RecordingTranscript availableAnalysis ready77:50

School Board Workshop Meeting - June 11, 2026

South Washington County SchoolsFriday, June 12, 2026
Watch on original source

Roll call

Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of agenda

Student Board Representative Reports

Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System (ATPPS) update

Guiding Change Document for Budget Adjustments review

2026-27 Preliminary Budget presentation

Woodbury Graduation report

Student end-of-year wrap-up

Student summer activities and leadership

ATPPS program components and professional development

ATPPS program evaluation and budget adjustments

South Washington County Schools Confronts $13 Million Deficit Driven by Declining Enrollment

Memorandum of agreement for ATPPS funding

South Washington County Schools Faces $13 Million Deficit, Initiates Adjustment Process

Clarification of financial language in documents

Levy Alone Won't Close $13 Million South Washington County Schools Deficit

Community and family participation in budget adjustments

District financial solvency and fund balance

Full Document Analysis

Votes (1)

To approve the agenda.

Motion passesAll in favor, no opposed

Moved by Melinda Doss · Seconded by Ryan Clark

Notable Quotes (12)

graduation for Woodbury was on Saturday at 7 and we're a little bit worried about like the weather and everything, but it only it slightly sprinkled, but it was actually pretty good because there's double rainbow after.

Matilda Samuel
Student reports on graduationDescribing her experience at Woodbury High School's graduation.

for next year when me and TA return, I plan on me and TA both plan on adding in a student concern line so that way if they have any issues, we can bring it forth to our administration and if we get permission, we can bring it towards to you guys.

Andrew Chastine
Student advocacy initiativesOutlining future plans for student representation and advocacy.

Mine's a little more low-key than Andrews, but um summer is a time where I transition from academics to sports.

TA Alvaringa
Student summer activitiesIntroducing her summer plans during the student representative reports.

I'm really just looking forward to my senior season this year and being a leader and a role model to the younger girls.

TA Alvaringa
Student leadership and sportsExpressing her aspirations for the upcoming sports season.

How lucky are we that school is out of session and our three student board reps still wanted to come back.

Julie Nielson
Student board representationExpressing gratitude for the student representatives' attendance.

we will not be able to solve it by only seeking additional levy dollars from our taxpayers.

Julie Nielson
Budget adjustments and taxationExplaining the limitations of a levy increase to address the budget deficit.

I would say the biggest changes in the following years, but we also our immediate concern is having to reduce $13 million.

Julie Nielson
Timeline and scale of budget cutsResponding to a question about when families might see budget-related changes.

Thank you. I do want to just Yes. Students, if you want to go enjoy summer, this is your chance.

Katie Schwarz
Meeting logistics and student appreciationReleasing the student representatives from the meeting.

this program that we are going to share with you tonight is something that when I was union president, we and uh really took the time at that point in time to have a grassroots program that was teacher led and impacted student outcomes and achievement through peer coaching and um teacher goals.

Patty Diamond
Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System (ATPPS)Providing background on the Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System (ATPPS).

how do we have offramps to embed those completely into our system even if the this funding goes away?

Patty Diamond
ATPPS funding and sustainabilityDiscussing future planning for ATPPS components without grant funding.

many revenues and expenditures at this point are estimated and so we always try to say that it's a snapshot in time.

Chris Blackburn
Budget estimation and accuracyExplaining the nature of preliminary budget estimates.

So, what exactly is fund balance, Chris? I said, "Well, it's a district savings account.

Chris Blackburn
Budget terms and definitionsDefining 'fund balance' during his budget presentation.

People (20)

Elizabeth Bachmann EkbergMeeting attendee

Present during roll call.

Louise HinesMeeting attendee

Present during roll call.

Ryan ClarkMeeting attendee

Present during roll call; seconded the motion to approve the agenda.

Melinda DossMeeting attendee

Present during roll call; moved the motion to approve the agenda.

Simei PnikMeeting attendee

Absent during roll call.

Sharon VanerMeeting attendee

Absent during roll call.

TA AlvaringaStudent Board Representative

Present during roll call; reported on summer sports, youth camps, and leadership.

3 quotes

Mine's a little more low-key than Andrews, but um summer is a time where I transition from academics to sports.

Reporting on summer plans.

I'm really just looking forward to my senior season this year and being a leader and a role model to the younger girls.

Expressing enthusiasm for upcoming sports season.

My coaches really do emphasize um, leadership and connections with one another and giving back to the community.

Highlighting coach's focus in sports.

Andrew ChastineStudent Board Representative

Present during roll call; reported on band activities and proposed a student concern line.

2 quotes

I mainly just have two main things to share. One being about band stuff, hence the reason why I've missed the last two or three meetings, I think.

Explaining absences and main topics of his report.

for next year when me and TA return, I plan on me and TA both plan on adding in a student concern line so that way if they have any issues, we can bring it forth to our administration and if we get permission, we can bring it towards to you guys.

Proposing a new initiative for student feedback.

Matilda SamuelStudent Board Representative (graduating senior)

Present during roll call; reported on Woodbury High School graduation and senior all-night party.

2 quotes

graduation for Woodbury was on Saturday at 7 and we're a little bit worried about like the weather and everything, but it only it slightly sprinkled, but it was actually pretty good because there's double rainbow after.

Describing her graduation experience.

the ceremony itself it went really well in my opinion. I think we had a great speakers. We had a lot of speakers and it was still it all went well and everything.

Reflecting on the graduation ceremony.

Katie SchwarzChair

Led the meeting and agenda items.

1 quote

Thank you. I do want to just Yes. Students, if you want to go enjoy summer, this is your chance.

Dismissing the student representatives.

Julie NielsonSuperintendent

Introduced student reports; presented the Guiding Change Document for budget adjustments.

4 quotes

How lucky are we that school is out of session and our three student board reps still wanted to come back.

Expressing appreciation for student representatives' attendance.

this evening the purpose is to review the guiding change document.

Stating the purpose of the guiding change document discussion.

we will not be able to solve it by only seeking additional levy dollars from our taxpayers.

Explaining limitations of levy increases for budget deficit.

I would say the biggest changes in the following years, but we also our immediate concern is having to reduce $13 million.

Clarifying the timeline and scale of budget changes.

Kelly JansenAssistant Superintendent

Introduced the update on the Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System (ATPPS).

Dana LarsonDirector of Professional Development

Presented on the Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System (ATPPS).

Patty DiamondTeacher on Special Assignment / ATPPS Coordinator

Presented on the Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System (ATPPS); previously a union president.

2 quotes

this program that we are going to share with you tonight is something that when I was union president, we and uh really took the time at that point in time to have a grassroots program that was teacher led and impacted student outcomes and achievement through peer coaching and um teacher goals.

Providing historical context and philosophy of the ATPPS program.

how do we have offramps to embed those completely into our system even if the this funding goes away?

Discussing contingency planning for ATPPS in case of defunding.

SeanStaff member

Operated the clicker for presentations; mentioned in context of discussing fund balance.

Chris BlackburnDirector of Business Services

Presented the 2026-27 preliminary budget and explained budget terms.

2 quotes

many revenues and expenditures at this point are estimated and so we always try to say that it's a snapshot in time.

Explaining the nature of preliminary budget estimates.

So, what exactly is fund balance, Chris? I said, "Well, it's a district savings account."

Defining 'fund balance' during the budget presentation.

Nikki KasleFinance team member

Credited for significant work in compiling the district budget.

Mary Beth CollinsFinance team member

Credited for significant work in compiling the district budget.

Amber ShowerFinance team member

Credited for significant work in compiling the district budget.

TimStaff member

Reported on program evaluation last year (related to ATPPS).

Places Mentioned

District Service Center, Cottage Grove, MinnesotaLand of the Midawakatan Dakota peopleSouth Washington County Schools (Sawashko)Woodbury (for graduation)

Events & Meetings (6)

  • Meeting at District Service Center in Cottage Grove, Minnesota at 6 PM
  • Woodbury High School Graduation on a Saturday at 7 PM (date unspecified)
  • Senior All-Night Party from 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM
  • ATPPS Professional Development Day (end of September)
  • ATPPS Flex Day (personalized professional development)
  • ATPPS June Professional Development Day (June 5th)
Transcript