The primary agenda item was the presentation of the high school course catalog by Christine Schaefer, the assistant superintendent. With registration for the 2025-2026 school year imminent, Schaefer outlined the updates necessitated by new state educational standards. Of particular note was the introduction of a mandatory personal finance course, set to become a graduation requirement for the class of 2028. This addition will increase the total credits needed for graduation from 66 to 67. Schaefer emphasized the critical role of school counselors, who will soon begin informing eighth graders and high school students about these new requirements and the registration process, which commences in January.

Following Schaefer’s presentation, Mark McKam, director of secondary teaching and learning, provided further context regarding legislative requirements that the district must accommodate. Highlighting the necessity to align with state educational standards by the 2026-2027 school year, McKam discussed the need to offer courses in personal finance, government and citizenship, ethnic studies, and American Indian culture and language. He noted that the district is seeking feedback from school principals and departments to effectively implement these requirements.

In particular, McKam addressed the ethnic studies requirement, explaining that a new standalone trimester course will be developed. He also touched on the inclusion of Holocaust and genocide education in the social studies curriculum, with further clarification from the Minnesota Department of Education still pending. The district, he assured, is currently meeting existing standards while awaiting additional guidance.

The meeting also tackled scheduling challenges faced by high-achieving students, particularly those enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Concerns were raised about how these students could accommodate additional classes such as languages and arts, given their existing commitments to extra physical education courses in the summer. It was noted that many 12th graders have flexibility in their schedules, typically only needing to complete English 12 and Economics to graduate, thus potentially allowing for additional requirements without causing conflicts.

The possibility of students taking overload courses was also explored, with clarification provided that students are limited to six courses during the school day, but have the option to enroll in additional online courses or summer classes at their own expense. A recent initiative saw approximately 40 students participate in summer online courses, a move aimed at providing greater scheduling flexibility. There was also a suggestion to make the new Finance course available online, further accommodating student needs.

The board members expressed a keen interest in understanding the evolving standards and topics required by the new legislative changes. They acknowledged the absence of detailed frameworks at this stage but assured that updates would be communicated once available. Moreover, there was a request for clarification on how schools would inform students about course availability at different high schools, with confirmation given that course offerings are listed in the course guide. While students currently cannot travel between schools for courses, online classes are offered to ensure accessibility.

The meeting transitioned to action items, including proposed policy changes presented by the superintendent, Julie Neelson. The policies spanned credit for learning and budget-related processes. With no comments during the previous meeting, these policies were approved unanimously. The board also reviewed and approved the proposed school calendar for the 2025-2026 academic year, which had received positive feedback from various groups and a steering committee.

The superintendent’s report provided updates on construction projects across the district and included feedback from a recent meeting about traffic flow around Park High School. Local residents and administrators expressed positive sentiments about the plans. Additionally, a Youth Ambassador group was announced to begin meeting in December, offering students a platform to engage in board discussions. The report concluded with reminders about upcoming concert events, encouraging community participation.