Regular Meeting of the School Board

October 21, 2025

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Independent School District 270 was conducted in-person and streamed virtually, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. 

School Board members present: Chair Shannon Andreson, Treasurer Rachel Hartland, Director Brooke Roper, Vice Chair Jason Ross, Clerk Kaj Thompson, and Director Jen Westmoreland.

School Board members absent: Director Zhiming Zhao.

Student Board reps present: Claire Fisher (12) Manuel Wahyu (12), Iris Moore (10), Sufyan Osman (10), Adina Togal (9), and Hafsa Baazaoui (9).

Staff members present: Superintendent Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed. 

Staff members absent: None.

Open Agenda — Public Comments

No public comments were presented.

Reports

Student Board Representatives: Fisher Wahyu, Moore, Osman, Togal, and Baazaoui updated the Board on recent events at Hopkins High School. 

Superintendent: Mhiripiri-Reed spoke about events and highlights from the past few weeks.

Election Items

Westmoreland moved; Roper seconded; to add Notice of General Election, Notice of Location where Ballots will be Counted, and Notice of a Public Accuracy Test to the agenda. Carried.

Approval of Agenda 

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

Consent Calendar 

Westmoreland moved; Roper seconded; to approve the Consent Calendar as presented: A) Approval of Minutes — Regular Meeting Conducted on September 09, 2025; B) Approval of Minutes — Organizational Meeting Conducted on September 09, 2025; C) Approval of Minutes — Special Meeting Conducted on September 25, 2025; D) Approval of Minutes — Special Meeting Conducted on October 08, 2025; E) Human Resources — Personnel Updates; F) Policies in Second Read; G) Activities and Athletics Handbook Update; H) Approval of School Board Goals; I) Approval of Superintendent Goals. Carried.

Treasurer’s Report 

Hartland moved; Westmoreland seconded; to approve financial disbursements in the amount of $4,491,948.13 for the period of August 16, 2025 through September 30, 2025. Carried. 

Transportation Update

Nyisha Williams, Assistant Director of Transportation shared an update on our Transportation department and the changes and improvements that have been made.

Board members discussed the presentation. No action was taken.

Policies in First Read

Hopkins 202

MSBA 202

Hopkins 203

MSBA 203

Hopkins 203.1

MSBA 203.1

Hopkins 414

MSBA 414

Hopkins 524

MSBA 524

Hopkins 524.1

Vice Chair Ross and Assistant Superintendent Lightfoot provided background on the presented policies. 

Westmoreland moved; and Roper seconded; that the Board approves the above policies 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.

Election Notices 

Westmoreland moved; Roper seconded; to approve Notice of General Election, Notice of Location where Ballots will be Counted, and Notice of a Public Accuracy Test. Carried.

Resolution Calling Executive Session

Westmoreland moved; Hartland seconded; that the Board approves the following resolution:

It is hereby resolved that the School Board of Independent School District 270, Hopkins, Minnesota, meet in Executive Session to conduct the HEA contract for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years; that the meeting be held in-person, and commence immediately following adjournment of this Regular Meeting; further, that it be noted that all Board Members, Superintendent, and Clerk were duly notified of intention to call this Executive Session.

Carried.

Board Member Reports

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

Public Comment - Overflow 

No public comments were presented.

Adjournment

Westmoreland moved; Roper seconded; to adjourn the closed session at 11:04 p.m. Carried. 

Hartland moved; Westmoreland seconded; to adjourn the meeting at 11:05 p.m. Carried.

 

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Kaj Thompson, School Board Clerk