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## author: Zahradka, Linda
date: D:20260811131334-05'00'
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## TO: Northeast Metro 916 Board of Education
## FROM: Val Rae Boe
DATE: August 11, 2026
## RE: August 5 Board of Education Meeting Talking Points
## Members present: Knisely-12, Palmer-13, Jones-14, Forsberg-16, Striker-282, Nitardy-622,
Clark-623, Thompson-624, Dols-833, and Thelander-834.
Members absent: Bock-621, Rebelein-831, and Stout-832.
Legislative Update: Valerie Dosland, lobbyist, presented the School Board with a review of the
2026 legislative session highlighting that a bipartisan budget agreement, including $31.7 million
in one-time funding for K12 education, was reached in the final days of the session. Valerie also
gave a preview of the upcoming year highlighting the Permanent School Fund Constitutional
Amendment that will be on the November Ballot and provided more on the ballot initiative here.
She spoke about 2026 being a major election year in MN, with all 201 state legislative seats on
the ballot, along with the Governor, all constitutional offices, all eight U.S. House seats, and one
U.S. Senate seat. A record 43 state legislators or 21 percent of the legislature, have announced
their retirement or plans to run for another office. Looking ahead, the Blue Ribbon Commission
on Special Education and the Compensatory Revenue Task Force will both deliver
recommendations in October which the legislature will need to address. Lastly, the Intermediate
legislative priorities brought forward in 2026 did not move advance but did receive attention and
the Intermediates will continue to discuss funding for ITRAC, special education, and safe
schools and student mental health as priorities in 2027.
Highlights & Opportunities: 916 Student and Family Surveys: Theresa Wallace, manager of
special projects, presented the results of the CAREI student and Family survey. This survey is
used to understand student and family experiences to inform how the district engages students
and families in ways that promote authentic collaboration to support common values and
equitable outcomes. The five categories focused on included Agency, Advocacy and Voice,
## Student Growth, Instructional Impact, and Progress Support, Relational Connectivity, Belonging
& Cultural Inclusion, and Environmental Safety. Theresa shared areas of strengths which
included strong relationships with staff, support for student needs, and welcoming and
respectful environments. She ended by sharing some of the opportunities for continued
improvement which include stronger positive student experience with culturally responsive
teaching in classrooms, communication and involvement in transitions, and opportunities for
student and family voice and engagement.
QComp: Scott Thomas, executive director of educational services, reviewed the Q-Comp
results for 2026, noting that Northeast Metro 916 is the only Intermediate to receive Q-Comp.
He highlighted that 98% of eligible employees received either their full or a re…