Edina City Council — Transcript
Monday, August 14, 2023
Story
Edina Schools Board Approves Safety Plan, Election Call
Recognition of New Middle School Principals
DISH Easement Agreement for Fiber Optic Cable Installation
Edina Public Schools Physical Security Update
2023-2024 E-Learning Plan
Policy 213 and 216 - School Board Committees and Representation
Policy 303 - Superintendent Selection and Contract
Policy 413 - Harassment and Violence Prohibition
Policy 504 - Student Dress and Appearance (CROWN Act and Native American Regalia)
Framework for Secondary English Language Arts Courses and Resource Recommendations
Discontinuance of Learning Exchange Agreement
Calling for the 2023 General Election
Policy 516.5 - Overdose Medication Policy
Board Member Updates and Superintendent Announcements
Votes (12)
Approval of Revised Agenda (Removal of Policy 506)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:46] · Seconded by Unknown [0:46]
The board approved a revised agenda removing Policy 506 (Student Conduct) from discussion due to the need for significant revisions following earlier work session discussion. No substantive debate occurred.
DISH Easement Agreement for Fiber Optic Cable Installation
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [9:46] · Seconded by Unknown [9:46]
Director Woodard explained that fiber optic cables will run from the north end of Coleman Stadium bleachers to the south end via a conduit attached to the back of the bleachers, with no disruption to school activities or fall sports. The agreement is for 30 years with a $5,000 upfront fee plus $5,000 within 12 months. Board members asked clarifying questions about the frequency of such agreements, how fair market value is determined, and the term length. Director Woodard confirmed this is a common item on school board agendas and that DISH approached with an initial figure which the district negotiated upward.
Physical Security Update and Annual Safety and Security Plan Review
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Director Monza Staley presented the annual Safety and Security plan update, emphasizing a layered security approach involving technology, communication, policies, and practices. Key updates include: (1) Expansion of the District Emergency Response Team (DIRT) to include all cabinet members plus buildings and grounds staff; (2) Implementation of Raptor visitor management system at all buildings with photo badges and checks against national sex offender registry and internal flags; (3) Adoption of I Love You Guys Foundation's five safe conditions language (Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter) for consistency across the district; (4) Partnership with I Love You Guys Foundation for crisis response and reunification training; (5) Clarification in Policy 806 that building principals serve as incident commanders with designated alternates; (6) Commitment that the district does NOT conduct active shooter drills or simulations. Board members expressed appreciation for the layered approach and ongoing nature of safety work. A board member asked clarifying questions about Raptor system functionality for parents with multiple students.
2023-2024 E-Learning Plan Review
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Dr. Stanley reviewed the annual e-learning plan required by Minnesota State Statute, clarifying that no substantive changes were made from the prior year. The plan allows up to five inclement weather days per school year counted as instructional time. Key provisions: Grades K-5 will have one snow day before transitioning to e-learning (to allow device coordination and troubleshooting); Grades 6-12 will move to e-learning immediately on the first snow day. A new logistical addition is a district-wide preparation day on October 24th to test device distribution and internet connectivity. The plan was reviewed by stakeholders including principals, staff, and media specialists in May 2023.
Policy 213 (School Board Committees) and Policy 216 (School Board Representation)
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Director Neville presented minor modifications to these policies that had been discussed through the school board retreat process. A board member raised concerns about language changes to Policy 213 regarding the Teaching and Learning Committee's role. Specifically, the removal of 'instructional programs' in favor of 'comprehensive curriculum' was questioned as potentially too narrow and vague. The board member suggested that 'instructional programs' provided a broader lens than 'comprehensive curriculum.' Director Neville agreed to take the feedback back for review and potential rewording.
Policy 303 (Superintendent Selection and Contract)
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Director Neville presented updates to the superintendent selection and contract policy for clarification. No substantive concerns or questions were raised by board members.
Policy 413 (Harassment and Violence Prohibition for Students and Employees)
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Cabinet member Sonia Saylor presented the updated harassment and violence prohibition policy. The key change was striking the annual review provision. No substantive discussion or concerns were raised.
Policy 504 (Student Dress and Appearance) - CROWN Act and Native American Regalia Updates
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Director Frani Bakar presented updates to align Policy 504 with Minnesota's CROWN Act legislation and Native American regalia protections. The CROWN Act protects students' rights to wear natural hairstyles (dreadlocks, braids, afros) and longer hair without modification or discipline, including in student athletics. The policy also addresses Native American students' rights to longer hair. Director Bakar clarified that Edina was not previously enforcing hair modification requirements, but the policy now reflects new legal language. A board member suggested that the policy should explicitly state hair protection as a goal rather than only referencing it in the legislation section, arguing this would better reflect the district's values.
Framework for Secondary English Language Arts Courses and Resource Recommendations
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [44:09] · Seconded by Unknown [44:15]
Director Jody D. St. Hubert presented the secondary ELA course and resource recommendations as part of the K-12 comprehensive literacy plan. This item had been presented twice previously (once at a workshop and once at a board meeting) with a month pause between discussions. Updates from the June presentation included: (1) Revised preliminary data showing improved outcomes; (2) Addition of learning styles considerations in resource selection. Board members discussed the need for better communication about how this piece fits within the broader literacy plan. One board member suggested creating an infographic showing the relationship between this component and the overall K-12 literacy plan. Director St. Hubert confirmed that state curriculum recommendations expected in January 2024 would not require changes to this secondary work, as the district is keeping that in mind and has put a hold on elementary work to align with the READ Act.
Discontinuance of Learning Exchange Agreement
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [50:24] · Seconded by Unknown [50:31]
Dr. Anne-Marie Leland requested discontinuance of the Learning Exchange Consortium agreement to access direct state revenue for adults with unique abilities programming. She provided historical context: when state hospitals closed in the early 1980s, adults with unique abilities shifted to group homes and family care. Previously, only districts near former state hospitals could access permissive levy and state grant aid for this programming. The Minnesota Community Education Association lobbied for legislation allowing all school districts to access direct revenue through a formula. Edina will discontinue the consortium agreement to access this new direct revenue source for the 24-25 school year. The district will partner with Edina Parks and Recreation to provide local programming and will gather stakeholder feedback from participants about service options. Current consortium programming includes cooking classes, physical activity, music classes, and enrichment options delivered in Bloomington and Richfield. The new local model will eliminate transportation barriers and allow participants to access services in Edina.
Calling for the 2023 General Election
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [56:48] · Seconded by Unknown [56:54]
Director Mark Woodard presented the motion to officially call for a general election in conjunction with the state general election to fill three school board seats expiring in December 2023. Each seat will be for a four-year term. This action fulfills statutory obligations and officially notifies the community of the election.
Policy 516.5 (Overdose Medication Policy)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [57:48] · Seconded by Unknown [57:55]
Director Neville presented the new overdose medication policy required by recent state legislation. This is a new policy for Edina Public Schools. No changes had been made since the July 17th discussion. No questions or concerns were raised.
Notable Quotes (18)
The specific installation of the Fiber Optic Cables will run from the North End of the Coleman stadium bleachers towards the south end so there's going to be a conduit attached to the back of the bleachers the cable will simply run across the bleachers and out the other side absolutely no disruption to any school activities.
Dish approached us with a figure an initial figure and we push back with a figure that we thought was fairer um that was the extent of the analysis it's a nominal fee for a very basic installation.
Edina Public Schools is committed to the Safety and Security of all individuals on our campuses and we know that events are going to occur on our campuses we can't always prevent them what we do know that we can enact best practices and we can continue to improve upon our current practices to increase our security posture.
The biggest thing that we can say about this is that we adopt a layered security approach meaning it's not just one thing that's going to solve all of our security concerns and questions it might be technology it might be communication it's going to be our policies it's going to be our practices.
United Public Schools does not conduct active shooter drills exercises or scenarios simulations anything in which we would simulate or pretend as if there was a weapon in our schools.
Can I ask a clarifying question and I apologize I love this when you presented if a parent has three students at three different schools do they have to get um cleared up all the schools they will always get a badge at every school but they don't necessarily have to use their ID every time.
Per Minnesota State Statute annually we would always review or update families with the e-learning plan I just want to make very clear that this plan is simply just a review of what has always been we have not changed anything or made any major changes what we wanted to do with this process was just provide Clarity and on the back end understanding the logistical changes that we need to make to make sure this plan can be enacted.
I felt that the use of the word instructional programs was um a wider lens than specifically stating comprehensive curriculum because I felt curriculum is limiting and so I was like if you're trying to go the direction of just being super vague then I could see ing the positive Equitable learning environment but then I I'm wondering about swapping out comprehensive curriculum for instructional programming or something like that.
The crown act comes from a national movement and the national movement is that many students uh individuals in schools who wore their hair natural dreads braids afros Native American students longer hair were in some cases nationally asked to cut their hair or prohibited from participating in events at school or asked to cut modify their hair in some way and so the state of Minnesota has put it into legislation that a student is allowed to show up at school wearing their hair how they would like to wear their hair not needing to modify it in any way.
I'm wondering even though we do at the end of the policy put what the provision of the crown Act is I'm wondering if we actually want to state in one of our goals of the policy is to I mean we say one of our goals is to allow students to wear religious attire without fear of discipline or discrimination I would think that we would want to explicitly spell out that we want to ensure that students are able to wear their hair without fear of discipline.
I think I've just given you extra steps in your day you probably needed the extra steps okay I don't know that there's and I don't think that you have the lead on another policy if I'm correct that's up for today so thank you.
The entire literacy plan from pre-k to 12 is very expansive and sometimes I think it's hard when components of it are brought forward to understand it's one piece of a very large puzzle or umbrella I was just wondering and this might not be a question for you or maybe Daphne or Dr Stanley is there some way to come up almost with like an infographic that shows like the six different are 6 to 12 literacy plan is a rainbow and this is one of the drop or so something that shows so when even for board members when I see one piece of it I understand sort of where this lies in the broader picture.
We are keeping that in mind and balancing that as we go so it won't have at this point it won't have any changes to this our team is moving forward with what um with the implementation science process and looking at some pilot resources right now and we feel really confident that we're we're good to move forward with this timeline and we'll keep an eye on that it's definitely more specific to our elementary and we have put a hold on things a little bit more in alignment with Elementary just to make sure that we are following the read act and what comes forward in January with those resource recommendations.
When I first started as a Community Education director 11 years ago I was thrilled to learn because I didn't learn this in Community Education school that we had adults with disabilities programming and it was a part of our community services statute um so it demonstrates to me and within our scope of community services which is what the statute's called the uniqueness and breath of inclusivity of Community Education programming and services.
The revenue at the time when I was in my last District we had permissive Levy and state Grant Aid money so it was great our partner was 20 minutes to the north they also had a large facility so that was great but the programming and the revenue was a very limited to communities in the state of Minnesota that what that had State hospitals to begin with so not every school district had this Revenue option.
So we can access the direct Revenue source that the Department of Education is now providing school districts for the 24-25 school year and Edina would be able to partner with the city Parks and Rec Department to provide some programming and services and we would use this year to gather stakeholder feedback from the community around what those program options look like.
Can you explain what current Services may look like for our participants who are engaged with the Consortium right now.
This December we'll see three of our school board members as terms expire creating the necessity to hold a general election in conjunction with the state general election to select three board members for terms of four years each this action item will allow us to officially notify the community and to fulfill all of our statutory obligations.
Ordinances & Resolutions (16)
Student Conduct policy; removed from agenda due to need for significant revisions following earlier discussion.
30-year easement agreement for fiber optic cable installation at Coleman Stadium; includes $5,000 upfront fee plus $5,000 within 12 months.
Emergency Management policy; approved June 17th; clarifies safe conditions, incident commander designation, DIRT and BERT team membership, and staff training requirements by September 15th.
School Board Committees policy; minor modifications discussed; language regarding Teaching and Learning Committee role flagged for clarification.
School Board Representation policy; minor modifications discussed as part of board retreat process.
Superintendent Selection and Contract policy; updates for clarification reviewed by board.
Harassment and Violence Prohibition for Students and Employees; annual review provision struck; approved without objection.
Student Dress and Appearance policy; updated to reflect Minnesota CROWN Act protections for natural hairstyles and Native American regalia; board member suggested explicit hair protection language in policy goals.
Overdose Medication policy; new policy required by recent state legislation; approved without objection.
District-wide literacy initiative; secondary ELA course and resource recommendations are one component; board requested infographic to show how pieces fit within broader plan.
Annual inclement weather e-learning protocol; includes October 24th district-wide preparation day; no substantive changes from prior year.
Consortium agreement for adults with unique abilities programming; discontinued to access direct state revenue formula for 24-25 school year; district will partner with Edina Parks and Recreation.
Nationwide crisis response and reunification training; district leadership completed full-day training August 4th; establishes standard response protocol and safe conditions language (Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter).
Visitor identification and badge system launching at all district buildings; checks against national sex offender registry and Infinite Campus flags; district-wide system allowing one-time ID verification across all schools.
State legislation protecting students' rights to wear natural hairstyles (dreadlocks, braids, afros) without modification, including in student athletics; reflected in updated Policy 504.
State legislation regarding reading instruction; board member attended MSBA Summer Leadership Seminar on this topic; state curriculum recommendations expected January 2024.