Edina Public Schools — Transcript
Monday, May 19, 2014
Story
Edina Schools Board approves $600K technology spending plan
District Technology Plan Update
District Leadership and Strategic Plan Update
Bus Garage Relocation Agreement Revision
Routine Policy Reviews
Votes (14)
Unrequested Leave Absence
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [0:58:34] · Seconded by Board Member [0:58:35]
The board considered five teachers for unrequested leave due to the elimination of half-day kindergarten positions and reductions in Spanish course offerings. One teacher was subsequently removed from the list after a new position was found for them.
Budget Adjustments (2013-14) and Budget Alignment (2014-15)
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:01:21] · Seconded by Board Member [1:01:22]
Margo detailed minor 2013-14 budget adjustments, including a favorable prior year special education revenue adjustment and higher-than-expected retiree payments. For 2014-15, the budget plan included over $1 million in adjustments, approximately $231,000 in enhancements, aligning to $850,000, with some one-time fund balance spending to bridge initiatives like additional all-day kindergarten support and elementary math/science paras.
Food Service Management Contract
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:06:50] · Seconded by Board Member [1:06:51]
An evaluation committee, including board and parent representatives, recommended Chartwells as the food service management company for 2014-15, with options for renewal. The decision followed a comprehensive review of four vendor proposals against criteria such as price, nutrition education, and food quality. Committee members expressed satisfaction with Chartwells' innovative approaches to nutrition education and technology after visiting another district. Appreciation was extended to the outgoing vendor, Sodexo.
Type A Meal Pricing for 2014-15
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:10:49] · Seconded by Board Member [1:10:50]
The board approved meal price increases for 2014-15, with elementary meals increasing by 15 cents and secondary by 10 cents. The adjustments were driven by federal requirements for a minimum 5-cent increase and a desire to align pricing with neighboring districts to maintain average rates. Breakfast pricing was also standardized and separated for elementary and secondary levels for greater clarity.
Copy Paper Bid Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:11:45] · Seconded by Board Member [1:11:46]
The board approved the annual bid for copy paper, recommending Wilcox Paper. The process involved competitive bidding based on needs submitted by various school sites.
Bus Purchases for 2014-15
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:12:47] · Seconded by Board Member [1:12:48]
The board approved the purchase of four new buses for $367,000, funded through operating capital and acquired via state contract. This annual purchase helps maintain a modern fleet and retire older vehicles. A challenge was noted regarding the larger size of newer buses (77-passenger vs. 71-passenger) creating spacing issues at the bus garage, particularly for plugging them in during winter, with potential for alternative parking solutions.
Valley View Middle School Partial Roof Replacement
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:15:37] · Seconded by Board Member [1:15:38]
A contract for a partial roof replacement at Valley View Middle School, totaling $216,000, was approved. This project is part of the district's alternative facilities funding and deferred maintenance plan, and it came in within budget. While a specific area with leaks was noted as not being part of the original scope, the administration committed to addressing it as possible and maintaining a comprehensive list of ongoing maintenance needs.
Technology Purchases
Dissent: None on approved items. Item 1 (Best Buy web store agreement) was tabled for further clarification on pricing.
Moved by Board Member [1:29:56] · Seconded by Board Member [1:29:57]
The board approved multiple technology purchases, totaling almost $600,000 over three years, funded by the technology levy. These included all-in-one computers, laptops, tablets (from CDW/Lenovo), desktop PCs and monitors (from Reason Company/Ties), and Microsoft software subscriptions (from On Point). Purchases also included iPads and Chromebook carts for elementary schools. A 3-year lease for Chromebooks for 5th and 12th graders (from Best Buy) was approved to scale the e-learning squared initiative. However, a related agreement for a co-branded customized web store with Best Buy was tabled due to an error in the document's pricing details.
Amended Elementary Instructional Class Size Guidelines
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:32:04] · Seconded by Board Member [1:32:05]
The board approved amended guidelines for elementary instructional class sizes, primarily impacting kindergarten paraprofessional support. The revised plan replaced a fixed 1.25 hours with a sliding scale of support (1 hour for 19-20 students, increasing up to 3 hours for 24 students), depending on enrollment. Additionally, elementary principals will work to optimize teacher preparation periods to maximize paraprofessional support time. No other changes were made from previous guidelines.
Grade 9 GPA Counting for Graduation
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:33:43] · Seconded by Board Member [1:33:44]
The board approved a proposal to include ninth-grade letter grades in the cumulative GPA for graduation. Randy Smle presented data showing that 9th-grade GPAs were generally higher than subsequent years, and incorporating them would not statistically significantly alter cumulative GPAs or disproportionately affect any student group. The change aims to improve communication with colleges, as most already recalculate 9th-grade GPAs. Discussion also touched on the district's 12-point GPA scale.
Early Childhood through Grade 12 Calendar for 2014-15 Revised
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:39:41] · Seconded by Board Member [1:39:42]
The board approved a revised calendar for the 2014-15 school year. The modification replaced the previous schedule of two late starts and two early releases with four late starts, aiming to provide greater consistency for families, staff, and students, particularly given the transition away from half-day kindergarten.
School Board Meeting Dates 2014-15
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:40:17] · Seconded by Board Member [1:40:18]
The board approved the proposed schedule of meeting dates for the 2014-15 school year, noting no changes from its previous review.
Scheduled Policy Review (Policies 413 and 435)
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [1:40:51] · Seconded by Board Member [1:40:52]
The board approved policies 413 (Personnel) and 435 (Personnel) as part of their scheduled review. No changes were made from the previous discussion at a board meeting.
Approval of Three Rivers Park District Trail and Spur Connections at Edina High School
Dissent: Board members voiced concerns about discrepancies between the motion's scope and prior committee approvals, as well as clarity on funding and liability.
Moved by Board Member [1:46:15] · Seconded by Board Member [1:46:16]
This item, pulled from the consent agenda, generated discussion regarding the specificity of the agreement's language on funding (committed vs. find funding), potential impacts on future building modifications, ADA compliance of proposed 'spurs,' and district liability. Concerns were raised that the motion's language approved 'spur connections as shown on the map,' while the Finance & Facilities Committee had only approved the main trail (yellow line). Due to these clarifications needed, the item was tabled.
Notable Quotes (23)
we had five teachers whom we just did not have positions for um three of them because of the fact that the board took action to have full day kindergarten now um we no longer have half day kindergarten positions so that resulted in some of the unrequested leave positions
we are working very hard we had a meeting just this evening prior to the work session to to continue looking um for ways to fill to give these teachers positions and um and so we have been able to remove one name off of the list
we did have a positive Revenue change in terms of a uh prior year special education Revenue adjustment
the combination of the legislative session and maybe getting a little bit more money we have 133 14 came in is going to come in at potentially a slight B bit L less out of our $100 million and uh the 1415 budget plan and we'll keep it moving forward still overall very solid uh financial position for the district
the eval evaluation committee...reviewed all proposals and uh took many many hours to review all the proposals and came back together uh performed reference checks did uh clarification uh information and the evaluation committee recommendation is to uh recommend Chartwells as the Food Service U management company for 1415
we just really felt that they could bring some new things and we do have to work with our kids our kids eat with our eyes as many of us adults do um to bring them along in nutrition education and getting them to taste and try new foods
meal prices are uh partially or more regulated uh federally than they used to be uh so part of the recommended increase is due to the federal requirements that we must at least uh increase uh 5 cents based on the formula that they have set
took a little bit more time to go through um and compare where we are at with other districts um and would recommend uh providing greater Clarity on the breakfast uh side of the um the fee where we we do not currently break out between Elementary and secondary
just our annual process to uh for what we need to order for the upcoming year um the sites submit what they need and it's a very competitive process and would recommend approval of will Cox paper
this is we annually need to purchase uh four buses um because so we keep our Fleet fresh and then we will retire for buses that are older
with that becomes particularly with this purchase a a challenge in spacing uh especially in the winter in where we are able to plug them in if they cannot be put inside
this is part of our alternative facilities funding with our deferred U maintenance plan and happy to report that this one came in budget very good
the other thing that we are doing as we are in the buildings with alternative facilities um Eric is making a comprehensive list of ongoing things that if we aren't able to address it now...keeping that ongoing list for our 10-year plan
what we do we don't designate what type of a model of computer just the specifications of those computers we received three quotes back
in order for us to get to the quantity needed to kind of get beyond that uh Mass quantity for fifth through 12th grade we decided to lease them instead of purchase them over three years and so this would have taken us three years to get there we're going to get to our get there um next year
although uh we are able to get that price a little bit um lower on the second page or the amendment page in the service agreement I did notice that actually a board member pointed this out to me there is an error in that document
The Proposal is now uh we were given some additional funding we revised our recommendation to include additional kindergarten par professional support depending on enrollment so the proposal is currently similar to what is currently in place for the fee based kindergarten program
In addition the K the elementary principles are going to look at how the kindergarten day is structured in term of teacher preparation period to maximize the paraprofessional um support time
most of those colleges do indeed um recalculate GPA not all of them but most of them do when we did a um a search around recommendations from National organizations...all of those National organizations recommended that um ninth grade um grades be part of the high school transcript
it really doesn't create a benefit nor a harm for our students but this is really about a communication to um universities to community colleges to wherever the student goes next
in light of the fact that we will not have a full day or half day kindergarten next year we are proposing that we have all late starts uh four late starts and that's more consistency for families as well as our staff and students
it states in here that the The Three Rivers Park District has committed to paying for it have they committed to paying for it or they've committed to find us funding it
if law Finance only approved the trail itself but the motion is saying we're approving the spur connections as shown on the map are we really approving something we aren't intending to approve
Ordinances & Resolutions (26)
Amended guidelines related to class sizes and paraprofessional support for kindergarten.
An updated plan outlining technology philosophy, goals, and key initiatives for Edina Public Schools.
An ongoing study informing various elementary-level strategic initiatives and recommendations.
An ongoing study informing strategic initiatives and recommendations at the secondary level.
Revisions to the current school year's budget.
Strategic financial plan outlining adjustments and enhancements for the upcoming school year.
Agreement with a food service provider for school meals.
Approved pricing structure for school meals for the upcoming year.
Approved bid for the purchase of copy paper for the upcoming year.
Approved purchase of four new school buses.
Approved contract for the partial replacement of the roof at Valley View Middle School.
A set of approved purchases for various technology hardware (computers, tablets, monitors) and software subscriptions.
Policy change to include 9th-grade GPA in the cumulative GPA for graduation.
Revised school calendar for the upcoming academic year, featuring all late starts.
Approved schedule of School Board meeting dates for the upcoming year.
Reviewed personnel policy, likely related to harassment and violence (based on standard naming).
Reviewed personnel policy, likely related to Family and Medical Leave Act (based on standard naming).
Policy on student medication, revised for readability and to reflect internal process changes.
Community relations policy with stylistic and clarity updates.
Community relations policy with stylistic and clarity updates.
Community relations policy on a tobacco, alcohol, and drug-free environment, with stylistic and clarity updates.
Community relations policy regarding background checks for volunteers, updated for name change and clarity.
A revised agreement outlining conditions and criteria for potential relocation of the district's bus garage.
District-wide plan focused on meeting the needs of all students and staff.
Strategic plan specific to special education services.
Ongoing plan for facility improvements and space utilization.