I'd like to call to order the November 12th 2024 meeting of the columia height school board and we'll start with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for all thank you Michelle you do the roll call please yes granin here pway here Palmer here madus here uh H Mueller here superintendent stini here thank you Michelle our mission statement is creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learner all belong all succeed our core values are Community Excellence collaboration Integrity respect courage and Innovation we'll begin with our agenda approval adjustments and announcements starting with the approval of the of the agenda Megan a motion to approve the agenda so move Laura and a second second second by Mary any discussion heing none we'll proceed to vote all those in favor signify by saying I I opposed abstain motion carries next we have our announcements on November 19th at 5:30 p.m is the Schoolboard work session in the community room November 26 6: p.m is the regular Schoolboard meeting in the community room November 27th 28th and 29th there is no school and on November 28th and 29th the district is closed next we have our communication to the board um at this time any citizen or employee May briefly address the school board the board will listen to brief remarks as clarifying questions and if desired request that the administration follow up the board will not take action at this meeting on requests presented at this time and time will be limited to three minutes per speaker is there anybody who wishes to address the board okay we'll move on to the consent agenda our consent agenda includes cludes the insur Assurance of compliance with state and federal law prohibiting discrimination um that was presented on October 22nd 2024 um Lane change um that was uh revised in 1112 2024 the Personnel report from 11:12 2024 the school board minutes from the October 8th meeting the October 15th work session and the October 22nd meeting and the treasur report for the month of September can I get a mon a motion to approve the consent agenda so move um Michelle and a second second second by Jessica any discussion we'll proceed to vote all those in favor signify by saying I I opposed abstain motion carries next we have our acknowledgement of contributions as this is the resolution I will read this for us all right the acknowledgement of contra contributions resolution Minnesota statute 123 b.2 permit school boards to receive for the benefit of the district beest donations or gifts for any proper purpose and apply the same to the purpose designated on that behalf the board may act as Trustee of any trust created for the benefit of the district and for the benefit of the pupils thereof therefore the school board of Columbia Heights Public Schools Independent School District number 133 resolves to accept with appreciation the contributions detailed in the background below uh the uh detailed background includes monetary donations the Columbia Heights athletic boosters donated $2,000 to track and field $2,500 to boy basketball $300 to Columbia Heights High School and $1,500 to Valley View the Columbia Heights High School class of 1984 donated $750 to Columbia Heights High School for non-instructional support donations in kind um Jane I apologize I'll mispronounce your last name wizinsky donated two backpacks with school supplies valued at $80 to the district office Helma Ahmed donated a stander valued at $5,000 to Columbia Heights Public Schools Columbia Heights Lions Club donated feminine and personal hygiene project products donated at $500 to Columbia Heights High School pilgrim dry cleaners Laura donon donated approximately 340 coats hats mittens and winter things valued at $7,000 to Columbia Heights Public Schools and plastic B book bins valued at $235 187 were donated to a Valley View classroom total fiscal 2024 2025 monetary contributions to date $33,150 can I get a motion to adopt this resolution so moved Laura in a second second second by Michelle any discussion just a brief comment um as always the the generosity of our community um and supplying you know some additional needs to our students is is so appreciated and I actually believe I actually did see all those hats coats and mittens today and um uh the kids were like really excited to to take a look and try things on so um they are very much appreciated I saw a lot of happy faces so thank you excellent agreed thank you Laura any other discussion all right so this is a resolution we'll do a roll call vote Michelle yep um grin i h madas i Mueller I Palmer I pway I thank you resolution passes next we have our discussion reports and information items we will start with reports from members of the board we will start with Mary okay um I think since the last time we met we did we meet right after the truck or treat I don't think we've met have we no no yep so TR uh so I attended truck or treat second um which was fantastic so many people came to play games with us and um to sort of see everybody at the uh different Community booths that were there was really fantastic um and to see everybody in costumes so creative uh then we also I attended the robotics meet zero which was the first time that we held it it I had a number of Staff I'm sorry I had a number of families say to me that they really enjoyed it um and really liked the space in the presentation so I think that that bodess well for the other upcoming meets that we have uh hosted at CA um I last Friday I attended the school law conference in person uh with members who Palmer and pway and superintendent stenvik and I know that member maderas was also there uh on Zoom which was great um and plenty of phone calls uh with people uh members maderas pway uh chair Mueller superintendent svic and a lot of community conversation so I think that is oh did I say the chair and the chair meeting right before this one as along with the uh subcommittee on community engagement so I'm sure I left something out but there we go excellent thank you Michelle yep um so seems like so far um ago but I attended U North Parks multilingual night at at Columbia Heights Public Library which is great to see all the families come together learn the tools that the library has to offer um and just see everybody's participation it was packed there was no parking it was a lot of families there so that was fun um I also attended and participated at truck Retreat um I got my squats in that day picking up all the stuff um so it you know it definitely was it was still fun you know but um yeah two birds one stone there um I attended conferences at North Park um which was a great night always is I'm getting to see everybody come in they have this um a like family tree there that they've built and um all the teachers well most of the teachers have their grades put like their leaves on it with certain words or their names and things and so we took pictures in front of the tree it was a lot of fun they have coats there for kids um if they needed um so yeah it was a fun night I also attended the school law seminar um I attended the Veterans Day um celebration at houst Park this past uh Saturday where Anita sang the national anthem of course cuz she has to right and then um I also attended the subcommittee uh meeting for Community engagement before this meeting and I'm sure I left something out there you have it thanks thank you Michelle Laura um I'm not quite as busy um as so since the last meeting um I attended uh the 916 monthly meeting um the law conference um also with and was very interesting was one of those um I was like I always wanted more after every presentation it was like here's a ton of information okay next you know so there's so much to learn um I really hope that we have more opportunities in the future um especially about some of the more trickier subjects and how we navigate those to um to do the best for our students and U make sure that we're following um the rules that are sometimes very complex and um contradictory um but we do our best and um rely on the uh on the individuals here to give us good advice so that's what I kind of basically learned is if in doubt ask um and get all that information um yeah I I really did enjoy the conference but it wasn't long enough although it was a super beautiful day so it was nice getting out a little bit early just saying um let me see I think that's pretty much it for me yeah thank you Jessica thanks well it has been a busy couple of weeks um and I've participated in many of the activities that have been talked about around the table so I'll just mention those briefly and then I'll try to uh focus on a couple things that maybe were a little bit different so um I was able to attend the foundation dinner um and it was really nice to um uh it was really nice to talk to folks that are supporters of our district and our community and alumni and to also hear from um previous recipients of the of scholarships uh in our district um I too was able to participate in truck or treat and help with the games and I want to thank uh Carissa Orin uh for uh identifying some games that would be really popular um uh and they were so we had three separate games and I think those were a hit maybe for next year um and then I was also able to attend the National Honor Society induction ceremony of the high school um and that was a really fantastic event seeing the hard work of our students that are participating in um academics and service there um I really uh enjoyed the senior NHS students introducing the newly inducted Juniors um that was just a really cool um way to see the connections between students and then I also had the opportunity to work with several of our NHS students um uh last week when they uh came to volunteer uh at Highland Elementary where we had um conferences going on uh two nights in a row there along with a book fair and a bake sale um and doing some prep work for an event that um I may have mentioned here I'm not sure um that's happening this Friday for our turkey Bingo event so um it was great to be able to this Friday this Friday wow November 15th Oh I thought it was Thursday um so it was great to um have the opportunity to get to know a few of the students a little bit better after that um and then I attended uh with my family the deis muos event at the high school um and that was such a well organized event and a very um very diverse in terms of activities right so focusing on Art focusing on music and on Dance um and sharing a meal with the community um so I was really appreciative to be able to participate in that and that partnership with the haer center um and then I ALS Al attended the school law conference on Friday I appreciated that they offered the ability to attend virtually um I think it allowed me to attend um on a day where I otherwise would not have been able to go in person um so that was really uh really helpful um and then I also attended the policy subcommittee meeting uh prior to this board meeting thanks thank you um I will um give my report um I also attended the truck Retreat um had a really great time with all of you as well as um our our team and getting to see all the students all dressed up so um that was fun all community members um I was not able to attend the robotics meet um but I did go and help set up for the robotics meet so um I spent um some time over at Columbia Academy helping them get all set up and prepped for the meet so that was fun to see the students were really excited to get to host their meet so um we were all working together um I did attend the scholarship um banquet and always a great time I agree with member madas that um just getting an opportunity to hear about our community and our distinguished alumni and to see our students come back after many years and talk about the difference that the scholarship made for them um and it's you know not we can no longer have a scholarship banquet without principal W doing some auctions so uh each year you get better better But although I don't know like I don't think we can top the first year um because it was so surprising I think um with that but um really a great a great time um for a very good cause um I had conversation um with Vice chair granin and superintendent stenvik um I also attended the subcommittee on policy and the chair meeting today as well um next we'll move on to the superintendent report and um superintendent seit you have a report for us yes thank you uh we are now in quarter two of the school believe it or not and we are off to a very busy start um the since our last meeting the class siiz committee met which is a joint meeting with local 710 members and administration uh we meet quarterly to discuss class sizes and collaboratively come up with Solutions I really appreciated hearing from the teachers and principles at our quarter 1 meeting I was invited to speak to our intro education class and this is a course a college course offered right here at Columbia Heights High School for students um which en Ables them to explore a career in education I participated in the National Honor Society induction ceremony also at the high school which um during which 54 students were inducted um as previously mentioned um I participated in the Minnesota Association of school administrators annual meeting as uh one of the two region n Representatives um I enjoyed the law conference um with the rest of the board members and team that were there virtually or not um and I have to say I'm really looking forward to Turkey bangle this Friday I will see you all there that's my report thank you thank you um I I do have to make come I did get a Facebook memory that popped up that I believe it was 12 years ago that was the first turkey bingo so I I took a screenshot so I could show it to you so um next we'll continue thank you all thank you superintendent seic next um to our new suspended and deleted courses for 2025 and 2026 um and we have director tuck roll and principal win and and coordinator uh Emily Gartner Emily Gartner which is not make sure you each have your own I guess so I was sh good evening chair Mueller members of the board superintendent stenvik I'm excited to be here this evening to share with you our proposals for new courses for the 2526 school year strange to think already about 2526 right and we just start a quar or two and I'm here tonight with principal win and coordinator Gartner and a couple of her little ones in the back watching what she does so our mission in Columbia Heights Public Schools is creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learner all belong all succeed and our presentation tonight covers many of the core values including Community Excellence collaboration courage and Innovation as we think about the hard work that our teachers and staff put into thinking about these new courses our Columbia Heights core values are aligned with the Board of Education Equity statement and we're here this evening as an informational item and we'll be returning on the 26th recommending approval of the new courses in the consent agenda we currently do not have any new recommendations to add new deleted suspended courses for the elementary school as we are implementing the react there's been a lot of change and things happening so we're going along with that one and as we think about Columbia Academy at this time we have no additional recommendations to add new or delete or suspend any courses and with them I'm going to pass it to coordinator Gartner to share about the high school recommendations we do have some recommendations for Columbia Heights High School good evening Cher Mueller members of the board superintendent stenvik um so last year we came and presented to you that our Ela team was working with the regional centers of excellence or rce to look at standard alignment in grades 11 and 12 and then also look at their courses so really wanting to um provide more Equitable opportunities for students and explore new courses um that would really meet students diverse needs and interests so they've been doing that work with rce um they are continuing that work with rce and they've really shared how impactful that work has been and now how it has led them to think about their courses and how the standards can be fulfilled in new ways so the the vision that we're bringing to you tonight is that the ELA team would like to create a suite of 11th and 12th grade ELA courses that would provide students with engaging standards aligned content um and that students would then be able to select from those courses in their 11th and 12th grade year years um courses that the students feel best align with their interests and their future goals will still fulfilling requirements um the statement from the El department is that they aim to foster a love of reading and writing develop critical thinking skills and Empower students to become confident self-directed Learners ready to take on the challenges of the 21st century so the courses that that team has been working on developing are listed here so media literacy environmental literacy in English Eng language arts everything's an argument in English language arts Multicultural literature in English language arts exploring identity through literature and language exploring dystopian fiction film as literature and English language arts and Sports in literature in English language arts and principal win is going to share more about these proposed courses absolutely good evening chair Mueller members of school board and superintendent senic um so they've put a lot of thought into these um courses and I'm just going to read the descriptors to you media literacy by the end of the course students will develop a critical lens through to which to view the media landscape equipping them with skills needed to navigate and engage the world around them thoughtfully and responsibly this is like four font here just so you know I mean am yeah I know but I we had these prepped right uh exploring identity through literature and langu language students will embark on thought-provoking journey into multifaceted Realms of identity through the exploration of literature and language environmental literacy in English language arts where students will explore the intricate relationships between Humanity nature in the written word developing critical thinking skills exploring dystopian fiction this course is designed to engage students in an exploration of dystopian fiction through a variety of novels and short stories films and other multimedia resources everything's an argument in English language arts this course focuses on the art of argumentation and rhetoric equipping students with the skills to construct compelling and well- reasoned arguments film as literature in English Language Arts students will explore the rich interplay between film and literature Multicultural literature in English language arts this course will cover both historical and contemporary context allowing students to understand the complexities of the displacement and the sociopolitical factors that contribute to to it from a diverse spectrum of perspectives and finally Sports in literature in language arts this course will examine the representation of sports and athletic competition in literature so with that basic on the student data courses and instruction will continue to change approved courses may not occur in certain years as its offerings are dependent on enrollment Staffing and student needs slins and collaborative work with the regional centers of excellence through the bright Works to support alignment to the standards at this time we'll take any questions you may have Mary um thank you so much for this uh this looks amazing I'm really excited about these um just question everything's an argument English language I mean is there going to be like a parent like class along with that when our kids come home like with rhetorical like learning how to have that you know those constructive arguments like are we going to get any I'm just kiding that's a joke no um but I'm I'm super excited about these offerings and I really I'm kind of jealous like I want to audit the like audit as in like go to the class and just like I want to read these things and I want to have these thought-provoking um discussions uh but honestly the one that I'm really really excited about is the media literacy and I have this conversation at home with my own children the idea of um how do we know what information is you know what a reliable source is and how do we do that and I think the changing landscape of things his you know uh the way our media looks and the information that we get in it is changing so rapidly that I think it's incredibly important and I think it's very thoughtful of us to have a um a class that's also talking about that with kids so thank you Michelle um these are awesome uh I just I guess I'm wondering what the implementation would look like and like like so choose using these courses I mean it seems like a lot of them so like will all of them be available or will you go by what people sign up for and just do those like how does that work great question we just had this conversation with the ELA Department two weeks ago I think we sat in and principal W and I have had the conversation that we can't offer all of them in this first year given it will take time to build the courses and to get the resources so talking with the Department they're going to be offering a core group of them m and surveying the students to see where they're at and that was a conversation with principal wi was it's very different than currently with English 11 and English 12 where you're going to say teacher a is teaching this teacher B is teaching this we might have to change it up and we all might be teaching it's an argument right and be ready for that and having that conversation with them they were excited they said we can collaborate we want to be able to teach all the courses and so they were excited they they could be working together to create them and to be able to support each other with that yeah so it will depend on the students and what they their interests are and the numbers and the planning of it and there'll be a little bit of a transition right so our current levels where we're at and then introducing this um a couple of these CL or one of the classes was an elective currently and so some of the kids have already had this class okay um and so maybe not the year-long piece of it but they they have they've had the class and so there will be some transition um but offering student choice is one of the new standards what that they're focusing on in language arts and so provide an opportunity for our kids to actually pick what they have versus a generic uh English 11 and 12 and that takes nothing away from what we're doing now it's just yeah you know as as we look more for student Choice well it's great I mean like I I'm I'm still at elementary level right with mine but I'm always wondering like how to make you know reading and writing fun and I feel like you guys are doing that you know at that level it's great um I'm I I was just I was just thinking here that that the the interest here is the students are going to want to participate and being able to come up with I mean learning shouldn't be routine you know it should be exploratory so and I think that that's that's what I'm seeing here is is we're trying some different things because the important thing at the end of the day is that they learn the material and it NE doesn't necessarily the the um how they learn it is not as important as the fact that they actually learn it and um they actually do look great so um we will be auditing these courses in the near future so I'm actually fascinated with the dystopian one y That's I yeah I'm kind of like the disopan stuff so it's so thank you and I think a lot of credit goes to our uh language arts department they've had this Vision um this was well in play before this really came out as far as working with the rce center they so they they have had this vision and trying to coordinate this and what this would how this would come alive uh is really what's been pushed this last year so you know all credit to them taking a chance and and caring about what kids think about this and trying to get them more engaged um that's that's the leadership of that department for sure oh you're you're creating hungry Learners that's the goal you know and um I mean and you know getting a thirst for it so you know making this more accessible I mean anybody can you know grab a book off the shelf and and read it but is it engaging does it is it relevant and I think you're doing both engaging and relevant um and plus giving the the kids choices they feel like they have control I mean I'm I think it's a wonder I I I think this is amazing so thank you questions am well anytime you come up with something new it's like we're going to do another English course you know so super exciting I just wanted to Echo the comments of my fellow board members about um this model and being able to deliver academic standards uh within themes that are engaging for students I think that's really exciting I also think there's a very clear connection between um the direction of these courses and our new strategic plan as a district especially when we're looking at academic learning within um the theme of all succeed ensuring students students that have a variety of opportunities um to explore and to um to uh grow academically so I'm appreciative of that um and then I just maybe this is a member request I think since we're talking about um courses that um we're going to be able to offer but not necessarily every year I do think it's really helpful for us as a board to know year-to-year what courses are being offered um at both um well at all of our schools but in particular our secondary schools at CA and at the high school and I don't know what the best time of year is to provide us with that information but um I do think that would be helpful year toe to to be able to know um what offerings are are out there and students are enrolling and participating in year toer so that's my I can speak that um two things one is thank you for all your comments and I will be the conduit and let our language arts department receive this this uh feedback as well okay um because really they're the ones doing all the work we're just presenting what they're doing and secondly um you know how we run courses we have course offerings course a course description guide and um then we have kids sign up and sometimes that dictates how many sections we run or whatever so what we can do as far as the followup is when we go to register students we can provide a copy of the course description guide um of of the courses that are offered and then some of that magic afterwards doesn't come out until August uh ideally we'd get that done before we come back but it could be you know Midsummer um for what classes are actually going to run um for our master schedule so and I think whatever is most convenient I think just once a year us knowing oh this is what's running would be helpful our student information system we could pull a report be great thank you um I you know I know I try to say like let's not all talk about the same thing and but I'm going to um It's my prerogative right now um but I told you and it starts and it starts um I I I just want to continue to to comment and I hope that you do share this with your team um superintendent stck and I were talking a little bit about this in one of the comments I was like a my kids are gone um I I had kids that loved English 11 and English 12 um but I just can't imagine how much more more they would have loved um to be able to select a course um that was based on their on their interests and you know kind of some of their passion projects and I see all of my kids being able to find something specific my three very different kids would all find something within this course um selection that would appeal to them um so just a a great job of listening to the students um really which is what we wanted is to elevate student voice um to respond respond to that it shows the kids that their voice does matter and that it provides some ownership in their education um and thankful I'm than thankful to the staff who are willing to do this um stepping out of the box and um trying something new so thank you to to all of you and to them as well any other questions or comments all right great thank you all you next we'll move on to our action items um we have one action item tonight which is the canvas the returns of the school district's School Board election resolution we've got our election clerk Stephanie Alvarez good evening um school board members um chair Mueller and superintendent stck um I'm here tonight to Canvas the returns of the School District School Board elections am I reading this resolution no I'll read it okay we have a resolution to be read y great thank you um so we do have the resolution um to Canvas the school board election results um be it resolved by the school board of Independent School District 13 state of Minnesota that is hereby found determined and declared that the annual election of the voters of the district held on November 5th 2024 was in all respects duly and legally called and held and and held and at said election a total of 2,719 electors of the district voted on the question of electing three directors to the Board of Education each for a 4-year term of which 4,964 voted for Mary granin 4,23 voted for Karina Smith 4,825 voted for Michelle pway 450 voted for Adam Davis 3,550 voted for Sher extrand there were 127 right in ballots Mary granin Michelle pway and Karina Smith having received the majority of such votes are hereby declared election elected can I please get a motion to adopt this resolution so motion Laura and a second second second by Jessica any discussion Mary I just want to take a second and say thank you very much to everybody who came out um this was uh you know it was really wonderful to have this experience um spent a lot of time uh talking to people in our neighborhood and in addition to all of the things that I already do in our district um and you know we were joking at our house the other day and my oldest son said so there's no more there's no more elections like there's no more C what do we do cuz we've spent you know the last eight months of Our Lives doing these things so um but again I'm I am eternally grateful to our uh Community for trusting me uh and us with their um to hear their voice on the board and to be a part of that um and I'm incredibly thankful to be in a community that um trusts women to lead so thank you thanks Mary any other comments Michelle yeah um I want to say thank you as well for all the support and um continued boosts um when I need them uh I have been campaigning for a little more than eight months and um have have been on this journey um before and so it feels nice this time to be able to say I'll get to have um a role that lasts you know longer and I'll get to keep doing the good work we're doing I feel like our board and our school district is in a really great place and we're moving in a really um great momentum forward and I just want to continue to be a part of that um you weren't getting rid of me anyway I would have found some way to still be a part of this because I just know so much now I've learned so much and um I to would have been a part of a lot of the events that I attend and the the activities that that we provide and do so um yeah I'm excited that I get to be here um because people have asked me to and not just because I'm pushing myself on you guys um but thank you guys so much thank everybody um this was this was great uh to be able to experience thank you la I just want to make a a quick comment um congratulations um both of you um I know that you've got a real passion and it was really wonderful to see so many engaged and putting themselves out there um being a candidate and putting yourself out there is very difficult um it's it's certainly um it's it shows up in in the results as to what you put into it and um and to have so many people involved in putting themselves out there and you know and and talking about es especially talking about our district I think it's a wonderful thing you know to be um that people care enough to run so um you know congratulations to those that won and um and thank you very much to those who who participated and made this all this American you know kind of experience possible and we couldn't do it without everybody you thank you yeah any other comments um I I to just want to um say congratulations to the two of you and to Karina um I am confident that this board will be able to continue the good work that it has been doing um stop Laura um and um I'm glad to have been a part of it and I'm glad to be able to watch the the the six new uh six board members all of you um move forward and continue moving Us in the in the great Direction I do want to thank Adam and Sherry for um uh caring enough about student education to do the work um to put themselves out there um and thank you to Stephanie Alvarez um as our election clerk there's a lot of work that goes on to run a school board Schoolboard election and thank you Stephanie for doing the hard work there thank Youk you any other comments since this is a resolution Michelle you do the roll call vote please yes granin I pway I Palmer I madas I H Mueller I resolution passes thank you all you next we'll move on to board topics um Jessica does anybody have any board topics I love ity Bingo and silent auction event at Highland on Friday 5:30 doors open for first game is at 6:00 we have a grocery uh gift cards for the Bingo wi winners and a cash prize for the final round uh we'll be selling pizza and other concessions so you can come have dinner there as well and we have about 60 to 70 uh donations from the local community for our as silent auction so yes be there if you can awesome great thank you any other board comments yes there's a robotics meet On th Thursday before so if you are looking for things to do at the end of this week um you can join us at CA uh we so people will start showing up around 4 and we anticipate that um there will be uh the meets will start at around 5: so everybody is welcome it is free um please come and celebrate uh what our students are doing and learning uh through that uh through the robotics team so hopefully we'll see you there right thank you any other board topics what time is sorry what time is the robotics oh uh they'll start the meets around five okay Laura uh was on your next board meeting thing all right thank you Laura la be providing lasagna for the work session yay thank you yeah any other board topics to anybody who comes to the work session I'm hungry Laura makes a great lasagna I make a big lasagna is huge I don't want to take half of at home so yes all right anything else all right then we'll adjourn our meeting at 6