like to call this meeting to order. This is a regular meeting of the board of education, Mamemidai public schools, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 4 pm. >> Uh please join me in the pledge of allegiance of the nation. you a roll call of attendance, please. >> Um, uh, Jenny Peterson, Director Peterson, >> remote, right? >> Oh, okay. Because Stacy and Brian are here. Okay, completed. >> Great. Thank you. I'm looking for a motion to approve the agenda, please. >> Move by Director Peterson. Is there a second? >> Second by Director Donna. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Um, approval of the consent agenda. Is there a motion? >> Move. >> By director Donna. >> Second. Second by director Peterson. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carries. discussion information item board member calendar events. Anybody like to call out any events on the um August and September calendar of events? >> Um it's not really Peterson, >> can I just mention an MSBA event coming up, a webinar live in August 16th. It might be interesting for us right now. It is on school boards dealing with uh the sports booster clubs of your city. Uh the PTO may it's um a webinar on groups and money and some legal stuff and some wordage for school boards to use and not use. >> So it sounds >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. Um, is that is that something we would normally get communicated out from them or is it >> It was in the email today. I don't know if you open your >> not look at my email. >> Okay. >> Yep. Great. Thank you. Anything else on the calendar? Right. Hearing nothing. Uh, moving on to item 7B, the summary statement superintendent review. Um, I am going to read the summary statement from Superintendent Duffren's annual performance review. And I want to thank everybody um for their feedback that went into this summary. Um, as a schoolboard chair, I'd like to read a summary that I put together from our collective responses of the school board as part of Superintendent Duffren's 2025 2026 annual evaluation. We want to start by sharing a deep appreciation for Superintendent Duffren's steadfast leadership, unwavering commitment to Mamemidai Public Schools, and the lasting impact of her years of dedicated service to our school district. Superintendent Duffren's longevity as a leader has provided stability through changing educational landscapes while fostering a culture focused on continuous student success. board members consistently recognize her thoughtful collective leadership and her ability to balance long-term strategic planning with the day-to-day needs of students, staff, families, and the community. A recurring theme throughout Superintendent Duffren's vision for academic excellence is her ability to move ambitious initiatives from planning to successful implementation. Under her leadership, Madameai Public Schools has become a recognized leader in Minnesota in implementing letters and the science of reading. The district has established a comprehensive multi-year literacy plan, completed elementary letters training, adopted new instructional resources, and is preparing secondary teachers for the science or reading training. Feel like you're all staring at me, which you are. Board members noted that these efforts are now clearly visible in classrooms where literacy strategies are embedded across multiple subject areas. Uh they also expressed excitement about the positive impact these initiatives are expected to have on student achievement and future assessment results. Board members also highly value Superintendent Duffren's commitment to ensuring that all students have access to opportunities to prepare them for future success. Her leadership in expanding AVID beyond a select group of students and embedding AVID strategies throughout middle and high school coursework demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, high expectations, and college and career readiness. The growth of AVID programming along with instructional practices such as focused note-taking, annotation, academic vocabulary, and summarizing across the multiple disciplines reflects her belief that every student benefits from rigorous, engaging learning experiences. The board recognizes that Superintendent Duffren has maintained Madame's strong academic foundation while thoughtfully positioning the district for continued growth. members appreciated her strategic approach to long-term improvement planning and expressed interest in implying that same successful framework used for literacy to future science and mathematics initiatives at the secondary level. Her leadership and financial stewardship also received significant praise. Board members acknowledge her careful management of district resources, the use of a multi-year budget projection, responsible debt restructuring, and proactive efforts to address rising healthcare costs through new partnerships and the exploration of self-funded insurance options. The successful 2025 operating and facilities referendum was widely viewed as an example of transparent communication, strong community engagement, and the trust that Superintendent Duffren has built with stakeholders over many years. The school board appreciates how Superintendent Duffford and her leadership team as they continue to work around district financial security by engaging in long-term financial planning by communicating about expenditure trends, cost drivers, and the district's effort to manage expenses responsibly while delivering on our commitments. Board members also commended her work to define district success through meaningful measures beyond traditional academic performance. The de development of the district dashboard provides valuable data that supports informed decision-making and increased transparency. Likewise, the portrait of a graduate initiative reflects Superintendent Duffren's forward-thinking leadership by identifying the knowledge, skills, and disposition students will need to thrive after graduation. Members appreciate that this work has been shaped through a broad stakeholder engagement and is becoming integrated into our counseling, career exploration, student leadership, and district communications. While recognizing this is an ongoing multi-year effort, board members look forward to its continued implementation and impact. Throughout the evaluation, board members consistently expressed appreciation for integrity, professionalism, and genuine dedication to Mamedai community. Her years of service have been marked by steady leadership, thoughtful decision-making, and a willingness to embrace change while remained grounded in the district's values and commitment to excellence. She has cultivated a culture of collaboration, empowered staff leadership, strengthened community trust, and positioned Mameidi public schools as a respected leader across Minnesota. Overall, the board's feedback reflects a high level of confidence in Superintendent Duffren's leadership. Her experienced, vision, and unwavering commitment to the district, continue to provide a strong foundation for future success. board members are grateful for her dedicated service and recognize the lasting positive impact her leadership has had and will continue to have on the students, staff, families, and the entire Mamemida community. Thank you, Superintendent Duffin. >> So, that's overwhelming. So, I do hope that um my uh team that's sitting in the back and those who might be I know no one's listening from home, but if they were um recognize themselves, >> you never know. >> Yeah, I Well, maybe they are. um are recognizing themselves in that list of accomplishments because um truly that was that was not all me. That was that was a um an exceptional team that I worked with. Um so thank you and thanks to all of you um for the work that you do. >> Thank you so much. Anybody have any other comments or feedback or anything additional besides that? >> I think you captured it well. >> You covered everything. I just have one. >> I told I told Leslie I had a list of things to talk about tonight. >> Um, no, I and I think to add to that very well written, great summary. Appreciate that. But I I'd like to add that I I appreciate and I think the board does just the candid discussions that you always are willing to have um at the board table and in one-on-one discussions with us. So, I appreciate that. >> All right. Thank you. We know we are now we've made you in the uncomfortable place. We'll move on to item eight action items. Uh we're looking for approval of donations and grants um from June 2026. >> So moved. Moved by Director Stout, second by Director Peterson. Any discussion? All donations and grants are greatly appreciated. The use of these funds will be to further the mission of the school district and are used towards the wishes of the donor. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Uh, next item B, approval of the cooperative agreement with Washington County for the safe routes to school project. As um, Director Ericson comes up, I'll just remind you this is something that's been in the works for many years, long before um, he joined us um, in Monai public schools. Um and so this we we are excited that we're finally able to finish this trail that will connect um two of our neighborhoods that are on the south side of um of Swater Road to our campuses. And so um this is all part of the safe routes to school plan and the grant that we received. Okay. >> So, I noticed on the on the document there, it didn't really have a good map on the back, it was cutting off a lot of information. So, I just wanted to refresh on, as Barb mentioned, uh the safe routes to schools. It's a it's three entities working together, including the city of Grant. So, uh, what you've got there is is our portion of that trail. And so, our portion of the grant and the different costs that are associated with it will cover that. Um, we're actually it's going to be a very it's going to be great because it'll provide a path for those kids to that are coming from the different developments over on that side uh to get over to to our school safely, obviously. And uh we'll we will have lit uh we'll have flashing pedestrian signs up as well which will help. Usually those are pretty helpful in slowing the traffic down. Um we'll also wind up widening when you look at that right turn lane that goes up. >> May I orient everyone? So this is the north here. >> Yeah. Correct. So as you look at that that turn if if you look at that lane going to the right curving to the right that's going to be widened. It's that is very narrow at this point. Uh if you yeah if you've been through it, you know how narrow that is. So we'll widen that out. Um we refer to that the median refuge with pedestrian ramps. That's we call that the pork chop or they like to call that the pork chop. That's going to be a little bit larger as well. And then uh so it it also includes the road improvements and the path uh our share uh in that cost and these are uh these are estimated cost because the the the work's going to go out to bid and the county is handling that portion of it. They're handing handling the bid and the administration of the contract as well as the the safe routes to schools program. Uh so our our co our total cost is about it's over 228,000. However, when you look at uh our portion we pay anything anything for engineering soft cost engineering wetland mitigation fees and those types of things. And so when we look at that portion uh out of pocket it would be about 59,000. And incidentally, uh, the grant, we do have roughly about 200,000 left of grant dollars that, uh, we don't we we probably will not spend. Now, if the bids come in higher, we'll be able to access those gr those grant dollars as well. But, uh, yeah. So, any questions on there? >> Director Stout. >> Uh, thank you, Chair. I um so when you say we have $200,000 left, does that remain in account that we can use that we can extend or is it just for this project? >> I I wish it did. >> Okay. >> But yeah, it's Yeah, if we don't use all those dollars, they revert back. >> Okay. >> And they can only be used for this project. >> But but there will be no out-ofpocket cost. >> Well, our our out of pocket will be the 59 we we've got about 59,000 currently. We'll have additional costs. Uh there'll be some wetland mitigation fees, additional engineering costs as we go through the project and the county will bill those accordingly to us. So, uh we will have more out-ofpocket costs than that, but this is their estimate at this point. >> But then does the grant cover that? >> The grant doesn't cover any of those professional services. >> Okay. >> They cover the construction. >> Got it. Okay. Any other questions? Director Donna. Oh, no. >> All right. So, based on the board notes from last week, the we were awarded $75,000. So, that's incremental to the 200,000 plus the 59,000. Is that right? So, yeah. So, what I'm doing is I'm I'm saying you look at that total grant right now, it's by almost 600,000. And so, yeah, I guess it's a yeah, it's about 100,000 more is what we have to cover any increased cost due to construction of the trail. >> So, all in, this could be a million-doll project by the time you get all the things added up. >> It could be. Yeah. >> Um, was there any conversation about the middle the middle school access here? There's no sidewalk there, right? There's nothing. There's no You have to walk on the grass there for the kids, right? >> Well, that's Yeah. So, that trail is gonna Yeah. The trail essentially stops as far as we get to run it. Um it'll stop there and then kids will cross over to get right at that intersection across that pork chop area >> because that does and and I know as drivers we think of that entrance as the entrance to the middle school, but this sidewalk entrance that it does go around to the middle school entrance. Yep. >> And it does end up being um just as easy for students as if not faster. Right. >> So that I was question. >> Okay. So, the the the new sidewalk that we're seeing there, that little bit of gray that then that does there is more sidewalk there, right? I'm going off memory, but it's hard to tell on this >> like So, yes. So, there is a sidewalk. There's sidewalk that comes down from the yellow >> yellow lot. Yep. >> And you see that cross? We have a we have a crossing guard right there at high times. >> Yep. There is a sidewalk that goes down there that says that part can be improved. >> Okay. And then is this continues? Yeah, it continues all the way down to >> Okay. >> All the way down to the high school. >> Okay. It's just hard to see on >> the bus. You can picture where the bus is going. >> There sidewalk all the way over. >> Okay. That's what I thought. Okay. But that won't change the need for the crossing guard person there at all. >> They'll still need to be there. Um Yeah. So, and are we are we going to have um some flashing lights in this area? Right. >> Right. So, >> when the new >> they're going to be >> good. >> They're going to be kind of right in this area here would be those ped signs flashing >> kind of where this this >> Yeah. So coming up this way and then to cross over to >> and if I can just I'll just add um and Kelly may have been here so she may remember but Barb you'll remember this. So we had to decide whether or not we were going to add parking over to this forested area and it wouldn't have provided enough parking. It would have been just shy of what we needed. And so I just I just want to make a comment that I'm very happy with this. I know we're dealing with a footprint that has been, you know, added to and changed over time. So, it's it's not how you'd maybe lay it out if you were starting from scratch. But, I really am happy that we still have our wooded area. We that's why we have that crossing guard because we knew that students would be walking from parking lots and you've got teenagers driving. So, I just am really happy that we've kept um the the natural spaces and also making it safe and this really is makes it more conducive for bikers. Um I'm always concerned about teenage drivers going too fast in there and so this is I think a really great answer to um what we've been needing. So, thank you to everyone who worked on this. >> Donna, I'm sure. Um, so adding on to your comment, was and I wasn't here when this was plan was adopted, but was there any part of the scope of safe routes that was maybe reduced because of the total estimated cost and knowing what the grant funds might be? But and I only say that because if there's if we do have additional grant dollars, could they be repurposed with an expanded scope that you may have at the time reduced because of constraints? I'll just throw that out. >> Um, let me just talk about the history. So, the constraints that we're talking about, um, they actually were right before my time. Um, a couple years, I think, um, was that decision >> and that's pre- routes to school. >> That was before Well, we had a there was a planning for um, safe routes to school, but the at the time the focus was really more on um, getting students to OA. And so if you recall a few years ago, we finally got that construction grant to add sidewalks around OA to get those comm community those neighborhoods to OA. Then we did a new plan based on the updates that happened. And with that plan, we were able to add in this extra part and that's how we were. So it was um uh it wasn't Yeah, it was it was some work too. So, I'll just offer because we needed to work with both the county and fit into their county um plans that they had for road improvement and also with grant city um they needed to help with that as well. And then Monita as well. So, it's actually a pretty big lift to get everybody positioned to get behind this and um get that. And ours is just that little sidewalk, but then all those trails that are on the south side of County Highway uh 12 are because of our partnerships with the cities and counties. >> I didn't mean to derail us, but I think Paul was asking, so was there more we could have done with those dollars that are left? I don't >> well when I when I saw we had monies available I did ask the county and they said well what are you thinking about and one of the things I was looking at was lighting getting some more lighting there and they said probably not however um that doesn't mean that we at some point in time as as when the bids come in and we we know cost better um we may be able to access some of that I wouldn't say I wouldn't say no uh out totally out of the question but It's possible. >> Okay. Um, anything else on that? >> Oh, that's it. >> Um, thank you. Uh, with that, we're looking for a motion to approve the cooperative agreement with Washington County for safe routes to school project. >> So, moved by Director Stout. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Director Witson. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. >> Um item C, approval of the resolution to the election of school board members and calling the school district general election. We do this every two years. Uh we have three seats up um for election. Um and so we need this is just something that we do every two years to be able to um call that that election for those um three seats. So there's you've done it before routine, >> right? Is there a motion for that um resolution to election of school board members >> by director Donna? Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by director Stout. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I post. Motion carries. Um and that was it. So with that looking for a motion to adjurnn >> by director Peterson second by director S. All those in favor say I. We are journed at 422. >> Nay. All right.