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Edina Public Schools - School Board Regular Meeting, November 9th, 2026

Monday, November 9, 2026

Story

Edina Board Reviews Six Years of Academic Gains Under Strategy A

Vice Chair Cheryl Barry recapped the 2019 strategic plan and Strategy A (academic excellence, growth, readiness), noting new curricula (ELA benchmark, math, amplify, social studies, science, early learning), new assessments (FastBridge, aCappy, Benchmark), LETRS training, new AP courses and middle school exploratory days.

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Story

Edina Board Signals Support for 'Option C' Bond Plan as Member Warns of Transparency Risk

Supt. Dan Bitman sought informal confirmation that the board still backs 'Option C' (76% safety/security, 24% six facility enhancements, plus land purchase authority) for a Dec. 7 review-and-comment document, and whether to include ~$2M–$2.7M added Coleman Stadium seating. One director objected to lack of documentation/transparency.

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Agenda approval

Chair Gabler called the Nov. 9 meeting to order with a quorum; agenda moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Consent agenda

No items were removed; consent agenda approved by voice vote.

Combining polling places for 2027

Executive Director of Finance and Operations Mert Woodard explained the board may combine Edina's 16 established polling places in a non-general-election year; administration recommends combining to four sites arranged by quadrant for a potential 2027 referendum.

Areas of Interest (6)

  • Board member alleges rushed, non-transparent process: key Option C documents were missing from the Nov. 9 board packet and added only late that day.
  • Conflicting cost figures for added Coleman Stadium seating — superintendent cited ~$2 million, a board member cited ~$2.7 million.
  • Framing stadium bleachers as a 'safety and security' expense; district currently rents bleachers for 5,000-plus crowds.
  • Statutory crunch: review and comment must reach MDE by Dec. 22 for a May 11 vote, possibly requiring a special meeting.
  • Reducing 16 polling places to four for a 2027 referendum — voter access implications.
  • Community feedback limited to a Morris Leatherman survey; when will residents weigh in on final recommendations?

Topic analysis (6)

Agenda approval

Chair Gabler called the Nov. 9 meeting to order with a quorum; agenda moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

transcript

Public comment

No members of the public signed up to speak.

transcript

Consent agenda

No items were removed; consent agenda approved by voice vote.

transcript

Strategic plan recap – Strategy A

Vice Chair Cheryl Barry recapped the 2019 strategic plan and Strategy A (academic excellence, growth, readiness), noting new curricula (ELA benchmark, math, amplify, social studies, science, early learning), new assessments (FastBridge, aCappy, Benchmark), LETRS training, new AP courses and middle school exploratory days.

transcript

Board feedback summary and December bond proposal

Supt. Dan Bitman sought informal confirmation that the board still backs 'Option C' (76% safety/security, 24% six facility enhancements, plus land purchase authority) for a Dec. 7 review-and-comment document, and whether to include ~$2M–$2.7M added Coleman Stadium seating. One director objected to lack of documentation/transparency.

  • Add Option C details to the board book for reference
  • Bring review and comment document and polling place action to Dec. 7 meeting
  • Include Coleman Stadium seating in review and comment packet
  • Submit approved review and comment to MN Dept. of Education by Dec. 22 for a May 11 vote
transcript

Combining polling places for 2027

Executive Director of Finance and Operations Mert Woodard explained the board may combine Edina's 16 established polling places in a non-general-election year; administration recommends combining to four sites arranged by quadrant for a potential 2027 referendum.

transcript

Votes (2)

Approve the agenda for the Nov. 9 board meeting

ApprovedVoice vote, no opposition

Moved by Unidentified board member · Seconded by Unidentified board member

Approve the consent agenda

ApprovedVoice vote, no opposition

Moved by Unidentified board member · Seconded by Unidentified board member

Notable Quotes (7)

No one in our community knows what option C is. I don't even remember what option C is.

— Erica
transcript
December bond proposalCriticizing lack of documentation in the board packet

The reason that Edina has been able to pass every single thing that we've brought in front of our voters is because of the trust that they've placed in our board... once you lose that, you don't give it back.

— Erica
transcript
December bond proposalTransparency warning on referendum process

The majority of the board has indicated for the last several months that they had sufficient information and we're ready to go.

— Dan Bitman
transcript
December bond proposalResponding to transparency criticism

It absolutely is safety and security related... games that we're having 5,000 or more individuals coming to a game. Right now we are renting bleachers for folks.

— Dan Bitman
transcript
Coleman Stadium seatingJustifying added Coleman Stadium seating

It's easier to take it out than it is to put it on.

— Dan Bitman
transcript
December bond proposalOn including items in the review and comment document

The teachers were really excited. It was really energizing to be in that room to see how excited everyone was about the new curriculum.

— Cheryl Barry
transcript
Strategic planStrategy A recap

I'm fine with adding on uh the roughly 2.7 million for additional Coleman seating, especially just at this point for just including that in the review and comment packet.

— Elliot
transcript
Coleman Stadium seatingBoard direction on stadium seating

People (9)

GablerBoard Chair

Called meeting to order, ran agenda and consent votes

Cheryl BarryVice Chair

Presented strategic plan Strategy A recap; supported Coleman seating

Dan BitmanSuperintendent, Dr.

Presented December bond proposal and sought board direction

Mert WoodardExecutive Director of Finance and Operations

Presented polling place combination recommendation

BergmanDirector

Clarified the superintendent's request to the board

EricaBoard member

Raised transparency and process concerns about Option C

ElliotBoard member

Supported moving forward and adding ~$2.7M Coleman seating

JenBoard member

Supports Option C and open to Coleman seating

ManDirector

Asked clarifying question on $1 tax impact per month

Places Mentioned

Edina school districtColeman StadiumEdina city polling places (16 established; proposed 4 by quadrant)

Events & Meetings (7)

  • Monday, November 9 – school board meeting (this meeting)
  • September 14 – board presentation of statutory deadlines/timeline
  • October 20 – work session on combining polling places
  • December 7 – planned board meeting for review and comment and polling place decisions
  • December 22 – deadline to submit approved review and comment to MN Dept. of Education
  • May 11 – potential referendum election date
  • 2027 – potential referendum year for combined polling places

Ordinances & Resolutions (2)

Review and comment document (statutory, MN Dept. of Education)

Draft statutory document for a potential bond referendum containing safety/security (76%), six facility enhancements (24%), and land purchase authorization; to be acted on Dec. 7.

Combined polling places resolution (2027)

Proposal to combine Edina's 16 polling places into four quadrant-based sites for a potential 2027 school district election.

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Edina Public Schools - School Board Regular Meeting, November 9th, 2026 - Edina Recorder