Mona Perkins, the newly appointed Chief Academic Officer, was introduced during the meeting. Superintendent Kent Pekel emphasized the critical nature of her role in bridging gaps across general education, special education, and multilingual learner services. Perkins shared her journey from being an English learner in St. Paul Public Schools to her current pursuit of a PhD in policy and leadership. Her diverse career trajectory includes experiences as a paralegal, middle school math teacher, and assistant principal. Perkins articulated her excitement about the district’s strategic focus on literacy and her commitment to ensuring schools are trusted spaces for families. She emphasized the importance of passion in one’s career, stating, “find what you love because what is really really important is that you love what you do.”

The board’s dialogue with Perkins highlighted a shared commitment to innovative educational approaches that recognize students as multidimensional beings. Discussion pointed to the need for enrichment opportunities beyond traditional academics, with Perkins advocating for schools to partner with the community to provide diverse learning experiences.

Literacy was another major topic, with board members expressing enthusiasm for ongoing efforts to implement tiered supports. The board acknowledged literacy as a tool for addressing inequities among students, including racial and socioeconomic disparities. A member reflected on the profound impact of literacy skills on student confidence, particularly in early grades. Concerns were raised about the challenges teachers face in adopting new curricula, with a focus on providing necessary support and optimizing scheduling to enhance reading instruction and interventions.

The board also addressed committee assignments and member preferences for the upcoming year. There was consensus on the importance of effective community engagement, particularly within the community curriculum and instruction advisory committee. The board discussed the need for rotation within committees to balance fresh perspectives with experienced insights. A proposal was made to enhance the board’s engagement with community discussions about educational materials by increasing the number of members on relevant committees.

In evaluating the board’s goals for the 2023-2024 year, members acknowledged progress in improving communication with stakeholders through community listening sessions, although they fell short of their target. Efforts to enhance board communication included plans for members to visit all schools and programs, with proposals for structured visits to avoid disrupting the educational environment. The board also discussed the need for clarity and purpose in these visits to foster genuine understanding of school operations.

The meeting touched on the board’s self-evaluation, using the Minnesota School Board Association framework to assess performance across various standards. Members reflected on the challenges of interpreting survey results and the effectiveness of current policies. There was a call to revisit survey questions to better capture the board’s roles and ensure alignment with district priorities.

Community engagement remained a focal point, with discussions on increasing transparency and improving public input during the budget process. The board expressed satisfaction with enhanced transparency regarding student learning expectations, attributing this to regular reports from the superintendent. The need for better communication strategies was emphasized, with a commitment to refining the board’s approach to engaging with the community.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on communication protocols between board members and the superintendent, focusing on the routing of public inquiries and the role of social media. There was consensus on the need for clear guidelines to direct public concerns appropriately and ensure effective communication. The board planned to continue discussions on social media policies and the evaluation process at a subsequent meeting.