Denise Cote

The board approved a resolution regarding the filing of affidavits of candidacy for the upcoming school board election. Additionally, a report was presented on the 10-year long-term facility maintenance plan, which involves ongoing infrastructure projects like HVAC system replacements, building repairs, and parking lot maintenance. The board also approved the school district's financial allocation for the Intermediate School District 916 long-term facility maintenance budget and authorized temporary staffing flexibility for teaching assistants to be managed through future public updates.

The board received an update on Brookview Elementary school including its strengths, challenges, and opportunities. Additionally, the board was updated on the selection of Benchmark Adelante as the new K-5 literacy curriculum for the Amigos Unidos Spanish Immersion program and conducted a tour of the new Lake Elmo Elementary School.

The Board meeting included a recognition of two students for their state championship achievements in wrestling. A community member spoke during public comment regarding the benefits of outdoor education and decreasing academic pressure on students. The Superintendent provided a legislative update covering district revenue, grant opportunities for school safety and mental health, new requirements for paraprofessionals, and concerns regarding potential state-wide health insurance and budget cuts.

The board discussed fiscal challenges and priority-based budgeting adjustments for the 2026-27 school year. Key topics included addressing revenue shortfalls, external threats such as enrollment trends and unfunded state mandates, and a review of district-wide, elementary, secondary, and special education budget adjustments. The meeting also covered the implementation of a new elementary staffing model using teacher assistants, enrollment projections, and long-term fiscal forecasts for the general fund.

The board meeting featured a report from the principal of Brookview Elementary, covering the school's leadership transition and its ongoing efforts to foster a sense of belonging, high expectations, and accountability. Key discussion topics included the diverse student population, the impact of engagement specialists on supporting multilingual families and the school community, and the implementation of a new literacy curriculum. The meeting also addressed academic achievement trends, the importance of data-driven decision-making through instructional and operational leadership teams, and strategies for managing student behavior, including restorative practices that contributed to a decrease in behavior incidents.