Columbia Heights School District — Transcript
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Student Achievements and Awards
Student Feedback on School Experience
AVID Program Update and Impact
Long-Term Facility Maintenance Planning
Spring Activities and Athletics Overview
Votes (7)
Acknowledgement of Contributions Resolution
Dissent: None
Moved by Julie/Board Member [00:24:49] · Seconded by Jessica/Board Member [00:24:52]
The board discussed the resolution to formally accept various monetary contributions from community groups and individuals to different school funds and programs. Contributions included donations to the Valley View Sunshine Scholarship Fund, North Park, and Columbia Heights High School for teacher appreciation. The total fiscal year contributions to date were noted as over $182,000.
Northeast Metro 916 Long-Term Facility Maintenance Plan
Dissent: N/A
Moved by Not a vote item for this meeting · Seconded by Not a vote item for this meeting
Director Henkins presented the Northeast Metro 916 district's long-term facility maintenance plan for FY26, highlighting health and safety and deferred maintenance costs. The board discussed Columbia Heights' proportionate share of the plan and the oversight mechanisms in place, including board representation and collaboration among district finance directors and superintendents. Concerns were raised regarding potential impacts of rising material costs and the necessity of all member districts approving the plan.
Columbia Heights Public School District Long-Term Facility Maintenance Plan
Dissent: N/A
Moved by Not a vote item for this meeting · Seconded by Not a vote item for this meeting
Director Henkins presented the district's own three-year long-term facility maintenance plan, detailing significant expenditures in Category 1 (health and safety) and Category 2 (specifically, a large $14.5 million indoor air quality project for Valley View Elementary). He outlined planned projects for summer 2025 and 2026, including roof work at Columbia Academy, mechanical system upgrades, and flooring/casework. The discussion underscored the substantial deferred maintenance needs, estimated at $80 million for mechanical systems alone, and the challenges of addressing these with current funding mechanisms.
Minnesota State High School League Membership Resolution
Dissent: None
Moved by Laura/Board Member [01:34:57] · Seconded by Michelle/Board Member [01:35:00]
The board considered and approved the annual resolution to renew membership in the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). The discussion emphasized that MSHSL membership is essential for the district's athletic and interscholastic activities programs, as it's the primary organization facilitating competition with other schools in Minnesota.
Curriculum Update: Amplify ELA, Envision Math, and Personal Finance Course Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Laura/Board Member [01:38:54] · Seconded by Jessica/Board Member [01:38:59]
The board approved the adoption of Amplify for English Language Arts and Envision for Math for grades 6-8, following a previous presentation and teacher involvement in the selection process. Additionally, a new Personal Finance course for Columbia Heights High School, set to begin in the 2025-2026 school year, was approved to meet legislative requirements. The public's ability to review curriculum materials was also reaffirmed.
Overnight and Out-of-State Field Trips Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Michelle/Board Member [01:42:07] · Seconded by Jessica/Board Member [01:42:10]
The board approved a list of extended field trips, including overnight and out-of-state trips, for the 2025-2026 school year. This item followed a previous detailed discussion at the May 13th board meeting, where the extensive work and considerations for these trips were covered.
Designation of Identified Official with Authority for MDE External User Access Re-certification System Resolution
Dissent: None
Moved by Laura/Board Member [01:44:46] · Seconded by Jessica/Board Member [01:44:49]
The board considered and approved a resolution designating Superintendent Zena Stenvik as the Identified Official with Authority (IOwA) and Stephanie Alvarez as the IOwA for adding and removing names only, for access to Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) secure systems. This annual designation ensures compliance with state access control security standards.
Notable Quotes (8)
Therefore, the School Board of Columbia Heights Public Schools Independent School District number 13 resolves to accept with appreciation the $2,860.35 in monetary contributions detailed in the background.
So our our portion of it is based on, you know, our enrollment um into 916. So we have a 3.6% um of the portion of the capital uh or the long-term facility maintenance plan. So $21,28653 is our portion of it.
But from what I do understand is if one of the districts did not, then it wouldn't be able to go through. So, it would be it would be a problem. So it would go back to the 9th. They would all have they would everybody does have to approve. All of the districts do have to approve it.
I think currently, you know, we're more estimated into the 80ish um, million dollars. Um, so the deferred maintenance needs on our mechanical systems are great.
I think hearing you talk about being grandfathered in on some of our systems, um, I mean, I'm certainly glad that we are so we can continue to operate, but that's, you know, a concern because we're not able to to to meet sort of, um, the current standards when it comes to indoor air quality and other things.
So, it it really is kind of like do you want to have athletics or not? And I think that's probably what we want is athletics.
our teaching and learning team looked at a variety of options but our teachers um across our buildings were also intimately involved with looking at this curriculum and providing feedback um as we prepared for our recommendations.
I'm here tonight asking for approval of the resolution approving Zena Stemvic to act as the identified official um with authority aka Iowa and myself Stephanie Alvarez to act as the I as the Iowa to add and remove names only for Columbia Heights public schools.
Ordinances & Resolutions (10)
State statute permitting school boards to receive donations and act as trustees for the district's benefit.
Resolution to formally accept monetary contributions to the district.
Annual plan outlining facility maintenance projects and associated costs for the 916 district, requiring member district approval for funding.
Annual plan detailing Columbia Heights Public Schools' facility maintenance projects, including health and safety and deferred maintenance items.
Resolution delegating control of interscholastic activities and athletics to the MSHSL and affirming adherence to its rules for district participation.
Recommended curriculum for English language arts in grades 6-8.
Recommended curriculum for math in grades 6-8.
New high school course to be implemented starting the 2025-2026 school year to meet legislative requirements.
Resolution designating officials with authority for external user access to Minnesota Department of Education secure systems.
State standard requiring annual review and re-certification of user access rights to Minnesota state systems.