January 23 Meeting

Message from Board Chair C. Colin Cox

At the January organizational board meeting, I was honored to be elected board chair by my peers. I am entering my fifth year of service as a board member and appreciate the honor and privilege to be serving our community in this way. 

I serve on the board because of my unwavering belief in our schools and my commitment to investing in their success, regardless of the challenges that may arise. One of the biggest challenges is how we deliver on our community-developed mission and vision. It’s not a mission and vision that are easy to accomplish, but that’s the point. This is about what we want to do and see in our schools. So, we must focus on equity and anti-racism. 

If what we are currently doing is not delivering on our mission and we have real options to deliver, it is imperative we explore them. It is necessary that we try them. And, it is essential that we find a way to deliver results. That’s what I have seen the district do and what I have seen the collective board focused on during my years of service. 

As I experience it, each member is 1/7th of the board. Chair affords me a title and some additional responsibilities, but all seven of us are unique in what we see, experience, hear and do. We are not experts nor people doing the work everyday; we are there asking questions, sharing our experiences, relaying what we hear from our neighbors and working in partnership with those doing the work. We are all here to guide and support the courageous members of our learning community. 

I value what I hear from the community and take seriously my role as an elected school board member.. The votes that got board members elected are a reminder of our community’s trust and confidence in our board to do this work. At times, my ideas and priorities may veer from what some in our community think.. It may also challenge our district to do something differently, better or sooner. But that goes back to what I said earlier, I am invested in this work regardless of the challenges that may arise.

As you reflect on our work, I ask you to join me in thinking about how St. Louis Park Public Schools sees, inspires, and empowers each learner to live their brilliance in an environment that centers student voice and experience to create racially equitable learning that energizes and enhances the spirit of our community.

In service to our learning community,

Colin

Superintendent's Report

Dr. Kate Maguire, interim superintendent, shared remarks about the disruptive safety incidents that took place at St. Louis Park High School on Jan. 18, 2024.

Start video at 33:03

2024 Pay Equity Report

The School Board received information on the district's compensation structure and Pay Equity Plan. SLP's guiding principles include core values of equal intrinsic worth, equity, competitivness, and financial responsibility.

The district passes all three salary tests for 2023 and the results continue to improve.

1. Female jobs on average are not paid less than Male jobs
2. Female salary ranges on average do not take longer to get to the maximum rates than Male Jobs
3. The percentage of Female jobs receiving longevity on average is not less than the percentage of Male jobs

The School Board approved the District's 2023 Pay Equity Report.

School Board Approves Updated Admissions Policy for Park Spanish Immersion

The School Board voted to make changes to the Park Spanish Immersion admissions policy, making it more clear and accessible.

The updated policy gives priority to enrolling siblings of currently enrolled students, students whose applications are related to an approved integration and achievement plan, children of the school district’s staff, and students who are native Spanish speakers. Additionally, the district give priority to St. Louis Park residents. The changes also include removing priority for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, both because all students now have access to free lunch, but also because most of those seats have not been utilized in the past.

January 9, 2024 Board Meeting Highlights

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.