Official School Board Minutes

Regular Meeting of the School Board
January 4, 2022

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Independent School District 270 was conducted in person on Tuesday January 4, 2022. The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. School Board members present: Treasurer Steve Adams, Vice Chair Andreson Chair Jennifer Bouchard, Director Tanya Khan, Clerk Katie Pederson and incoming Directors Rachel Hartland and Jason Ross. School Board members absent: None.

Student Board reps present: Student Board reps present: Oscar Wolfe (11). Student Board reps absent: None.

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

Open Agenda  

Bouchard noted that no Open Agenda comments for items on the agenda were submitted. She went on to thank and highlight the work of departing Board Members, Fartun Ahmed and John Kuhl.

Reports

Student Board Representative

School Board Representative: Wolfe shared student perspectives surrounding the on-going pandemic.

Superintendent

Mhiripiri-Reed highlighted Hopkins Public School Nurses and touched on updated COVID-19 mitigation measures and expectations.

Approval of Agenda

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

Consent Calendar

Pederson moved, Adams seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented: A) Approval of Minutes — Regular Meeting Conducted on December 14, 2021; B) Human Resources — Personnel Updates; C) Acceptance of Gifts: June 2021 - December 2021); D) Hopkins High School Synthetic Turf Rehabilitation; E) Contract Updates for Non-Affiliated and Confidential Clerical Employees. Carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Adams highlighted expenses of interest. Adams moved, Pederson seconded, to approve financial disbursements in the amount of $4,324,931.92 for the period of December 8, 2021 through December 28, 2021. Carried.

Administering Oath of Office

The School Board election was held on November 2, 2021, to fill the expiring terms of Jennifer Bouchard, John Kuhl and Fartun Ahmed. Kuhl and Ahmed chose not to seek re-election. The Honorable Judge Carruthers, Judicial Officer for Hennepin County-Fourth Judicial District, administered the oath of office to newly elected/re-elected Board members, incumbent Jennifer Bouchard, Rachel Hartland and Jason Ross.

Board Officers & Committee Assignments, 2022

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

• Andreson nominated Jennifer Bouchard for Chair.

• Bouchard nominated Shannon Andreson for Vice Chair.

• Khan nominated Steve Adams for Treasurer.

• Adams nominated Katie Pederson for Board Clerk.

The Board voted unanimously to name Jen Bouchard as Chair;  Shannon Andreson as Vice Chair; Steve Adams as Treasurer; and Katie Pederson as Board Clerk. Carried.

Andreson moved, Adams seconded to accept the proposed Board member(s) to serve as representative(s) to organizations and committees for 2022. Carried. 

2022 Board Committee Assignments

Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD)	Steve Adams Jason Ross - alternate
Intermediate District 287 — 2 year term	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)	TBD
Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC)	Steve Adams Katie Pederson
Community Education Advisory Committee (CEAC)	Tanya Khan Rachel Hartland - alternate
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)	Steve Adams Shannon Andreson Katie Pederson
Legislative Action Coalition (LAC)	Shannon Andreson Rachel Hartland Steve Adams
Visioning and Strategic Planning	Tanya Khan Jen Bouchard Rachel Hartland
Student Board Representatives	Tanya Khan Katie Pederson - alternate
Human Resources Board Committee	Jen Bouchard Shannon Andreson Steve Adams
Safety & Security	Shannon Andreson Jason Ross - alternate

 

Hopkins Public Schools COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing Policy

At the Board Workshop held on November 23, 2021, Assistant Superintendent Nik Lightfoot, presented the preliminary Hopkins Public Schools COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Policy. On Friday December 17, 2021, the Ohio review of OSHA's vaccination mandate upheld OSHA's ability to direct employers to comply with the regulations. Beginning February 9, 2022, Hopkins Public Schools will implement the COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing Policy that will require employees to disclose proof of vaccination or present weekly negative tests. Andreson moved, Adams seconded that the Board conditionally approves the proposed Hopkins Public Schools COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Policy. Carried.

Resolution Calling Executive Session: Hopkins Education Association (HEA) Negotiations - Update

Adams moved, Andreson seconded to approve the resolution calling executive session to discuss negotiations strategy related to the HEA contract for the 2021-22 & 2022-23 school years. Those voting in favor there of: Treasurer Adams, Vice Chair Anderson, Director Hartland, Director Khan, Clerk Pederson, Director Ross, and Chair Bouchard. Carried.

Board Member Reports

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

Public Comment — Items Not on Agenda

Bouchard noted that no Open Agenda comments for items not on the agenda were submitted. Adams moved, Adams seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 7:57 p.m. Carried.

 

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Katie Pederson, School Board Clerk