Official School Board Minutes

Regular Meeting of the School Board
January 10, 2023

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Independent School District 270 was conducted in-person and streamed virtually, on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m.

School Board members present: Treasurer Steve Adams, Vice Chair Shannon Andreson, Director Rachel Hartland, Director Tanya Khan, Director Jason Ross, Clerk Katie Pederson and Chair Jennifer Westmoreland. School Board members absent: None

Student Board reps present: Isabella McCoy (12), Oscar Wolfe (12) and Samia Osman (10). Student Board reps absent: None.

Staff members present: Superintendent Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed. Staff members absent: None.

Open Agenda — Public Comments on Agenda Items

No public comments for “items on the agenda” were presented.

Reports

Scholar Board Report

Student Board Representatives McCoy, Wolfe and Osman shared student perspectives and district events.

Superintendent Report

Superintendent Mhiripiri-Reed highlighted various events that occurred over break.

Approval of Agenda

Adams moved, Pederson seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. Carried.

Consent Calendar

Pederson moved, Ross seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented: A) Approval of Minutes — Regular Meeting Conducted on December 20, 2022; B) Human Resources — Personnel Updates; C) Policies in Second Read; D) Acceptance of Gifts — June-Dec 2022; E) Resolution Establishing Combined Polling Places (2023 Elections); F) Meadowbrook 2023 Building Envelope Improvements; G) Hopkins High School - 2023 Ventilation Improvements. Carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Adams highlighted expenses of interest. Adams moved, Khan seconded, to approve financial disbursements in the amount of $1,726,101.38 for the period of December 14, 2022 through January 5, 2023. Carried.

Resolution Authorizing The Sale Of Refunding Bonds

Jeff Seeley from Ehlers and Director Chapinduka presented details to the board related to the sale of refunding bonds, series 2023A. The purpose of this sale is for conducting a current refunding of the 2028 through 2030 maturities of the District’s $16,090,000 General Obligation Alternative Facilities Bonds, Series 2013A and the 2024 through 2026 maturities of the District’s $18,940,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2013B.

Enrollment Updates and Projections

Assistant Superintendent Lightfoot, Director Chapinduka, Assistant Director Carman and Director Goldade continued the conversation from the 5:00 p.m. workshop held prior. They gave a brief overview of the enrollment information used to inform the staffing and budgeting processes.  Included in the report will be trend information, projections, and the work our Marketing and Communications Department is doing to support our on-going enrollment campaigns and activities.

Board Officers & Committee Assignments, 2023 

Officers to be named include the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Clerk.

• Andreson nominated Jennifer Westmoreland for Chair.
• Pederson nominated Shannon Andreson for Vice Chair.
• Khan nominated Steve Adams for Treasurer.
• Pederson nominated Jason Ross for Board Clerk.

The Board voted unanimously to name Jen Westmoreland as Chair;  Shannon Andreson as Vice Chair; Steve Adams as Treasurer; and Jason Ross as Board Clerk. Carried.

Khan moved, Pederson seconded to accept the proposed Board member(s) to serve as representative(s) to organizations and committees for 2023. Carried. 

2023 Board Committee Assignments: 

Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD)	Steve Adams Jason Ross - alternate
Intermediate District 287 — 2020-21 (year 2 of 2)	Shannon Andreson Katie Pederson — alternate
Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL)	Katie Pederson
Cities/Board Steering Committee	Rachel Hartland Steve Adams
Schools and Communities in Partnership (SCIP)/ Community Education Advisory Committee (CEAC)	Shannon Andreson Tanya Khan Katie Pederson - alternate
Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC)	Steve Adams Katie Pederson
Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC)	Tanya Khan  Jason Ross — alternate
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)	Jason Ross Shannon Andreson — alternate
Monitoring Committee	Shannon Andreson Katie Pederson Jason Ross
Board Audit Committee (BAC)	Katie Pederson Steve Adams Shannon Andreson
Legislative Action Coalition (LAC)	Shannon Andreson Steve Adams Rachel Hartland
Visioning and Strategic Planning	Tanya Khan Jen Westmoreland Rachel Hartland
Student Board Representatives	Tanya Khan Katie Pederson - alternate
Human Resources Board Committee	Jen Westmoreland Shannon Andreson Steve Adams
Safety & Security Committee	Shannon Andreson Jason Ross - alternate

 

Board Member Reports

Board members reported on recent educational activities/events in which they have participated. 

Public Comment — Items Not on Agenda

Michon Ross and Chris Fields presented comments to the board. Adams moved, Pederson seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 8:56 p.m. Carried.
 

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Jason Ross, School Board Clerk