Columbia Heights School District — Transcript
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Acknowledgement of Contributions
Board Member and Superintendent Reports
Columbia Heights Citywide Safety Plan Presentation
American Indian Overnight Field Trip Information
Teacher on Call (Substitute) Rates Information
Policy First Readings (Student Attendance & Fixed Assets)
Property Liability Insurance Renewal
Preliminary Levy 2024 Payable 2025
Votes (3)
Acknowledgement of Contributions Resolution
Dissent: None
Moved by Mary [0:04:09] · Seconded by Julie [0:04:13]
The board discussed the importance of community support for the district. Mary Granin specifically highlighted her husband's donation of 3D printing filament, emphasizing its value for the high school's tech classes and supporting future-oriented education.
Insurance Renewal for 2024-2025
Dissent: None
Moved by Mary [1:00:19] · Seconded by Julie [1:00:22]
The Director of Finance and Operations and the district's insurance broker presented the property and liability insurance renewal, noting an 8% increase in premiums which was considered favorable given the current challenging market conditions. The renewal involves changing main package providers to Chubb and Hanover, while Travelers continues to provide cyber liability insurance with a decrease in premium. The broker explained that splitting the package was necessary due to the difficult property insurance market.
2024 Payable 2025 Preliminary Levy
Dissent: None
Moved by Jessica [1:14:38] · Seconded by Michelle [1:14:40]
The Director of Finance and Operations explained the preliminary levy process, emphasizing that the state highly regulates school funding, comprising both state aid and local property taxes. The board was requested to approve the levy at the maximum allowed by the state, not necessarily indicating a maximum increase, but rather enabling the district to incorporate natural adjustments (due to aid/levy calculations or errors) that may occur before final certification in December. The estimated increase for this levy cycle is approximately 3.8%, driven by positive enrollment growth and an inflationary adjustment to the operating referendum.
Notable Quotes (7)
thank you to the community...we're so incredibly lucky like we say a lot um and to see the the community come together in all these ways and support our students is absolutely fantastic.
because 3D printing is definitely something the way of the future and it's great to be able to support our students that way.
just over 8% increase...pre pandemic this would be a very high renewal...in the current in the last few years it is not...we've had renewals in the teens we've had renewals over 20% in recent history here.
property insurance is extremely challenging that Marketplace is incredibly tough for all Industries but especially uh you know with in the educational Marketplace so yeah so in the past we you we've been able to break up some of the boiler and Equipment you the Cyber liability because there's specialty companies that have a certain Niche with that.
Approving the maximum it's it's language that the state sets for us...allows the district to capture any changes made by the state prior to the final Levy certification in December.
When we say we're approving the maximum does that mean that as a board we're we are approving the maximum possible increase in property taxes for our residents no.
I honestly I I don't know anybody that does that...there's not one director...in my conversation Circle...in the metro area that...approves nothing but the maximum.
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
Resolution 2024.2.04 formally accepting monetary and in-kind donations to the school district.
Academic goals and family involvement goals discussed at Highland PTO meeting.
Professional development event discussing evolving case law, social media, AI, labor issues, and First/14th Amendment rights relevant to schools.
Federally funded plan by the City of Columbia Heights to identify and implement strategies to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes on city roadways.
Federal initiative that awarded funding to Columbia Heights for its Safety Action Plan and future implementation.
Minnesota Department of Transportation study for Central Avenue improvements, leading to concept designs for a 2028 project.
Policy governing the approval process for instructional field trips, including overnight excursions.
Guiding document for district programs, which the American Indian field trip aligns with.
Document outlining procedures and incentives for teachers covering classes or grading for long-term substitutes.
Policy with legislative changes and the addition of drivers' test appointments as an excused absence, presented for first reading.
Policy with a substantive change to add capitalization rules for physical or intangible assets with a unit cost of $10,000 or more, or an aggregate of $50,000 or more, presented for first reading.
Certification of property tax requests for the upcoming fiscal year, presented for approval at the maximum to allow for state-mandated adjustments.
Operating levy previously approved by voters, subject to inflationary and enrollment adjustments in the annual levy calculations.