Following Olson’s announcement, the meeting transitioned to other topics, including updates on the Monticello High School’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) program. Mr. Jacob Wilts, the agriculture teacher and FFA adviser, provided an extensive update on the FFA activities over the past year. Wilts detailed the chapter’s participation in various competitions and events, including the state convention in April, where all six teams qualified for state-level competitions, earning gold rankings in horse and fish and wildlife categories. The chapter also organized agricultural tours over the summer, exposing students to agriculture outside Monticello, with one notable trip to Owatana, including visits to the Spam Museum and a John Deere dealership.

Wilts elaborated on the officer retreat, which helped structure the year’s activities and fostered team cohesion, and highlighted the chapter’s involvement in the county and state fairs, despite challenges posed by inclement weather. The national convention in Indianapolis was another key event, attended by ten students, the largest group Wilts had taken, offering valuable exposure to leadership development events and a college career fair.

In addition to agriculture, the meeting addressed educational goals and achievements. Laura Stener, the Director of Teaching and Learning, presented a comprehensive achievement and integration summary for 2024. She outlined goals in four main categories: literacy and reading proficiency, graduation and post-secondary readiness, attendance and engagement, and teacher representation. Stener noted a slight dip in recent literacy assessments, with variability in performance across grade levels. Despite this, some improvement was seen in early reading assessments for K-1 students. The goals for closing achievement gaps among students eligible for free or reduced lunch and students of color were also discussed, with current proficiency rates outpacing state averages but not meeting established goals.

The board deliberated on the realism of setting the same percentage goals for all student groups, given current performance disparities. Adjustments based on progress were emphasized, with an aim for 63% of grade three students from targeted groups to meet reading benchmarks by spring 2026. Discussion also covered graduation and post-secondary readiness goals, with graduation rates currently outperforming state averages.

Financial matters were another focal point, with a presentation on the district’s financial audit. The audit revealed revenues exceeding budgeted figures, though expenditures also surpassed expectations, resulting in a positive net change in the fund balance. The food service and community service funds were discussed, with monitoring of negative balances highlighted as crucial, particularly for school readiness funding. Revenue sources showed a decrease in federal funding due to the exhaustion of COVID-related funds, while state funding increased despite a decline in student enrollment.