Minnetonka Public Schools — Transcript
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Story
Minnetonka Schools approves $85M bond referendum for November ballot
Curriculum Resources Update
Student Use of Cellular Phones Policy (Policy 526) Review
Potential Property Purchase Discussion
Votes (8)
Approval of Resolution Calling November 4th Building Bond Referendum Election
Moved by Dan [1:00:27] · Seconded by Mike [1:00:29]
The board approved placing an $85 million building bond referendum on the November 4, 2025, ballot. The funding is for facility improvements identified by a community task force, with a unique bonding strategy designed to result in no net property tax increase by timing new bond issuances with the retirement of existing debt. The Department of Education provided a positive review of the proposal.
Approval of Sale of 2025A General Obligation Equipment Notes
Moved by Dan [1:05:44] · Seconded by Mike [1:05:46]
The board ratified the sale of $2.2 million in 2025A General Obligation Capital Equipment Notes. These funds are designated for a district-wide technology infrastructure rebuild, including extensive cabling and data access points, to significantly increase network bandwidth from 1 gigabit to 10 gigabit speeds. The bonds were sold on June 3rd.
Approval of Sale of 2025B Certificates of Participation for Construction of Parking at 18407 Delton Avenue
Moved by Camry [1:07:34] · Seconded by Chris [1:07:35]
The board ratified the sale of $1,950,000 in 2025B Certificates of Participation. These funds will cover the purchase, demolition of an existing home, installation of an underground storm water tank, construction of a retaining wall, and development of a new parking lot at 18407 Delton Avenue. The bonds were sold on June 3rd.
Approval of Sale of 2025C Certificates of Participation for Replacement of the Veterans Field Retaining Wall
Moved by Chris [1:09:16] · Seconded by Mike [1:09:17]
The board approved the sale of $1,300,000 in 2025C Certificates of Participation to fund the replacement of the Veterans Field retaining wall. The bonds were sold on June 23rd, with the sale split from other bond issues due to specific municipal debt regulations.
Approval of a Bid for Aviation One Modifications to the Physical Health Center
Moved by Dan [1:12:47] · Seconded by Camry [1:12:48]
The board approved a low bid of $191,450 from CM Construction for modifications to the Physical Health Center. This project will relocate the expanding Aviation One program from the high school loft to a dedicated 1,600 sq ft space within the Physical Health Center, optimizing space utilization and freeing up the loft for other academic uses.
Approval of a Bid for Replacement of the Veterans Field Retaining Wall and Construction of a Concession/Restroom Facility
Moved by Chris [1:15:37] · Seconded by Mike [1:15:39]
The board approved a low bid of $2,231,100 from Park Construction Company for replacing the Veterans Field retaining wall and constructing a new concession and restroom facility. The project is funded by $2.3 million from 2025C bonds and a $1 million donation from the Minnetonka Diamond Club, with approval contingent upon obtaining necessary permits from the City of Minnetonka.
Approval of Purchase of 5264 Michelle Lane
Moved by Mike [1:19:07] · Seconded by Camary [1:19:08]
The board approved the purchase of the 0.7-acre property at 5264 Michelle Lane for $430,000. This acquisition, adjacent to an existing district-owned lot, will create a 2.6-acre site near Minnetonka High School. This strategic purchase supports future, long-term expansion options for the district, consistent with Facilities Task Force recommendations, without immediate specific development plans.
Approval of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
Moved by Chris [1:38:39] · Seconded by Dan [1:38:40]
The board adopted the comprehensive Fiscal Year 2026 budget for all district funds. The general operating fund budget is $173.1 million, projecting a slight surplus of $684,000 and maintaining an unassigned fund balance above policy minimums. However, the district faces ongoing structural financial challenges due to significantly lower state aid per pupil compared to the state average and limited capacity for local operating referendums, necessitating anticipated annual budget reductions in future years.
Notable Quotes (15)
We actually came up with a solution that would literally have no net tax impact. And what I mean by that is we'd be levying we're levying a certain amount for general obligation bonds and as some of those bonds are retired the bonds from a successful bond referendum would come online so that the net dollar amount would not change.
$85 million of investment back into our district to hit all of these highest needs things at with no net tax increase is is just amazing and a great use of taxpayer dollars and and being mindful of that when we're having all of the the budget and you know our a lot of families across our our district are are are feeling it.
The ballot as they will as it will appear in November or will if if we vote for this will have the comment on the bottom of it in bold printing, by voting yes on this ballot question, you are voting for a property tax increase. And it appears very clearly by this that that there will not be a property tax increase per se.
The bonds were issued to basically begin or to begin and complete a a rebuild of the infrastructure of the district. So we are actually increasing the capacity of the district.
these bonds will pay for they pay for the purchase, they pay for the demolition of the existing home site, they pay for the underground storm water tank, there has to be a retaining wall built and then a parking lot built on top of it.
because of the esoteric nature of the rules regarding um public and municipal debt, we had to not sell these on the same date as we sold the other two. We had to split them up in time.
the growth of the program has made it prudent to relocate it uh to some space that is a little bit more lightly utilized. Uh so what we uh are looking at doing here is is uh moving the aviation one program to the physical health center.
we still have to get through the city in terms of their planning commission and city council planning commission...the resolution actually approves the the low bid contingent upon us getting our permit from the city of Minnetonka.
again to thank the partnership with Minad Minnotonka Diamond Club for their generous donation that allows us to really tonka up this this project and and and and provide another high quality facility for our our athletic teams to use.
whenever possible, should adjacent property to the district become available, the district should recommend to the school board that we purchase that property for future use.
It's prudent to be able to acquire land on our tightly landlocked um school high school site.
I think this is a prudent investment of our funds, just another forward-looking step we're taking. We don't know how we're going to use this property, but we know that when property is limited, it's advantageous to to acquire it so we can, you know, think ahead and provide for the future of the district.
our general operating fund is the one where we have the biggest challenges um in terms of being able to have additional revenues coming in at a pace that equal the increase in expenditures each year.
If you looked at just how much general fund revenue that we get in state aid out of the 329 school districts in the state with the district getting the most being ranked number one at the top and the district getting the least being ranked number 329 we get we're we're ranked at 320.
I think this entire board has been uh really supportive of the facilities task force and all of the work. I've specifically been um a long time wanting us to to look at the middle schools and and really look at at our investment in that.
Ordinances & Resolutions (11)
District plan outlining communication strategies for families, including interpretation and translation services, mandated by 2024 state legislation.
Survey completed by families during enrollment to identify preferred language and English learners.
District policy governing student use of cellular phones and other personal electronic devices on school grounds.
Recommended instructional resource endorsed by the International Baccalaureate association for high school curriculum.
K-5 English Language Arts program proposed for formal adoption after piloting, focusing on foundational reading skills.
K-5 English Language Arts program proposed for formal adoption after piloting, focusing on comprehension, vocabulary, and writing.
Official resolution adopted to present an $85 million building bond referendum to the community for a vote on November 4, 2025.
Bonds totaling $2.2 million approved for sale to fund a district-wide technology infrastructure rebuild.
Certificates totaling $1.95 million approved for sale to fund parking lot construction at 18407 Delton Avenue.
Certificates totaling $1.3 million approved for sale to fund the replacement of the Veterans Field retaining wall.
The comprehensive budget for all district funds for the 2025-2026 school year, approved by the board.