June 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Listening Session & Regular Meeting of the St. Anthony-New Brighton School Board

Discussion:  Board Chair Ben Phillip called the meeting to order at 6:31pm

Staff present:  Hope Fagerland, Executive Director of Academics; Joel Lee; Interim High School Principal; Paul Ruble, High School Assistant Principal

Discussion:  Congratulations to St. Anthony - New Brighton School staff retiring this school year!
Ruth Smith, Beth Kessler, Todd McDonough, Jean Lynch, Steve Willman, Bill Carlson, David Wiggins

Discussion:  Minnesota Statute 123B.77 Subd 4 requires school boards to approve and adopt their revenue and expenditure for the next school year prior to July 1.  The School Board has reviewed and discussed the budget and its components at each meeting this spring.  This was the final review and approval.  

Discussion:  The Resolution for Membership is an annual resolution adopted by MSHSL member schools to renew their membership with the Minnesota State High School League. Each school’s governing board agrees to adopt the Constitution, Bylaws, Policies and Regulations of the League and all amendments as the minimum standards governing participation in said League-sponsored activities and athletics. 

Discussion:  The IOwA is responsible for authorizing, reviewing, and recertifying user access for their local educational agency in accordance with the State of Minnesota Enterprise Identity and Access Management Standard, which states that all user access rights to Minnesota state systems must be reviewed and recertified at least annually. The IOwA will authorize user access to State of Minnesota Education secure systems in accordance with the user’s assigned job duties, and will revoke that user’s access when it is no longer needed to perform their job duties. 

Discussion:  The board discussed access options for personal electronic devices at SAVHS to guide the policy committee.  The board directed Superintendent Corneille to work with high school administration to move from the current procedures to procedures that match SAMS.  Bell-to-bell off and out of sight, with a trial period of one year and re-visit with the board at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.  

Discussion:  Chair Phillip announced his intent to resign from the school board effective Saturday, June 7th 2025.  The board expressed their sadness and deep appreciation for Chair Phillip's service on the SANB school board.  The board then discussed the plan to fill his vacancy.  Minnesota Statutes, Section 123B.09, Subd. 5b states a vacancy in the office of school board member must be filled.  Because more than two years remain in Chair Phillip’s current term, state law requires that a special election be held this November to elect someone to serve the remainder of the term. The individual elected in that special election will begin their service once election results are certified — typically in mid-November - and will serve the remainder of the term, ending in December 2027. In the meantime, the board has the authority to appoint someone to fill the seat on a temporary basis.  Clerk Hood called for a special meeting on Tuesday, June 10 at 5:30 p.m. to finalize the process and take formal action on the appointment.

Chair Phillip then called for a break at 8:16pm.

Discussion:  Chair Phillip called the meeting back into order at 8:23pm.  Chair Phillip then read the Superintendent Evaluation Summary.

 2024-2025 Superintendent Evaluation Summary 

The Board used a form to evaluate Dr. Corneille in different areas - Leadership, Finance, Board Relations, Curriculum & Instruction Management, Community Relations & Engagement, Personnel/Organizational Management, and Student Support. Each area comprised of various questions, of which the Board rated Dr. Corneille from 1-10, with a score of 1-2 meaning "Least Skilled," 3-4 meaning "Not a Strength," 5-6 meaning "Meets Expectations," 7-8 meaning "A Strength," and 9-10 meaning " An Outstanding Skill." Each area also contained a space for the board to provide additional comments. During a closed session on May 20, 2025, the results were discussed with Dr. Corneille. This is a summary of that interaction. 

For "Leadership," the Board cumulatively rated Dr. Corneille a 6.31, which means that the Board feels the superintendent is meeting expectations. The Board recognizes Dr. Corneille's high standards and strong vision for the district, noting her success in improving communication channels between the union, administration, and Board through "Meet and Confers." While her leadership style is seen as direct, there are opportunities to foster broader team alignment and engagement. Continued focus is also needed on building and maintaining trust within the district and community. Additionally, the superintendent needs to ensure new hires are effectively set up to implement ambitious district goals. 

For "Finance," the Board cumulatively rated Dr. Corneille a 9.5, which means that the Board clearly sees this area as an outstanding skill. She has built a strong finance team and effectively articulates the budget process. Her proactive and forward-thinking approach, along with the passed levy, has uniquely positioned the district to avoid widespread staff cuts, unlike many other districts in the state. Her keen understanding of budgeting and efforts to trim expenses have ensured fiscal stability and even allow for potential staff additions. While this area is a significant success, continued focus on clear, transparent budget explanations will benefit the Board and community. 

For "Board Relations," the Board cumulatively rated Dr. Corneille an 8.3, which means that the Board sees this area as a clear strength. She is consistently receptive to board input, provides thorough information for decision-making, and respects governance roles. A success is her timely and detailed responses to board inquiries. However, opportunities exist to enhance collaborative processes and consensus-building, especially on sensitive issues. Continued focus on fostering mutual trust and ensuring unified communication, particularly during times of public concern, would further strengthen the superintendent/board dynamic. 

For "Curriculum & Instruction Management," the Board cumulatively rated Dr. Corneille a 6.28, which means that the Board feels the superintendent is meeting expectations. The Board recognizes Dr. Corneille's deep professional knowledge of teaching and learning and her commitment to providing ample time for teacher development. While acknowledging that significant change initiatives like Effective Instruction (EI) are challenging, concerns persist regarding its implementation, leading to declining staff culture. Opportunities exist to foster greater trust and collaboration with staff, improve district-wide communication around EI, and ensure more effective professional development planning and support. 

For "Community Relations & Engagement," the Board cumulatively rated Dr. Corneille a 6.78, which means that the Board feels the superintendent is meeting expectations. The Board recognizes Dr. Corneille's strong advocacy for the district with state officials and external agencies, a clear success. Opportunities exist to improve internal communication and transparency, especially regarding key initiatives like Effective Instruction, to build broader community understanding and trust. Continued focus is also needed to ensure consistently clear and understandable communication about district work, particularly when addressing sensitive issues, and to foster a communication approach that actively seeks and incorporates input from all community voices. 

For "Personnel/Organizational Management," the Board cumulatively rated Dr. Corneille a 5.9, which means that the Board feels the superintendent is meeting expectations. The Board recognizes Dr. Corneille's strength in labor relations and contract negotiations, noting successful deals and the growth of key staff like the HR Director. However, significant concerns exist regarding administrative hiring, retention, and leadership support, leading to vacancies and operational disruption. Additionally, greater transparency regarding the processes for staff hiring and evaluation is desired, while the Board maintains their boundaries between governance and management. Addressing these areas will require continued efforts to foster a more trusting culture with staff and improve communication to proactively address concerns and rebuild confidence. 

For "Student Support," the Board cumulatively rated Dr. Corneille a 7.52, which means that the Board sees this area as a strength. The Board recognizes Dr. Corneille's strong student-centered approach, highlighting her success in continuing the Superintendent's Council to elevate student voice. She consistently prioritizes student well-being and engagement, utilizing tools like Panorama for data. While systems are in place, opportunities exist to ensure consistent follow-through on safety and behavioral protocols by administrative staff. Continued focus is also needed to ensure all student support practices consistently benefit the broader student body and to address concerns from student surveys. 

Cumulatively, the Board rated Dr. Corneille a 7.23. This is indicative of a strong performance of duties over the past year. The Board looks forward to Dr. Corneille's focus on these areas of opportunity above during the 2025-26 school year, with an emphasis on incorporating SMART goals to guide her own personal improvement as well as organizational improvement. 

Discussion:  Executive Director of Academics, Hope Fagerland, shared that the last couple weeks at school have been busy and bustling for students and athletics & activities participants as the school year winds down.  Many year-end events were shared.

Discussion:  School Board members took time to share information from the meetings, professional learning and events they have attended since the last board meeting. 

Discussion:  Board Chair Phillip adjourned the meeting at 9:15pm.