[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6502225,"mediaKeyId","5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3","parentId",5548926,"title","Small maintenance shed at middle school damaged in evening fire; cause under investigation","audioSeconds",73,"startMs",4627000,"endMs",4700000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3&start=4627&end=4700","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3/thumbnail_4627000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6502225/Minnesota/Small-maintenance-shed-at-middle-school-damaged-in-evening-fire-cause-under-investigation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502225-1dc8b95ee495030068227f10502e66ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487455&Signature=WbM7ri82abnhi3V4fUrAD8dP5z7xBC0Chqp5psy4A8Gwdwut0DrddI4hudiR9~x1sg2saUHo2LLkftMh~z0PV7f~qnpGHAG6rxkwrKW2Doc9FcTWL3L4TUWdqM0fNXrxNJhCteyJz0BXve2pk7NBMwFQDY~BzJT65uqsgnSOqJMNiyaIj58p0WLs67AcUT5-xKFPNxF9PFlldchjS7SUamiM7KoN6KNdce5oTJ8KpjDuyNmgJFGPFYpmDWt9wmDUjtvVk~vh3aWJgsKdhjS0W~Ex7Ean6kBl3Dj9PpMtQS6x8WQXuCvarMr3rjxnWoEV9NCueDJ73jeU4r0InyXh5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winona Area Public School District","date","2025-08-08T00:59:47.14Z","article","A small maintenance shed near the Winona middle school tennis courts suffered fire, smoke and water damage after an evening blaze, the superintendent said.

Superintendent Brad Brzezinski told the board the fire started about 5:30–5:40 p.m. in a small red building used as a wood workshop for buildings and grounds staff. A passerby spotted smoke and called the fire department; the district said the Winona Fire Department responded quickly. Brzezinski said firefighters had been conducting training nearby when the call came in and that their presence helped ensure a rapid response.

\"All four walls are still standing, but certainly some water damage, some smoke damage,\" Brzezinski said. He said the cause is still undetermined and that the district’s insurance provider was contacted to inspect the structure and equipment.

No people were in the shed at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. Brzezinski thanked the Winona Fire Department for the response and said staff would assess equipment and repair needs once the insurer does an inspection.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WAPS School Board Meeting - 2025-08-07","oneSentenceSummary","A maintenance shed adjacent to the middle school tennis courts caught fire in the evening. No one was injured; the district reported smoke and water damage and said the insurance provider will assess equipment and structure damage.","taxTitle","WINONA AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",65543,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6502228,"Board reviews proposed changes to DEI committee bylaws to reduce procedural barriers",634,2842000,3476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3&start=2842&end=3476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3/thumbnail_2842000.jpg","/articles/6502228/Minnesota/Board-reviews-proposed-changes-to-DEI-committee-bylaws-to-reduce-procedural-barriers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502228-29ed01025b4149b83ee7ecde279768e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487455&Signature=ldmpCfNpVw6~MUE6ru4ryI3S0cBKsyuOP9e-eIT-vmpLoj5sQADpYJHRIVfvrfwWgmizS-xx6Az2jOrFLaoxurgKAlTYOSv5okp7zdyBg0p5fMd~GH9wsFUI4AdN3ZL3IFqUygDoaOBg0bjnG-~e1Vg50IasAFU2ac7t-YU~NAA6bli~IUxAXKAuWhpKXnJzFPWMOHgHoRUSyWjFMJblzRzu2RHrG9GyCj9QKqDkuSR7tK0i4pCnrsu88c7hD8rqGGki7LQOwEyxTxv17EP9N1bA5-sgcFgN5SpK17b0suf8npc1i4wbdcNOHmm7ZAx8YzKG3c~-y1gpfggAVaI84w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Brad Brzezinski presented recommended revisions to the DEI committee bylaws intended to remove procedural barriers the committee said have limited its work.

Brzezinski said the proposed edits clarify that term limits referenced in the bylaws apply specifically to community members and remove obsolete language related to the committee’s initial phased terms. He recommended striking a requirement that the school board set a fixed deadline for applications in favor of a rolling application process to reduce delay.

The superintendent said the current practice of bringing recommended members to the full board for approval has led to long delays between application and first meeting attendance; he suggested staff and the board members who serve on the committee could streamline the process. Brzezinski also proposed removing a requirement that staff members be recommended to the school board chair, reflecting current practice that staff assignments are handled through the superintendent’s office.

A notable proposed change would remove a specific quorum requirement (seven members including at least three community members). Brzezinski said the quorum language has repeatedly prevented meetings from proceeding and that DEI work is advisory in nature; removing the strict quorum would allow committees with fewer members present to continue working and make recommendations to the full board.

The proposed revisions also remove a fixed meeting day/time and allow the committee to set its regular meeting schedule to increase participation, particularly among students and staff. Board members generally supported giving the committee greater flexibility and reducing board involvement in routine membership decisions; some directors asked for additional conversation about committee size, purpose and whether the committee should be a district rather than a board committee.

No action was taken; the item was presented as a briefing and Brzezinski said the document will return for further consideration after board feedback.","The superintendent presented proposed revisions to the district's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee bylaws that would clarify member terms, remove a fixed application deadline, permit staff appointment flexibility, allow the committee to set meeting dates/times and eliminate a strict quorum composition that has hampered meetings.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6502233,"District activities director outlines Minnesota State High School League governance, recent fee changes and representation",191,1497000,1688000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3&start=1497&end=1688","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3/thumbnail_1497000.jpg","/articles/6502233/Minnesota/District-activities-director-outlines-Minnesota-State-High-School-League-governance-recent-fee-changes-and-representation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502233-b909bbb9508f6e1ca54ec68627f22236/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487284&Signature=VsXP6Q-Jjteh0ik1zA8DHGaNkX5Ba0N6bevEvtms54nFLwk3kqLiosT7itTeBWettHzEkJI6cStQ6GViAnYktPgQtqiqHqUnKn5Jv1FVKnZzfybqyJJj3S8auDw0A8nmqtv7hRoWbvlpe~Y1RGpdrmUqT9NnTz2JQwzK6qo9uEzssvAJwEVtbbUunYvT1k4PL5J-o9XGH4zRX903ATeV4WBoiTCftCp-pJr0tuQtjsrf1mwPJBZrRNltppnqY3~qYcGNMXRNENhTu~HJhNEZzu0eFd06hu1-dfb40BRcgX~HuEKm99IPr~gFySgdTNRi~3pc6VZlW7WHr5xGl13Nag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An activities director briefed the Winona Area Public School District School Board on the Minnesota State High School League’s governance, recent changes to its funding model and how schools are represented.

The presenter explained that proposals typically originate with coaches, are vetted by committees and regions, and may reach a rep assembly for a final vote. He described a recent shift in the MSHSL funding model: rather than relying primarily on tournament revenue, the league moved to a fee structure (a base membership fee, an activity fee, and a per‑student component) so operating revenues are not solely dependent on tournaments.

On representation, the presenter said board members, activities directors and superintendents are elected by peer groups; roles rotate by classification (for example, 1A, 2A) and Winona’s representation follows that rotational cycle. He said his region elected an activities director to represent 1A/2A schools and that his term recently ended when New Prague’s activities director took the seat. The presenter described duties he said were useful: quick access to state office staff, eligibility committee service and ability to raise topics (including online schooling and transfers) through state committees.

Directors raised concerns about representation and transparency. One director asked whether the MSHSL meetings are televised; the presenter said they currently are not and said he would follow up. The presenter also described a statewide sportsmanship initiative driven in part by a student SALT committee that produced spectator guidelines adopted at some sites.

The presenter said the MSHSL is subject to state statute in Minnesota and that some policies are constrained by state law, which limits the league’s discretion in certain areas.","An activities director provided an overview of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), explaining representation, rule‑making processes, a revised funding model after COVID and ongoing attention to sportsmanship and meeting transparency.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6502238,"Board hears annual report on fundraisers, booster clubs and student activity accounts",255,379000,634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3&start=379&end=634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3/thumbnail_379000.jpg","/articles/6502238/Minnesota/Board-hears-annual-report-on-fundraisers-booster-clubs-and-student-activity-accounts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502238-70673aa93aaae24f4d74ac135a04b546/orig.mp4?Expires=1770485426&Signature=DBP4D1~F5mJCnBjbpImqDB1Bp0Zr8ckXd-uUJ-dz2TK4K9733S~yBdjhlbDrFD2hwHEesKzerv-q1HTWjGnEUMC4PaTlpZpQMfv2uRLTvF4kVuhECKZSk~VYg0bWI8S54yNw3abngg7U4ydIeOmsZvvwFY2xMnCi8XHpeYYah-DUNVUt7pbXBYwY7a4d74A-LuiDsMeWf-6-zX1tI02dUl9-xWsT0wAGpy~bNJhyCYWXzuY-ZhhdoV4-Ciw-5WioO4Wr6Lh5nuSGWxGWLGCibI4cxwBJ-ZMAYKzSynPRjbQeioD8saoFuyxhpwEzl61LX8C9m9GXEAmIzhAluDJ4yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented the annual activities and fundraisers report and explained how student activity accounts and booster club fundraising are tracked and used.

A staff presenter said the district compiles profits from each fundraiser to evaluate what works. She called out last year’s activities‑card pilot (a thin plastic version) as less successful than prior paper cards and said the district will return to the previous format this year. \"We still made money, but the amount was less than previous years,\" she said.

Board members asked for clarification about what the report includes. The presenter said the list covers fundraisers that involve students and feed student activity accounts (Fund 15). Booster‑club fundraising run independently by parent groups is not included in the same list; those boosters seek approval to use students and the district tracks donations when boosters transfer funds to the district. Concession operations may be run by booster clubs or district staff; when the district-run concessions occur, the presenter said profits and expenses are included in the fundraising report.

On account handling, the presenter described a multi‑year approach for dormant accounts: accounts unused for five years were reviewed and, where appropriate, consolidated (for example, several service‑learning accounts were combined into one) or the funds were redistributed proportionally across remaining accounts so student-raised money remained available. The district finance lead clarified these are Fund 15 accounts that roll forward year to year: \"If there's $100 in an account on June 30, that's gonna roll forward on July 1 of the next fiscal year with a $100.\"

Directors discussed oversight of incentive‑based sale programs and the burden fundraising places on families who have children in multiple activities. The presenter said the district reviews fundraiser paperwork and often steers programs away from door‑to‑door sales, favoring activities that produce clearer student benefits (for example, camp fees or team shirts tied to sales).","District staff presented a yearly rundown of fundraising activity, noting a drop in revenue from an activities card pilot, how booster clubs operate separately from district fundraisers, and how student activity accounts (Fund 15) roll forward between years.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6502243,"School board approves batch of legislatively required policies, K–12 handbook and community ed handbooks",168,199000,367000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3&start=199&end=367","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548926-5dab2d24365d74403b271e6aa34cc8c3/thumbnail_199000.jpg","/articles/6502243/Minnesota/School-board-approves-batch-of-legislatively-required-policies-K12-handbook-and-community-ed-handbooks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502243-7acf296bf774d019c9cdefe43451b2ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770485975&Signature=GTRJBpMwsZlKyqCKpCdhunCSAuVksmfRPirlylhxjNtTeklO~1ob4Pbdm5ckwCGAtSMw6higQYq4H1FnewQraMmNhR84BHLGKYfPcF8K3NRGexRtHA-bzQf36JjcovH5lUfZQozSM2OU3XSVEVXlsIw46bfON~Uv-Flqs3mbBXBCREFspfbAqjJ8K4gg6rw2c63GcY0cPQwTX97SwSuBgm10qZYG4Qx1SXfTcy2D-5X5WqlK4mPK8CNZzWY-ZkSIrimwaiK1iRAGiFx2l2Woz0gACNzMKrqiSj15FPGlqDL~kkRIfesm2KFpDxScCY1mNvCmSizjLAUO8mK5aTgqdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winona Area Public School District School Board voted to approve a package of policy updates reflecting legislative changes, adopted the district’s 2025–26 K–12 student handbook and approved three community education handbooks during its meeting. The board also approved minutes from its July 17 meeting.

Superintendent Brad Brzezinski asked the board to approve the full slate of policies described as “changes that are really... mandated by legislative change here from the 2025 session.” After brief discussion about one technical note regarding allowable school start dates, the board moved and approved the package in a single vote. Brzezinski noted one policy (516.5, on overdose medications) had been pulled at the board’s prior request and will return for further review on Aug. 21.

The board then moved to accept the district’s consolidated 2025–26 K–12 student handbook, a 66‑page document the superintendent said was prepared to reduce discrepancies among levels and to make guidance more convenient for families. Director Hennig asked whether a distilled two‑page summary or FAQ might be useful; Brzezinski said staff would prepare a summary for distribution. The motion to approve the handbook passed.

Board members also approved three community education handbooks, which had been presented previously as briefing items, and the minutes from the July 17 meeting.

Votes and outcomes recorded in the meeting minutes showed the motions carried by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were announced in the transcript. Where the transcript records only voice approval, the article lists the outcome as “approved” and notes that vote counts were not specified.

The board indicated the previously pulled overdose‑medication policy will return for review at the Aug. 21 meeting.","The Winona Area Public School District School Board voted to approve a slate of policies required by recent state legislation, adopted the 2025–26 K–12 student handbook and approved three community education handbooks. Minutes from the July 17 meeting were also approved.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Small maintenance shed at middle school damaged in evening fire; cause under investigation

Board reviews proposed changes to DEI committee bylaws to reduce procedural barriers

District activities director outlines Minnesota State High School League governance, recent fee changes and representation

Board hears annual report on fundraisers, booster clubs and student activity accounts

School board approves batch of legislatively required policies, K–12 handbook and community ed handbooks