--- ## title: Agenda - Joint Council School Board Meeting July 2026 --- ## Edina School Board and City Council Joint Meeting Agenda ## Edina City Hall Date: July 21, 2026 Focus: Strategic Alignment for a future, potential Bond and Community ## Partnership ## I. Welcome, Introduction and Vision: (10 Minutes) ● Welcome and Introductions ● Edina as a Destination District ● The School-Community Link: Discussion on how the premier reputation of Edina Public Schools serves as the primary draw for families moving to the city. ● Meeting the Moment: "State-of-the-art" opportunities are essential to ensure graduates remain competitive and prepared. II. The Changing Face of Edina Families: Trends & Data (15 Minutes) ● The Two-Working-Parent Reality: Addressing the growing need for flexible, high-quality programing and childcare options to support modern household structures. ## ● Waitlist Trends and Response: ○ Review of the childcare requests and trends. ○ Analysis of how the District has historically expanded capacity to meet steady growth. ● Early Learning as the Foundation: Re-affirming that the commitment to education must begin at birth to maintain the district’s "premier" status. ## III. Financial Stewardship & Comparative Analysis (10 Minutes) ● Overall Financial Stewardship: An overview of the district’s financial health, strategic efforts to minimize the tax burden on taxpayers, and recognition at both the state and national levels for exemplary fiscal stewardship. ● Benchmarking Success: A comparative look at Edina’s bond frequency versus neighboring "peer" districts. ● Capital Levy Dollars: Analyzing Edina’s capital levy investment relative to other public school districts to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and the need for future investment. ## IV. Navigating Barriers: Land, Infrastructure, and Safety (10 Minutes) ● Logistical Constraints: Current barriers to expansion: ○ Land Acquisition: Scarcity of available parcels within city limits. ○ Utility Restrictions: Technical challenges related to sewer capacity and infrastructure. ● Thoughtful Planning: Overview of how the District considers things such as but not limited to traffic patterns and safety to ensure any new facility is a seamless addition to the neighborhood. ## V. Strategic Dialogue: The Spring 2027 Bond Pillars (25 Minutes) ## ● Interactive Discussion: School Board and City Council dialogue regarding the three-part bond structure and potential partnership opportunities: 1. Safety and Security: District-wide upgrades. 2. Facility Enhancements: Ensuring dynamic and innovative learning environments. 3. The Early Learning and Family Center (ELFC): Discussing the vision for a dedicated space for early learners, intergenerational connection, and flexible community programming. ● Partnership Opportunities: Identifying specific ways the City and District can partner. ## VI. Conclusion and Collaborative Next Steps (5 Minutes) ● Summary of shared interests and agreeme…