001Okay. Hearing no second. The um agenda original agenda uh remains the same. So then I'm looking for a motion to approve tonight's board of education meeting agenda. >> And do I have a second? >> Second. So, I have a motion by Diana and a second by L. Zack, can you call vote? >> Yes. >> Diana Finn, >> yes. >> Zach Dhold, yes. El Dog, >> yes. >> Natalie Copeland, >> yes. Okay. >> Then we have the consent agenda. The consent agenda consists of non-controversial items that the board adopts routinely without debate. Any 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 minutes from September 3rd, 2025 and September 17, 2025 board meetings. Item
002B, approval of bills and other financial transactions in the grand total amount of 5,18,996.18. Item C, approval of personnel staff changes. Item D, acceptance of grant awards and donations. Item E, approval of quarterly expenditures for board members. And item F, call for bids multi-purpose athletic facility bid package one. Um, at this time, does any board member wish to remove an item from the consent agenda? Natalie, >> item C, please. >> Item C. Okay, so I have a motion by Diana. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> A second by L. Zack, can you call vote on that? Um, Dana Finton, >> yes. >> Zorhold, yes. >> El Dogren, >> yes. >> Natalie Copeland, >> Shannon Hos, >> yes. Thank you. And then you're recusing yourself from item C. Is that correct? Okay. Um, so
003looking to um a motion to approve item C. >> A motion by Diana. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> And a second by Zack. Zack, can you call vote without Natalie? >> Uh, El Dog Green, >> yes. >> Zack door holtz, yes. Dan Finton, >> yes. >> Shannon Hos, >> yes. Thank you. >> Um, moving on to one information item tonight. We have the graduation plan update presented by Dr. Jason Harris, assistant superintendent of secondary education, and Molly Kenzie, Tech High School principal. Welcome. Glad you're here and excited for this. >> All right. Good evening, uh, Chair Ha, Superintendent Putnham, board members. Uh, we're just coming back to give you an update on the graduation feedback from our stakeholders. So, tonight we'll kind of share the data through the themes that we looked
004at. So, I'll, uh, get going once we get started. Uh, one of the things we kind of looked at just surround the feedback is what's the goal of our feedback, right? And so, we kind of looked at how do we build community trust? How do we improve the experience for all the stakeholders reinforcing our values around safety, belonging and collaboration and excellence? When you look at the purpose, uh we were talking about what what's the purpose of graduation? Why why do we have the ceremony? And so we looked at it in multiple ways. Graduation celebrates the academic achievement and personal growth recognizing students dedication and adaptability as they prepare for their future. It honors the essential collaboration between students, families, and staff, signifying the shared commitment to a promising future. So when we looked at
005it, what's the what's the purpose? And we kind of outlined that and looked at it. We talked to multiple stakeholders and that was kind of to the piece of the purpose of why we have this ceremony. What's the purpose of graduation? And so tonight, we'll just kind of highlight the key themes and present the findings. So here are some of the themes that we looked at. We looked at uh ensuring dignity and recognition to every graduate. How does safety and uh the effectiveness of crowd control looks uh promoting accessibility and inclusion, addressing language, mobility and sensory needs? How do we set clear expectations and enforce standards for noise and decorum? And then how do we have clear communication both before and during the event? And then optimizing the venue's layout and floor plan. And so
006I'll let Principal Kinsey kind of talk through the data that we gathered from our families and and students. >> Good evening. Um so the first question shows the side by side of um the location discussion for graduation. I know it's a little bit small on your screen. So um on the student side, option A is to continue with our graduation ceremony at River's Edge Convention Center and option B would be at the home high school campus. And so for the students, they selected option A, River's Edge Convention Center. And the parents were a little bit more close or the families, excuse me, um were a little bit more closely um divided in their options there, but um option A, River's Edge Convention Center um kind of snuck the lead there with 52% um surveyed wanting
007it to stay at River's Edge Convention Center. Next, we surveyed students on what what to them represents a respectful environment and how can we um access that information and share that out with students and classmates. And so, um the number one piece of that was how are we providing visual cues and creating reminders during the ceremony. Next was designated celebration areas outside for after the ceremony. And the third um highest pick was the venue layout. How can we make sure that it is easy to hear without yelling and then families were asked the same question. Um there there are some common um selections and then there's also some that differ. Um there the first uh theme that came up or the highest um response was around clear consequences um stated upfront for families and guests
008as they come to the ceremony. And then second was a designated area for outside um celebration after the ceremony. And then that uh venue layout option. So, how are we looking at the venue layout to ensure that it's easier to hear um throughout the ceremony? Next was from a graduates or future graduates um belonging throughout the ceremony. And so, every student indicated that hearing their name being called and knowing that everyone in the room can hear it too was really important. as well as a balanced moment that allows for um cheers so that everyone can get recognized. Um the other two or the last two um are a sorry 20 there we go. Um 24 is that blue color. So the feeling of energy from my family celebrating even if it's loud with 24% and
009then 20% is a big celebration moment after all names are called. Sorry, just going just going back to that piece. Um I think that really leans back into the purpose and so how are we valuing what graduation means for us? And so as we um figure out moving forward how we address that to support both students and families. >> Yeah. The question asked, when you walk across the stage, what experience would feel meaningful to you? And then it kind of that's what you got out of it. So to our research person, uh, Donna, you could only >> Would you like me to go forward and go back? >> Yeah, we can come back. >> Um, the next question was in regards to ticketing. And so, um, just to not confuse you, the colors from the
010student side to the family side are not they don't mean the same thing. So, let me break down the student side for you first. Um, so the green is 8% and it says ticketing students want it to come first come first serve. Next is the blue, which is the dark blue, excuse me, which is 49%. Equal distribution, same number per graduate, which is what we are currently doing. Yellow is 40% requestbased with AC request based with accommodations for larger families. And then that light blue teal color was 3% and it's um a lottery system for additional tickets beyond um the base allot allotted for families. Again, there's some commonalities here, but um they don't quite match. So, the green at 50% is the equal distribution, same number per graduate. The dark blue with 27 request
011based with accommodation for larger families. Yellow at 19 lottery system for additional tickets that go beyond the allocation and then the teal color 4% first come first serve. Next was looking at the layout and the floor plan. Um and this one was surveyed through families. Uh 31% the green had no preference on the layout. 26% thought that bringing the seating closer to the stage um for a more intimate setting would and it would be easier to hear and to see. Yellow with 22% said to keep the current distance but improve sight lines and sound. And then with 20% it said create multiple viewing angles seating on the sides and around the stage. And lastly, this question was just looking for support for graduation. Um the green on top is unfortunately not able to help with
012graduation at this time. Um but there was an overwhelming um surveyed group saying that they would um help review and draft plans and give feedback. And on the student side, that yellow bar shows that they will that students will help communicate final decisions with their classmates. Um, which I love. And that also that there are students who would be willing to join a student advisory group. >> Yeah, I think that was a good one for us. When we have our graduation team, it's all the adults. We don't have student voice, perspective. And so now that we know that students would be interested and given perspective, I think that's a voice that we want on the on on the team. >> And then families um again they they are willing to um review and provide feedback
013on draft policies. Um and there is an interest also in joining um a family advisory committee just a couple of times before graduation. And then um the last bar there or sorry the teal bar there says participate in pre-ceremony walkthrough or orientation. Um help communicate expectations within our community and networks. And then last that last column there in the dark purple says they would serve as a family ambassador to help families understand expectations. >> And chair I see your question. You could only select one that's most important to you. >> Thank you. >> Hold on. I'll go back to >> So this is that chart referencing selecting one that means the most to them and then there was a tie. So it was hearing my name clearly and knowing that everyone in the room could
014hear it too as well as a balanced moment for brief cheers so that everyone gets recognized. And then when you look at the overall feedback, we looked at we had o some open-ended questions. Uh communicate clearly and early. Set high expectations for respectful environment. Keep commitments made uh related to protocols which support our our safety, belonging, uh collaboration and excellence. Increase security and adult presence to celebrate the milestone. and then using accessibility uh as many as possible and then how do we look at those multiple languages mobility sensory needs and then broadcast TVs for late comers so they can watch in multiple spaces and so that was kind of the overall feedback uh that we saw next steps it'll be a consultative decision we wanted to give get feedback from our all our stakeholders uh
015the superintendent and district administration will make the final decision currently right now, we're going to come back and as a as a team and make a decision on uh our final decision and then communicating that out to everybody. And so um it was interesting. We got a chance to kind of, you know, we had the situation last uh spring. We wanted to de we debrief. We talked to multiple stakeholders. Now we got our stakeholder feedback and kind of really looking at our process our all the things and uh this was good data for us. Uh I think when we looked at families we got almost 250 families to uh participate and we looked at students we all got about 150 to participate uh and giving feedback around that. And so, uh, any questions >> on
016that last >> Can you guys hear that? There. Now, I can >> on that last slide, not that one, the very last one. The question of that next steps, decision making, uh, who will make the decision, superintendent, but when will the decision be made? Do you have a timeline in mind for that or? >> Yeah, we uh we're looking to try to make a decision soon here, at least before the end of the month, because we need to uh inform the venue. We also want to look and see if they can do some things around the layout for us. And so, but we want to make the decision pretty soon here within the next couple of weeks. Did you ask um last year's students and families or this coming your year's students and families? >>
017Juniors and juniors and seniors. We didn't get to the ones that just graduated. So, your current seniors. >> Okay. >> And then your juniors that'll graduate the following >> cuz it's hard from like our perspective when we're in the front of the stage to know the sound, the view. We don't know that. So, um, you know, if chances are parents and students have already been there before for somebody else, maybe the sibling or something, I would assume. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead. Were you going to say Go ahead. >> No, go ahead. I was just going to ask, have you looked in to see if there's any kind of I don't know a visual timer or I I I don't know if there is or not, but my thinking is when what always happens at
018graduation is that we we switch readers of names and people read at a different pace and sometimes we read really fast and people get all clogged up in the line up there and then sometimes they read too slow, they're not coming through fast enough and I'm Just wondering if there's a timer available or something that every reader could use where it's like a green light goes on and you read the name but don't read it before and don't read it at you know >> we actually ask that our readers say names in six seconds but you are right there's that human component around that um and so I don't think that that would be a challenge to do I think then we just have to ensure um the length of the ceremony. I think that's
019where I mean sometimes they the readers potentially get a cue from a principal of like >> we need to go a little faster because we have to get through numbers, right? But so that would be a set way. >> You'd know how long it was going to take if you had a set number of >> Yeah. >> of of seconds per, but it's just I know that when when you get nervous, you talk faster and you don't you just lose track of >> time. So, it's really difficult to do a a specific seconds or something without a visual cue. >> Oh, Lauren, that's a >> Well, I'm going to I'm going to share an idea that board chair Haw gave us um that we have uh that we had talked about doing um where we
020would have the name um up on a visual, right? So, everybody could also see the name as well as hear it be read and we could tell people that when right would read the name, the name will go on. you can cheer when your name is there. When it goes away, that's when we're quiet again, right? To give people that visual cue of this is your moment, right? And that was board chair Hos's um idea. And it's potent potentially we could have AI, right? Uh you can load the names and AI reads them. Um you know, we still have to experiment with accent and um but it probably can't be worse than than some than sometimes, right? Humans do. And you could ask the reader not I mean you wouldn't have to give the readers
021the name other than they could read it off the screen when it came up on >> right and it could be right here so you're not looking behind right like absolutely there's very it is I'm looking at Katie as I'm speaking and it would be I think um an idea that that once Shannon shared we're all like oh yeah great idea and I think you lean into what the students said was really important to them right having that moment to have their name be heard um and also having a moment to be celebrated ated. So, >> not if we could have like it live streamed in their picture of them up on stage all by themselves or a still picture or something. But yeah, name, picture, uh, fireworks. And >> I love the fireworks, flashing
022lights, >> real >> just twinkles, right? Just twinkly lights on the screen. Anybody else? This was a great thoughtful. >> Yeah, I want to thank the our folks, our principles, uh, principal scholar is not here right now. Uh, director Roer, uh, all the folks that made this happen uh, to get the survey out and get us feedback. >> Thank you. >> Okay, moving on to discussion and action items. First up, we have the discussion item of the 2025 through 2028 strategic plan draft. And welcome Donna Robber, director of research assessments and AI integration. Good evening, Chair Haz, Superintendent Putnham, members of the board, colleagues, and listening community. It's um my pleasure to be here this evening to share the um draft of our updated strategic plan uh which will get us through the 2028 school
023year. Um I'm going to dive right in. Um my hope is to kind of go through this. If you have questions, um, again, go ahead and write them and then we'll take them at the end, but I just want to get through the what we've made, um, a priority for this year. So, as as we said last time, um, we're not changing our mission or core values or vision. We're keeping those very, um, solid um, mission and core values that were developed with the 2527 plan. So, those um, will stay with us. Um, we're adding however these foundational goals, the core commitments which underpin all of our work, ensuring that every initiative that we do flourishes with every stu and and that every student thrives in safe spaces where there's a high sense of belonging,
024strong collaboration and excellence. Um you heard last time some of the key achievements in the old plan um for the last year and so we did take a look back to see how things were going. made some um observations and reflections and um lessons learned, if you will. And you'll see that we, you know, are going to continue doing many things based on that analysis, including um um continuing to uh increase restorative practices, continuing that early intervention work around uh preventing those learning gaps. um continuing to um solidify and grow community partnerships and amplify the success of those and again to innovate and continuously improve using um data and evidence. There were six things that we identified um as sort of really highlevel commitments that we want to continue to prioritize for the 2025 2028
025plan. um continuing to work on reducing uh suspensions. Uh looking at boosting the consistent attendance metric, which is really about enrollment and getting our kids into the buildings and enrolled in our schools. Um there's a strong focus on literacy as you all know and it will continue. We will keep working at that, growing it at the elementary, expanding it into our secondary. We have some really great plans that we heard about this morning on that from director um Wilhight and team. Um we have added really looking into some of the math um pieces as as we are exploring new resources for that. We will continue to really hone in on some of the things that we need to be doing in the area of math. And then um we want to also look at how
026are we cultivating and um improving in student engagement. So these are five and then the sixth uh item was really around our 742 graduate and future ready by design we're calling it which is um getting clarity around um what we want that to look like so that when students leave 742 we know they are um on the road to successful adulting and a career pathway and um a long life of learning. As you may know, there are lots of challenges and opportunities in education and a few that we have identified um that we will continue to um focus on as well as those opportunity to learn um the gaps that we we see in our student learning. Um we want to shore some of those up by having a little bit of um emphasis on
027tier one instruction and working more collaborative collaboratively across the tiers to enhance that. Um we also know disengagement is real for our students and many students across the state and the nation. And so we we we think the the work that we have started around safety and belonging get us to setting those preconditions for really working on engagement and motivation which um as you may know are tied directly to learning. So those are that's a uh challenge and opportunity piece that we'll be looking at. Um every district in the state and in the nation is looking um at maintaining their high staff retention and here in St. cloud, we aren't any different. And so we will continue to look at ways that we can be more efficient using new tools and process pieces, but also
028um freeing people up to be in collaboration doing that collective efficacy work that we know is really central to um high high achievement and learning and excellence. And then finally, the future readiness challenge is just that it's really difficult to know what might happen in a year or two or three. And we will keep our eyes on that and um continue to uh prepare our kids as best we can to be adaptable, nimble, really good, deep learners as they go out our door. Um, these focus areas, as you know, are from the last plan that we have, and they're all, um, really great objectives and strategies that have been defined by by teams that came before me. And as we continue to work them, um, you're going to see our language get a little bit
029more strategic and more actionable around some of these objectives. So in um focus area one under positive climate and culture, we are committing to creating inclusive safe environments that support all staff and students. And on the left you see the aligned objectives. And on the right our strategic commit comm commitments you know guide how we do this work through strengthening relationships and student voice expanding inclusive programming deepening our understanding of student and staff perspectives and then prioritizing the well-being um and support the well-being of our um purpose and support systems. So we will continue to do and commit to these strategic items for focus area one. Um in focus area two there is a lot happening. Um our aligned objectives don't nearly um convey the level of learning that is happening out there uh with
030our teachers and with our students. But I want to especially emphasize the amount of learning that is happening with our staff to be instructionally sound and um strong when it comes to some of the literacy learning. And so our strategic commitments are really focused on improving core instruction in both literacy and math. Um fully implementing the science of reading and many high lever practices that come alongside that with assessment. um defining and aligning and implementing tier 1 and you know again you'll see aligning instruction assessment there's a lot happening in that area and so we will continue uh to do that work um in the coming year and in the year two years to follow in the focus area three um driving excellence through innovation making sure we have strong systems and we're using data
031to inform our decisions is one of our commitments And you'll see we have our aligned objectives on the left again. And these strategic commitments on the right um are what drive the work forward. So expanding our communication and collaboration with families, building authentic communic community partnerships, elevating student leadership and voice, and creating learning environments where engagement leads directly to achievement. In focus area four, um there is so much happening in this area as well. And again, we are um taking a look at the aligned objectives, but making some very strategic commitments in that area. and they include um ensuring that our efforts connect across the system, expanding our career and technical education options, increasing dual enrollment opportunities, strengthening partnerships again with business and higher ed, and then providing individualized career exploration and planning tools together.
032Um these actions will give our students a strong personalized launch into their life after graduation. And so those are the four focus area updates for the 28 plan that I wanted to share with you all tonight. Oh, and the fifth one, most important, I don't want to forget this, apologies, is our family and community engagement. And every one of our um departments and schools are working um in this area. And tonight, I was just with one of our staff who has a bunch of family members that were here tonight. Got to see it in action. It was really, really great. Um and again we continue to focus on this. Our strategic commitments are really focused on making sure we are leaning into um families being family centered ensuring that we're um meeting them where they
033are whether it's with you know language support uh various modalities of communication. I think we're getting better at some of our communication pieces. um continuing to work on increasing participation um with our student leadership and civic engagement opportunities and then just promoting our school-based activities and um collaborating around safety because that's a really important thing too. So area five and then that is really it. And so this is our strategic plan refined and focused based on what we've learned and what our students need. And we'll keep doing what's working. We are going to continue to fix what isn't working and then scale what really shows us is promising. So, and I would take any questions. Thank you. Does anybody have any questions or comments? We're a quiet group tonight. Al, you thinking? You good? >>
034Is that it or is it coming? Um, go back to this side. What is is there something being represented by the size of the bubble? >> Not really. I I I have to say I got asked this question this morning. There's a there's a feature in the slide deck that allows you to put any kind of picture in here. So, full disclosure, I I used AI to create the bubbles and but and it did put the different career pathways in different bubbles and I did rearrange them. I'll I'll I'll tell you I did rearrange them and I put education in the biggest bubble because it's my feeling that careers that involve human relational work are going to be really important careers in the future but really no no particular reason. >> Okay. I I I
035wanted to ask too there's a few things um when I read these that's I kind of go well where would this where would this fall? Where does management? >> When I look at the bubbles here and the the the items listed within it, I look and I say, "So, where does management fall?" Like, >> right? I >> management, sales, uh, business, business, management. >> Yeah. Me, so there are a lot of careers not on this page. many careers not on this page that I could have put on and just for the sake of, you know, just the point is is that our goal is to make sure that kids are on a career pathway of some sort. I probably shouldn't have put any names in there. I'm not trying to say one is more important
036than the other necessarily, but it does look like that might have been the interpretation and I apologize. >> Oh, Lori has a >> I think your point is a good one and I looked at this and I didn't I didn't c that didn't catch for me, so I apologize. Um you know we have defined career pathways and those are should what should be here right business like Becca right business education communication and what's my a friends >> agriculture maybe >> arts arts the ag we're going to call it Becca like so we'll add agriculture um but that's really what should be on here right is are the things that we have already identified and then if we're going to Jason is doing an amazing job with his team about building those out um and so
037we can we'll update those thank you for that >> that was question one. Question two from me was looking at the focus areas >> um in object objective two instruction that produces positive outcomes. And this is really hard to read by the way. I struggle but it says uh eliminate barriers to learning among racially, culturally and linguistically diverse population. Correct. Um, so we're looking at race, culture, and language, but I would I would argue or I'm not arguing, I guess, but I would just suggest that those are barriers, but I think that the largest barrier to learning comes from economic situations. s and trauma. And I'm wondering where are we addressing those two things within this here. I'm not dismissing the three that you listed. I'm just saying that that that other major that I
038don't see listed on there. >> Yeah. >> Donna, can I ask before you answer that, can I ask a clarifying question? My understanding was that that was going to get replaced by this line. So under each one, right, there's a is that not the case? >> Right. So under the aligned objectives, you'll see we we modified that to eliminate Well, we have it says eliminate barriers to learning for all. >> No, I don't mean that one. Um like the like objective 2.1 is eliminate barriers to learning among right what Alice said. I thought that was going to become improving academic achievement through evidence-based practice and a unified instructional vision. I thought that replaced what those gray boxes were. Am I incorrect? >> Um, you're you're correct. So, here here's here's the thing. Until this gets
039approved, this doesn't this document doesn't change here, >> right? >> This is the old one, >> right? But this will replace what >> this would replace whatever we adopt will replace and update that. It's the language is going to be tweaked but not significantly changed. Right? So we will have we will have little tweaks to this document right here um based on what we have in these focus area sheets. Okay, that's better. because you all are giving the feedback tonight. We're going to adjust and then Donna's coming back November 15th with the updates from your feedback tonight. Are you still examining? >> Okay. Anybody else have any feedback or anything? I know some of you have already heard this before. All right. Thank you, Donna, very much. [Music] Uh then next we have our uh
040single action item tonight. We have the approval of the community education facility rental fees. Uh welcome Shannon Averson, executive director of community education and community partnerships. Good evening, Chair Hos, Dr. Putnham, members of the board. [Music] Thank you for having me tonight. I'm excited here. I am excited to share with you our proposal for our facility fee updates. I'm also like to introduce my colleague in the back, Nandanda Viswinaden. He is our coordinator of facilities and he works uh an outstanding amount to coordinate all of our facility rentals and events throughout the district and has played a huge role in providing the context and the background information for tonight's information as well. And I'm very glad he's here because if you ask questions I might have to defer to him quite a bit. So I'm
041glad he's here. All right. Well, first reasons for updates. Um, what really kind of initiated this conversation, as you know, is the exciting um, news that we are going to be building a multi-purpose athletic facility at Apollo. And when we started talking about that multi-purpose athletic facility, we really started to look at our current rates and fee structures and determine that we um we have a need to look at our fees because they are uh lower pretty much uh significantly lower than average fees across comparable districts and venues. And I'll be sharing some additional information about that. Um also board policy, which you'll note is on our agenda tonight. That'll be coming up next as well. um will be needing to update our 902 policy around school facilities. And so that timing was um uh
042in line with this. And then also we have a growing number of community partnerships and that just requires some more intentionality with our fee structures and well as well which um I'll be sharing a little bit more about uh later on in the presentation. So, our process and timeline um in July and August um I am new to my role as an executive director of community uh education and partnerships, but in July and August, uh we got straight to work looking at some research of facility fees and structures across numerous districts. Um also looking at um multiple other venues um locally um such as St. Cloud State, Whitney, YMCA, etc. but uh lots of districts across the state and locally. Um we looked at that research and put together some proposals and some draft information
043to be shared by or or with our community education advisory council. Uh we then uh took that feedback from our community education advisory council on September 8th. We brought that to our uh board finance which many of you are a part of. uh we shared a draft proposal with board finance on September 15th. Then on September 24th, we brought forward to our board policy committee um a a review of uh policy 902. Additionally, on October 6th, uh we brought a second draft of both that facility fee structure again to board finance and then uh again that board policy 902 to board policy or to board finance for a final review of both those pieces. And then finally, here we are October 15th uh uh for approval for the facility fee structure proposal and our first
044read of 902. So, that was really our process and timelines getting us to tonight. I apologize this is a little challenging to read. Um, you have a a document in front of you. Um, we also and you have a front and back there. Um, but what I'm going to highlight here is currently um what our fee structure is, it's kind of a what we'd call an all or nothing fee structure. So in that first category, what we've done is we've added one category and that is that category two that you see here. So that's what I will be highlighting tonight. But essentially right now we have a category 1. Um it's our first priority. It's our students, right? It's ISD 742 school district activities and sporting events. Um community programs and then um election special
045hearings and district co-sponsored events. that is currently standing and those are free. Um and so those are our priority for our events and there's no fee for those events. That is what our current structure is and will continue to be. Um the other category currently right now is um full price. Everybody else outside of that pays full price. What we have done or what we're proposing in this new structure is to add a reduced fee for certain group of or a certain category. Um what we are proposing is that local nonprofit 501c3 organizations primarily serving youth attending district 742 schools and when not charging gate fees must also be an approved district part uh community partner. So what we're really focusing on here is those uh 501c3 nonprofits who are serving our youth. That really
046is the focus. um providing an opportunity for those organizations to have a reduced fee. We do, as you'll know, see a second bullet there, local nonprofit civic groups who are an approved district community partner as well. And so again, category 2, a reduced fee of 50%. And then all others would still be paying that full price as we are currently um at that full priced rate. If you go into the proposed fee schedule, there is a recommendation to increase our fees. As I mentioned previously, there has not been a fee increase in several years. And then addition to that, um when we looked across several districts locally and um on in districts across the state, we were much lower than our our peers. Um so you'll see on the left hand column our current rates
047and then you'll see our proposed rates. Um and then you'll see the category 2 rates on the far right for those um really those youth focused u serving our youth students. Um one thing that I want to note is that this these comparisons I'm really presenting this tonight on behalf of Amy Skullroo who could not be here. Um, but there was a ton of comparisons done to set that full price rate. Um, and that was done at that, like I said, that comparison across several districts. And then that 50% reduced rate, I do want to note that that was set at a rate that does not jeopardize us going into what I would say the hole or into the red as our friend Amy would say. Um it's and then at once uh we do
048know what that um athletic complex once that is set and then once we know what maybe our potential funding might be from that um we would re-evaluate and adjust rates if necessary at that time. So that rate was set, that 50% for our, like I said, those nonprofit serving our youth, that 50% reduction rate was set with some real intentionality by Amy and her team and looking at and making sure that that was an appropriate amount for a reduction. All right, that is what I have for you. Any questions? Anybody have any questions? How often do you look at these like reconsider them? I guess you >> I'm not sure how often they are looked at, but I will tell you that I know um we have talked about looking at it pretty soon. Um
049with the athletic facility opening up in uh what is that? Spring of 2027. So, we do know that we're going to want to be taking a look at it at that time. >> Okay. No, >> the last trying to think the last >> the last time that I believe that it was looked at was right before Adam Holm came on. So I I can't remember >> Okay. >> the name of the person, but >> he was here for a short >> Yeah. Was it Brian >> or Adamlair? >> It was It was during him that we >> Yeah. Okay. So, that's when it was long time. >> It's been a while. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Oh, sorry. One action item and I just couldn't do it. Um, so uh the board
050action is required and administration is um recommending approval of the community education facility rental fees. I would move that we approve the community education facility rental fees as presented. >> Second. >> Have a motion by Al, a second by Diana. Zack, you're still on. Can you call vote? Sorry. Appreciate it. >> Zack Dorholds. Uh, yes. Diana Fenton, >> yes. >> Shannon Hods, >> yes. >> Natalie Copeland, >> yes. >> Bel Dograss, >> yes. >> All right. And Shannon, thank you. Uh, Shannon is staying here. Um, we're going to do a first re reading for proposed revised board policy 902, use of school district facilities and equipment. Again, this is Shannon Averson, executive director of community education and community partnerships. Thank you. As I mentioned previously, uh, 902, use of school district facilities and equipment. The
051last time we reviewed this was in December of 2019. Uh, we are in line uh, with the MSBA policy. uh around our purpose. The purpose of the policy is to provide guidelines for community use of school facilities and equipment. Um general statement of policy and scheduled community education classes and activities um as appropriate. Uh I will note for you here that in section 4 uh uh part A um we are making a proposal to in added language here. The school board authorizes the superintendent or designate to revoke or cancel any facility use request at its discretion if the renter fails to comply with the terms and conditions outlined in the facility use contract. We did run this by legal counsel and it was agreed that this is appropriate language and would make sense to add
052um so we would we would propose adding this language at this time. I highlight in turquoise for you just uh noting that there's a little bit of language difference here. Um highlighting uh community education uh noting that our request for use of school facilities flows through our community education office and specifically NANDA. Um additionally some language changes to item C. Uh I highlighted for you here we are proposing the addition of the language that we are requiring a certificate of insurance deposit or shity bond. Uh in reality uh we are requiring a certificate of insurance. Um that is a standard practice across the state of Minnesota. Um and it is something that we are doing. So it makes sense to um add that language here in our policy and note that. Um and then section
053five, um use of school equipment. This is a new section that is recommended per MSBA, their most recent, um MSBA, uh redlined edition, um and use of school equipment. The administration will present a procedure to the school board for review and approval regarding the type of equipment that is available for community use, extent to which it may be utilized and the manner by which it may be scheduled for use and any charges um to be made relating there too. Upon approval by the school board, such procedure shall be an addendum to this policy. Again, our team felt this was timely in uh with uh that athletic complex coming into play. there might be pieces with that um from an example of a batting cage, right, or something of that nature that uh may be requested
054to be rented. So, um the plan is for our community ed team to work alongside our business services team to bring forward a pro uh a procedure uh for approval in the upcoming months. Um so, that would be the next step. Um but first, we would want it added to this policy. Um and then uh I just noted that our certificate of insurance per section six here um has always been noted at the in that portion of our policy. It's it's been there previously. I just noted that for our team as a reference. Um and then of course um as per previous um we have been updating legal references as MSBA recommendation. Um, and that those are the recommended changes for our first read for 902. Any questions or comments on that? Okay, one more.
055Uh, we have this is the second reading for proposed revised board policy 611 and this is uh homeschooling second read. >> All right. I will um I'll just say that there were no changes that were recommended from our first read last week. Um if you recall uh the majority of the changes to that were simple legislative minor um just reference or statute changes. The only um the only real substantial change was the removal of testing language within that and that was a recommendation from the business services department per Minnesota Department of Ed because they've changed their assessment procedures and practices and so we just removed that testing language from that uh portion of 611. Other than that we have not uh did not make any real significant changes to 611. Thank you. Any questions or
056comments on the second reading? >> Thank you, Shannon. >> Thank you. Okay, we have superintendent report. Dr. Lori Putnham, our superintendent. Thank you so much, Chair Hos, members of the board, uh folks who are here, and our community listening from home. Uh thanks for tuning in. Um across St. Code area schools. Our students and staff continue to embody our district's commitment to excellence and academics, activities, and leadership. Uh we're going to kick off with our Tech High School senior, Paige Teralei, who has qualified for the state tennis tournament for the third consecutive year. This time competing in class 3A after key wins over St. Michael Albert and Brainer. The state tournament begins next week, October 23rd, at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis. And also shout out to our tech uh uh boys soccer team
057and our um crush girls soccer team. Uh made it to the um section finals. Um hard losses um last night in the rain, but um you know a well fought season and so congratulations to them as well. We want to recognize Apollo High School speech coach Grace Whites um who has been named the Minnesota Speech Coaches Association Class AAA coach of the year. Under her leadership, Apollo's speech team has grown in both size and success. She did start this one from scratch uh along with some students. Uh last winter, eight students competed nationally and won advance to the state meet. Uh Christa Dilman, a deaf and heart of a hearing teacher with us, has been appointed by Governor Walls to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education. She joins educators and legislative leaders from across
058the state to strengthen and sustain special education uh while ensuring a free and appropriate uh education for every student. Their job is also to figure out how they might save money um which is a daunting task um and so we appreciate her service and wish her well. And finally, I just want to celebrate our leaders and educational excellence award recipients. Uh two outstanding staff members uh licensed staff members from each school and site are going to be recognized next week for their dedication, innovation, and care for both students, families, well all three uh students, families, and colleagues. These honores exemplify the heart of our district's excellence pillar and remind us daily of the difference that great educators make. So together, Paige, Grace, Christa, and our leader honores represent the best of us. um achieving at
059high levels and leading with pride and we are grateful for them. >> Thank you. Um then we have board of education standing committee reports achievement integration and equity board committee chair Diana Penton. >> Thank you chair H superintendent Putnham members of the board members present and our audience at home. This morning the achievement integration and equity committee met. Um there were three things that we discussed this morning. The first was an update on the literacy efforts in lie of the letters training and the science of reading. Anna will height and her team presented the progress on the literacy initiatives in the districts in response to the read act. Various professional developments are being offered to teachers on our e-learning days. In addition, instructional paras are also being trained in literacy which is a newer mandate
060from the state. Another new mandate from the state that is being rolled up is the CAP screener. If a student is not meeting our district's grade level benchmarks, they will be using the CAPY screener to identify better reader needs and screen for characteristics of dyslexia. Also, secondary teachers are working on integrating literacy strategies as well when their PLTS using um the each of the secondary schools have selected a pillar of focus such as integrated talk, vocabulary or writing and reading in the content. New Zella has also been introduced as a new resource for our secondary teachers to support content area literacy in their classrooms. Lastly, it was noted that the district provides information on literacy in the caregiver parent meetings as well. Uh the second thing that we discussed this morning was the literacy and
061math achievement data. Donna Roer presented data from the um FastBridge STAR and MCA tests in math and literacy. While the results do not currently show a high level of proficiency, there are bright spots. The district continues to find ways to increase performance based on the assessments for all groups. And in tonight's strategics plan, you saw that the literacy goal is still in place. And then we have added the additional goal with math. And then the last thing that we discussed this morning was the proposal of the strategic plan that Donna Roer presented tonight at our um meeting that was in draft. Thank you. Um, then last up tonight, we have future agenda items. The November 5th, 2025 board meeting and work session topics will include the 2025 2026 inclement weather protocols, 742 multi-purpose athletic facility
062naming, approval of of tenative agreements if we have any hopefully approval of the 2025 to 2028 strategic plan development, the 2026 board of education legislative platform, and some policy readings At this time, board members have an opportunity to suggest future agenda items. Board member Natalie Copen um has suggested federal um funding and LGBTQ plus concerns as well as board training uh LGBTQ plus um training for board members. Um under open meeting law, I want to again remind um board members that we cannot engage in discussion or making statements or details about the topics. But does anybody else have any topics that they would like to suggest and we will send them to board policy development and governance committee for review. Okay. Um that was wonderful. I'm looking for a motion to adjourn tonight's board meeting.
063>> Second. >> I have a motion by Natalie, a second by Diana. All in favor say I. >> Opposed. Meeting is adjourned. It is 7:33 p.m. Have a wonderful and safe MEA weekend. Thank you for watching.