South St. Paul Public Schools — Transcript
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
2024-2025 School Year Kick-off and Building Highlights
District-Wide Initiatives and Updates
Peacemaker Program and Strategic Plan Framework
Votes (5)
Approval for the South St Paul school board to approve the health dental and LTD insurance rates for 2025
Dissent: None
Moved by T. Felton [34:55] · Seconded by Claflin [34:56]
The district operates a self-insured plan for health and dental insurance, with rates determined annually. Administration recommended a 0% increase for 2025, continuing a trend of no increases for health insurance over the last 4-5 years and for dental insurance since the plan's inception in 2017. This decision was based on claims history, expected future claims, and the need to maintain an adequate reserve.
Approval for the South St Paul school board to approve the Biba trust change
Dissent: None
Moved by T. Felton [37:06] · Seconded by W. Felton [37:07]
The district's VEBA plan, managed by MetLife, required a trust partner change. The existing Bass trust was terminated, leading to a recommendation to transfer all employee members to the Matrix HRA Viva plan as the new trust partner to ensure the continuity of their benefits.
Approval of the South St Paul school board to approve the 2025 continuing teachers contracts
Dissent: None
Moved by T. Felton [39:39] · Seconded by W. Felton [39:41]
As part of the annual staffing process, the administration identified additional probationary teachers from the 2023-2024 school year who would be granted tenure for the 2024-2025 school year. This approval formalizes their transition to a tenured career with the district.
Approval for the South St Paul school board to approve the acceptance of gift report
Dissent: None
Moved by T. Felton [40:32] · Seconded by W. Felton [40:33]
The South St. Paul Lions Club contributed $2,500 through community education specifically for the gymnastics program. The board expressed appreciation for the ongoing support from community organizations for student activities.
Approval for the South St Paul school board to approve the joint Powers agreement for childhood vaccinations between the count count Dakota County and Special School District number six
Dissent: None
Moved by T. Felton [41:00] · Seconded by W. Felton [41:01]
The board considered and approved a Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota County to facilitate on-site vaccination clinics at school locations. This initiative aims to provide a free and accessible service for families, helping students meet Minnesota's required immunization or exemption standards.
Notable Quotes (5)
Administration recommends no change in the rates and approval of the proposed 202 2025 health and dental insurance rates are presented additional information regarding this recommendation is listed below and so we've listed just kind of what our history has been over the years from 2017 to present and you'll notice in uh health insurance rates we started off with some 8% increases initially but over the last four to five years we've been recommending 0% and the board has been approving 0% increases for our staff in health insurance and dental insurance has been at 0% for the entire period that we've been on these plans.
The district has been notified that maurity uh upcoming changes by maturity of upcoming changes to our Viva trust partner this will impact employee members of the plan who still have dollars in their grandfathered HRA or Viva plans currently Met has two funded HRA and BBA trusts there's one called bass and another called Matrix matur has terminated the bass trust which leaves the Matrix trust and is now recommending that we transfer everyone on the bass plan over to the Matrix plan as we move forward.
As part of our annual Staffing process Administration identifies probationary teachers to retain and those who will be granted tenure for the upcoming year as a result the attached document reflects additional probationary teachers from the 23 24 school year who would be granted a tenure for the 25 2425 school year and these are additional teachers over the ones that we brought forward in May.
And our local South St Paul Lions Club has uh contributed $2500 um through community ed for the gymnastics program and um as always um continually AED and impressed by the continued support by um the organizations and inside our Community to uh lead to really strong uh activities um for our students.
We are asking for your um approval of a joint Powers agreement that would allow us to be able to host vaccination clinics at our school sites um that would be facilitated by Dakota County um in Minnesota all students are required to have immunizations or an exemption from immunizations so we just really want to be able to provide a free service to our families and make it even more accessible to to have their immunizations.
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
Strategic plan guiding Early Learning initiatives like LETTERS training and curriculum refresh.
Program that 'letters training' is a part of for early literacy.
Plan developed by the Middle School instructional leadership team to make gains in math and literacy.
Forms for families to apply for free/reduced services, generating district revenue.
The district's student information system, referred to as 'SIS'.
A feature within Infinite Campus for families to review and update contact information.
Consent form for field trips, now integrated into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal for annual completion.
Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association's plan for pre-tax income for medical expenses.
The new trust partner for the district's VEBA and HRA plans, replacing the terminated Bass trust.
Contracts granting tenure to probationary teachers for the upcoming school year.
Report detailing financial or in-kind contributions received by the district.
Agreement with Dakota County to host childhood vaccination clinics at school sites.
Individualized plan for students in state-approved Alternative Programs, revamped for goal focus and parent/student involvement.