South St. Paul Public Schools — Transcript
Monday, September 22, 2025
Student School Board Representative Swearing-In and Reports
Caposia Tree Planting Project
Minnesota Accountability Performance Report Metrics
District Financial and Operational Approvals
Superintendent and Board Member Updates
Votes (4)
Approval of Consent Items (Financial Claims and Bills Payable, Staffing)
Dissent: None
Moved by Director Cummings [1:09:44] · Seconded by Director Claflin [1:09:46]
This item involved the routine approval of financial claims, bills payable, and staffing as presented to the board. There was no specific discussion or debate recorded for these items.
Approval of the 2025 Payable 2026 Proposed Levy
Dissent: None
Moved by Director Duffy [1:10:48] · Seconded by Director W. Felton [1:10:50]
Rod Toth, Finance Director, presented the proposed levy, explaining it as an annual, statutory process requiring submission to county auditors by September 30th. He noted that the final amounts might slightly deviate due to pending MDE calculations and that a true tax hearing is scheduled for December 8th.
Approval of Transportation Contracts
Dissent: None
Moved by Director W. Felton [1:12:48] · Seconded by Director Duffy [1:12:50]
Rod Toth, Finance Director, presented a new two-plus-two-year agreement with the current transportation provider, Safeway. The contract resulted from summer negotiations and data analysis with Catalyst Sourcing, aiming for a 'win-win solution' that includes safety languages and clearer rates while managing budget constraints. Director Cummings thanked staff for the work, acknowledging rising transportation costs but appreciating the reasonable outcome.
Approval of 2026 and 2027 Self-Insured Health Insurance Contracts with Health Partners
Dissent: None
Moved by Director W. Felton [1:15:02] · Seconded by Director Duffy [1:15:05]
Charlie Cook, HR Director, and Rod Toth presented the proposed health insurance contracts. Following a competitive bid process mandated by the Health Insurance Transparency Act, Health Partners (the current provider) submitted the most competitive bid. The proposal included an 8% increase in health insurance premiums and a 3% increase in dental premiums, with no changes to life or LTD coverage, and the removal of GLP1 medication coverage for purposes of weight loss. The district's insurance committee recommended the approval. Director Cummings expressed gratitude for staff efforts to minimize costs in the past but voiced regret over the significant 8% increase, noting it exceeds inflation and would be borne by employees, potentially impacting their health.
Notable Quotes (4)
This is an annual process which a lot of public schools entities are conducting around September because we have a statutory obligation to our county auditors by September 30th. The proposed levy amounts here will deviate just a tad bit because of MDE right now still doing their calculation doing their final runs.
I want to thank you for the work. I know when we listen to the news, transportation costs is like increasing everywhere. And so obviously it's recognized that we're going to have to pay more in this contract, but I appreciate the work that went into making sure that this is um reasonable as far as our budget works and respectful of our partner at Safeway.
Six carriers submitted proposals with the lowest and most competitive bid coming from currently um health partners which is our current provider as well. So what we're seeking is um for an acceptance of that going for our insurance committee. Our insurance committee also um recommends this.
I wanted to say thank you for your work. I wanted to say thank you for your engagement with the insurance group. Um I wanted to um thank you for doing all that you can to get the best deal possible. And um and health insurance is an industry that is um is the costs are rising way too much and they're being borne by employees and that is a regrettable thing. But I with all that said I know that you have done all the best that you can to keep our employees well to keep them um safe um and to keep the cost down. But um an 8% increase is much higher than inflation and that that is a cost that will be borne by our employees um that do so much for our district.
Ordinances & Resolutions (4)
State-mandated standards for student progress, measured by MCAs.
Act requiring self-insured health plans to go out for bids.
District plan with a goal related to improving student performance, including attendance.
Annual levy proposal for the school district, subject to statutory obligations and MDE calculations.