Official School Board Minutes

Regular Meeting of the School Board
April 27, 2021

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Independent School District 270 was conducted virtually on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Rescheduled from Tuesday, April 20, 2021. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.

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

Student Board reps present: Isabella McCoy (10) and Elliot Bermen (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 as well as by comment card if attending the meeting in person.

• Community Members: Ben Karls and Ellie Kretz left voicemails while Jennifer Cameron and Sam Black addressed the board in person. All comments surrounded the recent conversations on changes to the current Talent Development Models at Hopkins Elementary Schools.

Reports

Student Board Representatives

Isabella McCoy (10) and Elliot Berman (12) updated the board on recent events surrounding clubs and activities at Hopkins noting the moment of silence held by scholars at their Monday, April 19th organized walk out.

Superintendent

Dr. Mhiripiri-Reed made a statement of appreciation to the staff and scholars of Hopkins Schools. She mentioned conversations of empathy with school leaders and extending thoughts to fellow community members in the Robbinsdale School District, specifically those at Plymouth Middle School.

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 April 6, 2021; B) Human Resources — Personnel Updates; C) Policies in Second Reading [956]; D) Designation of Tariro Chapinduka, Director of Business Services, as Identified Official with Authority for the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) External User Access Recertification System — 2021-22; E) Hennepin County Contract Renewal — GED Proctoring; F) Transportation Contract; G) Resolution Designating Hopkins City Hall as Absentee Ballot precinct, Hopkins Ballot Board as ISD 270 Ballot Board, And Hopkins City Clerk as Designated Co-election Official. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Ahmed, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those opposed: None. Carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Adams highlighted expenses of interest. Adams moved and Pederson seconded, to approve the financial disbursements in the amount of $2,551,054.76 for the period of March 30, 2021 through April 12, 2021. Exhibit “B”. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Ahmed, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those opposed: None. Carried.

Policies in First Reading — Policy 102: Equal Education Opportunity & Policy: Gender Inclusion

Assistant Superintendent, Lightfoot reviewed policy 102 in First Reading, noting minor changes. Following its presentation and discussion at the 5:00 pm Workshop, Lightfoot provided additional changes to the Gender Inclusion policy.

Vice Chair Andreson noted the work of scholars, community members, student advisors and board members that has gone into the implementation of the Gender Inclusion policy over the course of two years.

Khan moved, Adams seconded to approve policies 102 and Gender Inclusion 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 Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Ahmed, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those opposed: None. Carried.

Resolutions Specifying Personnel to be Terminated or Placed on Unrequested Leave

Lightfoot provided background on the processes leading up to the three presented resolutions.

• 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.

Lightfoot explained that these contracts are related to short-term periods of medical or personal leaves of absence.

Andreson moved, Pederson seconded to adopt the Resolution for the Termination of and Nonrenewal of Temporary Teacher Contracts. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Ahmed, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. 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, possible performance issues or other such reasons.

Lightfoot, with the assistance of Superintendent Mhiripiri-Reed and Director Chapinduka introduced and clarified board member questions on the second resolution regarding contract years of service, budget platforms and the predictable staffing model and how they aid in this process.

Adams moved, Khan seconded to adopt the Resolution for the Termination of and Nonrenewal of Probationary Teacher Contracts. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Ahmed, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those opposed: None. Carried.

• The third resolution is the placement on unrequested leave of absence. The Administration is recommending the placement on unrequested leave of absence because of financial limitations, reorganization, decline in student sectioning, and other such reasons.

Lightfoot introduced the third and final resolution explaining its need based on available funding. Noting that after today’s resolutions are passed the final action placing staff on unrestricted leave will be presented to the board on May 18th.

Adams moved, Kuhl seconded to adopt the Resolution Proposed Placement on Unrequested Leave of Absence. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Ahmed, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those opposed: None. Carried.

Transportation Update

Dr. Mhiripiri-Reed provided background information on the Transportation Update presented at the 5:00PM workshop. Director Chapinduka introduced Paul Spakousky, CEO and Owner of Lake Country Transportation. He went on to discuss Hopkins’ intentions to contract with Lake Country Transportation as our main provider of transportation services. Accompanied by Derrick Agate, Director of Hopkins Transportation, Chris Boyce, Purchasing and Procurement Coordinator and Ryan Kleinjan from Catalyst (a longtime consulting firm for Hopkins), Chapinduka highlighted the benefits of working with Paul and his team mentioning the contracts better pay rates, its plan to provide brand new busses, its enhanced technologies and user friendly tools. Kuhl moved, Pederson seconded, to approve the Primary Student Transportation Agreement between Independent School District 270 and Lake Country Transportation. 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.

Incidental Reports

Andreson moved, Adams seconded, to approve the Off-Campus Pavilion Program Update incidental report. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those unable to vote: Ahmed. Those opposed: None. Carried.

Andreson moved, Pederson seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m. Those voting in favor thereof: Adams, Andreson, Khan, Kuhl, Pederson, and Bouchard. Those unable to vote: Ahmed. Those opposed: None. Carried.

 

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Kathrine Pederson, School Board Clerk