Edina Public Schools — Transcript
Monday, March 26, 2018
Girls Hockey State Championship Recognition
Volunteer Recognition and Community Service
Public Comment: Flag Code Violations and Student Conduct Incidents
Public Comment: Student Conduct Policy and Racial Equity
Public Comment: Legislative Opposition to Senate File 2487
Public Comment: Curriculum Evaluation and Personalized Learning Assessment
Public Comment: Elementary School Start Times and Developmental Learning
Personalized Learning Presentation - High School Implementation
College and Career Readiness Curriculum
Peer Tutoring and Writing Support Services
2018-19 Budget Reductions and Parameters
State Funding Gap and Multi-Year Budget Planning
Votes (4)
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [Early in meeting] · Seconded by Unknown [Early in meeting]
Board reviewed minutes from February 26, 2018 regular meeting, February 26 work session, March 1 special meeting, and March 6 special meeting. No changes were noted.
Policy 628 - Agenda Placement Change
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [Early in meeting] · Seconded by Unknown [Early in meeting]
Board voted to move Policy 628 from action to discussion on the agenda. Chair requested reminder when reaching this item during the meeting.
Personalized Learning Presentation - High School
Dissent: None; board expressed appreciation for the work while raising constructive questions about measurement and equity.
Comprehensive presentation on high school personalized learning framework including learner profiles, proficiency-based progress, and customized learning paths. Staff demonstrated new structures: advisory curriculum, flex blocks, student prep hours, SMASH tutoring center, and Writing Center with peer coaches. Board members questioned how the district balances student exploration of strengths with the reality that high school students evolve and change interests. Discussion addressed concerns about anxiety from deep self-exploration and how the district supports less self-motivated students through directed study, prep plus, and assigned flex block attendance. Board noted that personalized learning is not either/or with traditional excellence but an 'and' approach. Concerns were raised about measuring success through longitudinal data (SLED data from MDE) and college/career outcomes. Board members appreciated the documentation and tracking systems that reduce reliance on memory.
2018-19 Budget Reductions and Three Proposed Studies
Dissent: Board members raised concerns about instrumental music framing but did not oppose the overall reduction plan or studies.
Margo and Superintendent Schultz presented $1.7 million in proposed budget reductions to maintain 6% fund balance amid state funding gaps. Reductions included staffing adjustments at elementary, middle, and high schools; enrollment-based schedule changes; materials freezes; and district-wide contracted services reductions. One enhancement was proposed: additional second-grade section at Concord Elementary. Three studies were proposed for 2019-20: (1) elementary instructional paraprofessional deployment efficiency, (2) grade 5 instrumental music scheduling to reduce instructional interruption, and (3) secondary school schedule optimization. Board members commended the administration for thorough analysis with principals and teachers to minimize classroom impact. Concerns were raised about the framing of instrumental music as 'interrupting' instruction, with board members emphasizing the value of music education. Discussion addressed the structural funding gap: despite 2% state funding increase ($1.05M), 1% expenditure increase costs $1.1M. Board emphasized need for community engagement, strategic planning, and state legislative advocacy.
Notable Quotes (9)
Preserving the core and the tradition of excellence that has been in Edina high school but also at the same time stimulating progress... this is not an either/or by doing personalized learning we do not lose excellence at the high school.
My job is to keep as many doors open for them as possible... I'm not going to tell them what's best I'm gonna try to hold all doors open for them to choose what's best for them.
We are renting out our coaches... teachers will log in and say this is the day when we're working on Of Mice and Men... I want to get to every single one of them but I know that that's not physically possible so the teachers will say send me two to five writing coaches.
I was camping with the scouts this weekend and they know I'm the board and I told them that I'm gonna be hearing about personalized learning today... their concern is that these classmates will kind of slack and personalized learning sounds great for self-starters what about the kids who don't have an adult vision for themselves.
We have multiple levels of student prep... prep plus that's with the counselor to diagnose what the issue is academically... directed study which is a small group directed check and connect on a daily basis... even within the structure that we have that's personalized and flexible it doesn't mean that we're not being intentional.
The state funding has not kept pace with inflation... even though we have received increases which we very much appreciate... the additional money to manage the fund annual funding gaps that schools had to include Edina.
I use the word relieved... knowing that we're giving the kids the best opportunity we have now to allocate our resources... the administration did a great job of that... we need to do a good analysis incorporate our principals and our teachers who are on the front line so we make sure we cut things that have the least impact.
I don't like the setup of it's it's a distraction from instruction... I don't think it's [interrupting]... I want to stop short of that I don't want to preempt... looking at it... these are proposed studies and maybe it should say propose to you so if there's a study that you don't think we should pursue then please let us know.
This year that we're talking about we're receiving two percent and that's 1 million fifty thousand dollars... if we have a one percent increase in expenditures it is 1.1 million dollars... even if we hold our... if you got two percent new funding in revenue from the state you should be able to have 2 percent new expenses well in that example would be 2.2 million dollars.
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Student Conduct Policy; sections 35 and 38 address abusive language and disciplinary procedures. Public comment raised concerns about inconsistent enforcement and lack of victim protections.
Policy moved from action to discussion agenda; specific content not detailed in transcript but referenced for board consideration.
Minnesota state bill limiting multicultural education and critical thinking assignments; public commenter requested board opposition letter to legislature.
District budget proposal including $1.7 million in reductions and three proposed studies on paraprofessional deployment, instrumental music scheduling, and secondary school schedules.
Multi-year district strategic plan with personalized learning as core strategy; referenced for alignment with budget and curriculum initiatives.
Digital tool allowing students to create and modify four-year academic plans accessible to parents; implemented for all 8th-10th graders.
College and career readiness platform providing learner profiles, career interest assessments, and college planning tools; target participation rate 70%.