Feb 23, 2026 Board Meetings

BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA, SAY AYE.

AYE.

TODAY, OUR GOOD NEWS REPORT IS

THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.

[V.A. West High School]

WEST HIGH SCHOOL.

WE WILL NOW SEE THE GOOD NEWS REPORT.

WELCOME TO WEST HIGH SCHOOL.

MY NAME IS REBECCA REGAN.

I'M SERVICE PRINCIPAL HERE AT WEST HIGH SCHOOL.

WE ARE LOCATED AT 2001 CASTLEMAN AND WE ARE THE HOME OF THE WOLVERINES.

I'M GABE HOLGERS.

I'M OUR ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR AND ONE OF OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.

I SUPPORT JUNIORS.

HI, I'M LORINDA VANDENMAAL.

I'M THE 10TH GRADE PRINCIPAL HERE AND I SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS BEING ENGAGED IN ACTIVITY AND HEADED FOR GRADUATION.

HI, MY NAME IS JAN HUSK.

I'M THE FRESHMAN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.

I WORK WITH FRESHMEN FOR ALL THINGS THAT THEY NEED EVERY DAY.

AS A NEW STUDENT, WEST HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE FIRST INTRODUCED BY OUR WONDERFUL OFFICE STAFF.

THE NEXT STEP ON YOUR JOURNEY AS A NEW STUDENT AT WEST HIGH IS MEETING WITH ONE OF OUR GRADE LEVEL COUNSELORS WHO WILL HELP YOU DESIGN A SCHEDULE THAT'S BEST FOR YOU.

YOUR SCHEDULE WILL CONSIST OF REQUIRED CORE CLASSES AS WELL AS ELECTIVES OF YOUR CHOICE.

STUDENTS AT WEST HIGH SCHOOL ENJOY EATING THEIR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH IN OUR DEN, WHICH IS UNIQUE TO WEST HIGH SCHOOL.

WEST HIGH SCHOOL IS KNOWN FOR OUR SCHOOL SPIRIT.

WE LOVE OUR PEP ASSEMBLY AND OUR SCHOOL DRESS UP DAYS.

HERE AT WEST HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE MANY ACTIVITIES TO CHOOSE FROM.

WE HAVE ALL SPORTS LIKE DANCE, CHEER, CROSS COUNTRY, FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, GIRLS SWIM, BOYS GOLF, GIRLS TENNIS.

IN OUR WINTER ACTIVITIES, WE HAVE GIRLS AND BOYS BASKETBALL, BOYS SWIM, GIRLS AND BOYS WRESTLING, GIRLS AND BOYS BOWLING.

IN OUR SPRING AND SUMMER TIME, WE HAVE TRACK, GIRLS AND BOYS SOCCER, GIRLS GOLF, BOYS TENNIS, SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL.

WE HAVE A FALL PLAY, A SPRING MUSICAL, ALONG WITH SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAMS. AND THEN WE HAVE MANY CLUBS AND GROUPS TO CHOOSE FROM LIKE STUDENT COUNCIL, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, COLOR GUARD, DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, COMIC CLUB, ROBOTICS, QUIZ BOWL, YEARBOOK, HERO CLUB, SCRIBBLERS, E-SPORTS.

THERE ARE MANY ACTIVITIES HERE AT WEST HIGH SCHOOL.

FIND SOME TIME TO GET YOURSELF INVOLVED.

OUR WEST HIGH FAMILIES ARE INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE AND OUR STAFF ARE HIGHLY DEDICATED TO ENSURING EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS.

WE ARE ALSO VERY PROUD OF OUR SCHOOL'S DIVERSITY AND ALL THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO OUR STUDENTS.

WE HAVE MANY COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAY OPTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE ALTERNATIVE ELL OR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING.

WE HAVE MANY OPTIONS FOR THOSE STUDENTS AS WELL.

AS PRINCIPAL, I WORK MOST CLOSELY WITH OUR 12TH GRADE TEAM TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS ARE ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION.

SEEING OUR GRADUATES WALK ACROSS THE STAGE HAS BEEN A HIGHLIGHT OF MY CAREER.

HERE AT WEST HIGH SCHOOL, WE ARE WEST.

[VI. Citizen Input ]

AT THIS TIME, IT'S TIME TO SEND US IN.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS INVITING MEMBERS AND DELEGATIONS TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON ANY ISSUES RELATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ON TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.

SYSTEM INPUT ON ACTION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE TIME OF DISCUSSION OF EACH AGENDA ITEM.

SHANICE, IS THERE ANY SYSTEM INPUT TODAY? YES.

I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS.

WE ARE LOCAL 234.

WE REPRESENT THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE STAFF HERE AT SIOUX CITY SCHOOLS.

I RECENTLY TOOK

[00:05:01]

OVER THE BUSINESS AGENT ROLE FOR THE SCHOOL.

I'M JUST HERE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE BOARD.

LEGEND CAMPBELL IN SIOUX CITY.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS LEGEND CAMPBELL, AND I AM A JUNIOR AT NORTH HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY PRO START 2 CLASS.

I'M GRATEFUL TO SPEAK AND SHARE ABOUT THE IMPACT OUR PROGRAM HAS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THIS PREVIOUS WEEK, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO THE IOWA STATE CAPITOL, WHERE I MET WITH STATE SENATOR KAITLAN DRANG, REPRESENTATIVE J.D. SCHOLTEN, AND DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION MCKENZIE SNOW TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR SCHOOL'S PRO START PROGRAM AND HIGHLIGHT THE CRITICAL ROLE CTE PLAYS IN IOWA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM.

DURING THESE CONVERSATIONS, WE DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE FUNDING AND HOW INVESTMENT IN CTE PROGRAMS DIRECTLY IMPACTS STUDENT SUCCESS, WORKFORCE READINESS, AND LOCAL ECONOMIC GROWTH.

I APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH SENATOR KAITLAN DRANG AND DIRECTOR MCKENZIE SNOW ABOUT ENSURING THAT STUDENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY, HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

ALTHOUGH I DO NOT PERSONALLY PLAN TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE CULINARY FIELD, PRO START HAS OPENED DOORS FOR ME THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND COOKING.

IT HAS GIVEN ME LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE, PUBLIC SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE CONFIDENCE TO ADVOCATE FOR MY EDUCATION.

THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH LEGISLATORS AT THE CAPITOL AND SERVE A YEAR-LONG INTERNSHIP WITH THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS A SUMMER INTERNSHIP FOR THE SIOUX CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION.

THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE SHAPED MY PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND SHOW ME HOW POWERFUL CTE PROGRAMS CAN BE, EVEN FOR STUDENTS WHOSE CAREER PATHS MAY LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

CURRENTLY, OUR PRO START 2 TEAM IS PREPARING FOR OUR STATE COMPETITION ON MARCH 3RD.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT SINCE EARLY OCTOBER, AND WE HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH DEVELOPING A COMPLETE FOOD TRUCK CONCEPT, INCLUDING A DETAILED BUSINESS PLAN, BRANDING STRATEGY, FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS, AND INTERIOR DESIGN CONCEPT.

THIS PROJECT REQUIRES US TO THINK LIKE ENTREPRENEURS, COLLABORATE EFFECTIVELY, AND APPLY REAL-WORLD BUSINESS PRINCIPLES.

PROGRAMS LIKE PRO START DO MORE THAN TEACH TECHNICAL SKILLS.

THEY DEVELOP LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY, TEAMWORK, AND COMMUNICATION.

THESE ARE ALL TRANSFERABLE SKILLS THAT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN ANY CAREER FIELD.

I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT NORTH HIGH SCHOOL AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONVERSATIONS TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN IOWA.

I HOPE TO HAVE THE BOARD'S CONTINUED SUPPORT IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK THE BOARD FOR INVESTING IN STUDENTS LIKE ME.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, LEGEND.

DENISE, ANY OTHER? NOT AT THIS TIME.

[VII. Consent Action Item(s) ]

ALL RIGHT, CONSENT ACTION ITEMS. THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS ARE THE FOLLOWING.

BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 9TH, 2026.

BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 19TH, 2026.

AND FINANCE REPORT, PATTY BLANKENSHIP.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS? SO MOVED.

WE HAVE A FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DENISE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT? NO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS ARE APPROVED.

[VIII. Board Committee Reports]

IT'S TIME FOR BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS.

WHICH ONE OF US WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? DIRECTOR HANSON.

THE FINANCE AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE MET LAST MONDAY AND TALKED ABOUT MANY OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA TODAY, INCLUDING SOME OF THE PURCHASES THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA, THE SCHOOL NUTRITION BUDGET, A SECOND LOOK AT THE ENTIRE BUDGET, THE REVIEW OF ALL FUNDS.

I JUST REMEMBER THE WORDING FOR THAT, SOME TECHNOLOGY REPLACEMENTS, AND SO ON.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE REPORT I HAVE ON THAT.

UNLESS ONE OF THE OTHERS HAS MORE.

LEIGH.

I DO WANT TO SAY, LEGEND, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS EVENING.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE EARLIER THIS MORNING THE STUDENTS PREPARING FOR THEIR COMPETITION IN MARCH, AND IT WAS A HOUSE FULL OF BUSINESS OWNERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT OUR STUDENTS FROM SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRESENTED.

THEY CAME IN ON FIRE.

THEY WERE ASTUTE.

THEY ANSWERED QUESTIONS.

THEY WERE VERY CONFIDENT, AND THEY WILL REPRESENT US VERY

[00:10:02]

WELL.

THAT WAS JUST THIS MORNING, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR LEIGH.

DIRECTOR EMKE.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE ALSO MET, HAD A VERY GOOD MEETING.

WE WERE FOCUSING OUR DISCUSSION ON ONE OF THE ENDEAVORS THAT WE HOPEFULLY WILL APPROVE IN THE BUDGET TODAY THAT HAS TO DO WITH ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AT SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN SPECIAL NEED TO GET THAT ASSISTANCE TO HELP WITH THE YOUNGEST OF CHILDREN WHO COME UNPREPARED FOR SCHOOL.

WE DO HAVE CHILDREN WHO, WHEN WE SAY THEY'RE NOT VERBAL, WE MEAN THEY CANNOT FORM A WORD.

THAT MEANS THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND A WORD, SO WHEN THEY'RE ASKED TO SIT IN A CHAIR, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THEY MAY COME UNPREPARED TO HANDLE THEMSELVES WITH REGARD TO TOILET MATTERS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, AND THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, IS WHAT WE'RE FACING IN SOME OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND IT DOES REQUIRE US TO GIVE IT ATTENTION.

AND THE ATTENTION WE'RE GETTING IS THAT THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE DISRUPTIVE, IF THEY ARE DISRUPTIVE, THEY THEN WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF THE CLASS SO IT DOESN'T DISRUPT THE WHOLE CLASS.

SO THIS, AS WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE BUDGET WE'RE LOOKING AT TONIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE? I'LL TAKE JUST A LITTLE TIME.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THESE TIE WRESTLERS THAT QUALIFIED FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENTS THIS PAST WEEK.

I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE ALL TEACHERS OF THE YEARS IN THEIR BUILDINGS.

I KNOW A COUPLE OF THEM.

NOAH TOWNS FROM WEST HIGH, CHRIS, WE JUST SAW, AND THE WEST HIGH WOLVERINE, GOOD NEWS.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THOSE TEACHERS FOR THE JOB THAT THEY DO AND THEIR PEERS RECOGNIZING THAT THEY DO A GREAT JOB.

IT SHOULD INSPIRE THE YOUNGER TEACHERS TO FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLES.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE TEACHERS OF THE YEARS THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT.

THAT ENDS MY REPORT.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER DEALS, WE'LL GO ON TO FUTURE MEETINGS.

[IX. Future Meetings]

WE HAVE NEXT STEP NETWORKING EVENT AT 5 P.M. FEBRUARY 24TH, SIOUX CITY CAREER ACADEMY, 627 4TH STREET, SECOND FLOOR, YOU COME IN AT THE STEPS AND GO ON UP.

THAT'S TOMORROW AT 5.

SCA OPENING PROPOSALS, 4-15, FEBRUARY 25TH, HERE IN THE BOARDROOM.

AND THEN WE HAVE C-SPA OPENING PROPOSAL AT 4-30, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2026, HERE IN THE BOARDROOM.

WE HAVE AN IN-DEPTH MEETING FOLLOWING THAT FOR THE BOARD AT 5 P.M., FEBRUARY 25TH, 2026, IN THE ESC BOARDROOM.

WE HAVE THE EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE FORUM THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, AT 8.30 A.M., HERE IN THE BOARDROOM.

I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE A DONUT GUY LIKE I AM.

BOARD FINANCE FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING, 3 P.M., MARCH 2ND, 2026, ESC BOARDROOM.

BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE, 12 P.M., MARCH 4TH, 2026, ESC BOARDROOM.

REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 6 P.M., MARCH 9TH, 2026, ESC BOARDROOM.

DISTRICT INITIAL OPENING TO SCA, 4-15, MARCH 11TH, 2026, ESC BOARDROOM.

DISTRICT INITIAL OPENING TO C-SPA, 4-30, MARCH 11TH, 2026, ESC BOARDROOM.

AND WE HAVE BOARD FINANCE FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING, 3 P.M., MARCH 16TH, ESC BOARDROOM.

BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING, 3-30 P.M., MARCH 17TH, 2026, ESC BOARDROOM.

BOARD STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING, 12 P.M., MARCH 18TH, 2026, ESC BOARDROOM.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, 5-15 P.M., MARCH 19TH, 2026, ESC BOARDROOM.

REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 6 P.M., MARCH 23RD, 2026, ESC BOARDROOM.

EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE FORUM, 8-30 A.M., MARCH 28TH, 2026, ESC BOARDROOM.

THE EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE FORUM, THAT'S IMPORTANT IF YOU WANT YOUR EDUCATIONAL POLICIES ADDRESSED WHILE WE HAVE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS DOWN AT THE BOARD.

HOLDEN MCCONNELL.

YES, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY? I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO HERE ON THE GROUND.

[X.A. Human Resources Report(s) – Barb Caskey]

OKAY, WE ARE AT THE ITEMS OF PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND OR ACTION, HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT.

BARB KASKE IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

BOARD MEMBERS,

[00:15:01]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT? SO MOVED.

FIRST, MAY I SAY, BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DIRECTOR GEORGE? YES.

THERE IS A STIPEND IN HERE THAT I DON'T KNOW WE HAVE DISCUSSED OR I DON'T KNOW THE BASIS FOR, SO CAN ANYBODY CALCULATE OR TELL ME HOW WE CALCULATED THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT AND WHY WE THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME? IT'S A STIPEND FOR THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT, ANGELA BEMITZ, FOR THE AMOUNT OF $25,000.

IT'S A STIPEND BASED ON HER FILLING IN AS THE ROLE OF SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE PAST, I CALCULATED, 52 DAYS.

AND I FIGURED IT AT APPROXIMATELY $480 A DAY, WHICH WOULD COME UP JUST SHY OF $40 SHY OF $25,000.

AND THE REASON WHY THE STIPEND IS THERE IS BECAUSE IT IS WELL BEYOND WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER A SHORT-TERM FILL-IN, ENSURING THE CONTINUITY AND STABILITY OF OUR LEADERSHIP.

SHE CONTINUED TO NOT ONLY DO HER JOB, BUT THE JOB OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, MANAGING BOTH ROLES SIMULTANEOUSLY.

SHE MAINTAINED A SUSTAINED EFFORT, EXPANDED HOURS, LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY.

POSSESSED THE QUALIFICATIONS AND THE EXPERIENCE AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO CARRY OUT SUPERINTENDENT DUTIES EFFECTIVELY.

AND THROUGHOUT THE EXPERIENCE, THE DISTRICT CONTINUED TO OPERATE WITHOUT DISRUPTION.

BASICALLY, HER EXPANDED DUTIES WERE WELL BEYOND NORMAL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

DENISE, IS THERE ANY SUBSTANTIVE QUESTIONS? YES, ANGELA CONWAY.

IS ANGELA HERE? OKAY.

THEN NONE AT THIS TIME.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL ON THIS.

[X.B. FY27 School Nutrition Budget – Patty Blankenship]

MOVING ON TO THE FISCAL YEAR SCHOOL NUTRITION BUDGET.

PATTY BLANKENSHIP.

DO YOU WANT ME TO ASK QUESTIONS AS YOU GO? THAT'S FINE.

SO THIS IS OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE SCHOOL NUTRITION BUDGET.

THIS IS JUST SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THAT FUND.

THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND, SO IT OPERATES MORE LIKE A BUSINESS WOULD OPERATE.

IT USES FULL ACCRUAL BASIS ACCOUNTING.

FEDERAL REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ED ANNUALLY REVIEW THE OPERATING BALANCE OF THE SCHOOL'S LUNCH PROGRAM.

IF THE OPERATING BALANCE EXCEEDS THREE MONTHS OF THE NORMAL OPERATING COST, THEN WE HAVE TO REDUCE THAT.

BASICALLY, IT'S THE FUND BALANCE HAS TO BE REDUCED.

SO FOR FY24, OUR OPERATING BALANCE WAS 4.34.

FOR FY25, IT WAS 3.78.

AND THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ED HAD WAIVED THE THREE-POINT, YOU KNOW, THEY MONITOR IT, BUT THEY WERE OKAY WITH THOSE RATIOS THAT WERE OVER, EXCEEDED THREE.

AND PROJECTING FOR FY26, WHEN FY26 IS OVER, WE WILL BE BACK WITHIN THE GUIDELINES THREE OR LESS.

THE SOURCES OF REVENUE ARE REALLY ONLY THE FOOD SALES TO STUDENTS AND ADULTS.

WE HAVE SOME OTHER FACILITIES THAT WE CONTRACT MEALS WITH, AND THEN THE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS FOR OPERATING THE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS.

THE ONLY EXPENSES YOU CAN HAVE IN THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND ARE BASICALLY THE DIRECT EXPENSES OF OPERATING THEM, DIRECT, YOU KNOW, WAGES, SUPPLIES, THE FOOD COSTS, AND SOME REPAIRS TO EQUIPMENT, BUT IT CAN'T BE LIKE BUILT-IN EQUIPMENT.

SO THE REPAIRS ARE SOMEWHAT RESTRICTED.

AND THEN WE ARE ALLOWED THE GENERAL FUND CHARGES, THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND, AND INDIRECT COSTS FOR THE INDIRECT COSTS.

YOU CAN'T MAKE TRANSFERS TO OR

[00:20:01]

FROM THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND.

ANY MONEY IN THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND HAS TO STAY IN THERE, AND THE GENERAL FUND CAN'T MAKE TRANSFERS TO THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND, UNLESS IT'S FOR, YOU KNOW, LIKE MAYBE USING FLEXIBILITY DOLLARS, YOU COULD MAKE A TRANSFER IN, BUT IN GENERAL, YOU CAN'T USE THE GENERAL FUND MONEY TO SUBSIDIZE THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM.

THIS JUST SHOWS, THIS IS JUST INFORMATIONAL.

IT SHOWS THE 25-26 COST BY GRADE LEVEL FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.

THIS IS THE BUDGET.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE FY25 ACTUAL REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.

THE CHANGE IN NET POSITION WAS A DECREASE OF ABOUT $488,000, WHICH WAS SOMEWHAT OF A, WE PLANNED THAT SOMEWHAT ADDING THE CPE SCHOOLS.

WE KNEW THAT THE CEP SITES, WE KNEW THAT WE WOULD REDUCE FUND BALANCE, BUT WE ALSO WERE IN A POSITION WHERE WE KIND OF NEEDED TO BRING THE FUND BALANCE DOWN TO FIT WITHIN THAT THREE RATIO.

FOR FY26, I'VE RE-ESTIMATED THE BUDGET AT $10.8 MILLION IN REVENUE AND ALMOST $12 MILLION IN TOTAL EXPENSES, WHICH WILL BE ABOUT A $1.2 MILLION LOSS IN THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND.

THAT WILL BRING THAT FUND BALANCE OR NET POSITION DOWN TO ABOUT $4.3 MILLION.

I THINK THAT WILL BE WITHIN THE 3% CALCULATION.

IF YOU GO INTO FY27, HAVE A PROPOSED REVENUE BUDGET OF $10.9 MILLION, NOT A LOT OF INCREASE.

ON THE REVENUE SIDE, ABOUT $12.2 MILLION OF EXPENSES, WHICH WOULD BE A $1.3 MILLION DECREASE IN CHANGE IN NET POSITION, WOULD LEAVE US WITH JUST ABOUT A $3 MILLION FUND BALANCE.

I THINK ON THE $12.2 MILLION ON MY EXPENDITURES, I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD ESTIMATES.

ON THE REVENUE SIDE, THE $10.9 MILLION, THAT MAY CHANGE AS WE GET FURTHER INTO MAY.

I THINK WE START LOOKING AT THE CPE SITES.

WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA.

CPE SITES ARE WHERE IT'S FREE FOR EVERYBODY IN THE BUILDING.

YOU CAN'T CALCULATE THAT.

THAT NUMBER IS BASED ON SOME DATA THAT IS RELEASED ON APRIL 1ST.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION RIGHT NOW.

WE ALSO DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT RATE WILL INCREASE.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THOSE REVENUES, I THINK I'M VERY CONSERVATIVE ON THE REVENUES, THE REVENUES COULD INCREASE, BUT I'M REALLY TRYING TO LOCK IN THE EXPENSE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN FILE THE BUDGET.

THE MINIMUM PRICE PER MEAL IS DETERMINED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LUNCH EQUITY TOOL.

IT'S CALLED THE PLE TOOL.

THAT TOOL, WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH MEAL PRICES AT NO LESS THAN THE MINIMUM CALCULATED PER THAT PLE TOOL.

IT'S CALLED THE PAID LUNCH EQUITY TOOL.

IT'S NOT AVAILABLE YET, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT RICH WORKS WITH.

RICH WILL COME FORWARD AND MAKE PROPOSALS ON HOW MUCH HE THINKS WHAT THE MEAL PRICES SHOULD BE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

RIGHT NOW, HE IS ANTICIPATING THAT THE DISTRICT WILL BE REQUIRED TO INCREASE THE PRICE OF LUNCH BY 65 CENTS AND THE PRICE OF BREAKFAST WILL INCREASE BY 15 CENTS.

WHO REQUIRES US TO RAISE IT? IT'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LUNCH TOOL.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ESSENTIALLY SETS THE MINIMUM PRICE THAT WE HAVE TO CHARGE FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.

AT THE BOTTOM THERE, I KIND OF HAVE THAT IN BOLD THERE, THAT ONCE THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND OPERATING BALANCE IS AT THE THREE MONTHS NORMAL OPERATING COST, WHICH WE WILL NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE EXPENDITURES.

EXPENDITURES FOR FY27 WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE REDUCED IN SOME WAY.

THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACKNOWLEDGES THE INFORMATION PRESENTED REGARDING THE FY27 BUDGET FOR THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND.

THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION.

WE'LL LOOK AT THIS AGAIN ON THE REVENUE SIDE IN OUR MAY MEETING WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CEP SITES THAT NEED RECERTIFIED.

RICHARD, WE SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT MEAL INCREASES BY THEN.

BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DENISE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT? NO.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACKNOWLEDGES THE INFORMATION PRESENTED REGARDING THE FY27 BUDGET FOR THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND.

PRESIDENT GEORGE, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, ANGELA CONWAY DID EMAIL ME.

IT LOOKS LIKE SHE WANTS

[00:25:01]

TO PARTICIPATE VIA PHONE.

SO I'VE, YOU KNOW, GOT GUIDANCE FROM LEGAL COUNSEL, BUT I'M JUST ASKING YOU IF THAT'S OKAY IF WE CAN GO BACK TO CALL MS. CONWAY AND HAVE HER SPEAK ON THAT ITEM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO RE-VOTE ON IT BECAUSE WE ALREADY VOTED ON IT, RIGHT? IS SHE ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE MEETING? SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ON THE MIC.

BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT HER QUESTIONS MAY HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.

YOU CAN HAVE THE MIC.

DIRECTOR MILLER'S QUESTION MAY BE THIS.

OR THEY MAY NOT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING FOR THAT EXPLANATION.

DO YOU WANT TO CALL HER RIGHT NOW? YEAH.

WHENEVER YOU ARE READY.

MY STATEMENT TODAY IS BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND DOCUMENTATION IN MY POSSESSION.

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF MY EMPLOYER OR ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH ME.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS BE HONORED AND THAT THERE IS NO RETALIATION FOR DOING SO.

I HAVE PREVIOUSLY LIVED IN SIOUX CITY AND HAD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER WITH THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I AM SPEAKING TODAY REGARDING THE STIPEND OF $25,000 TO ANGELA BEMIS.

IN APRIL OF 2022, I PUBLICLY ASKED ANGELA BEMIS WHETHER SHE WAS PURSUING THE ASSOCIATED SUPERINTENDENTS.

ANGELA, THIS IS SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT MR. GEORGE.

THE COMMENTS HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE STIPEND, NOT THE INDIVIDUAL.

THESE ARE DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH MY CONCERN ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, WHICH I DO FEEL IS ALIGNED WITH THE $25,000 STIPEND.

WELL, WE CAN'T GET INTO AN EVALUATIVE PERFORMANCE.

IT'S EITHER THE POLICY THAT YOU'RE DIRECTING IT TO, WHICH WOULD BE IN GENERAL TO ALL STIPENDS, OR JUST ONE INDIVIDUAL.

YES, AND I WILL DISCUSS THAT.

I GUESS MY CONCERN THAT I'M SPEAKING ABOUT IS THE CONTINUED LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH, HONESTLY, THIS PERSON AND THESE PROCESSES.

IF THERE IS ANOTHER PART OF THE MEETING THAT YOU WOULD PREFER ME TO ADDRESS, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

WELL, YOUR OPTIONS ARE TO EMAIL A FORMAL CONCERN OR COMPLAINT TO MYSELF AND THE VICE PRESIDENT, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WISH TO DO.

WHEN I DID THAT, I WAS IGNORED.

I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS AS A TRANSPARENCY ISSUE PREVIOUSLY IN THE PAST.

AND WHEN I ATTENDED TO ADDRESS THOSE WITH YOURSELF AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, I WAS ACTUALLY TOLD THAT I COULDN'T.

SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO HANDLE THIS IF I CONTINUE TO BE TOLD I'M NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

WELL, NUMBER ONE, WELL, ALL I CAN SAY, ANGELA, IS I'VE NOT RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM YOU.

WE'RE DEALING WITH THE STIPEND IN 2026.

CORRECT, CORRECT. THIS IS ALL RELATED. THERE ISN'T SOMETHING THAT ISN'T RELATED.

I HONESTLY FEEL THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CENSOR WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.

NO, YOU HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO EMAIL ME OR VICE PRESIDENT LEE OR BOTH.

DID YOU RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM ME YESTERDAY? NO.

CAN I ASK, DID ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM YOU YESTERDAY? YES, WE DID.

[00:30:01]

TWO HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE, BUT THERE'S SEVEN ON THE BOARD.

IT WAS SENT TO EVERY BOARD MEMBER, ALL SEVEN? NO, I DID NOT RECEIVE IT.

I'M SORRY THAT YOU DIDN'T, OR THAT YOU'RE STATING THAT YOU DIDN'T, BUT IT WAS SENT TO ALL SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS.

AND I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

REGARDING THE STIPEND, NOT THE INDIVIDUAL.

I AM SPEAKING REGARDING THE STIPEND, AND I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU SEND IT OVER.

WELL, IF IT GOES BEYOND THE STIPEND ITSELF, THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

OKAY, WELL, I'M GOING TO READ WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, WHICH IS IN REGARDS TO THE TRANSPARENCY, WHICH IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE STIPEND.

SO AM I ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WITH WHAT I WAS STATING? REGARDING THE STIPEND AND NOT THE INDIVIDUAL.

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO TRANSPARENCY, AND IT ABSOLUTELY IS IN REGARDS TO THE STIPEND, YES.

IF YOU WOULD HAVE READ THE EMAIL THAT I SENT YESTERDAY, I SENT IT TO YOU.

YOU HAD SENT ME THE EMAIL.

TO PREVIEW, AND IT WAS SENT TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOU TO PREVIEW, BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO SEND ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING TO CAUSE DISRUPTION OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES, BUT I DID WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

TO THE STIPEND.

THIS IS ADDRESSING TRANSPARENCY IN REGARDS TO THE STIPEND THAT ANGELA BEMIS IS RECEIVING.

ABSOLUTELY.

MAY I CONTINUE? YES.

SO IN APRIL 2022, I ASKED BEMIS WHETHER SHE WAS PURSUING THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT POSITION.

WE'VE GOT TO STOP YOU THERE.

THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STIPEND TODAY.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT ALLOWED ME TO SPEAK.

I FEEL THAT YOU'VE BEEN DIRECTED TO CENSOR ME.

THAT IS WHAT I FEEL.

YOU HAVE NOT EVEN ALLOWED ME TO FINISH MY SENTENCE.

WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY HERE.

HE CAN ADDRESS THAT ISSUE WITH YOU, ANGELA.

THAT WOULD BE FINE.

YEAH, I'VE PROVIDED THE BOARD WITH, OR PRESIDENT GEORGE WITH ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATION BEFORE.

YOU HAVE A POLICY THAT ADDRESSES PUBLIC COMMENT, AND IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT COMPLAINTS ABOUT INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE, THOSE KINDS OF COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD IN WRITTEN COMMUNICATION, NOT IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

THAT'S WHY I THINK YOU'RE TAKING THE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

ANYTHING SHE SAYS THAT CONSTITUTES A COMPLAINT OR A CONCERN THAT SHE HAS REGARDING AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF YOUR POLICY.

YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING YOUR POLICY IF YOU LET HER CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT INDIVIDUAL OR LET HER CONCERNS BE KNOWN AS TO THE INDIVIDUAL DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

DID YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. MOELLER SAID? ARE YOU STILL THERE? YOU MAY HAVE TO RESTATE THAT, RICHARD.

YOU MAY HAVE TO RESTATE THAT.

WE MUST HAVE LOST YOU THERE, ANGELA.

YES, IT WAS DISCONNECTED SOMEHOW.

RICHARD, DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK OVER THAT AGAIN? WELL, IF SHE'S WATCHING ON TEAM, SHE MAY HAVE HEARD RICHARD'S COMMENT.

CAN WE CONFIRM WHETHER SHE HEARD THAT OR NOT? DID YOU HEAR RICHARD'S ASSESSMENT? I COULD NOT HEAR HIM, NO.

YOU HAVE A BOARD POLICY THAT ADDRESSES PUBLIC COMMENTS.

IT'S BOARD POLICY NUMBER 204.15.

IT MAKES A DISTINCTION BETWEEN A SPECIFIC COMPLAINT OR CONCERN AS OPPOSED TO A POLICY CONCERN.

AND IT PROVIDES IN PART FOR SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS, INCLUDING COMPLAINTS ABOUT DISTRICT PERSONNEL, A COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE SENT IN WRITING TO THE BOARD RATHER THAN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SEGMENT OF A BOARD MEETING.

THAT'S YOUR POLICY.

[00:35:02]

THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT.

THIS IS A STATEMENT.

SO I DO NOT HAVE A COMPLAINT.

I HAVE A STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO THE $25,000 STIPEND.

WELL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT SOUNDS LIKE WHETHER YOU CALL IT A STATEMENT, IT WAS A COMPLAINT.

BUT THAT'S UP TO THE PRESIDENT TO DECIDE.

NO ONE HAS LISTENED TO IT.

I'VE READ ONE SENTENCE.

I'M SORRY.

DAN MADE A POINT.

IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT CONCERNS, WHETHER IT'S A COMPLAINT OR A CONCERN, EITHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

THE IDEA IS TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM PERSONNEL MATTERS AND INSTEAD FOCUS ON POLICY MATTERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY, SO IF I SIGN UP TO SPEAK NEXT WEEK, THEN I CAN READ MY ENTIRE STATEMENT IF I DO IT DURING THE CITIZEN PORTION? ARE YOU NOT GOING TO ALLOW ME TO READ MY STATEMENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT QUALIFY TO BE SPOKEN? DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THAT? YES.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN IT'S BEING MADE.

IT'S A COMMENT.

EXCUSE ME, IT'S ADDRESSING THE BOARD DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN IT'S PRESENTED, WHETHER IT'S AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING OR ON AN AGENDA ITEM.

IT'S STILL EXPRESSING A CONCERN OR A COMPLAINT.

CORRECT.

THE POLICY APPLIES TO ALL PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT MY STATEMENT IS, I WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK IT AT THIS MEETING? I DIDN'T CATCH THAT.

I'M SORRY.

SHE'S SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T KNOW IT, SAY THAT AGAIN, ANGELA.

EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T KNOW MY STATEMENT SINCE I'VE READ ONE SENTENCE, YOU ARE GOING TO CENSOR WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY FROM THIS MOMENT FORWARD.

IS THAT CORRECT? NOBODY'S CENSORING ANYONE.

AM I ALLOWED TO SPEAK? YOUR COMMENTS ARE BEING, OR RATHER THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS, ARE BEING GOVERNED BY THE BOARD POLICY.

I FEEL THAT YOU'RE PREDETERMINING WHAT I'M SPEAKING ABOUT.

AND, AGAIN, I SENT THIS ON EMAIL SO THAT YOU COULD PREDETERMINE IT, BUT I ABSOLUTELY DO FEEL THAT YOU'RE CENSORING WHAT I'M SAYING.

SO, I MEAN, AND YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DO SO.

I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE, I MEAN, I GUESS I CAN RELEASE IT TO THE MEDIA.

SINCE YOU WON'T ALLOW ME TO SPEAK, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

NOT RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU ARE GOING TO STOP ME FROM SPEAKING TONIGHT? IF IT STICKS TO THE STIPEND AND NOT THE INDIVIDUAL.

I CAN ONLY SPEAK ABOUT THE STIPEND.

I CAN'T SPEAK ABOUT ANGELA BEMIS, WHO'S RECEIVING THE STIPEND.

EXACTLY.

BECAUSE YOU'D BE SPEAKING TO ALL STIPENDS, NOT JUST ANYONE.

WELL, I'M GOING TO SAY, I WILL MAKE SURE, SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS IN SIOUX CITY, I WILL GET THIS POSTED TONIGHT TO SOCIAL MEDIA SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN READ IT.

ALL RIGHT.

THE PROPOSED $25,000 STIPEND IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN OTHER STIPENDS ISSUED IN THE PAST.

SO, I'M GOING TO SAY, I WILL MAKE SURE, SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS IN SIOUX CITY, THE PROPOSED $25,000 STIPEND IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN OTHER STIPENDS ISSUED IN THE PAST OF PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATORS.

AND IF THAT PERSON IS FUNCTIONING IN A SUPERINTENDENT-LEVEL CAPACITY, THEN, IN MY OPINION, SHE SHOULD BE EVALUATED PUBLICLY IN THAT CAPACITY BEFORE ANY STIPEND IS APPROVED.

AND MY CONCERN IS NOT PERSONAL.

IT IS PROCEDURAL.

AND I AM ASKING THAT THOSE BOARDS ENSURE THAT EVALUATIONS AND COMPENSATION DECISIONS ARE HANDLED TRANSPARENTLY AND CONSISTENTLY.

THERE'S A PETITION GOING AROUND SIOUX CITY.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

PLEASE SIGN IT.

PLEASE HOLD THIS BOARD ACCOUNTABLE AND REQUEST IT.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

RIDICULOUS.

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

THERE IS THAT PETITION GOING AROUND.

WE ARE ON ITEM C, FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET REVIEW OF ALL FUNDS.

[X.C. FY27 Budget – Review of All Funds – Patty Blankenship ]

PATTY BLANKENSHIP, YOU'RE UP.

SO, THIS IS, I THINK YOU ALL HAVE A PAPER COPY AS WELL.

RIGHT? SHAUNA USED TO HAVE THEIR PAPER COPY.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS EASIER TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON PAPER THAN ON THE SCREEN.

YES.

SO, WE'RE JUST REVIEWING ALL OF THE FUNDS, ALL OF THE BUDGETS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED.

SO, THIS BRINGS THEM ALL TOGETHER IN ONE DOCUMENT.

SO, A LOT OF THIS WE'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH.

AND SO, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH IT PAGE BY PAGE.

[00:40:10]

ON PAGE 5 IS THE FY27 GENERAL FUND ESTIMATED REVENUES.

AND THIS IS NOW BASED ON A 2% SSA.

WHAT YOU SAW PREVIOUSLY WAS 1.75.

THIS, I'VE MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE 2.0 SSA.

SO, THIS INCREASES THE GENERAL FUND LEVY TO $36.6 MILLION.

THE STATE FOUNDATION AID IS $145.2 MILLION.

MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES ARE $17.3 MILLION.

SO, TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUES IN THE BUDGET IS $202.5 MILLION.

SO, WHEN WE WENT FROM 1.75 SSA TO 2.0 SSA, IT REALLY DIDN'T CHANGE THE REVENUES VERY MUCH.

IT ONLY CHANGED THE REVENUE BY ABOUT $125,000.

THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE WE'RE IN THAT BUDGET GUARANTEE, WE'RE IN THAT BUDGET ADJUSTMENT.

SO, THE BUDGET, ALL THIS REALLY DOES IS MOVE SOME DOLLARS TO STATE AID.

AND IT DECREASES THE BUDGET GUARANTEE, WHICH DECREASES THE PROPERTY TAX PIECE, BUT MOVES IT TO STATE AID.

SO, IT DIDN'T REALLY INCREASE OUR TOTAL REVENUES BY VERY MUCH.

IT DID DECREASE THE GENERAL FUND LEVY TO $10.20, WHICH I THINK IS ABOUT AN 8-CENT DECREASE FROM WHAT WAS PRESENTED EARLIER.

AND IT JUST HAS TO DO, AGAIN, NO MORE DOLLARS.

IT'S JUST SHIFTING IT BACK TO THE STATE FROM THE LOCAL TAXPAYER.

PAGE 8 IS THE FY27 TARGETED EXPENDITURES.

THE ONLY CHANGE ON HERE IS THAT I RE-ESTIMATED THE AEA FLOW-THROUGH.

THAT NUMBER COMES OFF OF THE AID AND LEVY.

SINCE THE SSA IS 2% VERSUS 1.75, THAT NUMBER CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

I DID LEAVE THE INCREASE IN BASE EXPENDITURES AT THE 1.75%.

SO, IN PAST BUDGETS, WE'VE MATCHED THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES TO SSA, OR WE'VE TRIED TO.

IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE WE'RE DEFICIT SPENDING, I DIDN'T THINK IT MADE SENSE TO INCREASE THE EXPENDITURE GROWTH TO THE 2%.

MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU STILL HOLD IT AT THE 1.75%, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN ADD ABOUT YOU'RE STILL ADDING TO THE BUDGET.

WE'RE NOT REALLY TAKING CARE OF ANY OF THAT DEFICIT.

WE'RE ADDING ABOUT $3.6 MILLION IS THE MAX THAT YOU COULD INCREASE THE EXPENDITURES BY.

PAGE 9 SHOWS THE ESTIMATED INCREASES, THE ADDITIONS TO THE BUDGET, AND THE ESTIMATED REDUCTIONS.

ON THE INCREASES, IT'S ABOUT $3.6 MILLION.

THE MAXIMUM ADDITION COULD BE LESS THAN THAT FOR THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR ALL GROUPS.

THOSE ARE INCREASES ON EXISTING WAGES.

THE TOTAL ESTIMATED ADDITIONS, WE HAVE $445,000 FOR FOUR ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, $90,500 FOR STIPENDS FOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.

THAT TOTALS $535,700.

THE ESTIMATED REDUCTIONS ARE ABOUT $1.2 MILLION FOR ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM TEACHERS, THREE SECONDARY CLASSROOM TEACHERS, TWO SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM TEACHERS, AND THEN 10 SPECIAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS.

THE NET INCREASE, THEN, WOULD BE ABOUT $3.6 MILLION.

SO THAT WOULD BE ADDING, INSTEAD OF ADDING THE WHOLE 1.75, IT WOULD BE ADDING, BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTIONS, YOU'D BE ADDING ABOUT 1.4% IS WHAT THE EXPENDITURES WOULD BE GROWING BY.

PAGE 10 IS JUST A SUMMARY BY FUNCTION. OKAY, SO THEN 12, PAGE 12 SHOWS THE PROJECTED GENERAL FUND BALANCE, THE UNSPENT AUTHORIZED BALANCE, WHICH IS THAT SPENDING AUTHORITY CARRY FORWARD, AND THEN THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE 2025 ACTUALS WERE, WHAT THE PROJECTED ARE FOR 26 AND FOR 27. YOU CAN SEE FOR 26, WE'D HAVE ABOUT A 7.7 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT SPENDING. NOW THAT DOES INCLUDE ABOUT 2.5 MILLION FOR VACANT POSITIONS, AND THEN IF YOU FLOW THAT FORWARD INTO

[00:45:01]

27, WE'D BE SHOWING A 10.1 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT THAT STILL HAS THOSE VACANT POSITIONS IN THERE, PLUS THE INCREASES THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. SO YOU'D BE USING ABOUT 10.1 MILLION DOLLARS IN FUND BALANCE.

ON THE SPENDING AUTHORITY SIDE, YOU'D ONLY BE USING ABOUT 1.6 MILLION OF SPENDING AUTHORITY. THAT REVENUE FOR FY 27 DOES INCLUDE ABOUT 1.3 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS FOR THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT.

THE NEXT PAGE IS JUST THE REVISED SPENDING AUTHORITY PROJECTIONS. IT'S USING THE 2% SSA, 1.75 EXPENDITURE GROWTH.

SPENDING AUTHORITY CARRYOVER IS REALLY MAINTAINING ITSELF PRETTY DECENTLY ALL THE WAY THROUGH FY 31. YOU'D STILL BE AT A 29% UNSPENT BALANCE. YOU ARE USING RESERVES IN EACH OF THOSE YEARS, BUT WE'RE USING SPENDING AUTHORITY RESERVES AT A MUCH SMALLER RATE THAN WHAT WE WOULD BE USING FUND BALANCE RESERVES. PAGE 14 SHOWS THE PROJECTION ON THE FUND BALANCE SIDE. THE DEFICIT IS ABOUT 10.11 MILLION IN FY 27, AND JUST INCREASES A LITTLE BIT EACH YEAR. SO BY FY 31, IF WE DID NOTHING, WHICH ISN'T WHAT WE WOULD DO, THIS IS JUST A PROJECTION ASSUMING EVERYTHING STAYED THE SAME, YOU'D BE DOWN TO ABOUT A 12% FUND BALANCE RATIO OR 26.7 MILLION. AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM IT KIND OF SHOWS, WELL, WHY IS IT THAT WE'RE USING FUND BALANCE SO MUCH FASTER AT A FASTER RATE THAN WHAT WE'RE USING SPENDING AUTHORITY? AND IT'S BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE SPED DEFICIT AND THE ELL DEFICIT AND THE EL BEYOND FIVE YEARS, THE STATE GIVES US SPENDING AUTHORITY, SPENDING CAPACITY, BUT THEY DON'T GIVE US ANY CASH TO ACTUALLY FUND THOSE EXPENDITURES. PATTY, CAN I JUST ASK YOU TO CLARIFY FOR ME AGAIN, THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THOSE, I APPRECIATE THERE'S NO MONEY THAT COMES WITH THE SPENDING AUTHORITY, BUT WHERE DID WE GET THE MONEY BEFORE THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING IT NOW? WELL, IT'S WE WERE GETTING IT FROM OUR RESERVES.

ALL ALONG? WELL, YES, OR WE DIDN'T, OR OUR SPED DEFICIT AND OUR EL DEFICIT WEREN'T AS MUCH AS THEY ARE AS WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING THEM TO BE. I MEAN, I THINK OUR SPED DEFICIT WAS $4.8 MILLION FOR FY 25 AND, YOU KNOW, THE PRIOR YEARS BEFORE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY BEEN AROUND $2 MILLION. SO WE WERE USING $2 MILLION OUT OF OUR RESERVES, BUT NOW WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE USING $4.8 MILLION IS WHAT WE USED IN 25. AND SAME WITH EL. WE HAD AN $800,000 EL DEFICIT IN 25. WE DIDN'T, SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE THOSE EXPENDITURES PRIOR TO THAT.

BECAUSE WE HAD FEWER ELL STUDENTS, IS THAT WHY? WELL, I THINK WE HAD FEWER EXPENDITURES IN THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, FEWER EXPENDITURES. I THINK WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT STAFFING INCREASE IN EL IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY, SO THIS JUST SHOWS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST KIND OF A GRAPH SHOWING THE BLUE LINE IS THE SPENDING AUTHORITY, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S MUCH HIGHER AND IT'S DECREASING, BUT AT A MUCH SLOWER RATE VERSUS THE ORANGE LINE IS THE FUND BALANCE. AND THEY BOTH MATTER. WE HAVE TO TRY TO MANAGE BOTH OF THESE. THEY'RE BOTH IMPORTANT, AND ONE'S JUST MOVING AT A DIFFERENT RATE. SO IT DOES COMPLICATE HOW WE TRY TO MANAGE THE BUDGET. PATTY, IN EITHER FISCAL 29 OR 30, SOMEWHERE IN THERE, THE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO LEVY A CASH RESERVE LEVY IN THE GENERAL FUND? I THINK THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THE, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LEVY A CASH RESERVE UNTIL FY 31. SO IN, IF WE WERE IN, FOR FY 30, I DON'T THINK YOU'D STILL BE ELIGIBLE ACCORDING TO MY CALCULATIONS.

YOU WOULDN'T ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO LEVY ANY ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.

SO THAT'S ONE WAY HOW YOU WOULD FUND. HOW DO YOU FUND THESE DEFICITS, THESE, WHERE YOU GET SPENDING AUTHORITY BUT YOU DON'T GET CASH? YOU CAN FUND THOSE THINGS. RIGHT NOW WE'RE FUNDING THEM BY RESERVES, AND YOU COULD FUND THEM BY A CASH RESERVE LEVY, BUT WE WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE UNTIL FY 31. SO YOUR FUND BALANCE WOULD HAVE TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWN TO LESS THAN 38 MILLION BEFORE YOU'D BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH RESERVE LEVY. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO THEN... THAT EXPLAINS IN PART WHY OUR LEVY

[00:50:01]

PROPOSAL DOESN'T TRY TO RECOVER ANY OF THAT AT A FASTER RATE. WE'RE JUST NOT ELIGIBLE TO DO IT, RIGHT? UNTIL IT GETS TO 20%, I BELIEVE. OKAY. SO THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL TAX LEVY AS A RESULT OF THESE TRAJECTORIES, OR THESE, THIS COURSE OF ACTION YET? NO, IT'S GONNA, YOU KNOW, BY FORMULA IT'S FORCING YOU TO USE UP ALL YOUR RESERVES UNTIL YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, AND THEN BY THEIR FORMULA, AND THEN YOU YOU COULD LEVY A CASH RESERVE LEVY. THANK YOU.

BECAUSE YOUR RESERVES AREN'T ADEQUATE ENOUGH, WHICH IS WHY YOU WOULD LEVY A CASH RESERVE.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ARRANGEMENTS WHERE THEY DON'T LET US TAX TO FUND WHAT WE'RE LEFT TO PAY FOR UNTIL WE GET INTO A VERY LOW FINANCIAL POSITION, WHICH WE WOULD PREFER NOT TO BE IN. BUT THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY YOU DON'T SEE YOUR YOUR LEVY ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX GO UP TO TAKE CARE OF THIS NOW, IS BECAUSE WE ARE ACTUALLY PREVENTED FROM LEVYING ANY MORE MONEY TO REIMBURSE THAT RESERVE.

YEP, YEP, THAT'S CORRECT. I MEAN, YOUR PROPERTY TAX LEVY IN THE GENERAL FUND, YOU KNOW, IS ABOUT THIRTY SIX POINT SIX MILLION IS THE GENERAL FUND LEVY. THE STATE CONTROLS THE FORMULA FOR ABOUT SEVENTY SIX PERCENT OF THOSE FUNDS. THERE'S THE BOARD ONLY CONTROLS TWENTY FOUR PERCENT, WHICH IS ABOUT EIGHT POINT SEVEN MILLION, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE THE AT-RISK IS A PART OF THAT. THE BUDGET GUARANTEE IS THE OTHER IS THE OTHER PART IN THE ISL. WELL, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE FLEXIBILITY IN THERE, THEY CAN'T BE WHATEVER YOU WANT.

THEY'RE STILL, YOU HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER THOSE LEVIES, BUT THEY'RE STILL CAPPED BY DOLLARS. WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET ANY MORE MONEY THROUGH TAX REVENUE. OKAY, SO THESE NEXT, THAT NEXT IS THE STUDENT ACTIVITY FUND, AND THIS IS THE SAME AS WHAT WAS PRESENTED EARLIER. MANAGEMENT FUND, I ALSO HAVE NOT CHANGED.

THAT IS, WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THE FUND BALANCE SO THAT THE FUND BALANCE EQUALS A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ONE YEAR'S EXPENDITURES.

ONE YEAR'S EXPENDITURES ARE ABOUT SIX POINT SEVEN MILLION.

EVEN WITH THE INCREASE LEVY FOR TWENTY SEVEN, THE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE IS STILL ONLY FIVE POINT SIX MILLION, SO WE'RE NOT QUITE TO A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ONE YEAR'S EXPENDITURES.

THE EXPENDITURES IN THERE ARE MOSTLY THE PROPERTY AND LIABILITY INSURANCE PACKAGES AND WORKERS COMP INSURANCE, BUT THERE IS A 14 CENT, PROPOSING A 14 PERCENT, A 14 CENT INCREASE TO THE LEVY FOR THE MANAGEMENT FUND. NEXT IS THE SALES TAX FUND, AND THIS I JUST DID FROM WHAT YOU PREVIOUS, WHAT I PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED. I DID ADJUST THE PROPOSED SALES TAX REVENUE TO NINETEEN POINT SEVEN. I DID HAVE IT AT NINETEEN POINT NINE, WHICH IS WHAT WAS CERTIFIED FOR FY 26, BUT THE ACTUAL PROJECTION NOW IS THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GET ABOUT NINETEEN POINT SEVEN MILLION IN SALES TAX REVENUE. IT IS BASED ON PER PUPIL, SO EVEN THOUGH THE PER PUPIL AMOUNT MIGHT INCREASE SOME, WE'RE DOWN 300 STUDENTS IN 27, SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, LEFT THE SALES TAX REVENUE NOT INCREASING.

THIS IS THE DETAIL, THE SALES TAX EXPENDITURES IS THE SAME AS WHAT WAS PRESENTED EARLIER.

THIS IS PEPL, THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE TO PEPL EITHER. PEPL IS A HUNDRED PERCENT FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAXES AND, YOU KNOW, WE GET ABOUT 1.3 MILLION IN PEPL REVENUE PER YEAR.

DEBT SERVICE FUND, THIS IS THE SAME AS WHAT WAS PRESENTED EARLIER. THIS IS JUST WHERE THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS ON OUR SALES TAX REVENUE BONDS ARE REQUIRED TO BE PAID OUT OF. THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND, WE JUST REVIEWED. AND SO THEN THE NEXT, THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION IS ALL ABOUT THE PROPERTY, PROPERTY TAXES. THIS IS JUST BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON HOW THE PROPERTY TAXES WORK AND WHAT LEGISLATION IMPACTS WHICH, WHICH IS SSA AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN VALUATIONS INCREASE AS WELL. SO THIS IS PAGE 20, 25 WHICH SHOWS THE PROPOSED TAX LEVIES. THERE'S A SLIGHT DECREASE BY, I THINK WE DECREASED BY NINE CENTS FROM WHAT WAS PRESENTED EARLIER. IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH SSA INCREASING TO TWO PERCENT. THE YELLOW ONES ARE THE, ARE THE ONLY PARTS OF THE LEVY THAT THE BOARD CAN CONTROL. THE REGULAR PROGRAM

[00:55:03]

BUDGET ADJUSTMENT IS GOING TO GENERATE ABOUT 1.3 MILLION.

WE'RE ABLE TO LEVY THIS BECAUSE OF THE DECLINING ENROLLMENT.

IT ADDS ABOUT 36 CENTS TO THE LEVY. THE DROPOUT AND DROPOUT PREVENTION WILL GENERATE ABOUT 4.3 MILLION AND THAT'S ABOUT A DOLLAR TWENTY TO THE LEVY. AND THEN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY IS ALSO IN YELLOW. THAT'S ONE THAT THE BOARD CAN CONTROL AND IT'S VERY CONSISTENT WITH, WITH PRIOR YEAR. SO THAT LEAVES A GENERAL FUND REVENUE OF TEN, OF GENERAL FUND LEVY RATE OF TEN DOLLARS AND TWENTY CENTS WHICH IS A FIVE, FIVE CENT INCREASE FROM PRIOR YEAR. BUT THEN WE HAVE THE MANAGEMENT FUND LEVY WHICH WERE 7.3 MILLION. IT'S ABOUT A MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE FROM PRIOR YEAR. IT MAKES FOR A LEVY RATE OF TWO DOLLARS AND FIVE CENTS WHICH IS A FOURTEEN CENT INCREASE. SO THAT THE TOTAL LEVY WOULD GO FROM TWELVE DOLLARS AND THIRTY-EIGHT CENTS TO TWELVE DOLLARS AND FIFTY-EIGHT CENTS. NINETEEN CENT INCREASE IN THE LEVY WOULD GENERATE ABOUT 3.9 MILLION DOLLARS MORE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THAN WE HAD IN PRIOR YEAR. BUT MOST OF THAT IS NOT ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO THE DISTRICT. IT'S REALLY BEING OFFSET BY THE STATE AID COMPONENT.

OKAY, SO THEN THIS NEXT IS THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED TAX LEVY. SO THIS, I WANT PERMISSION TO BE ABLE TO PUBLISH THIS NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER FOR THE HEARING ON MARCH, WE'D HAVE TO SCHEDULE THE HEARING FOR THE MARCH 23RD MEETING. IT JUST SHOWS THE PROPERTY TAX PIECES AND THEN DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, IT'S HARD TO READ ON THE SCREEN, BUT I JUST HAVE TO PUT AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE TAX REVENUES ARE INCREASING FROM PRIOR YEAR.

NEXT IS THE BUDGET PRESENTATION. IT'S ALWAYS JUST KIND OF GOOD TO LOOK AND REVIEW WHERE WE WERE AT, WHERE WE'RE AT. SO WE DID SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND AND THEN REVIEWING ALL FUNDS TODAY. SO THE NEXT THING BUDGET-WISE THAT WILL HAPPEN IS MARCH 5TH IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT TO GENERATE THOSE TAXPAYER STATEMENTS THAT ARE MAILED OUT BY THE BY THE COUNTY. THEY HAVE TO BE MAILED BY MARCH 20TH. WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT, THE COUNTY AUDITOR DOES. AND THEN THE NEXT THING THAT WILL HAPPEN THEN WOULD BE MARCH 23RD. WE'D HAVE A SPECIAL HEARING, HAS TO BE A SPECIAL HEARING, IT CAN BE BEFORE THIS REGULAR BOARD MEETING, BUT IT HAS TO BE A SEPARATE MEETING. THEN WE'LL HAVE THE HEARING ON THAT TAXPAYER STATEMENT, WHICH IS WHAT THIS IS ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE, IS WHAT I WANT TO PUBLISH IN THE NEWSPAPER FOR THE HEARING. AND THEN ALSO ON MARCH 23RD, THEN WE DO A FINAL REVIEW. I'M GUESSING IT'LL LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE THIS. AND THEN WE'D PUBLISH THE FULL BUDGET IN THE NEWSPAPER. AND THEN APRIL 13TH, WE'D HAVE THE HEARING AND ADOPT A BUDGET. SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACKNOWLEDGES THE INFORMATION PROVIDED RELATED TO THE FY 27 BUDGETS FOR ALL OF THE FUNDS, AND THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 23RD, 2026 TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THAT PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX LEVY.

THANK YOU, PATTY. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY DISCUSSION? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, A LOT OF WORK DONE REAL WELL. NOW THIS ISN'T THE TIME THAT WE, WOULD THIS BE A TIME THAT WE WOULD INDICATE OUR PREFERENCE, WHAT WE WANTED IN THE BUDGET, OR IS THAT A DIFFERENT TIME? WELL, I THINK IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE SOMETHING YOU SAW IN THE BUDGET, IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT. SO THEN I DO HAVE COMMENTS.

MR. MILLER. MY IMPRESSION WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BRING SOME OF THESE ITEMS ITEMIZED, AND WE WERE GOING TO DISCUSS THEM ONE AT A TIME, BUT IT SEEMS IN THE ECONOMY THAT WE'RE IN, AND WE WANT TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES, AND I WILL PERSONALLY INCREASE MY PROPERTY TAXES SO MUCH IT WILL PAY FOR A COUPLE OF THE SIX THOUSAND DOLLAR STIPENDS, BECAUSE I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OWN A COUPLE OF PROPERTIES, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHY WE ARE STILL THINKING THAT WE SHOULD GIVE ADMINISTRATORS STIPENDS WHEN WE ARE NOT GIVING OUR STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS STIPENDS, AND TO TELL THE PUBLIC THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE THEIR TAXES SO WE CAN JUSTIFY PAYING STIPENDS TO PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING CLOSE TO TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, DOES NOT SEEM LIKE WE ARE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'LL LET OTHER PEOPLE COMMENT ABOUT MOST OF THAT, OTHER THAN ADDING THE STIPENDS DOES NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY.

[01:00:02]

DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR IS WHAT I'M SAYING. I WILL PAY MORE THAN TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN INCREASED TAXES, BECAUSE I HAVE A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES, WHICH IT'S MY CHOICE, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY MORE MONEY SO WE CAN PAY STIPENDS TO PEOPLE WHO ALREADY MAKE DECENT SALARIES. NOW IF YOU SAID THAT ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS WEREN'T GOING TO STIPENDS, BUT THEY WERE GOING TO TEACHERS, OR THEY WERE GOING TO FREE LUNCHES, OR THEY WERE GOING TO SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE NEED IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, I WOULD BE A PROPONENT OF INCREASING SALES TAX. SO THE PROPERTY TAX IS ALL FORMULA DRIVEN, SO EVEN IF WE TOOK ALL OF THESE ADDITIONS OUT, I BELIEVE THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY WOULD STILL BE THE SAME, UNLESS YOU DECIDED TO REDUCE THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY, OR YOU DECIDED TO REDUCE THE AT-RISK LEVY, WHICH IS TOO LATE, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, OR YOU DECIDED NOT TO DO THE BUDGET GUARANTEE.

THOSE ARE THINGS YOU'D HAVE TO DO. THAT WAS PART OF MY, THAT'S NOT REALLY A POINT OF ORDER, BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT DIRECTOR MILLER IS SAYING, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS REALLY PRIMARILY ON THE REVENUE SIDE, SO WHEN WE SAY THAT THESE THINGS ARE STILL IN, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE POSITIONING OURSELVES TO HAVE A HEARING ON MARCH 23, SO THAT WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH THE LEVY, WITH THE REVENUE PART. THE QUESTIONS THAT MAY STILL EXIST ABOUT SOME OF THE EXPENDITURES ARE NOT DONE, OR PREVENTED FROM CONVERSATION, BUT WE HAVE TO SAY THAT WE INTEND TODAY TO ASK FOR A LEVY THAT SUPPORTS ALL OF WHAT THE CURRENT PLAN IS, AND THE EXPENDITURE PART CAN ADJUST DOWN, BUT IT CANNOT ADJUST UP, AND SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE REVENUE PART, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'D BE HAVING A HEARING ABOUT. AM I CORRECT ON THAT? YEAH, I THINK THAT'S CORRECT.

THESE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT OUR RECOMMENDATION ON THE TAX LEVY SIDE WOULD CHANGE IF THESE INCREASES WERE REMOVED.

BUT OUR BUDGET STILL IS GOING INTO A DEFICIT. YES. NO MATTER WHERE YOU PUT THE DOLLARS, AND WHERE YOU ACCOUNT FOR THEM, WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR SPENDING MORE MONEY THAN I THINK WE SHOULD BE IN AREAS THAT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE SPENDING MONEY, AND IT IS OUR TAXPAYERS OVERALL THAT FUND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I THINK THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT. SO I'M LIKE, LET'S PUT OUR DOLLARS WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO AND NOT TO STIPENDS FOR ADMINISTRATORS THAT MAKE A HUNDRED PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS. AND SO PATTY, SO LANCE, IN FAIRNESS, PATTY SAID IF THERE'S ITEMS, THEN WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THEM NOW, NOW IS THE TIME. I'M JUST SAYING THAT THIS IS SETTING A HIGH BAR, WHEN I SAY A HIGH BAR, THIS IS SETTING THE THRESHOLD THAT WE CANNOT SPEND MORE THAN, AND IF... NO. I'M AGREEING WITH YOUR IDEA THAT WE HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME EXPENDITURE ITEMS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD CHANGE WHAT OUR LEVY WOULD BE.

THIS IS OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.

AND WE'RE NOT APPROVING THAT, WE'RE APPROVING A LEVY, OR A HEARING FOR THE LEVY. I DON'T WANT TO GET AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THAT KIND OF DETAIL, BUT MY IMPRESSION IS THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT EXPENDITURE ITEMS, BUT IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE LEVY THAT WE NEED TO ASK FOR.

YEAH, I MEAN IF WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THESE, AT THE ITEMS IN YELLOW, YOU KNOW, THE PIECES OF THE LEVY THAT ARE IN YELLOW, I DON'T BELIEVE WOULD CHANGE, EVEN IF YOU SAID WE'RE NOT HAVING ANY INCREASES TO THE BUDGET AT ALL. ZERO.

YOU CAN'T, YOU HAVE ZERO ADS, ZERO INCREASES IN WAGES.

THE ONLY PIECES THAT COULD CHANGE WOULD BE THE YELLOW ONES, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD CHANGE THOSE ONES. SO I THINK THAT THE LEVY IS PROBABLY PRETTY GOOD WHERE IT'S AT.

YOU COULD STILL DECIDE AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU DON'T LIKE THE EXPENDITURES. THAT COULD STILL HAPPEN.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ON THE, LIKE DIRECTOR EMKE SAID, THIS SETS A CEILING ON THE EXPENDITURES. IT DOES NOT OBLIGATE US TO SPEND IT ALL. THIS SETS A CEILING ON THE TAX RATE,

[01:05:05]

AND THE TAX, WHICH IN TURN, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE THE RATE TIMES, YOU KNOW, THE ASSESSED VALUES. IT SETS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GENERATE FROM PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.

THAT'S WHAT PART OF THE PRESENTATION IS, AND WHAT THE PUBLIC HEARING IS DOING IS SETTING A MAX ON THE TAX RATE, WHICH IS THE REVENUE SIDE. IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, AND MAYBE I'M WRONG, THE STIPENDS AREN'T RAISING THE TAXES, RIGHT? I DON'T BELIEVE DIRECTLY THEY WOULD BE RAISING THE TAXES. NOW, YOU COULD, IF, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND NOW, IF IT LEADS US INTO USING FUND BALANCE AND NOW YOU CAN LEVY A CASH RESERVE ON DOWN THE ROAD, DOES IT EVENTUALLY TURN INTO A CASH YOU KNOW, SO MAYBE, BUT IT DOESN'T AFFECT THIS TAX RATE? I WOULD SAY NO.

DIRECTOR HANSON. BECAUSE EVEN IN THIS, IF WE BACK UP AND LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, WE'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY DECREASES IN, WE HAVEN'T DECREASED OUR EXPENDITURES.

ALL WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WITHIN THIS PROPOSAL, IS WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE THE, WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE THE INCREASES IN THE EXPENDITURES, BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY ADDRESSED THE DEFICIT SPENDING IN THIS FY27 BUDGET. SO AS I LOOK AT YOUR, THE BUDGET PRESENTATION CALENDAR, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SETTING A DATE FOR A HEARING ON THE TAX LEVY. THEN IN APRIL OR MARCH, APRIL MAYBE, THERE'S A BUDGET HEARING THAT'S ON THE BUDGET, WHICH WOULD BE BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES.

THAT PIECE OF THE BUDGET IS WHERE THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER HEARING. YEAH, SO AT THAT MEETING YOU WOULD BE APPROVING THE TAX LEVY RATE, AND THEN YOU WOULD ALSO BE APPROVING THE BUDGET EXPENDITURES, WHICH THEN WOULD BE, WOULD SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT, WHICH IF WE THEN EXCEEDED THOSE EXPENDITURES THAT WERE APPROVED, WE WOULD DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT, YOU KNOW, IN APRIL OR MAY OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR. SO IF, BUT AT THE MARCH 23RD MEETING, WE HAVE TO SET A HEARING DATE FOR THAT, FOR THAT BUDGET. SO THE MAXIMUM DOLLAR OF EXPENDITURES, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BY MARCH 23RD, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PUBLISH, RIGHT? JUST BECAUSE WE PUBLISH IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO SPEND IT. I WOULD JUST ADD MY COMMENTS ON THAT IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TIME IN THE FUTURE TO REVIEW THOSE EXPENDITURES AGAIN. I ALSO HAVE THE SIMILAR CONCERNS ABOUT THE STIPEND IN PARTICULAR, BUT I UNDERSTAND TODAY THAT THE LEVY PIECE IS KIND OF LOCKED IN. I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER, I GUESS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, I THINK WITH THE LAST BOARD MEETING, THERE WAS TWO THINGS THAT PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT, RIGHT? THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S GOING TO BE THESE STIPENDS, AND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOUR NEW PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, TO HELP ANNA AND KEVIN AND MR. TAYLOR, ETC., ETC., AT THE FOUR BUILDINGS, RIGHT? SO, AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, OR A FEW PEOPLE IN HERE TONIGHT, WHO ARE HERE SPECIFICALLY TO, YOU KNOW, HEAR ABOUT THAT.

AND I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE GAL WHO WAS SICK TONIGHT AND WANTED ME TO READ SOMETHING FOR HER WHERE THAT'S CONCERNED.

BUT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT TONIGHT, MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR, IF WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THESE THINGS, OR IS NOW THE TIME? BECAUSE I DON'T...

WHEN IT COMES DIRECTLY TO THE BUDGET, WHAT TIME WOULD BE BEST? NOW, OR...

PATTY, CAN I...

I DON'T WANT TO MAKE YOUR JOB ANY HARDER.

YOU KNOW THAT I DON'T... I'M NO FINANCIAL WHIZ, BUT WHAT I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY IS, WE NEED TO GET THE BUDGET DONE. THE MONEY CAN BE IN THE BUDGET, AND WE CAN DISCUSS THIS ON HOW WE SPEND IT, OR CHANGE TO A DEGREE...

YEAH, I MEAN...

AND DISCUSS THE STIPENDS AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, OR DISCUSS THE PRINCIPALS AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. I DON'T WANT TO LET THIS MOMENT GET AWAY WHERE THESE TWO THINGS ARE CONCERNED. I'M JUST LOOKING FOR SOME HELP.

THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.

I MEAN, I CAN OPERATE IN EITHER SCENARIO. IF WE APPROVE... IF THE BOARD APPROVES A BUDGET THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THESE STIPENDS, OR THESE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, YOU APPROVE A BUDGET THAT DOESN'T HAVE THOSE ITEMS IN THERE, AND THEN YOU DECIDE TO ADD THEM AT SOME OTHER POINT IN TIME.

OKAY, WE HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT. I HAVE NO PROBLEM

[01:10:01]

WITH HAVING A BUDGET AMENDMENT.

IT MEANS WE'RE BUDGETING VERY CLOSE, AND KEEPING OUR BUDGETS TIGHT, AS I THINK THAT WE SHOULD.

AND IF WE DECIDE WE'RE GOING TO ADD POSITIONS, THEN YOU WOULD DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT.

I'M OKAY WITH THAT. OR YOU COULD SAY, WELL, WE MIGHT ADD THEM, SO WE WANT THEM IN THERE NOW. AND THEN IF YOU DECIDE YOU DON'T WANT TO ADD THE POSITIONS, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD THEM.

PRESIDENT GEORGE, AS A MATTER OF PROCEDURE, COULD I SUGGEST THAT WE DO THIS? I'M WILLING TO MAKE THE MOTION TO SET THE HEARING ON THE 23RD, AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF, AND WE'RE NOT WASTING THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TONIGHT'S TIME. I'M HAPPY WITH US GOING FORWARD WITH THAT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHETHER SHE CAN PUBLISH WHAT HAS TO BE... THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HEARING IN TIME TO PUBLISH THE REPORT. SO I'LL TAKE THIS OCCASION TO MOVE...

BUT WE'LL GET THROUGH THE CITIZEN INPUT, AND THEN WE'LL...

OH, OKAY. BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M HEADED. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO SET THE HEARING, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE WHATEVER DISCUSSION WE WANT TO HAVE AT THIS TIME, AS WE COULD AT ANY BOARD MEETING, ABOUT EXPENDITURES. JUST, IF I CAN SAY ONE MORE THING, JAN.

SO WHEN WE SHOW BUDGET ADDITIONS RELATED TO PERSONNEL, OR EVEN IF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, SOFTWARE, OR EQUIPMENT, OR WHATEVER IT WAS, THOSE THINGS ALWAYS COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL AT THAT TIME. SO ANY POSITIONS THAT ARE ADDED ARE ALWAYS SHOWN ON THE HR BOARD REPORT, WHERE YOU SHOW NEW POSITIONS, AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHEN YOU OFFICIALLY APPROVE A POSITION, IS ON THAT HR BOARD REPORT.

THANK YOU. IF NO FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? NO. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACKNOWLEDGES FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET INFORMATION PRESENTED FOR ALL FUNDS. ALL FUNDS.

BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 23RD, 2026, AT 5:30 P.M.

LOCAL TIME, AT THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER, 627 4TH STREET, SIOUX CITY, IOWA, TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THE PROPOSED SIOUX CITY PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1ST, 2026, TO JUNE 30TH OF 2027? SO MOVED. SECOND.

BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.

ARE WE GOING TO NOW HAVE THE DISCUSSION THAT PEOPLE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT? IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA SEPARATELY, IS IT? WELL, WE HAVEN'T CLOSED OUT THAT WE MADE A MOTION, BUT IT WASN'T THE END MOTION ON TALKING BUDGET, WAS IT? OR WAS IT? I THINK YOU VOTED ON IT AND... WE VOTED TO HAVE A HEARING. WHEN I RAISED IT, I WAS WILLING TO WAIT ON THAT MOTION TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION, BUT I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GO FORWARD AND TAKE CARE OF THAT INCREMENT OF WHAT WE WERE DOING TODAY, AND IF THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT PEOPLE ON THE BOARD OR ELSEWHERE CAME TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, WE CAN HEAR IT. WE'RE BACK UP.

[X.D. District Bus Purchase – Tim Paul]

MOTION PASSED.

IF THEY'RE HERE AND THEY WANT TO SPEAK NOW, IT'S PROBABLY AT SOME OTHER TIME IT'LL BE BROUGHT BACK UP TO THE BOARD, BUT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR THEM AS LONG AS THEY'VE COME HERE. OKAY. WE'RE OKAY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING SOME OF THE BUDGET ITEMS, CORRECT? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? I DOUBLE-CHECKED WITH JANICE. I THOUGHT MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE FILLED OUT A FORM TO SPEAK ON THE SIDE OF THE DEADLINE.

YOU MAY HAVE IT. I DON'T HAVE IT.

SO THE TOPIC IS DEAD FROM A PROCEDURAL PERSPECTIVE. WHICH WE CAN THEN BRING BACK UP NEXT YOU'RE RIGHT.

DISTRICT BUS. IN ORDER TO SPEAK, THEY HAVE TO FILL IT OUT BY 6 P.M.

DIRECTOR MAGNUSON, AND I'VE BEEN WAITING. SO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO TEACHES IS SICK TODAY,

[01:15:01]

AND I CALLED JANICE EARLIER TODAY, AND SHE WANTED TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE. CAN I SAY IT NOW, OR DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BOARD MEETING? WITH DIRECTOR MAGNUSON, I THINK YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.

WE HAVE RULES, SO WHY DON'T WE FOLLOW THEM? AND THIS IS PROCEDURAL, AND I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE ITEMS, AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ITEMS. WE WANTED TO VOTE BECAUSE IT WAS A LEVY, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS SHOULD WE HAVE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS OR NOT, AND I THINK ALL OF US ARE IN FAVOR OF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING THEN ABOUT THE ENTIRE EXPENDITURES.

FAIR ENOUGH.

SO IT'S EITHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL EXPENDITURES, OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NONE, BECAUSE THAT IS ROBERT'S RULES, RIGHT? THERE IS A PROCEDURE THAT SAYS IT'S ON YOUR AGENDA, AND IT'S 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, OR IT'S NOT.

WE WERE TOLD ONE THING. THE AGENDA WAS PRESENTED THE WAY IT WAS, AND WE CHOSE NOT TO TALK ABOUT ALL EXPENDITURES. LET'S NOT CARVE OUT ONE AND SKIP OUT ON ALL THE OTHERS.

(INAUDIBLE) IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE A CITIZEN THAT ASKED ONE OF THE DIRECTORS TO ACTUALLY DO THE STATEMENT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.

I DON'T THINK THAT WILL OPEN IT UP FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, AND THAT'S WHY I APOLOGIZE.

DO YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR MICHAELSON, IF WE COULD WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WHEN WE HAVE THAT AGENDA ITEM? WE CAN ADD THIS AS AN AGENDA ITEM NEXT TIME, CORRECT? TO DISCUSS ABOUT THE...

ALL EXPENDITURES? THAT'D BE BEAUTIFUL.

OKAY. YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT IT THAN I DO. WELL, I WOULD THINK THAT, BUT YOUR BOARD MEMBER IS THE DIFFERENCE, MR. MICHAELSON, AND THAT'S WHY YOU COULD SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S BETTER FOR ORGANIZED THOUGHT TO WAIT WHEN ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK. I DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE THE FORM. YOU HAVE TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK AND FILL IT OUT, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S CONTROLLING IT RIGHT NOW, IS THAT THAT IS A REQUIRED STEP TO GIVE CITIZEN INPUT.

SO IF ANYBODY WAS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, THE SUBJECTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS THE BUDGET AND THE LIKE, AND YOU DIDN'T FILL OUT A FORM, PLEASE REMEMBER IT FOR THE NEXT TIME YOU COME, BECAUSE THE REASON WHY SOMEONE LIKE ME CAN'T SAY, OH, WELL, LET'S GO FORWARD ANYWAYS, BECAUSE YOU THAT, AND YOU COULD SAY, OH, YOU'RE WORSHIPING AT THE PROCEDURE. WELL, THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT, AND MR. MILLER IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT THAT WE HAVE RULES AND THEN WE NEED TO FOLLOW THEM, BUT AS FOR MR. MICHAELSON, HE'S A BOARD MEMBER AND HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT...

NO, WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHATEVER WE WANT. WE HAVE COMMITTEE REPORTS AND THAT'S IT.

OKAY. DIRECTOR REPORTS WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM US, REMEMBER? YEAH, I REMEMBER. SO IT WOULD BE IN THE NEXT, NEXT AGENDA, NEXT MEETING.

THANKS, BECAUSE I'M GETTING MORE TEXT MESSAGES ABOUT HOW WE ARE SKIPPING THE RULES, AND SO THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE SPEAKING ABOUT BUDGETS.

FOR ALL YOU SITTING BACK THERE.

AND YOU ARE CORRECT, THOUGH, THAT WE DID TAKE AWAY THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECTORS.

WE, IT WAS, THERE WAS NEVER A VOTE ON IT, BUT WE WERE PREVENTED FROM HAVING A DIRECTOR AND DISCUSSION. OKAY, LET'S GO.

OKAY, HERE WE GO. DISTRICT BUS PURCHASES. DIRECTOR PAUL,

[01:20:03]

IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT A BID FOR SCHOOL BUS SALES IN THE AMOUNT OF $994,178 FOR THE PURCHASE OF SIX BUSES? SO MOVED. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES. MR. PAUL, I SHOULD KNOW THIS AND I DON'T KNOW THIS. HOW MANY BUSES DO WE HAVE? HOW MANY BUSES SHOULD WE HAVE? AND WITH A DECREASE IN STUDENT POPULATION, WHAT IS OUR PROJECTION FOR NUMBER OF BUSES NEEDED PER YEAR BY NUMBER OF STUDENTS? OKAY, I'LL TRY TO EXPLAIN IT.

THERE'S DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.

SO WE HAVE, I BELIEVE, 72 BUSES CURRENTLY. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 56 ROUTES. THAT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A DEFICIT OF BUSES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PLENTY. WE ALWAYS, IF WE DO OUT-OF-TOWN TRIPS OR WE HAVE SPECIALS GOING THAT COULD TAKE SIX TO EIGHT BUSES, THAT LOWERS OUR NUMBER OF FLEET, AND THEN WE ALSO BANK IN SOME FOR REPAIRS AS WELL. SO WE ALWAYS RUN AROUND THAT 74 NUMBER AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE SPECIAL TRIPS AND ALL THAT WHERE WE'VE EXHAUSTED ALL OF OUR BUSES IF SOME ARE DOWN FOR REPAIR. SO IF WE LOSE 300 STUDENTS IN A SCHOOL YEAR, IS THAT ONE BUS? IS THAT A HALF A BUS? IS THAT? IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY. I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPED ROUTES WHERE WE'RE ALL OVER THE CITY AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO CREATE EXTRA ROUTES JUST TO FILL THOSE NEEDS. SO EVEN THOUGH THE ENROLLMENT IS DOWN, THERE MIGHT BE LESS KIDS ON A BUS, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY TAKE AWAY A ROUTE BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE, YOU KNOW, 50-SOME. WE MIGHT LOSE TWO OR SO ON A ROUTE. IT JUST DEPENDS IF THEY'RE IN THE WALK GROUP.

THIS YEAR WE HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE ANY ROUTES. OKAY, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON REGARDING THE BUS PURCHASES? ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES.

[X.E. FY26 iPad Life Cycle Purchase – Chad Fengel ]

ITEM E, FISCAL YEAR 26, IPAD LIFE CYCLE PURCHASES.

SO, BINGO. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF 01,250 APPLE IPADS AT $324 EACH, ZAGG CASES AT $99.95 EACH, AND MOZILLA LICENSE AT $14.85 EACH FOR A TOTAL OF $548,500 TO SUPPORT FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS AS A PART OF THE DISTRICT'S LIFE CYCLE REPLACEMENT PLAN. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BOARD MEMBERS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE

[X.F. PowerSchool (eFinancePlus) Upgrade – Chad Fengel ]

OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES.

OUR SCHOOL, E-FINANCE PLUS UPGRADE, CHAD FINGAL. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE UPGRADE OF E-FINANCE PLUS TO THE LATEST VERSION AT A COST OF $11,060? SO MOVED.

WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANT TO DO IT. PICK SHANICE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.

[X.G. PowerSchool (eFinancePlus) Training – Chad Fengel]

OUR SCHOOL, E-FINANCE PLUS TRAINING, CHAD FINGAL. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SERVICES FOR THE DISTRICT OF E-FINANCE PLUS FINANCIAL SYSTEM FOR THE AMOUNT OF $960? SO MOVED. SECOND. FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BOARD MEMBERS? SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.

MOTION PASSES.

[X.H. Contract for Board Approval – Jim Vanderloo/ Jarod Mozer ]