Mounds View Public Schools — Transcript
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Student Activities and Achievements
Cell Phone Policy Development
Property Tax Levy Certification
Middle School Programming Recommendations
School Board Updates and Community Appreciation
Votes (8)
1.2 Adoption of the Agenda
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:00:54] · Seconded by Unknown [0:00:55]
Standard procedural item for the meeting agenda adoption.
2.1 Student Representative Reports
Dissent: N/A
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Student representatives from Mountains View and Irondale High Schools provided comprehensive updates on school activities, achievements, and upcoming events. Mountains View highlighted community service, academic competitions, and various club activities. Irondale reported on debate team successes, NHS community engagement, and cultural events. Both schools demonstrated high levels of student involvement and impact on the broader community.
Announcements and Superintendent's Report
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:17:23] · Seconded by Unknown [0:17:23]
Shauna reported on gifts received for schools/programs ($2,190) and the Ralph Reader Food Shelf ($1,198.51). Superintendent Lennox provided updates on open registration for winter/spring Community Education activities, the opening of the Equity Promise Scholarship application for seniors, and a reminder for parents to update contact info in Parent View for inclement weather alerts. The board approved accepting the reported gifts.
3.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:20:53] · Seconded by Unknown [0:20:54]
Standard procedural item for the consent agenda approval.
4.1 Cell Phone Advisory Committee Update
Dissent: N/A
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
The Cell Phone Advisory Committee presented findings and recommendations for a new district-wide cell phone policy. The process involved extensive community feedback via surveys (3,000 respondents) and conversations (200 attendees). Key recommendations include prohibiting elementary students from using cell phones during school hours and secondary students during academic time, while allowing use during non-academic periods. The administration was tasked with developing detailed regulations to accompany the board's policy. Speakers emphasized the policy's inclusive development and its aim to reduce classroom disruption.
5.1 Certified Final Property Tax Levies
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:34:39] · Seconded by Unknown [0:34:39]
Bernice Hurnik presented the final property tax levy for 2025, totaling $64,886,578.62, an increase of 0.9% over the previous year. The revenue will support the 2025-26 school year. Board members commended the district's fiscal prudence, noting the sub-1% increase was a testament to sound financial management compared to other districts facing larger increases and budgetary challenges.
6.1 District Operational Plan Goal Update: Middle School Programming Recommendations
Dissent: N/A
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
A team of administrators presented an update on the second year of the comprehensive Middle School Review. The review, based on best practices and extensive data collection, yielded four recommendations: establishing a design team for a vision, aligning instructional approaches, developing Future Ready skills, and considering alternative schedules. A district-level design team will develop a 'learner profile,' while building-level teams will implement changes, starting with 6th grade, ensuring a student-centered and forward-looking middle school experience.
7.1 AMSD Update & 7.2 School Board Member Updates
Dissent: N/A
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Jim provided an update from the AMSD meeting, noting the approval of their legislative agenda focusing on school safety, bonding, levies, and referendums. Board members shared personal updates and acknowledgements, including congratulating the Irondale girls swim and dive team for their 4.05 team GPA and expressing appreciation for the community's deep investment in the district and its students, especially during the holiday season.
Notable Quotes (18)
our student council hosted um a volunteering event in Rapids at Feed My Starving Children um I believe we were able to send 15 volunteers um and this was on the 30th so um students actually opted to volunteer over Thanksgiving break which is very nice
we also had a couple of participants in um a national competition called the voice of democracy um where students are able to give um like a audio type of essay where they express what democracy means to them
the memorial blood center collected a total of 51 units of blood and our Drive helped save and sustain about 153 lives in the new brand Community which is amazing
we want folks to know that registration for both our winter as well as our spring youth family and adult activities uh is now open so if you're looking for activities for yourself for your child for your family um you've got many many options to choose from
these scholarship are open to all students who plan to continue their education Beyond High School uh we encourage all seniors to visit our career and college centers they can get more information there
We sought to understand both the opportunities and challenges that cell phone use bring to our learning environments one of the strength of this process was the district commit commitment to inclusive to inclusivity and transparency
having been in the classroom and seeing what we can do and hearing what the recommendations are I feel very confident that they are strong recommendations that will be beneficial to our students their engagement in the classroom and their learning
Cell phones in our schools are having an impact it's mostly A disruption and I think it's really important that we had a chance to hear how both kids and families are experiencing that in our schools
the cell phone policy describes the what will be done whereas the cell phone regulation describes how it will be done
final taxes for pay 2025 total 64,8 6,578 62 which is an increase of 5979 7242 or approximately .9 or more than the pay 2024 final taxes
it's terrific that we have less than a 1% increase in property taxes this year um if you look at our neighboring communities they're well over that amount and you know just thank our whole from our superintendent to our finance and budget office to our teachers and principles we run a real solid Financial shop
Middle School is an exciting and interesting time for students in our system and one thing that makes it very interesting interesting and exciting is that there are two transitions right so the students they come in from fifth grade to sixth grade and then they transition out from 8th grade to 9th grade
One thing that stands out with the four recommendations is very student Cent um in what they're asking us or tasking us to do with the recommendation is obviously that's something as Educators that we're always put in front center is what we can do for our students
what is fixed is that we are all committed to working collaboratively together and having stakeholders from all three buildings partner together to move towards an ideal state where we Implement all four of the those recommendations
The perk of going last is that everybody covered all my information so I will work to summarize what's going on um so for our next steps we are excited to have our design team at the district level
AMSD met last Friday and I had Chris and Alyssa with me um and we spent more time believe it or not on the legislative agenda um that's what we finally approved
I would like to congratulate the Irondale girls swim and dive um that they have outdone themselves in the classroom um they have the highest team GPA in the state which is 4.05
I'm I'm really moved and grateful that our community is so incredibly invested in our district in our kids um all across for every single role
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
A new district-wide policy governing student use of cell phones in schools, mandated by state legislature.
Outlines the 'how' for implementing the cell phone policy, detailing rules and procedures at each school.
Document adopted by the board to certify the final 2025 property tax levy.
District-wide plan guiding the comprehensive review and enhancement of middle school programming.
Documents at all district schools and programs where cell phone regulations will be included.
Scholarship application for seniors planning post-high school education, now open.