[00:00:02]
>> GOOD EVENING. IT IS DECEMBER 8,
[I. Call to Order]
2025 AT 6:08 PM.I NOW CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> JANICE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?
[IV. Approval of Agenda]
>> WE HAVE FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA, SAY.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE WILL HAVE
[Items V.A & V.B]
THE GOOD NEWS REPORT FOR BOTH LOS HILLS AND RIVER- NO, THAT IS NOT BOTH LOS HILLS.IT IS BRYANT AND MORNINGSIDE STEM TONIGHT.
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU WILL HAVE THAT ON YOUR SCREEN.
>> VERY NICE. [APPLAUSE] NOW, BRIAN T. GO EAGLES, YOU'RE RIGHT.
[00:07:13]
[APPLAUSE].>> THEY NAMED THE BEAR, JUST SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S BRIAN T BEAR.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S BRIAN, THE KIDS TOO.
>> VERY CLEVER. THAT IS RIGHT.
AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR SHARING.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THE STAFF OF BOTH THOSE SCHOOLS.
MY GIRLS WENT TO THE OLD BRYANT BACK IN THE DAY, SO GLAD.
WE'RE AT THE NEW POINT. NOT NEW.
WE'RE AT THE NEXT POINT. CITIZENS INPUT.
AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INVITE INDIVIDUALS OR DELEGATION TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON ANY ISSUES RELATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ON TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
DISCUSSION ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE TIME OF DISCUSSION OF EACH AGENDA ITEM.
SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT TONIGHT?
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE AT THE CONSENT ACTION ITEM.
[VII. Consent Action Item(s)]
THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS.BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 24, 2025, BOARD FINANCE REPORT, PATTY BLANKENSHIP, AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP.
ANGELA BEMIS IS HERE, AND I ALSO SEE THAT DR. CHRISTIAN SEPOY PEREZ IS HERE WHO IS BEING APPOINTED TO THAT COMMITTEE. HAD A GROUP [OVERLAPPING].
WE SHOULD BE GETTING ONE SCHEDULED.
[BACKGROUND] I THINK IT'S EARL.
JOHN AND I DID THE INTERVIEW LAST WEEK AND IT WAS REALLY GOOD.
HOPING TO HEAR SOME GOOD THINGS.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SHANICE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT ACTION ITEM, SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? I GOT TO WAIT FOR BOBBY.
THE AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED 70.
HEARING SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 26-27,
[VIII.A. School Calendars for 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 - Barb Caskey]
27-28, 28 AND 29.THIS IS THE TIME, PLACE AND LOCATION OF THE HEARING TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THE DISTRICT PROPOSED 2026, 2027 27-28, 28-29 SCHOOL CALENDARS.
[00:10:01]
ANY INTERESTED PARTY MAY APPEAR AND FILE OBJECTIONS AND ANY INFORMATION FOR OR AGAINST.THE SAME WILL BE HEARD ON THE 26-27, 27-28 AND 28-29 SCHOOL CALENDARS WITH FINAL DECISION, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION A MATTER OF RECORD.
SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT ON THIS HEARING?
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 26-27 SCHOOL CALENDAR?
WE HAVE FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION.
THE BOARD ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THE 2027, 2028, '28, AND '29 SCHOOL AND CALENDARS.
FUTURE MEETINGS, SALES TAX FINANCE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING,
[IX. Future Meetings]
08:00 A.M. DECEMBER 15TH, 2025 ESC BOARD ROOM, BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING, 03:30 P.M. DECEMBER 16TH, 2025 ESC BOARD ROOM.BOARD FINANCE AND FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 3:00 P.M. JANUARY 5TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM, BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE 12:00 P.M. JANUARY 7TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM.
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING 6:00 P.M. JANUARY 12TH, 2026 ESC BOARD ROOM.
BOARD FINANCE FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 3:00 P.M. JANUARY 19TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM, BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING 3:30 P.M. JANUARY 20TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM.
BOARD STUDENT AND ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 12:00 P.M. JANUARY 21ST, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM.
EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE FORUM, 8:30 A.M. JANUARY 24TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM, BOARD WORK SESSION REGARDING FACILITY MASTER PLAN 4:00 P.M. JANUARY 26TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM AND REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AT 6:00 P.M. ON JANUARY 26TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM.
THOSE ARE OUR FUTURE MEETINGS.
WE DID HAVE A NICE EDUCATIONAL FORUM SAT LAST SATURDAY AND I CALL IT THEIR PRESEASON, THEY REALLY HAD THEIR COMMITTEES, I THINK THIS FOLLOWING WEEKEND.
ONE'S ON SATURDAY, ONE'S ON SUNDAY, I THINK.
THEN THEY'LL GET THEIR GAME PLAN OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING FOR COMING UP.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID.
>> DIRECT PRESIDENT GEORGE, DO WE NEED TO ADD THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE?
>> DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> MONTHLY MEETING OR HOW OFTEN ARE YOU GUYS MEETING DIRECTOR MILLER?
>> I THINK THE LAST NOTICE THAT I SAW, THERE WAS ONLY THREE MEETINGS SCHEDULED.
BUT SHANICE, DO YOU HAVE THOSE [BACKGROUND].
IT'S NOT ON HERE. YOU'RE RIGHT, [BACKGROUND]
>> BUT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN MEETING.
DID YOU MEET ALL LAST YEAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS COMMITTEE EXISTED.
>> WE MET FOUR TIMES LAST YEAR.
>> I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT EXISTED.
>> [OVERLAPPING] COMMITTEE THAT HAD A DIFFERENT NAME.
>> WE HAD TO DROP THAT COMMITTEE.
>> I DON'T THINK WE HAD ANY BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDED LAST YEAR.
>> I ATTENDED FROM ARGENTINA LAST NOVEMBER.
I KNOW I WAS THERE AND DIRECTOR GREENWELL SAT AT THE TABLE THEN THERE.
>> CHAD MADE SPECIAL RULES SO I COULD ATTEND.
>> IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO GIVE A LITTLE REPORT AFTER COMMITTEE MEETINGS NOW THAT TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
THAT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA TO HAVE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE BOARD PERSPECTIVE 'CAUSE WE TALK ABOUT THE MEETINGS, BUT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SOME INSIGHT AS A BOARD MEMBER ON WHAT'S HAPPENED.
>> I LIKE THAT. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD DEAL. I REALLY DO.
>> NOW WE'RE IN THE ITEMS OF PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND/OR ACTION.
[X.A. Human Resources Report(s) - Barb Caskey]
HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT, BARB CASKY, SHE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT, BUT IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION, I'M SURE SOMEONE CAN ANSWER IT.BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT?
[00:15:03]
>> WE HAVE FIRST WAY OF SAYING, BOARD MEMBERS ANY DISCUSSION.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> THANK YOU. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
BOARD PRIORITY DISTRICT LEADERSHIP.
[X.B. Board Priorities - District Leadership Team]
WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT, ANGELA BEMIS TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND BASICALLY GO OVER THE ADJUSTMENTS MADE FROM OUR LAST MEETING.SHE I BELIEVE, SENT EVERYONE A COPY OF THE COMPARISON LIKE THAT.
>> AFTER SHE'S DONE, WE'LL TAKE THE MOTION AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO THE DISCUSSION.
>> WHAT WE DID AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM IS THAT WE WATCHED THE WORK SESSION VIDEO.
THEN WE ALSO TOOK DIRECTOR EHMCKE'S FEEDBACK.
THAT DOCUMENT, AND WE IMPLEMENTED THE CHANGES THAT WERE REQUESTED.
I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH WHERE THEY WERE. I DID SEND.
DID EVERYBODY GET LAST MONDAY, I SENT YOU A SIDE BY SIDE CROSSWALK, AND THEN I SENT THE BOARD PRIORITIES DOCUMENT BEFORE.
THAT'S WHAT WE MADE THE CHANGES BASED ON THAT FEEDBACK.
I'M GOING TO JUST START HERE WITH OUR FIRST CHANGE.
I HAVE IT HIGHLIGHTED ON YOUR SCREEN.
YOU HAVE THE DOCUMENT, BUT I HAVE WHERE WE DID MAKE OUR FIRST CHANGE.
IN THE EVALUATING THE CURRICULUM RESOURCES TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH RESEARCH, AND EVIDENCE BASED APPROACHES AND IMPLEMENT WITH FIDELITY.
WE ADDED THAT COMPONENT AND WE'LL GET ON A LITTLE FURTHER AS INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THAT.
BUT WHAT WE NOTICED WAS THAT THE AREA OF NEEDING LANCE'S WORDS WERE STATING, LET'S SAY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING, BEING MORE SPECIFIC.
THE ONLY QUESTION THAT WE HAVE IS AND IF IT'S OKAY, I DON'T KNOW.
THOSE WERE THE COMPARISON DISTRICTS.
THEN WE JUST SAID AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM, THOSE ARE OUR PURE UENS, BUT WE WOULD REPORT ON SERGEANT BLUFF, HINTON, AND LAWTON.
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL? WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR THE LOCAL DISTRICTS THAT WE COULD BE LOSING KIDS TO.
>> IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.
>> THEN REALLY WHAT WE FIGURED IF THERE'S ANY OTHER SCHOOLS YOU WANT TO KNOW, IT'S EASY DATA FOR US TO PULL.
>> IF I COULD ASK JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
>> DIRECTOR EHMCKE, CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON OR IS IT ON.
>> JOHN, THEY HAD YOURS TURNED OFF FOREVER.
>> ANYWAY, [LAUGHTER] WELL SAID, WHERE WE ADDED THE EVALUATE CURRICULUM AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH IN LINE WITH FIDELITY, JUST FOR CLARITY AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE THAT RELATES TO OUR EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT BENCHMARK AND ALANTE ON THE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE AND LITERACY SIDE AS WELL AS I'M UNDERSTANDING.
>> IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE SCIENCE OF MATH ON THE MATH SIDE.
THEY'RE ALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF FIDELITY.
>> THIS ADDITION INCORPORATES THE RECOMMENDATION I HAD TO FOCUS ON THOSE.
>> IT DID. THE REASON WE DIDN'T IDENTIFY THOSE TWO IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT WITH ALL OUR CONTENT AREAS.
THAT WHATEVER THE CURRENT RESEARCH IS AND WHATEVER THE CURRENT BEST INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES ARE, WE DO WHAT WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE FOLLOW THAT.
THE NEXT CHANGE WOULD BE THEN COMPARISON AGAINST DEFINED PEER DISTRICTS.
THAT'S WHAT I HAD JUST ASKED ABOUT.
THEN WE GO DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER.
IN THE WORK SESSION, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, GETTING THOSE EXTRA SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
[00:20:01]
WE DO KNOW THAT A LOT OF THOSE STUDENTS END UP NEEDING A LOT OF EXTRA SUPPORT SERVICES, THOSE STUDENTS THAT STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH.ONE OF THE OUTSIDE FACTORS THOUGH, WAS THAT WE CAN'T DICTATE WHAT THE AEA DOES, AND THAT WAS WHERE THAT WAS COMING FROM, THAT THE AEA WOULD NEED TO HELP SUPPORT, OR HAVE FUNDING ALLOCATED TO SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH.
WHAT WE DID IS THAT WE WILL BE PROVIDING SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, MEANING OUTSIDE OF JUST SCHOOL COUNSELORS, BUT SUPPORT, MEANING OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS, AS APPROPRIATE IN ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS.
SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY PROVIDING FACILITIES AS APPROPRIATE TO OUTSIDE PROFESSIONALS.
WE ADDED AS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY NEED LIKE JUST A LITTLE OFFICE TO MEET ONE ON ONE.
SOMETIMES THEY NEED A BIGGER SPACE IF THEY'RE WORKING WITH LIKE A GROUP.
THAT AS APPROPRIATE AS TO WHAT THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER NEEDS FOR A FACILITY SPACE THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT.
THAT WE ALSO SUPPORTING THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, DO KNOW THAT WE DON'T TURN AS LONG AS THEY ARE VETTED, WE TAKE ALL THE MOUS.
WE WANT ALL THE MOUS WITH ALL THE PROVIDERS THAT WE CAN GET.
I WILL SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM FILLING UP THEIR SCHEDULES. GO AHEAD.
>> IS THERE A PROBLEM ATTENDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS, WE MAY NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY SPACE, BUT DO WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS THAT THE STUDENTS.
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S LIKE IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.
WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE ON WAITING LISTS.
BUT WE DO FIND THAT THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE FOR MOUS WITH OTHER WE END UP FILLING THEM JUST AS TIME GOES.
IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE LAG IN THE BEGINNING.
IT FLUCTUATES, BUT I WOULD SAY THERE'S STILL A NEED.
IT'S NOT DRY. THERE'S STILL A NEED.
>> ANGELA, PROVIDING A OFFICER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT THAT'S LEGALLY OKAY?
>> YES. THE MOU, BECAUSE THERE'S NO MONEY CHANGING HANDS.
ALL OF THE BILLING GETS DEALT DIRECTLY WITH THE PROVIDER AND THE PARENT.
WHAT WE DO IS WE MAKE THE REFERRAL, WE MAKE THE CONNECTION, AND THEN THEY TAKE IT FROM THERE, AND THEN WE WORK WITH THEIR SCHEDULE.
TYPICALLY, OUR PROVIDERS WILL COME ON A SPECIFIC DAY OF A WEEK AT A SPECIFIC SCHOOL.
THE SAME SPACE OR SPACES ARE USED BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE EVERY DAY FOR THE OUTSIDE PROVIDERS BECAUSE THEY TYPICALLY WILL GO ON A TWO WEEK ROTATION, SAY IN ELEMENTARY, EVERY BUILDING EVERY DAY.
LIKE I SAID, THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM FILLING THEIR SCHEDULES.
THE NEXT CHANGE WOULD BE ON THE INCREASED STAFF RETENTION.
WE DID PUT CONDUCT ONGOING STAFF SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEYS THROUGHOUT TENURE.
WE DID ADD THAT TO THE KPIS THAT WE WOULD BE SHARING THAT DATA OUT, BUT THAT IT'S NOT JUST THAT WE ARE BEING SYSTEMATIC ABOUT OUR CLIMATE SURVEYS, THAT WE ARE HAVING THEM.
WE ARE REPORTING TO THE BOARD, REPORTING TO OUR SCHOOLS, REPORTING TO THE COMMUNITY, THOSE, AND THEN OUR RESPONSES TO THEM AND HOW WE WILL ACT ON THEM.
THROUGHOUT TENURE IS, WE WERE GOING TO SAY TWICE A YEAR, BUT IT MIGHT VARY IN THE SAME AND IT MIGHT BE FISCAL YEARS OR DIFFERENT OR SOMETHING, BUT THE IDEA IS TO HAVE THE FALL AND THE SPRING.
THE RETENTION RATES AND THEN TRACK THE ANNUAL RETENTION RATES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS SPECIFIED IN THE WORK SESSION THAT WE SHARE WITH THOSE HARD TO FILL AREAS.
NOT ONLY WHAT ARE THE GENERAL RETENTION RATES FOR TEACHERS AND HOURLY STAFF, BUT WHAT ARE THEY FOR SPED., ELL, AND TAG.
WHEN WE DO OUR DATA REPORTING, WE WILL REPORT THE RETENTION RATES OF THOSE SPECIFIC GROUPS AS WELL.
THEN FOR THE BOARD PRIORITIES FOR THE FINANCIAL PIECE THAT WE ARE TREATING THE BUDGET GUIDING PRINCIPLES ARE APPROVED BY THE SIOUX CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THEY'RE TREATED AS A FLEXIBLE AND LIVING DOCUMENT AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE.
[00:25:02]
DISTRICT LEADERSHIP WILL USE THE BUDGET GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.FOLLOWING ALL OF THOSE PRINCIPLES THAT YOU APPROVED IN OCTOBER.
THIS LAST BULLET IS ACTUALLY INCORPORATED INTO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, BUT WE DID FEEL IT WAS IMPORTANT TO LAY OUT SPECIFICALLY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS EMBEDDED INTO THAT.
ENSURE NEW OR LARGE PROGRAMS NOT PREVIOUSLY BUDGETED FOR ARE RECOMMENDED AND EVALUATED DURING THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
IT IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALWAYS AS A DISTRICT OPERATED LIKE, OKAY, WE START TO GET SOME IDEAS, AND WE JUST LOOK AT IT, AND THEN WE START PRESENTING AND DOING EVERYTHING AND THEN IT'S ALREADY AFTER THE BUDGET'S PASSED.
THEN WE HAVE TO DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
WE'RE REALLY WORKING TO ALIGN ALL OF THOSE CHANGES TO BE FORWARD THINKING FURTHER AHEAD THAN JUST SIX MONTHS.
BUT THAT WE'RE PLANNING A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE, SO WE CAN GET THESE THINGS ON THE BUDGET, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO AN AMENDMENT TO OUR FINAL BUDGET.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IN THE WORK SESSION AS WELL WAS TO TALK ABOUT AND DIRECTOR EHMCKE, YOU HAD BROUGHT THIS UP, THAT HAVING A ROBUST PLAN OF HOW WE ARE REALLY BASICALLY MARKETING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EVERY WAY, WITH NOT ONLY STAFF, STUDENTS, COMMUNITY, BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THE ACTIVITIES AND SUCCESSES OF OUR DISTRICT.
WE DID ADD THAT COMPONENT, AND WE WILL BE PRESENTING DURING OUR QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS, A PLAN.
OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS DEVELOPED A VERY ROBUST PLAN, THAT'S SPECIFIC WITH DATES, EVENTS, AND WE'LL BE SHARING OUR PROGRESS ON THAT WITH OUR QUARTERLY REPORTS.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD NOTATE THAT WE ALSO HAVE INCREASED THAT BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT.
>> THERE ACTUALLY WAS NEVER REALLY A BUDGET BEFORE. LESLIE'S NOT HERE.
>> MINIMUM, BUT I THINK WE INCREASED IT TO.
>> TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND, I BELIEVE.
>> I KNOW WE INCREASED IT, BUT SAW SOMETHING STICKS.
>> ANYWAYS, THOSE ARE OUR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE PLAN.
WE DO WANT TO GIVE A QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT.
WE ARE ALREADY INTO THE SECOND QUARTER.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL DO IN JANUARY. AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A PROGRESS REPORT ON WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR INDICATORS.
>> BEFORE WE GET GOING, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BOARD PRIORITIES FOR 2025, 2026 SCHOOL YEAR?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND.
>> IN THE PRESENTATION IN JANUARY ON PROGRESS.
WILL THAT INCLUDE THE SPED POSITIONS THAT WE'VE CHANGED AND HOW THAT HAS RELATED TO STAFFING, DO WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAN WE USED TO, OR WE STILL HAVE A LOT?
>> WE DO. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT ON WEDNESDAY, I'LL BE ATTENDING ALONG WITH OTHER DIRECTORS AND SOME PRINCIPALS.
MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE WILL BE ACTUALLY INTERVIEWING GRADUATES THAT ARE GRADUATING THIS MONTH? WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS AT MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE FOR THOSE TEACHERS ON WEDNESDAY? YES, WE DO HAVE A FEW HIRES TOO THAT ARE ON THE BOARD REPORT FOR SPECIAL ED POSITIONS ALREADY.
THERE WILL BE CHANGES AND WE WILL BE REPORTING.
ALL OF THE KPIS THAT YOU SEE IN THERE, THOSE ARE WHAT WE'LL BE REPORTING ON IN THE QUARTERLY REPORT.
>> I GIVE UP. TELL ME WHAT KPI MEANS, PLEASE.
>> PROGRESS INDICATOR. THANK YOU.
>> DATA THAT SHOWS WHERE WE'RE AT WITH MEETING OUR GOALS.
>> NOTHING THAT WE'RE IN THE SECOND QUARTER, THANK YOU TO THE BL TEAM FOR CONTINUING TO FLY THE AIRPLANE AS WE WERE BUILDING IT BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ALSO, IT WOULD BE REMISS FOR ME AS A BOARD MEMBER TO SAY THAT WE WERE DELAYED IN TRYING TO GET THIS AND REALLY GIVE YOU GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION ON HOW WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD IN THIS.
CONTINUING YOUR EFFORTS TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET US TO THIS POINT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED,
[00:30:01]
AND IT'S NOT UNDER LOOKED. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOUR DISCUSSION. COUNCIL TK.
>> I MOVE THAT IN THE BOARD PRIORITY INVOLVING THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND CONTINUOUS ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT, WHICH WAS THE FIRST ONE, THAT WE INCLUDE UNDER ACTION ITEMS, THIS BULLET POINT, IMPLEMENT A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE, SCHOOL EDUCATION OPTION.
>> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE, PLEASE?
>> NO, I HERE. I'M JUST GOING TO MINIMIZE.
>> YOU HAVE TO SEE IT ON THIS.
IT'S NOT ON ANY SLIDE, DID YOU?
>> AT THIS ONE RIGHT HERE WHERE IT SAYS, INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS MEETING AVERAGE NUMBER 1?
>> A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL EDUCATION OPTION.
>> I THINK I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS, BUT CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, PLEASE.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRIORITIES.
THIS IS THE DIRECTION THAT WE WOULD WANT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND OUR FACULTY TO PROCEED.
WE HAVE THE BEGINNINGS OF A PROGRAM AT ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THAT ONLY GOES THROUGH FIFTH GRADE, AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDENTS TO BECOME PROFICIENT AND DUAL LANGUAGE IS GOING TO BE A GREAT ENHANCEMENT TO THEIR MARKETABILITY IN TODAY'S WORLD.
WE WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, AND I'M JUST SAYING WHY DON'T WE SAY WE'RE ON THAT TRACK AND THAT OUR GOAL IS A PRIORITY AT THIS TIME IS TO HAVE A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE OPTION.
>> YOU'RE SAYING AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT START DUAL LANGUAGE.
>> OR AN EXISTING MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BOX IN HOW IT WOULD BE DONE.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE NEED TO NOW GET TO A FULL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE OPPORTUNITY FOR DUAL LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I'M NOT SAYING IT HAS TO BE IN THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL OR THIS WAY OR SOMETHING NEW HAS TO BE BUILT.
I THINK THAT WE CAN AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SUCH A PROGRAM.
THERE ARE, OF COURSE, CHALLENGES, ONE OF THEM BEING FINDING EDUCATORS WHO CAN DO THE WORK, BUT I THINK THAT IF WE PUT OUR FLAG UP AS PROBABLY THE LEADER IN IOWA, ONCE AGAIN, LIKE WE WERE WITH OUR CAREER ACADEMY PROGRAM, THAT WE'LL FIND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE PART OF THAT.
I DO THINK IT HELPS US TO FLAT OUT SAY THAT IT'S A GOAL OF THIS DISTRICT TO HAVE A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM. THAT'S THE MOTION.
>> I GUESS, I WOULD HOLD THAT OFF FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF PRIORITIES, WHICH WOULD START IN MARCH, BECAUSE THIS PRIORITIES HAS BEEN DELAYED FOR OVER A YEAR.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HAS VALID POINTS, BUT I THINK LET'S GET THIS PRIORITY DONE, AND THEN LET'S BRING THAT UP IN MARCH WHEN WE START THE RE EVALUATION OF THE PRIORITIES AGAIN.
>> WE HAVE HAD THIS IN FRONT OF THE BOARD SINCE AUGUST 22 WHEN I CIRCULATED THIS DOCUMENT, SO IT ISN'T A NEW CONCEPT.
I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH HAVING IT AS A PRIORITY NOW, SO IT DOESN'T GET OVERLOOKED OR FORGOTTEN LATER.
>> VICTOR MK, YOU'RE ASKING IT GO UNDER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
>> OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, THOUGH, OF THE PRIORITY.
>> THE PRIORITY 1 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL?
>> NO. THAT'S WHY I SAID AN OPTION FOR IT.
ADOPTION MAY BE AT A SCHOOL OR HOW THE BULLET POINT, DIRECTOR MICHAELSON, IS NOT INTENDED TO SHAPE OR LIMIT HOW THE PROGRAM CAN BE CONSTRUCTED.
IT IS A SIGNAL THAT STRONG THAT SAYS THIS PROGRAM IS A PRIORITY TO PUT IN PLACE, AND HOW IT'S IMPLEMENTED HERE WILL BE HOW IT CAN WORK.
[00:35:01]
I'D LIKE THE STAFF TO CONSIDER IT AND BRING IT FORWARD IN THE NEXT MONTH WITH A STAFF COMMENT ON BUDGET AND HOW IT WOULD WORK IN SOME DETAIL SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE SIGNING ON FOR BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE IT.>> IF I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU WANT TO DELAYED THE BOARD PRIORITIES ONE MORE MONTH.
>> NOT THESE PRIORITIES. GOD, NO.
>> THAT'S WHY I'M SUGGESTING THAT THAT PRIORITY BE ADDED ONTO THE NEW PRIORITIES. I WAS TRYING TO START.
>> I WAS TRYING TO AGREE WITH YOU, BUT APPARENTLY I DIDN'T.
>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE TO PASS THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US AS IS AND THEN BRING THAT UP FOR THE NEW PRIORITIES THAT WE WOULD START IN MARCH BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY PLAN THEIR PDS AND CURRICULUM AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.
>> DO WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT?
>> THERE WAS A SECOND FROM THE AMENDMENT.
>> I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.
PRIORITIES INDICATE WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT IS AN ACTION ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS YEAR, BUT I DO THINK IT DOES SET A TONE OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US OVERALL.
OUR CHARGE IS TO SET STRATEGIC DIRECTION, AND I THINK ADOPTING THIS AMENDMENT CERTAINLY SETS THAT STRATEGIC DIRECTION.
I THINK SI CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LEVERAGE WHAT WE'RE DOING WELL AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT TO BECOME THAT DESTINATION DISTRICT.
THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.
>> I'M WITH JOHN AND YOU ON THIS.
I'D LIKE TO HOLE UP AND GET STAFF AND MORE INVOLVED SO WE KNOW EXACTLY THIS IS VERY BROAD AND I'D RATHER IT BE MORE SPECIFIC.
>> THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS THAT WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE UNDER ACHIEVEMENT OR CAN YOU ROLL THE TO ELL?
>> NO. I'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
I DON'T THINK IT'S AN ELL THING.
THIS NEEDS TO BE OFFERED TO THE ENGLISH SPEAKERS JUST LIKE THE SPANISH SPEAKERS.
>> OVERALL AND THAT'S WHY IT'S AN OPTION TO.
IT CAN BE BROUGHT TOGETHER AND IT'S A STATEMENT ABOUT THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO BE HEADED AS OPPOSED TO COMING FORWARD WITH IT CAN'T BE DONE ANY OTHER WAY THAN THIS SET OF DETAILS.
>> LANCE, THE PRIORITY IS TO DEFINE DESIGN WHAT A MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT MIRRORS WHAT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAN BE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT ONE THIS YEAR.
THE PRIORITY IS TO DO THE DESIGN WORK.
I SAY WE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT AND SEE IF IT PASSES BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PRIORITY THAT I WOULD BE AGAINST.
>> WE HAVE A PLAN WE'VE ALREADY STARTED A PLAN FOR THAT THAT WE HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED OR HAVE IT IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, BUT FOR NEXT YEAR SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE BUDGET.
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR BUDGET. MASS SIMPLY.
>> GETTING TOO MUCH INTO THE WEEDS OF WHEN THINGS HAPPEN.
PRIORITIES PROVIDE GENERAL DIRECTION.
WE HAVE A FABULOUS ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
WHEN WE GIVE YOU THE RIGHT IDEA WE'D LIKE TO SEE PRIORITIZED, WE KNOW YOU'LL COME FORWARD WITH IT.
>> YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD PLAN AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A BOARD PRIORITY.
THAT'S ALL THIS IS DOING SO IT ISN'T A MATTER OF WHAT DO WE DO BETWEEN HERE AND HERE AND WHAT AND WHAT? THIS NOW IS SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT AS A PRIORITY,
[00:40:01]
ALONG WITH THE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE.>> IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR A STARTING POINT AND KEEPING IT IN FRONT OF US SO THAT WE CAN SINCE IT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING ON.
THEN WE PRESENTED IT AT ERVIN LAST WEEK.
SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING ON.
WE JUST HAVE IT NOW SOLIDIFIED AS A PRIORITY THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY GOING FORWARD.
>> WE CAN BRING AN AMENDED PRIORITIES AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING?
>> I JUST ADDS ONE MORE BULLET POINT TO YOUR ACTION STEPS.
>> I GUESS I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT DEVISING PLAN FOR DUAL LANGUAGE IN SIX THROUGH EIGHT.
THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE ACTION STEPS?
>> WE WOULD APPROVE WE WOULD APPROVE THE PRIORITIES.
>> IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC WORDS YOU WANT, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.
>> THEY ARE IN THE MOTION. THEN IT WAS.
IMPLEMENT A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE, SCHOOL, EDUCATION OPTION.
THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT PRIORITY SAYS, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CAREFUL THOUGHT IN THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW WE STARTED MOVING THIS DIRECTION, YOU'RE THINKING, I KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.
WE ARE TELLING YOU WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP.
WE ARE SAYING THAT YOUR STAFF AND YOU ARE VERY GOOD AT ANALYZING WHAT WE CAN DO, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING HOW THIS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED.
>> MR. MOORE, DO WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND PASS THIS PRIORITY AS AMENDED?
>> AMENDMENTS AND THEN APPROVED.
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR.
>> I THINK I'M CLEAR. I UNDERSTAND.
>> WE ALREADY HAD THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE BOARD PRIORITIES WITH AN ADDED AMENDMENT?
>> YES. I MOVE THAT WE ADD AS AN ADDITIONAL BULLET POINT UNDER THE ACTION STEPS OF THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PRIORITY, THE FOLLOWING.
IMPLEMENT A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE MUSIC IMPLEMENT KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE MUSIC EDUCATION WITH THE SAME EMPHASIS AS CORE COURSES.
>> DID YOU REPEAT THAT LAST SESSION?
>> WITH THE SAME EMPHASIS AS CORE COURSES.
>> I SECOND THAT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> I'M JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE STAN THAT'LL BE UNDER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AS WELL.
SAME PLACE. SAME PLACE. ANOTHER ENTITY.
>> WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO BUDGET TIME, AND I'M STARTING TO GET CONCERNED ALREADY.
I'M WONDERING IF WE SAY THAT WE WANT TO DO A FEW MUSIC, DO MORE ENHANCEMENTS, HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
>> I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR HANDS FULL FUNDING THE BUDGET AS IT IS MUCH LESS WITH ADDITIONS.
IT SAID IMPLEMENT SO I THINK IMPLEMENT PROBABLY MEANS DO IT RIGHT AWAY UNLESS IT MEANS SOMETHING ELSE.
>> IS IT YOUR BELIEF THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A MUSIC PROGRAM FOR K-8 NOW?
>>.BUT WITH THE SAME EMPHASIS AS THE REST OF THE [OVERLAPPING].I WOULD NEED TO STAFF TO TELL US WHAT THOSE WORDS MEAN SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE WE DO IT.
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE MUSIC IN K5 TWICE A WEEK FOR 30 MINUTES.
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE REQUIRE THE CORE TO BE TAUGHT EVERY DAY.
IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, KIDS HAVE THE OPTION TO BE IN CHOIR ORCHESTRA AND BAND, BUT THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE IN THOSE ACTIVITIES.
>> YOUR MOTION IS TO MAKE MUSIC EVERY DAY?
>> NO. MY IS TO PROVIDE THE SAME EMPHASIS SO THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INSTRUCTORS,
[00:45:03]
WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THIS HERE A COUPLE OF SPRINGS AGO, WHERE 500 STUDENTS AT ONE ELEMENT OR ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAD ONLY ONE MUSIC TEACHER, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF BUDGETARY REASONS AND IT WAS A PLAY OF PLAYING THE CORE AGAINST THE MUSIC PROGRAM.I THINK WHAT WE OUGHT TO SIGNAL IS THAT THE MUSIC PROGRAM IS TRULY THAT IMPORTANT FROM START TO FINISH.
MOST EDUCATORS ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE PARTICULARLY UNIVERSITY ADVISORS WHO ADVISE ABOUT THE EDUCATION PROCESS, SAY THAT MUSIC IS FUNDAMENTAL AND INSTRUMENTAL TO LEARNING AND PARTICULARLY LEARNING WHERE YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE INVOLVED IN THE CLASSROOM.
I THINK THAT IT IS NOT CREATING SOME PARTICULARLY NEW MECHANISM, BUT IT CERTAINLY TAKES THE LEGS AWAY FROM CUTTING BACK ON WHAT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE IN THIS DISTRICT.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MR. MILLER>
>> AGAIN, DIRECTOR EHMCKE, YOU'RE NOT TELLING THEM HOW AND THE WHAT YOU'RE TELLING- [OVERLAPPING].
>> US THAT WE SHOULD MAKE THIS A PRIORITY TO HAVE STRONGER EMPHASIS ON A MUSIC PROGRAM, K-8.
>> I DO THINK THAT'S TOO AMBIGUOUS.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE SAY K-8 AND WE WOULD NEED JUST A LITTLE MORE DIRECTION..
IN REGARDS TO STAFFING, I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK HOW WE'RE GOING TO MONITOR THAT.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO KNOW IF WE'RE DOING IT? WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?
>> THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT WE HAVE A FABULOUS ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF THAT CAN CERTAINLY TELL US HOW MUSIC PROGRAMS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE WOULD ORDINARILY BE HANDLED AND DELIVERED.
I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR ADVICE BECAUSE THEY SPENT YEARS IN EDUCATION, OTHERWISE, TO UNDERSTAND THE EDUCATION PROCESS.
BUT WHEN YOU SAY, HOW WOULD THAT BE MONITORED, I WILL TELL YOU THAT I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T HAVE ALL OF THAT TRAINING, BUT I DO KNOW WHAT THE SUCCESS OF CONSISTENTLY OFFERING MUSIC IN K-8 DOES FOR THE IMPACT OF LEARNING IN GENERAL.
I KNOW YOU'RE AN EXPERT IN THAT AS ARE ALL OF THE STAFF PEOPLE AROUND THE ROOM, AND I THINK WE CAN COME UP WITH A WAY TO MONITOR HOW THE PROGRAMS GOING AND ITS SUCCESS RATHER THAN HAVING TO ARTICULATE IT IN THE FORM OF A PRIORITY.
A PRIORITY DOESN'T SAY NONE OF THESE PRIORITIES HAVE SAID TO ANY OF OUR STAFF OR FACULTY, WELL, FIRST YOU DO THIS, AND THEN YOU DO THIS, AND THEN YOU DO THIS, AND THEN YOU DO THIS?
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF HOW WE CAN CONSISTENTLY PROVIDE MUSIC EDUCATION IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE.
>> DOCTOR MK, TIME FOR A QUESTION?
>> WE WERE SENT THIS LAST WEEK AND ONLY THREE OF US REPLY TO IT.
HOW COME YOU DIDN'T REPLY TO IT WITH THESE CONCERNS? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN BLINDSIDED BY THIS STUFF.
>> PRESIDENT GEORGE, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT ON AUGUST 22, I SUBMITTED THIS TO YOU AND OTHERS.
THIS HAS BEEN ON THE TABLE THE WHOLE TIME AND THE PROCESS OF HOW WE DEAL WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WERE MADE IS NOT A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY OR CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T BE.
I'M INSULTED BY THE FACT THAT YOU SAY YOU'RE BLIND SIDED, AND IF YOU'RE SAYING YOU SENT SOMETHING ELSE A WEEK AGO.
>> IF YOU WANT TO BE INSULTED, THAT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU.
BUT WE WHITTLED IT DOWN. WE WENT THROUGH THIS.
WE HAD A BOARD WORK SESSION, AND NOW WE'RE ADDING STUFF TO IT THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FINALIZE SINCE DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
IT'S IN YOUR REPORT, AND NOW YOU WANT TO ADD IT IN AFTER WE'VE ALREADY PAIRED IT DOWN TO WHERE WE WERE AT.
>> YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS ALREADY IN THERE?
>> NO. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> I DIDN'T SAY THAT, DIRECTOR EHMCKE.
>> NO. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S SAYING SOMEBODY ADDED IT OR NOT.
>> NO, WE WENT THROUGH YOUR YOUR LIST THERE THAT YOU PRESENTED AT THE WORK SESSION.
>> I DIDN'T GET TO PRESENT ANYTHING AT THAT WORK SESSION, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH THAT WITH YOU ABOUT THAT TODAY.
I'M SAYING THIS IS THE WAY FOR ME TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROGRAM AND MOVE FORWARD,
[00:50:01]
AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.THIS ISN'T A BATTLE ABOUT SOMETHING.
THIS IS A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IS OUR PRIORITY.
NO, WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION.
THERE'S A MOTION TO AMEND ON, IT'S BEEN SECONDED.
IT CAN BE VOTED UP, IT CAN BE VOTED DOWN.
BUT AT NO TIME IN THE ENTIRE PROCESS, HAS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THIS ITEM IS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY OR NOT BEEN RAISED UNTIL I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY.
>> I DO WANT TO JUST REMIND YOU, MRS DANE, WE DID A K5 MUSIC REVIEW AND THEY PRESENTED TO THE BOARD LAST YEAR.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 68 REVIEW RIGHT NOW.
WE IMPLEMENTED THE CHANGES ALREADY THIS YEAR FOR WHAT WE PRESENTED LAST YEAR FROM THE REVIEW.
YOU'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE REVIEW AGAIN?
>> NO. IT DOESN'T SAY A REVIEW.
IT SAYS, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THIS MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT COMPLIMENTS OUR EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
YOU HAVE ALREADY ARTICULATED WHAT I UNDERSTOOD AS WELL, AND THAT IS WE HEARD THE MUSIC INSTRUCTORS TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND I'M SUPPORTING THEM AND SUPPORT MAKING SURE IT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE WITH THIS ITEM AS ONE OF MANY BULLETS OF PRIORITY IN THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO APPROVE.
>> DIRECTOR EHMCKE, I'M SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND ONLY.
>> THAT'S ALL. THERE IS NO CONTENTION HERE.
I AM SOLELY JUST SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND, SO WE CAN DO WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S [OVERLAPPING].
I REALLY AM JUST ASKING QUESTIONS TO UNDERSTAND.
>> I THINK SOME OF THE TENSION IN THE ROOM HAS A LITTLE BIT TO DO WITH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SETTING STRATEGY AND PRIORITIES VERSUS OPERATIONAL ACTION PLANS AND BEING FAIRLY NEW TO THIS.
USING THE WORD ACTION STEPS, I THINK CAN SOMETIMES ADD TO THAT CONFUSION.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF OUR ROLE IS THAT WE SET STRATEGY AND PRIORITIES FOR THE DISTRICT.
>> YES, YOU ALL CREATE THE ACTIONS.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT DIRECTOR EHMCKE IS SAYING THAT HE'S SUGGESTING THAT THIS BOARD DECIDE IF MUSIC EDUCATION IS A PRIORITIZED STRATEGY FOR THIS DISTRICT TO FOCUS ON, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S NECESSARILY GOING TO BE A MEASURABLE THIS YEAR OR MAYBE EVEN NOT NEXT YEAR, BUT IT RAISES IT ON YOUR RADAR SO THAT YOU CAN START LOOKING AT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AND ASKING A LOT OF THE VERY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE SEEKING RIGHT NOW.
I APPRECIATE THAT. I DON'T SEE A HARM, I GUESS IN SAYING WE'RE ADDING PRIORITIES IF THEY ARE THE PLEASURE OF THE ENTIRE BOARD BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT YOU'RE DOING DAY TO DAY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE ALREADY ON YOUR RADAR., SO IT JUST EMPHASIZES THAT YOU ARE, IN FACT, DOING WHAT THE BOARD IS ASKING YOU TO DO.
>> YOU COMMUNICATED THAT IT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE DOING.
SO WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE DOING, WE JUST ADD THAT AS A PRIORITY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEEN KNOWN BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY DOING IT.
HOW COULD WE COMMUNICATE THAT?
>> I UNDERSTAND. WE CAN DO THAT.
>> IF WE CAN COMMUNICATE IT AND THEN JUST ADD IT, THEN THAT COMMUNICATION IS A PRIORITY.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CHANGE BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY DOING IT.
>> YES, THAT HELPS ME. I HAVE CLARITY.
>> YES. THAT JUST MAKES IT A LOT MORE MANAGEABLE.
I'M I UNDERSTANDING? THANK YOU.
>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IN THE AREA OF MUSIC, BECAUSE WE DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE ON HERE, BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY SO MANY THINGS THAT CAN BE PRIORITIES.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, REALLY, DIRECTOR EHMCKE, IS SAY WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THOSE AREAS AND MAKE THAT PART OF OUR COMMUNICATION AND PART OF OUR APPROVED PLAN, AND WE CAN DO THAT.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD A COMMENT.
JUST YOU GUYS KNOW- [OVERLAPPING] CAN I PLEASE FINISH?
>> THANK YOU. YOU'RE ALREADY DOING THE WORK, AND JUST WRITE IT.
[00:55:02]
HOW YOU'RE DOING IT.IT'S PART OF THE COMMUNICATION, IT'S PART OF US MAKING IT A PRIORITY BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEING DONE.
THAT WAY, WE CAN LET THE MASS KNOW THAT IT'S PART OF OUR PRIORITY, AND IT'S ONE THING THAT WE VIEW AS BEING IMPORTANT, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> WE WILL GET THOSE UPDATES AND GET THAT DOCUMENT TO YOU WITHIN BY THE END OF THE WEEK.
>> WE NEED TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY MORE AMENDMENTS.
>> DIRECTOR EHMCKE, DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE?
>> I'M GOING TO FOLLOW YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I MADE FOR CONSIDERATION, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH WAS A PRIORITY THAT PERTAINED TO SAFETY IN THE SCHOOL AND SEVERAL BULLET POINTS ABOUT HOW THAT MIGHT BE ACHIEVED AND OTHER PRIORITIES, BUT I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY, THOSE ARE NEW ENOUGH AND COMPLICATED ENOUGH AND I WON'T SAY.
THERE ARE NEW ENOUGH INITIATIVES THAT THE PUBLIC IS TALKING ABOUT, THAT WE'LL DO THAT THEN IN MARCH FOR THE NEXT GO ROUND, BUT I'LL SAVE MY LIST AND I'LL LOOK AT WHAT WE PUBLISH AS OUR PRIORITIES AND DO MY VERY BEST TO PROVIDE GOOD INPUT.
THANK YOU. I'M READY TO VOTE ON THE PRIORITIES.
>> SHOULD WE SAY ANY CITIZEN INPUT ON THIS?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> MOTION PASSES. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES 7-0.
>> I THINK BOBBY IS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.
>> BOBBY, WERE YOU GOING TO MENTION ANY MORE.
>> ITEM C. MORE CORPORATE LAW FIRM AGREEMENT.
[X.C. Moore Corbett Law Firm Agreement - Angela Bemus]
ANGELA BIAS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BILLING RATES FOR MORE CORPORATE LAW FIRM EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026 TO UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2028. IS THERE A MOTION?>> FIRST, WE HAVE SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF I MAY MENTION THAT THE RATES DID NOT CHANGE FROM THE LAST CONTRACT, CORRECT? I WOULD ADVISE EVERYONE TO VOTE YES ON THIS.
>> I WOULD ADD THAT WE APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK OF YOUR LAW FIRM AND YOU.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
[X.D. Contracts for Board Approval - Jim Vanderloo/ Jarod Mozer]
MR. VANDLO AND MR. MOSER, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE, EXECUTE THE CONTRACTS AS SUPPORTING STUDENT LEARNING AND ACTIVITIES?>> WE HAVE A FIRST. WE HAVE A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? JANICE, CITIZEN INPUT?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT?
>> AT FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
MOTION PASSES 7-0, WE ARE ADJOURNED. [NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.