Mounds View Public Schools — Transcript
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Oath of Office and Board Member Appointment
Student Representative Reports
Gifts and Donations
Superintendent's Report
2027-2028 School Calendar Approval
District Operational Plan (DOP) Goal: Enrollment and Facilities
Adult and Summer Programs Preview
Superintendent's Mid-Year Evaluation
Legislative and Intermediate District Updates
School Board Member Reports and Community Support
Votes (11)
Oath of Office for New School Board Member
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Andre Cohen was welcomed as the newest school board member, formally sworn in to uphold the Constitution and faithfully discharge the duties of her office for Independent School District number 621. Her appointment followed a resignation, with 15 applicants interviewed during the selection process.
Student Representative Reports
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Kenna reported on Irondale High School's speech team success, being named an AP school honor roll silver member, Black Student Union's initiatives including a Black History Month showcase and the 'Night Fund' for student emergency financial assistance, and Women in Law's promotion of city commission service. Carly from Mounds View High School detailed Alpine and Nordic ski team state qualifications, Winter Spirit Week, the 'All One In' cancer awareness fund by the girls' basketball team, the Mustang wrestlers' record, Shakespeare production, and a student council movie night.
Acceptance of Gifts
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Board member Jim reported that the district received 60 gifts totaling $24,111.33 for schools and programs, and an additional 21 gifts amounting to $32,476 for the Ralph Reader Food Shelf during the period. The board was recommended to accept these gifts and extend thanks to the generous donors.
Superintendent's General Report
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Superintendent Lennox announced that two district teachers, Kate Berger and Molly Caswell from Turtle Lake Elementary, are candidates for the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award. He also reported on the annual meeting with local city mayors and city managers, emphasizing positive outcomes such as a collective commitment to ongoing community support. Additionally, he celebrated the successful Suburban East Conference Music Festival, hosted at Mounds View High School, thanking staff and student participants.
Approval of 2027-2028 Academic Year Calendar
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:19:54] · Seconded by Unknown [0:19:55]
Julie Coffee, Executive Director of Human Resources, presented the proposed 2027-2028 school calendar. The calendar, developed by the Joint Policy Committee, considered factors like full weeks of instruction and equal semester days, and notably recognizes holidays such as Yom Kippur, Indigenous People's Day, Diwali, and Lunar New Year. Board members appreciated the proactive two-year planning and the inclusive approach to holiday recognition.
District Operational Plan Goal: Enrollment and Facilities Update
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Superintendent Lennox presented on the strategic management of district enrollment, including resident and non-resident students, and its relationship to facility capacity. He explained that a 'natural decline' in enrollment due to birth rates creates capacity, which is then strategically filled by non-resident elementary students to maintain staffing and programs. He clarified that state funding follows the students and that the district is mandated to have at least 1% non-resident enrollment.
Adult and Summer Programs Preview
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Carl Brown, Director of Community Education, provided a detailed preview of academic and enrichment opportunities for the upcoming spring and summer. This included academic summer school at various levels (K-12, adult education with career pathways), extended school year special education programs, community education enrichment classes, early childhood activities, summer day camps, high school sports camps, and beginning music programs. Registration for summer programs opens March 16th, with information available online and via mailed catalogs.
Superintendent's Mid-Year Evaluation
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Shauna Bach summarized the mid-year evaluation of Superintendent Lennox, reporting strong confidence from the board in his leadership. Key achievements highlighted included meaningful progress in expanding career pathways, developing outdoor learning spaces, improving data systems, staff support, and effective financial stewardship. The evaluation recognized his professionalism, sound decision-making, and steady leadership during complex times, affirming continued momentum towards district goals.
AMSD and Legislative Update
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Jim provided an update on the annual AMSD legislative preview, which saw approximately 300 attendees, including school board members and superintendents. Legislative leaders from both parties presented on critical educational issues such as funding formulas, special education, and school safety. Jim emphasized the upcoming legislative session and AMSD's commitment to advocating for students and schools.
Northeast Metro 916 Metro Meeting Update
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Shauna provided a brief update on the Northeast Metro 916 intermediate school district meeting. She highlighted February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) month and the partnership that allows Mounds View students to participate in CTE programming. The 916 board also approved its 2026 legislative priorities during the meeting.
School Board Member Reports and Community Support
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Board members shared various updates: an upcoming Edgewood 8th-grade band performance, positive experiences at the Suburban East Music Festival, judging Edgewood and Hi-View History Fairs, Sunnyside 5th graders' Biztown interviews, and Valentine Hills staff appreciation. Jim acknowledged the exceptionally challenging year due to political violence, a school shooting, and federal immigration enforcement, emphasizing the need for collective work for student safety and success. Other board members echoed calls for community support, encouraging families to seek assistance through school resources like the Ralph Reader and emphasizing the schools' role as an extension of community and family.
Notable Quotes (14)
I swear and affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of this state and that I will discharge faithfully the duties of the office of school board member of independent school district number 621 to the best of my judgment and ability.
And so, their goal is to ensure every student at Irondale has a safe uh a safe, stable home um and to provide emergency financial assistance for rent and utilities during times of need.
The MountU girls basketball team has established a special all one and fund to use the game of basketball in a way to give back and support our local community. Each season they raise money to assist a local family facing a serious health crisis such as cancer by helping ease the financial burden during this incredibly difficult time.
There were 60 gifts for schools and programs uh received this period for the total of $24,11133 cents. There are 21 gifts received for the Ralph Reader Food Shelf in this period for a total of $32,476.
One very positive outcome of that meeting this year was the collective commitment of ongoing support to our families, students and community and the discuss discussion around how we might expand those partnerships and support uh each other uh during uh the next uh months and ongoing years.
For the 2027 2028 calendar, we were able to recognize um the holidays including Yam Kapur, Indigenous People's Day, Diwali, and the Lunar New Year in addition to Martin Luther King Day and other federal holidays...
Now, a lot of factors uh go into that. Um our our purpose, our goal is to maintain our enrollment. And the reason I point that out is that if we want to maintain our enrollment, there would be some capacity for us as a district to add non-resident students to fill that difference. specifically at the elementary level.
The money follows the students. So um that happens if if students from other districts come to us that money comes with them to our school district.
Our registration for summer programs opens on March 16th of this year. And we will also have cataloges that will be mailed to all households in our district. Um and all the information will be online. I always encourage people also just to once they have the information uh look at our website because sometimes we'll add additional programs as the spring progresses um that are available for registration as well.
The board noted meaningful progress on district priorities, including expanding career pathway opportunities for students, development of outdoor and environmental learning spaces, and improvements to data systems and staff support, and effective financial stewardship.
We had our um annual AMSD legislative preview and we had about 300 um school board and superintendent attend and we um received presentations from legislative leaders both Democrat and Republican um uh discussing everything from formulas to special ed to uh uh some other um important uh issues like school safety and things like that.
February is career and technical education month. Uh so one of the things that we uh partner with 916 on is for students to have those career and technical education experiences.
I want to acknowledge that this has been an exceptionally challenging year for our school leaders, our educators, students, families, and the community we serve. We've uh witnessed political violence this summer. A shooting at Annunciation School. Federal immigration enforcement has um seriously impacted our students, schools, and communities. It's more important than ever that we all work together to be sure our students are safe, they have the support they need to learn and succeed.
I really do see that our schools are an extension of, uh, of community and of family and of, uh, of relationships. Uh, and I see it in the actions of, uh, a volunteer stepping up, uh, above and beyond to make sure that whatever blockages there are um to a child's education that we remove those barriers and that that students feel safe to come to school.
Ordinances & Resolutions (3)
The academic calendar for the 2027-2028 school year, approved by the board to allow for staff and family planning.
A district-wide strategic goal focusing on the alignment of enrollment numbers, non-resident student intake, and facility capacity.
Legislative platform drafted and approved by the four intermediate school districts in the state, including Northeast Metro 916.