001time is 6:35 p.m. Uh, the board of education meeting will be livereamed via our district YouTube channel. Viewing information can be found on the district website. 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? [Music] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And then when you're ready, can you please call roll? The following board members are present at the district administration office. Scott Andre >> here. >> Natalie Copeland >> here. >>
002Aldrren >> here. >> Zack Dorhalt >> here. >> Diana Fenton >> here. >> Shannon Haw >> here. >> Heather Williams here. The following cabinet members and staff are present at the district district administration office. Superintendent Dr. Lori Putnham, assistant superintendent of secondary education Dr. Jason Harris. Assistant Superintendent of E5 Learning Nikki Hansen. Executive Director of Community Education and Community Partnerships, Shannon Avenson. Executive Director of Finance and Business Services, Amy Scallarude. Executive Director of Innovation and Technology Services, Katie Herbalt. Executive Director of Operations, Matthew Boucher. Executive Director of Special Education, Danny Mayor, Media Technicians, Paul Novak, and Gordy Scott. >> Thank you. Then I I'm looking for a motion to approve tonight's board of education meeting. agenda. >> So move. >> Second. >> Thank you. I have a motion by Scott, a second by Natalie. Heather,
003can you call vote? >> Shannon Hos, >> yes. >> Diana Fenton, >> yes. >> Zack Dhold, >> yes. >> Al Dalgrren, >> yes. >> Natalie Copeland, >> yes. >> Scott Anderson, >> yes. >> Williams, yes. >> 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 July 23rd, 2025. Item B, approval of bills and other financial transactions in a grand total amount of 5,659,71218. Item C, approval of personnel staff changes. Item D, acceptance of grant awards and donations. And item E, approval of monthly treasures report for June. Does at this time
004does 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 move. >> Second. >> Motion by Scott, second by Zach. Heather, can you call vote? >> Al Dren, >> yes. >> Diana Fenton, >> yes. >> Heather Williams, yes. >> Scott Aden, >> yes. Natalie Copeland, >> yes. >> Zack door, >> yes. >> Shannon Ross, did I call you? >> I don't know. Uh, yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, we have one information item tonight. We have the end of summer construction project update and our executive director of operations is making his debut in the board. Matthew Bush. Welcome. Thank you, Board Chair Hos and Superintendent Putnham and the school board. I appreciate the time to come to
005you and talk about um something that on the surface sounds like buildings and physical things, but in reality is a conversation about humans. There's a human story I want to tell tonight in this and also recognize that we are talking about the preconditions to learning. Um, so I don't ever want to lose sight of what this conversation truly is about and that it's not just about physical plant items. Um, so, as you know, I've been on the clock here since July 1st. Um, and in that time, I've had the joy of working with some amazing colleagues, uh, and some supervisors who do great work. One of which is Marcus Lewis, who tonight decided to step in and be the the building's custodian cuz the custodian wasn't here. Just left a little bit ago. Um but
006together we developed a very clear vision for our colleagues in buildings and grounds for this year. So I want to say that before I jump into our slides. Um and our vision is is it's pretty straightforward. It's two parts. We want to deliver world-class facilities and those who deliver them will be recognized for their work. It's really two parts. And we've been very clear with our colleagues, our engineers, and our buildings and grounds folks. And in this room today, we had all of our custodians um and shared the same vision with them that we want world-class facilities and those who deliver them will be recognized for their work. So today, we're going to talk about that. Um but we're going to talk about it in the context that if kids uh don't feel safe at
007school, if they can't get to school, if they don't have nourishment at school, and if they're not in a space that is conducive to learning, then then learning is impacted negatively. Um so again this conversation while we're going to talk largely physical is still about the preconditions and creating the preconditions for learning. Um and that's only possible because of the work of many people. Um so with that let me grab the screen. So today we're going to talk about uh a rather healthy list of projects. Um but before I go into those, that's also only possible because of really strong fiscal stewardship. Um, I've worked in three districts, one much larger, two smaller. Uh, and I've never seen this level of projects done without referendum dollars, but really through strong fiscal management, strong use of
008long-term facilities management budget, um, and strong collaboration with the with the board finance committee in order to do this. So, it is, as I created this PowerPoint, I I was a tad bit overwhelmed and amazed at just how much work has gone in. And so, my colleague to my right here, uh, Amy has a lot to do with this being possible. uh does an incredible job managing the budget and and through the lens of how do we deliver for kids, not just how do we manage the budget. So, um it's a big list and it's a fun list. So, let's get into it. Um because we have folks viewing from home, I will read the list out loud. I don't question your capacity to read, but I will read them out loud. Um so, at
009Clear View, pretty we uh did parking lot clack fill and restriping. Um, and then a discovery had new cafeteria flooring which has a sound absorbing quality which in an elementary and middle school having spent 15 years in a middle school is a really good thing. Uh, we also repainted the gym there, power wash and removed water staining on the building front and in the exterior. Um, address some parking lot crack filling and restriping at Discovery as well. Uh, at Oakill we complete did a complete renovation of the tennis courts. Um, so tore them out entirely, put in new posts, new court surface in uh altogether and then they were restriped for both tennis and pickle ball. Um, fun fact, pickle ball is, I guess, a popular sport. Uh, we also have new cafeteria flooring with
010the same sound absorbing qualities and also powerwashed and removed water staining on the building front and exterior. And then at Tahi, we resealed and striped the tennis courts for both tennis and pickle ball. At Westwood, we replaced flooring and painted 15 classrooms, replaced flooring and painted the small gym, uh did parking lot crack filling and restriping. Uh at Kennedy, we uh did the same complete rem uh replacement of the tennis courts to include surface posts and restriping for both tennis and pickle ball. Um, before I go any further, I want to pause. Um, the next two lists are large. Um, and so I want to recognize some people in that work. Um, I I suspect some of you have lived through a home renovation where you stayed in the home. That's what my friends at
011North and South got to do this summer. Um, our our custodian staff. So, we're going to review this list, but I want to recognize our custodians. Jeff at North has an incredible team. um and amidst ch a lot of changing and construction, they still did an amazing job and are delivering at a high level for their colleagues. Um unfortunately, they may have had to move some boxes more than once, which we never want to do. Um but when you're in construction, these things happen. Um so at North, uh there's a roofing replacement was completed this summer. New cafeter cafeteria flooring, same sound absorbing qualities, uh and painted walls, replaced flooring and painted classrooms. Um, hallways were carpeted, replaced flooring and painted the main office, expanded the health office, and it added hallway access to the
012health office. Um, which in the past kids had to travel the entire length of the office to get there. Um, which sometimes maintains my dignity, sometimes doesn't, you know, on the way there. So, we're proud of that. uh added single-use restrooms, removed and replaced gym divider wall. They have a new weight room. It's being painted and finished now. And then replaced uh fluorescent lighting with LED lighting throughout. South also had a large project and Abdo and his team are doing amazing work there as well. Um really focused on the on the mission and delivering the preconditions for learning. Amidst all this work, um they replaced lockers throughout the building. There's one set that that is going to come in a little bit later. Um but otherwise they all have been replaced. Um new cafeteria flooring
013was and painted the walls in there with the same sound absorbing qualities. Replaced flooring and painted classrooms. Hallways were carpeted. Also single-use restrooms were added. Uh removed and replaced gym divider wall. Also replace fluorescent lighting with LED throughout and restriped the parking lot itself. All while preparing for teachers who show up. Well, they wanted to start showing up last week, they officially show up next week. Um, Apollo High School. This is a warm-up to next year. Um, but they started with we started with the south and east parking lots, so in the southside and then behind the building. Those were completely replaced to include new curbing and sidewalks. uh ran conduit underneath that parking lot before the parking lot went in to be sure we had a line to get to the new athletic complex
014that will go on that site so we don't have to bust up brand new pavement next year in doing so. Um completed the roof section over the A building replaced exterior doors continued to the exterior door replacement process and resurfaced the gym floor there as well. And then at tech we are um continuing we have the ongoing process and it will be that an ongoing process of uh repairing replacing and resealing damaged parking pavers. Um so while there's a lot of benefits to the pvious pavement that we have there um there it comes with some work and some ongoing work. So that may show up each year but it's good work. Uh, McKinley, the there's parking lot crack filling and restriping. That's actually not done yet, but it is scheduled yet for the summer. Uh,
015and then continue to paint hallway tiles at McKinley, which is also an ongoing project. And then at Quarry View, >> pardon me. >> Oh, good. Thank you for driving by. Um, parking lot uh Quarry View parking lot crack filling and restriping. Um, so that leads us to a few things as we think about this both now and and looking ahead. I do want to point out some other projects that kind of went on in the background. Um, over the last year, we've assessed all of our um water fixtures and faucets for uh lead lead parts per million. And when we started this project, it was 20 lead parts per million was the threshold. Um, shortly after we did our assessment, MDH moved it down to five parts per million. Um, so as of right now
016there we have no fosters or fix fixtures in our system that have higher than five parts, but they're all below that threshold. So over a hundred some fixtures were replaced um throughout the last year and this summer. >> And that's districtwide, not citywide. >> Um that's districtwide. Yep. Uh and then every tennis court, although I I learned I might be off by one. Um I have to verify. So might this might actually best say every but one tennis court is striped for tennis and pickle ball um which the community will appreciate. And then we have a we'll continue to we're looking at bringing in a ex outside um resource to evaluate all of our parking lots to then build a schedule ongoing schedule for rotating the maintenance of and at what point um while we
017all have strong feelings about this I'm not an expert Amy's not an expert. We'll bring in people who are to help us kind of map out what is the most appropriate rotation of maintaining our parking lot so that they also um represent worldclass facilities when people enter our campuses. Um so um with that again a lot of people have made this possible. I really do want to appreciate our our colleagues our custodians who have worked through all of this to deliver at a high level for the for their colleagues inside the building. Um and we are excited. Um context, you all know this better than I. This is a school district of 260 square miles and um board member Dogrren let me know 255 acres of managed space. Um and so that's a tall task
018and uh I'm proud of the work people have done and we're going to work hard to to recognize them for their work but also make sure that they understand that their work really does matter. Um while they might not be teaching calculus, the kids are creating the conditions for kids to learn calculus. without any questions. >> Uh you mentioned that uh at North you were putting in the single-use restrooms. Um was that all of the school or part of the school and how are they being received? >> Uh well, no one's been there yet. So they haven't been received yet, but they they mirror the what we have at Apollo and so it's not all of the restrooms. Um it's really two sets of restrooms that are stacked above each other. So, first floor and
019second floor. Um, so, uh, I want to say it's 50% is the threshold of the building has single-use restrooms and the other 50 are are gender identified. >> And how's the reaction? >> Um, what we know at the at Apollo is it was very positive. Um, and I I'll just offer uh a little context. I you know I used to wrestle and I coached wrestling and in high school few years later when I came back to coach wrestling kids had stopped showering after practice which is super gross cuz you're now wearing someone else's body stuff. Um but I share that in that today all kids want many kids most kids really value privacy. And so when I think about single use, we whether it's in a locker room or in a bathroom, we get we
020hit more people's point of appreciation for privacy than than before. While, you know, I didn't understand why they weren't showering, it's it's evident to me that um that's maybe a generational thing that I'm holding on to, but many people, kids and and others do appreciate privacy. Um, I noticed that almost every parking lot has been uh crack filled and and striped. Um, but only a couple of three maybe had been resealed. Uh, do to maintain a parking lot, it has to be resealed periodically. Do we have a system now? >> Uh, so I'll just back up to this. Um we have and it's been kind of as you know based on what we're seeing as need but we are going to bring in a a um third party partner to evaluate each of ours to
021build a long-term plan for all of them. So it wasn't all it looked like all because that that that bullet showed up in several um but we still have work to do with that and so we will we'll take a very strategic approach um in mapping that out. >> That's good. It's a lot easier to seal than to replace. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Um I I know some of these things are still in progress, I think. Is there any projects that we're in the midst of that we're not sure if they're going to be done by the time school starts? Is there any um none of the big projects per se? The the painting is ongoing at um at McKinley. The parking lot is an ongoing issue. Um we >> Is the parking
022lot in at Apollo? Is it the pavement down and sidewalks are in? And >> as of Friday it was not. I wasn't over there yet. >> Yeah. Okay. Cuz I haven't seen it complete. So that would still be coming. But I'm just wondering sometime I like it's always nice to know if there's any major obstacle coming. >> Uh we're really not seeing one. In fact, when we were running the conduit, there was pressure to get that conduit in quick cuz they were ready to >> Okay. >> to get going. So, um that parking lot seems to be tracking really well. The curbing was all in last week. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. The curbing was curbing was the sidewalks weren't and the the pavement wasn't down in the parking lot. I don't know if they'd smoothed
023out the parking lots yet and completely built the base. They'd want the conduit in before they'd even start that work. I'm sure >> um they had started to to lay the class 5 and began to and then we paused briefly to get it to get that conduit in there before they got any further. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else have any questions? >> Okay. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. And again, I appreciate the the support of the board to make all of this possible. Um, and it's important work. Thank you. >> Thanks. [Music] >> Okay. Then we have some uh discussion and action items. First is an action item. We have the approval of the 2025 2026 student family handbooks presented by Nikki Hansen, assistant superintendent of E5 learning
024and Dr. Jason Harris, assistant superintendent of secondary education. >> Yeah. Good evening, Chair Hos, Superintendent Putnham, and members of the board. Administration recommends tonight the approving of the elementary and secondary handbooks for the 2526 school year. >> And we um had this as a discussion item our last board meeting. So, formally, this is now just uh an action item. But did anybody have any questions at all from last time? And I'm looking for a motion to approve the 2025 2026 student and family handbooks. >> So moved. >> Sec. Go ahead. >> I have a motion by Natalie. I'll go second by Al. Um Heather, can you call vote? >> Diana Finton? >> Yes. >> Zack door Holt? >> Yes. >> Al Dren? >> Yes. >> Natalie Copeland? >> Yes. >> Scott Andre? >> Yes. >>
025Heather Williams? Yes. Shannon Hos? >> Yes. >> All right. And one other action item for tonight, we have the approval of the 2025 2026 weather related e-learning e-learning days plan presented by Nikki Hansen, assistant superintendent of E5 learning. >> Yes, good evening again, Cher Superintendent Putnham and members of the board. Uh tonight I get to take you through our weather related e-learning days plan for your approval. Uh this year we are looking at a 1520 model which means uh we will have our first inclement weather day to be a school closing. The next five will be an e-learning day and then we have two additional days if we need to use them and mother nature gives us some some winter weather for school closing and then any days after that would be makeup days determined
026by superintendent Putnham with consultation from the school board. So that is the model we are following which is the same model that we did follow for last school year. Um for e-learning day expectations for our students. Our prek through 2 grade students will be assigned preassigned learning activities. We are working as a as teams to get that communication ready as we welcome back families and get that established. For third through fifth grade, learning activities are delivered through Seessaw by 9:00 am on student devices or through preassigned learning activities if mother nature doesn't allow us to get those devices home safely. So we will be prepared for both. And then in 6 through 12, learning activities will be delivered through schooly by 10:00 for our secondary students. For staff expectations, E2 are have planned work with
027their administrators and supervisors. 3 through 5 will be posting those Seesaw learning activities by 9:00. They will also be available during student contact hours for student and family assistance. 6:12 again that 10:00 posting time for schooly and that availability for any support that students and families need throughout that day. Our non-licensed staff have planned work with their administrators and supervisors. And then our part-time teaching staff will be available during their regularly scheduled duty hours. For our support staff expectations, we have 10-month and 12-month staff, which look slightly different. So, in the event of an e-learning day, uh staff will not report if they are 10-month employees to the work site and will work as follows. staff can who can work effectively from home may do so with the pre-approval from their supervisor and support staff
028who do not support instruction whose regular work cannot be performed at home will receive a full day of pay for that e-learning day. For 12 month staff, in the event of an e-learning day, staff who can report to work safely may do so. Um, our 12-mon staff who can work from home may also do do so with that pre-approval from their supervisor. And staff who cannot report to work whose work cannot be performed at home will receive that full pay for the e-learning day. Any employees who choose not to work from home and have access will have to use their paid time leave or make up for any lost hours. With that, administration recommends the approval of our e-learning days for this school year and happy to answer any questions. >> Okay. Al, did you
029have some questions? >> I do. I remember I think it was last year. Um, could have been the year before. The first e-learning day happened. I think it was actually two years ago because we didn't have any e-learning day scheduled that we had. that we went directly into or actually we went directly into e-learning days when we didn't have a snow day, >> right? And then over the over a weekend, we got a storm and the message that went out was students didn't bring their Chromebooks home for the weekend, so therefore we're going to switch our e-learning day to a snow day. Right? So, I have a question as to this plan seems very simple to me. It's it's like a if everything works out perfectly, this is how we're going to do it. But
030what what about a situation like that? And my second question is what about a two-day snow event? We've got one snow day, then we have one e-learning day, but if they don't have their devices at home, it's going to turn into two snow days. And I just I there's some >> there's some situations that just aren't covered by this and I'm wondering if that could be clarified so that people would have some idea how that's handled or if >> you got it. Yep. There are certainly complexities with weather. Um we know that meteorologists are not always um correct and we always want to be prepared. And so a couple layers to that. Um the first one is we work very closely with the superintendent to be um as cautious as possible. So if there is
031an event that we anticipate um in precaution we are sending those devices home and we are communicating to families and so we always try and make that decision early within the school day so that we have a thorough plan for that device deployment and that we are communicating clearly with our families. The second layer is those preassigned activities go home to all uh E5 students. In the event that we can't access Chromebooks or we get surprised by weather, they would have access to those activities both online on our website through a paper copy that was sent home in the fall. Typically, right around that first week of October is when we we send out those activity packets. We also send out communication that they are coming home in the event of weather related e-learning days.
032And so it is actually one of the first agenda items on our team meetings with our elementary and secondary uh directors here at DAO. >> So they would they would take those home and then keep them in the event of >> Correct. Yep. So they go home and they take home folders and then the communication gets pushed out to all families to keep it on the fridge in an accessible spot. Um, we also have extras on site on hand if we need to have a quick distribution for a second copy and then they are accessible on our school website as well. So, communication, trying to thoroughly prepare ahead of time and I think while we have also um we've got lots of preparations in place um in the event, I think what you're what you
033were were remembering it was just a a um pun intended a perfect storm, right? We had just come back from uh it was coming back off uh winter break, right? And so nobody people didn't necessarily plan and so then there would be silly to do an e-learning day, right? Um so while you are approving this, right? This is the format you're approving the structure of five and three, right? And the 152 is is our expectation. Should we need to flex that, we could do 251, right? I would just do it in consultation with I would of course talk to our our um union presidents and Shannon and and um and make that determination if it if it makes more sense for learning. Does that make sense? Also, I appreciate that question because it lets us
034be even more clear with our families. [Laughter] >> I appreciate that. I would move that we approve the e the let's see the the e-learning >> weather related >> the weather related I can't find it on here. >> Yeah, that one. >> Do I have a second? >> Okay. I have a motion by Al, a second by Natalie. Heather, you're on. >> Zack Dor Halt. >> Yes. >> Scott Andre, >> yes. >> Heather Williams, yes. Natalie Copeland, >> yes. >> Shannon Hos, >> yes. >> Al Dalgrren, >> yes. >> Diana Fenton, >> yes. >> All right. Thank you. U moving on to our two discussion items. First up, we have proposed revised board policy 506, the second reading, and this is student discipline presented by Shannon Averson, executive director of community education and community partnerships.
035Welcome, Shannon. good evening, Chair Hos and members of the board and Dr. Putnham. All right, if you recall, we went through this in quite detail um last time we met for the first reading. Um I so I will just briefly uh review what those changes are and again I might not even scroll through. I'll just have it up in case we we have any questions and we need to review it. Um but if you recall we looked at movement of definition section and again this is the 506 that's student discipline. Um we also um are recommending in the areas of responsibility an addition of language of reasonable force which is a statutory requirement. And then we also added language specific to recess and breaks which is also a statutory requirement. And then removals from class
036under that section. We did remove some very specific protocols and processes a lot of steps. Um and instead we referred to our documents that house those processes and steps which includes our code of conduct, the TESS and our MTSS document. Um, so it was either statutory related or as we have done in the past, we don't like to list out our protocols and processes within our um, policies. So we've removed that and referenced our documents that have those pieces within them. Any questions? This is a second reading, right? >> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. And then our meeting uh discussion item for tonight is the review of proposed resolutions for the MSB delegate conference. And um we have members of the superintendent cabinet presenting tonight. We have Donna Roer
037uh here that's going to is she remote? Did you? She's up. >> She's on her way down. She is going to present two resolutions and then Amy Scallard will will present the other resolution tonight. And um with this is not an action item tonight, but it does come back. Correct. Do we formally >> what we're going to do on these is tonight is think about it like a first reading and we're just going to talk about the the resolution what we're addressing in the resolution and then if there would be any changes that anyone would want. Uh we'll bring it back again at the next meeting which would be the first meeting in September. And at that meeting, if if we're ready to go, we're going to vote on the resolutions and then carry them
038forward and get them into MSBA. Uh if there are still needed changes, then we would bring it back for a third reading in the second meeting in se in September. >> Okay. >> Um and we'd still have time to get it to MSBA before the deadline. >> Okay. And there's three resolutions. Is that correct? >> The first resolution are you doing? Which one are we doing first, Donna? Are we doing >> I thought Amy's was first, isn't it? >> I didn't know what order agenda. >> Um, it says 2025-1 on yours. >> So, you're first. >> And so, this one here has to do with the ex uh the targeted services and extended learning time and the funding for it. And Amy, the funding on this one has not been adjusted since >> uh it
039has been the same since uh 2016. So we're going on 10 years um of the same per pupil uh funding formula. Um it is not tied to the formula allowance um or anything uh with any sort of automatic inflationary value. Um and clearly in we're you know 10 years time um we've seen increases in salaries but even more problematic is the the significant increase in transportation costs. Um and so the current amount is 5,117 um per pupil. Uh but you can only generate really 0.2 um of that or 20% of that per student. Um and so the the resolution that you have in front of you is written um somewhat vague and kind of for a reason. So there's a few different um ways in my mind that the legislature could approach this. Um if
040we want to stick with a simple, you know, per student formula, um it clearly needs to be increased because it has not kept up with inflation. Um but there may be other ways to achieve that. Um there may be ways to propose dedicated funding for transportation. Um we know that transportation costs are not created equal across districts. So, a district like us that has a large geographic um territory that we cover is clearly going to have much higher transportation to get students uh to and from summer programs or after school programs um than a a um very um small uh enclosed area in the metro. Um so, there's a couple different ways you could do that. Um and then one of the other things um that comes to mind as a potential um talking point
041would be that 2 cap. Um we don't do a lot of school year programs right now just because of the financial constraint. Um but when we go back 101 15 years um when it was a little bit more um in terms of a break even to run programs uh we would have students who we would have to turn down because if they went for a whole summer and then they attended a school year they wouldn't generate revenue anymore and we couldn't provide services to students who weren't helping fund the program because we didn't have money to to supplement that. Um and so looking at that 02 cap um is definitely something that that would be um a talking point as well. Yep. So so we're Amy in the in the resolution it's laid out what
042the what the issues are and then we're saying at the end be it resolved that the St. Cloud areas school district 7 742 board of education proposes the Minnesota to the Minnesota school boards association to advocate for increased and dedicated funding for SAP to support robust year-round programming including targeted services and summer programs to better meet the needs of atrisisk students and close the opportunity gap to support le leg legislative action to provide new funding sources for SAP related expenses such as transportation to ensure equitable access for all eligible students to promote policies that ensure funding for SAP particularly for extended learning is sufficient to provide highquality comprehensive programs that are purposeful and address the social, emotional and academic needs of the whole learner. Encourage the establishment of standards and clear implementation recommendations to guide
043targeted services programs thereby ensuring consistent quality and effectiveness across all districts. be it further resolved that this resolution shall be shared with the Minnesota School Boards Association and the Minnesota Department of Education and other pertinent stakeholders. So, we're we're asking them to fund uh targeted services and extended learning in a in a more equitable fashion. that >> um I we have had medical inflation of 19% last year and we're not getting anywhere near that kind of money from the state to help out our employees. And perhaps I should mention that somewhere in here we need some more money for medical not in this resolution. >> Yeah, I don't think that would relate to to this. Um I think that ties to the general funding, which is why we don't have a resolution coming forward on
044general formula increases and funding because that's already on MSBA's platform. So that's been something that's been on the MSBA and other um entities legislative platforms for years, right? that funding in general has not kept up with any kind of inflation, whether that be health insurance, transportation, um wages, cost of living, all of the things. Um we're just not proposing a resolution specifically around that because they already have that encompassed in the platform. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments, Natalie, on this one? >> Um this is really well done. Thank you for folks who put this together and for naming this as an issue. I couldn't get past S the first SAP because I was like what is SAP? And then finally at the end I'm like that's what SAP is. So
045>> yes, we should spell that out in the first paragraph. >> Yes, it's very education if you do not but let's do it. How about I will make that update. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So many acronyms and you know we always forget that not everybody knows what they all mean. >> After seven years I don't know all of them. I don't know how this is happening. There will be a quiz. >> Okay. Uh want to move on to the number two? >> Yep. And this this one here is Donna up. Uh this is redesigning education for the age of AI. And I believe we we had a couple of AI resolutions that were passed in the MSBA last year, but with the speed of ch the speed that things are changing with AI,
046we thought it would be proper of us to come back with some newer, more current resolutions to update the ones that are already there. So this is the first one has to do with AI and AI content and how it's used in the schools. [Music] >> Thanks um board member Dogrron and um board members and Dr. Putnham. Um, thanks for having me first of all and secondly um I'm happy to just kind of give a brief of what this what we're what we're talking about and as as you said um things are rapidly transforming right and how students learn and how teachers teach and how schools prepare young people for the world ahead um is uh is definitely going to be impacted by AI. We we know that this is um you know there's been
047lots of technologies that have come and gone and we we thought they were the big ones but I really think this time this is really this is really going to be important. Um it asks the the pace of change is asking us as leaders to really think about the urgency and the intentionality. And so there's this dichotomy that we're having to deal with around how urgent we want everyone to act at this level versus how we need to learn fast to do the work well and intentionally at this level. And so, uh, what I like about this opportunity, um, and you all did this resolution last year, it was focused very much on the standards and the modernization of our state standards, asking the state to do that. This year, it includes asking about AI
048literacy and ensuring that up as a priority. Um we are um establishing you know the background obviously in the whereas clauses with some research and just some some important bullet points about um the ongoing needs to be learning and upskilling and it's not just learning for our teachers it's literally upskilling the entire organization and so um my my role this year as obviously as you guys know is research assessment and AI integration and in A lot of my time since July 1st has been spent on kind of researching what do we really need to get going on AI governance is going to be coming to the to the four. You're going to be hearing a lot about that. Um and it's really kind of scary. So I want to just put out there there's a
049lot of fear and worry in this and um our job is going to be to really help people. The antidote to that is education. The antidote is to learn as much as we can and make sure that we're promoting the wise and intentional use. And through this resolution, I believe that is what you will be you will be doing. And so I don't know if you want me to explain any more, Al, if you'd like me to go through the um the rest of it. The other pieces is that um you did ask for a sample policy that could be forwarded on and it is very drafty and we have a number of collaborators um working on that with us. Um because this work is going to take a lot of collaboration all over the
050place because of the pace uh at which it needs to happen. >> Yeah. And I As I said in in the committee, it just makes my head spin. But the the pace at which AI is moving, you've got the two level. You've got two ways. It's it's affecting our students and it's affecting our teachers. And it's going to affect our students and it's going to affect our teachers. And right now it's just kind of the wild west in which there is no real direction of any type coming from the state saying you should do this or you should do this or move in this direction or this is what we're going to do with curriculum. It's just it's one for all and all for one. It's just everybody do their own thing and to try
051to Okay, go ahead. What I would just say is that the state did put out guiding principles and guidance which is what most districts have looked to uh for this last past year right as they've made their own district guidance and the guiding principles are really quite solid in terms of the guidance right but the guard rails are what you're talking about is that are people putting in place hard policy guardrails and I I think this is the AI governance part that's kind of you're going to start hearing a lot about. >> Yeah. And it's, you know, we're lucky that we have someone like you as a coordinator that can look at this stuff and and and bring it to the school district, but the vast majority of school districts out there don't have someone
052like that. And so I there needs to be that's what we're asking for in this I think is just that the state needs to really the MDE and the legislature and the and MDE need to really prioritize this and and get us moving in a direction statewide. Is that >> Lor's jumping? >> Yes, thank you. Um that was a perfect entree. Um first I have to ask one question of Donna. Donna, could you just remind us what district the state based their guidance on? >> Who was that? >> They they did use St. Cloud's guidance. >> That's right. Thank you so much. Uh as I thought I recalled, but um Al to your point um and I it I think it's fine um to share this. Donna and I will be meeting with the commissioner
053um the deputy commissioner and um an assistant commissioner uh next week um to start to partner with them. Um they you know are very interested in they they right take the same um perspective that you do that not everybody is fortunate enough to have a Donna. Um and so and so right they understand that they need to step into the game more and are um looking for partners in doing that. And um I will say that um out of our first summit um which several of you attended right the the folks who said who raised their hand and said they were wanted to continue this work Donna continues to lead them and they just um it's it's Minnesota Generative AI Alliance MGAIA for short. Um and so just for the sports awareness, Donna continues to
054lead them. They're going to meet full day next week. Um and it's turned into a really um uh diverse and powerful um just in terms of like human- centered educator approach. By powerful, I mean right like their hearts are really in it um for the right reasons. They're not there to make money. And so they're really um doing some incredible work around collating resources to make them widely available um as we're starting to watch more and more um I I will watch my tongue businesses and people trying to come in to make money off the backs of our kids, right? like um the work that Donna and Mgaya are doing or and um in doing in partnership willing to do in partnership with the state um is is really I think an antidote and an
055answer to what you are asking for. Well, I want to say too that what you guys are doing is great and that's that working with MDE, getting MD MDE to be involved in the process. And the same goes for I mean what you got to think about what this document is going to do. It's going to get Minnesota School Boards Association to to align with all of these different groups to come up with a comprehensive or to to advocate for not to come up with but to advocate for a comprehensive policy. So when you're working with them, that's great. If we can if we as a board can give a little push to MSBA to say, "Hey, get on board with this. I think that's you know when when it's everyone is looking at it
056and everyone is saying that this is a priority it it becomes a priority and then something gets done. So I mean obviously any of these resolutions we aren't writing legislation and we aren't making new rules. We're just saying we'd like you to advocate for this and asking them to be a powerful um lobbying voice on on our behalf. And oh, can I add one more thing? Just Donna, in here, there are there's a bunch of acronyms in here, too, that need to be spelled out. >> I was going to say >> Yeah. >> So, I'll take a look at that and make sure that they're um called out in writing. Um, remind me again the one that you brought last year, that one didn't pass or it did pass and this is an extra one
057or what was that again? >> It did pass. >> Okay. So, this is a a broader look. >> Yeah, it's refocus. Refocusing. >> Okay. Thank you. Thanks for your work on this. >> Okay. Shall we move on to the last one? Donna, I are we also Go ahead, El. >> Y Donna, I'm going to let you handle this one. This has to do with insurance, I believe. Well, actually just go ahead. >> Data privacy and cyber security. We we don't have it tied to insurance. However, um I just want to call out that this so this particular um proposal really is about enhancing some really good and ongoing work happening by many dedicated individuals including in our district um at the state and at the national level and it's the data privacy agreements um that
058um Kosen and other um state level organizations have worked to provide to districts to use in their work with vendors And you know, as as you were saying earlier, we're kind of right now we're in this sort of gold rush mentality and there's a lot of products coming out and and people pushing a lot of different things. And so um there is a little bit of a sense of urgency to um have uh some really deep expertise around these data privacy agreements and cyber security supports for districts. And for a number of years, there's been a recommendation that the state have a statewide task force. Um what this uh proposal is um is asking for is really that um they partner with we're saying at least start with the Minnesota Generative AI Alliance and as
059an interim until the state can develop a task force simply because districts are in need of support with their data privacy agreements. um especially as tools are are collecting all kinds of our data and our property to use to profit off of. Right? So, we need to get help with some of these very labor intensive time. Um they're they take a lot of time. They're a lot of back and forth. Um and we think that this would be really helpful for districts across the state and and even in St. cloud. >> Any questions or comments on that one? >> No. All I can say is that again, thank thank goodness for someone like Donna cuz this this is I'll bring this forward because I'm being I'm being told that it is a really important piece.
060Not because I know that and not because it would be something that I would have jumped up and said we need to bring this forward. But that's why we have people like her and I I mean I think it is really important and it is really important that everyone get on the page or on the same page and you just again we're really fortunate we have someone like Donna just think about school districts like Royaltton or some of the really small districts that just don't even have the opportunity to think about having someone like that yet they're expected to have something in place and it's not done at the board level. It's they don't have anyone in place to do it. The only way they could do it is to hire outside help and they
061don't have money to do that. So, this stuff is really important. I don't think we'll have any issues uh getting these to pass the the assembly and get MSBA on the same page. And in fact, I have a couple of of thoughts on that too that we can talk about. But that's all I have to say on that one. We're all impressed and appreciative. >> Well, our students really deserve the benefits of innovation, but never at the cost of their privacy or safety. And so, we're very cognizant of that. I think that's the challenge, right? We we know schools and classrooms and places of learning are going to be safe for us to learn AI and use AI, and we have to make sure we're committed to that. So, this helps us No, those are
062the three resolutions that we're proposing we bring forward or bring down or or send down to MSBA to bring forward at the at the assembly and those will come back again now at the next meeting. And if we all feel that we're in, you know, I'm sure there's going to be a few adjustments made to these, but if we all feel that we're in a good place on these, then we can approve them at the next meeting and get them down to them. >> Awesome. Thank you very, very much. Okay, just a few more items here. Um, moving on to reports. We have, uh, Dr. Lori Putnham uh presenting the superintendence report. >> Thank you so much, board chair Haw, members of the board, team in the room, and and uh hopefully lots of people
063listening at home. Um I wanted to touch base on a couple of things as we're getting ready to kick off our school year as you heard from Matthew earlier. Um our staff come back on Monday. Uh those of who had our um our licensed staff return, of course, many staff have been working year round. Um but licensed staff return on Monday and then our students return uh the following week which is very exciting. Um we're eagerly awaiting awaiting their arrival. Um but we have some really positive things that have been happening. Um first of all is enrollment. Um Amy um and her team does a beautiful job with projections and um have been uh they are um typically uh spoton. Um, and if not, you know, sometimes they'll be just a little bit over, right?
064Because Amy is very conservative as as we want her to be. Um, so that that's why we keep having uh consistently balanced budgets. So, let's keep with keep up with that. Um, but we have seen an incredible influx of students um not only this summer, but particularly um as Shannon can attest, uh within the last week or so, um averaging anywhere between um well, spanning anywhere between 20 and 45 uh families coming in a day. Um so really remarkable. Um I just to put some numbers and some context on that um we were we projected about 680 kindergarteners um which was which was up a little bit from um the past years and we are at 759. So yeah 759. So Nikki and her team along with HR just hired two new teachers. >> Uhhuh.
065beautiful unintended consequences. Um, so we are significantly up in K though we are still right now staying within our our class size once we've added the the kindergarten teachers. Um, fortunately the way they've distributed across our system has let us stay inside class range that the board has approved. Um, all told between K uh K through 5, we are 261 students over projections. um we are I I believe we're about 200 um over in 6 through 12 with almost half of that being 9th graders. So again at those entry points seeing a significant increase um and we're actually seeing a a significant number of students who are reenrolling with us u maybe after leaving or going into online school and then choosing to come back to the district. Um, so, uh, that is a really
066exciting, um, a really exciting thing, um, to be able to share with this board and this community, right? I do think that it speaks to, um, the trust that we've established in this community, right? And the consistency and transparency um, with which we make decisions and for whom we make decisions. Um, and I think that that is is really paying off. Um we are um as you know we had very little turnover in terms of staff and so we entered the summer um quite well situated unfortunately um you know we did lose some people uh particularly some non-licensed staff uh as August comes to an end uh which is unfortunate for us um so we now have 11 paraprofessional openings though in a district our size that is not bad certainly we have entered as
067Danny can attest we have entered the school district with uh with more openings than that so at 11 we are you We continue to recruit but um are not uh very uh you know concerned about that. Um our classroom teachers uh our classroom positions are filled currently. We'll see if numbers keep coming in as they are if it stays that way though we do have one special education teacher opening um to somebody who is just choosing needing to leave. Um and so we have that opening and then uh a couple just under two uh nursing position o positions open and um so we're you know for those classroom teachers being filled we're very uh excited and grateful and with very few openings which again I think speaks to um people choosing us right coming here
068and then choosing us not only families but staff so grateful for that we finished welcome walks um on we did welcome walks yesterday it was that's hard to believe that was just yesterday Shannon and her team along with um Ayon and Tammy's team um put together that whole process which is very complicated across the 250 square miles. We visited over 450 homes um and brought little gift bags to families uh to the children and and uh young adults that we serve and were able to answer questions for families. And so that was it is always a fun uh experience and really helps um remind us right about where our students come from um and and both the challenges and um the benefits right that that our students um bring uh every day to school with
069them. So very grateful for the work that our team put in to make those happen. And so just want to say we are looking forward to the start of the school year and uh the next time we meet we'll uh be in session. >> Uh they're coming from all over, right? There's no we there's no like set pattern, right? It's not because, you know, we we ath we saw AOS close midyear. Um saw a spike, right? When they announced mid year, we saw a spike um of families enroll like those few days, but um I think we got fewer than half of the their students, right? Because stride um and AOS merged, right? So, it's not as if it's the closure of the school that is doing it, right? It's um I think it's more
070kids choosing us um and more kids choosing to come back to us. That was great to hear. Okay. Then we have the board of education standing committee reports. I believe we have three tonight. Um we have achievement integration and equity board chair Diana Fenton. >> Thank you, Chair Haw, Superintendent Putnham, Assistant Superintendent, Executive Committee, and members of the board. This morning, the achievement integration and equity committee med committee met. Um the topic that we worked on this morning was aligning um our calendar for topics for 2526 school year to align with uh what is being measured and um reported by their state and by our district and with what is upcoming in our board meetings um so we can be informed prior to our board meetings. So we spent a lot of time on that.
071Um with knowing September's meeting will be um publication of MCA data student achievement. It will be our primary focus for September and we are extending our meeting time in September by an extra half hour just to accommodate for all of the information. Um the other item that was brought forward in our committee meeting today by Dr. Dr. Putnham and Kate Battowski and other team members are the new roll out of our immunization efforts this fall to meet uh Minnesota school immunization law 121A.15 and school district board policy 530. Um the new holistic approach of not just putting the burden on our nurses but wrapping around lots of partners in our district will help us for a healthy and safe start to our school year and a commendable effort that is done by this team in
072such a short amount of time. Thank you. >> Thank you. Then we have finance and audit board uh chair Heather Beams. The board finance committee met on July 31st. Um there were three main topics. Preliminary audit plan, the multi-purpose athletic facility project, and the Apollo um project. Uh from the from the audit plan, Jackie Nolles from the district's audit firm creative planning reviewed the 202425 audit plan, which is required to be presented to the committee. As in past years, the audit work will focus on the area where the risk is not inherently low. The committee did not have any additional areas of concern for the auditors to address. um on the multi-purpose athletic facility project and budget update. Ryan Rodam Maker, is that right? From JLG um and Jay Vogle from Bradberry Stam provided a
073project update and shared details of the budget for the new multi-purpose athletic facility. Ryan said the team feels comfortable that the current plan will meet the needs of the project while staying within budget. They will present preliminary plans with schematic drawings at the school board meeting on September 3rd so everybody can begin to see uh Apollo project and budget update. Jay Vogle from Bradberry Stam reviewed the preliminary budget for the Apollo referendum project. The design process is still preliminary. So the budget at this point includes design contingencies as well as escalation contingencies since construction will occur over a number of years. David Leopold from JLG also presented additional options for the front entrance design and discussed having wayfinding signage around the entrances to the site. There will be a presentation at the Apollo project of
074the AP Apollo project at the October 1st school board meeting. And that's my report. >> All right. And one more. Tonight we have the legislative board chair El Dalgrren. >> Yep. legislative committee met on the same day as finance committee I think right before and we discussed the three resolutions that we just talked about so I'm not going to talk about those. We also discussed a fourth one uh which had to do with um playground equipment and how we pay for our playground equipment. At this point we decided we're not going to carry that one forward. There's some other things in the work that we feel could be just as effective. And so we're going to let Amy work on those that way and not bring it forward to the uh MSBA conference unless there
075unless something would change and we would feel it a need to do so. That's it. >> Thank you. Last up tonight, we have future agenda items. The September 3rd board meeting topics will include 742 multi-purpose athletic facility public preview and naming. Then we have approval of proposed uh resolutions or possibly approval of proposed resolutions for the MSBA delegate conference and some policy readings. At this time, does any board member wish to suggest a future agenda item? All right. Um then I'm looking for a motion to adjourn tonight's meeting. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Natalie, a second by Zach. All in favor say I. Opposed. Meeting is adjourned. It is 7:39 p.m. Thank you for watching and we will be back September 3rd. Have a good night.