[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6556535,"mediaKeyId","5733445-b268394ba6441229be43fc08b0fbedf1","parentId",5733445,"title","St. Francis board approves policies and capital-related budgets; consent agenda passes","audioSeconds",832,"startMs",3252000,"endMs",4084000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733445-b268394ba6441229be43fc08b0fbedf1&start=3252&end=4084","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733445-b268394ba6441229be43fc08b0fbedf1/thumbnail_3252000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6556535/Minnesota/St-Francis-board-approves-policies-and-capital-related-budgets-consent-agenda-passes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556535-c95c268c5f287f8adff03a06310f3ebe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770545018&Signature=ejr-u6IqqY2itkhinfFlzDIT~LWKdHqdnc0CWOg4Kh5DpsOz2tDFlijaqU8ZMUXCibuNpCI7Ep6s-8-meR0Ip-EoqmbQLzO056XZqUcB3YzdpFPO9S2LJMSOaVndTLdbM7B1XY1hIL0DX0cUhwXEzKSKurxKODRpgh9MQGRg2kXWUszo9XXeKSEKbff~0ogQpeV5XQjay8DMzmuTbJevYR-rlUfo4sRIUSeMjC2nen60KOBEthFIJxohGugnba4fXl78xmLhh8d-ykivh83QA2u52ozr7PDKnBcw-yEaIVsm56pHmxWCvibhq-6RghZ5vEFqUCEns2fAwQ~u4IfLaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Francis Area Schools","date","2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","article","The St. Francis Area Schools Board of Education on May 12 approved the meeting agenda, passed the consent agenda, approved four district policies and adopted capital-related budgets for the coming year.

The board first adopted the May 12 agenda by voice vote after a motion and second were recorded. The consent agenda — which included eight items — was approved by roll call. The meeting record shows the following aye votes during the roll call on consent: Mr. Working; Miss Anderson; Miss West; Mr. Schonrock; Mr. Humphrey; Miss Hanson; and Mr. Vers. The board chair announced the motion passed.

The board approved policies 413, 512, 516 and 704 as presented. A member moved approval; the motion carried by voice vote with the chair announcing, “Motion passes.” The board’s materials noted these policies had undergone a first reading earlier with no changes since.

The board also heard a detailed overview of proposed capital-related budgets from district staff (presenter listed in the meeting as “DeeDee”). The budget package covered operating capital (noted by staff as approximately $231 per pupil in recurring operating capital), long-term facility maintenance, deferred maintenance and remaining construction bond funds. Staff explained that the district planned to use assigned fund balances for curriculum, transportation and technology replacements; examples on the slide included a roughly $1.2 million assigned technology reserve planned for future purchases and bus replacement line items. The board approved the capital-related budget as presented; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

No dissenting votes were recorded in the meeting minutes for these actions. Administrators said the June meeting will include final budget adjustments if needed (staff noted one possible telephone system line-item change that might be refined before adoption). The board also announced a May 15 closed session to discuss litigation regarding library materials under attorney–client privilege.

Votes at a glance
- Adoption of the May 12 agenda: motion and second recorded; voice vote; outcome: passed.
- Consent agenda (8 items): mover: Mr. Schonrock; second: Miss Anderson; roll-call ayes: Working, Anderson, West, Schonrock, Humphrey, Hanson, Vers; outcome: passed.
- Approval of policies 413, 512, 516, 704: mover recorded in meeting; second recorded; outcome: passed by voice vote.
- Approval of capital-related budgets (operating capital, long-term facility maintenance, construction): motion moved and seconded; outcome: passed by voice vote.

Board members and staff said they will return in June with any necessary refinements to the budget and with a finalized 10-year long-term facility maintenance plan, which staff said is reviewed annually.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025_05_12 SFAS School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its May 12 meeting the St. Francis Area Schools board adopted the meeting agenda, approved its consent agenda, approved four policies on first/second reading as presented, and approved capital-related budgets covering operating capital, long-term facility maintenance and construction.","taxTitle","St. Francis Area Schools, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",56938,"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},6556540,"St. Francis schools outline career-pathways plan, seek coordinator and internships",1444,1772000,3216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733445-b268394ba6441229be43fc08b0fbedf1&start=1772&end=3216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733445-b268394ba6441229be43fc08b0fbedf1/thumbnail_1772000.jpg","/articles/6556540/Minnesota/St-Francis-schools-outline-career-pathways-plan-seek-coordinator-and-internships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556540-c2569577aa6fef5ac5c2a3e611611463/orig.mp4?Expires=1770545018&Signature=SFXX~0LYAhK0ktlfVSqRcrL~e-45Gig6zaeKYTB-Ef1XfBW5HvoZ3aynuzJPI2htkCFQEIoP4Xlo9kclFfF5ilLpE7Dk4Y7VNy3-p84bpl~mZtEBtxDxthUoFngYygziqvscaqA1dTZX9OQp0I3OxfLfsxtVP9QpOTvocfWZvGAKvA~-L54uGbQSrT83Y6KRKnHmBmRaliK7mXQs0xCxdM7ZFDz8e8IO47BuprH6Gb5Tb5OFY9ibTxwQuzyd26FU~q6hgsdHyNpjBtooHPoyNidxnOlQveqhf-ojN0nMFvPJ~LWrwkQBoSEvLVapbW7XUKtw7vLTpZ6EpiZsj0MiiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Francis Area Schools staff on May 12 presented a multi-year plan to expand career and college pathways, asking the board to consider funding for a pathways coordinator and to support expanded internships and technical and medical career options.

Presenters — led by Erica Campbell, a high-school counselor, with contributions from job-coaching and technical-education staff — described steps already taken: expanding on-campus internships that can appear on students’ transcripts, aligning ninth- and twelfth-grade “Future Prep” coursework with pathways, integrating the state MCIS (Minnesota Career Information System) tool in middle-school programming, and piloting ways for students to register for an identified pathway at the high school.

“Each of the departments has to create a job that they choose to do,” Campbell said, describing examples such as a PE equipment manager position that runs through an application and interview process and, if completed, is recorded on a student’s transcript. The presenters said internships and work-based learning help students test career interests without committing to lengthy postsecondary training.

Staff asked the board to consider a career-pathways coordinator — a role several presenters said they saw at neighboring districts as central to organizing employer partnerships, internships and course sequencing. Presenters linked the coordinator role to CTE (career and technical education) funding and said gains in the program would likely rely on additional staffing or reallocation of CTE resources.

The team identified medical careers (including CNA or similar certifications) as a high-priority area the district lost five to six years ago and would like to restore. “We are really trying to figure out how to get medical careers back,” a presenter said. Members of the board and community asked whether PSEO, technical-school partnerships or apprenticeships could be used to provide credit or entry into trade and technical careers; presenters said the district faces licensing and funding hurdles but that regional partnerships and PS E O credits could be explored.

Board members pressed on implementation details: how students move between pathways, how the district will assess pathway demand, and how parents will be informed. Presenters said pathways are intended to be changeable; counselors will meet each trimester with students who want to alter their choices, and the district will use January registration and ninth-grade Future Prep class time to inform students and parents.

Presenters said next steps include focusing professional development on integrating pathways into classroom content, hosting a middle-school career conference with short sessions, and continuing to grow internships and community partnerships. No board vote was taken; staff said they will return with more detailed cost and staffing requests as plans firm up.","District counselors and teachers presented an update on career and college pathways, stressing internships, middle-school career exposure, MCIS integration and a requested coordinator to expand work-based learning and medical career offerings.",{"_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},6556546,"Residents urge St. Francis Area Schools to rescind book ban and restore library access",4066,167000,4233000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733445-b268394ba6441229be43fc08b0fbedf1&start=167&end=4233","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733445-b268394ba6441229be43fc08b0fbedf1/thumbnail_167000.jpg","/articles/6556546/Minnesota/Residents-urge-St-Francis-Area-Schools-to-rescind-book-ban-and-restore-library-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556546-13f5c93c5000f860de2af60808a5913a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770545018&Signature=MA9B1i581EtxAk1eadfIXvIRh8SEnTrmKdT0DLoUbaLSGo9RgPnu-BtF0PxFFfLaCSi3w90gxZN19BiWExMp6lcvUvXh7VyVMHolYlrSAOPSh0-FR4bdjl9IfdPYQtpUhZhKnoVWnYrcQyuVDBv7ieOLodb9~n6WncI~neLab~R97t6jolIXM3eJH-dfuCQwBbehqI7870i9wADHoqNfk5wrapJ5mgWb6QdyhxDn4QVqUS3Dx44WZcUcU8lTgOvItZIiueG22uM~6P5XO~Uj~Q0BiaesJEjbeaONHLhPt6t75JBVM5~NDOs0LqPkR-jm3G1KgXIBUAMwqLgpaYQeqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of community members told the St. Francis Area Schools Board of Education on May 12 that the district’s review and removal of library books under policy 606 (identified by speakers as policy 606.5) is unlawful and harmful to students.

Speakers at the meeting’s public-comment period — which the board limited to two minutes per person — framed the removals as censorship that reduces students’ access to diverse perspectives. “These are not harmful books, they're important ones,” said Nikki Cruzdie, who said she had read many titles removed under the policy. June Anderson told the board, “You are breaking the law,” and cited the district’s handling of the review process. Laura Magnuson urged the board to “Please rescind policy 606.5 and stop this censorship.”

The comments echoed a larger concern across speakers that the removals were driven by outside groups rather than local educators. “I don't see how they have any business playing political games with our school board,” said Tyler Johnson, naming Moms for Liberty as one outside group he said had influenced local lists. Other speakers tied the removals to wider harms: Sarah Raffi said, “This policy is teaching casual cruelty,” and Brian Baumgart called the move “the antithesis of effective community.”

Several commenters referenced Minnesota Statute 134.51 and the First Amendment while urging the board to restore librarians’ and teachers’ discretion in selecting materials. Laura Magnuson told the board the district had violated Minnesota Statute 134.51, saying the district “is placing our district in potential financial irresponsibility” by spending on litigation rather than classroom programs.

Board members did not take action on the book list during the meeting. The board noted it is involved in active litigation on the topic and announced a special closed session for May 15 to consult with attorneys about library materials and related litigation. The superintendent said attorneys for the district and the plaintiffs had been in communication and that settlement communications had occurred; no further legal details were provided at the meeting.

Speakers came from a range of residents and parents who said they have long ties to the district. Several asked the board to follow the district mission — to “equip all students with the knowledge and skills” — by allowing educators and librarians to decide instructional and library materials.

The board’s public-comment period included nine speakers on the topic; the board emphasized that no formal action would be taken during consideration of visitors and that staff or the superintendent might respond if appropriate. The closed-session meeting scheduled for May 15 was listed on the board’s calendar that evening as a meeting to be held under attorney–client privilege to discuss litigation regarding library materials.

Community members who raised concerns emphasized restoring access and relying on professional curation rather than external blacklists. Several speakers asked the board to rescind the policy or to follow statutory review procedures; board members did not vote on any change to policy 606 or 606.5 at the May 12 meeting.","Dozens of residents told the St. Francis Area Schools board on May 12 that the district's book-review policy and recent removals violate state rules, limit student access and harm community trust. Commenters pushed the board to rescind policy 606/606.5 and to rely on educators and librarians for selections.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

St. Francis board approves policies and capital-related budgets; consent agenda passes

St. Francis schools outline career-pathways plan, seek coordinator and internships

Residents urge St. Francis Area Schools to rescind book ban and restore library access