Okay, so we just approved the agenda. So, we're moving on to Excellence in Action. This month's Excellence in Action will feature Allison Knapp and fifth grade former fifth grade scholars from Concord Elementary. They're here to discuss their participation in Starbase, a no-cost STEM initiative that immerses students in interactive research and discovery to simulate life on Mars. In addition to these hands-on challenges, they've gained exposure to various science-based professional opportunities right here in Minnesota. Let's welcome Ms. Knapp and her students to the table. >> All right. Well, thank you for inviting us. I'm always happy to come and talk about the cool things that are happening in our classrooms. Um so, to begin with, a little bit of background. Um as you said, this is from a core a group called Starbase. They started out as a uh destination type of field trip where an immersion experience where you could go over 4 days um to experience the on-site tools and things they have there, but it was a very limited opportunity. It wasn't offered to a lot of districts. Um so, I I've known about this I knew about that 10 15 years ago. Uh but then about 5 years ago, I think it was Paul sent us an email saying that they had now had this on-site experience we could do that was kit-based. Everything was provided. And so, the first year and then when they offered that, it expanded it quite substantially those what this organization was able to do. And it was funded by the legislature, it was funded through corporate donations and a various other revenue streams. In fact, last year it was up for consideration to be cut and the organization reached out to the teachers who were doing it and asked if we would advocate. And so, I happily wrote an email to the folks who were sitting on that committee. Thankfully, they did renew the funding. Um but it it gave us the chance to bring it into the classroom and that first year we were kind of getting our arms around it and then they revamped it a little bit and by that second year, we really understood what the power was in what they were offering. The materials that are provided are incredible as a teacher. The background, the science background they give us, the access to all the video vignettes that they create that are actual scientists giving the instruction. And then they have Did I lose it? Is that me? >> [laughter] >> I can't I don't know what's There we go. Okay. They have each of these kits which are these orange sling bags that come with all the materials right down to a pack of markers, a little roll of Scotch tape which sounds innocuous, but as a teacher, amazing because everything is right there. And then what it also then does is that and I tell the kids this every time I introduce it every year, if you've ever been the kid in a science class who got to do the one thing in an experiment, I got to pour this in and then the next person got to this experience, they get to do everything. All the parts of the experiment are theirs. It's a student-driven inquiry. And so, they can assemble the things and stir the stuff as long as they want to. And that watching that for all these kids was amazing and continues to be every year. So. Um it starts out with exposing them to what the variety of career paths can look like in STEM. And it's all local to Minnesota, to the Twin Cities. I love that the video vignettes they have are names of companies my students see or places that they might know someone who works at. Um and it's it's a wide range of what these jobs can look like and all the different ways that STEM can touch our lives. So, I think the students all of the students are able to potentially see themselves in the people represented in these videos, in the pathways that they have chosen. Um and it just sets that plants those seeds and that the age that we teach is perfect, right before they get to middle school, right before they're expanding the horizons of of pathways of what's possible. So, that's the very first thing that the program starts with is exposing them to all of those. And then, they start to do a lot of different experiments where they're collecting data or they're analyzing data. They're using a lot of the tools that are provided digitally, but then also very hands-on. Right down to one of them they take their fingerprints when they're talking about touch sensors. So, lots of exploration in a lot of variety of ways, bringing in the skills that they've done. One of the experiments has them calculating volume and surface area, which was something that we covered in in our class. In fact, I think it was Violet that said, "Well, I don't understand the way they did it. So, can I do it the way we learned it here?" Sure. Yes, that's great. Um and that's again, watching the watching them go through it and it's it's like I said, student-driven inquiry. So, they're working at their own individual pace. Um some kids move quickly, some kids linger on one for a day or more. And that's fine. And we do that we've done that at the end of the year, which is great because we have a lot of our classroom norms set up at that point. So, managing it as a teacher is very doable. And watching them to be able to manage themselves through the learning process is again just a highlight for me. So, I'm going to let them then share something that they sparked to or that they took away from it or that they felt was different or enjoyable as well. You can maybe introduce yourself in there. >> Hi, I'm Owen and I'm from Concord. Yes. So, I really like all the the individual experiments that we have done. It was um really It was different from all the other science things we have done. It was like some did some uh uh uh like writing and all a lot of different components and it was really really fun to do all of that. >> Was there one that stood out that was your favorite? >> Uh one of my favorites was the I think definitely simulating a rocket ship getting over to Mars and you had to like adjust the amount of mass, the amount of thrust, the amount of thrust time and you had to make it just right. I've actually found a glitch and it just keeps going and I've got to like 3,000 km. Yeah, that's one of my favorites. >> All right, very cool. My best one about >> I think this was a really it was like a really fun thing we got to do. There were so many like fun things we like fun experiments. A lot of them a lot of them were like kind kind to see at like to see what happens after you do everything. Like they're experiments and you just like once they finish, it's really cool to see like what happens and like while you're processing everything that's happening. Yeah, I really love one that was in the beginning. It was where you had like this blue powder and you mixed it with water and it wouldn't combine with the water. It just like it was like if you put like a negative like negative like charge battery or like magnet to another negative charge and it just like would not go together and I think it was really cool that it like didn't combine. Like if you picked it up there would be a tiny drop of water and then there would just be all that like like sand stuff we put in it. That was really cool. >> Um my favorite was probably the one where we had this white powder and when you mixed it with like with like normal like water it would like in it like expand and like get poofy and that was like my favorite and I really enjoyed the like doing everything myself instead of like having to split it up. >> Yeah. >> Any questions or wonders that you guys have? >> Board members, what questions do you have for our guests? >> As somebody who has a degree in a science field, I'm just wondering if this has sparked interest in furthering or continuing down a path that you may have not thought of before. >> I mean I'm now curious of like what had made those materials like react the way they did, like how Violet said like the blue like material, like why did it not mix and why did that snow like why did that snow put it like why did it expand and when you compressed it enough, it would like turn to like jelly? And I'm like now very curious about like why did that happen? >> Any other thoughts? >> Well, well, like on the first day when we were looking at all those cards of different like careers and stuff, like there was a bunch of them just that I just had no idea what they were and they're actually so so cool and I've never thought of doing it, but now I actually think I would love to do this or that. >> I'll do that. >> I don't know cuz I don't really know what I want to be when I grow up yet, so I feel like it's I'm just going to have to be led down a path somewhere, so I don't really know if this like contributed to any of my future yet. >> I heard scientists are right up there with superintendents, so you can be you can be up here. >> And that's fair because I don't know if I know what I want to do with my life either. >> Well, I just wanted to thank you for coming. Not only are you graduates of Concord, so you didn't have to come here tonight, but it's the summer and you it's only the second or first week you're off school on a Monday and you chose to come here and talk about school, which is a big deal. So, thank you very much because I don't know if my kids would have done that. So, I just appreciate you coming here and sharing and having the confidence to speak in public. That is a big deal. So, thank you very much. >> Okay. Well, thank you all so much for Oh, we have one more question. >> Sorry, one more question. So, I'm curious about your curiosity. That was this work? Did this feel like work? Or did this feel like how much effort did it feel to do this type of program? >> Do you want to or Or I >> There's definitely a bunch of effort into it, but I always felt like this is almost like recess. It's a very, very fun and yeah, you have to do it this way, but it's so very exciting to see what happens. And every time I do one, I always want to get ready to do the next one. >> Great. >> That may be the best compliment I have ever heard paid to a teacher before. School feels like recess. Well, >> So, I I never really like thought of it as like work, even though it was like assigned, but it just it was just really fun. I just thought of it as like a fun experiment we got to do. >> Do you have anything >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Some of it definitely felt like work. I mean, like when we did the surface area, mainly the surface area. That definitely felt like work, but a bunch of like the fingerprint experiments and like like Owen was talking about like the rocket simulation. That felt like just another experiment that you got to do. And that was like really fun. And it didn't exactly feel like work. Like there was definitely effort put into it, but it wasn't like explicitly work. >> I appreciate that. I I think here's here's our challenge. If school was a lot more like that, would it be more fun? >> If I got to do math in that way, I'd probably enjoy it more. >> Fair enough. So, you're all moving on to middle school, is that correct? Okay. So, here's your task when you leave here tonight. Keep challenging your teachers and the school board in this district to keep making sure that we offer curriculum that's fun to do and gives you an opportunity to lean in even the things that you're not so sure you like, but you can lean into that. This is one of those wonderful experiences that have been offered to you here. We want to continue to do that and if we aren't doing that, come let us know. Thanks. >> Well, thank you all for joining us tonight and enjoy the rest of your summer. We look forward to hearing about you as Southview students in the >> [applause] >> Um there has been a request to just take another quick pause for technical difficulties as we try to regain picture, so we'll just bear with us. We'll be in a short recess. move from the consent agenda. Okay, seeing none, we'll now vote to approve the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> So moved. >> Erum, do I have a second? >> Second. >> Hoovi, all those in favor of approving the consent agenda say I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? The consent agenda has been approved. Okay, moving on to our discussion items. First, we have our draft student handbooks for 2026-2027, and we have Assistant Superintendent Nate Swenson coming to discuss them with us. >> Good evening, Madam Vice Chair, members of the board, and Dr. Bittman. >> [clears throat] >> Before turning to the handbooks that you've had a chance to review, you will recognize my remarks from our work session. Uh I believe they're important to share with the public. I want to just start by thanking Polly Bowles and Ann Naz, Sky Schrader, um some of our administrative team, William Britt from the high school, Dr. Tammy Jo Cook from Southview, Eric Lowe from Valley View, Stephen Collison, Edina Virtual Pathway Coordinator, and Mark DeYoung, Assistant Principal at Concord Elementary. They spent a significant amount of time preparing these documents, and the consistency you'll see across elementary, middle school, high school, and virtual pathway versions is a direct result of their collaboration. So, for some context, historically, Edina Public Schools has relied on a district-wide student rights and responsibilities document, which has effectively served the purpose of a handbook. Well, that document has been a uh helpful resource, best practice across Minnesota districts is to have building-level handbooks that speak directly to the students and families served by each school. That is what we're introducing tonight. The draft building handbooks before you for elementary schools, middle school, Edina High School, and Edina Virtual Pathway would replace the district version and become the primary handbooks for families. Going forward, these handbooks will come before the board annually to review and approve, which is a new practice for EPS. Regarding our approach and the framework used in developing the drafts, we use the MSBA model student handbook Excuse [clears throat] me. as our foundational template. MSBA's model is widely adopted across Minnesota districts and is built to capture statutory notice requirements, MSBA and MAS A model policy notices, and recommended best practices. Starting from that model gives the board confidence that our handbooks are aligned with current Minnesota school law, and that the notices we provide to families meet what the legislature and the Department of Education expect of us. What we then tailored the model to Edina, so our policies, our buildings, and our students. A primary purpose of the handbook is to deliver in one accessible place the annual notices that state and federal law require. By way of example, families will find in these handbooks the annual FERPA notification of education uh records rights, our environmental health and safety notices such as asbestos notifications, lead in drinking water, and pesticide application, and the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act procedures governing suspension and expulsion. There are several others, but those are representative of the kind of information the handbook is designed to consolidate for our families. So, with that, I'd welcome the board's questions and feedback. >> Okay, board members, what questions or comments do we have? Director Ellenberg. >> Um I don't have a question, but I think this is a huge step forward, and I appreciate the effort and um making it tailored towards the different ages is so smart, and I just uh really am thankful that um we have this resource for our family, so thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'm going to echo that. I think they're great. I look forward to bookmarking it on my computer because it answers so many questions, and I think that when we have kindergarten night, we should be promoting these to the incoming families cuz it goes through the different choice programs, and it answers a lot of questions, and similarly on middle school night, the fourth and fifth grade families, they would know who to ask what question to, where to go for all of their issues and needs. Um so, I think just they're really well done. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Okay, I think that wraps up this discussion point. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right, we are moving on to our policy review of 410, 539, 618, 629, and 902. So, policy chair Ellenberg, I will turn it over to you. >> Um good evening. Um we have our right now we're reviewing two of our policies, correct? >> Yes, there's there's two on the in the agenda. There's a policy 410 and 539. So, I don't know if there's a little typo error about 618, 629, and 902. >> So, okay. The other three? >> Yeah. >> Okay, because they're not posted for other board members to take a look at. So. But they are? >> Yeah. >> Oh. They're not on my They're not on mine. And they're not Okay. >> I think it's it's probably on which version of the materials do you go into >> Oh, okay. That's why I'm sorry. That's why I was confused because I thought okay. Okay. So, um we will start with policy Um sorry, now I lost my spot on here. This is a great start to the policy review. So, we'll start with policy um 410 um and I'm going to invite our executive director of human resources um um Sonia Sailor up to talk about family and medical leaves. >> Thank you, Director Allenberg. Um Acting Chair Berry, Dr. Bittman, members of the board. So, the first policy we're going to talk about this evening is policy 410 um covering FMLA or Family and Medical Leave Act. The recommendation um from the administration in this case is to adopt the model MSBA model policy on FMLA. Um for and the reason that we're making this recommendation is it really does ease the monitoring um of any future updates, particularly in cases of laws such as FMLA where changes come directly from the federal government in these cases. In the past, we have provided a policy that provides overall guidance around FMLA, but not all of the details, particularly around um reasons for leave related to military service. Within schools, it is a rare occurrence that we actually utilize the portions of FMLA related to service members. However, it is really helpful to have all of the information in one place to provide um the details around FMLA. And MSBA also made a recommendation that with all of the new leave types of Minnesota leave in the state, it makes sense to limit policy 410 to FMLA because that's the policy that or that's the leave act that requires a board policy. Um for those of you that don't know, the FMLA Act went into place in 1993 in this country, and it's um specifically provides job protective leave for a number of different reasons. Um And for employees up to 12 work weeks in a particular year. We have um Uh it's Unlike some of our other leave types in Minnesota now, FMLA is unpaid leave, but employees in most cases are able to use their accrued sick leave um or other paid leave as wage replacement during that time. The There are a couple of requirements in order to be eligible. One is that you've worked for at least 12 months for your employer Um and the other is is that you've worked at least 1250 hours in the in the preceding 12 months and we work on what's called a rolling a rolling period where we look back 12 months to see how many hours of an employee has worked within that time period. Um the the there are a couple of um five different reasons that you can use FMLA including but the ones that we see most commonly are for a um for an employee's serious health condition or for them to care for a family member who's undergoing treatment for a serious health condition as well. So that's just gives you a little background about um FMLA and the reason why we are recommending just a full adoption of 410 at this time and I'll just turn it over to see if you have any questions. >> Do board members have questions about um the policy 410 family medical leaves and the changes that are being recommended? No? Um before we move to policy 539 um even though there I I mean I can't see three of the policies. So it has been fixed on board book? Okay. So I just wanted to make sure the public could see the policies. So okay. Um so thank you um Executive Director Sailor. We're going to move on to policy 539 internships um and shadowing and um we have um Anne Marie Director Leland who is coming up and if while you're walking over here we're recommending rescinding this policy. Um if you read through this policy um there were a lot of administrative tasks that um really um there wasn't really any governance level policy written into this um and it would continually require updating. And now that you're sitting here, I'll turn it over to you. >> Well, you said it best, Dr. Allenburg. It really is [clears throat] more administrative and now with the area of emphasis on the high school, uh we really need to just step back and figure out how we're proceeding with internships, job shadowing, any experience that our high school student gets for real-world experience. Uh and I believe that Assistant Superintendent Nate Swenson will start to dig into that with his team as we move forward. Thank you. >> I think then my only question is is that the the initial in purpose of 539, even though it dealt more into administrative versus governance, was there a particular question that this policy was originally kind of trying to get to, which is why we had it? And now that we won't, where will that question or need or whatever be addressed um if it's just administratively, then the answer is clear. But is there some element that that would eventually fall to the purview of the board? >> Sure. So, um it's my understanding from an historical perspective, there are quite a few policies built into our um our policy book that um are really establishing a um a an interest to show the more a communication show the community this is something that we're interested in from a strategic perspective as opposed to it um having any necessary policy behind it. Um this would be an example of one of those policies. Um there's no ill intent. Um it doesn't do bad or good. Um it um I believe it's there to frame for the community that internships and shadow um and job shadowing is an important part of Edina Public Schools. Um the challenge with that is every time from a curricular perspective it shifts, and the administration wants to do anything, which is their job, um we would have to update this policy. >> Got it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um next we're going to move on to policy 618, um which I just had up and now I don't because my computer isn't refreshed, so >> And I can take this one over. So, policy 618 relates to assessment, grading, reporting, and student progress. The information here stays relatively the same. The only change is that we separated what was once one section into two different sections, meaning uh section uh or letter D, that has dropping classes, and then we split it to D and E, which includes pass and no credit. The information in there did did not change, and it aligns directly with what we have in our student handbooks. So, we wanted to make sure that we were consistent all the way around. In addition to that, we did collaborate with high school administration, high school staff, and high school counselors, uh which was then recommended to the policy committee. With that, I'm happy to take any questions people have. >> Great. Hearing none, we'll move on to policy 629, and that is another one I currently do not have in front of me. Oh, we have um Director Mert Woodard coming to talk about Is this the fundraising? >> Student fundraising. >> Student fundraising. Thank you. >> Uh thank you, Director Allenberg. Um policy 629 regarding student fundraising, um there were really no substantive changes offered to this policy other than to add the director of finance and operations to the listed staff that are managing any proposed student fundraising to make sure that the district is maintaining its fiscal responsibilities as well as ensuring that groups that are wishing to use district facilities to conduct their fundraising have a valid facilities use permit. >> Are there questions about the changes to this policy? Great. Thank you, Director Woodard. Um our next is policy 902, use of school district facilities. I apologize, I didn't do a good job organizing, but I guess people are getting their steps in. So, um thank you, Director Leland, for coming up to talk about policy 902, um use of school district facilities and equipment. And there were um two additions to this policy recommended. Thank you. So, um >> [clears throat] >> again, we looked at this uh one of the things that we wanted to make sure we don't keep having to bring back to the school board is the ident I'm sorry, I'm kind of going in reverse order, but the payment schedule and all of those things at at the end. So, we are um moving to to get rid of that and put that into practice. And knowing that we have a cycle to always be collaborating and looking outward and inward on our pricing structure. Um so, that was one of the biggest, most significant pieces of the change here. The other piece is I'm sorry, I'm just scrolling madly here. Um in terms of also making sure that we have um the I'm sorry, I'm just losing my train of thought. Um that we've got procedures. Nope, that's not what I wanted to talk about. What was the other Can you >> the fee schedule change? >> The fee schedule change I think I think >> was very little else. >> Right, exactly. And I just wanted to add on there was um there was one addition into the policies and procedures. >> thank you. >> But before you get into that, um for the policy committee and or I'm sorry, for the rest of the board, administration, and community >> [snorts] >> when the policies come through our committee, we're really looking at um because so many of these so much has gravitated to um the internet and having forms on the internet, this is a perfect example of something that it's way more laborious to keep this as a um static document as opposed to removing it um and keeping it on the internet. So, if something needs to change, it's it's easier to do that on an annual basis um and making sure it's updated and correct and having it in here. Um it's also um easier for the community because it's way more accessible than um in here in our policies. So, you're probably seeing a a decent number of things being removed, but that's a little bit because we're really using viewing through a a lens of is this the best place to have this document? >> So, the policy still is in in place. >> Absolutely. >> Um and the procedure and stuff is there, but the fee it's fee schedule, which we authorize every year or whenever it comes to us in some practice some time during the year, that's going to not be part of the policy. It's just uh it's going to be posted from that standpoint. So, we're just moving that element out of the policy itself. >> Correct. >> Got it. Thank you. >> And then my train of thought came back to me. And so, in the appendix one uh which is I don't have page numbers, I'm so sorry. Um we did add Oh, now I do. good. So, page four, I think, under where it says process and procedures for scheduling facilities, number five, we did add, just based on conversations and other large events, large-scale events that we could have, or just any events, really, um deemed necessary by the district to have an emergency event plan in place. And what we talked about at policy committee, I thought that was a really good conversation, that we'll be working on that behind the scenes. And so, if there's any questions or concerns about that, we will always um be ready to talk about that, and we'll have parameters on when it is going to be necessary to ask for one of those plans. So. >> If I'm not mistaken, Director Aram, you've talked about that >> Yeah. >> every year for the last several years, if I'm not mistaken, that when we have people using the facilities outside of a school function, but it's still using that, what kind of safety and security elements do we have? >> That, yes. Thank you. Um that, and I I believe strongly in now that we have our position of supervisor of emergency management and services, that that position is critical for helping us build that infrastructure, so that was just key in moving. So, thank you, um Director Aram, for continuing to bring that up, and now we're in full implementation of that. >> Any other questions? Great. These will come back to policy committee and the >> be in action next month. Thank you again very much. >> Okay, we have several items up for action this evening, uh beginning with our placement of the Spanish dual language program. So, do I have a motion to approve the placement of Spanish dual language program at South View Middle School? >> So moved. >> Birdman. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Aram. As a reminder to the public, the board has heard this report and had discussions regarding this topic several times at the previous board meeting and in a prior work session and now I welcome Superintendent Bittman to discuss it with us again now. >> Madam chair members of the board, this has been a year-long process that has involved parents, families, community experts throughout our state and nation as well as district leadership and administration. Um when we did this comprehensive process throughout the school year, we recognized and had an obligation to look at both of our sites currently to determine uh where we would place that middle school program so that we had two to three years to plan thoughtfully and intentionally with our families, with our staff, with our community. So we're grateful to be able to do that. As you'll see from the report, as you heard from the work session and previous board meeting as well, uh as well as parents have heard from various meetings that we've orchestrated throughout our community, um we are recommending that this be this particular program be placed at Southview Middle School. The reason we're recommending that, all things being equal in many of the categories, the one category that tipped it to the middle school that we're referring to has to do with the student experience, the amount of elective opportunities that they and other students would have, and the impact that having tool two language immersion type programs in one school would have on other students and the students involved with that. We, as it says in the report, also recognize that we want to have somewhat similar experiences or language opportunities at both of our middle schools instead of having one rich with various programs and another without any. And so based on staff feedback, community feedback, administrative feedback, and what experts recommend, while there may be some challenges as outlined in the report that we will work through, we believe that both middle schools would offer an amazing opportunity and in and students would have an amazing experience and with that we would recommend that be placed for now at Southview Middle School which we know will be successful. >> Thank you. Board members, any additional questions or comments? >> I would only say that um you know, I appreciate the amount of work and effort and analysis that's been provided for all the different stakeholders that are in there. Um and as we've said a number of times including what you just mentioned, Dr. Pittman, um our goal is to make sure that regardless of where the physical location is is that the SDL program at middle school will be successful. It will be fully resourced, it'll be fully supported, um and that um the constituency should understand that at Southview it'll still be an amazing program. Um the the team there I think is excited. I'm actually the liaison to that building. They're very excited about the opportunity um as we build this out over the next couple years. Thank you. >> Dr. Allenberg. >> Um so for community members that only don't watch every single meeting, um which is probably 99% of you. Um this has been talked about very thoroughly and I think that it's important important that um people realize the that this there really I don't think was an option not to put it at Southview. I think that um the reality is that you can't have two language programs at one middle one middle school and have it still function um in the way that we have our middle schools function which is a teaming experience. And so I I just want to make sure that our community understands that aspect which is a critical component of it. Um I think that our all of our I have full confidence in all of our leaders at our sites and here. Um I think where as a leadership team and not even our current leadership team, but as our leadership team when we were starting this process, um could have done a better job is working on this sooner and communicating expectations. And so for parents that have been caught up in this, um I just want to say that absolutely I think we should have done a better job doing that, but that absolutely does not impact I don't even think we need to say your kids will have a great experience at Southview. I think that's a given. So, I think there's a difference between the decision being made and then what as a leadership team, what we can step back and make sure that we do from a process improvement perspective. So, I just want to make sure that we're delineating those two things. I have no qualms about anything with the student experience and our leaders and make sure and just make sure when we're making major decisions that we're thinking through the five, six, seven, eight steps ahead. Um and that we're not taking parents by surprise. So, that's those are the only things that I would comment and ask that we do as a leadership team. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh we will now vote. All those in favor of approving the recommended placement of the SDL program at Southview Middle School say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? The board has approved the placement of SDL at Southview Middle School. Okay, the next item up for action is the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2027. Do I have a motion to approve the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2027? >> So moved. >> Aaron, is there a second? >> Second. >> Phoebe. Um let's welcome Mert Witter, Director of Finance and Operations. >> Good evening, Acting Chair Berry, members of the school board, Superintendent Bitman. Pleased to present our fiscal year 2027 preliminary budget for the year ending June 30th, 2027 for your consideration and action. The the budget is published in full at edinapublicschoolsfinance.org. Every figure, fact, um our 5-year forecast, comparisons to peer school districts across the state, and an I think an extremely high level of transparency and a pretty robust set of information, um which I won't go into extreme detail on, but I will provide a number of uh the key highlights. In terms of our general fund, we're projecting revenue of $180.9 million offset by $173.8 million in expenditures, um which means that we'll end next school year at a projected $49.8 million fund balance, um of which 11.0% is designated [snorts] as unassigned, which is well above your policy 702 range of a minimum of 6% and a maximum of 10%. Um next year's revenue reflects several changes to state formulas. Um the first of which is the most important um school district funding formula in Minnesota, which accounts for about 45% of our general operating revenues, um which is the basic education formula. Um that is slated to rise by 2.69% or $202 per pupil, which is roughly $1.9 million of additional revenue for the Edina Public Schools. Our voter-approved operating referendum is increasing by $74.26, which is about $700,000 of additional revenue. Um this was approved by the school board at the December meeting as part of our truth and taxation and certification of the property tax levy. We also have a small inflationary increase to our capital projects levy of about $269,000. And next school year also marks an increase of the special education cross subsidy aid from 44% to 50%, which represents about $690,000 of additional revenue for the school district. Collectively, all these figures combine into a very stable short-term financial picture, and one that was, I believe, hard-earned. Pretty significant budget cuts for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 totaling $7.6 million coupled with state appropriations from fiscal year 24 have led to a much more stable financial picture. In terms of what's ahead, absent any additional state funding that we're not expecting at this moment, we do begin to see a a deficit spending scenario in fiscal years 2030, which begins to be precipitously worse in subsequent fiscal years leading to a projected 7.48% fund balance at the end of fiscal 2031, which is well below what we're expected to be at next school year. A few different reasons for that. Primarily, the way school districts are funded in Minnesota, more than 80% of our funds are directly tied to student enrollment. We are approaching building and programmatic capacity in Edina, and we're not forecasting any additional future growth coupled with both resident and non-resident enrollment declines, which are um not going to be changing in the near future according to almost any demographic study that you review. That coupled with the fact that while the basic formula is now increasing with inflation, which we're grateful for, we don't believe that that inflation is going to offset the growth in wages. Our budget's built around 80% salaries and wages, and we think those will continue to outpace appropriations made by the state. So, while we've earned a a short-term stability, we are continuing to monitor and find ways to enhance our stability while dealing with the headwinds that are coming forth in subsequent years. In terms of our other funds, the food service fund, which is about a $5.2 million operation, is one of our success stories in the district. That fund continues to operate without any general fund subsidy. In fact, it allocates the maximum allowable chargeback from the general fund each school year, and also is creating enough surplus to begin a cycle of replacement for our kitchen equipment, which we're beginning this school year or this summer rather at Southview and hoping to bring to our other schools next school year, next summer, and beyond. Uh the community service fund, um like the food service fund, operates without any direct um general fund subsidy. In fact, that fund also contributes about $300,000 to the general fund by way of chargebacks. Um we continue to expect stability in that program, which is fantastic news for the district. Our building construction fund is expected to add about $9 million to its fund balance. That's part of a planned facilities maintenance bond that we're hoping to issue late fall, early winter. That will be spent down over the next several years, um particularly next next summer at Southview, where we're undergoing a pretty major um mechanical project, which will be over two or three years. Finally, our debt service fund of about $18.7 million, which is uh in place to pay um voter-approved bonds um over the next several years. Happy to answer any questions. With that, the recommended action is before you. >> Board members, what questions do we have? Director Allenberg. >> I don't have a question, but could you please explain to the public why it's so important to have um such a healthy fund balance right now, and some of the um initiatives the state is working on, um and I brought it up last time about like the Blue Ribbon Committee, and the projections that are um going to hit um school districts, and why I think it might look like we have a ton of money, but what we're forecasting on um going forward, I think would be helpful. >> Absolutely. I think uh the importance of the fund balance really I look at it in terms of an insurance policy. We have some really um great programs, any Diana. Um we have really nice um, class size ratios that the school board has put forth. We have um, really robust programming and options at the secondary level, both middle school and high school. All those things um, require a significant deal more financing than what the basic education formula provides. We're lucky to have um, a number of different voter approved um, financing mechanisms in place. And so, you know, we're kind of making hay while the sun shines. We know that the um, Blue Ribbon Commission is going to subtract $250 million of special education aid across the state beginning with fiscal 28. That's going to be a direct impact of about a million dollars for the Edina schools. Um, if that comes by way of um, reductions to the ASIS program, which is intervention at our elementary, we staff about 10 and 1/2 um, full-time equivalents in that program, which is roughly that, you know, 1 to 1.3 million dollars. Things like that we can offset using our fund balance and hope that the state at some point um, fixes the the direction that we're traveling and appropriates more funds. So, the the fund balance really function functions as insurance for the school district. It also allows us to access um, interest rates at the the lowest possible level in the market. Um, we're really proud of our our AAA credit rating. And also, I think um, stability for for parents and students. I think they have come to expect a certain type of programming and education in Edina and our fund balance allows us to continue and maintain that absent what the state may or may not provide us. >> Thank you and thank you for the job you've done with our finances. We're really very lucky and your website is phenomenal. If anyone in the public has questions, it's super amazing. You could spend hours doing that. So, thank you. >> I I think I would only add that um, it takes real effort and real focus and real strategy and execution to actually arrive where we are. It just doesn't happen by chance. It It happen by hope. It happens by diligently over the last several years, I really since the time Director Ward you came to the district, we've been working on this process of trying to get the unassigned fund balance to this level even with cuts and so on and so forth so we could flatten out the highs and the lows of frankly hard to forecast what the state's going to do. So as they give us something, they then take it away. And so it's a constant yo-yo of an up and a down and whatever it is in the fund balances by getting to this healthy level allows us to weather those ups and downs and unpredictabilities of what the state legislature does with its funding. So I just wanted to again compliment not only your leadership on that, but I think also not to not to toot our own horn, but the the board and and the leadership of the district has really made this a very clear-cut strategic It's not in the strategic plan explicitly, but it encompasses everything that we do. Without us being able to do this, we would then be riding this wave of unpredictability to like a lot of other districts are doing who don't weather it very well. So it's it's it's it's just such an important part as we're as we're ending this school year and we're getting looking forward to to 26-27. Um I think we're in a good place for the anticipate not oh maybe there will be something. No, no, no. It's going to happen. It's just what level is it going to happen from the state? We can't quite predict at the moment because they're all over the place, but it's definitely going to happen. So I just wanted to emphasize what what Director Allenberg said but being a part of this for for now 5 years, this is one of the hallmarks of what I think the district has been in a phenomenal job on of managing taxpayer money and also trying to make sure that our model, our excellent model that we have here in Denton which is expensive, we're able to maintain as much of that model as we can because of the stewardship that we're getting. And so, thank you for your contribution to that. >> And >> [laughter] >> Yes, and >> [clears throat] >> we're we're in a great spot to again, as you were saying, stay on a more even keel. And we also need to not rest on our laurels and continue to look forward. This doesn't mean we aren't going to need to make some changes um in the future, but we are in a great spot compared to other districts, as you said. And um this is a wonderful place to be um as as a district and know that we can continue to deliver as we have um at least in the near term, and we'll see what what what comes, and then we can react to it, and we can take our time, and we won't need to knee-jerk um make decisions. So, thank you. >> Okay, thank you. We will now vote. All those in favor of approving the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2027, say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? The preliminary budget is approved. All right, the next item up for action is the proposed 2026 to 2028 collective bargaining agreement between Independent School District 273 and the Edina Professional Association of Support Staff. Do I have a motion to approve the proposed collective bargaining agreement between ISD 273 and the Edina Professional Association of Support Staff? >> So moved. >> Alan Berg, is there a second? >> Second. >> Birdman. I welcome back to the table Director Mar Ordered and um Sonia Sailer, Executive Director of Human Resources. Thank you. >> Thank you, Actor Chair. >> acting chair Berry to actually Bitman member of the school boards. Um so director Woodard and I are pleased to announce that our Edina Professional Association of Support Staff commonly referred to as EPASS in our school district has ratified a tentative agreement um that will begin uh on July 1, 2026 and extend through June 30th, 2028. Our EPASS employees include our department specialists, our principal administrative assistants, our facility schedulers, our welcome center specialists, our office assistants, our due process specialists, and our media assistants. Our negotiation teams worked collaboratively and creatively to reach a settlement that values the important work that they do each day and also respects the school board's financial parameters. We would like to commend our EPASS nego- negotiations team comprised of Jennifer Jopie, Pam Berling, Alicia Carter, and Nancy Knutson for their dedication to this important process. The financial highlights of the proposed agreement include step advancement for eligible employees in both years of the agreement, a 3% improvement to the wage wage schedule in the first year and a 4% increase in the second year of the agreement, a wage schedule modification to reduce the L10 longevity step to L7 and the L20 longevity step to L17 beginning in the first year, a $50 per month increase to the school district's contribution towards health insurance beginning on January 1, 2027 and an additional $75 to be added on January 1, 2028, a $15 per month increase to the contribution towards dental insurance beginning on January 1, 2027, and EPAS was our last group in the school district that had a severance provision that um did not include a sunset date. So, a July 1, 2026 sunset date will be added to the agreement's severance provision. Uh language is modified within the agreed agreement to simply communicate clarity and provide consistent consistency with other district agreements. The 2-year total package for this proposed agreement is $8,609,208, which you can uh represents an increase of $608,657, and using the MSBA costing formula, the 2-year percentage increase is 7.61%. This tentative agreement is within the authority provided to our negotiation team by the school board, and as a result, we seek your approval. Do you have any questions? >> Board members, any questions? >> I'll just make a quick comment. Congratulations to EPAS and administration for getting this done before uh July 1st, which is not often the case with most of our negotiations. And I'm pleased to hear that the last severance component has finally been dealt with, so thank you for that. Um and just a shout out to all of our EPAS members that they are the glue that makes everything happen, and whenever you talk to anyone in the district who talks about um all these people, they literally are help make everything go. And so, um hopefully I'm glad that they feel good about this. I feel good about that. And I'm looking forward to a new school year under this collective bargaining. So, thank you for your work. >> Thank you, and well said. Thank you very much, Director Berman. Any other questions? Okay, we will now vote. All those in favor of proposing of approving the proposed collective bargaining agreement between ISD 273 and the Edina Professional Association of Support Staff say aye. >> Aye. >> Any opposed? Um seeing no opposition, the um it is approved. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we have some policies up for quick review. Um is there a motion to approve policies 418, the medication authorization form, 530, 620, and 636? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Erum and Huby, uh Director Ellenberg, is there anything regarding these policies for quick review that you would like to address with the board? >> Um I I just wanted to briefly review um the updates to the different policies. Um policy 418 418, there was one update that's based on state statute. Um the appendices um the medication form um for 516 and 538, there is a sentence that needed to be included um from a legal perspective. Um policy 530, um there additions that are to make the policy consistent with MSC MSBA model policy and state statute. Um there no changes to the policy 620. And then policy 636, the changes um recommended changes are to clarify the roles, the difference between um um a special education teacher and other um individuals between within the special education department. Any Are there questions or comments about those um five or I'm sorry, four policies and then um the appendices? Okay, seeing no questions, we will now vote uh to approve policy 418, medication authorization form 530, 620, and 636. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? The policies are approved. Okay, now we have even more policies up for approval. Um do I have a motion to approve policies 113, 506, 806, and 810? >> So moved. >> Is there Is there a second? >> Second. >> Birdman, um Director Alan Berg, anything to talk about with these policies? >> These policies were up for discussion um last month, and there were no changes based on feedback from the board, so um I have no further comment. >> Okay. Any questions on any of these? Okay, then we will now vote to approve policies 113, 506, 806, and 810. All those in favor say I. Any Any opposed? Okay, the policies are approved. >> And before we move on, I want to just thank our policy committee, and especially Polly Bowles. We've gotten through a lot of policies this spring, and for our administrators, our site level administrators, everyone that's contributed um this month alone is about 14 policies, so or 12, I can't count. So, um so just thank you. I just wanted to thank Polly, so. >> Thank you. Uh do board Any board members have leadership or committee updates? >> I do, Madam Chair. Um as the Edina School Board member who's assigned to Intermediate School District 287, I just wanted to give a quick couple updates um regarding District 287. So, for those who don't know, that is the uh special services district that's made up of 12 West Metro districts, and Edina's part of one of them. Um and I sit on that board um to represent Edina and Edina families and students. Um, I just wanted to first say that graduation happened this past week. So, they have five different locations with a number of programs. I went to three different graduations. One was for West West Education Center, which is where we have a bunch of students who are in their special education program, who would then be graduating and eventually going on to the transition program, which is at South Education. So, I got to go to that graduation ceremony early last week. Um, I then went to Hennepin Technical College's ALC, which is the alternative learning program, which we had a couple students in that program as well. And then the piece de resistance is at the South Education Center, the transition students who actually are now transitioning out. They've hit their age limit of 21 or 22. And there's always a graduation ceremony in the later last last week. Um, it's a very special I mean, they're all special, but this one is especially special cuz most of these students have been in 287 for quite some time. And their staff, their dedicated staff that works with these students, are phenomenal. And they're kind of coming to an end of that particular time. So, it's a fairly emotional, very gratifying, very satisfying type program for making that happen. So, I just wanted to say that we had Edina students, Edina was represented well. And 287 does a phenomenal job. So, I just wanted to call that out. Um, number two, for 287, they have a strategic plan now, which they've had now for two years since Superintendent Dowd has come on board. She's been working diligently to get their strategic plan in order, just like we have, and just like the other districts that make up 287. And we got a final report for how they did this past year, and they are making progress. So, just to give you a sense, they have both student and staff goals related to their strategic plan, which included having a goal, an academic goal, for every student in 287. And why does that sound remarkable? Is that literally up until two years ago, there weren't actually explicit student goals for every single student that 287 serves. And that's because I think in in sort of practice, especially with in certain levels of of higher level of special education, um it hasn't always been a focus to think that academic progress, academic standard, academic growth is something that's expected of every student in 287. And that has always been the case that it's been expected, but it has never been put into actual practice. This is a huge uh change, and there's a cultural change that's going on in 287 because of this, um which Superintendent Dowd is about. We're seeing great progress in making that happen. So, not only are every student having um that goal setting, but with their caregiver, parent, guardian, um they're incorporated in that. They're actually now having, um which we take for granted here in Edina, every single student and their family has a conference that's not just about their um uh IEP or their their other types of special education programming, but actually their academic progress is also a part of that. Um there's just a lot of number of things like that in 287 that are coming to fruition, and I couldn't be prouder of what's happening with that. And I think it's serving all 287 students, including our own Edina, uh quite well. So, I just wanted to kind of share that a little bit with everyone cuz we don't talk about 287 very often. But I I'm very, very happy with um where the direction of 287 is going. And for those of you who might not know, the Blue Ribbon Commission that we mentioned earlier, that was actually chaired by Superintendent Dowd. She's probably the state's expert in education financing for special education. Um it was very important that we got her on that Blue Ribbon Commission, and she is serving all of our purposes quite well in making that happen. She made that presentation last week um on Thursday morning. Um so, I just wanted to kind of share that about uh 287. And um I thank you guys for giving me the opportunity to you to serve in that capacity. It's uh it's a very moving and impactful part of my job that you guys help me do here um on this board. So, I just want to share that with you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Um really fast, um yeah, every year we've asked our um director of human resources to provide us with um substitute fill rates, and I wanted to um point out to the community that um we are 99%. Um and we've haven't been below um 96% since 2023. This was really born out of COVID and um a real issue with subs during COVID, and I would just um offer that we consider not asking for this report anymore since it has been close to 100% since then, um which is great. And since we have such a phenomenal HR director, if there is an issue, I trust that she would bring it to us. >> Madam director, do you mind repeating that, please? I'm kidding. I'm kidding. >> So. >> Tony's grade. >> All right, thank you. Uh Dr. Whitman, do you have any updates you'd like to share? >> Just a couple. This is uh Madam Vice Chair Madam Chair and members of the board, [laughter] this is just such an exciting time wrapping up the academic year for many of students, but also recognize that we serve thousands and thousands of students throughout the summer. In fact, the first week after our traditional students left, we had over a thousand students being served in this building alone in the first week. So, really grateful for that continued work and the dedication of our staff. Also, just would encourage the school board to really take take a moment to reflect on all the work that you have done this year. Um Ms. Allenberg spoke a little bit about the policies this last month and throughout the year, but it is impressive the amount of work that you have done around our areas of priority around the engagement, around the committees, around the work with the board meetings, around the budget, around teaching and learning with achievement and all of the things that come with that. That doesn't happen by accident. So, just want to do a public shout-out to say thank you for the energy. So much of that is not known by the public and others. So, just I'm really appreciative of partnering with you. Also, this is the completion of my first year in Edina. It's been such a privilege and an honor to serve with you. Although I've been a superintendent for 16 years, I can arguably say that this year I have learned the most. And so, just really appreciate the partnership, the perspective, the collaboration as we move this work forward. Just really excited about that and appreciative. Similarly, came into a situation last April that could have been very difficult in terms of transition. Our team, our leadership team, our cabinet, and others throughout the district just welcomed me and supported me and were were part of the crazy ideas that I had along the way. Just so grateful for their commitment, their partnership, their courage of being able to say when things felt right or didn't feel right, and always advocating and doing what's right for kids and the school district, putting other people ahead of themselves. And so, just really grateful for the board, the administrative team, and our folks throughout the district, as well as our community who welcomed my wife and I and my family and I to the Edina area. So, again, just very appreciative. And then finally, we had our graduation uh just recently, and so much work goes into that by staff and families and and everyone. We're just grateful for a wonderful venue. Folks at this table might remember that mid-year we learned that we were not able to have our graduation at the U of M, uh as was every other high school that had been part of the UFM. And so we scrambled a little bit and we worked really hard and I think it was just a really impressive uh showing for our students and families. We had a great experience. The feedback we have been getting uh has been really really positive. And so again, special thanks to everyone worked really hard behind the scene. Congratulations to those who have graduates. Ms. Ellenberg being one of those. Um just super excited about uh the work that's happening in Edina and how privileged are we to provide so many amazing opportunities for our students and families. Often times people ask me as superintendent like what I want. I really want every student to have the same opportunities as my own three children had. And they are getting that and more. And so thank you for the work and the intentionality with that. With that, I'll turn it back to our chair. >> Thank you. Do I have a motion to adjourn our meeting? >> So moved. >> For a minute. Is there a second? >> Second. >> We will vote to adjourn the meeting. All those in favor say aye. >> Aye. >> Any opposed? The motion has passed and the June 8th, 2026 board meeting is adjourned. >> Mhm.