11-5-2025 Board of Education Meeting

001district website. This meeting is now called to order. It is November 5th, 2025 and the time is 6:34 p.m. Our mission is to provide a safe and caring climate and culture in which we engage, inspire, educate, prepare, and empower all learners in partnership with their surrounding community to be successful in today's and tomorrow's society. Heather, can you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And then can you call roll when you're ready? The following board members are present at the district administration office. Natalie Copeland >> here. >> Al Dalgrren >> here. >> Zack Dorhalt >> here. >> Diana Fenton >> here. >> Shannon

002Haw >> here. >> Heather Williams. The following board members are not present. Scott Andreas. The following cabinet members and staff are present at the district administration office. Superintendent Dr. Lorie Putnham. Assistant superintendent of secondary education Dr. Jason Harris. Assistant superintendent of E5 Learning Nikki Hansen. Executive Director of Finance and Business Services Amy Scallarude. Executive Director of Human Resources and General Counsel Tracy Flynbo. Executive Director of Innovation and Technology Services Katie Herbalt, excuse me. Executive Director of Operations Matthew Boucher. Executive Director of Special Education Danny Mayor. Director of Community Engagement and Communications Tammy Dand. And media technicians Paul Novak and Gordy Scott. >> Thank you. Then I'm looking for a motion to approve tonight's board of education meeting and work session agenda. >> So moved, second, whatever. [laughter] >> Thanks. That's a spirit. I'll take a

003motion by Natalie and a second by Al. Heather, can you call vote? >> Heather Williams, yes. Shannon Hos, >> yes. >> Diana Fenton, >> yes. >> Zack Dohalt, >> Al Dren, >> yes. >> Natalie Copeland, >> yes. >> Then we have the consent agenda. The consent agenda consists of non-controversial items the board adopts routinely without debate and a single member may remove an item from the consent agenda by requesting removal at the time the consent agenda is moved for adoption. On tonight's consent agenda, item A, approval of person personnel staff changes. Item B, approval of monthly financial report for September 2025. Item C, approval of monthly treasures report for September 2025. Item D, approval of of proposed revised board policy 611, homeschooling, third reading. And item E, South Junior High School long-term facilities maintenance improvement

004change orders totaling $1,460.83. At this time, does any board member wish to remove an item from the consent agenda? Okay. Then I'm looking for a motion to approve the consent agenda as read. >> So moved. And do I have a second? >> Second. [laughter] >> Uh motion by Heather, a second by Al. Heather, can you call vote? >> Zack Doorhalt, >> yes. >> Al Dogrren, >> yes. >> Shannon Hos, >> yes. >> Natalie Copeland, >> yes. >> Um Diana Fenton, >> yes. >> Heather Williams, yes. >> Okay. Uh we have one information item tonight. We have the 2025 2026 inclement weather protocols presented by Superintendent Dr. Lori Putnham. Thank you, Chair Hus. There's Apple TV1. Uh board members, community, and listening public, I'm ex I was going to say I'm excited to talk about inclement

005weather protocols, but I guess I'm not super sure that is honestly the correct term. Um I I am obligated. No, just [laughter] I don't know. Um so there will be very little change uh from our past practice. Um but I think it's always good to either remind people um or we have new families joining us every year. Um so to be able to um share uh our practices. So first we'll take a look at our guiding principles. you see in the center student and staff staff safety um and then around uh the the uh center um are the predictable decision-making timely information sharing uh regular attendance and access to education and that uh we are committed to a three district regional partnership um and those are the things that uh guide our decision-m in the

006event uh that we need to do so uh due to inclement weather um our partnership is with Sartella St. Steven and Sock Rapids Rice and we have agreed to make school closure decisions together. Now, each district has its own weather closure makeup plan. So, you might see the the pattern of uh typical snow day or all day off um or an e-learning day to look different. Um but we do decide when if we're going to do um any sort of uh adjustment to the school day um to do that in concert. Uh so when making uh uh decisions about weather related safety uh school closures, as I said, our priority is the safety of our students, families, and staff. Um and we want to make sure that families know um you know, when we make

007decisions, it is uh for the good of the district. Um which is uh almost 10,000 students and 2,000 staff members. Um and uh sometimes families may disagree with us and think that um their child would be safer at home and that that would be if in that event that is an excused absence, they just need to notify us either through the Skyward um the the school message attendance line or we do have a function on Skyward where you can enter attendance uh without calling the school. Um if we have to close uh the following plan will go into effect. The first will be a traditional snow day um which means uh there's no classes and uh folks aren't reporting to work. Um we then have a based on the board approved planned five flexible learning

008days through which students receive instruction through choice boards that's for PK through 5 or schooly for 6 through 12 and have access to both teachers and support staff throughout the day. If we get to the point where we have six days of closure, um in uh in consultation with the board chair, um we'll determine if makeup days are required. Uh in terms of predictable decision-making, we want to be clear about what our criteria are. Um we will uh call a cold weather day if the temperature reaches 35 degrees below zero and that can either be base temperature or windchill uh forecasted or reported. Um the temperature determine this is new. We got specific enough to pick a zip code this year. So the zip code that we will use is 56301 and we will this

009part is not new that we will continue to use the National Weather Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Um their uh websites will be uh the the source of information that we use. If temperatures are predicted to rise above 35° by 9:30, um we will sometimes consider a late start. Um and then for uh inclement weather um we will uh you know take a look at things like snow, ice, wind, fog and accumulation of those factors. Um and then thinking about current road conditions um and we hear from both our own internal transportation teams um our contractors um as well as local municipalities. We are in touch with um county and city um road uh crews and managers uh that morning as we're looking at not only our assessment but also the cities

010and their progress uh in plowing [snorts] or icing. In terms of timely decision-m uh we will make closures decisions about closures or delays the evening prior. Um if we're going to comm community if we can um that's a very hard thing to do knowing how unpredictable uh weather can be. Um, and so often we will wait until the morning. If we can, we will certainly do it in the evening. However, um, if you've not heard from us by 9:00 p.m., um, you won't hear from us that night. Um, and any morning communication, um, those will start to go out at 5:15. Um, and so, uh, people can expect to get the text. Um, the school messenger, please don't block our number, folks who are listening from home. Um, you'll receive a text if you've opted

011in. You can do that through schooly. and it's always on our website through a pop-up banner and then also through local and statewide media outlets um and social media. So important considerations um we do ask that families um please make a care plan particularly for our PK5 uh uh students um please communicate with your child's teacher um what the plan will be uh if we have a a um early release. We try not to do those. Um, but if that is in the event that that would happen, we ask people to know ahead of time or if we uh call a cancellation um to be prepared for um uh what might happen for your child that day. Um and in the event of a closure, early childhood classes and services are cancelled um in the

012event of any late starts. Uh and then when we close, all district facilities are closed. um we don't have activities or practices um games although there is the asterisk. There may be rare exceptions um made in uh partnership between the superintendents involved if there is a state level competition um and it will impact the result of our teams being able to move forward um in state play. Um but otherwise those are we have no games, evening classes, AB, McKinley High School or community education. And that wraps up our overview of the weather uh closure protocols and we welcome any questions. >> Does anybody have any questions? >> Are you using a specific website to get weather information? >> Yes, we use the National Weather Service or Noah National Weather Service is at St. Cloud airport,

013which is 56304. >> You can put in your zip code. Um there's a place where you actually enter your zip code and it'll tell you specifically for that one. Um it it's [snorts] what we all use the superintendent. >> That's fine. It's just that they use the 56304 the weather stations at the airport >> and that's 56304. Just >> Okay. >> Curious. >> Okay. Anything else? All right, thank you. Uh, moving on to discussion and action items. First up, we have the approval uh of naming of the ISD 742 multi-purpose athletic facility presented by Apollo High School principal Justin Scallarude. Welcome, Justin. Glad to have you here. >> Thank you. Glad to be here. Let's get logged in. [clears throat] All right. Good evening, Superintendent Putnham, Board Chair Hos, members of the board. Uh, it's

014my honor to be here tonight as the uh, representative um, of our multi-purpose facility naming committee. I want to say thank you to all the members of that committee that were were able to be a part of this process and come to the point tonight where we're going to bring uh three names to you uh to be able to choose to move forward um for the naming of our facility that we'll break ground on this spring. Little bit of background on board policy 899 in the naming of school district facilities. Um starting on the left, how it works. The superintendent appoints a naming committee of up to 10 members. The committee proposes two to three potential names and we are bringing three names to you tonight for your consideration. The superintendent reviews and makes recommendation

015to the school board. The school board approves the final facility name. a little bit about who's a part of our of the committee. Parent or community representatives, school or program administrators, teachers or or staff members and or staff members, city or business community representatives, uh residents with local and historical knowledge, and another group that is not on here, but the superintendent felt and myself as well, um that should be is students. So, we have students that were a part of this process as well. And then looking at the naming categories um different opportunities to to use and bring into this distinguished individuals geographic area served by the school significant local state or national events. So that was the starting point of this process um that guided our our work in bringing those three names here.

016Little bit of background on our facility. Uh on April 8th, voters approved the building of a $15 million multi-purpose athletic facility for Apollo Tech Crush and Community use. This is an indoor turf facility that gives access to play soccer, softball, lacrosse, and practice baseball, football, and golf. It also houses batting cages and golf simulators. And we are in that planning process. As you all know, bid pack one has gone out. Um we're meeting um with the design team uh twice a month to continue the planning and and we're getting to a point where we're starting to talk about furniture. So, you know, we must be a good point in the process where we're ready to break ground um this spring. And a picture of what this is going to look like. This vantage point would

017be standing in the teacher parking lot, the south parking lot at Apollo by the tennis courts. Um after tonight, we'll be able to take 742 Athletic Complex off and be able to get these renderings changed to meet and start talking about what we'd want the design of that to look like um once we've completed the naming process. That same image and that same uh vantage point will be um coming down eighth as well. So when you're coming down veterans, it will also be uh labeled there right next to the pond um kitty corner from the quick trip if that helps. So we have three names. our rationale that we're going to bring to you and then I will uh you know open it up to the board for for discussion and um coming to a

018conclusion of one of those names. I am happy to answer questions about the process. Um but I want to start with uh bringing name one um to you and naming committee recommendation one uh is the Apex Athletics Complex and the word apex reflects both the physical height of the facility and the goal of reaching the peak of athletic training and achievement. The name inspires students to strive for their highest potential while positioning the facility as a premier location for sports and training. And I will tell you the word Apex, if you haven't seen the building in Rogers, and I know some of you have, it is, it stands out. It's a large building that comes to a high point and and with that part of Apex along with um you know what we want the

019the users to achieve. Um really that's where the starting point of that came along after conversations ended with Apex Athletics Complex for option one. Option two plays on that word apex. Apex 742 athletic training facility. If the board were to choose to have our district uh number included in that, we wanted to bring that option. Um this option builds on the Apex theme from option one while incorporating 742 connecting the facility directly to our school district. It symbolizes district pride, unity, and the goal of all students reaching the pinnacle of their athletic development. And the third name for your consideration is the ACT Athletic Center. ACT is playing off the acronym of Apollo crush in Tech um and ties into our school communities together by using the first letter from each in alphabetical order um

020to create the acronym ACT um added to athletic center and these are the three names that our committee brings forward to you. We did meet three times um to collaborating uh brainstorming getting feedback from one one another to bring these names to you tonight. >> Natalie, >> not trying to be difficult, but can we what if we put some together? I don't Let me just say what I'm thinking and it doesn't have to be this, but I'm just wondering why it's Apex Athletics Complex, but then when you go to number two, it's not just Apex 742 Athletics Complex. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. And I at this point bringing the names to you, I'm going to actually turn the superintendent on this one. [laughter] We're turning these names over to the school board

021and at this point this is our recommendation. I I think the what um ultimately you land on is Dr. Putin and I are comfortable with bringing that here and and if there's a combination or tweaking of the two of them, I I think that is up to the board. >> Diana, were you going to jump in? Yeah, I I I'm going to agree with Natalie in the idea of Apex 742 with the combination athletics complex from the first. It's like combining one and two. I think that's what Natalie's going for. >> So four. >> So instead of instead of athletic complex and then athletic training center training facility, it's using Apex 742 from the second slide, but from slide one, athletics complex. Does that make sense? So you're thinking Apex >> Apex 742 athletic complex.

022Athletic complex. I can't even say it. >> Is that what you >> I'm going to just [laughter] call it Apex. >> Athletic complex. >> There was there was conversation in our meetings that some of the folks that liked it with the name of the the changing of the name of the hockey center in St. call that calling it Apex that it also could be called the X because there is nothing called that if as kind of a nickname play on Apex. So that was part of our conversation. >> We could call it that either way but there is no formal accelerency X anymore. >> Y >> I like the Apex Athletic Center the what was the first one was it >> Apex Athletics Complex. I I like that one, but I I wish and it

023doesn't have to be part of the name as far as I'm concerned. Um I wish that there was a little bit of money spent on developing a logo that would have a that would use the apex and the big probably a big A or a big X could be a big X on there too. Um and then under that and have a sub headline that says St. Cloud, Minnesota or St. Cloud. I just I I really hesitate to use 742 in any naming because outside of the confines of this school district, it means nothing. And you're going to be inviting schools from all, you know, hopefully from all over to come up to this place. And it if it would be Apex Athletic Complex of St. Cloud or in St. Cloud or St. cloud that

024would gives a real good directional uh imagery for it. >> Diana, >> I I agree Al in that that's why I thought 742, but I feel like Apex they're coming here. I think I want to be proud that it's our school district that it's our something that we have established and it's not our I mean it was from the voters that supported our school district not a community center and so the only identity of the 742 brings it back to that tie into the unity of our district. I um probably side with Al that the 742 to me is just additional in my opinion it will be get get shortened to the apex or apex um it's not going to be used by location in and of itself you know like if I think about

025campus buildings at any university it's not the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center at St. Cloud State it's the Brooks Center and people know it's at St. cloud state because over time you just learn those sorts of things or the Ralph or any number of things. Um I just like short sweet uh 742 to me like you said unless you're here means absolutely nothing >> Natalie sorry I just want to give number three some time um on the mic. I actually really like it that it's Apollo crushing tech. I just don't because ACT means another thing. >> That's my only concern with I wish it didn't cuz that's actually my favorite but I just think that might be more confusing. >> There was definitely conversations about it would have to be ACT, you know, and people

026may try to but we start calling it ACT and you are I don't know if that's trademarked either from that perspective, but I mean I I think we would go with ACT has [laughter] >> one one more shot here. I I I googled it, you know, Apex athletic complex and I get an athletic complex in Colorado and I get the Shields Athletic Complex in Sartell. So I I worry about people who are searching and finding our coming to our city like I'm going to search Apex, right? And I'm going to tell Siri to search Apex and where is she going to bring me? >> That's fair. Anybody else thinking I don't want to argue with Heather, but because I hear what you're saying like the Brooks Center, everyone knows it's in St. Cloud, but when

027you go to the Brooks Center, St. Cloud is P is plastered all over that building. It's got the logo. It's got St. Cloud State Huskys. It's got, you know, >> logo perspective. I I thought we were just talking about at this point. >> Yeah. No, I I'm totally with the first name, >> but I'd like to see a logo incorporated that had St. Cloud somewhere in it. >> I would agree with that. I just didn't know we were talking about logos as well. And it could also incorporate St. Cloud Area School District. It doesn't have to just be St. Cloud. >> Yeah. [clears throat] when we had talked about um if we weren't going to use a 742 signifier um which I do agree right that doesn't always have a lot of meaning outside of

028the district we did talk about using um the the brighter the like the our St. Cloud area schools, right? The 742 or with or without that, right? But the brightness of it um if it were also part of the name, right? I'm not a designer, but then it also it gives not only the place, but that our brand um and it brightens up um a facility that right now is is elegant, right? I think is the feedback we've gotten, but um is also white and gray. >> I want to give the feedback that I gave you the other day. I drove down a couple weeks ago to Rogers and looked at their facility down there because that's there. The one we're building is really similar to the one that they built in Rogers, but they

029went with a Rogers royal blue solid vinyl on the outside of it. And it and then it and then it also is a um is it Health Partners? It's a Health Partners Field or something like that. So the whole side of the building is a big health partners logo with solid blue which shows off every seam and wave and unevenness of the walls. It just the one that we have that's got the diagonal and with the tan and the brown is going to look so much better. Uh you're not going to see any of that. It's going to look like a finished building. Uh the entrance on the building that was added really distinguishes where to go to go into that building. And you again down down there you wouldn't know where to go. It's

030just one little door on one end of the building and that's that's their entrance, but it's not marked or anything. But it looked like a beautiful building and it's probably gorgeous on the inside. Zach, do you have two cents? >> Just lots of thing. I'm just going through it in my head. The Apex at Apollo on on Highway 15. So, we'll win a Google Analytics war because we're on Highway 15, I think. >> But there's a Apex Fitness in Weight Park, too. So, that's where >> super common. I mean, >> it's like I I feel there needs to be an association with our district in the name to be googable. I'm thinking of people coming from the outside. How am I going to know I'm going to St. Cloud's Apex? Like I I'm I just

031worry about people coming here and then it's like, "Oh, wow. St. Cloud Schools. Wow." >> What is it? Are you saying what it was? too. >> And you guys are what? Is that what you are? I don't remember. >> I am as long as it was done in a logo format. And then you could incorporate whatever you want underneath it to designate where it is. So it could be St. Cloud Area School District, St. Cloud Area District, School District 742. It could be however you wanted it underneath there, but as a subheading, not part of the name or the logo. So it'd be very similar to that thing on the wall right there. If underneath it, it said St. Cloud Area School District in a smaller font. Did the committee have a strong recommendation or

032was it like like them all? Dare I ask >> option one as it is? >> Okay. would be the recommendation if you were asked which one the committee >> is bringing would. >> Yes. >> Okay. Anybody else? Is the Is it the Is it the Natalie and Diana? Is it the the the desire there? What's on the internet, the name? What's what's the title? The name that's associated with the address or is it the logo? Or is it verbally what people call it? where what's driving you're like no I think it should be this because this >> I think what's driving me is tying it directly to our district that's what's because I think where it sits yes I know it's by Apollo but I want I guess the public to know that it's part

033of our school district and not something that was funded by the city or I I think that's maybe where I I'm thinking and I like what was put on the slide. It's incorporating connecting the facility directory to our school district. It symbolizes district pride, unity, and the goal of all students. So, I just that's this. It's more of that that symbolism. And yeah, I mean I I want people when they are coming here to go, "Wow, that school district really supports their their students, their student athletes." Natalie, then >> yeah, I would piggy back on that and say I think the most important thing to me about it being 742 besides the pride is that the voters are said yes to it and they're paying for it and so and they live in our district.

034So I I feel like it's also it's really important to honor that as well. >> Yeah, >> this I I may be missing because you may be tied to 742 the three letters specifically. So if I am I'm sorry. I'm not trying to dismiss that at all. Um, could we get on board with Apex St. Cloud Area Schools? Because honestly, Apex Athletics Complex. Try saying it out loud. >> It's really hard. >> It's actually really hard to say out loud. >> Zack. >> So, are we asking for an official name of the facility? >> Yes, we are. >> Can I see slide two again? >> So, and back to one. So what if we just added 742 after apex? The apex 742 athletics complex. >> That's what they were saying over there. >> Yeah. Right.

035So that's I mean [clears throat] that's exactly what you're saying. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I just wanted to clarify just >> I was thinking too hard. >> Okay. So, so there's that one thought and then if we bounced it back to you guys who are saying no to the 742, what if it was using St. Cloud going with Apex St. Cloud Athletic Complex? Is that what you said? >> I wonder is dropping the Apex just say Apex Cloud area. St. Cloud area schools. Okay. or center or facility, right? Or >> the Apex Center. >> We don't Sorry, Jan texted me to say she can't hear us. [laughter] Sorry, but we don't usually, right? We We might say the Excel Center or the Tart, right? But like we're going to go down to the Excel. Like,

036do you have to have a a noun, another noun? Like could we just go with Apex? Going to go to the Apex. Join me at the Apex. [laughter] >> Would make a better logo. >> It would make a better logo. And kids aren't going to say anything other than some variation of Apex. >> Correct. That's what I think too. >> I would just say in a logo though, you don't need the whole thing. I mean, regardless of what you have. I mean, St. cloud state and again I'm just using that but their logo is the Saint C. It doesn't say St. Cloud at all. It it it's a logo is to me separate. I I would suggest that you could and get somebody who's a graphic designer way beyond me, but 742 exclamation point has

037the same number of letters as a X. You could do something in that same font and color scheme that maybe could um tie the two together. But I I don't I like Apex. I would keep it as short as possible. >> How short is that? [laughter] [clears throat] >> What exactly? >> I'm probably just for one. It just to me makes sense. And then if you have a location underneath it just as part of it. I don't know that that's I guess I don't know why that has to be in the title of the of the building. >> You're saying just Apex >> or >> I like Apex Athletics Complex. I mean I I think that it's helpful to have something that is a an identification that it's an athletics center or complex whatever that

038is. Um, I I mean I think I don't know how other people Google things, but you know, if I'm talking to my phone, I say Apex St. Cloud. I'm just naturally going to do that. If I go to Maple Grove and I'm going to a hockey center, I go, you know, I say whatever the center is and then the location of it. Um, because that's just how I search things. But again, I would I like Apex Athletics Complex Center, whatever that is in and of itself. if I mean I think there's benefit to having um something you know that identifies but I don't think that's part of the building name. It just is. It's just in St. Cloud. And so if it says underneath it on the building St. Cloud Area Schools to me that

039I would prefer that over probably 742 just because I think that if you're there um that has more meaning to people. I mean I will say if you're not from the state of Minnesota, district numbers don't mean anything. Uh you know like I'm from Iowa. I grew up there. We called our districts the names of the towns or whatever it was. There was no district numbering or at least from from basic nomenclature. So I just I would do the center or apex athletics complex and then if there's a sign I would put you know at you know um St.Cloud Area Schools or St. Cloud Area Schools underneath it but I don't think that's part of the title of the of the name. One last comment. [laughter] I'm sorry, but like Raori Lair football stadium is

040named after Blatner, the people who donated the money. Shields and Sartell is donated after the people who donated the money. Our district people paid for this. And that's where I'm taking back off of what Natalie said. It's honoring the people who paid for it. And I think that's why naming can be important to have perhaps a longer name with it, even though it may be acronymed to honor the people that are paying for it. And because then so that's why I think um I'm wanting a longer name. >> But we don't have when it says Tech High School or Apollo, we don't say Tech High School at St. Cloud area schools or Tech High School at 742 or Apollo High School at 742. It just is Apollo High School. And over time the title becomes

041what you know. You say I'm going to Apollo. Taxpayer paid for that too. Natalie, I'm like this. Good point. Good point. Good point. Good [laughter] point. >> I think I've made all the points I would like to make. It seems like right now we're at either Apex Athletics Complex, which it is very hard to say, but or um Apex 742 Athletics Complex. Is that where we are on those two? I I don't I mean I want to al also honor the committee like I don't we already made them go back to the drawing board for cry out loud poor Justin. [laughter] So I think you know to honor at least I know I'm the one who came up with the combo so maybe I'm the dishonoring one but at least it's using all the words

042that they came up with. So I'm just wondering if we're at that point where there's those two so we can >> figure that out. Can >> just what the option one is there or adding 742 in between Apex and athletics. Can I just say that that's easier to say if it's Apex Athletic Complex than if it's a APA apex athletics complex the >> the one other point and I thought I think I brought this up but I can't actually not tonight but I actually like athletic center better because complex to me is the whole athletic field which includes softball, baseball, tennis, football that's a complex to me this is a building which is a center. So I would go back I would not do complex I would do center and then the overall Apollo campus

043is the is the complex >> and actually easier to say without then we'd be at Apex Athletics Center or Apex Athletics 742 center. Yep. If we're taking out complex Okay. >> And I think the committee should have a vote. Honestly, the committee has said number one. I mean, they don't have a actual vote, but like I you know what I mean? Like they said, they said this, y'all said this. We're saying at 7:42 and now y'all need to pick a side. No, just kidding. It's not [laughter] that serious. I would love to know more about what y'all think. >> Okay. So, are you suggesting that we are we timesensitive on this? Are you tell are you suggesting that we send two back to the committee? No. No. Okay. >> Okay. We're done with that. We

044are making a decision tonight and I do not want to be the decision maker, but I'm like either one. So if you guys could get majority on that that we're down to two we think right we like Apex Athletic Center or Apex 742 Athletic Center. Is that correct? >> That's the two. And if I You guys are both no to 742 and you guys are yes to 742. And I'm feeling a lot of pressure that I'm going to be stuck in the middle here. So [laughter] where's Scott? Text him. [laughter] I >> abstain. [laughter] >> I I I >> No, I I I feel like there's value in keeping that like what you said with the 742. You know, it doesn't mean other things elsewhere. Um but like you said, the whole idea of it,

045this is this isn't a you know, a health partners center. This isn't a Shield Center. This is this is ours. Um, so I think that is important. So I mean I would support the Apex 742 athletic center. >> So nobody doesn't like good point. >> Um, >> you know, it still becomes just apex people. Apex 742 athletic nobody want athletics. Okay. I thought we were saying that was part of >> No, because of athletics complex. >> Okay. So, we could see if we could all agree on a taxet. [clears throat] >> No, this is an action item. people that >> I I guess my question is so when when we name a building what does that actually mean for what goes in a logo on the on the sign whatever the case may be I

046mean how much of it I I think a logo if you're looking for a logo with Apex 742 that's going to be in my opinion hard to design >> I'm not thinking that far >> well I know that but it but you have to think that far because That's the next step. I mean, we're making a decision now. And and again, does it set a precedent? So, every time we build something, so the next elementary school, it's going to be Madison 742. I I I mean, I just don't understand why this is a different example than everything else that we do. Apollo is not 742. Tech is not 742. I I just don't I I I don't understand it. So, it's on the campus of the high school. I if I saw a sign that

047looked like what's on the picture right now, I would think it was at 742 Veterans Drive. >> [laughter] >> I don't I mean I'm not really sure I care what anybody thinks but the voters who paid for it and the people in this room like I don't People coming from out of town I want them to know where it is but like it's really. But that why I put 742 in there and I'll just say this again is cuz to honor the voters. That's all. And I guess me why I say that's different than a school because a school says Apollo High School, the official title, Tech High School. Like this isn't part of technically it's not part of any of our schools. And so then it ties it to the district and I think

048school has the school name and the official title. So I think it's different than a athletic center. How about we take the two things that are on the table? Though I'm still not sold on the S. So I would like clarity on that. But so what if we take the two things and give you some design options, right? So you can see what it could look like, how we might be able to incorporate your your desire for connection to to place um and your perspective that that doesn't mean much in the right as a as a number alone. So what if we if you guys can agree to uh those Apex Athletic Complex Center center and then we will do some experimenting with design around the tie to St. Cloud Area Schools 742. Would that

049and then you could choose once you could see that. Would that make sense? And then the S as a question. >> I think that's a great idea. And I was gonna also say, can it be with an S with and without an S? You know, because I don't think we're in I don't think I know which one it should be or if if Do we feel really I mean I Yeah. Do we feel athletic or athletics or is that also something on the table? >> I don't care that much. I just I mean I work in this business. >> Yeah. Um, I I don't like it when they call me an athletic director because it it means I'm an athletic. Yeah. I mean, it speaks to me. I'm a director and supposedly I'm athletic, which

050may or may not be the case. Athletics, what takes place in this in the center is athletics. It's not athletic that takes place in the center. >> Um, we're not describing if it's an athletic complex, we're saying the complex is athletic. No, it it's the activities in athletics is the activity that's inside. It's just my own personal working in the industry. It's how I choose to look at it. It's an athletics. That's what happens in the building [clears throat] complex or center. >> I agree with that. I I like an S. >> Can I ask one clarifying question because I'm just I'm not designing this or No, I'm just kidding. Um, but I is the idea I want to make sure I'm understanding what everyone's is the graphic for apex and then the words are

051the two options or is this all one encompass logo? That that's where I'm unclear of what just to clarify if it's apex stop and then we've got the words that we're sh I'm sorry I can't even remember where we're at right now. So whatever the two options are or do we want it all in into one logo incorporating that all because that's where Yeah. >> Can we can I can we say that we're not that's not our really our role. >> You know what I mean? Like I we're none of us are marketing experts. >> Sure. >> So I mean >> I don't know that answer but I bet a marketing expert might bring some different options. >> Different options. One maybe one of each or all. Okay. Oh. I played around with this um

052one day and I uh I looked at the outside of the building and I looked at the inside of the building and my feelings in putting some different stuff on the outside of the building was that you it would be a name for the building and it wouldn't didn't really incorporate tech, Apollo, or uh Crush at all. But once you walked through the door and you got inside that building, it would be Tech and Apollo and Crush logos, all three of them along with St. Cloud Area School District branding. So that once you were inside there, it was no longer Apex branded as much as it was branded St. Cloud Area School District. But on the outside of the building, it would be the Apex Center, whatever the Apex Athletics Center. I mean, it would

053be possible. I I look at that picture right there. It would be possible where the 742 Athletic Complex is to have an Apex Athletic com Apex Athletic Center logo or branding up there. And I could see right over that peak on the door, you could put a smaller 742 logo of some kind if you really wanted to bring branding for 742 outside the building, but I never really felt that it had to be part of the name. Yeah, Al, I just want to let you know we saw the first images of the interior and and your ideas where we started and uh including Apollo Crush Tech logos on the walls and inside and it's it's first we gave lots of feedback but being able to have the the soccer fields having a you know Apollo

054logo at one end the tech logo to make sure kids feel um from all of our schools feel represented when they're in the building. So, we are we'll bring some some more back, but we've definitely started that process and it look great. >> Just want to say when you're self-employed, you have time to do stuff like that. >> Okay. >> An action item. So I would make a motion to table to the next meeting. >> Sure. >> Is that fair? No. >> Probably that's >> December. >> Pretty quick turnaround. >> First first meeting in December. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I would make a motion to table this item B >> A >> for a uh to the first meeting in December. >> Second. >> Hi. All right. >> Thank you. >> No, that's fine. We'll

055uh we'll have something for you. >> Okay. We are glad to see Tracy Flimbo, executive director of human resources and general counsel tonight because she is bringing approval of tentative agreements and she has one for us here. Good evening, Chair Haw, board members who we've been spending so much time with at the bargaining table and superintendent Putnham. Uh I am pleased to be bringing forward a tenative agreement with our St. Cloud area bus drivers association. Uh that uh tenative agreement is on the screen and in front of you. Make it a little bigger up here. [snorts] Uh the this is a group that has 17 employees. Uh for year one of the tenative agreement, it provides for starting new starting pay rates for van drivers at 1750 an hour for bus drivers at 275 an

056hour and for the assistant mechanics at $22 an hour. All employees that are hired before j before January 1 of the year in year one will receive a 2.5% increase in their hourly wages. There's increase in the longevity rates um based on the schedule in front of you. Any of those that are bolded is where there has been a change in the longevity level. Uh we increase the district insurance contribution to the single plans uh by an MOA before bargaining began at to $640 per month. We also um agreed to caps on our single EME contributions, employee married to employee contributions at $94,544 per month toward a single plan and $2,181.90 toward a family plan. And then beginning January 1st, 2026, we'll be cost sharing the paid family and medical leave statutory contribution at44% of

057wages with the employee paying the other44% required by the law. In year two of the contract, uh it provides for a 2.20% increase in hourly wages for all employees that were hired before January 1 of 2026. Uh the 2-year total cost for this package is 5.78%. It's within the um bargaining authority that was approved by the board and I'm looking for a motion to approve the contract with the bus drivers. >> Motion made. >> Have a motion by Diana. >> Second by Al. >> Um any discussion at all? Ready for vote. Heather, can you call vote? >> Diana Finton, >> yes. >> Al Dogrren, >> yes. >> Natalie Copeland, >> yes. Zack door. >> Yes. >> Shannon Hos, >> yes. >> Heather Williams, yes. >> Thank you. All right. Uh, one more action item tonight.

058We have Donna Rober, director of research, assessment, and AI integration, presenting the approval of the 2025 to 2028 strategic plan. Welcome back, Donna. Good evening, Chair Haw, Superintendent Putnham. Um, happy to be here tonight. It marks the final step in the development and approval of our 2025 through 2028 strategic plan. I I believe everyone has a copy of the final document and I just want to um put out there a grateful thank you, a big thank you to our communications team and Carla Hilner in particular who um helped us tweak and update the changes that we needed to make here. Um you might recall from last time that we noted on the back side of the document the addition of the four pillars um safety, collaboration, belonging, academic excellence. And then on the front side,

059we really made very minor refinements to language. Um uh super minor except for in one area I want to point out in 2.2 to item B. We did um make a strategic commitment around assessment in that particular um strategic commitment. So those are the adjustments. They really strengthen the clarity and alignment across our mission pillars and focus area. Um and so we're bringing this forward tonight for um final approval, I guess. And um this plan is going to guide us over the next several years, our decisions, our investments, and our priorities. Um and so I will leave it at that and just ask if there are any questions. >> Natalie? >> Yeah, I think this looks great. I when I was reading through each of these, you know, without the two or three lines underneath,

060the only one that didn't necessarily make sense right away to me is objective 2.1b, which is ensure all students have access to grade level standards. For some reason in my mind, I I thought like, here's the grade level standards, second graders. Like, no, of course that's not what we're doing, but like what does that what would that mean to what does that mean exactly? And I'm going to pass that question to our assistant soups. They can they can answer that much better than I. So, >> good evening, Chair Ha, Superintendent Putnham, uh board members. Uh just to get me into specifically around grade level standards, right? So, if I take sixth grade, we want you to be exposed to the standards in sixth grade. So, if it's math, say math six, right? What standards do

061students need to know and master in sixth grade? We want them to have that those standards and the curricular resource, right? So, if it's the math resource, all kids are exposed to it. We've seen in the past where kids may be in sixth grade and they may be below grade level, right? Some of those students may not get the the core content for grade level standards. And so what we found in the past that if kids aren't exposed to grade level standards, they're not going to do well on the on the assessments that grade them, right, around proficiency. And we've seen that over time, right? And so when you look at it across, they need to be exposed by the end of sixth grade, what should I know and be able to do, right? And

062so we have to understand the standards to get them there. That makes sense. I will withdraw my question. Thanks, Jason. >> Anybody else have any other questions or comments? I know we discussed this last meeting, so this is coming back as an action item. So, we're looking to a motion to approve the 2025 to 2028 strategic plan. Do I have a motion for that? And I have a motion by Natalie, a second by Diana. Heather, can you call vote? Al Dalgen, >> yes. >> Heather Williams, yes. Zack Dorhold, >> yes. >> Natalie Copeland, >> yes. >> Dana Penton, >> yes. >> Shannon Hos, >> yes. Thank you. Okay. Uh, then we are moving on to a board of education standing committee reports. I think we have several of them. Um, chair Zach Dorhalt, do you

063have a report for board development policy and governance committee? Yes, I I'll give it to you to help with that. Uh, so board development, policy, and governance committee met on October 22nd. We reviewed suggested future agenda items from the October 15th board meeting and decided not to move forward with any topics related to those suggestions at this time. Three policies reviewed were policy 901, community education. No changes were made to this existing policy. Policy 899, naming school district facilities. Changes to this policy were suggested and the revised policy will be presented tonight. Uh new policy 990 memorials for deceased students or staff. This new policy was reviewed and is scheduled for its first reading at tonight's board meeting. >> Thank you. Then I believe finance and audit board committee chair Heather Williams. Did you have

064a meet >> meeting for you last time? >> Yeah. And then I know she wasn't here. >> I know, but I don't >> didn't get that. >> Okay. >> Well, you look for that because we can table it. Um, let's >> Okay. >> Yeah, please. The legislative board committee chair El Dalgrren can report. It isn't going to take long because I'm not going to go into it. We did we we'd had a discussion about the 2026 board legislative platform and that's going to be presented shortly. >> Perfect. Thanks. We had a really short meeting last time. So, um, yay for us. And >> no, please. [laughter] >> Should we just table it? That okay. We'll just table it till next time. Okay. All right. Uh then we have future agenda items. The November 19th, 2025

065board meeting topics will include audit report, approval of new high school course proposals, approval of tenative agreements, if any, approval of the 2026 board of education legislative platform and policy readings. At this time, does any board member wish to suggest any future agenda items? Okay. Um, so I am looking for a motion to adjourn our regular board meeting. moved. >> I have a motion by Diana, second by Natalie. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. So, regular board meeting is adjourned at 7:36 p.m. And at that same time, we are opening up the board of education work session. We have four items tonight. First up is the 2026 board of education legislative platform being presented by the chair of the legislative committee, uh, El Dalgrren. And you have a copy in front of

066you as well as on the screen. >> Yeah, everybody should have a copy. Um so we met and discussed the legislative platform uh by bringing forward the legislative platform that we had last year thinking that it isn't going to be too much different from what we wanted to move forward with this year but we did change a few things in there. um starts with the introduction talks about the constitution of the state of Minnesota and then we talk about being a unique district with student population that includes 69.9% free and reduced lunch state average is 43.4 22.9% students with IEPs state average is 17.6 and 22.5% English learners state average 9.2 Two, these demographics present challenges that require strong and equitable state investment to ensure every student receives a high quality education district. We we

067updated the next session to go from the world's best workforce standards to the what keker >> keer ker standards. All children are ready for school. All racial and economic achievement gaps are closed. Uh all students are ready for career in college. All students graduate from high school. and all students are prepared to be lifelong learners and engaged citizens and kacker by the way is comprehensive achievement and civic readiness standards. Uh so then we say with these goals in mind the district 742 board of education urges the governor and the legislature to support the following priorities. The first one uh no different than before is to eliminate the special education cross subsidy. I we're asking to increase the special education funding to reduce or eliminate state special education cost subsidy over the next four years. Recognize

068the large and regional districts bear a disproportionate share of special education costs and required targeted support. Um new investments during the 2023 legislative session. Minnesota continues to fall short of adequately funding mandated special education services. As a result, districts must redirect general education funds to cover required special education costs. Districts with high special education costs suffer from disproportionately large general education revenue shortfalls. The next paragraph is the one that I'm suggesting uh just reading it today, it wasn't reading right to me. So I in the blue on the sheet that I handed around, I'm suggesting a different paragraph there. And this is taking it from a general statement on special education to a statement that's specific to district 742. And it just says in St. Cloud, the special education budget is $48.7 million with a

069cross subsidy of approximately $9.2 million. This unfunded mandate amounts to $996 per student and is funded by reducing the general education budget by that same amount. It's critical to clarify the cross subsidy does not mean the special ed mean special education is underfunded. Special education is fully funded only because we are required to redirect general education dollars to cover mandated services. As a result, core instruction, staffing support, and student opportunities in general education are reduced to meet these legally mandated costs. We're asking the state to meet its funding obligation for special education. So, our general education students are no longer forced to bear the financial burden of the statutory shortfall. And uh in the original one, it just said the 996 per student, which is then reduced from the general education fund, which to me

070didn't make clear sense. And I always feel in talking with legislators that when you talk about special education cross subsidy, their first thought is that you're saying that you believe that special education is underfunded. When we say fully fund special education, they think we're advocating for more funding for special education when actually we're advocating for more funding for general education because we're shifting those dollars. special ed tends to be fully funded always because we have the cross subsidy and we use those dollars elsewhere. So, what I tried to do in this was clear that up so that it's very really clear to a legislator who's reading it that we're asking for more dollars for general education, not special education. Uh, I'll stop there. Is there any comments on this or keep going? Number two, uh

071goal is to strengthen oversight and accountability of charter schools and the use of public funds. We changed this a little bit from last year's, but I believe we did have charter schools in there and asking for accountability, but we made a few small changes. The legislature should ensure strong oversight and fiscal accountability in the operation, authorization, and funding of charter schools. Specifically, we urge policymakers to evaluate the use of public funds in charter school operations, including mechanisms that allow private entities to construct, lease, modify public education facilities, and then profit from those arrangements. Require transparent reporting on charter school expenditures. facility ownership and management contracts, ensuring that public education dollars are used solely for the benefit of Minnesota students. Assess whether the current laws provide sufficient accountability for academic outcomes, financial stewardship, and equitable access

072for all students, and review the e the review the overall impact of charter schools on the state education budget and the constitutional and the constitutionally mandated uniform system of of public schools. So, how are charter schools affecting public school budgets and are we maintaining our constitutionally uh directed uniform system of public schools. So, then there's some background on charter schools and that they were initially established to serve as innovative partners within the public education system. My I call it laboratories of many laboratories of uh where they could try different things and see what would work best. but it's turned more into a money-making business over the years. Uh, however, increasing evidence points to inequities in accountability and funding transpar transparency, particularly where private entities own or manage facilities and receive financial benefit from public funds.

073Greater state oversight is needed to ensure that the annual funding for charter schools is directed towards improving student outcomes and supporting equitable access to quality education. Strengthening financial transparency and accountability will help ensure that all public education investments remain focused on students, not profit. Any comments on that section? Any Okay. Goal number three was to find a better means of assessing student progress than the current MCA tests. This one was new. I don't think that we had that one last year. No state. No, it's there. No, it was it was on there. the MCA test scores but the replace it with accountability standards um the culture three okay I'm sorry here okay so in the I'm just going to read here the cultural and social so socioeconomic bias of standardized tests has been well documented

074across decades of research and Minnesota's own data continues to confirm it the 2025 Northstar accountability results graph shown above which is actually below. So I think we either need to move the graph up or we need to move change that to read shown below. I would prefer to move the graph up to the top and start with that. Uh illustrates the correlation clearly. As the percentage of students eligible for free or reducedric meals increases, average MCA reading proficiency declines. This pattern appears across nearly every public and charter school in the state. In other words, MCA test results measure poverty rates at least as accurately as they measure academic achievement. [cough and clears throat] Local media often publish and compare the standardized test scores of various schools without explaining the underlying socioeconomic factors. This leads families

075to make enrollment decisions based on incomplete or misleading data. Ironically, the very students these tests were intended to help are the ones most harmed by public ranking and comparison. And there's some background on MCA tests. Um, there's many reasons the current system of standardized testing, especially MCA, should not be used to rank the quality of our schools. The data shows that students from middle class and affluent families consistently outperform peers from lower income backgrounds on standardized tests. Schools with higher percentages of lowincome, new to country or special needs students are often labeled as failing regardless of the progress that they make. The consequences I again I want to try to clean this up a little bit. I have another. So down at the very bottom of this, there's three bullets under the consequences and I

076[clears throat] would like it to go from misuse of MCA data fuels open enrollment. This first one is exactly the same. Pulling students and resources away from local public schools. The second one, this process drives segregation, lowers neighborhood property values, and weakens local investment in public education. I'd kind of like to um remove the drive segregation from that. I don't know if that's our um we can I'm fine with leaving it in there. It doesn't really matter to me. But I just misuse also drives segregation, discourages employer investment, which is I think is a a really to to to get out of this funk of low incomes producing low test scores and all the problems that go along with that. We have to get some quality employers into a community. You're not going to get

077the quality employers coming to that community if you have low MCA scores. So publicizing MCA scores actually drives out the very employers that you need in your community to to to solve the uh problem of lower test scores. So discourages employer investment, lowers property values, and erodess public confidence and support for public education. and annual MCA testing drains instructional time and diminishes morale for students and and educators without providing meaningful insight into growth or learning is how I would change those. But yep. >> Yeah, this is really good. Al, um did you want to do I know you said local public schools on your the sheet you just handed out and here it says community schools. So I didn't know which one you were thinking about there. on bullet point one under consequences. [clears throat]

078>> Yeah, I don't know that it really matters to me. >> I like how you put local public. >> Local public. >> And then I'm just making sure maybe asking Danny about this. when is um in the second bullet under background on MCA test, is that the right way to refer to um students who are receiving special education as special needs? Just want to make sure that's the right um way to say it. The I have no voice tonight. Sorry. It's okay. The preference would be students on IEPs. >> That I was thinking that >> say that again. Students >> on students on or students with IEPs, but the indication is that they have an IEP, an individual education plan. >> Yeah, thank you. >> They are not special themselves. >> Thank you very much.

079>> Okay, that wasn't changed from last year. So, that was one. Uh, okay. Then we must move towards assessments and measure what matters. Growth over time, problem solving, and readiness for life beyond school. not a not a family's income level. And that's where the graph would go up to the top. Okay. And goal number four, support full funding of recently mandated employment policies. Uh paid family leave. Ensure that implementation of the state's newly mandated paid family leave program includes adequate funding and flexibility for school districts to manage staffing and fiscal impacts. uh unemployment insurance for educational support staff. Change or align unemployment benefit requirements to appropriate state funding, support or grant districts levy authority to meet this obligation without reducing classroom budgets. Um right now it's costing a lot of money and it's going to

080start taking money away from the classrooms. And it [clears throat] in the background uh same it's was from last year's but the legislaturator's 2023 expansion of unemployment benefits for el eligible educational staff helped retain essential employees but funding was one time only without and I Lori and when we talked about this one before you mentioned repeal from the one bullet point but it has repeal done in this too so I don't know if you want that changed. Uh so we could say without substantial change continued. [snorts] So uh without substantial change continued or flexible support the cost of this program will come directly from the general education funds. Permanent funding or local levy authority is needed to sustain these essential positions and services. Goal number five, protect equitable and sustainable public education funding. Uh this

081one was changed a little bit from last year. Uh last year's was directed specifically at a voucher system. This one is saying it in different in a different way. Uh we support legislative action that ensures public education funding remains strong, equitable, and focused on serving all Minnesota students. We respectfully urge lawmakers to maintain the integrity of the state's investment in public schools, ensuring that public dollars are used to strengthen the education system that is open to any child. Preserve the inflation factor for public education funding to keep pace with rising costs and maintain staffing and program stability. protect and enhance compensatory education funding formulas so resources continue to reach students who need them most. Uh and that's the one that's one of the three that we're taking to the schoolboards association delegate conference. Um [clears

082throat] Minnesota's public schools are the foundation of our communities serving students from every background and circumstance. Any reallocation of public education funds should be carefully considered to ensure it does not diminish opportunities for students who rely on compre on the comprehensive support programming and accountability structures of the public education system. Maintaining the inflationary adjustment for public education is essential to sustain core operations amid increasing costs. St. Cloud area school district currently receives approximately $21 million in compensatory funding targeted to schools serving higher proportions of students from families facing economic hardship. Protecting this funding is critical to advancing student achievement, supporting mental health, and ensuring equitable access to opportunity. So, in conclusion, the St. Clutter's District 742 school board of education remains steadfast in its commitment to provide every student with access to a safe, supportive,

083and highquality education. We urge the governor and the legislature to act collaboratively to ensure equitable and sustainable funding for all Minnesota students today and for generations to come. That's what we came up with in committee. Okay. Um, love it. [clears throat] Thank you. And I think you got around like everything to approve the board of education legislation. >> So moved. And do I have a second? I have a motion from Natalie, a second from Diana. Heather, can you call vote? >> Shannon Hus, >> yes. >> Zack Dorhalt, >> yes. >> Natalie Copelan, >> yes. >> Al Dren, >> yes. >> Diana Fenton, >> yes. >> Heather Williams, yes. >> Thank you very much. That's great work. >> Okay. Um, we have some policy readings tonight. Uh, Katie Herbalt, executive director of Innovations at Technology Services

084will be joining us. First up, we have a second reading for proposed revised board policy 902, which is use of school district facilities and equipment. >> Thank you very much, Chair Haw, Superintendent Putham, and the rest of the board members. I am standing in for Shannon Ason today. I'm much shorter, so I'm standing lower sitting in this case. We are starting out with uh our second reading of policy 9002. We didn't have any changes from the first reading. And just a reminder that the changes that were made prior to the first reading um were is where we added language to add a certificate of insurance for part C and we added a section five about the use of school equipment. And we did this in response to the new 742 athletic complex or whatever um

085for for uh having that purpose. [laughter] It was on the picture. Okay. I don't think we anybody have any discussion or comments on that one. All right. We'll roll into our next policy reading. Joining us is Matthew Buchche, executive director of operations. Presenting our first reading on proposed revised board policy 899, naming school district facilities. >> Uh thank you, Chair Hos, Superintendent Putnham, and board members. It's a pleasure to be here tonight. Um I'm a little intimidated just seeing as how long the last conversation around naming went. Um it's fascinating because this is one of our shorter policies but one of our longer conversations. So the uh there's some edits to this process. Uh and it's actually timely that it's a pro it's a policy we're looking at as we're going through this process. It

086has informed some of our language around the policy as well um going through that process. So uh there are no changes to be to uh section one two. Um in section three the primary change is wherever the word committee shows up we added naming in front of it to be descript of what type of committee the purpose of the committee. Um and then when we get down to section B within procedures, um really there was just cleaning up of language, some changing of tents, clarifying some of the language, um and adding a statement that the naming committee make include three to 10 representative members with consideration of the following. Um and um the ranking of that that's not a rank order of consideration of of representation um but we felt it was important to put

087students at the top of that list >> um because they are why we exist as an organization and so that their representation is important. Um, so while it isn't rank order, we do want to prioritize them as a group, representative group within the process. >> Could I make a suggestion that if we don't want it to be a rank order, we just use bullets? >> Certainly. >> And it wouldn't be >> others. Very fair. >> Yeah. Leave it in any order. >> Bullets. >> Just use bullets instead of 1, two, three, four, five. I was trying to give Ma Matthew the sign. Um I believe that that when that got retyped, it should be 8 to 10, not 3 to 10. >> Okay. >> Thanks. >> For the number of committee members. 3 to 10

088would be bizarre. It used to be 8 to 10. >> I was going to make the comment. I'll make it right now. in three procedures. There's the line that says the superintendent will or designate will appoint a naming committee of not more than 10 individuals. Of not more than 10 individuals could be removed from that because it's spelled out down below where it says could include 3 to 10 I think. Well, can I comment on that? I I think I I think they're having greater flexibility is good because if you're going to name uh garden at North, you might want three. Do you think you'd always want to have a I It's I'm I'm fine with it. I'm just I can think of some situations where a smaller committee. It's like it's not really a

089>> Maybe if that's what you guys want. I I truly think that's a typo. It it's not when you go back to the old one. >> Feedback from uh one of the board members had suggested the three to 10. >> Oh, >> wonder who that was. >> Sorry. [laughter] Sorry. My bad. But we don't name gardens, right? We don't we don't because when we get to the mo the memorial like we we only name facilities and I don't know and and if you guys want to set that precedent that you want three people, >> I'm totally fine with [laughter] 8 to 10. [clears throat] It's just that you'll box yourself in much more than if it's 3 to 10, but it's totally up to you. I don't think >> the the down here could also

090say up to 10. Again, I mean that that could be purposely redundant. And then >> so we have a we have a cleared maximum number without defining a minimum number. >> Yeah, but up to 10 could be one. [clears throat] >> [laughter] >> Well, five to 10. I don't I mean, it doesn't I I think it's not really that important, but the idea is I don't know if you want to box yourself in too high or too low. So, but you can say whatever you want. After this process, I'm hoping we don't ever have to name a facility again. So, I it it It doesn't matter to me. I just truly thought it was a typo. So that's why I was like trying to get it fixed before we went too far. So >> it's

091the board's policy. So I leave it to the board to decide. >> So if you put three to 10, but then you have eight things listed there, even if they are in bullets, then someone's going to have to decide which ones they're not going to do and which ones they are going to do. So if we're going to have all eight be really important. so important that they're in a policy. It should probably be 8 to 10 is my feeling about that. >> Fair. I I would offer it the language doesn't require a representative from each one of those bullets. It just says that it should be considered representation from each of those bullets, but it stops short of saying each must be present. That doesn't mean 8 to 10 doesn't make a lot of

092sense. >> Yeah. >> Three seems >> six to 10. Sure. >> Compromise. >> Yes. >> Six to 10. We can't [snorts] >> Would you like us to mock up a uh [laughter] >> would you like us to mock up a uh >> logo for this and come back to you in a week? Um well then as we progress through this policy uh what the other s based on some suggestions other things that happened here is in our experience the listings that followed in the red stricken C and D um actually felt fairly prescriptive um and we decid there was some decision to make this more descriptive uh and so the new C is actually a combination of this of the [clears throat] old C and D and moving away from a prescriptive listing and more

093of description of what we are looking for which reads as follows. When developing a new facility name recommendations for school board approval, the naming committee and the school board will consider diverse perspectives and representation both historically and historical and contemporary to ensure the naming processes reflect the community's collective interests. If an individual's name is considered for inclusion the name of the facil for inclusion in the name of the facility, they must be deceased. Um, so that really is a combination of those two in spirit and and specifically lists that came before and then there's no other edits after that. >> Anything else we'd like to discuss? >> Nope. You got the remove from the town. >> Yep. >> Noted. All right. Thank you. One more. We have a proposed new board policy 990 memorials for

094deceased students and staff. This is the first reading and we're bringing it back to Katie Herbald, executive director of innovation and technology services. >> Uh thank you again, Chair House, Superintendent Putnham, and members of the board. This is a policy Shannon Ason has been working on for quite some time. Um and then I was able to step in and hopefully help a little bit. So, this is a first reading of our new policy 990. Um, there's not an MSBA model policy for memorials, but um, it's recommended to have a memorial policy, and many districts across the state have implemented one. Uh, we reviewed a number of those policies from other districts, about a dozen, um, and took recommendations to the board policy committee and are bringing it forward for the first reading. We tried to

095take parts of the policy we felt uh were good and fit what we needed and then make adjustments based on what we have done in past practice and also what we would like to see in the future. Um so if we look at the purpose um since it's a new policy I'll uh read that through or at least part of it. St. Cloud Area Schools recognizes that the loss of a student or staff member profoundly affects our school community students staff and families alike. The purpose of this policy is to provide clear guidance for memorial decision-making and memorial related activities within the district. Um, and then if we just look at some of the uh general statement, we wanted to make it known that uh school facilities are not intended to serve as the primary

096venues for memorializing deceased students or staff. And then if we take a look through um into the memorial policy, I know you've all had a copy of this. We set up a couple of different areas or different types of memorials between temporary and permanent. Um temporary memorials must be located in areas that can be supervised by school staff but may not alter district property. And there's some other um language in there about temporary. And then in permanent memorials, they must be self- sustaining and may not become the financial or operational responsibility of the district. And then per board policy 899, if a deceased staff or student name is suggested or used to name or rename a district facility, um it must be approved by the appointed and naming committee um and the school board. So,

097a little call back to our last policy. Um and then uh some recommended memorial activities about events and items, some graduation recognition that pulled back into some current practices. Um and then a statement about existing memorials that have been established prior to the adoption of this policy um will remain in place. Um and they are generally the responsibility of the original sponsoring entity. um can resources from the district can only be used for maintenance when they're required for safety or part of routine upkeep and we reserve the right to remove any memorial if it cannot be maintained or conflicts with educational mission of the district. There are some prohibited um memorial activities listed in here including fundraising or selling things during the school day. Um uh formal schoolwide events um may not include memorial activities.

098And then uh community- based uh organizations may sponsor commemorative events provided they occur and are promoted outside of the school day. So that's just kind of an overview of that policy. Are there any questions or suggestions? >> Al, >> yep, I have a few [clears throat] >> in the purpose section. St. Cloud area schools recognizes that the loss of a student or staff member profoundly affects our school community. Right. I I do we want to limit it to students or staff members? Of course it is. It'll the loss of a member of our school community affects our school community. Could be volunteers. It could be uh could be retired. It could be a emotional support dog, you know. But everybody everybody should be included in there. Uh in [clears throat] section two definitions, I don't

099I don't understand section two. Here we talk memorials. I get it. Living memorials. We have a definition, but it's never mentioned in the policy. So it doesn't appear down below. Same with crisis. We talk about what a crisis is, but it's not mentioned anywhere in the policy that I could see. And we have impact and it's not mentioned anywhere in the policy. So I don't know why we're defining them >> in the memorial policy. Let's see. Yeah, the memorial policy section. We have recommended memorial activities or Okay. So there's permanent memorials. I think I think the school district receives the right to accept, decline, alter, or remove any memorial, including permanent ones. Uh must be self- sustaining and may not become the financial or operational responsibility of the district. I'm I'm wondering in this commemorative

100events, graduation, recognition, and existing memorials are recommended memorial activities. But I I think one of the most common memorial activities that's used is to plant a tree in someone's honor. And I don't see anything about that here. And I don't know why we why we wouldn't encourage that. That if if someone wants a memorial to plant a tree in someone's honor is a great way to do it because the thing is there for a long time and it takes care of itself for the most part. Um, I also was wondering where things like if someone wanted to have a bench, an engraved bench or something like that. That would be a no or that would be >> from administration's perspective. Everything you're naming is what we are trying to set a set a boundary with.

101>> Okay. um only because it things that we don't anticipate happening, right? like that south plaque. Um we we right if there's a tree where we want to do the make Apex build apex right where our center is um we just it's just so hard to predict and then it's hurtful if things don't have to get moved and then we get a the tree dies we have to replant it right so those are the kinds of things we were trying to to actually stop >> okay >> also some families may be able to memorialize as their students, staff member, and others may not be able to. So, creating a more permanent memorial like that may single out people over others. Take your >> Natalie. No, I lost it. But there was um it talked about

102how there could be something at graduation that is a recognition, but then it says school formal schoolwide events may not include memorial activities. So are we saying everything except for graduation is a no. >> Yeah, I think that was uh those two things counteract those two statements in that policy counteract each other. Yeah, I mean if it's I understand what both statements are, but maybe to reiterate except for graduation there if that's what we're where we're pushing people towards. >> I agree with that and there's a big time gap there. Also, if you're talking about a second grader who passes away, that's a long wait to graduation and then they may want to do something more immediate within that school. >> So, I don't know. Yeah. >> If we would redefine how they could do

103it in say a school assembly or something like that. >> Heather, were you jumping in here? Sorry. >> I was. And I don't know if I have necessarily a recommendation, just something I mean I I'm um cognizant of Katie to your point that some people are able to do things and other people aren't. And I think the repetition of those things also I mean like it says that um a class club or activity associated with a dist student may hold something outside of the school day but if it's an activity and then it's done every year or um in multiple sports or activities I'm just sensitive to it that it's it's hard to manage. I I mean it's hard to think about. Um and I I will just say I think it also puts pressure

104on the coach, the adviser, the whoever like I don't know if there needs to be an approval process. I would you know of of how these things would be done. So it takes it it it um makes it consistent who is being requested who it's being requested from. So it's not an individual. So again, you can say it's outside of the school day because it's a activity. But then is it the speech advisor's decision and that puts that person in a really are they going to say no? Of course not. Do you know like I think the more procedural consistency you have and I don't know what the answer to that is but something to consider. Al >> Heather triggered another thought and it's that a lot of times if a child is involved in

105sports, the team will choose to wear um their number on their uniform for the course of the season. And I'm wondering how that would be covered in this policy because I don't think it's addressed in here. Natalie, >> I think in general it seems like what everybody's saying is like this is a lot of this is what we're not going to do with only like one thing that we are going to do. And so maybe more of a vibe of like here's here's the ways that you can do this and these are the things we don't want you to do, you know, like as a list or whatever. But it feels really like yucky the way it is now, but I think that it can be rewritten and and at the same time I know

106we need to do it. So maybe something meeting in the middle of those two. >> It's hard to anticipate because the way that our students memorialize each other changes all the time. >> Right. >> So, >> right. Could I add uh having recently dealt with this as a as a principal? Um I didn't think about something till you said it, Alan. It might be language in the graduation recognition one, but recognizing that we're talking about a student who passed Wall in High School. Um might be language to add there. So we're being specific that the second grader is, you know, I don't know. Just putting it out there. Um, and then the other part to your question, students will come to administration to talk about how can we, what can we, and part of the

107reason this language would then define what's out of boundaries helps the conversation as well. All right, Natalie. >> The only push back I have of if a if a child is in dies while in high school is what if it's like the end of eighth grade, you know, like I can just think of I don't know it else. It's there's no no easy answer, but anything else. All right. Thank you. Yep, Heather, you sure can. >> Just one thought and again I don't these are so hard to think about and talk about >> if there's going to but then it gets into the time thing. I mean, the other thing that I'm cognizant of is would it be restrictive for some people socioeconomically, you know, like if you if some people can afford to put

108a bouquet on a on a chair and other people can't, you know, for graduation, you would do it. So, it's through the school. Okay. So, there everyone's given that opportunity and the school. Okay. >> That one was suggested by our high school principles. Do you do it right now only if they pass away in high school or is it >> No. um only because there right I think the precedent started when there's a fairly significant um missing child right in this community and so that >> um started and so I think that that's continued um [snorts] >> but I I think it might be contextual to this community right that that >> I think there's probably different practice and um I just want to say what I appreciate about this board is um without knowing

109it right you are you have picked up that we took this from a different district right it wasn't even necessarily the MSBA, right? And they have a it it was just more of a control and compliance kind of policy, right? And this team has done a great job backing that up already based on some feedback that was received from board members, but you're still right, you're feeling it, you're seeing it, and so I appreciate that you know us as a district better than this. Um, and so we will gladly, you know, revise the tone and try to come at it more of a these are the ways we we know it's a loss for everyone in the community. These are the ways we want to honor that and try to be more positive um and

110affirming about it. Okay. Um, that was everything on our agenda. So, I'm looking for a motion to adjourn tonight's work session. And do I have a second? I have a motion by Heather, a second by Natalie. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. So, meeting or work session is adjourned at 8:18 p.m. Thank you for watching. Have a good night. We'll be back the November 19th. Thank you.