[00:00:02]
>> JANUARY 13TH, 2025 AT 6:00 PM.
[I. Call to Order]
I NOW CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER.PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> SEANIECE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
[IV. Approval of Agenda]
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?
>> FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE CITIZEN INPUT.
AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INVITE INDIVIDUALS AND DELEGATIONS TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON ANY ISSUES RELATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ON TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
CITIZEN'S INPUT ON ACTION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE TIME OF DISCUSSION OF EACH AGENDA ITEM.
SEANIECE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT IS OUR CONSENT ACTION ITEMS.
[VI. Consent Action Item(s)]
THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS ARE THE FOLLOWING.BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 9TH, 2024, DR. ROD EARLEYWINE.
B, BOARD SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES FROM JANUARY 8TH, 2025, DR. ROD EARLEYWINE.
C, FINANCE REPORT, PATTY BLANKENSHIP.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS?
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEANIECE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS, SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
CONSENT ACTION ITEMS ARE APPROVED.
HEARING PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE
[VII.A. Proposed Resolution to Continue Participation in the Instructional Support Program – Patty Blankenship]
PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM, PATTY BLANKENSHIP.THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE AND DATE TO HOLD THE HEARING ON THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM.
ANY INTERESTED PARTY MAY APPEAR AND FILE OBJECTION AND ANY INFORMATION FOR OR AGAINST SAME WILL BE HEARD ON THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM WITH THE FINAL DECISION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION A MATTER OF RECORD.
SEANIECE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT FOR THIS HEARING?
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I DECLARE THE HEARING CLOSE.
THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES THE HEARING ON THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM.
[VIII. Future Meetings]
FUTURE MEETINGS, BOARD FINANCE AND FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING, 03:00 PM JANUARY 20TH, 2025, ESC BOARD ROOM, BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING, 03:30 PM JANUARY 21ST, 2025, ESC BOARD ROOM, BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING, 12:00 PM JANUARY 22ND, 2025, ESC BOARD ROOM, EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE FORM, 08:30 AM JANUARY 25TH, 2025, ESC BOARD ROOM, BOARD SPECIAL MEETING, 11:30 AM JANUARY 27TH, 2025 ESC BOARD ROOM, REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 06:00 PM JANUARY 27TH, 2025, ESC BOARD ROOM, BOARD FINANCE AND FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING, 03:00 PM FEBRUARY 3RD, 2025, ESC BOARD ROOM, BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING, 12:00 PM FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025, ESC BOARD ROOM, REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 06:00 PM FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025, ESC BOARD ROOM.[IX. Superintendent’s Report - Dr. Rod Earleywine]
WE'RE NOW AT THIS TIME FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.>> THANK YOU. JUST A FEW THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, WE RECEIVED SOME GOOD NEWS CONCERNING OUR EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR NEXT YEAR.
THEY CAME BACK WITH A 0% INCREASE IF WE WOULD STAY WITH THEM AND NOT GO TO MARKET.
HEALTH INSURANCE SEEMS TO BE EVER-INCREASING.
LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A 0% INCREASE, AND FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, THEY HAVE PROPOSED A 0% INCREASE FOR IT AS WELL.
THE COMMITTEE DID MEET AND IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE BOARD,
[00:05:05]
WHEN IT COMES TIME TO APPROVE THAT AND CONTINUE WITH UNITEDHEALTHCARE.THAT'S NOT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, BUT IT WILL BE FORTHCOMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO THE BOARD.
I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE-SPONSORED LEGISLATIVE FORUM LAST FRIDAY.
DIRECTOR EHMCKE WAS THERE AS WELL.
REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION. OF COURSE, I FOCUSED ON EDUCATIONAL ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING, A LOT OF TALK ON PROPERTY TAX REFORM, AND THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER ENTITIES IN THE ROOM TALKING ABOUT THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS, IN HOPES FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH, IN FACT, BEGINS TODAY.
THAT CLOCK IS TICKING ON THEIR SCHEDULE, SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.
ONE OF THE THINGS TO SEE, AS FAR AS EDUCATION IS CONCERNED, THAT I BELIEVE WE'LL GET SOME MOVEMENT, AND THAT'S EXPANDING THE PRESCHOOL, THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT LEGISLATION AND EXPANDING THAT PROGRAM FOR OUR KIDS.
THE OTHER THING, GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE IOWA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION WILL BE BRINGING STATE BASEBALL TO SIOUX CITY THIS NEXT SUMMER, JULY 21ST THROUGH 25TH, THE LARGE SCHOOLS, 4A AND 5A WILL HAVE THEIR STATE BASEBALL.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, I BELIEVE, THAT SIOUX CITY WILL BE SPONSORING ANY OF THE STATE-LEVEL ACTIVITIES.
I AM ON THE BOARD OF CONTROL, SERVING MY 10TH YEAR.
ON BOARD OF CONTROL AS MUCH LIKE THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION.
THE BOARD OF CONTROL OVERSEES THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ALL ACTIVITIES.
PART OF MY JOB WITH THAT IS THAT I REPRESENT NORTHWEST IOWA.
IN REPRESENTING NORTHWEST IOWA, I ALSO ADVOCATE FOR NORTHWEST IOWA.
I ADVOCATED VERY STRONGLY TO HAVE STATE BASEBALL COME TO SIOUX CITY.
IT WAS IN DES MOINES FOR MANY YEARS.
DES MOINES COULD NO LONGER ACCOMMODATE DUE TO THE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL SCHEDULE AT THE DES MOINES PARK, SO THEN IT WAS MOVED TO IOWA CITY.
THEY ARE RENOVATING THEIR STADIUM, SO IT HAD TO BE MOVED.
IT WAS MOVED TO CEDAR RAPIDS LAST YEAR.
CEDAR RAPIDS CANNOT HOST THIS SUMMER.
AGAIN, I ADVOCATED, AND THE BOARD DID APPROVE BRINGING IT TO SIOUX CITY.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GIVES SIOUX CITY EXPOSURE, AND ALSO THEY ESTIMATE ABOUT A $4 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
THAT'S GREAT NEWS AS WELL. WITH THAT, I WILL IN MY END REPORT.
I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY GIVE AN UPDATE ON A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, MONIQUE SCARLETT, WHO HAD A MEDICAL EVENT IN DECEMBER.
HER REHAB IS GOING WELL, AND SHE'S FIGHTING VERY HARD TO GET BACK TO UP TO SPEED SO SHE CAN COME HERE AND TALK TO US AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SHE'S A BIG SAINTS FAN, BUT SHE IS WEARING A PAIR OF VIKINGS SOCKS TONIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] GOT TO GET THAT IN, BUT NO, I NOTED SHE'S A VERY GREAT PERSON WHO ADVOCATES FOR EVERYONE AND FOR THE SCHOOLS, AND I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT BEING A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND VICE PRESIDENT ON THE LEADERSHIP THAT KEEP HER IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS SO THAT SHE HAS MORE STRENGTH AND STUFF AND KNOWS THAT PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING HER HERE.
WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH HER OR NOT, SHE'S A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH, AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THE REHAB PEOPLE UP THERE ARE FINDING THAT OUT RIGHT NOW.
GIVE THEM HECK THERE, MONIQUE.
[X.A. Human Resources Report(s) - Barb Caskey]
ITEMS, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND/OR ACTION.BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, BOARD MEMBERS? SEANIECE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
[X.B. McGrath Training Contract – Barb Caskey]
MCGRATH TRAINING CONTRACT, BARB CASKEY.BARB IS HERE, IF SHE WISHES TO SPEAK OR IF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAD QUESTIONS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT BETWEEN MCGRATH TRAINING SOLUTIONS AND SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
[00:10:03]
SEANIECE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT?>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
[X.C. FY26 Spending Authority Update & General Fund Targeted Expenditures – Patty Blankenship]
FISCAL YEAR '26 SPENDING AUTHORITY UPDATE, GENERAL FUND TARGETED EXPENDITURES, PATTY BLANKENSHIP.WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW PATTY TO PRESENT AT THIS TIME.
PLEASE ALLOW HER TO GET THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND THEN ASK HER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
>> THE FIRST PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON SPENDING AUTHORITY, AND THEN ALSO TO DETERMINE THE TARGETED INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES FOR FY26.
THE FIRST SEVERAL PAGES, I'LL GO OVER REAL QUICK BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THEM IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION IN NOVEMBER.
PAGE 2 IS OUR BUDGET GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
THIS IS WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION USES TO DEVELOP THE BUDGET.
THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS SOME INFORMATION AND SOME BACKGROUND ON SPENDING AUTHORITY.
THIS TALKS ABOUT SSA AND THE CERTIFIED ENROLLMENT FROM OCTOBER OF 2024.
THIS SHOWS THE AVERAGE SSA OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND ALSO THE EXPENDITURE GROWTH OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
NOW, I'M ON PAGE 6, AND THIS IS THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT I'M USING IN THIS SPENDING AUTHORITY PROJECTIONS.
I'M ONLY PRESENTING ONE SCENARIO WHERE THE SUPPLEMENTAL STATE AID IS 2 AND 1/2% AND TARGETED EXPENDITURES ARE 3%.
IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION IN NOVEMBER, WE PRESENTED TWO AND A HALF SSA AND TWO AND A HALF FOR EXPENDITURES AND THEN ALSO THREE AND A HALF ON EXPENDITURES.
FOR THIS PRESENTATION, I'M DOING TWO AND A HALF AND THREE, WHICH IS JUST A HALF A PERCENT DIFFERENCE.
ON PAGE 7 IS A CALCULATION OF THE FY25 PROJECTED CARRYOVER BALANCE.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I CALCULATE THIS NUMBER ACCURATELY BECAUSE THIS IS THE STARTING BASIS FOR DETERMINING THE PROJECTIONS FOR '26-'30.
I'M PROJECTING FOR FY25 THAT WE WILL END THE YEAR WITH A SPENDING BALANCE CARRYOVER OF 91.1 MILLION, WHICH IS 32%.
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A NOTE 1 AND A 2.
I'VE RE-ESTIMATED THE ANNUAL SPENDING AUTHORITY BASED ON RE-ESTIMATED REVENUES AND ALSO SOME CHANGES IN THE SPENT DEFICIT ASSUMPTION.
THEN THE EXPENDITURES ARE BASED ON THE FY25 RE-ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE LINE ITEM BUDGET.
YOU CAN SEE THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED 2 AND 1/2% AND 3%.
UNDER THIS SCENARIO FOR FY26, WE WOULD BE USING 1.9 MILLION OF SPENDING AUTHORITY BY HAVING OUR EXPENDITURES EXCEED SSA BY A 1/2%.
IF YOU CARRY THAT OUT ALL THE WAY TO FY30, DURING THAT TIME FRAME, THE PROJECTION WOULD SHOW THAT WE'RE USING 14.9 MILLION OF SPENDING AUTHORITY RESERVE BALANCE.
THAT'S WITHIN '27-'30 SSA AND EXPENDITURES ARE EQUAL.
IT'S JUST THAT HALF A PERCENT INCREASE IN YEAR 1 THAT ACCUMULATES TO USING RESERVES OF 14.9 MILLION, BUT BY THE END OF FY30, OUR SPENT BALANCE WILL STILL BE 25%, WHICH WOULD BE A HEALTHY RESERVE BALANCE.
THEN THIS PAGE JUST OUTLINES MY PROCESS FOR CALCULATING THE TARGETED EXPENDITURE INCREASE.
I REVIEW THE FY25 ACTUAL EXPENDITURES, I REVIEW WHAT WAS THE FY25 CERTIFIED BUDGET, I RE-ESTIMATE THE '25 EXPENDITURES, AND THEN I ALSO REVIEW THE SPENDING AUTHORITY PROJECTIONS.
THERE'S A BOARD POLICY THAT REQUIRES US TO BUDGET BY FUND, FACILITY FUNCTION, AND PROGRAM.
HERE, WE CAN SEE THE PROGRAMS ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE AND ACROSS THE TOP ARE THE FUNCTIONS.
THE LEGAL LEVEL OF CONTROL IS AT THE YELLOW.
WHAT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW, THE LEGAL LEVEL OF CONTROL IS INSTRUCTION, AND THEN OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES AND THEN OTHER USES.
YOU CAN SEE FOR FY24, THE VERY LAST COLUMN, IT SHOWS THAT OUR ACTUAL EXPENDITURES WERE 202.2 MILLION, WHEREAS MY FY25 RE-ESTIMATED BUDGET IS 198 MILLION.
[00:15:08]
WE HAVE TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS.THE BIGGEST THING IS YOU HAVE TO NEUTRALIZE THE ESSER EXPENDITURES.
IN '24, WE HAVE 16.6 MILLION OF ESSER THREE EXPENDITURES, AND THEN IN '25, WE HAVE 1.4 MILLION.
YOU'RE REALLY COMPARING ABOUT 185.6 IN '24 TO 196.6 IN '25.
THAT'S AN $11 MILLION DIFFERENCE.
IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE FY25 BUDGET ADOPTION, WE HAD APPROVED A BUDGET INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES BY 9.6 MILLION.
WE ARE ABOVE THAT BY 1.4 MILLION, AND THAT'S MOSTLY DUE TO NEW POSITIONS THAT WE ADDED SUBSEQUENT TO THE BUDGET ADOPTION.
HERE, YOU CAN SEE THE FY25 RE-ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES BY FACILITY COMPARED TO THE FY24 ACTUAL.
WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT SO FAR IS BASICALLY THE SPENDING AUTHORITY UPDATE.
THEN NOW HERE, I'M CALCULATING HOW MUCH CAN OUR FY26 EXPENDITURES INCREASE FROM '25.
>> WE START WITH OUR RE-ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES OF 198 MILLION.
THAT'S THE SAME NUMBER THAT WE SAW IN THE PREVIOUS PAGES.
IF YOU USE A 3% INCREASE, SO WE'RE ONLY ALLOWING EXPENDITURES TO INCREASE BY 3%.
THAT WOULD MEAN WE COULD INCREASE OUR EXPENDITURES BY 5.7 MILLION.
THAT'S THE SAME NUMBER THAT YOU CAN SEE BACK ON THE SPENDING AUTHORITY PROJECTION WORK PAPER.
THAT WOULD LEAVE US A BUDGET OF 202.5 MILLION AND THAT WOULD MEAN WE'RE USING 1.9 MILLION IN SPENDING AUTHORITY RESERVES.
WE STILL HAVE AN UNSPENT BALANCE RATIO OF 31%.
DOWN AT THE BOTTOM IN THAT BOX, YOU CAN SEE THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL.
THIS IS JUST TO SHOW THAT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ONE OF THE BUDGET GUIDING PRINCIPLES WAS THAT WE MUST PRESENT A SUSTAINABLE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE BUDGET WAS ONE OF THE BOARD'S PRIORITIES, AND THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE BUDGET WILL BE DEVELOPED USING NO MORE THAN 3.5% OF THE SPENDING AUTHORITY RESERVE BALANCE.
I SHOW MY CALCULATION THERE, BUT IN ORDER TO LIVE WITHIN THAT GUIDING PRINCIPLE BY ONLY USING RESERVES OF 3.5%, WE COULD INCREASE EXPENDITURES BY ANOTHER 1.2 MILLION, THAT WOULD LIVE WITHIN THAT 3.5%.
WHAT I'M SHOWING IS ONLY USING RESERVES OF 1.9 MILLION.
REALLY THAT THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION WITH THIS PRESENTATION.
THIS IS JUST SHOWING THE BUDGET CALENDAR LAYOUT, AND THEN THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACKNOWLEDGES THE UPDATED INFORMATION PRESENTED REGARDING THE FY26 SPENDING AUTHORITY PROJECTIONS AND THE GENERAL FUND TARGETED EXPENDITURES.
BUT PAGES 15-43 IS ALL THE SUPPORTING DETAIL THAT SUPPORTS THOSE CALCULATIONS THAT WE SAW IN THE MAIN PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, ANY DISCUSSION ANY QUESTIONS.
DIRECTOR GREENWELL. CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON.
>> SORRY, THE IMPROVEMENT IN SPENDING AUTHORITY IS LARGELY A RESULT OF UNFILLED POSITIONS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT'S THAT, AND IT'S ALSO INCREASES IN MY REVENUE ESTIMATES.
ONE BEING IN LOCAL REVENUE, WHICH IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTEREST INCOME.
THEN ALSO OUR FEDERAL REVENUES.
WE'VE HAD SOME INCREASES IN FEDERAL REVENUES.
>> OUR INTEREST INCOME IS ABOUT WHAT? FIVE MILLION?
>> CLOSE TO 5 MILLION PLUS THE UNFILLED POSITIONS OF ROUGHLY 4 MILLION.
WE HAVE 40 SOME UNFILLED POSITIONS, I BELIEVE.
>> THOSE WOULD BE UNFILLED POSITIONS THAT WE HAD IN FY24.
THAT WOULD HAVE STARTED FY25 WITH A HIGHER SPENDING AUTHORITY BALANCE.
FOR FY25, IN MY REESTIMATED EXPENDITURES, I HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR OUR CURRENT VACANT POSITIONS.
>> DR ERWIN, EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD COMING FROM WHISPERS OUT OF DES MOINES IS WE AREN'T GOING TO GET 2.5% SSA.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ANYTHING SIMILARLY, BUT WE'VE GOT 2.5% HERE.
[00:20:01]
WE FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT LAST YEAR, BUT THE WHISPERS I'M HEARING, I'M NOT SO COMFORTABLE WITH 2.5%.RIGHT NOW, JUST WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE, OBVIOUSLY FOR THREE OR HIGHER.
2.5% WOULD BE, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ACROSS STATE WOULD BE UNDERFUNDING EDUCATION.
I'M HEARING BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS WITH THE AA LEGISLATION FROM LAST YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THAT AS EXTRA INCOME FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT FLOW THROUGH MONEY, THAT'S NO LONGER FLOWING THE ED SERVICE AND THE MEDIA.
THEY I'M SURE LOOK AT THAT AS EXTRA INCOME FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE TLC.
I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT CONCERNING THIS, IS THAT IT MIGHT BE CLOSER TO THAT 2%.
THAT'S WHY AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE AT THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF REALLY HOLDING THE REINS ON SPENDING.
WE DID A WONDERFUL JOB IN WEANING OFF THE SR DOLLARS, AND THAT TOOK A TEAM EFFORT.
EVERYBODY WAS INVOLVED IN THAT.
ADMINISTRATIVELY, WE WERE INVOLVED IN THAT.
AT THE BOARD LEVEL, YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THAT.
OF COURSE, PATTY'S LEAD WITH THAT.
WE'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF WEANING OFF THOSE AND REALIGNING POSITIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
WE HAVE A SOLID BUDGET AND A SOLID PLAN.
IF IT IS 2%, IT IS WHAT IT IS, WE CAN COMFORTABLY MOVE FORWARD AND STILL MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT, AND THAT'S THE MAIN THING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON.
I STILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE BUDGET, WHETHER IT'S THREE, 2.5, OR TWO.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S GOING TO EAT INTO SOME MORE UNSPENT BALANCE, BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SOME UNSPENT BALANCES BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE KNOW THE LEGISLATORS ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE THE SSA THAT WE'D WANT.
THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER HERE IS THAT NOW WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE.
NOW WE HAVE THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THE VOUCHERS AT THE TABLE, AND THEY ARE TAKING A LOT OF MONEY.
IT WAS OVER BUDGET BY 20% YEAR 1.
AT THE END OF YEAR 4, THE STATE IS GOING TO SPEND $1 BILLION ON VOUCHERS, $1 BILLION AND THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE DOLLARS.
I DON'T KNOW ANYWHERE ELSE THEY'RE SPENDING $1 BILLION WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT WOULDN'T EVEN MAKE FATHOM TO WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? WHY WOULD YOU POUR ALL THIS MONEY AND THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
IT'S DISHEARTENING TO SEE THAT.
WITH THAT, ACCORDING TO STUDIES THAT I RECENTLY READ IS THAT GUESS WHAT TUITION IS DOING IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS, IT'S GOING UP BY 20%.
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, BUT GETTING BACK TO YOUR POINT, I'M SORRY, I WENT ON THE TANGENT HERE, BUT, IT BOTHERS ME THAT WE'RE SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT 3%.
IF WE HAD 3%, AS YOU CAN SEE, LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET AND THE PROJECTIONS PATTY PUT TOGETHER, WE'D BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
>> WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. THE KEY FOR US IS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE UNFILLED POSITIONS, AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES IS TO KEEP THE CLASS SIZES SIMPLE OR SIMILARLY OR DON'T LET THEM GROW.
UNFILLED POSITIONS IS SOMETHING RECRUITING AND RETENTION IN THIS BUDGET IS CRITICAL FOR US.
>> I HEAR SOME OF THE SAME THINGS, BUT IT'S WHAT I CALL A LOT SQUISHIER THIS YEAR, MEANING WHEN WE WERE TALKING THREE AND 2.5, WE KNEW THE GOVERNOR WAS COMING OUT WITH 2.5.
QUESTION WAS IS TO BE PERSUASIVE.
WE WERE IN THE HOUSE, AND THEN THE SENATE GOT LOST IN THE AA DEAL, AND THAT'S HOW WE ENDED UP NOT GETTING THE THREE THAT WE NEEDED LAST YEAR.
THIS YEAR, WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE, THEY DON'T HAVE A GOOD REASON WHY IT SHOULD BE LESS THAN THE 2.5 OR FOR THAT MATTER, WHY THE 3% DOESN'T NEED TO BE RECONSIDERED AS THE APPROPRIATE POINT FOR THE LEGISLATION.
[00:25:05]
I WOULD INVITE OUR PUBLIC WHO'S LISTENING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ALSO EXPRESSING THE NEED THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS THAT WE DO AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT.WE GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF HOW MANY STUDENTS.
NOW, WE DID HAVE A REDUCTION IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS HERE.
FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE HAD MORE COME IN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN BOTH THE SPECIAL NEED POPULATION OF OUR STUDENT BODY AS A PERCENTAGE AND ALSO IN THE ELL.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE WITH STAFF THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING, I'M NOT CRITICIZING ANY OTHER SCHOOL, BUT PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I WANT TO AGREE, DIRECTOR GREENWELL, WITH THE POSITIONS YOU'VE BEEN TAKING IN SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, AND WE TALK ABOUT 2.5%, 3%.
THE POINT YOU MADE AT THE LAST ONE HAS TO BE URGED EVEN STRONGER, WHICH IS IT TAKES THIS MANY DOLLARS TO RUN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MODIFICATIONS TO PROPERTY TAX OR WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OTHER MODIFICATIONS, OUR FIRST MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE, IT TAKES ROUGHLY $250 MILLION TO RUN THIS DISTRICT, AND IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, WE CAN'T PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT EVERYBODY SAYS THAT IT'S NOT OPTIONAL FOR US TO PROVIDE, BUT WE JUST SIMPLY HAVE TO PROVIDE IT.
IT'S CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO DIRECT OUR ATTENTION TO AT THIS TIME WHEN AND THAT'S WHAT I MEANT WHEN I SAID THE DISCUSSIONS IT'S A LITTLE MORE SQUISHY.
THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A REASON FOR NOT PROVIDING UP TO THE LEVEL THAT WE NEED, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE PERSUASIVE ON THAT.
APPARENTLY, THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT KEEPING HER RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER A HAT UNTIL THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
THAT WILL BE A BIG POINT FOR US TO LISTEN TO, BUT I WANT TO THANK PATTY FOR WHICH SHE'S PUT TOGETHER.
IT'S BASED ON OUR PAST EXPERIENCE OVER THE PAST YEAR.
IT'S BASED ON THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE APPROVED FOR HIRE AND OUR ACTUAL FACULTY THAT WE HAVE ON BOARD BY BOTH FACULTY AND STAFF.
IT'S A STARTING POINT. NOW IS WHEN WE BRING FORWARD THE IDEAS, BOTH IN TERMS OF WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO IN EDUCATION IN THE NEXT YEAR AND GOING FORWARD, BUT IT'S EXCELLENT IT'S AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
IT'S GOOD FOR US TO HAVE THIS AS A BASE.
I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS LIKE THE BASE STARTING POINT?
>> THE NEXT IF WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET CALENDAR, WHICH IS ON.
WE'RE ON JANUARY 13 WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO GROW BY X.
RIGHT NOW, I PUT THIS TOGETHER SAYING 3%.
THE NEXT GENERAL FUND BUDGET MEETING IS ON FEBRUARY 24, AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURE REVIEW.
AT THAT MEETING, WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD ANY BUDGET ADDITIONS.
THEN WE WILL ALSO BE TALKING ABOUT OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE.
IT SAYS DISCUSSION, BUT BECAUSE OF THE NEW FORMAT, ESSENTIALLY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR PROPERTY TAX RATE SET AT THAT MEETING BECAUSE THOSE PROPERTY TAX STATEMENTS GO OUT TO TAXPAYERS.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TILL TO MARCH 10TH, WE CAN RELOOK AT THE PROPERTY TAX RATES.
BUT I BELIEVE THE FEBRUARY 24TH MEETING WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD BUDGET ADDITIONS OR DEDUCTION OR, REDUCTIONS.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THEN WE ARE LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE.
IS THIS 3% AND OKAY ESTIMATE OF THOSE ADDITIONS OR, SHOULD IT BE MORE OR SHOULD IT BE LESS?
>> WELL, THE KEY FOR ME IS UNDERSTANDING THE GAP BETWEEN IF REVENUE IS 2.5 AND EXPENDITURES ARE THREE, WE'VE GOT A 1/2% GAP IN.
IF WE FEEL GET BETTER INFORMATION THAT REVENUE IS NOT GOING TO BE 2.5, LET'S JUST MAKE UP FOR TWO.
NOW WE'VE GOT A PERCENT DIFFERENCE, AND THAT DEFICIT GROWS.
IN MAY WE HAVE TO SHRINK THE EXPENDITURE GROWTH DOWN TO,
[00:30:03]
SO THERE'S STILL A HALF A PERCENT GAP, WHICH WILL EFFECTIVELY LEAD TO THE SAME NET POSITION WHERE WE'RE AT.THAT TO ME IS THE KEY THAT WE MONITOR IS LOOK, IF REVENUES SSA IS NOT GOING TO COME IN WHERE WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE, THEN WE'VE GOT TO FEEL FAIRLY FLEXIBLE ON THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THINGS AS WELL AS TO HALF PERCENT GAP.
WE CLEARLY SEE WE CAN LIVE AND WORK WITH THAT.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AND WHICH BASICALLY, IF YOU COME IN WITH A LOW SSA, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE UP THAT PLUS SOME.
THE KEY FOR ME IS KEEPING THAT GAP AT A REASONABLE BASIS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THAT'S WHAT OUR CHALLENGE WILL BE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS YEAR.
>> DO KNOW WHEN THE GOVERNOR STATE OF THE STATE IS?
>> IT'S TOMORROW NIGHT, SIX O'CLOCK. IT'S ON PBS.
CONDITION OF THE STATE IS TOMORROW JANUARY 14TH.
>> WE'LL KNOW MORE THEN. I'M SURE.
>> IT'S A GOOD DISCUSSION. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SOLVE.
HATE TO CALL IT HOPES AND DREAMS, BUT WHAT WE WOULD HOPE FOR AND WHAT WE WOULD ARGUE FOR AND WHAT WE WOULD ADVOCATE FOR IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE GOOD THINGS THAT MAYBE WE AREN'T DOING AS MUCH OF RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE THE LOSS OF REAL PROGRESS ON EDUCATION IS MUCH MORE COSTLY THAN A HALF PERCENT TO THIS STATE.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? BOARD MEMBERS? TREYLA LEE, IS THERE SOME INPUT?
>> TARGETED EXPENDITURES. ITEM D,
[X.D. Resolution to Continue Participation in the Instructional Support Program – Patty Blankenship]
RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM, PATTY BLANKENSHIP.SHE CAN SPEAK ON THAT IF WE WISH HER TO.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM?
>> WE HAVE FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT.
THE INSTRUCTION WE SUPPORT LEVY THAT WE'RE APPROVING, BUT ALSO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PROGRAM OR GENERAL FUND AND IT'S NOT LIMITED TO LET'S SAY, BUILDINGS AND FLAT AND EQUIPMENT.
IT'S AVAILABLE FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER PROGRAM, AS WELL, CORRECT?
>> YEAH. THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY IS FOR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES.
IT'S IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY WAYS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN REALLY INCREASE THEIR GENERAL FUND REVENUES.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT POINT FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW, IS THAT WHEN YOU GET ON THIS BOARD AND YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU COULD FEEL LIKE WOULDN'T WE WANT TO INVEST MORE IN EDUCATION THAT BE OKAY TO DO IN OUR LOCAL TAX STRUCTURE.
YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU CANNOT DO IT.
IT'S COMPLETELY CONTROLLED BY THE STATE IN THAT REGARD, EXCEPT THIS ONE AREA WHERE WE CAN DECIDE THROUGH THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR TEACHING AND EDUCATION AND PROGRAM MATERIAL IN THE CLASSROOM FOR ALL STUDENTS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO EMBRACE IT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DIRECTOR GREENWELL.
>> NOT REALLY A QUESTION, BUT THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY.
THERE IS THE PROPERTY TAX COMPONENT, AND THEN THERE IS THE INCOME TAX COMPONENT AS WELL.
AS WE GET INTO THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO LEVY TIME DISCUSSION, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT BALANCING THOSE OUT.
THE PROPERTY TAX COMPONENT HAS GROWN QUITE A BIT AHEAD OF THE INCOME TAX COMPONENT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND WE USED TO HAVE THEM AT ABOUT A 50 50.
WHEN IT COMES TIME TO LEVY LEVELING, WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THAT, BUT FULLY SUPPORTED, FULLY SUPPORTED, JUST THE MIX IS A DISCUSSION LATER ON.
>> AS FAR AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AND INCOME TAXES, I HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED IOWA CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF NO INCOME TAX.
THE INCOME TAX AVERAGE HAS DROPPED FROM ABOUT 44.4% DOWN TO ABOUT 3.8, SO YOU HAVE TO INCREASE IT IN ORDER TO GET THE SUM [INAUDIBLE].
WE CAN DECIDE THAT AT THAT THE FUTURE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IS TWO YEARS IN ARREARS ON INCOME TAX.
WE CAN SEE THAT COMING TWO YEARS AHEAD OF WHEN WE NEED TO CHARGE ON IT SO THAT WE CAN SEE WHAT'S COMING.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? JANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> JANICE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[00:35:02]
>> MOTION PASSES, I DECLARE THE RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
[X.E. Modified Supplemental Amount for At-Risk/ Dropout Prevention – Angela Bemus]
ITEM E MODIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL AMOUNT FOR AT RISK DROP OFF PREVENTION.ANGELA BEMIS, WILL BE PRESENTING.
LET'S GIVE HER THAT ABILITY TO PRESENT AND THEN ASK QUESTIONS.
>> THE PURPOSE OF AT RISK FUNDS, THIS IS JUST TO SUPPORT AND TARGET STUDENTS WHO ARE AT RISK OF DROPPING OUT.
THESE ARE FUNDS THAT WE ARE TODAY ASKING FOR APPROVAL FOR THE APPLICATION.
A AT RISK MODIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL AMOUNT IS 4,098,856.
IT IS REQUIRED THAT THERE IS A DROP OUT PREVENTION REQUIRED LOCAL MATCH OF 25%, WHICH IS 1.366285.
THAT THIRD COLUMN IS THE TOTAL AT RISK MODIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL AT MOUTH.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE WEIGHTED AT RISK.
THAT TOTAL, THAT 6.2 MILLION, THAT IS WHAT WE WILL HAVE FOR NEXT YEAR FOR AT RISK FUNDS FOR FY 26.
SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES FOR AT RISK BECAUSE IT IS OFTEN GETS CONFUSING AND THAT'S WHAT WE [INAUDIBLE] FOR THAT APPLICATION IS TO KNOW THAT WE GET THE TSS MONEY FROM THE STATE.
WE GET A SHARED VISIONS GRANT.
THERE'S I CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONEY, INDIAN EDUCATION ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL, AND EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
THOSE ARE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES WE HAVE FOR AT RISK.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDING DOES COME FROM THIS MODIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL AMOUNT.
THE PROGRAMS. THIS IS A GENERAL.
WE COULD IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN ANSWER AND WE'RE DONE IN SPECIFICS, BUT PROGRAMS FUNDED WITH THESE DOLLARS, OUR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, OUR ALTERNATIVE SUPPORT CENTERS AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL, TUTORING, JUVENILE COURT LIAISON, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, OUR CHARACTER STRONG SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT CURRICULUM THAT WE'VE JUST BEEN IMPLEMENTING.
OUR MTSS SPECIALISTS, CREDIT RECOVERY, THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE CURRICULUM, SOFTWARE, THE TEACHERS, THE USE OF THE TECHNOLOGY, ALL OF THAT'S ENCOMPASSING CREDIT RECOVERY.
MENTORING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, AND WE DID ADD THIS YEAR BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WOULD COME TO REGISTER THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES BECAUSE WE PRIOR WE'RE USING A LOT OF SSR FUNDS FOR THOSE, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT MORE FAMILIES NOW THAN WE HAD BEFORE THAT DEPENDED ON THEM.
WE DID ADD THAT I ADDED THAT TO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.
THE PURPOSE OF AT RISK DOLLARS ARE TO INCREASE GRADUATES, AND TO DECREASE OUR DROPOUT RATE.
THE DATA I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU, ALWAYS OUR MOST CURRENT DATA IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A YEAR BEHIND.
THAT IS HOW THE STATE REPORTS IT.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE FOUR AND FIVE YEAR GRADUATION RATES FOR 23 AND 22.
A FOUR YEAR GRADUATION RATE IS WHAT WHEN A STUDENT GRADUATES IN THE THEIR COHORT OF THE EXPECTED FOUR YEARS, THE STATE ALSO RECOGNIZES THOUGH THAT SOMETIMES KIDS TAKE A LITTLE EXTRA LONG, SO THEY FIGURE A FIVE YEAR GRADUATION RATE.
WE ARE ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGE IN EVERY SINGLE SUBGROUP.
AS A DISTRICT AS A WHOLE, AND AS THE ENTIRE SUBGROUP, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IF YOU WERE WONDERING FROM PAST LAST YEAR, SO WE'RE EVEN GETTING BETTER BECAUSE WE WERE RIGHT AT THE STATE AVERAGE OR JUST A LITTLE BIT BELOW AT OUR FOUR YEAR RATE, AND NOW WE'RE ABOVE AVERAGE AND IN BOTH FOUR AND FIVE YEAR.
MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED THE ART RISK DROPOUT PREVENTION APPLICATION FOR THE MODIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL LEVY OF 4,098,856.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION?
>> NOW WE HAVE THE MOTION IS COMING.
>> CLARITY. THIS IS A PROGRAM WE ARE REQUIRED TO WRITE.
PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WHY ARE WE SPENDING MONEY ON THAT? FIRST OF ALL, THE STATE DOES REQUIRE IT.
AS YOU'VE SHOWN, WE'RE MEASURED ON WHAT OUR GRADUATION RATE IS.
IT'S NOT AN OPTION TO NOT DO IT.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE IMPLEMENTING BROADER PROGRAMS ON THE CHARACTER [INAUDIBLE].
[00:40:07]
>> THE COMPONENT OF THESE DOLLARS THAT WHEN WE USE AT RISK SEALERS, THEY HAVE TO BE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE AT RISK.
CHARACTER STRONG IS FOR ALL STUDENTS, BUT THERE IS A COMPONENT FOR HIGH RISK STUDENTS THAT IS TO BE USED IN SMALL GROUP OR JUST INDIVIDUALLY.
IT'S CALLED THE TIER 2 AND THE TIER 3.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE USING AT RISK DOLLARS FOR.
>> DR. MAYER. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
I HEARD THIS DISCUSSION AT FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND I MUST ADMIT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ART RISK PROGRAM.
I DON'T THINK I DO YET, BUT I KNOW MORE NOW THAN I DID THE WEEK BEFORE. THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
MONEY WELL SPENT TO THE TEACHERS, TO THE OTHER ADMINISTRATORS FOR ADDRESSING A NEED IN OUR DISTRICT.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ART RISK STUDENTS AND GOING RIGHT TO THEM AND SEEING IT, OF COURSE, I'VE SEEN IT IN WORKING MOTION BEING A FORMER TEACHER.
BUT I THINK YOU GUYS NEED GIVE YOURSELVES THE POWER IN THE BACK, CONGRATULATE YOURSELVES, THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS FOR PICKING THE PROGRAMS THAT WE NEED TO USE, IDENTIFYING THE STUDENTS FOR EVERYTHING TO GET THEM TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ART RISK DROPOUT PREVENTION APPLICATION WITH THE MODIFIED SUPPLE AMOUNT LEVY OF $4,098,856?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> SHANE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE?
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY? MOTION PASSES.
[X.F. Classroom Furniture Purchase – Jim Vanderloo]
ITEM F. CLASSROOM FURNITURE PURCHASE.MR. VAN, JIM VAN, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT A FURNITURE QUOTE FROM OFFICE ELEMENTS OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,981.15?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? JANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE?
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
[X.G. Construction Plan Review for Project House II – Jim Vanderloo]
ITEM G. CONSTRUCTION PLAN REVIEW FOR PROJECT HOUSE NUMBER 2, JIM VANDERL IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE FOR THE SIGNATURE OF THE CONSTRUCTION PLAN REVIEW FOR THE PROJECT HOUSE NUMBER 2?>> WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? JANICE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE?
[X.H. City of Sioux City Letter of Understanding – Tim Paul]
ITEM H. CITY OF SIOUX CITY LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING TIM PAUL.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY OF SIOUX CITY AND THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FOR PROPOSED WATER QUALITY PRACTICES AT ELWOOD OLSON STADIUM.
>> WE HAVE FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? JANICE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE?
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY? MOTION PASSES. ITEM I.
[X.I. Facility Master Plan Agreement with CMBA Architects – Tim Paul]
FACILITY MASTER PLAN AGREEMENT WITH CMBA ARCHITECTS, TIM PAUL.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FACILITY MASTER PLAN PROPOSAL WITH CMBA ARCHITECTS OF SU CITY IOWA IN AMOUNT OF $302,600.
>> WE HAVE FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> DIRECTOR ANKE. BUT I'M WONDERING THE PLAN, IS THIS A PLAN FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING FACILITIES OR IS IT A PLAN THAT INVOLVES CONSIDERATION OF WHEN FACILITIES NEED TO BE [INAUDIBLE]?
IT IS AN EVALUATION OF CURRENT BUILDINGS, PRIMARILY HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND THEN THE LOOK AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR THE NODLINE SUNNYSIDE AREA.
THERE WOULD BE A RECOMMENDATION OF THE SITE THAT THE CURRENT SONNY SIDE SITS ON, WOULD THAT ACCOMMODATE A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
PRIMARILY THOSE LOCATIONS BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER LOCATIONS ARE FAIRLY NEW.
>> WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS THE USE OF THE PENNY. I DON'T KNOW.
[00:45:04]
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? JANICE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE?
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY? MOTION PASSES.
[X.J. FY25 EV Bus Charging Power Upgrade Project – Tim Paul]
ITEM J. FY 25 EV BUS CHARGING POWER UPGRADE PROJECT TIM FALL.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BID FROM SCHRAM ELECTRIC OF SIOUX CITY IOWA FOR THE EV BUS CHARGING POWER UPGRADE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $189,720.
>> WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? JANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE?
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY? MOTION PASSES.
[X.K. FY25 Operations and Maintenance Vehicle Purchase – Tim Paul]
ITEM K. FISCAL YEAR 25 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE VEHICLE PURCHASE, TIM PAUL.IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT AND AWARD THE BID FROM KEFFER CHEVAL OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA, IN THE AMOUNT OF $89,884 FOR THE PURCHASE OF 22025 CHEVY SILVERADO 2,500 HD 34 TON TRUCKS.
>> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BOARD MEMBERS? JANICE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE?
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY? MOTION PASSES.
[X.L. Preschool Initiative Agreement with Mary Elizabeth – Jarod Mozer/ Amber Hannah]
ITEM L. PRESCHOOL INITIATIVE AGREEMENT WITH MARY ELIZABETH JARED MOSHER, AND AMBER HANNA.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PRESCHOOL INITIATIVE AGREEMENT WITH MARY ELIZABETH PRESCHOOL FOR THE PROVISION OF HIGH QUALITY PRESCHOOL SERVICES FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS.
THIS AGREEMENT COMES WITH NO COSTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
>> IS BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? JANICE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE?
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY? MOTION PASSES.
[X.M. Contracts for Board Approval – Jim Vanderloo/ Jarod Mozer]
ITEM M. CONTRACT FOR BOARD APPROVAL, JIM VU JARED MOSER.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND EXECUTE THE CONTRACTS TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING AND ACTIVITIES?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? JANIE IS THERE CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
ITEM N, FACILITY RENTAL AGREEMENT,
[X.N. Facility Rental Agreement – Jim Vanderloo/ Jarod Mozer]
JIM VANDERLOO/ JAROD MOZER.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT AND EXECUTE THE FACILITY RENTAL CONTRACTS?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? JANICE, IS THERE CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
[X.O. Second & Final Reading of Board Policies – Dr. Rod Earleywine]
ITEM O, SECOND AND FINAL READING OF BOARD POLICY, DR. ROD EARLINE, 432 EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFITS, 503.5 TITLE 1, PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, 521.20, SEARCH AND SEIZURE, 602.8, CURRICULUM REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT, 605.4, GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, 691.1, SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1001.0, COMMUNICATION PUBLIC INFORMATION.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE BOARD POLICIES FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING?
>> ARE WE TAKING THEM ALL AS A GROUP?
WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
>> DIRECTOR MCKEE, DID YOU MAKE THE FIRST MOTION, WHO WAS THE FIRST MOTION ON THAT?
>> NO. I ASKED APPOINT OF ORDER.
>> WE DO HAVE A FIRST AND WE DO HAVE A SECOND NOW?
>> DIRECTOR LEE, WHERE YOU THE SECOND ON THAT.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> I JUST WANT TO SURE THAT MY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT OUR REVISED SERIES 600 EDUCATION PROGRAM CURRICULUM REVIEW POLICY IS AS FOLLOWS.
THAT THE CHANGE THAT WE'RE MAKING, I CERTAINLY WOULD ENDORSE, I THINK IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT IT NOT BE INTERPRETED AS LIMITING US TO
[00:50:03]
DOING CURRICULUM ONLY THAT IS IN WHAT'S CALLED THE IOWA CORE.WE DO OTHER THINGS HERE AND NEED TO DO OTHER THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, AND I WOULD SAY WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE GRADUATE STUDIES, WHAT DR. EARLEYWINE GETS UP AND SAYS IS THAT ALL OF THE CANDIDATES ABOUT TO GET A DIPLOMA HAVE COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED OF THE STATE OF IOWA, AND FROM THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH IS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY WANTS DONE THAT MAY NOT BE SPECIFIED IN THE IOWA CORE, I JUST WOULD NOT WANT THE 602.8 POLICY TO BE INTERPRETED AS A LIMITATION THAT WE CAN ONLY DO IOWA CORE MATTERS.
I THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT READS, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I'M RIGHT ABOUT THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT LIMITING OURSELVES TO ONLY THE IOWA CORE.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IOWA CORE, IT'S VERY BROAD, VERY EXPANSIVE.
IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE IOWA CORE, IT'S BROKE DOWN INTO SEVERAL AREAS.
IT'S VERY BROAD, VERY EXPANSIVE.
IOWA CORE TO ME IS LIKE THE MINIMUM, BUT WE CAN EXPAND ON THAT, WHICH WE DO THROUGHOUT OUR GRADE LEVELS IN PROGRAM. YES.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO GO FORWARD.
>> ANY MORE DISCUSSION, BOARD MEMBERS?
>> ON POLICY 432, THE EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
I THINK I WILL ABSTAIN FROM THAT.
THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD SOME HEARTBURN OVER THE FACT THAT I WAS IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
TO BE CLEAR, WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, AGE 62 OR OLDER, TO GET A STIPEND PAID BY THE DISTRICT FOR THE NUMBER OF SIX DAYS THAT THEY ACCRUED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THEIR CAREER.
I'M STRONGLY FOR IT, BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHOM HAVE A POINT OF CONTENTION THAT I AM LINING MY OWN POCKETS.
HOPEFULLY I'M AROUND TO DO THAT 15 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN MY WIFE RETIRES.
I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM THAT PART OF IT.
SO DO WE HAVE TO PULL THAT POLICY OUT?
>> I WOULD AMEND THE MOTION TO VOTE SEPARATELY ON ITEM 432, EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
>> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND ON THAT.
BUT LET ME JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT IN ADDITION TO THAT MOTION AMENDMENT.
>> JUST A MINUTE. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NOW GO ON.
>> I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY SILLY FOR FOLKS TO THINK THAT MR. MICHAELSON, WHO'S ALREADY RETIRED FROM THE DISTRICT, WHOSE WIFE IS NOT GOING TO RETIRE BE ELIGIBLE FOR 15 YEARS, THINKS THAT THAT'S SOME CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR HIM TO VOTE ON AN EARLY RETIREMENT.
ITS SILLINESS AT ITS BEST AND SHOWS A LACK OF JUDGMENT.
>>> WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
>>WE'VE HAD A FIRST AND WE HAVE HAD A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? A SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
NOW WE GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON 432 FIRST AND THEN COME BACK.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE 503.5 THROUGH 1001 AS A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE.
>> WHICH IS THE MOTION THAT'S ALREADY ON THE TABLE AND IT'S RIGHT FOR A VOTE.
YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A VOTE THAT APPROVES ALL THE OTHERS.
>> IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'VE ALREADY HAD THAT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AFTER THIS.
[00:55:01]
>> FOUR PULL OUT FOUR A MOTION TO APPROVE REST OF.
>>I BELIEVE THAT THE SITUATION IS HAD AN ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPROVE THEM ALL.
WE HAD AN AMENDMENT TO TAKE OUT 432. THAT WAS APPROVED.
THE MOTION THAT'S STILL ON THE TABLE IS TO APPROVE ALL OF THEM, AND THAT'S ALREADY HAS A FIRST AND A SECOND.
>> I WITHDRAW MY SECONDARY MOTION TO HAVE A SEPARATE MOTION FOR 432.
>> MY HEAD IS ARE READY TO EXPOSE.
WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> THOSE OPPOSE, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES.
>> SECOND MOTION TO APPROVE 432.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>>DO YOU NEED A ROLL CALL ABOUT YOU OR NOT?
>> YEAH, WE PROBABLY BETTER HAVE A ROLL CALL ON THAT ONE.
>> MOTION PASSES. K, ITEM P. FIRST READING OF BOARD POLICY,
[X.P. First Reading of Board Policy – Dr. Rod Earleywine]
DR. ROD EARLINE 433, EMPLOYEE RETENTION, TSA POLICY FOR HARD TO FILL POSITIONS.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE BOARD POLICY 433 FOR FIRST READING?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION BOARD MEMBERS?
>> I THINK DIRECTOR GEORGE, AFTER HEARING A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THIS POLICY, I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE THIS POLICY PULLED AND MOVED BACK TO POLICY COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER REVIEW.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME DISCREPANCY.
AS I LOOK AT THE DOLLARS AND JUST HAVING LISTENED TO MRS. BLANKENSHIP'S REPORT TONIGHT ABOUT HOW MANY FUNDS WE MIGHT BE SHORT, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD GO BACK AND TAKE THIS BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND RECONSIDER IT.
>> I DISAGREE. I THINK WE'VE KICKED AROUND THIS.
WE'VE GOT A ISSUE OF STAFF SHORTAGE THAT WE NEED TO FILL THE POSITIONS.
THIS ONE'S BET OUT ON THE TABLE FOR A LONG TIME, AND I'VE HEARD NO OTHER VIABLE OR ANY OTHER THEY'RE VIABLE? NOT ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
TO SAY THAT WE'VE GOT A LITTLE PUSHBACK? OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO GET PUSHBACK.
THE QUESTION IS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO FILL THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS POSITIONS? HOW ARE WE GOING TO FILL THE ELL POSITIONS? HOW ARE WE GOING TO FILL IF WE CAN'T KEEP SOME OF THESE LONG TENURED TEACHERS AROUND FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR SO? IS THERE A PAYMENT OF MONEY? YES. WHAT OUR BUDGET CONTINUALLY HAS HAD SURPLUSES IN OUR BUDGET BECAUSE WE CAN'T FILL OUR POSITIONS, AND FILLING THE CLASSROOMS IN MY MIND, IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
IS THIS THE SOLVE ALL? NO. BUT IS IT A POLICY THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR TO SEE MAYBE THERE'S A BETTER MOUSETRAP SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A STEP THAT WE NEED TO TAKE.
I WOULD NOT FAVOR PULLING THIS AND GOING BACK AND RESTUDYING AND IT'S BEEN STUDIED, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD.
PEOPLE HAVE HAD MONTHS TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH IT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FILL STAFF POSITIONS.
WE'RE NO LONGER DOING HIRING BONUSES.
WE'RE DOING RETENTION BONUSES, AND THESE ARE SOME KEY PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO KEEP.
IS IT MONEY? YES. IS IT A LOT OF MONEY? YES. EMPTY CLASSROOMS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AS WELL.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND STUDENT MONEY.
>> IN MY VIEW, IT'S TOO MUCH MONEY, $600,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY.
>> YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS, JOHN?
>> YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS? HAVE YOU BROUGHT FORWARD ANY OTHER IDEAS TO KEEP OUR CLASSROOM SERVICE, TEACHERS?
>> WELL, I ASKED FOR A REVIEW TO BE BROUGHT TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE AND TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FROM THE STAFF.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING, PERHAPS I MISSED IT.
BUT I WAS HOPING THAT STAFF WOULD BRING SOMETHING FORWARD THAT COULD ANSWER SOME OF MY QUESTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUT OF THE 40 POSITIONS, ALL ONES THAT HAVE VACANT POSITIONS.
THERE AREN'T ANY OF THEM THAT WE CAN HIRE PEOPLE
[01:00:04]
FOR AS THEY ALL INDUSTRIAL ARTS OR ELL POSITIONS, ARE THEY JUST NORMAL TEACHING POSITIONS THAT WE ADD A LITTLE MORE WE'RE STAYING AN EXTRA YEAR? WE'RE PAYING PEOPLE TO LEAVE AND WE'RE PAYING PEOPLE TO STAY.>> THE POSITIONS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AS HARD-TO-FILL POSITIONS? WE HAVE POSITIONS ABOUT 40 THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FILL.
WE HAVE POSITIONS THAT WE KNOW PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY FROM, THEY CAN RETIRE AT ANY POINT IN TIME.
INDUSTRIAL TECH, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE LOSE TWO OR THREE THOSE PEOPLE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO FIND TWO OR THREE OF THOSE PEOPLE TO REPLACE. THEY DON'T EXIST.
U AND I HAS A PROGRAM, I BELIEVE THEY'RE GRADUATING A COUPLE.
THERE'S JUST NOT ANY COMING OUT OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE COLLEGES, ESPECIALLY INDUSTRIAL TECH.
THAT'S PROBLEMATIC TO US IF THOSE PEOPLE WALK AWAY.
EVENTUALLY IS GOING TO AFFECT PROGRAMMING.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE A LAW FOR THINGS.
>> ALL 40 OF THESE POSITIONS ARE INDUSTRIAL TECH OR SOMETHING?
>> NO, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT HAS EVER BEEN STATED.
WE CAN TALK MANY TIMES ABOUT SOME OF THEIR ELL, THEIR SPECIAL ED.
WE HAVE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE HIGH LEVEL, SOME SCIENCE AND ART THAT ARE HARD TO FILL.
IF THOSE PEOPLE WALK AWAY, IT'S JUST VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE FOR A FEW MORE YEARS.
IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO PASS IT TONIGHT, AND THEN HAVE THE SECOND READING, AND THAT'S SUCCESSFUL, WE IMPLEMENT IT.
IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR IF THE BOARD CHOOSES NEXT YEAR IN SEPTEMBER THAT, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS, THEN THEN YOU WALK AWAY FROM IT AND IT GOES AWAY BECAUSE REMEMBER, IT'S A POLICY.
THE BOARD CAN CHANGE POLICY AT ANY TIME.
>> REQUIRES REVIEW EVERY SEPTEMBER.
>> IS THERE ANY LIST OF POSITIONS THAT ARE LIKELY ON THE TABLE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR?
>> YEAH. THE LIST OF HARD TO FILL POSITIONS? YES. GO AHEAD.
>> I'M GOING TO RUN DOWN TOP DOWN WITH THEM, WHAT WE'VE DETERMINED AS HARD-TO-FILL IS ADMINISTRATION, ART, ELL IN INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGY, INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE, LANGUAGE ARTS, MATH, PE, SCIENCE, SPANISH, SPECIAL ED, AND VOCAL AND ORCHESTRA.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 83 OPENINGS IN THOSE AREAS RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE AROUND 45 INDIVIDUALS THAT MEET THE POLICY AT THIS TIME THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THOSE POSITIONS AS WELL THAT COULD NEXT.
THAT'S WHAT I ASKED FOR A MONTH AGO, AND NOTHING CAME.
DATA CAN CHANGE MY VIEW. THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD APOLOGIZE IF WE DROPPED THE BALL ON THAT, BUT I THOUGHT THAT HAD BEEN COMMUNICATED OUT, BUT OBVIOUSLY.
>> DIRECTOR, WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, BUT MAYBE MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW IF WE TALKED NUMBERS.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE GIVEN THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS. WE GAVE THE AREAS.
WE MAYBE TALKED THROUGH THE NUMBERS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE PUT THE NUMBERS ON ANY DOCUMENTS THAT WE HANDED OUT.
>> WE DID TALK ABOUT 43 POSITION POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE.
THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN ALL OF THE COMMITTEE.
>> THE POSITIONS ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE ONES THAT ARE NOT HARD TO FILL.
>> LET'S GIVE DIRECTOR MP A SHOT HERE.
>> I WAS WONDERING IF DIRECTOR MILLER WOULD ELABORATE ON WHAT HE'S HEARING THAT WORKED THROUGH.
>> I THINK DIRECTOR MYERS STATED AT 600,000, MY MATH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN 645,000 TO RETAIN 43 PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT ARE OR ARE NOT GOING TO RETIRE.
WE JUST HEARD THE LIST AGAIN TONIGHT, AND I THINK I'VE HEARD PARTS OF THAT LIST BEFORE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS.
ARE WE REALLY GOING TO LOSE THOSE PEOPLE? WHEN I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE RECENTLY LEFT OUR DISTRICT, I'VE SAID,
[01:05:01]
IF YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS RETENTION BONUS, WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU? AND THE ANSWER IS NO. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DOLLARS.IF WE KEEP THROWING DOLLARS AT A PROBLEM, THAT ISN'T THE PROBLEM.
IF WE HAVE TO RETAIN THESE PEOPLE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS OR HOWEVER LONG THEY'RE GOING TO STAY AND THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE PROGRAMMING.
WE'RE JUST KICKING THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD IN AN EXPENSE OF $645,000.
>> THOUSAND DOLLARS. MY THOUGHT, WE DIDN'T DO THE WHOLE MATH WHEN WE REVIEWED AT THE POLICY TEAM.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER OR NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER.
I'VE ASKED FOR IT TO GO BACK TO POLICY.
I KNOW THAT IT WAS ASKED A WEEK A GO FOR IT TO GO BACK TO POLICY, AND THE ANSWER WAS, NO, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
I GOT IT A MONTH AGO AT THE POLICY COMMITTEE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY LIKE TRAILER OR BOBBY HAS HAD IT MUCH LONGER THAN THAT.
THAT'S HOW MUCH TIME I'VE HAD.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEFT AND PEOPLE THAT ARE SAYING AND PEOPLE THAT AREN'T A PART OF THAT 43 THAT THINK IT'S AN UNFAIR THING.
I DON'T KNOW THAT FAIR IS A REAL WORLD WORD, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE EQUITABLE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S NOT THAT IT'S BAD, IT'S NOT THAT IT'S WRONG.
IT'S THAT I DON'T THINK THAT WE AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM HAVE HAD ENOUGH TIME WITH IT TO MAKE SURE THAT APPROVING $645,000 SPEND IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR 43 PEOPLE.
>> I ASK PART BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS ARE APPROACHING THE TIME WHEN THEY NEED TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE MAKING A COMMITMENT TO EITHER RETIRE OR NOT.
I WILL SAY THAT IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, WE HAD HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR RECOMMENDED POLICY AND WITHOUT TRYING TO IN A NUTSHELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE OFFERING SOME HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT SAVINGS PIECE THAT WOULD ASSIST INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS WHO WERE THINKING ABOUT RETIRING TO IF THEY STAY ON, THEY GET THAT PIECE, WHICH WOULD HELP THEM WITH HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE NEXT YEAR, IF THEY RETIRED IN THE NEXT YEAR.
BUT IT WOULD THE NUMBER GETS BIG BECAUSE IF THEY WENT FOR THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD, THIS USUALLY STARTS ABOUT AGE 56 OR 57 WITH TEACHERS.
IF YOU GOT TO AGE 60 61, AND YOU HAD THAT MANY YEARS HELP WITH YOUR COST FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, THERE'S A REAL INCENTIVE TO STAY.
WELL, THEN WE GET INTO THE QUESTION ABOUT FAIR, OR EQUITABLE.
THAT IS, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT FOR EVERYBODY WHO MIGHT BE AT WHAT THEY CALL THE RULE OF 88, WHICH IS HAVING BEEN WORKING SINCE GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT, AND ALSO AN AGE THAT COMBINES TO THAT.
WE'RE FACED WITH THE UNIQUE SITUATION THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN DES MOINES, WE DON'T HAVE IN FORT DODGE OR WATERLOO OR THOSE CITIES WHERE BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE BORDER, THERE'S A DOUBLE DIPPING GAME THAT CAN BE PLAYED WHERE YOU RETIRE AS SOON AS YOU CAN FROM THE DISTRICT IN IOWA THAT RETIRES YOU OUT OF IOWA PROGRAMS, AND THEN YOU CAN GO TO NEBRASKA OR SOUTH DAKOTA IN OUR CASE, OR IN OTHER PLACES MINNESOTA, ANOTHER PLACE WOULD BE MISSOURI OR ILLINOIS AND SEE IF YOU CAN START AGAIN, AND THEN YOU'RE GETTING MONEY FROM BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS. WITHOUT COMMENTING ABOUT WHAT I THINK ABOUT THE DOUBLE DIPPING, THE REALITY IS THAT IT EXISTS.
WHAT WE'RE FACED WITH TODAY ARE 40.
>> I HAVE A SENT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT WE TRY SOMETHING. I APPRECIATE WHAT DIRECTOR MEYER SAYS, I APPRECIATE THE COST IS SUBSTANTIAL.
I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN WE GET INTO THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PROGRAM, WHY CAN'T WE HAVE THIS OR WHY DON'T WE HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS TO DO MORE OF ANOTHER TYPE OF OUR PROGRAM? WHEN YOU MAKE THE INQUIRY IT COMES BACK TO, WE COULDN'T HIRE MORE TEACHERS IN THAT PARTICULAR DISCIPLINE OR SOMETHING.
>> WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE'RE ABLE TO DO, TO KEEP THOSE VERY EXPERIENCED SENIOR FACULTY ON BOARD WITH US SO THAT WE CAN CARRY THROUGH THIS PERIOD WHERE WE'RE NOT HAVING NEW TEACHERS COMING OUT OF THE UNIVERSITIES THAT CAN FILL THESE CRITICAL ROLES.
THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING ME WHEN I SAY,
[01:10:02]
I'M WILLING TO AND I WON'T SAY TAKE A CHANCE.I'M WILLING TO EMBRACE THIS AS AN IDEA THAT CAN WORK.
I APPRECIATE SOMEONE SAY, WHY WASN'T MY PARTICULAR SPECIALTY OR LET'S SAY I'M A, [OVERLAPPING]
>> LET'S GIVE DIRECTOR LEE AN OPPORTUNITY.
BUT I THINK THERE'S MORE EXPLANATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM THAT IS USEFUL.
I ALSO THINK THERE IS A APPROACHING NEED TO ACT BECAUSE OF WHEN TEACHERS MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT RETIRING OR NOT.
I DID ASK FOR THIS TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE AGENDA FOR FURTHER REVIEW BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME ISSUES THAT CAME FORTH THAT AFTER CONSIDERATION THAT I WANTED TO DIVE DEEPER INTO.
I DO KNOW THAT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS POLICIES, THESE POSITIONS WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
HOWEVER, THERE WASN'T ACTUAL RECRUITMENT PLAN OR A PLAN TO ACTIVELY RECRUIT FOR THESE POSITIONS OR TO FIND OTHER RESOURCES.
IT WAS JUST JUMP TO THIS POLICY, AND INTRODUCE THIS POLICY, AND MAKE IT WORK FOR US ON OUR BEHALF AS IT RELATED TO OUR OPEN POSITIONS.
I DID ASK FOR IT TO BE PULLED SO WE COULD HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION.
KEEPING IN MIND TO YOUR POINT, DIRECTOR, MK, THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE TEACHERS THAT DO NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON RETIREMENT OR NOT.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT AS A DIRECTOR, I HAVE DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION IN THE BEST WAY I FEEL IS NECESSARY.
>> DIRECTOR LEE, COULD YOU EXPLAIN. [OVERLAPPING]
IF THE PEOPLE ARE STILL HERE STILL IN THE POSITIONS AND THEY'RE A OPEN YET, THEY HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION WHETHER TO STAY OR GO.
WE CAN'T RECRUIT FOR POSITIONS THAT AREN'T CURRENTLY OPEN.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF INDUSTRIAL ARTS TEACHERS DECIDE TO GO, NOW WE HAVE OPEN RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE OPEN, BUT IF THEY DO DECIDE TO GO, THEN WE HAVE OPEN, THEN WE NEED TO ACTIVELY RECRUIT.
THEN WE ARE CONTINUING TO RECRUIT FOR ALL THOSE OTHER POSITIONS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, SPED, ELL, WE'RE CONTINUING TO STAND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> A POST FOR RECRUITMENT FORMAT.
[OVERLAPPING] MY QUESTION IS YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE AREN'T THESE VACANCIES, BUT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THESE VACANCIES?
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD.
>. YES. THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE OF THE AGE THAT COULD.
>> THAT COULD AND THEY'VE MET THE CRITERIA TOO.
>> MR. VADER. JUST TO CLARIFY, DIRECTOR LEE, YOUR STATEMENT, THAT IS TRUE WITH INDUSTRIAL ARTS RIGHT NOW.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OPENINGS IN INDUSTRIAL ARTS.
BUT EVERY OTHER CATEGORY ON THE LIST HAS OPENINGS RIGHT NOW THAT WE WENT THIS ENTIRE FIRST SEMESTER WITHOUT TEACHERS IN THOSE CLASSROOMS, WHICH MEANS WE TOOK STUDENTS DIVIDE THEM UP UP CLASS SIZES OR DIDN'T OFFER PROGRAMMING OR A VARIETY OF THINGS.
INDUSTRIAL ARTS IS THE ONLY ONE ON THE LIST THAT CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE AN UP CURRENT POSTING.
>> THEY ALL HAVE, SORRY, ART DOES NOT, BUT THE REST OF THOSE ALL WOULD HAVE SOME OPENINGS.
I CAN WALK DOWN THE LIST WITH YOU.
BUT AGAIN, FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, THEY WERE THE ONES THAT WERE THE HARDEST TO FIND THIS YEAR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD THINK, HOW CAN PE NEED POSITIONS? IT TOOK US ALMOST NINE MONTHS LAST YEAR TO FIND A SINGLE PE TEACHER.
I THINK ON THE LIST THERE'S EIGHT PE TEACHERS THAT COULD WALK AWAY FROM THIS YEAR.
WILL THEY ALL WALK AWAY? WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT IF COULD THEY, SURE, AND IF EIGHT OF THEM DO, WE'VE GOT SOME SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN THE DISTRICT, JUST LIKE INDUSTRIAL.
WE'D GO TO CANCEL SOME PROGRAMMING IN THE DISTRICT.
JUST A COUPLE MORE POINTS, IF I MAY, ALL 90 PEOPLE ON THE LIST THAT QUALIFY THAT ORIGINALLY MET THE RULE OF 88 THAT COULD RETIRE FROM THIS DISTRICT, EVERY ONE OF THEM RECEIVED A SURVEY FROM OUR COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE WAS MADE UP OF TEACHERS, INCLUDING ASSOCIATION MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATION, CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION, EVERY ONE OF THEM RECEIVED A SURVEY THAT SAID, ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT, WOULD YOU CONSIDER STAYING IN WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE WAS EITHER BENEFITS OR CASH OVERWHELMING.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMITTEE TO GRASP AT AND THROWING SOMETHING OUT.
WE SURVEYED ALL 90 OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS YEAR.
>> POINT OF CLARIFICATION, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST CARTE BLANCHE, IF YOU WILL.
[01:15:03]
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE INTEGRITY OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE.JUST AN AWFUL TRANSPARENCY, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS SOME WORK THAT WAS PUT INTO THIS.
>> AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WILL WALK AWAY.
I SIMPLY ASK AS SOMEBODY AT THE SECONDARY BUILDING WHERE A LOT OF THESE ARE SECONDARY POSITIONS, THAT WE UP OR DOWN THE VOTE TONIGHT, MOVE IT FORWARD, AT LEAST GET THROUGH THE FIRST READING AND THEN WE CAN ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS BECAUSE TIMING IS EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.
A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS ARE BEING OFFERED JOBS ACROSS THE RIVER OR INTO SOUTH DAKOTA, OR MAKING DECISIONS WHETHER TO MOVE CLOSER TO A DIFFERENT FAMILY, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IF WE PUT IT OFF ANOTHER MEETING, ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH.
AGAIN, I RECOGNIZE IT'S A TOUGH DECISION.
I RECOGNIZE IT'S NOT MY DECISION.
I JUST SIMPLY ASK THAT WE MOVE IT UP OR DOWN OR AT LEAST GET IT THROUGH THE FIRST READING AND WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IN THE SECOND READING, YOU CAN EITHER UP OR DOWN IT AT THAT POINT, JUST BECAUSE THE TIMING IS EVERYTHING FOR US AS WE TRY TO RECRUIT PEOPLE, BUNCH OF PEOPLE RETIRE OR A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ARE GRADUATING AT SEMESTER.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ENGLISH TEACHERS OR MATH TEACHERS OR SCIENCE TEACHERS WE'RE GOING TO NEED BASED ON SOME OF THIS.
WE DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED INDUSTRIAL ARTS TEACHERS OR NOT.
IT LEAVES US IN LIMBO AS PEOPLE ARE TAKING OTHER POSITIONS.
I JUST SIMPLY ASKED UP OR DOWN OR MOVE IT TO THE NEXT OR AT LEAST GET IT THROUGH THE FIRST READING AND WE CAN ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS, THEN YOU CAN UP OR DOWN IT ON THE SECOND MEETING.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE DIRECTOR LEE BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE LACK OF RECRUITMENT, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS THE RIGHT WORD.
WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR ACTIVE RECRUITMENT RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE I KNOW WE DON'T STOP, SO WHAT DO WE DO? WHAT ARE WE DOING?
>> AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM, WE HAVE WORKED WITH MORNINGSIDE AND BRIAR CLIFF, AND THEN WE REACHED OUT TO WAYNE STATE COLLEGE AS WELL.
THEY JUST GAVE US OUR FIRST PROPOSALS OF PROGRAMS, WE WENT THROUGH OUR HARD TO FILL POSITIONS.
THEY ARE CREATING PACKAGES WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE COHORTS FOR PEOPLE IN SIOUX CITY FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO DO IT.
IN OUR HARD TO FILL POSITIONS AND DO IT AT THE SATELLITE OFFICE IN WHAT IS THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE? NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THEIR DEAN THERE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE WORKING ON A DISCOUNTED RATE BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT OF STATE, WE CAN'T GET THE GRANTS LIKE MORNINGSIDE AND BRIAR CLIFF KEN TO HAVE FREE TUITION.
THEY ARE WORKING WITH US TO GET A DEAL ON THE TUITION, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE WE CAN RECRUIT TO GET INTO THOSE PROGRAMS. WE'RE LOOKING AT SPECIAL ED ELL, ADMINISTRATION, INDUSTRIAL TECH, ALSO MASTER'S DEGREES IN AREAS LIKE ENGLISH AND SCIENCE TO WHERE THAT THEY CAN TEACH THOSE HIGHER LEVEL CLASSES.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS DILIGENTLY, MRS. DENNY, JARED, MYSELF, AND JIM.
WITH THAT AND WITH THE ALL DEPARTMENT AND THE SPED DEPARTMENT, WORKING WITH MORNINGSIDE AND BRIAR CLIFF, WE'RE GETTING SOME TRACTION.
WE JUST NEED. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> MAY I ALSO ADD AS WE'RE WORKING, LET'S TRY TO FIND ADDITIONAL TEACHERS.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH IOWA STATE, YOU AND I, WAYNE STATE, MORNINGSIDE, BRIAR CLIFF, NEBRASKA TO BRING THEIR STUDENT TEACHERS INTO OUR BUILDINGS TO STUDENT FIRST SEMESTER AND SECOND SEMESTER.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THOSE STUDENT TEACHERS, THE NEW TEACHERS ON OUR CAMPUS.
AGAIN, THEY START STUDENT TEACHING HERE, WE CAN OFFER THEM CONTRACTS QUICKLY.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH EVERYBODY WITHIN 2300 MILE RADIUS TO TRY TO GET THEIR STUDENT TEACHERS ON OUR PROPERTY AS WELL.
>>JUST ONE MORE QUICK NOTE. BEING NEW TO IT.
I KNOW THE BUDGET FOR RECRUITING HAS CHANGED A LOT SINCE THE DOLLARS HAVE GONE AWAY WITH SSR FUNDS.
I THINK WE'RE ON A VERY, VERY LOW BUDGET FOR RECRUITMENT DOLLARS AT THE MOMENT IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
WE ARE TRYING TO SPREAD THOSE AS FAR AS WE CAN TO TRY AND FIND DIVERSE AREAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK FOR THOSE THINGS AS WELL.
I HAVEN'T HAD A REALLY GREAT CHANCE TO LOOK INTO ALL OF THAT YET, BUT IT IS ON MY DOCKET.
>> I ALSO WANT TO, WE HAVE EARLY ON FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER, OUR ELL AND SPED TEACHERS THAT WERE DOING STUDENT TEACHING.
OUR DIRECTORS WENT OUT, MET WITH THEM.
WE HAVE EVEN OFFERED CONTRACTS TO THOSE PEOPLE FOR THIS SEMESTER AND FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THEY MADE AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO GO OUT AND MEET THEM, GET TO KNOW THEM, AND THEN WORKED WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND THEIR TIER ONE COORDINATOR THAT WAS
[01:20:01]
SUPPORTING THEM TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE ON TRACK TO BE SOMEONE WE WOULD WANT TO HIRE.ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING ON ALL FIRST SEMESTER.
>> LESLIE, DID YOU NEED TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> ASK TO PUT IT DIGITAL MARKETING.
I THINK EVEN LAST YEAR, WE CAME AND DID A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD PRESENTING ON OUR DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGY AND OUR TRADITIONAL ADVERTISING, AND BARBARA IS CORRECT.
WE HAD A LOT OF SSR FUNDING THAT WAS HELPING WITH THAT.
BUT CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT $4,500 INVESTED IN CURRENT ADVERTISING FOR RECRUITMENT.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT RETURN ON INVESTMENT, THEY ALWAYS SAY IN ORDER TO MAKE MONEY, YOU HAVE TO ALSO PUT SOME MONEY OUT THERE AND SPEND SOME MONEY.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE SPENDING $4,500 FOR RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING. THAT'S ALL.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE SHARING THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BUT BRING US BACK TO THIS IS ABOUT RETAINING.
THIS POLICY IS ABOUT RETAINING THE VERY EXPERIENCE FACULTY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR MANY YEARS.
ONE THING TO BE ABLE TO HIRE [INAUDIBLE] ANOTHER THING TO BE ABLE TO HIRE AT THE CHILD LEVEL THAT IS IN EITHER WAY IS GOING TO RETIRE.
WE WILL HAVE RETIREMENTS EVERY YEAR. PEOPLE GET OVER.
I'M RETIRED NOW. IT WASN'T LONG AGO BUT I WASN'T.
BUT IT STRIKES ME THAT IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING THAT MIGHT KEEP US AWAY FROM 43 OPENS NOW OR OTHERS BECAUSE THAT DOES MEAN THAT THERE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE GETTING A CHANCE TO DO WHAT WE PLAN AND STUDENTS AND ON THIS BARD DELIVER FOR EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOL.
NOW, I'M NOT BYPASSING WHAT EITHER DIRECTOR LEE OR DIRECTOR MILLER SAY, AND MAYBE THE ANSWER IS WHAT MR. VADER SUGGESTED THAT IF WE COULD TAKE THE STEP OF DOING THE FIRST APPROVAL, AND THERE'S A TIME WINDOW TO DO WHAT I BELIEVE YOU'RE ASKING TO DO, WHICH IS TO HAVE IT COME BACK AND BE DISCUSSED FURTHER AND PERHAPS AMENDED OR MAYBE LIKELY BE AMENDED AT POLICY OR OTHER APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE NEXT POLICY MEETING IS JANUARY 21ST.
>> DEADLINE. IF WE'RE GOING, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE FIRST QUIT.
>> WELL, IF IT WOULD HAVE DONE MATTER, IT WOULD HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE.
>> SUPERINTENDENT DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU. REMEMBER, WE AMENDED THE EARLY RETIREMENT POLICY, DID THE SECOND READING TONIGHT.
ALL WE DID THERE IS CHANGE THE DATE THAT THEY HAD TO NOTIFY THE BOARD.
JUST SO WE COULD WORK WITH THIS RETENTION POLICY.
JANUARY 31ST IS STILL A GOOD DATE, EVEN IF THIS OTHER POLICY DOESN'T COME TO FRUITION, BUT SO WE DID CHANGE THAT.
IT'S JUST THAT EITHER YES OR NO, MR. VINDALU MADE A GOOD POINT.
JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO DO OR DOESN'T WANT TO DO, THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD, WHATEVER THE DECISION IS IT IS, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE.
>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF FOLKS THAT BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF FAIRNESS OR EQUITY.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT A MINUTE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S RUBBISH.
IF YOU HAVE IT SKILLS THAT ARE IOS OR ANDROID PROGRAMMING, YOU COMMAND A DIFFERENT SALARY THAN A REGULAR IT PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S A UNIQUE SET OF SKILLS.
THAT'S THE MARKET. THAT'S THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
THE ISSUE OF IT'S NOT FAIR FOR EVERYBODY IS THERE'S A CERTAIN ENDORSEMENT.
IF YOU TEACH THIS SUBJECT, THERE'S A DEMAND AND SUPPLY ISSUE, AND WE CAN'T IGNORE A DEMAND AND SUPPLY ISSUE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE TALK ABOUT HERE.
I HAVE THREE BOYS THAT ARE GRADUATING COLLEGE THIS YEAR.
ONE OF THEM IS GOING INTO A PROFESSION THAT PAYS A LOT MORE THAN THE OTHER TWO.
WELL, THAT'S NOT FAIR. NO, BUT THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.
THE IDEA OF IT'S NOT FAIR IS WE CAN'T CONTROL SUPPLY AND DEMAND FROM THIS BOARD TABLE.
WE JUST HAVE TO REACT TO IT AND HIRE THE POSITION SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR CLASSROOMS FILLED.
THE IDEA OF IT'S NOT FAIR, IT'S NOT EQUITABLE, I DON'T BUY IT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALITY.
THE IDEA OF WE KNEW WE HAD THIS DEADLINE.
WE KNEW WE HAD JANUARY 31ST, BECAUSE WE PASSED, WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRST READING OF THAT POLICY AND WE DISCUSSED WHY.
TO CLAIM THAT WE WANT TO POSTPONE IT AND NOT KNOWING WHY WE'RE WANTING TO PUSH IT AHEAD BECAUSE OF THE TIMING, I DON'T THINK IT IS VERY GOOD PREPARATION ON BOARD MEMBERS PART.
QUITE FRANKLY, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S VERY GOOD PREPARATION OR KNOWLEDGE.
THE IDEA THAT I HEARD ONE OR TWO PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT,
[01:25:02]
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ONE OR TWO PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY HAD TO PARK ACROSS THE STREET INSTEAD OF CLOSE TO THE BUILDING.WE'RE GOING TO ALWAYS HEAR THAT.
I DON'T PUT A LOT OF CREDENCE IN ONE OR TWO PEOPLE COMPLAINING.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY GOOD ALTERNATIVE IDEAS FROM BOARD MEMBERS OR FROM OTHERS DURING THIS WHOLE TIME, AND JUST SAYING, I DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE IT, OR IT COSTS TOO MUCH MONEY IS, I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE A STEP AND MOVE FORWARD TRYING TO RETAIN THESE POSITIONS AND KEEP THESE CLASSROOMS FILLED.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, AND I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE EVERYTHING WE ASK THEM TO DO.
IF YOU DON'T GET THE INFORMATION, YOU KEEP CALLING.
I KNOW MR. MICHAELSON MADE SEVERAL CALLS, AND I MADE SEVERAL CALLS THIS PAST WEEK BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION.
SO WE CALL THEM AND WE KEEP PASTING AND GETTING THE INFORMATION.
AS A BOARD MEMBER, YOU NEED TO DO THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR GREENWELL.
AS YOU SAID, THE DIRECTOR GEORGE WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE, AND YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO VOTE HOW DO YOU WANT TO HAVE.
WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT'S RUBBISH OR NOT, WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE IN OUR VIEW AND HOW WE DO RESEARCH AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE.
>> YES, I THINK WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO RESEARCH AND STUDY IT AND UNDERSTAND IT.
BUT EVERYBODY CAN VOTE HOW THEIR CONSCIENCE DICTATES.
>> ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> LISA BANKS, 604TH STREET, SUITE 202, NUMBER 7, THE CITY IOWA 51101.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SCEA.
I WAS REALLY HOPING THAT SOME OF THE OTHER TEACHERS WOULD SHOW UP, BUT I KNOW THEY'VE EMAILED AND CALLED PEOPLE.
THEY'VE EMAILED AND CALLED ME.
FIRST OF ALL, I WAS GOING TO KEEP THIS FAIRLY BRIEF, AND I STILL WILL, BUT, DAN, I DO WANT TO ADDRESS TWO YEARS AGO, WE GAVE YOU A HUGE LIST OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO KEEP TEACHERS FOR RETENTION.
I SHOULDN'T LET THAT BOTHER ME SITTING BACK THERE, BUT FOR SOME REASON, WHEN YOU SAY NOBODY'S CAME FORWARD TO GIVE YOU ANY IDEAS, TWO YEARS AGO, WE GAVE YOU A REALLY BIG LIST OF IDEAS FOR RETENTION.
IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GO ANYWHERE WITH THAT.
[LAUGHTER] BOB, JAN, I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND AS TEACHERS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KEEP EVERYBODY ON AN EQUAL BASIS, COHESIVE TEAM.
IT'S TOUGH TO AND DIVERSIVE TO GIVE SOME SOMETHING AND SOME NOTHING.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I AM A BARGAINER.
I TRY TO GET MONEY FOR PEOPLE, SO I CANNOT SAY THAT I'M AGAINST THIS BECAUSE I WANT MY TEACHERS TO GET WHATEVER THEY WANT.
I WILL SAY THAT I'VE LOST TONS OF SLEEP OVER THIS.
I WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN ON THIS.
I WORRY THAT ART WAS JUST STUCK IN THERE SO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND I'M NOT.
MONEY WOULD NOT BE THE THING THAT WOULD MAKE ME STAY.
I'M STAYING FOR THE PERSON THAT I WORK WITH BECAUSE SHE'S HAD A HARD YEAR AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A HARD YEAR NEXT YEAR, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO HAVE HER WORK WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.
THINKING THAT I WOULD STAY FOR $15,000 IS NOT WHY I WOULD STAY.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN A TEAM IN SIOUX CITY, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT TEAM CONTINUE.
I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES WE ARE THE OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY, AND THEN WE SWALLOW A SPIDER, AND THEN WE SWALLOW THE HORSE, AND WE JUST KEEP SWALLOWING AND NOT LOOKING AT WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS FOR RETENTION.
BUT AGAIN, LET ME TELL YOU, I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T WANT THOSE 40 OR 43 PEOPLE NOT TO GET THE $15,000, SO I'M IN A BAD SPOT.
>> FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT YOU KNOW AND WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SIOUX CITY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WOULD ADOPTING THIS POLICY BE MORE DIVISIVE NEGATIVE AND [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I THINK IT IS A NO WIN SITUATION WITH PEOPLE.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THIS, THAT THEY'RE LEFT OUT.
[01:30:01]
I'VE SPOKEN UP ON THAT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE COMMITTEE THAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THAT, AND THE ANSWER WAS THAT THEY COULD APPLY FOR A SPOT THAT'S HARD TO MEET.THE HIRING BONUSES, PEOPLE ARE STILL GRUMBLING ABOUT THAT THAT THEY DIDN'T GET THE HIRING BONUS.
YOU'RE RIGHT, DAN, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE GRUMBLING.
NOT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO EVER BE HAPPY.
IN MY POSITION, I FEEL THAT A LOT IN YOUR POSITIONS, YOU FEEL THAT A LOT ALSO.
I THINK IT'S A HARD CHOICE FOR YOU GUYS TO MAKE, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.
>> CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION?
>> LISA, ARE YOU SUGGESTING ART WAS INCLUDED BECAUSE OF YOU?
>> NO. BUT IT. I'M SUGGESTING THAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE THAT.
>> NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT IN THIS ROOM, BUT I JUST DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY OUT THERE IN THE IN THE AREA TO THINK THAT I WAS SPEAKING FOR IT.
I WOULD MEET THE 62 RULE, SO THAT'S WHY. YEAH.
>> I GUESS I'VE BEEN MOVED ON THIS PROPOSAL DURING EXPERIENCE TEACHERS NEED [INAUDIBLE] TO STAY WITH I'M I WRONG?
>> I WOULD NOT SAY YOU'RE WRONG.
NO. I WOULD SAY SOME OF THEM, AND I'LL SAY SOME OF THEM WILL SAY IT'S TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.
SOME OF THEM WILL STAY BECAUSE AND SOME OF THEM WON'T.
LIKE I SAID, YOU COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE THE SLEEP I'VE LOFTED OVER THIS.
IT REALLY IS CONCERNING TO ME.
AGAIN, I REALLY DID THINK PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP AND SPEAK OUT AND SAY STUFF AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BE THE ONLY ONE THAT DID IT.
>> THANK YOU, LISA. JANICE IS THERE ANY OTHER?
>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE VOTE, I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
WE ARE VOTING TO APPROVE POLICY 433 EMPLOYEE RETENTION TSA POLICY FOR HARD TO FILL POSITIONS.
THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF THIS.
WE'RE VOTING TO APPROVE THE FIRST READING.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IF THE FIRST READING IS APPROVED, COMES BACK TO POLICY, WE DO A REVIEW, MAYBE WE CONSIDER OUR YOUNG TEACHERS THAT ARE HARD TO MAINTAIN AND AMEND POLICY.
DO WE HAVE TO BRING IT BACK FOR A FIRST READING, AND DOES THAT MAKE IT DELAYED?
WE HAVE TO USE HARD TO FILL BECAUSE OF AGE DISCRIMINATION LAW.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
BUT MY POINT BEING IS IF WE HAVE NEWER TEACHERS LESS THAN FIVE YEARS THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN THOSE TEACHERS AND THOSE POSITIONS ARE HARD, LET'S SAY WE LOOK AT THIS POLICY PER THE SUGGESTION BY MR. VINDALU, AND WE MAKE THAT MODIFICATION, THEN DO WE HAVE TO BRING THAT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A FIRST READING BECAUSE IT'S BEEN REVISITED? YES. WELL, THEN IT INTERFERE WITH THE TIME FRAME BECAUSE I KEPT HEARING IT'S TIME SENSITIVE, AND I KNOW THAT, AND IT WOULD.
PASSING THE FIRST READING WOULD BE TO MOVE FORWARD AS IS REGARDLESS BECAUSE THEN IF THERE'S MODIFICATIONS, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO.
>> THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU.
>> THE PARAGRAPHS 1 AND 4 IN THE POLICY REALLY DO GIVE YOU A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY.
THE WAY THEY ARE READ, AND PARAGRAPH 4 IN PARTICULAR, ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE ALL HAVE AT THE TIME THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS OR NOT.
>> BASED ON EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK, RETENTION RATES, AND EVOLVING DISTRICT MEETINGS.
>> THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF A TANK.
[01:35:05]
>> ALL OF US ARE GRINDING ON THIS.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP, GIVE ME A CALL AT 2:30, I'LL ANSWER ON THE FIRST RING.
IT'S A WIN-WIN, IT'S A COIN FLIP AS TO WHAT THE RIGHT MOVE IS GOING TO BE.
BUT TO NOT DO ANYTHING, AND WHETHER IT BE 5,000 OR 10,000 OR 15,000, WHATEVER THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS, WE ARE NEVER EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH SOMEBODY DECIDING TO GO TO SOUTH DAKOTA.
IF THEY DECIDE TO GO TO NEBRASKA, IF THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE FOR MONEY, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, IF IT'S FOR A YEAR OR TWO, THAT WE CAN HANG ONTO THESE GUYS, THESE TEACHERS THAT HAVE ALL THE EXPERIENCE, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M GOING TO BE WITH.
I GET THAT I'VE GOT FRIENDS OUT THERE THAT ARE GOING TO BE LIKE, WHAT ABOUT ME? I GET THAT ALL DAY LONG EVERY DAY.
BUT TO MR. GREENWELL'S POINT EARLIER, THE FACT THAT THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO A STORE AND BUY SOMETHING THAT'S RARE, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY MORE FOR IT.
THAT'S ANOTHER WAY OF THINKING OF THIS, AND EVERYBODY'S RIGHT.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FLIP YOUR COIN AND DECIDE WHAT YOU THINK MAKE A STAND, DECIDE WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST.
LET'S GO WITH THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR FACULTY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT [INAUDIBLE].
I ALSO APPRECIATE TODAY'S SOCIETY SEEMS TO BE INTO THE ASPECT OF EARLY RETIREMENTS UNTIL THEY GET OUT AND FIND OUT WHAT [INAUDIBLE] I WILL VOTE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE DO NEED TO TRY SOMETHING ESPECIALLY FOR OUR HIGHLY EXPERIENCE [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS NOT A DETRIMENT TO THE OTHERS AT ALL.
I AM AS SOMEONE WHO IS ALL ABOUT THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ON THIS BOARD.
I JUST DON'T WANT US TO LOSE [INAUDIBLE].
>> YES. THE FIRST READING OF BOARD POLICY 4433, THE MOTION PASSES, 5-2.
WE'RE AT THAT TIME OF THE NIGHT.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT?
>> THE FIRST AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY, NAY. MEETING ADJOURN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.