Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools — Transcript
Friday, November 14, 2025
School Board Election Results
Fiscal Year 2024-25 Financial Audit
Technology Levy Renewal
Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (CACR) Report
Enrollment Projections 2026-27
School Year Calendar 2026-27 and 2027-28
Middle School and High School Course Revisions
Connections Preschool Fees 2026-27
Student and Staff Recognition
Votes (5)
Resolution Canvasing Returns of School District Election
Dissent: None
Moved by Jackie [1:17:34] · Seconded by Katherine Diamond [1:17:36]
Adam Watenberger presented the resolution to formally review and certify the results of the school district election held on November 4th. He acknowledged the collaborative effort involved in administering the election, thanking district staff, county departments, city partners, and election judges. He detailed the results for the general school board election (Leah Gardner, Robin Serio, Cicen Muhammad elected for four-year terms) and the special school board election (Katherine Diamond elected for a two-year term). He also reported on the technology levy ballot question, which passed with 67.99% (rounded to 68%) approval.
Fiscal Year 2024-25 Financial Audit Report
Dissent: None
Moved by Robin Serio [1:26:54] · Seconded by Leah Gardner [1:26:55]
Danny Duchene and Jamie Faith from ID Bailey presented the annual financial audit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The audit received a clean, unmodified opinion with zero material findings, indicating that the financial statements are materially accurate. The federal funds audit (single audit) is pending due to a delay in the federal compliance supplement, but preliminary testing showed no expected findings. The general fund saw revenues exceed budget by $2.5 million and expenditures come in under budget by nearly $3 million, resulting in a positive net change of $7 million to the fund balance, which now stands at $118.6 million. The unassigned fund balance is 14.9% of operating expenditures, well above the district's 5% policy. Discussions also touched on the community service and food service fund balances.
School Year Calendar 2026-27 and 2027-28
Dissent: None, discussion only
Moved by No Action Required Tonight (First Reading)
Joel Miltier presented the calendar committee's proposed school year calendars, emphasizing alignment with core values and strategic priorities. Key changes include a September 1st start date for all students (removing elementary assessment days), maintaining a 4-day Labor Day weekend, dedicated teacher planning/grading days, specific lengths for winter and spring breaks, and last school days in early June. Board members raised questions about accommodating specific religious holidays like Eid and the challenges for families posed by midweek end dates and frequent days off in certain months.
2026-27 Middle School and High School Course Revisions
Dissent: None, discussion only
Moved by No Action Required Tonight (First Reading)
Rachel Hughes and Zach Idolbus presented proposed revisions for middle and high school course offerings, aligning with the district's AAA philosophy. Updates include a phased rollout of new math standards, the full implementation of 2022 Minnesota social studies standards (including an ethnic studies strand), and new course offerings such as AP Business with Personal Finance, AP Pre-Calculus, Flag Football, Olympic Weightlifting, Dance 2, and Fashion Design. These revisions aim to enhance academic opportunities and expand student choice.
2026-27 Connections Preschool Fees
Dissent: None, discussion only
Moved by No Action Required Tonight (First Reading)
Kaia Bruce presented the first reading of proposed fee increases for the Connections preschool program for the 2026-27 school year. The proposed increase is an inflationary adjustment of 3% to 4.5% to cover rising program costs. She emphasized that the program will continue to use a sliding scale based on federal poverty guidelines to ensure accessibility.
Notable Quotes (10)
I think we had a pretty smooth election. Things ran well to my knowledge. Um, it's a big undertaking to administer these elections. So, um, really appreciative of all of the people in the district and outside of the district who came together to, uh, pull that off.
So, yes, received 67.99% of the vote. I'm comfortable rounding that up to 68 for purposes of talking about it. Um, so having received the approval of a majority of the votes cast, the yes vote prevails and the question carries.
you received a clean, unmodified opinion on the financial statement audit. That is what you want. That's what you have received in the past. And that means your financial statements are materially accurate or not.
the best thing you said was there's no surprises.
I would love to see us prioritizing at least one like the one main holiday for any particular group would be lovely... I think that if I'm not mistaken that that ended we were able to make that fit into this current school year calendar and it's not as best I understand it going forward. So I was just curious did that come up?...
I also do hear a lot in the months of January and February of those weeks just being really difficult um, with the days off and the one day here, one day there, and then there is that week where there's only three days that the kids are in school. Um, so just noting that as a as a it is a true hardship on families.
Our course revisions each year reflect the story of what is happening in education at the local, state, and national levels. Many factors shape the proposed course changes each year.
The 2022 Minnesota social studies standards are set for full implementation by next school year 202627 and represent a significant pivot from the 2010 version by centering inquiry as the primary mode of learning... The most prominent structural change is the addition of the ethnic studies strand...
The proposed fees reflect an inflationary adjustment resulting in a three to a 4.5% increase from the current year with all figures rounded to the nearest dollar. This adjustment is a necessary inflationary measure to help cover the rising costs associated with running the program.
I want to emphasize that we will continue to maintain our commitment to accessibility by continuing to use a sliding scale based on federal poverty guidelines for tuition.
Ordinances & Resolutions (17)
Updated legislation formerly known as World's Best Workforce, requiring districts to set and report on long-term goals for student success.
Tool used for measuring kindergarten readiness and K-6 literacy proficiency gaps.
Observational assessment tool used in prekindergarten programs to monitor student progress.
Minnesota Department of Education collaboration to increase access to services and support family engagement in early learning.
Standardized test used to measure college and career readiness for 11th-grade students.
Test taken by 10th-grade students to familiarize them with the ACT and identify learning gaps.
Comprehensive college, career, and life readiness platform used for the lifelong learning goal.
Program implemented at high schools for 9th-grade students to build relationships and provide targeted support.
Governs the start date for school districts, including potential exemptions for starting before Labor Day.
Governs the number of instructional days and hours required for various grade levels.
Governs the number of e-learning days a school district may have during a school year.
New state standards for social studies curriculum, emphasizing inquiry and ethnic studies, with full implementation by 2026-27.
Regulation outlining how Connections Preschool tuition rates are determined based on family size, income, and chosen course.
Formal report detailing the district's financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025.
Summary document accompanying the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the board.
Report on the district's federal grant expenditures, pending final compliance supplement from the federal government.
Checklists from the state auditor's office to ensure adherence to state statutes.