Shakopee Public Schools — Transcript
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Student Health and Wellness Initiatives
Winter Activities and Student Achievements
Policy Updates and First Readings
Juneteenth Holiday Adoption
Elementary Math Curriculum Adoption
Elementary School Boundary Adjustment
Response to American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (APAC)
Votes (4)
Discussion of the Juneteenth holiday
Dissent: None
Moved by Peterson [00:30:57] · Seconded by Aldrich [00:31:04]
Director of Human Resources, Keith Gray, presented the request to make June 19th (Juneteenth) an additional paid holiday for year-round employees (those on 261-day contracts). This aligns with a 2023 state law establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday. The discussion clarified which employee groups would be impacted by the new holiday.
Elementary math curriculum
Dissent: None
Moved by Broy [00:40:22] · Seconded by Aldrich [00:40:24]
Nancy Thill, Jeff Thill, and Luke Meredith presented the recommendation for Illustrative Math as the new elementary math curriculum. The presentation highlighted the need to update an outdated curriculum, align with new state standards and research-based 'eight effective math practices' focusing on student-centered, critical thinking. A comprehensive pilot process involving teachers and students of two programs (Reveal and Illustrative) led to the selection. The cost for elementary implementation is projected at over $800,000.
Elementary boundary change
Dissent: None
Moved by Peterson [00:42:55] · Seconded by Mohammad [00:43:01]
Dr. Redmond presented a recommendation to approve an elementary boundary change, shifting an undeveloped land area along Val View from the Sun Path elementary boundary to the Red Oak elementary boundary. The rationale for this change is to support Red Oak School, which currently has the lowest enrollment, and to logically accommodate anticipated future growth in the west and southwest of the district.
APAC response
Dissent: None
Moved by Peterson [00:49:07] · Seconded by Johnson [00:49:12]
Dr. Redmond and Nancy Thill presented the district's response to the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee's (APAC) non-concurrence letter. The response addressed APAC's requests regarding language and history courses (Dakota/Ojibwe), a new smudging policy (Policy 536), dedicated space at the high school for Native American culture, training on generational trauma and tribal nations history, and increased support for Indian education programming. The district outlined ongoing work, future plans (e.g., high school social studies course development), and confirmed flags of recognized American Indian Tribal Nations are welcome at the high school.
Notable Quotes (7)
in 2023 the legislature passed a law um making June 19th otherwise called juneth uh state holiday like a lot of other other holidays that the state U proclaims um were you know we can't have uh conduct a business on that day so we're um looking um to get you to consider making this a an additional holiday for year round employees people who work 261 days out of the year have entertain any questions
A few things have changed since the last time we uh picked math curriculum um new standards are coming out now so we've been closely monitoring that and new research has come out about what the best way to deliver mathematics instruction is
how old is our current math curriculum I was hoping that wasn't at it's it's older than I've been here so no at least 12 plus maybe I'm looking at our elementary
our goal was to stay under a million for the elementary
it's to shift this area that is beginning you know a lot of development planning and we expect to be developed to shift that from the sunpath boundary to the RTO boundary it's just most logical thing to do since Red Oak uh School currently is the lowest in enrollment um doing this helps that situation
they would uh they would like to see a class that includes theot jibway language and history um and some other pieces there and then our responses there we're certainly open to working with them on that request may you want to get some more details kind of specifics what what what you know what is their vision for that how does that look
we do have a plan for the fall to have our high school social studies team articulation team to meet and then and one of the things that they'll be addressing is that need to meet the requirement for either a Native Studies or language course
Ordinances & Resolutions (15)
Student dress and appearance, changing focus to 'substantially disruptive' dress.
Student attendance, making absences for vacations excusable at administrative discretion.
Family and Medical Leave, striking the 12-month employee qualification per state law.
Drug, Alcohol, and Cannabis Testing, updated to include cannabis due to legalization.
Student discipline, prohibiting the use of exclusionary practices.
New Smudging policy, modeled after St. Paul Public Schools.
Legislation impacting literacy instruction, discussed for additional funding and potential instructional hour reduction for teacher training.
Released by the Senate, containing various policy changes.
Legislation proposing the ability for local boards to appoint replacements for vacancies less than two years left in term.
Proposed health standards for health education.
Legislation discussing library book policies and potential banning.
Legislation concerning First Amendment rights for student journalists, with yearbooks reportedly removed from the bill.
Existing law with proposed legislation to change how banked sick time applies to its definition.
Legislation regarding unemployment eligibility for workers on strike, raising concerns for school districts due to make-up days.
Letter from the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee outlining recommendations for the district.