THIS IS A NOTICE HEREBY GIVEN THAT A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE DIRECTOR, MAY GATHER IN DALLAS, TEXAS, ON FEBRUARY 21ST TO THE 26TH TO ATTEND THE CONSORTIUM OF STATE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

NO DELIBERATION OR ACTION BY THE BOARD IS ANTICIPATED ON ANY POLICY ISSUE.

AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE FORUM 8:30 A.M.

ON FEBRUARY 24TH, 2024, IN THE ESC BOARDROOM.

AND THEN WE HAVE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AT 6 P.M.

FEBRUARY 26TH, 2024.

ESC BOARDROOM SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT IS NEXT UP ITEM EIGHT DOCTOR ROD EARLEYWINE.

[VIII.Superintendent's Report - Dr. Rod Earleywine]

WELL, THANK YOU AND GIRLS, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOURSELVES THAT MEANS A LOT.

JUST A COUPLE THINGS AS EVERYONE KNOWS, LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WEATHER HAS NOT BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE, HAVE HAD SOME MISERABLE DAYS.

WE RECEIVED PHONE CALLS AND, A FEW EMAILS AND SOME POSTINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT QUESTION, OUR SANITY AND DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING? AND, SOME THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WHAT I CAN WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW IS WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

I KNOW, TIM, PAUL AND HIS CREW.

TIM IS UP EARLY IN THE MORNING DRIVING AROUND.

MANY TIMES I GO OUT AND DRIVE THE ROADS, AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE LIKE.

SO I PERSONALLY KNOW, COMMUNICATE CONSTANTLY WITH TIM.

HE ALSO COMMUNICATES WITH THE CITY, AND THE COUNTY, SEEING HOW THINGS THEY'RE DOING WITH CLEARING THE ROADS AND WHAT THEIR PERCEPTION ON THE SAFETY OF THE ROADS.

WE STUDY SEVERAL MEDIA OUTLETS, ALSO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OUT OF SIOUX FALLS.

WE CONSIDER A LOT OF THINGS.

WE CONSIDER THE THE TEMPERATURE, THE WIND CHILL, COMMUNICATE A LOT WITH OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE AREA.

ALTHOUGH, THE ROAD CONDITIONS VARY BETWEEN SIOUX CITY AND MAYBE HINTON AND MAYBE LAWTON-BRONSON OR SERGEANT BLUFF AND SIOUX CITY OR, AND SIOUX CITY.

SO, AND ALSO WITH DAKOTA VALLEY.

SO THOSE CAN BE BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE RURAL, THEIR ROADS ARE MANY TIMES MORE PROBLEMATIC.

[00:15:03]

BUT WE DO TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY THAT SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT EASY DECISIONS.

DO WE ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT? PROBABLY NOT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE CONSIDER, TOO.

LIKE THE STUDENTS THAT THEIR HOMES MIGHT NOT BE THE WARMEST PLACES TO BE WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE WOULD BE A LOT BETTER PLACE FOR THEM TO BE BECAUSE OF THE WARMTH OF OUR BUILDINGS.

WE THINK ABOUT THAT.

WE ALSO THINK ABOUT THE MEALS THAT ARE MISSED FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT WHEN THEY COME TO SCHOOL, THAT MIGHT BE THOSE ARE THE MEALS THEY GET FOR THE DAY WHEN IT'S BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. SO WE CONSIDER AND WE WORRY ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

SO JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

AND AGAIN DO WE ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT.

PROBABLY NOT. BUT THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS IS AND OUR STAFF IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY, BEEN A FEW MEETINGS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

MANY OF YOU PROBABLY SAW IT WITH SHERIFF SHEEHAN, HAD A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY AND SOME THINGS THAT HE'S ADVOCATING FOR WITH SCHOOL SAFETY.

MET WITH CITY OF SIOUX CITY, ALSO WOODBURY COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

WE'VE MET WITH THEM OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

JUST TALKING ABOUT SCENARIOS AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS SAFE.

AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT'S A CONSTANT WORRY.

THAT'S A CONSTANT WORRY FOR, FOR ME AS A SUPERINTENDENT, IT'S A CONSTANT WORRY FOR OUR PARENTS, AND OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK IT'S A WORRY FOR OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.

SO WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER, TRYING TO KEEP OUR, OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AND OUR SCHOOLS AS SAFE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AND I WILL END MY REPORT WITH THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR EARLEYWINE.

JUST A NOTE.

I KNOW OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE PRAIRIE, IOWA COMMUNITY FOR THE LOSS OF THEIR PRINCIPAL IN ONE OF THE MOST AND STUDENTS WITH THE TRAGEDY THAT WENT ON THERE.

AND WE ALL HAVE TO BE VIGILANT IN TALKING UP, SAYING AND SPEAKING UP IF WE SEE SOMETHING OUT OF PLACE.

[IX.A. SSB 3073/HSB 542 - Proposed legislation reforming Iowa's Area Education Agencies - President George]

SO NEXT ITEM, ITEM NINE.

ITEMS OF PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION.

THE FIRST ONE, ITEM A IS SS, SENATE STUDY BILL 3073 AND HOUSE BILL 542 PROPOSED LEGISLATION REFORMING IOWA'S EDUCATION AGENCY.

I KNOW THIS, CAUGHT US ALL, DEADPAN, SO TO SPEAK, WHEN IT CAME TO THE TOTAL WHAT THEY HAD INITIALLY PROPOSED AND REALLY KIND OF SHOCKED THE STATE.

DOCTOR EARLEYWINE. YES.

JANUARY 10TH, THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED TO RESTRUCTURE THE AEAS.

AND ALONG WITH THAT, INCLUDED IN THAT SAME BILL, OUR TEACHER SALARY MINIMUMS. SO THE ORIGINAL BILL, SLATED TO ELIMINATE THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH OUR AEAS, ELIMINATE THE MEDIA SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND OFFERED THREE OPTIONS FOR DISTRICTS TO CHOOSE, FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, A HYBRID WHERE YOU COULD WORK WITH THEM AND GET SOME SERVICES AND THEN DO SOME SERVICES ON YOUR OWN.

YOU COULD OPT IN ALL IN, OR YOU COULD OPT OUT.

AT THAT TIME, THEY HAD AN APRIL 30TH OF THIS YEAR FOR A DUE DATE FOR DISTRICTS TO DETERMINE WHICH OPTION THEY WANTED TO CHOOSE, WHICH IS PRETTY SHORT NOTICE.

OVERSIGHT OF THE AEA WOULD BE, THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BY ESTABLISHING A NEW DIVISION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND THEY WOULD RECEIVE AN APPROPRIATION OF JUST OVER $20 MILLION.

AND THAT WOULD COME FROM, REDUCTION IN AEA FUNDING.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WOULD EMPLOY THE AEA ADMINISTRATION, AND A ADMINISTRATORS MUST HAVE AN ADMINISTRATOR LICENSE AND A SPECIAL EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT, OR A SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATION ISSUED BY THE BOE.

CONCERNING TEACHER SALARIES.

WHICH WE ALL THINK IS IS I BELIEVE ALL OF US THINK IS A GOOD IDEA IS THE MINIMUM BEGINNING TEACHER SALARY WOULD BE SET AT 50,000, AND A MINIMUM 12 YEAR PLUS EXPERIENCED TEACHER PAY WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $62,000.

THIS WOULD BE A NEW APPROPRIATION OF AN ESTIMATED 96 MILLION THROUGH THE FOUNDATION FORMULA.

AND AGAIN, THE RATIONALE WAS GIVE SCHOOLS CHOICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THROUGH THEIR OWN MEANS. THE BILL WAS AMENDED PROPOSED AMENDMENTS JANUARY 16TH.

IT DOES REINSTATE THE 35.7 MILLION BACK TO AES FOR ED SERVICES EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.

[00:20:02]

ELIMINATION OF THE APRIL 30TH DEADLINE FOR DISTRICTS TO DECIDE WHICH OPTION THEY WANT.

THE 32 MILLION REDUCTION FOR MEDIA SERVICE WOULD REMAIN THAT WOULD REMAIN AS A REDUCTION.

SO WHAT'S THE POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS? MOST LIKELY, IF WE OPT OUT AND TAKE THIS ON OURSELVES, IT WOULD BE CREATION OF A NEW DEPARTMENT ALREADY DESIGNER CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, ASSESSMENT, CIA AND OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

WE'D HAVE TO HIRE NEW STAFF, INCLUDING SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, OTHER TEACHERS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PARENT LIAISONS AND STRATEGISTS.

AND THOSE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF POSITIONS WE WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE TO HIRE.

CURRENTLY, THE AEA DESIGNATES ABOUT 50 FULL TIME STAFF MEMBERS TO THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THAT WOULD BE A REAL HEAVY LIFT.

AND TO DO IT BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF JUNE AND HAVE THAT READY FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT WOULD BE QUITE A TASK.

THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

SO I WANTED TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO THE BOARD.

I THINK IT'S A LOT OF THE INFORMATION.

THEY ALREADY HAVE. IT'S JUST KIND OF A SUMMARY, THAT'S PRESENTED HERE TONIGHT.

THERE IS MORE MOVEMENT, I AM SURE, THAT WILL TAKE PLACE CONCERNING, THIS LEGISLATION.

IT HAS MOVED QUITE A BIT.

I THINK THE INITIAL SHOCK THAT PEOPLE HAD, TOOK THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATORS BY BY SURPRISE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PUSHBACK.

SO THERE HAS BEEN SOME, I WILL SAY, ADJUSTMENTS OR COMPROMISE TO THE BILL.

BUT IN MY OPINION, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE WE COULD FULLY SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

SOME OF IT HAVE MAY HAVE MERIT.

BUT WE CANNOT BUILD THIS AIRPLANE WHILE WE'RE FLYING IT.

THIS IS A BIG, BIG TASK IF WE WERE TO TAKE THIS ON.

AS FAR AS FUNDING IS CONCERNED, A LITTLE OVER $7 MILLION IS WHAT THEY CALL AEA FLOW THROUGH.

IT COMES THROUGH THE DISTRICT, AND IT GOES RIGHT TO THE AEAS.

WE DON'T REALLY TOUCH THE MONEY.

IT JUST FLOWS THROUGH US TO THE AEAS.

ABOUT 5.8 MILLION OF THAT IS SPECIAL EDUCATION.

BETWEEN $900,000 AND A MILLION IS MEDIA SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, OVER A MILLION.

PD ABOUT $100,000.

SO IT'S A TOTAL OF ABOUT 7.8 MILLION.

AND IT WAS 8.7.

BUT THEN THERE WAS A STATEWIDE REDUCTION WHICH DROPS IT DOWN TO ABOUT 7.8 MILLION.

SO, JUST INFORMATION AND I'LL LET THE BOARD MEMBERS WEIGH IN IF THEY WISH.

WELL, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

I HAVE SOME GREAT CONCERN THAT THE RELYING ON A REVIEW FROM 2010 TO REVAMP THE AEAS, THAT'S THE LAST TIME THEY DID A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW WAS 2010, 2011.

SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT LEGISLATIVELY THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

AND TO PUT THE WAGE INCREASE IN WITH THIS BILL, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A PILL, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO COVER UP WITH SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THIS REMINDS ME OF, IS EVERYONE WANTS TO INCREASE THE TEACHER PAY.

EVERYONE WANTS THAT.

NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE AEA.

SO THEY PUT IT INTO ONE BILL TO MAKE IT EASIER TO SWALLOW, I GUESS.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE DOING SOME MOVEMENT.

AND I THINK A LOT OF IT COMES, FROM THE RESOLUTIONS PROVIDED BY SCHOOLS, OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COMMENTS, EMAILS TO STATE LEGISLATORS AND SENATORS.

AND I JUST DOWNLOADED, THE PDF FILE.

AND RIGHT NOW IT'S AT 249 PAGES OF COMMENTS ON THE BILL.

AND I JUST PUT IN I JUST DOWNLOADED TEN PAGES OF IT AND PRINTED OUT TEN.

AND NOT ONE OF THE TEN ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.

AND I KNOW THERE'S WE'VE GOT SOME MONEY PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS, HAVE PROBABLY A BETTER PERSPECTIVE ON THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE MONEY SPENT.

BUT I COME FROM THE DEAL IF WE HAVE TO OUTSOURCE THINGS, IT'S GOING TO COST US MORE.

I MEAN, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT FOR FREE.

SO THAT'S MY OPINION ON IT.

SO, THAT'LL BE MY INITIAL RESPONSE.

I'M IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE AEA, BUT I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF DOING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, ONE THAT'S DONE IN 2024, NOT 2010.

[00:25:11]

SO, BOARD MEMBERS, IS ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? A COUPLE OF THINGS. I THINK, DOCTOR EARLEYWINE MENTIONED THAT.

IS YOUR MIC ON? WE GET ROUGHLY $7.8 MILLION, BUT IT COMES IN AND GOES OUT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM OF INFLUENCING THAT.

THAT'S AN AMOUNT DETERMINED BY THE STATE.

AND IT COMES INTO US, AND WE IMMEDIATELY PUSH IT TO THE AEA.

SO WE HAVE NO INPUT, QUITE FRANKLY, ON WHAT HOW THE AMOUNT IS CALCULATED OR HOW THE STATE DETERMINES IT.

NOR DO WE GET TO TOUCH IT.

THEORETICALLY, WE DON'T EVEN GET TO TOUCH IT.

THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE I HAVE IS I DO AGREE WITH COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, A CURRENT ONE, A CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE THAT I HAVE THAT IF YOU CONTROL THE MONEY, YOU CONTROL THE SERVICES.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE INPUT ON HOW THOSE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED.

IF YOU DON'T CONTROL THE MONEY, YOU WON'T CONTROL THE SERVICES.

AND THAT'S JUST A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE.

I THINK THE SERVICES THAT AEA PROVIDED, WE NEED THEM.

WE NEED THOSE SERVICES.

OUR STUDENTS NEED THOSE.

HOW WE USE SERVICES FROM THE AEA.

I DON'T THINK I REALLY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPONENTS OF IT.

WE'VE NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT IN FOUR YEARS, FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MEDIA SERVICES WE USE.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

I KNOW I'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT QUITE A BIT AND WE USE THOSE AND EVERYBODY SAID THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD.

SO I SEEM TO KNOW THAT I KNOW WE USE THEM FOR SPECIAL ED.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OR HOW MANY STUDENTS THEY SERVE.

WHAT'S THE AVERAGE COST PER STUDENT? YOU KNOW, IT SAYS WE HAVE 50 FULL TIME PEOPLE DEDICATED TO OUR DISTRICT.

BE INTERESTING TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO AS A DISTRICT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT SERVICES WE'RE GETTING, WHAT SERVICES WE'RE PAYING FOR, BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT GETTING SERVICES, BUT YET WE'RE PAYING FOR THEM, THAT GIVES US OPTIONALITY.

AND CERTAINLY THE SERVICES NEEDED PROVIDED TO OUR STUDENTS WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND CUTTING SERVICES, HOW THOSE ARE DELIVERED AND WHAT WE USE.

WE HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL MEDIA DEPARTMENT IN OUR DISTRICT.

A VERY GOOD ONE.

DO WE REALLY USE THAT MUCH OF MEDIA SERVICES AND WE'RE BILLED $1 MILLION FOR IT.

I MEAN, THAT'S DO WE REALLY USE ALL THAT AND HOW MUCH? SO I THINK OUR SIDE AS THIS PROGRESSES, WHICHEVER WAY IS WE NEED TO DO A REVIEW OF WHAT SERVICES WE'RE GETTING.

AND I AGREE WITH DOCTOR EARLEYWINE TAKING ON A FULL SPED DEPARTMENT, AND JUST A MATTER OF A FEW MONTHS IS NOT VERY PRACTICAL.

SO WITH THAT MONEY THAT THEY WOULD CONTROL US, WE COULD SAY WE'RE NOT READY FOR IT.

LET'S CONTINUE USING THE AEA AND MAYBE WE'LL NEVER BE READY TO TAKE IT ON.

BUT IT GIVES US OPTIONALITY AND OPTIONALITY, IN MY VIEW, ON ANY SERVICE OR ANY FINANCIAL AMOUNT IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

AND THE OH, SORRY, THE TEACHER SALARY.

WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT.

THE TEACHER MINIMUM SALARIES ARE GREAT.

INCREASING THOSE IS GREAT.

THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS THE CURRENT SALARY THAT WE HAVE IS A STARTING BACHELOR OF ARTS SALARY, RIGHT AROUND $44,600 OR $44,800.

THAT MEANS WE WOULD HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY INCREASE THAT TO $50,000.

A $5,200 INCREASE.

THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN AFFORD $5,200 INCREASE FOR EVERY TEACHER IN THIS DISTRICT.

THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. THAT'LL BREAK US.

OVER TIME, THE COMPOUNDING WILL BREAK US.

SO THE COMPRESSION ISSUE THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER ON, I'M SURE, IN OTHER MEETINGS, IS A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH EXPERIENCED TEACHERS VERSUS LESS THAN EXPERIENCED NEW TEACHERS, ONE TWO YEAR TEACHERS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOME SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES, BUT THE COMPRESSION IS GOING TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH, AND THERE'S NO GOOD SOLUTION FOR IT.

THERE IS NO GOOD SOLUTION.

IT'S WHAT'S THE BEST SOLUTION.

AND WE AS A BOARD WILL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT AT SOME POINT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I HAVE ONE QUESTION, MAYBE DOCTOR EARLEYWINE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS.

LET'S SAY WE OPT OUT AND DO WE GET THE 7.8 OR WILL THAT BE A JUST BECAUSE TO ME IT'S LIKE, I'M NOT SURE THAT I JUST DON'T FEEL I DON'T TRUST MAYBE THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY GET THE 7.8.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I CANNOT SIT HERE AND SAY WE WOULD BE GUARANTEED THAT, MEDIA SERVICES, THERE'S A MILLION RIGHT THERE.

SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FUND MEDIA SERVICES THAT WE GO TO 6.8 RIGHT AWAY.

RIGHT. SO THAT'S ONE ONE THING.

SO I CAN'T SIT HERE AND GUARANTEE THAT I GUESS MY ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THAT THEY TALK ABOUT THAT AEA'S ARE HAVE BECOME BLOATED, SO TO SPEAK.

[00:30:05]

MAYBE TOO TOP HEAVY ADMINISTRATIVELY.

SO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL FORM A NEW DIVISION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.

$20 MILLION WILL BE EARMARKED FOR THAT NEW DIVISION.

I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FAITH THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CAN TAKE THIS ON AND OVERSEE SPECIAL EDUCATION IN ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

I HAVE A BIG CONCERN WITH THAT, AND I THINK MOST OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE STATE WOULD MIRROR THAT.

SO THAT'S I FEAR WE WOULD BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE, RIGHT? WE HAVE ALL BEEN PUT ON HOLD FOR A LONG TIME.

I MEAN, 39 POSITIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CREATED AT THE BOE.

THAT'S CONCERNING WITHOUT AND WE TALKED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

I MEAN, THAT'S YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS STUFF WAS DONE WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY, I THINK.

WELL, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS AN OVERWHELMING ISSUE.

THERE ARE SO MANY MOVING PARTS TO THIS ISSUE.

AND, YOU KNOW.

I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION TO MAKE A FIRM DECISION, BUT I AM A PRODUCT OF A FAMILY THAT WORKED FOR AEA.

AND I KNOW THAT AEA SERVICES SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT AND NOT ONLY SUPPORTING OUR CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT SUPPORT FAMILIES THAT ARE IN OUR DISTRICT.

ALSO, I DO AGREE WE DO NEED TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.

IF THAT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE 2010, THAT'S 14 YEARS OLD.

MY CONCERN IS, IS EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THIS NUMBER OF 7.8 MAYBE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE'VE USED MORE SERVICES THAT MERIT.

SO SPECIAL ED WAS 5.8.

MAYBE WE USE 7.8 IN SPECIAL ED SERVICES, BUT WE ONLY PAID 7.8.

I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT REALLY LIKE WHAT WERE SERVICES USED.

AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PUT A LIMIT ON THE SERVICES THAT OUR KIDS RECEIVE OR HOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE SERVICES THAT THE AEA SUPPORTS US WITH.

SO I THINK WE NEED, YOU KNOW, 7.8, WE MIGHT BE LONG IN THAT AREA OF SERVICE AS IT COULD EXCEED 7.8 AND THE AMOUNT OF SERVICES WE HAVE, OR IT COULD BE LESS THAN 7.8 MILLION THAT WE USE.

SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO GO INTO THIS WITH, IN A GRADUAL PROCESS.

WE NEED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING, HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS.

AND I PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW HOW WE AS A DISTRICT CAN TAKE ALL THAT ON.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE, BUT I WANT TO BE MINDFUL THAT WHATEVER DECISION WE MAKE, WE KEEP IT IN THE INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND SUCCESSES OF OUR TEACHERS THAT ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THESE KIDS.

THE OTHER THING IS THE OTHER THING I BELIEVE IS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TRYING TO TAKE ON THESE SERVICES, AND I'M KIND OF THINKING OPEN MINDED.

I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH GOING ON TO MY POINT OF THIS BEING AN OVERWHELMING ISSUE, BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TAKING ON THOSE SERVICES, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS IN SOME CASES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL SERVICES.

AND WE DON'T WE MAY NOT EVEN HAVE PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

SO THEN WE'RE STILL AT A DEFICIT.

AND AS IT RELATES TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO OUR CHILDREN.

SO I JUST THINK WE AS A BOARD, NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT WE MAKE GOOD SOUND DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT LONG TERM GOALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE A BENEFIT TO OUR DISTRICT.

SO THANK YOU.

ONE THING THAT KIND OF STANDS OUT TO ME AND THIS WAS POINTED OUT, THE CRISIS TEAM THAT WENT INTO PERRY WAS AEA EMPLOYEES. THAT'S ON THE CUTTING BLOCK.

I'VE BEEN A TEACHER WHERE WE'VE HAD TO HAVE AEA PEOPLE COME IN AND HELP WITH THE STUDENT BODY LOSS OF A STUDENT, A FRIEND S

[00:35:04]

EVERAL TIMES IN MY 31 YEARS IN SIOUX CITY.

IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK FOR A TEACHER TO HANDLE ON THEIR OWN.

AND AS YOU SAID, WE'D HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET IT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY IT, PAY FOR THEM FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AUTHORIZATION IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S VERY CONCERNING.

YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING MORE SUBS ATHLETIC COACHING CERTIFICATE.

MALI MENTIONED ABOUT GETTING MORE COACHES IN.

WELL THEY ALSO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO HELP WITH THAT.

I THINK, DIRECTOR GREENWELL IS RIGHT.

WE DO NEED A COMPREHENSIVE.

WHAT DO WE USE? HOW MUCH OF IT WE USE? I THINK DIRECTOR LEE IS RIGHT, TOO.

WE MAY USE MORE THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATE.

WE ARE A SCHOOL DISTRICT OF 15,000 STUDENTS.

FOR US, AND FOR MY FRIENDS WHO TEACH IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES, THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG LOSS.

AND LANCE, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, SOONER OR LATER PEOPLE MIGHT MOVE INTO SIOUX CITY TO GET THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING BECAUSE THEIR LOCAL DISTRICT CAN'T.

AND THAT'S MORE FOR US.

THEN THAT'S MORE MORE FOR US TO GET ON.

I'M GOING TO SPEAK, IF I'M SPEAKING TO THE LEGISLATORS AND TO THE GOVERNOR WE NEED TO SLOW ROLL THIS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG, DAUNTING TASK FOR FOR ANY STATE TO GET IN AND JUST MAKE A BLANKET STATEMENT AND THEN HAVE TO WALK A LOT OF IT BACK.

THAT'S NOT GOOD EITHER.

SO WHEN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOTE THAT THE TIME FRAME IS EXPEDIENT AND TO MAKE A QUICK, SOUND DECISION, IT DOESN'T AFFORD US A LOT OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

DOCTOR EARLEYWINE.

YEAH, YEAH. THAT'S TRUE.

SO, WHAT I WILL ASK OF THE BOARD IS, AS I GET INFORMATION, I WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.

AND AS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE GET THEM TO US, AND WE WILL DO OUR VERY BEST TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS WITH WHAT WE KNOW AT THAT TIME.

SO, AGAIN, THIS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.

THIS IS GREAT DISCUSSION.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT NOW.

WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE BILLS PASSED AND SAY, OH GEEZ, WE SHOULD HAVE STARTED THINKING ABOUT THAT A LONG TIME AGO.

SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT.

IF YOU NEED INFORMATION, ONE INFORMATION FROM US, WE WILL DO OUR VERY, VERY BEST TO SUPPLY THAT INFORMATION.

SO WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT OF LEGISLATION THAT IS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE MANNER.

MR. PRESIDENT.

MEYERS. I HAD TWO COMMENTS.

WELL, THREE ACTUALLY, ONE IS, WHEN I WAS WITH THE CITY, I RAN TECHNICAL SERVICES SEVERAL TIMES.

THOSE TECHNICAL SERVICES, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE NOT VERY LARGE, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE TOGETHER, YOU COULD MOVE THEM HERE OR THERE OR WHATEVER TO GET THINGS DONE IN AN ORDERLY MANNER.

IF YOU PARCEL OUT THE STAFF AND THE CONTRACTS, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF EFFICIENCY.

AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO LOSE MORE EFFICIENCY, IN OUR OPERATIONS OR FOR THAT MATTER, FOR THE STATE.

SECONDLY, WE HAVE 30% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE AT RISK.

SO WE HAVE 15,000 STUDENTS AND ROUGHLY 30% OF THEM, COULD USE SERVICES FROM THE AEA OR OTHER SERVICES.

WE NEED MORE MONEY THAN WE HAVE.

AND FINALLY, I WOULD SUGGEST AS A POSITION THAT WE TELL OUR LEGISLATORS THAT THEY NEED TO FORM AN INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE AND STUDY THIS OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING WHERE EVERYBODY'S INVOLVED IN IT, AND WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE BEFORE WE PULL SOMETHING OUT OF THE AIR OR WHATEVER.

DIRECTOR EHMCKE. I ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD, THIS WAS ONE ISSUE THAT CAME UP, AND THE FIRST THOUGHT IS, IF IT WASN'T BROKEN, WHY ARE WE FOCUSING ON FIXING THIS RIGHT NOW? AND I FEEL LIKE FOR THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP AND THE SERVICES WE RECEIVE FROM AEA HERE WASN'T BROKEN.

AND SO WE'RE PROBABLY NOT THE DISTRICT THAT, SOMEBODY MUST, IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MUST HAVE IN MIND WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS LEGISLATION.

I'M PARTICULARLY CHAGRINED THAT THIS WAS TIED WITH THE TEACHER COMPENSATION ISSUE.

IT SMACKS OF THAT THE CHANGE IS GOING TO BE SO, CONSEQUENTIAL IN A NEGATIVE WAY, THAT THE ONLY WAY

[00:40:07]

WE CAN GET THE VOTING PUBLIC AND THE LEGISLATURE TO GO ALONG WITH IT IS TO OFFER SOMETHING LIKE INCREASED TEACHER PAY.

THE REALITY IS WE NEED THE TEACHER PAY ISSUE ADDRESSED RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED THE TEACHER PAY ISSUE ADDRESSED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE FUNDING CHOICES SO WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE.

KEEP TEACHERS HERE WHO ARE HERE AND DO MORE THAN WINDOW DRESS WITH THAT.

AND HAVE THAT BE A SEPARATE TOPIC THAT'S ADDRESSED WITH THE KIND OF URGENCY IT NEEDS.

I WAS AT A LEGISLATIVE SESSION HERE RECENTLY WHERE, THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, WELL, WOULD THE LEGISLATURE BE INCREASING IOWA'S MINIMUM WAGE? AND THE ANSWER WAS, WELL, IT'S NOT A HOT TOPIC DOWN THERE BECAUSE MARKET CONDITIONS HAVE ALREADY MOVED MOST OF THE ENTRY LEVEL JOBS UP TO A POINT WHERE YOU'RE BEING PAID MORE THAN $10 AN HOUR IN ORDER TO EVEN GET SOMEBODY TO COME IN THE DOOR AND THINK ABOUT APPLYING.

WELL, WE ARE FACED WITH THAT SAME CHALLENGE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE WANT GRADUATES WHO HAVE EDUCATION DEGREES TO COME AND WORK FOR US, AND WE CAN'T BE LOOKING AT THE KIND OF DIFFERENTIAL THAT THEY SAY, WELL, BETWEEN THE INFLATION AND OTHER MARKET CONDITIONS, MARKET CONDITIONS AFFECT US TOO.

SO IN THE AREA OF TEACHER PAY, WE REALLY NEED OUR LEGISLATURE TO THINK MORE, NOT ABOUT 3% AND THOSE KINDS OF NUMBERS WE'VE HEARD FOR YEARS.

BUT WHAT HAS REALLY HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE IOWA ECONOMY AND ELSEWHERE, AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE WELL-EDUCATED AND TALENTED AND CAN TEACH OUR CHILDREN, THAT'S OUR GOAL, THAT THEY WILL TAKE THE JOBS.

AND THAT TROUBLES ME THAT THE TWO ISSUES GOT BOUND UP TOGETHER.

NOW, ON THE AEA SIDE, I WOULD SAY THAT I AGREE WITH DAN GREENWELL THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR US TO HAVE OUR OWN REVIEW AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING AND THE KINDS OF SERVICES.

MY IMPRESSION IS, IS THAT THE SERVICES WE'VE RECEIVED FROM OUR AEA HAVE BEEN SO GOOD FOR SO LONG THAT WE SORT OF ALMOST TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED, BUT WE SHOULD BE BETTER INFORMED AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A SCHOOL BOARD ABOUT THOSE DETAILS.

I ALSO AGREE THAT HAVING A VOICE IN HOW MONEY IS USED IS IMPORTANT.

IF IT'S JUST A PASS THROUGH AND WE HAVE NO VOICE, THEN IT GETS EASY TO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

IT ALSO GETS EASY TO NOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT DOES THE SCHOOL BOARD THINK ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING? WE ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE VERY GOOD, SOLID EDUCATION TO STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND IT IS OUR INTENT THAT THAT HAPPENS. THE AEA IS A KEY TO OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT TODAY.

AND THE SHUFFLE THE CARDS JUST ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A CHANGE.

BUT TO THE EXTENT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A VISION OF WHAT DOES EDUCATION LOOK LIKE HERE IN SIOUX CITY, MAYBE THIS HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SILVER LINING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE TEACHERS DOING TEACHING, AND PEOPLE FROM AEA AND ELSEWHERE WHO ARE MORE SPECIALIZED IN ALL OF THE OTHER FACTORS THAT GO INTO HOW YOU BEST TEACH A STUDENT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING PERHAPS SOME MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND THE LIKE CAN BE BEST ENGAGED THAT WAY.

MAYBE WE HAVE A NICE ALLOCATION OF THAT ALREADY.

MAYBE THERE'S A VISION SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR CLASSROOMS ARE HUMMING ON THE EDUCATION PIECE, AND THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS, THAT WE HAVE THAT SERVED IN THE WAY THAT IS MOST EFFICIENT AND BEST.

SO IT IS, IN MY OPINION, PERHAPS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VISION.

AND ALSO IT IS OKAY TO HAVE A REVIEW.

IT IS NOT OKAY TO RACE TO THE FINISH LINE WITHOUT HAVING ALL OF THESE FACTORS CONSIDERED, AND THAT A BROADER REVIEW ON THE AEA PART MAY HAVE GOOD MERIT, PARTICULARLY IF OUR GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SEE A NEED FOR CHANGE.

BUT TO TIE IT TO THE TEACHER, PAY ISSUE, WHICH IS SO URGENT FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A DISSERVICE TO US AS CITIZENS AND A DISSERVICE TO THIS BOARD.

AND THAT'S MY, WHAT I WOULD BE TELLING LEGISLATORS.

AND I WOULD INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO ALSO SIT AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE TEACHER PAY ISSUE SO THAT OUR TALENTED TEACHERS STAY AND OUR TALENTED GRADUATES TAKE JOBS IN EDUCATION.

[00:45:02]

WE NEED THAT TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

MR. GEORGE, WOULD YOU REMIND US OF THE LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE SESSION ON SATURDAY? WHAT TIME DOES IT START? IT STARTS AT 8:30.

AND, LANCE, I HOPE YOU'RE THERE.

YOU GAVE US MORE THAN YOUR $0.02.

YOU GAVE US A BUCK 50 OR MORE.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU ELOQUENTLY STATED WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, AND I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT THIS. THIS IS FROM DAN COX.

IF WE CAN GET THIS SENT OUT TO THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, IT WOULD BE NICE.

DOCTOR EARLEYWINE GOT THIS IS KIND OF JUST SOME GENERAL INFORMATION.

I WANT THAT MY INTENT AT OUR NEXT BOARD IS TO BRING FORTH A RESOLUTION AND SUPPORT THE AEA.

BUT ALL THIS IS GOING TO BE TAKEN IN AND, WRITTEN IN A MANNER THAT SHOWS THE NEED FOR THE REVIEW, SHOWS THE NEED FOR THE SEPARATION OF THE TEACHER PAY FROM THIS BILL AND SHOWS WHAT WE AS A DISTRICT NEEDS TO DO IN OUR OWN SELF REFLECTION AS WELL.

AND I THINK. I WOULD JUST ASK IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A RESOLUTION, THE AEA SERVICES, I THINK, LANCE, YOU SAID IT.

IT'S NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE OR HAVE BEEN POSED AS A BURNING ISSUE.

IT JUST REALLY.

THEN AGAIN, THEN AGAIN.

IT WAS OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.

THERE WAS A PROCESS WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT.

RIGHT.

I WOULD JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE, AS I SAID OF MINE, IS IF YOU COME FORTH A RESOLUTION, I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE CHANGE ANYTHING FROM THE AEA.

I DO SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OF OUR OWN FUNDS AND MAKE CHOICES AND GET THAT OPTION TO MAKE CHOICES.

PRESIDENT GEORGE.

YES. WE TALKED ABOUT HYBRID OPT IN, OPT OUT.

WHERE DOES OUR PUBLIC UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE THINGS MEAN, AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO EDUCATE THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SUPPORT AND THEY DO WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO? WHEN WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE THINGS MEAN FOR OURSELVES? LET ALONE I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.

TODAY I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M HOPING WE HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT AND WE NEED THEIR SUPPORT.

I'M NOT SURE DES MOINES KNOWS EITHER YET.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF BEEN OUR ISSUE.

MAYBE NOT, BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THEM INFORMED ONCE WE START TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS PATH LOOKS LIKE? RIGHT, DOCTOR EARLEYWINE TALKED ABOUT THOSE OPTIONS.

VICE PRESIDENT LEE SAID WE HAVE TO MOVE QUICKLY, BUT WE HAVE TO BE INFORMED.

WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC IS INFORMED SO THEY SUPPORT IT, AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND WHY WE WANT TO DO IT.

GOOD POINT. RIGHT? MY RESPONSE IN SAYING MOVE QUICKLY MEANT THAT THERE WAS A DEADLINE THAT WAS SET.

SO I NEED TO BE CLEAR SO THAT I'M NOT MISINTERPRETED.

BUT THERE WAS A DATE THAT WAS PUT OUT THERE, AND I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT I'M NOT SAYING PUSH THIS ISSUE THROUGH.

I'M JUST SAYING LET'S BE METHODICAL ABOUT HOW WE WALK THROUGH THIS ISSUE SO THAT WE MEET THE DEADLINE TO COME THAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.

AND RIGHT NOW, AS STATED THAT APRIL 30TH DEADLINE IS NO LONGER THEY'RE GOING TO, TAKE THAT AWAY FOR NOW, BUT AT SOME POINT THERE'S GOING TO BE A DEADLINE.

A DEADLINE. WHATEVER THAT IS.

SO, AGAIN, AS I GET MORE INFORMATION, I WILL SHARE IT WITH THE BOARD.

AND SO I KEEP YOU ABREAST ALONG THE WAY AND NOT WAIT TILL THE END AND SAY, WELL, HERE IT IS.

SO AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL LEARN MORE AND I WILL, SPEAK UP FOR, BOB HENDERSON DID CONTACT ME AND HE MET WITH SOME LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS' LAST WEEK.

AND ANGELA TOOK PART IN THAT IN MY ABSENCE.

AND HE ORGANIZED THAT.

HE WANTED TO HEAR FROM SUPERINTENDENTS', WHICH I TRULY APPRECIATE HIM REACHING OUT TO US.

THAT HASN'T ALWAYS HAPPENED.

BUT IF WE CAN KEEP THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN WITH OUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS AND CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP, WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE BETTER OFF AND OUR STUDENTS WILL BE BETTER OFF.

YEAH, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING WE DO IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE STUDENTS AND THE STAFF OF THIS DISTRICT.

AND BUT WE NEED TO BEST SERVE THEM AS BEST WE CAN.

I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING.

YOU KNOW IT ALMOST AFTER HEARING SOME OF THE OTHER DIRECTORS SPEAK, IT ALMOST APPEARS AS THOUGH THAT TEACHER SALARY WAS A LITTLE CARROT TO SAY, HEY, IF YOU DO THIS, THEN YOU CAN HAVE THIS.

AND SO I QUESTION THE MOTIVE OF PUTTING THAT LITTLE CARROT INTO THIS SB 542 BILL, JUST A POINT OF CONSIDERATION.

AND THAT'S WHY SATURDAY WITH AND WE NORMALLY WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD TURNOUT WITH THE LEGISLATORS.

I KNOW IN THE PAST IT'S BEEN, ROCKY DE WITT, BOB HENDERSON AND JACOB BOSSMAN AND JD SCHOLTEN.

I THINK THEY HAVE ALL SHOWED UP AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE HERE SATURDAY AS WELL.

I KNOW JD HAS DONE SEVERAL ON FACEBOOK.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, INTERVIEWS, SESSIONS WHERE THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BILL.

THIS IS GENERATED THIS HAS PROBABLY GENERATED MORE, MINUTES OF DISCUSSION THAN A TYPICAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

[00:50:08]

AND SO, HOPEFULLY THEY GET IT IRONED OUT AND THEY ROLL THINGS BACK A LITTLE BIT AND ALLOW DISTRICTS TO DO THEIR EVALUATIONS AND THE STATE TO DO THEIR EVALUATIONS.

DIRECTORS, ANYMORE COMMENT REGARDING THIS GREAT DISCUSSION, BY THE WAY.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS THE SECOND AND FINAL READING OF BOARD POLICY.

[IX.B. Second & Final Reading of Board Policies - Dr. Rod Earleywine]

FROM DOCTOR ROD EARLEYWINE 404.6 JURY DUTY AND WITNESS DUTY.

404.7 MILITARY LEAVE.

431 EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS.

504.9 HOMELESS CHILDREN YOUTH.

BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE POLICIES FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING? SO MOVED. SECOND.

WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND.

BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION REGARDING THESE READINGS? SEANIECE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? NO.

BOARD MEMBERS ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.

THE POLICIES ARE APPROVED FOR THE SECOND AND FINAL READING.

SEVEN ZERO. IT'S THAT TIME OF NIGHT TO ADJOURN.

IS THERE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT? SO MOVED. SECONDED.

WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.