South Washington County Schools — Transcript
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) Implementation
Proposed Policy Changes
Preliminary Levy for Taxes Payable in 2027
Health Insurance Contract for 2027-2028
District Operational Updates and Public Awareness
Votes (3)
Proposed Policy Changes
Dissent: None
Moved by Simi Peternick [00:12:44] · Seconded by Louise Hines [00:12:44]
The superintendent presented eight policies for review. Policy 520 had a minor deletion. Policies 525 (Prevention of Violence) and 526 (Prohibition of Harassment) had no proposed changes. The Extracurricular Transportation policy was updated regarding distance and video recording on buses to include staff. The Student Activity Accounting policy also had no changes. Policies 713.1 (Admission Entry Receipts) and 720 (Vending Machines) were recommended for deletion, with their content to be managed via district procedures. Six policies were ultimately recommended for approval.
Proposed Levy for Taxes Payable in 2027
Dissent: None
Moved by Melinda Dols [00:17:33] · Seconded by Simi Peternick [00:17:33]
The Director of Business Services presented the preliminary levy for 2027, which must be approved by September 30 annually. The proposed levy totals approximately $135 million, representing a 1.4% increase over the previous year and contributing significantly to the district's general fund. While individual taxpayer impact varies due to property value changes, the board's approval of the maximum preliminary levy allows for potential future reductions but no increases, accommodating ongoing updates from the Minnesota Department of Education.
Health Insurance Update and Contract Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Simi Peternick [00:21:00] · Seconded by Ryan Clark [00:21:00]
The Executive Director of Human Resources presented the results of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for health insurance, a process mandated every two years by Minnesota state law. After reviewing five proposals with the teachers' union, the administration recommended a two-year fully insured contract with HealthPartners, commencing January 1, 2027. Although self-funding was analyzed, it was deemed less financially prudent for 2027, with an option to re-evaluate for 2028 within the HealthPartners agreement.
Notable Quotes (8)
Policy number 520 had been held for several months, and after receiving some clarification on that on page six, we will be deleting section 4C2 number 3, and that was clear in the board file where that was crossed out.
So, 713.1, admission entry receipts, and 720 vending machines, after working together on improving our policies and procedures, these two will be deleted, and we will handle those through procedures.
Our levy provides approximately 25% of our district's general fund revenue and approximately 30% of the district's total revenue.
The total preliminary levy is approximately $135 million, which is an increase of approximately 1.4% from the prior year.
As a board, you will have the opportunity between now and the final levy to reduce any amounts, but we are not allowed to increase after this.
Pursuant to Minnesota state law, public employers are required to market their medical insurance every two years.
Based on the review, it is recommended to remain with HealthPartners under a two-year agreement commencing January 1st, 2027, and ending December 31st, 2028.
Based on analytics and price projections compared to fully insured premiums, remaining fully insured is deemed a more financially prudent approach for 2027.
Ordinances & Resolutions (14)
District-wide plan to respond to sudden cardiac arrest.
Mandates CERP implementation by 2026-2027 and biennial health insurance marketing for public employers.
District policy with proposed minor changes.
Policy on Prevention of Violence, with no proposed changes.
Policy on Prohibition of Harassment, with no proposed changes.
District policy with proposed updates to distance and inclusion of staff in bus video recordings.
District policy with no proposed changes.
District policy proposed for deletion, to be handled by procedures.
District policy proposed for deletion, to be handled by procedures.
Financial document approved by the board to set initial property tax amounts.
Document issued by the district to solicit bids for health insurance.
Two-year agreement for fully insured medical benefits.
State-level ballot measure that could increase funding for local schools without raising taxes.
Upcoming academic calendar for the school district.