Saint Paul Public Schools

A special meeting of the Board of Education was called to convene via telephonic and video conference. The primary purpose of the meeting was for the Board to move into a closed session to discuss strategy for labor negotiations concerning numerous bargaining units, including Teachers, Bus Drivers, Custodians, and various trade unions, as permitted under Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.03. The public may monitor open portions of the meeting via live stream.

This document is the 2024-25 Achievement and Integration Progress Report for the St. Paul Public School District. It details the district's third year of a three-year plan (2022-2025), reporting on progress towards goals in student achievement, integration, and teacher equity. The report also includes specific updates for a Racially Identifiable School, covering its achievement, integration strategies, and teacher diversity targets, with key initiatives including equity summits, magnet school programs, and student placement services.

The agenda for the Regular Meeting included standard procedures such as roll call and public comment. Key action items involved approval of gifts and grants, including submission requests to the Ciresi Walburn Foundation and the Saint Paul Children's Collaborative. Contract actions covered telehealth services with Kavira, Inc., amendments for architectural services for Hamline Elementary School and Farnsworth Aerospace HVAC replacement, and retiree health insurance with United Health Care Group. Agreements for union employment terms (2025-28), partnership with Eastern New Mexico University, and an employment agreement for General Counsel were also listed. Administrative items included monthly operating authority, human resource transactions, compensation study, designation of an Identified Official with Authority, the FY2026 Indoor Air Quality Management Plan, and phase gate approvals for boiler and HVAC replacements at several facilities. Bids included an award for network equipment acquisition across multiple schools. Informational items featured the FY2023-2024 Audit, the 2025-26 School Readiness Report, discussion on Board Initiated Goals Governance related to graduation rates, and second and first readings of several policy updates.

The Special Meeting of the Board of Education focused on the presentation and discussion of finalists for the Superintendent Search Firm. The Board heard presentations from BWP & Associates, JG Consulting, and Ray & Associates. Key discussion points included candidate experience, community engagement strategies, firm longevity, and internal/external networks used for recruitment. Following deliberations, the Board expressed significant concerns regarding Ray & Associates, citing issues with cultural competency and local connection. JG Consulting was also generally viewed as a poor fit due to perceived centralization of expertise and philosophical alignment concerns. BWP & Associates emerged as the preferred vendor due to a perceived collaborative approach, better understanding of Minnesota confidentiality requirements, and alignment with community engagement goals. Ultimately, the Board voted to approve BWP & Associates as the preferred vendor and authorized contract negotiations.

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Education addressed several key areas. The Action Agenda included approvals for numerous gifts (including one over $5,000 from the Central Senior High School Parent Advisory Council), several grant submissions and acceptances related to workforce development and education programs, and numerous contract amendments for audit services and various insurance rates (disability, dental, medical). Action was also taken on multiple construction contract awards related to the Hamline Elementary Secure Entry, Heating and Plumbing Replacement Project and the Washington Technology Magnet Pool AHU Replacement. Administrative items involved approving monthly operating authority, reporting on human resources transactions, accepting project close-out reports for several facilities projects, and approving a bid award for the Humboldt Senior High School AHU Replacement. Significant discussion occurred regarding the financing matters, including the approval of resolutions for $27,000,000 Certificates of Participation, Series 2025A, and $49,000,000 General Obligation School Building and Facilities Maintenance Bonds, Series 2025B. Policy discussions included third readings and approvals for revisions to Policy 408.00 (Staff Hiring), Policy 413.00 (Drug-Free Workplace), and Policy 414.00 (Tobacco-Free Environment). Informational items included a comprehensive report on Board Initiated Goals Governance (B.I.G.G.) focusing on reading and math proficiency goals, and detailed reports on K-12 Summer Learning and second readings of policies concerning Attendance Areas, Technology Usage & Safety, and Professional and Respectful Workplace.