Forest Lake Area Schools — Transcript
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Listening Session Report
Forest Lake Area High School Link Program Report
Positive Happenings
City of Forest Lake Report
Community Education Report
MSBA Report (Member Tyson)
MSBA Facilitated School Board / Strategic Plan Work
Superintendent's Report (Dr. Massey)
First Reading: Forest Lake Area Schools Language Access Plan
First Reading: Student Attendance Policy #519
First Reading: Fund Balances Policy #1714
Votes (9)
Superintendent Contract Legal Review Authorization
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Rebolledo [0:00] · Seconded by Member Corcoran [0:00]
The Board Chair and Member Corcoran reported significant progress on the new superintendent's contract, having negotiated 80-90% of the text with Mr. Jacobson. The motion sought authorization to engage specific, MSBA-recommended law firms for a legal review to ensure the contract's statutory compliance and legal soundness, preventing potential delays.
7.4 Licensed Personnel Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Corcoran [0:00] · Seconded by Member Tyson [0:00]
The item concerned the approval of licensed personnel changes, specifically focusing on the resignation of Jenna Parent, a math teacher and coach who was also a Forest Lake graduate. Members expressed appreciation for her contributions to the high school and wished her well in her new endeavors, noting her positive impact on staff and students.
Approval of Donations
Dissent: Member Castle abstained due to personal involvement (Yours Truly donation).
Moved by Member Castle [0:00] · Seconded by Member Corcoran [0:00]
Member Castle presented a detailed list of donations to the Forest Lake Area Schools, totaling $27,985.01. These included significant contributions from booster clubs for basketball and lacrosse paid coaches, Wilson Tool International for metal shop equipment, Morrie's Forest Lake Chevrolet and SMW Financial Credit Union for HOSA sponsorship and Ranger Space Camp, Drolson Family Foundation for various causes, American Legion, Johnson Turner Legal for Hall of Fame sponsorship, and individual donations to the John Lattigar Memorial Fund for football and track stadium support. The board acknowledged and appreciated the community's generous support.
Approval of Forest Lake Area School Staff Retirement Notice
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Castle [0:00] · Seconded by Member Tyson [0:00]
The board considered and approved the retirement notice of Linwood Wood, a custodian at Forest Lake Area Middle School, effective July 10, 2026, after 27 years of dedicated service. Board members praised Ms. Wood for her hard work, dependability, and positive attitude, acknowledging her significant contributions and the challenge of replacing her.
Ratify 2025-2027 Forest Lake Supervisors Association Agreement
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Tyson [0:00] · Seconded by Member Corcoran [0:00]
Dr. Massey presented the agreement for approval, detailing the positions included (Accounting, Nutrition, Transportation, Buildings & Grounds, Aquatic, Ice Arena Manager, SAC Supervisors) and confirming that its terms, including nominal language updates, were within the board-provided parameters. Member Castle sought and received clarification that language strike-outs regarding sick leave did not violate Minnesota statutes.
Ratify 2025-2027 Forest Lake Directors Association Agreement
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Tyson [0:00] · Seconded by Member Rebolledo [0:00]
Dr. Massey introduced this agreement for approval, highlighting the critical roles of the covered individuals (HR, Teaching & Learning, Business Services, Community Education, Special Education Directors). He affirmed that the contract terms, aside from nominal language updates, complied with the board's established parameters for settlement, emphasizing the talent and necessity of this group to the district's operations.
Adopt 2025-2027 Terms and Conditions Documents for Individual Professional Employees
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Rebolledo [0:00] · Seconded by Member Corcoran [0:00]
Dr. Massey presented these documents as a bundle for individual professional employees, including the Activities Director, College and Career Transitions Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, Communities That Care Grant lead, and various department coordinators. He confirmed that all these contracts adhered to the parameters provided by the board for administration to work within, recommending their approval.
School Board Vacancy Interview Process
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Tyson [0:00] · Seconded by Member Corcoran [0:00]
The board discussed and formalized the interview process for five applicants for a school board vacancy. They agreed to hold interviews at the May 21st board meeting, using the same format as previous rounds: a general introduction, followed by six pre-assigned questions (one per board member) with a 3-minute answer limit per question. A critical element of the discussion was setting a 60-minute deliberation limit post-interviews to ensure a decision or clear next steps were defined within the meeting, preventing late sessions.
Setting Medical Premiums for 2026-2027
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Tyson [0:00] · Seconded by Member Corcoran [0:00]
Director Rumberger recommended a 7% increase in medical premiums for 2026-2027, which would raise single premiums to $1,260/month and family premiums to $3,264/month. This increase aims to move the district's self-insurance plan into a positive fund balance. A notable point was that, for employees with settled contracts (e.g., teachers with an 8% cap), their actual deduction would decrease, demonstrating the board's consideration for employee impact while addressing fiscal responsibility.
Notable Quotes (13)
I would like to make a motion to request authorization for legal review um, of the contract and this is strictly so we can make sure that the the text that myself, uh, member Corkran and Mr. Jacobson put together uh, passes legal muster and everybody is happy and it it it fits the statute.
Oh, I want to say that those were the um, the the attorneys that we are um, approving have been recommended by MSBA and um, Dr. Terry Moore. So, those are on specific lists to look at the contract. So, we're not going out of their their recommendation.
I just wanted to recognize Jenna Parent. Does she resigned? Um she was a teacher a grad a graduate for Slate a 2018 grad. Um I've known her a long time and uh she was a math teacher at the high school and a great athlete and also a great coach. So, she's resigning and I just I didn't see that till today.
I want to thank her. She was I ran many a tournament, basketball tournaments at the middle school. I don't know, maybe 15 years worth, and she was always there, working hard. She is phenomenal, and she always had a smile on her face, and I just can't thank her enough for always being there and being so great and putting all those Yeah, she just worked extremely hard, and she was always so dependable, and and I always said I had a smile on her face. So, I want to thank her, and I hope she enjoys her retirement cuz she's earned it.
This contract that you will see here, in addition to a couple of the language updates, is within the parameters the board provided for us. The administration would recommend your approval.
I just want to verify that in uh section one, sick leave, there are strike outs in subdivision one, subdivision eight, subdivision nine, and subdivision 10. And they have to do with uh one part talks about the Minnesota statute. So, we are not violating the statute by striking these out, I'm assuming.
You know the folks covered in this agreement extremely well because you see them present in front of you on various topics throughout the school year. Um, they are uh part of my direct team and um we would we we could not get by without the talented group that we have.
The note that all of these contracts are again within the parameters that the board gave administration to work within these contracts, administration would recommend your approval.
I'm going to make a recommendation to the board that we move forward with interviews in 2 weeks at our May 21st board meeting um, on these individuals and we make a selection on that evening.
But I'm wondering if we make up our own questions, if we should submit them to Julian, the Member Corcoran and Member Arabedian, so that they know what we're asking, so they're not the same.
Once we complete interviews, why don't we agree that we have 60 minutes to make a decision, and if not um we we move on with the rest of business.
The administration is recommending, uh, along with our, uh, broker, National Insurance Services, a 7% increase on our medical premiums... our self-insurance plan has been negative. So, we hope that this fiscal year we will, uh, get that into the positive.
We know that the 7% is favorable. We had an 8% cap when we talked with teachers. So, we're a little bit below that. Um so, that's really great cuz that means that their deduction will actually go down for the time.
Ordinances & Resolutions (12)
MSBA budget that Forest Lake Area Schools' dues contribute to.
State statute proposed for change via ballot question to increase payout percentage to public schools.
Employment agreement being negotiated for the new superintendent.
Collective bargaining agreement for district supervisors.
Collective bargaining agreement for district directors.
Individual employment terms for specific professional roles (e.g., Activities Director, Communications Coordinator).
Statutory plan for communicating with non-English speaking families and students.
District policy undergoing first reading for updates related to make-up work and after-school activities.
New district policy on financial fund balances, proposed for first reading and workshop.
Legal foundation for language access.
Legal foundation for language access, ensuring educational opportunities for English learners.
Legal foundation for language access, ensuring testing in home language for bilingual students with disabilities.