[I. Call to Order] [00:00:06] GOOD AFTERNOON. TODAY IS JUNE 8TH, 2026, AND THE TIME IS 04:32. AND I NOW CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING TO ORDER. SEANIECE, WILL YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL CALL? DR. HANSON? MS. LEE? PRESENT. MR. MEYERS? HERE. MR. MICHAELSON. HERE. MR. MILLER? HERE. DR. SUPIOT. HERE. BOARD MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. DR. HANSON IS, SHE HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY SO SHE IS NOT GOING TO BE ATTENDING US THIS AFTERNOON. AND ALSO, THE OTHER POINT OF PRIVILEGE THAT I'M GOING TO BE TAKING IS THAT ONE OF OUR CANDIDATES HAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE CANDIDATE POOL FOR APPOINTMENT. SO, WE WILL JUST BE HEARING FROM TWO OF THE CANDIDATES THIS EVENING. AND SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, [III. Approval of Agenda] BOARD MEMBERS IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? SO MOVED. SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? AND JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION WE'RE CURRENTLY FIVE WHICH MEANS THAT WHATEVER DECISION NEEDS TO BE FULLY UNANIMOUS, RIGHT? FOUR ONE AT LEAST FOUR. ATLEAST FOUR? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. POINTS OF CLARIFICATION. SEANIECE, DID YOU WANT TO ADD? BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR WITH APPROVING THE AGENDA, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THE AGENDA IS APPROVED. NEXT IS THE ITEMS OF [IV.A. Statements from Persons who have submitted Letters of Interest for Board Member Vacancy ] PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION. SO, THE STATEMENTS, THESE WILL BE THE STATEMENTS FROM THE PERSONS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR LETTERS OF INTEREST FOR BOARD VACANCY. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL GIVE EACH CANDIDATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THE BOARD VOTES. AFTER HEARING STATEMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK CANDIDATE QUESTIONS, AND THE BOARD WILL VOTE BY BALLOT. SEANIECE WILL READ ALOUD THE VOTE OF EACH BOARD MEMBER. SEANIECE, PLEASE CALL UP EACH CANDIDATE FOR THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND WE WILL GRANT. OKAY, PAUL WILLIAM RHODES. GOOD MORNING, BOARD. MY NAME IS PAUL RHODES, AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND TO COME BEFORE YOU AND BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS REQUEST. I HAVE OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A YOUTH PASTOR WORKING WITH STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY WORKING WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, BUT ALSO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I SERVED, THE REASON WHY I ACTUALLY MOVED HERE 5 YEARS AGO WAS TO SERVE AS THE NEXT GEN PASTOR AT CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH NEAR NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND NORTH HIGH SCHOOL, AND HAVE VOLUNTEERED IN NORTH HIGH SCHOOL AND SOME IN NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL AS WELL. THROUGHOUT MY YEARS, I HAVE VOLUNTEERED AND BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF SCHOOL LIFE, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES AS A YOUTH PASTOR, EVERYBODY ASSUMES THAT IT'S JUST A CHRISTIAN BOOK CLUB OR AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB, BUT I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE SCHOOLS, WORKING WITH PRINCIPALS, WORKING WITH SPECIFICALLY GRIEF COUNSELING. AT ONE POINT, I, I WAS THE ONLY SECULAR, WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED SECULAR FOR THIS PURPOSE, A GRIEF COUNSELOR THAT WAS ALLOWED IN THE SCHOOLS IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE I TOOK AN INDIVIDUAL-BY-INDIVIDUAL APPROACH, ALLOWING THE STUDENT TO SPEAK, ALLOWING THE STUDENT TO EXPRESS THEIR, WHAT THEIR CONCERNS WERE. CURRENTLY, I SERVE AS THE SOUTH REGIONAL DIRECTOR WITH SIOUXLAND YOUTH FOR CHRIST, AND MY ROLE IS TO REALLY BUILD BRIDGES WITH OUR COMMUNITY, INVOLVE OUR COMMUNITY WITHIN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS. I ALSO CURRENTLY WORK AS WITHIN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND SO I AM AT JUVENILE DETENTION EVERY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. AND SO I COME INTO LOTS OF DIFFERENT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS FROM REALLY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF LIFE. WE HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER THAT IS UP RIGHT ACROSS FROM HUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND SO I KNOW LOTS OF STUDENTS THERE THAT ARE IN THAT COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS SEVERAL THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS. AND SO I JUST LOOK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE, TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, TO SERVE ON THE BOARD IN THE WAY THAT, THE WAY THAT I'M GIFTED AND SKILLED, AND WOULD [00:05:01] WELCOME THAT OPPORTUNITY. I DID, I OBVIOUSLY SPENT A LONG TIME INTRODUCING MYSELF AND SOME THINGS ABOUT ME IN MY LETTER AND REALLY WANTED YOU GUYS, MANY OF YOU HAVE MET ME IN PASSING BUT HAVEN'T REALLY, DON'T REALLY KNOW ME. AND SO I WANTED YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ME AND UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. RHODES. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAY AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE? AND WE'LL GIVE THE BOARD MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR APPLYING. I WAS THERE IN THAT PODIUM MAKING A PITCH MYSELF A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, SO I KNOW IT'S, IT'S A TOUGH POSITION TO BE TO FILL A VACANCY BECAUSE SOMEBODY CAN NO LONGER SERVE BECAUSE OF HEALTH REASONS. I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THE PRIORITIES OF THE DISTRICT AS PRESENTED BY PREVIOUS BOARDS IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS. WHAT WILL YOU CONSIDER ARE YOUR OWN PERSONAL PRIORITIES FOR THE DISTRICT? TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, MY, MY BIGGEST PRIORITY WOULD BE TO CREATE THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT, NOT ONLY THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS BUT ALSO FOR OUR TEACHERS. AND, AND THOSE THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT. I BELIEVE THAT OFTENTIMES WE HAVE GREAT INTENTIONS, AND, BUT DIGESTING THOSE INTENTIONS AND ALLOWING IT TO BECOME A SINGLE PRIORITY, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, WITH A VISION FOR OUR, FOR OUR DISTRICT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. AND SO OFTENTIMES WHAT I SEE IS, YES, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT DETAIL WITHIN OUR BOARD STATEMENTS, BUT I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO BE DEVELOPED JUST ONE STEP FURTHER, AND THAT IS TO REALLY MEND OUR HEARTS TOGETHER AND REALLY GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES, GIVE THE DISTRICT AN OPPURTUNITY TO TRULY GRAB A HOLD OF A VISION THAT IS BOTH COMPELLING AND INFORMED AND THAT REALLY SPURS US ALL ALONG TO EDUCATE KIDS IN A MUCH GREATER WAY. JUST A FOLLOW-UP, IF YOU DON'T MIND. LET ME SEE, HOW DO I, SO YOU TALK ABOUT THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT. OUR PERSONAL ETHICS AND MORALS USUALLY INFORM WHAT WE CONSIDER OUR RIGHT ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK ON YOUR FAITH BUT OBVIOUSLY OUR DISTRICT IS HIGHLY DIVERSE AND THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE FROM VERY DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS AND RELIGIONS, RIGHT? WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE MUSLIM, JEWISH, NATIVE AMERICAN THAT HAVE OTHER BELIEFS. HOW WILL YOU, HAVE YOU NAVIGATE THOSE SITUATIONS WITH STUDENTS FROM OTHER DENOMINATIONS OR BELIEFS, AND HOW WILL YOU NAVIGATE THAT POSITION HERE IN THE BOARD IF ELECTED? I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S AN OBVIOUS QUESTION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT. THE REALITY IS THIS, JUST TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE STUDENTS THAT I WORK WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS DO NOT TYPICALLY COME WITH A RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE OR A RELIGIOUS IDEA IN MIND, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. AND SO I'VE WORKED WITH NATIVE AMERICANS. I'VE WORKED WITH ANY, ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STUDENTS. WE HAVE A HUGE POPULATION OF STUDENTS FROM OUTSIDE OF JUST OUR NORMAL SIOUX CITY, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, STUDENTS WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OUR UNDERGROUND CENTER. AND SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ALLOWING A STUDENT TO LEAD IN THAT DIRECTION, MEANING IF A STUDENT BRINGS IT UP, I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND BE HONEST AND TRANSPARENT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY CONVERSATION SUDDENLY BECOMES ABOUT THAT ONE TOPIC. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW. THE OTHER THING I WILL SAY IS ACTUALLY THAT THE SMALL GROUP THAT I LEAD IN OUR JUVENILE DETENTION IS A SECULAR SMALL GROUP. WE DO NOT TALK RELIGIOUS THINGS UNLESS FOR SOME REASON A STUDENT BRINGS THAT UP. OR ASK A QUESTION IN THAT AREA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PAUL, THANK YOU FOR APPLYING. AND I'M DISHEARTENED AND I'M THROWING OFF A LITTLE BIT THAT SOMEBODY WITHDREW IN THE LAST MINUTE. AND SO, I'M TRYING TO ADJUST HERE GUYS. SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. BUT YOU'VE SAID A COUPLE OF WORDS THAT HAVE PERPLEXED ME. SO, YOU SAID MAKE IT THE RIGHT [00:10:01] ENVIRONMENT. I THINK PERCEPTION OF RIGHT IS VAGUE, AND IT'S DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY. AND SO, I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOUR PERCEPTION OF RIGHT IS. SO MY PERCEPTION WOULD BE A DIVERSE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. I REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE IN THAT AREA, NOT SOMETHING TO, OFTENTIMES I HEAR US TALKING IN THIS ROOM AND THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM ABOUT HOW MUCH, HOW CHALLENGING IT IS TO HAVE A DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT, HOW THAT CREATES DIFFERENT CHALLENGES WITHIN THE CLASSROOM. I THINK THAT'S GREAT, BUT I REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT THAT IS AN ELEMENT THAT SHOULD NOT JUST BE SOMETHING WE ADDRESS, BUT SOMETHING WE ACTUALLY CELEBRATE. AND SO THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THAT. THE OTHER THING THAT I FIND IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AS I WORK WITH STUDENTS, MOTIVATED STUDENTS THAT WANT TO LEARN OBVIOUSLY ARE CREAM OF THE CROP. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? BUT FINDING THE, FINDING REALLY THE SPECIAL THING ABOUT EACH STUDENT AND REALLY PROPELLING THEM ON AND ENCOURAGING THEM ON AND FINDING THE RIGHT SPOT FOR THEM, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. JUST SIMPLY GIVING THEM DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER ABOUT THEMSELVES, AND, AND THEN TO ALIGN. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE WITH, WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM? AND ALSO FOR US TO ALIGN WITH THEM. AND WHEN YOU SAY DIVERSE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU? IT'S A DIVERSITY OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT ECONOMIC STATUSES, DIFFERENT, OBVIOUSLY RACE FOR THE RELIGION, ALL TYPES OF DIFFERENT VARIETY, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SPEAK ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. I RESPECT THAT. I ACTUALLY REALLY ENJOY THAT BECAUSE OF THE DEPTH OF RELATIONSHIP THAT THAT CREATES AND GETTING TO KNOW OTHER PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND DIFFERENT AREAS AND DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MR. MILLER? I DON'T THINK IT WAS INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD INCLUDE, BUT IT'S OKAY. AND THEN MY LAST FOLLOW-UP TO THAT IS YOU USED THE WORD NORMAL, SIOUX CITY. WHAT IS ABNORMAL? THAT IS A GREAT POINT. SO, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS OFTENTIMES I JUST FIND OUR COMMUNITY AS ACCEPTING PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. AND I KNOW JUST PERSONALLY, I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 5 YEARS AND ACTUALLY ONLY LIVED WITHIN THE DISTRICT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, EVEN THOUGH I'VE WORKED HERE. AND SO I USE THAT NOT AS AN EMBRACING OF THAT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT MORE AS A COMPARISON. MANY TIMES I HEAR PEOPLE, THAT'S HOW PEOPLE TALK AND PEOPLE RELAY MESSAGES, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. AND SO I, I DON'T, I DON'T REALLY FIND THAT TO BE VERY COMPELLING PERSONALLY. I LIKE TO GO ACROSS THE LINES. I LIKE TO CHALLENGE GETTING TO KNOW NEW PEOPLE. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WITH, WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. AND SO I HAVE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT MY, THROUGHOUT MY TENURE IN YOUTH MINISTRY. I HAVE STUDENTS ON ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT LINES. BACK WHEN THE LOUISVILLE RIOTS WERE TAKING PLACE BACK DURING COVID I ACTUALLY HAD STUDENTS THAT WERE FACING OTHER STUDENTS IN A NEWS ARTICLE BECAUSE THEY WERE STANDING ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF LINES, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. AND SO GETTING, SITTING DOWN AND TALKING WITH THEM. THE DAY AFTER ALL THOSE RIOTS HAPPENED, I WAS SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH OF AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PASTOR TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHY IS THIS THE CASE? AND SO I FEEL LIKE GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER REALLY RELATIONALLY AND ALSO UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER'S BACKGROUNDS IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND SO I HOPE THAT THAT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND SORT OF WHAT I MEAN BY DIVERSE AND GOING ACROSS THOSE LINES AND WELCOMING NEW PEOPLE. THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION. SO, PAUL, YOU'VE BEEN TO A TON OF OUR MEETINGS, RIGHT? AND SO IF YOU COULD WAVE YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MAGIC WAND ON ONE ISSUE RIGHT NOW, THE THING THAT YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD TO MOVE ON MOVING FORWARD, WHAT WOULD YOU PICK? HONESTLY, I'D PICK BOARD UNITY. AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS THIS. I THINK OFTENTIMES WE COME TO SOMETHING AND WE'VE GOT GREAT OPINIONS, WE'VE GOT GREAT FOCUS, WE'VE GOT IN MIND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN, BUT OFTENTIMES WE TALK PAST EACH OTHER. AND IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE THAT FAR OFF FROM CREATING A UNITY, BUT THE REALITY IS WE STILL MISS IT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. AND SO THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BIGGEST THING BECAUSE I THINK [00:15:01] THAT THAT HAS SUCH A DOWNWARD EFFECT UPON STAFFING EMPLOYEES, THE DISTRICT, THE TEACHERS, THE PRINCIPALS. I MEAN, AS THEY SEE THAT MODELED, IT ALSO ENCOURAGES IT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR MEYERS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I WILL TAKE MY POINT OF PRIVILEGE TO ASK QUESTIONS, MR. RHODES. AND SO AGAIN, AS DIRECTOR MICHAELSON SAID, YOU'VE ATTENDED MANY BOARD MEETINGS AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. IT SHOWS THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN OUR BOARD. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT DO YOU, YOU SAID THAT BOARD UNITY WAS MISSING, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCOPE OF THE EXPERIENCE ON OUR BOARD, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THAT WE ARE MISSING COLLECTIVELY? I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MIGHT BRING TO THE BOARD THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT IS THE, THE RELATIONAL WITH THE STUDENTS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS THAT OUR BOARD STRUGGLES TO MAYBE IDENTIFY HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY GET THEM IN MAXIMALLY EDUCATED FOR WHO THEY ARE. I BELIEVE THAT I DEFINITELY BRING THAT TO THE BOARD. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GOT GREAT DIVERSITY IN BACKGROUND, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. AND SO I DEFINITELY THINK THAT. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE MEET, BECAUSE I AM WITH A NONPROFIT, TAPPING INTO OUR NONPROFITS IN OUR LOCAL AREAS, I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY DO A LOT BETTER JOB IN IN THAT AREA SPECIFICALLY OF REALLY TAKING AND CREATING A COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT THAT KIND OF COMES ALONG TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT. I KNOW IN MANY WAYS A SCHOOL DISTRICT'S GOT TO STAND ALONE AND TAKE CARE OF ITS OWN PROBLEMS AND TAKES CARE OF ALL OF ITS STUDENTS. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT HAVING A COMMUNITY THAT COMES AROUND AND SUPPORTS US IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS, THIS RESPONSIBILITY, THOUGH IT BE AWESOME, DOES TAKE A LOT OF TIME. AND SO, THE TIME COMMITMENT TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY IS VITAL. I MEAN, I THINK THE MONTH OF APRIL, WE PROBABLY PUT IN 100 HOURS. IS THERE GOING TO BE AN ISSUE WITH ANY TIME COMMITMENT THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO COMMIT TO THE BOARD? NO, MY EMPLOYER'S ALREADY SAID THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF ME HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO INVEST THE TIME THAT WE NEED TO INVEST, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, BECAUSE WE'RE INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR GOAL IS THE SAME THING, IS SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS AT THE END. AND SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. ABOUT THE ONLY THING, OBVIOUSLY I DON'T KNOW ALL THE MEETING SCHEDULE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. YOU DON'T EITHER. I UNDERSTAND. SO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS ARE THE TOUGHEST TIME JUST BECAUSE THAT IS A COMMITMENT THAT I HAVE TO THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER ITSELF. AND SO, BUT MOST OF MY TIME IS FLEXIBLE AND CAN ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT BOARD UNITY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STUDENTS. I THINK SOMETIMES SITTING AT THIS DESK WE FORGET THAT THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STUDENTS AND ALTHOUGH THAT IS OUR PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE AND WE OFTEN NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THAT, I WILL SAY THAT THIS JOB IS STRICTLY ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND ADHERING TO ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE CHANGING IN OUR WONDERFUL STATE IN ADDITION TO ENSURING THAT OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS ABLE TO CARRY OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE MANDATES THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIPE ALONG WITH HIS LEADERSHIP TEAM. SO, I JUST NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT THIS POSITION IS NOT JUST ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. IT'S MORE ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE OF IT. AND EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE A QUICK CHANGE THAT CAN HAPPEN, IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT. AND SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. BOARD MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK? THANK YOU MR. RHODES. YES, SEANIECE. JEBEDIAH HIBBS. GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT I'M RUNNING FOR THIS OPEN SEAT ON THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE I BELIEVE STRONG SCHOOLS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF A, A STRONG COMMUNITY. EVERY STUDENT DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED, EVERY EDUCATOR DESERVES SUPPORT AND RESPECT, AND EVERY FAMILY DESERVES A VOICE IN THE FUTURE OF OUR SCHOOLS. SIOUX CITY HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR MANY YEARS. [00:20:01] MY WIFE AND I HAVE RAISED 3 WONDERFUL CHILDREN, ALL WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE DISTRICT. WITH THESE EXPERIENCES THAT I HAVE HAD HAS GIVEN ME FIRSTHAND UNDERSTANDING OF BOTH THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR SCHOOLS. AS WELL AS A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE DEDICATION OF OUR TEACHERS, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATORS. SERVICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE. I'M A PROUD NAVY VETERAN WHERE I LEARNED THE VALUES OF LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY, TEAMWORK, AND COMMITMENT TO A MISSION GREATER THAN MYSELF. THOSE LESSONS CONTINUE TO GUIDE ME ON BOTH MY PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, I HAVE WORKED FOR MURPHY TRACTOR, SIOUX CITY'S LOCAL JOHN DEERE CONSTRUCTION DEALERSHIP, AND THROUGHOUT MY CAREER THERE I HAVE SERVED ROLES MANAGING, RANGING FROM MECHANIC TO SALES TO NOW MY CURRENT POSITION AS PARTS MANAGER, WHICH IN TURN I MANAGE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DEPARTMENT, AND THAT HAS STRENGTHENED MY SKILLS IN BUDGETING, COMMUNICATION, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF RESOURCES, SKILLS THAT ARE DIRECTLY APPLICABLE TO SERVING ON A SCHOOL BOARD. MY COMMITMENT TO OUR SCHOOLS EXTENDS FAR BEYOND BEING JUST A PARENT. FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, I HAD VOLUNTEERED WITH EAST HIGH SCHOOL'S FREIGHTLINERS ORGANIZATION, HELPING SUPPORT THE SHOW CHOIR PROGRAM BY ORGANIZING VOLUNTEERS, BUILDING SETS, TRANSPORTING EQUIPMENT, FUNDRAISING, AND CHEERING ON THESE STUDENTS AS THEY PERFORM THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST. THOSE EXPERIENCES REINFORCED MY BELIEF THAT STUDENTS WILL THRIVE WHEN SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WORK TOGETHER. NOW, WHILE MANY PEOPLE KNOW ME THROUGH MY INVOLVEMENT WITH EAST HIGH, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT MY COMMITMENT IS TO THE ENTIRE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. EVERY SCHOOL, EVERY STUDENT, EVERY TEACHER, AND EVERY STAFF MEMBER DESERVE THE SAME LEVEL OF ATTENTION, SUPPORT, AND ADVOCACY. IF ELECTED, I WILL NOT FOCUS ON ANY ONE BUILDING OR PROGRAM. MY RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE TO SERVE ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT BENEFITS, STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ATTEND SCHOOL. I'VE ALSO DEMONSTRATED MY COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGH MULTIPLE CAMPAIGNS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD WHERE I WAS ENDORSED BY THE TEACHERS UNION IN THIS LAST ELECTION. EACH CAMPAIGN STRENGTHENED MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISTRICT AND REINFORCED MY DESIRE TO SERVE. RATHER THAN STEPPING AWAY, I HAVE REMAINED ENGAGED BECAUSE I GENUINELY CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR SCHOOLS AND WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR SUCCESS. IF ELECTED, I WILL BRING A THOUGHTFUL, COLLABORATIVE, AND COMMON-SENSE APPROACH TO THE BOARD. I BELIEVE IN LISTENING TO DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, BUILDING CONSENSUS, AND MAKING DECISIONS THAT PUT STUDENTS FIRST. I AM COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS. RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING, STRONG FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, AND ENSURING OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF FEEL VALUED AND HEARD AS THE PROFESSIONALS THAT THEY ARE. OUR DISTRICT FACES IMPORTANT CHALLENGES, FROM RETAINING OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS TO MEETING THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES WHILE BUILDING THE MANY STRENGTHS THAT ALREADY EXIST WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. I WOULD BE HONORED TO EARN THE SUPPORT AND OPPURTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE CREATING A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE STUDENTS THRIVE, EDUCATORS SUCCEED, AND FAMILIES REMAIN PROUD TO CALL SIOUX CITY HOME. THANK YOU. CAN YOU TELL ME WHO YOU ARE AGAIN? JEBEDIAH HIBBS. DO YOU WANT MY ADDRESS TOO? BECAUSE THAT'S USUALLY WHAT I ASK. THAT'S USUALLY WHAT I ASK. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I WILL JUST THROW YOU THE SAME QUESTION. YOU KNOW WHICH ONES ARE THE DISTRICT PRIORITIES BASED ON THE BOARD DECISIONS IN THE PAST, BUT WHAT WILL BE YOUR PERSONAL PRIORITY IF YOU WERE TO HAVE A VOICE? MY PERSONAL PRIORITY WOULD BE TO TAKE THE STIGMA OF THE PAST BOARD AND THE DISTRICT AND TRY TO GET THAT CLEAN CLEANED UP AND OUT OF OUR BUSINESS SO WE CAN ACTUALLY FOCUS ON THE CURRENT BOARD, THE CURRENT SITUATION, AND NOT HAVING TO KEEP DREDGING UP THE PAST. SO THAT WAY WE CAN KIND OF WASH OUR HANDS, START FRESH, AND REALLY MAKE THIS DISTRICT SOMETHING THAT IT CAN BE, WHICH IS A VERY SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL DISTRICT. JEB, I'LL ASK, AND THANKS, BUD, FOR COMING BACK UP HERE. I'LL ASK THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED PAUL. YOU KNOW, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN AROUND AND AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, ON THE BOARD. IF YOU WERE TO BE ABLE TO FIX ONE THING RIGHT AWAY JUST BY WAVING A WAND, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I THINK IT GOES BACK TO THE STIGMAS OF PAST BOARD ISSUES WE'VE HAD. OBVIOUSLY THE [00:25:02] DISTRICT HAS HAD SOME WEIRD THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON THAT HAVE NOT GIVEN US THE BEST SIGHT IN OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS. I WISH WE COULD JUST GET THAT OUT OF OUR HAIR AND SAY, LISTEN, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO SUCCEED. THE PAST IS THE PAST, BUT WE'RE ALREADY STRIVING TO WORK ON THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. MR. MILLER. SO, JEB, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO RUN AGAINST YOU ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, AND I SUPPORTED YOUR CAMPAIGN THE LAST TIME. IN THE GET PASSED, TREYLA JUST MADE A LITTLE FUNNY NOTE THAT SAID IF WE GET PAST ALL THE BAGGAGE THAT WE'VE BROUGHT INTO THE M SCHOOL BOARD AND INTO THE PUBLIC, WE WON'T BE IN THE NEWS AS MUCH, AND THAT TAKES AWAY SOME OF OUR POPULARITY MAYBE. BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY IN THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF. WE WILL STILL HAVE STIGMAS. WE WILL STILL HAVE STUFF TO DO. WE WILL STILL HAVE STUFF TO CLEAN UP. AND IT WILL GO ON LONG PAST SOME OF US BEING ON THIS BOARD. SO BEYOND THAT, GO BACK TO ANSWERING THE QUESTION, WHERE DO YOU THINK THE BOARD CAN BE MOST PRODUCTIVE MOVING FORWARD IN PROACTIVE OPPORTUNITY? I BELIEVE THAT MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PRIORITY ONE, ALWAYS. EVERY DECISION WE MAKE SHOULD BOIL DOWN TO, IS THIS GOOD FOR THE STUDENTS? AND THEN IF IT IS GOOD FOR THE STUDENTS, IS IT GOOD FOR THE TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, AND STAFF OF THE DISTRICT TOO? BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL HERE. I MEAN, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HERE TO TEACH THESE KIDS AND, AND HAVE THEM BE SUCCESSFUL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. AND IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, THEN, THEN WHY ARE WE HERE? SO FOCUSING ON OUR STUDENTS FIRST WOULD BE A BIG THING, AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND ALL THE STAFF OF THE DISTRICT ARE ALSO TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU. MR. HIBBS. DO I, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR NAME IN THE HAT AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU MENTIONED THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. THAT'S A BUZZWORD FOR ME. I'M SURE YOU KNEW THAT. YOU MENTIONED TIME COMMITMENT, YOU MENTIONED LISTENING, AND PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST. WHICH ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCOPE OF OUR BOARD, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THAT, THAT YOU COULD ADD TO OUR, WHAT COULD YOU ADD TO OUR BOARD WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCOPE OF THE DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS HERE? I BELIEVE THAT I'M KIND OF, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE HAD KIDS IN THE DISTRICT. I THINK THAT I CAN ALSO HELP BRIDGE THAT GAP OF BOARD VERSUS STAFF OR ADMINISTRATORS, AND THERE'S THAT SEPARATION. I CAN HELP UNIFY AND GET US ALL TOGETHER ON THE SAME PAGE. SOME PEOPLE LIKE ONE BOARD MEMBER THAN THE OTHER. WELL, MAYBE I CAN BE THAT BOARD MEMBER THAT CAN REACH OUT, HEY, YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, WHAT DO WE DO TO SOLVE IT, AND BRIDGE THAT GAP TO GET MORE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN INTO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT SO THAT WAY WE CAN DO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND, AND GET OUR KIDS TAUGHT AND MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL HUMAN BEINGS. AND NO, I DID NOT PUT THAT IN THERE JUST FOR YOU, [INAUDIBLE] YOU HIGHLIGHTED IT FOR ME. APPRECIATE THAT. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JOHN? WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE ROLE OF THE BOARD IN THE DISTRICT? THE ROLE OF THE BOARD IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DOING WHAT IS MANDATED BY US, BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES, TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND TAUGHT PROPERLY. ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE DISTRICT ARE ALSO SAFE AND SECURE AND KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A GREAT JOB WORKING HERE FOR THE DISTRICT. JUST AS A FOLLOW-UP, HOW DOES THAT CONTRAST WITH THE ROLE OF THE STAFF AND THE SUPERINTENDENT? THEY, THE STAFF AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ARE MORE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, AS I WOULD SAY FROM MY MILITARY BACKGROUND. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN. WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO FORMULATE THE PLAN AND ENACT THE PLAN, AND THEN THEY ARE GOING TO ENACT IT, OR THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE PLAN MAKE IT A REALITY. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. HIBBS, I AGAIN WANT TO ASK YOU, I KNOW WE'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE, BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME WE SAW YOU. SO, THE TIME COMMITMENT. IT HASN'T CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME. I HAVE FULL SUPPORT FROM MY BOSSES AND THE BUILDING AND [00:30:02] IT DOES HELP THAT I'M A PARTS MANAGER. I CAN WORK MY SCHEDULE AROUND A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN MAKE, I CAN HAVE A TIME COMMITMENT HERE ALSO. OKAY, OKAY, THANK YOU. NO OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. [IV.B. Appointment to fill Board Vacancy] AT THIS TIME, WE WILL VOTE. THE CANDIDATE THAT RECEIVES THE MAJORITY VOTE OF AT LEAST FOUR VOTES WILL BE APPOINTED AS OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER. SEANIECE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRING UP THE BALLOTS PLEASE? THANK YOU. OKAY. DIRECTOR SUPIOT VOTED FOR JEBEDIAH HIBBS. DIRECTOR TREYLA LEE VOTED FOR JEBEDIAH HIBBS. DIRECTOR BOB MICHAELSON VOTED FOR JEBEDIAH HIBBS. DIRECTOR EARL MILLER VOTED FOR JEBEDIAH HIBBS. AND DIRECTOR JOHN MEYERS VOTED FOR JEBEDIAH HIBBS. SO, JEBEDIAH HAS THE MAJORITY VOTE. CONGRATULATIONS, JEB. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT? SO, MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSITION? THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU, MR. RHODES. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.