001anything more important than ensuring the welfare and the education of children. So, um I'm pleased to be here. I will now ask all board members to stand, please, for the administration of the oath. It is my excuse me, it is an honor to be elected to the guide to guide the education to of our community's children. As you recite this oath of office, it is a reminder that you assume a tremendous responsibility for an equitable and quality education for every student in the Northfield School District. In carrying out this responsibility, you are asked to fulfill the roles of vision, accountability, and advocacy. And in providing vision, the north the board of education formulates the educational goals and sets the course for Northfield public schools. As a school board, you are accountable to the community and
002must ensure a continuous assessment of student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our students. As board members, you also serve as key advocates on behalf of every student and our community. You must strive together towards fulfilling the district's vision to prepare every student for lifelong success by developing critical thinkers who are curious and ready to engage in society. You will now publicly reaffirm your commitment. Please raise your right hand [clears throat] and repeat after me. I swear that I will support >> I swear that I will support >> the Constitution of the United States. >> the Constitution of United States, >> United States of America and the State of Minnesota. >> United States of America and the State of Minnesota. and that I that I will discharge faithfully >> that I will discharge
003faithfully >> the duties of the office of school board the >> duties of the office school >> member of independent school district number 659 >> member of independent school district >> to the best of my judgment and ability >> to the best of my judgment >> congratulations and thank you again [clears throat] [applause] >> [clears throat] >> Okay. Our next item is the agenda approval and there is a table file. Would you like to update us on the table file, Dr. H? >> Um, yes. For the organizational meeting. >> No, we don't have a table file. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. >> Is there Okay. Is there a motion to approve the organizational meeting agenda as presented? >> Okay, moved by Amy. Thank you. There a second. Thank you, Jenny. All those in favor say
004I. >> I. I. >> Post. Okay. Agenda is approved. Item number five is our items for individual action. And the first thing we have is the election of our officers. Duties for each officer are included in tonight's board packet. Members are sure members be sure to speak into your mics so Kelly can record your vote. We'll now proceed with the election of board officers and open nominations. Please speak out your nomination when I call for them and I will take all names. As the acting chair, I ask for nominations for the office of the chair. >> I nominate Claudia. >> Thank you. Are there any other nominations at this time for the office of the chair? Okay, then I have been nominated and we will take a vote. All those in favor of of electing
005me, Claudia Gonzalez George, as the office chair in for the office of chair, please say I. I. >> I.O. Okay, thank you very much. I accept and I am um exceptionally proud to continue to be your chair. Um it's very meaningful work and I just can't express how grateful I am to work alongside each of you and especially Dr. Helman. Next, [snorts] we will take nominations for the office of vice chair. Are there any nominations for this office? >> Hey Maggie, >> I nominate Corey. Butler has been nominated for vice chair. Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations for office of vice chair? Okay, there are no further nominations, so we will take a vote. All those in favor of having Corey Butler serve as our vice chair, say I. >> I.
006>> Opposed. Okay, Corey, congratulations on serving again as vice chair. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have office of the clerk and I will take nominations for clerk this time. >> I'll nominate Amy to continue as clerk. >> Can I just say something? >> Yes. I love being the clerk and I'm happy to accept the nomination, but I also believe in sharing the roles. So, if someone themselves wants to jump in and nominate themselves, I would be happy to step back. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else like to offer a nomination? >> If she's suggesting, wait, if you couldn't serve, is there such a thing as an alter alternate for that? I'm just saying if uh I love being clerk, it's a great job, but I'm also open to sharing the giving the role to
007someone else. I would step back, but >> I was just wondering if you're not in town if there's situations, does that matter? Does >> No, I think >> not really. >> We've been able to figure that out. Yeah. >> And that's where we consolidate the duties of that where Val takes care of a lot of those pieces. So that's the designate. Jeff, >> I would like to nominate Maggie Epstein. Would you accept? >> Yes. Uh, I would like to um resend my nomination. Whatever I do, I I want to >> Okay. >> cancel my nomination. >> Are there any other nominations at this point? Okay, seeing none, we can move to a vote. All those in favor of having Maggie Epstein serve as our clerk, say I. >> I. >> Post. Great. Congratulations, Maggie, and
008thank you for serving. Thank you, Amy, for allowing that to happen. >> So, who's the nomination by there? Then >> the nom nomination >> I nominated Maggie. >> Okay, Claudia. Okay, I'm just taking some notes here. >> Okay, we're moving on to office of treasure. I'll take I'll now take nominations for the office of treasure. Amy, >> I'd like to nominate myself. I've never been treasurer. Are there any other nominations at this point? Are there any other nominations at this point for treasure? All right, seeing no further nominations, then we'll call for a vote. All those in favor of having Amy serve as our treasurer, say I. >> I posted. All right, Amy, congratulations on being treasurer for us this year. We now continue with the next item for individual action. I'll take a motion
009first and then we can discuss and vote. Please raise your hand so I can call on you. Is there a motion to approve the enclosed schedule for schoolboard meetings January 2026 through January 2027 as detailed in the memorandum with a start time of 6 p.m. and meeting in this district boardroom on the second and fourth Monday of the month with some exceptions to that schedule. Can I have will somebody move? >> Okay. Thank you, Maggie. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Jeff. Is there any discussion on the schoolboard meetings item? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Passes. Item C is our stipen. And um please note that there is a typo there. And so instead of reading $4,000 annually, $330 a month for the monthly stipen to
010board members, it should just read $4,000 a year and the board chair section should read $5,000 a year. Is there a motion to maintain the stipens with the updated language as presented? >> Moved by Cory, second by Amy. Thank you. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Right. We're moving on to our consent agenda. Is there anything anyone would like to remove from the consent agenda for separate consideration? Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? Thank you, Jenny. Is there a second? Thank you, Amy. All those in favor say I. >> I opposed. Yep. Our agent consend. Our agend consent agenda passes. Item seven is our items for information and there are several items that were a part of the packet. Of course, the packet is printed on
011our district website available to anyone. A is our policy 203 which is the operation of the school board of education bylaws. Board members are expected to familiarize themselves with this policy operations of the school board of education bylaws. Item B is our policy 209 which is the code of ethics. Board members are expected to familiarize themselves with policy 209 code of ethics. The purpose of this policy is to assist board members in understanding the role of individual board members and the contribution that each must make to develop an effective and responsible school board. Item C, policy 206, public participation in schoolboard meetings. A copy of policy 206, public participation in schoolboard meetings, is attached for board members to review. The purpose of this policy is to provide procedures to asssure open and orderly public discussion
012and protect the due process and privacy rights of individuals under the law. D is resolution to empower the school board to combine the duties of the office of clerk and treasurer of the school board in one person in the finance office of the school district. The board unanimously approved this resolution by roll call on January 14th, 2019, which empowers director of finance Mal Val Murdisorf to conduct the duties of clerk and treasurer for the purposes of expediting the business of the district. This resolution is a one-time requirement and remains in effect until the board acts to appoint someone else in the finance office to fulfill this rule. Although so this is an item for information. Item E is our board committee memberships. A brief description of each board committee or or organization for calendar year
0132026 is attached in the packet. Board members committee appointments and repres representations on various organizations and school liaison will be an item for action at the January 26 regular board meeting. Item F is our remote remote board meeting participation. Minnesota statute 13D.02 provides guidance on remote board meeting participation. It states that all board members, regardless of location, must be able to hear and see each other as well as hear all discussions occurring at any location. At least one board member must be physically present at the regular meeting location. All votes must be conducted by roll call and minutes must include the names of board members appearing by interactive technology and the reasons for their remote appearance. Remote board meeting participation is referenced in policy 203. Item G, board workshops. The school board will hold workshops
014and training sessions on Thursday, January 29. Thursday, April 2nd, and Monday, July 27 at 5:00 PM. This concludes our 2025 2026 organizational meeting. Our regular meeting will follow after a brief break of about 5 minutes. Is there a motion to adjourn our organizational meeting? >> Motion. >> Maggie. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Cory. All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. Okay, we are in adjournment and we'll resume our regular meeting in about 5 minutes.