School board approves girls hockey co-op, facility fee increases
The North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District board unanimously approved four measures on August 18, including a new girls hockey partnership and updated facility rental fees to cover rising utility costs.
The board's most significant action was approving a girls hockey cooperative agreement with St. Paul Public Schools and Two Rivers, allowing district students to participate in the sport without leaving the district. Board member Swarore initially pulled the item from the consent agenda to request more information about past partnerships. Superintendent Tujios explained that the district ended its two-year agreement with Gentry Academy because that school only wanted to partner when it needed additional players. "Without it, the limited girls hockey players would either not have a team to play on or potentially would have to leave the school district to join a hockey team," Tujios said.
The board also unanimously approved revisions to the district's facility use fee schedule, the first update since 2022. Community Education representative Tamara cited significant increases in utility costs as the primary reason for the changes. The revision introduces a nominal hourly fee for in-district nonprofits renting fields to help cover administrative costs, updates equipment rental rates, and adjusts personnel charges to reflect wage increases. Tamara emphasized the district's commitment to affordability, noting that community education absorbs most building supervisor costs. "We don't like making money off of building reservations," she said. "It's really important that we make it as affordable as possible."
In other business, the board unanimously accepted donations including a grand piano and monetary contributions totaling an unspecified amount for students with cognitive disabilities and elementary school programs. The board also approved five board members' attendance at the National School Board Association Annual Conference in Washington D.C., in accordance with district travel policy.
The meeting also included discussion of policy revisions addressing new state legislation on reading instruction, graduation requirements, and internet safety, as well as new policies on cardiac emergency response and artificial intelligence use. These policies are in their second of three required readings and will return for final approval at a future meeting.
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Votes (4)
Girls Hockey Co-op Agreement Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Yenner [0:00] · Seconded by Swarore [0:00]
Board member Swarore pulled the girls hockey co-op item from the consent agenda to request more information on past co-ops and the rationale for the new agreement. Superintendent Tujios explained the district's limited numbers in girls hockey, the termination of the previous co-op with Gentry Academy due to Gentry's fluctuating numbers, and the necessity of joining an existing co-op with St. Paul Public Schools and Two Rivers. This agreement allows ISD 622 students to participate without transferring out of the district.
Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Contributions
Dissent: None
Moved by Anderson [0:00] · Seconded by Rosemark [0:00]
Director Rosemark presented a resolution to accept several donations from various donors, including a grand piano, monetary contributions for students with cognitive disabilities, and funds for an elementary school. The total monetary contributions for fiscal year 2025-2026 were reported.
Approval of Facility Use Fee Schedule Revision
Dissent: None
Moved by Anderson [0:00] · Seconded by Swarore [0:00]
Tamara, representing Community Education, presented proposed revisions to the district's facility usage, rental equipment, and personnel rates. The fees, last updated in 2022, needed adjustment due to significant increases in utility costs. The revisions also account for updated square footage post-construction, introduce a nominal fee for Class B renters (in-district non-profits) for field rentals to cover administrative costs, update equipment rental items, and adjust personnel rates to keep pace with wage increases. The goal is to reflect current costs while maintaining affordability for community groups.
Approval for Board Members to Attend NSBA Annual Conference
Dissent: None
Moved by Yenner [0:00] · Seconded by Anderson [0:00]
The board considered and approved a recommendation for five board members to attend the National School Board Association (NSBA) Annual Conference in Washington D.C., adhering to the guidelines of Policy 214 on out-of-state travel.
Notable Quotes (6)
I was um just hoping to get a little bit more information on this. Um there is a long list of teams that we are co-oping with and so I had wondered who we had co-oped with in the past. Um, and just some of the background on why we are co-oping now.
We have been a in a cooperative agreement with Gentry Academy for the past two years and they really are kind of a hockey school. So, we were in their um joining their program with our limited numbers. um they are did not uh pursue us renewing that opportunity with us. A lot of it has to do is when they have enough numbers and those students are going to their school, they ask themselves, do they want a 622 player to come in and take a spot of someone that goes to their school. So when they're seeking numbers, they're interested in us. And when they're not seeking numbers, they no longer are.
Without it, you know, the limited girls hockey players would either not have a team to play on or potentially would have to leave the school district to join a hockey team. So, that's the reason for the cooperative.
One of the primary reasons for the proposed increase is a significant rise in utility costs. Revenue received from rentals and fees is used in part to pay cost allocation to the general fund, which helps offset the costs of utilities, consumables, maintenance, and other expenses associated with community ed and public sponsored activities and events.
Because there is an administrative work involved in the scheduling and managing these rentals. We are proposing a nominal hourly field fee to just help recover a portion of that cost of our staff time.
We always have a building supervisor and we somewhat absorb the majority of that cost in community ed. Okay. as you know supporting programming and bringing in the community into our buildings. Um so we don't like we're not making money off of building reserv we lose money or community ed is helping support that because it's really important that we make it as affordable as possible but it when it comes to like the boiler checks custodians things like that that we charge the actual hourly rate.
Ordinances & Resolutions (22)
Policy Stewardship, adding clarity on policy adoption in one meeting.
Disability discrimination non-discrimination policy, adding language on reasonable accommodation.
Drug, alcohol, and cannabis testing, naming a new drug testing provider.
Enrollment of non-resident students, aligning with open enrollment laws.
Student disability non-discrimination, adding language on reasonable accommodation.
Internet technology and cell phone acceptable use and safety policy, adding new statute language due to legislative changes.
Graduation requirements, updated due to new legislative action.
Literacy and Read Act, adding language due to Read Act legislation changes.
Student Transportation and Safety Policy, adding definition language.
Procurement policy, revising thresholds for emergency purchases.
Public data request, adding language on Safe at Home participants and data privacy.
Staff develop and mentoring, updates made due to statute changes.
Online learning options, correcting a statutory citation.
Crisis management policy, adding language to reflect cardiac emergency response plan and resources.
Responsible use of artificial intelligence, a new draft policy recommended for adoption.
Use of police officers, providing additional details regarding responsibilities and expectations.
The district's five-year plan guiding all activities, focused on academic achievement, post-secondary readiness, safety, social emotional learning, and equity.
A single question operating levy on the November ballot seeking an $800 per pupil increase for the district.
Website providing information on the 2026 district referendum.
Permits school boards to receive and apply gifts and act as trustee for trusts.
Out-of-state travel by board members, guiding approval for conferences.
A statewide issue on the November ballot aiming to redirect existing taxed money directly to schools without increasing taxes.
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Other Topics from This Document
Policy Revisions and Adoptions (First Reading)
Back to School Updates
Board Communications
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