It is 7:00 p.m. on August 17th, 2026 and I call to order this regular meeting of the Richfield School Board. Attending this evening's board meeting live in the board room are board members Kelly Dennis, Haley Tompkins, Ken Liss, Kirk Spencer, and I'm Eric Carter. Also at the table we have Superintendent Steven Unowsky and Assistant Superintendent Cassandra Quam. Other members of the district leadership team are in attendance and maybe will be participating throughout the meeting as well. Richfield Public Schools mission is to inspire and empower each individual to learn, grow, and excel and we aim to keep that focus at the heart of our discussions this evening. Thanks to all of you joining us live here and in the board room, all of you. We also want to thank those of you who are streaming the meeting or watching it after the fact via YouTube. We appreciate when people bear witness to our meetings where we conduct the necessary official business of the district. Our first item of business this evening is to approve the agenda before us. As approval of the agenda is a routine business item, I'll briefly pause to see if there are any comments or questions related to the agenda. Hearing and seeing none, is anyone prepared to move the agenda as presented? >> I move the agenda as presented. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Treasurer Topkins and a second by Director Dennis. Any final discussion? And a name tag. Well played. All in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >> Aye. >> All opposed, please say nay. The chair votes aye and we have an approved agenda. We have to have to catch myself off here. Um, we now move to the uh information and proposal information and proposals non-action items section of the agenda. This evening we have the opportunity for public comment, although no one signed up tonight, I ask that you remember that the uh we have public comment on the second meeting of each month. Um, and our next one will be September 21st at 7:00 p.m. Uh, instructions on how to sign up can be found on Richfield Public Schools website under menu, about school board, and public comments. Now, over to Superintendent Unowsky for our superintendent update. >> All right, we've got five items tonight on the superintendent report. Um, so a long list, but uh many of these items will be relatively brief. Um, as is our practice, um when we have a new principal, we bring that principal to come and meet the board and so tonight I am excited and pleased to share with you our new Centennial Principal. Um, after Colleen Mahoney retired after 7 years of service to the district, um we conducted a search and found for ourselves Andrew Collins. Um, Andrew has been an administrator for 20-plus years. Um, as a principal at Dayton's Bluff, he was the awarded principal of what's called the 90-90-90 school, 90% poverty, 90% students of color, and 90% proficiency. Um, he was named on the floor of Congress as what leadership is supposed to look like. Something to be proud of. I believe he even has the plaque if you're interested in seeing it in his office. I've been a principal and a district lead in St. Paul and is joining us at Centennial. So I'm excited to welcome to you Andrew Collins to share a few words. Take it away, sir. >> Thank you, Superintendent Younanski. Good evening, board members. I'm I'm so happy to be here and I want to share a little bit more about me. Um Superintendent Younanski shared a little bit, but I want to start first by saying a little bit about me personally. In terms of I'm the father of three amazing kids. My wife and I live in St. Paul, proud residents. And really thinking about some of you may know this, but again beginning my educational career working for the Wilder Foundation serving families and students and building on a vision of full service community schools. Which was really for me a pivotal moment in my life. Again, as as shared able to shift to the principalship and had some amazing opportunities and lessons learned as the proud principal of Dayton's Bluff Achievement Plus Elementary School. Um shifting to um from the principalship, I was able to transition and be given lots of opportunities to grow leaders and support students and families at the district level in a variety of roles. Um As people have asked me in my career like, "What's your What's your favorite job?" Um it's a very quick answer and that answer is the principalship. Um for a variety of different reasons and I say that in the context of making a connection to here to Richfield Public Schools and to really thank you because having the opportunity to return to the principalship is very special and something that I'm looking forward to as we grow and learn together as a Centennial community as part of Richfield Public Schools. Um, today is day 47 for Andrew. Um, and I will say that uh I haven't met everyone. I'm excited for the big kickoff of of the new teacher uh gathering tomorrow morning. Um, but uh I have been um overwhelmed uh with support um and it's been an absolute fantastic experience um from a systems perspective and from a people perspective uh and from a community perspective in regards to just uh connecting with some parents um >> [clears throat] >> participating in some events. Uh Mr. Liss uh attended at the Woodlake Half Marathon. We were stop number two uh in terms of the hydration stop, but just it's it's palatable the uh the level of commitment and support that exists in this community. And uh I'm excited to serve and it's a privilege to be here. And so I thank you for the opportunity. >> All right, so we're excited to have Okay, welcome platform. We're excited to have Andrew joining us. Uh Centennial's lucky to have him and we are lucky to have him and he's lucky to have us. So, we're looking forward to working together. We're going to let him go cuz he will be back here bright and early tomorrow morning. Good to see you and we'll see you again in the morning, sir. Uh from the newest of our Richfieldians to some of our longest time Richfieldians, um the Spartan Foundation wasn't able to make it here today um but we have um a great debt of gratitude to our Spartan Foundation folks. Uh they were founded in 1990 and provided numerous contributions to Richfield Schools and to Richfield students. Uh they hold our large golf fundraiser every spring. Um they donate to many of our athletics and activities and this year 31 seniors have received $2,000 for their higher education in scholarship. And so you'll see a list in our board packet, uh but we just want to take a moment cuz we're going to acknowledge this in our donations. We just want to take an extra moment to thank the Spartan Foundation for their ongoing dedication and support of our students, our athletics, and our activities. So, thank you, Spartan Foundation. We'll formally accept donation later, um but we just want to thank them publicly um for their amazing support of our students and our community. Any questions about either of those? >> Joe, just thank you cuz normally we get to spend a little bit more time showing our gratitude for them. So, I think it's important and we love the golf event and more importantly we love what they give back to the community. So, being on the uh Spartan Foundation Committee now as the board representative, I was able to see the inner workings and kind of all the discussion that happens and we really appreciate everything that they do. >> Absolutely. All right. So, with that, we are going to turn it over to first draft of superintendent goals. And this is just a first run. Um we're going to see these at least one more time. Um and it's just a sort of throw out to the board so we see what are some of the things um that I am suggesting um in alignment to our strategic plan and alignment to some of the work that we are focused on um and just the ability to take a look at some of the things that I am going to be leading over the next course of this year. Uh goals will remain the same similar to our Q-Comp process. 35% of it will be really around data based on gains in the performance of our students. Um then it'll be process goals, which is really those strategic plan strategies and activities designed to improve our district. Um and then we'll continue with that evaluation process of my individual performance including um survey of direct reports, survey of the board, and that overall direct feedback. Um so, with that, and again these are first drafts. We are looking for for either in the meeting um or in between prior to our next meeting. Um we'll also refine and double-check some of our data to make sure that these are appropriate and come up with some of the baseline data, but we're going to be looking at both proficiency and um growth. And so looking at the number of students scoring proficient on FastBridge assessment, increasing our current or our previous year number by 5% and reducing the gap by 5% um in both reading and math. And what we're looking at, as opposed to picking one grade, is trying to figure out how to aggregate across all of our grades as I am overseeing the entire district. So our vision cards might pick, when we figure out our data, one or two signposts. For me and our goals this year, we're going to be looking at all of those areas in regard to proficiency, and then from a demographic perspective, gap closure. Then we have similar in terms of growth. Um we were into the mid-50s in terms of typical to aggressive growth from fall to spring. Uh looking at 60% of all students showing typical to aggressive growth um in both reading and in math uh with no gap for students of color in both those areas. So goal one, FastBridge proficiency. Goal two, FastBridge growth. Uh then of course, as we look at the MCA, um I know our high school will be very happy cuz we're picking another measure of our high school. And the high school is really hard to get kids um sometimes to assess. Uh so increasing 2027 achievement grades 3-8 on MCA reading and on MCA math um by 2% each and decreasing the gap um between white students and BIPOC students. Uh so looking at growth overall and also gap reduction overall. I mean then looking at our graduation rate gap um graduation rate overall. Um final data point, maintaining a grad rate over 90% overall. And then making sure we are increasing the rate by at least 2% for any group that is currently below 90%. And so, continuing to maintain that overall 90, um while also making sure um that we are bringing everybody up over that. So, those are the first draft of projected um achievement goals um for me to focus on as we're really looking for those outcomes um moving forward. Um and then looking at the process goals. So, we are in uh Read Act phase two, which is our secondaries, um and a set of special ed teachers. Uh we have a achieved Twin Cities partnership, which is really around expanding college and career readiness offerings. And so, as you think about our survey and some of the feedback we got, we have very strong college programs. We also need to expand and deepen our career um work. And so, really launching that partnership and figuring out how and where to expand. Uh we also now have that 21st Century grant. Again, so we're relaunching beacons, we're relaunching after school programming. It's all consolidating at stamina elementaries. And so, developing and implementing that uh for launch this fall will be one of the things that we're trying to accomplish. Uh racial equity professional development. We had done pilots at STEM and at the high school, and we're looking to expand and make sure that across our entire district we're doing more racial equity professional development for all of our sites. Um staff and resource management. And you'll notice each of these come from our goal areas. Um updating and publishing our district-wide overall maintenance plans. And so, really updating the 10-year long-term facility maintenance, redoing, and re-examining um where we are after our facility updates and all of the renewals, and making sure we have that clear plan moving forward. Um and then finally in communication, community trust, and enrollment. Um and these are things that I think the board are actually going to be very connected to. Um we need to create and launch new student survey, and create and launch new community surveys based on our new strategic plan, and we'll have to develop and publish new vision cards as part of our overall strategic plan. So, those are the process goals that I'll be suggesting. In each of these, you will notice and we're not going to go slide by slide. Each of them, we're going to once we've gotten input from the board, if those make sense, then we'll really look at what measurement looks like and how do we determine if it's successful, and then we'll determine a method by which we are reporting out progress. So, right now there is a draft slide for each of those that says measurement progress, measurement progress. The rest of my goals and evaluation will be based on that data from surveys, feedback from reports, feedback from board members, and obviously our overall eval process. So, we will likely see this at least one more time, possibly two. I just wanted to leave that for board members for input, comment, or thoughts. And for opportunity also refine between board meetings if people would like more time on that. >> Thank you for the update. Questions, comments? >> I have just a quick thought is on for the the first one, the um common assessment proficiency and gap closure. >> Yes. >> The I like the idea of thinking about an aggregate, but I wonder if it I would defer to y'all about what actually would be useful, but I wonder if it makes sense to aggregate by chunks, whether it be K-5, middle school, high school, or whatever, if that would be useful in terms of seeing where there's progress or not. I don't know. Up to y'all to consider that, but something to think of. >> Got it. So, there are the thing for the board to reflect on. There are multiple ways we report. So, there is the my goals part that's tied to my evaluation. There are the vision cards, which will report all of it. Um and when you think about what our vision card, which is that long data presentation, um we'll want to also think about do or we will report every grade and things in different blocks. Um and so, this is more reflective of my overall oversight. But, >> can we have broken it up in the past. So, that is actually what what we have done at times. >> Cool. Thanks. >> I'm glad to see that we're setting accessible goals. Like we've talked about in the past. So, that's all. >> Question. >> Mhm. >> Just curious uh our goal for uh graduation rate is 90%. Do you know what our sister cities are at right now? >> Um I do not. That is a >> great question. Yes, I know that we are above the state by about six points. Um and we are one of the high-performing districts, but I can certainly look at what the districts near us are. >> Thank you. >> More questions? More comments? >> And you said this will come back to us again? >> Yes, and I can also take input updates. So, it can come back once or even twice. I'll check in with board members to see if there are things um to think about. We do have, I think it's three full weeks before the next board meeting, so I'll make sure to check in with people beforehand um to determine if we're doing draft two or if we're going to try to move forward. >> Sounds good. I think we're good. >> Got it. All right. So, then we are on to item number four, which is actually board goals, which is coming back for the second time. Um and so, what we have for board members is a little bit further development into what we are suggesting for board goals. Um so, if you think about um goal area one, um and these are some of the things carried over and connected from previous, uh public presence, community connection, um board members increasing their presence at school and community events, forging connections with attendees. Um obviously, it's aligned to our strategic plan in regard to student activities and community engagement and client uh climate well-being and inclusion. Uh we would need to think about how we would measure that. And so, one of the things we were thinking about is, you know, we have done board member report on I was present, I talked to different people. Um board members would need to determine if you all would like to set a specific goal for presence or participation or connection um or what we would do in that area. Um and so, that is one of the things for the board to think about. Uh second one we are suggesting, and you'll notice green cuz that was an area where we didn't feel like we could uh tighten up and suggest um what that measure of success would be um cuz board members really would need to set that. Uh goal area two, strategic plan vision card measures. Uh board members collaborating with admin to figure out data points for vision cards for the next 5 years. Um and so, that is clearly aligned to the implementation of our overall strategic plan. Um that would be connected to a study session with hopefully full board attendance, which we'll be looking at in a couple of months. I think Cassandra emailed out a date in October or got uh feedback in that regard. Um and then our other measure would be us being able to publish uh those vision cards in February and in June. Um and so, board members would be expected to give that input either at that study session and outside um, to make sure that we had data points that people were comfortable with. Um, and then, goal area three, deepening our relationship with the city of Richfield, um, and asking the board to utilize that city manager transition as a catalyst to increase our connection and partnership. And obviously, that is connected to our plan overall plan with communication, community trust, and enrollment with a positive reputation um, say welcoming system. Um, one part would be board and district reps providing input into the hiring process, um, which uh, actually Haley and I have already done. I believe Kirk might have participated in that also. Um, and then, uh, figuring out a way where you have um, board representatives to city committees providing those school updates to the city and city updates to the board. Um, and that's one of the system processes where we already have. Um, and so, for example, with the representative on the Human Rights Commission, if there are things happening in the school, they hear about it from us, and if we have things that we need to be aware of um, from the Human Rights Commission, we report those back. Um, and so, the board is already kind of doing that, um, but formalizing that as a goal and making sure we're on board with that. So, I'm leaving that as a further refined draft of board self-evaluation, um, and then also leaving open some ideas of measures of success, um, if the board wants to do that uh, presence at school and community events component, or if the board would like to suggest alternate goals. >> Thank you again. Questions, comments from the board. Like everybody's looking away. I think I mean, I like the goal number one. I think the challenge is how do you measure it, right? I mean, with to your point, in the past we've kind of reported it and said, "Here's the events we attended." Um and with not the intent of trying to shame ourselves or shame each other, but more just kind of a let's say accountability track, right? It's like I'm we're measuring it so that we can at least report on it and say, "Do we think we need to do more? Do we need to less? Are we doing a good job of it?" Um I mean, we can do that kind of anonymous reporting again. I don't know if it was effective or not. I mean, but then also not tracking it I think is not the right way either, so open to suggestions, fresh ideas from the new board members. >> Well, maybe 50% at least. >> [laughter] >> A meetings, the committee meetings. At least. Um I you know, it's busy and some of us are on other, you know, committees and boards and there's life. >> Mhm. >> So. >> So, tracking committee attendance. >> Yourself track it. You track for yourself. Maybe, you know, trying to attend at least 50% of those other meetings. >> Mhm. >> Cuz, you know, like I'm full of meetings. I'm on the maternal minority committee by the city, Hennepin County. I'm on the HRC. I'm on this one. I'm on some other outside ones, you know, and it's it gets to be a lot each month, so. >> Well, and that's one component cuz there's also public [clears throat] presence just being out and around in the community of like, how do we meet people, how do we talk to people? I mean, obviously we all live in the community. So, then the question is is how are we taking the opportunity to talk to people um other than just necessarily being present, but also reaching out to people, right? And getting actually getting feedback. I mean, again, for me I look at it and go a cheap way to do it was graduation parties. So, going around to different graduation parties, people will inherently want to talk about the school board. Right? Um now, as school gets going again, we'll have football and basketball and other events that we can go to where again people will want to talk to us. And do we try to track those interactions or do we just I think that's that first part of public presence. Um and maybe it's just that we're out in the community, right? It's like that we're making a conscious effort of attending events outside of committee or attending events in addition to com- committee commitments. >> And I think, you know, to your point, some of us we can all contribute in different ways, right? Like my son is a student in Ridgefield schools, so I am at those events, right? I'm at every single I was at every single Sheridan Hills event last year. You know, so there may be some different ways that we can all engage. And I think maybe it would be a thing that if there like Penfest is coming up, right? Like just different things like that. Are there maybe a calendar of certain events that we want to prioritize going to? We could sign up and say I'll go to Penfest or I'll go to the Great Pumpkin Give Away or whatever the different things are. Um and hear from people. We could do something like that if we really want to get >> I like that idea. >> into it to say that you know, these are the you [clears throat] know, if there's how many of us are there? Six, seven of us that we Yeah. That we uh that maybe we pick six or seven things, however many there are of us, that we pick, you know, pick that many events and we each pick one to just go and be a part of. Maybe we I mean there's lots of different ways we could do that. >> What I'm hearing is is that it might not be a bad idea to go back and do what we did before where we tracked it. Like kind of, you know, Cassandra reached out and we informally tracked it and what we did. And that's that guilt accountability if you will. Right? Uh by reporting in it's like then I'm I'm more self-conscious of making an effort cuz I don't want to report in zero. Right? I want to report in and say that I did >> Is it Is it appropriate for us to say, you know, cuz part of part of the question is like I mean I'll be at Penn Fest. I'll be walking down the street at Penn Fest. Does that count as being somewhere? >> Definitely. >> Or is it, you know, or do we want to do more that's like active engagement? >> Right. Right. We've got a name tag now, right? Get a You know what? Headbands with a little arrow that says school board member. And you just walk around, right? I mean >> If you're wearing that, I'm buying it. >> I'll wear [laughter] it. Um [clears throat] >> She's speaking for herself. Just speaking for She [laughter] didn't ask if you would wear it. >> But yeah, I mean or do we want to have like a ask questions of your school board member. Is that appropriate? I don't know. >> Well, I'll just say that cuz I think at Penn Fest in the past we've taken shifts. >> Sure. >> So, there's ability to do >> both. >> Active or passive. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, okay. >> The I mean the whole discussion that we keep kind of harassing Steve about with like having some type of tag name tags or baseball caps or something. Like a shirt is that when you're out at Penn Fest, you can wear it while walking around and then be identified. Not that we expect people to grab us and stop us and ask, but that we're >> Well, there, you know, prize nuts. Right. >> And I'll speak for myself. If if in public, unless you see me running, right? And like I'm open to be talked to about any school board, just right, information discussions. So, I would guess that that's true for the rest of the group. >> Oh, yeah. Well, I like what Haley said, you know, if we have a list of calendar events and, you know, um I I plan to be at Penn Fest, but in the role of HRC, and then do I, you know, we're planning on having t-shirts, but do I put this badge on >> [laughter] >> and doing dual duty? I mean, so it it does get complex. And so, I think you know, um in all of this that um it you know, and and we can report into Cassandra, you know, where you at where we were and when it's appropriate. >> Uh just, you know, on page eight of the board packet, we do have upcoming events. We'd asked for that in the past, and Cassandra's done a great job of keeping that updated as to things between now and the next meeting or two meetings. It's usually two meetings, right? >> weeks, depending on how >> Sometimes. >> Yeah. >> Might then be helpful is uh Cassandra could create for us or for the board a large Google Doc with some calendar events, and when people attend, they could put their name in. Um and so, that would help people in getting that going all along. Um and so, in addition to, for example, you look at page eight, you've got new teacher orientation breakfast. She could send a fill-inable Google Doc where you could just then pop your name in, or we could, if we notice that you're there and you're able to be there, we could throw names in and help help support some of that documentation, also. Um if that's one of the ways. We could also think about um and not asking to extend board meetings necessarily, but um at the end of our agenda where there is info and questions from board members, um we could pick maybe a once a month or once every couple of months, and go around and see if there are updates or information from people's presence or things to report back. Um which would then sort of help make sure we are bringing those things back. >> I was thinking maybe that could be tabulated by Cassandra and added to the minutes because we'd be reporting in on that Google Doc. So it probably might be good to have that information there. And it's documented in print. >> Maybe it would be worthwhile to refresh us how we did it in the past with tracking the information. >> I think you all maintained and then people reported back. Cassandra emailed out and then I contacted people multiple times so that we were reminding people and judging people. >> a year thing at least two years ago. It was >> Was it once a year? >> It was when we did our goals like people reported into Cassandra how many events they could remember they went to. >> Yeah, well I and maybe it's just a quick quarterly email of like, "Hey, right?" And [clears throat] then that way then again, I would be concerned about putting people on the spot if we did it during a meeting, right? Cuz it's not we're not trying to shame people. It's just more of a helpful reminder of, right? And everybody does it different, right? So like me, I Principal Collins may hate me for it but like I stop in once a month. We have our Wednesday morning meeting and I sit and like sit at the front door with her and we just catch up. We talk about whatever's on the top of my mind. I ask her questions or what she's got on her mind and then I like greeting students. So it's fun just to kind of say hi to the kids and and and I will say too just you know with Metro Surge there were some sessions where we stood on the corner and watched and directed parents and waved at them in the cold which it was cold. >> [laughter] >> So everybody does it their own way. >> No, I I appreciate just hearing what folks are doing too, right? So during Metro Surge I was at the middle school out on the street, not necessarily connecting with Erica Barlow, but I was present there, right? >> Um and I like that idea of like beginning of the day, end of the day, when the principal's already greeting people as they come in to do that with um the schools that were a part of. Um maybe it's just this simple an idea. You you've got such a great script that you've put together for going through these meetings that we just point out in the meetings the page eight and what things are coming up and >> Mhm. >> Um it could be a either a ping ahead of time to Cassandra or to board chair saying, "Hey, I see teacher orientation is coming. I'm I'll I'll hit that one." >> Uh that would be an easy addition to go over those as a quick reminder cuz it's uh almost like an announcement section. >> Mhm. >> I'll have to figure out where in the agenda we do that, but I yeah, that's a great idea. >> That could be that could be in the information section at the end. >> Yeah. All right, we have some ideas. We will come back and try to encapsulate that for the board at our next meeting. >> Sounds fantastic. All right, last thing, City of Richfield comprehensive plan advisory committee. This is on page nine of the board packet. Um so, we have been in conversation with the city. Their long-range vision and policy document is their comprehensive plan. They are redeveloping one. Uh it is an 18-member um advisory group. They are meeting in the Bartholomew room. Um these are not school board meeting dates. Um 6:00 p.m. on September 14th, March 8th, and September 3rd, 2027. Um so, the hope is that there is um somebody who is willing to sign on to represent the public school district of Richfield Public Schools at these three meetings. Uh, we would be asking somebody to commit, uh, commit to all three. And so, I don't need a commitment today. Um, they have been very clear with us. They want one. They do not want two, um, and that they prefer one of you all, um, rather than one of the team members because you are in the committee or in the community, living in the community, and are an elected official representing the school board. Uh, so if any of you are willing or interested in participating in this committee, um, we would love for you to let us know and we can pass that along either now or, uh, with September 14th in the next week or two, uh, we'd love to know if anybody is interested in this and is able willing to commit to those three dates to the best of their ability. >> Is that last date September 13th or November 13th or >> Uh, it is September 13th, 2027 is what it says. >> Oh, 2027. >> Yes. So, it is Monday, September 14th and then next calendar year, March 8th and September 13th. >> When is spring break? Is that March 8th? >> Uh, our spring break is at the end of March, beginning of April. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, we are not on spring break in that window. >> And is that at the HRC? >> Um, that is >> it's the same room, I think. >> Um, yeah, Bartholomew Room, City Hall, um, and the comprehensive plan. >> I think it's the same. It might be the same room. >> I can't commit to, so I'm just getting myself out there. >> I can make two of the three. >> The The March one I The March one I definitely can make. >> Okay. So, theoretically, in a perfect world, Kelly Me Kirk are out. We're And then there were three. Rock, paper, scissors, shoot. >> anything going that I'm aware of. So, I mean, I could probably do it. >> And are you interested in doing it? >> Sure. >> All right. Hey, me and Eric, are you good with that? >> If you want to volunteer, yes. If you're saying it's if we rock, paper, scissors for it. >> I you know, assuming there's no military emergency and I'm not called up as a retired [laughter] Navy captain. >> think they're calling up 70-year-old Navy captains. >> I'm a staff officer. So, I'm kind of out of [laughter] that. I'm out of the running anyway. >> I'll I'll ask you this way. Eric, was that your way of saying you're interested also or you excited that Kirk or that Ken is interested? >> I'm interested, but I will gladly defer to Ken. >> Do I'm I'm I'm good. Yeah. >> All right. Ken is in and then I'll just double-check offline. Unless Haley, you are good and not doing it. >> Yeah. >> All right. She has thrown up the hand. That is the universal signal for I'm out. >> It is super exciting. And we only can send one. So, we got it. >> Um if there is someone else interested in just giving feedback to the um to the city, they're also doing a parks planning vision thing in the next couple weeks. I can't remember when exactly it is, but there's an opportunity there for folks. That's just open to the community. >> Yeah, there are many opportunities like this. This is one of the only ones where I have heard one only one don't want more than two or more than one. They don't usually do that. So, that is just this particular committee. >> Question. Are you serious about t-shirts for uh community events and stuff like that? >> I think the board would like us to have something identifying board members um beyond name tags. If you want arrow hats polo >> [laughter] >> It's just that >> wear a t-shirt. I would not wear her arrow hat though. So, you would wear a t-shirt not an arrow hat. Would you wear a Richfield schools >> t-shirt? >> I mean, if you're wearing an arrow hat, you're basically going to wear a clown costume for goodness sake. >> But I >> With little lights? >> I can't wear a baseball cap. So, a headband is going to be better for me. But, a t-shirt also works. >> Would Was that an interest? >> Yes, because um we're planning on t-shirts at the HRC also and we might have them for Pen Fest, but I'd like to do a dual. >> Got you. You have both shirts. >> and a pen >> You guys interested in If if that is the case, then Cassandra will work with um Laura Hurad in Communications. She can design a Richfield School Board Member t-shirt. Uh we will print up this the five and if we add a board member six Eric, you desperately don't want a t-shirt, do you? >> T-shirt sounds great. >> Okay. >> It sounds >> rather have a polo? >> Well, uh uh uh uh uh uh T-shirt's fine. T-shirt sounds good. I will absolutely wear >> Speak if you want something else. I bet they got a polo laying around. You could probably do that. >> You know what? We like Actually, how about this? Ask Laura what like what she thinks would best represent us. And best identify us. >> Sash. >> Not a arrow. Well, [laughter] why? >> I got good ideas. >> You got a bunch of ideas. You're You're full of them. >> [laughter] >> A tiara. Yeah. >> So, we will have normal things for four of our board members and special stuff for Haley. >> Right. >> The mayor of New York City wears a sash. Yeah, that's at events. >> I will coordinate with them. >> [laughter] >> All right, I'll coordinate with Laura Horan. We'll see what is the best idea for representation. She will be in touch in regard to a recommended size, be it a polo, be it a t-shirt, be it a sash, be it a crown, be it something else. >> Oh my god. >> Um >> I'm just thinking about what Like I'm thinking about Like I'm joking obviously, but I think what I'm thinking of is like a t-shirt A Richfield Schools t-shirt is going to look like a Richfield Schools t-shirt. It at Penn Fest. >> Unless it has a giant sign that says Richfield >> Board member. Board member, yeah. >> Or Richfield Board Member. Lauric, I am confident that Laura Horan can design something. >> can figure it out, it's her. >> Please talk to me. I am a board member. >> Got you. We're on it. >> Okay, so we are good with this topic then. >> Yes, we are. >> Which brings us I would We don't. We love your ideas. Um the next item is approval of the consent agenda, which contains a collection of routine or fairly routine business items that we consent to pass in bulk without individual discussion. I'll pause for a moment to see if there are any questions or requests before we proceed. Hearing none and seeing none, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> I move that we approve the consent agenda as presented. >> I second it. We have a motion by Treasurer Tompkins, fun to say, and a second by Clerk Liss. All in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >> All opposed, please say nay. Chair votes aye, and the consent agenda is approved. Brings us to old business. There are several items before us this evening for continued review and possible action. The first item is policy 452, evaluation and development of professional staff and administrative guidelines 42.1, and it's a third read. >> It is a third read. We have it for you for recommended passage. I'd like to point out the language on 51 which we have worked very clearly with our union. A teacher on special assignment who has been fully trained in the Charlotte Danielson framework for teaching may support the formal observations in partnership with a licensed administrator. And so we had been working back and forth about possibly having them do an eval. We decided to go a different direction after our consultation partnership and so the language changes in there. We already do have them supporting in a bunch of areas but we wanted to formalize and clarify that. So that is in that policy and guideline for us. So we have that for you today for recommended passage. We have had input as actually just policy and guideline. We did gather input from both HR and from our union team members. So with that I have for hope >> for action. >> Any questions, comments or of course we'll always accept a motion. >> I so move. That we accept policy 452 evaluation development of professional Is that where we are? >> Policy 452 will work. >> Policy 452 as presented. >> I also move >> We have a motion by Director Dennis and a second by Vice Chair Spencer. First time on the list tonight. Any more discussion? See everybody looking away. You guys are looking away a lot tonight. All in favor please say aye. >> Aye. >> Aye. >> All opposed please say nay. The chair votes aye and policy 452 evaluation development of professional staff and administrative guideline 452.1 is approved. Brings us to policy 901 community education. It's a second read. >> Okay. So we have second read community ed. We have gathered feedback from the community ed department and updates based on Richfield Public Schools branding and style. This is just in front of you for a read. Uh basically most of them are just um those quick um organizational changes. Um and so no major changes specifically to this policy, just a little bit of updating. Um so with that, we have it for a second read um and you will see it again in 3 weeks. >> Thank you for that. Any questions, comments? If there are none, we will move right along. And that brings us into our new business section. There are several items for new business, four specifically. First is resolution filling a board vacancy by appointment. >> All right. Um so um we are looking at filling a vacancy. As you look around, there are five board members at this point. Um by organization, >> [clears throat] >> we should have six. Um the board at the last meeting empowered me to go out and have conversation with former board members um to see if there were any who would be interested and willing to serve and still lived in the city of Richfield. Um I did have connection with multiple board members. Um former board member Banks Capshaw is actually moving out of state. She is either now or moving soon to Boston. Um so we congratulate her on her move. Former board member Paula Cole, whose seat we are talking about, actually is living in North Carolina. Uh former board member Crystal Brackey has moved outside of the school district and is living in Minneapolis. We have a lot of moves from former board members. Let's not have any of you all move. I like having you in our city and I like having you all in our school district. >> How about that? I'm just kidding. >> Uh then the most recent other board member Peter Tensing actually served in this role and so we've already asked him to serve, and so uh that leaves Tim Palmis. Tim Palmis does still live in our city. Tim Palmis is willing to accept if you all were to nominate and to resolve filling our board vacancy with Tim Palmis. So, the way I see it, the board has a choice this evening. The board can appoint Tim Palmis this evening to that position, in which case Cassandra and I would go out to do the work to have him accept formally fulfill the oath of office, and he would be seated at our first meeting in October. Or the board could determine that they have changed their mind, they want to go a different direction, and we would go an application process. Based on the previous input of the board, it would appear to me that Tim Palmis is a very logical choice. He is He would come in. He has suggested he would not run again at the end of this term, and so he would serve the remainder of Ms. Cole's term and would be able to the advantage of a former board member. He's able to hit the ground running without orientation, and wouldn't be a board member coming in for just 1 year. And so with that, I will leave it up to the board to see if they want to make a resolution to fill with Tim Palmis, or go another direction. >> I move that we accept Tim Palmis as our sixth board member in October. >> I'll second that. >> We did this quick. We have a motion [laughter] by Clerk Lenz. >> We've talked about it so much already. >> And a second by Vice Chair Spencer. We have talked about this a bunch. It's not like this is a surprise or a shock. And also knowing what it takes for a board member to come up to speed, I think our newest members can attest that it's not a quick run to kind of figure out how things work around here. So, having somebody who has been tenured for I think a thousand years, um we know that he would come up to speed very quickly. I could say that aloud, it's not just internal business. Um making me the non-senior member. Um any other discussion, questions, or comments, or the main So, we we've got it written in front of us. >> So, what we what you would do is you would just pull the board um to fill that appointment with Tim Paulus, and based on that resolution passing, uh that would be done. >> So, so effectively, just to be clear, uh the one thing um so, what Clerk Liss said was moving the resolution that we have on page 64 of the board packet, and he already said the name, so that blank line would be Tim Paulus. That's what's in front of us. >> Correct. >> And if there's no more discussion, which I think everybody does um look like we've got more discussion, then we'll bring it to a vote. Director Dennis. >> I. >> Clerk Liss. >> I. >> Vice Chair Spector. >> I. >> And Treasurer Tompkins. >> I. >> The Chair votes I, and we will officially welcome Tim Paulus back to the Board of Education. >> All right, Ms. Kwame and I will follow up to have him formally accept the oath of office, and then he is expected he will be expected to join us um at our first meeting in October. >> Fantastic. Uh brings us to our policies requiring annual review. >> Yes, and so as you know, um our practice is um there are a set of policies that are asked for a one read, um and they are reviewed every year or every two years. There are minor changes that occur in this. This does not take them off our five-year overall review cycle, um but we do still provide some updates, or there are sometimes new things. So, for example, um in the list of attachments, policy 802 crisis management has added cardiac emergency response protocol. So, all of our schools are now required based on statute to train a team in cardiac emergency response and so we have laid that out for you in the appendix. Um there are small and minor updates. Um most are language or just updating them based on statute. Um and again, these will be um back to you again um in the overall 5-year cycle. >> But we see these annually. >> Um you see a set of them annually. Um some of them are every 2 years, so some you'll see every 2 years, some you'll see every year. Um and then you'll still have the full overall process. So, harassment prohibition is a yearly policy, for example, and um you will also see it every 5 years with a full safe and supportive schools input and some additional things as it gets the full policy review. >> Questions, comments? Motion? Cuz I do have a quick question. Um on policy 602, I noticed that the fundraising committee was struck out. Just curious why that was. Um page 168-ish. >> Um correct. I do not believe they have regularly been meeting at least at this point. Um and so we wanted as you all have asked, we align that to overall practice. It is certainly possible that with a new activity director that some of that gets revised and reinstated. Uh but we wanted to make sure it was aligned to current practice since they're connected at this point. >> Got it. So, it was it was supposed to be a a line with activities. >> Correct. >> Okay, check. Um So then maybe that would be the question. It's like before we strike it, is it something that should be removed? I mean, the concept I thought was to help us better channel our our fundraising and help give guidance. >> Right, I think there are two ways of looking at it. The way we're currently looking at it is if it's not currently existing, we need to take it out of that guideline. We can have it happen without it being there. >> Okay. >> Um and what we don't want to do is have policies and guidelines that aren't actually our current practice. >> Okay. >> Um I did in the um we'll just take a quick tangent. Um you may have seen the announcement. We have hired TJ Staton, um long-time ARCEP teacher, as our new activity director. She has also coached track. In her interview, she did talk about um ideas around um re-aligning and dealing with boosters and fundraising and really tightening that up. And so I I think we are likely to see a revisit of that um as we move forward. But yes, that actually got announced out and came through my parents square at 6:27 today. >> at that. >> Yes. >> Exciting. Congratulations. >> Yes. >> It's on the mic. Did you hear that? That was my only question on the packets. So what like >> if that were to come back 3 months from now, >> we can have that whether it's in there or not. Um we don't want to have it in there without having it. >> Cuz it's the accountability for us to be a part of that. >> Correct. >> I got you. Well, now >> So a year from now if it existed, we would put it back into the policy in the one read. Um but we don't want to enter a year where there isn't that and have that in there. >> Yeah. I Well, what Kirk just said not it just also everything. It's like so if I go back and look at our committees list, is it on there? >> On the website? >> Uh yes, and/or in the policy. >> In the school board section of the website. >> From what we did in January right, where we do assignments? That's what you I'm just being clear if that's what you two were saying. >> Yeah, cuz Andrea's going to check as we are speaking. I can I've come to recognize the symbol of I don't know 100% the answer, so I'm going to look it up and have it for you in a jiff. >> Sure. How about this? I'll ask a question while she's looking for that. Are there other questions or comments on these 11, I believe 11 policies? 11. >> Now, and I forget, do we usually >> Pass a motion >> to approve all of them >> simultaneously. Yep. >> I think it's page I'm happy to do that. >> Was that a motion that you were saying that? >> I'm just wondering if I need to say all of them. I move that we >> Dope. >> approve the board the policies annual board policies before us. That's specific enough. >> The policies requiring annual approval. >> Yep. >> So moved. >> Second. >> And seconded Moved by Vice Chair Spencer, seconded by Director Dennis. Well, you got that look like you've got an answer over there. >> It's not on the list to begin. >> It's not So, it wasn't on the list to begin just for the mic. It wasn't on the list to begin with. It was just So, it wasn't a board committee. >> Correct, and it was not >> Yeah. >> It was not at this point a board committee cuz it had not existed in January when we did committee assignments. >> Perfect. Okay. Uh any more discussion on the uh on the policies up for uh review? Again, averted eyes. Sounds like we're ready for a vote. All in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >> All opposed, please say nay. The chair votes aye, and the policies requiring annual review are all approved in bulk. Brings us to workers' compensation insurance renewal. >> All right, then I'm going to try to do this. We'll have Craig answer questions as he is stumbling forward or running forward. Um >> We worked >> I know. He was just hopping up and running so quickly. I just didn't want him to fall. Uh so we worked with our insurance consultants, worked on our workers' comp. Um the renewal re uh results in a total projected cost of $359,899, which is a decrease of 22.62% or $105,232. It's rare to say uh our insurance is costing significantly less. Uh it's both a payroll decrease um as we reduce in overall um staff because of fewer students um and then also the experience mod, basically meaning some high claims are no longer on our roster for how they are calculating our insurance. And so that goes from 1.25 to 0.9. Uh there's some changes in premium rates and some overall credit and discounts. So very exciting news, down $105,000, and great work from our finance team, our insurance committee, and Mr. Holtzclaw. Uh that is the extent of my ability to explain it. And so there if there are deeper questions or information, um Mr. Holtzclaw is smiling at the microphone. More you want to share or >> No, that sounds good. I'll just add, I mean looking at our work comp experience is something that our health, safety, and wellness committee does. It's a great committee that brings people together from all over the district. Um we look at what the experiences are, look at preventive ways to kind of reduce those experiences, and this is the result of that paying off. So credit to the team as well. >> question. Do you have a risk management uh person? >> Um we work SFM, we has a representative that comes to our health, safety, and wellness committees, um, regularly. Um, pretty much every meeting day are here. Um, they come in and do training, so it's a part of our premium with SFM that they provide those services. Um, and then we also do have IEA, which is a consultant that provides, um, kind of broader health and safety experiences as well. So, they look at our indoor air quality testing, our, um, all of the different testings that we're required to do, um, look at preventative trainings across the district. SFM also helps support some of that stuff as well. So, both IEA as a consultant, broader health and safety, and then SFM specifically targeting towards work comp. >> Okay. That's great. Thank you. >> More questions, comments, or a motion? >> I so move that we accept the workers compensation insurance renewal package as presented. >> I second that. We have a motion by Director Dennis and a second by Clerk Liss. Any more discussion? Ooh, a head shake. Thank you for that. All in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >> All those opposed, say nay. Chair votes aye, and we have an approved, uh, competent workers compensation insurance renewal no year as approved. Last, we have donations. >> All right. So, we have a couple of donations, um, to acknowledge today. Our Stem Elementary received a donation of $25 to the Black Bow Giving Fund, so thank you to the Giving Fund. RHS Spartan Food Shelf received a donation of $700 from Susan Hoff Hoffseth in memory of Nick Hoff Hoffseth. So, thank you to Susan Hoffseth of Richfield. And RHS Scholarship Fund received a donation of $38,000 from the Richfield Spartan Foundation. So, we thank them for their ongoing support of our students, ongoing scholarships, and the strength of the Spartan Foundation in our community. So, we appreciate y'all. >> I move that we accept these donations hardily and and we congratulate all the student recipients hardily. >> Second. >> Got to be fast. >> like you guys anymore. >> Why? >> Let the notes suggest hardily accepted. >> Well, we have a motion to accept these donations hardily and >> that we congratulate the >> And congratulate the student [clears throat] recipients hardily as well. All in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed, please say nay. Chair votes aye, and we accept these donations hardily and we congratulate these students who received these scholarships hardily as well. Thank you. Appreciate that all. Next, we move to advance planning section of the agenda, which always begins with the legislative update. Steve. >> Uh yeah, so since our last meeting, the primaries have occurred. There are candidates for governor. There are candidates for a wide range. Um >> [clears throat] >> it would appear, um barring some strange turn of events, that Minnesota will have a female governor for the first time in the history of the state of Minnesota as the candidates for both the Republican and Democratic Party um are women. So, um then, the Senate seat will also be filled um by a woman. Um and so, we are seeing some significant gender equity occurring in leadership in elected leadership in the state of Minnesota. So, that is something that's happening. Uh we'll see what happens in November, um which will obviously then impact what occurs in schools, as we know. Um, elections of state senators and state legislators very significantly impact both funding and mandates and expectations for schools. So, we'll have to see and keep watch, um, and be able to consistently monitor. >> Thank you for that. Any questions or comments on that? Okay. Brings us to information and questions from the board. Rolling right along, suggested future Wait a minute. I'm going to go ahead and take advantage of what Kirk suggested earlier quick. This won't take long to do. So, tomorrow we have new teacher orientation breakfast. Uh, 25th we have all staff welcome back lunch and kick out presentation. Then September 8th, there's our school board meeting, which I will be getting to. I'm Oh, I shouldn't be saying that one. Uh, and then September 20th we have PenFest from noon to 5:00. And those are just opportunities where we'll likely be out and about and around as well. >> And you are speaking tomorrow, too, to welcome people in that >> What? >> Always, Mr. Carter. And you'll be speaking next week, too, at our PenFest. >> Lucky me. >> Have you forgotten >> I did not forget. I don't have my board shirt to wear, so they won't know who I am. Um, thanks. Thanks, God. I appreciate that. >> I've got a marker and a T-shirt at home. >> [laughter] >> Problem solved. Suggested future agenda items. And the future meeting dates, which I kind of let one slip already, uh, is actually Tuesday, September 8th at 7:00 p.m. will be our regular board meeting, uh, welcome back to school meeting. And then, um, September 21st at 7:00 p.m. will be our regular board meeting, which will be an opportunity for public comment. >> And just a reminder connected to that, usually that first Tuesday meeting is the first day of school, but it is not. The first day of school is August 31st. And while that is a Monday, that is not the first Monday in September, so we actually, different than typical, will have had five days of school um prior to the time that we are meeting. And so there'll be a lot of information updates, class sizes, enrollment, all kinds of fun stuff we'll be talking about on the 8th and we'll have more data than we would have had if we were just still on the first day. So it's going to be a fun time. >> So, the final item of business on the agenda is to adjourn tonight as we have closed session to discuss labor negotiations. As such, we now consider motion to move to close session as allowed by Minnesota state statute 13D.03 for labor negotiation strategy. Yep. He's looking for a motion. >> that we uh adjourn to close session for all the things you said. >> Yep. So I teed it up, all you do is say so moved. Got that? And >> I second. >> Perfect. There we go, teamwork. Uh we have a motion by Treasurer Tompkins and a second by Clerk Clerk Liss. All in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >> All opposed, please say nay. Chair votes aye. And we will now be moving to close session. After a brief recess, the board will be in a close session in a private room. We will return to this meeting as officially adjourned upon completion of the close session, but there will be no further business other than to adjourn the meeting. For those following on the live stream, this will end the session. Thank you for attending. >> Thanks for letting me say y'all are no fun. >> [laughter] >> Mhm.