SSPPS School Board Mtg- June 23, 2025
South St. Paul Schools approves $1.5M budget despite enrollment decline
Summer Programming and Student Support Initiatives
Compensatory Aid Advocacy and Recovery
District Strategic Planning and Performance Monitoring
Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Proposal
Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook Review
Full Document Analysis
Votes (4)
Approval of Consent Items (Financial Claims, Bills Payable, Staffing)
Dissent: Director Weber [0:46:42], Chair Hume [0:46:48] (as implied by 'me as well')
Moved by Unknown [0:46:12] · Seconded by Unknown [0:46:13]
Standard approval of routine financial and staffing matters. No public discussion was held, but dissent was noted for reasons discussed in a prior work session.
Approval of the 2025-2026 Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:47:56] · Seconded by Unknown [0:47:57]
Amy Winter presented the handbook, emphasizing its role as a resource for shared understanding of expectations and policies. She clarified that changes were primarily cosmetic or updates based on new information/legislation, such as the district's core values. The board had previously discussed the handbook in a work session.
Approval of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Proposal
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:49:13] · Seconded by Unknown [0:49:15]
District Finance Director Chath provided an in-depth presentation covering fund categories, the multi-stage budget process, declining enrollment trends (a metro-wide issue), revenue assumptions (including a modest state aid increase with inflation indexing), and expenditure forecasts (80% dedicated to salaries and benefits). He highlighted the challenge of balancing the budget amidst rising costs and the success of securing compensatory aid. Board members commended his thorough work and community advocacy.
Approval of Special Work Session on Wednesday, July 30th at 5:00 PM
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [1:23:41] · Seconded by Unknown [1:23:42]
The special work session is scheduled for the board to review and retreat on updated evaluation tools tied to the new strategic plan, ensuring alignment in district work and Dr. Zambbrino's leadership. The session will also discuss launching a two-year agenda.
Notable Quotes (3)
Yeah, the family rights and responsibility handbook. It's just a resource for our families, our students and staff just so that everyone has shared understandings around um what our expectations and policies throughout the district and throughout each site.
Even though um the state did provide some increase here in fiscal year 25, but in my my next slide here, this is this is a very interesting slide. in the last 22 years. 2003 was where our CPI and state funding actually was pretty much aligned. But fast forward 22 years, you see that gap right there. You know, we have a huge gap.
because we are in a business to teach kids. um we are not manufacturing anything here. We're in a business to teach and educate our lovely kids here. 80% of our budget goes to salaries and benefits.
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
State/federal funding program overseen by Educational Services; mentioned for early learning teachers' LETTERS training and its impact on literacy.
State/federal funding program overseen by Educational Services.
Official document outlining student expectations, policies, and processes for the upcoming school year.
The proposed financial plan for the district's operations in the next fiscal year.
The district's long-term strategic framework with three core pillars.
A tool being developed to measure progress and define success for the strategic plan.
A rapid cycle improvement model used for progress monitoring and adjustments in implementing the strategic plan.
MDE's finance reporting system for data cleansing and audit processes.