001Okay, so we just approved the agenda, so we're moving on to Excellence in Action. This month's Excellence in Action will feature Allison Kn and fifth grade, former fifth grade scholars from Conquered Elementary. They're here to discuss their participation in Starbase, a nocost STEM initiative that immerses students in interactive research and discovery to simulate life on Mars. In addition to these hands-on challenges, they've gained exposure to various science-based professional opportunities right here in Minnesota. Let's welcome Miss Noter students to the table. All right. Well, thank you for inviting us. I'm always happy to come and talk about the cool things that are happening in our classrooms. Uh so to begin with, a little bit of background. Um as you said, this is from a a group called Starbase. They started out as a uh destination type
002of field trip where an immersion experience where you could go for four days um to experience the on-site tools and things they have there, but it was a very limited opportunity. It wasn't offered to a lot of districts. Um so I' I've known about this. I knew about that 101 15 years ago. Um but then about five years ago I think it was Paul sent us an email saying that they had now had this um on-site experience we could do that was kitbased everything was provided um and so the first year and then then when they offered that it expanded it quite substantially the what this organization was able to do and it was funded by the legislature it was funded through um corporate donations and various other revenue streams. In fact, last year it
003was up for consideration to be cut and the organization reached out to the teachers who were doing it and asked if we would advocate and so I happily wrote an email to the folks who were sitting on that committee. Thankfully, they did renew the funding. Um, but it it gave us the chance to bring it into the classroom and that first year we were kind of getting our arms around it and then they revamped it a little bit and by that second year we really understood what the power was in what they were offering. Um the materials that are provided are incredible as a teacher. Um the the background, the science background they give us, the access to all the video vignettes that they create that are actual scientists giving the instruction. Um and then
004they have Did I lose it? Is that me again? I don't know. There we go. Okay. Um they have each of these kits, which are these orange um sling bags that come with all the materials right down to a pack of markers, a little roll of scotch tape, which sounds innocuous, but as a teacher, amazing because everything is right there. Um, and then what it also then does is that, and I tell the kids this every time I introduce it every year, if you've ever been the kid in a science class who got to do the one thing in an experiment, I got to pour this in and then the next person got to this experience. They get to do everything. All the parts of the experiment are theirs. It's student driven inquiry. And so
005they can assemble the things and stir the stuff as long as they want to. Um, and that watching that for all these kids was amazing. Um, and continues to be every year. So, um, it starts out with exposing them to what the variety of career paths can look like in STEM, and it's all local to Minnesota, to the Twin Cities. Um, I love that the video vignettes they have are names of companies my students see or places that they might know someone who works at. Um, and it's it's a wide range of what these jobs can look like and all the different ways that STEM can touch our lives. So, I think the students, all of the students are able to potentially see themselves in the people represented in these videos, in the pathways that
006they have chosen. Um, and it just sets that plants those seeds and that the age that we teach is perfect right before they get to middle school, right before they're expanding their horizons of pathways of what's possible. So that's the very first thing that the program starts with is exposing them to all of those and then they start to do a lot of different experiments where they're collecting data or they're analyzing data. They're using a lot of the tools that are provided digitally but then also very hands-on right down to one of them they take their fingerprints when they're talking about touch sensors. So lots of exploration in a lot of variety of ways bringing in the skills that they've done. One of the experiments has them calculating volume and surface area, which was something
007that we covered in in our class. In fact, I think it was Violet that said, "Well, I don't understand the way they did it, so can I do it the way we learned it here?" Sure. Yes, that's great. Um, and that's again watching the watching them go through it. And it's it's like I said, student driven inquiry. So, they're working at their own individual pace. Um, some kids move quickly, some kids linger on one for a day or more, and that's fine. And we do that. We've done it at the end of the year, which is great because we have a lot of our classroom norm set up at that point. So, managing it as a teacher is very doable. Um, and watching them to be able to manage themselves through the learning process is
008again just a highlight for me. So, um, I'm going to let them then share something that they sparked too or that they took away from it or that they felt was different or enjoyable as well. You can just maybe introduce yourself. Hi, I'm Owen and I'm from Conquer. Yes. So, I really like all the the individual experiments that we have done. It was um really it was different from all the other science things we have done. It was like some digital, some uh uh like writing and uh all a lot of different components and it was really really fun to do all of that. >> I thought that was your favorite. Uh, one of my favorites was I think definitely simulating a rocket ship getting out over to Mars and you had to like adjust
009the amount of mass, the amount of thrust, the amount of thrust time and had to make it just right. I've actually found a glitch and it just keeps going and I've got to like 3,000 kilometers. >> Yeah, that's one of my favorites. All right. >> I think this was a really It was like a really fun thing we got to do. There were so many like fun things we like fun experiments. a lot of them were like kind of surprising to see like to see what happens after you do everything. like their experiments and you just like once they finish it's really cool to see like what happens and like while you're processing everything that's happening. >> Yeah. I really love one that was in the beginning. It was where you had like this blue
010powder and you mixed it with water and it wouldn't combine with the water. It just like it was like if you put like a negative like negative like charge battery or like magnet to another negative charge and it just like would not go together. And I think it was really cool that it like didn't combine. Like if you picked it up there would be a tiny drop of water and then there would just be all that like like sand stuff we put in it. That was really cool. Um my favorite was probably The one where we had this white powder and when you mixed it with like with like normal like water, it would like in like like expand and like get poofy and that was like my favorite. And I really enjoyed the like
011doing everything myself instead of like having to split it up. Yeah. >> Board members, what questions do you have for our guests? As somebody who has a degree in a science field, I'm just wondering if this has sparked interest in furthering or continuing down a path that you may have not thought of before. >> I mean, I'm now curious of like what had made those materials like react the way they did. Like how Violet said like the blue like material like why did it not mix and why did that Like why did that snow put it like why did it expand and when you compressed it enough it would like turn to like jelly and I'm like now very curious about like why did that happen? Well, like on the first day when we were
012looking at all those cards of different like careers and stuff, like there was a bunch of them just that I just had no idea what they were and they're actually so so cool and I've never thought of doing it, but now I actually think I would love to do this or that. >> I don't know cuz I don't really know what I want to be when I grow up yet. So, I feel like I'm just going to have to be led down a path somewhere. So, I don't really know if this like contributed to any of my future yet. >> I heard scientists are right up there with superintendent. So, you can be you can be up here. >> And that's fair because I don't know if I know what I want to do with
013my life either. >> Well, I just wanted to thank you for coming. Not only are you graduates of Concord, so you didn't have to come here tonight, but it's the summer and you it's only the second or first week you're off school on a Monday and you chose to come here and talk about school, which is a big deal. So, thank you very much because I don't know if my kids would have done that. So, I just appreciate you coming here and sharing and having the confidence to speak in public. That is a big deal. So, thank you very much. Well, thank you all so much for Oh, we have one more question. >> Sorry, one more question. >> So, I'm curious about your curiosity that was this work? Did this feel like work or
014did this feel like how much effort did it feel to do this type of program? There's definitely a bunch of effort into it, but I always felt like this is almost like recess. It's a very very fun and yeah, you have to do it this way, but it's so very exciting to see what happens. And every time I do one, I always want to get ready to do the next one. That may be the best compliment I have ever heard paid to a teacher before. School feels like recess. Well, >> so I I never really like thought of it as like work even though it was like assigned, but it just it was just really fun. I just thought of it as like a fun experiment we got to do. >> Okay. >> Some of
015it definitely felt like work. I mean, like when we did the surface area, mainly the surface area, >> that definitely felt like work, but a bunch of like the fingerprint experiments and like like Owen was talking about like the rocket simulation, that felt like just another experiment that you got to do and that was like really fun and it didn't exactly feel like work. Like there was definitely effort put into it, but it wasn't like explicitly work. >> I appreciate that. I I think here's here's our challenge. If school was a lot more like that, would it be more fun? >> If I got to do math in that way, I'd probably enjoy it more. >> Fair enough. So, you're all moving on to middle school. Is that correct? Okay. So, here's your task when
016you leave here tonight. keep challenging your teachers and the school board and this district to keep making sure that we offer curriculum that's fun to do and gives you an opportunity to lean in even the things that you're not so sure you like, but we can lean into that. This is one of those wonderful experiences that have been offered to you here. We want to continue to do that and if we aren't doing that, come let us know. Thanks. >> Well, thank you all for joining us tonight and enjoy the rest of your summer. We look forward to hearing about you as Southview students in the um there has been a request to just take another quick pause for technical difficulties as we try to regain pictures. So we'll just bear with us. We'll be
017in a short recess. move from the consent agenda. >> Okay, seeing none, we'll now vote to approve the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> So moved. >> Arum, do I have a second? >> Second. All those in favor of approving the consent agenda say I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? The consent agenda has been approved. Okay, moving on to our discussion items. First, we have our draft student handbooks for 2026 2027 and we have Assistant Superintendent Nate Swinson coming to discuss them with us. Good evening, Madame Vice Chair, members of the board, and Dr. Bitman. Before turning to the handbooks that you've had a chance to review, you will recognize my remarks from our work session. Uh, I believe they're important to share with the public. I want to
018just start by thanking Paulie Bulls and Nan Nas Sky Shider. Um some of our administrative team, William Britt from the high school, Dr. Tammy Joe Cook from South View, Eric Low from Valley View, Steven Cullison, Edina virtual pathway coordinator, and Mark D. Young assistant principal at Concord Elementary. They spent a significant amount of time preparing these documents. and the consistency you'll see across the elementary, middle school, high school, and virtual pathway versions is a direct result of their collaboration. So, for some context, historically, Dina Public Schools has relied on a district-wide student rights and responsibilities document, which has effectively served the purpose of a handbook. Well, that document has been a uh helpful resource. Best practice across Minnesota districts is to have building level handbooks that speak directly to the students and families served by
019each school. That is what we're introducing tonight. The draft building handbooks before you for elementary schools, middle school, Edina High School, and Edina virtual pathway would replace the district version and become the primary handbooks for families going forward. These handbooks will come before the board annually to review and approve which is a new practice for EPS. Regarding our approach and the framework used in developing the drafts, we use the MSBA model student handbook, excuse me, as our foundational template. MSBA's model is widely adopted across Minnesota districts and is built to capture statutory notice requirements. MSBA and MASA model policy notices and recommended best practices. Starting from that model gives the board confidence that our handbooks are aligned with current Minnesota school law and that the notices we provide to families meet what the legislature and
020the department of education expect of us. What we then tailored the model to Edina. So our policies, our buildings and our students. A primary purpose of the handbook is to deliver in one accessible place the annual notices that state and federal law require. By way of example, families will find in these handbooks the annual furpa notification of education uh records rights, our environmental health and safety notices such as asbestous notifications, lead and drinking water and pesticide application and the people fair dismissal act procedures governing suspension and expulsion. There are several others, but those are representative of the kind of information the handbook is designed to consolidate for our families. So, with that, I'd welcome the board's questions and feedback. >> Board members, what questions or comments do we have? >> Director Alenberg. >> Um, I
021don't have a question, but I think this is a huge step forward and I appreciate the effort and um making it towards the different ages is so smart and I just really am thankful that um we have this resource for our families. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'm going to echo that. I think they're great. I look forward to bookmarking it on my computer because it answers so many questions and I think that when we have kindergarten night, we should be promoting these to the incoming families because it goes through the different choice programs and it answers a lot of questions. And similarly on middle school night, the fourth and fifth grade families, they would know who to ask what question to, where to go for all of their issues and needs. Um,
022so I think just they're really well done. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Okay, I think that wraps up this discussion point. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right, we are moving on to our policy review of 410, 539, 618, 629, and 9:02. So, policy chair Allenberg, I will turn it over to you. Um, good evening. Um, we have our right now we're reviewing two of our policies, correct? >> Yes, there's there's two on the in the agenda. There's policy 410 and 539. So, I don't know if there's a little typo error about 618, 629, and 902. >> So, Okay. >> The other three. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Because they're not posted for other board members to take a look at. So, >> what? They are. >> Oh, they're not on
023my >> They're not on mine and they're not. Okay. >> I think it's version. Oh, okay. >> That's why I'm sorry. That's why I was confused because I thought Okay. Okay. So, um we will start with policy um sorry now I lost my spot on here. This is a great start to the policy review. So, we'll start with policy um 410. Um, and I'm going to invite our executive director of human resources, um, doc, um, Sonia Sailor, up to talk about family and medical leaves. >> Thank you, Director Alenberg. Um, acting chair Barry, Dr. Bitman, members of the board. So, the first policy we're going to talk about this evening is policy 410 um covering FMLA or Family and Medical Leave Act. The recommendation um from the administration in this case is to adopt the
024model MSBA model policy on FMLA um for and the reason that we're making this recommendation is it really does ease the monitoring um of any future updates particularly in cases of laws such as FMLA where changes come directly from the federal government in these cases. In the past, we have provided a policy that provides overall guidance around FMLA, but not all of the details, particularly around um reasons for leave related to military service. Within schools, it is a rare occurrence that we actually utilize the portions of FMLA related to service members. However, it is really helpful to have all of the information in one place to provide um the details around FMLA. And MSBA also made a recommendation that with all of the new leave types of Minnesota leave in the state, it makes sense
025to limit policy 410 to FMLA because that's the policy that or that's the leave act that requires a board policy. Um, for those of you that don't know, the FMLA Act went into place in 1993 in this country and it's um specifically provides job protective leave for a number of different reasons um and for employees up to 12 work weeks in a particular year. We have um uh it's unlike some of our other leave types in Minnesota. Now, FMLA is unpaid leave, but employees in most cases are able to use their acred sick leave um or other paid leave as wage replacement during that time. The there are a couple of requirements in order to be eligible. One is that you've worked for at least 12 months for your employer. Um, and the other is
026is that you've worked at least 1,250 hours in the in the preceding 12 months. And we work on what's called a rolling um a rolling period where we look back 12 months to see how many hours of an employee has worked within that time period. Um the there are a couple of uh five different reasons that you can use FMLA including but the ones that we see most commonly are for a um for an employes serious health condition or for them to care for a family member who's undergoing treatment for a serious health condition as well. So that just gives you a little background about um FMLA and the reason why we are recommending just a full adoption of 410 at this time. And I'll just turn it over to see if you have any
027questions. >> Do board members have questions about um the policy 410 family medical leaves and the changes that are being recommended? >> No. Um before we move to policy 539 um even though there I I mean I can't see three of the policies. >> So it has been fixed on board. Okay. So I just wanted to make sure the public could see the policies. So okay um so thank you um executive director of Sailor. We're going to move on to policy 539, internships, um, and shadowing. And, um, we have, um, Amarie, director Leland, who is coming up. And if, while you're walking over here, we're recommending rescending this policy. Um, if you read through this policy, um, there were a lot of administrative tasks that, um, really, um, there wasn't really any governance level policy
028written into this. Um, and it would continually require updating. And now that you're sitting here, I'll turn it over to you. >> Well, you said it best, Director Alenberg. It really is more administrative. And now with the area of emphasis on the high school, uh, we really need to just step back and figure out how we're proceeding with internships, job shadowing, any experience that our high school student gets for real world experience. Uh, and I believe that assistant superintendent Nate Swenson will start to dig into that with his team as we move forward. >> Thank you. >> I think then my only question is is that the the initial in purpose of 539, even though it delved more into administrative versus governance, was there a particular question that this policy was originally kind of trying
029to get to, which is why we had it, and now that we won't, where will that question or need or whatever be addressed? Um if it's just uh administratively then the answer is clear but is there some element that that would eventually fall to the priv of the board? >> Sure. So, um it's my understanding from a historical perspective, there are quite a few policies built into our um our policy book that um are really establishing a um an interest to show that more a communication to show to the community this is something that we're interested in from a strategic perspective as opposed to it um having any necessary policy behind it. Um this would be an example of one of those policies. Um there's no ill intent. Um it doesn't do bad or good.
030Um it um I believe is there to frame for the community that internships and shadow um and job shadowing is an important part of Adina public schools. Um the challenge with that is every time from a curricular perspective it shifts and the administration wants to do anything which is their job um we would have to update this policy. Got >> it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, next we're going to move on to policy 618. Um, which I just had up and now I don't because my computer isn't refreshed. So, >> and I can take this one over. >> So, policy 618 relates to assessment, grading, reporting, and student progress. The information here stays relatively the same. The only change is that we separated what was once one section into two different sections meaning uh
031section uh or letter D that has dropping classes and then we split it to D and E which includes pass and no credit. The information in there that did not change and it aligns directly with what we have in our student handbooks. So we wanted to make sure that we were consistent all the way around. In addition to that, we did collaborate with high school administration, high school staff, and high school counselors, uh, which was then recommended to the policy committee. With that, I'm happy to take any questions people have. Great. Hearing none, we'll move on to policy 629. And that is another one I currently do not have in front of me. Oh, we have um, director Woodard coming to talk about is this the fundraising >> student fundraising. >> Thank you. >> Uh
032thank you Director Alenberg. Um policy 629 regarding student fundraising. Um there were really no substantive changes offered to this policy other than to add the director of finance and operations to the listed staff that are um managing any proposed student fundraising to make sure that the district is maintaining its fiscal responsibilities as well as ensuring that um groups that are wishing to use district facilities to conduct their fundraising have a valid facilities use permit. >> Are there questions about the changes to this policy? Great. Thank you, Director Woodard. Um, our next is policy 9002, use of school district facilities. I apologize. I didn't do a good job organizing, but I guess people are getting their steps in. So, um, thank you, Director Leland, for coming up to talk about policy 902, um, use of school
033district facilities and equipment, and there were, um, two additions to this policy recommended. >> Thank you. So, um, again, we looked at this, uh, one of the things that we wanted to make sure we don't keep having to bring back to the school board is the addend. I'm sorry, I'm kind of going in reverse order, but the payment schedule and all of those things at at the end. So we are um moving to to get rid of that and put that into practice and knowing that we have a cycle to always be collaborating and looking outward and inward on our pricing structure. Um so that was one of the biggest most significant pieces of the change here. The other piece is I'm sorry I'm just scrolling madly here. Um, in terms of also making sure
034that we have um the I'm sorry, I'm just losing my train of thought. Um, that we've got procedures. Nope, that's not what I wanted to talk about. >> What was the other Can you >> Was it the fee schedule change? >> The fee schedule change. >> I think >> there really was very little. >> Right. Exactly. And I just wanted to add on there was um >> there was one addition into the policies and procedures. >> Y thank you. >> But before you get into that um for the policy committee and or I'm sorry for the rest of the board administration and community >> when the policies come through our committee we're really looking at um because so many of these so much has gravitated to um the internet and having forms on the internet.
035This is a perfect example of something that it's way more laborious to keep this as a um static document as opposed to removing it um and keeping it on the internet. So if something needs to change, it's it's easier to do that on an annual basis um and making sure it's updated and correct than having it in here. Um it's also um easier for the community because it's way more accessible than um in here in our policy. So you're probably seeing a a decent number of things being removed, but that's a little bit because we're really using viewing through a lens of is this the best place to have this document. >> So the policy still is in in place. >> Absolutely. >> Um and the procedure and stuff is there, but the fee fee
036schedule, which we authorize every year whenever it comes to us in some practice sometime during the year, >> that's going to not be part of the policy. It's just uh it's going to be posted from that stem. So, we're just moving that element out of the policy itself. >> Correct. >> Got it. Thank you. >> And then my train of thought came back to me. And so in the appendix one, uh which is I don't have page numbers. I'm so sorry. Um we did add Oh, now I do. Good. So, page four, I think under where it says process and procedures for scheduling facilities. Number five, we did add just based on conversations and other large events, largecale events that we could have or just any events really um deemed necessary by the district to
037have an emergency event plan in place. And what we talked about at policy committee, I thought that was a really good conversation that we'll be working on that behind the scenes. And so if there's any questions or concerns about that, we will always um be ready to talk about that and we'll have parameters on when it is going to be necessary to ask for one of those plans. So >> if I'm not mistaken, Director Arum, you've talked about that. >> Yeah. >> Every year for the last several years, if I'm not mistaken, that when we have people using the facilities outside of a school function, but it's still using that, what kind of safety and security elements do we have >> that? Yes, thank you. um that and I I believe strongly in now that
038we have our position of supervisor of emergency management and services that that position is critical for helping us build that infrastructure. So that was just key in moving. So thank you um director for continuing to bring that up and now we're in full implementation of that. Any other questions? Great. These will come back to policy committee and they'll be in action next month. >> Thank you again much. >> Okay, we have several items up for action this evening. Uh beginning with our placement of the Spanish dual language program. So, do I have a motion to approve the placement of the Spanish dual language program at Southview Middle School? >> So moved. >> Birdman. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Arum. As a reminder to the public, the board has heard this report and had
039discussions regarding this topic several times at the previous board meeting and in a prior work session. And now I welcome Superintendent Bitman to discuss it with us again. Now, >> madame chair, members of the board, this has been a year-long process that has involved parents, families, community experts throughout our state and nation, as well as district leadership and administration. Um, when we did this comprehensive process throughout the school year, we recognized and had an obligation to look at both of our sites currently to determine uh where we would place that middle school program so that we had two to three years to plan thoughtfully and intentionally with our families, with our staff, with our community. So, we're grateful to be able to do that. As you'll see from the report, as you heard from the
040work session and previous board meeting as well, uh as well as parents have heard from various meetings that we've orchestrated throughout our community, um we are recommending that this be this particular program be placed at South View Middle School. The reason we're recommending that, all things being equal in many of the categories, the one category that tipped it to the middle school that we're referring to, has to do with the student experience, the amount of elective opportunities that they and other students would have and the impact that having two two language immersion type programs in one school would have on other students and the students involved with that. We, as it says in the report, also recognize that we want to have somewhat similar experiences or language opportunities at both of our middle schools instead
041of having one rich with various programs and another without any. And so based on staff feedback, community feedback, administrative feedback, and what experts recommend, while there may be some challenges as outlined in the report that we will work through, we believe that both middle schools would offer an amazing opportunity and and students would have an amazing experience. And with that, we would recommend that be placed for now at South View Middle School, which we know will be successful. >> Thank you. Uh board members, any additional questions or comments? >> I would only say that um you know, I appreciate the amount of work and effort and analysis that's been provided for all the different stakeholders that are then there. Um and as we've said a number of times, including what you just mentioned, Dr. equipment.
042Um, our goal is to make sure that regardless of where the physical location is, is that the SDL program at middle school will be successful. It will be fully resourced. It'll be fully supported. Um, and that um the constituency should understand that at Southview it'll still be an amazing program. Um the the team there, I think, is excited. I'm actually the liazison to that building. They're very excited about the opportunity um as we build this out over the next couple years. Thank you, >> Dr. Um so for community members that only don't watch every single meeting um which is probably 99% of you um this has been talked about very thoroughly and I think that it's important that um people realize the that this there really I don't think was an option not to put
043it at South View. I think that um the reality is that you can't have two language programs at one middle one middle school and have it still function um in the way that we have our middle schools function which is a teeming experience. And so I I just want to make sure that our community understands that aspect which is a critical component of it. Um, I think that all of our I have full confidence in all of our leaders at our sites and here. Um, I think where as a leadership team and not even our current leadership team, but as our leadership team when we were starting this process, um, could have done a better job is working on this sooner and communicating expectations. And so for parents that have been caught up in this,
044um, I just want to say that absolutely I think we should have done a better job doing that, but that absolutely does not impact. I don't even think we need to say your kids will have a great experience at Southview. I think that's a given. So I think there's a difference between the decision being made and then what as a leadership team what we can step back and make sure that we do from a process improvement perspective. So, I just want to make sure that we're delineating those two things. I have no qualms about anything with the student experience and our leaders and make and just make sure when we're making major decisions that we're thinking through the five, six, seven, eight steps ahead. Um, and that we're not taking parents by surprise. So, that's
045those are the only things that I would comment and ask that we do as a leadership team. Thank you. Okay. Uh, we will now vote. All those in favor of approving the recommended placement of the SDL program at Southview Middle School, say, "I." >> Any opposed? The board has approved the placement of SDL at Southview Middle School. Okay. The next item up for action is the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2027. Do I have a motion to approve the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2027? Arum, is there a second? >> Second. >> Hooie. Um, let's welcome Mer Whitard, director of finance and operations. >> Good evening, acting chair Barry, members of the school board, Superintendent Bitman. Pleased to present our fiscal year 2027 preliminary budget for the year ending June 30th, 2027 for your consideration
046and action. Um, the b the budget is published in full at edinachoolsfinance.org. every figure, fact, um our five-year forecast, comparisons to peer school districts across the state, and I think an extremely high level of transparency and a a pretty robust set of information, um which I won't go into extreme detail on, but I will provide a number of uh the key highlights. In terms of our general fund, we're projecting revenue of $180.9 million offset by 173.8 million in expenditures. Um which means that we'll end next school year at a projected $49.8 8 million fund balance um of which 11.0% is designated as unassigned which is well above your policy 702 range of a minimum of 6% and a maximum of 10%. Um next year's revenue reflects several changes to state formulas. Um the first of
047which is the most important um school district funding formula in Minnesota which accounts for about 45% of our general operating revenues which is the basic education formula. um that is slated to rise by 2.69% or $22 per pupil, which is roughly $1.9 million of additional revenue for the Dina Public Schools. Our voter approved operating referendum is increasing by $74.26, which is about $700,000 of additional revenue. This was approved by the school board at the December meeting as part of our truce and taxation and certification of the property tax levy. We also have a small inflationary increase to our capital projects levy of about $269,000. And next school year also marks an increase of the special education cross subsidy aid from 44% to 50% which represents about $690,000 of additional revenue for the school district. Collectively,
048all these figures combine into a very stable short-term financial picture. Um one that was, I believe, hardearned. um pretty significant budget cuts for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 totaling $7.6 million coupled with um state appropriations from fiscal year 24 have led to a much more stable financial picture in terms of what's ahead. Um absent any additional state funding um that we're not expecting at this moment, um we do begin to see a a deficit spending um scenario in fiscal years 2030 um which begins to be uh precipitously worse um in subsequent fiscal years leading to a projected 7.48% fund balance at the end of fiscal 2031 um which is well below what we're expected to be at next school year. A few different reasons for that. Um primarily uh the way school districts are funded
049in Minnesota. more than 80% of our funds are directly tied to student enrollment. Um we are approaching building and pro programmatic capacity in Edina and we're not forecasting any additional future growth coupled with both resident and non-resident enrollment declines which are um not going to be changing in the near future according to almost any demographic study that you review. That coupled with the fact that um while the basic formula is now increasing with inflation, which we're grateful for, we don't believe that that inflation is going to offset the growth in wages. Um our budgets built around 80% salaries and wages, and we think those will continue to outpace appropriations made by the state. So, while we've earned a a short-term stability, we are continuing to monitor and find ways um to enhance our stability um
050while dealing with the headwinds that are coming forth in subsequent years. In terms of our other funds, the food service fund, which is about a $5.2 million operation, is one of our success stories in the district. That fund continues to operate without any general fund subsidy. In fact, it um allocates the maximum allowable chargeback from the general fund each school year and also is creating enough surplus to begin a cycle of replacement for our kitchen equipment which we're beginning this school year or this summer rather at Southw and hoping to bring to our other schools next school year, next summer and beyond. Uh the community service fund um like this food service fund operates without any direct um general fund subsidy. In fact, that fund also contributes about $300,000 to the general fund by way
051of chargebacks. Uh we continue to expect stability in that program, which is fantastic news for the district. Our building construction fund is expected to add about $9 million to its fund balance. That's part of a planned facilities maintenance bond that we're hoping to issue late fall, early winter. That will be spent down over the next several years, particularly next next summer at South where we're undergoing a pretty major mechanical project which will be over two or three years. Finally, our debt service fund of about $18.7 million, which is uh in place to pay voter approved bonds um over the next several years. Happy to answer any questions. With that, the recommended action is before you. >> Board members, what questions do we have? Director Alenberg, >> I don't have a question, but um could you
052please explain to the public why it's so important to have um such a healthy fund balance right now and some of the um initiatives the state is working on? Um, and I brought it up last time, but like the blue ribbon committee and the projections that are um going to hit um school districts and why um I think it might look like we have a ton of money, but what we're forecasting um going forward I think would be helpful. >> Absolutely. I think uh the importance of the fundamental really I'd look at it in terms of an insurance policy. We have some really um great programs in Edina. Um we have really nice um class size ratios that the school board has put forth. We have um really robust programming and options at the secondary
053level, both middle school and high school. All those things um require a significant deal more financing than what the basic education formula provides. We're lucky to have a number of different voter approved um financing mechanisms in place. And so, you know, we're kind of making hay while the sun shines. We know that the blue ribbon commission is going to subtract $250 million of special education aid across the state beginning with fiscal 28. That's going to be a direct impact of about a million dollars for the EDIA schools. Um if that comes by way of um reductions to the ADS program which is intervention at our elementary we staff about 10 and a half um full-time equivalents in that program which is roughly that you know one to$ 1.3 million. things like that we can offset
054using our fund balance and hope that the state at some point um fixes the the direction that we're traveling and appropriates more funds. So the the fund balance really function functions as insurance for the school district. It also allows us to access um interest rates at the the lowest possible level in the market. Um we're really proud of our our AAA credit rating and also I think um stability for for parents and students. I think they have come to expect a certain type of programming and education and our fund balance allows us to continue and maintain that absent what the state may or may not provide us. >> Thank you and thank you for the job you've done with our finances. We're really very lucky and your website is phenomenal. If anyone in the public
055has questions, it's super amazing. You could spend hours doing that. So, thank you. I I think I would only add that um it takes real effort and real focus and real strategy and execution to actually arrive where we are. It just doesn't happen by chance. It doesn't happen by hope. It happens by diligently over the last several years. I really since the time director worded you came to the district, we've been working on this process of trying to get the unassigned fund balance to this level. Um even with cuts and sort of things so we could flatten out the highs and the lows of frankly hard to forecast what the state's going to do. So as they give us something, they then take it away. And so it's a constant yo-yo of an up and
056a down and whatever it is. and the fund balances by getting it to this healthy level allows us to weather those ups and downs and unpredictabilities of what the state legislature does with its funding. So, I just wanted to again compliment not only your leadership on that, but I think also not to not to toot our own horn, but the the board and and the leadership of the district has really made this a very clearcut strategic. It's not in the strategic plan explicitly, but it encompasses everything that we do. without us being able to do this, we would then be riding this wave of unpredictability like a lot of other districts are doing who don't weather it very well. So, it's it's it's just such an important part as we're as we're ending this school
057year and we're getting looking forward to to 26 27. Um I think we're in a good place for the anticipated not oh maybe there will be something. No, no, it's going to happen. It's just what level is it going to happen from the state? we can't quite predict at the moment because they're all over the place, but it's definitely going to happen. So, I just wanted to emphasize what what Director Alenberg said, but being a part of this for for now five years, this is one of the hallmarks of what I think the district has been doing a phenomenal job on of managing taxpayer money and also trying to make sure that our model, our excellent model that we have here in D, which is expensive, we're able to maintain as much of that model
058as we can because of the stewardship that we're getting. And so, thank you for your contribution to that. And >> yes, and we're we're in a great spot to again, as you were saying, stay on a more even keel. And we also need to not rest on our laurels and continue to look forward. This doesn't mean we aren't going to need to make some changes um in the future, but we are in a great spot compared to other districts as you said. And um it's just a wonderful place to be um as as a district and know that we can continue to deliver as we have um at least in the near term. and we'll see what what what comes and then we can react to it and we can take our time and we
059won't need to kneejerk um make decisions. So, thank you. >> Okay, thank you. We will now vote. All those in favor of approving the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2027 say I. >> Any opposed? The preliminary budget is approved. All right. The next item up for action is the proposed 2026 to 2028 collective bargaining agreement between Independent School District 273 and the Adina Professional Association of Support Staff. Do I have a motion to approve the proposed collective bargaining agreement between ISD 273 and the Adina Professional Association of Support Staff? >> So moved. >> Alen Ber, is there a second? >> Second. >> Birdman. I welcome back to the table director ordered and um Sonia Sailor, executive director of human resources. Thank you. >> Thank you, Actor Chair, acting chair Barry, Dr. Bitman, member of school
060boards. Um, so Director Woodard and I are pleased to announce that our Adina Professional Association of Support Staff, commonly referred to as EPASS in our school district, has ratified a tenative agreement um that will begin uh on July 1, 2026 and extend through June 30th, 2028. Our EPASS employees include our department specialists, our principal administrative assistants, our facility schedulers, our welcome center specialists, our office assistants, our due process specialists, and our media assistants. Our negotiation teams work collaboratively and creatively to reach a settlement that values the important work that they do each day and also respects the school board's financial parameters. We would like to commend our EPASS negot negotiations team comprised of Jennifer Jopi, Pam Burling, Alicia Carter, and Nancy Canudson for their dedication to this important process. The financial highlights of the proposed
061agreement include step advancement for eligible employees in both years of the agreement, a 3% improvement to the wage wage schedule in the first year and a 4% increase in the second year of the agreement. A wage schedule modification to reduce the L10 longevity step to L7 and the L20 longevity step to L17 beginning in the first year. a $50 per month increase to the school district's contribution towards health insurance beginning on January 1, 2027, and an additional $75 to be added on January 1, 2028, a $15 per month increase to the contribution towards dental insurance beginning on January 1, 2027. and EPASS was our last group in the school district that had a severance provision that um did not include a sunset date. So a July 1, 2026 sunset date will be added to the
062agreement severance provision. Uh language is modified within the agre agreement to simply communicate clarity and provide consistent consistency with other district agreements. The two-year total package for this proposed agreement is 8,69,28 which in uh represents an increase of 68,657 and using the MSVA costing formula the 2-year percentage increase is 7.61%. This tenative agreement is within the authority provided to our negotiation team by the school board and as a result we seek your approval. Do you have any questions? Board members, any questions? >> I would just make a quick comment. Congratulations to EPAS and administration for getting this done before uh July 1, which is not often the case with most of our negotiations. And I'm pleased to hear that the last severance component has finally been dealt with. So, thank you for that. Um, and
063just a shout out to all of our EPAS members that they are the glue that makes everything happen. And whenever you talk to anyone in the district who talks about um all of these people, they literally are help make everything go. And so um hopefully I'm glad that they feel good about this. I feel good about that and I'm looking forward to a new school year under this collective bargaining. So thank you for your work. >> Thank you and well said. Thank you very much, Director Burman. Any other questions? >> Okay, we will now vote. All those in favor of proposing of approving the proposed collective bargaining agreement between ISD 273 and the Adina Professional Association of Support Staff say I. >> Any opposed? Um seeing no opposition, the um it is approved. Thank you.
064>> Thank you. Okay, we have some policies up for quick review. Um, is there a motion to approve policies 418, the medication authorization form 530, 620, and 636? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Arum and Hooie. Uh, Director Ellenberg, is there anything regarding these policies for quick review that you would like to address with the board? Um I I just wanted to briefly review um the updates to the different policies. Um policy 48 418 there is one update that's based on state statute. Um the appendices um the medication form for 516 and 538. There is a sentence that needed to be included from a legal perspective. um policy 530 um there are additions that are to make the policy consistent with MSC MSBA model policy and state statute. Um there
065are no changes to policy 620 and then policy 636. The changes um recommended changes are to clarify the roles the difference between um um a special education teacher and other individuals between within the special education department. Any are there questions or comments about those um five or I'm sorry four policies and then um the appendices. Okay, seeing no questions we will now vote uh to approve policy 418 medication authorization form 530 620 and 636. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? The policies are approved. Okay. Okay, now we have even more policies up for approval. Um, do I have a motion to approve policies 113,506, 806, and 810? >> So, is there a second? >> Second. >> Birdman. Um, Director Alenberg, anything to talk about with these policies? >> These policies
066were up for discussion um last month and there are no changes based on feedback from the board. So, um I have no further comment. Okay. Any questions on these? >> Okay, then we will now vote to approve policies 113, 506, 806, and 810. All those in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay, the policies are approved. And before we move on, I want to just thank our policy committee and especially Paulie BS. We've gone through a lot of policies this spring and for our administrators, our site level administrators, everyone that's contributed um this month alone is about 14 policies so or 12 I can't count. So um so just thank you. I just wanted to thank Paulie. So thank you. Do board any board members have leadership or committee updates? >> I do
067madam chair. um as the Adina school board member who's assigned to intermediate school district 287, I just want to give a quick couple updates um regarding district 287. So for those who don't know, that is the uh special services district that's made up of 12 West Metro Districts that Edina is part of one of them. Um and I sit on that board um to represent Edina and Edina families and students. Um I just wanted to first say that uh graduation happened this past week. Uh so they have five different locations with a number of programs. I went to three different graduations. One was for West uh West Education Center which is where we have a bunch of students who are in their special education program. Um who would then be graduating eventually going on to
068the transition program which is at South Education. Um so I got to go to that uh graduation ceremony uh early last week. Um, I then went to Henipin Technical Colleg's ALC, which is the alternative learning uh program, which we had a couple students in that program as well. And then the piece of resistance is at the South Education Center, the transition students who actually are now transitioning out. They've hit their age limit of 21 or 22. And there's always a graduation ceremony um in the later last last week. Um, it's a very special I mean they're all special but this one's especially special because most of these students have been in 287 for quite some time and their staff their dedicated staff that works with these students um are phenomenal and they're kind of coming
069to an end of that particular time. So it's a fairly emotional very gratifying very satisfying uh type program for making that happen. Um so I just wanted to say that uh we had students was represented well and 287 has done a phenomenal job and so I just wanted to call that out. Um, number two, uh, for 287, uh, they have a strategic plan now, which they've had now for two years since, uh, Superintendent Dow has come on board. Um, she's been working diligently to get their strategic plan in order, just like we have, and just like the other districts that make up 287. And we got a final report, uh, for how they did this past year and they are making progress. So, just to give you a sense, they have both student and staff
070goals related to their strategic plan, which included having a goal, an academic goal um for every student in 287. And why does that sound remarkable is that literally up until two years ago, there weren't actually explicit student goals for every single student that 287 serves. And that's because I think in in sort of practice, especially in certain levels of of higher level of special education, um it hasn't always been a focus to think that academic progress, academic standard, academic growth is something that's expected of every student in 287. And that has always been the case that it's been expected, but it has never been put into actual practice. And this is a huge uh change. And there's a cultural change that's going on at 287 because of this um which superintendent doubt is about. We're
071seeing great progress in making that happen. So not only are every student having um that goal setting, but with their caregiver or parent guardian um they're incorporated in that. They're actually now having um which we take for granted here in Edina. Every single student and their family has a conference that's not just about their um uh IEP or their their other types of special education programming, but actually their academic progress is also a part of that. Um there's just a lot of number of things like that in 287 that are coming to fruition and I couldn't be prouder of what's happening with that and I think it's serving all 287 students including our own inina uh quite well. So, I just wanted to kind of share that a little bit with everyone because we don't
072talk about 287 very often, but I I'm very very happy with um where the direction of 287 is going. And for those of you who might not know, the blue ribbon commission that we mentioned earlier, that was actually chaired by Superintendent Dow. She's probably the state's expert in education financing for special education. Um it was very important that we got her on that blue ribbon commission and she is serving all of our purposes quite well in making that happen. She made that presentation last week um on Thursday morning. Um, so I just wanted to kind of share that about uh 287 and um I thank you guys for giving me the opportunity to continue to serve in that capacity. It's a it's a very moving and impactful part of my job that you guys help
073me do here um on this board. So I just want to share that with you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Um, really fast, um, every year we've asked our, um, director of human resources to provide us with, um, substitute fill rates, and I wanted to, um, point out to the community that, um, we are at 99%. Um, and we've haven't been below um, 96% since 2023. This was really born out of COVID and um, a real issue with subs during CO. And I would just um offer that we consider not asking for this report anymore since it has been close to 100% since then. Um which is great and since we have such a phenomenal HR director, if there is an issue, I trust that she would bring it to us. >> Madame
074director, do you mind repeating that please? I'm kidding. So, >> thank you. Dr. Vitman, do you have any updates you'd like to share? >> Just a couple. This is uh Madame Vice Ch, Madame Chair, and members of the board. This is just such an exciting time wrapping up the academic year for many of students, but also recognize that we serve thousands and thousands of students throughout the summer. In fact, the first week after our traditional students left, we had over a thousand students being served in this building alone. in the first week. So really grateful for that continued work and the dedication of our staff. Also just would encourage the school board to really take a moment to reflect on all the work that you have done this year. Um, Miss Allenberg spoke a little
075bit about the policies this last month and throughout the year, but it is impressive the amount of work that you have done around our areas of priority around the engagement, around the committees, around the work with the board meetings, around the budget, around teaching and learning with achievement and all of the things that come with that. That doesn't happen by accident. So, just want to do a public shout out to say thank you for the energy. So much of that uh is not known by the public and others. So just am really appreciative of partnering with you. Also, this is the completion of my first year in Hedina. It's been such a privilege and an honor to serve with you. Although I've been a superintendent for 16 years, I can arguably say that this year
076I have learned the most. And so just really appreciate the partnership, the perspective, the collaboration as we move this work forward. Just really excited about that and appreciative. similarly came into a situation last April that could have been very difficult in terms of transition. Our team, our leadership team, our cabinet and others throughout the district just welcomed me and supported me and were were part of the crazy ideas that I had along the way. just so grateful for their commitment, their partnership, their courage of being able to say when things felt right or didn't feel right and always advocating and doing what's right for kids and the school district putting other people ahead of themselves. And so just really grateful for the board, the administrative team and our folks throughout the district as well as
077our community who welcome my wife and I, my family and I to the Adina area. So again, just very appreciative. And then finally, we had our graduation uh just recently and so much work goes into that by staff and families and and everyone. We're just grateful for a a wonderful venue. Folks at this table might remember that mid year we learned that we were not able to have our graduation at the U of M. Uh as was every other high school that had been part of the U of M. And so we scrambled a little bit and we worked really hard and I think it was just a really impressive uh showing for our students and families. We had a great experience. The feedback we have been getting uh has been really really positive. And
078so again special thanks to everyone worked really hard behind the scene. Congratulations to those who have graduates. Miss Ellenburgg being one of those. Um just super excited about uh the work that's happening in Edina and how privileged are we to provide so many amazing opportunities for our students and families. Oftentimes people ask me as superintendent like what I want I really want every student to have the same opportunities as my own three children had and they are getting that and more and so thank you for the work and the intentionality with that. With that I'll turn it back to our chair. >> Thank you. Do I have a motion to adjourn our meeting? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> We will vote to adjurnn the meeting. All those in favor
079say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? The motion has passed and the June 8th, 2026 board meeting is adjourned.