CompletedRegular School Board Meeting: January 28, 2025

Regular School Board Meeting: January 28, 2025

Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 2:15 AMActual: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 2:15 AM

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Published Wednesday, January 29, 2025

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[0:03] good evening thank you for joining us today um this is the I'd like to call to [0:09] order the January 28th uh regular meeting for ISD [0:14] 622 uh first up is the Pledge of [0:26] Allegiance stands [0:38] indis all right first we have to uh approve the agenda um could I get a motion in a second to approve the agenda [0:46] move to approve second okay uh moved by sore [0:51] seconded by Livingston um any discussion before we um [0:58] vote all right um all in favor say I I and then all oppose say [1:04] n all right thank you um next up we have public comment um this is an opportunity [1:10] for the public to comment on items speakers shall register by completing the public comment signup sheet State [1:16] their name and we'll have between two and four minutes depending on the number of speakers to speak on a topic um the [1:23] public comment section of the meeting shall last no longer than 30 minutes um we do have two speakers tonight um um [1:30] two public comment speakers um the first one is um Justin [1:36] Mida thank you all thanks for having me uh or letting me speak here and congratulations to everybody in your [1:42] recent Victory election I uh I ran alongside with you guys um because I had [1:48] a feeling that the administration that just uh W election was going to actually um win and if they did I had another [1:55] feeling that um it's going to be a huge undertaking on some of the things that are going on with the school district so [2:01] I want to let you all know that I'm actually here to help I don't want to take a side on on agreement or not [2:07] agreement but I'm here to kind of let you guys know I've done a lot of research last week because I wanted to [2:13] bring this to the table um is how the executive order uh Trump's new executive [2:18] order of ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity um it's going to be a huge [2:25] undertaking for this district and districts across the state as we know Dei is pretty much embedded in [2:30] everything it's in the language it's in programs um and really I don't think [2:36] it's going to be a threat to the district as far as the state goes but we're going to be looking at some federal funding problems so what I am [2:44] here today is I I would like to be part of a study group I think that I would recommend that the board does set up a [2:49] study group on this issue it sounds like the attorney general and the secretary of education is going to have about 120 [2:57] days to provide guidance so there's not a lot anyone's going to really want to do until the guidance starts coming out [3:05] but there are some things we can do in the meantime we can start looking at maybe some of the federal programs that [3:10] have this language and maybe try to change language I know we we do that [3:17] sometimes but mainly just make sure that if it's a federal funded program and it has some language in there maybe we can [3:25] change it to make it a differe…

Stories from this meeting (2)

No minutes document found yet. Refresh ingestion to check for newly published minutes, or analyze the agenda packet alone.

School board approves $28,869 in community donations

Cell Phone and Technology Use Policies in Schools

High School Strategic Plan Implementation and School Highlights

FY26 Budget and Staffing Process Update

Student Life and Achievements

Full Document Analysis

Votes (2)

Acknowledgement of Contributions

Approved (All in favor)

Dissent: None

Moved by Nardi [1:47:27] · Seconded by Anderson [1:47:27]

The Director of Finance presented a list of monetary and in-kind contributions received by the district. The donations for fiscal year 2024-2025 totaled $28,869 and included items like snow pants, funds for specific school programs (show choir), teacher dinners, and community support programs (Meals on Wheels). The resolution sought formal acceptance and permission for use as designated by the donors.

Allocation of Restrictive Construction Funds for the Expansion and Renovation of Cowern Elementary School

Pending (Discussion ongoing at transcript end)

Dissent: None recorded at transcript end

Moved by Pending · Seconded by Pending

The Director of Operations presented a proposal to allocate residual restricted construction funds from a 2019 voter-approved bond, along with project savings and investment interest, for a significant addition and renovation at Cowern Elementary. The estimated project cost is up to $24.6 million from existing school building bonds and up to $16.5 million from future long-term facilities maintenance funds. Cowern was selected due to its capacity for expansion, its proximity to Richardson and Castle (balancing dual language program enrollment), and the efficiency gains from converting it to a four-section school with approximately 600 students. The renovation will also address critical infrastructure needs. The conceptual plan includes a two-story addition, parking expansion, playground relocation, and kitchen expansion, with construction slated from Summer 2025 to 2027.

Notable Quotes (3)

we have a fund balance to spend on our restricted construction funds so utilization of these restricted funds can really not be used to cover any general fund shortages or general fund expenses they have to be used on construction

Sarah Gat [1:49:44]
Allocation of Restrictive Construction Funds for the Expansion and Renovation of Cowern Elementary School

the recommendation really is to look at cin and do an addition and renovation at cin for the following reason one it can handle in addition to its building the site allows that and with that also comes parking expansions as well... it is situation situated with boundaries adjacent to Richardson and to Castle we have booming and very successful dual language emerging programs at those sites and in addition at cin would also help and balance the enrollment between those three schools

Sarah Gat [1:50:50]
Allocation of Restrictive Construction Funds for the Expansion and Renovation of Cowern Elementary School

efficiency so right now cin and Weaver as well are three section schools which means they're planned to carry three class uh rooms of each grade level um what we found in is really there are smallest schools in cin is our smallest school that by operating even a four section school with an approximate 600 student design capacity is more efficient in Staffing in resources and even operating the building and transportation overall

Sarah Gat [1:51:33]
Allocation of Restrictive Construction Funds for the Expansion and Renovation of Cowern Elementary School

Ordinances & Resolutions (8)

January 28th Regular MeetingOther

The specific meeting being transcribed.

Executive Order Trump's new executive order of ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunityExecutive Order

A federal executive order discussed by a public commenter regarding its potential impact on DEI programs and funding.

Strategic PlanPlan

The district's overarching plan guiding the work presented by high school principals, focusing on academic achievement, equity, inclusion, and social-emotional learning.

EdmentumOther

Digital curriculum platform used by the 622 Online Program and Alternative High School.

Ready for Tomorrow Voting Our Building Bond PlanPlan

A voter-approved bond plan from 2019 that funded various construction projects across the district, with remaining funds allocated to new projects.

Master Plan update (2023)Plan

An update that allocated fund savings to Webster and Harmony Renovations.

Minnesota Statute 123B.02Statute

Permits school boards to receive and apply donations or gifts for the benefit of the district and pupils.

FY26 BudgetOther

The budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026, which is currently in the planning and assumption-setting phase.

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