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. At that time, the community spoke clearly. They asked us to slow down. They asked us to really be transparent and they asked us most importantly to come up with a detailed comprehensive plan before we make any significant requests from our residents. And over the past two years we have done exactly that. We've slowed down. We listened. We listened carefully and we developed a plan. And you will listen and you will hear about the plan later today. But I say that to give you context of we didn't just come up with this proposal or this plan. A lot of work has gone behind it. When you think about the two years that we have spent, we have had community engagement meetings. We have had steering committee with 33 people that represented different seven different stakeholder groups. We have had over 100 people in building committee meetings that have been giving us input. We've hosted building tours.

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.

We have had over 100 people in building committee meetings that have been giving us input. We've hosted building tours. The board has been meeting on a regular basis with so many retreats and exec session and questioning and pushing us and really challenging our thinking which we appreciate and with that we have come across we have come through with a solid wellthoughtout plan that will f that'll be a phased approach and phase one will include Glenidge Elementary, Clayton High School and Gayfield. Glenidge Elementary being 96 years old and our hope is through um demolition, new construction and renovation, we can provide safe, more safe, secure places accessible and places where our kids can have learning accessible that fits the needs of the learner today and for future. And then at Clayton High School, our proposal is to have a STEM learning lab where we can continue to be innovative and offer classes that other districts are right now that we cannot because we don't have that space. And remember, we always say learning just doesn't happen in the four walls of a classroom. So by improving gay field, we're improving learning for our students and it's a place where our community comes together. So it is a point of pride. we have shared experiences on that field and we can build connections there. So I say all that because I want us to really know that this is a very wellthoughtout plan.

So it is a point of pride. we have shared experiences on that field and we can build connections there. So I say all that because I want us to really know that this is a very wellthoughtout plan. We will share the details on it but it is shaped by community voice over the past two years and it is grounded on fiscal responsibility zero tax rate increase. So with that, I just wanted to thank everybody that has helped shape this plan over the past two years. Thank you for your engagement. Thank you for your partnership. And I look forward to our conversation later today so we can really discuss it. And with that, I am going to hand it over to Nina because I'm sure she has some thoughts as well. Hi everyone. So last Thursday I got the chance to meet with Clayton's principal advisory club again. This is our first meeting of the new year, so we had lots to discuss. While we talked a little bit about finals and the new semester transition, the majority of our discussion surrounded the long range facilities master plan. We started by talking about the new STEM learning lab, which would house geometry and construction, amped, and robotics. Everyone is super excited about these ideas, and using feedback from the group as well as student surveys, here are some of the key reasons why students think these additions will be beneficial. First, Clayton has so many opportunities to explore career paths.