May 28 Meeting

Design Team Update on Social Studies

Every instructional area in St. Louis Park Public Schools undergoes a three-year (three phrase) curriculum review and design process. In this process, team members measure previous success and determine next steps within each curricular areas to achieve racial equity transformation in alignment with the strategic plan.

The Racial Equity Purpose Statement of the Progress Reporting Design Team is: Our hopes, dreams and goals involve rebuilding a system of progress reporting that accurately reflects learning and is liberatory for all of our learners. As a Design Team, we believe what students understand, know, and are able to do are more essential than control and compliance. Assumptions regarding grading practices and progress reporting exist–we must name these assumptions and begin to reframe them. Questions will drive us to uncover patterns of harm that exist in our current progress reporting practices are listed below:

• what we are measuring, why do we measure this, and for whom?

• how are we tapping into and elevating the brilliance of all of our students?

• how can we effectively communicate that progress?

The design team shared recommendations related to progress reporting, including: the development of a new elementary progress report; a move towards a district-led, full implementation of standards-based grading at the secondary level; and facilitation of feedback from stakeholders (parents, teachers) to clarify preference on conferences.

Design Team Update on Health/Physical Education 

The Belief Statement of the Health/Physical Education Design Team is: We believe that all students should be exposed to a comprehensive Health & Physical Education curriculum that is delivered in a culturally relevant manner. We believe students should be exposed to a variety of physical activities and health lessons that provide opportunities to achieve physical, emotional and social well-being.

The design team shared recommendations related to health/physical education:

1. Adjust the format in which Elementary PE is delivered to our students by going from double classes to single classes.
2. Aligning Health curriculum 5th through 12th grade using the ETR HealthSmart curriculum.
3. Work towards including swimming into Secondary School PE.
4. Update HPE district curriculum according to the newly updated 2024 National Health and Physical Education Standards.
5. Aligning the Physical Education curriculum 6th through 12th grade using the new National Standards.
6. Increasing physical activity participation levels among high school students, especially high school female and female identifying students, using National Standards, CDC Guidelines, and student voice.

Finance Interns and School Nutrition Update

High School Finance Interns Jaiden Leary and Alicia Margali focused on understanding the student meal experience. Their work research on:

• School Nutrition - perceptions of meal quality
• School Administration: desires for the lunchroom experience
• School Nutrition - clarity about menu and choice

District staff presented on the free meals for all program, Farm to School efforts, a new reusable silverware collaboration with Susan Lindgren students, and what's to come in 2024-2025, including more fresh ingredients and diverse culinary options. reduced reliance on processed foods, more vegetarian and a la carte options, and the new high school kitchen and cafeteria.

Action Agenda

The school board approved all action agenda items including:

• 2024-26 Director of Student Services contract
• 2024-25 Assistant Principal contracts
• 2024-26 Employee Agreement for Administrator Groups
• 2024-26 Employee Agreement for Professional Employee Group Plan
• 2024-26 Employee Agreement for Supervisor/Manger Group
• Other staffing actions

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 by 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting at which you would like to address the School Board.