>> THERE WE GO. I GOT MY SHEET OUT HERE.
[00:00:02]
HERE WE GO [NOISE] GOOD AFTERNOON.[Board Work Session on Jul 21, 2025.]
IT'S JULY 21ST, 2025 AT 4:30.I NOW CALL THIS BOARD WORK SESSION TO ORDER.
WE DON'T DO ATTENDANCE ON THIS, DO WE? LET'S DO A ROLL CALL REAL QUICK. IS DAN UP?
>> YES, HE IS. DR. GREENWELL, CAN YOU HEAR US?
>> WE'RE ALL HERE. THAT'S AWESOME. HERE WE GO.
WE HAVE TODAY A WORK SESSION, BUT AT FIRST LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO DR. JUAN CORDOVA, OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST PROBABLY MANY WORK SESSIONS HERE IN SIOUX CITY, AND OF COURSE, I'M HERE, AND VICE PRESIDENT LEE IS HERE AS WELL.
OUR PLAN IS TO GO OVER THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE STARTED LAST DECEMBER, BUT BEFORE WE GET GOING, I WANT TO READ A STATEMENT THAT I THINK WOULD PROBABLY BE SUPPORTIVE HERE, SO TO LET YOU ALL KNOW HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND SCHOOLS.
TODAY'S WORK SESSION IS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REVIEW OUR CURRENT PRIORITIES AND ENSURE THEY REMAIN ALIGNED WITH THE DISTRICT STRATEGIC DIRECTION.
THIS SESSION IS ALSO ABOUT ENSURING OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS A CLEAR, FOCUSED FRAMEWORK THAT SUPPORTS THEIR ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND LEADING OUR DISTRICT FORWARD.
BY REVIEWING OUR GOALS TOGETHER, WE CAN IDENTIFY AREAS OF STRENGTH, CONSIDER WHERE ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE NEEDED, AND REAFFIRM OUR SHARED EXPECTATION AND VISION.
I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT MUCH OF OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE '25/'26 SCHOOL YEAR IS SET.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD, LET'S KEEP THAT IN MIND IF WE BELIEVE AN ADJUSTMENT MAY BE NEEDED.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN PROCESS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THOUGHTFUL AND COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION.
WITH THAT, LET US BEGIN THIS WORK SESSION OF 2025.
THE FIRST PRIORITY IS PRIORITY 1, AND THIS IS THE PLAN THAT WE WERE PRESENTED IN DECEMBER OF 2024.
DAN, DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT?
>> DAN, DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE 2024-2026?
>> [INAUDIBLE], THAT'D BE GREAT.
>> I THINK, ANGELA IS GOING TO EMAIL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.
OF COURSE, JUST TO GET GOING HERE ON THIS, WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHY WE'RE HERE.
BOARD MEMBERS, I AM GOING TO TAKE THE LIBERTY OF STARTING THIS DISCUSSION, IF YOU WILL, BUT I FIRST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DIRECTOR EHMCKE AND MYSELF WERE NOT AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN YOU ALL AGREED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SUGGESTED CHANGES.
IT WASN'T A CHANGE. IT WAS ACTUALLY AN ADDITION TO OUR CURRENT PRIORITIES, AND THAT WAS ADDING THE FINANCE PIECE TO THAT.
AS YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE REVIEWED THESE IN 2024, WE TOOK ESSER OUT OF IT, BUT KNOWING THAT FINANCE WAS A PART OF OUR PRIORITY, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ADDED IN.
WHEN REVIEWING THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE FOR THE DISTRICT, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT FINANCE WAS A PART OF THAT BECAUSE OUR FINANCE IS A BIG PART OF THE DISTRICT AND DISTRICT PRIORITIES, AND THINGS ARE GOING WELL IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PATTY AND OUR PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENT.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADD THAT BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO ENSURE THAT FINANCE IS A PART OF OUR PRIORITY.
LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO ADD IS THAT THE PROPOSED PRIORITIES THAT WE HAD FROM THE YEAR OF REVIEW OF 2024 THAT WE HAD, THESE ARE SIMILAR TO THAT.
I WOULD HOPE, IN SOME DISCUSSIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH OTHER DIRECTORS,
[00:05:04]
THAT WE TOOK THE TIME TO LOOK AT THESE AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW WE WANTED TO AMEND, IF ANYTHING, OR IF WE WANTED TO ADD.I KNOW SAFE SCHOOLS IS A BIG PART OF A DISCUSSION THAT I HAD.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH THIS IN A PROCESS, THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THESE PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SET, SOME WE CAN'T GET AROUND, BUT I THINK WE CAN CONSOLIDATE OR MODIFY, BUT I THINK IT'S MOST IMPORTANT.
I WANT TO THANK THE DIRECTORS FOR MOVING FORWARD ON JUST PRESENTING THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAD, IN ADDITION TO ADDING FINANCE, SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST SAY, HEY, HERE'S JUST A ROADMAP.
WE'RE NOT BOUND TO THIS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD THEIR INPUT, BUT HERE'S JUST A ROADMAP, SO WE HAVE A CLEAR DIRECTION ON HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR NEW LEADERSHIP, AND HOW WE AS A BOARD WANT TO SUPPORT OUR NEW LEADERSHIP AND OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AS THEY MEET THESE PRIORITIES.
WITH THAT, I'LL DEFER BACK TO YOU, PRESIDENT GEORGE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VICE PRESIDENT LEE.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS TO PRETTY MUCH GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR OBJECTIVES.
PRETTY MUCH WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW THE CURRENT PRIORITIES AND GOALS.
WE'RE GOING TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL PRIORITIES.
WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH GOAL DEVELOPMENT AND FACILITATE BOARD MEMBER INPUT.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE DISCUSSION STUFF, WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME AND THE PURPOSE, AND OF COURSE, OUR PURPOSE IS TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS STUFF, AND TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ALIGNING PRIORITIES TO GUIDE OUR WORK FOR THE UPCOMING ACADEMIC YEAR.
LIKE I SAID, THE FIRST FOUR PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN WHAT THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN OPERATING ON SINCE DECEMBER OF 2024.
AS WE GO ALONG, WE'LL HAVE SOME DISCUSSION.
I KNOW THAT DR. JUAN HAS SOME INFORMATION REGARDING THOSE FOUR PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO SOME DATA.
IF YOU WISH TO INQUIRE ABOUT THAT, YOU CAN AS WE MOVE ALONG SO THAT WE CAN FINISH UP PROBABLY 5:45 RIGHT IN THERE TO GIVE EVERYONE A BREAK TO STRETCH AND DO THAT STUFF.
IF YOU OPEN UP THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE WERE BASING EVERYTHING OFF OF.
WE KNOW THE FIRST PRIORITY, PRIORITY 1, AND I'M GOING TO CHECK IN WITH DAN REAL QUICK.
DAN, YOU GOT THE EMAIL FROM ANGELA? I ASSUME SO. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING.
>> THANK YOU. THE FIRST ONE IS, OF COURSE, THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND CONTINUOUS ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS.
NOW THAT WAS THE BOARD PRIOR TO GOAL, AND OF COURSE, THE GOAL THAT WAS PUT IN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE IOWA SCHOOL PERFORMANCE PROFILE SCORE ANNUALLY.
YOU CAN SEE, READ THE OBJECTIVES TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT OVERALL GROWTH ON ISASP BY 1% ANNUALLY FOR ALL STUDENT, GRADES 3 THROUGH 11.
THE OTHER OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT'S ELP COMPOSITE SCORE BY 1% ANNUALLY IN GRADES K THROUGH 12.
OF COURSE, THE BASELINE ESTABLISHED IN FALL OF 2024 DUE TO CHANGES IN STATE ADJUSTMENT TO THE I, IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE ISAS OR ISP?
>> ISPP, IOWA SCHOOL PERFORMANCE PROFILE.
>> LET'S START THERE. ANYONE WANT TO QUESTION THE GOAL AND THE OBJECTIVE FOR THAT FIRST ONE? [OVERLAPPING] DIRECTOR EHMCKE.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, I ALWAYS WONDER WHERE THE APPROPRIATE POINT IS IN A BROADER OVERVIEW WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE IT PRESENTED IN THE FORMAT THAT IT CAME TO US FROM PRIOR YEARS AND WAS CONTINUED IN '24.
I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS MOMENT IN MUCH THE SAME SPIRIT AS DIRECTOR LEE DID TO EXPRESS MY HOPES AND DREAMS, AND DESIRES FOR WHERE WE'RE GOING.
THE FIRST COMES FROM OBSERVATIONS.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT OUR STATISTICAL PERFORMANCE AND THESE CATEGORIES,
[00:10:01]
AND THE REPORTS THAT WE WOULD USE FOR MEASURING, LAST YEAR, TO ME, I FOUND A VERY IMPRESSIVE AND STARK REALITY.ONE IS THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NUMBER 1 IN SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION BY MORE THAN A COUNTRY MILE IN FRONT OF THE NEXT SCHOOL.
THE NEXT IS IS THAT WE WERE DISAPPOINTED THE LAST NOVEMBER WHEN WE GOT ALL OF THESE STATISTICS AND WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO WENT DOWN TO THE IOWA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING AND THE LIKE BECAUSE THE GOALPOST HAD BEEN MOVED A LITTLE BIT, THE RULES HAD CHANGED.
WE DIDN'T GET CREDIT FOR IMPROVEMENT AS MUCH.
BUT THE ISSUE THAT EVERYONE EVERYWHERE IS INTERESTED IN IS, YOU HAVE IMPROVEMENT, WONDERFUL, EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THE REST OF THE WORLD WANTS TO KNOW WHERE ARE YOUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY GRADUATE? I'M NOT SAYING THAT I SUPPORT WHAT HAPPENED OR THE IMPRESSION IT LEFT ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUT IT DID NOT LEAVE AN IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE EXCELLING IN LANGUAGE LEARNING ARTS.
YOU COULD SAY LANGUAGE LEARNING ART AND MATH.
WE WERE ON TRACK WITH MOST OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER FROM MEMORY WHETHER WE HAD OUR 1% INCREASE.
THEN I LOOKED ALSO AT A COUPLE OTHER STATISTICS THAT CAME TO MY ATTENTION AFTER THAT.
ONE IS, WHAT'S THE COMPOSITION OF OUR SCHOOL? WE HAVE 38% WHITE AND WE HAVE 37% LATINO HISPANIC.
IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE OVERALL, WE HAVE TO TAKE SOME STEPS TO REALLY ENHANCE SUCCESS IN BOTH SIDES.
WE HAVE TO GET NOT ONLY WHAT I CALL EURO-ANGLO GROUP TO PERFORM WELL, BUT WE ALSO WANT THE ENERGY COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY OF OUR LATINO HISPANICS AND THE STUDENTS THAT COME FORWARD FROM THEM, BECAUSE IF BOTH DO WELL, WE'RE GOING TO SCORE WELL.
DID YOU NOTICE THAT OUR GRADUATION RATES, WHAT GROUP WAS NUMBER 1? AFRICAN AMERICANS, 90%.
NUMBER 2 WAS WHAT I'LL CALL EURO-ANGLO GROUP.
JUST A WHISPER HAIR BEHIND THEM WAS OUR LATINO HISPANIC GROUP, AND THEN WE HAVE SOME OTHER GROUPS THAT, OF COURSE, WE WANT EVERYBODY TO EXCEL, BUT HOW CAN WE BEST MOVE THE NEEDLE? NOW, I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT THAT MEANT TO ME.
BECAUSE THE GOALS WE WERE LOOKING AT, PARTICULARLY IN SPECIAL NEEDS AND ELL AND THE LIKE, WERE PRETTY TOUGH TO REACH GOALS TO START WITH.
BUT AT THE DIRECTION OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND THE DIRECTORS THAT WE HAVE, WE HAD EXCELLED.
WE HAD DOUBLED THE ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE AREAS THAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN EMPHASIZED, WHICH WAS A LOT OF ELL, A LOT OF SPECIAL NEEDS OR SPECIAL EDUCATION ELEMENTS AS CO-EQUAL TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH.
WHAT THAT TOLD ME IS WE ALREADY HAVE A STAFF THAT CAN ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING IN ALMOST HALF THE TIME THAT ANYBODY ELSE'S STAFF CAN DO.
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE AS A BOARD PROVIDE THE DIRECTION THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE FOR US.
THEN COINCIDENTALLY, I WENT DOWN TO SOMETHING WE ALL PAID FOR, WHICH WAS TO GO TO THE IOWA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING AND TO ATTEND THE SESSIONS THAT HAD TO DO WITH A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE HAD TO DO WITH, WHAT DO YOU DO WHERE YOU HAVE ISSUES OF BEHAVIOR? I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN THIS CONTEXT, BUT THAT WAS A VERY EXCELLENT SESSION COMING FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL BETWEEN CEDAR RAPIDS AND IOWA CITY.
THIS NAME ESCAPES ME, IT'S A PLEASANT SOMETHING OR PRAIRIEVILLE.
BUT IT'S NOT PLEASANTVILLE, BUT WAS ANOTHER ONE.
BUT THEN I WENT TO THE SESSION THAT HAD TO DO WITH SUCCEEDING IN LANGUAGE ART EDUCATION AND MATH.
BECAUSE ADM, WHICH IS OVER WHERE BONDURANT IS ON THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE [INAUDIBLE], IT'S OUT OF STEP FROM THAT, THEY HAD EXCELLED.
>> THEY WERE THE GOLDEN NORTH STAR, COMPARED TO ALL OF THE REST OF US WHO WERE ON BOARDS MEETING OUTSIDE THE MEETING, SAYING, OH, YEAH, WE CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY DID TO OUR SCORES AND ALL THAT, AND THEY'RE MAKING US LOOK BAD AND ALL THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, OH,
[00:15:01]
THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE PRIVATE SCHOOLS LOOK GOOD AT OUR EXPENSE AND ALL THAT, NOT ADM. THAT SESSION WAS PUT ON BY ADM.I WENT AND I WAS QUITE STRUCK BY THE GUIDANCE AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEIR SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT AND THEIR SUPERINTENDENT WAS GIVING.
I TOOK SOME TIME SO IF I COULD GRAB ONTO THOSE TWO GUYS AND HAVING A MORE EXTENDED CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DID YOU DO IT? BECAUSE THE MESSAGE WAS THIS.
YOU MAKE ONE MAJOR PRIORITY AND IT'S ALL ABOUT LANGUAGE ARTS IMPROVEMENT, AND LANGUAGE ART, AND I'LL TELL YOU, ONCE YOU HAVE LANGUAGE ARTS, BECAUSE EVERY MATH PROBLEM IS A STORY PROBLEM.
ONCE YOU HAVE LANGUAGE ART, YOU ARE GOING TO IMPROVE YOUR MATH AS WELL, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY TOLD ME.
THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY DID IT IN THEIR SCHOOL.
IT BECAME SOMETHING THAT WAS EXCITING FOR THE STUDENTS TO BE ENGAGED IN, SEEING HOW MUCH OF IMPROVEMENT THERE WOULD BE AND A REAL MOTIVATOR FOR THOSE WHO WERE LIKE WHAT I CALL THE B+ TO C STUDENTS.
IT WAS A REAL MOTIVATOR FOR THEM TO IMPROVE.
THAT'S WHY YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT WANTING CHANGE, NOT CHANGE TO LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PERFORMING MUCH BETTER THAN OUR COMMUNITY BELIEVES WE HAVE BEEN.
BUT TO TAKE THAT GOAL AND SAY, WHAT ARE OUR BOARD PRIORITIES? WE HAVE ONE. WE'RE A SCHOOL.
WE'RE NOT A MENTAL HEALTH CARE CENTER, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ELEMENTS OF WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN BOTH OF THOSE, BUT WE HAVE ONE GOAL, AND THAT'S TO EDUCATE STUDENTS, AND IT'S MEASURED BY LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH PERFORMANCE, ALONG WITH THE ASSOCIATED ONES.
NOW, AM I ARGUING THAT WE SHOULD GET RID OF ALL THE OTHER GOALS? NO. I AM SAYING THAT THE ONE SHOULD BE THE ONE NORTH STAR GOAL IS THE NUMBER 1 HERE, STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH.
THEN OUR OTHER GOALS FIT VERY NICELY AS IMMEDIATE SUB-GOALS.
YOU HAVE THIS PRIORITY UNDERNEATH, WHICH WOULD BE THE ELL PROGRAM, AND I HATE TO CALL IT SPECIAL NEEDS, SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE LIKE, AND ALSO THE FINANCE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S DIRECTED TO US, AND OF COURSE, WE WANT STAFF RETENTION AND ALL THOSE THINGS TOO.
BUT HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO THE NUMBER 1 PRIORITY? WHAT IS THE QUESTION THAT WE SHOULD ANSWER WITH EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF SPENDING OR PROGRAM, OR EMPHASIS? IT'S WHAT IS IT DOING? WHAT ACTUALLY IS IT DOING TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE ARTS, LEARNING, AND THE ASSOCIATED MATH AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE FOR OUR GOALS? I HEAR YOU.
THAT'S THE STRUCTURE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR PRIORITIES BE.
IN THAT CONTEXT, OF COURSE, I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF GOAL NUMBER 1.
I THINK I WOULD SAY ON THIS OBJECTIVE, WHICH IS IMPROVE THE SCORE ANNUALLY, I'D SAY 1% OR MORE ANNUALLY, JUST IN CASE WE FIND OUT THAT OUR STAFF IS AS GOOD AS I THINK THEY ARE.
I AM URGING US AS A BOARD TO ADOPT THE STRUCTURE OF ONE GOAL BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE THAT HAS MADE IN OTHER SCHOOLS WHO ARE HELPING US AT OUR OWN.
WE SPEND MONEY TO GO TO THE IOWA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, AND THEY WERE PUTTING ON THAT PRESENTATION FOR A REASON, AND THAT IS TO HELP TELL US THAT THE IDEA OF IMPROVING IN LANGUAGE ARTS IS NOT A DREAM.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH OUR STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND AS SUPERBLY AS THEY HAVE PERFORMED THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE, WHICH ARE MORE DIFFUSE, THAT WE COULD REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE ADOPTED THIS DIFFERENT STRUCTURE.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE TIME.
>> YES. EXCUSE ME, PRESIDENT GEORGE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT AT LEAST DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE] GOT THE MEMO ON THE SHIRTS TODAY? JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.
>> THANKS. THAT'S A GREAT OBSERVATION.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD AGREE. WE DO HAVE ONE GOAL.
ONE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE IN OUR DISTRICT.
I DO THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF OUR DISTRICT, WE DO HAVE TO CREATE PILLARS TO HELP SUPPORT THAT ONE GOAL BECAUSE WE'RE JUST SO BIG AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE GROWTH.
TO YOUR POINT, WHERE WOULD YOU LOOKING AT THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, AND LANGUAGE ARTS WAS SOME OF THE TAKEAWAY THAT I GOT FROM WHAT YOU WERE SAYING,
[00:20:01]
WHERE COULD WE INSERT THAT INTO OUR PRIORITIES? I'M ASKING THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE WANTING TO SEE BEING MORE ENTRENCHED INTO THE PRIORITIES.>> IT IS STRUCTURAL BECAUSE I WANT TO NEXT SAY THAT I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUARREL WITH THE WRITE-UP OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE.
I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN WELL THOUGHT, AND I THINK THAT OUR STAFF KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.
WITH NEW LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE FROM DR. CORDOVA, I THINK WE CAN HAVE A DIRECTION THAT ALSO TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE RELATED DIVERSITY.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH SAYING DIVERSITY, DIVERSITY IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS ONE WOULD BE NUMBER 1, AND I WOULD NOT LOSE ALL THE OTHERS.
IT WOULD BE RIGHT AS THE SUB GOALS THAT YOU SAID IT VERY WELL, DIRECTOR LEE.
PILLARS TO SUPPORT WHAT? NUMBER 1 IS THIS ONE.
THE OTHERS ARE PILLARS TO SUPPORT.
>> WHAT I'M HEARING AND FELLOW DIRECTORS, IF YOU'RE HEARING SOMETHING DIFFERENT, PLEASE CHIME IN.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING MAINLY ABOUT IS THE GOAL 2 AND THREE, AS IT RELATES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION AND OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, AND THOSE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE USING TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO CAPTURE.
>> OH, YES, ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE NO QUARREL WITH THOSE.
IT'S JUST WHAT IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO THIS SIMPLE.
I DON'T HAVE A QUARREL WITH THE NARRATIVE OF THE OTHER PRIORITIES, BUT THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN LIKE CO-IMPORTANT.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THERE IS ONE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY.
ARE WE EDUCATING THE KIDS? THESE WOULD BE SUPPORT, AS YOU SAY, SUPPORT PILLARS, AND THEY DO.
WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION AND WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND THE LIKE, AND FRANKLY, WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE EXPLORING FURTHER WITH OUR DUAL LANGUAGE EXPERIMENT.
I GUESS THE EXPERIMENT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE LIKE 15 YEARS, BUT THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN THE CURRENT MODEL THAT WE SEE OVER AT ERVING THAT THAT'S ANOTHER POTENTIALLY REALLY SOLID INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE THAT DOES TWO THINGS.
IT MAKES THE URO AGO KIDS BETTER BECAUSE WHEN YOU KNOW ANOTHER LANGUAGE, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND YOUR ENGLISH AND YOUR GRAMMAR BETTER THAN ANY OTHER WAY.
WHEN YOU KNOW ANOTHER LANGUAGE AND YOU'RE GOING FORWARD AND YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF IN A DIFFERENT LOCALE, LIKE LET'S SAY YOU'RE UP NEAR AND AROUND FRENCH QUEBEC.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PICK UP FRENCH IN A HURRY BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE GONE THROUGH THE WORK OF ALIGNING YOUR BRAIN TO BE ABLE TO BE RECEPTIVE TO MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE.
IT HELPS EVERYBODY TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DUAL LANGUAGE, AND OF COURSE, I BELIEVE IT WOULD ALSO HELP THE LATINO HISPANIC STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY ALREADY ARE SPEAKING SPANISH AT HOME, AND THEY'LL SEE THEIR CLASSMATES ARE LEARNING THE SAME AS THEY ARE.
THEY ARE CO-EQUAL IN HOW THEY'RE PERCEIVED AND VIEWED BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S LEARNING TWO LANGUAGES.
OF COURSE, WE LIVE IN A COMMUNITY.
I'LL TELL YOU, I'M SHALL LINE UP SOME WORK FOR YOUR HOUSE AND SEE WHO SHOWS UP.
>> I'M SORRY, DIRECTOR GREENWELL, EXCUSE ME, JUST ONE SECOND.
BUT I THINK THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU'VE GIVEN WAS YOU SUPPORT THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE.
WE JUST WANT TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE POINTS THAT YOU'VE HIGHLIGHTED AS IT RELATES TO THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE LISTED.
DIRECTOR GREENWELL, I'M SORRY, TAKE YOUR MEETING.
>> DIRECTOR GREENWELL, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION TO ASK, AND THEN I'LL COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU, IS THAT OKAY? DIRECTOR MK TALKED ABOUT LANGUAGE ARTS AND STUFF WITHIN WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
I'M LOOKING AT SOME OF THE KEY STRATEGIES, LIKE THE INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
HAVEN'T WE BUILT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON THAT TOP A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR KEY STRATEGIES AND STUFF, ARE WE FOCUSING ON THE LANGUAGE ARTS,
[00:25:03]
AND PUT LITTLE GREEN LIGHTS GOT TO BE ON?>> I THINK THE LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATHEMATICS ARE CORE TO ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO WITH REGARDS TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO ACADEMICALLY.
WITHOUT THOSE TWO AREAS, BASICALLY, YOU CAN'T ACCESS ANYTHING ELSE.
I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT FOCUSING ON LANGUAGE ARTS, A LOT OF PEOPLE GO BACK AND FORTH, BUT YOU CAN'T DO MATH THESE DAYS ON ANY OF THESE ASSESSMENTS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO READ.
I THINK YOUR STATEMENT IS ON POINT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND IT HAS FOLDED IN.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE COULD PROBABLY BRING THAT MORE TO THE SURFACE, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE, SO THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY AWARE WHAT THOSE TYPE OF PRIORITIES ARE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.
>> YES. WELL, I LIST ALL THE DISCUSSION.
I WANT TO REMIND GOALS 2 AND 3 WITH A SPECIAL ED AND THE ELL.
THOSE WERE AREAS THAT WE HAD SEEN WEAKNESS IN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
EARLY WINE HAD MADE A FOCUS TO IMPROVE THOSE FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD.
THOSE WERE A KEY PART OF OUR GOALS.
I DON'T THINK THOSE GOALS WOULD HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED YET.
IT'S TOO EARLY TO DECLARE VICTORY ON THOSE.
WITH RESPECT TO THE FOCUS ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE HOURS, I THINK CLEARLY THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT I WANT TO CAUTION THAT ONE ROBIN DOESN'T MAKE A SPRING.
THERE WAS ONE DISTRICT THAT PROBABLY HAVE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN OURS AND SIZE AND GROUP OF SCALE.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT OUR FREE REDUCED LUNCH, WE HAVE A MATERIAL PORTION OF FREE REDUCED LUNCH, WE HAVE MATERIAL PORTION OF ENGLISH OR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARN.
THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF ART HISTORY ARE LIKELY SUBSTANTIVELY DIFFERENT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
I THINK THE FOCUS ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS IS GREAT I THINK THAT IS IT IS PROBABLY CORRECT.
IF YOU GARNER THAT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, EVERYTHING ELSE, MATH, OR ALONG WITH THAT, EVERYTHING ELSE GOES WITH IT.
I WANT TO BE CAREFUL IN SAYING THAT THE DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL IS A TOTAL SUCCESS.
I DON'T THINK THE DISTRICT OR THE RESULTS OF IT SPEAKS THAT HIGHLY.
I THINK WE NEED IT. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE MODEL WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRENDS IN THE PERFORMANCE BOTH ON THE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS AND THE NAME SPEAKERS.
I WANT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DECLARE THAT TO BE THE MODEL GOING FORWARD. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IT, BUT I WANT TO BE CAREFUL IN EXPANDING MATH BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE SHOULD GO.
I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THESE GOALS. WE HELP PUT THEM TOGETHER.
I THINK WE'VE GOT A VERY GOOD START FOR THEM AND CONTINUATION OF THEM.
WHETHER 1% IS THE RIGHT NUMBER, I DON'T KNOW.
CONTINUOUS STEADY IMPROVEMENT IS THE WAY TO GO VERSUS A ROCKET SHIFT OR A BOTTLE ROCKET THAT SHOOTS UP FAST, MAKES SPARKS AND POPS, AND YOU CAN'T SUSTAIN IT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FOCUS ON.
SUSTAINABILITY OF PERFORMANCE, NOT A DROP BOTTLE ROCKET SHOCK IN THE NIGHT THAT GOES BACK AT THE END.
THAT'S HOW I'M LOOKING AT THIS.
CONSISTENT IMPROVEMENT OVER TIME. THANK YOU.
>> AS FAR AS THIS FIRST GOAL GOES, THE ONLY THING THAT I NOTICE AS A FORMER TEACHER THAT I WOULD WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT POSSIBLY ELIMINATING IS ANY PERCENTAGE OF GROWTH.
I'D LIKE TO LEAVE THE PERCENT OUT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO GET AS MANY PERCENTAGES AS WE CAN, BUT AS DIRECTOR EHMCKE MENTIONED, THE RULES CAN CHANGE.
>> WE KNOW THAT STATE TEST SCORES CAN CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
WE KNOW THAT MATH AND READING SCORES, AND OUR TEACHERS HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT AND EVERYTHING'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND, KNOWING THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, THE RULES DO CHANGE AND WITH THIS PARTICULAR LEGISLATURE, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TOMORROW.
>> WOULD IT HELP FOR YOUR GOALS IF I UPDATED YOU ON WHAT THE CURRENT DATA IS? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT?
>> YES, THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, DON'T YOU THINK SO?
>> [OVERLAPPING] TRAJECTORY OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS?
>> IF YOU WANT IT I CAN GIVE IT TO YOU.
>> I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.
[00:30:03]
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD INFORMATION TO HAVE PRELUDE.[OVERLAPPING] IF YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT, I THINK IT'S FINE.
>> I JUST I'M ASKING IF YOU WANT IT, I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU. IT'S UP TO YOU, GUYS.
>> WELL, I'LL SAY YES. I APPRECIATE.
YES, YOU HAD PRESENTED IT TO US BEFORE.
I HAVE A WHOLE STACK OF PAPERS THAT I KEEP.
SOMETIMES I DON'T PULL OUT THE ONE THAT I WANT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SEE WHAT THE CURRENT TREND IS.
I KNOW THAT THE ONES THAT I WAS LOOKING AT THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WERE FROM THE, I WANT TO SAY, WHAT YOU CALL '23-'24 YEAR.
THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE '24-'25 YET.
BUT I WAS, OF COURSE, IMPRESSED WITH WHAT WE HAD AT THE 2024 AND WHAT IT WAS TELLING US ABOUT WHAT WE WERE ACCOMPLISHING AND IT CERTAINLY DID MATCH WITH OUR PRIORITIES THAT WE HAD SET, BUT WHETHER IT MATCHED WITH WHERE WE WANT TO BE IS ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> 2022 FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS PROFICIENCY, WE'RE AT 61%.
2023, 60%, AND THEN 2024, 64%.
THEN MEETING EXPECTED GROWTH, IN 2022, WE WERE AT 48%.
IN 2023, WE'RE AT 44, AND THEN IN 2024, WE WENT UP TO 50%.
>> OUR TRAJECTORY IS REALLY [OVERLAPPING] STARTING TO BE PRETTY GOOD.
>> I DO HAVE 2021 DATA, WHICH IS 58 FOR PROFICIENCY AND 46 FOR ELA.
OVER FOUR YEARS, WE'VE CONTINUALLY GONE UP EXCEPT FOR 2023, WE HAD A DIP AND THEN WE MORE THAN MADE UP FOR IT IN 2024.
>> THANK YOU. IF WE LOOK AT, OF COURSE, WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF DIVED INTO PRIORITIES TWO AND THREE, WHICH IS SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND REFINEMENT, AND OF COURSE, PRIORITY 3, AS I CALL IT, WAS ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND REFINEMENT.
THE GOAL FOR GOAL 2 WAS IMPLEMENT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TASK FORCE, IDENTIFY PRIORITIES ITEMS BY SUMMER 2024, AND THERE'S A CHECKLIST OF GOALS OR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GOALS.
I ASSUME WE HAVE THAT SOMEWHERE, THAT INFORMATION THAT YOU GUYS WENT OFF OF.
MY QUESTION IS, AND I'M JUST SPITBALLING THIS.
COULD WE NOT PUT OUR IMPLEMENTATION REFINEMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE ELL OR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER PROGRAM INTO ONE PRIORITY, BUT WITH TWO SILOS? IS THAT A POSSIBILITY WHERE WE'RE STILL DOING THE SAME THING, NOTHING'S REALLY GOING TO CHANGE.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BECOME A REBUILD PRIORITY OR HOWEVER WE WANT TO WORD IT.
>> THIS WEEK WE MADE A MAJOR EMPHASIS TO HIRE ELL STAFF FOR THIS COMING YEAR, CORRECT?
>> WE'VE HIRED SIGNIFICANT ELL STAFF, AND THAT WAS ONE OF OUR AREAS OF WEAKNESS.
TO HIRE THE STAFF AND BRING A MAJOR CHANGE, THE SAME THING WITH OUR SPED PROGRAM, WE PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP BOTH OF THOSE, AS DIRECTOR LEE SAID, PILLARS, AS PART OF OUR KEY GOALS OVERALL.
WE MADE MAJOR CHANGES AND ENHANCED STAFFING AND PUT A LOT OF MONEY AT.
I THINK WE DID MEASURE AT LEAST INDEPENDENTLY FOR ANOTHER. YEAR OR SO.
>> WELL, BUT I WOULD SAY TO YOUR POINT, DIRECTOR GEORGE, THAT THAT'S WHAT I WAS RECOMMENDING WE DO.
THAT WHAT WE HAVE IS GOAL 1 IS GOAL 1 AND WHAT WE HAVE IS GOAL 2 IS 1A, AND WHAT WE HAVE IS GOAL 3 IS 1B, THAT THEY ARE PILLARS OF THE PRIMARY FOCUS CULTURALLY THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT THROUGH THAT WE ARE ABOUT EDUCATION EXCELLENCE, NUMBER 1.
OUR COMPETITORS CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT.
BUT OUR IMAGE NEEDS TO BE, YOU GET THE BEST EDUCATION IF YOU COME TO SIOUX CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IF YOU LIVE IN SIOUX CITY AND AROUND, THE BEST PLACE TO GO IS HERE.
>> DIRECTOR GREENWELL, YOU MENTIONED THE DATE CHANGE ON THESE GOALS,
[00:35:02]
SO WE SHOULD PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT THAT ANNUALLY.>> I SUPPORT WHAT DIRECTOR EHMCKE SAID.
I THINK THAT'S A WAY TO LOOK AT IT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO FOCUS OF THIS NEXT PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT THE FORMAT AND STYLE, I'M OPEN TO CHANGING IS JUST THE SUBSTANTIVE POINT IS WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER.
I LIKE DIRECTOR EHMCKE'S POINT.
WE ARE IN COMPETITION FOR RECRUITING THE CITIZENS. LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT IT.
WE'RE IN COMPETITION TO HAVE GOOD CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE, TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS WELL AND WE'RE IN COMPETITION WITH THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS AROUND.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SIOUX CITY AS BEST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
I'M THINKING OF THIS AS COMPETITION FOR BOTH OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS ATTRACTIVE AND RETAIN TEACHERS AND STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS?
>> WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE DATES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE NEED TO UPDATE IT FOR WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING FORWARD.
PERHAPS STAFF COULD HELP US A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT.
BUT WE SAID, DID WE GET THE GOALS TOGETHER FROM THE WORK GROUP? BEAR WITH ME. I'LL FIND HERE.
IT SAYS, HAVE THE EDUCATION AND TASK FORCE PRIORITIES BY SUMMER OF 2024. I THINK WE DID.
I THINK WE HAVE PRIORITIES AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTATION AND CONSEQUENTLY, YOU'D WANT TO WRITE WHAT I CALL 1A RATHER AS MORE OF NOT SO MUCH OF DEVELOPING THE IDEAS OBJECTIVE, BUT INSTEAD IMPLEMENTING WHAT OUR TASK FORCE CAME FORWARD WITH.
I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO TO A NEW TASK FORCE.
>> IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGE, [OVERLAPPING] THE ACTION STEPS.
>> I THINK WE HAVE THE SAME SITUATION WITH ELL.
I KNOW THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR, A LOT OF WORK WAS DONE BY STAFF AND ALL OF THE VOLUNTEER TEACHERS TO FINE TUNE AND DEVELOP THE IDEAS THAT WOULD BEST IMPLEMENT OUR ELL.
NOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS IMPLEMENT WHAT THEY BROUGHT FORWARD.
I'D ASK STAFF, AM I WRONG OR RIGHT ABOUT THAT? ARE WE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF A TASK FORCE DEVELOPMENT? WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR AND I THINK WE PUT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND NOW WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT WHAT WE HAVE GOING.
>> WE'RE TO THE ACTION STEP NOW, AREN'T WE?
>> YES. REMEMBER THAT PLAN WAS WRITTEN PRIOR, AND IT WAS WRITTEN FOR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
SO OUR HOPE IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US GUIDANCE TODAY AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING TO YOU NEW ACTION STEPS.
OUR ELL TASK FORCE AND OUR SPECIAL ED TASK FORCE HAVE ALREADY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR, AND WE'VE ALREADY PUT ALL THE STEPS IN PLACE TO CARRY THEM THROUGH.
WE ALWAYS START THAT WORK ABOUT A YEAR AHEAD.
A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU IN THIS WINTER AND SPRING WERE THINGS THAT WERE FROM THE TASK FORCE FOR SPECIAL ED AND ELL.
>> I THINK DIRECTOR LEE IS CORRECT.
WE NEED TO REFRESH THE NARRATIVE TO BRING IT CURRENT.
>> AS EVERYBODY'S POINTING OUT, THE OBJECTIVES ARE WHAT SEEMED TO BE OUTDATED, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAYBE THE OBJECTIVE WASN'T THE RIGHT OBJECTIVE.
I THINK THAT THE OBJECTIVE IS MORE OF A IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN, SECURE ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS.
ONE OF THE STRATEGIES IS THE TASK FORCE, AND THEN KEY STRATEGIES UNDERNEATH THAT TASK FORCE ARE WHAT THEY'VE BUILT OUT.
IT'S THE SAME THING, BUT YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY TO LEARN AND TO ACHIEVE.
THOSE WERE ALL SUB GOALS OF CREATING THE TASK FORCE BEFORE THAT'S DONE AND NOW IT'S TO EXECUTE TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY THAT CAN LEARN.
SUPPORT HIS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
>> WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY?
>> WELL, SOMETIMES REPETITION BEARS IN THE CLASSROOM AND ELSEWHERE.
[00:40:04]
>> THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GIVE THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP IS TO COME BACK WITH I THINK, AS WE'VE KIND OF SAID, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR ACTION STEPS RELATING TO THE LEARNING OF THE STUDENTS, STUFF THAT WE'VE DONE.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE SO WHEN WE DO OUR WORK, WE'RE OUTLINING IT IN THE CORRECT WAY.
THE OBJECTIVE WOULD BE TO CREATE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS.
THAT TYPE OF LIKE THAT WE HAVE THE ENVIRONMENT, WE HAVE THE STAFF, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE.
>> BUT FOCUS TOWARD AND I ALWAYS SAY RATHER THAN JUST ELL BECAUSE I AM VERY CONCERNED AND I HEAR BOBBY TOLD ME THIS, [LAUGHTER] DIRECTOR MICHAELSON TOLD ME THIS EARLIER ON, AND I APPRECIATE THAT OUR DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM HASN'T GOT ITS FLYWHEEL COMPLETELY UP TO SPEED, BUT IT'S GETTING THERE AND I'M LOOKING FOR THAT TO HAVE SUCCESS.
I'M LOOKING FOR THAT TO ALSO SUPPORT US IN OUR ELL EFFORT GOING FORWARD, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT SAYING EXPAND, I'M SAYING WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT WORK AS MR. VANDER HERE TOLD ME ONCE BEFORE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ON INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE SAME AND A SIMILAR MODEL SO THAT THAT PROGRAM, YOU DON'T TAKE A DUAL LANGUAGE PERSON INTO SPANISH 1 BECAUSE THEY'RE WAY PAST THAT.
BUT WITHOUT TRYING TO OVERSELL THAT.
I'M NOT TRYING TO OVER EMPHASIZE THAT.
I'M SAYING IT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO THAT NOBODY ELSE AROUND US DOES.
IT'S A COMPETITIVE EDGE, AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE WHAT YOU CAN GET BY COMING TO THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WHEN YOU SAY, ANGEL, WHAT WOULD BE THE DIRECTION, IS WE TAKE GOAL NUMBER 1, THAT'S GOAL NUMBER 1 AND THEN GOAL NUMBER 2 IS 1A, GOAL NUMBER 3 NOW IS 1B.
IT DOES LOOK LIKE EVERYTHING THE PILLARS ARE SUPPORTING THE PRIMARY FUNCTION THAT WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ACCOMPLISH BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE, WHICH IS DEVELOPING YOUR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION.
>> I WOULD ADD TO THAT IS THE ACTION ITEMS THAT COME FROM YOUR TEAM ARE THE ACTION ITEMS OF HOW WE REACH THE OBJECTIVE AND THE GOAL.
WHATEVER YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THIS LAST YEAR THAT YOU'VE SHARED AND THEN CONTINUED TO WORK ON, THOSE ARE THE STEPS THAT THAT'S HOW WE GET THERE.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO INSERT IN HERE BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE TAKEAWAY FROM THAT, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROVIDE US WITH HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY CLEAR.
>> THE NEXT ONE IS THE STAFF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPROVE THE RETENTION RATE ANNUALLY.
OF COURSE, IT HAS IT TO BARB AND PATTY, IDENTIFY THE RETENTION RATE FOR ELEMENTARY SECONDARY YEARS EXPERIENCE BY BUILDING AND CORE SUBJECTS.
YOU HAVE A LIST OF YOUR STRATEGY THERE, INCREASE CLASSIFIED STAFF.
HAS THAT BEEN WORKING? ARE WE DOING GOOD?
>> WE DID CREATE A RETENTION COMMITTEE.
WE DO HAVE A SUMMARY OF ALL OF OUR RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED THIS YEAR, THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING NEXT YEAR, AND THEN I HAVE DELINEATED BY WHETHER IT WAS FROM THE COMMITTEE OR WHETHER IT WAS SOMETHING FROM OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM OR TEACHERS.
I HAVE OUR DATA FOR RETENTION DATA FOR THIS YEAR.
I DON'T HAVE THE ADDITIONAL DATA BROKEN DOWN BY WHAT DEGREES EVERYBODY HAS BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING FOR THAT AS WELL.
>> WE ARE AT 94% RETENTION, 94.1, AND CSP, WE'RE AT 82%.
I GAVE YOU THESE NUMBERS THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IN 22,23, SCEA, WE RETAINED 91% OF OUR TEACHERS.
SSPA, WHICH IS OUR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF, WE RETAINED 80.7.
IN 23,24, WE WENT DOWN 91-90.1 FOR RETENTION FOR TEACHERS,
[00:45:08]
AND THEN OUT OF THE CSPA, WE WERE AT 81%.THIS YEAR, WE ARE AT 94.1% RETENTION FOR TEACHERS AND 82% RETENTION FOR STAFF.
CLASS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF.
>> I'M LOOKING THROUGH SOME OF YOUR KEY STRATEGIES THAT YOU HAVE LISTED HERE.
I HAPPENED TO WALK IN ON AN ONBOARDING SESSION THAT WAS GOING ON.
DO YOU THINK THAT HAS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY?
>> THAT'S NEW. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM OUR RETENTION COMMITTEE.
WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF ONBOARDING TEACHERS.
BUT WE DID FOR RETENTION OF TEACHERS.
WE DID WE ASSIGNED A TEACHER LEADER, THAT'S A DISTRICT-WIDE LEADER, TO EVERY FIRST-YEAR TEACHER LAST YEAR.
WE ALSO DID IN-PERSON EXIT INTERVIEWS FOR ANY PERSON THAT LEFT.
BARB DID IN-PERSON EXIT INTERVIEWS.
I THINK THOSE HELPED US GUIDE WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO FROM THOSE INTERVIEWS.
THE ONBOARDING, THOUGH, WAS SOMETHING FROM THE RETENTION COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL NON-CERTIFIED STAFF.
THAT'S A BIG AREA THAT WE'RE UP TO 82% RETENTION, BUT A LOT OF FEEDBACK WE GOT WAS THAT THEY'RE NOT READY.
THE ADS ARE NOT READY WHEN THEY COME TO THE CLASSROOM.
THEY DON'T FEEL REALLY WELCOMED WHEN THEY COME BECAUSE NOBODY'S REALLY THERE GIVING THEM GUIDANCE.
WE HAD AN ONBOARDING COMMITTEE, AND THEN BARB'S TEAM TOOK ALL OF OUR WORK AND RAN AWAY WITH IT.
AND WE'VE HAD TWO ON BOARDING SESSIONS. JUST ONE SO FAR.
>> THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE THE SCHEDULED TO START IN AUGUST AFTER [INAUDIBLE].
I KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEING A FIRST YEAR TEACHER AND WELL, HERE'S A CLASSROOM.
>> THAT INTO A DIRECT RETENTION OF THE NEW TEACHERS AT THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT WE HEARD WAS THAT NEW TEACHERS WERE SAYING THAT THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE JUST SPECIFIC TO SI CITY THAT THEY DON'T KNOW.
THEY HAVE A MENTOR BECAUSE, BY LAW, HAVE TO PROVIDE A MENTOR FOR EVERY TEACHER.
BUT EVERY TEACHER HAS A MENTOR, AND WE HAVE A MENTORING PROGRAM, AND THEY MEET ONCE A MONTH, AND WE FACILITATE ALL THAT.
BUT REALLY, THEY NEEDED SOMEONE ELSE THAT WOULD JUST TOUCH BASE WITH THEM EVERY WEEK AND JUST HELP THEM, WHATEVER YOU NEED.
WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS? WE ASSIGN TEACHER, TIER ONE COORDINATORS TO THOSE TEACHERS THIS YEAR, AND THEY VISITED THEM AT A MINIMUM ONCE A WEEK, AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
>> WITH THE THEME OF COMPETITION, WE'RE COMPETING WITH THESE OTHER SMALLER SCHOOLS AROUND US.
CAN WE DO MORE? WHAT CAN WE DO MORE?
>> I HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT ME TO GO.
I THINK A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION SHOULD COME FROM HR.
I THINK THAT YOU DO A GREAT JOB OF OVERSEEING WHAT THE TEAM IS DOING.
BUT ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE AREAS NEED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THESE? I DO KNOW THAT MISS KASKY IS FAIRLY NEW, SHY OF A YEAR, AM I CORRECT? IT'D BE NICE TO HEAR WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE MISS BAMA SPEAK NOT ON YOUR BEHALF.
I DON'T MEAN IT THAT WAY, BUT SPEAK FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THESE ISSUES BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONE CHARGED WITH THIS TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT RETENTION, AND AS IT RELATES TO OUR STAFF RETENTION.
JUST A POINT OF CONSIDERATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> DIRECTOR CORDOVA, NOT DIRECTOR [LAUGHTER], ARE THE SUPERINTENDENT.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR LEE.
I WAS GOING TO HAVE MY OWN CONVERSATION, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP TO WHAT YOU ADDRESSED ADDRESS, AND MAKING SURE THAT EACH OF OUR DIRECTORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
THE SECOND PART IS THAT I WANT TO SAY THAT WE NOT DANCED.
WE MOVE REAL QUICKLY THROUGH THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS THAT WE HIRED AND WHAT WE'VE DONE.
HAVING BEEN IN OTHER PLACES PREVIOUSLY, THAT IS AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT.
TEACHERS ARE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO COME BY.
I KNOW IN MANY PLACES ARE ALREADY LOOKING OVERSEAS FOR TEACHERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
[00:50:03]
FOR US TO HAVE FILLED THAT MANY POSITIONS DURING THAT TIME IS SOMET [INAUDIBLE] HING THAT IS NOT COMMON.MAYBE THAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY OF PHRASING IT.
MAY BE COMMON IN I, BUT IT'S NOT COMMON ANYWHERE ELSE.
I WANTED TO JUST COMMEND THE GROUP AS THEY WORK THROUGH THAT AND MISS KASKY AND OTHERS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THAT, AND WE'LL CONTINUE DOING THAT TYPE OF WORK.
I DON'T WANT TO FLIPPING THE PAGE THAT I DON'T WANT US TO FORGET ABOUT THAT FINANCIAL PILLAR.
THAT'S 1C IS THE FINANCIAL PIECE THAT WE DO NEED.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU CAN NEVER FORGET ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE OR DON'T HAVE IN YOUR WALLET.
WE DO ALWAYS HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THE NUANCES OF THE FINANCIAL PIECE AND OUR NEED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN HOW WE APPROACH OUR LEGISLATORS AND WHERE OUR SOURCES OF MONEY COME FROM, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU HEAR SOME GOOFY THINGS FROM SOME LEGISLATORS.
YOU'RE THINKING, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU TELL THEM IT'S GOOFY, BUT YOU JUST TELLS ME I NEED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM BETTER ABOUT WHAT'S NECESSARY.
WE HAVE ONE COMING UP TODAY IN THE BOARD.
WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR THE STATE'S ANNUAL TEST, AND WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THEIR PRICE, THE STATE'S NEGOTIATED PRICE OF ABOUT 6.5- 7% OVER LAST YEAR, AND YET WE ONLY GOT 2% ON OUR SSA.
IT'S JUST YOU'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT THAT I'M GOING TO POINT THAT OUT, THAT HERE THE STATE IS, ON ONE HAND, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIMITING US TO ONLY THE MONEY THEY GIVE US ARE TURNING AROUND AND ON THEIR OWN THING, THEY CHARGE US TWO AND THREE TIMES THE PERCENT INCREASE THAT WE GET TO DO AS OUR REVENUE SOURCE.
HOW DO WE WANT TO APPROACH THIS FINANCIAL PRIORITY? WELL, I THOUGHT IN FEBRUARY, WE HAD A PIECE, AND MAYBE I'M FORGETTING IT.
IN FACT, I THOUGHT DAN WROTE US ONE.
I'M THINKING THAT PIECE AS 1C IS CERTAINLY THE STARTING PLACE TO PUT IT TOGETHER.
IF WE HAVE TO TWEAK AND SOME MORE, BUT I WOULD ANTICIPATE AND DAN IS HERE CAN SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, BUT WE NEED TO REMAIN FISCALLY, FINANCIALLY CAREFUL, BUT YET VISIONARY. DAN.
>> I WOULD RATHER I WOULD RATHER SEPARATE FINANCIAL FROM THE ACADEMIC TO HAVE A SUPPORTING ACADEMIC, AS IF YOU WANT TO CALL 1A AND 1 B.
BUT TO ME, FINANCIAL IS REALLY INDEPENDENT OF ACADEMIC GOAL, IS A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT ONE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE THINGS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
IN MY OPINION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FEWER FEDERAL DOLLARS.
IT'S PRETTY CLEAR OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FEWER FEDERAL DOLLARS.
WE'RE LIKELY TO HAVE FEWER STATE DOLLARS AS WELL, OR BE LIMITED TO A 2% OR 1.5, OR IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FOUR, AND IT'S LIKELY NOT GOING TO BE THREE AGAIN.
I THINK IT BECOMES MORE ACUTE FOR US AS WE GO FORWARD, WHERE WE'VE HAD OTHER REVENUE SOURCES, MEANING, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE UNDERSTAND THEM THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE AROUND AT THE LEVELS.
TO ME, HAVING A FINANCIAL GOAL, INDEPENDENT OF ACADEMIC, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S MY VIEW OVER THE LONG TERM, THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE WITH LESS MONEY AND RIGHTLY MEANS THAT CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO OR HAVE BEEN DOING, WE AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO.
I CERTAINLY WITH RESPECT TO THE FEDERAL GRANTS.
WE WE'VE ALREADY SEEN WHAT IMPACT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH THIS YEAR, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE FEDERAL GRANTS AND TURN TO INCREASE IN TAXPAYER ASKINGS, BECAUSE THE MONEY'S NOT THERE A CONTINUES TO SUPPORT A [INAUDIBLE] ISL.
THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO UP IF WE WANT TO KEEP THOSE ACTIVITIES.
I THINK THE SEPARATION OF FINANCIAL FROM ACADEMIC RELATED SHOULD BE SEPARATE AND THAT'S JUST MY OPINION, BUT I THINK THEY'RE TOTALLY DIFFERENT, AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THEM INDEPENDENTLY.
>> I'M GOING TO PUT IT MY SIMPLE TERMS.
[00:55:02]
LANCE WANTS ALL THE OTHER PRIORITIES TO FEED INTO THE FIRST.I UNDERSTAND THAT. I ALSO UNDERSTAND WHERE DIRECTOR GREENWELL WANTS FINANCE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT FINANCE FUNDS THOSE OTHER PRIORITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THERE, AND I THINK HOWEVER WE PUT IT DOWN, WE KNOW OUR VERY TOP NOTCH PRIORITY IS THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS IN SI CITY.
I THINK THE ACADEMIC IS ONE THING.
I THINK AS YOU WANT TO CALL, STAFFING ATTENTION, WHETHER IT'S TEACHERS OR STAFF OR PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND OTHER OM AND OTHER FOLKS.
I THINK THAT TO ME IS A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT GOAL AND FOCUS WITH A DIFFERENT GROUP.
WITH A DIFFERENT HR GROUP IS A BIG FOCUS OF THAT VERSUS HR, WHO IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACADEMIC.
PAS PRIMARY, SHE'S THE PRIMARY LEAD ON THE FINANCIAL.
BUT SHE'S GOT TO SAY, GUYS, WE'RE NOT GETTING THE FUNDS IN, AND WE WE GOT MORE FUNDS IN SOME CASES.
HERE'S WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT SPEND.
I THINK THERE'S THREE REALLY SEPARATE, DISTINCT GOALS.
ACADEMIC FOR ALL THOSE 1 A AND B IN THERE, AND I THINK RECRUITMENT RETENTION.
I THINK THAT'S A SEPARATE ONE.
BECAUSE THE FINANCES DO IMPACT THAT AS WELL.
THEN THE FINANCES AS A THIRD ONE, WHICH REALLY IMPACTS BOTH RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND PAY RAISES IN MAWI AND THE ACADEMIC OFFERINGS AND THE TEACHER CLASS SIZES, WHICH COMES RIGHT DOWN TO WHAT FUNDING DO WE HAVE? DO WE HAVE? ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE ALL THE TITLE ONE TEACHERS IN THE FUTURE? WELL, FOR NEXT YEAR, YES, THAT'S NOT CUT. WHAT ABOUT THE YEAR FOLLOW? WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TITLE TEACHERS.
WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHER TITLE PROGRAMS? WE CAN'T TAX INSTRUCTCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY THAT MUCH TO COVER ALL THOSE FEDERAL GRANTS.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WE LOSE THOSE, WE WILL HAVE CHOICES TO MAKE IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE.
JOHN MYERS HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE WITH THE DIFFERENT TITLES AND GRANTS FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
HE SEEN THE SOLVING EFFECT BRINGS BUFFER.
[INAUDIBLE] I SEE THREE SEPARATE [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S JUST OPINION OVERALL.
>> WHEREVER WHAT'S MORE MATERIAL TO ME IS A COMMITMENT TO AN ANNUAL BUDGET THAT IS SUSTAINABLE.
THE BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED SPENDING $1 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE THINK IS SUSTAINABLE, IN OVER $200,000,000 BUDGET.
THAT'S PRETTY DARN CLOSE, AND THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO THE SUCCESS OF STAFF IN CONVINCING THE STATE TO ALLOW US ADDITIONAL SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR THINGS LIKE SPD AND NDLL.
SPENDING AUTHORITY, AT LEAST NOW, I THINK WE'RE DOING WELL.
WE ARE SPENDING ABOUT $5,000,000 MORE THAN WHAT WE CAN SUSTAIN OVER THE LONG TERM.
PROBABLY THIS COMING YEAR WE'LL GET MORE INTEREST INCOME THAN WHAT WE HAD, ALTHOUGH EVERY DAY IS A NEW DAY.
>> EVERY DAY IS NEW DAY. THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS WE'RE GOING TO SPEND 5 MILLION, AND PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT AFTER WE GET DONE, WRESTLING WITH WHAT WE DO WITH THE MOST RECENT CUTS.
WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CASH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
ONE OF THOSE STEPS WOULD BE APPROACHING THE LEGISLATURE.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET IT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD AT LEAST ASK FOR SOME STATE ASSISTANCE TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LEST PROPERTY TAX BASES IN THE STATE, AND THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT HAVE VERY VIABLE PROPERTY TAXES AND SPED EVERY DISTRICT OR NEARLY EVERY DISTRICT IN THE STATE LEVIES PROPERTY TAXES FOR IT.
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE TAX RELIEF AT THE SAME TIME, HELPING SCHOOLS.
[01:00:05]
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY WITHIN OUR BUDGET GUIDING PRINCIPLES, WHICH I BELIEVE RIGHT PATTY, WE HAVE FIVE.
THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT. I THINK SOMEHOW OUR PRIORITY HAS TO HAVE THAT STATED IN IT, THAT WE STAY WITHIN OUR BUDGET GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
>> THAT'S FINE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS IT A FLOWER OR IS IT A ROSE.
I'M PUTTING IT IS SIMPLY HAVE A SUSTAINABLE BUDGET, AND WE DON'T ADD THINGS OR KEEP THINGS THAT WE CAN'T PAY FOR OVER THE LONG TERM.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE SURPRISE CUTS, BUT WE HAVE CASH AND SPENDING AUTHORITY TO COVER THAT.
BUT OVER THE LONGER TERM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE DO.
IF WE'RE SPENDING FIVE, MAYBE SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, OF CASH THAT WE DON'T HAVE SOONER OR LATER, THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY WILL KICK IN, BUT NOT IMMEDIATELY.
>> I DO KNOW THAT DR. CORDOVA AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE FEDERAL SURPRISE THAT WAS DROPPED ON US WITH THE TITLE FREEZING ACTIONS AND SO I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A REPORT ON THAT DURING OUR REGULAR MEETING.
IF I UNDERSTAND IT RIGHT, I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT WHAT'S DRIVING THIS BUS IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND WHETHER YOU HAVE THE THREE OR TWO SUPPORTING THAT PRIORITY AND THEN HAVING TWO OTHER SEPARATE ONES FOR STAFF ATTENTION, FOR ME, I CAN GO EITHER WAY BECAUSE I DO KNOW OUR GOAL IS TO HIRE THE MOST QUALIFIED STAFF TO HELP DRIVE THAT BUS OF THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS.
TO GIVE DIRECTIONS, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THAT IN MIND.
OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS AND STUFF AND OF COURSE, GOING BACK TO RETENTION OF STAFF, I LOVE THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE HEARING.
WE NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMING UP WITH BETTER IDEAS AS WE GO.
SOMEHOW INCORPORATE THAT INTO YOUR ACTION STEPS AND YOUR GOALS, AND OF COURSE, OUR STRATEGIC FINANCIAL GOAL.
I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE MENTION OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES, AND THAT HAS TO BE WORKED IN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AND I KNOW I THINK DAN COME UP WITH THE WAY THAT WE WORDED IT.
DO YOU REMEMBER HOW YOU DID THAT OR CAN YOU STATE THAT? CAN YOU STATE THE WORDING FOR THE FINANCIAL PRIORITY?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY THERE, BUT I THINK CLEARLY PROTECTING THE CUTS TO THE CLASSROOM WOULD BE LAX IN MY OPINION.
WHETHER AS TEACHERS OR PAIR PROFESSIONALS, CUTS TO THE CLASSROOM WOULD BE THE VERY LAST THING.
HOWEVER, THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF YOUR COST.
BUT I WOULD TRY ALL TO ADDRESS ALL LONG CLASSROOM POSITIONS IF THERE HAS TO BE REDUCTIONS AND WHAT I CALL GRANT REDUCTIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHAT ARE THOSE SUPPORTING AND WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON SOME OF THAT.
COMES TO THE CLASSROOM LAST SO WORSE POSITIONS PROBABLY NEXT, AND OF COURSE, ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS OR NON CLASSROOM POSITION WILL BE THE FIRST TO GO.
I DON'T THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT IN A PRIORITY LIST.
BUT I THINK JOHN MYERS, WE DID OUR BUDGET LAST TIME.
CAME UP WITH A CONCEPT AND NOT SPEND MORE THAN X PERCENT RUN A NEGATIVE DEFICIT, I SHOULD SAY.
MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO BE FACTORED IN HERE SOMEWHERE, AT LEAST FOR ONE YEAR, YOU CAN DO IT, BUT IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME.
SOMEWHERE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A CALL WITH THE GOVERNOR MECHANISM OR PHILOSOPHY, MAY NOT THE EXACT NUMBER OF PHILOSOPHY, WHERE WE SAY, YES, WE DO IT FOR ONE YEAR, WHICH THIS COMING YEAR, WE'RE PROJECTING A SUBSTANTIVE DEFICIT.
HOWEVER, IF WE ACTUALLY RUN THAT PROJECTING ONE FOR JUNE 30TH, AND IT JUST ENDED WE WERE PROJECTING A DEFICIT,
[01:05:01]
AND WE ENDED UP WITH A POSITIVE OF INTEREST INCOME.THAT'S IN LACK OF STAFF HIRING.
AS WE GO FORWARD TO THIS NEXT YEAR, WE'RE MORE FULLY STAFFED, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAN WE'VE GOT IN.
OUR UNFILLED POSITION OR SAVINGS IS NOT GOING TO BE AS SUBSTANTIVE AS IT HAS IN THE PAST.
WE DO HAVE MORE CASH AND SO WE WILL EARN SOME MORE INTEREST INCOME, BUT THE RATES ARE COMING DOWN.
BUT I LIKE JOHN'S CONCEPT THAT HE BROUGHT FORWARD LAST YEAR BUDGETING TIME.
[INAUDIBLE] DEFICIT MORE THAN X AMOUNT FOR PERCENT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, WHETHER IT'S ONE YEAR, WHETHER THAT'S TWO YEARS, THE OVERALL GOVERNING BODIES THAT REALLY CAUSE MORE THAN ONE YEAR AT A TIME.
>> ANNIE, DID YOU WANT TO GIVE SOME INPUT?
>> WE'LL ADD ONE, THE FIRST GOAL WAS CASH POSITION AND SPENDING AUTHORITY.
CASH POSITION PART WAS THAT THE SUSTAINABLE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE BUDGET IS PRIORITY.
THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE BUDGET WILL BE DEVELOPED USING NO MORE THAN 3.5% [INAUDIBLE].
I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD PUT A PERCENTAGE NECESSARILY IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY THAT PERCENTAGE VARY BASED ON THE YEAR, THAT'S THE CONCEPT.
>> IF WE HAVE A GOAL HERE OF A SUSTAINABLE BUDGET AND THEN DEFINE IT MORE PRECISELY IN THE BUDGET DIRECTIONS, I THINK THAT BUDGETARY POLICIES ARE MORE ONE YEAR AT A TIME AND THIS IS WHAT OUR PHILOSOPHY IS, AND THEN YOU HAVE ACTUAL BUDGET DIRECTION, WHICH COULD BE MORE SPECIFIC AS WE GET TO THE PARTICULAR BUDGET THAT WE'RE DOING. I CAN HARDLY WAIT.
>> I THINK THE ISSUE OF THE GRANT MONEY GOING AWAY IS SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS HERE IN PRESENT.
THAT'S LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED THIS YEAR AND SEVERAL YEARS TO COME THAT THE DISTRICT AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE UNDERTAKE WITH THOSE GRANTS, WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE HARD DISCUSSIONS OF THAT LACK OF GRANT MONEY OVER TIME, AND WE HAD IN THE PAST.
WE MADE DECISIONS, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO GET THIS WHAT I CALL FOCUSING OR WHIPSAWING FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
I HIRE THIS YEAR, HIRE NEXT YEAR.
GRANT MONEY COMES BACK, I HIRE AND FIRE.
WE WANT TO SMOOTH THE PEAKS AND RAISE THE PATS OVER TIME STUDY SO THAT'S WITHIN OUR MEANS.
>> DR. CORDOVA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> WITH REGARDS TO THE FEDERAL MONIES.
IT'S A PAUSE, BUT I BELIEVE TRULY THAT IT'S A PAUSE TO BE EXTENDED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR IN TERMS OF THE MONEY.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL GET THEM UNLESS POLITICAL PRESSURE ARISES, AND DOESN'T SEEM ANYONE THAT'S ACTUALLY RISING TO THE BETA ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
THE CONCERN IN MY HEAD, IS THAT THAT BECOMES A PATTERN.
THE CONGRESS BUDGETS X, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMETHING GETS PAUSED, NOT DONE, WE'RE JUST PAUSING IT AND THEN THE PAUSES BECOME THE STANDARD WAY OF ACTUALLY VETOING IT WITHOUT REALLY VETOING IT.
THAT'S JUST FROM A POLITICAL SCIENCE LENS.
IT'S ACTUALLY VERY CLEVER FROM A POLITICAL SENSE BECAUSE THE MONEY IS STILL THERE HELD THERE, BUT THE PAUSES ARE PAUSES.
WE'LL SEE IF CHRISTMAS TIME THERE'S UNPAUSE FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
THAT WAS SARCASTIC, I APOLOGIZE.
>> I THINK AS WE LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR GOAL THAT JOHN AND DAN HAVE ARTICULATED IT WELL THAT SUSTAINABLE BUDGET IS BEAR, AND SPECIFIC FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT HE MENTIONED AND THAT DAN HAS ARTICULATED HERE WOULD BE INCLUDED IN WHAT WE'RE DOING SO THAT WE ALWAYS REMAIN MINDFUL THAT WHENEVER WE'RE SPENDING SOMETHING THE TWO QUESTIONS.
ONE IS, CAN WE AFFORD IT? THEN THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE HOW IS IT SUPPORTING EDUCATION EXCELLENCE AND THEN WE MAKE THE DECISION.
[01:10:06]
ANY OTHER INPUT. WE MOVE FORWARD HERE.WE WILL RECONVENE ANOTHER WORK SESSION ON AUGUST 25TH, WHERE DR. WAN AND YOUR TEAM WILL COME AND PRESENT THE GOALS.
LET ME USE THE WORD REST THE PRIORITIES WITH THE GOALS AND YOUR STRATEGIES THAT YOU WILL USE TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.
>> CLARIFY THE FINANCIAL GOAL THEN SPECIFICALLY.
I UNDERSTAND HOW WE WANT TO DO THE OTHER GOALS, BUT.
>> I FELL DOWN A LOT OF STEPS.
>> THAT WAS THE THING THAT I WAS LOOKING AT.
HOW DO WE WORD IT SO THAT WE INCORPORATE WHAT PATTY'S THINKING, WHAT JOHN'S THINKING, WHAT LANCE, WHAT DAN IS THINKING, WHAT I'M THINKING.
>> WE FOLLOW THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND ENSURING THAT THESE GUIDING PRINCIPLES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED SO WE CAN HAVE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND BEING PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE, INCREASING OUR STAKEHOLDERS TRUST, AND THROUGH TRANSPARENT PROCESSES AND EQUITABLE RESOURCE ALLOCATION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> I HAVE TO SAY THINGS THAT WE USED TO DO ABOUT ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, IS ANYTIME WE HAD AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, WE HAD TO IDENTIFY IF IT WAS WITH BRINGING ANYTHING FOR ANY PURCHASE, HOW IT ALIGNED TO OUR DISTRICT.
WE HAD TO IDENTIFY WHAT GOAL IT ALIGNED TO.
>> BECAUSE I KNOW DIRECTOR MILLER LIKES TO SEE SEE THAT INFORMATION.
>> OF COURSE, DIRECTOR MILLER'S SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, BUT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF.
I KNOW DIRECTOR MILLER HAS FREQUENTLY TOLD ME, WELL, IT'S NOT JUST THE FOCUS OF HOW THE MONEY IS BEING USED, BUT IT'S ALSO HOW DO YOU MEASURE THAT THE CHOICE YOU MADE WAS A GOOD ONE FOR THE GOAL YOU WANTED AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT, EARL, AND SO WHEN WE GET INTO THE DETAIL, WE'LL WANT TO SAY THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AS A BOARD IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE FOR EVERY ACTION ITEM, EVERY DIRECTOR BECAUSE OFTEN THE ACTION ITEMS HAVE MORE THAN ONE DEPARTMENT.
WE IDENTIFY WHAT THE GOAL IS, WHAT THE ACTION ITEM IS AND THEN WE USE A TEMPLATE THAT WE VISIT EVERY MONTH, AND THEY HAVE TO SHOW WHERE THEY'RE AT WITH THEIR ACTION ITEMS AND THE DATA THEY'VE COLLECTED.
WE COULD CONTINUE THAT PRACTICE AND WE CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE BY SHOWING YOU HOW WE DID IT LAST YEAR.
>> I THINK THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE ONE THING I LEARNED IN THAT FINANCE TRAINING AT THE STATE LEVEL IS THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF THE DIFFERENT SILOS OF MONIES AND HOW IT WAS ALLOCATED, AND WHEN WE GO TO SPEND THIS, WHERE IT COMES FROM, AND WHAT WE CAN'T SPEND FROM.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S ALL ENCOMPASSING WHEN IT COMES WITH THE FINANCIAL PIECE OF OUR DISTRICT.
IT'S ALWAYS JUST A GOOD REFERENCE TO UNDERSTAND THAT INFORMATION.
SO MORE INFORMATION I THINK IT'S HELPFUL.
>> OUR NEXT MEETING, WE WILL USE IT TO REVIEW THE UPDATED GOALS AND THE ACCOUNTABILITIES.
>> WE'LL BE READY TO PRESENT ON AUGUST 25TH.
>> HAS THIS BEEN HELPFUL? I HOPE.
>> IF THERE'S ANY MORE COMMENTS, IF NOT, WE WILL ADJOURN. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.