Columbia Heights School District — Transcript
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Youth Outreach Officer Agreement
Superintendent Goals for 2025-2026 School Year
Closing Specific Grades to Open Enrollment
Votes (3)
Youth Outreach Officer Agreement
Dissent: None
Moved by Laura [13:00] · Seconded by Michelle [13:06]
Discussion emphasized that the agreement has been modified to comply with new state law and the POST board's model policy, and is specific to Columbia Heights' relationship with its police department. Board members highlighted positive data indicating a safer campus environment and expressed gratitude for the city's collaborative approach.
Superintendent Goals for 2025-2026 School Year
Dissent: None
Moved by Laura [19:35] · Seconded by Jessica [19:40]
The Superintendent presented two main goals: fostering community relations and cultivating a collaborative school district culture. Board members acknowledged prior discussion at a work session and praised the Superintendent's responsiveness to staff feedback, particularly regarding staff involvement in decision-making.
Closing Highland Kindergarten, Valley View Grade 3, and Columbia Heights High School Grades 9, 10, and 12 to Open Enrollment
Dissent: None
Moved by Jessica [25:05] · Seconded by Michelle [25:10]
The Superintendent reported specific grade levels and schools were at or above capacity, necessitating closure to open enrollment. The board emphasized that this decision is driven by state statute regarding capacity issues, not arbitrary choice, and highlighted the positive trend of strong enrollment. Spaces will remain reserved for resident students.
Notable Quotes (7)
this agreement does look quite different from our agreements with the city and the off the police off the police department in the past... not only incorporates requirements under state statute, but that really is a good representation of what what that relationship looks like, how it serves our buildings, how it serves our families. amilies and our staff.
the statistics show that we have a safer campus here in Columbia Heights because of that. And so I just wanted people to know that, you know, there is no fear from our police department. They're here to serve and help and and take care of incidences before they become serious.
Goal one is aligned to the Minnesota Schoolboard Association standard number three, communication and community relations. And that goal is to foster meaningful and reciprocal relationships with the community including student staff, families, local organization, legislatores, local elected officials in order to build trust, enhance student learning opportunities, and promote a shared commitment to school success.
I do want to commend you about listening to a lot of the a lot of the survey from the staff, especially with regards to about whether or not they felt like they were a part of the of the decision-making process and to be able to focus on that as as your goal, I think um I think is a a wonderful thing.
Highland Kindergarten... seeking to close that to open enrollment... Valley View Elementary... seeking to close Valley View Elementary or elementary school grade three to open enrollment... Columbia Heights High School grades 9, 10, and 12 are bursting at the seams.
it's really exciting to see such strong enrollment across so many buildings in our district. And I think in particular looking at um kindergarten being closed because enrollment in kindergarten is such an early indicator for what our enrollment might look like into the future.
closing open enrollment is not something that we take lightly. Also, it's state statute um sets out the when and the how and the why we can do it... it has to be because of capacity issues or um other ones specifically laid out within the law.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Annual agreement between the school district and the police department for a youth outreach officer in schools.
Annual performance goals for the Superintendent.
Standard relating to communication and community relations, aligned with a Superintendent goal.
Standard relating to human resources, aligned with a Superintendent goal.
Referenced as requiring changes to officer agreements in schools and governing open enrollment closures.
Policy related to officer agreements in school buildings.