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February 6, 2025 Workshop Meeting

February 6, 2025 Workshop Meeting

2 hours, 27 minutes

Agenda and Minutes

1.0 Call to Order; Roll Call: Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a meeting of the School Board of Independent School District 833, South Washington County, was held on Thursday, February 6, 2025. The meeting was called to order by Chair Katie Schwartz, at 6:00pm at the District Service Center, 7362 East Point Douglas Road South, Cottage Grove, MN 55016. School Board Members present: Ryan Clarke, Melinda Dols, Simi Patnaik, Katie Schwartz and Eric Tessmer. Sharon Van Leer was absent. Superintendent Nielsen was present.

 

2.0 Pledge of Allegiance

 

3.0 Approval of Agenda: It was moved by Simi Patnaik, seconded by Ryan Clarke to approve the agenda. All in favor, none opposed, motion carried.

 

4.0 Workshop Items

4.1 Construction Update, Woodbury High School

Kelly Jansen, Assistant Superintendent

PPT

Sal Bagley and Paul Apilkowski from WOLD Architects and Engineers presented the updates and shared plans.

 

4.2 Spanish Immersion Program Review

Tyrone Brookins, Assistant Superintendent

PPT

Sandy Saucedo-Falagan, Principal at Nuevas Fronteras, Kari Lopez, Principal at Woodbury Middle School, Sarah Sorenson-Wagner, Principal at Woodbury High School shared the programming at their buildings. Mao Thao Jacobson, Director of Program Evaluation, Research & Assessment shared what program evaluation is and how they have reviewed the Spanish Immersion Program.

 

4.3 Discussion of School Board Vacancy

Katie Schwartz, School Board Chair

Board members agreed to follow the current procedure and appoint a previous school board member who served within the past four years, qualifies and is interested. Chair Schwartz learned Louise Hinz is interested and qualifies. There will be an action item to approve appointing Louise Hinz at the February 20, 2025 board meeting.

 

5.0 Information Items

5.1 Financial Update

Kris Blackburn, Director of Business Services

PPT

She shared the purpose of a budget and what they consider.

 

5.2  First Reading of Proposed Policy Changes

Julie Nielsen, Superintendent

410     413     414     415     506     

514     525.1    616    623    806   

These policies will return for approval on February 20, 2025. There was no request for public comment on policies.

 

6.0 Reports and Comments: Superintendent Nielsen shared information on the SEC Music Festival. Enrollment reviews with staffing reviews are happening in February. Kindergarten students are reaching their 100th days. Simi encouraged people to attend the Native Story Telling event on February 13th and the WHS Black Student Union Event on February 27th. Both events are from 6:00-8:00pm.

Melinda Dols wrote the following:

-916 hosted tours of Setting IV programs this past month for member district teachers to provide the opportunity to build better awareness of services and programming.

-916 is implementing changes based on recommendations from member districts to reduce wait lists and address challenges regarding the special education labor market. 

-WELS N and Project Return programs will move to Quora. This creates a complete continuum transition program in one location and allows Project Return students better access to programming and services. It also creates more effective management of intakes for secondary DCD/ASD referrals.

 

7.0 Future Meeting Dates:

February 20, 2025 – School Board Business Meeting (DSC/6:00 p.m.)

March 6, 2025 - School Board Workshop Meeting (DSC/6:00 p.m.)

 

8.0 Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:27pm.