8/12/21 Business Meeting

Agenda and Materials Revised 8/12/21

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Board Meeting Notes

At the start of the meeting board members voted to move an action item related to online learning to a report for information. 

Report for Information: Back to School Update
School board received an update on planning for the return to school this fall. Administration reviewed COVID-19 safety procedures that will be in place, and recommended the board consider requiring indoor masking for all people in the school setting (preK-8)  including staff, students and visitors, regardless of vaccination status effective Monday, August 30. The board is expected to take action on a masking requirement at a special meeting on August 19. 

Report for Information: First Policy Reading (210) Conflict of Interest and (201.5) Conflict of Interest
School board members reviewed policies 210: Conflict of Interest and 201.5 Conflict of Interest as part of a first reading. The policies will come back for a second reading at a future meeting.

Report for Information: Second Policy Reading (731) Post Issuance Debt Compliance
School board members reviewed Policy 731: Post Issuance Debt Compliance as part of a second reading. The policy will come back for a third and final reading at a future meeting.

Report for Information: Renew District Memberships
School board members reviewed a list of district memberships and associated fees for the coming year. The board is expected to take action to approve the memberships at a future meeting.

• MN School Boards Association (MSBA), $14,727. Services include: policy formats, legal advice, election advice and legislative updates to support school districts and Boards of Education. 

• MN State High Schools League (MSHSL), No Fee. Supervises and regulates interscholastic athletic and fine art events. There is no fee however, board action is required for participation. 

• Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD), $11,328. AMSD's primary task is to lobby at the state level for the needs of metropolitan school districts. However, AMSD's Board believes that its lobbying efforts are most effective when the organization plays a role in shaping the broader public debate on K-12 issues and advocates for policies that benefit the State as a whole.

Report for Information: Clinical Services Agreement for Physical Therapy Services
School board members reviewed a clinical services agreement for physical therapist services for students identified with physical therapy needs as part of their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Report for Information: Online Learning
The school board received an update on plans for a 100% online learning program to serve students in grades K-5. The program would be offered under a state provisioning license designed to serve students not yet eligible for vaccination. A total of 144 students have registered for online learning and the board was asked to consider an investment of $250,000 to support the program. Funding for the online staffing, which is estimated at $250,000, would come from the ESSER II federal COVID-19 funds. The school board will hold a special meeting on Monday, August 16 to vote on the online learning recommendation.

Action Item: Clinical Services Agreement for Physical Therapy Services
School board members voted 6-0 to approve a Clinical Services Agreement for physical therapist services for students. 

Action Item: Policy Approval (705) Investments
School board members voted 6-0 to approve Policy 705: Investments.

Action Item: Combined Polling Locations Update
School board members voted 6-0 to approve a resolution for the 2021 Combined Polling Locations. By state law, the board may establish a combined polling place for several precincts for school district elections not held on the day of a statewide election as a cost-saving measure. 

Action Items: Resolution Establishing the Procedure and Schedule to fill One School Board Vacancy by Appointment & Resolution Calling a Special Election to fill a School Board Vacancy
As a result of the resignation of board member Liz Weisberg, the board took action on two resolutions to establish the process of filling the position both temporarily and for the remainder of the term:

• The school board voted 6-0 to approve a resolution outlining the process that will be used to appoint a temporary member to fill the position until a special election can be held this fall. Applications will be available online beginning at noon on August 13 and must be submitted by 3 p.m. on August 18. Applicants will be interviewed in August 19. The appointee would be selected at the board meeting on August 26 and would hold office until a new board member is elected in November.

• The school board also voted 6-0 to approve a resolution calling for a special election to be held on November 2, 2021 to fill the vacancy that expires on January 2, 2023. Affidavits of candidacy must be filed with the school district clerk between August 11 and August 25, 2021 at 5 p.m. More information is available online.

Action Item: Resolution relating to increasing the General Education Revenue of the School District, Approving a New Referendum Revenue Authorization, Approving a New Capital Project Levy to Fund Technology
School board members voted 5-1 to approve a resolution to place two referendum questions on the November 2, 2021 ballot. Question 1, if approved, would replace an expiring levy and provide additional revenue to address the state funding gap, inflation and rising costs. If approved, question 2 would provide a capital projects levy to fund the district’s technology needs. Question 2 is contingent on passage of question 1 and both questions would be in effect for 10 years. The tax impact on the average home ($350,000) if voters approve both questions equals less than $11 per month.