The sound is right. >> [clears throat] >> like to call to order the school board organizational meeting for January 5, 2026. technic >> here. >> Peterson >> here. >> Smith >> here. [clears throat] >> Here. >> Johnson >> here. >> Here. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Good evening everybody. Um, and for those who don't know, Sha and Brian had other commitments tonight, so they will not be here. Uh, next on our agenda is the oath of office and Dr. >> I am. Uh, it's one thing we we've done as a matter of practice with the start of a new calendar year. The first part of this I'm going to say a few things about the uh school member oath of school board member oath of office and then uh partway through I'll ask you to uh stand and then repeat a couple of things after me. So school board member oath of office um it's an honor that uh you were willing to serve to guide the education of our community's children. As you recite the oath of office, you assume a tremendous responsibility as a director of our school district with the duties empowered by the Minnesota legislature. This power puts you and the other members of our school board in the position of being both morally and legally responsible for equitable quality education of every student in the district. In carrying out this responsibility, you'll be asked to fulfill the roles of vision, structure, accountability, and advocacy. In providing vision, the board with the extensive participation of the community envisions the community's educational future and then formulates the goals, defines the outcomes, and sets the course for the public schools. To achieve the vision, the board establishes a structure and creates an environment designed to ensure all students the opportunity to attain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework. Because as a board, we must be accountable to the community. We must ensure continuous assessment of student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our children. As board members, we serve as education's key advocate on behalf of students and our community schools to advance the vision for our schools. Furthermore, we must strive to work together with district leadership and staff to lead the district toward fulfilling the vision we have created, fostering excellence for every student in the areas of academic skills and knowledge, citizenship and personal development. Now, if you would please stand and then repeat the following after me. I swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of this state. I swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of this state [snorts] >> and that I will faithfully discharge >> discharge >> the duties of the office of schoolboard member >> the duties of the office of school board member >> of independent school district number 720 >> of independent school district number 720 >> to the best of my judgment and ability to the best of my judgment and ability. >> Thank you. Thank you for your service to our school community. >> Thank you. I might add um board members can sign that and I will make sure there >> next on our agenda is item four consideration of the agenda as presented. >> So move >> second motion by broing a second by Aldridge. Any discussion? Seeing none all those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Next on our agenda is item five, public comment. This is the time where members of the public can participate in the meeting without being part of the meeting agenda. A member of the public may address the board on an agenda topic or on another topic pertaining to schoolboard business. We allocate a total of 15 minutes for public comment at this meeting. Each individual speaker may speak for up to 2.5 minutes. The sign up for public comment has been conducted online and in person prior to this evening's meeting. No one has signed up for public comment for this evening's meeting. We will move on to the next item on the agenda. Uh next on our agenda is item five, organizational meeting items. Beginning with item 6.1, election of school board officers. Um and then just to give everybody uh some background on on how we're going to do this, um I think I I actually did this around last year. Um, anybody can nominate. You can nominate anybody, a school, any school board member for a position, including yourself. You can self-nominate. A nomination does not require a second. Um, and so have more than one nomination. If there's more than one, we we will vote. We'll do um unless there's objection, we'll just go around and have a voice vote for who you who you wish to vote for. Um I guess I guess we could just say you know if there's two people say u you know all those who want this person say hi I but I think it's easier just to go around and say the name of who you want that way it's clear and we don't have to have a division and you know so we'll just do it you know one at a time if there's more than one one person if there's not more than one person I will call uh two more times for any more nominations for that position um and then nominations we call I'll say nominations are closed If only one person has been nominated, we will say they they have been selected by acclamation. Um I say I declare they are elected by acclamation. Um I think that's really it. Uh if if you think nominations have been closed too soon, you can you can say no, I I want to hold nominations up again. Um we've got rules in place for that. Um but uh we'll we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Any question on the process? Okay. Uh so item 6.1A is the election of the office of chair and I would like to begin by nominating Christy Peterson as chair. Are there any other nominations for chair? Are there any other nominations for chair? Nominations are closed. I I declare that Christy Peterson is elected by acclamation for the position of chair. Congratulations. Would you like to switch places? >> I don't think um so before we move to the election of the vice chair um position, I just want to thank John for his two years of service as chair and previous to that as the it takes to be in that position and I just appreciate all that dedication that you put in there on top of it. So I just >> thank you. So we will move to then uh the election of the office of vice chair and I would ask for nominations for nominate. >> All right. So we have Tim as nominated for vice chair. Are there any other nominations? nominations. Seeing none, nominations are closed and byation the next office election um election of office for treasur. I would open up nominations for that position. >> I would like for treasure nominations. So we have Caroline also nominated for the position of treasury other nominations position of treasure. All right, seeing none and the nominations are closed and we have two people nominated for treasure. So I guess before we go to vote, I would give an opportunity for you to want to say anything about why you want the position or anything like that. If you want to make any comments before we vote, you're more than welcome to do that. We'll start with you first. >> Um just being part of the finance commission for their committee this last it was a role that that uh that I enjoyed and felt like I had some insight too and um have had some conversations with the finance team sometimes use a little bit of my insurance background as well decisions going forward so and I'm willing to do that whether I'm >> well I held the officer position for clerk last year and I really enjoyed And for me it's grow and I wanted to committee and I just thought this was a great opportunity. >> All right. So then we will go around and keep track of nominees sitting right next to the other end of the table and uh in that spiricular opportunity to be engaged. I would vote for Nick. >> Gosh, [clears throat] it really can be quite tough for me. Like I mean I trust both of you. So just to make it difficult, I'll say Caroline. >> Joe, >> I know how many things. I'll stick with stick with >> uh work with with Nick for a year on the finance committee. I've been impressed with his uh his work there and I think he's very qualified. So, >> and I also um support Nick and his role from the perspective of just the business that he brings to insurance and also being on the Um well you can vote for well um then you know for [laughter] [clears throat] all elections could work that is two for Caroline and five So by vote of 5 to the treasur >> and the last election of officer position is the clerk position and I would open up nominations for that. >> I would nominate Caroline. >> Are there any other nominations? Seeing none, nominations are closed and byation Caroline is thank you for everyone for your willingness to step up and serve in those positions. 6.2 two on the agenda is the uh compensation amounts for um the school board members for our school district. You can see the compensations listed there are $4,500 per year with an additional $500 stipen for officers. I'll just say that um this is something we've discussed every year on the board has not changed. I'm not advocating for it to change the state that we're in. budget cuts and things like that. I think it would be in our best interest to stay at 4500. However, I do think it is something that we should monitor um as time goes on into the future because I know that the role of the board is uh becoming more and more involved from a time perspective. So, My personal opinion on it is that something that is I don't make sense to do that. >> Chris, do you have a perview from MSBA in terms of metro districts or is there an average where Shaki falls within that space? >> I don't think there's really an average. However, um I only looked at it a few years ago. Um there was something that was brought forward at the Assembly that did not pass that information as far as what other districts approximately size of the district. At one point we did a few years ago we went to a But it's more paper. >> I think we wanted to just I know every year that we we talked about, you know, just leaving it out there for the future if we ever need to um back to that just in case. I think in the past we've als So anyway, unless somebody [clears throat] >> How long did you say it's been? >> I've been on the board for eight years. >> I've got a neighbor. >> I do that. I do think that a little bit of time [clears throat] >> and MSBA does not track what is. So it's kind of a The only thing that's increase that's equal or equivalent to what we're I think >> I'm sure we would come up with some other fair process, but it looks uh it feels more just like goes up by one and a half% or something% jump, right? So then it goes up by 10, but then people don't know that it hasn't come up in years. >> So based on that, While you were talking, I did make a note on my next check in which is Wednesday to do a survey of the same comparable districts that we use for other groups just as some information. >> Well, newly elected chair Peterson just said districts have different generally twice a month. assignments and I don't know but I think it'd be good to >> I know that some districts but A motion by a second favor say I carries 6.3 is the clerk treasur and chair as signers on checks issued by the school Now that I'm not the fantasters on checks discussion. All those in favor say I >> I oppos 6.4 something similar similar signatures by the court treasur and chair as when signing checks issued by the school. >> See now this is the one I was supposed to talk about. This is the one I think should be signatures. >> How many checks? thousands should know this. But yeah, as somebody who used to have to sign checks every once in a while, it is a pain to like. So I will make a motion to approve this motion by second by Smith to approve the effect of signatures by the treasur and chair with signing. >> All those in favor say I >> motion carries 6.5 is a designation of the official depository. from school district funds. You'll see listed in your board book the u different banks and funds where we have funds hotel bank national bank school district asset fund plus or you might hear them as men trust via associated bank the trust transactions US bank wells Fargo and >> so Motion by second by approve district. An independent discussion. All those in favor say I. >> Oppos. Motion carries. 6.6 is the designation of the director of finance and operations or the design to deposit and or invest any surplus funds by the district. by Smith to the director of finance and operations to deposit inst. >> I motion carries. 6.7 is a designation of PMA Securities LLC as a district's municipal financial advisor. This is the second year we've >> at least two. It might be three. >> They've done a great job. >> Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries. 6.8 is the authorization of the director of finance and operations or designate to make electronic fund transfer CFTs on behalf of the school district to authorize finance operations to make the transfers on discussion. All those in favor say >> I carried 6.9 authorizes the superintendent or the design as having the authority after informing the school board as to such actions to enter contracts and approve payments on the school district by Valdez. I just have one question on that. Now that we have a policy in place, how does this fit into that policy of contracts? >> Um, this would be it is different. This is we're always going to do within the bounds of our policy and within the bounds of state law. This is more there are a number of things that come up. Most of these are pretty trivial. uh where we need to pay a bill or we need we've got uh well just today there are two colleges reaching out to do student teaching agreements and so there are number of things like that um and we're still is it policy 711 or 7:01 maybe 7:15 that's coming up we haven't that's on the February 23rd board meeting so something like that we're going to do exactly what it says in there with the different bids and quotes, but they're just sometimes things are typically large. >> Yes. And as we talk about student teacher, we were just talking about that today. So, it's fresh in my mind. That was one where I think we've had a variety of folks we're going to talk our process and make sure they're all going to one place through our resources department as well for that because they're the ones who work with the teachers and all those other kind of quas employment type things. I hear you said HR involvement. This would be different than a long-term contract with a third party service kind of policy or thresh. No, I think only if you know there was something like that approved by the board. I'm trying to think what it might be health insurance or beneficiary or different things where the board might approve and then eventually they do all the paperwork. Maybe it's not even not necessarily classific. I post carries. >> [clears throat] >> 6.10 having no local newspaper. The designation of the website for public schools will be the record of public notices and board information. Any further discussion? And I think there was some policy website paper as that source given that we're simply saying in the absence of another service >> and the state legislature gave us that opportunity to publish on their website a couple years ago. school district and I do believe that that is coming to an end. So this could come back as Any further discussion? >> Say I [snorts] motion carries. 6.11 is a designation of the front window at 1200 town square district office as the official posting place for regular and special meeting notices. >> So second A motion by a second by Aldridge. Any further discussion? See, all those in favor say I. >> Carries. 6.12 is a designation of Squire, Wallsburgger, and Mace as the school district's primary law firm. Um and this gives the authorization to the board chair and superintendent designate as the person's authoriz 6.13 is a designation of Superintendent doesn't does learning teaching and equity department finance and grant specialist Elsa Johnson as the education identity and access management security >> because it's possible we might not rehire that position as well. So come back. >> So as you can see this gives um manages user accounts and authorization to secure website systems for the Minnesota Department of Education and Motion by Alen. Second by Johnson to approve the Johnson say >> Peterson. >> Yes. >> Just a note on 6.13. Um we did remove we we thought we were doing we thought we were having efficiency in past years uh where the superintendent has typically approved as the Iowa which is part of this and then what we've run into every year is they want us to do that for the new fiscal year starting July 1. So we did remove that approval uh because we did it in June through June 30th of 26 and so we'll do that in June from now on. It turned out that that was not actually greater efficiency. We were then doing it twice per year. Um, so in case anybody's wondering where that Iowa approval went, it's on the June agenda. It's pretty exciting. >> 6.14 is the adoption of the online district policy library. We have a motion by Johnson and a second by any further discussion. See, all those in favor say I. >> Oppos. 6.15 the automatic rescheduling of a school board work session or regular meeting that is postponed on short notice due or other serious events from Monday to two days later on Wednesday at the same start. So last year instead of two days later we head in business days just in case there was a a holiday or a day that we're not able to I know that I was more curious about June last year which I believe is a Friday this year. Um but that always come up there could be a a Wednesday holiday. I don't think there is this year. business. >> So, it does say business. >> It does not say business as far as moving it to business days. It just says two days later. >> It's interesting the different copies have different language. >> Chair Peterson, I believe I would have had an issue when I put it in book and what Dr. Wednesday to match this. >> Okay. The Google Doc says >> No, I should have. >> Any further discussion? >> I will make a motion to approve changing it to business days later. So, we have a motion to automatically Sched say I >> motion >> 6.16 the IRS mileage rate of 7.7 by Johnson to approve the 26. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. Motion carries. Last item is 6.17 and that is the acceptance of the 2026 school board meeting calendar of work sessions regular retreats professional development and committee meetings and I believe there is a copy of that in front of you in your packet and I believe didn't we already >> we have in the past just where you might have new board members, things like that. We had this discussion whe to approve the 2026 calendar as presented. Further discussion see all those in favor say I. >> I motion carries. >> So now we will move to item seven on the agenda which is the organizationalformational item and we will have more discussion on this during our board development portion of our meeting. Um I believe Smith um received some feedback from everybody as far as assignments for next year and there should also be a draft in front of you of what is being proposed. The only thing that I will say is we will not finalize these at the January 26 meeting because that is our joint school district and county meeting that night. It will beary >> based based on >> based on that. Chair Peterson, I would say if we if we can agree tonight then as far as what has been proposed, >> I'd be happy to start the discuss. Um so if you look at the um the document in front of you and it's printed on both sides. So um so we'll start with the standing committee assignments. Um the highlights are the noticeable changes. Um and so we'll see you starting with finance and facilities. Um Christy is replacing me uh because as as the chair um and Nick is is as the schoolboard chair and Nick is moving to the position of chair for finance and facilities because he's now the treasurer and then Joe will remain as the uh the resident expert to uh secession planning. Um and then for policy policies unchanged uh personnel uh Christy is moving off personnel and Tim is moving on. Grant this is all proposed. So I'm I'm just going through this but we can discuss if anybody would like changes. Um and then um because Caroline is already the chair of community community engagement I put myself as the chair for personnel. Um um but Caroline and I have both been on there I think the same amount of time on personnel. So um but Tim expressed interest in being on personnel and then community engagement. Um because Nick is moving to finance um I put myself on community engagement uh because I I've not done that before and I have interest in doing that. Any discussion on the standing committees? Anybody want changes or want to discuss that anymore? All right. Hearing none, we'll move on to liaison assignments. Now, I'll say as as a preface that I took this off of the schoolboard website to start and I don't know that that was fully updated from the the starting positions. So, if you see a gross error, please point that out. Um but uh um I'll bring your attention to the highlighted items. I swapped Nick and myself. Um Nick was the AM AMSD liaison or was listed as the AMSD leazison. Um and moved Nick to the citizens financial advisory committee now that he is treasurer. Um and um I had been on I had been the AMSD liazison before. I'm happy to do it again. So, I just swap those and then um see that >> no worries. So, um Southwest Metro, we've got Christie continuing in that role. That's not a highlighted item, but on the back, that's where Chad Johnson is the alternate. So, that's where that lines up. And then um citizens financial advisory committee. I listed Joe as an alternate. We didn't previously have an alternate for that, but I thought Joe could be an alternate to help Nick kind of transition into that role just if there was any any issue or questions on that. Um I think everything else is unchanged. So if you see an obvious mistake here, please point that out. And then that leaves the the last two positions which are new are the special education advisory committee and the ad hoc work committee. And Dr. did you want to describe those if you could? >> Uh well special education advisory committee just a districtwide committee that needs a board member to serve on that. That's just good practice. the ad hoc work committee that if you remember that had to do with Pearson and the programming there that uh you know we we uh made some changes to our school calendar uh that worked very well K12 and then ran into just a whole lot of questions things to discuss as we put kind of the parameters of the system in place at Pearson uh and so looking for a school board member When we approved that one year for Pearson, we said we're going to have a committee this year that's going to look at the operations of our early learning and the other programs. So looking for a board member have an interest for each of those >> questions. I'm trying to catch >> I think it's quarterly but I think >> that was my thinking as well. >> I noticed you kind of tucked in there. You know, one that's not on here that kind of came up during our board meetings was the immigration that um I don't know if that's one that should be added as a serving because I don't know if that needs to be that's once every two years that's kind of a one time thing or if it really That would that's one that just popped into my head. >> Yeah, it's probably we should probably label it for ad hoc this year because it really is every third year where they have to redo the plan where the committee's meeting like that. But I you know so I think having an ANI you know ad committee for 2026 makes sense you've already started >> unless somebody else wants to jump inbody and then looking at the Pearson the work group the overview looking to meet uh this is what what's been laid out in partnership with SCA our teachers union looking to meet you know at least monthly January through August uh September through October going back and soliciting more teacher feedback to finalize things by November that process so Yeah, I would suggest just the way we wrote it up at the we certainly have a a committee meeting or a committee member and an alternate that you know that would accomplish the goal you're seeking. screen help with some of the printing issues if it's easier for participation. Anybody else? >> Looking through calendars, I'm 90% sure it's quarterly. I see one coming up in one in the next two weeks. usually in the afternoon. [clears throat] >> All right. Well, we have every position filled. Um any accurate. I guess maybe that's the next is it accurate since the website are listening here isn't know which one is best. Person actually I my first year on the board I was on that I found that almost any other ones and I know I can do that. number >> and I will say that if anybody is interested in doing that is one that probably needs a longer runway from a transition standpoint versus just because of the dynamics there. board and knowing that there is somebody that would want to transition into that on a regular basis. That's something that we probably should have discussion starting in October because right now it's hard for me to transition out of it because I'm involved in a lot of things that are coming down the bank and it would be really hard for me to not show up at the next meeting >> as their chair. So then are there any other questions concerns about what Jeff has presented and the updates that have been made to the committees on >> one Pearson Tiffany we make that Pearson is Pearson work group it's more than calendar. That was kind of what started it. But there there's a lot of terms of work time and things like that periods and lots of stuff. So it's really more comprehensive nature. And now that we got that >> that's >> No, this is a temporary work group just to uh >> really look deeply and operations. There were just a number of questions that came up looking at implementing that calendar change that that's why we put that together for next school year. All right, let's operate that way. But let's take calendar year 26 to really look at how we want to operate after that. >> So we have this on the agenda as anformational not as a action item. >> This is going to be fun. >> We've already approved the agenda as well. Otherwise, I was going to say we could move this to the uh so maybe what Okay, maybe just throw this out there as an idea. If everybody's okay and comfortable with this and knows that this is it's going to be. Do we have to have it tonight and we do it in February knowing that this is what it's going to be? >> I guess I I'd be comfortable with it, but I guess we're we're all in an acting role in those positions. And we could make a motion to agenda previously that you have to vote essentially approve the agenda that we >> recommend. Um, somebody can make a motion to change this from anformational item to an action item on the agenda. approve and then >> so I will make a motion to change item 7.1 from >> a motion by a second by Johnson to change 7.1 on the agenda. Aenda after discussion to approval of the committee appointments for 2026 as presented. >> Any further discussion? >> And so we're voting on >> just changing it from info to action. >> Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposion carries. All right. So now we have changed it to the item to an action item. So then I would be looking for a motion to approve the committee appointments as discussed and updated presented on the screen. >> Second. >> We have a motion by a second by Smith. Any further discussion? >> Just to be clear, the source of truth that we're voting on is what's on the screen right now. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion carries. >> So then we have one action item, item eight on the agenda, which is the memorandum of understanding with education association. Turn it over to Dr. Um, this is a a really minor issue. This is one of those things that got passed in state law that uh basically said you have to have an agreement with your collective bargaining group, your teachers, and your school district to hold school on certain holidays. We're not saying memorandum of understanding is not saying that we're going to do that. We're going to uh follow our school calendars as they've been previously approved, but we do on occasion offer school on some of the dates that are mentioned in this new state law that basically say you have to have this bargaining. We did not either side teach agreement. put together quicks emergency school business meeting. school. >> This law was only for the conduct of school. >> Yeah. The other I think we'd have to get guidance. I think you just mentioned Terry and others that must be we truly needed an emergency meeting of a school board some kind of natural disaster something like that. Typically we can do that. >> But end of that's independ this was just I'm not just I'm going with this is what is in terms of the law and just we're just compli the first Monday of February. >> Why are you doing that? >> I'm not I did not write this law. Um but that is part of the reason why we had probably conducted well depending except when they so five out of seven days or something those the actual birthdays would fall on school days. So that's part of the reason for this. I'm also going to nitpick the apostrophe on state. >> So basically we are doing this MLB because of the state change. >> Yep. That is my understanding. >> I don't think it changes anything about how we do business. We continue to operate with our school calendar. our teachers union brought this to our attention that hey there's a law that probably >> so does this then impact our other groups as well I know this teachers but then I think this will be applicable to other >> I haven't looked at the statute now in a while it will because we will be operating school. I think it was just you had to have a collective teacher association what was in the law by this was not a this was not a high on the uh the list of really important things but it was one that just might as well take care of it comple doesn't change this and the law does specifically call teachers. >> All right. So, this is an action item. So, I would entertain a motion. to approve the memorandum of understanding. >> So a motion by second by Smith. Any further discussion? >> See all in favor say I. >> I motion carries. So then you will see item nine on our agenda would be our upcoming meetings and important dates. 9.1 is the the annual conference which we will talk about developments. Um I'm just going to call out for everyone's calendars please note that January 26 which is our next board meeting is a joint meeting that will be held at the Scott County government center joint meeting with Scott County. So I think it's a great opportunity and great discussions on a lot of things that we collaborate on. So >> remember licensing project building a stairwell. >> Yeah, it's their boardroom. >> Jim, did you have a start on that? The invitation that I have says 6 to 8:30. Um we have a meeting tomorrow at noon, myself. Um they'll be there and then the co-presenters, we've got a format set up where we have school district representatives and Scott County representatives will co-present on different partnerships that we have from everything from tr to the detectors that in our schools to student mental health. Um the the birth of three child find with the attempt to get the early childhood screenings done sooner and then we'll also discuss truency. So, um, there's at least one person from our district will be attending on each topic tomorrow, one person from the county, and then they'll have some more time to start putting together. And I'm assuming this is going to function like we did last time where we have to call the meeting to order, the county calls to order as our separate, and then we have to like a normal business. >> Correct. That's my understanding. But that's why I'm going to come tomorrow. some of those minor questions. Thanks for all to the extent it's possible. All right. With that, I know we have a full pack. Anything else in regards to ups? >> So move second. >> Motion by and a second by Aldridge. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. >> Oppos.