Official School Board Minutes

Regular Meeting of the School Board
March 16, 2021

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Independent School District 270 was conducted virtually on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

School Board members present online: Treasurer Steve Adams, Director Fartun Ahmed, Clerk Shannon Andreson, Chair Jennifer Bouchard, Director Tanya Khan, Director John Kuhl and Director Katie Pederson.
School Board members absent: None

Student Board reps present: Keymora Searles (10), Parker Chelikowsky (11) and Eliott Berman (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. Bouchard noted that no Open Agenda comments were submitted.

Reports:

Student Board Representatives:

Chelikowsky and Berman, updated Board members on events/activities taking place at Hopkins High School, highlighting the successes of athletics and the count down to the end of the year for seniors.

Superintendent:

Mhiripiri-Reed updated board members on Hopkins’ five days a week return-to-school, the closing of the 6-week task forces, Minnesota legislative advocacy and COVID-19 items pertaining to staff.

Approval of Agenda:

Adams moved, Kuhl seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Ahmed, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those opposed: None. Carried.

Consent Calendar:

Andreson moved, Adams seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented: A) Approval of Minutes — Regular Meeting Conducted on March 2, 2021 and Executive Meeting Conducted on March 2, 2021; B) Human Resources — Personnel Updates; C) Policies in Second Reading [801, 806]; D) Acceptance of Contract — Expansion of WiFi Systems to Include Outdoor Learning Environments; E) Acceptance of Contract — New Network Firewall and Associated Services; F) Acceptance of Contract — Central Procurement and Purchasing System.

Treasurer’s Report:

Treasurer Adams highlighted expenses of interest. Adams moved, Pederson seconded, to approve financial disbursements in the amount of $2,298,528.14 for the period of February 23, 2021 through March 8, 2021. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Ahmed, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those opposed: None. Carried. Exhibit “B”.

Policies in First Reading — Policy 807*: Health and Safety, Policy 850: Pest Management, Policy 903: Visitors to School District Buildings and Community Relations

Vice Chair Andreson updated the board on a couple upcoming policies surrounding equity and inclusion policies based on communications with scholars and community members. Lightfoot reviewed each of the policies in First Reading, noting changes to policy 807 with additional clarifications for Hopkins’ Practice, a change to the responsible party for policy 850, and no recommended changes to policy 903. Andreson moved, Adams seconded to approve these policies (as noted above) in First Reading; further, the Board directs the Administration to prepare the policies for approval in Second Reading at the next meeting (as part of the Consent Calendar). Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Ahmed, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those opposed: None. Carried.

Board Member Reports:

Board members reported on recent educational activities/events in which they have participated. Chair Bouchard closed the meeting with a statement of solidarity on behalf of Hopkins Board of Education with LGBTQ+, Asian and Asian-American, and BIPOC scholars, families, staff, and community members. Andreson moved, Adams seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 p.m. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Ahmed, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those opposed: None. Carried

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Kathrine Pederson, School Board Clerk