North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District — Transcript
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Student Academic and Extracurricular Activities
Impact of Immigration Enforcement (Operation Metro Surge)
Harmony Adult Education Program Update
Facilities Maintenance Bond Sale Results
District Budget and Staffing Planning
American Indian Parent Advisory Council (APEC) Concurrence
Votes (8)
Recognition for 62 Education Foundation
The school board celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 62 Education Foundation, a nonprofit committed to enhancing student education. Doug Lee detailed its three main initiatives: the Angel Fund (supporting students in need), the Grant Program (funding supplemental educational opportunities), and the Award of Excellence (honoring graduates' achievements and character). The Foundation is 100% volunteer-run and continuously seeks new board members.
Student Reports
Student representatives from North and Tartan High Schools provided comprehensive updates on school activities, sports achievements, academic initiatives, and social events. A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the impact of Operation Metro Surge on student safety, attendance, and overall well-being, with students describing ongoing fear and teachers providing support. Board members expressed gratitude for the students' honesty and commitment.
Community Education - Harmony Adult Education Presentation
Scott Helen presented on the Harmony Adult Education program, detailing its services including ESL, GED/High Set testing, and career pathways. He shared demographics (30% Hispanic, 27% Black, 37% Asian) and highlighted the program's growth to become the largest in its consortium. The presentation also extensively covered the severe impact of Operation Metro Surge, which caused a drastic drop in in-person attendance (from 65 to 13 students in evening classes) and the program's agile response by shifting teachers to online platforms to maintain service accessibility.
Bond Sale Report for General Obligation Facilities Maintenance Bond Series 2026A
Matthew Hammer from Ellers presented highly favorable results for the district's bond sale. Ten bidders competed, resulting in a low interest rate of 3.13%, significantly below the estimated 3.71%. The sale also generated a reoffering premium of nearly $1.3 million, which will be deposited into the construction fund to support facility projects. These positive outcomes were achieved while maintaining a consistent tax rate.
Superintendent's Presentation on Budget and Staffing
Superintendent Tuchio outlined the budget planning process for the next fiscal year, emphasizing the ongoing challenge of state formula allowance not keeping pace with inflation. She detailed budget assumptions, including flat enrollment and a projected $5 million 'right-sizing target' (budget cut). The discussion covered legislative uncertainties regarding compensatory revenue, pending contract settlements, and the arduous process of making staffing decisions following previous cuts. The significant impact of the failed referendum and Operation Metro Surge, leading to student absenteeism and academic loss, were underscored as major compounding factors.
Acknowledgement of Contributions
Moved by Len [1:10:04] · Seconded by Board Member [1:10:05]
Director Gmark presented a list of monetary contributions to the school district. These included $7,200 from the Minnesota Vikings for North girls flag football, $600 from VFW Post 1350 for North High Wrestling Equipment, and $1,400 from Patricia Sevenstead for various programs including Castle Multicultural Program, Harmony Adult Education, and Community Bridge. The total fiscal year contributions amounted to $35,115.86.
Bond Sale Resolution
Moved by Swore [1:11:34] · Seconded by Yenner [1:11:35]
The board considered and approved the resolution for the General Obligation Facilities Maintenance Bond Series 2026A. This action formalized the successful bond sale previously presented, allowing the district to proceed with securing funds for facility repairs and maintenance.
American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (APEC) Concurrence
Moved by Board Member [1:23:17] · Seconded by Swore [1:23:18]
Becky Bug, American Indian Education Coordinator, presented the APEC's letter of concurrence. The letter acknowledged positive trends in academic and attendance data for American Indian students, attributing them to district efforts. It also outlined areas for continued work, including 9th-grade transitional support, reading interventions, Dakota language programs, staff professional development, curriculum alignment with specific Minnesota tribal standards, and improved community communications, particularly regarding safety and security.
Notable Quotes (12)
The 62 Education Foundation was founded in 1996 with a mission of enhancing the quality of education for students in the district. We are a nonprofit organization separate from the district but really committed to supporting it.
What I can say is that there's still like the sense of what's going to happen next. Um is everything going to be okay? Like for example, I still have I have this one friend. She hasn't been to school in the past like month because her mom is scared of I showing up one day and she doesn't see her daughter or her daughter doesn't see her again.
I do feel a little bit better. Like I feel like a weight's lifted off now that some agents have left. But there's always the what if and there's always going to be agents roaming around. But I know that Tardan teachers are doing their best with like food deliveries.
We went from 65 students in December in our evening classes to 13 earlier in January attending in person uh one one evening. Uh it hammered it. I mean, uh, landfall is a area that, uh, that was swarming with ICE agents prior to, uh, uh, prior to Metro Surge and has been consistently there ever since.
And then in the past month, we actually took one of my uh teachers that were uh in person, moved them to online in order to uh go ahead and and serve people a little bit better because that's what they needed is we had more online and less in person and just shifted that to meet people where they were.
So the low interest cost was 3.13%. Um in total um we were estimating uh an interest rate of 371 in our pre-sale report. So quite a bit better than what we were estimating and we've seen rates come down um to start the calendar year.
Won't be general fund dollars. They'll end up in the in the construction fund, but will support projects for the district. That'll also play into the needs as we go forward as we manage the capital plan as a whole, right? Because if we can earn more dollars as part of these construction funds that necessarily uh allows us to kind of limit the future issuance as we move forward and not have to issue as much for fa the next phase of projects as we move forward.
Not at all. Absolutely not. Without question. Um and that's a conversation obviously we're going to have to have again as as a board um at our next study session and upcoming meetings to talk about for next fall. But without question, that is dramatically impacting um our finances here.
One thing we're trying to advocate for are the unintended costs that came with this activity and and looking for additional support from our state. Um we're actually um meeting about that later this week to try to put that into numbers.
I will tell you that as we're kind of working through options, this is so much more painful. We had a bigger cut last year than we do this year, but this is even more painful because we've already cut so much...
The American Indian Parent Committee has voted to file a letter of uh, concurrence for ISD62. This decision comes from reviewing the new and existing initiative that have been addressed that have addressed many of the concerns. We see many areas of improved results in the academic attendance data for our children.
And quite frankly, it's not an option to do this work. It's it's legal requirements to do so. I bet that's what it could be. And and um we follow the law here in district 622.
Ordinances & Resolutions (4)
Bonds authorized to fund facility repairs as part of the 10-year long-term facilities maintenance plan.
Document for the American Indian Parent Advisory Council, reviewed annually by the parent committee and submitted to the state.
Written response from APEC to the school board regarding the district's response to the American Indian community's needs, including a vote of concurrence or non-concurrence.
Item for discussion on the agenda for the upcoming work study session.