Minnetonka Public Schools — Transcript
Thursday, May 8, 2025
School Board Governance and Role
Student Learning and Curriculum Development
Student Well-being, Belonging, and Connection
District Finances and Long-term Stability
Facilities Planning and Capital Improvements
Community and Student Engagement Strategies
Votes (3)
Middle School Curriculum Change to Block Schedule
Dissent: None reported
Moved by N/A (Reported past action) · Seconded by N/A (Reported past action)
The board recently voted to change the middle school curriculum from a six-hour iteration to a block schedule. This change aims to provide more elective opportunities, allow students to explore interests earlier, and enable special interventions for social-emotional learning without disrupting instructional time. The decision was driven by community input and alignment with programming in other schools, also benefiting the Spanish Immersion program's advisory time.
Consideration of Facilities Improvement Referendum
Dissent: None reported regarding the decision to present the reduced amount
Moved by N/A (Under board consideration for community vote) · Seconded by N/A (Under board consideration for community vote)
The board is considering a referendum for facility improvements, with a proposed ask of $85 million for the community vote in August, down from an initial recommendation of $190 million. The last major facility referendum was 25 years ago, necessitating updates to accommodate modern learning and communication styles. This capital investment is distinct from the operational budget challenges and includes critical safety improvements for every classroom.
Legislative Advocacy for Public Education Funding
Dissent: None reported
Moved by N/A (Ongoing advocacy effort) · Seconded by N/A (Ongoing advocacy effort)
The board is actively engaged in legislative advocacy at the state Capitol to address financial headwinds facing public education. Members meet with legislators to emphasize the critical importance of funding and to request an increase in state limits on what districts can ask from their communities. This ongoing effort aims to ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer money and maintain the district's high-quality programming.
Notable Quotes (6)
we recently voted to change the curriculum from its current six-hour iteration to a block schedule and that's going to open up a buch more elective opportunities...it's also going to allow us to do you know special interventions in social emotional learning and things like that without having to pull them out of their classes and take away instructional time.
And that was from listening to the community and really wanting to to take part in What a lot of other schools around us were doing as far as um Middle School programming and it'll help with advisory and having the Spanish Immersion program now have advisory as well.
I think that it's been 10 years since we have um really done a referendum for facilities from from our understanding and it's it's important to keep our buildings improving...so that is a different bucket of money um so when we're talking about budget cuts like Dan was talking about that's completely separate from um having to look at our other Financial situations.
it's been 25 years so we're talking about the year 2000 right think about how much the world has changed in the way we communicate and the way we learn in those past 25 years...this is this is really a really modest investment that's that's focusing on the needs of the students and the principles in all of our buildings to just improve the educational experience and they'll stand our buildings up just to be better facilities for years to come.
I know the three of us were at the capital yesterday speaking with our legislators emphasizing the critical importance of funding public education so our our job is to be responsible stewards of the taxpayers money and ensure that those dollars are here and used responsibly and that we persist in providing the great programming that we've been able to.
we're at the state limit for what we're allowed to ask for so that's why we were at the legislature the other day to to ask them to increase those limits so we can go to our community for support to continue this programming and and keeping these great teachers in our buildings.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
A new curriculum scheduling structure implemented in middle schools to increase elective opportunities and integrate social-emotional learning.
State legislation related to literacy that guides professional learning, materials, and assessment for teachers and students.
High school programs focused on career and college pathways.
A recognition program at MMW Middle School West for students based on character traits and perseverance, not solely academic achievement.
A comprehensive review of district buildings conducted by a community task force, leading to recommendations for improvements.
A proposed community vote to fund district facility improvements, distinct from the operational budget.