School Board

Part of providing a high-quality education to our students means offering exceptional service to all of our customers. As a district committed to personal relationships, offering a high-quality customer service experience is an essential part of our mission.

We recognize, however, that at times we may not meet all of your expectations. We welcome your feedback, and encourage you to let us know if you have concerns. We’ll do our best to answer your questions and work with you to find a reasonable solution to any problems.

How to work with us to address concerns and solve problems:

1. Share your concerns with the person most directly involved (ie. classroom teacher, coach/activity advisor, etc.). Many times a concern is a result of misinformation or a misunderstanding and can be solved at the classroom or building level.

2. If after that meeting there is still an issue, bring your concerns to the building principal or appropriate supervisor.
3. If an issue remains, you may direct your concerns to the superintendent or administrative designee.
4. If there is still an issue after speaking with the superintendent/designee, you may bring your concern to the school board via email, phone or in-person during an Open Forum, which is held as part of the school board’s regular business meeting.

Speaking to the board:

If you wish to speak to the school board, you will be able to do so at the start of a school board meeting during Open Forum. You may sign in only for yourself, not other individuals or groups, and only in person. The sign in sheet is made available 30 minutes prior and up to the start of the meeting. Due to time limitations, we will limit the number of speakers to 15 with each speaker receiving three minutes. If you spoke at the last meeting, please consider allowing others to sign in before you.

While comments and questions are welcome during Open Forum, law prohibits the Board from discussing concerns about individual employees or students in a public meeting. We will stop the proceedings immediately if employee or student privacy issues are raised and direct the speaker to forward comments regarding individual employees or students to the superintendent.

Because we are modeling civil discourse for our community, speakers must present their testimony in a respectful manner. Vulgarity, character attacks, malice or specific complaints identifying staff or students by name or implication will not be permitted.

The Board will not deliberate, discuss, or engage in conversation with speakers during open forum. However, the Board may ask administration to review the concern(s) presented.

Absentee Voting

To vote by absentee ballot or in person at the polling place, eligible individuals need to be registered at their current address. Voters may register to vote online through the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office at mnvotes.org.

Questions about the general election, absentee voting, or voter registration may be directed to Washington County at 651-430-6175. Visit the Washington County Absentee Voting webpage for more information.

Election Notices

Election Results

Election results by precinct can be viewed on the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.

Find your Polling Place

Enter your address into this Polling Place Finder to find out important voting information for your precinct.

The school board advances its vision by focusing on student achievement, partnering with the community, and being proactive in addressing issues that affect education on local, state, and national levels.

View the 2020-2021 Legislative Platform

Our Advocacy Partners

MN Schools Boards Association
The mission of Minnesota School Boards Association, a leading advocate for public education, supports, promotes and strengthens the work of public school boards.
MSBA was founded in 1920 and is the eighth-oldest school board organization in the United States.
MNMSBA.org

AMSD (Association of Metropolitan School Districts)
It is the mission of AMSD to advocate for metropolitan school districts and advance legislation that supports student achievement.
AMSD.org

SEE (Schools for Equity in Education)
All public school children must have equal access to a high quality education regardless of where they live in Minnesota.
SchoolsForEquity.org

School Board Committee Representatives:

• Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD): Alison Sherman
• Community Education Advisory Council: Liz Weisberg
• MN State High School League (MSHSL): Matt Onken
• Northeast Metro 916: Katie Hockert
• Partnership Plan: Annie Porbeni 
• Schools for Equity in Education (SEE): Bev Petrie & Tina Riehle

Working Groups

Board members serve on a variety of working groups and act as liaisons to district schools. View the School Board Committees Policy 213.

These meetings are generally open to the public, unless otherwise noted. See the school board calendar for dates, times and locations. Any person wishing to observe the meeting is welcome to attend.  Also, board members in addition to the core Working Group members may attend the meetings; therefore, a quorum or more of board members may be present at the meetings.

Finance and Operations

The Finance and Operations working group, which shall include the Treasurer, shall work with the Superintendent and/or designee(s) in matters relative to the district's finances and operations. This working group shall provide consultation and perspective regarding district financial decisions before presentation to the entire Board. 

Legislative

The Legislative working group shall work with the Superintendent and/or designee(s) regarding legislative issues. This group shall advocate for and monitor legislation that impacts the education of students and shall provide updates to the entire Board regarding issues that affect the District. 

Personnel

The Personnel working group shall work with the Superintendent and/or designee(s) on issues related to personnel. This group shall provide consultation and perspective relative to district personnel issues and shall represent the entire Board on grievance issues. These meetings are not generally open to the public due to the sensitive nature of conversation.

Policy

The Policy Review working group, shall work with the Superintendent and/or designee(s) in the review of District policies. The group shall recommend proposed changes to the entire Board, for consideration and approval. 

Community Engagement (TBD)

The Community Engagement working group shall work with the superintendent and manager of community engagement and/or designee(s) to provide opportunities to engage residents in conversations about the school district. The group will help to determine engagement topics, identify key audiences, and plan various opportunities (both in person and online) to gather community feedback. The working group recommendations will then be presented to the entire board. 

School Board liaisons exist so that all board members have multiple opportunities to connect with our schools throughout the school year. Board members understand the importance of building strong connections with each of the schools in the district, and the presence of board members in the schools aids the board in making the best decisions possible as they better understand the needs of students.

School Board members will be assigned two schools/programs per semester and will rotate through remaining schools. After four years, every board member will have rotated through every school. It is requested that at a minimum, board members schedule a tour with the principal and attend at least one other meeting/event throughout the semester.

Notes regarding the liaison assignments:

• Since board members make all decisions with the good of the entire district in mind, the assignments are not meant to be advocacy positions but to allow board members to gain a broader perspective about the district.
• School board members do not get involved in administrative issues at individual schools but refer concerns to appropriate staff or the superintendent.
• Board members are not limited to only attending events at their assigned school(s).
• The seats will remain constant when new board members are elected.