August 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Work Session of the St. Anthony-New Brighton School Board
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1. Call to Order School Board Regular Meeting
Speaker(s):
Barry Kinsey - School Board Chair
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Discussion:
SANB Schools is participating in an energy curtailment program with Xcel Energy that brings significant savings to our schools. As part of this program, there was a full shut down of power and electrical systems from 5:00-9:00 PM on Tuesday, August 19 at all buildings. The meeting was moved from the MS/HS Media Center to the Commons. This meant our 6:00 PM school board meeting was not available via Zoom.
Time:
2 Minutes
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2. Approval of Agenda
Speaker(s):
Barry Kinsey - School Board Chair
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Recommended Motion(s):
The recommended motion is to approve the August 19, 2025 Work Session agenda as presented. This motion, made by Board Member #1 and seconded by Board Member #2, Carried.
Time:
2 minutes
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3. Approval of Consent Agenda
Speaker(s):
Barry Kinsey - School Board Chair
Agenda Item Type:
Consent Agenda
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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Description:
In accordance with Board rule, there is no discussion of Consent Agenda items, unless a Board Member requests an item be removed for discussion and action.
Recommended Motion(s):
The recommended motion is to approve the consent agenda as presented, including:
minutes from the July 17, 2025 Special Meeting; Policies 414, 418, 501, 516, 516.5, 524, 602, 709; personnel; and payment of bills. This motion, made by Board Member #1 and seconded by Board Member #2, Carried.
Time:
2 Minutes
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4. Discussion Items
Agenda Item Type:
Non-Action Item
Discussion:
Clerk Hood arrived at 6:02pm.
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4.1. Facilities Update and Discussion of Policy 905 Advertising
Speaker(s):
Dr. Troy Urdahl - Director of Athletics, Activities, Facilities
Agenda Item Type:
Non-Action Item
Discussion:
Dr. Urdahl shared facts about curtailment, boilers, in addition to custodial staffing, equipment replacement, and 2025 summer projects. The board had a discussion about current policy 905 Advertising. It was recommended for the Policy Committee to add the policy to this year's scope and sequence to include new and future sponsorship opportunities.
Attachments:
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Description:
Twice a year Directors will update the school board on their department’s goals, plans, and future plans. Dr. Troy Urdahl will provide an overview of ISD282 facilities. This is informational only for the school board. In addition, the policy committee is seeking input from the school board regarding policy 905.
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4.2. Start of School Updates
Speaker(s):
Wendy Webster, Tom Lee, Amy Kujawski, Conn McCartan, Matt Menier, Dr. Renee Corneille
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
With the school year soon to begin the board heard from building Principals and Administration to hear how they are preparing for the new year with staff and students, including compliance training and building vision for the year.
Attachments:
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Description:
SANB Administrators will take time to introduce the new SAVHS Principal and new Director of Principal Leadership & Learning; share new cell phone procedures, plans for workshop week welcoming back staff, compliance requirements prior to school starts, and plans for effective instruction implementation.
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4.3. Second reading of School Board Handbook
Speaker(s):
Barry Kinsey - School Board Chair
Agenda Item Type:
Non-Action Item
Discussion:
Due to the curtailment and having to turn the building lights off, creating difficulties running the school board meeting, this agenda item was moved to the end of the meeting to discuss if there was still time and light.
Attachments:
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Description:
The School Board Onboarding Taskforce worked throughout the 2024-25 school year to merge the MSBA Handbook with the SANB Handbook. The board has had the opportunity to review drafts of the handbook at previous Board Professional Development meetings. This will serve as the final reading before action on August 28th.
Time:
10 Minutes
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4.4. School Board Evaluation Review and School Board Goal Review & Development
Speaker(s):
Barry Kinsey - School Board Chair
Agenda Item Type:
Non-Action Item
Discussion:
Due to the curtailment and having to turn the building lights off, creating difficulties running the school board meeting, this agenda item was moved to the end of the meeting to discuss if there was still time and light.
Description:
As the entity legally charged with governing a school district, each school board is responsible to its community for governing efficiently and leading effectively to provide for equitable education, resulting in high student achievement. Effective school boards engage in a continuing process of self-assessment and use the results to identify opportunities for improvement. Using the MSBA five standards of school board leadership (conduct & ethics, vision, structure, accountability, advocacy & communication), an evaluation tool was developed for the St. Anthony-New Brighton school board to identify effectiveness and opportunities for improvement. The school board will review the results of the evaluation.
Using the 2024-25 School Board Evaluation as a guide, the school board will review current goals and discuss potential goals. |
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4.5. Appeal of Book Review
Speaker(s):
Dr. Renee Corneille - Superintendent
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
Dr. Corneille shared the appeal of book review memo which outlined procedural flaws in the initial review process and directed that a new Library Materials Review Committee be formed to reconsider the book. The superintendent's decision was based on acknowledged inconsistencies in the initial process, including changes in committee composition, concerns about bias, and a lack of explicit documentation regarding the book's conformance with selection criteria.
Attachments:
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Description:
Discussion of attached memorandum regarding the appeal of the book "Gender Queer". The memo outlines procedural flaws in the initial review process and directs that a new Library Materials Review Committee be formed to reconsider the book. The superintendent's decision is based on acknowledged inconsistencies in the initial process, including changes in committee composition, concerns about bias, and a lack of explicit documentation regarding the book's conformance with selection criteria. The memo also recommends revisions to Policy 606.5 for the board's feedback, suggesting changes to the committee's composition, the role of the complainant, and the final decision-making process for appeals. This discussion will support the discussion of the first reading of Policy 606.5, which is the next agenda item.
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4.6. Policy 606.5 Review & First Reading
Speaker(s):
Dr. Cassandra Palmer - Policy Committee Chair
Agenda Item Type:
Non-Action Item
Discussion:
Policy Committee Chair Palmer used the recommendations from the Appeal of Book Review and policy committee recommendations to lead an initial discussion with the board to clarify and strengthen policy 606.5 Library Materials.
Description:
Policy 606.5 is a state-mandated policy that was first enacted in 2024 and includes the need for materials selection and deselection, and a challenged materials procedure. The board will discuss potential updates to policy 606.5 based on feedback from the Appeal of Book Review process. This is the first reading of Policy 606.5, it will come back to the board for further review before action.
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4.7. Exit Interview Aggregate Data
Speaker(s):
Dr. Renee Corneille - Superintendent
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
Chair Kinsey called for a 5-minute break at 8:55pm.
Upon returning from break at 8:59, Chair Kinsey made the motion to postpone discussion items 4.3 Second Reading of School Board Handbook and 4.8 School Board Minutes/Agenda Support Contract until the August 28th Regular Meeting. And to postpone discussion item 4.4 School Board Evaluation Review and School Board Goal Review & Development until the September 30th School Board Professional Development Meeting. In addition, the board reports (agenda item 5.0) were postponed. PJ Striker seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0. At 9:01pm Dr. Corneille presented the Exit Interview Aggregate Data. The data from 23 departing employees highlighted several concerns, including administrative issues, compensation competitiveness, and a strained workplace culture. The memo also noted actions taken in response to the data, such as the hiring of a new HR & Operations Coordinator and the implementation of new onboarding and off-boarding processes. The school board expressed appreciation for the exit interview system that was built and discussed the need to continuously improve the process through clearly communicated participation and reporting of data.
Attachments:
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Description:
The board is asked to review the memo that analyzes the 2024-2025 employee exit survey data. The data from 23 departing employees highlights several concerns, including administrative issues, compensation competitiveness, and a strained workplace culture. The memo also notes actions taken in response to the data, such as the hiring of a new HR & Operations Coordinator and the implementation of new onboarding and off-boarding processes.
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4.8. School Board Minutes/Agenda Support Contract
Speaker(s):
Barry Kinsey - School Board Chair
Agenda Item Type:
Non-Action Item
Discussion:
School Board Minutes/Agenda Support Contract was postponed until the August 28th Regular Meeting.
Attachments:
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Description:
Discussion of the attached proposal to re-engage Board Member Laura Oksnevad for specific administrative duties related to board meetings. The limited-scope engagement would include preparing meeting materials, managing audio/visual equipment, and preparing official minutes. The district administration recommends approval of this employment arrangement, which aligns with Minnesota Statutes that permit a board member to be employed by the district under certain limitations. The board will discuss at this meeting and will take action at the next scheduled Regular Board meeting.
Time:
10 Minutes
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5. Board Reports
Speaker(s):
Barry Kinsey - School Board Chair
Agenda Item Type:
Board Reports
Discussion:
Due to energy curtailment, this agenda item was removed.
Description:
Each school board meeting, the School Board members will take time to share information from the meetings, professional learning and events they have attended.
Time:
10 Minutes
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6. Adjourn School Board Meeting
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Discussion:
Chair Kinsey adjourned the meeting at 9:26pm.
Description:
Upcoming Meetings: August 28, 2025 6:00pm September 16, 2025 6:00pm |
