00:00:12,000	I’m Josh Hager, president of the Bismarck School board. It’s 515 on Monday, March 9th. I call this meeting to order. Welcome to those of you who are joining us both here and also online. You can find our agenda and follow along online under the School board tab at Bismarck Schools.

00:00:29,830	Doctor Cher, would you call the roll, please? Mr. Hager here, Mr. Eastgate here. Mr. Lee here. Mrs. Peterson here. Miss Prescott. here. Doctor Falzon, would you lead us in the pledge? Item one C is the mission, vision and values. The mission is to empower every learner to thrive.

00:01:17,700	The Baps vision states together, our relationships build inclusive, collaborative, and innovative environments that create, agency and inspire a passion for learning, excellence, and discovery. The values are inclusion, excellence, innovation, leadership. You’ll also find in the agenda. Excuse me. You’ll also find a link in the agenda to the BSW Strategic Plan. Item two is to adopt the agenda or the wishes of the board.

00:01:40,130	I’ll move that. We adopt the agenda. I’ll second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing. None. Doctor. Eastgate. Yes. Lee. Yes. Peterson. Yes. Yes. Hager. Yes. Item three typically is focus on success. We don’t have one tonight, so we’ll jump straight into public comment.

00:02:07,070	Uh, I don’t believe we had anything to respond to last time. Okay. Uh, the board recognizes the central role parents play in the education of their children and supports active parent involvement in the education process. The board’s practice of public comment reflects an alliance with policy, BCA, and the spirit of its intent for classroom issues, it’s best to follow the chain of command. Teacher. Principal. Assistant.

00:02:27,170	Superintendent. Superintendent for district issues. Please reach out to Doctor Foss. Not if you do speak tonight. We simply ask that you be responsible. Be helpful and be respectful. Our students deserve to have adults model the expectations we have for them. Groups are urged to select no more. Select one spokesperson.

00:02:47,570	Individuals will be limited to no more than four minutes and will be notified, with 30s remaining to conclude their remarks. The board will not debate issues as presented, but will take such matters under advisement. With that, please stand and approach the podium if you wish to speak tonight.

00:03:10,900	Please state your name and the agenda item that you’ll be speaking about, and there should be a sign in sheet up there too for you or not yet. We’ll get one. My name is Nichols. Could you. Is the mic on? Thank you. There you go. My name is Nicholas Myers, I. The board has had a focus on our facilities and maintenance.

00:03:36,500	Um. Members of the board. My name is Nicholas Myers. This board has had a focus on facilities and maintenance in recent meetings. I was recently removed from the position of custodian Assembly Middle school. I am not here to discuss my termination. I’m here to discuss my concerns.

00:04:13,370	From what I found during my time and to provide greater cleanliness and conduct. I’m here to provide justice and integrity for the next in line, but more importantly, to shed light and to strengthen support for our students, staff, and educators.

00:04:26,970	I’m under the firm belief in leaving a place better than I found it, and I take that in stride with every opportunity afforded to me. So I stand before you, not out of personal grievance, but concern. There’s an old adage that states that evil prevails when good men do nothing. And I believe the staff I was with was conditioned to do nothing.

00:04:43,430	I was surrounded by good people with good intent, who were worn down by barriers to aid. This became prevalent when even the kitchen staff had acknowledged to me that our schools have a sink or swim mentality, and that once I understood that, I would be just fine. Years ago, I received a scholarship from this very board on the merit of resilience.

00:04:59,370	I know how to swim and work with minimal devices. I’ve been doing it my whole life, and the month I spent there, I’ve collected evidence that this staff was plagued by a culture of learned helplessness.

00:05:14,430	I’ve been told multiple times by my coworkers to not bother my supervisor, to lead custodian on many issues because he has a lot on his plate. A memorable issue being shown to me by a co-worker, that being an interior door that was only accessible from one side, that should have two way access. A safety risk because my coworkers were too afraid to add on to the plate.

00:05:31,930	I was not given expectation to aspire to, no standard to reach. My supervisor did not check on me to make sure I was reaching a standard. I was a free agent after my first day. Then to be assigned a new area and a new checklist the next week.

00:05:44,830	So I was given no proper guidance or a lack of what proper would be. I was even blamed for neglecting an area that was not on the checklist and was not communicated. That mishap until three days after being assigned. My supervisor relies heavily on the camera systems and not being directly present and monitoring me a trainee. And in other words, beyond my training details were neglected.

00:06:05,170	When I asked multiple co-workers how they would go about cleaning similar areas, I found that they too were left to the wind and they had different methods or using different chemicals for certain tasks, which opens the risk for mixing chemicals. I understand that we have a contract that is going to be discussed tonight.

00:06:18,830	What I saw during my time could be solved with greater communication. The day following President’s Day. My supervisor wasn’t present and only left a handwritten list of tasks without warning or meeting. That would be that. That could create an expectation of how the day would go.

00:06:35,430	Communication or hand off notes would be found simply written on whiteboards. No direct communication to the person who would be in that area. Truthfully, I was set up for failure due to the lack of effective communication. And how many others are we setting up for failure? When we fail our staff, we fail.

00:06:49,300	Our students in that culture have learned. Helplessness radiates to our society. This is just one of our schools, and I have been stuck wondering if this persists in other schools, and what else have we been letting fall through the cracks? You know what other liabilities are open? There is already an opportunity for solution. Each staff member has a Bismarck school’s email.

00:07:06,370	There is accessible services such as Microsoft Teams, where custodial staff could ask a question and give notice in each member of the staff would be notified. This is a standard many commercial cleaning companies I’ve worked for.

00:07:25,170	Many staff could drop off pictures and not need to walk the school to find help and maintain efficiency, and it is already a service that is paid for and available. This could create an Instagram audience. This also allows the ability to assign proper culpability as well as record a paper trail so staff can properly track how long an issue has persisted, and to mitigate the potential for liability, and offers open source opportunity for quicker turnaround, ensure safety and

00:07:42,630	easier access to resources. This also allows the ability to have a direct eyesight to members of the district. To figure out what else could be happening, what else are direct results of what we could do, and to prove proper results to even to the public. Our buildings last as long as much as you do. Thank you.

00:08:02,370	Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak tonight? Could you state your name in the agenda item you’re speaking about? For the record, please? Thank you. Uh, my name is Hazel neary. I don’t know where the agenda section is, but I’m speaking on the transportation for the 2627 school year. Is that. Go ahead.

00:08:35,970	Okay. I didn’t prepare a speech, but just had some questions for you guys to maybe discuss. Um, I’m a parent of a child that goes to beats up. And as a parent that uses the busing for my child to be able to access the school.

00:09:19,230	I’m very concerned with them taking a taken away the busing, not just for me, but for all of the other parents that can’t take their kids to and from school. I understand that the IEPs are, um, the board’s main focus, right, is keeping those children that have the legal obligation to be on the bus.

00:09:40,630	Um, but I think that if we are taking away the accessibility for the needy families that we are currently serving, uh. How are we gonna continue to serve needy families if we can’t get them where they’re getting services? So I just I have a couple questions. Um, that you can discuss.

00:10:10,700	Um, but I just wanted to know if any surveys or focus groups were conducted with the families and the staff most affected by the change. Uh, mostly because I did fill out the survey that was sent out, um, about the busing and how it was working.

00:10:34,670	Um, and I wanted to know if the board plans to measure the impact of the decision, um, on the groups who were not consulted because I don’t remember getting anything from bicep or in an email. Um, about this change. And if it would be good for my family. Um, also thinking about contingency plans if, uh, the outcome of the decision negatively affects students achievement or their safety. That’s all I have.

00:11:11,300	Okay. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak tonight? Okay. Seeing no one, uh, public comment is now closed. Item for monitoring district operations. We we don’t have anything in that category tonight. Um, so was this down to matters reserved for board action? Um, the spring 2026 superintendent, uh, evaluation.

00:11:49,500	With that, I will kind of open up the board members. I know there’s I’m sure you guys have some thoughts or things that you’d like to share. Give you a second to pull it up. Yeah. Um, I guess I’ve just been very appreciative of a number of things that are addressed in our OE.

00:12:34,800	Um, as far as this report and, um, our superintendent evaluation. Um, as far as all the updates that we get from, um, our superintendent, it’s it’s it’s just, um, there’s there’s never a time where I, as a board member, feel like I’m not in the loop.

00:12:56,030	Um, so the communication aspect especially. And I think that that is a domino effect into all the different areas of the school, but it really does start with communication, whether it’s about finances or buildings.

00:13:15,370	Um, events that take place that may make the media may not make the media just even if it’s something that kids are will be talking about at their high school. It’s just really good to be, um, looped into those things. Um, I also just really appreciate the work that, um, that, that he has done, uh, and provided a leadership to his team for the long range planning.

00:13:35,570	Um, I know that’s been a big undertaking, and we’ve had a number of things that have evolved this year from transportation to, um, other decisions. And so just really value the leadership that is coming from Doctor Foss, not. Mister Eastgate. Thank you. President Hager. Um, yeah.

00:13:59,130	Thanks for, uh, for everybody for all the comments that came through on our evaluation that we can take a look at as well. But, uh, Doctor Frost, not some of this has been to nel did a great job talking about that communication, that glaring A-plus is for you.

00:14:13,670	Um, since you’ve come into our district on that, um, you know, some of my thoughts as I just wanted to get some of these out there for you as well, for both of you and, um, listeners, for employees. Um, just strong leadership, good positive attitude when you step into things. And I think that trickles down. I think we see that in other, other areas in our district.

00:14:27,400	And I also know that you’re very supported and by other great people. Um, not underneath you, but working alongside you. And I know we have a lot of great people in our district that help make that as well, and you’re very quick to point that out and give credit to others where that’s due.

00:14:39,830	And I just appreciate it. Um, Long-Range Facilities Planning is we’re going to get in your superintendent report today, but also sitting on the operational excellence, um, portfolio. We’ve had a chance to have a lot of meetings. Um, you in particular have had a lot of meetings this year, sir.

00:14:56,170	And so, um, just the many community forums that have gone on talking, inviting community members at every, every school this last year and, and just the amount of work that both you and your team.

00:15:11,200	And again, I want to I want to say that I know it takes a whole team to to run a district this size, but just how much above and beyond that, people don’t see outside of an 8 to 5, that this is not an 8 to 5. This is a 365 days a year, seven, seven days a week kind of a job. So I just appreciate those things.

00:15:26,630	And and again, as board member Prescott pointed out, uh, it is not uncommon on a weekly basis basis for me to send you a text message saying, please call me when you have a minute. Um, no rush. No. You know, please call. And and I know you will.

00:15:37,500	Um, no matter what the topic is, whether it be about an email that the board has received, something going on in the district, or even something that we just hear from community members when we’re out there, you’re quick to respond to it.

00:15:48,330	And that’s the other thing that I’ve, as a board member, have very much appreciated, is that when I brought something to you that has come to me from a conversation from a parent, um, I believe fully when I tell that community member, like, we’ll find an answer for you, and our superintendent will make sure that we get some of those answers we need that we can get there.

00:16:02,000	Um, and like, we’ve often had to say at times, too, it doesn’t always mean we can get everybody the answers they want all the time. But there will be there will be a response. Um, and that just appreciate the time that you make amongst a very busy schedule. So, um, also, I guess I should also just mention that, uh, you know, our O’s are doing very well.

00:16:15,900	Our district is doing well, and that reflects highly on you. So thank you. Mr. Lee. Thank you, President Hager. Um, yeah, I echo a lot of the same comments. Um, leading a district this size is is not easy. Uh, there’s a lot of decisions that have to be made that that aren’t easy.

00:16:42,630	Um, you’re in a position where you don’t have a luxury of not making a decision. So we recognize that. And I think you’ve worked, um, with the board to try to come up with, with best outcomes.

00:17:00,570	And there are so many issues that face the district that are that are budget related and always have been, but it seems like it gets tighter and tighter. But, um, especially with the long range, um, plan, uh, you know, we you’ve really kept the board up to date on where we are and where we’re headed, what we need to look at. And, um, that’s very, very helpful. Um, but I echo the same sentiments.

00:17:18,170	Um, you’re very responsive to the board. You’ve always been willing to tackle the tough issues and the tough subjects, and, um, and even more impressive, um, you know, you’re able to just stand your ground and stand for what’s right. So I just appreciate that about you very much. So thank you. Miss. Mr. Peterson.

00:17:42,730	All right. Thanks, president Hager. And then, um, you know, it’s hard when we have, uh, you know, five of us that kind of want to talk, especially about the the O’s, and especially as we’re thinking about what we’ve been having conversations about and some of the next steps.

00:18:00,430	Um, but I think it can’t be understated. We talked about the communication, and a lot of times what I think the public maybe is aware or is not aware. Most of these decisions are not made at the board level. A lot of the decisions are made in the in the operational space.

00:18:16,930	And we can kind of guide and question and, and um, you know, move, move us in the direction that we need to. But a lot of it has to be planned. Um, at the building level, at the district level and held accountable by, by you and your team.

00:18:31,870	And I think that why we’ve been so appreciative of the open communication is because not only have you kind of met that met that standard, but also really helped us clarify what that process looks like, how you talk to individuals and clarify what that looks like. Hold your own team accountable to those expectations, and then really keeping an open, um, communication.

00:18:53,170	So even if they’re not decisions that that we make, we are able to be very aware so that when we are in the public eye, um, we can kind of have a, a thumb on what is going on so that we can at least communicate and hopefully speak as one as what we’re supposed to, you know, be doing so that we don’t feel blindsided by anything. And so I’ve always appreciated it.

00:19:09,170	I agree with, I think, what what board member Eastgate said is that we we are looking in focusing on results. And this is this is one report, but we we look at those results often. And I’m always kind of looking on on the academic. But on the facility side, on on some of those pieces.

00:19:28,470	And, and this is a big a big ship to, to move. And so we’re always looking kind of at that high level. Um, but we, we do have a lot of things to be proud of. And then I always just appreciate your continuous improvement mindset as well.

00:19:41,800	So, um, with that, I’ll kind of yield, you know, time back to, to President Hager. But thanks, um, Doctor Foster, for all that you’ve been doing and continue to, to lead. You to echo some of the things that have already already been said, Doctor Foss, not the the big one for me is, is the communication aspect and how how open you are.

00:20:01,070	And the simple thing sometimes, you know, we hear about different things in the community and just getting a text from you, just saying maybe not having all the details, but hey, I’m aware of this and I’m working on it helps us because then we’re not having those side conversations like, well, okay,

00:20:15,370	give me the details that I can then share that back, knowing that that you’re involved in there. And as Mr. Eastgate said, putting putting in the time and the the amount of after hours things that you do on top of the meetings is showing up to the sporting events and all those things.

00:20:29,300	It it goes without saying that that goes a long way. Um, the one thing for me that that has really stood out is the future planning when it comes to just the different big decisions that the school district has to make. And you kind of take a step back when those decisions have been made.

00:20:47,670	And you think about when we started talking about those and working about working through those, a lot of times it’s it’s years in advance up to that decision. So it’s not something that is kind of an afterthought. It’s it’s very much thought through.

00:21:04,200	And again, to, to what some of the others said, the idea of reaching out and getting public engagement and their thoughts on on different things that may be coming, that that’s important. So thank you for for all you do. Um, thank you. You’re all too gracious. Um, I would plainly admit, because I will share it with my friends.

00:21:26,900	There’s many things I can do better in life and and improve in my job. But I will say, um, I just from your comments, I’ll share a few thoughts as, um, this has been a uniquely full year of tough decisions from the beginning to the end, and some of those tier point, uh, President Hager started years ago, but they

00:21:48,230	just kind of seemed to culminate this year. Um, and I want to assure to you and to people who watch this TV, um, uh, watch us. There’s always a component of that that talks about what’s the impact with kids. I mean, we’re in a kid business.

00:22:07,430	I’ve been in a kid business since I was first teaching fifth graders, and it’s always about kids first. That’s still a component. Every time we make decisions. I think the thing I would say to you and to the listening audience, the thing that is making it really challenge this year, is we’ve been very deep in the operational sides of the

00:22:24,070	district, and that’s mostly because we know we have to invest in teachers and staff to to make sure we have adults in classrooms doing their very best to educate our kids. That’s kind of a rock solid investment and not one we’ve touched.

00:22:41,170	So when times get financially tough, and I think over the last 18 months we’ve been facing that and I think we’re going to continue as a district to face that. Uh, due to budget limitations. Um, you’re struck my office is struck with you can’t spend a dollar twice. You have to live within your means.

00:22:59,830	I don’t get to, as my dad say, print money and put it on trees. You know, I can’t just pick it. I have to live within those confines. And sometimes those decisions we make, even though it is a challenge for how it affects a family or our children. I there’s no other option. Um, it’s not a good option is a choice between bad and worse.

00:23:20,630	It is not a choice between good and bad. It’s it’s it’s nuances of a really hard decision. And I, I think I will give credit to my team as Mister Eastgate, you said I will give credit to my team. I walk around schools here, I walk around my office.

00:23:35,630	Um, you should know you’ve heard it from me. You’ve all heard it from me. Um, I walk around our schools and we are blessed with amazing, brilliant people. Uh, you all have to do is walk around and see how great our teachers are. Our staff are our coordinators, directors, leaders.

00:23:52,170	Um, we are blessed with amazingly brilliant people. I do not have to be, nor am I the most brilliant person in the room. I am rarely that. I’m just good to be surrounded by really smart people that can do exceptional work for kids. And so I have a really great team.

00:24:07,630	Um, we’re blessed with many great educators. So, um, in the area of communication. Thank you. I tried to do well communicating. I try to focus on that every day.

00:24:26,370	But I will say even now, I think we as a district can open and be really, um, continue to focus on open, honest, transparent communication. It is hard. It is difficult to do. It is hard to get every person’s voice on decisions. Sometimes it is physically impossible. You can’t get input on everything, right.

00:24:45,100	But when we do, we got to use it, use it for a decision and and at times when the decision is made to help communicate that, communicate what you’re deciding why, what the, um, to help people understand, um, what’s going on inside their school district because we’re invested to it. Right? It’s a community. It’s a community product. We’re all part of the ownership of that. So I think that’s really important.

00:25:04,230	Um, I will say to 24 over seven, 24 seven is just how my dad raised me. God bless him. Um, when you grow up in a ranch with 400 head of cattle on it, it’s a 24 seven job. And, uh, it’s no different than running a school. It’s a 24 over seven job.

00:25:22,370	And if, uh, it’s a blizzard, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a ranching or being a superintendent, I’m up at 4:00. In both those situations. That’s just the way it is. So, um, I, I thank him for those lessons he taught me. Um, and I’ll conclude with I was sharing it with a colleague and getting a coffee today.

00:25:40,570	She works in the business office with Doctor Sher, and we were talking. She was asking me about how my, um, how I felt about my job, and I said, it’s the best job I’ve ever held in my life.

00:25:54,370	This is the this is the best job I’ve ever could have an opportunity to serve you and this community. Uh, if you went back in time, 15 years, there is no way in God’s green earth I thought I’d be sitting here. But it’s a wonderful opportunity that God gave me. And I haven’t been to take full advantage of every day I can. So thank you for your feedback.

00:26:09,570	And you know, you always can text me to tell me when I screw up, right? Or you can always call me, okay? So let me know. Thank you. Doctor. Uh, with that, I would entertain a motion. Mr. Lee, thank you, President Hager. Um, one quick comment.

00:26:31,470	You know, growing up on that cattle ranch, I bet you didn’t envision the day where you’d be running 14 000 head. But here you are. Well done. Based upon the board’s prior monitoring of these policies and the ongoing monitoring of the organizations and the superintendent’s performance during the year, as well as the superintendent’s ongoing work, I move that the board find the superintendent’s performance as satisfactory,

00:26:50,500	which, awkwardly enough, is the highest mark we can give him. I’ll second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none. Doctor. Lee. Yes. Peterson. Yes. Yes. Eastgate. Yes. Hager. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Doctor. Uh, item B, the R 2.1 academic achievement, literacy revisions. Um, this is the second reading. Yep.

00:27:21,430	So any any comments or discussion on it, or I would entertain a motion. Mr.. Scott. Barring any discussion by other board members, um, I would move that we approve the revised coherent governance results. Indicators are 2.1 academic achievement literacy as presented for the second and final reading. I would second. Motion and a second. Any discussion.

00:27:45,500	Seeing none doctor share. Peterson. Yes. Yes. Eastgate. Yes. Lee. Yes. Hager. Yes. Uh, item C is board member school visits. I think I’m the only one who has one tonight. It’ll be. It’ll be brief. I’ll keep it brief for you, Mr. Eastgate. Um.

00:28:09,500	Uh, so I had the opportunity about a month ago to go to, uh, Murphy, home of the Bulldogs. Um, one of the things that I. That I like, and I know other board members have mentioned it to in other school visits, is how when you have the school nickname, all the different things that they associate tied to that, that nickname, um, they have the

00:28:26,370	parking lot positive paws and bark outs are all different things that are associated with the Bulldogs of Murphy. Um, so Mr. Frisbee was kind enough to give me some time to just kind of visit in his office, and we visited about and Doctor Pheasant, one of the things that you mentioned there, too,

00:28:43,770	about budgeting is one of the things that, uh, Principal Freaky and I talked about and how, um, you know, there’s times where when it comes to the budgeting process, he does his stuff a little bit different, having some autonomy within the different schools to kind of do things differently

00:28:58,030	that work for them. Um, one of the things he mentioned to is that, you know, sometimes they make budgeting requests, you know, up the district, and sometimes those are rejected. And he said when they are rejected, it always comes with an explanation. He understands.

00:29:16,200	He understands why that, you know, you don’t always get all the things that you that you would request. And he appreciates. Um, Central Office’s role. And at least when they respond to him, you know, helping him understand the constraints and the reasons why, that maybe not everything was always accepted. So he’s very appreciative of Mr. Barnhart, who’s who’s not here.

00:29:35,570	He had had nice things to say about him as well. Um, one of the things we talked about, too is, uh, the, the change in demographics at Murphy with the opening of new schools and how that’s kind of shifted needs within within the school itself and how over the last couple of years, you know, he’s he’s

00:29:55,170	adjusted to those those different dynamics within the, within the school itself. Um, one thing that I guess really, really stood out to me is, as we walked around the school and visited, is the principal Friskies focus on gratitude when it comes to the individual students and telling telling

00:30:16,500	students that he cares for them and giving out the hugs to, um, having opportunities for different teachers to write gratitude notes to each other, which then he will personally walk to them and present it in front of the students to show, hey, this teacher is showing gratitude to this other teacher

00:30:35,230	for for some task or something that they might have done for them. Um, again, that that gratitude theme during conferences, he has a table set out so that parents, when they’re there at conferences, can write their kids a note that’ll be handed to them at school during that week.

00:30:53,900	So it’s an opportunity again for the parents to, to give, you know, a little comfort or a little guidance, a little positive note to their to their student. Um, and the last thing so this is this is always the fun part for me is when you do these school visits.

00:31:10,570	Well, I happen to have a couple Murphy students on my baseball team this summer. The Marlins. We were league champs, by the way. Um, so in in visiting the schools, the school, we went into the classroom for one, uh, Braden. Um, so walking into Braden’s room and Mr.

00:31:32,470	Frick called him over and said, hey, hey, Braden, um, what’s one thing you’d say about Murphy? Tell him one thing about Murphy. And at this point, he still hasn’t figured out it’s me. And he. He said, it’s awesome.

00:31:48,400	I said, is it awesome, Braden? And he looked at me and he goes, what are you doing here? So it took him a little bit to kind of put two and two together. Not used to seeing seeing me in that school setting. So it’s always fun to to run into those, those kids when you see them during other activities and then see them in their, in their school. So that’s my school visit.

00:32:06,130	Uh, with that, that brings us down to the consent agenda. Uh, what are the wishes of the board? Mr. President Hager, I move that we approve the consent agenda. And second. We have a motion and a second to share. Press. Yes. Eastgate. Yes. Lee. Yes. Peterson. Yes. Hager. Yes. Uh, superintendents report Long-Term Facility Plan update. Doctor foster.

00:32:29,600	And, um, thank you. Uh, really just intended to circle back to the presentation that you received last, um, um, last time we met, uh, giving an opportunity for the board, if you have any questions or comments, um, from that presentation that you’d like to ask me or any comments related

00:32:47,630	to it, I know you are out of the out of the community, but just thought this is a time before I probably ask you a couple of follow up questions for the next steps, and I just kind of need some.

00:33:04,170	I don’t think it requires a board action, I just but some consensus, some general like Jeff go do um, I’ll be asking for in a minute, but do you have any questions comments from the presentation? Last month. I would open it up to Miss Prescott since you weren’t here last time. Yeah, thanks.

00:33:18,670	I did listen to the meeting and reviewed the PowerPoint when I got back to North Dakota. Um, and I guess I just, I know that for the time that I’ve been on the board, we’ve been very conservative and done what we needed to do to address the financial needs of our school district within, um, with within the limitations that we wanted to to, to be in,

00:33:42,630	um, not having additional taxes, but when I’ve seen this plan and looked at it, I mean, I think what what really stands out to me is how many projects there are, the dollar amount it equates to, and that it would take 23 years to complete if we

00:34:01,230	just keep using the building fund. And I just, um, I guess I just feel like we have a, a larger commitment to our community, to the kids, um, to to really try to take this on in a bigger way.

00:34:23,230	Um, and I guess I highlighted that your recommendation that really, this can’t be solved without a bond referendum. And, you know, that’s that’s a way for the community to weigh in. That’s that’s the way for our, our parents, um, teachers, community members to, to tell us that they, um, support tackling these projects.

00:34:45,800	And, um, and really addressing the needs of our, our school buildings and give our kids the best, uh, best places to, to to live. How many hours a day and, um, and to learn. So I believe that they really do deserve better. I, I feel very strongly I’ve voiced it numerous times about just the schools that don’t have accessibility.

00:35:08,500	For those that, you know, can’t walk or, or use the stairs. And that’s just such a such a big concern to me. Um, but, ah, I’ve really appreciated the time that you, your team have put into identifying the needs that are out there.

00:35:31,270	And, um, really categorizing them into, you know, this this is what are the high priority items that we really need to tackle. Um, and those items aren’t just small enough where we can just chip away at them either. So, um, I again, I really just appreciate the time and work that’s been put into this long range facilities plan. And it’s just really time to to really get to work on it, I believe. So thank you.

00:35:56,600	Thank you, Miss Persky. And all the all the rest of us had an opportunity to comment at the last one. So I don’t know if anybody else has additional comments or as I turn it back to you, doctor. I’m glad you hit on two of those.

00:36:07,830	I was going to, um, remind everyone, I think, uh, um, last time I was here, remember, I was talking about the LHS sprinkler and the displacement of a lot of water on the floor and remediating that, and things that are unexpected, right? That really impact to your point, that 23 year plan, um, that gets bumps

00:36:28,170	along the way that make it even harder to accomplish in a reasonable time period. And I think, you know, as Doctor Shah presented last time, they $5 million each year that we’re annually putting to just maintenance. But again, the numbers are big, if you remember, go back and look at his his presentation last time.

00:36:44,100	We’re talking about hundreds and hundreds of thousands of square feet of floors and roofs and walls and just the massive facilities that we are, um, expected and obligated to take care of for the public. Um, so I’m glad you brought that up.

00:37:02,830	And but I was going to add that even since we met last time I checked with, uh, um, Mr. Milstead and I said, anything else surprised us lately. In the last two weeks. Guess what? Yes. There’s always a surprise. He mentioned that the intercom system at Horizon Middle School was causing us problems. That’s a $23,000 fix. It’s only 23,000 when you’re $220 million budget, but it’s 23,000.

00:37:27,530	Then it’s like you said, there’s a water heater for ten. There’s a basket controllers every week. It seems like for five, five, five, um, not $5, $5,000. Um, and that’s the that’s the complexity, I think, of the issue as trying to keep ahead of that.

00:37:44,500	In a world where we all see costs are not going down. Um, they are not heading in the right direction. So either you do it now and address them, or you do it later and pay more and pay considerably more.

00:38:01,900	So I guess my question to you is if you, having heard the recommendation last time and as you mentioned, that I truly believe you give it to the people and let the people vote. Let the people voice it. It’s their choice what they want for their schools. I think that’s the best path forward. If you think that’s what you want us to work on, I say us meaning my team doctor. Share.

00:38:16,530	Um, we would start to work up the documents for your consideration because we need to go to a bond council. We need to go to an attorney to write those resolutions if you want. If you’re kind of saying, Jeff, go do this. Um, for 127 million, we would get those ready for lease you to consider.

00:38:32,070	Um, and then we can talk about the recommendation or consideration. But if you’re good with that, then we have a couple weeks that we need to get on that work. So you’re feeling. That you’re just looking for kind of a head nod? Yes. Kind of. Continue down this path. Yeah. Tell me. Go. Yeah. Okay.

00:38:47,900	Okay. Yeah. I think you have consensus. Okay. We will get those ready for your consideration. Um, I think it just takes us a little time to work through bond counsel. Make sure we get those documents ready for your consideration.

00:39:01,600	But there are some timelines we have to live by, too. So you have to do that within a time period before any election. Um, so we have to live by those timelines which we are aware of. We’ve been watching those for a while. We know what we have to get done in certain times. We’ll get those done for you. So okay.

00:39:20,000	Anything else okay with that? All agenda items have been considered. I declare this