Board of Education Meeting - May 26, 2026
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Story
Lakeville Schools Honors Educators of Excellence Amidst EML Leadership Transition
Growing Together bond referendum approval (54%-45%) and thanks to election staff
Good news and student/staff awards (Athena Awards, speech, Math Masters, Honor Band, adapted softball, All-State Choir)
Public comment: request to reinstate IXL math/literacy software at elementary level
Consent agenda: minutes, employment, bills and claims, gift donations, field trips
District 917 and District Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) plans
Technology equipment sale
English language arts resources adoption (Amplify vs. Savvas)
Social studies resources adoption (incl. Minnesota Historical Society Northern Lights)
Policy 704 fixed asset inventory and accounting system (second reading)
Resolution establishing dates for filing affidavits of candidacy (July 28 deadline)
Board role in curriculum adoption vs. consent agenda process
Bridges math curriculum, differentiation, READ Act and special education/multilingual supports
Areas of Interest (8)
- Board split over whether 10 curriculum adoptions worth years of use for 12,000+ students should be buried in the consent agenda.
- Teacher-led push to reinstate IXL highlights district's lack of elementary math tutors amid Bridges curriculum rollout.
- Close teacher preference split between Amplify and Savvas ELA resources — what drove the final recommendation?
- Growing Together bond passed 54-45; track how the middle school 'comparable learning environments' promise is delivered.
- Swanson's remark about 'indoctrination' narratives points to community tension over social studies standards and Minnesota Historical Society Northern Lights materials.
- Curriculum spending: board members reference significant budget outlays with limited public review.
- EML union leadership transition (Carrie Pop to Randy Adams effective July 1).
- Earlier school board filing deadline (July 28) could shrink candidate field.
Votes (3)
Approve the agenda
Moved by Tony Rackelberger · Seconded by Kim Baker
Approve consent agenda minus items I and J (ELA and social studies resources)
Moved by Unidentified board member · Seconded by Unidentified board member
Approve English language arts resources
Moved by Unidentified board member · Seconded by Unidentified board member
Notable Quotes (11)
On May 12th, voters in Lakeville Area School District approved the Growing Together bond referendum, and the vote was 54 to 45%.
our voters have chosen to invest in the success of our students
We presently have literacy tutors, but no math tutors. IXL is a cost-effective way to strategically fill this gap.
IXL is an ISD 194 vetted, standards-aligned, field-tested app, which is used in grades 6 through 12 and has historically been used in our elementary schools.
while we've had multiple conversations as a board around a $3 million levy, a $139 million levy, academic reports and dashboards, but yet we are not going to have a dialogue around 10 curriculum items that will be in place for the next 10 years for over 12,000 students each year
this is a strategic decision that's going to last for the next 10 years and it's embedded in a consent agenda and we're just voting yes or no
We need to understand what it is we're actually giving a thumbs up or a thumbs down to here.
I trust the experts to know how we're going to best serve the students based on the standards.
it's also an opportunity to dispel some narratives that might be in the public that kids are being indoctrinated one way or another
most importantly, we want to make sure that that resource is aligned to the standards at the level of rigor that we would expect students to be able to perform at
The READ Act really talks about making sure that all students start reading at grade level, including our special education and our multilingual students.
People (19)
Amber CameronSchool Board ChairRan May 26, 2026 Lakeville Area Schools ISD 194 board meeting; read public comment rules
Ran May 26, 2026 Lakeville Area Schools ISD 194 board meeting; read public comment rules
Michael BaumannSuperintendentPresented good news, referendum results, thanked election staff
2 quotes
Presented good news, referendum results, thanked election staff
“On May 12th, voters in Lakeville Area School District approved the Growing Together bond referendum, and the vote was 54 to 45%.”
Referendum results announcement
“This funding's going to help us create more comparable learning environments across our three middle schools”
Bond referendum impact
Ryan ThompsonSchool Board Director (referred to as Brian/Ryan)Urged pausing curriculum votes and moving them out of the consent agenda
3 quotes
Urged pausing curriculum votes and moving them out of the consent agenda
“we are not going to have a dialogue around uh 10 curriculum items that will be in place for the next 10 years for over 12,000 students each year”
Criticizing consent-agenda placement of curriculum
“my recommendation to the board is to pause and bring this back to a working session and do a presentation”
Proposed 2-week pause
“You have until July 28th... To be a part of the fun.”
Encouraging school board candidacy filings
Matt SwansonSchool Board DirectorRemoved items I and J from consent agenda; asked about Amplify vs. Savvas
2 quotes
Removed items I and J from consent agenda; asked about Amplify vs. Savvas
“I'd like to remove I and J for further discussion.”
Consent agenda
“it's also an opportunity to kind of uh dispel some narratives that might be in the public that kids are being indoctrinated one way or another”
Public transparency on curriculum choices
Carli AndersonSchool Board DirectorDefended curriculum process; served on teaching and learning committee
1 quote
Defended curriculum process; served on teaching and learning committee
“I have no expertise in evaluating this curriculum versus that curriculum... I trust the experts to know how we're going to best serve the students”
Board role in curriculum adoption
Paul CarboneSchool Board DirectorSupported deeper review of curriculum spending and content
1 quote
Supported deeper review of curriculum spending and content
“We need to understand um what it is we're actually giving a thumbs up or a thumbs down to here. And I'm not sure we can do that with this brief little exposure.”
Curriculum adoption debate
Kim BakerSchool Board DirectorAsked about special education intervention supports in ELA curriculum
1 quote
Asked about special education intervention supports in ELA curriculum
“Is there some type of um portion of that curriculum that would help students for intervention for like special education?”
ELA resources discussion
Tony RackelbergerSchool Board DirectorMoved approval of the agenda
Moved approval of the agenda
Nicole McKenzieElementary educator, Lakeville Area SchoolsAdvocated for reinstating IXL, citing lack of math tutors
1 quote
Advocated for reinstating IXL, citing lack of math tutors
“we presently have literacy tutors, but no math tutors. IXL is a cost-effective way to strategically fill this gap.”
Public comment on IXL
Carrie PopEML President (outgoing)Introduced incoming president and Educator of Excellence awards
Introduced incoming president and Educator of Excellence awards
Randy AdamsIncoming EML President; fifth-grade teacher at Lake MarionPresented 2025-26 Educators of Excellence awards; term starts July 1
Presented 2025-26 Educators of Excellence awards; term starts July 1
Hillary MorlockDigital media specialist lead, Cherry View Elementary2025-26 EML Elementary Educator of Excellence
2025-26 EML Elementary Educator of Excellence
Erin Mulvaney-MankowskiEnglish educator, Lakeville Pathways Academy2025-26 EML Secondary Educator of Excellence; equity lead, union rep, PLC facilitator
2025-26 EML Secondary Educator of Excellence; equity lead, union rep, PLC facilitator
TracyDistrict teaching and learning administratorExplained resource adoption process and committee vetting
Explained resource adoption process and committee vetting
SandyCurriculum administratorDetailed rubric, standards alignment, vendor vetting, field tests
1 quote
Detailed rubric, standards alignment, vendor vetting, field tests
“It's pretty much broken fairly equally depending on which category that you're looking at within that rubric. So it was a difficult choice for our teachers to make.”
Teacher preferences between Amplify and Savvas
Hayden JanskiSenior, Lakeville North High SchoolNamed St. Paul Area Athena Award recipient
Named St. Paul Area Athena Award recipient
Ava WelshSenior, Lakeville South High SchoolNamed St. Paul Area Athena Award recipient
Named St. Paul Area Athena Award recipient
Claire FieldsSophomore, Lakeville South High SchoolSelected for Minnesota All-State Choir; will perform at Orchestra Hall in February
Selected for Minnesota All-State Choir; will perform at Orchestra Hall in February
NatalieELA coordinatorCredited for collaboration on differentiation with special education and EL staff
Credited for collaboration on differentiation with special education and EL staff
Places Mentioned
Events & Meetings (8)
- May 26, 2026 — Lakeville Area Schools ISD 194 regular school board meeting
- May 12, 2026 — special election on Growing Together bond referendum
- May 19, 2026 — special board meeting to canvass election returns
- 46 days of early voting at the district office
- July 1 — Randy Adams begins term as EML president
- July 28 — deadline to file affidavits of candidacy for school board
- June 2026 — National Speech and Debate Tournament
- February (next year) — All-State Choir grand finale at Orchestra Hall
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Approved May 19, 2026 certifying Growing Together bond referendum results (54% yes / 45% no).
Consent agenda item accepting donations to the district.
Sets school board candidate filing deadline of July 28.
Development and maintenance of fixed asset inventory and accounting system; second reading approved.
Long-term facilities maintenance plan approved via consent agenda.
District long-term facilities maintenance plan approved via consent agenda.