SLP Board Briefs

October 11, 2022: Study Session

Our Apologies

Due to technical difficulties the video recording of the October 11, 2022 has extremely limited audio. We apologize for the inconvenience to our viewers. Thank you for your patience as we fix the issue for future meetings.

Superintendent Report Highlights

Indigenous Peoples' Day - St. Louis Park Public Schools exist on the land of the Dakota and Ojibwe peoples. We acknowledge the Dakota and Ojibwe community, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. We commit to dismantling the ongoing legacies of colonial power and the district’s desire to support the ongoing work of local Indigenous communities to thrive in our schools. We celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day and honor the Indigenous students and families we serve in St. Louis Park Public Schools.

National Principals Month - Celebrated every October, National Principals Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor our incredible school principals for their visionary leadership and tireless pursuit of success for each student. Join us as we celebrate all principals throughout October.

National Farm to School Month - We celebrate this month in October by inviting students, their families, and their communities to crunch into fresh seasonal food, grown on local farms. It’s also a time to share gratitude with those who make Farm to School possible including farmers, educators, nutrition professionals, and community connectors. We are grateful for Seeds Feeds and our local farming partners.

American Indian Parent Advisory Council (AIPA) Update

St. Louis Park Public Schools AIPAC issued a Vote of Concurrence on September 29, 2022 and attests that the School Board and the District are compliant with the Minnesota Statutes and are meeting the needs of American Indian students. Some of the actions taken to support American Indian students and families include:

An American Indian Student Council will begin convening at the High School this month.
Book bags with books written by all indigenous authors and other materials were provided to each American Indian student.
One year ago this month, the district developed a Land Acknowledgment in partnership with AIPAC and a ceremony was held in honor of this.
American Indian high school seniors had beaded caps made for their graduation. This was accompanied by a ceremony, prayer, and meal in community prior to graduation.
Samantha Defoe started as the Ojibwe culture and language specialist for the District.

Indigenous Peoples' Day was on October 10 but the work continues throughout the school year. The School Board thanked AIPAC for their vote of concurrence and trust in our district.

Policy Development

The School Board reviewed the following policies as a first reading:

410 Family and Medical Leave
414 Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse
415 Mandated Reporting of Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults

A majority of the changes were connected to statutory updates and Minnesota School Board Association legal counsel recommendations. It was recommended by the Policy Committee that these policies be reviewed annually by district leadership and revised by the Board as recommended and/or as needed to be up to date with state and federal law.

The School Board also reviewed policy 534 School Meals which will be a new policy. Minnesota school districts that participate in the national school lunch program must adopt a school meals policy.

Action Items

Resolution Awarding School Building Bonds - Ehler's & Associates reviewed the sale report of our school bonds. The District received eight competitive bids which were reflective of where the market currently is. The School Board approved the resolution awarding school building bonds, as presented. Appreciation was expressed to Director Magnuson and her team for their hard work.

American Indian Annual Compliance Agreement - The School Board approved the Annual Compliance Agreement with the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC) for the 2022-23 school year, as presented.

Apply to Openings for School Board Appointed Seats on City Commissions

St. Louis Park Public Schools School Board appoints representatives to serve as liaisons on various City boards and commissions. Currently, the Board is seeking to fill the following commission vacancies:

Community Technology Advisory Commission - advises and collaborates with the city council and boards and commissions on the application of technology for the purpose of improving city services and the quality of life for St. Louis Park's citizens, businesses and visitors. The commission consists of seven regular members, one of which is appointed by the school district, one voting youth member, and ex-officio members.

Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission - reviews matters related to long-range park and recreation plans. The commission also may offer recommendations in new development areas in relation to park and recreation space. City council may ask the commission to study and advise on other related items. The commission consists of seven regular members, three of which are appointed by the school district, and two youth members.

Human Rights Commission - advises city council on how to ensure equal opportunity and participation in housing, employment, public service, public accommodations and education. The commission consists of 10 regular voting members; one is an attorney, one is appointed by the school district and two are youth members.

If you are interested in serving in one of these roles, please click on the link below to apply. Applicants must live in St. Louis Park. All applications are due on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. Board action will be taken at the October 25, 2022 regular business meeting to appoint representatives.

Apply Here

Get in touch with the School Board

Board members welcome your input. Email the entire School Board at schoolboard@slpschools.org. You can also call the school board message line with your questions or comments: 952-928-6040. The Board also holds Open Forum at each Business Meeting, which occur on the fourth Tuesday of every month. To participate in Open Forum, please complete this sign-up form by 3:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting at which you would like to address the School Board.

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