StorySchool board approves major construction projects and reviews cell phone policy feedbackJanuary 22, 2025

Stillwater School Board Approves Construction Bids, Discusses Cell Phone Policy

Meeting date: Jan 22, 2025

Published Aug 5, 2025

The Stillwater Area Public Schools board approved multiple construction projects totaling over $3 million and received extensive community feedback on proposed cell phone policies during its January 21 meeting.

The board unanimously approved construction bids for Lake Elmo Elementary School totaling $4.95 million, along with high school improvements including a $375,500 track resurfacing project and a $564,600 press box replacement. The Lake Elmo project represents 38 work scopes for the new elementary school scheduled to open in fall 2026.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on cell phone policy feedback, with nearly 4,000 community members responding to surveys. Assistant Superintendent Karissa presented findings showing 89% of students bring cell phones to school daily, with most community input supporting bell-to-bell restrictions during school hours. The board must establish a policy by March 15 to comply with state requirements.

The board also approved its 2025 legislative agenda, which emphasizes fully funding state mandates or repealing unfunded requirements. Superintendent Mike Funk highlighted concerns about Governor Walz's proposed budget, including potential elimination of Q Comp funding and reduced transportation aid for special education and nonpublic students.

The meeting began with recognition of Parent Teacher Association and Parent Teacher Organization volunteers from across the district. Board members praised the organizations as "the heart and soul of our school buildings" for their fundraising, advocacy and community-building efforts.

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School board approves $54 million in construction and facility projects
Recognition of PTAs and PTOsJun 23, 2026

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Votes (7)

Resolution Directing District Administration to Make Budget Reductions

7-0 Approved

Dissent: None

Moved by Chair Sherman [30:47] · Seconded by Director Thelander [30:53]

Superintendent Funk explained that this is an annual procedural resolution authorizing the administration to prepare for potential budget adjustments due to uncertainty in state legislative funding. The board praised the process for its transparency and proactive approach to budget management, acknowledging the need for fiscal responsibility given the district's fund balance. A minor date correction was noted on the document.

Lake Elmo Elementary Construction Package Bids

7-0 Approved

Dissent: None

Moved by Chair Sherman [34:37] · Seconded by Director Kelzenberg [34:42]

Mark presented the bid package for the new Lake Elmo Elementary School, noting that 39 work scopes were opened, totaling $49,515,930. He detailed the 'best value' bidding process, explaining that it involves in-depth interviews with the top three bidders for critical scopes, scoring them on price (50%) and other factors like experience, project team, and value engineering. This thorough process aims to ensure quality and adherence to budget and timeline for the Fall 2026 opening.

LTFM Project: High School Athletic Track Rehabilitation

7-0 Approved

Dissent: None

Mark presented the Long-Term Facility Maintenance (LTFM) project for the Pony Stadium track. The project involves a full replacement of the 20-year-old track surface and the underlying concrete, costing $1,375,500. It is funded through LTFM and is scheduled to begin on June 16th, immediately after the track season. The new track will maintain the traditional black color and quality, with all markings updated to meet Minnesota High School League standards.

LTFM Project: High School Press Box Replacement

7-0 Approved

Dissent: None

Moved by Director Thelander [46:14] · Seconded by Director Sarah [46:21]

Mark presented another LTFM project for the replacement of the Pony Stadium Press Box, which is over 20 years old. The project, costing $564,610, will replace the existing structure like-for-like, fitting the current foundation, and includes electrical rewiring and an upgrade to the sound system. Superintendent Funk added that a sound study would be conducted to ensure improved and more concentrated sound quality throughout the stadium.

High School Main Entry Addition and Interior Renovations

7-0 Approved

Dissent: None

Moved by Director Thelander [51:20] · Seconded by Pete [51:26]

Mark presented a combined Bond and LTFM project for the high school. The bond-funded component includes an 8,100 square foot main entry addition to improve traffic flow and safety. LTFM-funded renovations include special education classroom replacements, media center workroom updates, a new Clay Art Kiln with venting, and kitchen floor replacement in the pony market. The total cost is $2,436,154. The project will start during spring break to be completed before the next school year, allowing for a fresh start. Superintendent Funk highlighted the long-awaited replacement of the main Kiln.

Cell Phone Policy Feedback and Discussion

No Vote Taken

Dissent: While no formal vote, the student representative conveyed significant 'push back' from students for a stricter policy. Director Lower expressed a desire for teaching digital citizenship, but acknowledged the difficulty of control, leaning towards a 'bell-to-bell' approach. Most board members expressed interest in exploring a bell-to-bell approach for the policy committee to draft.

Crissa presented a comprehensive overview of feedback from students, staff, and the community regarding personal device use in schools. The data, collected through surveys and a thought exchange, revealed key concerns including student mental health, classroom distraction, emergency communication, and the need for consistent policy enforcement. While students expressed a desire for more self-control and access, staff and community adults showed serious concerns about the negative impacts. The board discussed various approaches, with a leaning towards exploring a 'bell-to-bell' phone-free policy to foster a more positive school culture and reduce staff burden, while acknowledging the need to address parent concerns about emergency communication and liability.

2025 Legislative Priorities Approval

7-0 Approved

Dissent: None

Moved by Unknown [1:48:53] · Seconded by Director Lower [1:48:57]

The board discussed and approved the district's 2025 legislative agenda. Members expressed satisfaction with the document's new formatting, particularly the appreciative introduction to legislators and the clear articulation of district priorities. The key message emphasized was the need for the state to fully fund mandated programs or repeal unfunded mandates, seen as a 'very serious and very direct' message given the district's and other districts' fund balance challenges.

Notable Quotes (15)

we asked the board to pass resolution similar to this because we don't know what the legislature is going to do all right so um um we have to be able to prepare ourselves as a school district for potential options
— Superintendent Funk [29:24]

Resolution Directing District Administration to Make Budget Reductions

I appreciate this process it's not a form that we have filled out in the past but I have appreciated the budget priority conversations that we have we all know that we're Below on our fund balance and so when we allocate a budget it is the board is um trusting in the delegation of authority to the superintendent to manage to that budget because there's not a lot of room in one 1.1% to go down
— Chair Sherman [31:12]

Resolution Directing District Administration to Make Budget Reductions

in a normal bids if we just take the the bidder um our construction manager will have a conversation with each of the um low biders to talk about here's the the specs that are Bid out to make sure from a material standpoint from a Time standpoint that they have everything covered within the bids when we look at Best Value we take those conversations deeper
— Mark [35:09]

Ordinances & Resolutions (8)

Resolution directing District administration to make budget reductionsResolution

An annual procedural resolution authorizing the administration to plan for budget adjustments based on legislative funding outcomes.

Lake Elmo Elementary construction packageOther

Bid package for 39 work scopes related to the construction of the new Lake Elmo Elementary School.

Athletic track rehabilitationOther

Long-Term Facility Maintenance (LTFM) project for replacing the track surface and concrete at Pony Stadium.

High School Press Box replacementOther

Long-Term Facility Maintenance (LTFM) project for replacing the Press Box and upgrading the sound system at Pony Stadium.

High School entry addition and renovation bid packageOther

Combined bond-funded addition of 8,100 sq ft main entry and LTFM-funded interior renovations in special education, media center, and kitchen areas.

THE NEWPORT RECORDER

Stillwater School Board Approves Construction Bids, Discusses Cell Phone Policy

Go deeper on this topic

Other Topics from This Document

Recognition of PTAs and PTOs

Public Comment on School Bullying and Identity Politics

Student Report

Superintendent's Legislative Update

Resolution Directing District Administration to Make Budget Reductions

Lake Elmo Elementary School Construction Bids

High School Athletic Track Rehabilitation

High School Press Box Replacement

High School Main Entry Addition and Interior Renovations

Cell Phone Policy Feedback and Discussion

2025 Legislative Priorities Approval

Also from this meeting

School board approves $54 million in construction and facility projects

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Votes (7)

Notable Quotes (15)

Ordinances & Resolutions (8)

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