[00:00:03]
>> THERE WE GO, PEOPLE. GOOD EVENING.
[I. Call to Order]
IT'S MARCH 25TH, 2024 AT 06:00 P.M.HERE IN THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM.
I NOW CALL THE REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF THE ALLEGIANCE.
>> SHANICE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?
[IV. Approval of Agenda]
>> THEN FIRST AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA SAY AYE.
AGENDA IS APPROVED. IT'S THIS TIME THAT WE HAVE A CITIZEN INPUT.
[V. Citizen Input]
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INVITE INDIVIDUALS OR DELEGATION TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON ANY ISSUE RELATED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ON TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.REMEMBER TO STEP FORWARD, CITE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
BOARD MEMBERS MAY ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, BUT NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING.
SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> PAT TOBIN, 767 DEERFIELD DRIVE, SIOUX CITY, IOWA.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU MARCH'S MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH, AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT NORTH HIGH WITH OUR BAND PROGRAM.
NORTH HIGH BAND PROGRAM HAS SEEN A 40% INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, FROM 86 STUDENTS IN 2021 TO OVER 120 STUDENTS COMMITTED TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM NEXT FALL OR THIS COMING FALL.
BACK TO THAT TIME IN 2020, THERE WERE TWO BANDS, THE SYMPHONIC BAND AND CONCERT BAND, AND THROUGH THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE'VE GROWN THAT TO THREE BANDS TO SYMPHONIC BAND IN TWO CONCERT BANDS.
TO START OFF MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH, OUR BAND WAS ABLE TO DO A VIRTUAL CLINIC WITH GUNNERY SERGEANT, CECILIA KOSLOWSKI, MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT'S OWN FROM THE UNITED STATES MARINE BAND.
OUR STUDENTS LEARNED FROM HER DIFFERENT WAYS TO WORK ON THEIR BREATHING, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE WORK ON EVERY DAY, AND HOW TO STAY RELAXED WHILE THEY'RE PLAYING.
ALSO, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE PAST MONTH BE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL HONOR BANDS.
WE WERE UP AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY AND WE WERE OVER AT UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
WE TALK ABOUT BEING COLLEGE AND CAREER READY, AND SO WE PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET ONTO A CAMPUS AND PLAY IN DIFFERENT HONOR BANDS.
OUR STUDENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN ACTIVE IN BAND OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL DAY.
THIS FALL, THEY PLACED THIRD IN FINALS AT LES HILLS MARCHING MAIN FIELD FEST IN GLENWOOD.
LOOKING AT THE RECORDS, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE NORTH HIGH HAS PLACED IN A MARCHING BAND COMPETITION AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE STUDENTS AND ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND COMPETE.
MOST RECENTLY, THE NORTH HIGH JAZZ 1 COMPETED AT NORTHWEST IOWA BAND MASTERS ASSOCIATION DISTRICT JAZZ FESTIVAL, PLACING SECOND, AND WE WILL TAKE OFF FOR AMES A WEEK FROM TODAY TO COMPETE AT JAZZ CHAMPIONSHIPS IN AMES ON APRIL 2ND.
ALSO OF NOTE, WE'VE GOT AN ACTIVE DRUM LINE THAT REPRESENTS NORTH HIGH AT MANY ACTIVITIES, WE WALK OUR STUDENTS AROUND THE BUILDING WHEN THEY'RE STATE BOUND.
THIS MONTH IN PARTICULAR, THEY'VE BEEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY DOING A LOT OF WORK.
SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET TO HEAR ALL OF THIS GREAT STUFF DOWN IN THE WEEDS THAT'S HAPPENING, AND SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
THEY SPENT SOME TIME AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB PLAYING, AND THEY ALSO WORKED WITH THE STUDENTS AT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
THERE'S SOME PICTURES OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF THEM WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS AS WELL.
THEY ALSO OPENED UP THE SUNLAND HOME SHOW.
WE WERE INVITED TO DO THAT AND ALSO PLAY AT SOME MUSKY'S GAMES, SO THEY SPENT LAST WEEKEND PLAYING AT SOME MUSKY'S GAMES.
WE'RE PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS, SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT.
THEY GATHER TO MAKE MUSIC DAILY.
WE'RE PROUD TO OFFER A SPACE WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ENHANCE THEIR CREATIVE THINKING AND EXPAND THEIR CREATIVE SKILLS.
THE BAND ROOM IS A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS HANG OUT BEFORE SCHOOL, DURING HOME ROOM, THEIR LUNCH, AND AFTER SCHOOL.
I'M GRATEFUL THAT THROUGH THE POSITION THAT I'VE BEEN IN FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, TWO OF THOSE YEARS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE THERE ALL DAY TO PROVIDE THAT SPACE FOR THEM.
WE'RE PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS ACADEMICS ACHIEVEMENTS.
[00:05:02]
THEY SAY THE SKILLS LEARNED IN PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT AND MAKING MUSIC TOGETHER HELP ACADEMIC SKILLS.WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THE COMBINED GPA OF OUR STUDENTS.
OUR MARCHING STARS BOASTED A COMBINED GPA OF 3.132 COMING OFF A FIRST SEMESTER, AND NOTED FOR EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN OUR NORTH HIGH JAZZ 1, A 3.55 COMBINED GPA.
THIS SHOWS YOU THE ART DO MATTER.
IRONICALLY, THE LAST TIME I STOOD IN FRONT OF YOU, I SAID THIS SHOULD BECOME A DESTINATION DISTRICT.
LET'S WORK TO CONTINUE THE SUCCESS AND BUILD AND WORK TOGETHER TO BE A DISTRICT WHERE THE ARTS THRIVE FROM EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT AT ALL LEVELS.
WHERE WE START SEEING NOT ONLY THE GROWTH OF OUR STUDENTS WITHIN THE PROGRAM, WE'VE SEEN A 40% INCREASE, BUT WE ALSO BECOME THAT PLACE WHERE STUDENTS START OPEN ENROLLING FROM OTHER DISTRICTS.
WE'VE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
WE'VE GOT CLASSES IN OUR FOUR DISTRICT HARMONY, AP MUSIC THEORY, JAZZ IMPROV AMONG SOME OF THEM.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SHARE TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> SHANICE, IS THERE ANOTHER ONE?
>> NICHOLAS ARVIS, 4701 PERRY WAY.
I'M ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NORTH HIGH BANDS AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE NORTH HIGH JAZZ 1 AND THE DRUM LINE.
I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE CLASSES AND SOME OF THE THINGS FOR THE FUTURE.
I'M TRYING TO ENROLL IN THE JAZZ IMPROV AND HARMONY FOR NEXT YEAR AND ALSO AP MUSIC THEORY, AND JUST TO HELP ME GROW MY MUSICAL FUTURE FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
I FEEL LIKE THESE CLASSES COULD REALLY IMPROVE ME AND MY PEERS' MUSICAL ABILITY AS WELL AS TO GROW AND MAYBE EVEN START EDUCATING IN MUSIC.
THAT'S JUST REALLY WHAT I JUST WANTED TO SAY.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR THOSE CLASSES IN BEING OFFERED AT NORTH HIGH?
>> NICK, IN THIS FORUM FROM WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM RIGHT NOW, BY LAW, WE CAN'T RESPOND TO THAT.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY ALL I GOT.
>> IF YOU DO COME UP WITH SOME OTHER QUESTIONS, GO AHEAD AND EMAIL THE BOARD AND WE'LL FORWARD THEM TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GET TO AND THEY'LL GET BACK TO YOU.
>> MIYUKI NELSON, 1935 PLUM CREEK ROAD, SIOUX CITY 51103.
I'M ALSO HERE REPRESENTING NORTH STAR SPAN, INC.
WHICH IS THE NONPROFIT THAT SUPPORTS THE BAND PROGRAM AT NORTH PO.
BOX 2044, SIOUX CITY, IOWA 51102.
JUST TO ECHO OFF OF WHAT NICO BROUGHT UP, THERE'S GREAT CONCERN ABOUT WHAT CLASSES WILL BE OFFERED, HOW THEY WOULD CONFLICT IN THE WAY THAT THEY WILL BE OFFERED.
THERE'S BEEN COMMUNICATION THAT WAS LATER SUPPORTED BY A MEETING I HAD WITH MRS. BEAMS THAT AP CLASSES, THESE ARE THE UPPER LEVEL CLASSES, AS WELL AS SOME COLLEGE CREDIT CLASSES, WILL BE MOVING DOWN HERE TO THE CAREER ACADEMY UPSTAIRS.
TYPICALLY, THESE CLASSES ARE OFFERED AT EACH INDIVIDUAL SITE, AND SOME OF THEM ARE OFFERED PERHAPS AT ONE SCHOOL AND NOT OFFERED AT THE OTHER ONE.
WHERE STUDENTS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL THERE, MOST STUDENTS DON'T CHOOSE TO TRAVEL ANYMORE.
MOST STUDENTS DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL DOWN HERE MUCH EITHER.
I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF CHRISTIAN THAT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU COME DOWN TO THE CAREER ACADEMY, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED, BY EXPECTATION, TO CARRY ON THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD IN A BUILDING.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? ACTIVITIES. YOU MAY NOT BE EXCUSED FROM THE WORK.
YOU MAY NOT BE EXCUSED TO GO TO THE ACTIVITIES.
[00:10:04]
STUDENTS HAVE TO CHOOSE.ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL IS HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE OFFERED THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES.
YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WILL BAND BE AFFECTED BY THESE UPCOMING CHANGES.
CURRENTLY, THE STAFF IS WORKING ON SCHEDULES, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I HAD THIS WHOLE THING LAID OUT ON HOW I WAS GOING TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS TODAY.
I SPOKE WITH MRS. BEAMS. WE HAD A MEETING.
MISS HARDER AND MISS ARVIS WERE ALSO PRESENT AT THAT MEETING.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE CHANGE IS COMING FROM.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CREATE EQUITY, THAT'S GREAT, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO CREATE EQUITY, SOMETIMES SOME THINGS CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER.
WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE CONCERNED THAT IF AP CLASSES HAVE TO BE DOWNTOWN, STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE AT THE CAREER ACADEMY FOR TWO BLOCKS.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE HERE CONCERNED ABOUT IS IN MY CONVERSATION WITH MRS. BEAMS, THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED STUDENTS HAS CHANGED AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR TIMES IN THE PERIOD FROM THURSDAY TO TODAY.
SOMETIMES YOU THINK, WELL, MISTAKES HAPPEN, IT COULD BE CLUMSY.
BUT WHEN IT KEEPS HAPPENING, I'M WONDERING, ARE WE TRYING TO PROVE A POINT OR ARE WE TRYING TO KEEP THE KIDS FROM BEING INVOLVED? RIGHT NOW, PAT SAID WE HAD 40% INCREASE IN CHRISTIAN'S FRESHMAN YEAR.
THAT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT 80 AND IT'S GROWN ABOUT 20 EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
THE LAST REGISTRATION NUMBERS THAT WERE SHARED WITH ME, WE WERE AT 123.
LAST WEEK OUR DIRECTORS WERE TOLD THAT THEY WILL ONLY HAVE ONE SECTION OF SYMPHONIC AND ONE SECTION OF CONCERT.
LET'S DO THE MATH, THERE'S 40 SEATS IN THAT ROOM.
IN ORDER TO HAVE A BAND, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WOODWIND SECTION, A BRASS SECTION, A PERCUSSION SECTION, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE, DID I FORGET ANYTHING? YES. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE AN OFF-BALANCE BAN.
WE CAN'T HAVE 22 PERCUSSIONISTS IN ONE ROOM.
THERE WON'T BE ENOUGH INSTRUMENTS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO HAVE BALANCE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS REMEMBER I TOLD YOU THAT THE NUMBER FLUCTUATED 123 STUDENTS WHEN WE FIND OUT WHERE THE OTHER NUMBER WAS.
WHY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NUMBER THAT WAS SHARED HERE AND THE NUMBER LATER ON, IT WAS THAT THE SYMPHONIC KIDS, WHICH ARE THE AUDITION BASED BAND, WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT COUNT.
NOW I WOULD SAY LET'S PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE HERE.
THEY WEREN'T INCLUDED BECAUSE PERHAPS THOSE ARE THE KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THE MOST CONFLICTS. I DON'T KNOW.
I BRIEFLY SAW A SNAPSHOT OF THE CONFLICT REPORT.
I ACTUALLY SENT BOARD LEADERSHIP A REQUEST FOR RECORDS.
I WILL BE AMENDING THAT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE CONDENSED AND PRECISE RECORDS REQUESTED.
THE POINT HERE IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OPPORTUNITY EXISTS.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THE FACT THAT OUR PROGRAM IS GROWING.
I GET THAT THERE WAS AN EMAIL THAT TALKED ABOUT WE DON'T DESTROY PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, WHAT? YOU KNOW, THE EXPRESSION, THE PATH, GOOD INTENTIONS IS WHATEVER.
WELL, YEAH, EVERYTHING IS MEANT WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.
WE JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP EVERYBODY'S ENTRANCE UP IN FRONT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SHARE WAS ON FEBRUARY 12, I CAME HERE AND SPOKE IN FRONT OF YOU ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND ABOUT INSTRUMENT REPAIR.
YOU ARE NOW GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT YOUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.
I COULDN'T FIND WHERE THOSE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES ARE BUDGETED UNDER, BUT WE STILL DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO REPAIR THE INSTRUMENTS THAT THE DISTRICT ACTUALLY OWNS.
AS A BAND PARENT AND ACTUALLY THE FUNDRAISER AND BAND PARENT PRECEDENT.
I'M TELLING YOU, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO FUNDRAISE,
[00:15:03]
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.RIGHT NOW, ALL WE HAVE IS TWO DIRECTORS, A BAND ROOM AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF AGING INSTRUMENTS.
FOR YOU TO ASK US TAXPAYERS TO ACTUALLY GET THOSE INSTRUMENTS REPAIR, I THINK IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
THERE'S $25,000 ON PAGE 16 22 FOR THE SALES TAX THAT ARE SCHEDULED FOR, I THINK NEW INSTRUMENTS.
I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU TO, INSTEAD OF BUYING NEW INSTRUMENTS, REPAIR THE ONES WE ALREADY HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> HEATH, YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES.
>> HEATH WEBBER, SIOUX CITY, IOWA 4411 MORNINGSIDE AVENUE. GREETINGS.
IT'S FUNNY, AS I WAS PREPPING SOME COMMENTS, I THOUGHT I DON'T KNOW VERY MANY OF THE PEOPLE, BUT I DO.
BUT I'M STILL GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MY HISTORY SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM AS AN EDUCATOR IN THIS DISTRICT.
CURRENTLY, I EXIST AS THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS AT MORNINGSIDE, WHERE WE SEND LOTS OF OUR STUDENTS TO DO PRACTICUMS AND, OF COURSE, STUDENT TEACHING IN THE DISTRICT.
BUT I COME TO YOU TODAY MORE OF IN A HISTORICAL SETTING TO GIVE YOU SOME CONCERN THAT I HAVE ABOUT THE STAFFING THAT'S HAPPENING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR.
AS A MATTER OF HISTORY, I THINK I DO COME WITH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CREDIBILITY.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF MY TIME IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE SUCCESS THAT I ENJOY AT MORNINGSIDE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE I LED SIOUX CITY'S LARGEST STUDENT ORGANIZATION FOR TEN YEARS.
IN FACT, IT WAS I WAS LARGEST STUDENT ORGANIZATION FOR ALL THOSE TEN YEARS,450 STUDENTS AT EAST HIGH SCHOOL, 1,200 TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION AT THAT TIME, 33%, MORE THAN 33% OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION SANG IN MY ENSEMBLES.
IF YOU COUNTED THE NUMBER OF TIMES MY DOORS TURNED, MEANING THE TIMES THAT I HAD MY SHOW CHOIRS, OR ALL STATE, OR MUSICAL, OR MADRIGAL OR SOLO ENSEMBLE CONTEST, OR ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, THAT THAT PROGRAM IS REQUIRED, AND I SAY REQUIRED BECAUSE IF YOU TELL ME THAT I NEED TO JUST GIVE UP ONE OF THOSE THINGS, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THAT I WAS REQUIRED TO DO.
MY DOOR TURNED AS MANY AS 750,800 TIMES A DAY, 450 STUDENTS THAT I WOULD SEE, TWO, THREE TIMES A DAY.
MY STUDENTS WORKED HARD, AND THEY EARNED LOCAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL RECOGNITIONS AS THE BEST OF THE BEST.
THIS WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT WAS STAFFED APPROPRIATELY, AND STUDENTS WERE OFFERED OPPORTUNITY THAT ALLOWED THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT NEARLY ANYTHING THEY CHOSE TO TRY, BECAUSE THERE WERE STAFF MEMBERS AVAILABLE.
WHEN I STARTED AT EAST HIGH SCHOOL, WE WERE STAFFED AT 1.4 FTE AND 2.0 AT EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AS OUR NUMBERS GREW, THAT STAFFING GREW TO 2.6 FTE, AND IT REMAINED 2.0 AT EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL.
OUR STAFFING WAS DIFFERENT THAN THAT AT WEST HIGH SCHOOL AND NORTH HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY WERE TWO VERY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. THEY LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT, THEY HAD VERY DIFFERENT EXTRA CURRICULAR EXPECTATIONS.
BUT THE EXPERTS IN EACH BUILDING SAID, I WOULD LIKE THIS STAFFING FOR MY PROGRAM.
I WOULD LOVE IT IF I COULD HAVE THIS STAFFING FOR MY PROGRAM.
AT THE TIME, REX TOWNS AT NORTH HIGH SAID, I JUST WANTED TO BE ME.
I JUST WANT TO BE ME. THAT WAS REX TOO.
THEY KNEW WHAT WAS BEST FOR THEIR PROGRAM AND HOW THEIR PROGRAMS COULD GROW OR HAVE GROWN.
THERE IS MOVEMENT AFOOT TO CHANGE STAFFING IN OUR BUILDINGS SO THAT EVERY BUILDING IS THE SAME IRRESPECTIVE OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, THE EXTRA CURRICULAR EXPECTATIONS, OR THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF THE PROGRAM.
SOME OF THE JUSTIFICATION THE EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN TOLD IS THAT THESE MOVES WILL HELP DRUM UP INTEREST AND GROW PROGRAMS. I CAN AGREE WITH THAT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, HOWEVER, IF AN EDUCATOR IS AT ONE BUILDING IN THE MORNING, HUSTLES TO ANOTHER BUILDING TO BE THERE IN THE AFTERNOON, AND THEN HAS TO GO BACK BECAUSE OF ANY NUMBER OF EXTRA CURRICULAR EXPECTATIONS, WE ARE LOSING OUT IN TWO BUILDINGS.
IF THIS WERE ME AND I WAS GOING FROM EAST HIGH SCHOOL, I LEFT MY COURSE, WENT DOWN TO EAST MIDDLE TAUGHT, AND THEN I'D GO BACK TO EAST HIGH SCHOOL TO TEACH AGAIN, IF MY STUDENTS NEEDED ME AT EAST HIGH, WHEN I WAS DOWN AT EAST MIDDLE, I'M GONE.
IF MY STUDENTS IN EAST MIDDLE NEED ME WHEN I'M BACK AT EAST HIGH, I'M GONE.
OUR STUDENTS LOSE IN TWO BUILDINGS.
THAT'S PROBLEMATIC, ESPECIALLY, GIVEN THE KIND OF DISTRICT THAT I KNOW THAT WE ARE A DISTRICT THAT I WAS VERY PROUD TO TEACH IN FOR A LONG TIME.
PULLING EDUCATORS OUT OF ONE BUILDING BREAKS RELATIONSHIPS, AND IT LIMITS THE CONTACT EACH STUDENT MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE.
PULLING ONE FTE FROM THOSE PROGRAMS THAT DEMAND MORE FTE BECAUSE OTHER PROGRAMS NEED TO BUILD JUST TO MAKE THEM EQUAL IS NOT FAIR.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT MANTRA FOR US TO REMEMBER.
I SAID THIS A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I TAUGHT AT EAST THAT MY PROGRAM DEMANDED DIFFERENT THINGS THAN ANOTHER PROGRAM.
[00:20:03]
I WILL ALSO TELL YOU THAT I'M NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF EAST HIGH SCHOOL, NORTH HIGH SCHOOL, WEST HIGH SCHOOL.ANYTHING. I'M JUST TELLING YOU MY EXPERIENCE AND THAT I'M FRUSTRATED.
IF I HAD A KID THAT WAS GOING TO EAST, I WOULD BE FRUSTRATED AS A PARENT.
HAVE THE STUDENTS CHANGED IN EAST HIGH SCHOOL? MAYBE A LITTLE TINY BIT.
HAVE THEY CHANGED IN THE DISTRICT? MAYBE A LITTLE TINY BIT.
WHAT HAS CHANGED IS THE NUMBER, EAST HIGH SCHOOL WAS 1,200 STUDENTS, WHEN I SHARED IT IN 2001, IT IS FAR BEYOND THAT.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS SHRINKING.
SOMETHING STRANGE IS AFOOT, AND I CAN'T QUITE FIGURE OUT WHY WE DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS. THERE ARE WILDLY DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS IN EACH AREA; BAND, CHORUS, ORCHESTRA.
WE SHOULD ALLOW THOSE EXPERTS TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO IN THE WAY THAT THEY SEE FIT AND HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT THAT IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. I'M ALWAYS GLAD TO SEE YOUR FACES.
>> PRESIDENT GEORGE, CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION OF HEATH BEFORE HE WALKS AWAY?
>> FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN UP HERE, I ADMIRE YOUR PASSION AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME FORWARD.
BUT HOW DID THIS TOPIC GET TO YOU, AND WHY DID YOU FEEL THAT YOU NEEDED TO BE HERE TONIGHT?
>> I FELT THAT I NEEDED TO BE HERE.
IT'S COME TO ME FROM MANY DIFFERENT PLACES.
I'VE HEARD COMMENTS FROM SOME FOLKS ON THE NORTH SIDES, FROM SOME FOLKS ON THE WEST SIDE, AND SOME FOLKS ON THE EAST SIDE.
IT REALLY GETS AT ME BECAUSE OF WHAT I KNOW I WAS ABLE TO DO WITH THE STAFFING THAT I HAD AND HOW I KNOW IT HAS AFFECTED THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY HAVE FEWER FTE.
FOR ME FROM A HISTORICAL ASPECT, IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART BECAUSE WE HAVE EXCELLENT EDUCATORS IN THOSE BUILDINGS AND WE ARE SHUFFLING THEM TO ALL FOUR DIRECTIONS, LIKE LITERALLY ALL FOUR DIRECTIONS.
IT REALLY BREAKS MY HEART BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AFFORDING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO WITH A FELLOW EDUCATOR.
>> WHEN IT'S COME TO YOU, IS IT PARENTS OR IS IT EDUCATORS THAT HAVE COME TO YOU?
>> IT'S PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU. SHANICE, IS THERE ANOTHER ONE?
>> JUNE, YOU KNOW THE ROUTINE AND YOU GET 5 MINUTES.
I LIVE AT 4278 FIELD CREST DRIVE IN SIOUX CITY, AND I'M SPEAKING AS AN EMPLOYEE OF SIOUX CITY SCHOOLS WHO WORKS AT UNITY ELEMENTARY.
I APPRECIATE THAT EACH ELEMENTARY WAS PLACED WITH ONE FULL TIME COUNSELOR A FEW YEARS AGO.
I'VE BEEN AT UNITY, FOUR YEARS FULL TIME, AND PRIOR WAS A TRAVELING ELEMENTARY COUNSELOR FOR THREE YEARS.
I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN AT UNITY SEVEN YEARS NOW, AS UNITY WAS ONE OF THE BUILDINGS I TRAVELED TO.
I DID LOVE TRAVELING, BUT I REALLY DO ENJOY BEING IN ONE PLACE AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENT STAFF.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, UNITY HAS GREAT TEACHERS, BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS, AND THERE'S BEEN A WONDERFUL TEAM AT UNITY HELPING TO SUPPORT OUR BUILDING MADE UP OF MYSELF, OUR CT, OUR BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST, OUR ATTENDANT SPECIALIST, THE REGISTRAR, AND OUR PRINCIPAL.
TWO OF THOSE KEY PLAYERS, THE CT AND OUR BUILDING SUPPORT SPECIALIST ARE DISPLACED.
OUR BUILDING SUPPORT IS GOING TO LOOK VERY DIFFERENT OUR NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR.
I'VE WONDERED FOR A FEW YEARS, SEVEN ACTUALLY, WHY UNITY DOES NOT HAVE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL? I FELT LIKE THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO ASK.
BUT TO CLARIFY, MY QUESTION IS NOT ABOUT ANYONE IN PARTICULAR, IT JUST FEELS LIKE A GOOD TIME TO ASK.
MY QUESTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, FOR WHOMEVER MAKES THE DECISION IS WHAT DOES IT TAKE? WHAT ARE THE METRICS FOR PLACING AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT A BUILDING? IS IT A NUMBER? PERHAPS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS OR THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS, OR BEHAVIOR REFERRALS, OR PERHAPS, IT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO ARE AT RISK DUE TO MOBILITY, OR ATTENDANCE, OR GRADES, OR OTHER FACTORS.
PERHAPS IT HAS TO DO WITH IEP OR ESL SUPPORT.
MAYBE RESULTS FROM THE CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING SURVEY OR OUR IO ASSESSMENT SCORES BEAR SOME WEIGHT.
[00:25:04]
HOWEVER THE FORMULA IS WRITTEN AND TO WHOEVER MAKES THAT CALL, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER MORE NUMBERS THAN JUST ENROLLMENT, IF THAT'S WHAT THE CASE IS.IN A DATA DRIVEN PROFESSION SUCH AS OURS, IT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE THAT A SCHOOL IN NEED NEEDS MORE SUPPORT, NOT LESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
SHANICE, IS THERE ANOTHER ONE?
>> NATASHA, YOU'VE SEEN THE ROUTINE.
>> GOOD EVENING. NATASHA BOWERS, 1216 29TH STREET, SIOUX CITY, IOWA 51104.
I AM FORMER NORTH STARS BAND INC. ALL SEATS.
AT SOME POINT OR OTHER IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
I HAVE A SON WHO GRADUATED THREE YEARS AGO NOW, AND I HAVE A SON WHO WAS A JUNIOR THIS YEAR.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING INVOLVED VERY DEEPLY IN THE FUNDING OF AND THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.
THIS SON, PARTICULARLY, IS INVOLVED IN ALL THINGS MUSIC.
THIS YEAR HE DECIDED TO ALSO ENJOY JOINING THE MUSICAL AS WELL AS CHOIR, MID-SEASON FOUND OUT THAT HE'S A WONDERFUL SINGER.
HE'S ALSO IN ORCHESTRA, PLAYS THE VIOLA.
HE'S ALSO IN MARCHING BAND, SYMPHONIC JAZZ BAND, AND SEVERAL OTHER SIDE CLASSES THAT HE'S DECIDED TO TAKE, INCLUDING OUR HARMONIES CLASS, JAZZ IMPROV, AND SEVERAL OTHERS OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED.
HE GOT TO GO TO STATE THIS YEAR, ALL STATE BAND.
HE WAS ONE OF TWO OF OUR STUDENTS THAT WERE CHOSEN FROM NORTH HIGH IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, VERY PROUD OF MY SON.
ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HE'S HAD AVAILABLE TO HIM, AMONGST THE PLETHORA OF DIRECTORS WE'VE SEEN IN OUR SCHOOL OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, HAVE BUILT HIM UP TO BE ABLE TO BE THE PERFORMER THAT HE IS.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN SIOUX CITY.
I'M FROM A VERY TINY TOWN WHERE WE HAD A LOT OF MONEY.
I GREW UP VERY PRIVILEGED, DIDN'T KNOW THAT UNTIL I MOVED TO ANOTHER TOWN WHERE I REALIZED YOU HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO AFFORD EXTRACURRICULARS.
EITHER SIDE OF THAT STORY, I AGREE THAT MUSIC BELONGS EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.
HAD MY SON NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN ALL THREE THINGS THIS YEAR, BAND, ORCHESTRA, AND NOW CHOIR, HE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HE HAS COME TO KNOW OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT HE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HONOR BAND.
BECAUSE OF THE CONNECTIONS THAT HE MADE THROUGH BAND WITH OUR DIRECTORS.
HE WAS ALSO INVITED TO BE AT THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY HONOR BAND.
AGAIN, MAKING CONNECTIONS AMONGST THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
HE'S PARTICIPATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA SUMMER PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE THERE, MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS HERE WHO ALSO WENT SO THAT IT'S A MULTI-SCHOOL CONNECTION.
THOSE STUDENTS WILL MOST LIKELY END UP KNOWING EACH OTHER MOST OF THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THE EVENTS THEY WERE ALLOWED TO BE A PART OF.
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION, WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DIRECTORS HE'S HAD, HE DOES HAVE TO FIGHT FOR TIME FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING WHICH HE WOULD LIKE TO USE TO BE ABLE TO ADVANCE HIS MUSICAL CAREER.
AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER THIS EVENING, HAVING DIFFERENT DIRECTORS HAVE TO SPLIT THEIR TIME AMONGST THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ANY ADDITIONAL TUTELAGE THAT HE MIGHT WANT TO RECEIVE TO BE ABLE TO FURTHER BEYOND JUST WHAT'S AVAILABLE HERE.
I HAVE AGAIN, SEVEN YEARS WORTH OF EXPERIENCE WATCHING OUR DIRECTORS STRUGGLE TO TRY AND DO THEIR ABOVE AND UTMOST.
THEY'RE PUTTING IN 12-HOUR DAYS ON AN AVERAGE, JUST TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS TOUCHED AT THE BASE LEVEL, LET ALONE EXCEL.
HAVING THEM HAVE TO SPLIT THEIR TIME BETWEEN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
I SEE THE FRUSTRATION IN ALL OF THE DIRECTORS.
WE TALK ON A DAILY BASIS ABOUT HOW THEY WISH THEY COULD BE MORE PLACES AT ONCE, BUT THEY CAN'T.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, ABOUT THAT CHANGE.
I'M OPEN TO THE CONVERSATION OF WHAT THAT CAN AND POSSIBLY WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE IF OUR DIRECTORS SUCCEED AND ARE ABLE TO ASSIST EVERYONE IN THE WAY THAT THEY WANT TO, NOTHING BUT EXCELLENCE WILL BE COMING FROM IT IN EVERY SCHOOL.
I ONLY KNOW MY STORY AT NORTH HIGH, BUT I DO KNOW FAMILIES FROM BOTH EAST AND WEST, AND I HEAR THE SAME STORIES FROM THEM AS WELL.
[00:30:01]
IT'S ALSO ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR.OUR DIRECTORS WANT TO SUCCEED.
THEY WANT TO DO EXCEPTIONALLY WELL BY OUR STUDENTS, AND I SEE IT EVERY DAY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SHANIZ, DO WE HAVE ANY MORE?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS CHARLES NELSON.
I LIVE AT 1935 PLUM CREEK ROAD CITY.
THEY'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT THE NORTH HIGH BAND.
I'M ALSO A NORTH HIGH BAND PARENT AS WELL.
THERE'S THREE BASIC POINTS THAT THEY'RE ALL DANCING AROUND, ONE, BUSES.
WE HAVE ALREADY RUN INTO, WE CAN'T GET A BUS.
AND NOBODY WILL TELL US WHY AND NOBODY TELL US WHAT THE PROTOCOL IS FOR THE BUS.
I COME AT THIS FROM A SITUATION WE'VE ALREADY EXPERIENCED WHERE WE'VE ALREADY CANCELED ONE EVENT BECAUSE THEY TOLD US WE COULDN'T GET A BUS.
WITH 120 KIDS TO GO, WE CAN'T GET A BUS. COST A FORTUNE.
AND BY THE TIME THEY TOLD US WE COULDN'T EVEN CHARTER A BUS, SO WE NEED TO GET SOME PROTOCOLS.
WE KNOW HOW THE BUSING WILL ACTUALLY WORK.
DOESN'T NEVER SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM FOR FOOTBALL BUT WHEN BAND ASKS BIG PROBLEM AND WE NEED THAT TO GET FIXED.
THE POINT THAT THEY'RE ALL TRYING TO MAKE WITH RESPECT TO ALL THE AP CLASS IS MOVING DOWN TO DOWNTOWN.
WHAT THAT IS AMOUNTING TO IS THINGS LIKE MUSIC THEORY, WHICH OBVIOUSLY BAND AND MUSIC THEORY MIGHT LINE UP.
YOU CAN'T DO BOTH BECAUSE IF YOU GO DOWN FOR THE BLOCK, YOU CAN'T BE IN BAND.
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH TRUE OF MOST OF THE AP CLASSES IF YOU HAVE TO GO DURING THE FIRST BLOCK, WHICH IS WHEN BAND IS TYPICALLY IN THE MORNING.
THE CONFLICT IS, IF WE MOVE ALL THE AP CLASSES DOWNTOWN, THE KIDS CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN BAND, AND WE'RE CUTTING THEIR LEGS OFF IN THAT RESPECT.
THAT'S WHERE THE OTHER CONFLICT IS.
THE THIRD ONE IS CLASS SIZE RESTRICTION.
WE'VE GOT MORE KIDS THAN WE'VE EVER HAD, AND WE'RE NOT LETTING THEM ALL FIT BECAUSE THE CLASSROOM ITSELF SIMPLY WON'T FIT.
SO WE NEED TO SIMPLY ADD ANOTHER PERIOD, ANOTHER BAND, OR ANOTHER GROUP TO MAKE THAT WORK, YET SO FAR OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS TOLD US WE CAN'T, AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO RECTIFY THAT SITUATION.
AND THAT'S REALLY THE THREE MAIN POINTS I WANTED TO BRING. THANKS.
>> MR. NELSON, CAN YOU TELL US WHEN THE EVENT WAS CANCELED AND ANY DETAILS AROUND THAT?
>> WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO A CLINIC IN ATLANTIC IOWA.
I WANT TO SAY IT WAS IN FEBRUARY.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO A CLINIC IN FEBRUARY.
WE WERE TOLD THAT, NO, IT WAS EVEN WORSE THAN THAT.
OUR ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR CALLED HIM, CANCELED IT, AND WE COULDN'T EVEN REFUND OUR REGISTRATION FEE BECAUSE THEY'D ALREADY RESERVED THE SLOT FOR US AND WE WERE SO LATE.
THEY TOLD US DAYS BEFORE THE EVENT THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO GET BUSING, AND WE COULDN'T EVEN CHARTER A BUS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO EVEN TRY.
OUR FRUSTRATION WAS THAT THAT NEVER HAPPENS TO THE FOOTBALL TEAM.
THE FOOTBALL TEAM GOES TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES, AND THE BAND DOES TOO, AND YET WE GOT TOLD MORE OR LESS THAT, WELL, THAT WAS A VOLUNTARY EVENT.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO ATLANTIC LIKE, WELL, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PLAY FOOTBALL IN DES MOINES EITHER, BUT THEY DO EVERY YEAR.
WE JUST FELT THAT WAS COMPLETELY UNFAIR.
THAT'S WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM.
>> DR. LEWIN, MAYBE YOU OR JIM CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION FOR ME, BUT WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL TO GET A BUS OR TO RESERVE A BUS? I DO KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF DRIVERS, BUT WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL? MAYBE CHARLIE CAN ANSWER THAT FOR ME.
>> WE HAD A MEETING WITH OUR PRINCIPAL FOR PROBABLY A HALF AN HOUR, AND THE ONLY ANSWER WE GOT WAS WE'RE WORKING ON IT, AND THEY WERE REWRITING THAT PROTOCOL.
AND TO ME, THIS THING HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 30, 40 YEARS.
THIS PROTOCOL SHOULD ALREADY BE WELL ESTABLISHED.
>> JUST SPEAKING ON MY BEHALF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND TALKING.
I LOVE THE PASSION FROM YOU GUYS.
I WISH I HAD MUSICAL TALENT, BUT I DON'T.
I'VE BEEN INTRODUCED TO A FEW THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT I FIND VERY MOVING AND MUSIC IS ONE OF THEM.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND TALKING TO US AND LET US KNOW YOUR CONCERNS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
HOPEFULLY, AS WE MOVE FORWARD,
[00:35:02]
WE FIGURE THINGS OUT AS BEST WE CAN.WE ARE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM WHICH IS OUR CONSENT ITEM.
[VI. Consent Action Item(s)]
THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS ARE THE FOLLOWING.A, BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 11, 2024, DR. ROD [INAUDIBLE] B, HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT, DR. JEN GOMEZ.
C, FINANCE REPORT, PATTY BLANKENSHIP.
D, CHARACTER STRONG, JIM VANDER LOU. JARED MOSER.
E, CONTRACT FOR BOARD APPROVAL JIM VANDER LOU, JARED MOSER.
F, FACILITY RENTAL CONTRACT, JIM VANDER LOU, JARED MOSER.
G, LEARNING BEYOND THE BELL GRANT JARED MOSER.
H, CONSTRUCTION OF THE EAST HIGH BATTING CAGE, TIM PAUL AND BJ COKE.
I, DESIGN AGREEMENT WITH CM BA ARCHITECTS FOR THE NORTH HIGH ELEVATOR REPLACEMENT, TIM PAUL.
J, DESIGN AGREEMENT WITH EDA FOR BUS BARN ELECTRICAL UPGRADE, TIM PAUL.
K, SAT BROTHERS PETROLEUM, TIM PAUL.
L, FISCAL YEAR 25 NATURAL GAS CONTRACT TIM PAUL.
M, FISCAL YEAR 25 E-RATE CATEGORY 1, CHAD FENO.
N, HIGH STEEP PROGRESS MONITORING KIM NEAL.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEM, ACTION ITEMS? DID WE GET IT FIRST?
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> THERE IS, PRESIDENT GEORGE.
>> I HAVE SIX ITEMS THAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT TONIGHT.
FIRST, WE CAN START WITH CHARACTER STRONG.
HOPEFULLY, I'VE DOCUMENTED THEM ACCORDING TO HOW THEY WERE ON THE AGENDA.
>> JUST ABOUT EVERY BOARD MEETING, I ASK THIS KIND OF QUESTION AND I NEVER GET THE ANSWER FOR WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
IN CHARACTER STRONG, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WE'VE HAD IN PLACE BEFORE AND YOU'RE LOOKING TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT.
WHAT SUCCESS HAVE WE HAD OUT OF THAT PROGRAM AND IS IT REALLY GIVING US THE VALUE THAT WE PAY FOR IT?
>> JARED, WILL YOU COME TO THE MIKE?
>> THIS YEAR IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED IT IN OUR BUILDINGS.
IT REPLACED SECOND STEP, WHICH WE HAD FOR MANY YEARS WITH VERY LITTLE SUCCESS.
IT'S AN SEL PROGRAM THAT WE'RE USING IN K-12 TO PROMOTE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SELF-MONITORING SKILLS IN STUDENTS.
>> THIS CURRENT YEAR THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE HAD THAT?
>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE SUCCESS OUT OF THAT PROGRAM?
>> RIGHT NOW I COULDN'T GIVE YOU A MEASURING TOOL WITH IT.
WE HAVEN'T TAKEN THE CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING SURVEY YET THIS YEAR.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GIVE THE SABERS ASSESSMENT DUE TO THE NEW ACTIVE CONSENT LAW.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET THE ACTIVE CONSENT PIECE FIGURED OUT FOR OPEN HOUSE NEXT YEAR, BUT THAT WAS STATE LEGISLATION.
>> HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS A GOOD IDEA TO RENEW THIS? PRETTY MUCH EVERY CONTRACT THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO RENEW, THAT IS MY QUESTION.
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS?
>> TEACHERS LOVE IT. NO. I KNOW.
THE STATE IS ACTUALLY LOOKING TO CONTRACT WITH CHARACTER STRONG RIGHT NOW FOR AN SEL PROGRAM.
IT'S ONE OF THE VETTED RESOURCES.
I KNOW, AMY, YOU CAN PROBABLY SPEAK TO IT TOO.
>> YOU'RE SAYING ALL THE THINGS THAT I WOULD HAVE SAID AS WELL.
I'VE JUST BEEN INVOLVED IN LOOKING AT THE RESOURCES LAST YEAR WHERE JARED WASN'T IN THE POSITION THAT HE'S IN RIGHT NOW.
OUR PREVIOUS RESOURCE WAS NOT MEETING THE NEEDS.
WE'RE REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CURRICULUM.
OUR PREVIOUS RESOURCE WAS NOT MEETING OUR NEEDS AND WASN'T MEETING THE MEASURES OF AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM TO FIT WITH THE CURRICULUM NEEDS.
WE DID EXPLORE A NUMBER OF OTHER CURRICULUMS. THIS, IT WAS THE BEST.
>> WHAT MAKES IT THE BEST? AGAIN, IN A YEAR, ARE YOU GOING TO COME BACK AND TELL ME WHAT THE ROI IS ON THIS OR WHAT THE SUCCESS RATE HAS BEEN IN THIS PROGRAM?
>> WELL, WE WILL HAVE DATA TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU, YES.
WE ARE WORKING TO GET THAT DATA.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE PUTTING THE ACTIVE CONSENT IN PLACE HURT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET ENOUGH PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR TO HAVE THAT DATA FOR YOU, WHICH WAS OUR PLAN.
INSTEAD, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO ADMINISTER THE SURVEYS THAT WE HAD PLANNED FOR STUDENTS OR FOR PARENTS.
[00:40:03]
BUT YES, IT DOES OFFER ALL OF THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING CRITERIA THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE.IT ADDITIONALLY HAS A LOT OF LAYERS THAT OUR PREVIOUS CURRICULUM DID NOT OFFER.
A LOT MORE SUPPORTS FOR TEACHERS, A LOT MORE SUPPORTS FOR SCHOOLS.
>> EVIDENCE-BASED WOULD TELL ME THAT THERE IS ANALYSIS THAT'S DONE, THAT THERE IS CRITERIA, THAT WE HAVE A PROPOSED OUTCOME FROM THESE THINGS?
>> TO DATE, WHENEVER I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION, THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY OF THAT EVIDENCE PRESENTED.
>> EVEN HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
>> MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT EVIDENCE BEFORE IT COMES TO US, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, IT'S A RUBBER STAMP THAT YOU WANT US TO SAY, YES, YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROGRAM, BUT WE HAVE NO REASON WHY WE WOULD SAY THAT OTHER THAN WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROGRAM PER THE STATE REQUIREMENTS.
>> I APOLOGIZE. I WILL GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION.
OUR PREVIOUS BOARD WAS PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION LAST YEAR WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED IT AS A SLOW ROLL OUT PRIOR TO YOUR ELECTION, BUT I WILL ABSOLUTELY GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION.
THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM WAS ONLY LIKE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, CORRECT? THIS IS K-12.
>> IT WAS K-8 AND IT WAS VERY DATED AND IT WASN'T BEING USED WITH MUCH FIDELITY.
I ACTUALLY GOT THE USAGE STATISTICS ON THIS TODAY FROM OUR BUILDINGS AND THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE USING IT.
IT HAS A PRETTY HIGH PERCENT OF DAILY PAGE VIEWS.
REALLY HIGH AT THE K-5 GRADE LEVEL.
I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF ROOMS IN ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS.
I HAVE SEEN IT IMPLEMENTED CONSISTENTLY.
IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT TEACHERS APPROACHED ME ABOUT AND THEY'RE EXTREMELY POSITIVE.
>> YOU HAD ANOTHER ITEM, DIRECTOR MILLER.
>> SIOUX CREW HIP-HOP. I NOTICED WITH THAT CONTRACT, PROOF OF INSURANCE WAS PROVIDED.
THERE'S LIABILITY LIMITS THAT WERE IN THAT.
WHO SETS THE LIABILITY LIMITS THAT ARE REQUIRED?
>> TELL ME WHICH ONE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AGAIN.
>> IT'S UNDER THE CONTRACT'S TRAILER.
SIOUX CREW IS THE COMPANY BUT HIP HOP DANCE IS GOING TO DO A RENTAL.
>> WELL, YOU'RE TALKING LIKE ITEM E. IT'S IN THE ITEM E CATEGORY, IS THAT RIGHT? CONTRACTS FOR BOARD APPROVAL.
>> WE TYPICALLY SPEAK WITH OUR INSURANCE CARRIER AND ASK THEM WHAT'S A MINIMUM INSURANCE CERTIFICATE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOR US.
THAT'S WHERE YOU TYPICALLY COMES FROM.
BUT I DON'T SEE THE INSURANCE OR THE PROOF OF INSURANCE FROM THE OTHER CONTRACTS, THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO USE OUR SPACE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE REQUIRE OF ALL ENTITIES THAT WANT? I THINK ANOTHER ONE IN THE AGENDA IS HELEN'S RENTING ONE OF OUR SPACES.
DO THEY GIVE US PROOF OF THEIR INSURANCE, AND DO WE REQUIRE THAT OF EVERYBODY?
>> I'LL DEFER THAT TO MR. VANDER LOU.
>> IF IT'S SOMEONE THAT HAS RENTED FROM US BEFORE OR CONTINUALLY RENTS FROM US, WE HAVE IT ON FILE ALREADY.
BUT IF IT'S SOMEBODY THAT JUST RENTS ONCE A YEAR, WE'LL COLLECT THAT AT THAT TIME WHEN THEY RENT THE ONE TIME.
THE CITY TENDS TO USE OUR FACILITIES QUITE OFTEN.
WE HAVE THEIR INSURANCE ON FILE, SO WE DON'T COLLECT IT EVERY TIME THAT THEY RENT FROM US OR USE OUR FACILITIES.
>> USUALLY, IT'S ANNUALLY, YES.
>> THEN INDEMNITY FROM LIABILITY.
THE HIP-HOP GROUP WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT I SAW THAT FROM.
I ASSUME THAT WE HAVE THAT AS WE DO OUR CONTRACTS FOR USE IS THAT WE'RE NOT LIABLE FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS WHEN ANOTHER ENTITY USES OUR SPACES, AND IT'S A PART OF OUR CONTRACT, RIGHT?
>> BEYOND THE BELL. I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING THERE'S A $96,000 GRANT, BUT IT'S TO BE USED AT IRVINE ONLY BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL.
WHAT I DON'T SEE IN THAT IS HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO USE THAT AND WHAT'S THE CRITERIA FOR USING THAT MONEY?
>> BUILDINGS HAD TO HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SES AND PERFORMANCE THEY HAD TO BE TARGETED UNDER ESA.
WE HAD TWO BUILDINGS THAT QUALIFIED.
THE ONE BUILDING IRVINE IS LOOKING TO PARTICIPATE, THE GRANT MONEY WOULD RUN THROUGH IF IT'S AWARDED THE END OF THIS APRIL AND IT'S CUT OFF THE END OF NEXT JANUARY.
THE OTHER BUILDING THAT WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED IN THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE CUTOFF IN JANUARY, DIDN'T SEE IT AS A SUSTAINABLE SERVICE.
THAT'S WHY THEY DIDN'T PURSUE IT.
>> JARED, THIS IS LEFTOVER MONEY FROM WHERE?
[00:45:01]
>> IT'S THE STATES TRYING TO UNLOAD SOME ESA MONEY, IS WHAT THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO.
>> THIS IS A NEW GRANT, THAT'S SEPARATE.
>> IT CAME OUT THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH AND THEN THE DEADLINE IS ACTUALLY THE END OF THIS WEEK.
>> BATTING CAGE EAST HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE'S A FEW CATEGORIES OF FUNDS IN THERE.
I'D LIKE IT TO BE PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED HOW MUCH FUNDS ARE COMING FROM THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDS TO PAY FOR THIS.
THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE AN INDOOR BATTING CAGE AT NORTH AND WEST?
>> TIM, WELL, YOU ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AS BEST YOU CAN.
>> I'LL DO MY BEST. THERE'S $25,000 OF PEPPLE THAT EACH SCHOOL, WHEN I SAY EACH SCHOOL, EACH OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS IS ALLOTTED TO SPEND ON, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PEPPLE EXPENSE, INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS EQUIPMENT FOR FIELDS.
THE REST OF IT, I BELIEVE, IS ALL FROM FUND RAISING AND DONORS THAT ARE GIVING MONEY TO THE BATTING CAGE.
THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS WEST HIGH ALREADY HAS A BATTING CAGE, EAST HIGH IS NEXT IN LINE, AND NORTH HIGH IS JUST A FEW STEPS BEHIND WITH RAISING FUNDS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE ONE AS WELL.
>> THESE ARE COMMUNITY FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED THAT HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE?
>> IT'S ACTIVITY FUNDS OR I WOULD STATE IT AS DONORS FROM PROGRAMS THAT THE BASEBALL TEAM HAS DONE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY.
>> I CAN ADD TO THAT. WEST HIGH'S BATTING CAGE WAS PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT AT THAT TIME WHEN THE DISTRICT BUILT WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MOVED A BUNCH OF DIRT AND PROPERTY OVER THERE BEHIND WEST HIGH AND WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THE DISTRICT BUILT THAT BATTING CAGE FOR WEST HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY HAD A CHOICE OF BUILDING A CONCESSION STAND OR A BATTING CAGE AT THAT TIME.
THE SOFTBALL FIELD THE SAME WAY AT WEST HIGH, THEY BUILT THE SOFTBALL TEAM CHOSE TO HAVE A CONCESSION STAND.
THE BASEBALL TEAM CHOSE TO HAVE LOCKER ROOM/BATTING CAGES.
THAT WAS BUILT BY THE DISTRICT BECAUSE THE DISTRICT REMOVED ALL THOSE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELDS AND HAD TO REPLACE THOSE.
THAT WAS PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DURING THAT TIME WHEN THEY WERE BUILDING THE WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL.
EAST HIGH'S IS FUNDED MOSTLY BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND NORTH HIGH'S, WHICH SHOULD BE COMING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, IS MOSTLY FUNDED BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FUNDRAISERS BY THE BASEBALL TEAM.
>> THE PEPPLE MONEY WAS EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THOSE TWO SCHOOLS OR NO?
>> ALL THREE HIGH SCHOOLS RECEIVED 25,000.
IT'S 75,000, BUT BROKEN DOWN 25,000 PER HIGH SCHOOL.
I BELIEVE NORTH IS PLANNING TO USE THEIR PEPPLE FUNDS AS WELL TO HELP FUND THEIR BATTING CAGE.
>> SAPP. A FEW THINGS ON THIS TOPIC.
ONE, THIS WAS RAISED TO ME BY A CONCERNED EMPLOYEE IN AN ANONYMOUS EMAIL.
I THINK THAT ANONYMOUS EMAILS AREN'T VERY CONSTRUCTIVE BECAUSE ONE, YOU'RE EITHER PROVIDING INFORMATION THAT'S NOT FACTUAL OR YOU THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE RETALIATION.
SINCE WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR RETALIATION, I'M NOT SURE WHY A CONCERNED EMPLOYEE WOULDN'T USE THEIR REAL NAME.
IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU WANT ME TO ADDRESS SOMETHING, I'M HAPPY TO.
TELL ME WHO YOU ARE AND TELL ME THAT THE CONVERSATION IS CONFIDENTIAL, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
BUT I CAN'T ASK YOU QUESTIONS IF I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
BUT IN THE CONTRACT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXPENDITURE THAT I DIDN'T SEE IN A PREVIOUS BUDGET.
IS THIS A NEW COST TO US? WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? ARE WE REALLY GOING TO SAVE MONEY OR ARE WE GOING TO SPEND MONEY IN THIS CONTRACT?
>> LET ME ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF SAVING MONEY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE WAY MORE EFFICIENT FOR OUR O AND M STAFF.
ALL OF OUR STAFF NOW CURRENTLY FROM OUR LAWN MOWERS, WHEN WE FUEL UP IN THE MORNINGS TO GO OUT AND PLOW SNOW ARE REQUIRED TO GO TO THE CENTRAL MOTOR GARAGE, FILL UP, AND THEN RETURN TO WHEREVER THEY NEED TO GO.
OR IF A BUS IS COMING BACK IN FROM AN ACTIVITY LATE AT NIGHT, IT WILL GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST FILL UP RIGHT AT THE O AND M BUILDING RATHER THAN GOING TO THE CENTRAL MOTOR GARAGE.
AS FAR AS THE EXPENSE, I KNOW THAT THERE IS AN EXPENSE OF 0.24 PER GALLON THAT SAPP BROTHERS IS CHARGING TO DISTRIBUTE THE FUEL.
THE WAY THE CITY OPERATES IS FOR EVERY GALLON OF GAS THAT WE BUY, WE PAY THEM 0.08 PER GALLON AS AN OVERHEAD FEE FOR MANAGING THE SYSTEM.
SAPP BROTHERS OR WHOMEVER THEY DECIDE TO BUY THEIR FUEL FROM WOULD CHARGE A DELIVERY FEE.
THAT DELIVERY FEE IS ANYWHERE FROM 0.10 TO 0.14.
EVEN ONCE OUR TANKS ARE OWNED BY THE DISTRICT, WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE A DELIVERY FEE OF 0.14 TO DELIVER.
[00:50:02]
WE'RE REALLY DOWN TO A DIFFERENCE OF WITHOUT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY PAYS IN DELIVERY FEES.WE'RE DOWN TO A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT 0.02 PER GALLON DIFFERENCE OF WHAT THEY'RE PROBABLY PAYING.
I THINK OF IT MORE AS AN EFFICIENCY AND JUST GETTING THE FUEL TANKS RIGHT AT THE O AND M YARD.
THEY USED TO BE THERE SOME 20 YEARS AGO, BUT THEY WERE BURIED TANKS AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE REPLACEMENT OF BURIED TANKS.
THESE ARE ABOVE GROUND DOUBLE WALLED TANKS.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THOSE.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT 0.24 A GALLON AND THEN 0.10 A GALLON AND 0.08 A GALLON THEN YOU CAME UP WITH A DIFFERENCE OF 0.02 A GALLON.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT MATH WORKS, AND I AM A MATH WHIZ.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT YOU HOPE FOR AN EFFICIENCY AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A COST OF THAT EFFICIENCY AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO HAVE A POSITIVE OUTCOME OR NOT.
>> WELL, I BELIEVE THAT THE COST TO THE EFFICIENCY, IF YOU TAKE THE 0.14 THAT SAPP BROTHERS SAID THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE TO DELIVER FUEL TO A CUSTOMER AND THEN YOU ADD THE 0.08 TO THAT, YOU COME UP WITH 0.22 COMPARED TO THE 0.24 THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY THEM.
I BELIEVE THAT SAVING THE 0.08 THAT WE'D PAY THE CITY AND THEN THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING THE 0.14 DELIVERY CHARGE.
I DON'T LOOK AT IT AS BEING AN INCREASE OF JUST NEGLIGENT.
IT WOULD JUST BE A SMALL INCREASE IF ANY.
>> BUT THEN IF YOU FIGURE THE TIME LOSS DRIVING BACK AND FORTH, NONPRODUCTIVE, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD FIGURE THAT IN, BUT I WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT'S FIGURED IN SOMEHOW.
>> LET ME TELL YOU WHAT STARTED THIS DISCUSSION.
MAYBE THAT WILL HELP UNDERSTAND IT.
IS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TIMES WHERE WE'LL BE OUT ON SPECIAL TRIPS AND BUSTLES WILL ROLL BACK IN AT MIDNIGHT, 2:00 IN THE MORNING.
IF THEY'RE IN THE YARD, THE DRIVER THAT NEEDS TO RUN THAT ROUTE THE NEXT MORNING JUMPS IN THEIR BUS AND GOES TO START THEIR ROUTE IN THE MORNING AND THEIR TANK IS ON E OR A LITTLE ABOVE AND THEY ARE THEN SCRAMBLING DOWN TO THE CENTRAL GARAGE TO FILL UP WITH FUEL.
WHEN WE QUESTION A LOT OF THE DRIVERS, THEY ARE LIKE, WELL, BY THE TIME I GET BACK, I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO THE CENTRAL GARAGE, GET FUEL, WHICH IT'S NOT A FAR DRIVE.
IT'S THEIR EXCUSE, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM AN EFFICIENCY STANDPOINT.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT IT AS THOUGH THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE A BIG SAVINGS FINANCIALLY.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO PAY THE SAME PRICE THAT THEY PAY ON THE PIPELINE.
THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY PAYS WHEN YOU CONTRACT FUEL.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING MORE FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF HAVING IT AT O AND M.
>> I KNOW AS A FORMER COACH, HAVING TO PULL IN AND FILL UP VANS AND STRUGGLING TO GET THE CITY PUMPS TO WORK AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T GET THEM FIGURED.
I KNOW SEVERAL TIMES I HAD TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND GO BACK DOWN TO SEE IF I CAN GET THAT PUMP TO WORK AGAIN.
BECAUSE MAINTENANCE IS GOING TO BE DONE BY?
>> THE MAINTENANCE OF THE EQUIPMENT IS DONE BY SAPP BROTHERS.
>> IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, THEN THEY'LL DO THAT.
THAT'S PART OF THE CHARGE? THE FEE?
>> THAT'S PART OF THE 0.24 IS THE UPKEEP OF THE EQUIPMENT, THE DELIVERY OF THE FUEL, MAINTAINING ANYTHING IF IT BREAKS OTHER THAN SOMETHING WHERE SOMEBODY DRIVES OFF WITH A HOSE IN THE TANK AND CAUSES THAT DAMAGE.
THEY'LL MAINTAIN THE WHOLE PUMPING SYSTEM.
>> BY THE WAY, I NEVER DID THAT.
>> DIRECTOR MILLER, DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AS FAR AS THE MATH IS CONCERNED?
>> YEAH. I THINK THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T DONE ANALYSIS.
WE ARE HOPING FOR AN EFFICIENCY. THAT'S MY TAKEAWAY.
>> I THINK THE ANALYSIS IS THAT THAT 0.10 TO 0.14, THAT GETS PASSED ON TO US.
>> YEAH, IT DOES GET PASSED ON TO US.
THEN THE CITY CHARGES AN ADDITIONAL 0.08, SO WE'RE AT 20:20 0.02 A GALLON AND SAPP BROTHERS WILL BRING THE EQUIPMENT, INSTALL IT.
IS THAT FOR A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT?
>> FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT FOR 0.24.
IT'S 0.02, 0.03 PER GALLON MORE.
>> IT'S COST PLUS 0.08, IS WHAT WE PAY THE CITY.
>> WHATEVER THEIR COST IS DELIVERED, WE PAY THEM ANOTHER 0.08 ON TOP OF THAT.
THE ONLY MATH THAT I HAVE TO FIGURE IS WHAT THEY CHARGE US AND IT LOOKS COMPARABLE TO WHAT WE'LL BE PAYING.
THE BONUS TO WHAT WE CAN DO THAT THE CITY DOESN'T DO, IS WE CAN CONTRACT THAT FUEL SO WHEN WE SEE IT ON THE MARKET AT AN EXTREMELY LOW RATE, LIKE IT WAS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, WE CAN ACTUALLY CONTRACT THE YEAR'S WORTH OF FUEL, DIESEL AND UNLEADED, AND THEN BUY OFF OF THAT PIPELINE AS WE NEED IT.
IF THE PRICE WOULD HAPPEN TO GO DOWN EVEN LOWER, WE'LL JUST PAUSE OUR CONTRACT AND BUY IT AT THE RATE THAT IT'S BEING DISTRIBUTED THAT DAY.
>> I BELIEVE DIRECTOR GREENWELL HAS SOME COMMENT.
[00:55:02]
>> YES. WE WENT THROUGH THE MATH IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE MATH WE SAID IS ON A COST PER GALLON, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE PAYING VERY CLOSE TO MAYBE A COUPLE OF CENTS MORE.
IF YOU THINK OF A COUPLE OF CENTS A GALLON OR GALLONS IS $2.
BY THE TIME THAT WE DRIVE THE BUS DOWN TO THE PARK, TAKE THE LABOR THAT'S USED TO DRIVE THAT BUS DOWN, FILL UP DOWN THERE, AND THEN DRIVE BACK, THE LABOR SAVINGS AND TRANSPORT COST FOR THE BUS BACK AND FORTH ADDS UP TO SOMETHING.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHILE THE GAS MAY BE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE PER GALLON, THE LABOR SAVINGS AND THE WEAR AND TEAR AND THE ADDITIONAL TIME AND THE CONVENIENCE FACTOR, A CREASE TO OUR BENEFIT.
IS THIS A BIG MONEY MAKER? NO. OR SAVER? NO. IS THIS A CONVENIENCE FACTOR TO HELP OUR BUS DRIVERS? YES. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE REDUCE TRAVEL WITH OUR BUSES? YES. I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE WHOLE [INAUDIBLE] OR GRAND LINE FOR FINANCIAL SAVINGS, IS REALLY MORE OF A CONVENIENCE FOR BUS DRIVERS.
THAT'S THE SPECIALTY THAT IS FINANCE COMMITTEE, BECAUSE WE ASKED THE VERY SAME QUESTIONS AT THAT TIME.
>> DOES THAT ANSWER THAT ONE OR GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION, I SHOULD SAY?
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO THE LAST ITEM THAT I HAVE.
>> I THINK IT'S CALLED ISTEEP.
IT IS A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO HELP US WITH IEPS.
AGAIN, MULTI FACTORIAL QUESTIONS START WITH SIMPLE ONES, LIKE HOW MANY TEACHERS WILL USE THIS PROGRAM? THEN I CAN GO TO, DOES THE AEA USE THE SAME TOOL? WHY DO WE NEED OUR OWN PROGRAM WHEN WE'RE CONTRACTED WITH THE AEA? THEN HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL BE MANAGED UNDER THIS PROGRAM? AGAIN, I DO NOT SEE PROJECTED OUTCOMES.
DO WE HAVE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS OR KPIS FROM ISTEEP TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A VALUABLE PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO MEET OUR NEEDS?
>> MRS. NEIL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START WITH THE FIRST ONE AND GO ON AND ANSWER ALL THE OTHER ONES?
>> I WILL WORK MY WAY THROUGH.
THIS CAME AS A RESULT OF THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE.
ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS PROGRESS MONITORING AND THE USE OF DIAGNOSTICS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SPECIALLY DESIGNED INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WITH IEPS IS ALIGNED TO THEIR NEEDS.
ONE THING WE'VE NOTICED THROUGH OUR DISCUSSION IS THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROGRESS MONITORING TOOLS BEING USED ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
PROGRESS MONITORING IS A REQUIREMENT FOR EVERY GOAL THAT A STUDENT HAS ON AN IEP.
THEY HAVE TO BE PROGRESS MONITORED AT LEAST EVERY TWO WEEKS.
THOSE DATA POINTS NEED TO BE COLLECTED SO WE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A STUDENT IS MAKING ADEQUATE PROGRESS TOWARDS THEIR GOALS.
WHAT WE FOUND THROUGH THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING GIVEN THE MOBILITY OF SOME OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT, THE FACT THAT WE ARE USING SO MANY DIFFERENT TOOLS IS INTERFERING WITH OUR ABILITY TO TRACK PROGRESS ACCURATELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
ONE OF THE ASKS FROM THE TASK FORCE WAS THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT USING A CONSISTENT TOOL, K12, THAT ENCUMBERS THE AREAS THAT WE NEED IT.
READING, MATH, THERE'S A BEHAVIOR COMPONENT IN THERE SO THAT WE HAVE THAT CONSISTENCY SO THAT ALL TEACHERS CAN BE TRAINED TO USE THE SAME TOOL, SO AS STUDENTS MOVE FROM BUILDING TO BUILDING, THAT DOESN'T IMPEDE OUR ABILITY TO PROGRESS MONITOR.
TEACHERS DON'T HAVE TO REWRITE GOALS, TEACHERS DON'T HAVE TO ADJUST THE IEPS BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE SERVED IN ANY BUILDING THAT THE STUDENT IS IN.
THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS YEAR IS ALL OF OUR TEACHERS HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN SPECIALLY DESIGNED INSTRUCTION TRAINING, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALIGNING OUR INSTRUCTION TO THE STUDENT NEEDS.
ONE THING THAT THE TEACHERS HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS DIAGNOSE, DESIGN, DELIVER.
WHAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IS THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ALIGN OUR INSTRUCTION WITH WHAT THE STUDENT NEEDS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE SKILLS GAPS.
ISTEEP WILL NOT ONLY HELP US WITH THE PROGRESS MONITORING TOOL CONSISTENCY, BUT IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE US WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE REALLY ASKING FOR AND NEED IN ORDER TO DO THEIR JOBS MOST EFFECTIVELY AND IMPROVE OUR STUDENT OUTCOMES.
>> 100% OF THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE STUDENTS WITH IEPS WILL USE THIS TOOL.
>> THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THIS TOOL.
WE WILL TRAIN THEM TO USE THIS TOOL BECAUSE WE CAN USE A K12.
>> IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THEM AND THEY CAN CHOOSE.
>> NO, THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THIS WOULD BE THE TOOL THAT WE WOULD USE FOR THE CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE TEACHERS PARTICIPATING IN EZCBM OR AIMSWEB THE OTHER AIMSWEB OR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TOOLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
>> HOW DOES THIS INTEGRATE WITH THE AEA?
[01:00:01]
>> AEA'S ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PROGRESS MONITORING UNLESS IT IS A RELATED SERVICE PROVIDER.
THE SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST, THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, PHYSICAL THERAPIST.
IF THEY'RE DIRECTLY WORKING ON A GOAL, THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROGRESS MONITORING.
BUT ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRESS MONITORING IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT.
>> AGAIN, I WOULD GO BACK TO WHAT ARE THE KPI'S OR THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS.
DO WE HAVE GUARANTEES FROM THE SOFTWARE VENDOR THAT SAYS IF YOU USE THIS TOOL AND EVERY TEACHER USES IT FOR EVERY STUDENT, THIS WILL BE YOUR OUTCOME AND THIS IS HOW YOU'LL MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS?
>> THE KPI'S THAT ARE GENERATED THROUGH THIS HAS TO DO WITH A, THE CONSISTENCY, B, THE FACT THAT IT'S A WEB-BASED PLATFORM, SO THE PROGRESS MONITORING ITEMS ARE COMPUTER-SCORED, WHICH SHOULD SAVE OUR TEACHERS SOME TIME IN SCORING SOME OF THOSE WHICH LEAVES THEM MORE TIME FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE MAKING THE GAINS THAT WE WANT.
IT'S NOT AN INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL.
IT'S A TOOL TO HELP US PROGRESS MONITOR.
ARE WE GOING TO BE SEEING 40 POINTS IN OUR ACHIEVEMENT SCORES BY THE USE OF ICE DEEP? NO. BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IMPROVED DIAGNOSTICS AND IMPROVED INSTRUCTION WHICH WOULD THEN IN TURN ULTIMATELY RESULT IN THOSE IMPROVED STUDENT OUTCOMES.
>> AGAIN, WILL IT BE REQUIRED OF ALL TEACHERS TO USE IT FOR ALL STUDENTS WITH AN IEP?
>> IN THOSE AREAS THAT IT COVERS.
LIKE I SAID, IT SHOULD COVER EVERYTHING EXCEPT WRITING.
>> THIS WILL BE THE ONLY TOOL THAT WE USE AS AN IMPROVED TOOL IN THE DISTRICT.
>> UNLESS THERE ARE RARE AND UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES YES, THAT WOULD BE THE EXPECTATION.
THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING THE CONSISTENCY.
>> I BELIEVE THAT EVERY PROGRAM IS AS GOOD AS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IT AND THAT WE NEED TO START HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE IMPLEMENT A TOOL THAT IT GIVES US THE VALUE THAT WE WANT.
TO DATE, I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING THAT'S COME TO THE BOARD IN MY THREE MONTHS ON THE BOARD, WE'VE JUST RUBBER-STAMPED THAT WE HAVE THIS EXPECTATION THAT IT'S PRESENTED, IT'S IN CONSENT AGENDA, AND WE JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH IT.
BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OUTCOMES YET.
THAT WILL BE MY EXPECTATION MOVING FORWARD, IS THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY WE DO IT.
>> WELL, IF I COULD JUST COMMENT.
>> REPRESENT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE MAY NOT BE AN EQUAL UNDERSTANDING FOR PROGRAM LAW, BUT TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION THE LAW OF ORDINARY RUBBER-STAMPED [INAUDIBLE].
>> MS. LEE. DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>> I DID, BUT IT WASN'T IN REFERENCE TO THAT.
I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE TASK FORCE.
I KNOW YOU PRESENTED THAT AT THE EQUITY MEETING.
HAVE WE SINCE ADDED PARENTS TO THAT? BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SOMETHING TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER A YEAR WITH THIS TASK FORCE.
>> YOU'RE TALKING THE SPECIAL ED TEST?
>> SPECIAL ED TASK FORCE. YEAH.
>> SPECIAL EDUCATION TASKFORCE. YEAH. WE STARTED THAT ORIGINALLY LAST YEAR.
I PRESENTED AT THE EQUITY COMMITTEE MEETING, THERE ARE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THAT COMMITTEE AND I GOT FEEDBACK FROM THAT GROUP THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL PARENT INVOLVEMENT ON THAT.
MOVING FORWARD, AS WE CONTINUE TO GATHER INFORMATION AND MAKE PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR, I WILL INVITE PARENTS TO A MEETING TO PARTICIPATE.
>> I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO SEE PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN THAT PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE TO HOW WE ARE IMPLEMENTING AND WORKING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ON THE CHARACTER-STRONG PROPOSAL AND MAYBE THIS FALLS IN THE CATEGORY IF WE HAVE VERY USEFUL COMMITTEES AND THOSE OF US THAT ARE ON THOSE SPECIFIC COMMITTEES WHEN PRESENTATIONS OR MAYBE END UP WITH MORE INFORMATION AND OUR STRUCTURE OF EVERYTHING WHEN WE TALK TO EACH OTHER, IT HAS TO BE IN AN OPEN SETTING LIKE THIS, SO WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IT ALL.
OTHERWISE, I'M A LITTLE EMBARRASSED.
DIRECTOR MILLER THAT I DIDN'T HAVE MORE COMMUNICATED TO YOU ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT AS A PILOT PROJECT IN THIS FIRST YEAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT AT ALL OF THE BUILDINGS.
WE LEARNED THIS IN THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE, THAT IT'S AT THE ELEMENTARY BUILDINGS.
I BELIEVE ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND NOT YET AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
IT WAS BEING TRIED OUT BECAUSE OUR PRIOR PROGRAM HAD DEMONSTRATED THAT WE WEREN'T GETTING RESULTS AND WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THAT PRIOR PROGRAM.
WE HAD A NICE PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW IT'S DONE.
[01:05:02]
I WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH HOW IT INTEGRATES WELL WITH OUR ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS IN THE SCIENCE OF READING AND SCIENCE OF MATH AND THE LIKE, AND IS NOT TAKING SO MUCH TIME THAT WE'RE NOT SUCCESSFUL WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE NEED FOR THOSE OTHER AREAS.BUT ALSO IN THE RESPONSE THAT THE STUDENTS WE'RE HEARING THAT WE HEARD FROM THE TEACHERS WHO WERE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CHARACTER STRONG PROGRAM NOT ONLY BE CONTINUED IN THE SCHOOLS WHERE IT WAS BEING PILOTED, BUT THAT IT ALSO BE EXPANDED THROUGH THE REST OF THE DISTRICT.
I SHARE, MR. MILLER, YOUR VIEW THAT WE WILL WANT TO SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL AND EFFECTIVE THIS RESULT IS.
PARTICULARLY WHEN I WAS HEARING THAT THE PRIOR PROGRAM THAT HAD BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE HAD NOT ACHIEVED WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
BUT SO THAT ANYONE THAT WONDERS WHAT IS CHARACTER STRONG, ALL IT'S ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE.
LIVING IN A COMMUNITY AND COOPERATING AND FOCUSING ON EDUCATION.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE BEHAVIORS THAT HELP YOU BE A GOOD STUDENT.
THIS IS THE PROGRAM THAT 10 MINUTES IN THE MORNING GETS YOUR MINDSET SET ONTO WHETHER IT'S KINDNESS OR COOPERATION, OR LISTENING, OR WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BE A REALLY GOOD STUDENT.
WE, FRANKLY, ARE FINDING IN OUR DISTRICT THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF, I'LL CALL IT ASSISTANCE OR REMINDER WORK FOR OUR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND GOING INTO THE CLASSES.
I CAME AWAY FROM OUR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND THE PROPOSAL TO HAVE IT MOVE FROM A PILOT STATUS INTO A STATUS THROUGHOUT.
I WANT TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK DIRECTOR GEORGE FOR BEING AS PATIENT AS HE WAS WITH ME IN THAT COMMITTEE, FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED.
>> ALL QUESTIONS ARE GOOD QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE ALL THE QUESTIONS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT TO LIGHT DIRECTOR MILLER.
I OBJECT THE RUBBER STAMP, BUT I THINK THAT JUST SHOWS AN AREA THAT AS BOARD MEMBERS, WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON SHARING THAT INFORMATION THAT WE'VE HEARD IN OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO OUR OTHER MEMBERS.
I THINK THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP CLARIFY SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THE TEAM HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO VET A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS. WHEN WE DID REALIZE THAT ONE PROGRAM WAS NOT DOING WHAT IT WAS INTENDED.
THEY DID SHOW US THE COMPUTER-BASED PART OF THIS CHARACTER, STRONG AND IT'S PRETTY INNOVATIVE.
I CAN SEE WHY THE TEACHERS WANT TO USE IT BECAUSE IT WILL ADAPT AS THE WORLD CHANGES.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT RIGHT, MRS. DENNY AND JARED, THOSE ARE THINGS WITH THE ISD PROGRESS MONITORING.
HAVING BEEN A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER FOR 17 YEARS, I THINK DIFFERENT PLACES OF PROGRESS MONITORING AND PUTTING IT IN THERE, BRINGING IT IN-HOUSE SO THAT EVERYONE'S USING CONSISTENTLY BECAUSE THAT WAS THE QUESTION I HAD ALSO ASKED WAS MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS USING THIS BECAUSE IT'S A CONSISTENT THING IN THE STATE THAT WE HAVE.
WE NEED TO BE ACCURATE ON OUR PROGRESS.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD.
THAT BEING SAID, ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I DO APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS YOU BROUGHT FORTH AS A NEW BOARD MEMBER.
IT IS GOOD TO HAVE MORE INSIGHT WITH THE QUESTIONING INTO DIRECTOR GREENWELL'S STATEMENT.
WE ARE ON A HUGE LEARNING CURVE AND SO SOME OF US DO HAVE A LOT MORE INFORMATION THAN OTHERS.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS, BUT I ALSO WILL ENCOURAGE US AS NEW BOARD MEMBERS, TO EMERGE OURSELVES INTO SOME OF THESE AREAS SO THAT WE CAN LEARN.
BECAUSE REALLY THIS IS THE FINAL REPORT AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO STEP IN AND LEARN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN HERE.
THEN THAT WAY WE CAN ALSO HAVE MORE INSIGHT WITH THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE PROBED AND PEOPLE THAT CAN BE MORE PREPARED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE IT DOES HELP THE LEARNING CURVE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE DIRECTORS? ARE THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT ON THIS?
>> BOARD MEMBERS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT ACTION ITEM, SAY AYE.
[01:10:01]
>> THE CONSENT ACTION ITEM IS APPROVED 61.
FUTURE MEETINGS, NEXT CATEGORY,
[VII. Future Meetings]
WE HAVE BOARD FINANCE FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING AT 3:00 PM ON APRIL 2ND.BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING ON 12TH AT 12:00 PM, APRIL 3RD, AT 2024 IN THE BOARDROOM.
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 6:00 PM, APRIL 8TH, 2024 IN THE ESC BOARDROOM.
EDUCATIONAL EQUITY COMMITTEE MEETING, 12:00 PM, APRIL 12TH, 2024, ESC BOARDROOM.
BOARD FINANCE AND FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING, 3:00 PM, APRIL 15TH, 2024, ESC BOARDROOM.
BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING, 3:30 PM, APRIL 16TH, 2024, ESC BOARDROOM.
BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE, 12:00 PM APRIL 17TH, 2024, ESC BOARDROOM.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, 5:15 PM, APRIL 18TH, 2024, ESC BOARDROOM.
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING,6:00 PM, APRIL 22ND, 2024, ESC BOARDROOM.
EDUCATIONAL LEGISLATIVE FORUM, I BELIEVE, WILL THIS BE THE LAST ONE AT 8:30 AM, APRIL 27TH, 2024, ESC BOARDROOM?
>> IF THEY'RE STILL IN SESSION.
>> IF THEY'RE STILL IN SESSION.
ITEM 8, SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
[VIII.Superintendent’s Report - Dr. Rod Earleywine]
DR. ROD EARLEYWINE.>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING TEACHERS AND AEA PERSONNEL AT OUR LAST LEGISLATIVE FORUM.
IT WAS INTERESTING DISCUSSION TO SAY THE LEAST ON WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN IN DES MOINES.
I DO APPRECIATE PEOPLE SHOWING UP AND ASKING QUESTIONS, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE LOCAL LEGISLATORS TO COME AND HEAR US AND ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR THEM, BUT I DO APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO.
LAST WEEK, WE HAD TEACHER LEADERSHIP AND DISTRICT LEADERSHIP JOINT MEETING THAT WE HAVE FROM TIME TO TIME.
JUST GOOD DISCUSSION ON THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS THAT OUR TEACHER LEADERS MAY HAVE.
LISA BANKS IS A PRESIDENT OF THE SIOUX CITY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
SHE'S HERE TONIGHT. I DO APPRECIATE LISA TAKING ON THAT ROLE AND WORKING WITH US TO IMPROVE THINGS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON SOME FUNDING FOR PLAYGROUNDS.
LEEDS PLAYGROUNDS NEED TO BE PLACED.
WE DO HAVE TIM, PAUL DOES HAVE $150,000 IN THE BUDGET, AND THAT'S WHAT A PLAYGROUND COST, TO DO ONE PLAYGROUND, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THREE DONE THIS YEAR, ONE THROUGH ONE-CENT SALES TAX, ONE THROUGH FUNDS.
WE HAVE FOR PRESCHOOL FUNDS THAT WE CAN USE FOR AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PLAYGROUND TO REDO THAT, WE PLAN ON DOING THAT AT LEEDS.
THEN WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE SIOUX CITY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION TO FUND ONE OF THE PLAYGROUNDS.
IF WE CAN GET THREE OF THEM DONE THIS YEAR, THAT'S AWESOME.
THAT WOULD BE TWO AT LEEDS AND ONE AT UNITY.
THEN I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE OR TWO ON THE DOCKET FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO UPGRADE THOSE AND TRYING TO WORK WITH THE FOUNDATION TO GET THOSE DONE.
I APPRECIATE TIM'S LEADERSHIP IN DOING THAT.
I WAS INVITED TO A COUPLE OF THINGS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
NODLAND, I WENT AND SPOKE TO THE SECOND GRADERS ON CAREERS, SPOKE ABOUT THE CAREER OF AN EDUCATOR AND A SUPERINTENDENT, SPENT ABOUT A HALF HOUR WITH THREE CLASSROOMS AT NODLAND.
THAT WAS FUN. THEY HAVE SOME GREAT QUESTIONS.
IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING AND IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY WHEN I GET TO GO OUT AND SPEAK TO STUDENTS.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THE OTHER INVITE I RECEIVED FROM HUNT ELEMENTARY, THEY HAD WILLIE WONKA, A MUSICAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU WERE EVER INVOLVED IN THE MUSICALS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL AS WELL, BUT IT'S GREAT TO SEE THOSE STUDENTS AND WHAT THEY DO AND THE RISKS THAT THEY TAKE.
BECAUSE I THINK BEING A PERFORMER, BEING A BAND, BEING A VOCAL, AND WHEN YOU PERFORM IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, I DO THINK THAT'S A RISK.
MAKING YOURSELF VULNERABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE PEOPLE.
THE MORE PROGRAMS LIKE THAT WE HAVE THAT CAN IN THE FUTURE BUILD PROGRAMS LIKE YOU HAVE DONE AT NORTH,
[01:15:04]
I THINK IS JUST AWESOME.WITH THAT, I WILL END MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT ITEM,
[IX.A. FY25 Budget Final Review of All Funds – Patty Blankenship]
ITEM 9 ITEMS OF PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND INTERACTION.A, FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET FINAL REVIEW OF ALL FUNDS.
PATTY BLANKENSHIP, JUST REMIND THE BOARD TO LET PATTY GET HER PRESENTATION DONE.
THEN I GOT TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THINGS AND THEN WE CAN GET THE DISCUSSION.
>> MR. GREENWELL. BACK TO MR. GREENWELL.
COOL. [BACKGROUND] YOU CAN GET TO MINIMIZE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THIS IS THE FINAL REVIEW OF ALL FUNDS FOR THE 25 BUDGET.
WE HAD OUR HEARING ON OUR TAXPAYER STATEMENT AT FIVE O'CLOCK TONIGHT.
THEN THIS IS REALLY THE SAME PRESENTATION THAT WAS PRESENTED AT THE MARCH 11TH BOARD MEETING.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX LEVIES IN THIS PRESENTATION ARE THE SAME.
THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, TAX RATES ARE ALL THE SAME.
BUT WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO DO TONIGHT IS THE ONLY THINGS NEW TO THIS PRESENTATION ARE THIS PAGE WHERE WE HAVE THE SCHOOL BUDGET SUMMARY, AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE, WHICH IS THE DETAIL OF THE BUDGET WORKSHEET.
THE BUDGET WORKSHEET WRAPS UP, LET'S SEE, HOW CAN I GET THIS BACK, CHAD, INTO THIS SCHOOL BUDGET SUMMARY.
THIS IS THE SAME AS WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT AS WE'VE BEEN BUILDING THIS BUDGET AND ALL THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS.
THE RATE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM IS THE $12.38.
WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TONIGHT, I WASN'T PLANNING ON GOING OVER ALL THE DETAILS OF THIS PRESENTATION, BUT WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO TONIGHT IS TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 11TH TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.
THEN ALSO THIS IS SET TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER TOMORROW TO MEET THE PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENT.
THAT'S JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INFORMATION THAT'S PRESENTED.
IT'S THE SAME AS WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN ALL THE OTHER PRESENTATIONS.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S ADDED IS THIS SUMMARY.
I'M SHOWING YOU THIS SO THAT YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE NEWSPAPER, EVERYTHING ELSE IS THE SAME, AND THEN TO ALLOW THIS TO BE PUBLISHED.
NOW WITH THE SSA, THIS BUDGET WAS ALL BUILT ON A 3% SSA.
NOW WE'RE HEARING THAT MAYBE SSA MAY BE SOMETHING LIKE 2.5%.
ONCE WE PUBLISH THE BUDGET, WE CAN'T EXCEED THE TAXES THAT WE'RE SHOWING TO BE LEVIED ON LINE 1 THERE.
IT'S ABOUT 40 MILLION ON LINE 1 ON WHAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.
WE CAN'T EXCEED THAT AMOUNT AND WE ALSO CAN'T EXCEED THE EXPENDITURES ON THE FUNCTION LEVEL.
SO LIKE ON LINE 31A IS THE TOTAL SUPPORT SERVICES AND LINE 24 IS THE INSTRUCTION BUDGET.
WE CAN'T EXCEED OUR EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION.
WHEN YOU DO YOUR FINAL ADOPTION CANNOT EXCEED WHAT IS PUBLISHED AND OR THE PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS CAN'T BE EXCEEDED.
IF THE SSA GOES TO 2.5% WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE HEARING ALL ALONG.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS 3% BUT NOW WE'RE HEARING 2.5%, THAT IS GOING TO PUT THE DISTRICT INTO A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT SITUATION WHERE OUR REGULAR DISTRICT PROGRAM COST WILL BE LESS THAN LAST YEAR'S.
THEN WE'RE ALLOWED A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE LOW SSA AND DECREASE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT.
THAT BUDGET ADJUSTMENT IS ABOUT 262,000 WHICH WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAX.
WITH THAT SCENARIO, WHAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY ADOPT ON APRIL 8TH WON'T BE EXACTLY THESE DOLLARS, BUT WE WILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, AND THAT WE WON'T BE EXCEEDING LINE 1 OR NONE OF
[01:20:02]
THOSE AREAS BY THE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF EXPENDITURES WILL ALSO NOT BE EXCEEDED.HOW WE WILL DO THAT IS WE'LL REDUCE THE MANAGEMENT FUND LEVY BY ABOUT SEVEN CENTS SO THAT THE RATE IS EXACTLY THE SAME.
I'VE RUN ALL OF THIS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT PORTAL WHERE THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS ARE AND WHAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY PRESENT ON APRIL 8TH.
TOTALS WILL BE THE SAME, BUT THE VARIATIONS BETWEEN THE COMPONENTS OF THE LEVY WILL CHANGE SLIGHTLY.
>> THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACKNOWLEDGES THE FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET INFORMATION PRESENTED FOR ALL FUNDS.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO ALLOW FOR PUBLICATION OF THE DISTRICT'S FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET AND TO SET A HEARING DATE FOR APRIL 8TH, 2024 AT 6:00 PM LOCAL TIME AT THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER, 627 FOURTH STREET?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> PRESIDENT, GEORGE? JUST TO CLARIFY, THE DATE IS THE 8TH AND NOT THE 11TH.
>> THE 8TH. THE 11TH WAS LAST YEAR ACTUALLY. YES, IT IS THE 8TH.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BOARD MEMBERS? ANY CITIZEN INPUT, SHANICE?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ITEM B: FISCAL YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT RESOLUTION,
[IX.B. FY25 Budget Adjustment Resolution – Patty Blankenship]
PATTY BLANKENSHIP. YOU'RE UP.>> THE RECOMMENDATION HERE IS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL LEVY PROPERTY TAXES FOR '24/'25 FOR THE REGULAR PROGRAM BUDGET ADJUSTMENT AS ALLOWED BY IOWA CODE.
WHAT'S IN YOUR BOARD PACKET SHOWS THAT WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T NEED THIS BUDGET ADJUSTMENT BUT WITH THIS LATEST NEWS, ESTIMATED SSA FROM 3-2.5% IT NOW DOES PUT US IN THIS ADJUSTMENT SITUATION, LIKE I SAID EARLIER.
THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT BUDGET GUARANTEED.
>> BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL LEVY PROPERTY TAX FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, 2025 FOR THE REGULAR PROGRAM BUDGET ADJUSTMENT AS ALLOWED UNDER SECTION 257.14 OF THE IOWA CODE.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DIRECTOR MK.
>> THANK YOU. FOR PATTY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TOLD.
AND THAT IS THAT IF FOR EXAMPLE, WE NOTE THAT THE LEVY IS ACTUALLY SIX CENTS LESS THAN LAST YEAR, SO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS LESS OF A LEVY THAN THE BOARD HAS PROPOSED IN THE PAST.
BUT IF WE WERE CONSIDERING THAT WE NEEDED GENERAL FUND MONEY, WHICH WOULD BE MONEY, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER GENERAL FUND ITEMS, THERE ISN'T ANY WAY WE COULD RAISE THAT BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY AT THE CAP, ANYWAY.
>> YEAH. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAX, TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE BEYOND WHAT THE FORMULA ALLOWS, OTHER THAN THROUGH A CASH RESERVE, WHICH IS THERE'S STILL A FORMULA THERE, WE'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH RESERVE.
SO YES, 100% OF THIS LEVY IS FORMULA-DRIVEN AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE DISCRETION TO INCREASE THAT TO GENERATE REVENUE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
>> DIRECTORS, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> DIRECTORS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UNDER ITEM C. FIRST READING OF THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, DR. JEN GOMEZ.
[IX.C. First Reading of Employee Handbook – Dr. Jen Gomez]
>> GOOD EVENING, LET ME PULL UP FOR YOU. LET'S SEE. WE CAN FIND IT.
>> WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT FIRST?
>> I DON'T NEED TO COVER THE LOCATION.
[01:25:05]
GREENWELL. THERE YOU GO.I AM BRINGING FORTH HANDBOOK CHANGES FOR NEXT YEAR'S EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, SO THIS '24/'25 SCHOOL YEAR, THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO ANNUALLY.
THERE MAY BE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A HANDBOOK CHANGE AND THAT WOULD DEPEND ON IF THERE'S A MAJOR POLICY CHANGE.
HOW DO THESE CHANGES COME ABOUT? A LOT OF TIMES IT'S FEEDBACK FROM OUR EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT OVER THERE AND WE JUST KEEP THAT FEEDBACK COLLECTED.
IT ALSO COULD REFLECT CHANGES IN POLICY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S ONE THAT WE'LL SEE HERE THAT'S A TITLE CHANGE OF A POLICY, SO WE CHANGED IT IN THE HANDBOOK.
THINGS LIKE THAT. THINGS TO CLARIFY OUR LANGUAGE, MAKE SURE OUR PRACTICES ARE ALSO IN THE HANDBOOK, SO THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE CLARIFYING OR BEING MORE SPECIFIC IN HOW WE DO THINGS.
THE HANDBOOK IS REVIEWED BY OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM.
WE ALSO TAKE IT TO OUR LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, WHICH IS MADE UP OF OUR EMPLOYEES FROM OUR DIFFERENT EMPLOYEE GROUPS.
THEN IT GOES TO BOARD POLICY, WHICH WE DID LAST WEEK.
THE BOARD POLICY REVIEWED IT AND THEN IT COMES TO THE BOARD FOR TWO READINGS, JUST LIKE WE DO BOARD POLICIES, IS TWO READINGS.
I WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING AND FEEL FREE TO ASK ME QUESTIONS AS WE MOVE ALONG.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SHARE OUR EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK IS THE FIRST PART OF OUR EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK IS FOR MOST ALL EMPLOYEES AND THEN IT BREAKS IT DOWN INTO THE DIFFERENT EMPLOYEE GROUP.
THAT'S HOW THESE CHANGES ARE BEING PRESENTED TO YOU.
WE'LL START WITH THE MAIN SECTION AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IT SAYS ALL AFTER THE PAGE NUMBER.
HERE, THIS IS RIGHT AWAY WE'RE ADDING IN LANGUAGE.
THE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN RED IS WHAT WE'RE ADDING.
THIS WAS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE THAT WE MAKE SURE WE ARE INFORMING THEM WHEN WE'RE CHANGING THE HANDBOOK OUTSIDE OF THAT ANNUAL TIME, SO THAT'S ADDED HERE.
WE GO DOWN TO THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST CHANGING SOME LANGUAGE TO CLARIFY THE PRACTICE AND WHO'S ELIGIBLE FOR THAT.
I'M GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE BECAUSE IT CHANGES ON THE NEXT PAGE.
HERE WE'RE ADDING HOSPITAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE.
IF YOU RECALL, WHEN WE PRESENTED OUR INSURANCE OPTIONS, THAT'S A NEW POLICY OR BENEFIT THAT WE'RE OFFERING OUR EMPLOYEES FOR THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, SO WE JUST ADDED IT IN THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK LANGUAGE.
DOWN TO THE BOTTOM TRAVEL COMPENSATION.
THAT IS SIMPLY JUST REFLECTING A CHANGE IN THE POLICY NAME.
UP ON TOP, WE ARE STRIKING SOME LANGUAGE FROM THAT JUST TO ALIGN WITH OUR PRACTICE.
WE DO VACATION PAYOUT AFTER SEPARATION, WHICH IS PRO RATED BASED ON WHEN THE PERSON RESIGNS AND THAT IS AT THE PERSON'S PER DM.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING, WE'RE JUST PUTTING IT HERE IN THE LANGUAGE.
WE DO ASK THAT OUR EMPLOYEES WORK UP TO THAT TWO HOUR DISMISSAL TIME IN ORDER TO BE PAID FOR THOSE TWO HOURS THAT THEY'RE BEING RELEASED.
FOR EXAMPLE, TOMORROW, THERE'S A TWO HOUR DISMISSAL.
WE ASK THAT OUR STAFF WORK UP TO THAT TWO HOUR DISMISSAL TIME IN ORDER TO GET THOSE TWO HOURS. THAT MAKES SENSE.
UNDER HANDBOOK COMPLAINTS, WE'RE JUST ADDING IN SOME LANGUAGE WE HAD WITHIN FIVE DAYS, SO WE'RE ADDING IN BUSINESS SO IT'S MORE CLEAR ON WHAT THE PRACTICE IS.
AGAIN, JUST CHANGING WHERE YOU WOULD FIND THE SCHOOL CALENDAR ON THE WEBSITE, AND THAT WAS FROM AN UPDATE WITH OUR WEBSITE.
MONEY COLLECTIONS BY EMPLOYEES.
WE'RE ASKING THAT THE FUNDS BE PLACED IN A SAFE.
IT DID SAY IN A SECURE LOCATION SUCH AS A SAFE.
WE'RE ASKING THAT IT BE KEPT IN A SAFE, AND ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS DO HAVE SAFES IN THEIR MAIN OFFICES.
UP ON SCHOOL PUBLICITY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS, AGAIN, WE'RE ADDING LANGUAGE THAT ALIGNS WITH THE POLICY.
UNDER ETHICS, BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS WE'RE UPDATING THE WEBSITE.
UNDER EMERGENCY CLOSINGS, BOX HERE, WE ARE JUST STRIKING SOME LANGUAGE.
[01:30:06]
IN THE PAST, THE ESC WOULD LIKE, IF WE'RE CLOSING SCHOOL BECAUSE OF COLD TEMPERATURES, THE ESC WOULD STAY OPEN NOW, WE'RE DOING WHAT SCHOOLS DO.THIS IS FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER AGAIN OR WHEN ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE BEING MADE.
WE'RE JUST KEEPING IT GENERAL.
LOCAL MEDIA WILL BE NOTIFIED AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WILL BE USED INSTEAD OF LISTING THOSE SPECIFICALLY.
WE'RE STRIKING THE PAGE, THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT.
WE DO THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT ELECTRONICALLY NOW, SO WE DO NOT NEED THIS PAGE IN THE HANDBOOK.
NOW WE'RE MOVING INTO THE DIFFERENT EMPLOYEE GROUPS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS JUST BEING MORE SPECIFIC IN OUR LANGUAGE ON WHAT THE DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION GOES TOWARDS.
THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE WITH THAT AMOUNT.
FOR THE TEACHERS, THIS IS WHAT WE PUT THAT CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS.
AGAIN, STILL WITH THE SCEA UNDER COMPENSATION FOR UNUSED LEAVE.
THIS IS A STIPEND THAT'S PAID TO EMPLOYEES FOR GOOD ATTENDANCE.
PARTIAL DAYS WILL BE ROUNDED UP TO THE NEAREST HALF DAY, SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN IN PRACTICE WE'RE JUST ADDING IT INTO THE HANDBOOK.
UNDER INVOLUNTARY TRANSFER PROCEDURES, WE ARE ADDING THAT LANGUAGE TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, AND THAT'S JUST BASICALLY SAYING THAT A WRITTEN OR ELECTRONIC NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE REASONS OF SUCH INVOLUNTARY TRANSFER.
IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT A LETTER OR IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S SENT IN AN EMAIL OR THROUGH ONE OF OUR INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND OUR EMPLOYEE RECORDS PLATFORM.
THEN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, WE HAVE LISTED SOME SPECIFIC TEACHING POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THAT TRANSFER LANGUAGE.
THOSE WOULD BE POSITIONS IN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION, OUR ELL, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER TEACHING POSITIONS, AND OUR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
TEACHERS IN THOSE POSITIONS WILL NOT BE TRANSFERRED OUTSIDE OF THOSE POSITIONS INVOLUNTARILY.
THIS IS STILL WITH OUR TEACHER GROUP.
THIS IS OUR TEACHER LEADERSHIP AND COMPENSATION SECTION OF THEIR PORTION OF THE HANDBOOK AND WE ARE CHANGING IT TO JUST TEACHER LEADERSHIP SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE TLC PROGRAM, ESSENTIALLY.
THIS IS JUST CHANGING SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE TO ALIGN WITH THE TEACHER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
AGAIN, THAT SPELLS OUT WHAT THOSE TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ARE AT THE BOTTOM, THAT'S THAT ADDED LANGUAGE.
THESE ARE POSITIONS THAT THE BOARD APPROVED BACK IN DECEMBER.
OKAY. NOW, WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE [INAUDIBLE] GROUP.
THIS IS OUR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS, OUR TUTORS, OUR SECRETARIES.
HERE, AGAIN, WE'RE STATING WHAT THAT DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION GOES TOWARDS.
THIS GROUP DID INCREASE FROM 832-837 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT.
AGAIN, JUST BEING SPECIFIC IN THAT LANGUAGE AS FAR AS WHAT THAT DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION GOES TOWARDS. BUS DRIVERS.
HERE, AGAIN, DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION, BEING MORE SPECIFIC, THIS AMOUNT DID INCREASE BY ABOUT $75.
FOOD SERVICE. THERE'S QUITE A FEW CHANGES WITH OUR FOOD SERVICE GROUP.
THIS IS ABOUT PERSONAL HYGIENE.
THIS IS FOR OUR FOOD SERVICE STAFF.
PIERCINGS WITH REMOVABLE BACKS MUST BE REMOVED TO PREVENT THEM FROM FALLING INTO FOOD.
JUST BEING SPECIFIC ON WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING.
UNDER SAFETY, WE DID HAVE A LIST OF WHERE YOU COULD GET THE APPROVED SHOES.
THAT LIST DOES CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE LIST OUT AND THE LIST WILL BE KEPT WITH THE FOOD SERVICE OFFICE AND THEIR MANAGER.
AGAIN, STILL WITH FOOD SERVICE, BASICALLY AGAIN, THIS IS PRACTICE, BUT WHEN WE HAVE LEFTOVERS, OUR STAFF CANNOT TAKE THE FOOD HOME.
[01:35:03]
INSURANCE. AGAIN, BEING SPECIFIC ON WHAT THE DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION GOES TOWARDS, AND THIS DID INCREASE $5, THE DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION.AS FAR AS ABSENCE PROCEDURE, AGAIN, JUST PUTTING IN SOME LANGUAGE THAT WE DO PUT INTO PRACTICE.
THIS IS SPECIFIC TO IF THERE'S AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF LEAVE REQUESTS FOR A SPECIFIC DAY, ON HOW THAT IS HANDLED.
COMPENSATION FOR UNUSED LEAVE.
AGAIN, JUST ADDING IN THAT PARTIAL DAYS WILL BE ROUNDED UP TO THE NEAREST FULL DAY. SICK LEAVE.
AGAIN, BEING SPECIFIC AND PUTTING INTO WRITING WHAT WE DO PRACTICE, THIS IS ASKING FOR A MEDICAL PROVIDER STATEMENT IF THERE'S A LENGTHY ILLNESS OR A POTENTIALLY POOR ATTENDANCE.
THEN WE ALSO DID INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT A FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEE COULD USE FOR A FAMILY SICK LEAVE.
AGAIN, THE AMOUNT IS STAYING THE SAME.
I'M JUST BEING MORE SPECIFIC IN WHAT THAT AMOUNT GOES TOWARDS.
THEIR AMOUNT HAS STAYED THE SAME AS WELL.
JUST PUTTING IN MORE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.
UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS, WE'RE STRIKING THAT LANGUAGE OUT ABOUT THE COLD TEMPERATURES.
OUR ESSP GROUP, THAT'S EMPLOYEE SUPPORTING SPECIALTY PROGRAMS, THEIR DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION HAS INCREASED $5, AND AGAIN, BEING SPECIFIC ON WHAT THAT'S USED FOR UNDER THE PAY TIME OFF.
NEXT YEAR, WE WILL NOT HAVE CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANTS, BUT WE WILL HAVE CLASSROOM NURSES SO JUST CHANGING THAT LANGUAGE.
UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS, AGAIN STRIKING THE LANGUAGE REGARDING COLD WEATHER DAYS.
THEN OUR LAST GROUP, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE, THEIR DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION IS INCREASING $5.
AGAIN, THE SAME TYPE OF CHANGE FOR THE COMPENSATION FOR UNUSED LEAVE AND FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS.
JUST ADDING IN SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ON THE PURPOSE AND WHAT THE SICK LEAVE BANK IS FOR.
THIS LANGUAGE ALSO ALIGNS WITH OUR TEACHER GROUP AND OUR [INAUDIBLE] GROUP.
THEN HIRING PLACEMENT AND TRANSFER EMPLOYEES.
WE ADDED IN LANGUAGE HERE TO ENCOURAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, BOTH OUR CIE DEPARTMENT AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAVE STAFF THAT HAVE TAKEN ON ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OR MAYBE ADVANCED TO A HIGHER SKILL LEVEL.
THIS HELPS US BEING ABLE TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR THAT.
THEN THE LAST PAGE IS JUST SOME UPDATED WEBSITES.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2024/2025 DISTRICT EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK FOR THE FIRST READING?
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> I HAVE ONE POINT OF CLARITY.
>> DR. GOMEZ, I THINK IT WAS BACK ON PAGE 10 AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK THERE, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT NOT TRANSFERRING PEOPLE OUT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, ELL, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE THIRD CATEGORY WAS.
>> THANK YOU. CAN WE TRANSFER PEOPLE IN WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION?
>> IF THEY HAVE THE CORRECT ENDORSEMENT. WE HAVE DONE THAT.
>> IF WE HAVE AN ART TEACHER THAT HAS A CREDENTIAL FOR SPECIAL ED, WE CAN FORCE THEM INTO TEACHING SPECIAL ED.
I MEAN, IF THE NEED IS GREATER IN THAT SPECIAL ED CLASSROOM THAN THE ART CLASSROOM, POTENTIALLY, YES.
>> DIRECTOR GREENWELL. I SEE IT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] ON THE DEFINITION OF TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, I THOUGHT [INAUDIBLE], WE APPROVED THESE AS TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN AN EARLIER MEETING.
I DON'T RECALL APPROVING THESE AS TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
IS THAT WHAT I READ CORRECTLY?
>> YES. THAT WAS THE RESTRUCTURING PRESENTATION THAT WAS PRESENTED BACK IN DECEMBER, AND THEN THESE POSITIONS WERE LISTED NOVEMBER? DECEMBER.
>> NOVEMBER, AND THEN THESE POSITIONS WERE LISTED ON THE HR BOARD REPORT AS NEW POSITIONS.
>> WE ACTUALLY CALL THEM TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I JUST DON'T RECALL. GOING BACK TO PAGE 11.
[01:40:02]
IS THERE A SPECIFIC ADDITIONAL SALARY THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITION, OR A STIPEND?>> YES. THEY'RE SIMILAR TO OUR CURRENT TLC SYSTEM.
>> COULD YOU REMIND ME WHAT THAT IS? [INAUDIBLE]?
>> TWO THOUSAND IS THE STIPEND.
>> THEN THOSE ARE THOSE ARE PUT ON THE BOARD REPORT FOR APPROVAL.
>> OKAY. BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M FEELING HERE IS I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE AGREEING TO EMPLOY THE POSITION AND WE'RE PAYING EXTRA $2,000, THAT WE HAVE TO SIGN A CONTRACT BECAUSE WE CAN'T DEDUCT THEIR PAY.
THEY TAKE A POSITION OR DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE'RE TYING OUR HANDS WITH FLEXIBILITY HERE, PARTICULARLY ON SUBSTITUTION.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE REDUCE THEIR PAY AT ALL, BUT I THINK WE'RE TYING OUR HANDS WITH THE FLEXIBILITY BY PUTTING THIS RESTRICTIVE LANGUAGE ON PAGE 11, UNDER THE HEADER OF ASSIGNMENT OF TEACHER LEADERS.
I'M JUST WONDERING, COULD SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY WE'RE PUTTING THE RESTRICTION?
>> DIRECTOR GOMEZ, COULD YOU GO BACK TO PAGE 11?
>> HI, MR. GREENWELL. IT'S AMY DENNY.
THE REASON THAT THIS WAS ADDED WAS THAT WHEN WE WERE OFFERING THESE TEACHER LEADER POSITIONS, IT BECAME INCREASINGLY AWARE TO US THAT TEACHERS WERE RELUCTANT TO TAKE TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS BECAUSE THE LAST THREE YEARS, THOSE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED THE MOST, INVOLUNTARILY TRANSFERRED OR PULLED TO SUBSTITUTE TEACH, THEREFORE THEY AREN'T PERFORMING THE DUTIES RELATED TO THEIR POSITION.
TEACHER LEADERSHIP IS STILL A REQUIREMENT WITHIN IOWA CODE, AND ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT HAVE A TLC GRANT ANYMORE, WE'RE ABOUT AS LEAN AS WE CAN BE WITH TEACHER LEADERSHIP.
>> SO JUST ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION.
IT'S NOT SAYING ONCE YOU'RE IN THE TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITION, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE FOR ANOTHER EIGHT OR NINE YEARS.
>> ONE YEAR, AND WE RE EVALUATE ON ANNUAL BASIS, WHO'S IN THE TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITION. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT, AND THEY ARE EVALUATED ANNUALLY.
>> WE CAN'T DO SUBSTITUTES IF WE HAVE VACANT POSITIONS AND THEY'RE NOT ASSIGNED TO BUILDING DUTIES, AND WE CAN'T INVOLUNTARILY TRANSFER THEM TO A VACANT TEACHING POSITION IN THE DISTRICT.
THOSE SEEM TO BE THE THREE BIG ONES.
IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF OR IS THAT BASICALLY IT AS WE HAVE ON PAPER HERE?
>> DIRECTOR GREENWELL, WAS YOUR CONCERN THAT THAT IS RESTRICTING FOR US IF WITH THOSE STATEMENTS THAT ARE IN THAT FIRST PARAGRAPH THERE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY AUTONOMY TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE WITH TEACHERS?
>> IN THE TEACHER THAT WAS DIRECTED TO ME.
I COULDN'T MAKE COULD YOU RESTATE IT?
>> I WAS JUST ASKING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE WHAT I WAS UNDERSTANDING FROM YOU.
WITH THE CURRENT STATEMENTS THAT ARE IN PLACE, IT LIMITS US TO HAVE SOME AUTONOMY WITH TEACHERS MOBILITY.
>> OR IN THE TEACHER LEADERSHIP.
>> OR IN TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE?
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. THE COMMENT THAT WE HAVE TROUBLE FILLING THESE POSITIONS.
IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND I UNDERSTAND SOMEONE SIGNS UP FOR A TEACHER LEADERSHIP POSITION, THAT'S THE POSITION THEY WANT TO SERVE AT.
THE THING I'M STRUGGLING WITH A LITTLE BIT IS IF WE HAVE OPEN SUBSTITUTE POSITION, A CLASSROOM IS EMPTY, NO TEACHER, AND NO SUB AVAILABLE.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? USING TEACHER LEADERSHIP TO COVER THAT FOR A DAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE KIDS AND BREAK THEM UP AND PUT THEM OUT OF THE ROOMS AND SUPER SUPERSIZE OTHER CLASSES.
MOVING INTO TEACHING POSITIONS. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
[01:45:02]
NO, I SIGNED UP FOR THIS POSITION AND THAT'S WHAT I DO.IN ORDER TO GET PEOPLE TO SIGN UP, WE'RE COMMITTING TO THEM, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PULL THEM.
I GUESS THE BIGGEST THING I HAVE IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAVE IS FROM A SUBSTITUTE POINT OF VIEW.
WE'RE PUTTING OUR KIDS LAST IN.
>> ALSO, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 29 POSITIONS ONLY THAT THIS IMPACTS.
WHERE BEFORE THE TLC PROGRAM HAD OVER 50 TEACHERS IN THAT PROGRAM, AND NOW THE TEACHER LEADERS ARE SHARED AMONGST BUILDINGS WHERE BEFORE WE MIGHT HAVE HAD ONE TO TWO IN EACH BUILDING.
>> DIRECTOR GREENWELL, DID YOU HEAR THAT LAST PART FROM DR. GOMEZ?
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, DIRECTORS? AT FIRST WE HAD A SECOND AND WE'VE HAD OUR DISCUSSION. CITIZEN INPUT?
>> DIRECTORS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[IX.D. Calendar Adjustment Due to Inclement Weather - Dr. Rod Earleywine]
LEE WE ARE UP TO THE CALENDAR ADJUSTMENT DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.AND I SAY THUS FAR BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN IOWA AS FAR AS THE WEATHER IS CONCERNED.
THREE OF THEM WERE STUDENT INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS AND ONE WAS ACTUALLY A TEACHER WORK DAY.
WE MISSED JANUARY 8TH, 9TH, 12TH WAS A TEACHER WORK DAY, AND THEN WE MISSED THE 15TH.
THE TEACHER WORK DAY WAS MADE UP BY THE TEACHERS.
I ALLOWED THEM TO WORK FROM HOME THAT DAY AND OUTSIDE OF THEIR REGULAR CONTRACT HOURS BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS THE END OF THE SEMESTER THEY HAD TO GET GRADES DONE AND THEY HAD TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT SEMESTER.
I MADE THAT CALL TO ALLOW THEM TO WORK FROM HOME THAT DAY.
AS YOU KNOW WE ARE NOW ON HOURS RATHER THAN DAYS.
PER STATE CODE, WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE 1,080 HOURS.
SCHEDULE. IN OUR CALENDAR, WE HAD 1,132 SCHEDULED INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
RIGHT NOW, GIVEN THE DAYS THAT WE'VE MISSED THOSE THREE INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS, WE'RE STILL 30.5 HOURS OVER THAT MINIMUM OF 1080.
MY RECOMMENDATION HERE TO THE BOARD IS THAT STUDENTS LAST DAY WOULD CONTINUE AS IS ON THE CURRENT CALENDAR AND THAT WOULD BE MAY 23RD.
TEACHERS WOULD HAVE A WORK DAY AS SCHEDULED ON 24TH MAY DO SEMESTER, GET OUR GRADES IN, GET ALL THOSE THINGS DONE.
TEACHERS THEN WOULD COME BACK FOR THREE DAYS AFTER MEMORIAL WEEKEND.
THE 28TH WOULD BE A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY.
THE 29TH WOULD BE A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY.
THE 30TH WOULD BE A HALF A DAY.
TEACHERS COME IN, FINISH WHAT YOU NEED TO GET DONE FOR YOUR ROOMS AND PUTTING THINGS AWAY, ETC.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
THEN MY RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT THEN I WOULD ALLOW THEM TO BE DISMISSED AT NOON ON THAT DAY.
I GUESS A LITTLE REWARD AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THAT RECOMMENDATION.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IT'S OPEN DISCUSSION.
RICHER, EMPTY? NO. ANYONE? DAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT?
>> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CALENDAR ADJUSTMENT DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER?
>> WE HAVE FIRST WE HAVE A SECOND.
I'M GOING TO ASK THIS, BUT IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, BOARD MEMBERS? NO. ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> BOARD MEMBERS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE?
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY? MOTION PASSES 7,0. ITEM E,
[IX.E. First Reading of Board Policies – Dr. Rod Earleywine]
FIRST READING OF BOARD POLICIES.>> YOU HAVE THOSE POLICIES AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CHANGES IN THOSE POLICIES AS YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN.
[01:50:06]
SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.>> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BOARD POLICIES FOR THE FIRST READING?
>> BOARD MEMBERS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> BOARD MEMBERS. ARE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE?
IT'S TIME FOR OUR ADJOURNMENT.
IS THERE ANY MOTION FOR THE ADJOURNMENT?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSE SAY NAY? MOTION CARRIES MEETINGS ADJOURNMENT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.