White Bear Lake Area Schools — Transcript
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Student Representatives Introduction
Consent Agenda and Invoice Registry Review
Student Recognition - Minnesota Junior Bass Nation High School Championship
Superintendent's Report
Opening School Report - Teaching and Learning
Opening School Report - Operations
Opening School Report - Human Resources
Opening School Report - Community Education & Recreation
Opening School Report - Communications
Opening School Report - Enrollment Data
Board Forum - University Automatic Acceptance Pilot Program
Board Forum - The Penguin Project
Board Forum - Hunger Action Month
Board Forum - Minnesota Report Card & AI in Education
Board Forum - Citizens Against Sex Trafficking (CAST) Educational Program
Votes (2)
Approval of Invoices (Check Registry)
Dissent: None (Mr. Skaar, who initiated the discussion and proposed changes, ultimately voted in favor of approving the invoices as presented, with the understanding that improvements could be discussed as a separate agenda item in the future.)
Moved by Thompson [00:16:36] · Seconded by Streiff Oji [00:16:47]
Mr. Skaar pulled the payment of invoices from the consent agenda to discuss specific items, including substantial payments to universities for scholarships, an invoice for youth enrichment classes to Konstantin Vasyakin, and a large payment to Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation for BARR programming. He then proposed improvements to the invoice register for greater public transparency, suggesting a legend for internal classifications (R, C, A) and a description column for each item, or stratifying items over $10,000. Staff indicated willingness to implement changes if it was the board's collective will, with a sample report possibly run through the executive finance committee.
Action on School Board Policies 414 and 516.5
Dissent: None
Moved by Thompson [01:00:23] · Seconded by Beloyed [01:00:29]
The board considered taking action on two school board policies, 414 and 516.5, as a single group. No specific discussion or debate occurred regarding the content of these policies during this agenda item.
Notable Quotes (4)
By the way, I just had questions on some of the items on the invoice register. We had a number of invoices paid to various universities, Bethel University, Century College, University of Minnesota, I can go on and on. And they are fairly substantial when you add 'em all.
It would be much easier if you put down in the bottom, like a legend that tells us what those are. Is that possible to do?
And as I said before, as a CPA and somebody that's presented these things, you have to look towards who's using the report. It's the public and it's us. So, we need to make it easier for the public and the board to decipher this invoice register.
I would just say that us asking and communicating with staff outside of the public, I don't think is necessarily a good practice. So, I'm thinking that, the questions that I have maybe other people have, they don't have the time to call. Why shouldn't we make this convenient for the public to understand our finances?
Ordinances & Resolutions (20)
Procedural guide for parliamentary debate cited during consent agenda discussion regarding pulling items.
State-mandated literacy professional development for staff, including paraprofessionals, being implemented in the district.
Fishing competition where district students achieved state-level recognition.
Award recognizing Otter Lake Elementary and Mariner Middle School for innovation and student success by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association.
Organization that grants the Schools of Excellence award.
Annual recognition theme for school board members in September.
Program for metro-area students to explore skilled trades, with White Bear having the highest participation.
Award received by the district's Automotive Career Pathway Program.
Grant program assisting with district solar projects at Vadnais Heights Elementary and the high school.
Source of the Standard Response Protocols for school safety.
Best practice guidelines for emergency drills and school safety, available on the district's webpage.
Source of a grant for electric school buses for the district.
Source of a grant for electric school buses for the district.
New district-wide communication tool with multi-language translation capabilities being used for family and classroom communication.
State report indicating positive trends in district math, reading proficiency, and attendance.
National program empowering children with special needs through theater, with a local chapter performance.
September awareness campaign for food insecurity, highlighting the needs of students.
Organization providing an educational program on sex trafficking to local government and school district staff.
School board policy up for official action.
School board policy up for official action.