Board Minutes—Regular Meeting 05/10/22

2021-2022
Regular Meeting

Official School Board Minutes

Regular Meeting of the School Board
May 10, 2022

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Independent School District 270 was conducted in person on Tuesday May 10, 2022. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

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

Student Board reps present: Imani Kerre-Mongi (12). Student Board reps absent: None.

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

Open Agenda

Bouchard explained that Open Agenda is facilitated through a designated voicemail box for recorded messages to be played at the meeting.

Reports

Scholar Board Representatives

Scholar Board Representative Kerre-Mongi noted special events at the High School.

Scholar Board Representatives

Superintendent Mhiripiri-Reed highlighted the numerous events that took place at Hopkins over the past couple weeks.

Approval of Agenda

Hartland moved; Adams seconded; to approve the agenda as presented. Carried.

Consent Calendar

Pederson moved; Khan seconded; to approve the Consent Calendar as presented: A) Approval of Minutes — Regular Meeting Conducted on May 10, 2022; B) Human Resources — Personnel Updates; C) Policies in Second Read [532 & 550]; D) Tentative Agreement with Hopkins Association of School Administrators (HASA); E) Meadowbrook Elementary School Parking Lot Improvements — Bid; F) Ubah Medical Academy Amendment. Carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Adams highlighted expenses of interest. Adams moved; Pederson seconded; to approve financial disbursements in the amount of $4,479,209.46 for the period of April 12, 2022 through May 3, 2022. Carried.

Policies in First Read

Resolution: Temporary Modification of Graduation Requirements Board of Education Resolution

956: Relations With Law Enforcement Authorities

Vice Chair Andreson noted that due to pandemic implications and disruptions, scholar graduation pipelines have been significantly impacted. Therefore, the administration agreed that the resolution for Temporary Modification of Graduation Requirements be implemented again for the 2021-22 school year.

Andreson stated that modifications for policy 956: Relations With Law Enforcement Authorities, were guided by state statutes allowing scholars the ability to also request legal representation and counsel. Assistant Superintendent Lightfoot noted minor grammatical changes to policy including the change from “police officer” to “peace officer”.

Khan moved; Adams seconded; that the Board approves the above policy in First Read; further, the Board directs the Administration to prepare the policies (with suggested revisions) for approval in Second Reading at the next meeting (as part of Consent). Carried.

Policy Committee — Racial Equity Update

At the workshop earlier today, Vice Chair Andreson, Assistant Superintendent Lightfoot and the Monitoring Committee presented the newly developed Racial Equity Policy. Andreson noted that generation of this policy was guided from surrounding schools, Hopkins Scholars & Staff, and Hopkins community members. Chair Bouchard highlighted the importance of the formatting, accountability aspects and the ability for scholars to complete a form for reporting racial misconduct that will be embedded into the policy.

Board members discussed the policy and the practicality of annual external accountability noting the financial implications this may bring. Andreson edited the policy in real-time.

Andreson moved; Pederson seconded; that the Board approves the above policy in First Read; further, the Board directs the Administration to prepare the policies (with suggested revisions) for approval in Second Reading at the next meeting (as part of Consent). Carried.

Staffing Resolutions

Dr. Lightfoot presented three (3) resolutions as part of the annually staffing resolution set.

The first resolution is the termination and non-renewal of temporary teacher contracts. Persons hired on temporary contracts are replacing staff members on leave of absence from the school district.

Adams moved; Hartland seconded; to adopt the resolution of termination and non-renewal of temporary teacher contracts. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Andreson, Bouchard, Hartland, Khan, Pederson, and Ross. Those opposed: None. Carried.

The second resolution is the termination and non-renewal of probationary teacher contracts. The administration is recommending the termination of the named probationary teachers because of financial limitations, reorganization, decline in student sectioning, the desire to consider other potential candidates, or other such reasons.

Adams moved; Pederson seconded; to adopt the resolution of termination and non-renewal of temporary teacher contracts. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Andreson, Bouchard, Hartland, Khan, Pederson, and Ross. Those opposed: None. Carried.

The third resolution is the proposed termination of continuing teacher contracts and placement on unrequested leave of absence. The administration is recommending the termination of the named tenured teachers and placement on unrequested leave of absence because of financial limitations, reorganization, decline in student sectioning, and other such reasons.

Hartland moved; Adams seconded; to adopt the resolution of proposed termination of continuing teacher contracts and placement on unrequested leave of absence. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Andreson, Bouchard, Hartland, Khan, Pederson, and Ross. Those opposed: None. Carried.