I do have children in the elementary, middle school, and the high school level. Um I had the opportunity this past fall to take a tour of the Marramac school. Um and in doing so, you know, coming into the district, it was very much so light, bright, many meeting the teachers, you know, on the welcome days and everything. It was so much energy. Um, and little did I know that there were so many challenges regarding our buildings. Uh, because as a new um, uh, parent to the school district, I really did not see any issues at all. But having done a tour with Marramac and then also scheduling a tour with Glenidge, I did want to speak on behalf of um, the proposition uh, that is before us. So, like I said before, Clayton is an incredible school district. We have amazing teachers. We have amazing staff and programs, but our our buildings, they are aging and they are holding us back and making it harder to compete with other top districts. Updating our facilities isn't a nice to have anymore. It's an essential. Over the past year, the district has been working uh with community members, staff, and outside experts to create a long range facilities master plan. putting Prop O on the April ballot and getting it passed is the way to take that plan and make it a reality. There is a key financial piece that I think should be noted that there that Prop O does not raise taxes at all.

I was told by another board member that, you know, we're afraid we're going to lose teachers to Kirkwood Webster. There's no way. There's no way one of our teachers is going to go to Kirkwood, teach twice the number of classes, get paid less, not have board grants. If someone's going to really leave for that, let them go. That just is not realistic. And I I hope everybody realizes that. At one time we compared ourselves, I think it's the White Fish Bay in Milwaukee, uh, Germantown in Tennessee, uh, uh, Gross Point in Michigan. I mean, Frank will remember all this or Shauny Mission, but I thought Shauny mission was just the west and the south or something. Those were the blueprint schools we compared ourselves to. We didn't look at Webster and corporate are fine but that's not who we who we are. Um my other comments is I I think I talked today you know Leoo school board gave framework to their superintendent you 10 years ago we will have either two to 2.5% increase in our expenditures every year. If you're going to go above that you've got to quote cut something. This board I mean I mentioned something to to Stacy who's lovely. You know we really don't want to tie the hands of our superintendent. You've got to give a framework. It's unrealistic that our per pupil expenditure has doubled any other district and 10,000 more than most recent one.

You've got to give a framework. It's unrealistic that our per pupil expenditure has doubled any other district and 10,000 more than most recent one. With respect to what's going on tonight, you know, I think it would be helpful and transparent because this is the concern of the community from John how much we've spent on this on consultants, on media, onformational stuff, all indirect and indirect costs. I mean, the rumor in the community, we've spent over a million to$2 million. It's hard for me to believe that, but that should be transparent information. I thank you. You know, I uh um Frank encouraged me to file, let me say, but he did. He wanted to. But uh um it was a it was a transit experience. I think you are great guys. I think you'll do a good job. Just be passionate. As you could be half as passion as me, I'd be thrilled. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. And we do have one additional comment um from B. Marcel Williams. >> Good evening everyone. I'm not that tall. So, [laughter] um I am a new parent to the district and I'm so excited to be here. I do have children in the elementary, middle school, and the high school level. Um I had the opportunity this past fall to take a tour of the Marramac school.

Over the past year, the district has been working uh with community members, staff, and outside experts to create a long range facilities master plan. putting Prop O on the April ballot and getting it passed is the way to take that plan and make it a reality. There is a key financial piece that I think should be noted that there that Prop O does not raise taxes at all. These facilities these facility issues can't wait if Clayton wants to remain a top tier district. Investing in our schools directly protects and increases property value. I truly believe that it is that if we do this and if this gets done then Clayton won't just remain strong, it can become the premier school district in Missouri and beyond. Again, I have students at that are seven that are 13 and 12 and I have a graduating senior um and so I'm here for the long run and I would love to at least have my seven-year-old enjoy all of the fruits of this labor. Thank you so much and thank you to the board. >> Thank you. And just a reminder to the public that we don't respond here at the meeting to your public comments, but we will follow up at a later time. So, thanks to to you both. Um, moving on now to Dr. Patel's uh, superintendent communications. Thank you. Thank you everyone and thank you for being here tonight.

Thank you. Thank you everyone and thank you for being here tonight. So, typically when I do a superintendence update, I usually share highlights from the across the district, from our communities and our um staff members and stakeholders. But tonight, I have decided knowing that we are having a a presentation later today for the long range facilities plan and the significance of that. I wanted to take a few minutes just to provide some extra context around it. So, Frank, this will not be like behind the business card message. it will be a little bit longer. Um, so as I was thinking about it and as I was saying tonight we're going to be hearing about the long-range facilities master plan and this is more than just a master plan. It is really a conversation that we're about to have that's an investment in our community. Specifically, it's a $135 million proposal that we are going to put forth. And the proposal is a zero tax rate increase proposal. It is focused on our facilities where our students continue to have a sense of belonging. It is focused on our facilities where our students continue to learn every single day and they grow. And we want to call this proposal, we're planning on calling it Prop O for our schools, our community, and our future. Two years ago, more than two years ago, actually, at this point, we and the school district and the board were exploring the option of purchasing Callaris.