CompletedEdina Public Schools - School Board Regular Meeting August 11th, 2025

Edina Public Schools - School Board Regular Meeting August 11th, 2025

Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 12:41 PMActual: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 12:41 PM

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Published Tuesday, August 12, 2025

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Good evening. Tonight is Monday, August 11th, and we do have a quorum. So, I will call this meeting to order. The first order of business is agenda approval. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda for tonight's board meeting? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> We'll vote to approve our agenda. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Tonight's agenda is approved. Tonight we have the honor of having some new staff members in Dina public school, some new and returning staff members um here with us this evening to be introduced. And so I'm going to turn it over to Assistant Superintendent Nate Swinson who is here to introduce us to these new Hornets. Welcome. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the board, Dr. Bitman. So good to see you. I am thrilled to be able to introduce uh new leadership here for Edana Public Schools. Um and I'll start with our duo from Countryside Elementary. Uh Miss Lisa Barnold is the new uh Countryside principal and next to her, Aaron Finn is the new administrative dean. uh Lisa Barnhold. She was a previous principal in another school district and Aaron served as an MTSS coordinator in her most recent position as well. Next to her uh to Aaron is Sarah Majoro. Um she is the new administrative dean at South View Middle School. We're excited to have her. Prior to being the dean at South View, she was an instructional coach and math teacher. So, we're thrilled that she uh joined our team in that capacity. And finally, uh next to Sarah is Mr. William Britt. Um he is the new assistant principal at Edina High School. William comes to us via Andover where he was previously an assistant principal. So, my gratitude to you all for joining EPS. We're so glad you chose us. Welcome. Uh, moving on. This month's Excellence and Action features the new name for our early learning center. And we have Dr. Dr. Ann Marie Leland, director of community education and strategic partnerships, Kim Illey, assistant director of the early learning center, and Laura Pongoth, uh, early learning center manager are they're here to unveil the new name. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. Appreciate being here. Good evening, Chair Gabler, Superintendent Bitman, and directors. As uh uh director Gabler said that chair Gabler said, my name is Anry Leland and I have the pleasure of being here tonight. So I wanted to point out restoring our family center legacy and coming full circle. We're going to be scripted because we know it's five minutes and we will be quick but very um genuine about this. So tonight we're here to share something truly significant. not just a name change, but the restoration of a legacy that has touched countless families in our community. Before we begin, I'd like to introduce my incredible colleagues, Kim Eley, our assistant director of early learning, and Laura Pong Sovat, our early learning manager. With that, um, I just wanted to talk about that I get, you know, I get to talk about the beloved family center and it c…

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Topics Discussed (7)

Agenda Approval

Introduction of New Staff Members

Early Learning and Family Center Name Restoration

Summer 2024 Construction Projects Update

Policy Approvals

Superintendent Back-to-School Updates

Closed Session on Labor Negotiations

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Approved Unanimously
Informational Presentation - No Vote Required
Informational Presentation - No Vote Required
Informational Presentation - No Vote Required
5-0 Approved Unanimously
Informational Presentation - No Vote Required
Approved Unanimously

I am thrilled to be able to introduce uh new leadership here for Edana Public Schools.

Nate Swinson/Assistant Superintendent [Staff Introduction]Introduction of New Administrative Staff

My gratitude to you all for joining EPS. We're so glad you chose us. Welcome.

Nate Swinson/Assistant Superintendent [Staff Introduction]Introduction of New Administrative Staff

Tonight we're here to share something truly significant. not just a name change, but the restoration of a legacy that has touched countless families in our community.

Dr. Ann Marie Leland/Director of Community Education and Strategic Partnerships [Excellence and Action]Early Learning and Family Center Name Restoration and Program Expansion

The name change acknowledges the multitude of programs we offer throughout our center. Our developmental screenings alone serve over 500 families each year, and for many, this is their very first experience with Edina Public Schools when their child is between three and four years old. That first impression matters and the family center signals immediately that we are here for the entire family system.

Kim Eley/Assistant Director of Early Learning Center [Excellence and Action]Early Learning and Family Center Name Restoration and Program Expansion

Supporting the whole family means adapting to their realities. So, that is why we're excited to announce that we're gearing up to offer comprehensive childcare programming next summer from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Uh, this wraparound care recognizes that when families have the support that they need, children really thrive.

Laura Pongoth/Early Learning Center Manager [Excellence and Action]Early Learning and Family Center Name Restoration and Program Expansion

By strengthening our identity as a welcoming community hub, we're saying that every family belongs here and every child's potential deserves to be nurtured.

Dr. Ann Marie Leland/Director of Community Education and Strategic Partnerships [Excellence and Action]Early Learning and Family Center Name Restoration and Program Expansion

Summer is arguably the the busiest time of the year for our buildings and grounds team. Not only are they doing their regular cleaning work and maintaining our facilities in an excellent state of repair, we're also busy managing more than 16 different construction projects throughout the district.

Mert Woodard/Director of Finance and Operations [Summer Construction Update]Summer 2024 Construction Projects Update

The main aim of that project is to upgrade our mechanical system so that we're using um warm or hot water to heat the facility rather than um an older system which relied upon very hot steam coming out of our system. So, it's going to be safer for our staff and longterm, it's going to be a more reliable um and efficient system.

Mert Woodard/Director of Finance and Operations [Summer Construction Update]Summer 2024 Construction Projects Update

As the district proceeds in its long-term facilities maintenance planning in spaces where it makes sense, particularly at the secondary level, we think that replacing those gang restrooms with individual bathroom stall spaces um is probably more appropriate.

Mert Woodard/Director of Finance and Operations [Summer Construction Update]Summer 2024 Construction Projects Update

That facility was constructed in 1959, I believe, and the restrooms for the most part are original to the building. So, you can imagine um what a nice upgrade that'll be for that school community.

Mert Woodard/Director of Finance and Operations [Summer Construction Update]Summer 2024 Construction Projects Update

Everything appears to be going on plan, on budget. Um, and so we're we're quite grateful for that.

Mert Woodard/Director of Finance and Operations [Summer Construction Update]Summer 2024 Construction Projects Update

I often talk about the tireless hours that everybody's spending to make sure that the magic happens. And that includes our district office staff uh to my left here as well. So just grateful for the work that's happening, the intricacies and efforts that go into things like being prepared for new teacher training or being making sure that our students with IEPs have what they need or thinking about our family center and the work that happens around each and every person on our cabinet.

Dr. Bitman/Superintendent [Back-to-School Updates]Superintendent Back-to-School Updates and Recognition

We're starting to see more and more people come back to the district. Not all of our employees are staffed year round, so we're excited. that brings an extra piece of energy and flavor, a rejuvenation, but we also recognize there are lots of folks that never get that summer break.

Dr. Bitman/Superintendent [Back-to-School Updates]Superintendent Back-to-School Updates and Recognition

Just a shout out to our varsity boys ultimate frisbee team. Um we have one of the biggest ultimate frisbee teams in the country. It's amazing. And um they won state again and placed second at nationals again. So great job.

Director Barry/Board Member [Back-to-School Updates]Superintendent Back-to-School Updates and Recognition

Pursuant to Minnesota statutes section 13D.03, the board is authorized to vote to move into close session to consider strategy for labor negotiations, including negotiation strategies or development or discussion and review of labor negotiation proposals conducted pursuant to sections 179A.01 to 179A.25.

Chair Gabler/Board Chair [Closed Session Motion]Move to Closed Session for Labor Negotiations