St. Louis Park Public Schools — Transcript
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Online Safety and Digital Learning
SLP Lynx Community Center Renovation
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Assumptions and Fiscal Year 2026 Mid-Year Budget Approval
Employment Contracts and Probationary Staff
Votes (7)
Online Safety and Digital Learning Presentation
The presentation detailed the district's multi-layered technical security, including a 24/7 security operations center, firewalls, and device monitoring. It covered the process for approving educational applications, emphasizing compliance with CIPA, FERPA, HIPAA, and the Minnesota Student Data Privacy Act. The district's new digital vision, integration of 'Lit Team' (Learning and Innovation Technology Specialists), and plans for a community-involved technology committee were also discussed, alongside initial screen time data.
Resolution and Bid Approval for the Renovation of the SLP Lynx Community Center
Moved by Colin [0:37:25] · Seconded by Celia [0:37:28]
Jim presented the renovation project, noting that bids came in within 1% of the $1.5 million budget after value engineering. The project, part of the 2022 bond referendum, includes adding a secure entrance funded by savings from the high school. He addressed concerns about maintaining community access during construction and managing parking lot challenges.
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Assumption and Fiscal Year 2026 Mid-Year Budget Approval
Moved by Colin [0:42:36] · Seconded by Patrick [0:42:40]
Suzy presented the mid-year budget update, showing a projected increase in the general fund balance and a narrowing of the operating deficit. She explained the $768,000 increase in revenues (primarily state aid) and a minor $293,000 increase in expenditures. A significant change involved eliminating the board-assigned severance fund balance and incorporating it into the unrestricted fund balance for clearer state-level reporting. The board approved the budget, including FY2027 assumptions.
Employment Contract for Executive Director of Business Services
Moved by Taylor [0:53:23] · Seconded by Chairman Mancini [0:53:24]
Suzy presented the employment contract for Josiah Nebo, who was selected as the next Executive Director of Business Services, effective July 1, 2026. Josiah Nebo has served the district for two years as the Director of Business Services. Board members expressed appreciation for the importance of the role and commitment to the district's mission.
Employment Agreements Fourth Year of Probation
Moved by Sarah [0:57:38] · Seconded by Patrick [0:57:41]
Superintendent Hines explained that Minnesota law provides three years of probation before tenure for licensed staff, and one year for those transferring from other districts. The district offers an optional fourth year of probation in lieu of non-renewal for staff making meaningful but not entirely satisfactory progress, allowing more time for evaluation and development. This practice is standard across many districts.
Motion to Forego the Reading of Individual Names of Probationary Non-Renewal Staff
Moved by Colin [1:01:21] · Seconded by Chairman Mancini [1:01:22]
Director Owen explained the rationale for not publicly reading the names of probationary employees whose contracts are not being renewed. This practice ensures confidentiality for the individuals, as reasons for non-renewal can vary (e.g., budgetary, return from leave, not performance-related) and the meeting is publicly broadcast.
Approval of Probationary Non-Renewal of Staffing Resolutions
Moved by Patrick [1:03:55] · Seconded by Chairman Mancini [1:03:56]
Director Lloyd read the resolution for the termination and non-renewal of contracts for 15 probationary licensed employees across various school years, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 122A.40, subdivision five. Superintendent Hines confirmed that employees had been notified around spring break and that Human Resources follows a transparent process with the teachers' union (PAT).
Notable Quotes (16)
We've had some discussion recently within us uh in some public comment here about wondering about what we're doing to keep people safe and how we're selecting certain things to use.
So when we're choosing anything that has student information in it that's being moved into their system, they have to have privacy statements, and they have to have practices that are compliant. Uh they're not reselling data.
reorganizing our media specialists within the schools to be through a district-wide coordination. So, they will now be um learning and innovation technology specialists that will serve to support our learning and innovation department.
The next steps in this is forming a committee, A committee that involves parents, students, and staff, and administrators on working together on how the technology is evolving in our district, and working together on that.
Yes, we were fortunate enough that uh this bid came in within uh about 1% of our actual total. So, our our our budget was $1.5 million dollars.
Um yes, cuz original budget was 1 million dollars. We added 500,000 from the savings from the high school so we could get the secure entrance at Lennox. So it is consistent with all our other buildings at this time.
The good news for the general fund is that we are increasing our projected ending fund balance. We are still in a slight deficit, so our expenditures in this budget slightly exceed revenues. But, it is about $400,000 better than it was in the original budget that was adopted and we will do everything we can to um end this year in a balanced budget...
I want to be clear that we've moved a million dollars from a board assigned balance into the unrestricted balance cuz that's how the state sees it.
So the fund balance with the assumptions that you're going to next year is 8%. So does that mean the budget will be created somewhat dipping into the current fund balance of about 10%?
Um, bringing to you this evening the executive director of business services contract. Um, the district, we posted the position, we went through the selection process, and, um, through the interview process, we did determine that Josiah Nebo was selected for our next, uh, business service our director of business services.
Uh brief comment that we're unfortunately seeing around us how important it is to have a good director of business services. And I know from serving on the board for a number of years and looking at budgets that it's not an easy job.
Um what happens here in the state of Minnesota is when an individual a licensed individual is employed they have three consecutive years of probation. Upon the third year um when they return on the fourth year they then become a tenured staff member...
So, it is an opportunity for both the district and the employee to um just kind of continue to test things out and make sure that everything is the right fit.
So, basically what we do here is we just go we forego reading the names for the sake that this is a public meeting as broadcasted, it's on the internet, and there's a variety of different reasons why we might non-renew someone.
Yes, the resolution to termination of non-licensed and licensed contracts for probationary employees... be it resolved by the school board of ISD 283 under Minnesota Statutes 122A.40, subdivision five that the license contracts of those 15 uh employees of ISD 283 are hereby terminated at the close of the 2025-2026 school year.
Our licensed employees were notified by the principals of their non-renewal around spring break. Um it's very difficult, challenging time for our principals to have to communicate some of these things to our staff.
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Federal act setting content filtering requirements for schools to receive certain federal funding.
Federal law protecting the privacy of student education records.
Federal law protecting sensitive patient health information, relevant when sharing health data with external entities.
State law passed in 2022 requiring privacy statements and practices for systems handling student information, ensuring data is not resold.
District website link to a list of approved applications and their privacy statements.
International Society for Technology in Education standards, used as a 'gold standard' for educational technology use.
State statute governing the termination and non-renewal of licensed employee contracts.