[00:00:01] >> GOOD EVENING. IT'S JANUARY 26TH, 2026 AT 6:03. [ I. Call to Order] I NOW CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> >> SEANIECE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> MR. EHMCKE. >> I THOUGHT I HEARD HER CALL ME AND I'M HERE. PRESENT. >> MR. GEORGE. >> PRESENT. >> DR. HANSON. >> PRESENT. >> MS. LEE. >> PRESENT. >> MR. MYERS. >> THERE. >> MR. MICHAELSON. >> HERE. >> MR. MILLER. >> HERE. >> BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? [IV. Approval of Agenda] >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. THE AGENDA IS APPROVED. TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE GOOD NEWS REPORT FROM NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL. [V.A. North Middle School] WE'LL GET IT KEYED UP HERE. IS IT KEYED UP OR. >> QUEUED UP. >> QUEUED UP, NOT KEYED UP. >> SOME OF US MIGHT BE KEYED UP. [LAUGHTER] >> THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. >> HELLO, I'M MR. [INAUDIBLE] >> I'M MR. COKE. >> I'M MRS. LOY. >> WE'RE AN ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM AT NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL LOCATED AT 2101 OUTER DRIVE NORTH WHERE OUR STUDENTS PRACTICE RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY. >> AND INTEGRITY. >> WE ARE HONORED TO HIGHLIGHT NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL, A DYNAMIC CAMPUS SERVING OVER 1,100 STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, SUPPORTED BY A DEDICATED TEAM OF 100 STAFF MEMBERS. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE, AND INNOVATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY STUDENT THRIVES. >> NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL USES A TEAM-BASED MODEL OF THREE TEAMS AT EACH GRADE LEVEL. THIS STRUCTURE ALLOWS TEACHERS TO SHARE THE SAME GROUP OF STUDENTS, CREATING STRONGER STUDENT-TEACHER CONNECTIONS AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. EACH GRADE LEVEL IS SUPPORTED BY AN ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNSELOR WHO TRANSITION WITH STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL JOURNEY, ENSURING CONTINUITY AND PERSONALIZED SUPPORT. >> OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL MODEL PROMOTES HIGH QUALITY COLLABORATION THROUGH CONTENT PLCS AND TEAM MEETINGS. CLEAR EXPECTATIONS AND STRUCTURED AGENDAS ENSURE CONSISTENCY IN THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND SUPPORT A GUARANTEED AND VIABLE CURRICULUM. THESE PRACTICES STRENGTHEN INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. >> NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ENGAGE IN LEARNING THAT BUILDS 21ST CENTURY SKILLS AND ALIGNS WITH STANDARDS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS. OUR CLASSROOMS EMPHASIZE CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATION, AND PROBLEM SOLVING, SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND. >> WE BELIEVE IN DEVELOPING WELL GROUNDED LEARNERS. STUDENTS CAN JOIN CLUBS SUCH AS STUDENT COUNCIL, CHESS, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, AND INNOVATION, AND EVEN MAGIC CLUB. ATHLETICS ARE ALSO A BIG PART OF OUR CULTURE WITH PROGRAMS IN FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, WRESTLING, DANCE, CROSS COUNTRY, TRACK, AND SOCCER. THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOSTER LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK, AND MORE PRIDE. THIS YEAR, OUR NORTH MIDDLE STUDENT COUNCIL HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN SERVING BOTH THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY AND OUR NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL. MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED AT SEVERAL COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS BOWLING COMPETITION, STARFEST MARCHING COMPETITION, THE [INAUDIBLE], AND THE PERRY CREEK ELEMENTARY CARNIVALS. THEY ALSO VISITED CLARK PRESCHOOL TO HELP PRESCHOOLERS CREATE HOLIDAY CRAFTS, ORGANIZED SCHOOL CLOTHING CLOSET FOR STUDENTS IN NEED, AND TUTORED STRUGGLING STUDENTS DURING ADVISORY. IN ADDITION, THEY RAISED FUNDRAISERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, HELPED PLAN RED RIBBON WEEK, AND OTHER AWARENESS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AT NORTH MIDDLE, OUR STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN ON LEADERSHIP ROLES BY HELPING WITH RECYCLING AND HELPING BY MAKING DECISIONS REGARDING INCENTIVES AND CELEBRATIONS. THEY CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATE RESPONSIBILITY AND TEAMWORK. >> OUR COMMITMENT REMAINS STRONG, TO PROVIDE A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY STUDENT CAN SUCCEED. >> WE WANT TO THANK OUR OUTSTANDING STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES FOR SUPPORTING NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THAT GOOD NEWS REPORT. AT THIS TIME, AS THE CITIZEN INPUT, [VI. Citizen Input ] THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INVITE INDIVIDUALS OR DELEGATIONS TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON ANY ISSUE RELATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ON TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA. [00:05:02] CITIZEN INPUT ON ACTION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT TIME OF THE DISCUSSION OF EACH AGENDA ITEM. SEANIECE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT TODAY? >> YES. CHRISTIAN SIBYEU. >> REMEMBER NAME AND ADDRESS. >> CHRISTIAN SIBYEU, 3121 NEW ORLEANS AVENUE. I DIDN'T PRINT THIS OUT, SO I'M SORRY FOR DOING THIS, BUT MY EYES ARE NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE. ALLOW ME TO BEGIN PRAISING THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR ADDING BILINGUAL EDUCATION TO THE DISTRICT PRIORITIES THIS ACADEMIC YEAR AND FOR YEARS TO COME, AND TO EQUALLY EXTEND MY PRAISES TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR STARTING TO DROP POTENTIAL PLANS TO IMPLEMENT THOSE PRIORITIES. I PARTICULARLY WANT TO COMMEND EVERYBODY FOR PRESENTING A BOLD AND AMBITIOUS PLAN. UNFORTUNATELY, INDIVIDUALS NO LONGER AFFILIATED WITH THIS SCHOOL BOARD HAVE WASTED NO TIME TO USE THOSE PRELIMINARY FIGURES TO ATTACK THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM ON THE BASIS OF COST, BUT RUSHING TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEE DISSENT AND OPPOSITION TO ANY FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM. I AM CONCERNED THAT ALTHOUGH WELL INTENTIONED, THE FIGURES PRESENTED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING MAY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON POTENTIAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT. SADLY, I HAVE SEEN MANY EXPRESS THEIR DISBELIEF IN THE PROGRAM, AND SUCH DISBELIEF IS PRIMARILY ROOTED IN A MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT A DUAL LANGUAGE EDUCATION IS AND WHO BENEFITS FROM IT. IT IS PERCEIVED AS A CHEAT CODE FOR OUR SPANISH SPEAKERS, STUDENTS TO AVOID "LEARNING ENGLISH" INSTEAD OF SEEING IT AS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE SET OF SKILLS IN BOTH CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE COMPETENCY THAT BENEFITS EVERY STUDENT AT IRVING AND ANY OTHER STUDENT THAT WILL POTENTIALLY PARTICIPATE IN A DUAL LANGUAGE EXPANDED PROGRAM. IN VIEW OF THIS INFORMATION, I WOULD LIKE TO URGE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING. THAT THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM IS IN DIRE NEED OF EXPANSION TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL SO THE STUDENTS CURRENTLY ON THAT TRACK CAN PROGRESS TOWARDS COMPLETING A FULL K-12 PROGRAM AND BE AWARDED A SEAL OF BILITERACY. THAT THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM MAY BENEFIT FROM A SOFT LATERAL EXPANSION AS WELL, PROVIDING ONE OR TWO SECTIONS IN OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO FACILITATE THAT THOSE INTEREST CAN REMAIN WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES INSTEAD OF BEING PASSED IN INTO IRVING, FOR EXAMPLE. THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST MAKE A RENEWED EFFORT TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHAT A DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM IS AND WHAT THE BENEFITS OF SUCH INSTRUCTION HAVE IN EVERY STUDENT INVOLVED. I KNOW THAT THIS BOARD IS HERE TO SUPPORT THE BETTERMENT OF OUR STUDENTS AND THAT UNDERSTANDS THAT MULTILINGUAL FAMILIES ARE ALSO TAXPAYERS IN THIS DISTRICT. I KNOW THAT THIS BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT MULTILINGUALISM IS AN IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE SKILL FOR THE FUTURE OF THE IOWA WORKFORCE. AS PARENTS OF MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS, NOW WE NEED YOU TO HELP US SPREAD THAT KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE DISTRICT. IF MULTILINGUALISM WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE LIKES OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, JOHN ADAMS, JAMES MADISON, THEODORE ROOSEVELT, FDR, OR JIMMY CARTER, ALTHOUGH HIS TONGUE WASN'T GREAT, IT CAN CERTAINLY BE ENOUGH FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF SIOUX CITY LEADERS. >> THANK YOU. ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS? SEANIECE, ANY OTHER CITIZEN IN FRONT? >> NO. >> THANK YOU. WE'RE ON TO CONSENT ACTION ITEMS. [VII. Consent Action Item(s) ] THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS ARE THE FOLLOWING; BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM JANUARY 12TH, 2026, FINANCE REPORTS FROM PATTY BLANKENSHIP. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEANIECE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT? >> NO. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE ABOVE APPROVED MOTION OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY AYE. [00:10:01] >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. THE MOTION PASSES 7-0. BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS. [VIII. Board Committee Reports] ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON FINANCE? GENTLEMAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT? >> ON THE FINANCE, THERE'S REALLY TWO ITEMS. ONE AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE'VE BEEN SEEING VARIOUS IDEAS FOR CHANGES IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET BEING PRESENTED ONE AT A TIME AND TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT IN PREPARATION FOR BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THAT INFORMATION AT ONCE AS WE GET FURTHER ALONG IN THE GENERAL FUND. I THINK THAT'S A BETTER MANAGEMENT PRACTICE THAN BRINGING UP ONE LATER, AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING REALLY WELL. I WANTED TO JUST LET YOU HEAR SOMETHING HAPPY BEFORE. JUST VERY SHORTLY, MRS. BEMIS AND I ATTENDED A MEETING AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAST FRIDAY MORNING AT SEVEN O'CLOCK. WE WERE PLEASED TO BE THERE IN THE ARCTIC CONDITIONS. A GENTLEMAN FROM DES MOINES WAS HERE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO TELL US ABOUT IDEAS FOR SOLVING THE PROPERTY TAX PROBLEM. PROBABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS PROPOSALS THAT I HAD HEARD, AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRITTEN. IT WAS ALL VERBAL, BUT REPORTEDLY THE SENATE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HAS AN IDEA FOR SCOOPING UP ANY LOCAL SALES TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE NOT COMMITTED TO DEBT SERVICE AT THE CURRENT POINT AND REALLOCATING THEM FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WHICH IS VERY STRANGE SINCE SIOUX CITY WAS THE FIRST CITY IN THE STATE OF IOWA TO APPROVE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX FOR THE MAIN PURPOSE OF MINIMIZING THE BURDEN OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES ON OUR PAYERS BECAUSE OUR TAX BASE IS SO LOW. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUND THE BENEFIT OF THE SALES TAX AND BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPLACEMENT OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS WHICH ARE 80-100 YEARS OLD, AND WAS NOT ABLE AND WHEN BOND ISSUES JUST COULD NOT BE PASSED, AND I DID QUITE A BIT OF THE INITIAL FINANCE WORK ON WHAT WAS LOCAL OPTION TAX. IT SEEMED THAT TO REPLACE ALL THE BUILDINGS, WE PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY WITHIN THE STATE CONSTITUTIONAL DEBT LIMIT OF 5% IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THEM ALL WITH PROPERTY TAX. STATE SENATE GOING AFTER SALES TAX IS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT. THE ONLY OTHER SECTION, THE GOVERNOR'S BILL AND THE IOWA HOUSE BILL REPORTEDLY SAYS SCHOOLS CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO OR THEY TRADITIONALLY HAVE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT GENERAL BLESSING INCLUDES THE MANAGEMENT FUND. THE MANAGEMENT FUND IS HOW WE PAY FOR ALL OF OUR INSURANCE. UNDER THE REPORTED STRUCTURES OF THE LAW, THAT FUND COULD NOT GO UP BY ANY MORE THAN 2% IN ANY ONE YEAR. FINDING INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT WILL AGREE TO LIMIT THEIR PREMIUM INCREASES TO 2% GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION WOULD BE LIKE SEEING A UNICORN WITHOUT BEING IRISH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW IRISH COULD SEE UNICORN, SO I GUESS I SUDDENLY KNEW. >> THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT TIME OF THE EVENING. >> I KNOW THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. MR. MICHAELSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO. >> GO AHEAD. YOU WERE THERE. >> BASICALLY, WE JUST REVIEWED SOME, I WOULD ASSUME, FUTURE. THEY'LL COME TO THE BOARD AT A FUTURE TIME ABOUT [00:15:01] ADDITIONAL ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE DECIDED, STIPENDS FOR HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL DUTY. I THINK WHAT DID YOU SAY 1,080 HOURS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR 1,081 HOURS AT. >> ONE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY HOURS. >> ONE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EXTRA HOURS THAT THESE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS SERVE. >> GOING TO STOP IN MAY, ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO GO UP FROM THE ELEMENTARY TO THE HIGH SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO BE PRINCIPALS UP THERE. BECAUSE I KNOW AT ONE TIME IT WAS VERY HARD TO GET A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL PEOPLE WHO TO WANT TO GO UP THERE. OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT TONIGHT THE DISTRICT CLIMATE SURVEY. I'M NOT GOING TO GO TOO MUCH INTO THAT, BUT I THINK WE'LL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. I THINK IT'LL BE NICE. A HAPPY TIME, AS JOHN WOULD SAY. THAT WAS THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. ANY OTHER COMMITTEES HAPPENING LAST WEEK? >> WE HAD THE POLICY COMMITTEE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW THE POLICIES AT THE END OF THIS, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. >> CINDY GOT A DOSE OF THE FINANCE ON MONDAY. THAT WAS GOOD. THAT'S OUR BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS. AGAIN, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN DEPTH, JUST A HIGHLIGHT OR TWO. ITEMS, OUR FUTURE MEETING, [IX. Future Meetings] SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, 05:15, JANUARY 29, ESC BOARD ROOM. BOARD FINANCE FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING, 03:00 PM, FEBRUARY 2ND, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM. BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE 12:00 PM, FEBRUARY 4TH, ESC BOARD ROOM. REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 06:00 PM, FEBRUARY 9TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM. BOARD FINANCE AND FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING, AGAIN, 03:00 PM, FEBRUARY 16, ESC BOARD ROOM. BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING, 03:30 PM, FRIDAY 17TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM. BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 12:00 PM, FEBRUARY 18TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM. REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 6:00 PM, FEBRUARY 23RD, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM, AND EDUCATIONAL LEGISLATIVE FORUM, 08:30 AM, FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026, ESC BOARD ROOM. I WOULD SAY SATURDAY, WE HAD A PRETTY FULL HOUSE. >> IT WAS A NICE CROWD. >> IT WAS A NICE CROWD AND EVERYTHING. IT WAS NICE. THEY'RE STILL JUST GETTING INTO THEIR SESSIONS. I WAS TALKING WITH MY WIFE AND IT'D BE NICE IF WE HAD ONE OF THE SENATE PEOPLE ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. IT SEEMS LIKE OUR SENATORS ARE NOT ON A LOT OF THE COMMITTEE, BUT HOPEFULLY, I KNOW THEY'LL START BEING IN TUNED SO THEY CAN COME BACK AND REPORT. BOB HENDERSON IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES. JD'S ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ONES AND JACOB'S ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ONES, BUT AT LEAST COME WITH A LITTLE BIT OF KNOWLEDGE TO THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE OF THINGS BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU HEAR IS TRUE, SO WE'LL FIND THAT OUT. WE'RE ON ITEM 10, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND INTERACTION. [X.A.Interim Superintendent Discussion – President George] THE FIRST ONE, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DISCUSSION, AND I'LL JUST KICK IT OFF WITH THIS. I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND. AS WE BEGIN THIS CONVERSATION, I WANT TO FRAME OUR DISCUSSION AROUND THE POSITION OF INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT RATHER THAN ANY INDIVIDUAL. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TALK TOGETHER ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ROLE, AND HOW WE ENSURE STABILITY CONTINUITY DURING THIS TRANSITION. I ENCOURAGE US TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO ONE ANOTHER, RESPECT DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS, AND KEEP OUR FOCUS ON THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. IF WE STAY CENTERED ON THE POSITION AND DISTRICT'S NEEDS, WE WILL SET OURSELVES UP FOR A PRODUCTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSION. I'LL KICK IT OFF. IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE COULD GO FROM POINT A TO POINT B AND BE DONE, IN A PERFECT WORLD, BUT SINCE WE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS, WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR TIME AND DO THINGS. I GAVE EACH BOARD MEMBER A COPY. I JUST CAME UP WITH A 45-DAY TIMELINE BECAUSE WE CANNOT GIVE A INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT UNTIL AFTER MARCH 31ST. [00:20:02] THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. IN THIS 45-DAY PROCESS, AND LIKE I SAID, IT WASN'T WRITTEN IN STONE. IT WAS JUST MORE OR LESS SPITBALLING, WHATEVER. WHEN I PRINTED IT OUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD DONE, I MARKED ON IT, THEY'RE NOT COMPLETED AND STUFF. LIKE COMPENSATION PARAMETERS, THAT'S DOWN THE ROAD, AND THAT WOULD BE MORE IN A CLOSED SESSION ERA OR HOWEVER WE DECIDE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO A NEGOTIATION PART, THAT WOULD BE A CLOSED SESSION. DURATION INTERIM SERVICE, I SUGGEST, AND THIS IS JUST MY SUGGESTION, 26TH OF APRIL, 2026, TO JUNE OF 2027. THAT GIVES US A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, MAYBE A YEAR-AND-A-HALF, NOT QUITE A YEAR-AND-A-HALF OF RUNNING A SEARCH FOR THE SUPERINTENDENCY. I DID HAND EACH BOARD MEMBER A COPY OF THE DATABASE THAT THE IOWA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARD HAD OF SEARCH FIRMS. THERE'S OTHER ONES OUT THERE. THERE'S A FEW IN HERE I WOULD RATHER STAY AWAY FROM FOR VARIOUS REASONS. >> IS IT OUTDATED? >> THIS IS WHAT THEY SENT ME. >> NO. I'M ASKING. >> IS IT OUTDATED? >> YEAH. IS IT OUTDATED? >> AS FAR AS I KNOW GR'S NO LONGER, I THINK THEY ALL RETIRED. AGAIN, THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER ONES. ONE HAS AN ASSOCIATION WITH A FORMER SUPERINTENDENT I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM. ANOTHER ONE IS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ON THERE, JG SERVICE, AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT RAN THE DES MOINES. I THINK WE'D PROBABLY STAY AWAY FROM THOSE AT THIS TIME, BUT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT ED-WISE IS SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO HYA ON THEIR WEBSITE, SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW THAT ALL WORKS. WHEN WE GET TO THAT PART OF THE PROCESS, IF THERE'S ONE THAT YOU WANT ME TO CONTACT AND GET A QUOTE FROM THEM, I WILL. PROBABLY WHERE THE DISCUSSION STARTS IS, AM I WRONG OR DO YOU GUYS HAVE OTHER THOUGHTS ON THE LENGTH OF APPOINTMENT FOR THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, OR DO YOU WANT TO START WITH QUALIFICATIONS, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? AGAIN, MY DEAL, I JUST HAVE PHASE 1, PHASE 2. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. IF I'M GOING TO GO THERE, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ALREADY LICENSED. GO AHEAD. >> I DID NOT BRING MY COPY. DO YOU HAVE COPIES THAT WE CAN LOOK AT? >> I JUST HAVE A COUPLE. LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT WRITTEN IN STONE OR ANYTHING. SUGGESTIONS, WHATEVER. >> AS FAR AS STARTING TIMELINE FOR A CONTRACT, APRIL 1ST SEEMS LOGICAL, IS WHAT I WOULD SAY THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE ON THE TIMELINE. >> ENDING IN JUNE 30TH OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR SEEMS LOGICAL SINCE MANY CONTRACTS OF PEOPLE MAY APPLY FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S JOB, WOULD HAVE CONTRACTS WHEREVER THEY'RE AT THAT WOULD TERMINATE ABOUT JUNE 30TH ANYHOW. THAT SEEMS TO BE AS GOOD A GUESS AS WE CAN MAKE AT THIS POINT. >> LIKE I SAID, I JUST TOOK IT FROM THE ENDING OF DR. CORDOVA'S CONTRACT TO THE BEGINNING IN APRIL. I THINK THAT THAT MAKES SENSE. I THINK GIVEN THE TIME FRAME OF A YEAR AND THREE MONTHS, I THINK, WOULD BE ADEQUATE. THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING A SEARCH FIRM CONTRACTED. AGAIN, WHEN IT COMES TO QUALIFICATIONS, I THINK DEFINITELY A PREFERRED ONE IS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DISTRICT. [00:25:05] THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE, TURN AROUND EXPERIENCE, LABOR NEGOTIATIONS. OF COURSE, THAT'S STEP 4 OF PHASE 2. SOMEONE OUT THERE WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT? >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> WHAT ARE YOUR GUYS' THOUGHTS? >> MR. GEORGE. >> YEAH. >> BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT QUALIFICATIONS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION POINT IS, IN AN INTERIM POSITION, I'VE SEEN DIFFERENT MODELS WHERE SOMETIMES AN INTERIM IS ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR A POSITION. SOMETIMES AN INTERIM IS NOT ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION WHEN IT IS OPENED FOR LONGER TERM APPOINTMENT. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY PERMANENT BECAUSE NOTHING IS PERMANENT. THAT'S A QUESTION THAT I HAVE. I THINK THERE ARE DISTINCT ADVANTAGES TO BOTH MODELS DEPENDING ON WHERE WE ARE AS A DISTRICT. I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT AREA TO GET CONSENSUS ON AS WELL. >> I GUESS FROM WHERE I COME FROM AND MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE CAN CHIME IN. IF WE WOULD HAVE AN INTERNAL PERSON BE NAMED INTERIM, I DON'T THINK WE CAN PREVENT THEM FROM APPLYING. I THINK WE'RE LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO ALLOW THEM TO APPLY. >> I BELIEVE YOU CAN POST AN INTERIM POSITION AS EITHER, WHEN YOU OPEN THE INTERIM POSITION, YOU INDICATE IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION PERMANENTLY OR NOT. >> THEN THEY CAN CHOOSE WHETHER THEY APPLY FOR THE INTERIM OR NOT BASED OFF OF THAT DECISION. I DON'T KNOW. THIS WAS A DISCUSSION. IT SAYS DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA. THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS. SORRY, DIRECTOR GEORGE, I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE ME, BUT YOU PUT THE SEARCH FIRMS OUT HERE AND I THINK THAT GR RECRUITING OWES US MONEY OR THEY OWE US A FREE SERVICE, AND IF THEY DON'T EXIST, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE THEIR GUARANTEE WAS A TWO-YEAR PLACEMENT. I THINK THAT WAS THEIR GUARANTEE WITH DR. EARLEYWINE. WE WAITED JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR HIM TO PUT IN HIS NOTICE THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO ADHERE TO THAT TWO YEARS. IF WE'RE BEING FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISTRICT, WE SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT THOSE RULES ARE AS PART OF THAT EVALUATION, AND IF THEY HAVE ALL RETIRED, THEN WE SHOULD JUST ASK THEM FOR A REFUND BECAUSE WHAT THEY DID FOR US DIDN'T MEET OUR NEEDS. THEN THIS DISCUSSION, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD COVER ALL OF THESE BULLETS AS DR. HANSON IS SAYING, IS WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE WANT IT TO BE AN OPEN OR CLOSED INTERIM POSTING. WHAT WAS YOUR HOPE TO GET OUT OF THE MEETING TONIGHT? >> YOUR CONSENSUS OR YOUR DIRECTION, WHAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO. FOR ME, I GUESS IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, AND MAYBE I'LL PHRASE WRONG, BUT IF YOU CLOSE IT, I THINK YOU'RE POTENTIALLY CLOSING OFF A CANDIDATE. >> NOT NECESSARILY. I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE KNOWN UPFRONT SO THAT IF WE HAD AN INTERNAL CANDIDATE THAT WANTED TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION, THAT INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS WOULD KNOW GOING IN WHETHER THE INTERIM APPOINTMENT WAS SOMETHING TO PURSUE OR NOT. I CAN TELL YOU SOME OF THE REASONS WHY SOMETIMES AN INTERIM POSITION IS CLOSED ARE IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A NATIONAL SEARCH, WHICH I'M OPERATING ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WOULD, PEOPLE CAN BE RELUCTANT TO APPLY IF THERE IS AN INTERNAL INTERIM WHO IS ALREADY SERVING IN THE INTERIM ROLE AND ALSO ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. IT CAN DISCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE FROM APPLYING BECAUSE IT CAN APPEAR AS THOUGH IT'S A GIVEN THAT THAT PERSON WOULD THEN BE SELECTED FOR THE PERMANENT APPOINTMENT. I THINK THERE'S THAT PERCEPTION THAT COULD BE OUT THERE. ON THE FLIP SIDE, AND THAT'S WHY I SAID, I DO THINK THERE ARE ADVANTAGES TO BOTH, AN INTERNAL, HAVING SOMEONE THAT THEN COULD APPLY GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITIES OF TEST DRIVE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, WHETHER THAT PERSON IS ABLE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE JOB IN THAT TIME FRAME. THERE ARE DEFINITELY DISTINCT ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES TO BOTH. I THINK PART OF IT IS FIGURING OUT AND MAKING SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE GOING INTO IT FOR THE SAME PURPOSE AS ANYONE WHO MIGHT WANT TO APPLY TO BE AN INTERIM AS WELL. >> I KNOW IN DISCUSSING SOME OF THIS WITH OUR ATTORNEY, THEY WOULD DEFINITELY NOT ADVISE [00:30:06] US TO CLOSE OFF THE INTERNAL CANDIDATE FROM APPLYING FOR THE HEAD JOB AT SOME POINT IN TIME. THAT'D BE THEIR ADVICE. >> WHEN YOU SAY ATTORNEY, WHICH ONE OF OUR MANY ATTORNEYS ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? >> AHLERS. >> HAVE YOU ALREADY HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH THEM TO KNOW THAT? >> I HAVE AND I KNOW THAT BARB HAS HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THAT AS WELL. >> IN TERMS OF NOT CLOSING IT FOR AN INTERNAL PERSON TO APPLY FOR INTERIM OR APPLY FOR A PERMANENT POSTING? >> IF AN INTERNAL CANDIDATE APPLIED FOR IT, THEY WOULD ADVISE YOU LET THAT PERSON APPLY FOR THE HEAD JOB AS WELL IF THEY WANTED TO? >> IF IT'S OKAY? >> YES. >> BUT IF WE WOULD VOTE FOR IT. IN THE EVENT THAT IT WAS AN OPEN POSITION, THE INTERIM PERSON WOULD APPLY BECAUSE IT'S OPEN, BUT IN THE EVENT IT'S CLOSED, THEN THE INTERIM WOULD SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY OF KNOWING THAT THE INTERIM POSITION IS CLOSED AND WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE PERMANENT POSITION. AHLERS, THEY GAVE YOU AND MS. CASKEY THE INFORMATION TO SAY THAT THEY WOULDN'T ADVISE THAT? >> BARB, YOU WANT TO CHIME IN ON THAT? >> WE CAN'T HEAR, BARB. SHE NEEDS TO BE ON THE MIC. >> THEY'RE GETTING THE MICROPHONE NOW, LANCE. >> I DID SPEAK WITH AHLERS, AND THEY DID SAY THAT GIVEN THE TWO SEPARATION AGREEMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD RECENTLY WITH SUPERINTENDENTS, THAT IF WE WERE TO NOT ALLOW THE INTERIM PERSON TO BE ABLE TO APPLY MOVING FORWARD, SHE WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO ADVISE FOR THAT. >> SHE'S RELUCTANT TO ENDORSE A CLOSED INTERIM ARRANGEMENT. >> CORRECT. >> I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE FIVE MINUTES AGO, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THAT WAS AN OPTION TO OPEN OR CLOSE. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE COULD HAVE A CONCLUSION FROM OUR ATTORNEY WHEN WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE QUESTION IS THAT WE WERE ASKING. >> IS IT POSSIBLE THERE WAS A WALKING QUORUM OF DISCUSSIONS OUTSIDE OF THE BOARD ROOM THAT LED TO THIS QUESTION BEING FORMULATED? >> NO. THAT'S A BOLD ACCUSATION. >> NO. I ASKED IF IT WAS A POSSIBILITY. I DIDN'T ACCUSE ANYONE OF DOING SO. >> ANYWAY, I ASKED THAT QUESTION WHILE WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SEPARATION WITH DR. CORDOVA, TRYING TO, WHICH I THINK IS PART OF MY JOB, WAS TO THINK SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS UP AS TO WHAT OUR FUTURE IS WITH AN INTERIM, AND WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO. IF YOU WANT TO VIEW THAT AS A WALKING QUORUM, YOU SURE CAN. >> THAT PROVIDES ME CONTEXT, I APPRECIATE THAT. >> I THINK WE HAVE SOME QUALITY PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT, AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME QUALITY PEOPLE OUTSIDE THIS DISTRICT THAT WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER IT. I THINK THAT IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR A POSITION OF PEOPLE, OF WHAT A INTERIM JOB IS, IN MY OPINION, THE INTERIM JOB IS TO CREATE STABILITY, CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF MOVING THIS DISTRICT FORWARD, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT. I THINK ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE THE INTERIM IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS TO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF SIOUX CITY. MOST CANDIDATES, WHETHER IT'S INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL, WOULD HAVE THAT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE DISTRICT. FOR ME, IT'S NAMING INTERIM AS SOON AS WE CAN, AND GETTING A SEARCH FIRM HIRED. [00:35:01] NOW, AS FOR THE SEARCH FIRM, WE SURELY CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE CONTRACT, BUT THE DISCUSSION TODAY IS THIS, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT OUT OF AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT? TO ME, CLOSING THE DOOR FOR INTERIM TO WHETHER THEY APPLY OR NOT, I DON'T THINK IT'S WISE BECAUSE, AS YOU SAID, WHOEVER GETS IT, IT'S A TRIAL RUN. MAYBE YOU LIKE THAT PERSON, AND THEN YOU CAN'T LET THAT PERSON APPLY, I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S NOT WISE. THEN YOU FIND OUT YOU DON'T LIKE THAT PERSON. >> I DIDN'T HEAR THAT THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE WERE GOING. I THINK THE DISCUSSION WAS CENTERED AROUND, DO WE WANT IT TO BE AN OPEN OR A CLOSED? FROM THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD, IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WHOM, GOING BACK TO YOUR STATEMENT. IT WENT BACK TO, DO WE WANT AN OPEN INTERIM POSITION OR DO WE WANT A CLOSE INTERIM POSITION? IS WHAT I HEARD. IF YOU'RE GOING TO RAIL US BACK INTO THIS 45-DAY PROCESS, MS. CASKEY, DO YOU HAVE A JOB DESCRIPTION FOR US TO LOOK AT FOR AN INTERIM QUALIFICATION, SO WE JUST AREN'T CARTE BLANCHING IDEAS OF WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE? >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK ON ONE FOR YOU. >> WE DON'T HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW? >> I DON'T HAVE ONE AT MY FINGERTIPS. [OVERLAPPING] >> WON'T THAT BE THE SAME THING AS THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT'S JOB? WOULDN'T THAT BE SIMILAR? >> IN MY OPINION, I THINK THEY WOULD BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. >> ONE WOULD ASSUME MORE AUTHORITY OVER IN THE NEXT? >> CORRECT. >> BASICALLY, IT'D BE A SUPERINTENDENT'S JOB DESCRIPTION THEN? >> SIMILAR, I WOULD ASSUME SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, THOUGH, DEPENDENT UPON WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS WOULD BE. >> THANK YOU. >> I HAD A SIMILAR QUESTION, DIRECTOR GEORGE. >> DIRECTOR HANSON. >> DO YOU KNOW IF WE HAVE A CURRENT JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT? >> YES. I BELIEVE IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE. >> IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE. I WILL REVIEW THAT BEFORE WE RESUME THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT PERSONALLY, I WOULD THINK THAT THIS INTERIM WOULD COVER MOST OF THE PRIMARY DUTIES OF A SUPER? >> I THINK IT WOULD HAVE TO BECAUSE YOU NEED- [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. >> -THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE DISTRICT IN THE NAME OF THE DISTRICT FOR THE DISTRICT OF THE DISTRICT BY THE DISTRICT. DIRECTOR MILLER. >> SINCE IT IS OUR JOB TO COME UP WITH THE JOB DESCRIPTION, CAN WE GET THE INTERIM JOB DESCRIPTION THAT WE HAD FOR DR. EARLEYWINE BEFORE HE WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT? THERE WAS AN INTERIM JOB DESCRIPTION THEN, I THINK. >> I'M SURE IT'S IN MY DEPARTMENT SOMEWHERE AND WE CAN GET THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO GET THAT OUT TO EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS? >> YES. WILL DO TOMORROW. >> OF COURSE, COMPENSATION, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT ANOTHER TIME. >> THE JOB'S ALREADY POSTED? >> NO. >> YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING WAS ON THE WEBSITE. >> JUST THE JOB DESCRIPTION. >> IT'S THE JOB DESCRIPTION. >> NOT A JOB POST. >> NOT POSTING. THANKS FOR CLARIFICATION. >> YOU BET YOU. >> I'M CHECKING TO SEE IF THAT JOB DESCRIPTION IS ON THE WEBSITE. I'M NOT SURE IT'S THERE, SO I'M CHECKING IT OUT. >> IT WOULD BE IN OUR APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM. >> IT WOULD BE. >> THANK YOU. >> BUT WOULDN'T IT BE UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DEAL ON THE BOARD POSITION AS TO THEIR DUTIES AND EXPECTATIONS? WOULD THAT NOT BE THE SAME? >> I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, THOUGH. I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. SHE'S LOOKING FOR IT. >> CAN WE JUST ENSURE THAT WE ALL GET A COPY OF THE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT JOB DESCRIPTION AND THE LAST INTERIM JOB DESCRIPTION THAT WE HAD? >> SURE. >> WILL DO. >> WHETHER THEY'RE POSTED OR NOT POSTED. >> WILL DO. >> THANK YOU. >> WE WOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE GRP MATERIAL THAT WE HAD FROM GR RECRUITING BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO CREATED IT. >> OF THE SUPERINTENDENT? I THINK I STILL HAVE THAT. I STILL THINK I HAVE THAT. >> DIRECTOR GEORGE, CAN WE ASK JANICE TO GET IT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT JANICE HAS COPIES OF IT? >> SURE. >> JANICE. [00:40:02] >> I CAN LOOK BACK IN EMAILS AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GR WOULD HAVE SENT TO ME FROM THE PAST SEARCHES AND SEND IT TO THE BOARD. >> I'LL JUST TAKE MYSELF OUT OF THAT. >> I DO KNOW LESLIE'S DEPARTMENT WITH COMMUNICATIONS WAS PRETTY INVOLVED, SO I WOULD ASSUME BEING IN HER ABSENCE THAT SHE WOULD HAVE WHAT THEY HAD TOO. IT EXISTS, WE WILL GET IT. >> THANK YOU. >> IN MY OWN PERSPECTIVE, PARTICULARLY AFTER LISTENING TO THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED TODAY REGARDING FACILITIES AND OPTIONS AND MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE OPEN IT UP. INTERNAL CANDIDATES, FOR WHOMEVER THEY END UP BEING, WOULD HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE THE DISTRICT IS NOW AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, OR IF WE BRING IN SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE, THEY MIGHT BE LESS FAMILIAR. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED FURTHER CONFUSION OR DELAY. WE NEED, QUITE FRANKLY, TO MOVE FORWARD. THERE'S AT LEAST A POSSIBILITY THAT AN INTERNAL CANDIDATE COULD MEET THAT COULD MEET OUR NEEDS QUICKER THAN SOMEONE THAT'S NOT INTERNAL. THAT'S MY SUGGESTION. FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH, THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO IN TOWN ACTUALLY HAVE COME UP TO ME, I HAVEN'T BEEN SOLICITING OPINIONS, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OUT TO ME, THEY WOULD BE VERY PLEASED IF WE HAD A LOCAL SUPERINTENDENT TO COUNTERBALANCE WHATEVER IMPRESSION OUR FORMER EFFORTS HAD WITH THEM, THEY'D FEEL CERTAINLY MORE SECURE. WHOMEVER IT MIGHT BE MIGHT BE SOMEONE THAT WE KNOW AND THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD KNOW. RIGHT AT THIS TIME, I THINK THAT WOULD BE USEFUL. >> WHEN WE GO TO PHASE 3, WHICH, LIKE I SAID, NOTHING'S WRITTEN IN STONE, AND THEY TALK ABOUT IDENTIFYING CANDIDATE POOL, IF YOU GUYS HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU WISH FOR ME TO REACH OUT TO, I CAN DO THAT BECAUSE WE CAN'T DISCUSS ANYBODY. I'M JUST GOING DOWN THE LIST. >> I KNOW, BUT ISN'T THERE A STATE LAW THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO POST POSITIONS. IT'S A CONTRACT, AND IT'S A CONTRACT FOR A PUBLIC POSITION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULE IS. I JUST KNOW THAT ISP HAS TOLD ME IN THE PAST THAT WE HAVEN'T POSTED ALL OTHER POSITIONS THAT ARE CONTRACT POSITIONS, AND WE'VE ALLOWED PEOPLE TO MOVE INTO THOSE POSITIONS WITHOUT POSTING THEM, AND THAT'S NOT LEGALLY OKAY. I WOULD WANT US TO VALIDATE THAT WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT FOR AN INTERIM AND NOT FOLLOW STATE LAW FOR CONTRACT POSITIONS, AND IT IS AN INTERIM CONTRACT, BUT IT'S STILL CONTRACT. >> JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, HOW MANY LOOKED AT THIS BEFORE TONIGHT? >> I DID. >> I DID, BUT AGAIN, THERE'S NOT A, AND HERE'S WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF IT. THIS IS A LIST. IF YOU FOLLOW THE SAME THING THAT WE DID FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR OUTCOME WAS TONIGHT. WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING, YOU GAVE US A LIST OF SEARCH FIRMS, BUT YOU SAID THAT'S NOT THE TOPIC. >> THE PROCESS, OF COURSE, THE DISCUSSION, IT'S CALLED THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DISCUSSION WAS, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. WHAT DO YOU GUYS WANT TO ADD TO IT? WHAT DO YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO ADD TO IT? NOW, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO IT, THEN YOU DON'T WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO IT. >> DIRECTOR GEORGE. >> YES. AS YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THIS HAS BEEN ON EVERYBODY'S MIND, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. WHAT I WORKED ON OVER THE WEEK AND WHAT I PREPARED FOR TONIGHT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS CLEAR AS TO WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE DO NEXT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PERSONALLY, AND I GUESS THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, IS WHAT WHAT OUR THOUGHTS ARE. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ALL IN AGREEANCE THAT THE INTERIM SHOULD BE MORE THAN THREE MONTHS, [00:45:02] THAT IT SHOULD BE THROUGH THE REST OF THIS YEAR AND NEXT. WILL THAT BE FAIR? >> I DON'T KNOW I'VE GOTTEN TO NEXT YEAR YET. >> SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD BE FOR. I WOULD BE FOR, INSTEAD OF HAVING SOMEBODY COME IN FROM THREE MONTHS AND DOING IT AGAIN, I WOULD BE FOR THAT. I WOULD BE FOR THE INTERIM BECAUSE JOHN SAID TO BE FILLED INTERNALLY. I WOULD ALSO BE FOR, AS WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER, SO YOU KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE, I WOULD BE FOR THAT INTERIM IF THEY WANTED TO BE ELIGIBLE, TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE POSITION. WHERE I'M GOING TO LOOK CLOSE AT AND LEAN HARD ON FOR ADVICE AND GUIDANCE HERE, I'M GOING TO LEAN EXTREMELY HARD ON THE CABINET. I THINK THESE GUYS HERE ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE MOST AFFECTED BY WHOEVER THE INTERIMS BE. SECONDLY, I WILL LEAN HARD ON WHAT I HEAR FROM BUILDING PRINCIPALS AND STAFF. MY CONCERN IS THIS, WHAT GETS LOST IN ALL OF THIS SOMETIMES, WHAT GETS LOST IS, WE ARE DOING REALLY WELL. WE HAVE TERRIFIC MOMENTUM. SOME OF YOU MAYBE HISTORICALLY DON'T REMEMBER THIS, BUT PRIOR TO FOUR YEARS AGO, WE HAD GONE THROUGH ALMOST A DECADE'S WORTH OF DECLINE IN READING AND MATH PROFICIENCY. THIS CREW RIGHT HERE AND THE STAFF HAS TURNED THAT AROUND. WE HAVE GAINED IN STUDENT PROFICIENCY IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND IN THIS YEAR, IN OUR SPECIAL ED, IN SOME PLACES, IT WAS EXPONENTIAL. ALSO, WHAT THIS CREW HAS WORKED ON IS ELL, SPED, TEACHER RETENTION, ALL OF WHICH HAVE GOTTEN BETTER OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. TO TAKE THAT APART OR TO DO ANYTHING TO DISRUPT THAT RIGHT NOW, I THINK, IS DANGEROUS. WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR DISTRICT FINANCES, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT THE CABINET HAS DONE. WE SAW TODAY, IN THE MEETING AT FOUR O'CLOCK, HOW EXPENSIVE IT WAS GOING TO BE TO FIX SOME THINGS. I'M PRETTY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE 90 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR SET BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S NOT BY CHANCE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS PLANNED FOR BY THE CABINET AND LEADERSHIP OVER THE COURSE. WE ARE IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GIVING PINK SLIPS TO ANYBODY. WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT CLOSING SEVEN SCHOOLS LIKE [INAUDIBLE]. WE'RE IN AS A GOOD A PLACE AS WE CAN POSSIBLY BE CONSIDERING THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND WHAT IT'S BEEN DOING AND WHAT IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE DOING. NOBODY'S LOSING THEIR JOB. NO PROGRAMS HAVE GONE DOWN. AGAIN, OUR SPED PROGRAMS, OUR ELL PROGRAMS HAVE SHOWN GREAT GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE IT. I WANT TO HOLD THIS GROUP TOGETHER AT ALL COSTS. WHY WOULD I LEAN ON THEM? BECAUSE OF ALL OF THOSE REASONS. I'M GOING TO BE ASKING EACH OF THEM, DO YOU WANT IT EXTERNAL? DO YOU WANT IT INTERNAL? DO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE? WHO DO YOU THINK MIGHT BE THE RIGHT PERSON? I DON'T KNOW WHY, AND FOR ME, AND I DON'T SPEAK JUST FOR MYSELF, I KNOW I DON'T KNOW AS MUCH AS EACH ONE OF THESE PEOPLE DOES INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. I KNOW THAT COLLECTIVELY, I CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW AS MUCH AS THEY DO. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS LEADERS, IS SOMETIMES WHEN IT COMES TO POWER, THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS POWER. INDIVIDUALLY, EACH OF THE PEOPLE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD HAVE 1/7 OF VOTE ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. MY 1/7, I'M GIVING MY 1/7 TO THE CABINET. I'M GOING TO TAKE THEIR LEAD, I'M GOING TO TAKE THE PRINCIPALS LEAD, AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK IT SHOULD BE, THAT'S WHERE I THINK IT SHOULD HEAD. WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET DONE FOR TONIGHT AND SEE WHERE EVERYBODY STANDS, I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT MINE AND I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHERE I AM GOING TO BE GETTING MY GUIDANCE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLING IT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. >> ON TOP OF THAT, DOES ANYONE WANT TO ADD THEIR PERSPECTIVE? >> DIRECTOR HANSON. >> FOR THE RECORD, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO AN INTERNAL INTERIM. WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS THAT WE HAVE CLARITY GOING INTO [00:50:02] THE PROCESS OF WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE AN OPEN OR CLOSED INTERIM. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE, FOR WHOEVER SERVES AS AN INTERIM FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE OUTSIDE CONSIDERATION. I UNDERSTAND WE DO HAVE EXCELLENT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. I WOULD ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE PERSON WHO WILL BE THE BOSS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, AND WHERE MY HR KNOWLEDGE IS IS THAT TYPICALLY EMPLOYEES DON'T GET TO CHOOSE THEIR BOSS. THEY HAVE SOME SAY IN THAT AND OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE AN OPINION, BUT IT IS THE SUPERVISOR, AND THAT'S THE SEVEN OF US UP HERE. I BELIEVE IT ULTIMATELY RESIDES WITH US TO MAKE THAT DECISION. I WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING FROM SOME OF THESE SEARCH FIRMS WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE. DO THEY BELIEVE IT WILL HINDER OUR SEARCH IF WE HAVE AN OPEN INTERIM POSITION. I'D ALSO BE CURIOUS WHAT IASB SAYS FOR OTHER SEARCHES THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN THE STATE, WHAT'S THE STANDARD? IS IT A STANDARD OPEN OR CLOSED? THAT'S WHY I JUST THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT THING TO DECIDE EARLY ON SO THAT IT'S CLEAR FOR EVERYBODY. TRULY, FOR ME, IT IS NOT ABOUT ANY PERSON AT ALL. IT'S TRULY JUST ABOUT THE POSITION AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR GOING IN AND WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS WILL BE. >> I THINK, FOR ME, I BELIEVE AN OPEN WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY TO GO. I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. WHEN YOU START LIMITING YOUR POOL, THERE'S A PLIGHT IN SUPERINTENDENCIES TOO. I THINK WE HAVE 13 OR 14 IN THE STATE OF IOWA OPEN RIGHT NOW. THERE'S NOT A BIG POOL OF PEOPLE APPLYING. I'LL STOP. >> I WOULD JUST SAY THAT'S PART OF MY CONCERN AS WELL, IS THAT I THINK IT CAN HAVE THAT IMPACT IN THE SAME WAY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I STAND ON IT RIGHT NOW, IS WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU. I'M ASKING THE QUESTION. >> AGAIN, MY OPINION, I THINK IT SHOULD BE OPEN. I THINK WE SHOULD ACCEPT EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LIMIT IT. I THINK YOU LIMIT YOUR ABILITY IF YOU BLIND YOURSELF BY SAYING THAT THAT PERSON ISN'T ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE JOB, ESPECIALLY IF THAT PERSON IS DOING A JOB THAT'S EXCELLENT. I THINK IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR US TO DO THAT. >> WE'RE TALKING PERSON, NOT POSITION? >> NO, I'M TALKING POSITION. YOU GUYS ARE TALKING PERSON AS WELL. >> NO. >> IF YOU'RE MAKING THAT ACCUSATION WITH ME. >> I'M NOT MAKING AN ACCUSATION. I'M JUST ASKING. >> YES, YOU ARE. >> THAT'S HOW YOU INTERPRET. >> EXACTLY. >> I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR. >> [OVERLAPPING] I MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR THERE TOO. >> BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POSITION. >> THE POSITION. >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE INTERIM, WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS ARE. IS IT GOING TO BE OPEN? IS IT GOING TO BE CLOSED? WE'VE ASKED FOR THAT INFORMATION. NO ONE'S GOTTEN PERSONAL HERE. >> WHEN YOU'RE ASKING ME, ARE WE TALKING PERSON OR POSITION, AND I SAY I WANT IT OPEN. HOW'S THAT PERSON? >> AGAIN, THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, BUT OKAY. >> ANYONE ELSE? >> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, YOU'RE WANTING THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, NOT FOR WHAT WAS WHEN WE WERE WORKING WITH GR. BECAUSE GR WOULD HAVE POSTED SUPERINTENDENT, BUT YOU'RE WANTING INTERIM. >> MY UNDERSTANDING WAS YOU WANTED BOTH. >> I WANT BOTH. >> YOU WANT BOTH? >> I DID JUST EMAIL YOU THE LINK TO THE SUPERINTENDENT JOB DESCRIPTION, WHICH WAS ON THE WEBSITE. I FOUND IT. THERE'S A WHOLE LINK FOR IT. THERE WAS NEVER A INTERIM JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ROD. I DO NOT RECALL. I WAS IN THE DISTRICT WITH LARRY WILLIAMS, DR. GAUSMAN, AND ROD. THE ONLY INTERIM THAT THE DISTRICTS HAD WAS ROD AND THERE WASN'T A JOB DESCRIPTION POSTED. >> I BELIEVE THAT IS CORRECT BECAUSE I THINK HE JUST ASSUMED THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY. AS FOR THE LENGTH, I ALREADY TOLD YOU HOW LONG I THINK IT SHOULD BE, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S ADEQUATE. [00:55:03] I DIDN'T ASK THAT QUESTION TO LUANNE AS TO WHERE PEOPLE WOULD LEAN ON CLOSE OR OPEN. I THINK THE QUALIFICATION, I THINK THERE ARE SOME CANDIDATE POOL. THERE ARE A SERIES OF CANDIDATES OUT THERE. >> I DID PULL UP IASB'S GUIDANCE. THEY HAVE IT ON THEIR SITE. IT STATES IASB RECOMMEND THAT WE ALWAYS CHOOSE AN OPEN OR CLOSED INTERVIEW MODEL. IT'S MATERIAL LINES WITH IOWA LAW THAT BOARD SHOULD FOLLOW OPEN MEETINGS REQUIREMENTS UNLESS AN EXCEPTION APPLIES. IT'S BASICALLY SAYING THAT THEY RECOMMEND IT'S UP TO WHAT YOUR DISTRICT NEEDS, WHETHER IT'S OPEN OR CLOSED. THANK YOU. >> WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO WITH THIS? >> IT APPEARS TO ME AS THAT WE'RE ON PHASE 2, AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON PHASE 2. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE TIMELINE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DESCRIPTION. WE NEED TO DETERMINE HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, OPEN OR CLOSED. WE WON'T GO INTO STEP 5 OF THIS PROPOSED OUTLINE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO START THERE. >> I THINK A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS INDICATED OPEN. IF THE INTERIM IS NOT A RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT THAT THAT PERSON COULD APPLY. I THINK IT WOULD LIMIT OUR POOL. >> FOR DECIDING RIGHT NOW, I GUESS I WANT CLOSED. >> DIRECTOR HANSON. >> I WOULD OFFER THAT THIS WAS POSTED AS DISCUSSION AND NOT AN ACTION ITEM, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN [OVERLAPPING] >> REALLY VOTE ON IT. >> RIGHT. >> LANCE, DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION? >> IT SEEMS LIKE THE DISCUSSION HERE IS THEN FOCUSED ON THIS QUESTION OF OPEN OR CLOSED, AND I DID NOT READ THE OUTLINE AS CALLING FOR US TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT TODAY. IF YOU WANT MY OPINION, I PERHAPS WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE A WORK SESSION ON THIS SPECIFIC TOPIC BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE ON THE AGENDA TODAY. I WILL SAY THAT IN READING THROUGH WHAT PRESIDENT GEORGE HAD PRESENTED, I SAW THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT MEETING HERE THIS PAST WEDNESDAY. I THOUGHT THE TIME WINDOW FOR AN INTERIM PROBABLY MAKES SENSE FOR THAT TO BE A PERSON WHO CARRIES US THROUGH THIS YEAR TO THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF CANDIDATES FROM VARIOUS PLACES IN A BROAD SEARCH WOULD BE MORE LIKELY, IF WE WERE SAYING IT'S A JOB THAT STARTS IN THE USUAL WAY, WHERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STATE FISCAL YEAR, JULY 1 IS WHEN THE JOB WOULD START. I THOUGHT THE GOAL OF LOOKING FOR DECIDING A QUESTION ABOUT WHO WOULD PERHAPS BE AN INTERIM, THAT PART OF IT WAS GOOD. I DID NOT GIVE ATTENTION TO OR THOUGHT ABOUT THE IDEA OF WHETHER AN INTERIM SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ALSO APPLY. I APPRECIATE BOTH POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED. [01:00:06] ONE BEING THAT IF YOU IDENTIFY AN INTERIM AND SAY, THAT PERSON CAN ALSO APPLY, THAT THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES WHO SAY, I'M NOT GOING TO RUN AGAINST THE TIDE. YOU'RE LEFT WITH THE QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU WANT AN INTERIM TO CARRY US THROUGH, PROBABLY WITH THE MISSION OF CARRYING US THROUGH THE WAY WE ARE WITHOUT LOOKING AT VISION AS A PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THEIR JOB, THEN THAT WOULD LEND MORE TOWARD A CLOSED ARRANGEMENT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO COULD ALSO EMBRACE VISION. I DID HEAR EVERYTHING THAT DIRECTOR MICHAELSON SAID FROM HIS OBSERVATIONS. WE MAY BE AT A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS AS WELL ABOUT, WITH THIS EXCEPTIONAL STAFF THAT IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ACHIEVE, THEN ARE WE BALANCED IN HOW WE'RE ALLOCATING WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF TIME AND MONEY TO GIVE US THE BEST WORLD CLASS EDUCATION FOR EVERYBODY AND NOT JUST SPECIAL GROUPS? THERE WAS A NEED FOR ONE, PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE. YOU CAN SEE THAT ANALYSIS BROADENS OUT TO A WIDER STEP. THE QUESTION YOU'RE ASKING, CLOSED OR OPEN, PERHAPS WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER THAT AND HAVE A WORKING SESSION SOON TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS. I DO FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE SOME CERTAINTY SO THAT IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR, OUR ENTIRE FACULTY, WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE IN FRONT OF A TEACHER, THE FACULTY AND THOSE THAT SUPPORT THE FACULTY KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THIS YEAR. I BELIEVE IT'S WELL OUTLINED IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT THE PLAN IS, THEY KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I APPRECIATE THAT PART OF WHAT I'M SAYING SOUNDS LIKE GOBBLEDYGOOK BECAUSE I HAD NOT GIVEN THOUGHT TO THE IDEA OF THE OPEN OR CLOSED. I APPRECIATED TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION ABOUT THE IMPACT OF CHOOSING ONE OR THE OTHER. I WOULD SUGGEST WE HAVE A WORKING SESSION VERY SOON AND REACH A CONCLUSION THERE SO THAT THE REST OF THE BUSINESS OF TODAY CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF. >> THANK YOU, LANCE. DIRECTOR HANSON. >> DIRECTOR GEORGE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING SOME TALKING POINTS TOGETHER TO GET THIS CONVERSATION STARTED BECAUSE I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO START THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ACTING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA AND GIVING US A FRAMEWORK TO START THE CONVERSATION. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE WILL LOOK AT THE CALENDAR HERE. >> DIRECTOR EHMCKE, THANK YOU FOR PROPOSING THAT. I DO THINK THAT IT IS IN GOOD INTEREST THAT WE DO TAKE SOME TIME TO HAVE A WORK SESSION, HAVE DISCUSSION, AND TO TRY TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. >> DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ON FEBRUARY 9TH THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE A WORK SESSION ON THERE? IT'S PIGGY BACK ON ANOTHER BOARD SESSION. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING SCHEDULED? NO? IS THAT GOOD FOR EVERYONE? >> YEAH, THERE'S NOTHING. >> I'LL MAKE THAT WORK. >> YOU JUST LET ME KNOW, OKAY, LANCE? IF WE GOT TO ACCOMMODATE YOU, WE WILL. >> I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MOVE FORWARD, AND SO IF FEBRUARY 9TH, IS YOU'RE THINKING AHEAD OF THE NEXT BOARD MEETING [OVERLAPPING] >> WE PIGGYBACKED THE FACILITY ONE ON THE LAST BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY. WE'LL PIGGYBACK THIS ONE ON THE FEBRUARY 9TH. >> I APOLOGIZE, I COULDN'T BE THERE TODAY. THE SURGERY THAT I'VE HAD TODAY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DELAYED. [01:05:03] >> UNDERSTANDABLE. >> BUT I'M SURE I'LL BE AVAILABLE ON THE 9TH. I'D HAPPY TO BE THERE FOR THAT. >> WHATEVER WE GOT TO DO TO ACCOMMODATE YOU, WE WILL. DEFINITELY GETS THE HEART PUMPING PRETTY GOOD. I THINK WE GOT SOME IDEAS OF WHERE WE WANT TO GO AND GO FROM THERE. >> PRESIDENT GEORGE, IS THERE A CERTAIN TIME FRAME? ARE YOU GUYS GOOD WITH 4:00, 04:30 FOR THAT FEBRUARY 9TH OR EVERYONE'S FINE WITH IT? >> WHAT WORKS BEST FOR EVERYONE? I'M RETIRED SO I CAN MAKE IT WORK. I LIKE SAYING THAT. >> IT WOULD BE AHEAD OF THE SIX O'CLOCK REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. >> DO YOU THINK THIS WILL BE A TWO-HOUR CONVERSATION OR DO YOU THINK THIS WILL BE A HOUR CONVERSATION? >> I THINK IT'LL BE ALL DAY. >> ALL DAY? CAN WE COME AT 7:00 AM, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER SERVED HERE? >> I'M AVAILABLE ON THE 8TH FOR AN ALL DAY SESSION. >> DAN MOORE AND I WERE JUST TALKING, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORK SESSION IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WE'RE JUST SAYING. IT'S OPEN AND YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY MOTIONS OR MAKE ANY DECISIONS IN THE WORK SESSION. A WORK SESSION IS LIKE A LONG DISCUSSION ITEM ON AN AGENDA, BUT YOU COULD PUT SOMETHING ON THAT NEXT ON THE MEETING AT 6:00 AS A ACTION ITEM. YOU JUST CANNOT DO ANYTHING IN THE WORK SESSION. >> CAN YOU MAKE A ACTION ITEM FAIRLY BROAD SO THAT IF YOU GET A CONSENSUS THROUGH THE WORK SESSION THAT YOU DO? >> I THINK FOUR O'CLOCK. >> YOU'D PUT ON THE WORK SESSION WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DISCUSS AT THE WORK SESSION. YOU CAN HAVE AN AGENDA OF SOME SORT OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DISCUSS. >> THEN DOES THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DISCUSSING SO THEN YOU DISCUSS IT. IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU DO HERE. IT'S JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A WORK SESSION BECAUSE YOU NEED MORE TIME. >> FOUR O'CLOCK. CAN IT TO WORK FOR YOU, DIRECTOR MILLER? LIKE I SAID, IF WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE ONLINE STUFF WE CAN. >> PUT THAT ONE OUT OF THE WAY. >> WELL, WE REALLY DID. BUT ANYWAY. HERE WE GO. HUMAN RESOURCE REPORTS. BOARD MEMBERS, [X.B. Human Resources Report(s) – Barb Caskey] IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND AND BOARD MEMBERS ANY DISCUSSION? SHANE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? >> NO. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES 7-0. FACILITY REVIEW. [X.C.Facilities Review ] BOARD, IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION THAT WE NEED TO GO ABOUT, IF YOU WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE FACILITY REPORTS? >> NO. >> ANY CITIZEN INPUT ON THAT? >> NO. >> THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACILITY MATCH PLAN, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CREW THAT PUT IT TOGETHER. THANK YOU AGAIN, VERY MUCH. IT WAS VERY IN DEPTH. DEFINITELY, THE FIRE HOSE APPROACH, A LOT OF STUFF TO TAKE IN. DISTRICT CLIMATE SURVEY. [X.D.District Climate Survey – Angela Bemus] WE'RE GOING TO HAVE. >> [INAUDIBLE] HAD TO LEAVE. >> MRS. BEMIS IS GOING TO DO THAT. WE'LL WAIT FOR THAT TO GET GOING HERE. >> THE DISTRICT CLIMATE SURVEY. THIS IS A SUMMARY OF JUST THAT WE SURVEYED THE PARENTS AND THE STAFF. I'LL HAVE THE DATES HERE, BUT WE HAD IT OPEN ABOUT 20 DAYS THIS FALL. THANK YOU. STAFF AND FAMILY SURVEYS CONDUCTED BETWEEN OCTOBER 21ST AND NOVEMBER 12TH THIS FALL. THIS IS THE SAME TIME FRAME. WE'VE USED THE LAST TWO YEARS. WE'VE KEPT EVERYTHING TO HAVE CONSISTENT DATA. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE HELD THE SURVEY AT THE SAME TIME AND USED THE SAME QUESTIONS. WE SEND EMAIL INVITATIONS WITH UNIQUE LINKS THAT PARENTS AND STAFF HAVE TWO DIFFERENT LINKS. SOME OF THEM TAKE IT TWICE, THEY CAN, IF THEY'RE A PARENT AND A STAFF MEMBER. THERE ALSO IS JUST A PUBLIC LINK THAT ANYBODY COULD TAKE. [01:10:03] THIS IS ALL DONE THROUGH THE COMPANY USED TO BE CALLED K12 INSIGHT. SOMEBODY NEW BOUGHT THEM. IT'S AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. I CAN'T REMEMBER OFFHAND, BUT WE ONLY REVIEW THE QUESTIONS BEFORE IT GOES OUT, AND THEN WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY OF THE ANALYTICAL DATA. THEY TAKE IT, THEY PUT IT TOGETHER FOR US, AND THEN THEY SEND IT TO US. SO IT'S COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS. IT'S NOT EVEN POSSIBLE FOR US TO KNOW. WE DON'T TOUCH THE ANSWERS. THEY JUST SEND US THE SUMMARY. THE TOTAL RESPONSES, WE HAD 1,097 PARENTS, AND WE HAD 530 STAFF, WHICH WAS AN INCREASE FOR BOTH GROUPS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, AND THEN THE RESULTS ARE SHARED WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE BUILDING LEADERSHIP TEAMS FOLLOWED BY ALL BUILDING STAFF. WHAT I'M REVIEWING WITH YOU TODAY IS THE DISTRICT DATA, THE OVERALL DISTRICT DATA, EVERY BUILDING HAS INDIVIDUAL DATA, AND EACH INDIVIDUAL BUILDING HAS THEIR OWN REPORT. WHAT I'M SHARING IS A CUMULATIVE OF THE WHOLE DISTRICT. THE KEY TAKEAWAYS, THE MAJORITY OF THE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS AND STAFF MEMBERS SAID STUDENTS FEEL GENERALLY SAFE AT SCHOOL. STAFF MEMBERS PERCEPTIONS NOTABLY IMPROVED OVER LAST YEAR. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT THESE ARE JUST SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS. THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS AND STAFF FEEL STUDENTS AND STAFF INTERACTIONS ARE POSITIVE. AND THAT PARENT GUARDIAN VIEWS OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP STEADY COMPARED TO LAST YEAR WHILE STAFF EXPRESSED STRONGER CONFIDENCE IN LEADERSHIP AND DECISION MAKING. THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS AND STAFF SAID SCHOOL LEADERS MAKE DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL STUDENTS. MOST PARENTS AND GUARDIANS HELD FAVORABLE VIEWS OF FAMILY STAFF COMMUNICATION. HOWEVER, FELT THAT CULTURAL DIFFERENCES ARE INTEGRATED INTO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THESE ARE SOME OF THE ACTUAL NUMBERS FROM THIS SURVEY, AND DO KNOW ALL OF OUR DESCRIPTORS DESCRIBING THE TAKEAWAYS ARE ALL TAKEN FROM K12 INSIGHT. THEY ARE TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THEM. THOSE TAKEAWAYS FROM THEM. THOSE ARE THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND THAT IS THE PARENTS PERCEPTION OF THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN SI CITY SCHOOLS. PERCENTAGE OF STRONGLY AGREE OR AGREE. IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE CATEGORIES, IT'S NICE TO SEE OUR STAFF IS ALWAYS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN PARENTS. WE ALWAYS SCORE A LITTLE HIGHER WITH STAFF JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONTEXT. A LOT OF THE TIMES THE PARENTS MIGHT NOT HAVE CONTEXT. THEY HAVE NEUTRAL RESPONSES OR NOT SO MUCH, BUT THERE WASN'T HUGE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THEM THIS TIME. THAT WAS A GOOD SIGN. THE LIGHT BLUE IS THE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS AND THE GREEN IS THE STAFF. SOME CELEBRATIONS 89% OF PARENTS OR GUARDIANS SAY, THE STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT THE RULES AND EXPECTATIONS, 84% OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS SAY STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AT SCHOOL, AND 99% OF STAFF MEMBERS SAY STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT THE RULES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR BEHAVIOR IN THE HALLWAYS IN THE CLASSROOMS. SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR US FOR GROWTH. 34% OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS SAY STUDENT MISBEHAVIOR IN CLASSROOMS MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN. 24% OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS SAY STUDENTS DO NOT TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT, AND 52% OF STAFF MEMBERS SAY INAPPROPRIATE STUDENT LANGUAGE IS A PROBLEM. THOSE WERE THE THREE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM THE ANALYTICS THAT WERE OUTLIERS. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON OUR MTSS PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE MULTI TIERED STRUCTURED SUPPORTS. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. IN SUMMARY, IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE TEAM OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING, THAT THEIR SOLE FOCUS IS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH SOCIAL EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORS. WE HAVE CHARACTER STRONG, WHICH IS OUR CURRICULUM THAT WE IMPLEMENTED TWO, THREE YEARS AGO. >> TWO FULL. >> TWO FULL, ONE PILOT YEAR. TWO FULL YEARS AGO. THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR INTO IT TO IMPROVE BEHAVIOR, SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH. CONTINUE TO EDUCATE STAFF ON CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND IDEAS FOR INCORPORATING CULTURAL INFLUENCES IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. AND THAT GOES ALONG WELL WITH OUR DUAL LANGUAGE INITIATIVE, I THINK, THAT DOES. SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE CULTURAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO FAMILIES, [01:15:05] AND THEN DEEPEN FAMILY AND SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS BY EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF FAMILY FOCUSED EVENTS AND ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO INTERACT WITH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP. >> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE, NOT THE NEXT SLIDE. ON THE OPPORTUNITIES, MRS. BEMIS, ARE THOSE NUMBERS CONSISTENT FROM YEAR TO YEAR? >> YEAH. WHAT I WILL SAY IS BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN IN THERE THE LAST THREE YEARS LIKE THAT SAYS THAT IT CAN. IS IN THE OUTLIERS THAT PARENTS FEEL THAT IT INTERRUPTS LEARNING FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE DON'T WANT 34% OF OUR PARENTS TO FEEL THAT WAY. I WILL TELL YOU THE INAPPROPRIATE STUDENT LANGUAGE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS EVER REALLY COME UP TO OUR ATTENTION BEFORE. THAT WAS NEW THIS YEAR. OTHERWISE, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT EVERY BUILDING AND THEN AS A DISTRICT, WE CREATE OUR OWN GOALS AND ACTION STEPS ON HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING IT, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE WORKING. BUT WHILE WE FOCUSED ON THAT, I THINK WE DO BELIEVE THAT THAT CULTURAL ASPECT IS WHERE WE GOT LOST, THAT WE WERE FOCUSING MORE ON BEHAVIOR AND SUPPORTS FOR KIDS FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS, AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE GO LIKE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR DATA WAS SHOWING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME OUR DATA HAD THE OUTLIERS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT COME UP BEFORE, BUT THAT THE CULTURAL COMPONENT WAS IN THOSE KEY TAKEAWAYS. THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN IT IN THAT BIG OF A TAKEAWAY. THAT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR, TOO. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, BOARD MEMBERS? >> DIRECTOR GEORGE. >> DIRECTOR MILLER. >> DOES THE BOARD HAVE ACCESS TO THE RAW DATA FROM THE SURVEY COMPANY? >> RESULTS THAT WERE SENT TO- WE CAN GIVE YOU THE WHOLE PACKET. YES. IT'S IT'S ABOUT I WANT TO SAY, LIKE 70 QUESTIONS. I CAN HAVE SEANIECE SEND IT OUT TO THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT'D BE GREAT. THANKS. >> THE BOARD MEMBERS, DISCUSSION CITIZEN INPUT ON THIS. THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES THE RESULT OF THE 2025, 2026 DISTRICT CLIMATE SURVEY. ITEM E-LANGUAGE TRANSLATION INTERPRETATION SERVICES, DR. DORA YOUNG. [X.E.Language Translation and Interpretation Services – Dr. Dora Jung] IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT WITH TRANS PERFECT INTERNATIONAL LLC TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LANGUAGE INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATION SERVICES TO THE DISTRICT? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BOARD? SEANIECE, AN CITIZEN INPUT? >> NO. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY. MOTION PASSES 7-0. SHARED VISIONS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM GRANT, [X.F.Shared Visions Preschool Program Grant – Jarod Mozer] THE JARED MOSER IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURSUIT OF A GRANT FUNDING THROUGH SHARED VISIONS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM GRANT. TOTAL FUNDING RECEIVED THROUGH THE GRANT WOULD BE UP TO 30,000 ESTIMATE. IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> SO MOVED. >> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BOARD? SEANIECE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? >> NO. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY, MOTION PASSES 7-0. [X.G.East High Wheelchair Lift Replacement – Tim Paul] EAST HIGH WHEELCHAIR LIFT REPLACEMENT. TIM PAUL IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION IF THERE IS ANY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BID FOR WHEELCHAIR DYNAMICS FOR REPLACEMENT WHEELCHAIR LIFT AT EAST HIGH IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,468? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I THINK YOU BRIEFLY HEARD IT IN THE FACILITY PORTION WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT EAST HIGH AND KIDS HAVING TO GO OUTSIDE BECAUSE THE CHAIR LIFT IS NOT WORKING. SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT RIGHT NOW. SEANIECE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? >> NO. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. MOTION IS APPROVED 7-0. CONTRACT FOR BOARD APPROVAL, [X.H.Contracts for Board Approval – Jim Vanderloo/ Jarod Mozer] JIM LU, JARED MOSER, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND EXECUTE THE CONTRACT TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING AND ACTIVITIES? >> I MOVED. [01:20:01] >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. BOARD IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SHANE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION IS APPROVED 70. SECOND AND FINAL READING OF BOARD POLICIES, 105 ASSISTANT ANIMALS, [X.I.Second & Final Reading of Board Policies] 400.1, CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICS AND CODE OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. 503.5 TITLE 1 PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, 505.14 CLOSED CAMPUS, 521.3 INTERVIEW BY OR ON BEHALF OF EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES, 602.9 MULTICULTURAL GENDER FARE APPROACHES TO THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, 605.4 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, 606.3 ANIMALS IN THE CLASSROOM, 691.1 SCHOOL CALENDAR, 904.0 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AIRBORNE DEVICES, DRONES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LISTED BOARD POLICY FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEANIECE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT? >> NO. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY, MOTION PASSES 7-0. [X.J.First Reading of Board Policies] FIRST, READING OF BOARD POLICIES, 205.1 REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES, 502.8, REASONABLE FORCE AND PHYSICAL RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION, 504.10, STUDENT INJURY AND ILLNESS AT SCHOOL, 709 TRANSPORTING STUDENTS AND PRIVATE VEHICLES, 709.6, ELECTIVE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BOARD THE ABOVE BOARD POLICY FOR FIRST READING? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE FIRST, WE HAVE SECOND. BOARD IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEANIECE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT? >> NO. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES 7-0. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY, WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.