StorySchool Board Officer ElectionJune 23, 2026

South Washington County Schools elects new board leadership for 2025

The South Washington County Schools Board unanimously elected its officers for 2025 during a January 2 meeting in Cottage Grove, with Katie Schwarz taking the chair role. The board also approved organizational items and heard reports on math instruction and district finances.

Meeting date: Jan 3, 2025
Published Jun 23, 2026

The school board moved quickly through its annual leadership elections, approving a slate of officers without dissent. Schwarz will serve as Chair, with Simi Pnic as Vice Chair, Melinda Dols as Clerk, and an unnamed board member as Treasurer. The motion passed unanimously after being seconded by Pnic.

Beyond the officer elections, the board approved a series of organizational items for 2025 in a consent vote, similar to routine administrative approvals. No board members requested discussion on any of these items.

The meeting also featured a comprehensive presentation on K-12 math education. District leaders shared student performance data from multiple assessments—including state tests (MCA), national benchmarks (MAP and ACT), and college prep exams (PreACT)—along with information about instructional strategies and curriculum resources. The district highlighted how it's shifting math instruction toward conceptual understanding and real-world problem-solving, aligned with Minnesota's 2022 math standards. Elementary schools use the Bridges curriculum, while middle schools are piloting Math 180, an intervention program designed to meet individual student needs.

The board also reviewed the district's financial audit for the 2023-24 fiscal year, which received a clean opinion from auditors. The district reported improved financial health and said it has already achieved its fund balance policy goals ahead of schedule.

Looking ahead, the board advanced four policy changes for a first reading. These updates include recognizing 'SoWashCo' as an official district name, updating legal references, adding language to the equal opportunity education policy, and adjusting a cross-reference in the complaints policy. These policies will return for a final vote at a future meeting.

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Full analysis

Votes (2)

Election of School Board Officers for 2025

Passed Unanimously

Dissent: None

Moved by Board Member [3:14] (became Treasurer) · Seconded by Simy Pnic [3:27]

A board member nominated a slate of officers for the 2025 term: Katie Schwarz as Chair, Simi Pnic as Vice Chair, Melinda Dols as Clerk, and the nominating board member as Treasurer. The motion was seconded and passed without further discussion.

Approval of Organizational Items for 2025

Passed Unanimously

Dissent: None

Moved by Sharon Vanir [4:03] · Seconded by Simy Pnic [4:04]

A series of organizational items for 2025, described as similar to consent items, were presented for approval. No discussion was requested or held on any of the items.

Notable Quotes (1)

I would like to make a motion for a slate of officers as follows Katie Schwarz as chair Simi pnic as Vice chair Melinda does as Clerk and myself as Treasurer

Election of School Board Officers for 2025

Ordinances & Resolutions (15)

Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness and AI Achievement and Integration PlansPlan

District plans guiding progress towards educational goals, including math.

MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment)Other

State-mandated criteria-referenced assessment used for K-12 math performance measurement.

MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) / NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association)Other

Adaptive assessment used for K-8 math performance measurement, nationally normed.

PreACTOther

Performance assessment for 10th-grade students.

ACT (American College Testing)Other

Standardized test for college admissions, with a rigorous math portion, benchmarked at 11th grade.

BridgesOther

Core math resource adopted by the district for elementary (K-5) instruction.

DreamBoxOther

Supplemental digital-based math resource for personalized learning, intervention, and enrichment.

2022 Math Standards (Minnesota)Other

Recently adopted state math standards influencing the district's curriculum review and resource adoption process, emphasizing rigor and real-world application.

Math 180Other

Intervention program being piloted in middle schools to adapt to students' math needs.

Audit for 2023-24 Fiscal YearOther

Annual financial review of the district's financial statements.

Certificate of Excellence programOther

Award program for financial reporting excellence, which the district applies for annually.

Policy 101 Legal Status of the School BoardPolicy

Proposed update to legal references for the school board's legal status.

Policy 101.1 Name of the School DistrictPolicy

Proposed update to add 'SoWashCo' as an officially recognized name for the district.

Policy 102 Equal Opportunity EducationPolicy

Proposed update to include additional language based on MSBA model policy and state statute.

Policy 103 Complaints Students Employees Parents Other PersonsPolicy

Proposed update to one cross-reference within the complaints policy.

Source document

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Other Topics from This Document

  • K-12 Math Teaching and Learning Report

  • Annual Financial Audit (2023-24 Fiscal Year)

  • Proposed Policy Changes (First Reading)

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